Houston’s Second Ward plans community green space at former incinerator site by 2028

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Plans are underway to transform a former incineration site in Houston’s Second Ward into a community green space by 2028.

The former Velasco Incinerator site, which sat idle for decades, is located in the 800 block of North Velasco Street near Navigation Boulevard.

The Houston Land Bank acquired 4.56 acres from the City of Houston in 2023.

This organization hopes the community will dictate what the green space ultimately becomes.

“I want the community to tell me,” said Christa Stoneham, CEO of the Houston Land Bank.

The Houston Land Bank website says the city used the incinerator from the 1930s to the 1960s.

It sat unused for decades, but since 2006 it has tested positive for increased levels of arsenic, lead, mercury and other toxins.

So, is it safe to install a park there?

James Tour, Ph.D. is a professor of chemistry and materials science at Rice University.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too much of a problem putting a park in there,” Tour said. “Those kinds of things can be mitigated.”

The Houston Land Bank said it plans to use material primarily intended to contain contamination.

This practice is known as capping.

“It would certainly work for arsenic and lead,” Tour said.

He said materials could still escape through the sides of the cap, but added that regular monitoring of air quality would ensure everything remained safe.

The Houston Land Bank is hosting an environmental meeting so residents can learn more.

The meeting will take place on June 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Bar Bohème at 307 Fairview Street.

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