“From the 1930s until the late 1960s, can you imagine the plumes of smoke that billowed from the Velasco Street Incinerator? This site, now a vacant lot at 800 Velasco Street, was once Houston’s solution for municipal waste. It’s hard to believe that this quiet area was once a bustling center of incineration.
The Velasco Street Incinerator operated for over 40 years. Municipal waste from all over Houston was brought here. The process left behind ash and non-combustible remnants. These leftovers including glass and brick, were spread across the property. Over time, this created a layer of waste up to 35 feet thick. It covered approximately two-thirds of the 4.56-acre site.
By 1995, all structures were removed except for the incinerator stacks. A concrete building foundation and a sewer lift station also remained. Today, the Velasco Street Incinerator site is covered with grasses and trees. It is enclosed by a chain-link fence.
But beneath the surface lies a complex environmental challenge. Environmental testing since 2006 revealed elevated levels of contaminants in the soil and groundwater. These include heavy metals like arsenic and lead and also PCBs, dioxins, and furans.
The Velasco Street Incinerator site has been a concern for the community for over 40 years. Dr. Robert Bullard’s research in 1979 highlighted that 75% of city-owned incinerators were in neighborhoods of color. The Velasco Street Incinerator became a symbol of environmental injustice.
Cleaning up the Velasco Street Incinerator site is complex and costly. The city of Houston owns the property. It is limited in securing EPA Brownfields funding because it was responsible for depositing the waste. The waste is also not structurally sound enough for building.
Enter the Houston Land Bank. The city transferred the property to the Houston Land Bank. This nonprofit can seek federal funding for cleanup. In fact, the EPA awarded the Houston Land Bank $5 million for this purpose. Another $500,000 will fund environmental testing throughout Houston.
The plan is to clean up the ash and cap the property with clean clay and soil. The cleanup is expected to take four years or longer. The estimated cost is between $5 million and $7 million. Long-term monitoring will be necessary.
The Houston Land Bank is committed to community involvement. They affirm the right of communities to participate in decision-making. This includes planning, implementation, and evaluation. They will launch a website to communicate project updates. They will also create a Community Engagement Plan.
Once cleaned up, the Velasco Street Incinerator site may become a community park. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership may take over the property. This would transform the area into parks, trails, and community spaces.
The story of the Velasco Street Incinerator is one of environmental challenges. But it is also a story of hope. It is a story of community and a commitment to a cleaner future.