The Jersey Village City Council and Mayor brag about the transparency that they operate under so none of this should be a surprise to any of the Jersey Village residents. Back in 2019, some articles were developed about the TIRZ#3 zone that the City Council created including the houses on Jersey Drive east of Lakeview Drive. Those articles were posted on the website JVCCC.ORG. There, you can access the Project Plan that the city council created for that zone and other articles about both TIRZ zones they have created. The mayor and two council members are up for election this May. It might be a good time to ask them to explain in more detail how this process is following the plan developed by them.
In this article, additional information is provided about several of the houses within TIRZ#3 and some questions about the process being used. The data provided was retrieved from public information, mostly from the HCAD website. Why would houses recently purchased after TIRZ#3 was created still be included in the list that could take a buyout? The zone was created to give the homeowners a way to get out of the house that they could not sell for a fair amount due to flooding. This process may have already been used in a questionable manner.
It is assumed that all of the Jersey Village residents know that the only source for the money used to buy the houses in that zone comes from the property taxes paid by Jersey Village property owners – there is no federal or other outside money involved. We as taxpayers are buying those properties with no say as to the purchase price or the price that the vacant land will be sold for when someone decides to purchase a lot. It is also assumed that everyone knows the TIRZ#3 Board is made up of property owners within the zone and the board members’ property gets put at the top of the list to be bought out.
One of the first houses bought out was owned by James Singleton’s in-laws and she was on the Board. Another Board member recently purchased another house across the street from him on 5/31/2022. Then on 12/19/2022, that house was bought out by the zone for $352,602 proving a nice quick profit with a short-term investment. There are other properties in that zone that have recently been purchased and appear to still be on the list for future buyouts. The city does not appear to have a plan to stop this or be concerned about self-dealing.
The past buyouts have been at least at market value or higher than market value and then the houses have been cleared at taxpayers’ expense. Those buyouts have caused the market value to go up in HCAD due to recent sales on the street. A catch-22 situation where each house purchased and cleared raises the purchase price for the next tear-down. When the first three lots were put out for bids for developers to buy and build a new house, no bids were received by the city. More houses have been purchased and the plans appear to be determined from month-to-month with very little in written form.
Here are a few details about some of the houses in the zone that are interesting to review.
15521 JERSEY DR – DAMICO RONALD A
Purchased 7/22/2009 2,276 sf built 1972 -TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $250,899, 2020 = 275,988, 2021 = 303,586, 2022 = 333,944,
2023 = 367,338
15522 JERSEY DR – DAMICO RONALD A – This house was bought out by TIRZ#3 on 12/19/2022 for $352,602
Purchased 5/31/2022 1,790 sf built 1972 – TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $179,270, 2020 = 197,197, 2021 = 197,535, 2022 = 217,288,
2023 = 275,498
15418 JERSEY DR – MOORE RONALD & KATHERINE B – This house was bought out by TIRZ#3 in 2021 for $322,515 and the house has been cleared and lot for sale
Purchased by Moore in 12/07/1990 2,706 sf built 1962 -TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $212,140, 2020 = 230,982, 2021 = 232,134, 2022 = 255,347,
2023 = 280,881
15417 JERSEY DR – GILBERT SUSAN M – This house was bought out by TIRZ#3 in 2023 for undisclosed amount
Purchased by Gilbert in 1990 1,807 sf built 1962 -TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $190,039, 2020 = 208,871,2021 = 222,061, 2022 = 244,267
2023 = pending
15517 JERSEY DR – PERRY CHRISTOPHER J & SYLVIA – This house was bought out by TIRZ#3 on 12/20/2021 for $362,202 and the house has been cleared and lot for sale
Purchased by Perry in 2015 3,066 sf built 1960 – TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $286,550, 2020 = 315,205, 2021 = 337,397, 2022 = 0
2023 = pending
15502 JERSEY DR – OPENDOOR PROPERTY TRUST I – property listed for sale by Opendoor
Purchased 12/19/2022 by Opendoor
Purchased 9/23/2015 by JONES ARTHUR & CHRISTINE
Purchased 9/9/2014 by SOUTHPAW INVESTMENTS LLC
2,441 sf built 1970 -TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $262,191, 2020 = 286,945, 2021 = 305,834, 2022 = 324,132
2023 = 415,712
15510 JERSEY DR – OPENDOOR PROPERTY J LLC – property listed for sale by Opendoor
Purchased 5/20/2022 by Opendoor
2,617 sf built 1974 -TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $262,504, 2020 = 288,754, 2021 = 317,629, 2022 = 349,391
2023 = 450,278
15518 JERSEY DR – FABRY MARIO A
Purchased by Fabry 5/1/2002 1,839 sf built 1968 – TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $164,000, 2020 = 183,789, 2021 = 193,015, 2022 = 245,400
2023 = 286,582
15526 JERSEY DR – PERRY CHRIS & SYLVIA
Purchased by Perry 11/19/2021 2,026 sf built 1974, remodeled 2021 – TIRZ 3 CITY OF JV (070)
Purchased 10/18/2018 MI Ental LLC
HCAD Appraised Values: 2019 = $145,986, 2020 = 157,491, 2021 = 215,532, 2022 = 300,000
2023 = 330,000