KPRC 2 Investigates showed you the problem of abandoned and vacant homes in several Houston area neighborhoods. After our story aired we received an email from Stephan Hester, who wrote he was working on a solution for his neighborhood.
Hester took vacant homes from the 3rd Ward and moved the houses to a vacant lot he purchased in Kashmere Gardens, with plans to turn the houses into small businesses.
“My plan was to build a bookstore here because libraries in the neighborhood have been closed,” said Hester.
After spending a few years saving money, Hester said he saw two vacant homes in the 3rd Ward for sale at $5,000 a piece.
“The same day I went out and I looked at the homes and they really weren’t in bad condition. The the doors were kicked in, they were abandoned and the plumbing and electrical of course, and everything like that was stolen, but I looked at it as a valuable opportunity,” said Hester. “So I decided to act on it. I bought the two homes and I had Cherry House Moving company move the homes to this lot.”
Hester said his plan helped remove blight from one neighborhood while helping to revitalize another neighborhood.
Hester said the plan is to rehab the houses and turn one into a bookstore and cafe called Sweet Minds Books and Baked Goods. He said the second house will become Frenchtown Fine Arts Gallery. Hester said he grew up in Kashmere Gardens and bought the property on Falls at Jewett because it was close to his childhood home.
Hester estimates it will cost $25,000 to $30,000 a piece to get each house ready for business. He hopes to open both businesses by January 2025. He also hopes his work will spark a further revitalization of the area by showing other entrepreneurs there are opportunities in Houston’s urban areas.
“I want this to be the heartbeat, and a beacon of light in the 5th Ward community and Kashmere Gardens,“ said Hester.
Hester has also set-up a GoFundMe account to help with this effort.
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