The City of Baytown, Texas (pop. 65,000) is located in Harris County, about 20 miles east of Houston. The economy is based on oil refining and petrochemicals; this economic base dates back to the early 1900s. Several smaller communities consolidated during the 1940s to form the municipality of Baytown.
The Consolidated Plan documents the city's vision for Baytown through a comprehensive assessment of needs, strategic plan development, and careful allocation of resources aimed at revitalization of Baytown's low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
The Consolidated Plan includes a one-year action plan for spending approximately $1.5 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in 1995. Primary areas of expenditure are in housing, code enforcement, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization.
The City of Baytown has viewed the development of the Consolidated Plan as an ongoing process that uses citizen participation as a valuable tool to determine existing needs, outline realistic and attainable strategies, and recommend a plan of action for investing allocated resources.
In an effort to obtain maximum input into this process, the city networked
with numerous local service agencies, city departments, and individual citizens
to develop an accurate assessment of housing, homeless, and community
development needs in Baytown. Two public meetings were held on the Consolidated
Plan. The Community Development Advisory Committee reviewed the plan and heard
from various agencies on specific projects designed to meet the needs of
Baytown's low and moderate income citizens. Through this process, it was
reaffirmed that more funding is needed in the community to address the needs.
The projects that have been funded through FY 95-96 funds are listed in the
Action Plan.
Baytown is situated on the Texas Gulf Coast along the north side of Galveston Bay and the east side of San Jacinto River/Houston Ship Channel. Houston lies 20 miles west of the community. Galveston Island a 50-minute drive to the south. Oil refining and petrochemicals dominate the economic base of Baytown.
Baytown's oil refining and petrochemicals industries date back to 1905, and formed the foundation for the development of the entire Baytown area. Nearly 50 percent of the U.S. petrochemical production is based in the Houston area; a significant portion of this industry is located in Baytown. Oil refining and petrochemicals dominate local growth and expansion in Baytown, and together represent the major source of employment and income for the area. Exxon is by far the largest employer in the area. Over one-third of the total jobs in Baytown are in the industrial sector (twice the U.S. average). Office employment accounts for approximately 24 percent of total jobs and retail trade accounts for 21 percent. The lack of any form of mass transit in Baytown limits how far most low- and moderate- income persons are able to travel to work.
Baytown and the surrounding area have steadily grown in total inhabitants
for many years. In 1990, Baytown reached a total population of 63,848 persons
while the greater Baytown Area (inclusive of Baytown) had nearly 100,000
residents. These figures represent a continuation of the steady, though
relatively modest, growth trend which is reflected in an average 29.1 percent
(or approximately 800 people per year) decennial growth rate (in Baytown) for
each decade since 1930. Population growth in the Baytown area has increased by
over one-third during the 1970s but only by 9.2 percent during the 1980s. Due
in large part to annexation during the 1980s, the City of Baytown experienced a
higher growth rate than the Baytown area.
Baytown's economy is based on the oil refining and petrochemical industries and, as such, experienced significant economic and social hardships during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In recent years, Baytown has seen some stabilization of the local economy. An important social issue that the community faces is the resolution of the juvenile crime issue. Gang activity has been prevalent mainly in those neighborhoods that are primarily inhabited by minorities and low-income citizens.
Baytown has documented two critical housing needs in the Consolidated Plan: the need to rehabilitate a rapidly-deteriorating housing stock and the need for more housing options for low- and moderate-income citizens. Funds are needed to expand the city's ability to assist low-income persons in rehabilitating their homes. Of critical need is additional resources for rental assistance for low-income citizens.
The 1990 census indicates that Baytown has a total of 63,848 persons living in 22,324 dwellings, an average of 2.86 persons per dwelling. Since 1990, the population has increased by approximately 1,987. During that same time, the new housing stock has increased by 323 single family units, resulting in an average of 2.59 persons per unit. Most of the new construction has taken place in subdivisions where housing is not affordable to low- and moderate-income families. Of the building permits issued for the new housing stock, fewer than 1 percent have been for units that would be affordable for low- and moderate-income families. The average cost of newly constructed single family units is $78,000.
Because the overwhelming majority of single family housing built in recent years is unobtainable for lower-income families, there continues to be a strong need for rental and home-ownership programs for low-income citizens.
The City of Baytown has not conducted a study of the nature and extent of homelessness in Baytown. Information on needs of the sheltered and unsheltered homeless, sub- populations, and persons threatened by homelessness is incomplete and speculative. The Baytown Housing Authority waiting list indicates that there are 69 persons who are requesting federal preferences. Of those, 43 have reported homelessness.
There are two shelters for the homeless in Baytown. One provides temporary shelter, food, and clothing to homeless individuals and families. The other shelter serves victims of family violence and sexual assault. The specific needs of the homeless in Baytown are typical. In addition to food and shelter, these needs include transportation (there is no public transportation system in Baytown) and, in most cases, employment.
The Baytown Housing Authority (BHA) has 150 public housing units, of which 50 are designated for the elderly and/or disabled. All of the complexes operated by the BHA are in need of moderate rehabilitation in order to bring them into compliance with Housing Quality Standards and city codes. Some units need repair to the foundations due to sub-standard soil conditions prevalent in the area. All units are in need of exterior brick work and plumbing and electrical upgrades in the kitchens and bathrooms. The annual average vacancy rate in public housing units is less than 4 percent, which indicates a need for additional units.
The BHA has 491 Section 8 certificates under the Tenant-Based Section 8 program; 350 of the certificates are for families and 141 are for elderly/disabled persons. Currently, all certificates are leased and there is no indication that any of the present landlords will withdraw from the program. The current waiting list consists of over 600 families, which indicates that the need for additional assisted housing is critical.
Upon review of rules governing fair housing, there are no policies in Baytown that impede the provision of affordable housing. The City of Baytown's housing and building codes are consistent with national legislation. Further, the city has implemented procedures to ensure that there are no intentional impediments to the provision of affordable housing.
The City of Baytown has appointed a fair housing officer whose express duty is to hear all complaints from the public in the area of fair housing issues, to conduct an annual review in the area of fair housing, to remedy complaints about fair housing issues, and to further the cause of fair housing for all.
The City of Baytown's Consolidated Plan does not include specific information about lead- based paint abatement. However, in anticipation of the need to abate lead-based paint prior to demolition of unsafe structures, funds have been allocated in the action plan for that purpose.
In Baytown, housing needs are closely tied to other social issues. Related
community development needs include the revitalization of neighborhoods in CDBG
target areas, reduction of crime in those areas, and the prevention of gang
activity. In addition, developing job skills and increasing employability of
low-income citizens is an important need.
Given the characteristics of the city's economy and housing market, the need for affordable housing will continue to increase, particularly for those with limited resources. The need for supportive services will also become paramount. It has become increasingly necessary for the Baytown community to recognize the integrated nature of housing, homelessness, and community development and revitalization needs.
Housing needs in Baytown are primarily related to low income and an aging housing stock. Housing priorities and strategies reflect those conditions. Housing objectives focus on the supply of decent, affordable housing. Community development objectives focus on revitalizing residential areas and neighborhood commercial areas, removing blight, decreasing crime, and providing economic development opportunities for low- and moderate-income citizens.
Priorities for affordable housing include expanding the supply of decent, safe, affordable housing through rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied residential property, creating homeownership opportunities for low-income persons, and providing safe, decent, and sanitary rental housing through the rehabilitation of existing single-family and multi-family residential units and rental assistance to existing renters.
Priorities for homelessness alleviation include providing technical and financial assistance to local shelters serving the homeless population.
Priorities of economic development activities include providing loans to small businesses to facilitate the creation of jobs for low to moderate income citizens.
Priorities for other community development activities include improvements to public facilities such as parks, streets, sidewalks, and sewers and funding for poverty prevention activities like literacy training, youth activities, and transportation assistance for the senior and disabled population.
The City of Baytown recognizes the need to coordinate and collaborate with anti-poverty programs and will continue to support existing programs. A variety of public and non-profit social service agencies administer programs including subsidized child-care, job training and education grants, self-sufficiency programs for public housing residents, Head Start, Job Training Partnership Act programs, and homeownership assistance.
The primary federal resources in Baytown are the CDBG program administered by the City of Baytown and the Baytown Housing Authority, which is the local public housing authority.
Local resources include the Bay Area Women's Center, the Baytown Sheltering Arms, Habitat for Humanity, the Baytown Welfare League, the United Way of Baytown, and a host of other local initiatives.
The City of Baytown Planning and Community Development Department is
responsible for the projects covered in the Consolidated Plan and it works with
a variety of public and non-profit agencies to accomplish its goals. However, a
major barrier to the efficient delivery of service is the lack of collaboration
and communication. Community Development staff is working to address this gap
by aggressively networking with other local agencies serving low- and
moderate-income citizens.
The City of Baytown's one-year action plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $1.5 million in CDBG funds and program income. These funds will be spent primarily on housing activities and neighborhood revitalization projects, including:
The majority of the projects in the one-year action plan are dedicated to residential areas known as CDBG target areas. Funds allocated for these areas are spent on projects and improvements recommended and prioritized by the City Council-appointed Community Development Advisory Commission (CDAC).
The lead agency in the accomplishment of the one-year and five-year goals is the City of Baytown. Numerous city departments, including Planning and Community Development, Public Works, Engineering, Inspections, Police, Fire, Health, and Parks and Recreation will work to reach the goals outlined in the Plan. In addition, various public agencies, including the Community Development Advisory Commission, the Baytown Sheltering Arms, the Baytown Area Youth Commission, and the Bay Area Women's Shelter will utilize CDBG resources to improve conditions in the community.
The housing goals for the City of Baytown during the first year of the Consolidated Plan implementation include rehabilitating 20 structures at an average cost of $21,000 per structure and demolition and removal of 20 dilapidated structures.
MAP 2 shows points of interest in the City of Baytown with low- and moderate- income areas shaded.
MAP 3 shows areas of minority concentration with low- and moderate-income areas outlined.
MAP 4 shows unemployment data (1990) by block group, with low- and moderate- income areas outlined.
MAP 5, MAP 6, and MAP 7 show selected CDBG projects to be funded by the City of Baytown during its 1995 program year, with unemployment data shaded by block group and low- and moderate-income areas outlined.
Barbara Kolaja at (713) 420-5389.
