2nd fire in 30 days at abandoned Spring Branch apartment complex sparks safety concerns

A long-troubled apartment complex in Spring Branch has gone up in flames for the second time this month, renewing demands from nearby residents for the property’s demolition.

The fire at The Park on Westview Apartments broke out around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Councilwoman Amy Peck’s office. Investigators believe the blaze may have been started by people seeking warmth as temperatures dropped that evening.

Neighbors say the site has become a magnet for crime

Residents say the abandoned complex has become not just an eyesore but a growing safety hazard.

Savannah Venegas, who lives nearby and passes the property daily, says people frequently break through the fencing to access the site.

“They’re constantly breaking this fence down,” Venegas said. “Maintenance is always walking by, using zip ties to close it back up.”

City records show 18 complaints have been filed through Houston’s 3-1-1 system about the complex in the past two years, 10 of them just this year. The latest fire marks the second blaze in 30 days.

Venegas says parents and children in the neighborhood are especially worried.

“It’s really concerning at night because it’s dark and there’s no lighting,” she said. “Kids walk by there after school, and you never know who might be inside.”

Demolition plans underway, but residents want it done sooner

Councilwoman Peck’s office confirms the property has been purchased by TIRZ 17, a local tax increment reinvestment zone, with plans to demolish the buildings and replace them with a new police and fire station.

TIRZ 17 is currently working with Houston Public Works to obtain the necessary demolition permits. After the first fire on Oct. 7, Peck set a six-month deadline for demolition, but she now says she wants it expedited following this second incident.

In the meantime, TIRZ 17 has hired 24-hour on-site security to start soon, and is coordinating with the Houston Police Department to connect people living at the site with social services and housing resources before the area is cleared.

“People are going to light fires to stay warm,” Venegas added. “That’s why the city needs to move quickly — next time, it could be worse.”

The demolition contract for The Park on Westview Apartments is scheduled to appear on next week’s Houston City Council agenda for discussion.

Until then, residents say they’ll continue pressing the city to make safety around the abandoned property a priority.