Development
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & IRENE ZHENG
Caretakers at Olivewood Cemetery raise concerns about proposed development
O cials and community members with Olive- wood Cemetery, Houston’s oldest incorporated Afri- can American cemetery, are ghting to protect the burial grounds from encroachment by a proposed ve-story sports facility. The backstory Established in 1875, the 7.5-acre cemetery preserves the history of around 4,000 emancipated African Americans after the Civil War in the late 1800s. Those buried range from prominent elite to Union Army veterans to regular community members. Although the cemetery was deemed abandoned by the city of Houston in the 1970s, it has been under the care of a group called the Descendants of Olivewood Cemetery since 2003. The group’s volunteer board of directors has been tasked with restoring and preserving the cemetery. The situation The Descendants of Olivewood Cemetery are now battling development plans from a group called Maximo Capital for a ve-story sports facility on two of the cemetery’s adjacent lots, Board Member Paul Jennings said. Maximo was denied a parking variance in July by the Houston Planning Commission that would have allowed the company to proceed with the project despite having fewer parking spaces than what is required under city law. However, Jennings said he is still concerned the project may move forward with a di erent layout. O cials with Maximo did not reply to requests for comment.
Olivewood Cemetery
Proposed development site
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What they’re saying “This [cemetery] really tells the story of Houston, a story that’s largely untold,” Jennings said. “These people were enslaved, and then they were emanci- pated, and they thrived. That’s a story.” A closer look Although the land where Maximo plans to build is not within the boundaries of Olivewood Ceme- tery, Jennings said it is likely the grounds contain unmarked children’s graves. Jennings cited aerial photos from the 1940s and resident a davits. Moving forward Jennings said he believes the best outcome would be a third-party, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, buying and donating the land to the cemetery group. Ideally, the site would be evaluated for human remains, which could be relocated, and land could be converted into a community center, he said.
Established in 1875, the 7.5-acre cemetery preserves the untold stories and history of around 4,000 emancipated African Americans after the Civil War in the late 1800s.
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