Remembering Brady Courts in San Antonio, Texas.

Brady Courts was one of the lesser known public housing projects operated by San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA). This news article will explain what the Brady Courts were.

Brady Courts was a public housing project built adjacent to San Juan Homes in the Brady Gardens neighborhood near Brady Boulevard on South Zarzamora Street. 1951 was the year Brady Courts was constructed. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=sTkpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT77&dq=%22brady+courts%22)

Brady Courts were named after a local philanthropist named Lady Patricia Brady. Lady Patricia Brady and Thomas Brady owned the property where Brady Courts were once located. Brady Courts were located in the Brady Gardens neighborhood that was subsequently named after her. (Ref: https://m.mysanantonio.com/life/life_columnists/paula_allen/article/Lady-Patricia-Brady-a-modest-philanthropist-1065791.php)

However when San Antonio Housing Authority planned to add Brady Courts as part of the San Juan Homes public housing addition in the summer time of 1965, adjoining homeowners began fighting San Antonio Housing Authority collectively. Public housing leaders claim that slum dwellers should be put in an area where they can mix with better living conditions and more advanced people. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/29667839/)

San Antonio Housing Authority began redevelopment efforts to move from its “public housing” identity in 2014 and had the Brady Courts demolished. What San Antonio Housing Authority did was transform the public housing project into an upscale development called the Garden at San Juan Square and Brady Gardens at market-rate living. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=sTkpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT77&dq=%22brady+courts%22)

Brady Courts were located at 2003 South Zarzamora Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78207.

A look at Lizard Ditch Skate Park. One of Austin’s lesser known skate parks.

Lizard Ditch Skate Park is one of Austin’s lesser known skate parks tucked away in the corner of the Silverstone neighborhood of Southeast Austin. This news article will expose some totally awesome info behind this skatepark.

Lizard Ditch Skate Park is a longtime Austin skate spot with a 3' foot deep ditch that waterfalls into a 7' foot deep ditch with a spine. This skate park has appeared in several national skate magazines and videos. (Ref: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1n1e3sVYGDcy36DFoBiY87-y01Ec&hl=en_US&ll=30.181738871514685%2C-97.74756047406055&z=15)

Although people who are local residents say that Lizard Ditch Skate Park is not an official park, the property Lizard Ditch Skate Park is located is owned by City of Austin and has been since the year of 2015 when Virginia P Raleigh sold her property to City of Austin on a special warranty deed. City of Austin came through a while back and cleared all of the transition and ledges that were in the ditch because it effects how the ditch is able to operate. However the City of Austin didn’t demolish or modify any of the quarter pipes built out of the ditch and curbs. (Ref: https://stage.travis.prodigycad.com/property-detail/555734/2022)

However some local residents of the Silverstone area are unhappy with this skate park. They say Lizard Ditch Skate Park is an illegal skate park built in a watershed drainage area. Multiple cars show up every day with about 15-30 people sometimes. They dump trash and mattresses on a regular basis. However they cannot do anything about those problems since the City of Austin owns the property. (Ref: http://austin.spotreporters.com/reports/20-00470860)

The ditches are the coolest part of the skate park. The ditches are tucked back in a large field surrounded by trees. These trees can provide shade in the summertime when hot weather comes around. 

 

Lizard Ditch Skate Park is located at 5106 Canella Drive, Austin, Texas, US 78744.

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development files plans for 8-story residential facility at 35-01 Beach Channel Drive.

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development has filed plans for an 8-story residential facility. The 8-story building will be a 115,000 square foot building that is 83 feet tall in Edgemere and in Far Rockaway. The remaining 5,173 square feet of the property will be used for commercial purposes. This residential facility will be in close proximity to the Q22 bus line and the A train. 15 enclosed parking spaces will be added.

20% percent of the units will be set aside for seniors as those units will be designated as affordable senior housing. This is New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s attempt at affordable senior housing.

History of Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church in Fort Worth, Texas explored.

This news article will explain the history behind one of the lesser known churches of Fort Worth, Texas known as Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church. This church was near Fort Worth International Airport/Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.


Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church was established as a Baptist church and nonprofit corporation sometime in the year of 1991. It was here that Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church was established by American Indians who belonged to the Baptist denomination which was an American Indian Baptist Mission. The church was run by missionaries.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram listed Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church as part of a diverse collection of churches on the North Side in 1994. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/644816286/)

“The area also has a diverse collection of churches including an American Indian Baptist Mission, All Saints Catholic Church, St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, and others from denominations such as the Assemblies of God Southern Baptist and Church of Christ. Neighborhood activists say that the near north side is getting better.”


Birdville Baptist Church sold their property to Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church on the date of August 18, 1999. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Instrument Number D199210491)

Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church sold their property to Iglesia Manantial de Vida on a special warranty deed on the date of February 11, 2003. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Instrument Number D203074940)

The church was demolished in 2009. City of Fort Worth had been buying out homes and properties abutting Fort Worth International Airport/Meacham International Airport as part of an airport noise mitigation program that had been going on since 1992. Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church was located in the noise range and had to relocate or dissolve.

The City of Fort Worth currently owns this property. The property is fenced off by a long black chainlink fence. (Ref: https://www.tad.org/property/00844470/)

Fort Worth American Indian Baptist Mission Church was located at 3403 Clinton Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas, US 76106.

Explaining and exploring the history behind the Hendee Homes in New Orleans, Louisiana.

This news article will cover the history behind one of the lesser known public housing projects owned by Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) called Hendee Homes. Only so much history on Hendee Homes has been preserved. Hendee Homes is not as widely known as the Calliope Apartments or St. Thomas Projects.


Hendee Homes was bounded by Hendee Street, Ptolemy Street, Sumner Street, and Bringier Street. Each building belonging to Hendee Homes contained 40 3-bedroom units. Many of the buildings and units of Hendee Homes were built during the late 1960s or early 1970s. (Ref: https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/nob38792)


Over the years, Hendee Homes have suffered a series of structural flaws such as holes over steel stairs and premature roofs.

The proposed repair of outside steel stairs by welding plates over holes would not be sufficient to repair some of the stairs. The stairs needed to be replaced. The architect stated changes would be made to correct these structural flaws. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=6VxveB6JTnEC&pg=PA250&lpg=PA250&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

HANO repaired the roofs under a 1987 CIAP project at a cost of $88,492. However HANO realized the roof was replaced prematurely. So HANO subsequently replaced 6 flat roofs with mansard sliding with hip style roofs under the 1990 modernization program. It was decided it would be more cost effective to repair these stairs than to replace them completely. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=6VxveB6JTnEC&pg=PA252&lpg=PA252&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

HANO also discovered the kitchen side doors did not meet code standards based on the inspections conducted by the architect. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=6VxveB6JTnEC&pg=PA484&lpg=PA484&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

Some of the buildings and units belonging to Hendee Homes were demolished into clear lots in May 2001 by HANO as part of an $850,000 project. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=7Ry7S43JKOgC&pg=PA213&lpg=PA213&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

HUD took control of the failing housing authority known as HANO in 2002 to address serious management and financial concerns that plagued the agency for numerous years. These persistent problems led to deterioration of the public housing units, prior to Katrina. HUD’s receiver team had begun, through HUD capital improvement programs, a massive redevelopment effort of the city’s public housing. Some of HANO’s largest public housing developments, including Abundance Square (formerly Desire), River Gardens (formally St. Thomas) Fischer, Florida and Guste, had undergone or were undergoing redevelopment to bring quality public housing back to the city.

22 apartments at Hendee Homes were slated for demolition by August 2004. Hendee Homes were one of the scattered sites Mayor Gilmore approved for demolition. Many of the buildings and units of Hendee Homes were built during the late 1960s or early 1970s. Much of which were in need of dire repair. (Ref: https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4ca4898e-e7af-5336-875c-728eb8cc4548.html)

Hurricane Katrina did an estimated damage of $75,000 dollars. The lowest amount of replacement cost compared to the other public housing projects owned by HANO which were in the millions. Hendee Homes remained opened because of the low damage cost. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=XQpMbFBF9XQC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

By  June 14, 2006, there were about a 1,000 residents back in public housing units at Iberville, Guste, Fischer, River Garden (formerly St. Thomas) and Hendee Homes. The plan announced was to accelerate the cleanup and repair of additional units at these developments, which will ultimately mean the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) reopening another 1,000 units by August of that year. (Ref: https://archives.hud.gov/news/2006/pr06-066.cfm)

Hendee Homes were demolished in 2011. Hendee Homes were relocated down to Lawrence Street and Mardi Gras Boulevard at location and address of 1824 Mardi Gras Boulevard.

Joseph Stebbins oversaw the design and construction of the new insulated concrete form construction of 16 units at Hendee Homes. He handled the installation of new underground utilities at Hendee Homes. (Ref: https://louisiana.uli.org/resources/emerging-trends/speaker-bios-2020/)

The Housing Authority of New Orleans has opened several public housing complexes to residents, including the Fischer low-rise, Fischer senior village, Guste high-rise, Guste low-rise, Hendee Homes and River Gardens. Iberville is being reoccupied in phases. Public housing scattered sites are in the process of reopening. Housing Authority of New Orleans claims Hendee Homes is being reoccupied in phases. (Ref: http://www.lsndc.org/index.php/component/cpx/?task=resource.view&id=488481)

Housing Authority of New Orleans says there are now 877 families living in Iberville, Hendee Homes, Guste, Fischer and River Gardens and selected scattered sites. (Ref: http://www.tulanelink.com/pdf/workersreport.pdf)


Hendee Homes were located at 1532 Hendee Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, US 70114. The Hendee Homes are now located at 1800 New Orleans, Louisiana, US 70114.

Exploring Man Cave in New York City, New York again. One of New York City’s lesser known attractions.

Tucked away in a corner from the hustle and bustle of New York City on Manhattan Island is one of New York City’s lesser known attractions which is a cave known as Man Cave. Man Cave is the plethora of caves which connects to Indian Caves. Man Cave is located in a park called Inwood Hill Park. Man Cave provides shelter and solace for those wanting to escape the busy hustle and bustle of New York City. A sanctuary for those wanting to escape the noisy crowded inner city.

Now not many people know about Man Cave which is located on the eastbound perimeter of Inwood Hill Park. Not even longtime residents. Which is why Man Cave is one of New York City’s lesser known attractions.

When entering via the North end the park where Shorakkopock Rock is take a left, walk about 500 feet and then take a right up the final dirt path which leads up to the caves (fourth dirt path up to the right in all, the first one doesn't lead to the caves). Walk straight up the path and the first boulder you come to on the path is Indian Cave and Man Cave. (Ref: https://www.mountainproject.com/route/120164507/cave-man)

Man Cave serve as the prehistoric roots to New York City and to the State of New York as Man Cave had once served as a dwelling. The Rechgawawanc clan of the Weekquaeskeek tribe of American Indians used Man Cave as a place of residence. The Rechgawawanc clan of the Weekquaeskeek tribe had been using Man Cave prior to the 1600s. (Ref: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwood-hill-park)

The majestic “Indian Caves” of Inwood Hill Park were once used as a seasonal camp by the Lenape people who lived in the region before the arrival of explorer Henry Hudson. Man Cave was also used as a historical Indian gathering place. This is because Man Cave was part of the majestic “Indian Caves”. (Ref: https://myinwood.net/the-indian-caves-of-inwood-hill-park/)

The Lenape Indians lived in various structures throughout the year. During the summer months, the women and children lived in wigwams in Inwood Hill Park. They also found shelter in natural rock caves located on the east side of the park. The caves ran very deep and had a network of tunnels. Man Cave was one of those caves. (Ref: https://manhattanstepbystep.tumblr.com/post/43930723680/native-american-caves-inwood-hill-park-manhattan)

Although the majority of the native population left the area by 1715, several of these native New Yorkers continued to live in the Inwood Hill area. The native population lived in places such as Man Cave for example. (Ref: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwood-hill-park/highlights/12342)

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, many families lost their homes and found shelter inside of Man Cave. Homeless people had been living there over the years. Several of these native New Yorkers continued to live in the Inwood Hill area until the 1930s when Parks Commissioner Robert Moses used Works Progress Administration (WPA) money and workers to initiate a massive reconstruction of Inwood Hill Park. (Ref: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwood-hill-park/highlights/12342)

Man Cave is located at 600 West 218th Street, New York, New York, US 10034. That is near the intersection of Broadway & Dyckman Street.

History of Mars Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas explored.

This news article will explain the history behind one of the lesser known churches of Fort Worth, Texas known as Mars Hill Baptist Church. This was the church at 3400 Chestnut Avenue near Fort Worth International Airport/Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. Mars Hill Baptist Church operated for nearly 50 years. 

The church at the 3400 Chestnut Avenue near Fort Worth International Airport/Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas was originally a home that was owned by Fort Worth National Bank for many years. Fort Worth National Bank sold the home and property to Roscoe Dixon and his wife, Synora Dixon for the price of $164 dollars on the date of August 21, 1943. Roscoe Dixon sold the home and property back to Fort Worth National Bank. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Book 1592, Page 256)

Fort Worth National Bank sold the home and property to W. R. Ringer and his wife, Gertrude Ringer for the sum of $229 dollars on the date of August 31, 1951. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Book 2348, Page 162)

W. R. Ringer and his wife, Gertrude Ringer later sold their home to Marine Second Baptist Church of Fort Worth for the sum of $229 dollars on the date of April 18, 1952. Mars Hill Baptist Church was established as a Baptist church on the date of April 22, 1952 by C. W. Love, Mary Ruth Craig, Oscar L. Coleman, George Smith, and Dewey Stephen. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Book 2446, Page 519)

Mars Hill Baptist Church was established as a Baptist church on the date of June 14, 1957 by C. W. Love, Mary Ruth Craig, Oscar L. Coleman, George Smith, and Dewey Stephen. Mars Hill Baptist Church purchased property for their church at 3400 Chestnut Avenue on the date of January 28, 1965 for the sum of $15,450 dollars. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Book 4025, Page 116)

 

Mars Hill Baptist Church was organized on the January 28, 1965 by by Mary Ruth Craig, Oscar L. Coleman, George Smith, and Dewey Stephen. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Book 4025, Page 116)

Fort Worth Star-Telegram discussed how the City of would also acquire two smaller area churches sun as Lee Avenue Baptist Church and Mars Hill Baptist Church due to being located dangerously close to Fort Worth International Airport/Meacham International Airport back in 1995. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/645524377/)

[The city would also acquire two smaller area churches Lee Avenue Baptist which is 48 years old is at 3201 Lee Ave and Mars Hill Baptist is at 3400 Chestnut Ave. The pastor at Mars Hill could not be reached late yesterday Officials at Lee Avenue said their approximately 112 congregants are split over the proposal "It's kind of tough" pastor Henry Thompson said "I've been playing it by ear and praying and letting the Lord take it over" Over the years church members have provided services to the community For example two assistant pastors recently started scout troops for boys and girls Church members have also provided clothes and help for drug addicts and their families.]

A meeting was held on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 by the board members of Mars Hill Baptist Church on whether to sell their property to the City of Fort Worth as the City of Fort Worth had been buying out homes and properties abutting Fort Worth International Airport/Meacham International Airport as part of an airport noise mitigation program that had been going on since 1992. Mars Hill Baptist Church was located in the noise range and had to relocate or dissolve. City of Fort Worth offered to buy out their property for $44,000 dollars. The board of Mars Hill Baptist Church accepted the offer after a resolution was passed. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Instrument Number D205197708)

Mars Hill Baptist Church deeded their property to the City of Fort Worth on the date of July 5, 2005 for the sum of $44,000 dollars and an additional $10 dollars. The church was demolished and dissolved around 2008. (Ref: Tarrant County Deed Records, Instrument Number D205197709)

The City of Fort Worth currently owns this property. The property is fenced off by a long black chainlink fence around the Worth Hills neighborhood. (Ref: https://www.tad.org/property/06131786/)

Mars Hill Baptist Church was located at 3400 Chestnut Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas, US 76106. Their phone number was 817-626-1990. (Ref: https://churcheslist.com/mars-hill-baptist-church-4/)