Houston City Council approved and authorized an amended lease agreement between the city and The Heritage Society for the upkeep of the historic homes at Sam Houston Park during its March 9 meeting.

The park holds 10 historic structures, including Reverend Jack Yates’ house and the Kellum-Noble house. Three of the homes from The Heritage Society were added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Slave Route Project in February, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper.

According to the ordinance, the agreement extends the lease by 30 years, moves maintenance responsibilities to the city, designates 3% of rental, fee and concession for maintenance, and requires The Heritage Society to continue coordinating events with Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office.

Maintaining the homes will cost the city $350,000 per year. To prepare for the cost, the homes were added to the Fourth Ward's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 14 in December 2020, according to the ordinance.

During City Council’s March 8 public session, Heritage Society President Minnette Boesel expressed her gratitude toward District I Council Member Robert Gallegos and his team for their help in restating the lease. Boesel said the almost 70-year partnership helps provide a revenue stream to offset maintenance costs.

The Heritage Society’s Executive Director Alison Bell said at the March 8 public session that she is proud to provide the city with this piece of history.

“Thanks to the incredible work of The Heritage Society, Sam Houston Park has evolved into Houston's own history museum,” Gallegos said March 9. “I look forward for the generations to come to enjoy these beautiful structures in Sam Houston Park.”

The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park is located at 1100 Bagby St., Houston.