Flooding is expected to be reduced for up to 238 homes and businesses located near Turkey Gully after Houston City Council voted to expedite a drainage and paving project for the area Jan. 14.

The overview

Work for the Turkey Gully drainage and paving project will be located near the intersection of W. 21st and Bevis streets, according to meeting documents. The project will include:

• Acquiring parcels of land for the project through dedication, purchase or condemnation
• Building a new storm trunk system to push water from Turkey Gully into White Oak Bayou
• Improving storm drainage systems
• Constructing new sidewalks, curbs, driveways, underground utilities and additional detention, as needed

The impact

During the Jan. 14 meeting, Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin said the Turkey Gully project is expected to save:

• 238 properties from flood risk in a 10-year storm event
• 171 properties from flood risk during a two-year storm event
• 157 properties from flood risk in a 100-year storm event

“I continue to say we’re on borrowed time when it comes to storms and flooding, and this is one of those projects that is going to make a real impact for our neighborhoods,” Kamin said.

What else?

City Council’s Jan. 14 vote is expected to move the Turkey Gully project along faster since it grants the city’s attorney power to file eminent domain proceedings for land acquisition, if necessary, according to meeting documents.

Eminent domain is the legal process allowing the city to take private property for a public project, as long as the landowner is paid fair compensation, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The timeline

The Turkey Gully project is about 90% designed, and about $16 million has been secured for the project, Kamin said.

The project originally kicked off in September 2023 and was estimated to cost $15.1 million overall, as previously reported by Community Impact.