In Houston’s Acres Homes, a historic neighborhood often referred to as “The 44,” change is happening fast, and not everyone feels included in shaping it.
New construction is rising across the area, with modern homes appearing alongside properties that have stood for generations. Some developments are even being marketed under new names, raising concerns among residents about the potential loss of identity in a community deeply rooted in Black history and culture.
Acres Homes has more than a century of legacy, built by generations of Black Houstonians, civic leaders, and families who established a strong sense of pride and belonging. Today, that legacy is facing pressure as growth accelerates.
“It can, if everyone is invited to the table,” said community advocate Rain Eatmon when asked whether development and preservation can coexist.
The pace of change is not limited to a single project. Dozens of small- to mid-sized developments are underway, transforming the neighborhood’s landscape and fueling tension among longtime residents.
For Eatmon and others with the Acres Homes Community Advocacy Group, the concern isn’t development itself, it’s the process behind it.
“If you are not even taking the opportunity to let your new neighbors know that this is a part of an established community, then you do feel that that threat of erasure coming quickly on everyone,” Eatmon said.
But amid the concern, grassroots solutions are taking shape.
Community leaders are working to educate residents and encourage involvement, helping neighbors better understand their history and their influence over future development. From civic club meetings to local events like “44 Day,” the focus is on empowerment and awareness.
“I think respectful, community-centered development looks like genuine conversation and going to community members, where residents normally gather, like civic clubs and super neighborhoods,” Eatmon explained.
Efforts also include encouraging residents to connect with local history, whether by visiting libraries or participating in neighborhood initiatives, to strengthen community ties during a time of rapid change.
In Acres Homes, growth isn’t seen as the enemy. Instead, the challenge is ensuring that progress doesn’t come at the cost of the community that has defined the neighborhood for generations.