HOUSTON—For the past 10 years, an elderly man has kept to himself in his East Whitney home.
He only knows a few neighbors by name, and he doesn’t venture out at night.
"I stay home. I hardly go anywhere," the man, who did not want to use his name, told 11 News.
East Whitney is a cluster of 70 rental homes on Houston’s north side, near East Whitney and Hagood.
"I’ve always been taught the less that people know about you, the better of you is," the man said.
But now, things in his neighborhood are changing.
Construction crews are hard at work, thanks to developer John Hurd.
Hurd bought the place and is investing $4 million in turning it around.
"I’ve had failures, and I’ve had successes, but now the elements are starting to impinge on my life, and so if I don’t do something about it, then no one else will do it if I don’t take the chance and do it," he said.
Hurd said he does hope to make money off the 70 rental homes someday, but his bigger goal is to give people the chance for a better life.
The East Whitney homes were built in the 60s, and most are in decent shape.
But Hurd said crime has been a big problem in the neighborhood, so his crews are cleaning the homes out and carefully screening existing and future residents.
Hurd said he believes fixing the neighborhood up will inspire people to take pride in their homes and turn their lives around.
Rent at the homes will run about $600 a month.
Across the street, at the Greater First Baptist Church, some were grateful for the changes.
Willie Gaston said members there love the developments at East Whitney.
"They’ll be praising God," Gaston said.
Now, the homes that were once all but forgotten have new hope.
As for the elderly resident who wished to remain anonymous, he said he hopes the renovations do some good, because he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.
