City leaders may have finally found the path to compromise concerning some historic streets in Freedman's Town.

After months of concern and weeks of sometimes contentious negotiations, it now appears what began as a street reconstruction project will now be one of preservation.

Those who have fought to preserve the Freedman's Town part of Houston say the centuries-old bricks carry special significance because they were made and laid on the ground by freed slaves.

Concerns surfaced in recent months when the city, in an effort to upgrade aging water and sewer lines under Andrews and Wilson streets, considered moving the bricks and relaying them in a new pattern.

Preservationalists opposed this and suggested the city consider new options.

Now the city will preserve the bricks by digging on land adjacent to the streets, and the process will impact fewer than 5 percent of the bricks.

"These bricks were not just put down with hands," the Rev. Samuel Smith said. "These bricks were put down by holy hands, praying hands and hands that prayed that this community would be what God would have it to be, and I thank God today that we are aiming toward preserving at least some of what we need to see preserved."

An archaeologist will be on-site once work begins. The entire project should be complete in about seven to eight months.