“It looks bad. It looks as bad as it could possibly be.”

“It” is the environmental impact study for the University line of Metro rail.

It shows, in detail, all of the options still being considered.

For 30 years, Francisco Valle has owned one block in Richmond, but now new rail could be coming.

That could affect all four of Valle’s properties.

In fact, he says three of them could be taken in full, “That is what they always emphasized in every meeting. Not to worry about it. It is not going to effect anything. It will only be a few feet from the front. That’s all it’s gonna take.”

In all 13 homes and about one dozen businesses would be lost on the Richmond option.

About 24 homes and one dozen businesses would be lost on the Westpark option and another 10 to 14 homes, depending on the alignment, of the University of Houston section of the line.

Take the area around Richmond and Montrose as an example.

In either option the buildings between Roseland and Stanford are affected.

About four buildings would be completely taken and five more partially affected.

Other buildings also affected as the line continues down Richmond.

If the Westpark option is chosen, the impact turns with the line adding all of the buildings on the west side of Montrose to those completely taken.

Metro says that there will be little shifting of these proposed rights of way.

Calling the possibility a quote, ‘very big if’.

For people like Valle who are affected no matter what that’s even worse news.

There is a 45 day comment period which ends September 17.

Comment can also be made in person at any of the three public hearings scheduled.