$75 Million Underground Flood Basin Proposed at Memorial Middle School Draws Neighbors' Questions at Tonight's Meeting
Houston Public Works wants to bury more than 90 acre-feet of stormwater storage - about 29 million gallons - under the north end of Memorial Middle School in Spring Branch. The city says it would cut flood risk for more than 1,600 structures; neighbors took their questions to a community meeting Tuesday night.
A proposed $75 million flood relief project at Spring Branch ISD's Memorial Middle School is drawing questions from neighbors about how construction could affect their homes, nearby streets and school activities, FOX 26 Houston reported. Houston Public Works says the TIRZ 17 Memorial City Area Detention Basin project would reduce flood risk for more than 1,600 structures. The proposal includes underground stormwater storage on the north end of the school property - a detention system that would temporarily hold stormwater during heavy rain and release it gradually, helping reduce flooding on streets and around buildings. According to the city's project flyer, the system would provide more than 90 acre-feet of storage, or roughly 29 million gallons.
The project map shows work along portions of Kingsride Lane, Gessner Road, Barryknoll Lane and Vindon Drive near Memorial Middle School. The city lists an estimated budget of $75 million, with construction expected to begin in spring 2027 and finish in summer 2029. Additional project goals include improving roadway safety and pedestrian access while preserving as many trees as possible - a timeline that means the questions being asked now are about two school years of construction in the middle of an established neighborhood, not about a finished basin.
FOX 26 spoke with several neighbors who declined on-camera interviews but said they oppose the proposal. They raised questions about construction traffic, the project's effect on flooding and potential disruptions to school activities. One couple told the station they lost their home to Hurricane Harvey; they compared the proposal with another project they described as similar, expressed concerns about how construction and drainage changes could affect the neighborhood, and questioned whether work on the property would interfere with activities at the campus their children attended. A community meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, in the Memorial High School auditorium at 935 Echo Lane, where, according to Spring Branch ISD, city representatives would explain the proposed scope of work and timeline and answer residents' questions; the district said the meeting would be livestreamed, with a recording available afterward. Residents can also submit project questions to the city or call 311.
