Residents of the Langwood II subdivision in Spring Branch feel they have been dealt a double blow by the City's actions on the floodway ordinance, and by drainage problems in their neighborhood. A section of the subdivision north of Kempwood at Bingle is intersected by Brickhouse Gully. This stream is a tributary of White Oak Bayou, and flows from west to east to the neighborhoods of Mangum Manor and Oak Forest.

When the homes were built the stream was a grass lined gully that drained the flow of water from the streets. Later, the gully was completely lined with concrete to increase the flow and to keep it cleaner. Neighborhood residents say they never flooded until a rain event in 1992 sent the water over the gully's banks and flooded forty homes northwest of the gully. Since that time the same homes have continued to flood in serious rain events and tropical storms such as Allison.

When homes began to flood, residents started asking questions of city and county officials about what caused the gully to start overflowing. Was it overdevelopment in the area, clogged drains, or some unknown factor? The City has not offered any answers. The County says it is conducting a study of flood maps, and will have more data when it is finished.

One resident, Chuck Brush, decided to look into the problem himself. As a longtime resident of Langwood, he had observed the flow of the water in the gully in both low stream and flooding conditions. He has concluded that the design of the bridges built over the gully at Bingle actually impede the flow of water because they are below the flood elevation. When the water rises to the top of the banks, the bridges are flooded and block the flow. In addition, he has noticed that four large drains installed by the City under the bridges were placed on the narrow side of the gully where a concrete step or platform lines the stream. "There was no flooding here until the new bridge was built and the city installed the drains," he says. "They have put these drains in the wrong place. The east side of the gully is 15% wider than the west side. But the water from the drains flows into the narrower channel. When the water is high the drains create a turbulence and cause a bottleneck, sending the water back into the neighborhoods."

Brush also believes the large bridge supports also slow the flow of the water when it rises to a higher level. "This bridge could have been built without placing the supports in the waterway. I am not an engineer, but it is obvious it could have been designed better. We want the concrete step removed so that the west side will have a wider flow." Brush did meet with a City engineer a few months ago who said the gully needed an engineering study. However, Brush has been unable to reach the engineer by phone to find out if the study will happen.

The Brickhouse Gully retention pond is scheduled to be constructed by the Flood Control District this year along US 290 near West 43rd. Brush is uncertain if this will help because of its location. "The gully needs to be reconstructed to solve the problem in our area," he says. According to Brush, the County engineer has been very helpful, but the city has not responded to his calls about the problem.

Now Langwood residents have learned that 268 homes in their neighborhood have been placed in the floodway along Brickhouse Gully. They have also just begun to realize the implications of what the floodway designation means for improving and selling their homes. The floodway ordinance restricts substantial improvements that cost 50% or more of the value of the structure over a 10 year period. No building on vacant land in the floodway is allowed. Because of the restrictions, floodway property is devalued.

The Langwood II Civic Club made numerous attempts to have a meeting with city officials on their flooding and floodway issues. Finally, Council Member Toni Lawrence agreed to attend the February Civic Club meeting. Residents were given notice that the Civic Club was hosting the Council Member and urged the residents to attend. On the night of the meeting the room was filled with those eager to hear the Council Member. However, she did not make an appearance at the meeting.

Residents did have an opportunity to discuss the floodway ordinance with knowledgeable members of the Floodway Coalition of Houston in attendance.Many residents expressed disbelief when told about the floodway restrictions. One resident said he has lived in the neighborhood for 45 years. "I raised a family here,'' he said. "I thought I could get something out of my home." Many other residents were distraught upon learning that their property values in the floodway would plummet. "That's not supposed to happen in America," one elderly woman echoed. Most residents at the meeting had never been flooded and could not understand why they were in a floodway. They believe that if Brickhouse Gully was reconstructed there would be no flooding in their neighborhood.

At the close of the meeting, Civic Club president Gwyn Childress told the members that she regrets that the Council Member did not appear. "People came here tonight to ask her some important questions."