An abandoned property identified as a public nuisance and illegal dumping site is once again causing major problems in Cloverleaf. The property, located near the intersection of Corpus Christi and Freeport, was cleaned up by Harris County on April 25, just weeks after KPRC 2 first reported on the safety and health concerns raised by neighbors.
However, a month later, a fire on the same property spread to an apartment complex, leaving several families without homes.
Watasa Ohiai, a resident, described the chaos leading up to the fire.
“Last night, about 9:30, my bedroom was up against that fence. I heard some people back there talking and banging stuff around. I thought, ‘Man, those vagrants are back there again.’ I’m going to call 911.”
A few moments later, the abandoned structure on the property was engulfed in flames, forcing Ohijai and others from their homes. “This was the place I called home. Now, I don’t have a home,” he said, visibly upset. His unit, along with nine others, was destroyed.
“I’m so upset. I just want to get out of here,” Ohijai added.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that the fire started on the abandoned property and is still under investigation. Neighbors believe squatters may be to blame.
During the cleanup on April 25, crews discovered at least eight squatters living on the property, two of whom were wanted felons.
“That did not stop them!” Ohijai explained. “As soon as the bulldozer and tractor shut down, they were there every night.”
The cleanup was part of Harris County’s Public Health Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement Program.
During the cleanup, the abandoned home and garage were also scheduled for demolition, but the work was rescheduled because of the amount of trash on the property.
Luis Holguin, a resident of the nearby apartment complex that was spared from the fire, expressed hope that officials would act quickly to remove what remains of the abandoned home and garage.
“For the last three years, it’s gotten really bad. We have people coming at all sorts of times in the odd hours of the night, buying illegal stuff and stealing electricity and water,” he said.
KPRC 2 reached out to Harris County Public Health to inquire about the timeline for demolishing the property. Officials stated that the plan is to complete the demolition within the next 10 to 14 days.
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