It’s now illegal to sit or lie down on sidewalks at Magnolia Park in Houston’s East End – Houston Public Media

It's now illegal to sit, lie down or place personal items on sidewalks in East End's Magnolia Park neighborhood.

Houston City Council added the area to the city's civility ordinance on Thursday. The East End Management District had petitioned for the change , while the super neighborhood group for the area had pushed back.

The Harrisburg Boulevard corridor saw an uptick in the number of unhoused people following the opening of the easternmost station on METRO's Green Line in 2017 as well as the relocation of Greyhound bus services to the area in 2023.

Council member Joaquin Martinez, who represents the area, said there's been a gradual increase over the last few years of "folks camping out on the sidewalks all hours of the day."

"We've had several businesses come to us that were even speaking of shutting down," he said. "And so this was something we had to act on quickly, understanding that this is not the only solution."

He attributed the growing unhoused population to a variety of factors, including the new transit stations as well as the rapid redevelopment in the area.

"It's very complex, right? It's not just one variable that we can say, 'This is what it was,'" Martinez said. "(The civility ordinance) is just part of the solution. We're hoping to see some good results, but also know that there's still a lot of work to be done."

Martinez said he hopes to see increased funding from the state for social services, like substance abuse treatment and mental healthcare.

During a public hearing on the rules in late October, residents were split on the proposal. Some argued it criminalizes homelessness, while others said it was necessary for public safety.

At the hearing, Houston Mayor John Whitmire called for a "zero tolerance" approach to the unhoused population in the area and promised the unveiling of a city-sponsored encampment, adding that "the homeless in public space is just not going to be acceptable."

Whitmire said on Oct. 30 that it would be rolled out "if not this week, next week," but details on the location, size and timeline of the encampment remain unknown. A spokesperson for the mayor last week said the public can expect more information "very soon."

Magnolia Park is the 12th area in Houston where the civility ordinance is in effect. It joins the Central Business District, Midtown, Old Sixth Ward, Avondale, Greater Hyde Park, East Downtown Management District, Historic Neath Northside, South Post Oak and West Bellfort, Near Northside, Riverside Terrace and Museum Park.