HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENTS DON'T WANT HALFWAY HOUSE

Highland Park residents are circulating a petition that opposes a home in
the area being used as a halfway house for people who have been addicted to
drugs and alcohol.

Kathy Owen, the principal at Highland Park Elementary, is circulating a
petition that had 90 signatures on it Friday afternoon. She said there are
other people in the neighborhood, including parents, circulating petitions.

"I thought, I don't like that, that worries me," she said. "I was really
concerned about having that within a half a block from the school."

The issue first surfaced at a Texarkana, Texas, Planning and Zoning
Commission meeting last month when Fred Walker, who is leasing the property
at 2308 Walnut St., presented it to the commission.

Walker told the Gazette on Friday that someone reported treatment would be
conducted at the home when, in fact, it will not, and that is why it went
before the commission.

"They (commission) are working to see if there is any kind of zone
requirement," he said.

At the commission's meeting, Walker told the members the residents are not
being provided any type of treatment or counseling on the premises. He told
them it was a home for people who have recently graduated from a detox or
residential treatment program.

"I don't see it as a threat to the community at all," he said. "We haven't
created any problems."

However, Owen wrote a letter to city officials, but she was told a petition
and presence at the commission's next meeting, slated for Jan. 5, would be
more helpful. She said she just started with a very quiet campaign, but
said "it's just kind of grown."

"My concern is that in our neighborhood we have to keep our doors locked as
it is," said Owen. "We already have strange people wandering around, and we
don't need to add to that."

Owen said schoolchildren walk home on the street where the home is and
safety is a concern. Plus, she said, the neighborhood has experienced a
revitalization, with people buying homes and restoring them, and should be
a "nice place for families to live."

"We want families to be in our community. We think it should be zoned for
families," said Owen. "Houses here are being bought by young families."

Walker said the proposed center would house eight residents, and there
would be one person staying there as a full-time supervisor.

"It's a structured and clean environment," he said. "They are working on
becoming a productive part of the community."

Planning and Zoning Director Shirley Jaster said they are trying to work on
classifying this type of use.

"We're confused as to where to put it in the ordinance," she said.

Jaster said it would be addressed at the next commission meeting, and the
members will listen to both sides carefully before making any decisions.
"They are going to be listening to what is being said at the meeting and
base their decision on that," she said.

Greg Davis, the chairman of the commission, also has his concerns.

"I think it's an outstanding service they are trying to provide," he said.
"My concern is the safety of the neighborhood."

Davis said a home like this one belongs in the city, but he is not sure it
needs to be close to the elementary school.

"We just need to make sure we put it in the right spot," he said.