By late Saturday afternoon, the now-familiar flash of fire engines along Westheimer Road was back again. A vacant commercial building near Westheimer and South Voss went up in flames shortly before 5 p.m., in what neighbors say is at least the fourth fire at the property in recent months. Houston Fire Department crews moved in quickly to put out the blaze and reported no injuries, but the smoke stirred up plenty of anger on the block.
Owner: 'It's Ruining My Business'
Next door at Stockyard Bar-B-Q, owner Louay Joubarani says the troubled strip is torching more than just plywood and old wiring. Repeated fires, break-ins and loitering at the empty building have scared off customers and cut into his revenue. "It's ruining my business," he told reporters, adding that he has spent months asking for help from police, fire officials and his city council member, according to KHOU.
Long-running Headaches, Citations And A Deadline
Neighbors say the problem did not start with this latest blaze. Since the property changed ownership, they have reported vandalism, busted-out windows and people sheltering in the vacant units. In December, Houston Chronicle reporting noted that Houston Public Works had posted a notice ordering the owner to either demolish or repair the site, and that the city had already issued dozens of citations tied to the property.
Where This Is Happening
The decaying strip sits just off the intersection of Westheimer Road and South Voss, pressed right up against Stockyard Bar-B-Q. The restaurant’s website lists its address as 6504 Westheimer Road, placing it directly beside the vacant building that neighbors say has been repeatedly broken into and tagged with vandalism, according to business listings and the restaurant’s own Stockyard Bar-B-Q site.
Investigation Ongoing
Investigators have not yet released information on what caused Saturday’s fire, and city officials did not immediately respond to questions about the property or any next steps, according to KHOU. Neighbors and the barbecue owner say they are hoping this latest round of sirens finally forces the city’s hand, whether that means tougher enforcement or outright demolition, a frustration and expectation previously documented by the Chronicle.
