Community Opposes Expansion of Half Way House

The Beaumont Enterprise recently reported opposition to the expansion of the Gulf Street halfway house, a private facility owned by Cornell Cos, a Houston-based private prison corporation. The change would have added 50-beds to the 180-bed Beaumont Transitional Treatment Center.

It appears that one of the primary reasons for opposition was the belief that expansion of the center would undermine the land value in the area.

Robert Reyna, Beaumont Housing Authority director, was opposed to the expansion because of the potentially detrimental impact on a $20 million Hope IV housing development that would bring 170 apartments and 83 single-family homes to the former South Texas State Fairgrounds.

Company represenatives stated they withdrew the propsal for expansion after hearing from residents.