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Mary Moody Northern Endowment to assemble green space after council approves Broadway/Seeley alley abandonment
Summary
The Galveston City Council unanimously approved abandoning about 3,430 sq ft of alley adjacent to Broadway and Seeley to allow the Mary Moody Northern Endowment to unify parcels for a publicly accessible green space near Moody Mansion.
The Galveston City Council on July 24 voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to abandon roughly 3,430 square feet of alley right-of-way in the block bounded by Rosenberg/20th Street, Broadway, 20th Street and Seeley, planning staff said.
Betty Massey, representing the Mary Moody Northern Endowment, told the council the endowment purchased the property in October and intends to unify parcels — including the parcel that formerly held a Dairy Queen — to create a green space for public use adjacent to Moody Mansion. Massey said the Seeley portion of the property will remain a landscaped parking lot primarily serving Moody Mansion and the children’s museum, and that the green space could host farmers markets and small outdoor concerts.
Staff and the planning commission recommended approval of the abandonment (planning case 24P043). The fire marshal reviewed the proposal and raised no objections, according to staff. After public comment, a council member moved to approve the proposal as presented by staff; the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters
The abandonment will allow the property owner to legally close and consolidate the alley area with adjacent parcels, enabling redevelopment into a green space. The endowment emphasized compatibility with Moody Mansion and the iconic Broadway/Bridal intersection, noting the site’s proximity to the Texas Heroes Monument.
Details and next steps
- Abandoned area: approximately 3,430 square feet (planning case 24P043). - Applicant: Mary Moody Northern Endowment (representative Betty Massey). - Planning commission recommendation: approval. - Council action: ordinance approved unanimously July 24. - Implementation: staff to record ordinance and update property records; planning staff to coordinate final platting and recordation steps.
Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the public hearing and staff presentation portions of the meeting.
