Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Smokesacks Controversy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors say proposed five‑story "Smokesacks" sculpture and donor plaza violate City Arts Ordinance; MOCA staff say permitting and outreach are planned
Summary
Residents told the Arts and Culture Committee that a proposed five‑story sculpture called "Smokesacks" and associated Kansinger Plaza lack required council approval and sufficient community engagement, while city cultural staff said the project owner has a contract, permitting and community outreach are pending and the office plans to update the ordinance.
Community members told the City of Houston Arts and Culture Committee they oppose a proposed five‑story sculpture called "Smokesacks" and a donor plaza (Kansinger Plaza) at 2511 Carrollton Street, arguing the installation violates the City Arts Ordinance and was advanced without required council approval.
Corina Yannica Oblast, speaking for the Fond du Civic Club, said the arts ordinance requires council approval for projects of this scale and that the application "was not obtained." She criticized the lack of early community engagement and warned that placing a five‑story work in a narrow residential strip near Fondy Park and the University of Houston could create traffic and safety problems. "If this project is permitted ... it will set the precedent," Oblast said, adding that the work is larger than the ordinance’s usual 10‑foot threshold.
The Office of Cultural Affairs representative responded that MOCA is aware the ordinance needs updating and that the office plans to engage the community and invite dialogue with the Orange Show, which the presentation said had entered into a contract to host the work. The MOCA representative noted that ground‑touching public artworks must undergo public works permitting (engineering, design, code review and inspections) before installation and that similar public–private partnerships have been used elsewhere in the city.
Residents raised specific site concerns: the project drawings submitted under contract show a plaza and donor naming on a narrow two‑lane street used as a connector to Fondy Park; speakers said there is limited shoulder and existing pavers and benches that would be affected. One resident suggested the piece might be better sited along Allen Parkway or other bayou locations.
Council members and MOCA staff said the committee will not resolve the dispute at the meeting and encouraged a community meeting hosted by Council Member Joaquin Martinez to continue the conversation and coordinate any required permitting steps.
No formal committee vote or permit decision was made; MOCA said it will pursue community engagement, technical permitting and further discussion with stakeholders.
