Controversy Continues

Demolition days: Crews dismantle Maryland Manor apartments to prepare for controversial Ashby high-rise

The future site of the controversial Ashby high-rise was surprisingly serene early Monday afternoon, as workers prepped the acre-and-a-half lot at 1717 Bissonnet for the full-scale demolition of the ill-fated Maryland Manor apartments.

This week, contractors from the El Paso-based Hunt Building Company are hauling away refrigerators, dishwashers and other potentially salvageable items — marking each empty apartment with an spray-painted X as they make their way through the complex.

According to one worker, heavy machinery is expected to arrive next week to level the cluster of eight residential buildings, most dating from 1955. Demolition is slated to be complete by early June.

In late March, the building project saw the sudden departure of construction company Linbeck Group LLC, whose executive chairman, Leo Linbeck III, lives near the forthcoming 21-story residential tower.

In a statement last month, Linbeck noted that his firm "wanted to minimize construction impact on the neighborhood," but withdrew due to disagreements with the project's main construction partner Hunt Building Company. Developers Kevin Kirton and Matthew Morgan of Buckhead Investment Partners said the split was amicable.

As per a construction permit posted at the site, Hunt is working with Cherry Demolition to dismantle the Maryland Manor apartments. Buckhead has yet to announce a replacement building partner.

Citing the city's famous lack of zoning, mayor Annise Parker officially backed away from the fight against the project in February 2012. Despite continued grassroots efforts led by the Stop Ashby High Rise group, the project moves forward. Nearly every property surrounding the site dons the yellow anti-high-rise "Tower of Traffic" sign.

Representatives from both Buckhead and the Stop Ashby organization were not immediately available for comment.

After almost four years of red tape, demolition begins at Maryland Manor to make way for a controversial 21-story residential tower.

Photo by Tyler Rudick

After almost four years of red tape, demolition begins at Maryland Manor to make way for a controversial 21-story residential tower.

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rent affordability news

Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025

Photo courtesy of Dolce Midtown Apartments

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A new rental report from Zillow has revealed Houston renters need to make about 23 percent more money than they did five years ago in order to afford rent in 2025.

Zillow analysts examined the income needed to afford rent in 50 major U.S. metros, and determined rent prices in each city as of April 2025.

The average Houston renter needs to make $67,731 a year to afford living in the city, the report found. To afford rent for a single-family home, the income needed increases even further to $85,017.

Despite Houston's rising rent cost of living, it's still more affordable than many other cities. Nationally, the average income needed for someone to comfortably afford rent comes out to nearly $81,000. The study says that figure has increased nearly 35 percent since 2020.

"Housing costs have surged since pre-pandemic, with rents growing quite a bit faster than wages," said senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. "This often leaves little room for other expenses, making it particularly difficult for those hoping to save for a down payment on a future home. High upfront costs are often overlooked, which can keep renters in their current homes."

Rent prices in Houston averaged $1,693 last month, which is less costly than the national average rent price of $2,024. Additionally, Houstonians are spending about 24 percent of their income on rent, while the typical American spends almost 30 percent of their income on rent.

Renters are also saving hundreds of dollars in comparison to those that own their homes, as a recent SmartAsset study discovered the median monthly housing costs for a Houston homeowner came out to $2,219.

At least we're not living on the East or West Coast, where eight U.S. metros require six-figure incomes to afford rent. Residents in San Jose, California need to make $136,532 a year to afford rent, the highest out of all 50 U.S. cities. Rent prices in San Jose came out to $3,413 in April.

Here's how much money renters need to afford living in other Texas metros, according to Zillow:

Dallas – $71,413
Austin – $68,840
San Antonio – $58,590

zillow housing report rent prices affordability houston