Hurricane Harvey tagged interest

The Houston Public Library (HPL) is celebrating the grand reopening of the Flores Neighborhood Library after it closed four years ago following heavy flooding and damages caused by Hurricane Harvey. Mayor Sylvester Turner joined other dignitaries and community leaders at a virtual ribbon-cutting earlier today to mark the library’s highly anticipated return. For the foreseeable future, the Flores Neighborhood Library at 110 North Milby will offer limited public services in keeping with health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to Mayor Turner, special guests participating in the ceremony included  HPL Library Director, Rhea Brown Lawson, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Representative and Consul General H.E Saeed Almheiri, Houston Public Library Foundation Chair Licia Green Ellis, Council Member Karla Cisneros, and Super Neighborhood Second Ward #63, President Roy Lira. 

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“The reopening of the Flores Neighborhood Library is a testament to what is possible when members of the community come together in support of a shared goal – in this instance restoration and revitalization of a community institution – the public library. I am grateful for UAE and many others for demonstrating the true spirit of Houston,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.

UAE’s generous $800,000 donation was part of their citywide Harvey reconstruction campaign and allowed the Flores Neighborhood Library to undergo a substantial transformation. The remodeled library features a new and expanded children’s area with a technology lab and access to a children’s patio learning space; a new and expanded teen area with upgraded technology; an adult area with new computers, new seating, and access to the patio; a new computer lab; and an updated meeting room.

“The Flores Neighborhood Library served as a critical resource for learning and access to technology that the community relied upon before it was closed,” stated Dr. Lawson, HPL Director, “We are beyond thrilled that Flores will reopen with curbside services initially, and, thanks to the generous support provided by UAE, when fully reopened, Flores will offer more robust and advanced technology and programs, especially for children.”

“The UAE has long-standing ties to Houston, and we are proud to help this great city. We are delighted to be a part of the revitalization of the Flores Neighborhood Library,” said Consul General Al Mehairi. “This library can begin serving this community once again with important literary programming and technology resources. We look forward to continuing to work with Mayor Turner and the City of Houston to support their recovery.”

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In addition to the UAE’s support for the new Flores Library, the broader recovery program will support the creation of a short-term housing facility for the Homeless Navigation Center, the new community center run by local nonprofit Avenue CDC, and the expansion of Houston Health Department services, including new mobile health clinics. The Greater Houston Community Foundation oversees and manages the grant funds for the specific projects. The organization administered the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, founded by Mayor Turner and then-County Judge Ed Emmett.