CVCAA Officials announced today that they are pausing the development of the recently proposed low-income housing development. Officials cite continued misinformation about the planned development on Gas Plant Road.
CVCAA Executive Director Mike Burnett made the following announcement through an open letter posted on local social media.
“After careful consideration, CVCAA is pausing development of the proposed Rock Rose Campus at the Gas Plant Road property.
“This was not an easy decision. We continue to believe in the need. We continue to believe in the people. And we continue to believe that San Angelo needs more housing and support options for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, and economic hardship. Unfortunately, continuing at the current location has become untenable.
“Like many community development projects, Rock Rose has gone through a lengthy process that included property negotiations, due diligence, preliminary planning, conversations with partners, and early discussions with local officials. Such conversations yielded positive results and community support. Those activities are a normal part of determining whether a project is feasible and responsible. During that phase, it is neither practical nor appropriate to conduct every conversation in a public forum. Certain discussions, particularly those involving real estate negotiations, contract terms, financing, and preliminary planning, must occur before a project is ready to be formally presented. At the same time, we have worked to be as transparent as possible when information was ready to be shared and decisions were being considered.
“The misinformation being shared online has been a large part of this decision to pause the project, but it is not its exclusive driver. I would like to take a moment to answer such feedback. We recognize and respect that community members have questions and concerns. Public discussion is an important part of any project of this size. Unfortunately, much of the conversation surrounding Rock Rose has been shaped by information that lacks context, misrepresents the project, or does not reflect the facts as they have been presented. Throughout this process, we have worked to communicate openly, share accurate information, answer questions honestly, and correct misinformation when it has surfaced. We believe our community is best served when discussions are rooted in facts, even when there are differing opinions about the right path forward. Our commitment has been, and remains, to be transparent, factual, and respectful. We are proud of how we coordinated this effort and stand by what we did to inform the local community and our partners.
“Prior to the rezoning process, CVCAA mailed information directly to property owners adjacent to the proposed site, both within the city and in the county. We did so because we felt it was the right thing to do and because we wanted neighbors to hear directly from us rather than through rumors or social media. We were not required to do so, but did so as a courtesy and in good faith. We did not send mailings to non-adjacent county properties because they were not directly neighboring the proposed campus. Of course, while we can provide information, we cannot control whether every recipient reads or engages with it.
“As the public debate has intensified, the noise surrounding the project has begun to overshadow the purpose of the project itself. The focus has shifted away from solutions and toward conflict. That is not productive for our community, our partners, or the people we serve. CVCAA’s mission, “CVCAA uplifts and empowers all people in the Concho Valley through service, partnership, and advocacy,” is our most sacred tenet and one that we will continue to live by and honor.
“As it is, the reality remains unchanged: San Angelo is facing a growing housing and homelessness challenge. These are not abstract issues. They involve real people: veterans, seniors, working families, people with disabilities, individuals recovering from crises, and neighbors who simply need a stable place to rebuild their lives. In short, they are our neighbors.
All people deserve compassion. All deserve dignity. And all deserve thoughtful solutions.
“We are not blind to a difficult truth, however. Wherever supportive housing, affordable housing, or services for vulnerable populations are proposed, there will almost always be concerns about location. There is rarely a site that everyone agrees on. There is no magic address where opposition disappears. Communities across Texas and across the nation wrestle with these same challenges.
“CVCAA did not enter this process casually. We conducted research. We consulted experts. We engaged partners. We reviewed data. We approached this project with experience, care, and a commitment to doing what is right for our community.
“Pausing Rock Rose does not mean walking away from our mission or a vision of a place of belonging for all people who find themselves in need. It means stepping back to evaluate the best path forward. We remain committed to serving low-income households, ALICE families, and individuals experiencing homelessness. That commitment is not changing.
“We want to thank everyone who engaged respectfully, asked thoughtful questions, offered feedback, and shared their perspectives throughout this process. We remain committed to listening, learning, and working toward solutions that strengthen our community.
The need has not gone away. Neither have we.”
Sincerely,
Mike Burnett, Executive Director
Staff and Board of Directors
