Construction fencing has gone up around a fire-damaged warehouse in Houston, raising hopes among nearby business owners that something will finally be done about a property they’ve complained about for years.

The warehouse at 6536 Supply Row has been a source of frustration for neighbors, who say they’ve repeatedly contacted the City of Houston about trespassing, homeless encampments and a water leak that has gone unresolved.

“Oh goodness, probably over 20 times in two years,” said Brooke Hinton, a third-generation owner of an air filter supply company next door.

Hinton said her frustration with the property prompted her to contact KHOU 11.

“We’ve got a lot of homeless people that still live here; they’ve tapped into the water line, and it has been flowing for almost two years,” Hinton said.

The dead end of Supply Row, which leads to a historic cemetery, has become flooded with standing water. During a visit to the property, KHOU 11 observed multiple people entering and leaving the building over several hours.

“It’s constant,” Hinton said.

Site of deadly 2024 warehouse fire

The warehouse is also the site of a deadly fire that claimed the life of Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia in 2024.

Garcia died while battling the blaze after a wall collapsed. A woman experiencing homelessness was charged with starting the fire.

Hinton said she had met Garcia just months before his death when he responded to another fire near her business.

“And it was very sad because we had met him a couple of months before that because he had put out a fire for us too,” she said.

City officials respond to complaints

KHOU 11 reached out to city officials about the ongoing concerns surrounding the property.

At least two Houston City Council offices responded to questions about the building, including the office of At-Large Position 4 Council Member Alejandra Salinas.

“Thank you for including our office in this thread and bringing this issue to our awareness. We will work collaboratively to resolve this,” a spokesperson for Salinas said.

A spokesperson for Mayor John Whitmire’s office also responded to the inquiry.

The property owner, who works nearby, declined an interview with KHOU 11 but cited bureaucratic hurdles as a reason the situation has remained unresolved.

Hinton said she hopes the city and property owner can find a solution.

“Clean up the business, tear it down, rebuild, whatever it takes,” Hinton said. “But get the riffraff out and get the other people living there; you know, they need to find other places to go. There’s a mission down the street.”

Demolition on hold pending investigation

Houston Public Works confirmed that demolition of the fire-damaged warehouse is currently on hold because of an ongoing investigation by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

In a statement to KHOU 11, the department said:

“Houston Public Works is aware of community concerns regarding the fire-damaged property at 6536 Supply Row.

“Demolition activities are currently on hold at the request of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office due to an ongoing investigation. The hold is expected to expire on November 6, 2026.

“Once clearance is received, Houston Public Works will proceed with the demolition process, unless the property owner takes appropriate corrective action.”

For now, neighbors are waiting to see whether the fencing signals progress toward addressing the property.

The city has not announced a demolition date.