In 2002 St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital was engaging in an expansion project.Lake, Deborah Mann. "More construction for medical center / Study shows minimal impact on Southgate residents during St. Luke's expansion project." Houston Chronicle. Thursday October 17, 2002. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on October 23, 2012. In January 2003 some residents asked the City of Houston to reclassify University Boulevard as a residential street in order to control the amount of traffic on the street.Lake, Deborah Mann. "University Boulevard residents fight street closure / Traffic idea divides Southgate neighborhood." Houston Chronicle. Thursday January 9, 2003. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on October 23, 2012. The Southgate Civic Club asked for a street closure on Southgate Boulevard to prevent traffic from the Texas Medical Center from reaching the subdivision. In late December 2003 the City of Houston Public Works Department closed a portion of Southgate Boulevard to block Medical Center traffic.Kilday, Anne Marie. "Traffic count to measure effect of Southgate closure." Houston Chronicle. Thursday March 25, 2004. Retrieved on October 23, 2012. In 2003, on weekdays, 38% of the vehicle traffic on Southgate Boulevard did not originate from the neighborhood.Lake, Deborah Mann. "Some say closing Southgate won't help / Residents claim plan to stop traffic useless." Houston Chronicle. Thursday November 20, 2003. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on October 23, 2012. The Houston Fire Department had stated opposition to the street closures.Lake, Deborah Mann. "HFD blocks street closings / Opposition is a big blow to Southgate residents' plan." Houston Chronicle. Thursday October 30, 2003. ThisWeek 7. Retrieved on October 23, 2012. In December 2003 the City of Houston closed Southgate east of Travis Street, preventing commuters to a St. Luke's office building from parking in the neighborhood.Lake, Deborah Mann. "Cutting off Southgate drivers / Street closed east of Travis to lessen neighborhood traffic." Houston Chronicle. Thursday December 18, 2003. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on October 23, 2012. Deborah Mann Lake of the Houston Chronicle. said that the closure of Southgate Boulevard did not bring very many complaints.Lake, Deborah Mann. "Closing of Southgate brings few complaints." Houston Chronicle. Thursday December 25, 2003. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on October 23, 2012.
