Round Top’s ‘Outsiders’: Perception vs. Reality

Recent discussions about the Round Top Precinct Courthouse brings up a deeper story – the perception of “outsiders” changing the tiny hamlet in northern Fayette County.

“Round Top has been changing for a long time,” said Round Top Mayor Judith Vincent.

She knows the perception very well. Vincent is a registered voter in Round Top. But she also owns a home in Houston with a homestead exemption for property taxes. The Record spoke with Vincent after a few folks brought this to our attention this week.

“I don’t mind people asking questions, but my residency is very clear,” Vincent said.

Vincent joined the Town Council in May of 2023. She ran unopposed for Mayor last year.

According to voter registration information publicly available from the Fayette County Elections Office, Vincent’s residence is located within the Town of Round Top, in the 400 block of E. Mill St. Her voter registration also lists a mailing address in the 6000 block of Nantucketwood Ln. in Houston’s Greater Uptown neighborhood.

Harris County Appraisal District records list Vincent as the owner of the home on Nantucketwood Ln., and it shows a homestead exemption for the property.

Vincent told the Record this week that she is in the process of “terminating” the homestead exemption for the Houston property.

According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, “In order for a property owner to qualify for the general residence homestead exemption, the owner must have an ownership interest in the property and occupy the property as the owner’s principal residence.”

Deed records at the Fayette County Clerk’s Office show “Featherfound LLC” as the owner of the 25-acre property in Round Top listed on Vincent’s voter registration. Vincent is the owner of that company. Public information from the Texas Comptroller’s Office shows a mailing address the same as Vincent’s home in Houston.

“It’s a real estate holding company,” Vincent said. “It’s my property and I live there.”

Vincent said she will not be able to obtain a homestead exemption on the Round Top property since it is owned by her LLC.

“That just means more tax money for Fayette County,” she said.

Vincent’s LLC has a website, featherfound.com. It appears as only a landing page that says “bespoke real estate development” along with “(F) eatherfound is a real estate development company that creates uniquely tailored spaces.”

The Record asked Vincent whether she has any plans to develop the 25 acres for a residential subdivision or commercial development.

“Absolutely not,” she said.

“This is my home.”

Vincent said she understands how natives can feel alienated from the town they grew up in. But she said newcomers add to the town’s commerce and growth.

“People are lashing out about people from Houston retiring here,” said Vincent, who is one of those Houston retirees herself. “But we cannot stop that.”