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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
2022
ONLII NE AT
A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 JAN. 8 FEB. 1, 2022
TOP STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
The next wave rises
New variant responsible for 86.7% of cases in Texas region as of Dec. 28 Omicron
IMPACTS
6
ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE 2022
Children
Roughly 10% of children ages 5-11 vaccinated in Harris County as of Jan. 2
Treatment
2 oral treatments
seeking emergency use authorization
SOURCES: U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, HARRIS COUNTY, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Emilia May eld rolls up her sleeve to receive her COVID 19 vaccine from nurse Staysha Hampton during a Texas Children’s Hospital and city of Houston COVID 19 vaccination clinic Dec. 17. (Courtesy Texas Children’s Hospital)
9
Omicron, vaccine lawsuits cloud coronavirus outlook in 2022 BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & HUNTER MARROW
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The trend led the CDC to predict between 19,700-30,500 new COVID-19 deaths nationally during the week ending Jan. 29. “The omicron variant ... is extremely contagious,” Houston’s Medical Direc- tor Dr. David Persse said at a Dec. 29 press conference. “There has been a lot of narrative about how it also causes a mild illness. A small per- centage of those folks who become infected are going to require hospital- ization ... but a small percentage of a
really big number is still a big number. Our hospitals need to be functional for everyone.” The rst cases of the omicron vari- ant in Houston were con rmed with tests given on the evening of Dec. 9, Houston Health Department o cials said. The con rmed cases include a female in her 20s and a male in his 30s, neither of whom had traveled recently, suggesting community spread of the variant. While the omicron variant is still being studied, Houston health CONTINUED ON 20
The rate of eligible Harris County residents getting vaccinated for the coronavirus rose steadily throughout 2021, but with a new variant emerging and a holiday-fueled spike inbound, projections from disease experts sug- gest the immediate future for the virus may look more like the past. The omicron variant of the corona- virus was already starting to spread nationwide by mid-December, prior to the family gatherings that took place during the holidays, according to the
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
WORSHIP WITH US Discover how to cultivate healthy and joy-filled relationships in our fall sermon series SAT • 6PM + SUN • 9:30 & 11:11AM, 11AM (ESPAÑOL) CONNECT TO A BIBLE STUDY CLASS Find community at a weekend Bible Study Class for your age and stage SAT • 5PM | SUN • 8:15, 9:30 & 11AM WOODWAY CAMPUS YOU BELONG HERE!
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DR . ED YOUNG , PASTOR | 6400 WOODWAY DR AT VOSS RD | SECOND.ORG
In this garden, spirits are nourished and the seeds of leadership are planted. Created by the Seabrook Rotaract club and their community partners for neighbors to enjoy, the two-acre garden inspires, connects, and transforms, which is what Rotary members in Houston and around the world do best. Learning by growing — that’s what people of action do. Learnmore at RotaryinHouston.org
3
HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION • JANUARY 2022
Award-winning GI surgery and gastroenterology meet humankindness.
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report to be among the country’s best in GI surgery and gastroenterology.
To us, it means recognition for our relentless work, innovative clinical care, and groundbreaking research. To you, it means access to state-of-the-art gastroenterology and GI surgery treatments, delivered with humankindness.
Learn more at stlukeshealth.org.
4
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHISMONTH
FROM JAY: Happy New Year to our loyal readers. As we enter 2022 together, we are really excited to bring you our Annual Community Guide. We continue to deal with COVID-19 and the next wave as our lead story takes a look at the future outlook of the pandemic. In addition, we review ood-control plans to reduce damage along Brays, Hunting and White Oak bayous. Please shop local and enjoy this edition. Jay McMahon, GENERALMANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROMSHAWN: Our Annual Community Guide is packed full of stories that will be relevant to our area in 2022, including local road projects, ood control initiatives and Houston ISD’s pursuit to adopt a new strategic plan. Shawn Arrajj, SENIOR EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
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SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anya Gallant ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dimitri Skoumpourdis METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kristina Shackelford MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er ART PRODUCTIONMANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CORPORATE LEADERSHIP GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan SALES &MARKETING DIRECTOR Tess Coverman CONTACT US
BUSINESS &DINING Local business development news that a ects you
TRANSPORTATION &DEVELOPMENT Regular updates on area projects to keep you in the know
SCHOOL, CITY & COUNTY We attend area meetings to keep you informed
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Join your neighbors today by giving any amount to the CI Patron program. Funds support our PATRON PROGRAM
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Our local teams customize advertising
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JANUARY 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened, are coming soon or relocating
1
W. 34TH ST.
4
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290
W. 22ND ST.
20TH ST.
W. 19TH ST.
W. 18TH ST.
T. C. JESTER BLVD.
Honeychild’s Sweet Creams
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COURTESY HEIRLOOM INTERACTIVE
W. 11TH ST.
the Italian food. The drinks menu will be overseen by mixologist Alba Huerta. 713-804-0429. www.trattoriaso a.com 4 The rst brick-and-mortar location of Honeychild’s Sweet Creams opened Nov. 26 inside M-K-T Heights at 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 450, Houston. The mission-driven business, established by Kathleen Morgan in 2014, sources from purveyors such as Mill-King Creamery, Plant It Forward, PPF Farming Co. and Lightsey Farms. The shop sells cookies, ice cream, custards and other desserts. Available seating includes a long terrazzo table and bar seating with views into the kitchen. A Learning Library space allows guests access to books on subjects such as food, farming, race, gender, class and activism. 832-280-7854. www.honeychildsweetcreams.com 5 A new location of the boutique tness company Solidcore opened Nov. 20 in the M-K-T Heights development at 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 490, Houston. The company o ers what o cials call “Pilates rede ned” through a 50-minute full-body workout that uses a patented machine created speci cally for the studio. Classes are conducted in a low-lit room with blue lights and energizing music. 832-981-1075. www.solidcore.co 6 A combination Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins restaurant opened Dec. 17 at 3011 Ella Blvd., Houston. The restaurant o ers Wi-Fi for guests as well as a drive-thru. The store sells hot and iced co ees and a variety of breakfast items, such as doughnuts, bagels and mu ns. As a next generation brand of the store, the new location features a nitro-infused cold brew tap, espresso ma-
2 4 5
WHITE OAK DR.
WHITE OAK PARK
WASHINGTON AVE.
10
SUMMER ST.
MEMORIAL PARK
W A S
BUFFALO BAYOU PARK
610
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UPTOWN PARK BLVD.
45
8
11
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9
SAINT JAMES PLACE
527
RICHMOND AVE.
288
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MAP NOT TO SCALE N TM; © 2022 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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NOWOPEN 1 The newest location of Local Table opened Dec. 15 in the Garden Oaks area at 2003 W. 34th St., Houston. The eatery, Local Table’s fourth in Houston, focus- es on dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, including seafood, pizzas, sandwiches, and gluten-free and vege- tarian options. The 6,400-square-foot
building features a large private dining room for rent. 281-867-6257. www.eatatlocaltable.com 2 Mendocino Farms , a fast-casual restaurant known for its wide-ranging and seasonally inspired menu options, opened Dec. 14 in the M-K-T Heights development at 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 495, Hous- ton. The eatery specializes in sandwiches and salads that range from traditional to
more adventurous options. The menu also features grain bowls. 713-595-8972. www.mendocinofarms.com 3 Trattoria So a opened Nov. 26 at 911 W. 11th St., Houston, o ering what owners call rustic Italian food in a ro- mantic setting. The menu specializes in modern takes on classic Italian dishes. A drinks menu features a selection of wine and classic cocktails curated to match
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
COMING SOON 10 Bespoke hat designer Teressa Foglia will open a new store within the River Oaks District at 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston, in January. The company’s rst location in Texas, the store will be locat- ed in a 950-square-foot space between MAD and Bella Rinova Salon. The shop will o er a collection of high-quality and sustainable hats with an emphasis on Western designs. The River Oaks location will also o er on-site customization services. www.teressafoglia.com RELOCATIONS 11 Sesh Coworking has plans to move into a new 20,000-square-foot space in January at 2808 Caroline St., Ste. 201, in Houston’s Midtown area. The female-cen- tered and LGBTQ-a rming space will in- crease its size tenfold with the move. The new location will feature 25 o ces, three conference rooms, four phone booths, an amphitheater, a library, a demo kitchen, a pop-up retail shop, a locker room with showers and interactive art installations. Members will be able to access the space 24/7. O ce spaces can accommodate teams of up to 15 people. The o ces are currently located on West Clay Street in
chines and sustainable building materials. www.dunkindonuts.com 7 Kelsey-Seybold Clinic opened a new 22,000-square-foot clinic Dec. 8 at 1900 N. Loop W., Houston. The new clin- ic, which occupies the entire fourth oor of the building, has room for up to 10 providers and o ers comprehensive pri- mary care for adults. Patients have access to an on-site pharmacy, laboratory, X-ray and other diagnostic testing services as well as an extensive referral network of Kelsey-Seybold specialists with o ces at neighboring clinics. 713-442-3800. www.kelsey-seybold.com 8 Bspoke Title Holdings announced the opening of the boutique residential and commercial title o ce, Magnolia Title , in December at 1885 Saint James Place, Houston. The o ce o ers title experts services with a sta that oversees daily escrow, sales and administrative oper- ations of each agency. 346-353-8790. www.magnoliatitleinsurance.com 9 The eighth Houston-area retail location of Yeti opened in late November in Highland Village at 4048 Westheimer Road, Houston. The store carries the full Yeti product assortment of coolers, drinkware and bags, among other cus- tomizable items. The new location also features the YETI Garage, where custom- ers can customize Tundra Hard Coolers. 713-909-3121. www.yeti.com
LOCAL HOT SPOT
Autry Park
COURTESY AUTRY PARK
Three new restaurant concepts have been announced for Autry Park, the 14- acre mixed-use development underway at 911 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston. The project is being developed by Houston- based Hanover Co. and Lionstone Investments. www.autrypark.com NOWOPEN The new restaurants, all of which will open around spring 2022, include: Auden , which will be opened by Houston native Kirthan Shenoy and his wife, Kripa Shenoy, will o er a vegetable-forward menu with dishes that pay homage to Houston as a globally diverse city. The menu itself will be constantly evolving with a focus on sustainability, freshness and seasonality.
M
N
Annabelle’s , an American brasserie being launched by Berg Hospitality Group, will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere with views of Bu alo Bayou. Turner’s Cut , a luxury steakhouse that o cials said will bring “over-the-top design elements, complete with an opulent interior” will open in Autry Park next spring at 911 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston. The menu will o er rare cuts of meat from Japan and the Americas.
Houston. 281-764-9380. www.seshcoworking.com
7
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JANUARY 2022
Forward Progress.
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STOP CHILD ABUSE. END NEGLECT. If you see any combination of the following
signs in a child, please make a report! • Displays of hunger, stealing, hiding, or hoarding food. • Frequent injuries with a lack of parental communication or care. • Poor hygiene, scrapes, bruises, and cuts left unattended. • Clothing and belongings are dirty, worn, broken and clothes are inadequate for the weather. • Frequent unexplained school absences.
If you suspect a child is being neglected or abused please call Texas Family and Protective Services: 1-800-525-5400
8
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER IS PROUD TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS 2022 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
SILVER SPONSOR
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Sending you warm greetings this holiday season! Our o ce will continue to work with law enforcement agencies throughout the holidays to keep you safe. 1. Be mindful of your surroundings., 2. Do not drive, if you have been drinking., and 3. Get home safely so you can celebrate with your loved ones. (713) 274-5800 • HarrisCountyDA.com 500 Je erson St Suite #600, Houston, TX 77002
Legacy Community Health o ers comprehensive, quality health care services at 50 health care centers across southeast Texas. Legacy has been innovating how health care is delivered in our community for over 40 years. As the largest Federally Quali ed Health Center (FQHC) in Texas, their services are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay and without judgment. Learn more at www.legacycommunityhealth.org.
COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Data and information on local communities
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
Encompassing 637 square miles, the city of Houston is known for housing the Texas Medical Center, Hermann Park and Space Center Houston. The Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas also all fall within the city. THE HEIGHTS, RIVER OAKS AND MONTROSE
SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
HUNTER MARROW COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Houston
Houston ISD
Population growth in the city of Houston and Houston ISD both increased by around 10% between 2010 and 2020. Population changes
Quick community facts Year founded
2021-22 property tax rate (per $100 valuation)
Total 2021-22 budget expenditures $2.2B $5.1B
Total square miles
10-year population change Texas: +15.9%
2,099,451
1,312,684
2010
2010
1923 1836
333 637.4
$1.0944 $0.55083
2,304,580
1,482,147 +12.91%
2020
2020
+9.77%
Local demographics*
Aside from paying city taxes, most residents pay taxes to Harris County, Houston ISD and Houston Community College. 2021 22 property tax rates (per $100 valuation) Top tax rates
The percentage of White residents fell in Houston between 2010 and 2020. Hispanic and Latino residents rose in Houston but fell within HISD boundaries.
44%
43.1% 24.1% 23.1% 0.1% 6.6% 0.1% 0.5% 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino
23.7% 22.1% 0.2% 7.2% 0.1% 0.5% 2.2%
White
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska native
Asian
Native Hawaiian or other Paci c Islander
Some other race Two or more races
*ALL CATEGORIES LISTED ARE RACES, EXCEPT FOR HISPANIC OR LATINO, WHICH IS NOT A RACE. HOWEVER, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE RACES LISTED DO NOT INCLUDE HISPANIC OR LATINO RESIDENTS.
9
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JANUARY 2022
DINING
Restaurants that opened in 2021 or are coming in 2022
6 Homestead Kitchen & Bar 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 440, Houston 281 888 4697 www.homesteadkitchenandbar.com $$ B 7 Howdy Hot Chicken 3520 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston 832 831 8186 www.howdyhotchicken.com $ K 8 Hungry Like the Wolf 920 Studemont St., Ste. 900, Houston 346 320 2622 www.hungrylikethewol ouston.com $$ B H K 9 NoPo Cafe, Market & Bar 1244 N. Post Oak Road, Ste. 150, Houston 713 804 1244 www.nopocafe.com $$ B 10 Shandy’s 315 W. 19th St., Ste. A, Houston 713 485 0705 www.shandycafe.com $$ B H K 11 Southern Yankee Crafthouse 1312 W. Alabama St., Houston 346 320 2806 www.southernyankeebeer.com $$ B H 12 The Studewood Grill 1111 Studewood St., Houston 713 864 1100 www.thestudewoodgrill.com $$ H ASIAN 13 The Monk’s 126 Heights Blvd., Ste. 110, Houston 713 869 1916 www.monksusa.com $$ K 14 Nara Thai 4601 Washington Ave., Ste. 100, Houston 832 530 4069 www.naradining.com $$ H 15 Tesseract 3119 White Oak Drive, Houston COMING SOON 2022 16 Tin Drum Asian Kitchen
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T. C. JESTER BLVD.
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WHITE OAK PARK
WASHINGTON AVE.
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MEMORIAL PARK
NETT ST.
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Average entrees: $ Up to $9.99 $$ $10-$19.99 $$$ $20 or more
B Breakfast/brunch H Happy hour K Kids menu
4 Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse 4319 Montrose Blvd., Houston 713 393 7282 www.gatsbyssteakhouse.com $$ 5 Highline Park 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston www.highlineparkhtx.com $$ B
COMPILED BY SIERRA ROZEN
713 534 1746 www.thecookshack.com $$ K 3 FM Kitchen & Bar 907 Westheimer Road, Houston 832 509 5233 www.fmkitchenandbar.com $$ B H
AMERICAN 1 Andiron 3201 Allen Parkway, Ste. E110, Houston COMING SOON 2022 2 The Cook Shack 4015 Washington Ave., Ste. F, Houston
EMERGENCY CENTER ANY DAY, ANY NIGHT
10
OPEN 24 HOURS
v
a s h i n
MHEHC.COM 4000 WASHINGTON AVE. (281) 436-4566
10
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
www.clutchcityco eehtx.com $ B 23 Duo 2147 Westheimer Road, Houston 832 623 6078 www.duohouston.com $ B 24 Hella Bubble 2015 Yale St., Houston 281 888 9670 www.hellabubble.com $ FOODHALL 25 Railway Heights 8200 Washington Ave., Houston 713 485 4563 www.railwayheights.com $$ ITALIAN 26 Concura Italian Bites 4340 Westheimer Road, Ste. 150, Houston 832 997 4220 www.concurahouston.com $$$ MEXICAN 27 Casa Nomad 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 499, Houston 832 925 7484
www.casanomadhtx.com $$ 28 Idle Hands 910 Westheimer Road, Houston www.idlehandshouston.com $ 29 Paci c Coast Tacos 6329 Washington Ave., Houston 281 888 4885 www.paci ccoasttacos.com $$ B H K 30 The Taco Stand 2018 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston 832 409 6433 www.tacostandhtx.com $ B H K 31 Urbe Street Food Market 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., Ste. 12, Houston 713 726 8273 www.urbehouston.com $$ H K MIDDLE EASTERN 32 Rumi’s Place 1801 Post Oak Blvd., Houston www.rumiskitchen.com COMING SOON 2022
3
16
FM Kitchen & Bar
Tin Drum Asian Kitchen
COURTESY FM KITCHEN AND BAR
COURTESY HEIDI GELDHAUSER
1111 Shepherd Drive, Houston www.tindrumasiankitchen.com COMING SOON 2022 17 Trendy Vegan 3821 Richmond Ave., Houston 713 621 9488 www.trendyhouston.com $ BEER WINE COCKTAILS 18 NettBar 1717 W. 22nd St., Houston 832 991 8610 www.nettbarhouston.com COMING SOON 2022 19 Second Draught 4201 Main St., Ste. 130, Houston
www.bailesonbrewing.com COMING SOON 2022 20 SERCA Wines 447 Heights Blvd., Houston 713 405 0082 www.sercawines.com $$$
COFFEE TEA 21 Blendin Co ee 3201 Allen Parkway, Ste. 170, Houston 346 368 2895 www.blendinco eeclub.com $ B 22 Clutch City Co ee 4733 Richmond Ave., Houston 346 718 2197
This list is not comprehensive.
PrEP is an FDA-approved medica�on that, when taken once daily, offers people who do not have HIV a powerful way to protect themselves. PrEP significantly reduces the risk of contrac�ng HIV.
9 Locations Across Greater Houston
11
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JANUARY 2022
BUSINESS&ENTERTAINMENT
Local businesses that opened in 2021 or are coming in 2022
20TH ST.
5
T. C. JESTER BLVD.
W. 11TH ST.
8
2
7
1
9
WHITE OAK DR.
15 11 5
WHITE OAK PARK
WASHINGTON AVE.
10
Treadwell
COURTESY TREADWELL
3
MEMORIAL PARK
6
W A S
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BUFFALO BAYOU PARK
610
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UPTOWN PARK BLVD.
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Asch Building
COURTESY ASCH BUILDING
4
527
713 393 7871 www.forthepeoplehtx.com MEDICAL 11 Go Easy 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 120, Houston www.goeasy-shop.com 12 The Mind Spot 3000 Weslayan St., Ste. 140, Houston 713 804 9560 www.themindspothouston.com 13 Restore Dental 1110 W. Gray St., Ste. 220, Houston 281 768 8944 www.restoredentalmontrose.com 14 Scott Read Pharmacy 536 Waugh Drive, Houston 832 649 3142 www.scottreadrx.com 15 Smyl Dentistry 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 164, Houston 281 768 8922 www.smyldentistry.com
12
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MAP NOT TO SCALE N
FOODAND DRINK 7 Asch Building 825 Studewood St., Houston 713 505 1447 www.aschbuilding.com 8 Longhorn Liquor 1002 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston 832 742 8177 www.facebook.com/longhorn-liquor 9 RH Grocers 8200 Washington Ave., Houston 713 485 4563 www.railwayheights.com FITNESS 10 For the People 1707 W. Gray St., Houston
4 Paloma Beauty 2606 Westheimer Road, Houston 832 516 9628 www.paloma-beauty.com CLOTHING& ACCESSORIES 5 Treadwell 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston 713 333 8006 www.treadwell.com ENTERTAINMENT 6 Wyld Chld 5922 Washington Ave., Houston www.sekaihospitality.com COMING EARLY 2022
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
BEAUTY 1 Ellee Salon & Spa 707 Yale St., Ste. 200, Houston 346 980 8787 www.elleehouston.com 2 The Gentry Men’s Salon and Upscale Barbershop 948 Heights Blvd., Houston 713 492 0919
www.thegentry.com 3 Milano Nail Spa 2799 Katy Freeway, Ste. 130, Houston 281 974 2033 www.milanonailspatheheights.com
This list is not comprehensive.
Happy New Year from the Carl Smith Team!
W 11th St
Call or scan QR code to get a quote today! 1112 W 11TH ST HOUSTON, TX 77008 (713) 658-0871
Your neighbor and agent in the Heights
Smith Insurance Agency AUTO - HOME - BUSINESS - LIFE
Carl S. Smith THE Local Heights Allstate Agent
12
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATION
Updates on key transportation projects
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
OTHER PROJECTS TO FOLLOW IN 2022
TOP TRANSPORTATION STORIES TO WATCH IN 2022
Ground breaks on project on Shepherd, Durhamdrives BY SHAWN ARRAJJ The redevelopment of roughly 5 miles of Shepherd and Durham drives from Loop 610 to I-10West kicked o Dec. 4 with a ceremonial ground breaking. The project will reduce the number of tra c lanes on each road from four to three, and add protected bike lanes and side- walks. The $115 million project will take ve to six years to complete. Current and future tra c volume projections warranted the lane reduction, Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock said. The project also includes installing new tra c signals, crosswalk striping and wider sidewalks. Construction will begin in January on Phase 1. Phase 2 could start in 2023.
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West Alabama Street paving Construction will start in early 2022 on a project that involves making paving and drainage improvements to a segment of West Alabama Street between Weslayan Street and Bu alo Speedway. Improvements include new concrete streets with storm drainage, new curbs, sidewalks, driveways, street lighting and updates to underground utility infrastructure. Timeline: winter 2022-spring 2023 Cost: $15.87 million Funding source: city of Houston
Newsection ofMemorial Drive to open amidwork on land bridge Work is moving along on schedule on a 100-acre land bridge project connecting the northern and southern portions of Memorial Park in Houston. (Shawn Arrajj/ Community Impact Newspaper)
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
habitats from the south side of the park to the north side, facilitating drainage and accommodating wildlife movement. The $70 million project is being funded through a public-private partnership between the conser- vancy and Houston Public Works, though most of the funding comes from philanthropy, o cials said. Meanwhile, construction will start in January on a project to move the Seymour Lieberman Trail away from Memorial Drive and integrate it more with the land bridge, Odinet said.
Work is moving along on a 100- acre land bridge project connecting the northern and southern portions of Memorial Park in Houston. That project is slated for comple- tion in 2022, but o cials with the Memorial Park Conservancy said new lanes of Memorial Drive will open to drivers starting in February. Eastbound lanes will open to drivers in late February, said Randy Odinet, the conservancy’s vice presi- dent of capital projects and facilities. Westbound lanes are slated to open roughly six weeks later, he said. The new road will feature three lanes in each direction. The bridge will create a full land crossing of Memorial Drive, which Odinet said presents an opportunity to connect
New stations are being planned. (Rendering courtesy Texas Central)
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High-speed rail The Texas Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Jan. 11 in a case over whether Texas Central—the company looking to build a 236-mile high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas— is considered a railroad company under state law and has the power to use eminent domain. If the company wins, construction on the project is expected to start soon after the decision.
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Houston-areamobility groups plan for federal funds from$1.2 trillion bill
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over ve years, according to Chandra Bhat, the director of the Center for Transportation Research at The University of Texas. Craig Raborn, transportation director of metropolitan planning organization Houston-Galveston Area Council, highlighted new programs that could target resiliency and ood
control as areas of interest, such as the PROTECT Program, which provides up to $8.7 billion to help reinforce surface transportation routes and evacuation routes. “It’s going to take a lot of time for agencies like ours to nd and match the pieces to the needs they have,” he said.
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President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law Nov. 6, provid- ing funds for projects nationwide. Texas is expected to get about $35 billion of that funding, while existing federal aid programs will receive an in ux of $265.4 billion INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will boost federal programs and open new ones Houston-area entities can apply for.
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North Houston Highway Improvement Project
A group of advocates led a 100-page complaint with the Federal Highway Administration on Dec. 16 amid an ongoing federal investigation into civil rights complaints related to the project, which seeks to expand and reroute portions of I-45 between Beltway 8 and downtown Houston. The complaint urges greater scrutiny of the project’s e ects on minority communities.
Houston metro planning organizations will have 11 new grant programs to apply for. Existing federal programs will see an increase of $265.4 billion over ve years . SOURCES: INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT; CHANDRA BHAT, UT AUSTIN; HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Of the $1.2 trillion approved in federal funding, Texas will receive $35 billion .
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PROTECT YOUR KIDS FROM COVID-19
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine for your kids, visit memorialhermann.org/covid-vaccine-children LEARN WHY THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR CHILDREN 5+ The FDA has done its homework, and the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is considered safe for children ages 5 and older. It has shown to be highly effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus in this age group. Unvaccinated children are being infected with COVID-19. Symptoms can be far worse than the potential vaccine side effects. And they can last longer, while vaccine side effects are usually mild and temporary. Talk with your child’s doctor. Learn the facts so you can get your kids vaccinated and keep them safe.
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COVID-19 VACCINES FOR KIDS AGES 5-11: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Q. How careful are our medical experts?
Now that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been approved for emergency use in children ages 5 to 11, you may have questions. Here are answers from affiliated physician Dr. Peter Jung, MD, co-founder and head of Blue Fish Pediatrics at Memorial City, in association with Children’s Memorial Hermann, and a member of the Memorial Hermann Health System Physicians Council. Q. Why are eligible vaccine age groups divided as they are? A. Our immune system responds differently, depending on maturation and size. So, vaccination testing was tiered, starting with older persons. Then, researchers monitored side effects to determine the appropriate dose for each age group. Once vaccines were found to be safe for adults, clinical trials were launched for children. Q. How did the testing of children proceed? A. The first phase of a Pfizer vaccine study of 114 kids aged 5 to 11 focused on dosage, given the difference in sizes between most younger children and adults. Children were divided into three groups. One got the same first dose as adults, which is 30 micrograms (mcg). The second got 20 mcg and the third 10 mcg. “We wanted to see if we could give children a lower dose so we could minimize the risk of side effects without lowering efficacy,” Dr. Jung says. The lower dose worked, so later phases of the study gave 10 mcg to 2,268 kids aged 5 to 11. “A two-
month follow-up showed the vaccine was very safe, immunity and antibody responses were excellent and there were no serious adverse events.” Q. What are vaccine side effects for children? A. “So far there have been nomajor adverse events,” Dr. Jung says. “There have been some concerns about myocarditis—inflammation of the heart muscle—among teenagers, so that’s being closely monitored. No cases of myocarditis have been shown in the limited data that has been published thus far.” Q. Will the vaccine affect a child’s puberty or fertility? A. No. “Biologically that would be implausible and there has been no safety signal indicating that it could happen,” he says. A year of data on adults has shown no harm to fertility and pregnancy. Many women have become pregnant and delivered healthy babies. As for teens, there have been zero signs that menstrual cycles or fertility are harmed. Q. Even after the positive studies, won’t some people still resist getting their children vaccinated? A. Some parents are waiting for a large group of children to get the vaccine first before they commit to a vaccine for their child. “We’ve already given out nearly 400 million doses nationwide to people of all ages,” Dr. Jung says. And nearly half (48 percent) of parents of vaccine- eligible children ages 12 to 17 now say their child has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A. The FDA and CDC are being careful to ensure the public will have the highest confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine, sowe can protect the greatest number of children and people possible,” Dr. Jung says. “The benefits of the vaccine make it all the more important to get it, especially during a global pandemic.” Q. Do you plan to vaccinate your own children? Dr. Jung’s three teenage children were vaccinated as soon as they qualified. “If I had younger children I also would get them vaccinated as soon as their age group is approved,” he says. “The risk benefit ratio is clear to me as a pediatrician: Vaccinating my children expediently was the safest thing for their wellbeing and for the good of society.” Q. Until all age groups of children are vaccinated, what do you advise? A. Until vaccines are widely distributed to children, parents can take measures to be careful and reduce risks, Dr. Jung says. These include encouraging masks and avoiding crowded indoor spaces. “As more vaccines get rolled out there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” he says. “But it’s important to stay safe until vaccines are readily available for everyone and ensure that children cross the finish line with their families, safe and healthy.” Peter Jung, MD Pediatrician
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit memorialhermann.org/covid-vaccine-children
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JANUARY 2022
MORE COMMUNITIES. MORE CONNECTED CARE.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & GEORGE WIEBE
School stories to follow
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2022
TOP EDUCATION STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
Houston ISDo cials outline priorities with strategic plan coming inMarch
HOUSTON ISD Superintendent Millard House will release a new strategic plan document for the district in March, which he said will better outline the actions the district takes to advance its priorities over the next ve years. House said Houston ISD’s plan will cover ve areas: cultivating world- class talent; providing equitable opportunities and resources at every school; promoting high-quality teaching and learning; ensuring great schools in every community; and delivering exceptional services to students with exceptional needs. Each priority has been assigned an “owner” on district sta who has been tasked with developing an action plan. Leading up to March, owners will set up metrics to track the e ectiveness of each program. “This plan will provide us with a blueprint for the next ve years … and will outline the major actions we will take to advance each of the district’s priorities,” House said at a Nov. 18 board meeting. The plan will shape how the district allocates budgetary resources. House said it was heavily informed by com- munity feedback he heard at listening sessions that took place over his rst 100 days as superintendent. Hiring quality teachers is among the district’s top priorities, House said, but he emphasized the important role
support sta play as well. “We plan on implementing an ambitious comprehensive strategy to recruit, develop and retain e ective and caring teachers and principals, as well as support sta ,” he said. “A lot of times, school systems can leave out the idea of support sta . We want to make sure we cover the gamut.” The process of guring out how to recruit teachers starts with an assessment of HISD’s human capital strategies and an evaluation of how the district identi es its strongest teachers. Part of the process will also involve bolstering the professional development o ered by the district, a strategy House called “developing your way to success.” “For those that need additional support, we build the kind of profes- sional development systems that will allow us internally to ensure that we’re giving educators exactly what they need so they can grow,” he said. The details of the plan were dis- cussed as HISD looks to leverage fed- eral coronavirus relief money to hire counselors, special education teachers and other support sta . The plan will be released in time for priorities to be incorporated into budget workshops in the spring, House said. “If we are going to focus on these particular priorities, there will have to be a rearrangement of howwe allocate our funds,” House said.
Rice University expanding income bracket for full-tuition scholarships Rice University announced changes to its student nancial aid plan Dec. 16, including grants covering tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees for any student whose family’s annual income is lower than $75,000. Full-tuition scholarships will also be available to any student whose family income bracket falls between $75,000 and $140,000. All nancial award changes are set to be available at the start of the fall 2022 semester. Changes were announced shortly after Rice University launched a capital campaign in October with the goal to reach $2 billion by 2025. Houston ISD adjusts safety policies for spring semester Students resumed in-person classes at Houston ISD on Jan. 3, and the district adjusted its safety policies heading into the new semester with the goal of keeping COVID-19 from spreading. HISD will continue to enforce its mask mandate at all district o ces, facilities, campuses and school buses. The district also expanded partnerships with community leaders and health o cials to provide additional COVID-19 testing and vaccination opportunities, including the expansion of a free drive-thru testing site at Delmar Stadium and free COVID-19 testing on all campuses for HISD students and sta . All nonathletic eld trips have been suspended until further notice. New internship pairs University of Houston students with HISD wraparound specialists The HISD board of trustees approved an agreement Dec. 9 with the University of Houston Downtown that creates a new internship program allowing UHD students in the Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning Work Study Program to serve as interns with HISD’s campus-based wraparound specialists. Wraparound specialists help connect students to nonacademic resources that help to promote their overall well-being and academic outcomes. A capital campaign at Rice University aims to fund a new student center. (Rendering courtesy Rice University)
AN EARLY OUTLINE
Although the new strategic plan for Houston ISD will continue to be developed through March, Superintendent Millard House laid out ve main areas the plan will cover.
SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
1 Cultivating world-class talent: recruit, develop and retain e ective and caring teachers, principals and support sta
2 Providing equitable opportunities and resources at every school:
4 Ensuring great schools and programs in every community: develop turnaround strategies at struggling campuses
3 Promoting high-quality teaching and learning: bolster professional development opportunities
address magnet deserts
5 Delivering exceptional services and supports to students with exceptional needs:
implement high-quality systems and services that increase performance
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CITY&COUNTY
Updates on important issues facing local entities
Houston Livable Places Action Committee discusses plans for 2022 The Houston Livable Places Action Committee made progress in 2021 on e orts by the city of Houston to create and act on a framework to make the city more walkable and a ordable. In a meeting held Dec. 14, the committee discussed plans for future residential development, including the desire for continuous shaded sidewalks and parking separate from residences. The committee also encourages additional public transportation, including available rail and bus networks around Houston. The rst meeting of 2022 is slated for Jan. 11. OTHER CITY STORIES TO FOLLOWIN2022
TOP CITY STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
Houston’s police reforme orts continue in 2022 HOUSTON It has been over a year since the city of Houston began a comprehensive e ort to reform how its police department operates, a BY SHAWN ARRAJJ O N E Y E A R I N The city of Houston received a list of 104 recommended reforms for its police department Sept. 30, 2020.
Union could also yield a new contract in 2022. There is no set deadline for when talks need to be nalized, and an evergreen provision in the existing contract—approved in 2018—allows it to continue frommonth to month while providing o cers a 2% raise annually. Nick Hudson, a policy and advo- cacy strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the existing police union contract is still a major barrier to accountability in Houston. In contract negotiations in 2020, the ACLU pushed for two main changes Hudson said still need to be made—the 48-hour rule allowing o cers to review evidence against them in a misconduct allegation before making a statement and the 180-day rule preventing the Houston Police Department from disciplining o cers involved in misconduct that occurred more than
Completed In progress
process that involves looking at over- sight, community policing and power dynamics within the department. Of 104 recommended reforms produced by a city task force Sept. 30, 2020, the city had completed 71 of them and 33 were in progress as of late 2021, according to information provided by city o cials to Commu- nity Impact Newspaper . Among the remaining items are expanding the types of calls mental health counsel- ors respond to and piloting a “mobile storefront” concept in which o cers park in di erent neighborhoods, interact with residents and listen to their input. Contract negotiations between the city and the Houston Police O cers’
90-day checklist
6-12-month checklist
65 total items
28 total items
1-year and beyond checklist 11 total items
2022meeting schedule Meetings are open to the public and held via Microsoft Teams.
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
six months prior. “The most important things are making sure the union contract changes so you can actually inves- tigate and discipline o cers and do things that constrain their ability to unnecessarily arrest people,” he said.
Sept. 6 Oct. 4 Nov. 15 Dec. 20
May 3 June 7 July 12 Aug. 9
Jan. 11 Feb. 8 March 8 April 5
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These are isolating times, especially for anyone with dementia and their caregivers. Our daily activity program helps our participants connect and thrive through creativity, physical activity, spirituality, and more. Discover the benefits of our day programs. Visit AmazingPlaceHouston.org or call 713-552-0420.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
Harris County commissioners approve $35 million campus for youth transitioning out of foster care system OTHERCOUNTY STORIES TOFOLLOWIN2022 Harris County commissioners at a Dec. 14 meeting unanimously approved the construction of a roughly $35 million Houston Alumni and Youth Center campus that will include a 41,000-square-foot, 50- unit residential facility for youth transitioning out of the state’s foster care system. The approximately 3.3-acre campus, which will be located at 3131 Gulf Freeway near downtown Houston, will also include a 17,000-square-foot commercial facility that will house the HAY Center, a program operated through the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Department that provides resources and services for youth and young adults exiting the state foster care system. The aim of the project is to help provide more stability for the youth members transitioning from foster care to independent living, o cials said. County o cials said construction of the new campus is expected to begin in the rst quarter of 2022 and is slated to wrap up by the third quarter of 2023. O cials noted the project is primarily funded through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grants received by the county and the city of Houston.
TOP COUNTY STORIES TO WATCH IN 2022
Harris County Flood Control District nears biggest spending year yet
BY HANNAH ZEDAKER
MAKING PROGRESS
HARRIS COUNTY Three years after work began on projects outlined in the Harris County Flood Control District’s $2.5 billion bond program, Deputy Executive Director Matt Zeve said 2022 may be the district’s biggest spending year in its history. “We had a 10-year plan, and the way things are mapping out, …we should be done with pretty much everything by early 2029,” Zeve said. “But the vast majority of our spending is happening now.” A majority of that spending will come from completing three federal ood damage reduction projects next year along Brays, Hunting and White Oak bayous—each of which costs more than $100 million, Zeve said. In addition to those projects, HCFCD o cials will submit preliminary ood plain maps in late January to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will issue the preliminary ood insurance rate map in the summer. Brian Edmondson, project manager for HCFCD’s Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project, or MAAPnext, said the new rates could take e ect in 2024. The nearly $30 million e ort, which began in January 2019, will be the rst time the entire county’s ood plain has been remapped since 2001. In mid-December, HCFCD o cials also completed the Phase 2 feasibility study of constructing an underground tunnel in Harris County to divert oodwaters, Zeve said. However, the results will not be released to the public until sometime in 2022.
Since Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast in 2017 and Harris County voters passed a $2.5 billion ood bond referendum in 2018, the Harris County Flood Control District has: Initiated 181 of 181 projects, 19 of which are complete
Received $1.35 billion in partnership funding Completed 667 buyouts with 645 additional buyouts in process
Authorized $578 million in bond funds
In 2022, Harris County residents can look forward to the following accomplishments by the Harris County Flood Control District: LOOKINGAHEAD
Completion of Brays, Hunting and White Oak bayou federal ood damage reduction projects
Public release of Phase 2 ood tunnel feasibility study
Public release of preliminary ood insurance rate map
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“We briefed all of the members of Commissioners Court on the results of that study, and we got a wide variety of reactions,” Zeve said. “Because of that, we’re not in a place where we can release the results of the tunnel study just yet.” Future projects Outside of the 2018 bond program, the HCFCD received $250 million from FEMA in December to fund sediment removal across eight watersheds over the next ve years. In 2021, HCFCD o cials also com- pleted 10 watershed planning studies, which identi ed new projects. While Zeve said some elected county o - cials have mentioned the possibility of a second ood bond program, that will depend upon howmuch more
debt the county can take on. “Even if we had $100 billion instead of $2.5 billion, we can only go so fast at a time,” Zeve said. “We would love to have all that money because then we’d know we can do what we need to do. But all of our projects take a certain amount of time.” With or without another bond, Zeve said the HCFCD’s budget needs will continue to grow to pay o bond debt and maintain new infrastructure. “Every time we build a new project, we have to take care of it, and every time we have to take care of it, that costs more money,” he said. As of mid-December, the county administrator’s o ce was still searching for a new HCFCD executive director. Alan Black will continue to serve in this capacity in the interim.
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Candidates le for election in Harris County ahead of 2022 midterms Nearly 100 candidates have led for Harris County positions ahead of the March 2022 primaries, according to the Texas Secretary of State website, including for races that cover the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University areas. Eight Republicans and three Democrats led for Harris County Judge, including incumbent Lina Hidalgo. Six Democrats and Republican incumbent Jack Cagle led for Precinct 4 Commissioner, which will cover Bellaire under new boundary maps drawn in 2021. The winners for each party in the March primaries will determine which candidates will be on the ballot in the November general election.
Harris County commissioners adopt policy on data accessibility
BY EMILY LINCKE
looking to do is [take] information that already would otherwise be available through the Public Information Act and make it available to the general public without having to ask for it,” First Assistant County Attorney Jay Aiyer said. Berry did not specify how long this will take to complete, but said the plan is to prioritize requests they hear the most. As part of the new policy, an Open Data Teamwill be cre- ated. The teamwill bring their rst report to commissioners court 180 days after a team leader is found. Meanwhile, the county’s Data Governance Committee will continue to exist and work with the county attorney’s o ce and the county administrator’s o ce, Aiyer said.
HARRIS COUNTY Harris County commissioners said they will be making data more accessible to the public in an e ort to be more transparent with a new Open Data Policy adopted Dec. 14. Parts of the new policy are already in the works, County Administrator David Berry said, including e orts to collect public data sets and put them in one place online in a format that is easy for members of the public to access and download. This site will be dubbed the Open Data Portal and will cost about $43,000. “One of the things that the open data policy really is
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