Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | March 2025

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Heights River Oaks Montrose Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12 MARCH 8APRIL 8, 2025

Houston's $70M plan to end street homelessness by 2026 Sallie Alcorn, an at-large Houston City Council member, hands out water to a homeless individual Jan. 30 during the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count and Survey. The survey helps catalogue how many unhoused individuals are living on the streets in Houston and will play a key role in Mayor John Whitmire’s plan to end street homelessness.

INSIDE

COURTESY COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTONHARRIS COUNTY

Check out a local list of where to send children and teens for summer camp this year Community 20 Visit this Asian restaurant with a ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Blade Runner’ design now open in the River Oaks Impacts 4

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Impacts

W. 34TH ST.

W. 25TH ST.

with housemade hummus, sauces and dressings. • Opened Jan. 30 • 3201 Louisiana St., Ste. 108, Houston • www.bolhouston.com 8 Mango One of Europe’s leading fashion groups opened a new shop near the Galleria. The storefront sells men’s and women’s apparel, as well as accessories and footwear. • Opened Feb. 11 • 5085 Westheimer Road, Unit B3505, Houston • https://shop.mango.com 9 Jo’s Coffee One of Austin’s most popular coffee shops opened its first location in the Heights and introduced a new signature drink exclusive to the Houston shop called the Bungalow, made with vanilla, cayenne, cinnamon,

20TH ST.

290

W. 19THST.

W. 18TH ST.

WHITE OAK BAYOU

W. 11TH ST.

610

USENER ST.

T. C. JESTER BLVD.

W. 6TH ST.

WHITE OAK PARK

WHITE OAK DR.

WASHINGTON AVE.

TAYLOR ST.

MEMORIAL PARK

SAWYER ST.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

espresso and milk. • Opened Feb. 14

BUFFALO BAYOU

P K

• 1023 Studewood St., Ste. 100, Houston • www.joscoffee.com/houston-heights

610

W. GRAY ST.

10 Caribbean Jerk Palace This family-owned restaurant serves jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, and rice and peas in Houston’s Third Ward. • Opened Feb. 15

YOAKUM BLVD.

• 3803 Emancipation Ave., Houston • www.caribbeanjerkpalacetx.com

W. ALABAMA ST.

527

LORETTO DR.

RICHMOND AVE.

11 Law Office of Elias Yazbeck The new law firm in Montrose focuses on business disputes in state and federal courts, and specializes in cases regarding bankruptcy litigation, investor claims and wrongful foreclosure. • Opened Feb. 17 • 4119 Montrose Blvd., Ste. 470, Houston • https://yazbacklaw.com 12 Haii Keii The globally-inspired Asian restaurant with a ‘Kill Bill’ design offers menu items such as East Coast oysters, lobster dumplings and Japanese wagyu steaks alongside nigiri and sashimi. Cocktails include a lychee martini with cherry blossoms and an ube espresso martini. • Opened Feb. 18 • 3300 Kirby Drive, Ste. 9A, Houston • www.haiikeii.com 13 Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott The Western-inspired jewelry and accessories brand by Kendra Scott celebrates Texas’ ranch culture and the strength of women with items that include necklaces, boots, hats and denim jeans. • Opened Feb. 20 • 642 Yale St., Ste. C, Houston • www.kendrascott.com/yellow-rose 14 Fraulein Boot Company The Houston-born, women-owned boot brand will offer signature handcrafted luxury footwear in a pop-up shop that will remain open with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo until March 20. • Opened Feb. 27

288

4 Perseid The newest restaurant by Houston chef Aaron Bludorn will offer a brunch, lunch and dinner menu with dishes such as smoked salmon dip, shrimp and grits, pancakes, and duck confit. The restaurant is located inside the Hotel Saint Augustine. • Opened Jan. 16 • 4110 Loretto Drive, Houston • www.bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-saint-augustine/ eat-drink/perseid 5 The Little Juice Shop Owner Nancy Maldonado sells all-natural, cold-pressed juices along with smoothies, acai bowls and snacks. • Opened Jan. 19 • 1802 Yale St., Houston • https://thelittlejuiceshop.com 6 Sugared + Bronzed The new hair removal and tanning studio offers personalized services, including airbrush tanning and sugaring. Sugaring is a hair removal method that uses a paste of sugar, lemon and water. • Opened Jan. 20

Now open

1 Sneaks Coffee + Lounge This hybrid, sneaker-themed coffee shop and speakeasy lounge in Midtown serves locally roasted beans and fresh baked goods by day, and operates as an events venue and speakeasy by night. • Opened Dec. 21 2 Biologique Recherche The French luxury skincare brand established its Texas flagship store at the River Oaks District shopping center. The brand offers face, body and scalp care in a Parisian- inspired setting. • Opened Jan. 8 • 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. A140, Houston • www.biologique-recherche.com 3 Body Orbit The massage studio offers Houston’s only body roll massage, a treatment that uses a machine with rollers to massage the body in a hands-free experience. Lymphatic drainage and myofascial release treatments • 3030 Travis St., Houston • Instagram: @sneaks.htx

• 3224 Yoakum Blvd., Houston • www.sugaredandbronzed.com

are also available. • Opened Jan. 15 • 5535 Memorial Drive, Ste. D, Houston • https://thebodyorbit.com

7 Bol This restaurant serves Indian cuisine and highlights a variety of grilled meats, vegetables and grains paired

• 2020 W. Gray St., Houston • www.frauleinboots.com

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• 701 W. Gray St., Houston • https://dirtbagsfromtx.com

Coming soon

Now open

15 Camaraderie Acclaimed Chef Shawn Gawle plans to open his first fine-casual neighborhood restaurant in the Heights. The business is anticipated to focus on a warm sense of hospitality with a fully displayed kitchen. • Opening early 2025 16 Agnes and Sherman The modern Asian American diner coming to the Heights will be the culmination of Chef Nick Wong’s nearly 20 years of restaurant experience. • Opening in spring • 250 W. 19th St., Ste. A, Houston • www.agnesandsherman.com • 608 W. 11th St., Houston • www.camaraderiehtx.com

18 Mutiny Wine Room The husband-and-wife-owned wine venue celebrated its fifth anniversary in January. • 1124 Usener St., Houston • www.mutinywineroom.com 19 Buffalo Bayou Park The 160-acre park celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and will celebrate with events all year long.

• 105 Sabine St., Houston • www.buffalobayou.org

Closings

21 Washington Parq A multi-faceted dining, arts and entertainment venue opened on Washington Avenue that features a collection of eight diverse eateries, an outdoor art gallery, a zen garden and spaces for members of the community to gather. • Opened Feb. 6 • 2811 Washington Ave., Houston • www.washingtonparq.com

20 Shanghai River The 55-year-old restaurant closed after more than five decades in the River Oaks. • Closed Jan. 31

In the news

17 Dirt Bag + Wolfsmiths Coffee The Montrose-based plant shop announced a partnership with Heights-based Wolfsmiths Coffee that will bring together specialty coffee and plants. • Opened in February

• 2407 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.shanghairiverhouston.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Transportation

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & KEVIN VU

Portions of Houston’s MKT Bridge closed indefinitely Two portions of Houston’s 100-plus-year-old MKT Bridge are closed along the Buffalo Bayou trail in Houston for city officials to repair damages and address safety issues. The details WHITE OAK BAYOU 45 10 MKT trail bridge closures

Montrose Boulevard work to start in March Construction on the first phase of the controversial Montrose Boulevard Improve- ments Project is anticipated to begin in late March or early April. Segment 1 of the project is intended to improve drainage issues, mobility and safety from Allen Parkway south to West Clay Street, according to the Montrose TIRZ website. What you need to know Montrose TIRZ officials approved the $17.9 million construction bid Feb. 17 by MC2 Civil LLC. The company produced the lowest of the four submitted bids, which still came in 8.97% higher than the initial $16.4 million estimate, according to the agenda item. Construction is anticipated to take approximately 12 months to complete.

One portion of the MKT Bridge on Studewood Street closed in late January after equipment and debris from a nearby Texas Department of Trans- portation construction project collided with the bridge. According to a Houston Parks Board map of the closure, inspections are currently in progress to assess any damages. However, there is no date on when repairs will be completed. Erin Jones, the acting communications director for Houston Public Works, said the portion of the MKT Bridge near Hogan Street also closed Feb. 4 after public works officials and structural engineers determined that the bridge needed to be rehabilitated. Jones said the project will include HPW taking

STUDEWOOD ST.

SOURCE: HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

out parts of the bridge over White Oak Bayou at its weakest points, as well as making repairs to the bridge’s pillars due to fire damage. Demolition started on the portion of the bridge on Feb. 13 and lasted for approximately two weeks. The Hogan Street trail is temporarily reopened. However, Jones said once HPW hires a contractor to begin construction, that portion of the bridge will close again. There is not currently a timeframe for when construction will start or finish.

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MARCH 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: An El Paso Refuge CRITTER: American Bumblebee OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas

MADE IN TEXAS: A Leathermaking Legacy FEATURE PREVIEW: Where to Eat Now

Above: The Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

DETOURS

A Tribal Sanctuary On a Sacred Trail

Location: eleven miles southeast of downtown El Paso. BY JOSH ALVAREZ

CRITTER

American Bumblebee

The bumblebee does something most bees don't: buzz pollination, which involves gripping the plant with its legs and vibrating its whole body. If you eat blueberries, potatoes, or tomatoes— all of which rely on buzz pollination— you’ve got a bumblebee to thank. WHY IS IT SO BIG? The better to collect all that sweet pollen to feed its young. That fuzz is actually densely packed hairs, or setae, that trap pollen as the bumblebee floats from flower to flower. Its large body likely evolved to provide even more surface area.

DOES IT STING? Only if you mess with its nest.

HOW MANY SPECIES ARE THERE? Texas has between seven and eleven types. The most common is the American bumblebee, found statewide. North Texans might spot the brown-belted bumblebee, while those in the west are likely to see the Sonoran variant. The gentle giant is in trouble, though: Since 1974, popula- tions across North America have fallen by 46 percent. SCIENTISTS KEEP TABS, RIGHT? Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is one of several Texas orga- nizations partnering with Jacqueline Staab, the owner of Darwin’s Bee Dogs. Her German shorthaired pointers are trained to sniff out bumblebee nests for population surveys. “If we lose bees,” says Staab, “we lose Texas ecosystems.” —Rose Cahalan

INSIDE THE ADOBE walls of the Ysleta Mis- sion are clues to a deep history of acculturation that characterizes El Paso to this day. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe, more commonly known as the Tigua, established the mission in 1682, making it one of the oldest in Texas (much of the current structure was built in 1851). The Tigua arrivedherefromNewMexico,whichtheyfled after the Pueblo Indians there overthrew the

Spanish colonial system, in 1680, forcing Span- iards and Christianized Pueblos to seek safety elsewhere. The Tigua dedicated the mission to Anthony of Padua, patron saint of things that have been lost, whose figure stands atop the entrance; inside are blankets dyed in brilliant blues and reds and a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Church’s first Native American saint. The structure, part of the El Paso Mission Trail, holds a mass every day. If you can, plan your visit for June 13, when the Tigua celebrate Saint Anthony with traditional dancing.

The church interior at the Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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MADE IN TEXAS

He Goes With the Grain Clint Wilkinson carries on his grandfather’s leatherworking legacy out of the same downtown Denton storefront. BY PAUL L. UNDERWOOD

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

After the San Antonio Zoo announced the birth of Tupi, the first capybara born there since 2000, it had to clarify to X users that it was “not associated with or benefiting from” a crypto- currency named after the baby animal. The number one item on the TSA’s top ten list of the most unusual airport confiscations in 2024 was a gun tucked into the back of a baby stroller at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The Texas State Aquarium, in Corpus Christi, released into the Gulf of Mex- ico some 270 green sea turtles it had rescued when they became hypother- mic during a recent cold snap. A Temple woman was sentenced to felony probation for theft after with- drawing money from a GoFundMe account created for her after she lied about a cancer diagnosis so that her friends “would like her more.” A Bexar County jail officer was arrest- ed and fired after allegedly giving an inmate food from Whataburger . After the Houston Police Department announced plans to clean up its prop- erty warehouse, authorities revealed that rats had possibly compromised ongoing cases by eating mushrooms and other drugs stored as evidence. A man stole a pickup truck and led police on a chase to the Midland airport, where he drove through the perimeter fence and onto the runways before abandoning the vehicle. —Meher Yeda

George W. Bush and Fort Worth soul star Leon Bridges, as well as Stetson and 7-Eleven. Wilkinson works out of the downtown cor- ner storefront once owned by his grandfather Weldon Burgoon, who opened Weldon’s Sad- dle Shop & Western Wear in 1957. Burgoon, who helped cover the cost of Clint’s birth, in 1982, by giving a saddle to the obstetrician, taught his grandson the craft. Wilkinson started an e-commerce site for the shop and, with his grandfather’s encour- agement, began branding his own handsewn leather goods with his name. In 2019, a year after Burgoon died, Wilkin- son reopened the shop, which he renamed Wilkinson’s Fine Goods. He’s known for his leather tote bags, belts, and wallets, and he sells wares from other brands, like Nocona- based Fenoglio Boot Company. He’s also de- veloping a line of leather-crafting supplies. The intention, he says, is to create “a way that I can still be in the leather community when I’m seventy-five years old and can’t make anything anymore.”

LAST SUMMER, WILKINSON’S FineGoods, in Denton, received its biggest online order to date. Owner Clint Wilkinson was intrigued by his new client, who purchased a massive array of custom desk mats, bootjacks, and cherrywood boxes with hand-tooled leather accents. “I was just like, ‘Holy crap,’�” Wilkin- son recalls. “He must be a politician or lawyer or something.” Not quite. Wilkinson looked up the buyer, a Utah resident named Austin Post, and re- alized that he was doing business with Post Malone, the rapper who was raised in nearby Grapevine. Wilkinson emailed him to explain that fulfillment would take some time be- cause every item would be handmade. The two now exchange texts about everything from the order’s progress to the woes of their be- loved Dallas Cowboys. Eventually Wilkinson’s client list would include former President

Clint Wilkinson and Charlie Talkington in the Wilkinson’s Fine Goods workshop, in Denton.

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

2025

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Japanese hand rolls, sashimi, and sushi and en- joy the restaurant’s excellent vinyl collection. What does all this say about dining in Texas as weapproachtheendofthefirstquarterofthe twenty-firstcentury?Maybejustthis:Weneed to make room for more fun. The hospitality industry knows hard times all too well, with the ever-rising costs of raw ingredients and labor and the hollowing out of once vibrant restaurant-centric neighborhoods. Given all that, who wouldn’t opt for a break from the real world? It was in the same spirit that we selected the ten best new restaurants in Texas, along with a handful of honorable mentions. So get out there. Ask some friends to dinner; try some wild and crazy dishes; visit a place not on your radar. Life is serious enough—live a little. And eat a lot. To read the list of the best new restaurants in Texas, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

IS IT OUR imagination, or are Texas restau- rants more, well, imaginative than ever? On our visit to an idiosyncratic spot in the Gulf Coast town of Kemah, we were treated to bil- lowing dry ice, a blowtorch, and a pasta cre- ation that was a dead ringer for a coral snake. In Dallas, we settled into a long, narrow dining room that looked as if it had been uncoupled from the Orient Express. In Fort Worth, we were sure that characters in The Crown would have felt right at home in a convincing replica of a posh London townhouse. Of course, not everything we loved this past year was stagy. One of our favorite venues was a comfy lit- tle place in Houston where guests can order

FEATURE PREVIEW

Where to Eat Now Dining in Texas has been one big experiment this year. Dry ice. Pasta snakes. Whey foam. Corn bubbles. (That’s right: corn bubbles.) Our best new restaurants want you to have a meal you’ll never forget.

BY COURTNEY BOND AND PATRICIA SHARPE

A scallop dish from Ishtia, in Kemah; smoked king salmon crudo at the Chumley House, in Fort Worth; sabering a bottle of wine at Isidore, in San Antonio.

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Government

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS, EMILY LINCKE & KEVIN VU

Fourth Ward Super Neighborhood returns

Housing Authority CEO appointed

Harris County early childhood education program facing closure A pilot program oering free early childhood edu- cation for children ages 4 and younger across Harris County could be ending soon once federal funding runs out, county commissioners said Feb. 6. The overview Ocials launched Harris County’s Early Reach Education Access for Children pilot program in June 2023 to provide free, high-quality child care for fam- ilies in high-need areas, addressing the challenges faced by both children and child care providers in the county, Community Impact previously reported. It was launched using funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, which were temporary, meaning additional funding would eventually be needed, ocials said. ARPA funds must be spent by the end of 2026.

County to look at $130M shortfall

Early reach centers

Precinct 1 Precinct 3

Precinct 2 Precinct 4

The Fourth Ward Super Neighborhood is looking to reactivate in 2025 after being inactive. The big picture Fourth Ward resident Joseph Panzarella is spear- heading the revival after noticing the community did not have a proper seat at the table in Houston City Hall. A Super Neighborhood Council, accord- ing to the city’s website, serves as a forum where residents and stakeholders can discuss issues and establish priority projects. Zooming in Panzarella said the goals of the Super Neighbor- hood would be to bring neighbors closer together, create streamlined communication to the city and allow the community to apply for grants for beautication and improvement. Get involved Fourth Ward is one of Houston’s six historic wards located inside Loop 610 and is home to

1 Freedmen's Town

2 Rose of Sharon Baptist Church

The Houston Housing Authority board approved the hiring of Jamie Bryant Feb. 6 as president and CEO. Bryant started Feb. 10. Zooming in According to a news release, Bryant spent

Harris County ocials said at a Feb. 6 meeting they are anticipating a $130 million gap in funding of drainage projects due to inated costs of construction materials. The full story Harris County’s subdivision drainage program was designed to reduce the risk of ooding for 45,000 homes countywide upon completion, as previously reported by Community Impact . The funding shortage follows a number of challenges for the program, including a $277 million funding shortfall announced in 2023, prompting the county to pause 33 projects under the program. Most of the $130 million gap could impact projects in Precinct 1, which makes up much of central Harris County, ocials said.

Y .

290

99 TOLL

BUFFALO BAYOU

P K W Y

Fourth Ward boundary

99 TOLL

610

Jamie Bryant

149

GALVESTON BAY

E. ANDREWS ST.

over 20 years as president and chief oper- ating ocer at Houston real estate rm Midway, and served on boards for various aordable housing nonprots. Bryant will provide oversight to ensure HHA provides quality, aordable housing and promotes economic self-suciency. His hiring comes after President and CEO David Northern resigned in November.

VICTORST.

1,300 children across the county participated in the program

$15 guaranteed minimum wage for child care providers

WELCHST.

SOURCE: FOURTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOODCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Freedmen’s Town, a national historic site. The Super Neighborhood will host a meeting to vote for board members and bylaws on March 20 at 6 p.m. at the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church.

4 and younger are ages of eligible children

$29 million in ARPA funding spent on the program

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787

WESTCOTT AND MEMORIAL 5818 Memorial Dr (713) 861-4161

SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849

Houston's $70M plan to end street homelessness by 2026 From the cover

The annual cost Whitmire’s $70 million pilot program to end street homelessness in Houston by 2026 will require funding from multiple sources across the city and county for the first two years.

Funding the project

Mayor John Whitmire said he wants Houston to be the first major city in the United States to end street homelessness by moving all individuals who live outdoors into stable housing. He announced plans in late November that included a $70 million one- to two-year pilot program to start the process he hopes will be completed by the end of 2026. Michael Nichols, director of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department, announced in February that the first $21.8 million was secured for the program, including: • $17.5 million through a combination of general city and federal funds • $700,000 from the state’s Homeless Housing and Services Program • $1 million from the Downtown Management District • $2.6 million from the Houston First Corporation Houston First officials said the $2.6 million was originally earmarked to relight six Montrose bridges over the Southwest Freeway. However, at the city’s request, the money was given back and will now be used for the homelessness initiative. The $70 million does not include funding for mental health, housing vouchers or disaster relief.

Total goal $70M+

Homeless Housing and Services Program

Obligated Funds are already committed and in use

$700K

$3.5M

City of Houston

Houston First Corporation

$2.6M

Identified Funds are not approved, but verbally committed

$10M

METRO

$14M

Federal funds

In discussion Funds have not gone to a vote, but are in discussion

$5M-8M

Harris County

TIRZs & management districts

$8M-16M

Needed Funds are not established

Philanthropy & corporations

$20M

SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Offering input

The plan

Nichols said one of the main goals of the new initiative is to help all homeless people in Houston find housing within 30 days of identification. Catherine Villarreal, vice president of public affairs for the Coalition for the Homeless of Hous- ton/Harris County, said she believes Houston has always focused on permanent housing, but this plan aims toward increasing rapid rehousing. Rapid rehousing, according to the National Alli- ance to End Homelessness, is the process of finding short-term rental assistance and services to help people obtain housing quickly. More than half of the $70 million funding will go toward rapid rehousing. “We are seeking to expand on what the Homeless Response System in Houston does beyond that laser-focus on permanent housing,” Villarreal said. “How do we create more of a waiting room for folks so that they don’t have to sleep on the streets?” Nichols said one way to help address that issue is through creating a low-barrier shelter—a space where people can bring pets and partners and don’t need to be sober to enter—as well as expanding the number of available beds and affordable housing.

Abbie Kamin, Houston City Council District C member, said Houston needs to also focus on building more permanent housing for the homeless, especially in areas where eviction rates are high, such as Montrose. According to the Harris County Evictions Dashboard, there were 75,671 evictions filed in Harris County in 2024. At least 63% of those evictions were in District C, which encompasses portions of the Heights, Montrose and Upper Kirby areas. “There was really important work previ- ously being done, including by the Montrose TIRZ, on housing affordability studies for those neighborhoods to keep residents who have lived there in their neighborhoods,” she said. “We’ve been pushing for mixed-income and affordable housing in the district. The bottom line is we need more housing.” Kamin said she believes Houston officials also need to focus more on helping people before they fall into homelessness.

Where the funds will be allocated

Rapid rehousing $45M Permanent supportive housing $11M Mental health hub & shelter $3.8M Navigation center $3.6M Outreach $3.3M Diversion $2.6M Total $69.3M NOTE: THESE NUMBERS ARE AN EARLY FORECAST AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON FUNDING SOURCE AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT Affordable housing, according to the U.S. Depart- ment of Housing and Urban Development, is a form of housing where an occupant is paying no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs. According to the annual Housing Inventory Count conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, there are approximately 7,800 affordable housing units across Harris County and about 10,400 beds.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & KEVIN VU

Assessing the need

Looking ahead

Coalition volunteers conducted the 2025 count in January, and although the results won’t be released until spring, Villarreal said she believes the results may show an incline in the homeless population. She said the increase could be due to the loss of federal COVID-19 funds, which have been sustain- ing homelessness programs since 2021.

According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count and Survey conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless, an annual event where volunteers count sheltered and unsheltered individuals on a single night, approximately 2,939 people experi- ence homelessness in Harris County with 32% of individuals unsheltered.

Nichols said the city will begin to distribute the $70 million as funds become available, however the initial plan only covers the next one to two years. He said the administration will begin to look for long-term sustainable sources in the meantime from entities such as: • The Texas Legislature • The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development • Houston’s tax increment reinvestment zones • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County As a last resort, Nichols said the administration could also seek to ask Houston residents to increase the city’s revenue cap to fund the plan, which has been intact since 2004.

Unsheltered: Individuals who are living outdoors in places not intended for human habitation

Sheltered: Individuals experiencing homelessness who are staying in a temporary housing facility

4,000

31% decrease over the last six years

3,000

2,000

7.7% decrease over the last six years

1,000

SOURCE: COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

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Community

Camp Guide

2025

The ARTZ Summer Aerial Camp Participants can learn all things aerial and circus art related such as trapeze, lyra, hammock and fabric techniques. Type: art / day Ages: 3-15 Dates: May 27-Aug. 15 Cost: starting at $399 per week; starting $95 per full- day drop-in; starting at $70 per half-day drop-in • 1824 Spring St., Ste. 124, Houston • www.theartz8.com CompuCamp Students will engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematic activities while learning about medical science and the human body. Type: academic / day Grades: first-12th Dates: June 2-July 11 Cost: $279-$525 per week • University of Houston-Downtown, 1 Main St., Houston • www.compucampuhd.com

Creator Camp A summer camp where children can tap into technology for creativity and self-expression. Type: day / creative STEM Ages: 6-13 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 Cost: $159-$269 per two- and three-day options; $1,399 for unlimited camps • St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1800 Sul Ross St., Houston • www.creatorcamp.org Elite University Elite University Summer Camp specializes in providing nature, sports, culinary and STEM activities. Type: academic / art / day / sports Ages: 5-11 Dates: June 10-Aug. 8 Cost: $300-$450 per week • First Lutheran Church, 1311 Holman St., Houston • www.elitesummercamps.com

HITS Theatre The theme for this year’s camp is “Myths & Legends” and will offer a multitude of theatrical experiences. Type: art / day Grades: K-12 Dates: June 2-Aug. 16 Cost: $295-$615 per weekly class; $935 per two-week class • 311 W. 18th St., Houston • www.hitstheatre.org Institute of Contemporary Dance A camp that involves a variety of workshops where campers will learn choreography, technique and different styles of dance. Type: art / day Ages: 3-6 (IMAGINE! Art and Movement Camp); 7-13 (FOCUS Dance Camp and Middle School Dance Prep Workshop); 13+ (Beyond the Lens) Dates: June 16-20, July 7-11 (IMAGINE! Art and Movement Camp); June 9-13th (Beyond the Lens); June 9-13, 16-20 (FOCUS Dance Camp ); July 14-18 (Middle

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BY MELISSA ENAJE, CASSANDRA JENKINS & KEVIN VU

School Dance Prep Workshop) Cost: $275 per four-day camp (IMAGINE! Art and Movement Camp); $450 per week (FOCUS Dance Camp/ Middle School Dance Prep Workshop); $600 (Beyond the Lens)

(Montrose camp) Cost: $295-$350 per week • 1245 Heights Blvd., Houston (Heights camp); 2120 Westheimer Road, Houston (Montrose camps) • www.languagekids.com/camps Sur La Table Sur La Table offers a series of cooking classes from baking to global cuisines for beginner and advanced bakers. Type: baking / day Ages: 7-17 Dates: May 27-Aug. 29 Cost: $349 per week • 1996 W. Gray St., Houston • www.surlatable.com St. Luke’s Summer Camp Children engage in indoor and outdoor activities such as arts and crafts, cooking and taekwondo while older campers go on field trips to places like Dave and Busters. Type: art / sports / day Grades: 1-6 (Luner Camp) 7-8 (Interstellar Camp) Dates: June 9-Aug. 8 Cost: $315 (Luner Camp) $350 (Interstellar Camp) • 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.stlukesallday.org

• 1302 Houston Ave., Ste. 300, Houston • www.icdhouston.com/summer-2025

Kidventure This camp is designed to help children grow more independent, foster social skills and create real-life positive relationships. Type: day / art / outdoor activities / sports Ages: 3-5, entering 1st-5th grade (Camp Lodge 88); ages 3-5, entering 1st-9th grade (Camp St. Theresa) Dates: June 9-Aug. 8 (Camp Lodge 88); June 2-July 25 (Camp St. Theresa) Cost: $340-$360 per week • Camp Lodge 88, 1435 Beall St., Houston; Camp St. Theresa, 6500 Durford St., Houston • www.kidventure.com Language World Kids The immersion camp helps children learn international languages, such as Spanish, French and ASL, through activities, games and cultural surprises. Type: academic / day Ages: 3-11 Dates: June 2-Aug. 8 (Heights camp); June 2-20

Main Street Theater Main Street Theater camp offers children a collaborative theater experience. Type: art / day Ages: 6-10 (Montrose camp); 11-18 (Summer Shakespeare) Dates: June 16-27, July 14-25, June 9-27 Cost: $550 per two-week session (Montrose camps); $400 (Summer Shakespeare) • St. Thomas University, 3800 Montrose Blvd., Houston • www.mainstreettheater.com/summer-camps

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

HTX venue and will help raise critical funds for Houston-based arts service organization Fresh Arts. • March 29, 7-11 p.m. • $225 (general entry), $475 (VIP) • The Garage HTX, 1201 Oliver St., Ste. 106, Houston • https://fresharts.org/the-carni-ball

March

Houston St. Patrick’s Day Parade This historic two-hour long parade circles downtown Houston, starting and ending at the intersection of Congress Street and Franklin Street, near

POST Houston. • March 15, noon • Free (admission) • Congress Street and Franklin Street • www.hsppc.org

April

First Saturday Arts Market Houston’s longest running outdoor monthly market returns, offering the Houston Heights community a festive atmosphere with dozens of art vendors, ranging from pottery and photography to jewelry design and painting. • April 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. • Free (admission) • 540 W. 19th St., Houston • www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com Jazzy Sundays in the Park Musicians and artists will perform at Buffalo Bayou Park throughout April for the Jazzy Sundays series. • April 7; April 14; April 21; April 28, 5-7 p.m. • Free (admission)

The Jung Center’s 2025 Spring Benefit: An Evening with Clint Smith Nonprofit education center The Jung Center hosts its annual spring benefit dinner at the River Oaks Country Club this March, inviting author Clint Smith, who is an acclaimed staff writer at The Atlantic. • March 18, 6 p.m. • $500-$5,000 (individual tickets); $150 (virtual admission) • River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd., Houston • www.junghouston.org The Carni-Ball benefiting Fresh Arts This carnival-themed event takes place at the Garage

Family Art-Making Studio The Museum of Fine Arts Houston will host families as they join a teaching artist for an afternoon of exploring and learning about a work of art before creating their own masterpieces. Attendees will use high-quality materials and tools to better understand the selected artists’ techniques. • March 23, 1-2:30 p.m. • $10 • Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston • www.mfah.org

• 105 Sabine St., Houston • www.buffalobayou.org

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Kaboom’s bookshelves are organized by the last name of authors.

Dee Dillman (left) and John Dillman (right) have owned the Woodland Heights bookstore for nearly 20 years.

PHOTOS BY ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Kaboom Books enriches Woodland Heights There’s only one way to amass 135,000 books, said John Dillman, co-owner of Kaboom Books in the Woodland Heights neighborhood—“one by one.” John Dillman and his wife, Dee Dillman, estab- lished the used bookstore in June 2007. How we got here To transfer their customers from a temporary

The Woodland Heights bookstore has around 135,000 used books for sale.

‘P’s’ out of the ction alphabet over there. So if people were looking for Proust or something like that, [they’d] have to come over here.” What they oer Kaboom’s bookshelves are stacked ten rows and higher and divided in more than 84 subsections. Why it matters Though Kaboom Books is a small business, it serves the surrounding Houston neighborhood as a “social good,” simply because of the ideas that are shared between pages, John Dillman said. “The ideas that are inculcated in the books are always worthwhile,” he said.

location on Studewood to the permanent space on Houston Avenue, they removed every ction title that started with the letter ‘P’ from the old shop to the new one. “I said that it was in homage to Georges Perec, the French writer who wrote [‘La Disparition’], in which he did not use the letter E at all,” John Dillman said. “So what I did was I took all of the

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

The median price of homes sold was down in three of five local ZIP codes in January. However, homes in the 77019 area saw a 111% increase, pushing prices to above $2 million. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

January 2024

January 2025

-18.42%

+11.9%

-30%

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

610

77008

Median home sales price

77007

January

2024

2025

77019

$666,850 $508,125 $619,825 $959,950 $907,500

$640,300 $624,750 $600,000 $2,030,000

77006

77098

77007

77008

DENA MUSFY DENA.MUSFY@COMPASS.COM COMPASS RE TEXAS WWW.REALTORDENA.COM 281-935-6993

77019

$902,500

77098

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Sale on bag goods ends March 31. Other items, while supplies last.

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