Bellaire - Meyerland - West University | May 2025

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Bellaire Meyerland West University Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 MAY 7JUNE 6, 2025

Bellaire's Discovery Center to build $2M nature playground

BY KEVIN VU

The Nature Discovery Center, a nonprot nature facility and park in Bellaire, is expected to start construction on its $2 million Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area project this fall. The expansion would allow the nonprot to bolster its program capacity and revitalize a play- ground that hasn’t seen upgrades since the early 2000s. Meredith Symonds, a board of directors member for the nonprot, said the project will go beyond a traditional, plastic playground and instead bring a nature-based adventure space that “ignites curiosity and understanding of nature.” “We want to have loose parts. We want to have running water, the ability for kids to get dirty and play and create experiences as they unfold, instead of a prescribed play experience, which is what plastic structures do,” she said.

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Kids will be able to interact with nature in the Enchanted Woods play area.

EVERGREEN ST.

COURTESY NATURE DISCOVERY CENTER

Also in this issue

Impacts: Take a sneak peek at the new wine club coming to Upper Kirby next fall with a skyline view, rooftop terrace and 3-story clubhouse (Page 4)

Nonprofit: Read how the Houston Area Women’s Center is expanding aid to domestic and sexual assault survivors in Harris County (Page 9)

Education: See details on how Houston ISD is relying on the Texas Legislature to fund schools, pay teacher salaries (Page 14)

Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the Best Hospital in Texas for 13 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report and recognized on the Honor Roll eight times — with 10 nationally ranked specialties. For more than 100 years, we have provided patients with the highest quality care, the most advanced technology and the best patient experience. # 1 HOSPITAL IN TEXAS FOR PATIENT CARE & QUALITY Houston Methodist Hospital

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Impacts

Coming soon

T HEIMERRD.

9 Jack’s Café & Reflections Event Hall This new Houston Zoo addition is anticipated to open this summer and provide a cafe, large event venue and outdoor space for visitors to use and rent for events and parties. • Opening in summer • 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston • www.houstonzoo.org 10 Texas Country Western Boots The boot shop will open its first Houston storefront this summer and sell handcrafted cowboy boots with unique designs made from exotic animal skins. • Opening in June • 2535 University Blvd., Houston • www.texascountrywesternboots.com 11 A Cheese Affair The gourmet cheese shop will sell French cheeses alongside American and other European cheeses. The Rice Village location will be the first transatlantic member of the French Federation of Cheesemongers. • Opening in early fall • 5302 Morningside Drive, Houston • Facebook: A Cheese Affair

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Bellaire

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Meyerland

BRAYS BAYOU

S. BRAESWOOD BLVD.

S. POST OAK RD.

5 Yaya Rice Box The Chinese restaurant in Meyerland serves cuisine such as chili oil dumplings, Sichuan pork, salt and pepper shrimp and Hunan chicken. Milk and fruit teas

Relocations

Now open

12 Memorial Hermann Imaging Center-Bel- laire The diagnostic center relocated to the UTHealth Houston Professional Building in April and upgraded its technology to include advanced CT scans and new MRI and ultrasound equipment. • 6500 W. Loop S., Ste. 125, Bellaire • www.memorialhermann.org/locations/imaging- center-bellaire

1 House of Core The luxury Pilates studio provides advanced equipment for 12 signature classes that vary from intense ab- focused workouts to heated sessions for flexibility and detoxification. • Opened Jan. 30 • 4001 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. B, Houston • www.houseofcore.com 2 Pho Prime The build-your-own pho concept provides an interactive dining experience where guests can customize dishes with different vegetables, noodles, meats and broth options. • Opened March 1 • 5353 W. Alabama St., Ste. 107, Houston • www.phoprime.com 3 Catch Catch This claw machine arcade is open in Rice Village and offers guests claw machine games, Japanese anime figures and a photo booth. • Opened March 1 • 2412 Rice Blvd., Houston • Instagram: Catch Catch Me Rice 4 Proper-A Burger Spot The new smash burger concept opened at Downtown Houston’s Finn Hall and cooks up smash burgers, chicken tenders, hot honey chicken and fries with classic floats. • Opened March 17 • 712 Main St., Houston • www.thefinnhou.com/proper-burger

are also available. • Opened March 25 • 5300 N. Braeswood Blvd., Houston • www.yayaricebox.com

6 Hounds Town Houston-Midtown The doggy daycare facility offers long-term pet boarding and spa services. Dogs are matched to their size and temperament and participate in all-day play. No breed restrictions. • Opened April 2 • 4102 Fannin St., Ste. B, Houston • www.houndstownusa.com 7 Brandy Melville This retail chain store sells clothing for women, including tops, sweatshirts, pants, dresses, skirts and accessories such as purses, jewelry and makeup bags. • Opened April 4 8 BellaireCare Direct Family Health Dr. Eric Blacher helms this new veteran-owned business that offers personalized and accessible care and will use an intimate model to limit the number of patients that are seen at a time. • Opened May 1 • 6565 W. Loop S., Ste. 101, Bellaire • www.bellairecare.com • 2521 University Blvd., Houston • https://us.brandymelville.com

What’s next

13 Vuori The California-based athleisure brand offers high-end, active-based apparel for men and women inspired by fitness, surf and sport. According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the store is expected to be complete in early August. • 5085 Westheimer Road, Ste. B3681, Houston • https://vuoriclothing.com

In the news

14 Roma The Italian restaurant celebrated 10 years in April. Founded by Shannon Scott, the restaurant specializes in local ingredients, authentic Italian cooking and traditional pastas. • 2347 University Blvd., Houston • www.romahouston.com 15 Institute for Spirituality & Health The independent and interfaith organization marks 70 years at the Texas Medical Center in 2025.

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

The program provides education, research and programming that addresses the connection between spirituality and well-being. • 8100 Greenbriar Drive, Ste. 300, Houston • www.spiritualityandhealth.org 16 George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing The Rice University school commemorated five decades in education in late March. Officials said the engineering program will host a variety of gatherings throughout the year to showcase the work of faculty, students and alumni. • 6100 Main St., Houston • https://engineering.rice.edu

Coming soon

Worth the Trip

Lagoon Development Company A development north of FM 1488 in Magnolia will bring a lagoon with crystal clear water and white sandy beaches to the Greater Houston area. The $30 million investment, similar to Lago Mar in Texas City, will include a swim-up bar, floating obstacle course, food trucks and paddle boarding. The first phase is anticipated to wrap up in May 2026, although no date

17 55 Seventy Houston This membership-only wine club will include a three- story clubhouse with a rooftop terrace overlooking Levy Park, 800 wine lockers, a full-service restaurant and a demonstration kitchen for wine and food events.

• Opening fall 2026 • 3015 Richmond Ave., Houston • www.houston.55seventy.com

has been provided for opening. • www.lagoondevelopment.com

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Government

Bellaire to prioritize public works in plan

West University rejects e-bike ban A proposal to prohibit certain electric motorized bicycles, skateboards, scooters and other small vehicles from parks and recreational facilities in West University Place was rejected by City Council April 14. In a nutshell The proposed park ordinance changes weren’t completely shelved as staff from the city’s parks and recreation department were advised by council to refine the ordinance’s language from being too restrictive and to return to council for later consideration. The board will meet on May 7 to discuss council feedback. Should the park amendment pass in future City Council readings, those con- victed or found in violation could be subject to a fine, based on the person’s age.

Proposed strategic plan

Added projects • Updating the Evergreen Park Master Plan • Replacing lights at Feld Park & adding netting between tennis courts and houses • Designing and constructing renovations to the public works facility • Installing irrigation, drainage and trees in Loftin Park Diverted projects • Regional initiatives and priorities • Reviewing solid waste and recycling services • Exploring annual dedicated funding for park land acquisition

Bellaire officials met April 14 prior to budget season to go over the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026-2028 strategic plan, including adding projects such as updating the Evergreen Park Master Plan and renovating the public works facility, according to the presentation. The overview City Manager Sharon Citino said during the meeting that the strategic plan gives the city a roadmap for the projects and goals that should be prioritized over the next three years. New priorities include updating the Evergreen Park Master Plan, designing and constructing ren- ovations to the public works facility and upgrading Feld Park. Citino said that for the new proposed strategic plan, staff thought of how the city can be realistic with projects, rather than thinking about the

SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

number of projects the city should complete. She said this new way to decide on projects led to some items being diverted from the proposed strategic plan. One of the projects included the annual dedicated funding for park land acquisition. Bellaire officials said funding for these projects won’t be known until September.

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BY MELISSA ENAJE & KEVIN VU

Houston to require short- term rental registration Houston officials approved a short-term rental ordinance during an April 16 City Council meeting after months of debate with city officials and short-term rental owners. The setup Taking effect Jan. 1, the ordinance will make it unlawful to operate an STR without a valid registration certificate, which costs $275 annually, with the city’s Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department. The ordinance also prohibits STRs from adver- tising as event spaces, and STR platforms would be required to remove the listing of any rental that is found to be operating without a valid city registration. What they’re saying Council member Letitia Plummer recommended

IAH terminal named for Sheila Jackson Lee Terminal E has officially been renamed to “Sheila Jackson Lee Terminal E” in honor of former U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, after council members voted unanimously April 16 during City Council. What’s happening? Houston Airport System officials said they are working with the family of the late congresswoman and the Mayor’s office on a timeline to design and install a plaque that will officially change the name of the terminal. They aim to make the change by this summer. “We’re not affixing just a name to a build- ing,” said Erica Lee Carter, Lee’s daughter and former U.S. Representative. “We’re telling the world that Sheila Jackson Lee mattered to Houston...”

Short-term rentals are defined as dwelling units or any portion of a dwelling unit that is rented out for less than 30 consecutive days, excluding hotels, bed and breakfasts, and any other group homes.

Mapping STR listings

610

288

1,096 short-term rental listings in Bellaire, West U and Meyerland as of April

SOURCES: AIRDNA, CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

the creation of a task force with STR operators and owners who can bring their lived experience to share how this ordinance is positively or nega- tively affecting them.

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

UHD Summer Camps

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Nonpro t

BY MELISSA ENAJE

Houston Area Women’s Center expands facility to house more than 130 survivors

Nearly one year after the ocial groundbreak- ing ceremony was held in May, ocials with the Houston Area Women’s Center opened the doors to its new housing facility, One Safe Place Houston. The facility is part of a 5.5-acre campus that oers wraparound client-centered services for survivors and their families eeing domestic violence, assault and human tracking. The impact During a March 25 news conference, President Emilee Whitehurst spoke on behalf of families and survivors who will seek safety and services provided at the facility. “One Safe Place Houston is where we’re going to showcase what the future looks like and how we can get there together, not in the abstract, but concretely,” Whitehurst said. “Every day for every person who crosses the threshold of One Safe Place Houston—survivors, strategic part- ners, volunteers—we hope you will see and feel healing in the wake of harm.” Features within the four-story facility include: • 135 housing apartments for survivors and their children • A 24-hour crisis response and assessment center • A survivor economic empowerment hub to equip families with nancial skills and resources • Counseling and mental health services for adults and children

EL CAMINO ST.

The new four-story, 5.5-acre campus will oer wraparound client-centered services for women and children. PHOTOS COURTESY HOUSTON AREA WOMEN’S CENTER

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• A lactation room • Teen rooms • Childcare and daycare services • Classrooms for a Houston ISD elementary school program Digging deeper Elected ocials and stakeholders from across the county were in attendance for the ribbon-cut- ting ceremony and facility tour. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo spoke about the county’s involvement tackling domestic violence. “Since 2020, we’ve invested around $23 million in addressing domestic violence throughout the region,” Hidalgo said. “That’s not just the Houston Area Women’s Center, but various organizations. Since 2022, [investments] have been made around speeding up the court backlog on domestic violence issues, helping build infrastructure, childcare and mental health support for kids and families impacted by domestic violence. We have an ongoing commitment of $1.5 million of exible nancial support to survivors of domestic violence.”

The Houston Area Women’s Center Expansion will include child and daycare services.

The Houston Area Women’s Center helps thousands of women and children impacted by domestic and sexual violence. HAWC’s crisis response in 2024 56,501 calls

1,922 legal advocacy clients served

answered on HAWC’s sexual assault hotline

974 survivors housed at the residential campus

2,112 community members educated on violence prevention

SOURCE: HOUSTON AREA WOMEN’S CENTERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

DAY CAMPS & CLASSES

Learn more!

SENIOR PROGRAMS & TRIPS

SPECIAL EVENTS & MORE

www.westutx.gov/parks

BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Bellaire’s Discovery Center to build $2M nature playground From the cover

The framework

Sidewalks

Canopy Exploration Bridge

Trail paths

Tunnels

Parent seating area

In-ground slide

Spider web net

Playhouse

Treehouse

Symonds said the expanded playground will replace conventional plastic slides and swings with natural play elements such as hills, tunnels, water, sand and loose parts intended to stimulate creative, challenging play and encourage an emotional bond with nature.

BETTYST.

Existing Cypress pond and deck

The Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area features:

1 Lily Pad Pond Kids can ll buckets, build dams and experiment with water, as well as enjoy animals that live around the water.

2 Nature Workshop Children can construct and deconstruct sculptures made with sticks, water, sand and mud.

3 Rolling Hills Run Dierent hills will surround this section of the playground where kids can run around on, under, or even through using tunnels and slides that connect each hill to one another.

Existing parking

4 Backyard Encounters A path will wander from plant to plant, oering interaction with the creatures who rely on plants for life.

The Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area

5 Treehouse Terrace This area features challenging play such as an obstacle course and a spider net climber.

EVERGREEN ST.

SOURCE: NATURE DISCOVERY CENTERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY KEVIN VU

Programs and classes offered

How we got here

Meet the animals The Nature Discovery Center offers weekend sessions to meet different animals, such as reptiles and rabbits. Bird watching A guided birding road trip is held during spring migration with the hopes of seeing as many as 100 species of birds. Nature story time Each week, the nature center reads books on different nature topics, featuring live animals and specimens. Summer science camps Different science-themed camps are held each week with hands-on activities, games and art projects. Mess maker classes Kids can explore natural and man-made objects such as mud, flowers and shaving cream through messy play.

“We knew the community was hungry for our nature education, but we were out of space to be able to accommodate more campers in our existing Henshaw House,” Johnston said. The Henshaw House, which turned 100 years old in April, currently serves as the center’s headquar- ters and indoor program space. Symonds said the new expansion and addition of the treehouse will allow the nature center’s staff the flexibility to expand program offerings, school group visits, summer camps and homeschool classes beyond the Henshaw House’s capacity. Ryan Smith, Bellaire’s parks, recreation and facilities director, said he believes the nature center serves as an important community hub for kids to engage with nature, and Symonds said the city helps support the nonprofit. “A park like this builds a stronger sense of com- munity, encourages healthy lifestyles and fosters environmental stewardship,” Smith said.

Symonds said the project’s focal point will be the R.L. Cook Family Treehouse, used as a pro- gramming space. She said the programs allow kids and families to learn and connect with nature. The Nature Discovery Center served more than 15,600 people through programming in 2024. “Children need, as part of their development, a connection to nature and a grounding space to have these sensory experiences,” Symonds said. “We’re just trying to evolve to meet the evolving world of education and nature education.” Due to limited space, the treehouse will have more “unconditioned space” that can be used as both a classroom and an open space for kids to play in when there’s no programming, Symonds said. The nonprofit’s President Jayne Johnston said one of the biggest problems the organization faces is running programming that’s always at full capacity, as well as sold-out camps, resulting in long wait lists.

SOURCE: NATURE DISCOVERY CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next?

beautiful, natural aspect to Houston. “To have [the Enchanted Woods] in the heart of Bellaire, inside the loop, [the] center of Houston, is pretty special,” Fishel said. “We have people who invest in these projects because they really do care about the city. The Nature Discovery Center is just a little part of Houston, but it holds a big part in people’s hearts.”

parks, education and public service in Houston. Symonds said if the center doesn’t meet its fundraising goal before construction starts, the nonprofit will either extend fundraising or adjust their budget to meet the goal. Cathleen Fishel, a mother of three, said she donated to the campaign because she believes the project will not only connect her kids and other families to nature but also bring a

Symonds said construction is expected to begin this fall after the Nature Discovery Center wraps up summer camps and bird migration season, with the goal of finishing construction before summer camps start in 2026. As of April 15, the $2 million campaign project, which launched in early 2023, has raised $1.2 million, primarily from community donations and organizations that support

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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

freshly ground coee and small batch herbal teas. • May 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. • Free (admission) • Kelvin Drive and Amherst Street, Houston • www.rice-village.com Helix Park Movie Night In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, attendees can join neighbors at the Texas Medical Center’s Helix Park to see a screening of “Inside Out 2.” Attendees can purchase popcorn, candies and an assortment of drinks. • May 23, 6-9:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 1885 Old Spanish Trail, Houston • Eventbrite: Movie Night in Helix Hall - Inside Out 2 Opening Reception for Clément Cogitore: Collective Memories See lm installations of French artist Clément Cogitore at the opening ceremony for his exhibit, through two

May

Women of Wellness This event on the outdoor plaza of The Ion will have mocktails, discussions with health and wellness experts and experience stations—with oerings that include mini-meditations, healing sessions, breath work, skin analysis, posture screenings and vitamin shots. • May 14, 6:30-9 p.m. • $30-$35

• 4201 Main St., Houston • https://iondistrict.com/

The International Festival USA iFest USA will take place at Discovery Green in Houston and feature live music, traditional and contemporary dances, cuisine from around the world, art exhibitions and interactive cultural workshops.

PlantCon This event at NRG Park will provide an immersive weekend experience for plant lovers with workshops, presentations, parties and a more than 150 vendor plant market. • May 31-June 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • $37.89-$216.50, free for kids 14 years old • and under

• May 17, 3:30-9 p.m. • Free with registration

lm installations. • May 30, 6-8 p.m.

• 1500 McKinney St., Houston • www.theinternationalfest.org

• Free with registration • 6100 Main St., Houston • https://moody.rice.edu/

• NRG Center: 1 Fannin St., Houston • www.plantcon.org/houston-home

Rice Village Farmers Market Recurring every rst and third Sunday of the month, this open air market in Rice Village will invite neighbors to explore sustainably-sourced produce, chef-made plates,

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Business

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Rusty Miller, right, and his daughter Morgan.

ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Bellaire Air Conditioning’s rebrand in 2022 pays homage to Rusty Miller’s dad and the business’ founder, Phillip Miller.

ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Family-owned Bellaire Air Conditioning stays small Rusty Miller, the second-generation owner of Bellaire Air Conditioning, followed in his father’s footsteps to learn his trade. However, when he was younger, he wanted to be a guitar player. A family aair What they oer The company’s services include the installation, restoration and maintenance of heating and

Bellaire A/C provides maintenance and installation.

COURTESY BELLAIRE AIR CONDITIONING

cooling systems for homes and businesses, as well as air duct cleaning, air quality improvements and installation of more energy-ecient systems. Staying local Since opening in 1968, the business has focused on a small service area in Bellaire to maintain qual- ity, personalized service, Miller said. His father taught him the old-fashioned value of “doing business on a handshake.” “We’re small, and we’ll probably stay small so we can sit down one-on-one and spend two to three hours with a customer every time.”

GULFTON ST.

Miller never let go of his passion and now he and his daughter, Morgan Miller, who also works at Bellaire Air Conditioning as a customer service representative, travel around Europe once a year performing in their band, High Desert Queen. The satisfaction he feels when making and performing music is the same feeling he gets when he solves an issue for a customer, Miller said. He hopes one day his daughters will carry on the legacy of Bellaire A/C into a third generation.

ASHBROOK DR.

5414 Ashbrook Drive, Houston www.bellaireair.com

ILTexas.org | Free Public Charter ILTexas.org | Free Public Charter

BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION

Education

Transportation

BY WESLEY GARDENER

BY MELISSA ENAJE & KEVIN VU

Houston ISD budget to rely on state legislation Houston ISD board managers received an over- view March 26 of potential legislation resulting from the state’s 89th legislative session that could affect the district’s budget for the 2025-26 school year. A closer look Superintendent Mike Miles pointed to House Bill 2 as one of the biggest question marks. HB2 would increase the basic allotment distributed to public school districts. The item initially passed in the Texas House April 16, increasing the basic allotment by $395 per student. The House must vote on the school finance bill one more time before it can be sent to the Senate. Miles also said he believed there could be an increase to the school safety allotment currently included in Senate Bill 26. If approved as written, the bill would increase the school safety allotment provided by the state from

20% decline seen in HISD student discipline Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the number of student disciplinary events dropped by more than 20% from 2023-24 to 2024-25. Zooming in Miles presented the findings to board man- agers during the district’s April 16 meeting. • Fighting decreased by 17% • Insubordination decreased by 23% • Drug-related incidents decreased by 19% • Terroristic threats decreased by 20% • Cursing at staff decreased by 16% • Bullying decreased by 10% However, Miles said the district reported 42 students have been found in possession of a firearm in the 2024-25 school year.

Bellaire property owners vie for speed bumps According to an April 7 Bellaire City Council meeting, 80% of property owners along the 5400 block of Braeburn Drive signed a petition to install speed humps to deter speeding and cut-through traffic through the residential neighborhood. What we know According to the resident’s petition, they claim that the Edwards Marijuana Family dispensary, located 100 yards from the entrance to Braeburn, has led to an uptick in speeding cut-through traffic. Although the speed limit is 30 miles per hour, the petition said that Braeburn’s long, wide layout allows vehicles to reach 40 to 50 miles per hour. The petition also states that the scenic appeal of the block makes it a popular shortcut for drivers aiming to bypass lights on Bissonnet Street. Additionally, as the block doesn’t have a side- walk, residents said they are forced to walk on the

Downtown to IAH bus route launches Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County announced the launch of a new nonstop bus route that will take passengers from Downtown Houston directly to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. In a nutshell Beginning April 13, METRO began taking passengers from the George R. Brown Conven- tion Center to IAH Terminal C, according to an April news release. METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said that the route, 500 IAH Downtown Direct, will cost $4.50 one way. The new route is part of the organi- zation’s METRONow plan. The 500 IAH Downtown Direct route will run every 15-30 minutes on weekdays, according to METRO.

Superintendent Mike Miles pointed to several bills school officials are currently monitoring, including: House Bill 2 Would increase the basic allotment distributed to public school districts Status: Passed by the House, sent to the Senate

Edwards Marijuana Family

BRAEBURN DR.

Senate Bill 26

Would increase teacher pay across the state Status: Passed by the Senate and referred to the House Public Education Committee. Has not received a hearing or vote by the House.

road, further leaving them at a risk of oncoming speeding cars. Resident Elaine Frankel, one of the signees, told Community Impact she signed the petition after witnessing a car accident on the block. What’s next? After the complaints, the Bellaire Police Depart- ment installed a radar speed trailer to monitor traffic speed, collect data and provide it to the city. City Council held a public hearing on the issue on May 5, after press time.

Senate Bill 260

Increased school safety allotment by $500 million

Status: Passed and is scheduled to take effect Sept. 1

NOTE: THE STATUS OF THE BILLS WAS AS OF APRIL 29. SOURCES: HOUSTON ISD, 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

$10 to $28 per student and would increase per-cam- pus funding from $15,000 to $30,000. Although he noted the increase would be budget-neutral because the district would immediately distribute those funds to teachers.

BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486

HOLCOMBE 2314 W Holcombe Blvd (713) 669-1722

WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144

State

BY EMILY LINCKE, JESSICA SHORTEN & AUBREY VOGEL

5 legislative updates from Houston-area lawmakers

The 89th Texas legislative session has passed the 60-day mark, halting bill filing after the March 14 deadline. Houston-area lawmakers have worked on hundreds of the nearly 9,000 bills filed with priorities including toll road funding, flood control and student health. The session is scheduled to end June 2, barring no special sessions are called. Check out some of the bills filed by Houston-area lawmakers this legislative session.

3 Lawmaker proposes ban on ultraprocessed food in schools

2 Bill seeks to distribute toll funds among county precincts Senate Bill 2722 aims to change the way collected toll funds are distributed in counties such as Harris County with populations of 4 million or more. The bill, filed by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, restricts the use of revenue collected for toll roads to pay off debt related to operating, expanding, maintaining and administering services, according to draft legislation. Toll revenue fund allocations According to draft legislation, the remaining funding should be allocated between: County Commissioners: 65% Municipalities

Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, put forth a bill which would ban “ultraprocessed foods” from being served or sold in public schools. House Bill 3292 seeks to ban ingredients such as brominated vegetable oil, red 40 and yellow 5, and is currently set to go before the house Public Education Committee.

1 New bills target corporate, investment firm ownership of single-family homes

4 Bill banning e-cigarette stores near schools sent to committee County and city governments would be able to ban e-cigarette stores from operating within 300 feet of a public or private school campus through House Bill 1183, which was referred to Intergovernmental Affairs on March 7, according to Texas Legislature Online. The bill was filed by Rep. Charles Cunningham, R-Humble, on Nov. 12.

Rep. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, filed House Bills 2334 and 2910 in February, which would prohibit private investment firms from owning single-family homes and corporations from owning more than 10 single-family homes for rental purposes. The bills are moving through the Trade, Workforce & Economic Development house committee in late March, with a companion bill filed in the Senate under Senate Bill 443. Institutional investor market share of residential purchases in 2021

responsible for 40% or more of a toll road: 30% Misc. road-related projects: 5%

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

5 New bill seeks expanded Harris County Flood Control District boundaries House Bill 2068 would allow counties adjacent to Harris County to request to join the Harris County Flood Control District, according to filings. The bill, filed by Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston, on Jan. 24, was referred to the Natural Resources Committee on March 14, according to Texas Legislature Online. If approved, the bill would also remove Harris County Commissioners Court as HCFCD’s governing body. Under the bill, a five-member HCFCD board would consider requests to join HCFCD from commissioners courts, but the request must ultimately be approved through an election.

Greater Houston region

Montgomery County

40%

Liberty County

30%

Waller County

Harris County

20%

Fort Bend County

Chambers County

10%

Brazoria County

Galveston County

SOURCE: MAY 2022 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS STUDY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

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DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

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MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

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Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

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Real estate

Median home sales prices were up in four of five local ZIP codes in March. Both 77030 and 77401 jumped significantly, and the number of homes sold there dropped by 25% each. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

March 2024

March 2025

+10.53%

+5%

-25%

-10.71%

-25%

77005

77025

77030

77096

77401

77005

77401

77030

Median home sales price

77025

610

March

2024

2025

$1,687,000 $625,000 $999,500 $428,500 $950,000

$1,933,000 $605,900 $1,300,000 $481,785 $1,399,125

77096

77005

288

77025

Homes sold by price point

77030

77096

March 2025

77401

$1 million+

$750,00-$999,999

Average days on market -55.95%

$500,000-$749,999

-1.47%

+10.29%

-39.74%

-49.40%

$250,000-$499,999

<$249,999

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 WWW.SPARROW-REALTY.COM

77005

77025

77030

77096

77401

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