Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | September 2024

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Heights River Oaks

Montrose Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6 SEPT. 10OCT. 7, 2024

Debate ensues over future of Montrose Boulevard New Montrose TIRZ board takes over as key project remains paused

SHAWN ARRAJJ

Steven Deterling surveyed the block of Montrose Boulevard just north of West Gray Street, paying close attention to the quality of sidewalks and curb ramps. One of roughly 30 people taking part in a July 20 “walk audit” of Montrose, Deterling, president of the Avon- dale Civic Association, said he believes there’s a clear need to make the north-south corridor safer to traverse. “If you’re able-bodied and don’t have disabilities, you have a halfway decent chance to move around Montrose, but if you have any limitations, you might be challenged,” he said. The walk audit took place as the rst phase of a comprehensive Montrose Boulevard improvement project remains stalled and under review by Houston Mayor John Whit- mire, who said he wants to take more com- munity feedback into account. Although the project has been lauded by advocacy groups who say it will improve pedestrian safety, it has also garnered opposition from those con- cerned about the removal of trees as sidewalks are widened and medians narrowed. Work is being led by the Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which saw four board members replaced in July.

Volunteers measure the sidewalk width on Montrose Boulevard as part of a walk audit to assess safety and accessibility this summer.

CONTINUED ON 16

COURTESY CITIZENS’ TRANSPORTATION COALITION

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Transportation: TxDOT nishes work on ramp project at I69, Loop 610 intersection (Page 11)

Environment: CenterPoint releases resiliency plan following Hurricane Beryl (Page 15)

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LET’S END ELDER ABUSE Report abuse or suspected abuse to the Houston Police Department at 311 and Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 832-927-2975

HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Impacts

W. 34TH ST.

7 Roll-E m-U p Taquitos The first Texas location of the Southern California based eatery offers a menu of five different taquitos, including braised shredded beef, shredded chicken, potato, cheese and avocado. • Opened Aug. 17 • 2795 Katy Freeway, Ste. 150, Houston • www.rollemup.com 8 Ev er eve The contemporary, curated boutique, offers women’s fashions and styling advice from staff. • Opened Aug. 7 • 2028 W. Gray St., Houston • www.evereve.com 9 Pren u vo The company uses whole-body imaging to detect early signs of cancer and other diseases. The company’s MRI scan technology can identify more than 500 conditions, including most solid tumors, aneurysms and cysts. • Opened Aug. 8 • 3720 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.prenuvo.com Williams Public Relations The business offers services including market research and analysis, crisis management and word-of-mouth networking representation. • Launched July 11 • Serves the Greater Houston area • Website TBD

W. 25TH ST.

290

610

20TH ST.

W. 23RDST.

W. 18TH ST.

T. C. JESTER BLVD.

W. 11TH ST.

WHITE OAK BAYOU

WHITE OAK DR.

W. 6TH ST.

WHITE OAK PARK

WASHINGTON AVE.

TAYLOR ST.

MEMORIAL PARK

SAWYER ST.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

BUFFALO BAYOU

P K

610

W. GRAY ST.

BAGBY ST.

527

W. ALABAMA ST.

Coming soon

RICHMOND AVE.

288

YORKTOWN DR.

10 Mi Lu na Re staurant & Tapas Bar The new location will be able to host 140 guests with a 3,805-square-foot dining space and 1,216-square-foot patio. The menu will have a strong seafood influence along with a variety of roasted and braised meats, vegetarian items and tapas dishes. • Opening in early fall • 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 126, Houston • www.milunatapasbar.com 11 Ric e N exus The new makerspace by Rice University aims to bridge the gap between university staff, students and key partners. The space will be used to showcase technologies invented by Rice faculty and students, provide lab space for tech development and provide free office space for early stage startups. • Opening this fall

4 Drippe d B irria The Houston-based chain offers birria tacos, ramen, loaded fries, quesadillas, nachos and aguas frescas, among other menu options. Store officials said they are open until 4 a.m. to cater to diners seeking late night eats. • Opened Aug. 23 • 3520 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.drippedbirria.com 5 Cielito Cafe Menu options include chilaquiles, divorciados, tacos de carnitas, arroz con leche and menudo, which is only served on weekends. The venue also offers desserts and drinks, including aguas frescas. • Opened July 21 • 1309 Enid St., Houston • Instagram: cielitocafehouston 6 Tacos Doñ a Lena The authentic Mexican eatery offers tacos, quesadillas, tortas and tostadas. Other items include homemade birria, enchiladas and chilaquiles, as well as fresh made juices called agua frescas. • Opened June 6

Now open

1 Plum e The cocktail bar concept offers tapas-style bites, an art deco-inspired interior and dynamic drinking options. The cocktail menu features house creations such as the chili- kissed avocado margarita as well as classic cocktails. • Opened July 26 • 1100 W. 23rd St., Ste. 150, Houston • www.plumehtx.com 2 Kazz an R amen & Bar This full-service restaurant and bar is known for its unique style of ramen that features thick noodles, vegetables and hot soup. It also offers classic Japanese-inspired cuisine such as kushikatsu, chicken karaage and beef don. • Opened July 22 3 Doves R est aurant This eatery’s menu features Southern cuisine with an Asian twist. Doves also offers a late night dining and premium beverage program with a selection of fine wines and signature craft cocktails. • Opened Aug. 23 • 191 Heights Blvd., Houston • www.kazzanramenhtx.com

• 4201 Main St., Houston • www.innovation.rice.edu

Relocations

12 Ch ev ron Officials with the oil and gas company announced plans to move its headquarters from San Ramon, California, to Houston. The company’s senior leadership will relocate to Houston by the end of 2024, with all corporate operations expected to be in Houston over the next five years. • 2222 Louisiana St., Houston • www.chevron.com

• 1805 W. 18th St., Houston • www.donalenatacos.com

• 3101 Main St., Houston • www.doveshouston.com

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

caused water damage to parts of the ceiling and several walls as well as three of the 14 Mark Rothko panels on display. Individuals can donate online to support the chapel’s recovery.

Expansions

Now open

13 C hildren ’s Museu m Housto n The museum’s Fiddle Stick Toys store is expanding to include more space and products, and its Secret Spy Experience is undergoing a total makeover with both updates set to be unveiled in December. The museum will also add a box office to streamline entry into the venue. • Expansion to be completed in December

• 3900 Yupon St., Houston • www.rothkochapel.org

16 53 W est Developer Braun Enterprises completed a

redevelopment of the mixed-use space that included renovating and painting exterior facades, remodeling interior office buildings and modernizing ground-level storefronts. Pathway lighting and outdoor seating has also been upgraded. • 5373 W. Alabama St., Houston • www.urbanofficetx.com/property/53-west

• 1500 Binz St., Houston • www.cmhouston.org

In the news

14 James Avery A rtisan Jewelry Company officials are celebrating the jewelry chain’s 70th anniversary from Sept. 27-30 with a traveling trunk show. During the event, customers can visit a local James Avery retail store for four scheduled days to view, try on and purchase 23 exclusive designs. • 2857 Katy Freeway, Ste. 120, Houston • www.jamesavery.com 15 Rothko Chapel After sustaining damage during Hurricane Beryl the Rothko Chapel has been indefinitely closed. Beryl

Closed

18 Sophie Cocktai l & Terr ace Bar The menu features a variety of light bites, shareable plates and desserts—all inspired by the flavors of southern France. Sophie spans two floors, with a downstairs cocktail bar and an open,

17 Damian’s Cuc ina Italiana After more than 40 years serving upscale, authentic Italian dishes in Midtown, the eatery served its final meal Aug. 17. Co-owner Johnny Mandola announced the owners’ sister company, Mandola’s Catering, will remain open and continue its Italian catering services. • Closed Aug. 17 • 3011 Smith St., Houston • www.damians.com

upstairs terrace. • Opened July 19 • 910 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.sophiehtx.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Education

BY WESLEY GARDNER & HANNAH NORTON

TEA blocked from issuing 2023-24 A-F ratings For the second year in a row, a Travis County judge blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing its A-F accountability ratings for Texas school districts and campuses Aug. 12. The case echoes a 2023 lawsuit from over 100 school districts, which alleged the TEA’s revamped system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts. The agency was set to release ratings for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 15. What’s happening In a lawsuit filed Aug. 12, five public school districts—Pecos-Barstow-Toyah, Crandall, Forney, Fort Stockton and Kingsville ISDs—said the TEA has not been transparent about changes to its system and failed to fix “mistakes” made last year. Plaintiffs also expressed concerns that “it is not mathematically possible” for many schools to receive an A rating under the new system.

HISD places $4.4B in bonds on ballot Voters within Houston ISD’s boundaries will decide the fate of a $4.4 billion bond referendum following a unanimous vote by the district’s board of managers to place the bond on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The overview The bond will largely focus on upgrading and improving more than 270 campuses throughout the district. Voters will consider two separate bond propositions during the Nov. 5 election, including: • Proposition A: $3.96 billion to address aging infrastructure • Proposition B: $440 million for technol- ogy infrastructure and upgrades

How it works Texas’ A-F system, designed in 2017, gives parents insight about the quality of their children’s schools. If a campus or district receives a failing grade for several years in a row, the state can intervene. Among other factors, ratings are based on:

Student performance on standardized tests

Academic growth

High school graduation rates

Closing achievement gaps

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Zooming in Travis County District Judge Karin Crump sided with the school districts in an Aug. 12 order, tem- porarily blocking the TEA from issuing new ratings while litigation continues. TEA officials said they are reviewing the filing to determine next steps.

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Real estate

The median price of homes sold rose in four of five local ZIP codes when comparing data from July 2024 with July 2023, dropping only in 77019. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

July 2023

July 2024

+70.83%

-3.13%

+13.7%

-24.24%

-12.5%

610

77008

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

77007

Median home sales price

77019

July

2023

2024

77006

77098

$535,000 $530,000 $560,000 $616,500 $890,000

$657,000 $549,850 $685,000 $515,000 $1,020,000

77006

288

77007

Homes sold by price point

77008

77019

July 2024

77098

$1 million+

$750,00-$999,999

Average days on market

$500,000-$749,999

-14.81%

-8.82%

+19.05%

+69.7%

-27.03%

$250,000-$499,999

<$250,000

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY VICTORIA HAWES JAMESTOWN ESTATE HOMES 832-296-1663 VH@JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM WWW.JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

Dallas Chamberlain dallas.chamberlain@jamestownestatehomes.com

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Transportation

BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS

TxDOT finishes work on I-69, Loop 610 connector ramp widening project A Houston-area project meant to improve safety and mobility on what officials called the most congested road in Texas wrapped up Aug. 1 with roads now completely open to drivers. The big picture The $259 million project by the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation, which started in 2017, involved widening all connector ramps between Loop 610 and I-69 in southwest Houston from one to two lanes. It also involved the reconstruc- tion of the 610 West Loop main lane bridges with new shoulders and the construction of new access ramps. Interchanges were upgraded to current design standards with changes made to reduce the need for drivers to weave, a term referring to the quick

First part of I-45 work to begin in October The Texas Department of Transportation will begin work on the first segment of an I-45 expansion project expected to run through 2038. The entire $11 billion project, called the North Houston Highway Improve- ment Project, involves adding two managed lanes to I-45 between Downtown Houston and Beltway 8 North. The first segment to go under construction involves making drainage improvements around St. Emman- uel Street and will run through 2027.

W. ALABAMA ST.

ICHMOND AVE.

610

Houston

back-and-forth movement between lanes. The project involved building two detention ponds under the interchange in coordination with the Harris County Flood Control District. What they’re saying Texas Highway Commissioner Bruce Bugg said he believes the project was critical to accommo- date the growing population in Houston. “We have to keep our transportation system ready to meet the goals of, not only today, but we’re constantly looking forward,” Bugg said.

Houston

BUFFALO BAYOU

USDOT grant to fund study on vehicle tech, safety The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration awarded a $19.2 million grant Aug. 9 to study safety technology. The full story

Specific details Testing in Texas will start with the Greater Houston region and the city of College Station, USDOT officials said. The project will leverage nearly 1,000 existing Signal Phase and Timing installations in Houston, and equip another 30 intersections with the technology. Signal Phase and Timing intersections collect information about traffic signals and are often used by cities to better time signal changes, according to the USDOT.

people and roadside infrastructure, according to USDOT information. The grant will advance testing technology that could enable cars to tell drivers about: • The changing of traffic signals • If someone is in the car’s turn path • If there are slow-downs ahead • Dangerous road and weather conditions

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute will receive the grant to study vehicle-to-everything technology, or V2X, which enables vehicles to communicate with each other, traffic signals,

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS

Harris County approves $10M for criminal courts An estimated $10 million comprehensive reform initiative aimed at advancing quality and efficiency within Harris County’s district criminal courts was unanimously approved by county commissioners at an Aug. 6 meeting. The plan, spearheaded by Precinct 4 Commis- sioner Lesley Briones, will invest in five areas,

Houston sports venues to undergo assessment Two Houston sports venues will undergo facility condition assessments to determine what upgrades can be made to the aging structures. What’s happening? The Harris County Houston Sports Authority board of directors voted Aug. 20 to fund assess- ments for Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park. HCHSA officials said the study will focus on ele- vators, escalators and structural and maintenance equipment. It will also evaluate the state of each venue and see what upkeep is needed. The assessment is expected to begin within the next few months and be complete by the end of the year. As of Aug. 21, a total cost for the study was not yet known, HCHSA officials said. Also of note Board directors approved capital repair

Committee suggests HPD increase staff A committee appointed by Houston Mayor John Whitmire in March released its final recommendations Aug. 21 for the Houston Police Department, including increasing civilian staff, providing leadership training, improving crime analysis and fostering multiagency collaboration. The full story The committee was formed to investigate the Houston Police Department’s suspension of approximately 260,000 incident reports using a “suspended lack-of personnel” code. The leading cause was widespread under- staffing, according to the report. Outdated technology and insufficient communication were also listed as key findings.

Voter registration initiatives approved By a vote of 4-1, Harris County commis- sioners approved a voter registration pilot program aimed at increasing total voter turnout numbers at elections, including among marginalized and working-class communities. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey cast the dissenting vote at the Aug. 6 court meeting. The breakdown Carried out across multiple county depart- ments, the program includes: • Developing an unregistered voters map • Hiring a vendor to assist with voter outreach efforts • Implementing a text-to-register program and other registration pilot programs

including updating court technology and further reducing the criminal court backlog, while also providing bilingual assistance and mental health support services to defendants. Funding for the project will come from a combination of capital improvement, general and American Rescue Plan Act funds, according to Briones’ office. Expanding mental health support along with the jail-based competency restoration program will result in jail population reduction, District Court Judge Lori Gray said in a news release.

Venue repairs In addition to a condition assessment, some repairs have already been approved at Houston venues.

Totoya Center Project scope: roof replacement Timeline: September-early 2025

Cost: $7.5M-$8M Funding source: Houston Rockets Minute Maid Park

Project scope: window replacement, speaker replacement and cooler repairs

Harris County criminal district court active cases

Timeline: October-TBD Cost: $14.8M Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation funding from parking lot sales

While the number of criminal district court cases have decreased since 2022, the new investments are meant to further the momentum and address justice barriers that could delay the life cycle of cases.

0 50K 40K 30K 20K

49,513

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

improvements to the venues, including replacing the roof on the Toyota Center, and replacing the Union Station windows, warehouse cooler and stadium speakers at Minute Maid Park.

29,579

Jan.

Dec.

Jan.

Dec.

Jan.

July

2022

2023

2024

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Environment

BY MELISSA ENAJE

Hurricane Beryl’s impact left around half a million CenterPoint customers without power for at least five days after the hurricane landed on July 8. Eight Harris County fatalities were attributed to heat exposure due to power outages, according to July 24 data from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. From July until December, investigations and formal hearings are ongoing into CenterPoint Energy and other Greater Houston-area utility providers’ emergency response and preparedness efforts for the storm. Meanwhile, a new 13-member Texas Senate Special Committee was formed July 17 and tasked with studying power companies’ hurricane and storm preparedness. The committee first met July 29, asking why more than 2 million Houston-area residents lost power and why it took weeks to restore it. The hearing was held as Texas policymakers continued investigations into how various utility companies performed not only in the wake of Beryl, but also the derecho wind storm that hit Houston in May, knocking out power for nearly 1 million CenterPoint customers. While appearing in front of Texas public utility commissioners on July 25, CenterPoint Energy executives laid out a three-phase resiliency plan with details and deadlines as early as Aug. 1. CenterPoint’s plan focuses on three priorities: • Customer communications • Resiliency investments • Strengthened partnerships CenterPoint releases resiliency plan after Beryl

The action taken

In what may be the first staff action related to Beryl, Lynnae Wilson, CenterPoint’s senior vice president of electric business, is no longer with the company as of July 29, according to an email from CenterPoint media officials. In a July 28 publicly advertised letter, CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells apologized for falling short of customer expectations during times of emergency. Wells also outlined immediate actions to improve not only future response and restoration efforts, but

also customer and public-facing communications. CenterPoint Energy’s resiliency plan includes prioritizing power restoration and temporary generator deployment for critical facilities. The top five general priority levels for mobile generator deployment include: • Hospitals • Emergency services & Houston airports • Cooling centers • Senior/assisted living facilities • Small emergency rooms

CenterPoint Energy's 3-phase timeline to implement resiliency improvements*

Completed

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Immediately

By Aug. 15

By Dec. 31

Prioritize restoration and temporary generation deployment for critical facilities, including critical care facilities, water utilities

Harden nearly 350 distribution line miles to the latest extreme wind standard; CenterPoint is replacing wooden towers with steel and concrete towers

Complete all aerial imagery and visual inspections on all overhead distribution circuits affected by Beryl to identify equipment or vegeta- tion-related issues that could impact future outages Informed by the Texas governor’s office, CenterPoint will execute identified repairs based on risk Increase call center capacity by 165% for storm events with a standard average answer speed of 5 minutes or less

Launch initial public communi- cations earlier in the storm cycle

Hire two new senior leaders: one for emergency preparedness and response and one for communications

By Aug. 1

By Aug. 31

By June 1, 2025

Launch a new cloud-based

Leverage AI and implement changes to accelerate dispatch of vegetation crews to immediately ad- dress higher-risk vegetation issues through Dec. 31 Remove 100% of vegetation from the 2,000 incremental distribution lines considered to be at a higher-risk due to vegetation Deploy 300 automated devices to reduce sustained interruptions and reduce restoration time By Sept. 30 Select sites for up to 10 donated backup generator facilities

Install donated backup generator facilities

storm outage tracker

Increase mobile generators

from four to 13 units

Adopt a daily press briefing policy before and during a named storm and daily restoration updates during the press briefing

By Aug. 9

Coordinate more closely with local, county and state officials as well as emergency management personnel to align response efforts

*LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE SOURCES: CENTERPOINT ENERGY, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SMART GRID CENTER/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Number of customers without power 2.5M CenterPoint Energy Hurricane Beryl outages

What to expect

Impact , CenterPoint did not provide information on how much the new plan will cost the company and its customers. The state could take action on energy legislation next legislative session as Senate committee members on July 29 looked into what new regulations or legislation they can enact to keep similar circumstances from happening again. While no further Senate committee meetings on hurricane preparedness are scheduled for this year, the PUC’s final investigation report will be delivered to the governor and Legislature for review by Dec. 1.

CenterPoint originally filed a $2.2 billion-$2.7 billion resiliency plan with the PUC for its long- term sustainability efforts on April 29, prior to the derecho and Beryl outages. Internal July 24 communication between Wells and Gov. Greg Abbott indicated Wells enacted stricter deadlines to CenterPoint’s original resiliency plan, which required refiling with the PUC in order to meet the new strategies, Wells said. By Aug. 1, the company withdrew its PUC filing and announced it needs to complete a broader assessment of additional resiliency opportunities. In an email with Community

2.2M

2M 1.5M 1M 500K 0

4,713

Hurricane Beryl lands

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Debate ensues over future of Montrose Boulevard From the cover

Two-minute impact

Meet the board

Key

Replaced

Retained

Board chair: Joe Webb

TIRZs are governmental entities in Texas that collect incremental tax revenue within their boundaries to fund improvements, such as street and sidewalk projects. The four new Montrose TIRZ members were approved for their positions by Houston City Council on July 2, and the first meeting with new members took place July 22. Public speakers at that meeting were divided on whether the Montrose Boulevard project should proceed as originally planned or if the board should come up with a new design that preserves more trees with narrower sidewalks. TIRZ plans call for removing 57 trees as part of Phase 1, describing those trees in project documents as “either seriously compromised by overhead utility lines” or “in unhealthy, constrained planting areas.” Plans call for planting 137 new 3.5-inch caliper live oak and cypress trees in their place. Those seeking to change the project have taken aim at proposals to widen sidewalks to a 10-foot-wide shared-use path on the east side of Montrose and the narrowing of medians, which they said threaten trees. To project supporters, the shared-use path is a critical component allowing for safer travel to Buffalo Bayou.

Matthew Brollier: Senior analyst with real estate evaluation and consulting firm Deal Sikes Once served as chief of staff to former Houston City Council member Jack Christie

Vice chair: Lisa Hunt

Director: Amanda Flores

Robert Guthart: Transportation planner with the professional services firm WSP

Director: Vacant seat

Murad Ajani: Past president of the Ismaili Council for Southwestern United States, which is leading efforts to build a new Ismaili Center on Montrose Boulevard

Director: Abby Noebels

Director: Jeffrey Watters

Helen Zunka: A Hyde Park resident who has served with the Hyde Park Civic Association

Director: Eureka Gilkey

Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones are governmental entities that collect incremental tax revenue within their boundaries and use that funding on projects to improve the area: How it works • Street, drainage, sidewalk improvements • Affordable housing incentives • Landscaping and exterior facade improvements

TIRZ board members serve two-year terms and must be:

• Chosen by the mayor of Houston for consideration • Approved by the Houston City Council • A resident of the county in which the zone is located or an adjacent county, or own property in the zone

SOURCES: MONTROSE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

A closer look

Montrose Boulevard improvement project

Phase 1 A 10-foot-wide shared use path would replace existing four-foot-wide sidewalks. Trees abutting the sidewalk would be removed with new trees planted in a new buffer space. Medians in Phase 1 would be narrowed from 30 feet wide to 20 feet wide, which TIRZ officials said would not contribute to tree loss. 57 trees would be removed in Phase 1, which TIRZ officials said are unhealthy or interfere with utility lines. Cost: $14.7M Status: Design work completed; construction originally set for early 2024, but project was put on pause in March

“We’ve explained this and explained this, and people don’t want to hear it,” he said. Jonna Hitchcock is the co-founder of Save Montrose Live Oaks, an advocacy group that formed in 2023 to push for the TIRZ to adjust its plans so fewer trees are removed. Hitchcock—who doesn’t live in Montrose but said she used to for 25 years—said she is not opposed to more pedestrian-friendly changes and drainage fixes. However, she said she thinks the loss of trees goes beyond what is necessary. The removal of the 57 trees in Phase 1 essentially involves removing all trees on both sides of the street, she said, which raises concerns about what Phase 2 could entail. Hitchcock urged the new TIRZ board to seek more variances that would allow the plan to move forward in a way that preserves more trees. “This is what makes Houston livable—shade, aesthetic beauty,” she said. “If you think of trees growing 25-45 years, that is a long-term infra- structure investment that we need to capitalize on and protect.”

TIRZ officials said the project will improve drainage to handle a two-year rainfall event while also making one of the neighborhood’s major north-south corridors more pedestri- an-friendly. Design work has been completed on the first phase of the project, but construction has been paused by Whitmire’s review after the new mayor took office in January. Former TIRZ Chair Joe Webb, who was replaced in July, said he and the other board members attempted to meet directly with Whitmire but instead were limited to interacting through his Senior Advisor Marlene Grafrick. At the time of his removal, he said he had not received any feedback on solutions the board proposed, which included installing six-foot- wide sidewalks throughout Phase 1 instead of the 10-foot-wide shared-use path. Webb said the project would require the removal of at least 37 trees no matter which design is chosen, based on the city’s design stan- dards, and because of the number of trees that are in poor health or interfere with utility lines.

W. CLAY ST.

Shared use path

E S T H E I M E R R D .

RICHMOND AVE.

Phase 2

Cost: TBD Status: TBD

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BY SHAWN ARRAJJ

What they’re saying

Moving forward

The walk audits this summer were hosted by the nonprofit Friends of the Boulevard, Citizens’ Transportation Coalition and the AARP. They looked at sidewalks, crossings and bus shelters, among other details. As of press time Aug. 30, organizers said they would release a written report and analysis by the end of August. Alex Spike, an organizer with Friends of the Boulevard, said he wants the audits to serve as a way to refocus the discussion. “So much is focused on what is being lost and not on the state of the roadway and what we have to gain,” Spike said. TIRZ board members have not yet provided opinions on how work should proceed. The next meeting will take place Sept. 16.

New TIRZ Chair Matthew Brollier said he prepared by reviewing “every study, every analysis that I could get my hands on that had been done for Montrose going back 20 years.” “I want to make [myself] available to everyone and do right by this part of the city,” he said. In a statement, Grafrick said concerns about the Montrose Boulevard revamp was not the only reason why board members were replaced. “Every new mayoral administration has key initiatives that they want to focus on. It is common to replace members of boards and commissions and others with individuals that align with the adminis- tration’s initiatives/views,” Grafrick said. District C council member Abbie Kamin, who represents Montrose, said she was grateful to the former board members for their service and empha- sized the urgency of key projects. “These are volunteer roles, yeoman’s work done so often at the expense of family and jobs, because they love Montrose,” Kamin said.

“We’re jumping on a galloping horse from a moving train. … And

we appreciate and look forward to the results of the walk audit.” MATTHEW BROLLIER, CHAIR, MONTROSE TIRZ

“Projects throughout the city that will mitigate flooding, improve safety for families and increase drainage capacity

in neighborhoods need shovels in the ground.” ABBIE KAMIN, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT C

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Events

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showing features a three-course meal, drinks and a pop- up shop. • Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. • $150 (individual ticket) • 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston • www.jlh.org Chefs for Farmers This two-day food and wine festival returns to Autry Park with a street food-style feast with unlimited bites and cocktails. A main event allows Houston’s top chefs to compete to win Best Bite. • Sept. 28-29, 1-5 p.m. (VIP); 2-5 p.m. (general admission) • $125-$175 (per day) • 3711 Autry Park Drive, Houston • www.chefsforfarmers.com/houston

September

‘The Little Mermaid’ The 2024-25 Houston Ballet season at Wortham Theater Center opens with a production of “The Little Mermaid.” Choreographer John Neumeier’s rendition interprets the original fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen with an original score by composer Lera Auerbach. • Sept. 6-15, times vary • $25-$160 El Festival de la Salsa This event at Discovery Green celebrates Hispanic heritage through music, art and food. It features live Latin artists, folkloric performers and food vendors from several Latin countries. • Sept. 22, 1-10 p.m. • $12 (adults), free (under 12 years old) • 501 Texas Ave., Houston • www.houstonballet.org

Movies in the Park Friends of River Oaks Theatre will host an outdoor screening of satirical film “Being There,” which stars Peter Sellers. The event takes place on the Water Works lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park and begins with a discussion led by conservationist and environmental leader Jaime Gonzalez. • Sept. 19, 6-9:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 105-B Sabine St., Houston • www.buffalobayou.org

October

Heights Mystery Book Club Readers can join a mystery book club at the Heights Neighborhood Houston Library. In October, the club will read “Clouds of Witness” by Dorothy L. Sayers.

• 1500 McKinney St., Houston • www.elfestivaldelasalsa.com

Opening Style Show: Models of Style and Service

• Oct. 2, 12:30-2 p.m. • Free with registration • 1302 Heights Blvd., Houston • https://houstonlibrary.org

Women’s organization Junior League of Houston will host two style shows with a luncheon and dinner showcasing pieces from clothing brand Buru. Each

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Business

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe oers a variety of cookie options like a hand-dipped chocolate chunk cookie.

Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe oers a variety of baked goods including cakes.

Sara Brook founded Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe in 1995.

PHOTOS COURTESY DESSERT GALLERY BAKERY & CAFE

Dessert Gallery oers homemade baked goods

Pastry chef Sara Brook founded Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe in 1995 to pursue her passion for baking. The rst location of the bakery opened in Upper Kirby, and a 2024 expansion brought a second location to The Woodlands. Although Brook earned a degree in computer science and sociology from The University of Texas at Austin, she said she pivoted back to baking with her rst company, The Executive Sweet, in 1983. “I was born with my love for baking,” Brook said. “I literally have been baking since I was big enough to stand up on my own two feet.” Meet the chef While working for a law rm, Brook said she realized she wanted to create her own path, which led her to open her rst baking company at the age of 21. The Executive Sweet operated until 1988 in Houston before Brook sold it and opened her second company, Sara Brook Desserts, one week later, operating out of River Oaks Grill. After cus- tomers repeatedly asked for the chocolate sauce Brook had created, The Great Chocolate Cover Up, she decided to focus her time selling it through gourmet food stores. After selling The Great Chocolate Cover Up business in 1992, Brook moved on to open Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe. Brook said the original Dessert Gallery on Kirby opened in 1995, and she

expanded the business with a location in The Woodlands in February 2024. From the oven With a team consisting of Dessert Gallery chefs, the bakery oers baked goods made from scratch. “I’m very fortunate to work with a lot of people who’ve been here for 10-20 years,” Brook said. “We’re known for our old-fashioned, homemade, yummy desserts like your grandma used to make, but better.” The bakery is known for oering baked good classics made in small batches with quality ingredients. Desserts oered include cakes, cookies, brown- ies, pies, cake pops and cupcakes. Some customer favorites include the tres leches cake, lemon blueberry cake and hand-dipped chocolate chunk cookies known as “the cookies that started it all,” she said. “I’ve just aspired to have the dessert that’s special to someone because they always get this ... particular dessert for their birthday or for their family’s special celebration,” Brook said. As a Houston staple, Brook said Dessert Gallery aims to give back to the community through charitable donations, being responsive to commu- nity needs and raising money for causes. A few organizations Dessert Gallery has contributed to include Gracie’s Corner Foundation, Heart Gallery and Second Servings of Houston.

The bakery oers cupcake avors including French vanilla, red velvet, strawberry and chocolate.

The shop can be found in Upper Kirby, but a second location in The Woodlands opened in 2024.

3600 Kirby Drive, Ste. D, Houston www.dessertgallery.com

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