REGIONAL REPORT
Economy experts project 75,500 jobs to come toHouston region in 2022
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The Greater Houston Partnership projects around 75,500 new jobs will be added in the Greater Houston area in 2022. SOURCE: GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER JOBPROJECTIONS
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & DANICA LLOYD While in ation and worker shortages continue to stunt a rebound of the Houston economy, forecasters with the Greater Houston Partnership project the area will still add 75,500 more jobs to the economy in 2022, including job growth in every sector. These projections were announced Dec. 10 alongside an update on how the area’s recovery trended in 2021, the second year of the coronavirus pandemic. As of October, the Houston area had recouped 269,000 jobs, or roughly 75% of the 361,400 jobs lost in the early stages of the pandemic. The greatest job gains in 2022 are projected to be seen in the administra- tive services, government, health care, professional services, and restaurant and bar industries, which are projected to add a combined 40,400 jobs. “Several factors will drive Houston’s growth in [2022]: a strong U.S. economy, expanding global trade, energy con- sumption returning to pre-crisis levels, pent-up consumer demand, local popu- lation growth and the ongoing housing boom,” o cials wrote in the report. According to the Houston Associa- tion of Realtors, single-family home sales in 2021 outpaced 2020 by 10%, and the total dollar volume grew by 28% for a record $40 billion. “Limited inventory and shortages of building supplies and labor on the new construction side also posed serious challenges, but the market powered through it all to achieve a record year. As we enter 2022, inventory and a ordabil- ity are de nite concerns,” HAR Chair Jennifer Wauhob said.
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The demolition of the former Raveneaux Country Club clubhouse was completed in September; however, the swimming pool and tennis courts remain.
Administrative services: 9,000
EMILY LINCKE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Raveneaux Country Club stormwater detention basin negotiations suspended
Professional services: 8,700
Health care: 8,400
Restaurants and bars: 7,200
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Negotiations to construct a regional stormwater detention basin at what was previously the site of Raveneaux Country Club have failed to gain traction, leaving the proposed project’s future in limbo. In January 2020, the Harris County Flood Control District acquired 27.6 acres of land in an $11.4 million deal that included the grounds of the Raveneaux Country Club clubhouse and adjoining facilities with the goal of constructing a regional stormwater detention basin. The remaining 206 acres encompassing the golf course are owned by the Cypress Forest Public Utility District. Former HCFCD Deputy Executive Director Matt Zeve said negotiations had been in the works with CFPUD o cials to swap the portion of land purchased by the HCFCD with a parcel of land owned by the CFPUD that was closer to Cypress Creek. Had the negotiations been successful, Zeve said the CFPUDwould have worked with an outside group to construct a new golf course on the property previously designated for the detention basin. “I really thought we could work together with the public utility district to get a win for the ood control district, a win for the public utility district and a win for the local community,” Zeve said in a Dec. 21 interview. According to Greer Pagan, an attorney with Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP who represents the CFPUD, the appraisals of the properties presented by the county did not match the appraisals presented by the CFPUD, making a deal unattainable. “We haven’t given up by any means,” Pagan said. “We’re looking at di erent options now. I think we just have to continue talking about what some options might be that work for both parties.” Zeve noted the ood control district is still moving forward with portions of the project outside the construction of the detention basin, including the demolition of the tennis courts and swimming pool.
Government: 7,100
Transportation: 6,500
Manufacturing: 5,000
Energy: 4,000
Wholesale trade: 3,000
Construction: 2,700
Other: 2,300
Finance: 2,100
Educational services: 2,000
Retail trade: 2,000
Real estate: 2,000
Arts, entertainment: 1,600
Hotels: 1,200
Information: 700
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CY FAIR EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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