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Heights River Oaks
Montrose Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 8 NOV. 7 DEC. 9, 2025
Resilient to disaster Houston looks to allocate nearly $315M to recover from previous natural disasters and prepare for future ones
BY SARAH BRAGER
The city of Houston developed a $314.6 million disaster aid plan in mid-2025 with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support local recovery from the 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl. While both storms hit the Greater Houston area over a year ago, federal reports and expert research show many residents are still rebuilding their homes and lives as a result of their impact. The funding comes from a federal grant program, known as the Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery, that helps cities, counties and states recover from presidentially declared disasters. City o cials submitted the CDBG-DR plan to HUD on Sept. 18 after months of resident feedback and City Council debate about funding allocations. As of press time, the plan was still in review. However, HUD had until Nov. 2 to approve or deny the plan.
610
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FEMA Risk Index by census tract The Federal Emergency Management Agency analyzes social vulnerability, community resilience and expected annual loss from disasters to calculate risk. Very high Relatively high Relatively moderate Relatively low
610
45
Key disasters in the last 20 years Beryl - July 2024 Derecho - May 2024 Harvey - August 2017 Ike - September 2008
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69
288
SOURCE: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
Impacts
W. 34TH ST.
W. 25TH ST.
• Opened Sept. 22 • 707 Marston St., Houston • www.hanoverbuffalobayou.com
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8 Switchyards Houston Described as a neighborhood work club, this company debuted in Houston in September, featuring a coffee shop, college library and a boutique hotel lobby. • Opening Sept. 29 • 2901 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.switchyards.com
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Coming soon
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9 Merit Coffee The first location of the San Antonio-based brand is anticipated to open next year in the Heights. The coffee purveyor sells imported, freshly roasted coffee, with a cafe that provides coffee-based beverages and pastries. • Opening fall 2026 • 621 Waverly St., Houston • www.meritcoffee.com 10 Escalante’s Radom Capital officials announced that the upscale Tex- Mex restaurant will be one of the first major restaurant tenants at the Swift Building. The spot will offer dishes such as brisket queso, fajitas and enchiladas. • Opening fall 2026 • 621 Waverly St., Houston • www.escalantes.net 11 Tiny’s Milk & Cookies The fifth location of the neighborhood walk-up concept is set to launch in the Heights in early 2026. The locale sells baked goods, cookies, house-made ice cream and espresso drinks. • Opening early 2026 12 Kids R’ Kids The high-end child care and learning center is for children ages six weeks to 12 years old. There are individualized programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. • Opening Dec. 1 • 819 Jackson Hill St., Houston • www.kidsrkids.com/houston-heights • 3423 White Oak Drive, Houston • www.tinysmilkandcookies.com 13 The Ismaili Center The center, designed to serve as a community hub for the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, will be a place of prayer, social gatherings, cultural events and intellectual pursuits. It will be the first Ismaili Center to open in the United States. • Opening late 2025 • 2323 Allen Parkway, Houston • www.the.ismaili/us/en/spaces/ismaili-center-houston
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4 Pvolve Houston Galleria The fitness studio utilizes low-impact, high-resistance functional movement exercises designed to help women build strength and reduce pain. Classes incorporate a variety of strength training, flexibility and recovery. • Opened in September • 5000 Westheimer Road, Ste. 108, Houston • www.pvolve.com 5 Swish Dental-Montrose As an Austin-based dental company, the business will offer preventative and restorative dentistry, as well as teeth whitening and Invisalign. • Opened in September • 3230 Yoakum Blvd., Houston • www.swishsmiles.com 6 Carolina Herrera Debuting in the River Oaks District, this luxury storefront will sell a variety of Carolina Herrera products, including designer makeup, expensive fragrances and fashion. • Opened Oct. 4 • 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. A-130, Houston • www.carolinaherrera.com 7 Hanover Buffalo Bayou The 40-story high-rise apartment complex consists of 317 luxury units and includes amenities such as a resort- style pool, fitness center, cinema and business center.
Now open
1 Wingbay The brand-new wing restaurant debuted in the Houston market in October, with locations across Houston, including one in Montrose. The spot sells halal wings, tenders, fries and sides. • Opened Oct. 11 • 3520 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston • Instagram: @wingbay.us 2 Matty G’s Steakburgers The sports-themed restaurant serves steakburgers and is decorated with old-school sports decor and jerseys. The spot will also have 16 TVs for customers to view games. • Opened in October • 1111 Studewood St., Ste. A, Houston • www.matty-gs.com 3 Los Chilaquiles Restaurante After 20 years of cooking in Mexico, the owners of the authentic Mexican restaurant are opening a spot in the Heights centered on chilaquiles, a dish made of fried corn tortilla pieces simmered in a flavorful sauce. • Opened Nov. 1 • 702 E. 11th St., Houston • https://texas.loschilaquiles.com
What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
14 Strong Pilates The fitness studio will focus on reformer Pilates, incorporating a mix of cardio, resistance and strength
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
Base Power An energy company founded in 2023 headquartered in Austin officially launched in Houston in September. The company provides battery-powered home energy that
training. According to TDLR, an expected opening date is set for mid-2026. • 621 Waverly St., Houston • www.strongpilates.co
Now open
does not require solar panels. • www.basepowercompany.com
Relocations
15 Balani Custom Suits Known for its exceptional customer service and expert craftsmanship, the custom suit maker moved to a larger, more refined showroom. The business uses luxury materials such as wool, cashmere and silk for suits, jackets, tuxedos, shirts and slacks. • Relocated Oct. 15 • 4310 Westheimer Road, Ste. 230, Houston • https://www.balanicustom.com
Closings
17 Jenni’s Noodle House After serving Vietnamese food to the Houston area for more than 20 years, the restaurant owners announced the closure of the Heights location. The Montrose spot
will remain open. • Closed Oct. 26
• 602 E. 20th St., Houston • www.noodlesrule.com
19 Queen Bee’s Tea Room Bringing classic British refinement and Southern hospitality to the Heights, the woman-owned business offers an afternoon tea experience with vintage teacups and inventive tea-infused creations. The business will also provide dishes to pair, featuring items such as soups, salads and sandwiches. • Opened Oct. 7 • 201 W. 15th St., Houston • www.queenbeestearoom.com
In the news
18 Bosscat Kitchen & Libations As the first location to open in Houston, the River Oaks location is closed. The place served cocktails, an expansive list of whisky and food such as steak, pasta and seafood. • Closed Sept. 28 • 4310 Westheimer Road, Ste. 150, Houston • www.bosscatkitchen.com/about
16 The Raven Tower The iconic 3,000 square-foot patio located at the establishment’s bar reopened in October after a short closure for renovations. The space now includes a pool table, multiple bars, more seating and a 20-foot video wall. • Reopened Oct. 6
• 310 North St., Houston • www.raventower.net
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Government
BY SARAH BRAGER & JULIANNA WASHBURN
Houston officials discuss adding residential fees The city of Houston may be able to increase its general fund revenue by at least $200 million annually through enacting policies in line with other major Texas cities, according to an Oct. 7 presenta- tion from Controller Chris Hollins’ office. The overview In the Oct. 7 Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting, Deputy Controller Will Jones presented a breakdown of Houston’s general fund revenues compared to those of its peer cities, including Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and El Paso. Breaking it down The breakdown compared revenue sources, such as property tax, city fees and interfund transfers. Using an average of per-household fees in other cities, Houston could generate: • Approximately $164 million annually from
Houston keeps flat property tax rate Houston City Council members passed an unchanged property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26 in an 11-3 vote on Oct. 15, despite a projected $53 million loss in the fund balance with the approved rate. What you need to know City Council approved a tax rate of $0.5191 per $100 home valuation, the same as last fiscal year’s tax rate. However, the approved rate is lower than the tax rate used to calculate the FY 2025-26 city budget council adopted in June. City Finance Director Melissa Dubowski said the budget was created using a rate of $0.5378 per $100 home valuation, which is the maximum rate the city could adopt without voter approval due to local revenue cap laws.
Annual fee-based revenues in major Texas cities
Utility transfer (water/electric) Clean community/environmental Garbage/solid waste
$655M
$324M
$239M
$126M
$101M
$0
San Antonio
Austin
Dallas
Fort Worth
El Paso
Houston
NOTE: DATA IS BASED ON EACH CITY’S MOST RECENT BUDGET SOURCE: OFFICE OF CITY CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
garbage/solid waste fees ($33 per month) • Approximately $15 million annually from envi- ronmental fees ($3 per month) • Approximately $100 million from transportation fees ($20 per month) Council did not take any action on the presentation.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Houston ISD retains majority of high-performing teachers
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the district is retaining more highly-rated teachers compared to teachers who scored lower on the district’s teacher rating scale, according to a Sept. 29 news release. Some context The announcement comes after officials approved a new teacher evaluation system, dubbed the Teacher Excellence System, in March. Officials noted the data included in the Sept. 29 news release was collected in the 2024-25 school year using the district’s old evaluation system. A closer look According to the news release, teacher perfor- mance was broken down into six categories, with “Exemplary I” marking the highest rating and “Unsatisfactory” representing the lowest rating. According to the release, the district retained: • 89% of teachers rated “Exemplary I”
Houston ISD teacher evaluations results for the 2024-25 school year Evaluation tier Teachers retained Teachers departed
Total teachers rated
Exemplary I Proficient II Proficient I
701
90
791
1,032 3,309 1,798
144 580 610 573 230
1,176
3,889 2,408
Progressing II Progressing I Unsatisfactory
564
1,137
57
287 SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
• 88% of teachers rated “Proficient II” • 85% of teachers rated “Proficient I” • 75% of teachers rated “Progressing II” • 50% of teachers rated “Progressing I” • 20% of teachers rated “Unsatisfactory” Per the release, 701 teachers who received “Exemplary I” ratings were retained by the district in the 2025-26 school year, as well as 1,032 teachers
who received “Proficient II” scores. Overall, district data shows roughly 77% of teach- ers who taught in the 2024-25 school year stayed with the district in the 2025-26 school year. “We’re encouraged to see that so many of our most effective teachers are choosing to continue their work in HISD classrooms," Miles said. “We’re investing in our teachers because when instruction is at its best, students do their best.”
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Transportation
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
3 Shepherd-Durham Drive Reconstruction Project
Ongoing projects
N. SHEPHERD DR. 610
Project: The reconstruction project includes making improvements to the roughly 5-mile stretch of road, including adding bike lanes, 6-foot sidewalks, installing left-turn lanes and general upgrades to streetlights, stormwater drainage systems and landscaping. Update: Phase 2 of the project, from 15th Street and Loop 610, will start construction by the end of the year. • Timeline: 2022-2027 • Cost: $115 million • Funding source: Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority
1 White Oak Elevation Project Project: The Texas Department of Transportation project includes raising the elevation of the I-10 mainlanes above the floodplain of White Oak Bayou, including the reconstruction of the I-10 HOV lanes and reconstruction of the Houston Avenue Bridge. Update: A traffic switch that started on Nov. 4 reduced the I-10 westbound mainlanes between the I-45 North Freeway and Houston Avenue from four lanes to two. The lanes will remain closed until mid-2026. • Timeline: 2025-2028 • Cost: $400 million • Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation 2 MKT Trail Hogan Pedestrian Bridge Project: Houston Public Works is taking out parts of the bridge over White Oak Bayou at its weakest points, as well as making repairs to the bridge’s pillars. Update: The bridge and trail underneath are temporarily closed as construction started on the project Sept. 22. • Timeline: February-December • Cost: $1.1 million • Funding source: Houston Public Works
3
WHITE OAK DR.
10
45
WHITE OAK BAYOU GREENWAY TRAIL
1
4 Montrose Boulevard Improvements Project
2
M-K-T TRAIL
Project: The project includes fully reconstructing Montrose Boulevard from Allen Parkway to West Clay Street into a four-lane concrete roadway with a median, sidewalks, trees, signals and a pedestrian bridge. Update: A traffic switch started Oct. 13, shifting traffic to the west side of the road and will be one lane in each direction. The pedestrian bridge construction will also experience around-the-clock single-lane underpass closures in each direction. • Timeline: March 2025-Q2 2026 • Cost: $17.9 million • Funding source: Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone
CROCKETT ST.
MONTROSE BLVD.
ALLEN PKWY.
DART ST.
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Development
BY ROO MOODY
Pumpkin Park to see $11.2M upgrades
About the project
Davis said she wants Pumpkin Park to be a place not just for those in the River Oaks neighborhood, but for all Houston residents to enjoy. As a mom, she said it was especially important to have a new restroom building, walking trail, picnic grove and covered outdoor classroom. A few additional renovations include:
she will never be forgotten,” Davis said. For the past few years, Davis has talked with her community and met with o cials to plan out the renovation details. The total cost of the project is estimated at $11.2 million, with a $2.5 million endowment to maintain the park. Additionally, Davis said the nonpro t Friends of Pumpkin Park will allocate 10% of the budget, or $1 million, to other park projects in underserved areas.
After losing her eight-month-old daughter in 2019, Margaret Elkins Davis looked for ways to celebrate Isabel’s life. She decided to renovate what her neighborhood liked to call “Pumpkin Park,” located in the River Oaks area, where she grew up going as a child and frequently took Isabel and her siblings. “[Isabel] didn’t get to experience much in her short life, but she did experience walking by the park, and it gives me so much peace knowing
Basketball and beach volleyball court enhancements
Playground area improvements
Enhanced greenery throughout the ve acres of parkland
Infrastructure improvements
SOURCE: FRIENDS OF PUMPKIN PARK COMMUNITY IMPACT
Moving forward
As of now, the project is still in the permitting process, but Davis said she will continue working with the Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. She hopes to break ground during the summer of 2026.
LARCHMONT RD.
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EDLOE ST.
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Pumpkin Park was nicknamed after the life-sized pumpkin carriage at the playground.
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ROO MOODY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
Community Volunteer Guide
BY ROO MOODY & KEVIN VU
• 4660 Beechnut St., Ste. 102, Houston • www.girlsempowermentnetwork.org
• 3830 Greenhouse Road, Houston • www.specialpals.org BARC Houston
2025
Community aid
Montrose Grace Place The organization aims to provide a safe place for individuals ages 13-24 of all sexualities and genders experiencing homelessness in Houston. • Sample activities: Providing and serving dinner, facilitating creative group activities, helping clean the clothing closet, providing direct mentorship • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, Amazon wishlist purchases, new and gently-used clothing for ages 13-24, unopened packages of underwear and socks Covenant House Texas The nonprofit serves as a shelter for homeless youth between 18-24, providing services such as substance abuse counseling, education and vocational training. • Sample activities: Hosting activities, street outreach, serving as a mentor, clerical and administrative support, serving meals • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, holiday gifts and gift cards, new clothing and shoes for young men, women and children, diapers • 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston • www.montrosegraceplace.org
The animal shelter is dedicated to helping animals in Houston and provides sheltering and veterinary care for pets, as well as adoption and live release initiatives. • Sample activities: Animal care, administrative help, working at special events, fostering, assisting with adoptions • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, personal checks, dog and cat food, toys, treats, leashes and collars, flea shampoo, towels, detergent, litter, unopened rubbing alcohol, dish soap • 3300 Carr St., Houston • www.houstontx.gov/barc
retailers and delivers it to local nonprofits. • Sample activities: Assisting drivers with food rescues, helping with PopUp Grocery Stores • Donations accepted: Surplus food, monetary contributions • 8825 Knight Road, Houston • www.secondservingshouston.org Plant It Forward The Houston-based nonprofit works with growers across Houston to cultivate food and transform underutilized land into thriving farms. • Sample activities: Various volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year, purchase produce at Houston farmers markets, attend events • Donations accepted: Click the donate button on the website (for other donor options, reach out to shellyn@plantitforward.farm) • 4030 Willowbend Blvd., Houston • www.plantitforward.farm
Community aid
Animals and wildlife
Houston Area Women’s Center This organization works to end domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking. Services include crisis intervention, support programs and violence prevention. • Sample activities: Join a volunteer fundraising committee, help at events, offer holiday gift items to survivors and their families, assemble essential supply kits to aid women and children • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, food items, brand new clothing for women, infants and toddlers, toys, diapers, hygiene products, beauty products, first aid items, luggage, detergent, smaller appliances • 3077 El Camino St., Houston • www.hawc.org
Coastal Prairie Conservancy The nonprofit land trust is dedicated to conserving and restoring more than 33,000 acres of prairies, wetlands, farms and ranches throughout the Greater Houston region. • Sample activities: Volunteers can help with habitat restoration, seed collection, native plant propagation, stewardship activities throughout the year • Donations accepted: Online donation, check or cash Special Pals Rescue Resource Center The organization is the oldest no-kill shelter in Houston. The organization facilitates adoptions, fostering, low-cost vaccinations and rescue boarding. • Sample activities: Take care of animals, complete administrative duties • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, dog and cat food, trash bags, laundry detergent, bleach • 5615 Kirby Drive, Ste. 867, Houston • www.coastalprairieconservancy.org
Houst on F ood Bank The nonprofit collects, inspects, sorts, stores and distributes food to the community through pantries, soup kitchens and schools. • Sample activities: Sorting food, packing Backpack Buddy sacks, building Senior Boxes and disaster boxes, assisting with preparation and packaging of hot meals, distributing food • Donations accepted: Monetary donations, food, vehicles, stocks and volunteer hours • 535 Portwall St., Houston • www.houstonfoodbank.org/volunteernow
Youth and families
Girls Empowerment Network The organization advances self-efficacy—or the belief in oneself to succeed—in girls in grades third through 12th through programs that foster confidence, coping skills and collaboration • Sample activities: Writing role model letters, creating bookmarks, signing up to volunteer at Radiant G Conferences or in-school Radiant G Circle programs • Donations accepted: Monetary donations, merchandise sales, car donations, stock donations
• 1110 Lovett Blvd., Houston • www.covenanthousetx.org This list is not comprehensive.
Second Servings of Houston The nonprofit rescues surplus perishable food from
HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787
SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849
WESTCOTT AND MEMORIAL 5818 Memorial Dr (713) 861-4161
Resilient to disaster From the cover
neighborhoods like mine in District E, are still facing unsafe living conditions, including unresolved housing damages with little to no support,” Letty Ortega, a community organizer in Houston, said at a June 17 City Council meeting. In response to resident concerns, Mayor John Whitmire’s administration decided to reallocate $50 million toward housing, and Council member Ti any Thomas later submitted an amendment to reallocate an additional $50 million from the power resilience program to housing. After o cials opted for the change, Council members Fred Flickinger, Amy Peck and Mary Nan Hu man dissented. In a joint statement to Community Impact on Oct. 16, the trio said they felt the reallocation could “undermine other critical recovery tools.”
storm. Dan Potter, lead researcher of the survey, said the number seems small but represents thousands of Houston residents. “There’s that bill that’s always lingering, there’s that repair that’s not quite done yet,” Potter said. “While we’re talking about physical and nancial things, there are emotional components to it.” Almost a third of the now-approved plan is dedicated to housing, including home repair assistance. However, the original draft did not include funding for housing programs, which sparked backlash from some residents and council members, as an April HUD assessment showed housing costs were Houston’s top unmet need. “Many residents, especially in working-class
The big picture
Houston began drafting the plan in May, with a nal version approved by council in August. The plan allocates $100 million to housing programs, $101 million to power generation resilience, such as additional backup generators, as well as funding for emergency response, homeless services and debris removal, according to city documents. According to an October report from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, 12.5% of residents surveyed one year after Hurricane Beryl were still “somewhat or very disrupted” from the
Houston programs funded through the plan
2
Money allocated
Percent of total
Funding distribution
1
Power Generation Resilience Program
$101.291M
32.19%
1
Single-Family Housing Program
$50M
15.89%
2
Multifamily Housing Program
$50M
15.89%
3
Total: $314.6M
3
Homeless Services Program
$41.04M
13.04%
4
Debris Repository Acquisition/Development Program $32.79 M
10.42%
5
Administration
$15.732M
5%
6
9
8
Emergency Response/Public Safety Program
$15.34M
4.88%
7
7
4
Vegetation Management/Debris Removal Program
$8.25M
2.62%
8
6
Planning
$0.2M
0.06%
9
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT
5
A closer look
Hurricane Beryl recovery by household income
Somewhat or not recovered at all
Mostly recovered
Completely recovered
Potter said his team saw a “surprising” uptick in survey respondents who still felt disrupted by Hurricane Beryl after six months, which he expected to trend down with time. He said the response was likely due to lower-income residents not typically being able to pay off thousands of dollars of bills within a month. “[Longer] recovery is going to be concentrated among individuals that are not bringing a ton of resources to the table to begin with,” Potter said. According to the Kinder Institute study, 28% of households making less than $25,000 a year have either somewhat or not at all recovered. Meanwhile, only 4% of those making $100,000 or more have somewhat or not recovered at all.
24%
64%
Overall 11%
Less than $25,000 28%
36%
36%
$25,000 to $49,999 16%
31%
53%
10%
26%
64%
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 or more 4% 16%
81%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Percentage of residents
NOTE: PERCENTAGES MAY NOT ADD UP TO 100% DUE TO ROUNDING SOURCE: KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH/COMMUNITY IMPACT
14
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY SARAH BRAGER
Houston’s disaster relief spending priorities, compared Housing Infrastructure, public services and mitigation Planning, administration and delivery
What they’re saying
One more thing
Thomas told Community Impact the initial move to not fund housing programs felt like a “sharp pivot” from the city’s mission to maintain Hous- ton’s image as an affordable city. “We had an opportunity to strike and do something to address existing [housing] inventory because if we don’t repair these homes, it becomes a blight in our neighborhood,” Thomas said. However, in their statement, Flickinger, Peck and Huffman said $100 million won’t be able to support that many home repairs, making it a large expense for only a small number of residents. The council members also said the multifamily hous- ing program would essentially pay for apartment complexes’ remodels instead of preparing people for future storms. “We could stretch these dollars further and help more people,” the joint statement read. “Until those changes are made, pouring in more money only perpetuates inefficiency.”
While waiting on federal aid, some residents turned to local nonprofits for support with repairs. West Street Recovery, a Houston- based recovery nonprofit, spent almost $1 million repairing homes last year, WSR Co-Director Ben Hirsch said. Hirsch said it’s important to fund public infrastructure, but CDBG-DR program money should be used for recovery specifically, not mitigation. He said the city should use HUD’s separate grant program that funds investments in critical infrastructure to reduce the risk of future loss. “If you don’t repair homes, what happens is those people all get pushed into the rental market, and all of our rents go up,” Hirsch said. According to the program’s documents, HUD also awarded Harris County and the state of Texas disaster aid funding for the 2024 storms. The Texas General Land Office will also funnel the aid to Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, according to TGLO.
$5M 7.35%
$16M 5.08%
$83M 15.78%
$16M 23.53%
$68M 12.93%
$199M 63.17%
$375M 71.29%
$47M 69.12%
$100M 31.75%
City of Houston
Harris County
Texas General Land Office
SOURCE: KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH/COMMUNITY IMPACT
First in the Texas Medical Center WITH THIS DISTINCTION
Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Events
BY ROO MOODY
• Nov. 14, 8 p.m. • $46+ (per ticket) • 2009 W. Gray St., Houston • www.theriveroakstheatre.com
November
Ceramic Face Sculpture Workshop No experience is necessary for the workshop on sculpting faces out of clay at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, which includes an instructor, tools and basic materials. • Nov. 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • $85 (per person) • 4848 Main Street, Houston • www.crafthouston.org/event/ceramic-face-sculpture- workshop Whisky Masterclass with Billy Walker The masterclass with Billy Walker, an award-winning whisky distiller, will include a guided tasting, photo opportunities and a bottle signing. • Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m. • $125+ (per ticket) • 11326 Westheimer Road, Ste. A, Houston • www.facebook.com/groups/htxscotchwhiskysociety ROCO Connections: From Silence to Sound Film and music lovers can attend the program showcasing a live chamber ensemble and classic films, such as “Music Land” and “The Immigrant,” at the River Oaks Theatre.
Heights Mahjong Tournament In partnership with That’s aMAHJzing, the Houston Heights Association is hosting a Mahjong tournament for players of all skill levels at The Historic Heights Fire Station. • Nov. 18, 6 p.m.
• $100-$125 (per person) • 107 W. 12th St., Houston • www.houstonheights.org
December
Holiday Tree Lighting at River Oaks District Individuals can come see the lighting of River Oaks District’s 30-foot tree, as well as enjoy carolers and Santa.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland Stroll through charming homes decorated brightly for the holidays and spread Christmas cheer on the tour around the Houston Heights. • Dec. 5-6, times vary • $40 (per ticket)
• Nov. 22, 4-7 p.m. • Free (admission)
• 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.riveroaksdistrict.com/events
• 107 W. 12th St., Houston • www.houstonheights.org
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Dining
BY ROO MOODY
Berg Hospitality and B&B Butchers have helped raise more than $1 million for Houston-area nonpro ts.
The Double Cut Colorado Lamb Chops come with lamb bacon and German mustard.
PHOTOS COURTESY B&B BUTCHERS
B&B Butchers celebrates 10 years of business
City of Houston o cials have proclaimed Oct. 21 as “B&B Butchers Day.”
Houstonians could gather, celebrate and feel at home,” said Berg, founder and CEO of Berg Hospitality Group. The local impact Growing up in New York, Berg’s mother would take him to volunteer in the soup kitchen. Giving back was always important to Berg, and as B&B Butchers grew more popular, he founded Berg Gives Back to support Houston communities through meal programs, donations and relief e orts. “This anniversary isn’t just about looking back at what we’ve built–it’s about looking forward and making sure we give back to the community that has supported us since day one,” Berg said.
More than 10 years ago, Ben Berg toured a xer-upper building o Washington Avenue. He said he wanted to nd a space with character for his new restaurant, and after seeing a picture of the outside, he loved it. As Berg toured the brick building, he said trees were growing through the brick and that half of a wall wasn’t there, but he was determined not to
tear it down. A closer look
A decade after opening, B&B Butchers has all of its walls, lots of character and a reputation as a ne-dining steakhouse and butcher shop. “We opened B&B Butchers with the dream of creating not just a steakhouse, but a place where
N
1814 Washington Ave., Houston www.bbbutchers.com
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
Nonpro t
BY ROO MOODY
The nonpro t rescues food being thrown out by grocery stores and distributes it to low-income residents.
610
The PopUp Grocery Store program provides low-income Houston residents with a shopping experience for fresh, nutritious food at no cost.
. B
E L
PHOTOS BY ROO MOODY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Second Servings addresses food insecurity in Houston
8825 Knight Road, Houston www.secondservingshouston.org
After attending a charity event that resulted in leftover food, Barbara Bronstein began to wonder what would happen to the excess food. She said this simple thought led her to dis- cover that a lot of food produced is wasted, even though a Kinder Institute Survey showed that 39% of Houston residents face food insecurity, which is nearly triple the national average. The staggering fact inspired her to bridge the gap between perishable foods going to the land ll and Houston residents facing food insecurity by starting Second Servings in 2015. How it works Second Servings’ PopUp Grocery Store program
has four part-time drivers who drive to local stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods seven days a week to pick up food that would otherwise be thrown out. “Trader Joe’s gets new lettuces every day. The old ones have to go, but the old ones are perfectly good, so they share their food,” Bronstein said. At the distribution sites, volunteers will set up sections that resemble grocery store aisles and let participants choose which items they would like. Bronstein said the pop-ups are set to resemble a grocery store shopping experience. “There are a lot of seniors who are disabled and they’re veterans, and they need help because they’re living on xed incomes, and the costs of
everything have gone up,” Bronstein said. The local impact Since starting Second Servings, Bronstein said the nonpro t has provided more than $130 million worth of food across Houston and saved more than 18 million pounds of food from land lls. The PopUp Grocery Store program started in 2022 with ve sites and now typically operates at 48 sites most months, Bronstein said. Local residents are encouraged to sign up online to volunteer at the two pop-ups in the Heights. Food is only available to those living in a ordable housing complexes.
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State
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texas to phase out STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027
Beginning in fall 2027, third- through 12th-grade students will take three shorter exams in lieu of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. The changes come after state lawmak- ers passed House Bill 8, a law phasing out the STAAR, in September. The overview Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R Salado, said in September that the new law will reduce test-related anxiety and help educators track student growth throughout the year. Critics of the plan, including most Democratic lawmakers and a few Republicans, said they were concerned it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and result in “another STAAR test.” In the 2027-28 school year, school districts will be required to administer a beginning-of-year assessment in late August or September, a mid- year assessment in January or February, and an end-of-year assessment in May.
What to expect The Texas Education Agency will develop the three new exams. Lawmakers said educators will be allowed to continue administering third-party assessments in the beginning and middle of each year with TEA approval. All districts will be required to implement the state-developed end- of-year exam to measure year-over-year growth. Students’ scores will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. Currently, most students take the STAAR in April and receive their results in June, per the TEA. Questions from the new state-owned exams will be reviewed by Texas teachers and piloted in schools ahead of the 2027-28 school year. The TEA is required to release a plan for the rollout of the new exams by February 2027, which Buckley said will allow lawmakers to provide feedback and make adjustments to the testing system before it takes e ect later that year.
“[HB 8] reforms our Texas assessment program ... creating greater transparency, oversight and, ultimately, predictability.” REP. BRAD BUCKLEY, R SALADO
"No parent has asked for this; no parent wants this. This bill was supposed to be [a] win for our public schools and for
our kids. This is no win." REP. GINA HINOJOSA, D AUSTIN COLORS
MAM Brand Guide
Updated December 2024
Lapiz Lazuli
Hex: #005588 RGB: 0 /86 / 136 CMYK: 98 / 69 / 23 / 6
Sunglow
GET YOUR WARDROBE AND HOME HOLIDAY READY RESALE TREASURES FOR YOUR HOME AND CLOSET. PURCHASE WITH A PURPOSE AND SAVE. PURCHASE WITH THIS AD. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER DISCOUNT. EXPIRES NOVEMBER 25. 20% OFF
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1015 E. 11th St. Houston, TX. 77009
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ar)
19
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
Real estate
Homes spent less time on the market in two out of five local ZIP codes in September, while two areas saw an increase in time spent on the market and one neighborhood was stagnant. Residential market data
Number of homes sold
September 2024
September 2025
+3.33%
+48.89%
+40.32%
+7.41%
+77.78%
610
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
77008
45
10
77007
Median home sales price
59
77019
September
2024
2025
77006
$720,000 $535,000 $571,000 $505,000 $590,000
$710,000 $547,500 $575,000 $683,000 $637,500
77006
77098
59
77007
288
N
77008
Homes sold by price point
77019
September 2025
77098
50
$1,000,000+
27
$750,001-$1,000,000
Average days on market
78
$500,001-$750,000
-9.65%
+76.19%
0%
+83.64%
-38.33%
67
$250,001-$500,000
8
<$250,001
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY CB&A REALTORS 832-678-4770 • WWW.CBAREALTORS.COM
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
Your Social Calendar, Simplified! Visit Community Impact’s new events calendar to attend local happenings, explore hobbies, and meet people.
Start Exploring Today!
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Bringing the wild to you!
• Animal Presentation • Animal Photo Booth •
• Virtual Session • Animal Tales
2025-2026 CONCERTS November 15 | February 7 | April 25 5:00PM | St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church | 1819 Heights Blvd, 77008 SCAN THE QR CODE la-speranza.com/concerts 2025-2026 SEASON- “CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF” La Speranza brings vibrant historically informed performances on period instruments to Houston and beyond. TO LEARN MORE & BUY TICKETS
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TWO KID SLICES, DESSERT, & A DRINK!
6 YEARS OF GIVING BACK, AND GROWING STRONGER! DONATION DROP-OFFS ACCEPTED AT BOTH WAG’N WORLD MONTROSE & HEIGHTS LOCATIONS
DONATION DROP-OFFS ACCEPTED AT BOTH WAG’N WORLD MONTROSE & HEIGHTS LOCATIONS
THIS YEAR, WAG’N WORLDS’ 6TH ANNUAL FOOD & BLANKET DRIVE EXPANDS TO SUPPORT FIVE AMAZING RESCUE PARTNERS THIS YEAR’S FOOD & BLANKET DRIVE IS EXPANDING TO SUPPORT FIVE AMAZING RESCUE PARTNERS THIS YEAR, WAG’N WORLDS’ 6TH ANNUAL FOOD & BLANKET DRIVE EXPANDS TO SUPPORT FIVE AMAZING RESCUE PARTNERS THIS YEAR’S FOOD & BLANKET DRIVE IS EXPANDING TO SUPPORT FIVE AMAZING RESCUE PARTNERS
11 St.
11 St.
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10
Washington Ave.
Washington Ave.
SCAN FOR DETAILS ALL DONATIONS ACCEPTED AT WAG’N WORLD MONTROSE & HEIGHTS LOCATIONS W. Dallas St. SCAN FOR DETAILS ALL DONATIONS ACCEPTED AT WAG’N WORLD MONTROSE & HEIGHTS LOCATIONS W. Dallas St.
HEIGHTS 1616 W 22nd St. Houston, TX 77008 832-699-3399 HEIGHTS 1616 W 22nd St. Houston, TX 77008 832-699-3399
MONTROSE 1616 Montrose Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 713-496-3596 MONTROSE 1616 Montrose Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 713-496-3596
WAGNWORLD.COM DONATIONS
WAGNWORLD.COM DONATIONS
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Happy Hour: 3–5 PM, Monday–Thursday!
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