Conroe - Montgomery Edition | July 2025

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Conroe Montgomery Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 4 JULY 24AUG. 22, 2025

INSIDE 2025 Home Edition New homes, new hurdles Cities work on infrastructure as single-family homes surge in Montgomery County 34

PARADISE LN.

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Summer Place, which broke ground last summer, is among several single-family residential developments coming to the Montgomery area. (Zach Thoms/Community Impact)

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Angela Bonilla Sarah Brager Melissa Enaje Valeria Escobar Wesley Gardner Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Roo Moody Tomer Ronen Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Kevin Vu Julianna Washburn Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Chrissy Leggett General Manager

Lizzy Spangler Editor

Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Product Manager Kaitlin Schmidt Quality Desk Editor Sarah Hernandez

Chelsea Williams Account Executive

Note to our readers: Beginning this month, you’ll no longer see Texas Monthly content featured in Community Impact. We’re grateful for the partnership and proud to continue focusing on original, impactful reporting from our own CI journalists across Texas. As always, thank you for trusting us to keep you informed about what matters most in your community.

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Impacts

2 Pickleball 336 The business provides court rentals, clinics, open play sessions and private lessons for people of all ages and skill levels, according to its website. • Opened June 14 • 1617 N. Loop 336 E., Conroe • www.pickleball336.com 3 321 Skin Glow Med Spa The business offers services such as facials, hair removal, weight loss treatments and laser treatments. • Opened June 19 • 10350 Hwy. 242, Ste. 200, Conroe • www.321skinglow.com 4 Total Wine and More The business offers wines, spirits, beers, hard seltzers and more. • Opened June 19 • 219 S. Loop 336 W., Conroe • www.totalwine.com 5 Chili’s The restaurant is known for its triple-dipper appetizers, burgers, quesadillas and much more. • Opened June 16 • 12700 I-45 N., Willis • www.chilis.com 6 MoCo Bouldering and Fitness The facility offers almost 6,000 square feet of bouldering walls, over 4,000 square feet of fitness space and over 20 hours a week of group fitness instruction. • Opened July 19 • 2004 N. Frazier St., Ste. B, Conroe • www.mocobouldering.com 7 Kitchen Tune-Up The kitchen restoration and renovation store specializes in new cabinets and cabinet painting. • Opened May 29 • 1200 N. Frazier St., Conroe • www.kitchentuneup.com/montgomery-tx

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KEENAN CUT OFF RD.

CENTRAL PINE ST.

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fritters, bear claws, coffee and kolaches. • Opened in June • 14420 Hwy. 105 E., Cut and Shoot • www.shipleydonuts.com

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1 Shipley Do-Nuts The business offers more than 60 kinds of doughnuts in glazed, iced, filled and cake varieties, in addition to

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8 Triple Pepper The restaurant specializes in authentic Sichuan cuisine, and its menu includes a range of chicken, pork, beef, seafood, lamb, vegetable and noodle dishes. • Opened in May • 3091 College Park Drive, Ste. 170, The Woodlands • www.triplepeppertx.com 9 Woodforest Wellness Sanctuary & Spa The business is now offering spa services in Pine Market, including massages, body scrubs and aromatherapy. • Opened June 19 • 900 New Day Ave., Ste. 800, Montgomery • www.woodforestwellnessspa.com Sipsters The mobile bar created by two bartender sisters is based in The Woodlands and Conroe area. • Opened June 26 • Facebook: Sipsters Mobile Bar

confirmed. ReDunn Homes offers renovation and interior design services. • Relocated July 1 • 3821 Happy Hollow Lane, Montgomery • www.redunnhomes.com 13 The Grove Community School The Montessori school in The Woodlands area is moving to a new campus in August, Head of School Chris Gillaspie confirmed. Previously located at 3305 Red Bird Lane, Conroe, The Grove will open its doors at 2675 Pine Acres Drive, Conroe, at the start of the 2025-26

In the news

school year on Aug. 20. • Relocating in August

• 2675 Pine Acres Drive, Conroe • www.thegrovewoodlands.com

17 Guadalaharry’s Bar & Grill Owner Lori Keyser said the eatery celebrated five years serving the Conroe area in late May. Founded in 2020 by Ronald Harry and Lori Keyser, per previous reporting, the restaurant expanded with a larger location in downtown Conroe in March. Guadalaharry’s Bar & Grill offers a range of cuisines as well as sauces, guacamole and queso made daily from scratch. • 219 Simonton St., Conroe • www.guadalaharrysbarandgrill.com

In the news

14 Leadership Montgomery County Sarah Rhea has been promoted from executive director to president and CEO, per a June 11 news release. LMC is a nonprofit dedicated to developing current and future leaders and growing their leadership skills. • 505 W. Davis St., Conroe • www.lmctx.org 15 Shield Bearer Executive Director Thad Cardine said the counseling center is celebrating 20 years offering mental health services in July. The organization began with a single office and has since expanded with multiple counseling

What’s next

10 Chuy’s A new location of Chuy’s is expected to open in Willis, per a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Construction is expected to begin in August and wrap up next February. • Intersection of I-45 & FM 1097, Willis • www.chuys.com 11 AutoZone The auto parts retailer will open a new location in Conroe, per a filing with the TDLR. Construction is expected to be completed in November. • 14545 Hwy. 105 W., Ste. B, Conroe • www.autozone.com

Worth the trip

centers throughout the region. A 1860 Longmire Road, Conroe

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar The restaurant serves more than 100 dishes on a conveyor belt system enhanced by drink delivery robots, Kur-B the KuraBot, as well as prizes. This is the sixth Greater Houston area location. • Opened June 11 • 9300 Six Pines Drive, Ste. 100A, The Woodlands • www.kurasushi.com

B 105 FM 1488, Conroe • www.shieldbearer.org

16 Kroger The grocery store celebrated its 70th anniversary in Houston on June 21. Kroger offers everyday products and offers both delivery and curbside pickup. A 341 S. Loop 336 W., Conroe B 2222 I-45 N., Conroe C 20168 Eva St., Montgomery D 12605 I-45 N., Willis • www.kroger.com

Relocations

12 ReDunn Homes The business, previously located in Pflugerville, relocated to Montgomery, co-owner Abbe Dunn

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Government

BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN

New Conroe community center to open with program changes

Conroe’s new Oscar Johnson Jr. Community Center is expected to open this October, Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska said. With the opening of the new center, the city is making changes to its before-school and after-school programs, transportation services and fees. The big picture Due to low enrollment of an average of 54 stu- dents and a cost of more than $40,000 annually, the city is discontinuing its before-school option, Mikeska said June 25. Meanwhile, the after-school program, previ- ously spread across 10 campuses, is being consol- idated into one site to improve staffing, oversight and enrichment. As part of the consolidation, Conroe is changing which campuses will be provided with city transportation. Mikeska said the updates will begin in the 2025- 26 school year on Aug. 13 at the current commu- nity center before relocating to the new facility.

What else? Mikeska said school selection was based on Title I status, historic participation and proximity. Conroe ISD planned to provide transportation but later backed out due to internal leadership changes, Mikeska said. In a statement, CISD offi- cials said they were disappointed that the program will no longer be provided at certain campuses. “The school district is exploring other possible vendors to provide on-site campus-based after- school care,” a CISD district spokesperson said. Diving in deeper Mikeska said beginning this fall, new monthly rates for the after-school program will apply: • With transportation: $150 for residents, $200 for nonresidents • Without transportation: $120 for residents, $160 for nonresidents

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Scan this QR code to see a map of the Conroe ISD schools receiving and not receiving city transportation services.

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Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA

Conroe ISD officials said at a June 24 budget workshop they are seeking a balanced budget for CISD’s 2025-26 fiscal year, including 6% raises for teachers and staff following the signing of House Bill 2 by Gov. Greg Abbott. HB 2, which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 4 to provide additional funding for schools, established a $3.7 billion teacher retention allotment, which will be used to provide permanent raises for teachers with at least three years of classroom experience, as previously reported by Community Impact . In addition to providing raises for educators and support staff, HB 2 will overhaul how the state funds special education and set aside money for schools to spend on fixed costs, such as utilities and insurance. CISD’s FY 2025-26 budget includes $761.05 million in both projected estimated revenues and expenditures, with no anticipated shortfall, according to information at the June 24 meeting. CISD Chief of Finance Karen Garza said Senate Bill 4 and SB 23, which will go before voters in Conroe ISD seeks 6% teacher raises

House Bill 2 funding in Conroe ISD

Allotment type and amount for 2025-26

Impacted areas

$19.6M: Teacher retention

$2,500 for teachers with three to four years of experience and $5,000 for teachers with five or more years of experience $106 per enrolled student for general expenses Added basic allotment weight for districts $62.15 per K-3 student; reallocates existing funding to districts operating full-day pre-K $45 per regular program allotment for non- administrative staff New funding for special needs assessments $33,540 per campus and $20 per student, based on average daily attendance Targeted programs in districts

$7.8M: Basic costs $5M: Basic allotment $3.8M: Early education

$2.7M: Support staff retention

$2.5M: Full individual and initial allotment $1.9M: School safety

$1.5M: Other funding

Total: $44.8M

NOTE: THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.

SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

from $100,000 to $140,000, and SB 23 would give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption. Both exemptions could reduce overall taxable property values, Garza said.

November, could also impact the estimated tax rate of $0.9496 per $100. The estimated CISD tax rate is the same as FY 2023-24. If approved, SB 4 would raise the statewide homestead exemption for public school taxes

What’s being done

CISD teacher starting salaries

What’s next

2024-25 salary

2025-26 proposed salary

Garza said HB 2 will increase the teacher retention allotment for the district for the 2025-26 school year by $19.6 million and will increase the support staff allotment by $2.7 million. While HB 2 includes funds for teachers with three or more years of experience, the CISD budget also includes higher starting salaries for teachers with zero to two years of experience. The following recommendations, totaling $33.1 million, were made for various types of employees in CISD’s FY 2025-26 budget: • $20.5 million for a 6% increase to the teacher pay scale • $6.2 million for a 6% raise for administrative support, instructional support and auxiliary staff • $6.1 million for a 4% raise for administrative business, administrative education and technology staff • $300,000 for a 4% raise for district police

Years of teacher experience

Conroe ISD officials said they are looking at what other options can attract new teachers to the district. Garza and board of trustees President Misty Odenweller said the potential raises will help the district attract and retain teachers. “We wanted to make sure that we prioritize them in terms of the compensation increase, and then we added a new pay structure for our technology employees to stay competitive in that market. That’s one of those areas where we need to stay competitive,” Garza said. “I want to be sure that we do incentivize those [teachers] to stay in the classroom and be rewarded even if we aren’t increasing the pay across the board. ... I don’t want to lose those veteran teachers,” Odenweller said. The finance department will hold a budget hearing Aug. 5; then finalize revenue projections and present the final budget for approval Aug. 19.

$61,600 $64,000

$61,750 $64,300

$61,900 $64,600

$62,200 $64,900

$62,500 $67,500

$62,850 $67,850

SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION

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The prices of our homes, included features, plans, specifications, promotions/incentives, neighborhood build-out and available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions, square footage and acreage are approximate and should not be used as a representation of any home’s or homesite’s precise or actual size, location or orientation. There is no guarantee that any particular homesite or home will be available. A Broker/Agent must register their client in person on client’s first visit at each community for a Broker/Agent to receive a commission or referral fee, if available. Not all features and options are available in all homes. Unless otherwise expressly stated, homes do not come with hardscape, landscape, or other decorator items. Any photographs or renderings used herein reflect artists’ conceptions and are for illustrative purposes only. Community maps, illustrations, plans and/or amenities reflect our current vision and are subject to change without notice. Photographs or renderings of people do not depict or indicate any preference regarding race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or national origin. Our name and the logos contained herein are registered trademarks of Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. © 2025 Tri Pointe Homes Texas, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA & JULIANNA WASHBURN

MISD approves 2025-26 budget with raises Montgomery ISD trustees approved a $104.9 mil- lion balanced budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year June 24. As part of the budget, board members approved MISD’s employee compensation plan. “We as a board are thankful for what happened in Austin and locally with our community that stood up and supported [Proposition A],” board President Eddie Winn said at the meeting. Diving in deeper The approved budget comes after Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 on June 4, giving public schools $8.5 billion in funding. Alongside a budget for more staffing in areas like transportation, new positions for 2025-26 include: • Four teacher positions • Four campus-based instructional coaches • 28 special education positions WISD approves raises for teachers, staff Willis ISD trustees approved its 2025-26 compensation plan July 10. What it means The plan includes salary increases for teachers, instructional professionals, nonex- empt hourly personnel and administrators, according to the district. Teachers will receive $1,000–$1,500 for one to two years of service, $2,500 for three to four years of service and $5,000 for five or more years of service. The district will also give a 3% raise based on the 2024-25 base salary for instructional professionals, hourly staff and administrators. The compensation plan was first discussed at the June 9 meeting following the signing of House Bill 2 by Gov. Greg Abbott, which will provide permanent raises for educators and support staff as previously reported. “A huge thank you to our board of trustees for their continued commitment to recogniz- ing and rewarding the incredible work of our staff,” the district said in a news release.

Superintendent search begins in CISD Conroe ISD unanimously approved its Superintendent Search Plan June 17. Current situation Superintendent Curtis Null left the district to take the superintendent post in Lake Travis ISD on June 1, and Ted Landry was named interim superintendent May 19, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The superintendent search firm, Texans for Excellence in Education will begin recruiting applicants for the position, which would begin in September. The timeline TEE will conduct four in-person com- munity forums and distribute surveys to students, families, staff and community members this summer.

Montgomery ISD 2025-26 compensation plan highlights

Compensation amount

Funding source

Category

Teacher/nurse/librarian hiring schedule Employees with 0-2 YOE* $2,600- $2,895 raise

MISD

HB 2 and MISD HB 2 and MISD

Employees with 3-4 YOE* $2,900 raise

Employees with 5+ YOE* $5,250 raise

Other employees Employees on auxiliary, paraprofessional, safety and security, child nutrition and transportation pay schedules Employees on the administrative staff pay schedule

6% raise

MISD

4% raise

MISD

Other compensation changes Retention stipend

$500 in December $5 per day increase

MISD

Substitute teacher daily rate

MISD

*YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Conroe ISD approves cellphone ban Conroe ISD board of trustees unanimously approved updated district cellphone policies at its regular meeting June 17. The approval means students’ personal communication devices such as cellphones and smart watches must stay turned off and put away during the school day. “While it’ll be a very difficult adjustment for many, I know it’s going to make an impact on mental health in our district for our students and educational outcomes as well, so I’m thankful for that,” board President Misty Odenweller said. The policy will take effect for grades K-12 on Aug. 13, according to CISD. How we got here The vote comes after the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1481, which mandates that school districts adopt policies banning the use of personal communication devices during the school day. The legislation was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott June 20. Under the approved policy, telecommunications devices “are not to be used during class change passing periods or lunch periods.” According to the CISD packet agenda, the

Policy exceptions Extenuating circumstances or exemptions for the cellphone ban include:

Letting a parent or guardian know of a late bus

Cellphone use is deemed necessary by a medical provider

A 504 plan for students with disabilities specifies using a device

SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

consequences for unauthorized use are that the device “will be confiscated with each offense, held in the school office and returned to the student at the end of that school day.” However, the district said district employees can allow students to use their personal devices during the school day in extenuating circumstances such as letting a parent or guardian know of a late bus. CISD documents added that a student can be exempted from the policy if the use of their device is determined as necessary by the student’s medical provider or if the student is part of a 504 plan. “I realize this is a big shift ... it’s not going to just be on teachers and administrators to enforce this, the whole community needs to get behind us,” trustee Lindsay Dawson said.

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Transportation

BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN & JESSICA SHORTEN

Montgomery County seeks $40M for mobility Jason Smith, deputy chief of staff for Mont- gomery County Judge Mark Keough’s Office, outlined $40 million in planned projects for the county as part of congestion mitigation and air quality, or CMAQ, grants from the Federal Transit Administration. Two-minute impact Smith on June 24 presented an update on the potential for over $40 million in CMAQ grants through the Houston-Galveston Area Council to commissioners. The grants are comprised of fed- eral funds which are distributed locally by H-GAC for projects to address congestion and increase overall air quality, according to H-GAC officials. One such project, Smith said, would allow the county to track road traffic through implementa- tion of a system similar to Houston TranStar for Montgomery County.

Conroe approves $1.7M in upgrades

Grant requests pending

Dobbin-Huffsmith Road reconstruction $14.25M Intelligent transportation system $11.72M Hardin Store Road reconstruction $9.5M Fiber interconnections for traffic signals $5M

On June 26, Conroe City Council approved an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for a project to widen existing lanes approaching the bridge on both the east and west sides of I-45 near North Loop 336, and upgrading the traffic signals, per the agenda. The details The $1.7 million project is funded through federal dollars allocated by the Houston-Gal- veston Area Council and administered by TxDOT, according to the agenda.

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

“We’ll be able to know traffic trends on every roadway in the county,” Smith said. Smith said the projects qualify for CMAQ grants by improving air quality through minimizing wait times at traffic lights and reducing emissions. What else? Smith said if the grants for the traffic signal projects are approved, the county would then request interlocal agreements with any cities in the county that pay for their own traffic signals to get permission for installing upgrades to light poles.

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Business

BY JULIANNA WASHBURN

Montgomery-area Mariel’s Meat Market carves out a comeback For the managers at Mariel’s Meat Market, seeing customers smile at the joy of getting a fresh cut of meat or being able to guide them toward a new taste is their favorite part. It’s also what they said makes the store stand out from others. Staying local Mariel’s Meat Market, a family-owned specialty butcher shop and deli, took root in Montgomery when they opened as a supermarket in 1983. Along with its “dessert of the day,” the supermarket became known for its meats. “We had people that came from Houston just to our meat market just to buy the meat,” Manager Tony Guerra said. The supermarket closed down in the early 2000s, after Walmart opened in Montgomery, Guerra said. Despite its closure, the family ultimately wanted to bring the business back. Guerra said it was about 10 years ago when his family opened Mariel’s Xpress Market located on Walden Road, where the family still operates their own meat market inside. On the menu Mariel’s Meat Market manager Jeery Edgington said customer favorites include the beef tenderloin, prime rib eye, choice rib eyes and choice strips. Other menu items include bohemian garlic sausage and bacon-wrapped asparagus. “About 75% of [the meat] is Texas-based, actually. ... We do have meats from other places, but our main focus always is the freshest, the closest, the nearest possible,” Guerra said.

Bacon-wrapped teres majors ($12.99 per pound) is another item the meat market oers customers.

JULIANNA WASHBURNCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The market’s oerings include prime rib eye ($29.99 per pound) with bacon-wrapped asparagus ($2.50 per pound).

An employee at the market prepares a cut of meat.

JULIANNA WASHBURNCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COURTESY MARIEL’S MEAT MARKET

Going forward In September 2024, Mariel’s Meat Market opened its second location, which serves as a smaller, bou- tique shop. Guerra said it’s a prototype to see how they could continue to grow in smaller formats. The business is also currently working on the expansion of their original store on Walden Road, and Guerra said they hope to incorporate the bakery and dessert wheel into the business format again, like they did back in the 1980s. “We want to bring back some of that nostalgia into the mix,” Guerra said.

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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION

Events

BY JULIANNA WASHBURN

• 234 N. Main St., Conroe, • www.crightontheatre.org

July

JBF The Woodlands & Conroe Consignment Event

August

Shop for a variety of clothes, shoes, baby gear, toys, books, maternity clothes and more at the Lone Star Convention Center. • July 31-Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 6-9 p.m.; Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • $0-$30 • 9055 Airport Road, Conroe • https://thewoodlands.jbfsale.com R.E.A.D. to the Dogs Kids can practice their reading skills with a therapy dog at Charles B. Stewart West Branch Library. • July 31, 4-5 p.m. • Free • 202 Bessie Price Owen Drive, Montgomery • www.countylibrary.org ‘Hadestown’ Teen Edition Indulge in the jazz-styled musical that tells the stories of Hades and Persephone, and Orpheus and Eurydice. • July 31-Aug. 1, 7 p.m.; Aug. 2, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Aug. 3, 2 p.m. • $8-$15

Reader’s Night Shop for book-themed merchandise, meet local authors

and swap books. • Aug. 1, 5-9 p.m. • Free (admission)

• 215 N. Main St., Conroe • Facebook: Reader’s Night

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Dress in costume and enjoy “The Rocky Horror Show.” • Aug. 8-9, 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Aug. 10, 2 p.m. • $38-$48 • Owen Theatre, 225 Metcalf St., Conroe • www.playerstheatrecompany.com Back to School Bash Celebrate back to school with crafts, face painting and a bounce house at R.F. Meador Branch Library. • Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. • Free • 709 W. Montgomery St., Willis • www.countylibrary.org

Timeless HTX Concert Dance the night away to ‘80s and ‘90s rock hits performed by Timeless HTX at Heritage Place in Conroe. • Aug. 7, 7 p.m. • Free (admission) • 500 Metcalf St., Conroe • www.timelesshtxband.com

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Nonprofit

BY JESSICA SHORTEN

A May report from Feeding America, a nationwide nonprofit that studies the rate of food insecurity–or lack of adequate access to food–showed nearly 100,000 residents are struggling locally. Meanwhile, local agencies say they are facing their own challenges in meeting demand. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report, the annual food budget shortfall for residents in Montgomery County has risen from $37.2 million in 2019 to $64.5 million in 2023. The study also showed that as of 2023, 98,400 individuals are struggling with adequate food supply, a number Montgomery County Food Bank President Kristine Marlow said is still low. “That’s a published number, but we are seeing that people need a lot more help than that,” Marlow said. Needs grow at food agencies

Assessing the impact

Missy Herndon, president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands. “What we tend to find par- ticularly during higher need times, and what we expect with the [Supplemental Nutrition Assis- tance Program] changes, will be that families will be coming in from all over, because they’ll start calling around and looking for additional support.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal poverty level is set at $15,060 annually for a single individual, and it rises to $31,200 for a family of four. However, the threshold to be considered a “low-income house- hold” has continuously risen over the last five years, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data. “There are way more people who actually need the help, and especially in the summertime right now, when kids are home from school,” Marlow said.

Marlow said a key concern has been the rising cost of food in both grocery stores and through the food bank’s procurement process, which also helps provide resources to local food pantries. “It’s very expensive. You know, people are work- ing paycheck to paycheck,” Marlow said. “Most people that we serve are working individuals that just can’t make ends meet. If you throw in a car repair bill or ... a medical bill, it puts them into that situation where they have to turn to the food bank and our food pantries for assistance.” The strain is also being felt among agencies which provide food pantry services across the county, such as the nonprofit Interfaith of The Woodlands, where officials said they expect to see a 20%-25% increase in food pantry services over the summer. “We believe that we’re going to see an increase in families coming in, without question,” said

Federal low-income levels

Single-person household: $21,250-$56,650

Two-person household: $24,300-$64,750

Three-person household: $27,350-$72,850

Four-person household: $32,150-$80,900

Montgomery County food insecure population growth

$100,000

100,000

$80,000

80,000

60,000

$60,000

40,000

$40,000

20,000

$20,000

2022

2023

2024

2025

2021

NOTE: FEEDING AMERICA DATA HAS A TWO-YEAR LAG IN REPORTING. SOURCE: FEEDING AMERICA/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Final takeaways

• Canned vegetables and fruits • Hot and cold cereal

At the food bank, Marlow said work on its new 18,000-square-foot facility was nearing completion, and it will help provide up to 1 million more meals annually in the community. She said local business leaders and individuals can also help by donating any amount of food or monetary contribution to local food bank and pantries, as well as high- need items such as: • Canned soups

With schools out for the summer, there is also an increased need to ensure children still get the nutrition they need on a daily basis to support healthy development. “The summer months are very high need months for us, particularly with so many students at home, and they’re not getting the programs from school that they’re used to getting,” Herndon said. “We already are seeing that.”

• Peanut butter and jelly • Dried pasta and grains

“We have such incredible sourcing power that every dollar donated can provide up to four meals, which is incredible,” Marlow said. “So having donations come in helps us to fill those gaps, helps us to work with the pantries, helps us to put those programs out for people.”

CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION

FM 1488

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

BY LIZZY SPANGLER

Home Edition

2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Home Edition! This guide features news ranging from key real estate trends and new developments unique to your neighborhood to an overview of the housing industry across Texas. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting local businesses. Over the last several years, we have seen the real estate market experience ebbs and flows, making it hard to predict what the future holds. But, what we do know is more people have moved into the Montgomery County area within that time and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of that growth slowing down. In this edition, we look at year-over-year changes in the real estate market, including the changes in home sales and prices for eight Conroe and Montgomery-area ZIP codes. We also take a look at development updates in the area alongside news about Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County’s neighborhoods that are underway. Additionally, read on to learn about new property tax legislation and updates to neighborhood zoning regulations. No matter if you’re a lifelong Montgomery County resident or just putting down roots in the area, I hope our annual Home Edition is useful and informative.

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During the first three months of 2025, 52% of Montgomery County households could afford to buy a median-priced home in Conroe, per the Houston Association of Realtors’ Q1 Housing and Rental Affordability Report released May 8. In the first quarter of 2025, the median price of a home in Conroe was $284,300—a 16.5% decrease from the first quarter of 2024. Overall in Montgomery County, the median price of a home during the first quarter of 2025 was $316,000, which 48% of households could afford as they made the minimum qualifying annual income of $96,800, per the report. Homes affordable for 52% of county households

Zooming out

Housing affordability, Q1 2025

Median home price Median qualifying income Percent change from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025

In the Greater Houston area, 40% of Houston-area households could afford to buy a median-priced home in the first quarter of 2025, according to the report. The median price of a home in the Houston area was $337,400, and households needed to make $95,200 to be able to afford that. Statewide, 40% of households could afford a median-priced home, with households needing to make $94,400 a year to purchase a $334,900 house, according to the report. “What we’ve seen in the early part of 2025 shows a degree of stability in the Houston housing market, which is encouraging news for prospective homebuyers,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said via news release. “However, with ongoing economic uncertainty, some people are exercising greater caution in their purchasing decisions, including when it comes to buying a home.”

Houston metro

+0.98% +1.7%

$337,400

$95,200

Harris County

+0.96% +0.4%

$325,000

$100,400

Montgomery County

-1.25% -2.8%

$316,000

$96,800

The Woodlands

-3.95% -5.1%

$570,000

$164,800

Conroe

-16.5% -15.15%

$284,300

$87,200

SOURCE: HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’ Q1 HOUSING AND RENTAL AFFORDABILITY REPORT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION

Real estate

BY DIEGO COLLAZO, NATALIE JOHNSON & JULIANNA WASHBURN

Autograph Homes begins construction on model homes in Two Step Farm Autograph Homes, a new homebuilding company led by James Miller and Wade Bradow, is building three model homes in the new 2,000-acre community of Two Step Farm north of FM 1488 in Montgomery, according to a June 25 news release. What to know Autograph Homes, a privately held local builder, was launched in 2024. It oers a broad range of home designs from single-family homes to semi-custom builds priced at more than $1 million, according to the news release. At Two Step Farm, Autograph Homes will be showcasing two collections: The Symphony Collection, which has backyards connected to a community lawn, and the Trio Collection, where yard maintenance is taken care of, Miller said.

New community coming to Conroe

Home sales begin in Briarley in Montgomery Homes have started selling in Briarley, a new community in Montgomery owned by Johnson Land Ventures, per a May 19 news release. A closer look Briarley, which sits o Old Plantersville Road near Hwy. 105, will have a mix of 60-, 70- and 80-foot homesites in its rst phase, with prices from the $520,000s, according to the release. “These larger homesites ll a void in the resi- dential landscape with most other communities topping out at 60-foot lots,” Michael Cox, presi- dent of Johnson Land Ventures, said in the release. The community was initially planned as Redbird Meadow and has been in development since 2021, per the Houston Association of Realtors. Also of note Briarley will be zoned to Montgomery ISD.

FM 1486 community hosts opening Airia Development Company’s Colton, a 5,700-acre master-planned community near Todd Mission and Magnolia along FM 1486, held its grand opening event on June 7, according to a May 7 news release. The backstory The community has a build-out value esti- mated at $9.9 billion, and construction on Phase 1 began last April, per prior reporting. The rst phase is planned to bring 685 lots.

“We want to be known for innovative designs and home types that appeal to a wide range of buyers.” JAMES MILLER, PRESIDENT, AUTOGRAPH HOMES

McCrorey Trails, a 62-acre residential community, is now selling homes and doing tours, according to a June 16 news release. The development by Ellison Development and built by D.R. Horton features 295 homes with oor plans starting at 1,158 square feet and pricing beginning below $200,000, according to the news release. Construction started in Conroe in April 2023. The details McCrorey Trails residents have access to various community amenities, including a catch-and-release pond, basketball and pickleball courts, a park with a misting area for children to keep cool, per the release. The community is zoned to Willis ISD, including Cannan Elementary, Lynn Lucas Middle School and Willis High School.

GREEN OAK ST.

TWIN LAKES RD.

Home sales have begun in Briarley, a new community in Montgomery.

Montgomery

BOARS HEAD PL.

WINDMILL

OLD DOBBIN PLANTERSVILLE RD.

There are ve oor plans that range from around 1,700 to 2,500 square feet, with pricing from the mid-$300,000s and options for three to four bedrooms. Several customizations are available, according to the news release. Home sales in Two Step Farm are expected to begin in the late summer, per the news release.

Colton master- planned community

1774

Montgomery

PLOTT HOUND DR.

BASSET HOUND DR.

249

1486

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CONROE 1304 W Davis (936) 539-8787 NORTH CONROE 18434 Hwy 105 W (936) 582-5410

MONTGOMERY PLAZA 1420 N Loop 336 W (936) 441-7161

WILLIS 9618 FM 1097 (936) 228-0385

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