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Lake Houston Humble Kingwood Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1 MAY 28 JUNE 25, 2026 A N
Navigating flood protection Brought to you by our premium gold sponsor: 2026 Home Edition
SUMMER LAKE RANCH DR.
LAKE HOUSTON
Stillwater on Lake Houston
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
DUESSEN PKWY.
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BY SARAH BRAGER & EMILY LINCKE
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Homes in the Lake Houston area—such as the Stillwater on Lake Houston neighborhood—may be at higher risk of ooding, according to FEMA’s new draft ood maps, which were released in February. (Jamaal Ellis/Community Impact)
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About Community Impact
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
TOLL
LAKE HOUSTON WILDERNESS PARK
Impacts
FORDRD.
fried fish, and red beans and rice. • Opened April 15 • 8009 FM 1960 Road E., Humble • Facebook: LanDreaux’s Creole & Cajun Seafood 4 Urban Planet Located inside Deerbrook Mall, the trend-focused fashion brand by Charlotte Russe offers affordable clothing for men, women and teens. • Opened April 10 • 20131 Hwy. 59 N., Humble • www.urbanplanet.us 5 Porter Fire Department Station 125 The three-bay station hosts a full-time crew of four and houses a fire engine and an evacuation boat. The $6.5 million project wrapped up in mid-March and primarily serves neighborhoods including Kings Manor, Kings Mill, Oakhurst and Oakhurst Park. • Grand opened May 16 • 21106 Royal Crossing Drive, Kingwood • www.porterfire.com 6 Mosaic Building The facility serves students enrolled in the district’s Mosaic program, which serves students ages 18-22 who received special education services through Humble ISD and qualify for educational services after high school. The 56,600-square-foot facility features classrooms, a student recreation room and three mock apartments where students can learn daily living skills. • Opened in late March • 18901 Timber Forest Drive, Humble • www.humbleisd.net/o/clc/page/mosaic 7 Kenswick at 1960 Distribution Center Triten Real Estate Partners has completed construction on a new development bringing nearly 400,000 square feet of distribution space to Humble. The campus supports both single- and multi-tenant occupancy and is geared toward logistics providers, distributors and end-users. The development features two buildings, 9,000 square feet of office space and the potential for 5 acres of secured outdoor storage. • Completed in May • 8311 FM 1960 Bypass Road, Humble • www.tritenre.com
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MAP NOT TO SCALE
N TM; © 2026 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
SUMMERWOOD LAKES DR.
2 Takumi Hibachi Sushi & Seafood Buffet The buffet-style restaurant offers a variety of Asian cuisine, including salmon, crab legs, sushi, hibachi, beef and chicken dishes, sides and appetizers. • Opened April 4 • 5421 FM 1960, Humble • www.takumibuffet888.com 3 LanDreaux’s Creole & Cajun Seafood Owner Andrew Landry—who previously owned Juicy Heads & Spicy Tails in Humble—said the new restaurant offers Cajun cuisine, including crawfish, seafood gumbo,
Now open
1 Sprouts Farmers Market The grocery store offers fresh, natural and organic food with products that cater to a range of dietary needs, including gluten-free, plant-based and non-GMO products. • Opened April 17 • 4303 Kingwood Drive, Ste. 100, Kingwood • www.sprouts.com/store/tx/kingwood/kingwood-dr
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HUMBLE LOCATION 281-446-7613
WOODLANDS LOCATION 281-363-0114
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
authentic Thai cuisine. • 5350 FM 1960 Road E., Humble • www.baanthaicuisinehumble.com
Coming soon
Now open
8 Little Seeds of Hope Academy Co-owned by mother-daughter duo Irasema and Genesis Campa, the faith-based academy will offer education programs for children ages 18 months to 5 years and up, with a focus on hands-on activities and individualized attention. A grand opening pop-up market will be held May 31 from noon-5:30 p.m., and feature local vendors
12 Curry & Grill The restaurant marked its one-year anniversary in Humble on Feb. 13. Curry & Grill serves Indian cuisine with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, including butter chicken, chicken curry and chicken tikka masala. • 8751 FM 1960 Road E., Humble • www.curryandgrill.us 13 Atascocita Branch Library Library officials hosted a 30th anniversary celebration for this branch May 5. Originally opening in May 1996, the Atascocita Branch Library is a branch of the Harris County Public Library system. • 19520 Pinehurst Trail Drive, Humble • www.hcpl.net/locations/ata 14 Ross Sterling Middle School HISD officials held a groundbreaking ceremony May 11 for this school’s replacement campus, which will span three stories and roughly 213,000 square feet. Scheduled to open for the 2027-28 school year, the campus will emphasize natural daylight, collaborative learning spaces and larger classrooms to support modern instructional practices. The original campus is located at 1131 Wilson Road, Humble. • Near the intersection of Will Clayton Parkway and Rustic Timbers Drive, Humble (exact address TBD) • www.humbleisd.net/o/sms 15 Jack M. Fields Sr. Elementary HISD officials celebrated the campus’ 30-year anniversary April 20 with the dedication of the school’s new multipurpose gym. Additionally, the school was also gifted a $30,000 donation from Rosewood Funeral Home, which is owned by Jess Fields Sr. who is the son of Jack M. Fields Sr., a former HISD school board
and kids activities. • Opening May 31 • 900 Granberry St., Humble • Facebook: Little Seeds of Hope Academy
9 Score Entertainment The entertainment venue will offer a variety of activities, including laser tag; go karts; bowling; ax throwing; a trampoline park; mini golf; arcade games; golf, pickleball and racing simulators; and virtual reality experiences. The venue will also feature a restaurant
17 The Whisper Chair Operated by Guy and Mitzi Jeanes and Ryan and Jaime McCullough, the upscale barbershop offers customers a variety of services while enjoying a drink and music from the ‘20s-’40s. The business specializes in gentleman’s cuts, precision fades, sharp edge-ups, and beard and eyebrow trims. A membership-based speakeasy in the barbershop also boasts a full bar. • Opened in January; grand opened May 1
and two full-service bars. • Opening in late summer • 20131 Hwy. 59, Humble • www.scoreusa.com
• 303 E. Main St., Humble • www.thewhisperchair.com
What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
10 Donatos Pizza The Ohio-based chain is known for its create-your-own and signature pizzas with “Edge to Edge” toppings. The menu also includes subs, calzones, chicken wings, salads, breadsticks and desserts. Construction is expected to begin in late June and wrap up by late November, per an April 15 TDLR filing. • 15906 Woodland Hills Drive, Ste. 200, Humble • www.donatos.com
All-Star”-themed playground at Summerwood Elementary on April 30. Designed for children ages 5-12, the playground features a 16-foot climbing tower, sensory panels, slides, swings and spinners. • 14000 Summerwood Lakes Drive, Houston • www.humbleisd.net/o/swe 18 Lakeland Elementary HISD officials unveiled a new “Futuristic”-themed playground at Lakeland Elementary School on May 13. Designed for children ages 5-12, the playground features slides, net and belt climbers, swings and balance challenges. • 1101 Rustic Timbers Drive, Humble • www.humbleisd.net/o/lle
In the news
member the school’s namesake. • 2505 S. Houston Ave., Humble • www.humbleisd.net/o/jfe
11 Baan Thai Cuisine Restaurant officials confirmed the eatery reopened after a temporary closure for roughly two weeks in March due to flooding. The restaurant was founded by Zee Cherdsak Putcharakom in June 2021 and offers
16 Summerwood Elementary HISD officials celebrated the opening of a new “Sports
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
Government
BY HANNAH BROL
Texas General Land Office officials said the development of 5,500 acres of green space near Benders Landing will not happen as previously planned, as pushback continues to mount due to flooding concerns. Scarborough Lane Development bought the land in early 2025 with plans to build up to 7,000 homes. The land is largely located within the 500- and 100-year floodplain and, in some areas, the actual floodway, Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler said. “If that land is developed ... it will send an enormous amount of water farther south of the property—Kingwood, Atascocita, Lake Houston and other areas of Harris County,” Wheeler said. In December, Wheeler announced he and a group of local officials were working with state officials to explore options for preserving the land. Pushback stalls development
The latest
What’s next
Local leaders said they are now looking to the next state legislative session to help fund a permanent solution for the property. “We would like for the state to appropriate enough money to the General Land Office so that [they] could buy that land,” Wheeler said. “It could be a state park, a state forest ... but the main thing is to keep it a green space and to have regional detention.” Wheeler said he’s already spoken to engineers about existing sandpits on the property that could be further excavated to provide regional stormwater detention. Additionally, the land could potentially feature small pocket parks and trails. In the meantime, Wheeler said he encourages residents to continue voicing their concerns to elected officials. “Until this land is transferred/purchased and protected as natural green space or park, we will not back down,” Marrero said. “Right now, there are no guarantees.” Scarborough Lane Development officials did not respond to requests for comment. Dates to know The following are dates of note associated with the upcoming 90th Texas Legislature. Nov. 9, 2026: Legislators may start filing bills ahead of session. Jan. 12, 2027: House and Senate convene, adopt rules, begin formal business. March 12: Last day to file bills; after this date, only emergency/special cases may be filed. March 31: Session ends; veto period begins
In early May, a group of concerned residents started an online petition opposing the develop- ment, which has since garnered more than 6,500 signatures. Susan Marrero, a resident of Benders Landing Estates, said the back of her community flooded during Hurricane Harvey. “My business flooded during Harvey, and I can only imagine what people in the Kingwood, Humble and Lake Houston [area] went through—I want to try to help it from happening again,” Marrero said.
“This is a catastrophe waiting to happen if developed.”
SUSAN MARRERO, RESIDENT, BENDERS LANDING ESTATES
Bob Rehak, local flooding expert and author of “Reduce Flooding - Now,” said the develop- ment would create a public safety issue for both residents of the development and surrounding communities. The GLO has an investment in the development through the School Land Board. In a May 6 emailed statement, GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told Community Impact the project would not be moving forward as planned. “We have heard the concerns of the local com- munity surrounding this potential development and as previously stated, this project will not be proceeding as planned,” Buckingham said. “We are exploring ways for this property to be a part of a transformational flood mitigation project.”
RAYFORD RD.
Scarborough Lane Development property
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SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Humble City Council moves 2 projects forward Humble City Council members approved a pair of agreements with ARKK Engineers to perform work on two major upcoming projects during the council’s May 14 meeting. The details The contacts approved include: • A $249,000 project to perform preliminary engineering design services for the city’s Main Street Phase 1 Reconstruction Project • A roughly $190,000 contract for design and construction services for improvements to the city’s water distribution infrastructure A closer look The Main Street Phase 1 Reconstruction Project will consist of roadway paving and drainage improvements, as well as a water line replace- ment, according to agenda documents. The first
Disaster services contract extended Humble City Council members voted April 23 to extend the city’s contract with debris removal and disaster emergency services firm DRC Emergency Services. Some context The city first partnered with the firm in 2024, according to agenda documents. City Manager Jason Stuebe said the new contract will add three years to the agreement and will expire on June 30, 2029. “We’ve unfortunately had to use DRC [Emergency Services] a great deal, especially after Hurricane Beryl, but they’ve done a great job for us,” Stuebe said. DRC Emergency Services offers an array of services, including disaster debris removal and emergency management services, according to the company’s website.
Upcoming projects 1 Main Street Phase 1 reconstruction project 2 Charles Street waterline project
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NOTE: MAP FOR NORTH HOUSTON AVENUE WATERLINE PROJECT WAS NOT AVAILABLE AS OF PRESS TIME. SOURCE: CITY OF HUMBLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
phase of the project will run on Main Street in Humble between Avenue D and Avenue H. Improvements to the city’s water distribution infrastructure will include upsizing a 6-inch waterline located along North Houston Avenue to a 12-inch waterline and installing an 8-inch waterline on Charles Street between 7th Avenue and FM 1960 Bypass Road.
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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Education
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Humble ISD approves 3% pay increases
2026-27 projected starting teacher salaries
Katy ISD $68,150
Humble ISD officials approved a 3% overall general pay increase for staff members as part of the district’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget. The details HISD Chief Financial Officer Billy Beattie briefed trustees on the compensation increase, which will cost the district roughly $12.7 million, during the board’s April 14 meeting. The proposal is coming a year after trustees approved 3% on-average raises for most staff members in the district’s FY 2025-26 budget. Beattie noted the increase will raise the starting salary for new teachers from $66,000 in FY 2025-26 to $68,000 in FY 2026-27. “Times are challenging for everyone,” Beattie said. “Inflation affects everyone, so a 3% raise would really support our staff, and it also puts us in a really good position amongst our peers.”
A closer look Beattie also highlighted additional raises and incentives some nonteaching positions would be awarded headed into the 2026-27 school year, including an 8% increase to bus driver and bus aid pay, up to $1,600 per year in incentives for bus drivers, a 4% total increase to custodian pay and a 6% total increase to high school principal pay. Beattie noted the district would also be increas- ing police leadership’s pay grade. “Adjusting the pay grades for our police leader- ship allows us to ensure that we stay competitive with our peers,” Beattie said. Beattie said the district approved its compen- sation package to help campuses get ahead of retainment and recruiting efforts. “Being able to adopt a compensation plan ahead of schedule ... allows campuses to work with staff to make sure that they know that they have a really great option to stay at Humble ISD,” he said.
Spring Branch ISD $67,500 New Caney ISD $67,000 Humble ISD* $68,000 Galena Park ISD $67,900
Pasadena ISD $66,200 Sheldon ISD $66,000
Cy-Fair ISD $66,000
Goose Creek ISD $65,800
*APPROVED
SOURCE: HUMBLE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Transportation
BY HANNAH BROL
Check out 3 ongoing, upcoming road projects in Humble
ISAACKS RD.
Upcoming projects
Upcoming projects
Ongoing projects
CAROLYN CT.
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South Houston Avenue widening Project: South Houston Avenue will be widened from two to three lanes between Will Clayton Parkway and Atascocita Road, with a new traffic signal system and drainage improvements. Update: Engineering is about 95% complete, and the project is expected to go out for bids in late 2026, Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe said during an April 23 Humble BizCom event. • Timeline: TBD • Cost: $10.3 million • Funding source: city of Humble
Meek and Manning roads upgrades Project: Existing asphalt on Meek and Manning roads will be repaved between North Houston Avenue and Townsen Boulevard. The project will also include drainage improvements. Update: Engineering is about 75% complete, Stuebe said April 23. • Timeline: TBD • Cost: $1.7 million • Funding source: city of Humble
Humble multi-road repair project Project: Existing asphalt on McDugald Road, Sharon Drive and Carolyn Court will be replaced with concrete, curb and gutter. Additionally, the intersection at Rankin Road and Kingfisher Drive will be realigned. Update: Construction is about 35% complete, Stuebe said April 23. • Timeline: August 2025-August 2026 • Cost: $3.5 million • Funding source: city of Humble
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Events
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Houston is set to see the rst of seven matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with 500,000 visitors from around the world, in less than 60 days. “This is a huge opportunity for Houston to build its brand globally,” said Chris Canetti, president of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Houston Host Committee. “But more than that, it’s a chance for us to tell our story. It’s an opportunity to show visitors what kind of city we are and what makes us great.” The FIFA World Cup is considered the world’s most-watched sporting event, outpacing the Super Bowl and the Olympic Games by viewership. The most recent tournament in 2022 reached roughly 5 billion viewers globally and saw over 3.4 million spectators, according to the FIFA website. In comparison, the Super Bowl in 2026 had roughly 125.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen, an audience measurement company. On the other hand, the 2020-21 Olympic Games had approximately 3 billion total viewers, according to the International Olympic Committee. “It’s hard to compare anything to the World Cup,” said Ryan Walsh, CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. “This is the largest sporting event in the world, not only by viewership and participation, but certainly for Houston.” World Cup lands in Houston
Tournament schedule
How it works
June 14
vs
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches across the three host coun- tries, including Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The format consists of 12 groups of four teams, with the top two teams and the eight best third-place nishers advancing to a new Round of 32. Houston was selected to host seven matches of the tournament, including ve group stages and two knockout rounds with the Round of 32 and the Round of 16. Some of the teams that will play in Houston include Germany, the Netherlands and Saudi Ara- bia, along with the Portugal team, whose captain is fan favorite and soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo. The Democratic Republic of Congo will also play in the tournament, as well as utilize Houston as a base camp to train and operate. Teams will begin to arrive in Houston around early June, ahead of the rst match June 14.
Germany
Curacao
June 17
vs
Portugal
Congo DR
June 20
vs
Netherlands
Sweden
June 23
vs
Portugal
Uzbekistan
June 26
vs
Cabo Verde
Saudi Arabia
June 29 - Round of 32 Teams to be determined
Teams to be determined July 4 - Round of 16
SOURCE: FIFA WORLD CUP HOUSTON HOST COMMITTEE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Get involved
FIFA Fan Festival
The free 39-day festival in East Downtown will occur June 11-July 19, covering all 34 match days.
In addition to the seven matches held at NRG Stadium, which will be called Houston Stadium throughout the tournament, a 39-day fan festival is also set to take place in East Downtown. The event will take over approximately four blocks near Dallas and Lamar streets and can host around 15,000 fans per day. Admission is free. “Our overarching genesis and premises of Fan Fest is to be a giant watch party,” festival director Patti Smith said. “But it’s more than that. … Our goal for the entire festival is to tell the story of who Houston is as a city, and to do that through our food options, our entertainment and visuals.” Smith said the FIFA Fan Festival is set to include a main viewing area with several giant screens where fans can watch all matches livestreamed, a food and beverage zone, daily entertainment, activities, a beer garden and unique exhibits, including a 44-foot dome with a 4D experience inside, an Aramco pitch, or soccer eld, where youth tournaments will be held and a hall dedicated to showcasing Houston’s culture. “We know that not everyone can a ord to go to a match, but everyone can be a part of the World Cup by going to the Fan Festival,” Smith said. The Fan Festival will be open for a total of 34 days, excluding July 8, 12, 13, 16 and 17.
18 Go Tejano Day 19 H-Town Day
03 Teacher Appreciation Day 20 Space City Houston Day 25 Military Appreciation Day 29 Rodeo & Western Heritage
NOTE: NOT ALL THEME DAYS ARE MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE. TO SEE A FULL LIST, VISIT THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL HOUSTON WEBSITE. 04 Michelob Ultra Fourth of July takeover
The road to a World Cup
Key attractions include:
Bidding for the FIFA World Cup to come to Houston started almost a decade ago.
Esphera: A 44-foot dome with a 4D experience inside
2017 2018
January: Bidding process starts June: USA, Canada and Mexico selected as host countries
Houston Hall: A gathering space that will showcase the city with di erent exhibitions
Daily entertainment
Food & beverage area
June: Host cities selected
Location: 2301 Dallas St., Houston
SOURCES: FIFA FAN FESTIVAL, FIFA WORLD CUP HOUSTON HOST COMMITTEE COMMUNITY IMPACT
RENDERING COURTESY FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 HOUSTON HOST COMMITTEE
February: Matches revealed for each host city
2022
March: Tickets go on sale
2024
June 14: Houston kicks o the rst of seven matches June 11: FIFA Fan Festival opens to the public in Houston
Fans will be able to watch all matches of the tournament livestreamed at the Fan Festival’s main viewing stage.
2026
SOURCES: FIFA, HOUSTON HOST COMMITTEE COMMUNITY IMPACT
15
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
Events
Juneteenth Celebration This fourth annual event features live music, entertainment, food trucks, local vendors, face painting and interactive attractions. • June 19, 4-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • Redemption Square, 250 Assay St., Houston • www.redemptionsquare.com Houston Stars & Stripes Benefiting the PTSD Foundation of America, this race will feature a half-marathon as well as 10K, 5K and Kid’s K options. • June 20, 6:15-9:15 a.m. • $24.99-$99.99 • Atascocita High School, 13300 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.txruns.com Summer Creek B izCom Business leaders and community members come together over lunch to learn about community issues and developments. • June 25, 10:45 a.m.-noon • Free (admission) • San Jacinto College-Generation Park Campus, 13455 Lockwood Road, Houston • https://lakehouston.org
Endless Summer This Beach Boys tribute band will be performing iconic songs, from “Good Vibrations” to “California Girls.” • June 12, 7 p.m. • $50 (admission) • Charles Bender PAC, 611 Higgins St., Humble • www.charlesbendertheater.com Movies Under the Moon Watch a movie on the lawn at Kings Harbor Waterfront Village. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit on during the film. • June 12, 8:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4501 Magnolia Cove Drive, Kingwood • www.kings-harbor.com TexMex Smoke N Fire BBQ Fest The community is invited to a festival featuring Texas barbecue, Tex-Mex favorites, live music, vendors and family-friendly activities. • June 13, noon-6 p.m. • Free admission before 2 p.m. with a ticket (see website for details) • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.hcexpotx.com
June
Summer Kickoff in the Forest Head to Kingwood Town Center Park for yard games, cold treats and kids’ activities.
• June 5, 5-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • 2872 W. Town Center Circle, Kingwood • www.thelivableforest.com
Kids Day in the Park This family-friendly event brings together outdoor play, hands-on activities and local vendors.
• June 6, 10 a.m. • Free (admission) • Uptown Park, 308 Main St., Humble • Facebook: Kids Day in the Park: Humble TX
Hip Hop Bingo Night The Pearls of Lake Houston Educational & Charitable Foundation is hosting a bingo night benefiting college scholarships for local students. • June 12, 6:30-9:30 p.m. • $60 (admission) • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble • www.polhfoundation.org
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Flamenco de Raiz Ana Maria Barcelo Flamenco is presenting its annual student showcase, with invited artists including Celia Corrales, Jose Manuel Tejeda and Jesus Pacheco. • May 31, 5 p.m. • $25 (admission) • Charles Bender Performing Art Center, 611 Higgins St., Humble • www.charlesbendertheater.com
M u sic & Motors The streets of Downtown Humble will be filled with custom builds, classic cars and trucks. The event will also feature live music by Pushwater and local vendors.
• June 12, 6 p.m. • Free (admission)
• Uptown Park, 308 Main St., Humble • Facebook: Music & Motors, Humble TX
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18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Real estate
BY HANNAH BROL
Home Edition
2026
Readers, welcome to your annual CI Home Edition! As the Lake Houston area continues to grow and evolve, so does the way we think about home, community and investing in where we live. This year’s edition highlights some of the biggest conversations shaping Humble, Atascocita, Kingwood and the surrounding areas—from a ordability and market trends to new neighborhoods, businesses and development changing our communities. Our team of local journalists worked hard to create a guide that is not only informative, but genuinely useful for the people who live here. We’re also incredibly grateful to the local businesses who advertise in these pages and help support Community Impact ’s mission to provide free, trusted local news. We encourage you to support them in return. Whether you’ve called the Lake Houston area home for decades or are just beginning your next chapter here, we hope this guide gives you helpful insight and a deeper appreciation for the community we all share.
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Over 500 new houses slated for Humble hold water in case of ooding, with livable space beginning on the second oor. Rivas noted the only other Greater Houston-area neighborhood where he’s seen a similar design is Meyerland.
1
Developer Saratoga Homes began work on Townsen Landing in early 2025 followed by Har- mony Cove in the fall. Upon completion, the two neighborhoods are expected to bring a combined over 500 homes to Humble, said Rick Rivas, division president of Saratoga Homes in Houston. The big picture Located near the Humble Civic Center, Harmony Cove is a three-phase single-family home develop- ment that features 144 lots in the rst phase and more than 400 lots upon build-out. Meanwhile, Townsen Landing is located near Deerbrook Mall and will feature a mixture of townhomes and single-family homes with 148 total lots. Zooming in Rivas noted the homes in Townsen Landing are uniquely designed to be ood-resistant as the rst oor of each house is a “Texas basement,” which is a garage or storage space that is designed to
“The main purpose is to make sure that the home itself cannot receive any damage—the livable space—that’s our main focus because that’s where the biggest expense comes in for a lot of homeowners,” Rivas said. “So by elevating the homes, you don’t have to have ood insurance if you don’t want to.” What’s next Rivas said by August, the developer expects to have closed 60-70 homes in Harmony Cove and is currently working with city o cials to start work on Phase 2. In Townsen Landing, a dog park will be installed soon and an amphitheater is planned for the future. Build-out for both projects is expected to continue for the next two years, Rivas said.
TOWNSEN BLVD.
1
1960
Humble
C A Y T O N P K W Y .
59
2
N
OLD HUMBLE RD.
1 Townsen Landing • Prices: starting at $330,900 • Number of lots: 148 • Home types: townhomes and single-family 2 Harmony Cove • Prices: starting at $380,900 • Number of lots: 400+ • Home type: single-family
SOURCE: SARATOGA HOMES COMMUNITY IMPACT
19
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION
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20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Real estate
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Energy costs shift home design trends
Measuring the impact
Homeowners can save roughly $1,000 per household on energy costs. There is a 2.7% average sales price premium for rated energy-efficient homes.
and renewable energy systems, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. They also take advan- tage of local climate and site conditions, such as natural shade and landscaping. Luna said homeowners with more energy- efficient houses save anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 per year on their electric bill. In Texas, CenterPoint Energy shows that a monthly bill for a 2,000-square-foot home could drop from $170 to below $100 per month. The cost Energy-conscious homes do often require 2% to 10% higher upfront costs than a standard home build, according to the Department of Energy. However, despite higher upfront costs, energy- efficient homes often sell faster and at a higher price point, with an additional value of around $5,000 more than a standard home, according to the National Association of Builders.
As energy costs across Houston have begun to skyrocket amid a changing climate that has led to multiple extreme weather events, many home- owners and developers are looking to build more energy-efficient and sustainable homes. What the experts say Sam Luna, director of product sales at BKV Energy, an electric utility company in Houston, said while sustainability is still more of a luxury, he has seen developers start to create new homes with energy-efficient features in mind. According to a recent report by the National Association of Builders, nearly 80% of home buyers consider sustainability when purchasing. “New buyers do expect it,” Luna said. “They are pushing for it … and these additional features may not always add revenue dollars, but buyers are asking for it and builders are accommodating it.” Features of the most efficient homes combine energy-efficient construction, appliances, lighting
Nearly 80% of homeowners consider sustainability when buying.
Eco-friendly properties tend to sell about 10 days faster than standard homes.
SOURCES: HAR, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUILDERS, ENERGY STAR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Final takeaways Current homeowners can also take measures towards creating a more energy-efficient home, including upgrading the HVAC system, sealing the roof, and checking doors and windows for weatherstripping. “Don’t let this sound so scary,” Luna said. “Take it in chunks. You can make little changes with little costs first.”
21
LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
Navigating ood protection From the cover
The cost
The big picture
Medrano said standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood-related damages. “What [flood insurance] covers is damage to your property if water comes from the ground up,” he said. “Regular home insurance is if the water comes in from the sky down.” Annual flood insurance costs vary greatly for Harris County residents—anywhere from $500 to more than $1,000—according to FEMA data. Medrano said residents living outside the 100-year floodplain may be able to buy a NFIP policy at a lower rate. The NFIP also offers discounts for high-risk homes under the new maps. Bob Rehak, a member of the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force, said he has lived in Kingwood for 42 years. He said that his house hasn’t flooded, but the flood levels have gotten closer with each major storm. “We’ve seen water come across Kingwood Drive four times, and each time, it’s gotten progressively higher,” Rehak said. Rehak said many people buying homes don’t realize that floodplains are constantly changing due to a variety of factors. Therefore, they can still be at risk, even if their homes are not in a danger zone on the FEMA flood maps. NFIP policyholder premium changes, 2025 Monthly premiums shifted across the Lake Houston area in the past year based on a matrix used by the NFIP called Risk Rating 2.0.
Homeowners with a mortgage who are located in the 100-year floodplain are required to obtain flood insurance, but Harris County leaders recommend all residents protect their homes. FEMA floodplain areas 1% (100-year) floodway 0.2% (500-year) floodplain 1% (100-year) floodplain Low risk
Current flood maps (released 2007)
Draft flood maps (released 2026)
H P A R K
H P A R
K
KINGWOOD DR.
KINGWOOD DR.
1960
1960
59
59
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
LAKE HOUSTON
LAKE HOUSTON
N
N
SOURCES: MODELING, ASSESSMENT AND AWARENESS PROJECT MAAPNEXT; HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
ZIP codes
Policy count
$0-$100+ decrease
$0-$50 increase
It’s been more than two months since the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Harris County Flood Control District released the long-awaited draft maps highlighting updated ood risks across the region. While the data is a work in progress, some local homeowners said they are wondering how the changes will impact their bills. FEMA requires all property owners with a federally-backed mortgage living in a 100-year oodplain— areas with a 1% annual chance of ooding—to obtain ood insurance through private insurers or the National Flood Insurance Program, known as NFIP. A before-and-after glimpse of the preliminary maps indicates more Lake Houston-area homes fall within a high- or moderate-risk ood zone, potentially impacting ood insurance requirements for certain residents. The February draft re ects nearly two decades of change, as FEMA last released ood maps in 2007 using data from Tropical Storm Allison, per the agency’s website. Emily Woodell, HCFCD chief external a airs o cer, said new insurance requirements won’t
68%
77044 3,650 1.8%
98.3% 92.8% 91.7% 98.7% 98.8%
of structural damages reported during Hurricane Harvey were located outside of the 100-year oodplain.
77338 1,423 77339 5,764 77345 4,917 77346 5,110
7.2% 8.3% 1.3% 1.1%
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
77396 2,503 95.9% NOTE: DATA REFERS TO POLICIES FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. ONE HOUSING UNIT MAY CARRY MORE THAN ONE POLICY, AS COVERAGE FOR THE BUILDING AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS ARE PACKAGED SEPARATELY. 4.1%
take e ect until the map is nalized in two to three years. She said HCFCD doesn’t know the exact number of homes now in a oodplain, but there was a “signicant expansion in the maps” driven by a 30% increase in rainfall rates. “Our stance has always been and will always be that everyone in Harris County should have ood insurance no matter where you live,” she said. As for cost, Houston-area insurance agent Jose Medrano said every property is unique, and the map alone no longer determines premiums. In 2023, FEMA implemented a new pricing system called Risk Rating 2.0 that uses factors such as home elevation, distance to ood sources and construction history to calculate quotes.
NFIP claims filed, paid in unincorporated Harris County Write your own: Private insurers issue the policy, but NFIP pays the claim Direct
Number of claims
37,093
12,716
Total: 49,809
Net dollars paid
$2.08B
$477.34M
Total: $2.56B
SOURCE: NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: CUMULATIVE DATA COLLECTED THROUGH DEC. 31
22
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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