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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12 MARCH 5 APRIL 1, 2022
ONLINE AT
Key local road projectsmake way for bike lanes
HOUSTON BIKE PLAN FAST FACTS
projects in design
project under construction
projects completed
proposed miles of bike lanes in total
8
1
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1,800
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & SOFIA GONZALEZ
When Mariana Raschke moved from New Orleans to Houston around nine years ago, she said the city had a reputation when it came to bike and pedestrian infrastructure. “Everything you hear about Houston is how it’s a sprawl city where there is no bicy- cle and pedestrian planning, and it’s terrible for bikers,” she said. But Raschke, said she thinks the city has come a long way since then. As a CONTINUED ON 16
A group of cyclists ride on an o -street trail near White Oak Bayou. The trail will connect to new on-street bike facilities being planned for Shepherd and Durham drives. (Shawn Arrajj/Community Impact Newspaper)
Houston, Texas push onwithHarvey recovery
HURRICANE HARVEY HARDSHIPS
“[Harvey survivors] are living in broken foundations, inhouses that keep shifting. ... They are incurring extra costs they could have used topatch the home, but nowtheyhave to spend just tokeep the house survivable.” JULIA ORDUÑA, SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF TEXAS HOUSERS
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
aimed at rebuilding and reconstructing homes and apartment complexes, and a federal audit released Jan. 4 said the state was in danger of not spending the money in time, meaning funds could be recap- tured by the federal government. Although o cials with the city of Houston acknowledged the slow start to getting that funding out, they said
With the ve-year anniversary of Hur- ricane Harvey upcoming in August, many residents in the Houston area are still trying to navigate the process of getting their storm-damaged homes repaired. The city of Houston and the state of Texas are working together to spend hundreds of millions of federal dollars by August 2024 through a series of programs
CONTINUED ON 18
CAMP GUIDE 2022
Hempstead Road project pushed back
LOCAL CAMPS
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
Nationally recognized for scientific and clinical excellence, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is home to exceptional discoveries and advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Baylor College of Medicine Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (DLDCCC) at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center brings innovative treatments from lab to bedside faster than ever before to help stop cancer in its tracks. As one of only three NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Texas, the DLDCCC is one of the best in the country and is able to contribute vital advances to cancer research through national funding. We celebrate these advancements and the power of humankindness to provide healing and serve our communities in the best way. Learn more at stlukeshealth.org. Award-winning caremeets humankindness.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHISMONTH
FROM JAY: And just like that, we nd ourselves in March with later sunsets coming our way as daylight saving time springs forward March 13. Check out our Impacts section (see Pages 6-7) for local restaurant and business news, including updates on the area’s new hot spot, the Montrose Collective. Rodeo Houston is back as well as a number of other events, which can be found in our To-Do list (see Page 9). Jay McMahon, GENERALMANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROMSHAWN: Our front-page story this month re ects on several transportation projects our news team has reported on over the past year that include signi cant investments in bicycle infrastructure. We spoke with city sta , transportation experts and bike advocates to nd out what spurred the recent activity and what the future could hold. Shawn Arrajj, SENIOR EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
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MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Jay McMahon SENIOR EDITOR Shawn Arrajj CITY HALL REPORTER So a Gonzalez SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anya Gallant ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dimitri Skoumpourdis METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kristina Shackelford MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er ART PRODUCTIONMANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CORPORATE LEADERSHIP GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan SALES &MARKETING DIRECTOR Tess Coverman CONTACT US
BUSINESS &DINING Local business development news that a ects you
TRANSPORTATION &DEVELOPMENT Regular updates on area projects to keep you in the know
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or closing
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allows guests to play modern versions of dart board games such as Demolition, Donkey Derby, and Snakes and Ladders, all while enjoying cocktails and food from a curated menu. Twelve people can play on each board, and boards can also be networked together. 713-913-0044. https://us. ightclubdarts.com 5 Pho King Noodle Bar began its soft opening in early January, but no grand opening has been announced yet. It is located at 4720 Washington Ave., Houston. The noodle bar has spring rolls, egg rolls, Vietnamese sandwiches, pho, phnom penh noodle soup, bun suong and wonton egg noodle soup. 713-553-2039. www.phokinghtx.com 6 Wild Oats opened Feb. 11 at 2520 Air- line Drive, Ste. C-135, Houston. Created by Chris Shepherd and the Underbelly team, this restaurant has a fresh take on the tra- ditional cuisine of Texas. The menu ranges from fried pickles to huevos ranchero salad to shrimp and grits diablo. 713-393-7205. www.wildoatshouston.com COMING SOON 7 Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is slated to open in March at 2101 Washington Ave., Houston. The local eatery will o er a va- riety of pizza and cocktails to its guests. One of the eatery’s many menu options to come, pizza made with a mozzarella and provolone blend with minced garlic, con t garlic, black garlic puree, feta and chili akes, is featured on its Instagram page @betelgeusehou. 8 Daddy’s Chicken Shack , a Califor- nia-based eatery, is making its way to the Heights. The restaurant hopes to open
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NOWOPEN 1 Asian smokehouse and bar Loro opened on Feb. 23 at 1001 W. 11th St., Houston. The eatery o ers a blend of southeast Asian cuisine and Texas barbe- cue through a variety of meat, sandwich and rice bowl dishes. The restaurant also has an abundance of boozy options ac- companied with a happy hour-only menu. 713-930-2326. www.loroeats.com
2 Original Chop Shop opened its second location in River Oaks on Feb. 9 at 3021 Kirby Drive, Houston. The eatery o ers protein shakes, fresh juices, break- fast items, salads, protein bowls, wraps and sandwiches. The restaurant also has a variety of beverages to choose from. 713-589-7981. www.originalchopshop.com 3 A new on-the-go version of the popu- lar Houston chain Common Bond opened Jan. 31 at The Ion building, 4201 Main St., Houston. The bakery and bistro features
both indoor and outdoor seating while of- fering an array of baked goods, sandwiches and bowls. Drink o erings include frose and mimosas. In addition to fueling the Ion’s tenants, Common Bond CEO George Joseph said in a press release that the shop welcomes visitors as well. 281-667-4025. www.commonbondcafe.com 4 New immersive bar and restau- rant Flight Club opened Feb. 10 at 3515 W. Dallas St., Ste. 100, Houston. The technologically advanced concept
EMERGENCY CENTER ANY DAY, ANY NIGHT
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OPEN 24 HOURS
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a s h i n
MHEHC.COM 4000 WASHINGTON AVE. (281) 436-4566
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & SOFIA GONZALEZ
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Flight Club
Le Café Joséphine
LOCAL HOT SPOT
Montrose Collective
SOFIA GONZALEZCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
COURTESY LE CAFÉ JOSÉPHINE
NAME CHANGES 12 Le Café Joséphine , located at 201 E. 20th St., Houston, changed its name from Baguette in mid-February. The restaurant also rebranded to a travel-inspired sand- wich boutique. The new menu, which be- gan Feb. 14, includes customer favorites, baguettes lled with di erent recipes inspired by other countries, plant-based options, all-day brunch, gourmet special- ties, soups, salads, dessert-inspired latte avors, teas and desserts. 281-888-5130. www.lecafejosephine.com IN THE NEWS 13 The rst Houston location of Kitchen United Mix opened Feb. 18 in a Heights-area Kroger at 1035 N. Shep- herd Drive, Houston. The concept allows customers to order freshly prepared take- out meals and delivery from local and national restaurant brands. The Heights location o ers food from Fuddruckers, Dog Haus, Snowfox, The Rustic, Buca di Beppo, Bad-Ass Breakfast Burritos, Joe Leo, Bad Mutha Clucka, Plant B and Jailbird. www.kitchenunited.com CLOSINGS 14 Eighteen36 closed its doors after two years in business. The restaurant and bar was located at 2221 W. Alabama St., Houston. According to an Instagram post, although the bar will be closed for busi- ness, it will still be available for private rentals for anyone who wants to host an event or party in the space as a way to provide supplemental income for its sta . www.bar1836.com
its doors to residents in early spring at 1223 W. 11th St., Houston. Daddy’s Chick- en Shack o ers a wide variety of chicken sandwiches, bowls, fries and breakfast items. www.daddyschickenshack.com 9 Amazing Spaces Storage Centers is slated to open in summer 2023 at 3120 Southwest Freeway, Houston. The spaces at the storage facility can be used for personal, business and wine storage. Clients of Amazing Spaces will be o ered a variety of amenities, including securi- ty alarms on every storage unit, digital security cameras, drive-thru unload- ing zones and individually ventilated climate-controlled units. It will be the company’s sixth location. 281-370-9982. www.amazingspaces.net 10 The second Houston loca- tion of Westlake Dermatology will open this summer in River Oaks at 3636 Westheimer Road, Houston. The physician-owned private practice o ers both medical and aesthetic dermatolo- gy services as well as cosmetic surgery. O erings will include skin checks, chemi- cal peels, Botox, liposuction, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. Another o ce can be found in West University Place. www.westlakedermatology.com RELOCATIONS 11 Cowboys & Indians Tex-In Kitchen relocated in early December from its former spot at 1901 Taft St., Houston, to a new location at 519 Shepherd Drive, Houston. The neighborhood eatery o ers an array of Indian and Southern comfort foods along with draft beer, wine and
COURTESY CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON
the concept was inspired by its Baltimore Italian chophouse, Tagliata. Those who visit will have the opportunity to indulge in fresh handrolled pasta, housemade charcuterie and handcut prime steaks. The space will also have an extensive wine list, a bar and lounge, and a baby grand piano where live performances are slated to take place. 443-682-8950. www.atlasrestaurantgroup.com Buck Mason , a retail shop in the Montrose Collective, is set to open in the spring at 906 Westheimer Road, Houston. Buck Mason was founded in California by two neighbors who wanted to make fashion less complicated, according to the company’s website. This store will o er clothing for both men and women. www.buckmason.com A site plan for the Montrose Collective indicates La La Land Kind Cafe will open at 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 103, Houston. The concept o ers a variety of co ee and matcha classics, teas and food options. Company o cials with La La Land Kind declined to con rm the opening of the new location. 214-579-9550. www.lalalandkindcafe.com
As developments such as the Montrose Collective continue to grow, residents of the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose area will begin seeing a new list of businesses opening their doors. NOWOPEN Van Leeuwen , a New York City-based ice cream shop, joined the Montrose Collective with the opening of its third Houston location on Feb. 23. Located at 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 157, Houston, the ice cream shop o ers a variety of options, including the chain’s popular vegan and dairy ice cream avors, vegan chocolate chip cookies, sundaes and milkshakes. 713-654-7569. www.vanleeuwenicecream.com COMING SOON Picnik is slated to open a Houston restaurant in 2022 at 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 126, Houston, in the Montrose Collective. Originally from Austin, the restaurant features a menu designed to provide an abundance of options for people who have dietary restrictions. The menu caters to those who are gluten free, peanut free, vegan and paleo. Picnik o ers brunch, cocktails, wines, zero-proof alcohol, salads and tacos, among other options. www.picnikaustin.com Marmo , a new Italian concept of Atlas Restaurant Group, will begin serving guests in early 2022 at 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 100. According to the Atlas,
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craft cocktails. 713-485-6724. www.cowboys-n-indians.com
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
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Our new clinics in River Oaks and Greater Heights are now open and welcoming new patients.
When it comes to exceptional care right in your neighborhood, Kelsey-Seybold has you covered with two new state-of-the-art clinics. Offering innovative, connected healthcare, both clinics feature specialists in primary and specialty care, plus extensive services including diagnostics and labs. There’s even an on-site pharmacy at the Greater Heights location. Same-day or next-day primary care appointments are available now.
Schedule your appointment 24/7 at 713-442-0000.
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – River Oaks 2040 W. Gray St., Suites 120 and 200 Houston, TX 77019
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Greater Heights 1900 N. Loop W., Suite 400 Houston, TX 77018
Accepting more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, KelseyCare, UnitedHealthcare, and more!
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8
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TO DO LIST
March & April events
COMPILED BY SOFIA GONZALEZ
MARCH 05
PADDLE INA BUFFALO BAYOU REGATTA ALLEN’S LANDING
APRIL 02 03
STROLL THROUGHA STREET ART FESTIVAL POST HOUSTON
Racegoers will have the opportunity to paddle down a scenic 15-mile stretch of Bu alo Bayou. The partnership supports ongoing e orts of transforming the waterway. The race begins in the Houston Energy Corridor and ends at Allen’s Landing. 9 a.m. $60. Bu alo Bayou, 7700 San Felipe St., Houston. 713-752-0314. www.bu alobayou.org
Via Colori brings together student, amateur and professional artists as they draw creative chalk masterpieces. The event will also have live music, a children’s area and an expansive hospitality area. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (April 2), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (April 3). Free. POST Houston, 401 Franklin St., Houston. 832-450-0205. www.viacolorihouston.org
COURTESY BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP
COURTESY VIA COLORI
MARCH 05 AND 06
open), 8 p.m. (show starts). $22-$488. The Heights Theater, 339 W. 19th St., Houston. 214-272-8346. www.theheightstheater.com 17 THROUGH 20 WATCHWORLD PREMIERE DANCE PERFORMANCE In a performance of “You Could Release Me,” the ISHIDA Dance Company tells the story of a couple, their doppleganger and a fragile depiction of falling in love. Dances come from choreographers from around the world. 8 p.m. (March 17-19), 2 p.m. (March 20). $60-$110. Midtown Arts and Theater Center, 3400 Main St., Houston. 713-521-4533. www.ishidadance.org 18 JOIN BANKOF AMERICA’S SCREENON THE GREEN Take a trip to Discovery Green to enjoy a screening of Disney’s lm “Luca.” Guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs. 8 p.m. Free. Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., Houston. 713-400-7336. www.discoverygreen.com 26 GO TO THE 14THANNUAL H TOWN BLUES FESTIVAL Artists at the NRG Arena concert are subject to change, but the following are expected to perform: Tucka, Calvin Richardson, Sir Charles Jones, Pokey Bear, Roi Anthony, Chick Rogers and Jeter Jones. 7 p.m. $59-$125. NRG Arena, 1 NRG Parkway, Houston. 832-667-1400. www.nrgpark.com 26 HEAR LIVEMUSIC IN THE HEIGHTS The Spring Concert Series kicks o with a performance by Texas country artist the Weldon Henson Trio. The free, family-friendly event is underwritten by Greenwood King Properties. 3-5 p.m. Free. Marmion Park, 1800 Heights Blvd., Houston. 713-864-0888. www.greenwoodking.com
LISTEN TOA SYMPHONY
PLAY ‘STARWARS’ MUSIC The Houston Symphony is putting on a show that will feature everything from John Williams’ score for “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” 8 p.m. (March 5), 2:30 p.m. (March 6). $29-$154. Houston Symphony, 615 Louisiana St., Ste. 102, Houston. 713-224-7575. www.houstonsymphony.org 11 RELAXAT ANOUTDOOR FILM SCREENING The screening of short experimental lms is hosted as part of the Menil Collection’s Bruce Davidson photography exhibit and is available on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Guests should bring their own picnic blankets and lawn chairs. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St., Houston. 713-525-9400. www.menil.org 13 BRING THE PET FOR A PUP CRAWL The Houston Arboretum invites guests to bring their pet dogs for a “pup crawl” around the center. The event is hosted in partnership with Saint Arnold Brewing Company, which will have four beer stops along the trails. Proceeds support the Arboretum and the city of Houston’s animal shelter. 4-7 p.m. $35 (ages 21 and older), free (under 21). Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston. 713-681-8433. www.houstonarboretum.org 13 ENJOY TUNES FROMTHE WILD FEATHERS The Heights Theater hosts a night of music that includes a rendition of the band’s blended Southern rock, American roots and pop sound. The concert also features special guest performer Myron Elkins. 7 p.m. (doors
The entertainment lineup for the 2022 Houston Rodeo was announced at The Rustic in January.
HOLLY GALVAN COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
FEATURED EVENT MARCH 6 20: ENJOY RODEO HOUSTON CONCERTS Rodeo Houston is back for 2022 with a full list of concert events. Times and costs vary. NRG Center, 3 NRG Park, Houston. www.rodeohouston.com MARCH 06 Los Tucanes de Tijuana, 5:45 p.m. 07 Luke Bryan, 8:45 p.m. 08 Maren Morris, 8:45 p.m. 09 Kane Brown, 8:45 p.m. 10 Journey, 8:45 p.m. 11 Bun B’s H-town takeover, 8:45 p.m. 12 Parker McCollum, 5:45 p.m. 13 Dierks Bentley, 5:45 p.m. 14 Sam Hunt, 8:45 p.m. 15 Gwen Stefani, 8:45 p.m. 16 Khalid, 8:45 p.m. 17 Chris Stapleton, 8:45 p.m. 18 Marshmello, 8:45 p.m. 19 Brad Paisley, 2:45 p.m. 20 George Strait with special guest Ashley McBryde, 7 p.m.
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Find more or submit Heights-River Oaks-Montrose events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES Hempstead Road nish date pushed back
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & SOFIA GONZALEZ
ONGOING PROJECTS
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Detering Street lane conversion Starting Feb. 16, a portion of Detering Street between Schuler Street and Washington Avenue is functioning as a one-way road. Houston o cials said the street was not wide enough to be considered safe for two-way vehicle use. Drivers on Detering are now only be able to travel north. Timeline: e ective Feb. 18 Cost: N/A Funding source: N/A
Construction on Hempstead Road between Washington Avenue and 12th Street in Houston is expected to end in December, according to o cials with the Texas Department of Transportation. The project involves widening the four-lane roadway to six lanes as well as rebuilding three railroad underpasses. Work kicked o in 2018 and was previously estimated to be completed in February of this year. The project will improve side- walks, curb ramps, storm sewers and culverts, pavement markings and tra c signalization at 11th and 12th streets, according to TxDOT’s website. The project also involves improving the underpass bases with
A construction on Hempstead Road between Washington Avenue and 12th Street in Houston is expected to end in December. (Shawn Arrajj/Community Impact Newspaper)
cement stabilization and improving the pump station meant to pump stormwater out of the site during heavy rain events. A road closure on Hempstead underneath the railroad bridge just north of the Railway Heights food hall is expected to remain closed
throughout the duration of con- struction, TxDOT o cials said. The contractor on the project is James Construction Group. Timeline: February 2018-December 2022 Cost: $55.23 million Funding source: TxDOT
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 2. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT HRMNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. MKT Bridge reconstruction Repairs on the MKT Bridge are slated to be nished in late summer. The bridge was closed after it was dam- aged in a re in August 2020. It was rst expected to reopen last fall, but plans were delayed by the discovery of additional damage. Construction will resume in March, and an existing detour will remain in place. Timeline: June 2021-late summer 2022 Cost: $100,000 Funding source: Houston Parks Board
O cials planWest Alabama Street reconstruction City of Houston o cials are planning a recon- Designs will be shared with the public in the future, said Muhammad
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between Weslayan Street in River Oaks and Chen- evert Street in Midtown. The entities are working together to pursue a federal grant, Ali said. Lauren Grove, a senior sta analyst with the city of Houston, said the city could revisit the
existing reversible lane on Alabama. Residents can submit tra c safety concerns to safestreets@ houstontx.gov, she said. Timeline: TBD Cost: $24.3 million Funding source: city of Houston
struction project on West Alabama Street between Shepherd Drive and Spur 527 with a focus on safe crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists, drainage upgrades and landscaping. Plans were discussed at a Feb. 22 meeting of the Neartown Association.
Ali, an engineer with Gauge Engineering.
The city, the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvest- ment Zone and the Upper Kirby Management District are working on separate projects that involve reconstructing Alabama
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
HEALTH CARE Newowners reopenHeights Hospital as acute care facility
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BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
intermediate medical care units and a six-bay emergency room, Baig said. It also o ers diagnostics and laboratory services as well as outpatient clinic facilities. “It’s almost like a one-stop shop from a facility perspective,” Baig said. New owners are committed to community and patient-centric care, Baig said. The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated the need for hospitals to be nimble, he said. “We really want a signi cant amount of convenience as well as accessibility and opportunity to treat patients like human beings and not just necessarily a number,” Baig said. The team running the hospital has run Spring Hospital for more than ve years and has plans to open other hospitals in Houston, Baig said. The Heights Hospital, which is the larger of the two facilities, is considered the agship location, he said.
After closing suddenly in January 2021, The Heights Hospital reopened in February 2022 under new own- ership as a full-service, acute care community hospital. The hospital, located at 1917 Ashland St. in the Heights, closed after doors were locked and a note was posted saying the former owners of the building owed $461,302 in rent and fees. The hospital has reopened under a new management group that also operates Spring Hospital in Spring. Prior to reopening, The Heights Hospital underwent a renovation to get through the regulatory and com- pliance process, said Dr. Mirza Baig, a retired neurosurgeon and board member of The Heights Hospital. The building has ve operating rooms and more than 40 inpatient beds as well as intensive care units,
The Heights Hospital reopened on Ashland Street in February under new ownership. (Shawn Arrajj/Community Impact Newspaper)
In March or April, Baig said plans include introducing more services, including in women’s health and car- diology, though he said supply chain challenges have made it di cult to say when all of those new service lines could be up and running. Since opening, Baig said demand for services at the hospital has been steadily increasing, including both in emergency care and elective care. The hospital has garnered interest from physicians looking to work there as well, he said, including
doctors who worked at the hospital under the previous ownership and are looking to return. As of mid-February, the hospital had about 7,000 square feet of unfurnished space available for retail on the rst oor, and o cials are exploring other opportunities for how to use space on other oors as well, Baig said. “We are committed to being present for a long period of time,” Baig said. “I honestly think there is so much opportunity in this area.”
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11
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
CITY& COUNTY
News from Houston & Harris County
COMPILED BY SOFIA GONZALEZ & DANICA LLOYD
Houston City Council will meet at 9 a.m. March 9 at 901 Bagby St., Houston. Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv. Harris County Commissioners Court will meet at 10 a.m. March 8 at 1001 Preston St., Ste. 934, Houston. MEETINGSWE COVER HARRIS COUNTY In a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved a $1.3 billion budget Feb. 8 for the next seven months and a preliminary $2.15 billion budget for the following 12 months. The county is changing its fiscal year to run from Oct. 1-Sept. 30. The fiscal year 2022-23 budget and tax rates are expected to be finalized in September. MEETING HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Feb. 24 the suspension of a policy requiring all employees and visitors to wear a mask in city buildings. Employees will also no longer be required to conduct a temperature screening when entering city buildings. However, the suspension does not apply to those who work as clinical personnel, such as paramedics, nurses and doctors.
HOUSTON At a Feb. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner unveiled a new digital interactive kiosk city officials hope to install at 75 intersections across the city. The kiosks are from a partnership between the city and IKE Smart City. Kiosks will feature dual touchscreens that will allow residents and visitors in the city to search for local businesses, cultural institutions, homeless shelters, addiction recovery programs and food support. The kiosk also offers free Wi-Fi, real-time public transit data and First of 75 new interactive kiosks unveiled inHouston
games.
Kiosk locations
The city antici- pates all kiosks will be deployed by the end of 2023. Prior to construction, city officials and IKE—which stands for Interactive Kiosk Experience—are working with council members, neighbor-
Five kiosks have been approved for construction so far. • Walker Street at Avenida de las Americas • Post Oak Boulevard at Westheimer Road • Gray Street at Bagby Street • Main Street at Rusk Street • Texas Avenue at Hamilton Street
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
hood groups and property owners to identify locations and obtain permitting approvals, said Mary Benton, a spokesperson with Turner’s office.
Houston, Harris County launch new task force
However, Turner said he wants to look to the future instead of looking back on an individual incident. “I know that things can go side- ways pretty easily, but it’s important that we do and have everything from all procedures in place to make sure things are rectified as quick as possible,” Garcia said. The task force will look at event disciplines, staffing standards, safety standards and logistics.
HOUSTON&HARRIS COUNTY Mayor Sylvester Turner joined Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia at a Feb. 9 press conference to announce the creation of a Houston-Harris Special Events Task Force. The goal of the task force is to ensure consistent operations that are
up to standard for all future events. The Special Events Task Force will be reviewing and improving com- munication, protocols and permit requirements within the city and county, Turner said. The task force comes after what Garcia described as a tragedy at the Astroworld music festival Nov. 5.
Meetings are streamed at www.harriscountytx.gov.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2022
C A M P G U I D E GUIDE
A noncomprehensive list of camps in the area
COMPILED BY SOFIA GONZALEZ
Parents looking for camps for their children have a number of options to choose from in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas. This list is not comprehensive. A+ Academics ART Arts DAY Day
2
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GREATERHEIGHTS 1 Art Studio on the Boulevard
tics skills. Morning and afternoon sessions are available. Ages: 3 12 Dates: May 29 Aug. 20 Cost: $38+ per session DAY The Little Gym of Houston Heights, 1501 W. 18th St., Houston 713 861 8200 www.thelittlegym.com/houstonheightstx MIDTOWN/DOWNTOWN 5 CompuCamp The University of Houston-Downtown part- ners with local institutions to o er camps in computer programming, engineering, creative writing and foreign languages for ages 6 17. A Summer Academy is also o ered for the camp’s rst four weeks, including ACT/SAT test prep, nancial literacy and career discov- ery opportunities. Ages: 6 17 Elite University summer camps provide a va- riety of fun and educational camps at multiple Houston locations. Camps include horseback riding, aerospace engineering, fencing, rock wall climbing, medical science and eld trips, among other o erings. Ages: pre-K 12 years old Dates: June 2 Aug. 19 Cost: $275-$375 per week DAY Trinity Episcopal Church, 1050 Holman St., Houston www.elitesummercamps.com MONTROSE/RIVEROAKS 7 Camp AOS Annunciation Orthodox School’s Camp AOS provides an enrichment program for students that o ers elements of traditional summer camps. Both day camps and specialty camps are designed to keep children sharp when they return to school while also providing opportunities to develop friendships with Dates: June 6 July 15 Cost: varies by camp A+ DAY University of Houston-Downtown, 315 N. Main St., Houston 713 221 8032 www.compucamp2022.com 6 Elite University fellow campers. Ages: 3-grade 8 Dates: June 6 July 29 (closed June 27 July 8) Cost: $175-$700 DAY
The Mad Hatter Arts Camp o ers three two- week sessions. The 25th anniversary theme will be “Celebrate!” with projects and games from celebrations around the world. Campers will work with watercolors, acrylic painting, clay sculpture, textures, ber arts and oil pas- tels while learning about art history, cultures, drama, science, and music. Ages: 5 11 Dates: June 20 July 1, July 11 22, July 25 Aug. 5 Cost: $750 per child per two-week session ART DAY Art Studio on the Boulevard, 1703 Heights 2 Kidventure Kidventure has been open to Houston families since 1994. Each camp is designed to be a dis- tinct experience based on four cornerstones of creativity, physical activity, exploration and re ection. An overnight camp also takes place in the Texas Hill Country. Camps take place in both the Heights and Memorial areas. Ages: 3 16 Dates: June 6 Aug. 5 Cost: $295-$345 per week DAY Blvd., Houston 713 863 8988 www.artstudioontheblvd.com St. Theresa Catholic School, 6500 Durford St., Houston SPSJT Lodge 88, 1435 Beall St., Houston 713 960 8989 www.kidventure.com 3 Language Kids Classes provide young students a language immersion experience in person at several Houston locations or in a virtual format. Early immersion and extended-hour options are available for additional cost. Ages: 3 10 Dates: June 6 Aug. 19 (in-person camp), June 6 to Aug. 5 (virtual camp) Cost: varies A+ DAY Grace United Methodist Church, 1245 Heights Blvd., Houston 281 565 1388 www.languagekids.com 4 The Little Gym The day camp at The Little Gym o ers physical activity, games, and arts and crafts with two tracks: one for ages 3 8 focused on weekly themes and another for ages 6 12 focused on beginner, intermediate or advanced gymnas-
Kidventure
St. Luke’s All Day Camps
COURTESY KIDVENTURE
COURTESY ST. LUKE’S METHODIST CHURCH
Annunciation Orthodox School, 3600 Yoakum Blvd., Houston 713 470 5600 www.aoshouston.org/camp-aos 8 River Oaks Dance
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston 713 402 5075 www.stlukesallday.org WASHINGTON/MEMORIAL 11 Aerial Circus Endeavor The summer camp hosted by The Artz is a full-day experience for children to learn fabric, trapeze, lyra, wall running, harness and other aerial movement techniques. Other weekly classes are also available as well as half-day options. Camps can be paid for by the week or by the day. Ages: 3 15 Dates: May 31 Aug. 19 Cost: $300-$350 per week (full-day and half day) ART DAY The Artz, 1824 Spring St., Ste. 124, Houston 281 972 9147 www.theartz8.com 12 Institute of Contemporary Dance Separate camps are o ered for children in the 3 7 and 8 12 age brackets. The camp for younger children includes daily movement, crafts, music and snack time. The camp for older children includes ballet, jazz and modern dance portions and is capped o with an interactive performance. Ages: 3 12 Dates: June 27 July 1, July 18 22, July 25 29 (interactive arts and dance camp); June 13 16, July 11 14 (children’s movement and arts camp) Cost: $350 (interactive arts and dance camp), $50-$350 (children’s movement and arts camp) ART DAY Institute of Contemporary Dance in Houston, 1302 Houston Ave., Ste. 300, Houston 877 414 4234 www.icdhouston.com/camps
Themed dance camps include dance classes, games and craft. This summer’s themes in- clude Story Book Mini Ballet, Island Adventure Dance, Royal Academy Princess, Camp En- canto, Ballet in Paris and Ballet Classics. A full description of each camp can be found on the River Oaks Dance website along with dates. Ages: 3 12 Dates: June 6 9, 13 16 and 20 23; Aug. 1 4, 8 11 and 15 18 Cost: Call for prices ART DAY River Oaks Dance, 3641 Westheimer Road, The specialty kitchenware retailer hosts weeklong summer camps for children and teenagers with experienced chefs teaching hands-on cooking techniques and recipes. Classes are two hours a day and limited to eight students each. Ages: 7 17 Dates: June 6 Aug. 19 Cost: $249 per week ART DAY Sur La Table, 1996 W. Gray St., Houston 713 533 0400 www.surlatable.com 10 St. Luke’s All Day Camps St. Luke’s United Methodist Church holds a camp for children entering rst through sixth grades and for children in seventh and eighth grade with arts and crafts, music, drama and dance, swimming and taekwondo as well as games, eld trips and other activities. This summer there are 10 one-week sessions. Ages: grades 1 8 Dates: June 14 Aug. 20 Cost: $260 per session (grades 1 6), $300 per session (grades 7 8), plus $100 registration fee DAY Ste. C, Houston 281 840 0372 www.riveroaksdance.com 9 Sur La Table
13
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
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14
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
DINING FEATURE
BY SOFIA GONZALEZ
The Foie Gras Torchon PB&J ($17): Mixed berry jam and pecan butter are served with foie gras on brioche toast.
44 Farms Denver Cut ($28): A 44 Farms Denver Cut is served with beef fat rice, herbs and a sh sauce glaze. (Photos by So a Gonzalez/ Community Impact Newspaper) THREE DISHES TO TRY
Beef Carpaccio ($14): Italian- style roast beef rib is served with horseradish creme fraiche, marinated beech mushrooms, chive oil and parmesan crisps.
93’ Til Record bar and lounge on the rise in Montrose A s someone who has been working in a restaurant since he was 16, Lung Ly said he fell in love with the industry and has
As for the food menu, Ly said it changes pretty often, making it hard to put the restaurant under one label. Menu items in February included a take on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with foie gras. The restaurant gets its groceries from local farmers markets, and the menu changes to t what is in season. Chef Je Potts also likes to keep the menu changing, Ly said. “Sometimes we get bored cooking the same things,” Ly said. “So, we all brainstorm in the back like, ‘This is it, this is fresh. What do we want to do with this?’ Then we’ll come up with something and just run o with that.” Ly rst planned to only serve beer and wine, but later decided to add cocktails. Like Potts, Bar Manager Tim Vaughan also likes to experiment, changing up the menu around once a month. In the future Ly said he hopes he can pursue other projects, but for now, he said he is focused on the success of 93’ Til. “I want [Houstonians] to know that they’re always welcome here,” Ly said. “Come have a good time. Relax, listen to some music.”
always had a goal of opening his own place. After traveling to Tokyo in 2018, Ly said he visited some of the city’s abundance of record bars—venues where people gather to drink while also relaxing to music played on vinyl. The experience, he said, inspired him to open his own. Ly would eventually open 93’ Til in December 2020, naming it after the Souls of Mischief song, “93 ‘til In nity.” Today, he said the Montrose location is exactly what he wanted. “I think the people in the neighborhood appre- ciate what we do,” said Ly, who moved back to Houston to launch the venture after spending 11 years living in other cities. The record bar and lounge plays a little bit of everything, welcoming fans from all genres of music, from hip-hop to rock to soul. On “takeover night,” Ly said he allows customers to bring in their own records to play. He said he also hopes to soon get a DJ that plays exclusively vinyl.
Owner Lung Ly opened 93’ Til after visiting similar concepts in Tokyo.
93’ Til 1601 W. Main St., Houston
MAIN ST.
281-846-6405 www.93-til.com
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Hours: Tue.-Thu. 4-10 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 4-11 p.m., closed Mon.
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15
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • MARCH 2022
BREAKING THE CYCLE
Project updates
Houston’s plans to bring better bike infrastructure and connectivity to the city involve reducing the number of car lanes on several local roads.
Types of bikes lanes
1 Shepherd and Durham drives reconstruction Details: 6- to 10-foot-wide sidewalks and 6-foot-wide bikeways between North Loop 610 and I-10
Existing on-street* Programmed on-street*
Existing off-street Programmed off-street
*ON-STREET INCLUDES DEDICATED AND SHARED BIKE LANES SOURCES: CITY OF HOUSTON, MONTROSE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, MEMORIAL-HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Timeline: spring 2022- 2026
Cost: $115 million
2 Waugh Drive/Commonwealth Street Details: 5-foot-wide bike lane on Commonwealth and 6-foot-wide bike lane on Waugh between West Alabama and Dallas streets Timeline: April 2021-end of March Cost: $3 million
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14TH ST.
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WHITE OAK BAYOU
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CROCKETT ST.
3 11th Street Bikeway Details: two 6-foot-wide bike lanes stretching from Shepherd Drive to Michaux Street
EDWARDS ST.
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SHAWN ARRAJJ/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
BUFFALO BAYOU PARK
SAWYER ST.
Timeline: Design 60% completed
Cost: TBD
MEMORIAL PARK
is kind of like a tree that you can see, but you can’t see all the roots under- ground,” he said. “We have all these roots that you can’t see because there’s so much in planning.” Local projects andsafety The 11th Street Bikeway is one of eight bike projects in the design phase as a part of the Houston Bike Plan as of February. While the city has taken the lead on that project, others in the Heights and Montrose areas are accelerating with the help of local tax increment reinvestment zones and redevelopment authorities—municipal organizations funded by property tax revenue that work with Houston to bring improvements to an area. Proposedplans on 11th Street involve shrinking the number of car lanes from four lanes to two with bike lanes added on each side. The project includes two 6-foot-wide bike lanes stretching from Shepherd Drive to Michaux Street and going down to White Oak Bayou. Design work could be completed this spring. Some portions of the streets affected by the road diet will go down to three lanes to implement a safe center turn lane, said Lauren Grove, a project man- ager with the Houston Public Works
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1,800 miles of new high-comfort bike lanes—or lanes that are safe for all ages—throughout the city, Fields said. Because of how large of an under- taking the plan is, Fields said city staff does not have an end date for when all projects would be completed. Instead, city planners revisit the plan every few years to determine which projects should be prioritized based on safety, demand, equity and connectivity. Joe Cutrufo, the executive director of cyclist advocacy group BikeHouston, said he thinks the city has a lot of work to do to make Houston a more bike- friendly city, but he said the amount of work already underway is more than meets the eye. “The bike network that exists today
through the heart of the Heights. Upgrading the bike infrastructure on those streetswill involveeither narrow- ing the width of car lanes or reducing the number of them, amethod referred to by transportation planners as a “road diet.” Doing so represents both a commitment to safety and to making roads usable for all types of travelers, said David Fields, chief transportation planner with the city of Houston. “We will not design something that is not safe for all ages and abilities for bike riders anymore,” he said. “Some of our early projects from a long time ago are not designs we would build today.” Fixinga reputation Houston’s bike plan calls for almost
CONTINUED FROM 1
transportation planner with planning and engineering firm The Goodman Corporation, she has both witnessed and been involved in several bike proj- ects since Houston adopted the Hous- ton Bike Plan in 2017, which looks to connect neighborhoods with existing trails and other destination points. Five years after adopting the plan, several high-profile projects are com- ing to life, including in the Heights and Montrose areas. Work will begin this spring on a reconstruction of Shep- herd and Durham drives that will bring bike lanes and wider sidewalks from North Loop 610 to I-10, and designs are underway on the 11th Street Bikeway
16
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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