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2022 BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION
ONLII NE AT
A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 JAN. 6 31, 2022
TOP STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
The next wave rises
New variant responsible for 86.7% of cases in Texas region as of Dec. 28 Omicron
ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE 2022 IMPACTS
6
Children
Roughly 10% of children ages 5-11 vaccinated in Harris County as of Jan. 2
Treatment
2 oral treatments
seeking emergency use authorization
SOURCES: U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, HARRIS COUNTY, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Emilia May eld rolls up her sleeve to receive her COVID 19 vaccine from nurse Staysha Hampton during a Texas Children’s Hospital and city of Houston COVID 19 vaccination clinic Dec. 17. (Courtesy Texas Children’s Hospital)
9
Omicron, vaccine lawsuits cloud coronavirus outlook in 2022 BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & HUNTER MARROW
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The trend led the CDC to predict between 7,500-17,100 new COVID-19 deaths nationally during the week ending Jan. 22. “The omicron variant ... is extremely contagious,” Houston’s Medical Direc- tor Dr. David Persse said at a Dec. 29 press conference. “There has been a lot of narrative about how it also causes a mild illness. A small per- centage of those folks who become infected are going to require hospital- ization ... but a small percentage of a
really big number is still a big number. Our hospitals need to be functional for everyone.” The rst cases of the omicron vari- ant in Houston were con rmed with tests given on the evening of Dec. 9, Houston Health Department o cials said. The con rmed cases include a female in her 20s and a male in his 30s, neither of whom had traveled recently, suggesting community spread of the variant. While the omicron variant is still being studied, Houston health CONTINUED ON 18
The rate of eligible Harris County residents getting vaccinated for the coronavirus rose steadily throughout 2021, but with a new variant emerging and a holiday-fueled spike inbound, projections from disease experts sug- gest the immediate future for the virus may look more like the past. The omicron variant of the corona- virus was already starting to spread nationwide by mid-December, prior to the family gatherings that took place during the holidays, according to the
TRANSPORTATION
12
West Unears completion of Virtual Gate
CITY & COUNTY
16
MORNING BREAKDOWN Prep your headphones and co ee!
Launching early 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
In this garden, spirits are nourished and the seeds of leadership are planted. Created by the Seabrook Rotaract club and their community partners for neighbors to enjoy, the two-acre garden inspires, connects, and transforms, which is what Rotary members in Houston and around the world do best. Learning by growing — that’s what people of action do. Learnmore at RotaryinHouston.org
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3
BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
TRUST HOUSTON’S HIGHEST LEVEL OF STROKE CARE WHEN TIME MATTERS MOST
When it comes to stroke care, speed and accuracy matter. Memorial Hermann Mischer Neurosciences offers the largest dedicated stroke network in Houston, providing highly specialized stroke care when and where you need it. With more Comprehensive Stroke Centers than any other Houston health system, we have the experience and technology to get you on the road to recovery sooner. And with our enhanced safety measures in place at all of our facilities, you can get the care you need with peace of mind. LARGEST NETWORK FOR RAPID STROKE DIAGNOSIS & SPECIALIZED TREATMENT. FASTER RECOVERY.
memorialhermann.org/stroke
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
4
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: Happy New Year to our loyal readers. As we enter 2022 together, we are really excited to bring you our Annual Community Guide. We continue to deal with COVID-19 and the next wave as our lead story takes a look at the future outlook of the pandemic. In addition, we review the next phase of the Bu alo Speedway project to improve drainage in the area. Please shop local and enjoy this edition. 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 Annual Community Guide is packed full of stories that will be relevant to our area in 2022, including local road projects, ood control initiatives and Houston ISD’s pursuit to adopt a new strategic plan. 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 REPORTER George Wiebe SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anya Gallant ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dosia Dixon 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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$20 average donation choose to give monthly 35% edition newsletter called The InCIder and occasionally reach out with other opportunities to directly engage. hyperlocal, unbiased journalism and help build informed communities. As a thank you, we'll include you in a special Saturday
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CORRECTION: Volume 3, Issue 8 On Page 11, Andrea Ehlers nished the November election with 48.8% of the vote, while Brian Witt nished with 48.5% and David Montalvo with 2.7%.
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon or relocating
Asian restaurants, including Hakkasan Hanway Place in London, Yauatcha Soho London, Turandot in Moscow and Breeze in Bangkok. www.blossomhouston.com 5 In addition to Duck House by Boon, chefs Ho Chee Boon and Akira Back will also open AB Sushi in Blossom Hotel Houston, 7118 Bertner Ave., Houston, in early 2022. AB Sushi will be helmed by Back, who has a 29-year culinary back- ground, and will feature a menu of sushi, premium sashimi and Japanese-inspired dishes in an atmosphere that looks to be both re ned and unpretentious. www.blossomhouston.com 6 CounterCommon Beerworks & Kitch- en will open in early 2022 at 5413 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire. O cials bill the venue as a family-friendly brewpub, and a menu will feature fusion food that centers on Latin and Asian cuisine. The brewpub’s beer lineup will be brewed in-house on a 10-barrel system. Beers are expected to include lagers, ales and rotating seasonal options. www.countercommon.com RELOCATIONS 7 Sesh Coworking will move into a new 20,000-square-foot space in January at 2808 Caroline St., Ste. 201, in Houston’s Midtown area. The female-centered and LGBTQ-a rming space will increase its size tenfold with the move. The new location will feature 25 o ces, three conference rooms, four phone booths, an amphitheater, a library, a demo kitchen, a pop-up retail shop, a locker room with showers and interactive art installations. Members will be able to access the space 24/7. O ce spaces can accommodate teams of up to 15 people. The o ces are currently located on West Clay Street in 8 UT Physicians has plans to consol- idate ve Bellaire-area o ces into one 139,243-square-foot o ce space located at 6500 W. Loop S., Bellaire, a building formerly occupied by AT&T. O ering a range of primary and specialty health care services, the medical group signed a lease for the space with Transwestern Real Estate Services, which announced the signing Dec. 9. Building improve- ments negotiated into the lease include Houston. 281-764-9380. www.seshcoworking.com
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W. ALABAMA ST.
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WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE
610
HERMANN PARK DR.
AMHERST ST.
HERMANN PARK
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
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288
FANNIN ST.
6
BERTNER AVE.
BELLAIRE
90
PINE ST.
BEECHNUT ST.
BERTNER AVE.
MEYERLAND
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4 5
WILLOWBEND BLVD.
BRAYS BAYOU
90
610
1
S. POST OAK RD.
E.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N TM; © 2022 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
W. BELL
2 Sprinkles Cupcakes opened its sec- ond Houston location in December in Rice Village at 2563 Amherst St., Houston. Located in a 1,718-square-foot space, the business specializes in cupcakes, cookies, brownies and cakes, all baked fresh daily, and the newest location also o ers a selection of chocolates. The Austin-based bakery chain now has two locations in Houston. 346-502-2467. www.sprinkles.com 3 Gyro King , a Mediterranean chain, opened a new location Nov. 27 at 7131 Fannin St., Houston. The restaurant is the seventh to open in the Houston area, serving freshly made salads, hummus,
WILLOWBEND BLVD. NOWOPEN 1 Oak Street Health , a network of val- ue-based primary care centers for adults on Medicare, opened its second location on Fondren Road at 11251 Fondren Road, Houston. The new clinic opened Nov. 22 at the former Palais Royal location—an 8,300-square-foot space at the intersec- tion of Fondren and West Bellfort Ave- nue, with several exam rooms as well as a community room for seniors to connect with fun and safe activities throughout the week. Other locations can be found in Houston and Pasadena. 281-503-4066. www.oakstreethealth.com
gyros and rice platters. The new location will celebrate its grand opening Jan. 23. 832-831-8491. www.gyroking.com COMING SOON 4 Duck House by Boon will open at the new luxury hotel Blossom Hotel Houston in early 2022. Located at 7118 Bertner Ave., Houston, the new eatery will be run by Michelin-starred chefs Ho Chee Boon and Akira Back. Duck House will o er a Cantonese-inspired dining experience with a focus on duck dishes and will pull from Boon’s 30 years of experience at several of the world’s most renowned
NEW YEAR, SAME CARE.
WALK IN OR REGISTER ONLINE
2280 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 713-357-7391 www.ascentemc.com Corner of Holcombe & Almeda
WE TREAT ALL EMERGENCIES, ADULTS AND KIDS.
Emergency evaluations for Covid-19, RSV, and Flu available 24/7
6
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & GEORGE WIEBE
5
8
AB Sushi
UT Physicians
RENDERING COURTESY AB SUSHI
COURTESY TRANSWESTERN
additional parking capacity, new patient drop-o areas, a remodeled lobby and upgrades to the HVAC system, according to Transwestern. Move-in is expected in May. www.utphysicians.com IN THE NEWS CARRY+ will launch in January with faith- based nonpro t His Whole House and is a self-paced program designed to educate the community to understand, recog- nize warning signs of and help people considering suicide. Registration for the virtual program is open now, and o cials said it will launch sometime after Jan. 1 once there are enough registered partic- ipants to form small groups. The suicide awareness and prevention curriculum is delivered in two parts, and the estimated total time commitment is 10 hours. There
is no cost to participate in the program, which caters to individuals age 18 and older. There is an option for minors to participate with the permission of or in conjunction with a parent. www.hiswholehouse.org/carry Following the destruction brought by large tornadoes across the Midwest, the city of Houston is partnering with Gallery Furniture owner Jim “Mattress Mack” Mclngvale and Kroger in raising funds and supplies for victims. Collection boxes have been set up inside Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston, and at Gallery Furniture stores across Houston. No speci c end date for the donation drive was given as e orts continue until the areas recover. Nonperishable goods, cleaning supplies, bottled water, clothing and generators are among suggested donations. www.galleryfurniture.com
In addition to o ering gourmet foods, Bodega Bellaire also o ers an array of home goods.
COURTESY BODEGA BELLAIRE
FEATURED IMPACT NOWOPEN Following its soft opening in November, a grand opening is planned for Bodega Bellaire for Jan. 22 at 5202 Bissonnet St., Ste. A, Bellaire. The all-day event will include wine sampling, cheese sampling and a market with local crafts on display and for sale. All wine sales will also be 10% o during the celebration, which will also include giveaways throughout the day. The shop brings in wines from small producers in Texas, California, the
Paci c Northwest and all over the world as well as o ers artisanal and gourmet foods, home goods and contemporary apothecary items. 713-485-4153. www.bodegabellaire.com
BELLAIRE BLVD.
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New beginnings, new friends, and new joy in your new home.
The Village of Meyerland, Assisted Living and Memory Care, provides personalized care and supportive services in a friendly neighborhood setting. Our attentive care associates are available around-the-clock to help support you with grooming, bathing, dressing, medication management and everyday tasks so you can spend quality time with friends and family.
Reserve Today to Receive Special New Year Savings!
713-665-4141
4141 N. Braeswood | Houston, TX 77025 | www.villageofmeyerland.com
Facility ID# 105335
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY CONSTRUCTION
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS
REINVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER IS PROUD TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR 2022 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
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Legacy Community Health oers comprehensive, quality health care services at 50 health care centers across southeast Texas. Legacy has been innovating how health care is delivered in our community for over 40 years. As the largest Federally Quali ed Health Center (FQHC) in Texas, their services are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay and without judgment. Learn more at www.legacycommunityhealth.org.
ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE REAL ESTATE EDUCATION COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. VISIT
COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Data and information on local communities
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
BELLAIRE PHOTOS BY GEORGE WIEBE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE HOUSTON
With a population of just over 17,000, the 113-year-old city of Bellaire can be found straddling the southwest portion of Loop 610 in Houston.
West University Place gets its name from being located west of Rice University in the southwest quadrant of Houston’s inner loop.
Encompassing 637 square miles, the city of Houston is the known for housing the Texas Medical Center, Hermann Park and Space Center Houston.
SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, CITY OF BELLAIRE, CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
The total population jumped in the city of Houston but remained at in Bellaire and West University Place. Population changes
Quick community facts
10-year population change Houston ISD: +12.9% Harris County: +15.4% Texas: +15.9%
Year founded
Total square miles
2021-22 property tax rate (per $100 valuation)
Total 2021-22 budget expenditures $21.5M $23M $5.1B
2010
2010
2010
16,855
14,787
2,099,451
1917 1908 1836
2 3.6 637.4
$0.278522 $0.4473 $0.55083
2020
2020
2020
17,202
14,955
2,304,580 +9.77%
+2.06%
+1.14%
Local demographics*
Aside from paying city taxes, most residents pay taxes to Harris County, Houston ISD and Houston Community College. 2021 22 property tax rates (per $100 valuation) Top tax rates
All three cities became more diverse between 2010 and 2020, with Asian and Hispanic populations seeing growth.
10.6% 9.4% 59.2% 71.9% 1.6% 0.8% 0.2% 0.2% 23.7% 12.6% 0.1% 0.1% 0.5% 0.3% 4.1% 4.7%
44%
Hispanic or Latino
23.7% 22.1% 0.2% 7.2% 0.1% 0.5% 2.2%
White
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska native
Asian
Native Hawaiian or other Paci c Islander
Some other race Two or more races
*ALL CATEGORIES LISTED ARE RACES, EXCEPT FOR HISPANIC OR LATINO, WHICH IS NOT A RACE. HOWEVER, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE RACES LISTED DO NOT INCLUDE HISPANIC OR LATINO RESIDENTS.
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
DINING
Restaurants that opened in 2021
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WESTHEIMER RD.
527
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4
59
11
BISSONNET ST.
14
2
610
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15
Badolina Bakery & Cafe
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COURTESY DORIS METROPOLITAN
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288
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Average entrees: $ Up to $9.99 $$ $10-$19.99 $$$ $20 or more
B Breakfast/brunch H Happy hour K Kids menu
ZOA Moroccan Kitchen
COURTESY ZOA MOROCCAN KITCHEN
COMPILED BY GEORGE WIEBE
www.blossomhouston.com COMING IN 2022 6 Bao Shi Yi 2328 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston 832 530 4635 www.baoshiyibunhouse.com $ 7 Duck House by Boon 7118 Bertner Ave. Houston www.blossomhouston.com COMING IN 2022 8 The Rice Box 5504 Morningside Drive, Houston www.riceboxed.com COMING IN 2022 BARBECUE 9 Citadel BBQ 6601 Main St., Houston 346 444 3227 www.citadelbbq.com $$ B H CAFE 10 Badolina Bakery & Cafe 5555 Morningside Drive, Houston
832 649 5909 www.badolinabakery.com $$ B 11 Cafe Leonelli 5500 Main St., Houston 713 714 3014 5101 Montrose Blvd., Houston 713 639 7500 www.cafeleonelli.com $$ 12 Cedar St. Cafe 215 Fifth St., Ste. 3336, Bellaire 832 752 8146 www.facebook.com/cedarstcafe $ B 13 Common Bond 4201 Main St., Houston www.commonbondcafe.com COMING IN 2022 14 Local Foods Market 2424 Dunstan Road, Houston 713 522 7602 www.localfoodsmkt.com $$ B K DESSERT 15 Refresqueria
5407 Morningside Drive, Houston 713 750 9873 www.refresqueria.net $ DRINKS 16 CounterCommon Beerworks & Kitchen 5413 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire www.countercommon.com COMING IN 2022 MEDITERRANEAN 17 Gyro King 7131 Fannin St., Houston 832 831 8491 www.gyroking.com $ 18 ZOA Moroccan Kitchen 6700 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire 832 516 8825 www.zoamoroccan.com $ B H
AMERICAN 1 Ginger Kale 6104 Hermann Park Drive, Houston 713 429 5238 www.gingerkale.com $$ B K 2 Leaf & Grain 5525 Weslayan St., Houston 713 492 0704 www.eatlg.com $ 3 New York Eatery 5422 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. A, Bellaire 713 692 2435 www.nybagelsandco ee.com $$ B 4 Stu ’d Wings 401 Richmond Ave., Houston www.stu dwings.com COMING IN 2022 ASIAN 5 AB Sushi 7118 Bertner Ave. Houston
This list is not comprehensive.
BUY ONE GET ONE
Second item must be of equal or lesser value. Dine-in Only at the Bellaire location. on breakfast, burgers and sandwich items
Bellaire Blvd
NYBAGELSANDCOFFEE.COM 5422 Bellaire Blvd. Suite A Open Daily 7AM to 4PM. Dinner hours coming soon!
10
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BUSINESS&ENTERTAINMENT
Local businesses that opened in 2021
59
3A
14
10
16
Palace Social opened in June in Bellaire. (Courtesy BLKBOX)
17
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UNIVERSITY BLVD.
FEATURED BUSINESS PALACE SOCIAL
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Palace Social, a 27,000-square- foot bowling and entertainment venue, opened in June in Bellaire’s Southside Commons, o ering a 159-seat restaurant and a 3,900-square-foot arcade. In late November, the venue announced new hours, expanding to lunch service every day of the week, and also introduced a to-go meal service. Palace Social was launched by 50 neighborhood investors who said they were looking to bring back a vibrant and family-friendly gathering and entertainment spot to Houston’s inner loop. A Southern-inspired food menu o ered at the venue was curated by chef Ryan Hildebrand.
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3B
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610
RICE BLVD.
1 5
19
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BEECHNUT ST.
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AMHERST ST.
ENDICOTT LN.
8
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
FOOD&DRINK 7 Bodega Bellaire 5202 Bissonnet St., Ste. A, Bellaire 713 485 4153 www.bodegabellaire.com 8 Sprinkles Cupcakes 2563 Amherst St., Houston 346 502 2467 https://sprinkles.com HAIR&BEAUTY 9 Citris Nail Spa 5101 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 175, Bellaire 832 203 8867 https://citrisnailspa.com 10 Diesel Barbershop 3351 Westpark Drive, Houston 832 834 4344 www.dieselbarbershop.com 11 Float Baby 3642 University Blvd., Ste. 103, Houston 832 819 8380 www. oatbaby.com 12 Lush RX 4914 Bissonnet St., Ste. 100, Bellaire 713 331 1037 www.lushrx.com 13 SkinSpirit 2401 Times Blvd., Ste. 110, Houston 346 398 6100 www.skinspirit.com HEALTHANDWELLNESS 14 Complete Midlife Wellness Center 1200 Binz St., Houston
COMPILED BY GEORGE WIEBE
713 497 9458 www.completemidlifewellnesscenter.com 15 Eye Theory 4191 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 100, Houston 346 326 2936 www.eyetheory.com 16 Restore Hyper Wellness and Cryotherapy 2715 Bissonnet St., Houston 281 661 1957 www.restore.com 17 Studio Aesthetics IV Hydration and Wellness 5909 West Loop S., Ste. 580, Bellaire 832 856 7489 www.studioaestheticstx.com MUSIC 18 American Music Academy 4842 Beechnut St., Houston 832 621 9058 www.theamericanmusicacademy.com PET CARE 19 Cat Boarding by Nourish 2522 Times Blvd., Houston 713 955 4334 www.nourishpetcare.com
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES 1 Sneaker Vault 2513 Rice Blvd., Houston 713 505 1140
BELLAIRE BLVD.
N
FITNESS 2 Texans Fit 8650 Endicott Lane, Houston 832 900 7001 www.texans t.com 3 Yoga Six www.yogasix.com A 5170 Bu alo Speedway, Houston 713 309 6757 B 5427 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire 832 804 6354 COMING IN 2022 4 Yoga Tres 5427 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire 832 804 6354 www.yogatres.com FLOWER 5 Isidora Flower and Gift Shop 2509 Rice Blvd., Houston 713 393 7108 www.isidora owers.com 6 Poison 91 Fleurs 2470 Times Blvd., Houston 504 316 0959 www.poison91 eurs.com
8
Sprinkles Cupcakes
COURTESY SPRINKLES CUPCAKES
16
This list is not comprehensive.
Restore Hyper Wellness and Cryotherapy
COURTESY RESTORE HYPER WELLNESS AND CRYOTHERAPY
11
BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
TRANSPORTATION
Updates on key transportation projects
OTHER PROJECTS TO FOLLOW IN 2022
TOP TRANSPORTATION STORIES TO WATCH IN 2022
Phasework continues onBu alo Speedway in 2022 A project looking to improve drain- age and resurface sections of Bu alo Speedway that bisect the city of BY HUNTER MARROW
S. RICE AVE.
BRAYS BAYOU
N
West University Place will see some important updates in 2022, according to city o cials. Of the project’s four phases, Phase 2 and Phase 4 are under construction, said Gerardo Barrera, the city’s public works director. Phase 2, which runs from an outfall to the Poor Farm Ditch drainage channel to south of Cason Street, is set to be completed in 2022. Phase 4 focuses rst on the eastern north- bound lanes fromWroxton Road to Amherst Street, which are set to be completed in early 2022 and will be followed by work on western south- bound travel lanes, Barrera said. The construction crew will rst complete Phase 2 before moving on to Phase 3, which spans from Amherst to Cason. That phase of the project is set to begin in 2022 and is expected to be the most disruptive for drivers, Barrera said. The project’s phases had originally
Brays Bayou bridge rehabilitation A project to raise a South Rice Avenue bridge at Brays Bayou was completed in December, and a second project on a Chimney Rock Road bridge will be completed in early 2022. Two higher, longer and wider bridges will allow more stormwater ow. Timeline: winter 2020-early 2022 Cost: $20 million (both bridges) Funding sources: Army Corps of Engineers, Harris County Flood Control District
Construction is ongoing on Bu alo Speedway in West University Place. (George Wiebe/ Community Impact Newspaper)
been organized chronologically, but a utility relocation forced a change in timelines. Timeline: October 2018-2023 Cost: $23 million Funding sources: city of West University Place, Texas Department of Transporta- tion, federal grants
BISSONNET ST.
PHASE 4
WROXTON RD.
KIRBY DR.
New stations are being planned. (Rendering courtesy Texas Central)
PHASE 3
CASON ST.
W. HOLCOMBE BLVD.
High-speed rail The Texas Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Jan. 11 in a case over whether Texas Central—the company looking to build a 236-mile high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas— is considered a railroad company under state law and has the power to use eminent domain. If the company wins, construction on the project is expected to start soon after the decision.
PHASE 2
N
GRAMERCY ST.
Houston-areamobility groups plan for federal funds from$1.2 trillion bill
BY JISHNU NAIR
will have 11 new grant programs to apply for. Raborn said the bill’s broad scope will increase funding to programs, such as the Surface Transportation Block Grant, which is seeing a 24% increase in funding. “It’s a big bill; there’s a lot in it,” Raborn said. “And so it’s going to take a lot of time for agencies like ours to nd and match the pieces to the needs they have.” Raborn highlighted new programs that could target resiliency and ood control as areas of interest, such as the PROTECT Program, which
provides up to $8.7 billion to help reinforce surface transportation routes and evacuation routes. How- ever, he cautioned that other federal funding and regulatory hurdles need to be cleared before HGAC can begin discussing funding allocation. “It’s going to take a fair amount of time for [all of the funding announce- ments] to work their way through their processes before we start seeing that,” he said. Once the bill makes its way through Congress, Raborn said HGAC will get public input in the spring.
President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law Nov. 6, provid- ing funds for projects nationwide. Texas is expected to get about $35 billion of that funding, while existing federal aid programs will receive an in ux of $265.4 billion over ve years, according to Chandra Bhat at the University of Texas. Craig Raborn, transportation director of metropolitan planning organization Houston-Galveston Area Council, said Houston-area entities
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North Houston Highway Improvement Project
A group of advocates led a 100-page complaint with the Federal Highway Administration on Dec. 16 amid an ongoing federal investigation into civil rights complaints related to the project, which seeks to expand and reroute portions of I-45 between Beltway 8 and downtown Houston. The complaint urges greater scrutiny of the project’s e ects on minority communities.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will boost federal programs and open new ones Houston-area entities can apply for. Existing federal programs will see an increase of $265.4 billion over ve years . SOURCES: INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT; CHANDRA BHAT, UT AUSTIN; HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Houston metro planning organizations will have 11 new grant programs to apply for. Of the $1.2 trillion approved in federal funding, Texas will receive $35 billion .
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & GEORGE WIEBE
School stories to follow
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2022
TOP EDUCATION STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
Houston ISD slated to adopt strategic plan inMarch HOUSTON ISD Superintendent Millard House will soon release a new strategic plan document for the district in March, which he said will better outline the actions the district takes to advance its priorities over the next ve years. House—who joined Houston ISD last summer—said the plan will cover Although the new strategic plan for Houston ISD will continue to be developed through March, Superintendent Millard House laid out ve main areas the plan will cover. AN EARLY OUTLINE 1 Cultivating world-class talent: SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER 2 Providing equitable opportunities and resources at every school: recruit, develop and retain e ective and caring teachers, principals and support sta develop turnaround strategies at struggling campuses
Rice University expanding income bracket for full-tuition scholarships Rice University announced changes to its student nancial aid plan Dec. 16, including grants covering tuition, room and board and mandatory fees for any student whose family’s annual income is lower than $75,000. Full tuition scholarships will also be available to any student whose family income bracket falls between $75,000 and $140,000. All nancial award changes are set to be available at the start of the fall 2022 semester. Changes were announced shortly after Rice University launched a capital campaign in October with the goal to reach $2 billion by 2025. More than $1.2 billion in commitments has already been raised with large donations from organizations such as the Moody Foundation, a charity based out of Galveston. Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School wrapping up renovations after more than four years After its K-12 campus was ooded in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey, the most damaged building of St. Thomas’ Episcopal School, Shaw Hall, is scheduled to open in February. Shaw Hall caters to the school’s middle and high school students, who attended school in temporary building spaces during the repairs. Also part of the school’s rebuilding project is a new playground and sports pavilion slated to cost $750,000, although construction has yet to be approved. A capital campaign at Rice University aims to fund a new student center. (Rendering courtesy Rice University)
ve areas: cultivating world-class talent; providing equitable opportu- nities and resources at every school; promoting high-quality teaching and learning; ensuring great schools in every community; and delivering exceptional services to students with exceptional needs. Each of the district’s priorities have been assigned an “owner” on district sta who has been charted with developing the action plan. In the months leading up to March, owners will set up metrics to track the e ectiveness of each program. HISD has also been working with a technical provider that has helped gather data, House said at a Nov. 18 board meeting. “This plan will provide us with a blueprint for the next ve years … and will outline the major actions we will take to advance each of the district’s priorities,” House said. The plan will shape how the dis- trict allocates budgetary resources. House said it was heavily informed by community feedback he heard at listening sessions that took place over his rst 100 days as superintendent. Hiring quality teachers is among the district’s top priorities, House
3 Promoting high-quality teaching and learning: bolster professional development opportunities
4 Ensuring great schools and programs in every community:
address magnet deserts
5 Delivering exceptional services and supports to students with exceptional needs:
implement high-quality systems and services that increase performance
said, but he emphasized the import- ant role support sta play as well. “We plan on implementing an ambitious comprehensive strategy to recruit, develop and retain e ective and caring teachers and principals, as well as support sta ,” he said. “A lot of times, school systems can leave out the idea of support sta . We want to make sure we cover the gamut.” The process of guring out how to recruit teachers starts with an assessment of HISD’s human capital strategies and an evaluation of how the district identi es its strongest teachers. Stronger teachers can then be provided incentives to work at schools with higher needs. Part of the process will also involve bolstering the professional development o ered by the district, a strategy House called “developing
your way to success.” “For those that need additional support, we build the kind of pro- fessional development systems that will allow us internally to ensure that we’re giving educators exactly what they need so they can grow,” he said. The details of the plan were discussed as HISD looks to leverage federal coronavirus relief money to more aggressively hire counselors, special education teachers and other support sta . The plan will be released in time for priorities to be incorporated into budget workshops in the spring, House said. “If we are going to focus on these particular priorities, there will have to be a rearrangement of how we allocate our funds,” House said. “We’re going to have to look at everything.”
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
REAL ESTATE
Stories from the Houston area
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2022
TOP HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
Economics group projects 75,500 jobs to come toHouston in 2022
Houston’s Livable Places Action Committee discuss plans for 2022 The Livable Places Action Committee made progress in 2021 on e orts by the city of Houston to create and act on a framework to make the city more walkable and a ordable. In a meeting held Dec. 14, the Livable Places committee discussed plans for future residential development, including the desire for continuous shaded sidewalks and parking separate from residencies. Livable Places also encourages additional public transportation, including available rail and bus networks around Houston.
The Greater Houston Partnership projects around 75,500 new jobs to be added in the Greater Houston area in 2022. Jobprojections
While in ation and worker short- ages continue to stunt a rebound of the Houston economy, forecasters with the Greater Houston Partnership project the area will still add 75,500 more jobs to the economy in 2022, including job growth in every sector. These projections were announced Dec. 10 alongside an update on how the area’s recovery trended in 2021, the second year of the coronavirus pandemic. As of October, the Houston area had recouped 269,000 jobs, or roughly 75% of the 361,400 jobs lost in the early stages of the pandemic, according to the report. The greatest job gains in 2022 are projected to be seen in the administra- tive services, government, health care, BY SHAWN ARRAJJ AND GEORGE WIEBE
professional services, and restaurants and bars industries, which will add a combined 40,400 jobs. “Several factors will drive Hous- ton’s growth in [2022]: a strong U.S. economy, expanding global trade, energy consumption returning to pre-crisis levels, pent-up consumer demand, local population growth and the ongoing housing boom,” o cials wrote in the report. After cooling o somewhat in October, the housing boom in Houston picked up again to close out 2022 and is projected to remain hot into next year, according to the Houston Association of Realtors. Single-family home sales increased 3.9% in November 2021 compared to last November with 8,320 houses sold, according to HAR. Total money spent on housing showed one of the largest year-to-date changes, increasing 20.6%. Total active listings fell 13.3% compared to Novem- ber 2020, according to the report. Average and median home prices climbed after a market dip in October, although average prices still fell below their peak this last summer. With a 5.6% change since last November, total property sales totaled 10,216 for the previous month. “We remain on track for a record 2021, and the Greater Houston Partner- ship sees positive conditions for local employment going into 2022,” HAR Chair Richard Miranda said.
Administrative services: 9,000
Professional services: 8,700
Health care: 8,400
Restaurants and bars: 7,200
2022 meeting schedule Meetings are open to the public and held via Microsoft Teams
Government: 7,100
Transportation: 6,500
Sept. 6 Oct. 4 Nov. 15 Dec. 20
May 3 June 7 July 12 Aug. 9
Jan. 11 Feb. 8 March 8 April 5
Manufacturing: 5,000
Energy: 4,000
Wholesale trade: 3,000
Work continues on apartments damaged by Hurricane Harvey The city of Houston will continue work in 2022 to rebuild multifamily developments in the city that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Local projects in the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University Place areas include the South Rice Apartments on South Rice Boulevard, which are 55% complete as of late December, and the Gala at MacGregor, which is 33% complete and located just east of Hermann Park. The program, launched in early 2019, both replaces homes damaged by Harvey and builds new projects to increase the supply of a ordable homes safe from future storms and ooding threats. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is overseen by the Texas General Land O ce.
Construction: 2,700
Other: 2,300
Houston is projected to add 75,500 jobs in 2022, which would bring it closer to pre-pandemic job totals. Pandemic rebound
Finance: 2,100
Educational services: 2,000
Retail trade: 2,000
269,000 Jobs recovered as of October 2021
Estimated pandemic-related job losses in Houston:
Real estate: 2,000
Arts, entertainment: 1,600
361,400
Hotels: 1,200
Jobs left to recover:
92,400
Information: 700
SOURCE: GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
SOURCE: GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2022
CITY&COUNTY
Updates on important issues facing local entities
Harris County commissioners approve $35 million campus for youth transitioning out of foster care system OTHERCOUNTY STORIES TOFOLLOWIN2022 Harris County commissioners at a Dec. 14 meeting unanimously approved the construction of a roughly $35 million Houston Alumni and Youth Center campus that will include a 41,000-square-foot, 50- unit residential facility for youth transitioning out of the state’s foster care system. The approximately 3.3-acre campus, which will be located at 3131 Gulf Freeway near downtown Houston, will also include a 17,000-square- foot commercial facility that will house the HAY—Houston Alumni & Youth—Center, a program operated through the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Department that provides resources and services for youth and young adults exiting the state foster care system. The aim of the project is to help provide more stability for the youth members transitioning from foster care to independent living, o cials said. County o cials said construction of the new campus is expected to begin in the rst quarter of 2022 and is slated to wrap up by the third quarter of 2023. O cials noted the project is primarily funded through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grants received by the county and the city of Houston.
TOP COUNTY STORIES TO WATCH IN 2022
Harris County Flood Control District nears biggest spending year yet
BY HANNAH ZEDAKER
MAKING PROGRESS
HARRIS COUNTY Three years after work began on projects outlined in the Harris County Flood Control District’s $2.5 billion bond program, Deputy Executive Director Matt Zeve said 2022 may be the district’s biggest spending year in its history. “We had a 10-year plan, and the way things are mapping out, …we should be done with pretty much everything by early 2029,” Zeve said. “But the vast majority of our spending is happening now.” A majority of that spending will come from completing three federal ood damage reduction projects next year along Brays, Hunting and White Oak bayous—each of which costs more than $100 million, Zeve said. In addition to those projects, HCFCD o cials will submit preliminary ood plain maps in late January to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will issue the preliminary ood insurance rate map in the summer. Brian Edmondson, project manager for HCFCD’s Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project, or MAAPnext, said the new rates could take e ect in 2024. The nearly $30 million e ort, which began in January 2019, will be the rst time the entire county’s ood plain has been remapped since 2001. In mid-December, HCFCD o cials also completed the Phase 2 feasibility study of constructing an underground tunnel in Harris County to divert oodwaters, Zeve said. However, the results will not be released to the public until sometime in 2022.
Since Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast in 2017 and Harris County voters passed a $2.5 billion ood bond referendum in 2018, the Harris County Flood Control District has: Initiated 181 of 181 projects, 19 of which are complete
Received $1.35 billion in partnership funding Completed 667 buyouts with 645 additional buyouts in process
Authorized $578 million in bond funds
In 2022, Harris County residents can look forward to the following accomplishments by the Harris County Flood Control District: LOOKINGAHEAD
Completion of Brays, Hunting and White Oak bayou federal ood damage reduction projects
Public release of Phase 2 ood tunnel feasibility study
Public release of preliminary ood insurance rate map
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“We briefed all of the members of Commissioners Court on the results of that study, and we got a wide variety of reactions,” Zeve said. “Because of that, we’re not in a place where we can release the results of the tunnel study just yet.” Future projects Outside of the 2018 bond program, the HCFCD received $250 million from FEMA in December to fund sediment removal across eight watersheds over the next ve years. In 2021, HCFCD o cials also com- pleted 10 watershed planning studies, which identi ed new projects. While Zeve said some elected county o - cials have mentioned the possibility of a second ood bond program, that will depend upon howmuch more
debt the county can take on. “Even if we had $100 billion instead of $2.5 billion, we can only go so fast at a time,” Zeve said. “We would love to have all that money because then we’d know we can do what we need to do. But all of our projects take a certain amount of time.” With or without another bond, Zeve said the HCFCD’s budget needs will continue to grow to pay o bond debt and maintain new infrastructure. “Every time we build a new project, we have to take care of it, and every time we have to take care of it, that costs more money,” he said. As of mid-December, the county administrator’s o ce was still searching for a new HCFCD executive director. Alan Black will continue to serve in this capacity in the interim.
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Candidates le for election in Harris County ahead of 2022 midterms Nearly 100 candidates have led for Harris County positions ahead of the March 2022 primaries, according to the Texas Secretary of State website, including for races that cover the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University areas. Eight Republicans and three Democrats led for Harris County Judge, including incumbent Lina Hidalgo. Six Democrats and Republican incumbent Jack Cagle led for Precinct 4 Commissioner, which will cover Bellaire under new boundary maps drawn in 2021. The winners for each party in the March primaries will determine which candidates will be on the ballot in the November general election.
Harris County commissioners adopt policy on data accessibility
BY EMILY LINCKE
looking to do is [take] information that already would otherwise be available through the Public Information Act and make it available to the general public without having to ask for it,” First Assistant County Attorney Jay Aiyer said. Berry did not specify how long this will take to complete, but said the plan is to prioritize requests they hear the most. As part of the new policy, an Open Data Teamwill be cre- ated. The teamwill bring their rst report to commissioners court 180 days after a team leader is found. Meanwhile, the county’s Data Governance Committee will continue to exist and work with the county attorney’s o ce and the county administrator’s o ce, Aiyer said.
HARRIS COUNTY Harris County commissioners said they will be making data more accessible to the public in an e ort to be more transparent with a new Open Data Policy adopted Dec. 14. Parts of the new policy are already in the works, County Administrator David Berry said, including e orts to collect public data sets and put them in one place online in a format that is easy for members of the public to access and download. This site will be dubbed the Open Data Portal and will cost about $43,000. “One of the things that the open data policy really is
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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