Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | January 2026

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Heights River Oaks

Montrose Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 10 JAN. 13FEB. 10, 2026

Brought to you by our premium gold sponsor: 2026 Health & Wellness Edition

Pickleball’s rapid rise reshapes Houston’s recreation scene

BY ROO MOODY

PKL Social

W A

PKL Social opened in the Heights in 2024 and oers four pickleball courts available for free play or reservations. (Roo Moody/Community Impact)

Also in this issue

Impacts: Check out 10 new businesses and restaurants that opened recently in Montrose, River Oaks and the Heights (Pages 67)

Education: See what nearby high schools may lose their graphic design programs in Houston ISD (Page 17)

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About Community Impact

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

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Angela Bonilla Sarah Brager Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cole Gee Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Roo Moody Tomer Ronen

Chloe Mathis General Manager cmathis@ communityimpact.com

Nichaela Shaheen Catherine White Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Jake Schlesinger Jesus Verastegui Ronald Winters Managing Editor James T. Norman Product Manager Martha Risinger Quality Desk Editor Sarah Hernandez Houston Market President Jason Culpepper

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Impacts

W. 34TH ST.

8 Good God Market From the owners of Good God, Nadine’s, this new weekly farmers market will occur every Tuesday and feature 10 rotating local farm and craft vendors. The market will be held from 4-7 p.m. • Opened Dec. 2 9 Rothko Chapel Officials with the chapel held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the Kathleen and Chuck Mullenweg Peace and Reflection Garden. The space is intended to be used as an outdoor spiritual home. • Opened Nov. 14 • 33 Waugh Drive, Houston • www.goodgodnadines.com

W. 25TH ST.

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W. 11TH ST.

WHITE OAK DR.

WHITE OAK PARK

W. 6TH ST.

WASHINGTON AVE.

TAYLOR ST.

STUDE ST.

• 3900 Yupon St., Houston • www.rothkochapel.org

20B

MEMORIAL PARK

SAWYER ST.

N. POST OAK LANE.

Coming soon

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

BUFFALO BAYOU

10 Home Slice Pizza Originally founded in Austin in 2005, the local mom-and- pop pizzeria is known for its authentic New York-style slices. The new Heights shop will feature a full-service dining room, expanded menu and cocktail program. • Opening fall 2026 • 602 Studewood St., Houston • www.homeslicepizza.com 11 Shops at Arrive River Oaks In mid-October, officials announced that three new tenants will join the development, including Australian- based Cullen Jewellery, wellness clinic Kale Functional Medicine and a new restaurant concept called Bussia. • Opening TBD 12 Cafe Feuillette Renowned baker and pastry chef Jean-Francois Feuillette is bringing the concept of a French art de vivre to Houston, with the first cafe to open in the United States. The menu will offer French-inspired breakfast, lunch, pastries and pastry drinks. • Opening in 2026 • 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. D145, Houston • www.cafefeuillette.fr • 2800 Kirby Drive, Houston • www.arriveriveroaks.com

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signature glazed and chocolate sprinkles. • Opened in December • 1901 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.shipleydonuts.com

Now open

1 Hypsi Run by chef Terrence Gallivan, the new full-service restaurant and lounge in the Heights will offer Italian- style fare and an aperitivo-style bar service. • Opened Dec. 3 • 347 W. 20th St., Houston • www.bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-daphne 2 Honest Mary’s This healthy, fast-casual concept provides a variety of grain bowls, sipping broths and aguas frescas. • Opened Dec. 4 • 2047 W. Gray St., Ste. A, Houston • www.honestmarys.com 3 Maison Chinoise Offering brunch, lunch and dinner, the upscale Chinese restaurant is most known for its housemade dim sum

5 La La Kind Cafe x Lululemon Athleisure brand Lululemon opened its latest Houston store in collaboration with coffee chain La La Land Kind Cafe. The new store in the Highland Village shopping center marks the brand’s first cafe-in-retail experience. • Opened Dec. 19 • 4007 Westheimer Road, Ste. 100, Houston • www.houstonhighlandvillage.com 6 Donna’s Restaurateur Bobby Heugel and bartender Jacki Schromm opened this new cocktail lounge in tribute to Schromm’s late grandmother, Donna. The bar is open seven days a week from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. • Opened late November • 2626 White Oak Drive, Houston • www.donnashouston.com 7 La Cocina de TJ Specializing in birria, this restaurant offers Mexican combinations such as birria tacos, birria mac n cheese and birria ramen, as well as street tacos and burritos. • Opened fall 2025 • 2025 N. Durham Drive, Houston • www.lacocinadetj.com

What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

13 Paris Baguette The pastry shop offers sweet and savory pastries, as well as craft beverages and specialty cakes. The new storefront is expected to start construction in January and wrap up in October. • 1835 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. B, Houston • www.parisbaguette.com 14 Pure Green A listing from TDLR shows that the new location in the River Oaks is slated to open in early 2026. The juicery offers smoothies, cold-pressed juices and acai bowls. • 3515 W. Dallas St., Ste. 150, Houston • www.puregreenfranchise.com

and dumplings. • Opened Oct. 31

• 1958 W. Gray St., Ste. 102, Houston • www.maisonchinoiserestaurants.com

4 Shipley Do-Nuts Founded in 1936, the bakery offers over 40 types of donuts handmade daily with flavors such as the

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

18 Wiess Park The Houston Parks Board has partnered with the Redbud Arts Center to bring seven sculptures crafted by local artists to Wiess Park. The outdoor exhibition is set to run until August, with all seven sculptures available for private purchase.

15 Milkbath Hair & Scalp Spa This spa provides customized treatments for dry hair, itchy scalp and hair loss. It is anticipated to open in the M-K-T Shopping Center in spring 2026. • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 132, Houston • www.milkbathhair.com

Now open

• 300 N. Post Oak Lane, Houston • www.houstonparksboard.org

Relocations

Closings

16 Moreau Paris This leather goods and handbag store relocated within the River Oaks District to a new home designed to reflect Parisian refinement and modern sophistication while offering a personalized shopping experience. • Relocated Dec. 5 • 4444 Westheimer Road, Ste. F110, Houston • www.moreau-paris-houston.com

19 Ninja Ramen After 12 years, this local ramen shop closed its doors. Owner Christopher Huang said that he was ready to move on to the next chapter of life. • Closed Dec. 30 • 4219 Washington Ave., Houston • www.ninjaramen.com 20 Taco Cabana Officials with the fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant announced the permanent closure of two nearby restaurants. • Closed in late 2025 • A 3905 Kirby Drive, Houston • B 167 Yale St., Houston • www.tacocabana.com

21 Hotel Daphne Bunkhouse Hotels debuted the newest boutique hotel in the Heights in December. The 49-room space presents as a European-inspired escape and boasts amenities such as an interior courtyard, a jewel-box library and a curated retail shop. • Opened Dec. 3 • 347 W. 20th St., Houston • www.bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-daphne

In the news

17 Stude Park The playground at Stude Park is being replaced, a roughly $1.2 million project. As of Dec. 9, a timeline was not available. The playground is currently closed. • 1031 Stude St., Houston • www.memorialheightstirz5.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Health & wellness

Health & Wellness Edition 2026

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Health & Wellness Edition!

Gold Sponsor

This annual guide highlights opportunities for residents to engage in healthy activities and learn about wellness-related topics in their community. All stories were written by Community Impact’s team of local journalists. In this edition, readers will nd reporting on how neighborhood amenities, parks and recreational areas support physical activity, overall well-being and community connection. The lead story looks at the rapid growth of pickleball and how it is reshaping recreation across Houston, including in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas. This guide also includes features focused on local parks, walking trails and recreational options, along with wellness-related topics that highlight how residents incorporate movement and balance into their everyday routines. Finally, this edition reects the idea that health and wellness are integral to daily life, as people move through their neighborhoods, spend time outdoors and connect with each other. Community Impact remains focused on providing local reporting that helps residents stay informed and connected where they live.

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Memorial Park to transform 100 acres into a veteran tribute

The latest update On Dec. 11, the project received a $7.5 million donation from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, bringing the total project funds to about $40 mil- lion. Other private partners and donors that have contributed to the sum include John L. Nau III, the Kinder Foundation and the Brown Foundation. “We are deeply honored to be a part of this landmark project that will help bring Houston’s extraordinary history to life,” Evan H. Katz, President of the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, said in a Dec. 11 news release. “Memorial Groves will oer a powerful place of reection and learning—one that thoughtfully connects past and present, honoring service and sacrice while strengthening the Park’s role as a resilient, vibrant public space for generations to come.” Construction for Memorial Groves will begin in 2026, with a target completion in late 2027.

The Memorial Park Conservancy will break ground in 2026 on a project that includes trans- forming 100 acres along West Memorial Loop Drive into a new park that will pay tribute to Houston’s World War I history and provide new parking, restrooms, recreational amenities and play areas. About the project Known as Memorial Groves, the focal point of the expansion will be a forest of more than 2,000 bald cypress trees that will be planted in a grid around the existing trees to symbolize soldiers standing in formation, according to project details. Additionally, on the north end of the forest, trenches inspired by the warfare tactic will be framed on two sides by grassy, 12-foot-tall earthen mounds with a reective water feature at the center. The entire park will also include interpre- tive features, signage and exhibits distributed through the landscape, as well as the unearthed foundations of several camp buildings.

Established in 1924, Memorial Park was named to honor the 70,000 soldiers who served at Camp Logan in WWI.

Additional park features will include:

Enhancements to the Seymour Lieberman Trail

New visitor center at the primary entrance

A new playground for children of all ages & abilities

SOURCE: MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

New president and CEO of the Houston Parks Board talks about future vision for the city’s landscape

Justin Schultz was selected as the new President and CEO of the Houston Parks Board in October after the former head of the department, Beth White, announced her retirement. Schultz joined the board in 2022 and served as the chief planning and strategy officer for two years before he was promoted to chief program officer. He has overseen the organization’s capital projects, land acquisition and conservation work, as well as led the strategic planning process. Schultz assumed his new role as CEO on Jan. 1. What will be your first 6-12 months’ priorities? We are working on building 50 new miles of trails to add to our 156 miles that already exist in the Bayou Greenways system. We are working on renovating 25 neighborhood parks through- out the city of Houston, and then also making improvements to a couple of regional parks. So I want to continue to make progress on our neighborhood park program and complete those larger projects. How will you balance major, large-scale projects with the needs of smaller neighborhood parks? We are really lucky at HPB that our entire staff is multifaceted and can pivot from one type of project to another. In the morning, we might be talking about how we are going to improve a ten- nis court at one of our neighborhood parks, and in the afternoon, be at a 158-acre site thinking about building a whole new complex. Having that diversity in our work is really part of the drive that keeps us going.

Why is resilience and sustainability crucial to new park and trail designs in Houston? This is an issue that we have to deal with exis- tentially as a community, so we are always looking at a couple of different things. One, how do we add shade to the parks? We want people to be able to enjoy a park all year, so that means adding shade to our playgrounds and adding trees, which also helps with the heat island impact. Another thing is that we are always trying to create multi-benefit parks, which provide recreation to the community, but also mitigate and help protect against flooding. The other thing we think about is accessibility. What is your plan for engaging local residents in planning and prioritization? For every single project that we do, those projects start with community engagement. We go out into the community, we understand what they want in their community parks and in their regional parks, in trails that go through or near their communities, and we shape and design those projects to meet their objectives. It’s up to the individual community members to tell us what they want. Talking to the community helps us design better parks. How does HPB plan to secure funding through private and public partnerships in the future? We’re in the top five in terms of our philanthropic community and private donations to parks. That said, we know that our public sector partners have tight budgets, so one of the things we do at HPB is try to make everyone understand the value of parks. We continue to raise the profile, the importance and the value to help secure the appropriate public

COURTESY HOUSTON PARKS BOARD

funding while continuing to show the private sector that parks are worth their investment. What is your long-term vision for Houston’s parks and greenways over the next 5-10 years? I want to keep building out the system. I believe that whether you live in Aldine or Spring Branch, you should be able to travel to any other part of the city without being on the street or in a vehicle. Investing in parks and making sure that they are beautiful and useful is really important. I believe Houston should be the greenest city, and that it can be. Every day, that’s what motivates me.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Pickleball’s rapid rise reshapes Houston’s recreation scene From the cover

How we got here

What’s new

The history of pickleball The sport has been evolving with new leagues and tournaments since 1965.

The number of pickleball leagues, tournaments and players has risen over the past few decades, according to the USA Pickleball. Still, it wasn’t until the pandemic that the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, one of the leading trade associations for the industry, named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America. Pickleball has seen a 223% increase in participa- tion from 2020 to 2024, according to recent data from the association. In 2025 and 2026, experts project annual growth rates between 15–20% as the sport continues to expand. Business owner and pickleball player Jason Mok said he noticed the game’s rapid rise to popularity and decided to act on it. In March 2024, he opened PKL Social on Washington Avenue, which boasts several pickleball courts and open play options. “Just like everyone, we kind of felt there was an opportunity back in 2022, 2023,” Mok said. “We were already in the food and beverage industry, and we just kind of leaned really hard into the little sports bar, social and then pickleball [industry].” In 2025, several pickleball courts opened across the area, including private clubs, public courts and those with a combination of dining and recreation. For example, Drop Shots HTX opened in June with a full bar, indoor courts and an arcade. Other businesses that have opened in 2025 include Pickle Mania and Rallies Pickleball Club. However, Kaplan said that the rise of the sport has led to issues where growth is outpacing demand. “In 2023, there were 20 indoor courts in two pri- vately owned facilities,” he said. “Jump to December 2025, and Houston has more pickleball facilities than any city in the nation.”

With nearly 60 facilities and more on the way, Houston leads the nation as a hotspot for pickleball. The city has the highest number of pickleball courts in the country, according to Pickleheads, a community of players that tracks over 23,500 courts in 9,400 cities. Houston has also hosted professional pickleball tournaments at Memorial Park and is home to the Houston Hammers, the first nationally-recognized professional team in the city. Pickleball players attribute the sport’s exponential growth to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the smaller court size and its multigenerational appeal. However, Michael Kaplan, president of the Houston Pickleball Association, attributes the sport’s popularity to another reason—childlike discovery. “When you’re little … you’re just so pure and unadulterated, and you see something new, it’s like the greatest thing in the world,” Kaplan said. “This is what [pickleball] does to people because it’s fun, it’s social, it can be competitive and it’s inclusive.” Top U.S. cities for pickleball facilities A newly released report ranked Houston as the city with the most pickleball facilities, with New York City and Austin close behind.

1965

1 Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell create a new game to entertain their families. 2 The first permanent pickleball court was built at Joel and Joan Pritchard’s home in Magnolia Bluff, Seattle. 3 The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded, and the first rulebook was published.

1967

1970

4 USAPA rebranded as USA Pickleball.

1980

5 USA Pickleball reached 50,000 members and experienced the largest single growth year to date for the organization. 6 The Sports & Fitness Industry Association named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the second consecutive year. 7 Pickleball saw a total of 8.9 million players in the United States, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022. 8 USA Pickleball National Championships featured wheelchair pickleball as a competitive division for the first time, and the year ended with 15,910 pickleball courts nationwide.

1984

1990

2020 2021 2022 2023

6 5 4 7

Houston

New York City

2026

Austin Seattle

San Diego

2030

SOURCE: PICKLEHEADS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: USA PICKLEBALL/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Pickleball on the rise Over the past few years, Houston has seen a rise in the number of private facilities and clubs opening, as well as outdoor bars adding courts for customers to use.

Something to note

290

Mok echoed Kaplan’s statement, saying that while he doesn’t think the sport is going any- where, private pickleball establishments without other offerings may struggle to stay open. “The sport itself has plenty of trajectory to go, but the clubs that haven’t built nice, consistent programming and community are the ones that probably aren’t doing as well,” he said. Mok said that’s why it was important to him to offer more than just the game. PKL Social has several outdoor patios for gatherings, large TVs for watching sporting events, golf simulators and an extensive food and beverage menu.

W. 2OTH ST.

1 Pumpkin Park 2 Jaycee Park 3 Cleveland Park 4 Halbert Park 8 The Briar Club 9 Life Time 10 PKL Social 11 Pickle Lab 12 Solarium

5 Fondé Community Center 6 West Gray Recreation Center 7 Montie Beach Park

STUDEWOOD ST.

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13 Elite Pickleball Club 14 Drop Shots HTX 15 The Houstonian Club 16 Life Time - Galleria

ER RD.

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SOURCE: PICKLEHEADS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ROO MOODY

Final takeaways

On the other hand

While private courts may be outpacing demand, some players say the supply of public courts still lags behind. Officials with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department said they are working to accommodate requests for more public courts as demand continues to rise. “There’s just huge demand for dedicated pickleball courts,” said Thomas Angelos, the deputy assistant director for Houston’s Parks and Recre- ation Department. “We’re trying to do the best we can with the facilities we have, and we’ve done some great work.” He said that the city has been refurbishing old tennis courts into two pickleball courts. There are now public courts at parks and recreation centers across Houston, including in neighborhoods like the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose. Looking ahead, Houston is anticipated to see several more private and public pickleball estab- lishments open in 2026 and 2027. For example, The Picklr already has eight locations planned.

As pickleball continues to grow, the game has also evolved to include a national league, which Houston joined in 2022 with the establishment of the Houston Hammers, founded by Hugh Zhang and Amy Blumrosen. The league is the first pro pickleball league in the country, made up of only players who are 50 years old and up. “The beauty of pickleball is that I can play with an 18-year-old, or I can play with a 70-year-old ... and still have a decent game,” Blumrosen said. “And typically, most pickleball is doubles. It can be gender or mixed, or it can be two men against two women, whereas in tennis, you’ve got to find either a partner or three other people who are around your same level.” As the game continues to evolve, Blumrosen said that she hopes to see it become more acces- sible for kids who may want to play at a pro level.

The Houston Hammers ranked fth in the National Pickleball League Season Three Championship.

“Most of these kids have full-time jobs or their own school, but I think if we can have the support of the community and even the support of the city and have more publicly available courts, that would be great,” she said.

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Health & wellness Walking Trail Guide

BY ROO MOODY

• Surface: Paved • Adjacent amenities: Buffalo Bayou Park, kayaking entrance • Sabine St., Houston R Located within Buffalo Bayou Park, the park has skyline views and designated pathways for walking, running and cycling. • Length: 6.5 acres • Surface: Paved • Adjacent amenities: Eleanor Tinsley Garden, sand volleyball court, restrooms • 18-3600 Allen Parkway, Houston Levy Park WA WR R The park near Upper Kirby features large green spaces, two dog parks and several amenities for children. • Length: 5.9 acres • Surface: Paved walking trail • Adjacent amenities: Dog park, playground, picnic tables, pavilion, garden, restrooms • 3801 Eastside St., Houston Eleanor Tinsley Park WA WR

KEY WA Wheelchair accessible areas WR Wheelchair accessible restrooms R Places to rest

features open green spaces for lounging and several walking paths. • Length: 30 acres • Surface: Paved sidewalks, landscaped pathways, natural green spaces • Adjacent amenities: Meditation garden, Rothko

walking trails that wind through native prairie, savanna, wetland, woodland and riparian habitats. • Length: 155 acres • Surface: Natural • Adjacent amenities: Nature center, gift shop • 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston White Oak Bayou Greenway WA The hiking and biking trail connects Houston residents to the downtown area and passes through the historic Heights and Woodland Heights communities. • Length: 17 miles • Surface: Paved • Adjacent amenities: Connects to other hiking and biking trails • 2799 Moy St., Houston Sabine Promenade WA The promenade offers skyline views from the edge of the Buffalo Bayou and serves as a pedestrian gateway to Downtown Houston. • Length: 1.2 miles

Chapel, outdoor sculptures • 1423 Branard St., Houston

Houston

Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve The nature preserve offers roughly a mile of trails through wooded areas and is home to 153 species of birds, 200 species of plants and 44 species of butterflies. • Length: 20 acres • Surface: Natural • Adjacent amenities: Butterfly garden, wildflower area • 2400 W. 11th St., Houston

MKT T rail The trail is named after the old Missouri, Kansas, Texas Southern Pacific Railroad and runs between TC Jester Boulevard and Hogan Street, giving walkers and bikers a tour through the Houston Heights. • Length: 4.6 miles • Surface: Paved • Adjacent amenities: Restaurants, parks • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston Menil Park WA WR Owned by The Menil Collection, the park in Montrose

Mem oria l Park R Located in the heart of Houston, the park features walking, hiking and biking trails, as well as shaded areas and covered patios. • Length: 1,500 acres • Surface: Natural • Adjacent amenities: Playgrounds, track, sports fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, swimming

Buffalo B a you Park WA R The park offers several trails, including a paved, winding trail along the bayou for walking and biking. • Length: 160 acres • Surface: Paved and natural trails • Adjacent amenities: Dog park, picnic areas, kayaking, restrooms • 105 Sabine St., Houston

pool, picnic tables, restrooms • 6501 Memorial Drive, Houston

Houston Arboretum WA R Visitors at the arboretum can enjoy five miles of WR

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Health & wellness

BY HANNAH NORTON

Texas adds 9 potential dispensaries to medical cannabis program

Zooming out

Under House Bill 46, Texans can receive medical cannabis prescriptions for 15 types of conditions,

including: • Epilepsy • Seizures • Multiple sclerosis • Cancer • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Chronic pain • Crohn’s disease • Terminal illnesses

provide medical cannabis products. Under a recent state law, House Bill 46, Texas is on track to have 15 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries as soon as April. DPS issued nine conditional licenses Dec. 1 to companies that had previously applied to join the program and said it will select three first-time applicants by April 1. The new companies must pass a final “due diligence evaluation” from DPS before they can cultivate, manufacture, distribute or sell low-THC cannabis medications, according to a Dec. 1 news release. DPS said it will look into each company’s finances, litigation history and past disciplinary actions.

Nine new medical cannabis dispensaries could soon open in Texas, the Department of Public Safety announced Dec. 1. The nine companies, three of which currently operate in other states, were given conditional licenses after state lawmakers voted this spring to expand Texas’ Compassionate Use Program. Under the program, physicians prescribe medical- grade, low-THC products to eligible patients, who get the medications from licensed dispensaries. During this year’s legislative session, Community Impact reported that some Texans said the 10-year-old medical cannabis program did not help enough people, citing barriers to patient access and limits on the types of medication physicians could prescribe. Since the program’s inception in 2015, three dispensaries—Texas Original, Goodblend and Fluent—were licensed to Planned growth Nine medical cannabis providers are slated to open locations in Texas following state evaluations, joining three existing companies with dozens of locations statewide. Existing medical cannabis pickup locations Upcoming locations

Dispensaries can also create satellite locations to store products overnight, which advocates said will allow more accessible, same-day pickup of medications.

One more thing

Medical cannabis providers told Community Impact on Dec. 18 that they were preparing to offer inhaled medications in addition to edible, topical and tincture products. Texas Original CEO Nico Richardson said inhaled medical cannabis products take effect within minutes, while it can take 20-45 minutes for patients to feel the effects of other forms. “If they’re having some sort of episode of pain or … PTSD or epilepsy, through inhalation they’re able to treat it immediately instead of having to wait for the medicine to take effect,” Richardson said.

The proposed new dispensaries are:

• Verano Texas LLC in West Texas • Trulieve TX Inc. in the Panhandle • Texas Patient Access LLC in North Texas • Dilatso LLC in North Texas • Lonestar Compassionate Care Group LLC in North Texas • Lone Star Bioscience Inc. in South Central Texas

• PC TX OPCO LLC in Southeast Texas • Story of Texas LLC in Southeast Texas • Texa OP in the Rio Grande Valley

SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TEXAS ORIGINAL, GOODBLEND AND FLUENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

Council members support transparency in projects In a Dec. 9 Budget & Fiscal Affairs meeting, committee members voted in favor of moving forward with an amendment that will require city officials and the mayor’s administration to be more transparent on changes made to major infrastructure projects within each district. What’s happening? Council member Julian Ramirez first proposed the amendment in June, along with two other related proposals to the city’s $16.7 billion Cap- ital Improvement Plan. The three amendments are intended to create more transparency when changes are made to major projects, including: • Requiring monthly reports to every council member on project changes, such as delays, cancellations or alterations • The potential to request a public hearing on proposed changes

Alejandra Salinas wins runoff race

"The intention is good, but I think the outcome will not be aligned with the intention." TWILA CARTER, ATLARGE POSITION 3

Alejandra Salinas beat Dwight A. Boykins in a December runoff race for the Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4 seat. Salinas garnered 58.56% of the vote, which translates to 25,796 votes cast in her favor. Boykins received 41.44%, or 18,257 votes cast, according to election results. In a social media post after the election, Salinas expressed her gratitude for those who voted in her favor. “Now, we get to work,” she said. “I’ll keep you posted on the next steps and look forward to working with you and for you to build a city that respects and serves every Houstonian.” Something to note City Council members are limited to serving two terms of four years each.

"People see things not being done, and they want to know why. This is part of the reason [for the amendments]

to give that information to the district council person and the residents." JULIAN RAMIREZ, ATLARGE POSITION 1

• Allowing council members to object and vote on changes. The approval allows the ordinance to be placed on a future City Council agenda for a vote.

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Education

BY WESLEY GARDNER

District authorizes sale of 230 acres Houston ISD board managers approved the sale of five district-owned properties, totaling more than 230 acres of land, at the board’s Dec. 11 meeting. The details The properties approved to be sold are: • 2.3 acres with unused office space located at 1102 Telephone Road, Houston • 3.3 acres with the former Harper Alternative School facility at 3200 Center St., Houston • 3.3 acres with former development center at 4001 Hardy St., Houston • 14.5 acres with the former Terrell Alterna- tive Middle School at 4610 E. Crosstimbers St., Houston • 208 acres of undeveloped land dubbed the North Forest acreage.

HISD to consider ending graphic design program Houston ISD board managers will consider ending the district’s graphic design program at three high schools at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting. The setup Board managers were originally scheduled to vote on ending the program at Heights, Kashmere and Northside high schools during the board’s Dec. 11 meeting before opting to table the vote until January. If the programs are ended at the high schools, HISD Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole said the district would instead send interested students to the Barbara Jordan Career Center to take the courses. Hole said the effort to shutter the programs is to provide students with more opportunities to gain higher-wage employment after graduation. What they’re saying At the Dec. 11 meeting, Christiana Thomas, a

Heights High School 1

Northside High School 2

Kashmere High School 3

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senior at Heights High School, said she worried that ending the graphic design program would result in more teachers losing their jobs with the district. “Cutting these programs would also force you to either fire or move those teachers, and they are people who are pillars of our community,” she said. What’s next HISD board managers will take final action on the graphic design programs during the Jan. 15 meeting.

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