Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | August 2025

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Heights River Oaks

Montrose Edition VOLUME 7, ISSUE 5 AUG. 9SEPT. 9, 2025

2025 Education Edition

Houston ISD state takeover still divisive despite student gains A tale of two districts

INSIDE

BY WESLEY GARDNER

Against the state takeover

“Our schools are sterile environments that, when children leave at the end of the day, they don’t feel like they’ve been in a place that is warm and inviting

and nurturing and a good place for them to learn.” JACKIE ANDERSON, PRESIDENT, HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

For the state takeover

“Two years in, Houston ISD is unmatched as it relates to its rate of growth. … There was no other urban district in the state that grew in all 20 tested grades and

subjects. HISD did.” CARY WRIGHT, CEO, GOOD REASON HOUSTON

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles, who was appointed to lead the district by the Texas Education Agency in 2023, received a ve-year contract extension in June. (Jamaal Ellis/Community Impact)

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Impacts

W. 34TH ST.

7 Handam BBQ The all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ joint serves items that include ribeye bulgogi, pork belly and sirloin steak. Sushi, soju and frozen yogurt are also available. • Opened June 26 • 2805 White Oak Drive, Ste. 100, Houston • www.handamheights.com 8 HiFi at The Finn Branded as a Tokyo-listening lounge, the vinyl and craft cocktail bar will include an atmosphere with analog audio, specialty beverages and Filipino-inspired food. • Opened June 27 • 712 Main St., Houston • www.thefinnhou.com/hifi-at-the-finn 9 Kitchen Rumors The restaurant’s menu is a tribute to the evolving journey of Indian cuisine, where different cuisines, such as in the streets of New York to the markets of Tokyo, are served with Indian inspiration. • Opened June 27 10 The Graduate Created to address the growing disconnect between academic experience and workforce readiness, the Houston-based consultancy helps early-career job seekers with mentorship, coaching and job fairs. • Opened in July • 800 Bering Drive, Ste. 304, Houston • www.thegraduatetx.com 11 Endless Bummer The tiki bar is described as a “goth tropical purgatory” with specialty cocktails in an immersive environment. • Opened July 2 • 4500 Montrose Blvd., Ste. B, Houston • www.endlessbummertiki.com 12 Birwick’s Bird of Paradise Owner of Montrose’s Double Trouble, Robin Berwick, opened this bar with a tropical-inspired menu with drinks such as the Royal Hawaiian, made with gin, cold- pressed pineapple, lemon and orgeat. • Opened July 4 • 2020 Studewood St., Houston • Instagram: Berwick’s Bird of Paradise 13 HeyTea The Chinese tea brand known for its signature cheese tea, a combination of tea and dairy cheese, opened at the Galleria. The shop also offers high-quality fruit teas. • Opened July 4 • 5015 Westheimer Road, Ste. A1305, Houston • www.heytea.com • 2310 Decatur St., Houston • www.kitchenrumorshtx.com 14 Chevignon Founded in 1979 in France, the clothing brand opened its first store in the U.S. inside the Galleria. The shop sells high-quality leather and denim pieces for men. • Opened July 8 • 5085 Westheimer Road, Ste. 7130, Houston • www.chevignon.us

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MINIMAX ST.

T. C. JESTER BLVD.

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WHITE OAK PARK

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4 Tago This Tulum-inspired restaurant merges Latin cuisine with a vibrant nightlife scene and immersive design. The bar is designed to emulate the feeling of a hidden cenote, with glowing lanterns and rhythmic music. • Opened mid-June • 1120 Dennis St., Houston • www.tagohtx.com 5 Say No Más This new Tex-Mex restaurant, offering a variety of classic dishes, sources its ingredients from Texas ranchers and regional producers. • Opened June 20 6 Drop Shots HTX Founded by the owners of the Conservatory Galleria, this new pickleball playground includes indoor courts, pickleball-themed cocktails, a second-floor lounge with arcade games, food, drinks and a 9-screen sports wall. • Opened June 21 • 2520 Airline Drive, Bldg. A, Ste. 100, Houston • www.dropshotshtx.com • 1217 W. 20th St., Houston • www.saynomashtx.com

Now open

1 Results Physiotherapy This business uses manual therapy and dry needling to treat patients with chronic pain, conditions affecting mobility and injury recovery. • Opened in May • 5307 N. Main St., Ste. 110, Houston • www.resultspt.com 2 Goldfish Swim School With a state-of-the-art aquatic facility, the swim school provides lessons and programs for children 4 months to 12 years old. • Opened May 6 • 2737 Minimax St., Ste. 100, Houston • https://goldfishswimschool.com/houston-heights/ 3 The Core Lab As the fifth location in Houston, the River Oaks Pilates studio intertwines cardiovascular elements and focuses on strength and muscular endurance training. • Opened May 16 • 3729 Westheimer Road, Ste. 200, Houston • www.thecorelabpilates.com

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

18 FS8 Montrose The fitness studio that provides low-impact, high- energy workouts offers group classes in a setting blending Pilates, toning exercises and yoga. • Opening in September • 609 W. Gray St., Houston • www.fs8.com

15 Peppaz HTX Starting as a food truck, this chicken eatery opened a permanent location at the Lyric Market food hall. The spot whips up fried or grilled chicken wings, bowls, tacos and jerk chicken nachos. • Opened July 12 16 Yiayia’s Pappas Greek Kitchen Inspired by the original Yiayia Mary, a former Greek restaurant in the Galleria area, the new concept will serve elevated Greek and Mediterranean dishes such as moussaka and Pasta Lena. • Opened August 1 • 2410 Richmond Ave., Houston • www.pappas.com • 411 Smith St., Houston • Facebook: Peppaz HTX

Now open

What’s next

19 Whataburger According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the burger chain will replace the former Fuddruckers site off Weslayan Street this summer.

• 3929 Hwy. 59, Houston • www.whataburger.com

21 The Marlene Lily Barfield, an antiques dealer and founder of Lily’s Vintage Finds, is bringing this new nine-bedroom inn and cocktail bar in a neoclassical mansion to Montrose. The Marlene will also house a storefront for Lily’s Vintage Finds, an Instagram-born brand selling antiques found by Barfield. • Opened June 28 • 109 Stratford St., Houston • www.themarlene.com

Coming soon 17 Texadelphia

Closings

20 Churrascos The steakhouse chain closed its River Oaks location after 30 years. Owners said they intend to open a new location, but no specifics were given by press time. • Closed June 16 • 2055 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.churrascos.com

Replacing the former Upside Pub, the Austin-based franchise will bring classic cheesesteaks to Houston. The menu also includes wings, wraps, burgers, salads and chips and dips. • Opening summer 2025 • 3402 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston • www.texadelphia.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Education

BY MELISSA ENAJE

Education Edition

2025

Readers, welcome to the annual CI Education Edition! This year’s special edition of Community Impact explores key changes shaping classrooms across Houston ISD. Our lead story examines the two-year extension of the state takeover of HISD, looking at where the district stands academically, operationally and systemically compared to before the Texas Education Agency took over in 2023. Mental health is another growing concern we examine in this edition. Districts continue to see rising rates of anxiety and depression, prompting calls for more resources and support. A recent report by the Baker Institute showcases these challenges in HISD students and a conversation with nonprot Communities In Schools breaks down the solution. We also spotlight Cycle Houston, a local nonprot using cycling to promote student well- being and increased literacy. We cover the expansion of charter schools across Greater Houston, including a look into one of the newest schools approved for the 2026-27 school year. Lastly, we round out this guide with a breakdown of new education laws passed during the 89th Texas legislative session.

What's inside

Take a peek at how this nonprot is helping to increase child literacy rates (Page 7)

Cassandra Jenkins Editor cjenkins@ communityimpact.com

Dive into Houston ISD’s transformation over the past two years (Page 8)

Read more on what mental health challenges trouble students (Page 10)

For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!

TEA approves new Houston charter school focused on music, arts education

Student transfers outside of Houston ISD Approximately 28% of HISD students transferred from the district to charter schools in the 2024-25 school year.

Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success 1,246 Idea Public Schools 1,409 Harmony Public Schools-Houston South 2,140 International Leadership of Texas 2,691 Southwest Public Schools 1,941 Yes Prep Public Schools

A newly approved music-and-arts-focused charter school serving Pre-K through 8th grade is set to open in Houston for the 2026-27 school year following authorization from the Texas Education Agency. What we know The Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music & Arts is one of four new charter schools opening in Texas, according to a June 27 news release. Located in a historic coee plant in Second Ward, the mixed-use campus will house music and art studios, multimedia rooms, a rooftop garden and event space, according to the school’s website. “FLAMA aims to ensure that the youth of the Second, Third and Fifth Wards benet from the East End’s cultural district designation by providing quality music and art education in addition to

rigorous academics,” the school website states. The State Board of Education approved the new charter schools in June from its Generation 30 program based on recommendations from TEA Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. Breaking it down Charter schools have drawn out thousands of students from public school districts all over the Greater Houston area in the 2024-25 school year, with Houston ISD and Alief ISD taking the biggest enrollment losses, according to data from 28 Greater Houston area school districts. TEA identied the districts with the highest percentages for net student transfers as a portion of total enrollment. For the 2024-25 school year, TEA found that the highest percentage was in HISD, with 33% of students, or 58,406, transferring out.

14,401

Kipp Public Schools

14,480

FLAMA Art School The school focuses on six pillars of education, such as creative expression, academic rigor, technical uency, nourishment, family and music and art.

NAVIGATION BLVD.

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY KEVIN VU

Cycle Houston rewards child literacy with bikes Jacob Moreno is a father of three. His oldest son, also named Jacob, was going into the second grade at Burnett Elementary during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when he noticed his son having a hard time learning to read. During the school year, Moreno was introduced to a nonprot the school partners with: CYCLE, or Changing Young Children’s Lives through Educa- tion. The nonprot rewards second graders who meet or exceed reading goals with a new bicycle and helmet, with the hopes of encouraging them to continue reading after the program ends. “It motivated him to read more… and I’m a big believer that you’ve got to work for it, don’t let things be handed to you, so I think it’s pretty good what [CYCLE] is doing,” Moreno said. About the program Cycle’s Executive Director Rebecca Roberts said

the nonprot was created back in 2000 to address the need to improve literacy in Houston, working specically with Title I schools, which are schools that typically receive extra federal support and have a larger number of students from low-income families, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Roberts said the nonprot’s goals are tailored to each child. The organization also tracks stu- dents’ conduct and attendance, ensuring they are well-behaved and paying attention in school. What they’re saying Jae Lee, the principal at Burnett Elementary, said the organization has helped his second graders improve their reading level. According to data Lee compiled in the 2021-2022 school year, the average reading level at the start of the year for the 90 students who participated in the program was Level F, equivalent to the reading level of a mid-year rst grader. By the end of December, he said students were reading at Level K, also known as a second-grade reading level.

Cycle Houston gave out approximately 12,000 bikes in 2024 across 86 dierent schools.

COURTESY CYCLE HOUSTON

The impact Cycle partners with over 80 schools in several districts, including Houston ISD. Since it launched, the nonprot has gifted 185,000 bikes, with the count expected to hit 200,000 by the end of 2025.

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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

A tale of two districts From the cover

A closer look

The overview

Systemic reform In addition to the introduction of the NES at 130 campuses, Miles has implemented several major changes since he was appointed, including: Nine days added to HISD’s academic calendar A new teacher evaluation system that includes special education program metrics A performance-based pay increase system Approval to hire uncertified teachers The conversion of libraries to “team centers,” where students are sent to work on more rigorous assignments, at NES campuses

Miles said the introduction of the New Educa- tion System, or NES model, at 130 low-performing campuses has been one of the most significant changes introduced since his arrival. Of the 22 campuses located within Heights, River Oaks and Montrose’s coverage area, three have adopted the NES model. While teachers at NES campuses are required to adhere to a district-approved curriculum and instructional model, Miles said they have access to additional resources, including regular coaching, teacher apprentices and support staff. Miles said the instructional model consists of daily structured lessons followed by a quiz, which is used to determine whether a student will receive more targeted instruction or be sent to a “team center” to complete more rigorous work. “The kids who already get it get pushed ... and the kids who are still learning the objective get more time with the expert,” Miles said.

Houston ISD will remain governed by officials appointed by the Texas Education Agency until at least June 2027, extending the contentious state takeover by two years. The extension was announced by TEA Commissioner Mike Morath in a June 17 news release, more than two years after TEA officials appointed Superintendent Mike Miles and a nine-member board of managers. Miles, who was awarded a five-year contract extension in June, said his team has implemented major changes at almost every level throughout the district. “The district was struggling, not just academically, but systemically through systems for hiring, providing feedback, evaluating, transporting kids and finances,” Miles said. “The solution has to be different from what we’ve always done.” Despite improvements in student exam scores and state accountability ratings, many parents, teacher organizations and community members have continued to voice opposition to Miles’ reform.

SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

However, Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said many former teachers cited the structured lesson plans as a primary factor for resigning. “They are not allowed to teach the real, authen- tic teaching to students,” Anderson said.

STAAR passage rate changes, 2023 vs. 2025 The data shows the difference in the percentage points of all HISD students who approached grade level from spring 2023 and 2025 administrations of the STAAR.

By the numbers

2019 HISD takeover timeline

June: If HISD meets the TEA’s requirements to end the takeover, state officials would replace one-third of the appointed board with elected trustees every year until all nine elected trustees are seated. June: The TEA appoints Mike Miles to serve as superintendent as well as nine board managers to replace the district’s elected board of trustees. June: The TEA extends the state’s takeover of HISD until June 2027. January: The Texas Supreme Court sides with the TEA in the lawsuit, clearing the way for the state takeover. August: TEA officials recommend state intervention after the findings of a six-month investigation alleging misconduct by some trustees. November: TEA Commissioner Mike Morath notifies HISD officials that he plans to initiate a state takeover after Wheatley High School received its seventh consecutive failing A-F accountability rating. January: A district-led lawsuit results in a temporary injunction against the state, halting the takeover.

Although not required, Miles said 139 of the district’s 144 non-NES campuses have opted to use district-approved curriculum in the 2025-26 school year. He pointed to the curriculum as one of the biggest contributors to rising test scores through- out the district. In the two years since the takeover, the percent- age of students who approached grade level—con- sidered passing—increased for every STAAR exam subject except eighth-grade social studies, which saw no change, TEA data shows. HISD students saw the most significant improvement in biology, where the percentage of students approaching grade level rose from 77% in the 2022-23 school year to 91% in 2024-25. According to a June report by nonpartisan edu- cation nonprofit Good Reason Houston, students enrolled at NES campuses are improving at a faster rate than their non-NES peers. From the 2022-23 school year to the 2024-25 school year, the percentage of all third- through eighth-grade students who met or mastered their grade level on the math STAAR exam rose from 45% to 48% at non-NES campuses. At NES campuses, the percentage of students who received “met” or “mastered” marks on their respective math exams rose from 23% to 37%.

Percentage point change from 2023-25

0 2 4 6 8101214

2020

3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th grade 7th grade 8th grade 3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th grade 7th grade 8th grade 5th grade 8th grade 8th grade

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

social studies Algebra I EOC Biology EOC English I EOC English II EOC U.S. History EOC

2027

2028

SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, HOUSTON ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY WESLEY GARDNER

Also of note

Zooming out

What they’re saying

While TEA A-F accountability ratings for the 2023-24 school year weren’t released until after press time, Miles said the district released projected ratings using the TEA’s data and methodology. Miles said 121 HISD campuses had received “D” or “F” ratings at the end of the 2022-23 school year. The following year, 55 of those schools were projected to jump to an “A” or “B.” The number of “A” and “B” rated schools districtwide increased by 82%, jumping from 93 to 170 in that same period. The TEA will release accountability ratings for the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15, after press time.

Despite some district gains, HISD’s teacher turnover rate remains high, TEA data shows. Eddie Bassey, who taught at the district for nine years before resigning in 2024, said he believes many of the teachers who resigned felt restricted by the district’s NES model. “They want all of us to look the same, sound the same, do things the same,” Bassey said. Despite the turnover, Miles said the district has begun each school year with few vacancies.

Parents and community members have shown up en masse at HISD board meet- ings to voice their concerns about changes they felt were forced upon them. HISD parent Amelia Maldonado said she believes the district’s declining enrollment numbers are an indication of a lack of trust. In April, Miles said the district was projecting a roughly 6,800-stu- dent drop in enrollment before the start of the 2025-26 school year. “Families are leaving the district, not because they don’t value public education, but because they don’t trust this district to deliver it,” Maldonado said. Veronica Garcia, executive director of education nonprofit Houstonians for Great Public Schools, said she feels district leadership needs to work more closely with the public to improve trust and communication.

Houston ISD’s teacher turnover rate

Takeover began

HISD 2023-24 projection TEA rating, 2022-23

Houston ISD local accountability ratings

Houston ISD

State

Campus

NES campuses

Browning Elementary

Gregory-Lincoln Education Center

2019-20

2020-21

School year 2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Crockett Elementary

D B

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next

If HISD officials meet the requirements set by the Texas Education Agency by June 2027, the state’s transition back to the district’s elected board of trustees would replace: Three state-appointed board managers with elected board members Three state-appointed board managers with elected board members June 2027 June 2028

intervention can end, he said. The final requirement will be ensuring that Houston ISD board procedures align with a focus on students. “Ultimately, two years has not been enough time to fix district systems that were broken for decades,” Morath said.

Morath said the district will need to ensure no campuses receive failing accountability ratings for consecutive years before local control can be restored. However, the district’s unofficial ratings for the 2023-24 school year included 41 campuses with “D” and “F” ratings. The district’s special education program would also need to be fully compliant with all state and federal requirements before the

The remaining state-appointed board managers with the remaining elected board members

June 2029

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

Education

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

A report released by Rice University’s Baker Institute in early May on mental health challenges in Houston ISD students found that over one-fifth of respondents reported experiencing mental health issues in 2023, with a 35% increase from 2011 in the number of students who reported suicidal thoughts or tendencies. According to the report, nearly 14% of HISD students reported a past-year suicide attempt in 2023, while the rate for students in the United States in the same year was slightly under 10%. HISD students also reported an increase in bullying from 2021 to 2023. In 2021, 9% of Houston students reported having been bullied. By 2023, that number rose to above 15%. The Baker Institute also examined school safety and its influence on missing school. In 2023, 19.3% of students said they missed school due to feeling unsafe and 13% were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. Student mental health issues spike

Assessing the need

Emergency Management Agency-declared major disasters, including hurricanes, flooding, winter weather and drought, according to the report. Christopher Kulesza, lead author of the Baker Institute report, said that having on-campus resources is a critical component to addressing mental health challenges among students. He listed three policy recommendations, including: • Investing in fully funded, on-campus mental health services • Expanding anti-bullying interventions • Developing proactive responses to safety concerns “Schools are oftentimes the primary provider of mental health support for children; while a challenging task, schools have an important opportunity to connect students with necessary resources and provide a familiar, supportive environment,” Kulesza’s report read.

Shubhra Endley, director of mental health and wellness at Communities In Schools, a nonprofit organization that supports at-risk youths, said recent natural disasters, including the pandemic, were likely factors in the increased mental health challenges noticed in students. “We start to see a lot of trauma related to these large storms, like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Harvey,” she said. “Then we had the pandemic. With students being cut off from everything, that created a big spike in depression and anxiety.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37% of high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic. A Texas A&M study in 2022 also found that Houston residents who experienced two or more hazardous events within a five-year time frame saw reduced mental health. From 2000 to 2020, the Houston area experienced close to 33 Federal

2021 2023 Houston ISD suicidal behaviors trends, 2015-2023 2015 2017 2019

What’s being done

Seriously considered suicide Made a plan for suicide

+26.67%

someone to talk to who is a safe, non- judgmental person,” Endley said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, or where you live, it’s always helpful to have extra support in our lives.”

Communities In Schools has licensed mental health professionals at 135 campuses across five districts, including Houston ISD. Students and families can use the program free of cost. If a campus doesn’t have a licensed professional, parents are asked to reach out to the campus leader and request services. “All of us at some point in our lives need

+28.57%

Attempted suicide

+7.69%

Providing services Communities In Schools serves 26 campuses and three Sunrise Centers in Houston ISD.

10% 15% 20%

0% 5%

SOURCES: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY HANNAH NORTON

Teachers now have more disciplinary authority

New law bans cellphone usage in all K12 schools When Texas public school students return to campus this fall, they will be prohibited from using cellphones, smart watches and other personal communication devices throughout the school day. The details Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481 into law on June 20, giving school districts 90 days to adopt new electronic device policies, including disciplinary measures for students who violate the cellphone ban. “We want our kids to focus on academics, such as math, science and reading, and the reality is, these phones are a distraction,” bill author Rep. Caroline Fairly, RAmarillo, said in March. HB 1481 includes exceptions for students with medical needs or special education.

House Bill 6 gives public school teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others. The change comes after nearly half of Texas public school teachers cited discipline issues as a top workplace chal- lenge in 2022, according to the Texas Education Agency. What you need to know The law, which took eect immediately when Gov. Greg Abbott signed it on June 20, allows schools to suspend students of any age who engage in “repeated or signicant” disruptions, reversing a 2017 state law that generally prohib- ited schools from suspending students in pre-K through second grade. If students in kindergarten through third grade are sent home for behavioral issues, schools must provide documentation explaining their decision.

“A lot of the problems we see with our kids in high school is because they did not have consequences, none whatsoever, when

they were younger.” BILL AUTHOR REP. JEFF LEACH, RPLANO

HB 6 gives schools the option to place stu- dents in an in-school suspension for as long as they see t. State law previously mandated that students could not be suspended for more than three school days, whether they were inside a school building or at home. The three-day time limit on out-of-school suspensions remains unchanged.

Changing t

Changing the future

HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Transportation

Government

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & KEVIN VU

BY KEVIN VU

City to host evening public sessions Houston City Council will hold monthly evening public comment sessions to boost community civic engagement, as part of a decision made during its July 9 meeting. The gist The ordinance allows the nal Tuesday public comment session of each month to take place at 6 p.m. inside council chambers in Downtown Houston. The city will test the monthly evening pub- lic comment sessions starting in August and continuing until Dec. 31. This will allow city ocials to reassess and determine whether to continue the practice in 2026. City Council approved the ordinance in a 15-1 vote, with Council member Willie Davis voting against the ordinance and Council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz being absent.

Montrose road projects to get more frequent updates

Trac crackdown results in 600 tickets Over the summer, Mayor John Whitmire conducted three trac initiatives along multiple highways in the city as part of an eort to crack down on speeding and reckless driving. The gist The rst trac initiative started June 11 and 12 along I-45 and U.S. 59, resulting in 300 citations, according to a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department. A second initiative was conducted on Texas 288 and the South Loop from June 17 to 18, resulting in 170 trac citations. The latest trac initiative on I-10 and Westheimer on June 27 resulted in 122 trac citations, with 27 arrests made and four weapons received, said Mary Benton, the mayor’s chief of communications.

Restaurants, businesses in Houston now required to post dress codes Houston nightclubs, bars, restaurants and businesses are now required to display their dress code rules on the front of their establishments. Explained A new ordinance, approved during the July 17 City Council meeting, requires businesses to post their dress code at or near the entrance for the public to clearly see. If not enforced, it will be “interpreted that there is no dress code, and no dress code policy shall be enforced.” Council member Edward Pollard said the ordinance prevents businesses from “arbitrarily selecting who gains entry based on attire.” The ordinance went into eect immediately, and businesses are expected to comply as soon as possible.

“I can’t recall a time that somebody who showed up

Against

to a public session or came before this body and has even talked about this issue. They’re private establishments that should have the freedom to

At the July 21 board meeting, Montrose TIRZ ocials provided updates related to the Montrose Boulevard and West Alabama Street reconstruc- tion projects, including addressing questions concerning late notices of meetings, invalid signage and lack of communication. What they’re saying Alex Spike, a longtime Montrose resident, said at the meeting that the engagement leading up to the open house in June for the West Alabama Street project was inadequate, with only a seven-day prior notice and a public comment period that ended after July 4. The $11 million project, which is in the early design phase, includes enhancing the road from Spur 527 to Shepherd Drive. Spike’s sentiment was echoed by other public speakers who also called out the board for its lack of updates and inadequate signage on the Mon- trose Boulevard project, which includes modifying the road from Allen Parkway to West Clay Street.

L E N

communicate their dress code in a manner that best aligns with their needs.” MARY NAN HUFFMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT G

W.CLAYST.

E S T H E I M

527

“I think this is a very good ordinance. It cuts down the

For

possibility of confrontation when it’s very clear. Unless you walk in the skin of the possibility of discrimination, you may not understand why this is an issue.”

“The TIRZ board, its public engagement committee and MC2 [the contractor] have dropped the ball when it comes to communicating with its residents and drivers,” Lloyd Matzner, president of the North Montrose Civic Association, said. In response, Montrose board ocials said they will start providing weekly or biweekly updates.

CAROLYN EVANSSHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT D

HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787

SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849

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Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE, RACHEL LELAND & JESSICA SHORTEN

County officials urge disaster preparedness amid FEMA concerns

Diving in deeper

FEMA funding also provides individual assistance directly to residents affected by local disasters. Individual assistance can vary from lump sum payments to hotel accommodations for families affected by a disaster. Following the derecho event and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, the Houston region received two presidential disaster declarations. According to funding allocation reports from FEMA, 739,519 applications for individual assistance for home- owners were approved from the two events, totaling nearly $1.2 billion in assistance passed on to residents in 2024 alone. Individual assistance requests from Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda, Hurricane Beryl and the Houston derecho, and the 2024 severe storms totaled $2.9 billion, according to FEMA. FEMA individual assistance funding for Houston region Housing assistance funding Other assistance funding Hurricane Harvey $1.2B $413M Tropical Storm Imelda $57M $11M 2024 derecho/tornado/severe storm $143M $164M Hurricane Beryl $191M $724M

Abbott was appointed to the special review council in May alongside Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Abbott said the state has historically led disaster response. The biggest concern voiced by local agencies is natural disasters typically cause several million in debris removal and hazard mitigation costs typically reimbursed by FEMA. “The county relies heavily on FEMA funding, especially for large-scale projects like debris removal. Without that support, the financial burden could hinder our ability to respond to and recover from a disaster,” Brooke Boyett, Harris County’s administration communications director, said.

Following the announcement of a new committee May 20 aimed at addressing the reliability and existence of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Houston- area agencies remain uncertain on how the federal FEMA Review Council will affect disaster response in the region. In a July 14 press conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said the main goal of the committee is to streamline processes to provide faster emergency response. “The monetary resources that we are receiving now, they’re much needed for things like … debris removal or search and rescue operations,” Abbott said. “Those will still be funded, but we will have the ability to do it a whole lot faster.”

Immediately following a disaster, local counties seek FEMA funding for public assistance and debris removal. Regional major storm debris removal costs

Galveston County Harris County Montgomery County

Hurricane Harvey

April/May 2024 severe storms

Hurricane Beryl

$40M

$30M

$20M

$10M

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, GALVESTON COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Final takeaways

The federal review council has met twice in 2025 to discuss how FEMA currently operates, and there is no deadline for when the final report will be issued. “Without knowing how things will be resolved on the federal level, we remain focused on the current reality,” said Brian Murray, deputy coordinator of the Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management office.

County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said. The possibility of FEMA being dissolved still looms over other community leaders who share concerns over the funding provided to local agencies following a natural disaster. “Eliminating FEMA is reckless and will have devastating and deadly consequences,” Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “States already manage disaster response, and rely on FEMA’s partnership, funding and expertise after major disasters.”

With the 2025 hurricane season underway, many agencies are focused on maintaining preparedness for storms and see the potential for streamlining FEMA processes. “Montgomery County agrees that there could be many improvements to the processes and procedures by which FEMA operates, [such as] streamlining expense control and response/ resiliency capabilities, but we trust the president’s committee to review these issues and make appropriate recommendations,” Jason Millsaps, executive director of Montgomery

HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

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Events

BY GRACE HU

and shape fresh pappardelle and linguini with a pasta machine, then make a pesto sauce from scratch. All equipment and ingredients will be provided.

August

The Man In Black - A Tribute to Johnny Cash Shawn Barker walks the audience through each era of Johnny Cash’s life and music, singing live hits like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Hurt” and “Ring of Fire.” • Aug. 9, 6 p.m. (doors open), 8 p.m. (show begins) • Tickets start at $44.64 • The Heights Theater, 339 W. 19th St., Houston • www.theheightstheater.com Comparative Wine Tasting: Grenache around the World Join Gabriele Chiocca of Mexcor International Wines & Spirits in tasting four different wines from four different countries, all stemming from one type of grape. Attendees must be 21 or older to participate. • Aug. 12, 7-8 p.m. • Tickets start at $33.85 • Italian Cultural & Community Center, 1101 Milford St., Houston • www.iccchouston.com Pasta Making Class Learn how to make your own pasta and pasta sauce with other pasta enthusiasts. Attendees will roll, cut

• Aug. 14, 6:30-8 p.m. • Tickets start at $59 • Lyric Market, 411 Smith St., Houston • www.lyricmarket.com

Art at Noon: Lovie Olivia Join artist Lovie Olivia for a discussion and walkthrough of the “Tomashi Jackson: Across the Universe” exhibition. A light lunch will be provided. • Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. • Free (RSVP recommended) • Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston • www.camh.org Possums & Popsicles Enjoy a frozen treat, spend time with live animals and learn more about Houston’s urban wildlife from an instructor with the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center. Afterward, attendees will go on a guided hike. • Aug. 16, 6-8 p.m. • $20 (children 5-12), $35 (members), $50 (nonmembers) • Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston • https://houstonarboretum.org

Mariachi Festival Celebrate mariachi music and Hispanic culture at the three-day Mariachi Festival, while watching a series of talented performers versed in mariachi, Ballet Folklórico and more. • Aug. 22-23, 7-10 p.m., Aug. 24, 3-6 p.m. • Tickets start at $59 • Brown Theater at the Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave., Houston • www.mariachifestival.com

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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY KEVIN VU

Space Montrose features handmade artwork and products made by local artists and small businesses.

The Peraza couple produces their own products, such as baby onesies and incense.

PHOTOS BY KEVIN VUCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Space Montrose oers handmade art, products

Owners Leila and Carlos Peraza opened Space Montrose to feature artists from Texas and the U.S.

three artists has turned into a 1,200-square-foot store that has worked with thousands of artists and small businesses over the past 15 years, with the store currently selling art from over 300 artists, Leila said. All of the store’s products are U.S.-based, with 50% of the products made by local Texas artists, such as prints detailing maps of dierent Texas cities through circles and stickers, to jewelry, ceramics, stationery sets and even homemade candles and incense. “The special thing about Space is you can come in here and we will talk to you about the artists that we work with,” Leila said. “We usually have a little story to tell you about them.”

Houston husband-and-wife duo Carlos and Leila Peraza have always cared about art. “I feel like he and I both have always been very community-driven and into art,” Leila said. “He’s a musician and writer, and I’ve always been a creative person myself.” Initially working in the hospice care industry, taking care of patients and delivering medical equipment, the two decided to look towards sell- ing art on the side as a way to satiate their craving for artistic expression. As a result, Space Montrose was born. Staying local What started o as a small shop in 2010 featur- ing handmade artworks and products made by

WESTHEIMER RD.

W. ALABAMA ST.

1706 Westheimer Road, Ste. 2, Houston www.spacemontrose.com

HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION

Real estate

The median price of homes sold was down in the majority of ZIP codes in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose communities. The most dramatic loss occurred in 77019, where home prices fell by 10.9%, plummeting to below a million. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

June 2024

June 2025

-10%

+34.69%

+24.29%

+20%

-36.36%

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

610

77008

Median home sales price

June

2024

2025

77007

$764,500 $555,000 $618,250

$700,600 $577,500 $600,000 $926,350 $1,094,000

77006

77019

77007

77006

77098

77008

288

$1,040,000 $1,095,280

77019

77098

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY

Average days on market

+32.79%

-11.94%

-7.25%

-14.81%

-39.18%

77006

77007

77008

77019

77098

NOTE: DATA INCLUDES SINGLEFAMILY HOMES, TOWNHOMES AND CONDOMINIUMS.

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