Bay Area Edition | July 2024

The e-edition is an exact replica of the newspaper with interactive and searchable articles from all your favorite sections.

Bay Area Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12 JULY 29AUG. 27, 2024

2024 Home Edition

Beryl brings power outages, damage across Bay Area

League City workers begin cutting and disposing of trees and other debris following Hurricane Beryl. At its peak, 25,000 League City residents lost power.

COURTESY LEAGUE CITY

Dickson, are still recovering—having to pay for property damage and spoiled food while wondering why the outages from Beryl were so severe. “This was [our] rst hurricane, and we thought we prepared for it, but until you go through it, you truly have no idea what to expect,” Dickson said in an email.

dog became sick from overheating due to lack of air conditioning. She said she spent much of that time between Galveston and Austin before getting power back July 13. Then, she and others pitched in, oering their home to those in the neighborhood still without air conditioning. Weeks after the hurricane, many, including

BY RACHEL LELAND, JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO

After Hurricane Beryl made landfall July 8, it left thousands without power, trees ripped from the ground and streets ooded with water across the Bay Area. Some, such as Clear Lake resident Hannah Chris- tine Dickson, were left to seek shelter elsewhere after losing power for days. In Dickson’s case, her

CONTINUED ON 12

Also in this issue

Impacts: The Empanada Bar opens in League City (Page 6)

Transportation: League City gets funding for drainage work (Page 14)

Events: Soulfreak Makers Market at League Park (Page 15)

Business: Great Wolf Lodge prepares to open (Page 17)

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

World-class care. One convenient campus. In addition to more physicians and expanded specialty care, our Bay Area Campus features more advanced diagnostic imaging, on-site labs, a Kelsey Pharmacy, and free parking. It will also be home to a new nationally recognized Kelsey-Seybold Cancer Center, opening late 2024, and a new Ambulatory Surgery Center opening in 2025. Introducing Kelsey-Seybold’s New Bay Area Campus

KELSEY-SEYBOLD.COM/BAYCAMPUS Scan to schedule or call 713-442-8580

Located off of 1-45 between Bay Area Blvd. and El Dorado exits

1321961972

BAY AREA EDITION

A variety of health care services for you and your family are always close by. Our Convenient Care Centers offer a 24/7 ER, primary care, imaging and physical therapy. Schedule an appointment today. memorialhermann.org/ccc 24/7 ER and routine care near you.

I-45 S between HWY 96 and FM 646

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Papar Faircloth General Manager pfaircloth@ communityimpact.com

Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Managing Copy Editor Beth Marshall Account Executive Anita Orellana Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Art Production Manager Kaitlin Schmidt

James T. Norman Editor jnorman@ communityimpact.com

Jason Culpepper Publisher jculpepper@ communityimpact.com

16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 2814696181 CI careers

We've teamed up to bring you more of the stories you care about.

Join CI Patron for exclusive newsletters and swag.

communityimpact.com/careers linkedin.com/company/communityimpact baynews@communityimpact.com bayads@communityimpact.com communityimpact.com/advertising

Proudly printed by

Press releases

Advertising

Email newsletters

communityimpact.com/newsletter

Good for business. Good for life.

Friendswood - River Oaks - Sugar Land NOW OPEN: Baybrook - Pasadena Vintage Park Commercial Banking Office (not a full service branch)* * No check cashing or cash withdrawal ability at this office

281.276.1800 | Member FDIC

BAY AREA EDITION

Impacts

4 Patron Breakfast Diner The restaurant serves pancakes, waffles, omelets, burritos and salads, among other menu items. • Opened in late June

DIXIE FARM RD.

• 1201 N. Hwy. 146, Ste. A , Kemah • www.patronbreakfastdiner.com

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER

Seabrook

Coming soon

5 Frutta Bowls The business serves smoothies, toasts, protein bites and various bowls. The business also caters. • Opening in September • 2700 Marina Bay Drive, Ste. P, League City • www.fruttabowls.com 6 Elite Pickleball Club Billing itself as the first fully dedicated indoor pickleball facility in the Houston area, it offers a pro shop and training, which can be purchased in various membership packages. • Opening in January • 2323 Clear Lake City Blvd., Houston • www.texaselitepickleball.com 7 Great Wolf Lodge The resort, which will offer 500 rooms and water slides, among other attractions, has pushed its opening date up. It’s now expected to open up roughly three months before the original November date. • Opening Aug. 7 8 Challenge Elite The program currently hosts its volleyball club and training sessions for student athletes between fifth and 12th grade at Lutheran South Academy private school. The new facility will include six indoor volleyball courts, 15 pickleball courts, 12 sand volleyball courts and four high school regulation-sized basketball courts. • Opening Aug. 1 • 14150 Beamer Road, Friendswood • www.challengeelite.org • 1000 Great Wolf Way, Webster • www.greatwolf.com/webster

2351

CLEAR LAKE

146

GALVESTON BAY

POINT LOOKOUT DR.

BAYBROOK MALL DR.

UPPER BAY RD.

Nassau Bay

518

FRIENDSWOOD DR.

528

SOUTH SHORE BLVD.

Webster

646

GREAT WOLF WAY

League City

517

and gorditas, among other menu items. • Reopened June 15

Now open

• 401 E. Main St., League City • Facebook: La India Bonita

1 Little K Kitchen The business serves pho, curries, noodle plates and other traditional Vietnamese foods. • Opened June 16 • 6011 W. Main St., Ste. A104, League City • Facebook: Little K Kitchen 2 La India Bonita The restaurant closed in 2020 after a vehicle struck the building. It serves burritos, tacos, tortas, enchiladas,

3 Bobablastic The shop sells over 50 drinks with topping

combinations, including hot, creamy, iced and blended teas, along with ice cream floats and lemonade, among

other menu items. • Opened June 10 • 211 W. El Dorado Blvd., Friendswood • www.bobablastic.com

Sports Physicals $35 and $5 donation to your child’s school! It’s almost time to get back to school and on the field. Don’t get left on the bench. Head to AFC Urgent Care for your sports physical needs. No appointment needed! And we give back $5 to your school or designated nonprofit! *Offer good until 09/31/2024

AFC Urgent Care Clear Lake 2402 Bay Area Boulevard STE M, Houston, TX 77058 832.650.0604 | afcurgentcare.com/clear-lake

AFC Urgent Care League City 1921 W League City Parkway STE 130,League City, TX 77573 281.937.2590 | afcurgentcare.com/league-city-parkway

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

9 HOTWORX The facility will offer 24-hour access to its infrared sauna studio and workouts that are instructed virtually. These workouts include isometric and high-intensity interval training sessions. • Opening this fall • 4550 W. League City Parkway, Ste. 160, League City • www.hotworx.net

Now open

In the news

Relocations

10 Innovation Beauty Med Spa The med spa relocated from its old address at 3831 E. League City Parkway, Ste. D, League City. It offers botox, laser hair removal, body sculpting and other beauty services. • Relocated in April

14 The Empanada Bar The business sells empanadas filled with beef, chicken, pork and ham, along with dessert empanadas. It also sells smoked brisket and bourbon peach, among other items. It also features

owners are attempting to run their business in the yard outside the restaurant’s location to recuperate costs and, as of press time July 22, are seeking city approval to do so. • 2613 1/2 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook • www.thebarge295.com 18 Havana Heights Restaurant The Cuban restaurant was formerly known as The Cuban Flavor and changed its name on May 24. It features an updated staff and menu. • 709 W. Parkwood Ave., Ste. G, Friendswood • Facebook: Havana Heights Restaurant and Bar 17 Sofia’s Italiano Formerly known as Gina’s Italian Kitchen, the eatery changed its name on June 10. It will retain the same management and much of the same menu. Customers can still order dishes such as lobster ravioli, lasagna, meatball paninis and zuppa di fagioli. • 129 W. Parkwood Ave., Friendswood • www.sofiasitaliano.com

• 1535 FM 646 Road, League City • www.innovationbeautylc.com

catering services. • Opened June 7 • 601 E. Main St., League City • theempanadabar411.com

In the news

11 Jenny’s Bakery The business, which has two locations, celebrated its 20-year anniversary on July 3 for its Bay Area location. The bakery sells a variety of cakes, including cakes for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, graduations and

holidays, among other menu items. • 18051 Point Lookout Drive, Houston • www.jennysbakery.com

flautas and the chuychanga. • 20975 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.chuys.com/locations/webster

12 Perry’s Steakhouse The steakhouse celebrated its 45-year anniversary in July and offered a special menu to celebrate. Its Baybrook menu offers a number of different steaks, as well as seafood, escargot and Polish sausage, among other menu items. It has 22 restaurants across eight states. • 700 Baybrook Mall Drive, Friendswood • www.perryssteakhouse.com 13 Chuy’s The Austin-based Tex-Mex chain was acquired in July by Darden Restaurants for $605 million. Its menu features tacos, enchiladas and house favorites such as chicken

15 St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church Nassau Bay City Council approved a $225,000 grant for the church on June 10 to help it restore and install its Kimball Opus 7113 pipe organ. Officials with the church said they hope the organ’s rarity will attract high-end choirs. • 18300 Upper Bay Road, Houston • www.sttaec.org 16 The Barge 295 The restaurant, which floats on a barge in Clear Lake, partly sunk due to Hurricane Beryl on July 8. The

• Privately owned practice • All ages welcome • Affordable membership plans • New patient specials starting at $83 • Dental Emergencies • Dental Cleanings

• General & Family Dentistry • Cosmetic Daentistry • Crowns & Bridges • Clear Aligners & Braces • Implants • Root Canals

• Dentures • TMJ Treatment • And More...

Scan to book your appointment

Meet Dr. Brad Miller Dr. Brad Miller has been Making People Smile since 1992. He has built a solid reputation for honesty, compassion, strong relationships and quality care in a private setting. Miller Dentistry is built on the belief in treating others the way we want to be treated. Respect. Integrity. Knowledge. Trust. These are more than just words to us. They are action points. This is who we are. This is how we Make People Smile!

www.millerdentistry.com

2500 Marina Bay Dr, Suite Z, League City, TX 77573 • (832) 905-0900 • Open Evenings and Fridays for your convenience!

BAY AREA EDITION

Government

Unemployment assistance made available after Beryl Following the disruptions caused by Hurricane Beryl, which left over 2 million customers without power, the Texas Workforce Commission announced in July 12 and July 15 news releases that disaster unemployment assistance is available in 17 counties. The full story Eligible counties, among others, include Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson and Montgomery counties. Affected individuals can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling the TWC at 800-939-6631. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 9, per the release.

League City, others waive building fees

Timeline of waived permits League City is one of several cities waiving permitting fees throughout the Houston area to speed up recovery following Hurricane Beryl:

Following the damage Hurricane Beryl did to the Greater Houston area after making landfall in Texas on July 8, some southeast Houston cities have opted to waive several types of permit fees. The goal, city officials said, is to cut down the time and cost needed for residents and businesses to make a full recovery. What you need to know League City will waive permitting fees for home- owners making repairs due to damage caused by Hurricane Beryl through Aug. 31, according to a July 10 city news release. Depending on the repairs, permitting fees in League City can typically cost up to $300. Other cities, such as Friendswood, Galveston, Pearland and Webster, have also waived permit- ting fees for the time being, officials with each city announced following the storm.

Aug. 1

Aug. 12 Friendswood will waive several types of permit fees through Aug. 12 for repairs related to Beryl.

Sept. 6 Pearland will waive building permit fees through Sept. 6 for repairing homes and businesses damaged by Beryl

Sept. 1

Sept. 10 Galveston is waiving building permit fees until Sept. 10.

Sept. 30

Webster plans to waive all building permit fees for damage related to Beryl but hasn’t specified for how long.

SOURCES: CITIES OF FRIENDSWOOD, GALVESTON, PEARLAND, LEAGUE CITY AND WEBSTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Learning will never be this easy for your child again. Or as wondrous.

Did you know 90% of a child’s brain develops in the first five years? Since 1998, Primrose schools in Houston have been making the most of this important time by helping children grow the mental, physical and emotional skills that will set them up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Learn more about the 45 Primrose schools in Houston.

Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools is a registered trademark of Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. ©2024 Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. All rights reserved.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR, RACHEL LELAND & HALEY VELASCO

Port of Galveston resumes operations following hurricane Some Port of Galveston cruise and cargo operations resumed on July 10, according to a news release from port officials. The gist While Hurricane Beryl caused widespread damage in the Greater Houston-Galveston region and left much of the area without power, the Port of Galveston experienced relatively minor damages and power out- ages, according to a July 10 news release. The port initially restricted harbor depths to a maximum vessel draft of 30 feet, and the port was conducting daylight transits only, the port’s communications team said. A cruise ship departed from the port the day after the hurricane, officials said.

League City committee approves revised cat policy

League City is restarting its community cat program after changes to the policy were approved by the animal advisory committee at a June 12 meeting. The revision focused on the trap-neuter- release policy for the city’s community cat program. The overview Some of the goals of the policy are to create transparency for residents, provide more guidance for staff, give more opportunities for people to find lost pets and address concerns of cats being healthy enough to return home, according to the revised policy. It also creates a pathway for cats to be spayed or neutered in some cases. The revisions come after League City City Council asked staff to place the community cat program on hold until the program’s policy could be reassessed and reviewed, according to a June 26 news release from the city.

Room at the shelter As of July 1, the shelter was at moderate capacity for cats and at extreme capacity for dogs.

Number of dogs and cats

Dogs

Cats

66 62

66 47

22 21 21

129% of maximum capacity

75% of maximum capacity

SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT *DATA COMES FROM APRIL 1 AND APRIL 29, RESPECTIVELY. NUMBERS PROVIDED IN MAY DIDN’T SPECIFY HOW MANY DOGS AND CATS WERE AT THE SHELTER.

GET A HEALTHY START FOR SCHOOL

With a history rooted in education, research and health care, UTMB Health knows what it takes to build bright minds and healthy futures. That’s why we’re so passionate about helping students, parents, teachers and communities start the new school year on a healthy note. Before all of the learning, growing, studying, mentoring, and teaching of the new school year ensues, take a pause to prioritize and check in on your health. A visit with a primary care provider is a great place to start to ensure you and your family are up-to-date on:

Diagnostic testing

Medication refills

Sports physicals (for all participants)

Vaccinations Annual exams

Vision & hearing screenings

Did You Know… Starting at age 12, all pediatric well-visits include a mental health assessment.

CALL (800) 917-8906 OR LEARN MORE AT: utmbhealth.com/back-to-school The University of Texas Medical Branch is in-network for most major insurance plans.

BAY AREA EDITION

RESORT- STYLE Living WE HAVE IT ALL RIGHT HERE!

TEXAS-SIZED LAGOON

WHITE SAND BEACHES

NEW HOMES RENT OR OWN

BLUE LAGOON BAR & GRILL

YEAR-ROUND EVENTS

is waiting in Lago Mar! Paradise

Visit our 8 new model homes today to find your piece of paradise in Lago Mar! See the beautiful model homes, tour our award-winning Crystal Lagoon amenity village, and then end your visit enjoying a water front dining experience at the Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill while discussing how you can make the move to Lago Mar in Texas City!

New Homes HIGH $200s-$500s

SCAN FOR DIRECTIONS

IN TEXAS CITY

The Lago Mar community amenities including the lagoon are on an operating schedule that is subject to change without notice. Inquire with a new home sales representative for more details. Information, pricing and availability are all subject to change without notice. 3/24.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO

Clear Creek ISD to up health care contributions Clear Creek ISD will contribute $11 more per month toward health insurance premium plans for each staff member after the board of trustees approved the increase at its June 24 meeting. However, based on district data, officials expect employees to pay a total of $1.7 million more in premiums compared to last year, bringing the new total for premiums paid by employees to

Clear Creek ISD offers grants to students Students in Clear Creek ISD can win up to $500 as part of a grant program for their science fair projects, according to a July 15 social media post from the Clear Creek Education Foundation. What you need to know The Science Fair Innovative Grant offers students money to enhance their science fair projects, which includes offering money both through the Clear Creek Education Foun- dation, as well as $500 grants for individual students, according to the social media post. The application window is open from Aug. 15 to Sept. 12 and is available to interme- diate and high school students, according to the social media post. A student may submit one grant application. To learn more, visit the district’s website.

CCISD health insurance premium rates Employer contribution

Employee contribution

Employee Only 2022-23

$83

$324 $335 $324

2024-25 2023-24

$120

$149

Employee and children 2022-23 $359

$372 $396

2024-25 2023-24

$359

$464

$370

Employee and spouse 2022-23

$11.7 million. The overview

$384 $395 $384

$761

Family 2022-23 2024-25 2023-24 2024-25 2023-24

$815

This increase will cost the district an annual amount of $12.8 million through general funds, which is a $400,000 increase from last year, according to district documents. The $11 monthly increase allows the district to remain compliant with the Affordable Care Act’s provisions for employee-only plans, district documents show.

$923

$409

$961

$420 $409

$1,101

$1,237

NOTE: PREMIUMS ARE MONTHLY AND LISTED RATES ARE BASED ON ONE OF FOUR PLANS AVAILABLE. SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Clear Creek ISD purchases transportation program

Upgrading transportation Transfinder will include the following features:

documents. Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Paul Miller said the cost, which covers the district for three years, was pricier than the existing system. The main feature officials highlighted at the meeting was the parent communication and alerts system, which will tell parents when a bus is arriving and if their student has gotten off the bus.

Clear Creek ISD at its June 24 meeting approved $1.3 million for a program meant to help the district upgrade its transportation capabilities. What’s happening? The funding, coming out of the district’s 2017 bond savings, will go toward Transfinder, which is a program that will help the district organize student transportation, according to agenda

Wayfinder features

Scheduling trips

Routing and mapping tools

Ridership tracking

Turn-by-turn navigation

SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

BAY AREA EDITION

Beryl brings power outages, damage across Bay Area From the cover

The impact

The overview

Many residents throughout the Bay Area struggled with structural damage, power loss and flooding. Ralph Blanco, League City’s chief building official, said his team had seen numerous homes with damaged fences, roofs and windows. League City resident Megan Saxton said she could feel her house vibrating the morning of July 8 and found her fence was also down later that day. Businesses also lost out from the storm. In addition to several going without power for days, Barge 295, a two-story restaurant and bar that floats on a barge over Clear Lake, sank into the water, which led to the business shutting down. Community members rallied around the busi- ness, addressing Seabrook City Council at a July 16 meeting to ask that the business be allowed to reopen the portion still located on land. “[The support] is so heartwarming,” Barge 295 co-owner Patrick Robinson said July 18.

Much of the Greater Houston area, including the Bay Area, is still in recovery following Hurricane Beryl. The Category 1 hurricane knocked out power for more than 2 million CenterPoint customers across Houston, as well as about 116,000 Texas-New Mexico Power customers around the Bay Area. The storm brought several inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Winds knocked over trees, which in turn tore down fences and homes. As of press time, Harris County officials reported more than a dozen people in Houston have died from of the storm. While power is back for those affected, some residents are still dealing with the damage from the storm. And the prolonged outage has prompted many questions and concerns about what will be done regarding Houston’s power grid—particularly with hurricane season still in its early stages.

The Barge 295 partially sunk as a result of Hurricane Beryl on July 8.

COURTESY BARGE 295

Knocked down fences and trees were some examples of the damage Hurricane Beryl caused.

RACHEL LELAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

15 people in Texas have died as of July 22 10 power transmission lines were downed

What they said

“When we build distribution circuits, there are standards. One of the standards is the distribution line should withstand 110 mph wind when I don’t think Beryl had wind at that speed.” TOM OVERBYE, DIRECTOR OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY’S SMART GRID CENTER

“This has really brought a lot of people together, and I hate to say it, but that’s when a community gets close—when a disaster happens.” MEGAN SAXTON, LEAGUE CITY RESIDENT

2.2M CenterPoint Energy customers lost power

$28B-$32B early estimate of damage and loss across U.S.

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, CENTERPOINT ENERGY, ACCUWEATHER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SPRING ESA MAINTENANCE MEMBER EXCLUSIVE OFFER SURGE PROTECTORS PLUS THE NORMAL ESA MEMBER 10% DISCOUNT AN ADDITIONAL $50 OFF

281-535-3889

WWW.TEMPERATURE-SOLUTIONS.COM

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY RACHEL LELAND, JAMES T. NORMAN & HALEY VELASCO CONTRIBUTIONS BY JOVANNA AGUILAR, SHAWN ARRAJJ, ANGELA BONILLA, HANNAH BROL, MELISSA ENAJE, WESLEY GARDNER, VANESSA HOLT, ATIRIKTA KUMAR, EMILY LINCKE, DANICA LLOYD, JESSICA SHORTEN, LIZZY SPANGLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Current situation

What’s next?

Historical peak power outages in the Greater Houston area Hurricane Beryl (July 8)

Nearly 25,000 League City residents lost power at the storm’s peak, said Sarah Osborne, commu- nications and community engagement director for the city. The power outages led many to use generators, which in turn led the League City Fire Department to receive “several” calls about carbon monoxide poisoning. Tom Overbye, director of Texas A&M University’s Smart Grid Center, said he was surprised so many people lost electricity from the Category 1 hurricane. “What I suspect happened is you have trees falling on distribution lines and you also have higher wind knocking over some transmission towers and distribution towers as well,” Overbye said. Lynnae Wilson, senior vice president for Cen- terPoint Energy, said in a July 11 news release she believes the storm grew unpredictable despite preparation. “While we tracked the projected path, intensity and timing for Hurricane Beryl closely for many days, this storm proved the unpredictability of hurricanes as it delivered a powerful blow across our service territory and impacted a lot of lives,” Wilson said. Thomas Gleeson, chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, or PUC, said July 15 the state is launching a formal investigation into CenterPoint Energy’s preparation ahead of Beryl. Gov. Greg Abbott also expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s overall response and com- munication, and directed CenterPoint to provide detailed plans for future weather events by July 31, including removal of vegetation, preparation prior

Officials said they expect residents to be seeking help with recovery following the storm, with help available in the form of financial relief and debris pickup. Those looking for assistance have a few options. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance announced July 15 it is launching a recovery fund, which, as of July 16 had raised $4 million in donations and commitments from various organizations and businesses. Federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has been opened for 67 Texas counties, according to a news release from the agency. That money, through an application process, can be used for damage related to homes and personal property from the storm. Storm debris removal is underway in the Bay Area, and cities have posted debris removal guidelines for residents. As part of that, League City has issued guidance on how and where to bag debris. Pickups started July 21 and will happen the following two Sundays as well. Residents who don’t want to wait for bagged green waste pickup can drop off their bagged green waste at Hometown Heroes Park, 1001 E. League City Parkway, League City. League City will also waive permitting fees for homeowners making repairs due to damage caused by Hurricane Beryl through Aug. 31, according to a July 10 city news release. Depending on the repairs, permitting fees in League City can typically cost up to $300. Following major storms, contractors often approach homeowners offering to do repairs, and the work is not permitted. By waiving the permitting fee, city officials hope to ensure all work is permitted, according to the news release.

2.2M

Derecho (May 16-17, 2024) Hurricane Harvey (August 2017) Hurricane Ike (September 2008)

930,000

Outages during Harvey totaled 1M

270,000

2.2M

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY, CITY OF HOUSTON, CENTERPOINT ENERGY, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

CenterPoint outages after Hurricane Beryl

Customer outages

2.27M

CenterPoint Energy restored power to 2M customers over 10 days.

21K

July 8-18, 2024

SOURCE: CENTERPOINT ENERGY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

to tropical storms and prestaging linemen. “[CenterPoint] seems to be just incapable of doing their job,” Abbott said during the July 15 press conference with the PUC. “The state will have to consider whether or not we should be reducing the size of the territorial region to make it smaller so maybe they can do a better job of managing it.”

The context

Historical two-day rainfall averages Rainfall from Beryl in the Bay Area was comparable to Hurricane Ike but nowhere near Hurricane Harvey.

Historical peak wind gusts

While not as devastating in League City, Beryl’s peak winds at Hobby Airport rivaled Hurricane Ike.

League City

Pearland

Hobby Airport

League City

Hobby Airport

6.05 in. 7.26 in.

52 mph

Hurricane Beryl (July 8)

84 mph

53.87 in.

51 mph*

Visit our website to see a list of assistance opportunities.

Hurricane Harvey (August 2017)

37.01 in.

48 mph

6.71 in

74 mph

Hurricane Ike (September 2008)

8.08 in.

92 mph

SOURCES: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

*ONLY PEARLAND DATA WAS MADE AVAILABLE.

BAY AREA EDITION

Transportation

Events

BY RACHEL LELAND & JAMES T. NORMAN

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Cities to split cost of adding traffic signal Friendswood and League City will each pay $125,000—and will look to Harris County to pay the rest—to install a traffic signal at the Grissom Road and Bay Area Boulevard intersection after the pair approved agree- ments in May and June. Current situation There is not timeline on when the signal will be installed, Friendswood city officials said in a June 27 email.

FM 518 drainage work receives state funding Drainage improvements along FM 518 in League City will move to the next phase with the help of funding from the Texas Department of Transporta- tion, or TxDOT. What happened On June 25, League City City Council voted unanimously to enter into a funding agreement with TxDOT for construction approval for FM 518 and Wesley Street drainage improvements. The total project will cost $2 million, with TxDOT offering $54,000, according to city documents. The project’s boundaries are along FM 518 crossing over Wesley Drive, documents show. The improvements include upsizing and installing a new storm sewer to send stormwater to Corum Ditch, according to agenda documents. A detention pond will be constructed near the intersection of Wesley Drive and Corum Ditch to

Lions Eye Bank of Texas Bowl-A-Thon This nonprofit will have its annual fundraiser at Bowlero Webster. Proceeds benefit the work of Lions Eye Bank at Baylor College of Medicine. • Aug. 10, noon-4 p.m. • $45 (admission)

August

WESLEY DR.

Catalina Wine Mixer This yacht rock show kicks off the final month of Kemah Boardwalk’s Rock the Dock series. • Aug. 1, 7:30-10:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 215 Kipp Ave., Kemah • www.kemahboardwalk.com Texas is Fearless See a professional wrestling tournament live from Whiskey Limits, featuring fearless acts such as Mustafa Ali, Moonshine Mantell, Jay Davis, King Cobra and Dante. • Aug. 2, 7-10 p.m. • $20-$25 • 820 34th St. N., Texas City • Facebook: Fearless Pro Wrestling Official Pirates and Mermaids Festival Lagoonfest Texas beach club will host this event where attendees can dress up as a mermaid or pirate and participate in treasure hunts and pirate games. • August 3-4, 10 a.m.-sunset • $38 (admission) • 12600 Crystal View Blvd., Texas City • www.lagoonfesttexas.com

DEVEREUX DR.

518

• 318 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster • www.lionseyebankoftexas.org

Sip & Sail Cruise Beer and wine, light bites and a specialty drink made with Blue Chair Bay Rum will be provided at this adult cruise with Houston Party Boats on Clear Lake. Attendees will meet at South Shore Harbour Resort.

capture the water that might flow from the new system, according to agenda documents. The city is making improvements to capture stormwater runoff that exceeds the sewer system’s capacity, according to the city’s website. Looking ahead Construction was originally expected to begin in August, but city officials said in a June 26 email it may not start until early 2025. When it does begin, traffic impact will include one-lane closures, officials said.

• Aug 17, 4-6 p.m. • $59 (admission) • 2500 South Shore Blvd., League City • www.sshr.com

Soulfreak Makers Market Hosted by coffee shop Soulfreak, the Makers Market is hosted several months out of the year at League Park and includes between 30 and 40 vendors selling food, jewelry, arts and crafts. Attendees can also listen to live music. Those interested in becoming a vendor can visit Soulfreak’s website. • Aug. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free (admission) • 512 Second St., League City • www.soulfreak.com/market-days

Sensory Friendly Space Exploration Event Space Center Houston will host this event for guests who experience autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder. It will include modified lights, music and sound effects.

W. NASA RD.

528

• Aug. 30, 6-9 p.m. • $15.95 (admission) • 1601 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • www.spacecenter.org

W. BAY AREA BLVD.

GRISSOM RD.

BAY AREA 1033 Bay Area Blvd (281) 486-9558 LEAGUE CITY

KEMAH 243 FM 2094 (281) 538-9095 SEABROOK 3126 Nasa Pkwy (281) 326-5127

196 Gulf Fwy S (281) 316-2140

Your best self is waiting for you.

What’s on your retirement wish list? A maintenance- and worry-free lifestyle? How about the freedom to live as independently as possible? With exceptional amenities, unprecedented hospitality, and a continuum of care, it’s possible to get everything you want out of retirement – and enjoy it fully – at The Delaney ® at South Shore. • Restaurant-style dining

New Homes in Webster From the $410’s

• Full-service hair salon and spa • Fully equipped fitness studio • Well-appointed art studio

Explore the allure of Edgewater, an exceptional 538-acre master-planned community nestled in the Bay Area of Webster. This captivating enclave boasts streets adorned with flourishing palm trees, creating a picturesque atmosphere.

• Gathering places for family and friends • Beautiful, pet-friendly apartment homes

Schedule a personal experience of our inviting community today by calling (281) 343-3608 or visiting TheDelaneyatSouthShore.com .

713.999.3679 www.coventryhomes.com

QR CODE

INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

2605 Marina Bay Drive | League City, TX 77573 | TheDelaneyatSouthShore.com

Prices and availability subject to change without notice. You are hereby advised against making any decisions based solely upon this information .

AL Facility ID#107116

NOW’S THE TIME TO EARN A BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Take your career higher at a lower cost with bachelor’s degrees from San Jacinto College: Bachelor of Science, Nursing Bachelor of Applied Technology, IT – Emphasis in Cybersecurity Bachelor of Applied Science, Education – Emphasis in Early Childhood Education

sanjac.edu | 281-998-6150

An Equal Opportunity Institution

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Great Wolf Lodge in final stretch of opening new resort in Webster

The details

Officials said July 18 they had hired all 600 staff members and were looking to start training following the job fair. Meanwhile, some items within the resort, located at 1000 Great Wolf Way, are being finished up, Furnas said. Slides are being tested, and certifi- cation of occupancy should be coming in late July. “We expect to be ready to go,” Furnas said. “No concerns of any show stoppers out there. There are maybe small elements that we’re having to finish up, but that’s more behind the scenes.” The facility is 92,000 square feet and features more than 500 rooms with a range of sizes, Community Impact previously reported. The sell- ing point officials have hit on over the past several months is the resort being the first fourth-gener- ation resort the company has built, which brings with it additional attractions and enhancements. The park will include a 61,000-square-foot adventure park, 13 water slides, a mini-golf course and a bowling alley, among other amenities.

Great Wolf Lodge has moved up its opening date again to Aug. 7, meaning the resort could open three months earlier than originally planned. Ahead of the opening, the resort is putting final touches on the facility and looking to train a staff of more than 600 people. To make the needed hires, which will include lifeguards, hotel workers, front desk staff, food and beverage workers, cooks and engineers, among other positions, the company hosted a job fair from June 29-July 13, officials said in a June email. “We’re like a small city,” General Manager Keith Furnas said July 2. “We’ve got a little bit of everything.”

Great Wolf Lodge timeline

Webster City Council approves sale agreement with Great Wolf Lodge November 2021

Great Wolf Lodge breaks ground on Webster resort September 2022

Vertical construction wraps up August 2023

Job fair and training take place for new employees July 2024

Resort to open August 2024

SOURCE: GREAT WOLF LODGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next?

Impact of Great Wolf Lodge

CEO John Murphy said April 30. The number of jobs and customers it will bring won’t just be contained to the resort but will cause people to venture out into the area for shopping and dining, Murphy said. “We look to be good community partners,” Murphy said.

Once the resort opens, it will be in a soft- launch phase and run at about half capacity, Furnas said. Officials expect it to be at full capacity by September. Bay Area officials and resort leaders expect the facility to create a significant economic impact in both the immediate area and the Greater Houston area, Great Wolf Resorts

square feet in size 92,000

annual customers 500,000

jobs 600

10%-25%

increase in economic foot traffic annually for the Bay Area

SOURCE: GREAT WOLF LODGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Tax Free Savings Shop back to school with no tax on apparel and footwear August 9-11.

SCAN FOR DETAILS

5885 Gulf Freeway Texas City, TX | Tanger.com

BAY AREA EDITION

Real estate

BY RACHEL LELAND

Home Edition

2024

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Home Edition! This guide features news such as key real estate trends and new developments unique to your neighborhood, as well as an overview of the housing industry across Texas. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting local businesses. In this edition, we provide updates on an ongoing challenge across both the Bay Area and the state of Texas regarding home insurance premiums. We also dive into short-term rentals in the area, how they affect the local housing markets, and what city and county officials are doing to try and regulate them. We have an update as well on the status of several housing developments on the west side of League City. As per usual, we have data listings showing how the real estate market in June compared to the same month last year. In the middle of producing this paper, Hurricane Beryl hit the Greater Houston area, creating many challenges for residents and their homes in terms of power loss, flooding and wind damage. While not specifically in this guide, our coverage of the storm both online and in this month’s paper detail some of the struggles residents have gone through following the storm, as well as what city officials are doing to help speed up the recovery process.

What's inside

Updates on housing developments on west side of League City (Page 19)

James T. Norman Editor jnorman@ communityimpact.com

Real estate data for June 2023 vs. June 2024 (Page 21)

Officials look at how to manage short-term rentals (Page 22)

Bay Area residents voice concerns over insurance premiums Hurricane Ike, as well as inflation and supply chain issues have contributed to rising insurance costs due to past shortages in lumber and other materials. However, that explanation hasn’t convinced residents like Roth. Texas and U.S. insurance premium rate change by year

As Texas state legislators consider how to mitigate the rising costs of insurance policies, local consumer advocates in the Bay Area are encourag- ing Texas homeowners to get involved. The gist Ahead of a Sept. 17 hearing on the economic challenges of rising insurance premiums, the Texas House State Affairs Committee is seeking input from Texas homeowners concerned with unmanageable insurance rates. As part of that effort, more than 200 people attended a public meeting June 27 to discuss rising premiums at the Bay Area Community Center in Seabrook. Consumer advocate John Cobarruvias hosted the meeting, with those in attendance including consumer advocacy organization Texas Watch and staff from the offices of Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and Texas Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston. Event attendee Lisa Roth, a Clear Lake home- owner for over 24 years who began selling real estate in the area in 2017, said she’s noticed the increase in premiums in recent years, comparing it to “four months worth of mortgage payments.” Community Impact previously reported that the series of storms, including Hurricane Harvey and

While the U.S. has seen home insurance premium rates increase each year since 2018, Texas has had the highest rate increase of all states in that time.

“That argument carried water a few years ago … when we had the supply chain crisis going on,” Roth said. “Prices have gone down for building materials compared to how they were.” The background According to a January S&P report, Texas had the nation’s highest effective rate change in premiums. The national average for homeowners insurance is $2,230 per year for $300,000 in dwelling cover- age, according to Bankrate. In Texas, the average homeowners insurance premium is $3,726, which is 67% higher than the national average. Kemah and Galveston are among the highest in the state for average premiums. Stay tuned Those interested in the hearing can attend at the Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m., or send communications to their respective state representatives.

Texas

United States

2021

2022

2023*

+5.1% +3.8%

+10.7% +6.2%

+23.3% +11.3%

SOURCE: S&P GLOBAL/COMMUNITY IMPACT

*AS OF DEC. 29

“I’m glad the state has realized there is yet another insurance crisis in Texas and are soliciting input from consumers. The hearing is an opportunity for citizens to voice their concerns about the insurance crisis.” JOHN COBARRUVIAS, RESIDENT AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Housing developments

• Location: Maple Leaf Drive and League City Parkway • Total lots: 1,364

League City League City has multiple developers working on homes on the west side of town. Some of these projects shown, which are all single-family housing developments, have broken ground as recently as this year, while others have been in the process of build-out for several years. This list is not comprehensive and totals come from League City as of June 24. Westland Ranch The development had a grand opening in October and began selling homes in the community around that time. • Location: 3201 Palm Heights St., League City • Total lots: 974 • Lots under development: 355 • Timeline: Not available Westwood Nearly all the homes in this development are completed, with officials in 2023 saying they expect the lots to be built out by the beginning of 2026.

• Homes started: 1,218 • Timeline: Not available

Samara From developer Lennar, this development features three separate collection of homes and offers a swimming pool, playground and a walking trail. Homes are available for sale. • Location: 2703 Furbeck Ridge Drive, League City • Total lots: 1,356 in Clear Creek and Dickinson ISDs • Lots under development: 567 • Timeline: Not available Pedregal From Cervelle Homes, the bulk of homes in this development are already completed. Developers are starting 16 new houses per month. • Location: 3704 Pedregal Road, League City • Total lots: 741 • Completed: 500 • Timeline: Built out in next 18 months

Legacy From the Dallas-based developer Hillwood Communities, this development is across 805 acres and will also include pools and a recreation center. • Location: Between I-45 and FM 528 • Total lots: 500 in first phase and 1,600 at build-out • Completed lots: 0 • Timeline: First lots, grand opening, model homes to come in 2025

HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT TODAY!

YOUR KITCHEN SOLUTION. Transforming Kitchens & Bathrooms for over 10 years.

(for 3, 5 or 10 months)

Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany or Thailand as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life.

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors.

Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with.

For more information or to select your own exchange student please call: Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA.

We introduce Spanish beginning in the 2 yr. old class through Pre-K4. We also engage the children in our STEM, Wiggle World and Library Classes and children 2 and over attend Chapel each month.

1500 Marina Bay Dr Bld 113 suite D Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565 MidtownCabinetry.com 281-947-2120

Have Questions or Want to schedule a tour? Call Sheri Zombory at (281) 333-0176 Scan QR Code to learn more & print registration forms.

BAY AREA EDITION

GRAND OPENING RELOCATION CELEBRATION!

LEAD master your craft with the GHBA BAY AREA the PB - Professional Builder PBP - Professional Builder Partner PR - Professional Remodeler GHBA Professional Designations are designed for residential builders, remodelers, engineers, general contractors, trades, suppliers, vendors and other industry partners.

1535 W FM 646 League City, TX 281.967.1609 www.innovationbeautylc.com expert vendors. Meet the Precision Mind & Body Team and indulge in delicious treats. Don’t miss your chance to win amazing giveaways! Discover our stunning new location designed with you in mind. Enjoy special pricing on injectables, skincare, and memberships. Learn about Juvederm, Botox, Physiq, secret pro, and more from our Wed, August 21, 2024 5:30PM-8PM

Show clients you are a trusted professional who is proficient in the latest skills and techniques unique to the Gulf Coast with a GHBA Professional Designation.

ghba.org/gopro

SPECIAL OFFERS | VENDORS | GIVEAWAYS | REFRESHMENTS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28 th AT 12:00PM CST

Join us for a special luncheon to learn about sophisticated senior living at its finest. Take the first step towards a life filled with personalized care, excitement, and rich amenities. Elevate your lifestyle to new heights and embrace FIRST CLASS HAPPINESS ® . SEATING IS LIMITED! RSVP by August 26 th : 346.567.6855

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14-15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28

communityimpact.com