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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4 JULY 13 AUG. 8, 2023
HOME EDITION 2023
The short-term rental next door
Japanese restaurant, bar coming to Autry Park
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State-appointed Houston ISD board takes over
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Education
Dance center helps students reach next level
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HOME EDITION 2023
From left: Miguel Kremenliev and his son, Nico, stand with Jason Ginsburg, his son, Joshua, and wife, Rebecca, in the Montrose neighborhood near several sites where short-term rental projects are planned. They are among the Houstonians who are lobbying the city to more tightly regulate short-term rental properties. (Shawn Arrajj/Community Impact)
SPONSORED BY • Belmont Village Senior Living
Neighbors call for more regulation of short-term rentals
Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries
BY LEAH FOREMAN
property being developed by for- mer football player Darryl Sharpton through his hospitality brand, The Sharpton. Ginsburg argues that larger STRs adjacent to residential prop- erties go against a city ordinance on hotels which states that hotels with 50 rooms or less cannot abut a residential property on any side.
Residents such as Ginsburg who have spoken with Community Impact want the city to update its code to incorporate STRs and are frustrated with what they said is a lack of action so far. “Our group’s position is that all short-term rentals that adjoin res- idential properties in the city of CONTINUED ON 18
Short-term rental properties, or STRs, found on platforms such as Airbnb, are in a legal gray area; they are unregulated by local law in the city of Houston, raising concerns among some residents. Jason Ginsburg is a Montrose res- ident who lives near the proposed site of Bria Place, the rst STR
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION • JULY 2023
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THIS ISSUE
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Jay McMahon SENIOR EDITOR Shawn Arrajj CITY HALL REPORTER Leah Foreman GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jatziri Garcia ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Blake Gomez METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er COPY EDITOR Adrian Gandara SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 281 469 6181 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES hrmnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING hrmads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM JAY: Well, summer is here, and the time is right for our 2023 Home Edition. We break down the residential real estate data in your neighborhood on Page 14 and also speak to a couple of experts on Page 17 about topics applicable to inside your home. Thank you to our sponsors and our advertisers, and always remember to shop in your local neighborhood when you can. Jay McMahon, GENERAL MANAGER
FROM SHAWN: Our front-page story this month takes a look at a conversation that has been playing out in cities across the U.S., including in Houston. Houston City Hall reporter Leah Foreman dives into the trends surrounding short-term rental properties in Houston, including those listed on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. Some residents are concerned about what they say is a lack of oversight of these properties and are calling on city o cials to bolster regulations. Shawn Arrajj, SENIOR EDITOR
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JULY 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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themes of the restaurant, such as the Crop Circles cocktail, which features a homemade elote syrup, topped with a Crop Circle Formation. Lithium Crystal shots glow orange and are served in a vessel resembling an old space capsule. 832-659-0265. www.roswellssaloon.com 4 The rst Houston location of Citizens—a cafe and restaurant meant to evoke the cafe culture of Australia— opened in early June at 907 Westheimer Road in Montrose. The new location, o cially called Citizens of Montrose , is open as an all-day cafe serving breakfast classics with an Australian air. 832-203-8527. www.citizens.co ee 5 O cials with the residential de- velopment company Pelican Builders announced May 25 the completion of new luxury mid-rise condominium project in the Upper Kirby area. Called Westmore , the project can be found at 2323 W. Main St., Houston. West- more features 33 residences with prices starting at $995,000. Units range in size from 1,560-1,800 square feet, and the property’s four penthouses aver- age 2,500 square feet. 713-600-5096. www.westmorehouston.com 6 A grand opening took place June 3 for the newest location of indoor cycling studio Ryde at 402 W. 11th St., Houston. The studio o ers 50 indoor cycling bikes. Cycling and full-body workouts lasting 45 minutes are led by instructors in a studio that also includes locker rooms and spa- like amenities. 832-703-0908. www.letsryde.com 7 Chinese eatery Lao Sze Chuan opened June 21 at 3407 Montrose Blvd., Ste A8, Houston. The restaurant, known for its
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NOW OPEN 1 Pastore Italian Kitchen opened June 30 at 1180 Dunlavy St., Houston, within the mixed-use development Re- gent Square. A project from Underbelly Hospitality, Pastore o ers a seafood-for- ward menu inspired by cuisine on the Ital- ian coast. A bar menu focuses on Italian wines, spirits and other ingredients. A ground-level dining room is located
beside an open kitchen window, and a rooftop terrace is set to open at a later date. 346-867-1905. www.pastorehouston.com 2 O cials with development rm Vero Sade announced May 23 the debut of SOSH Co ees + Cocktails on the rst oor of Us Bayou Park, a multifamily proj- ect at 2221 W. Dallas St., Houston. The cafe o ers freshly brewed co ee options using beans from the Houston-based
co ee roaster Rivas. Food options are available for purchase at SOSH from nearby vendors, including croissants from Love Croissants, fresh charcuterie plates, pizzas, salads and sandwiches. 713-528-8530. www.usbayoupark.com 3 Houston is gaining an alien attraction in the form of Roswell’s Saloon , a new watering hole that opened May 25 at 1417 Westheimer Road, Houston. Drinks have nods to the space and Western
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authentic Sichuan cuisine, showcases bold and spicy avors with dishes such as spicy crispy tofu, shredded pork with spicy garlic sauce and the chef’s special black tea and camphor duck. 713-485-6865. www.laoszechuantx.com COMING SOON 8 The Houston-based Tex-Mex chain Cyclone Anaya’s will soon have another location in the River Oaks area at 3736 Westheimer Road, Houston. Expect- ed to open this fall, the eatery will go up in a 6,250-square-foot space where Frank’s Americana Revival formerly op- erated. Menu items will include Tex-Mex classics, jumbo margaritas, enchiladas, fajitas and Mexican beers. A private din- ing room will be able to seat 210 people. www.cycloneanaya.com 9 River Oaks District will welcome its rst Japanese restaurant in late 2023 when Azumi takes over the former lo- cation of Ouzo Bay at 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston. Azumi, a name translating to “safe harbor” in Japanese, is a concept from Atlas Restaurant Group. Drinks will include sakes and signature cocktails. www.azumirestaurant.com 10 Ground broke in May on a new ve-story, 359-unit apartment com- plex by OHT Partners coming to 333 W. 24th St., Houston. Described as an upscale apartment community, Lenox Heights will also feature two resort-style
swimming pools, a co-working studio, a sky deck, a tness center, a clubhouse and a pet spa. Doors are expected to open to residents in early 2025. One- and two-bedroom units will be available, ranging in size from 629-1,247 square feet. Rental price ranges will be an- nounced closer to the project’s opening date. www.ohtpartners.com 11 PostScript HTX , a restaurant by GAP Concepts—founded by members of Dallas’s XOXO Dining Room—is coming to the Shops at Arrive River Oaks, found at 2800 Kirby Drive, Ste. A-104, Houston, in the fall. Marketed as a “female-forward restaurant and lounge,” according to a May 9 news release, PostScript HTX will o er boozy brunches, lunches and din- ners in a 9,300-square-foot space draped in pink. The restaurant will be equipped with doorbells that will read “press for champagne.” CLOSINGS 12 On May 29, Fat Cat Creamery closed its Heights location at 1901 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston. The Heights location was the ice cream shop’s rst, opened by owner Sarah Johnston in 2013. Fat Cat Creamery’s second location in Garden Oaks—at 1225 W. 34th St., Houston—will remain open. The shop will also soon serve up frozen treats at William P. Hobby Airport, 7800 Airport Blvd., Houston, this fall. www.fatcatcreamery.com
Daniel Lee (left) and Patrick Pham (center) will serve as co-owners and co-head chefs at Doko in Autry Park, which they are opening alongside Duckstache Hospitality co-founder Andrew Lin (right).
COURTESY ALEX MONTOYA
FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON O cials with Duckstache Hospitality have announced plans for two new concepts at Autry Park, including a Japanese-focused sushi eatery and an intimate Japanese cocktail bar. Both projects will be located on the ground oor of the Hanover Park mid-rise, 3737 Cogdell St., Houston. The concepts, called Doko and Bar Doko , are both slated to open in the fall. Doko, the sushi concept, will seek to make creative dishes out of traditional
sushi favorites. The space will seat 50 guests with room for another 12 at a bar that will o er sake-forward cocktails. Meanwhile, Bar Doko will provide 600 square feet for a curated menu of Japanese-inspired cocktails.
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JULY 2023
TO DO LIST
July events
COMPILED BY LEAH FOREMAN
JULY 17
RELAX AT NEW MOON SOUND HEALING MEDITATION BUFFALO BAYOU CISTERN
JULY 22
ENJOY IGBOFEST AT DISCOVERY GREEN DISCOVERY GREEN
Sound meditation for the new moon is coming to the Bu alo Bayou Cistern. The moon will light up the park during the meditation, led by Saumil Manek with Union is Creation. Guests should bring their own cushion or mat to use during the meditation. 6-6:45 p.m. $15. Bu alo Bayou Cistern, 105 Sabine St., Houston. 713-752-0314. www.bu alobayou.org
Head to the Main Stage at Discovery Green to learn about West African culture at the 20th annual IgboFest. There will be performances of Igbo cultural dances and folklore, and 30 vendors of African goods. This event, hosted by Ndi-Ichie Cultural Association, serves to showcase African heritage. 3-10 p.m. Free. Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., Houston. www.igbofesthouston.org
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16 SUPPORT LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH AT ANNUAL MINT JULEP FUNDRAISER The health center Legacy Community Health will host its 21st annual Mint Julep fundraiser to support its HIV/ AIDS programs and services. The event will honor Linda Cantu, J.D. Doyle and Doug Boyd, also known as Kimberly Anne O’Neil. 2:30 p.m. Free (sponsorships available). White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main St., Houston. www.legacycommunityhealth.org
16 SHOP AT THRIFTCON Head to NRG Center for ThriftCon, which bills itself as the largest traveling vintage market in the world. The thrifting experience o ers goods from more than 100 vendors o ering vintage clothing for men and women as well as rare and vintage collectibles. 10 a.m. (general admission), 9 a.m. (early entry). $12 (presale), $20 (at the door), free (children under 13). NRG Center, 1 NRG Parkway, Houston. 832-667-1400. www.thriftcon.co/pages/tickets-2023
28 THROUGH 29 FEEL THE FORCE AT STAR WARS SYMPHONY CONCERT For two days, The Houston Symphony will perform music based on the soundtrack to George Lucas’s 1977 lm, “Star Wars: A New Hope.” The event is part of the Houston Symphony’s summer series. 7:30 p.m. (July 28-29) 2:30 p.m. (July 29). $61-$175. Hobby Center’s Saro m Hall, 800 Bagby St., Houston. 713-224-7575. www.houstonsymphony.org
29 SEE THE HOUSTON DASH PLAY The Houston Dash, a professional women’s soccer team, play against Racing Louisville FC. As of press time July 6, the Dash were ranked seventh among the 12 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League with a record of four wins, six draws and four losses. The top six teams at the end of the season qualify for the playo s. 7:30 p.m. $10-$109. Shell Energy Stadium, 2200 Texas Ave., Houston. 713-547-3000. www.houstondynamofc.com
Find more or submit Heights, River Oaks and Montrose events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Construction on West Alabama nears completion
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
UPCOMING PROJECT
KIPLING ST. PAVING THE WAY A project to improve West Alabama Street in River Oaks was updated in 2023 to include work on several side streets. Phase 1 Timmons Lane Timeline: summer 2023 Phase 2 Saint Street Status: summer 2023 Phase 3 Kipling and Joanel streets Status: summer 2023 E R
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Work is expected to wrap up by the end of the summer on a $14.6 million road improvement project along West Alabama Street in River Oaks, work that also includes improving Tim- mons Lane and Joanel, Kipling and Saints streets. The details: Work includes the construction of concrete paving with storm drainage infrastructure, bike lanes on West Alabama, curbs, side- walks, driveways, street lighting and underground utilities. Base roadway materials will be replaced depending on the street condition. The action taken: Construction on the four side streets was not part of the initial plan but was added to the workload after residents in the area lobbied for inclusion, said Abbie
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JULY 6. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT HRMNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. direction, through the removal of one car lane in each direction. Awards will be granted by TxDOT in October. Timeline: TBD Cost: TBD Funding source: TBD Waugh Drive bike lane Officials with the Montrose Tax Incre- ment Reinvestment Zone announced in May intentions to seek state fund- ing for a project that would add bike lanes to Waugh Drive between West Dallas Street and Allen Parkway. The TIRZ is seeking funding through the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2023 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program. The project would add two protected and dedicated on-street bike lanes, one in each
Alabama Street Status: to be completed by end of summer 2023
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SOURCE: HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Kamin, District C Houston City Coun- cil member. Kamin worked with the Houston Public Works Department to bring the side streets into the project scope using funds from her office’s budget. What happens next: Work on side streets has been separated into three
phases, though city officials did not provide timelines for each phase beyond work being completed on all three of them over the course of the summer. Construction began in mid-June on the first phase targeting Timmons and Saints streets. Work on West Alabama is also slated to wrap up by the end of summer.
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION • JULY 2023
EDUCATION New TEA-appointed superintendent, board managers take over in HISD
MEET THE NEW BOARD A new superintendent and board at Houston ISD replaced the district’s elected board June 1 amid a state takeover.
BOARD PRESIDENT Audrey Momanaee HISD parent, litigation attorney SECRETARY Angela Lemond Flowers Former HISD teacher, mother of two HISD graduates Cassandra Bandy Parent of fourth- generation HISD student, chemical engineer Rolando Martinez Parent of three HISD children, serves on HISD District Advisory Committee Adam Rivon Parent of a HISD student, U.S. Army veteran
SUPERINTENDENT Mike Miles Former Dallas ISD superintendent
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
his No. 1 priority was to improve the quality of instruction at HISD. To that end, he announced plans to make teachers reinterview for their jobs at 28 schools that he deemed “new education schools,” a term he intro- duced to refer to schools that have struggled to meet state accountability standards in the past. Teachers who are not rehired at NES schools will be given similar positions elsewhere in the district, Miles said. Teachers who are hired to teach at these schools will make an average salary of $95,000, which includes a $10,000 stipend, Miles said. Miles also said he wants to overhaul the way the district provides special education services in 2023. Miles said he will host meetings throughout the summer to gather feedback and share more about his vision. Former HISD Superintendent Mil- lard House II—who was hired in July 2021—was removed from the position as Miles took over. As of press time, House had accepted a job as super- intendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools in the Washington, D.C., area. TEA o cials previously outlined the metrics that would need to be met for the district to transition back to its elected board, including having no multiyear failing campuses, bringing the special education program in full compliance with all state and federal statutory requirements, and showing evidence of improved governance. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, an opponent of the state takeover, said it is not in the best interest of HISD students was carried out with a lack of transparency, in a June 1 statement. Takeover opponents have called on the state to instead invest more funding into public education. As of press time July 6, the basic allotment in Texas—de ned by the TEA as the amount of funding that goes to each school district to provide a basic level of education for residents in the district—had not been increased as part of the 2023 legislative session, though it still potentially could in a special session. The allotment, set at $6,160 per student, has not increased since 2019.
A new state-appointed superinten- dent took the reins of Houston ISD in June alongside nine new board managers, who replaced the district’s elected board. The Texas Education Agency appointed former Dallas ISD Superin- tendent Mike Miles as the new HISD superintendent June 1, and board members approved an interim con- tract June 8. A long-term agreement is expected to be approved at a later date that will set Miles’ salary at $360,000 per year, matching that of former HISD Superintendent Millard House II. Meanwhile, the nine new board managers include a mix of former HISD teachers, parents of HISD students and the CEO of the real estate company Camden Property Trust. The TEA had been taking applica- tions for the board since the takeover was announced in March. State o cials have justi ed the intervention by citing unacceptable academic outcomes at Wheatley High School, the continued appointment of a conservator in the district and a 2019 investigation into the district’s special education programming. “We were looking for people from a wide array of backgrounds, experi- ences and perspectives who believe all children can learn and achieve at high levels when properly supported and who can work together,” TEA Com- missioner Mike Morath said in a June 1 statement about the new board. The e ort has been met with back- lash from local leaders in Houston and public education advocates, calling it an unjusti ed “hostile takeover.” “We are no longer an independent school district,” Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson said in a June 1 statement. “But we will also not be a silent school district.” New education In addition to his time at Dallas ISD, Miles also served as superintendent of Harrison School District in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is also the founder of Third Future Schools, a network of public charter schools. In his rst public appearance during a June 2 news conference, Miles said
VICE PRESIDENT Ric Campo CEO of Camden Property Trust Michelle Arnold Mother of HISD student; past work with Texas Education Agency Janette Garza Lindner Mom of two HISD students, school board candidate in 2021 elections Paula Mendoza Mother of a HISD graduate, former University of Houston Board of Regents
A NEW EDUCATION New HISD Superintendent Mike Miles named 28 schools as “new education schools.” Teachers at these schools must reapply for their jobs for the 2023-24 school year.
Teachers hired at these schools will earn an average of $85,000 per year .
Wheatley High School feeder pattern: Atherton Elementary School Bruce Elementary School Dogan Elementary School Eliot Elementary School Henderson Elementary School Isaacs Elementary School Martinez Elementary School Pugh Elementary School Scroggins Elementary School Fleming Middle School McReynolds Middle School Wheatley High School
Kashmere High School feeder pattern:
Berry Elementary School Cook Elementary School Elmore Elementary School Kashmere Gardens Elementary School McGowen Elementary School Paige Elementary School Key Middle School Kashmere High School
North Forest High School feeder pattern: Hilliard Elementary School Shadydale Elementary School Forest Brook Middle School North Forest High School
Other schools: Highland Heights Elementary School Marshall Elementary School
Henry Middle School Sugar Grove Academy
SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BUSINESS FEATURE
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
Marlana Doyle opened the Institute of Contemporary Dance in June 2020.
ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES Classes at the Institute of Contemporary Dance span a variety of dance styles and skill levels. Classes are also o ered virtually. Marlana Doyle commissioned a mural to be painted at her facility. SHAWN ARRAJJ COMMUNITY IMPACT
COURTESY INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Young Movers: ages 2 1/2-10 Path program: ages 11 and older (including adults) Adult classes: ages 16 and older
In addition to running the Institute of Contemporary Dance, Marlana Doyle also founded the Houston Contemporary Dance Company, which hosts professional repertory shows.
Children can enroll in the Young Movers program, designed for ages 2 1/2 10.
COURTESY LYNN LANE
COURTESY INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Styles include but are not limited to: • Ballet • Jazz • Contemporary • Tap • Hip-hop • Cultural dance
Institute of Contemporary Dance Training studio helps dancers of all skills reach next level M arlana Doyle has been dancing since age 3. Dancing, she said, has past and want to come back to it,” Doyle said.
An open house is slated for Aug. 5 at the ICD studio, during which guests can participate in free classes. In addition to the ICD, Doyle is also the founder and artistic director of the nonpro t Houston Contemporary Dance Company. Although it is a separate entity, the HCDC often hosts performances that feature dancers enrolled at the institute, Doyle said. The new season will begin Sept. 1. Although it’s the fth season, Doyle said it feels like the second—because of the coronavirus pandemic—and the most important one yet. “Now our numbers are growing as more and more people nd out about who we are,” she said.
Institute of Contemporary Dance 1302 Houston Ave., Ste. 300, Houston 713-804-6646 www.icdhouston.com Hours: Mon. 3:30-9 p.m., Tue.-Thu. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Sun.
Doyle’s sta of 27 people includes seven professional dance instruc- tors, many of whom have been with her for 10 years, dating back to her work at former jobs. Classes for children as part of the ICD’s Young Movers program are taught in a way that is meant to foster creativity, Doyle said. “We’re here to give our dancers, especially younger dances, the opportunity to expand their brain,” she said. “Movement really does help bene t a child’s brain and their creative thinking.” Clients can decide for themselves how often they want to take classes.
always been at the center of her life, whether she’s performing, choreo- graphing or spreading the joys of dance to others through teaching. These days, Doyle is able to do a mix of all three through the work she does with the Institute of Con- temporary Dance, a business she founded in June 2020. The institute o ers dance classes to Houstonians of all ages and abilities, covering a variety of styles. “Part of our mission is that we’re accessible to all kinds of people, anyone wanting to try dance, or people who have had dance in the
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JULY 2023
CITY & COUNTY
News from Houston & Harris County
Harris County Commissioners Court will meet for its regular meeting at 10 a.m. July 18 at 1001 Preston St., Ste. 934, Houston. Meetings are livestreamed at www.harriscountytx.gov. Houston City Council will meet for public comment at 2 p.m. July 18 and regular business at 9 a.m. July 19 at City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston. www.houstontx.gov/htv. MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON On June 10, the city of Houston and Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis hosted the city’s fourth gun buyback event at NRG Park, collecting more than 1,400 guns over the course of the four-hour event. The total number of guns collected topped the previous high of just over 1,200 guns collected at the second gun buyback event in October. Houston’s gun buyback initiatives are part of One Safe Houston, a $53 million program aimed at reducing crime in the city. For those who exchanged guns during the event, event organizers provided gift cards. In total, more than 4,000 guns have been collected by the city since the rst event was held in July 2022.
Houston OKs agreement for ood projects, including in Cottage Grove
Harris County jurors will get pay boost starting in September
Seniors, disabled residents receive higher homestead exemptions
HOW IT WORKS A homestead exemption removes part of the value on a homeowner’s property from taxation and lowers the homeowner’s taxes. The following example shows how property taxes owed are calculated based on a home appraised at $300,000 with a homestead exemption of $25,000.
BY LEAH FOREMAN
ON THE HORIZON Funding has been allocated for four drainage projects in the Cottage Grove and Woodcrest areas, including roadside ditch improvements.
KANSASST.
HOUSTON At a June 14 meeting, Houston City Council members voted to approve an interlocal agreement between the city and the Harris County Flood Control District on the design and construction of 24 ood mitigation projects through- out the city, including several in the Cottage Grove and Woodcrest areas. The overview: The projects, which are a part of the city’s Storm Water Action Team projects, total $39.4 million, with the city and HCFCD each paying half, or $19.7 million. The projects range from restoring existing infrastructure to upgrading infrastructure within speci c neigh- borhoods, and “have the capacity to greatly reduce ood damages for very speci c areas that would otherwise continue to su er the e ects of storm events,” according to the agenda item submitted by the city’s public works department.
BY MELISSA ENAJE
HARRIS COUNTY Commissioners unanimously voted May 16 to increase the homestead exemption for seniors and disabled homeowners. The increase is applied to the appraised value of a resident’s homestead for the 2023-24 tax year for bills that go out in October. The impact: Those who are legally de ned as disabled or those age 65 or older could qualify for an additional $25,000 o the appraised value of their homes. According to Harris Central Appraisal District documents, if residents are over age 65 and disabled, they may either receive the over-65 exemption or the disability homestead exemption, but not both. • For those who meet the age or disability requirements, the $25,000 increase raises the 2022 exemption from $250,000 to $275,000. • The savings for quali ed persons would average $130 per year. Terms to know: The Harris Central Appraisal District de nes a homestead as generally the house and land used as the homeowner’s principal residence Jan. 1 of the current tax year.
BY MELISSA ENAJE
HARRIS COUNTY Residents and registered voters serving jury duty from across Harris County will get a pay bump starting in September after the Texas Legislature approved the rst pay increase in the state since 2005, according to Harris County o cials. Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3474 on June 13 that calls for jury pay to increase from $6 to $20 for the rst day and from $40 to $58 on subse- quent days. “I am con dent this jury pay increase is a necessary rst step towards improving participation and having juries that re ect the diverse racial and socioeconomic demo- graphics of Harris County,” Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess said. “We can only achieve that if we pay our jurors fairly.”
Appraised value: Taxable value: $300,000 $25,000 $275,000 Homestead exemption: = -
10
Roadside ditch Phase 1A Roadside ditch Phase 1B Woodcrest regional analysis Roadside ditch
$275,000
100
$2,750
=
SCHULER ST.
Property taxes owed
$2,750
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
=
Tax rate
X
WASHINGTON AVE.
N
SOURCE: HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT
A closer look: Among the 24 projects are one in Cottage Grove and three in Woodcrest. • Cottage Grove: Design and construction of a roadside ditch at Kansas at Sherwin streets • Woodcrest: Regional analysis of downstream improvements • Woodcrest: Roadside ditch construction at Cohn and Knox streets • Woodcrest: Roadside ditch
construction at Allen, Birdsall, Malone and Asbury streets
Quote of note: “This latest increase of the exemption should negate the impact of rising appraisal values on families across Harris County,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said in a news release. Going forward: Reaching 65 years does not automatically exempt senior homeowners from paying property taxes, according to Harris Central Appraisal District guidelines. • Seniors can obtain a homestead exemption form at www.hcad.org or contact the Harris Central Appraisal District at 713-957-7800.
What’s next: The city will construct each project on city property. Design on the Cottage Grove project could be completed by September. The city is working with CenterPoint Energy on gas line relocation in Woodcrest and will issue a notice to proceed with construction once they are relocated.
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2023
HOME EDITION
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REAL ESTATE DATA
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
2022-23 Heights, River Oaks and Montrose real estate market at a glance The total number of homes sold declined in the ve core ZIP codes that make up the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas when comparing the 12-month period of June 2022-May 2023 with the previous 12 months. The steepest declines were seen in the 77007 and 77098 ZIP codes, both of which saw home sales drop by more than 43%. At the same time, the median price of homes sold increased across all ve ZIP codes, including increases of more than 12% in the 77006 and 77019 ZIP codes.
610
77008
77006
77019
45
77007
77098
10
77007
77008
77019
77006
77098
N
59
SOURCE: VICTORIA HAWES DEVENNEY, JAMESTOWN REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Number of homes sold
Median home sale price
June 2021-May 2022
June 2022-May 2023
June 2021-May 2022
June 2022-May 2023
77006
77019
$509,432
$590,000
+12.9%
+12.7%
$575,000
$665,000
77098
77007
$638,000
$464,900
+8.6%
+10.8%
$693,000
$515,000
77008
$521,000
+8.4%
$565,000
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
GOVERNMENT Houston looks to address ‘missing middle housing’ with ordinance
2023 HOME EDITION
BY LEAH FOREMAN
Sorting out the details: Market-based parking—which would lower parking requirements at developments in certain areas based on their distance from public transit—is no longer being considered as part of the amendment. Also no longer being considered: Y-shaped driveways shared between two neighbors. Flag lots and other forms of shared driveways are still being considered. “After six months of engagement with neighborhoods, and many of you, we recognize that we do not have su cient support to move that proposal forward at this time,” Brown said of market-based parking at the hearing. “We would like to regroup and come back to council with a comprehensive look at our parking regulations in the future.” Those in favor: “I’m probably one of the few people here who supports all of the initiatives and the work that the planning department has done,”
for a series of homes with front-fac- ing garages and driveways spanning the length of the lots, Planning Department Director Margaret Wallace Brown said. The ordinance would set standards to improve walkability and drainage as well as neighborhood safety, she said. Backing up: At an April 18 public meeting, Aracely Rodriguez, a planner with the city of Houston, said Houston has ample stock of detached single-family homes and midrise apartments but lacks the housing options in between, a phenomenon known among urban planners as the “missing middle housing.” The changes in part serve to incentivize the construction of four types of housing: second dwelling units, multiunit residential, court- yard-style developments and narrow lot developments. The changes being proposed won’t override pre-existing deed restrictions.
said Garland Harris Jr., a real estate developer in Houston and the owner of Middle Housing Design Co. “I can tell you building townhouses and front-loaders and duplexes has got- ten pretty costly for us. But if we’re able to come in and build things like tiny houses or fourplexes or triplexes, we can meet a market that most people here don’t even think exists.” Those opposed: Erica Alvarado, a real estate agent who spoke June 21, said many rst-time homebuyers she works with are looking for more con- ventional homes, including private driveways and rst- oor living. “They will sacri ce the square footage if it means it aligns with the oor plan they’re used to in the suburbs,” she said. What’s next: Thecouncil could vote on amending the language on these housing ordinances in July.
Houston’s Livable Places commit- tee—a branch of the city’s Planning and Development Department that aims to make Houston more equi- table, walkable and a ordable—has proposed changes to housing rules, including updates designed to bring more midlevel housing options. The changes were discussed at a public hearing June 21. The overview: The concepts include amending current ordinances to allow for more midlevel housing, speci cally more street parking and water retention on public rights of way. The Livable Places Committee has been reviewing and workshop- ping the proposed changes for about six months, and the Houston Planning Commission approved its recommendations June 8. Under the current standards in the city’s code, the planning department is “obligated” to approve proposals
Proposed changes to Houston’s code of ordinances seek to make it easier to develop midlevel housing. Size and parking requirements are being considered for four housing types. HELP WITH HOUSING
Second dwelling unit
Multiunit residential housing
Courtyard-style developments
Narrow lot developments
What is it?
A second living space located on the lot of a single-family home, often above a garage or in a separate structure
Triplexes, multiple duplexes, fourplexes and multiplexes of up to eight units
Clusters of single-family homes located around a shared courtyard with shared parking
Refers to several di erent types of development, including ag lots and lots with shared driveways
Recommendations Size
Maximum 1,500 sq. ft.
• Minimum 3,500 sq. ft. • No more than four units along local streets • 30 ft. maximum height • 1,000 sq. ft. or less: one space per unit • Greater than 1,000 sq. ft.: two spaces per unit
• Maximum lot size: 3,500 sq. ft. • Maximum unit size: 1,800 sq. ft. • Height cannot exceed 30 ft. • 1,000 sq. ft. or less: one space per unit • Greater than 1,000 sq. ft.: two spaces per unit
• Lots less than 40 ft. wide along the street • Combined driveway maximum: 40 ft. • 1,500 sq. ft. or less: one space per unit • Greater than 1,500 sq. ft.: two spaces per unit
Parking
• If rst unit has two spaces, no spaces are needed for second unit if less than 1,000 sq. ft. and one space needed if more than 1,000 sq. ft.
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • JULY 2023
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