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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 FEB. 3 MARCH 2, 2022
ONLINE AT
IMPACTS
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TO DO LIST
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The Rice Village shopping center located west of Rice University has been a hodge podge of small local businesses for decades. In recent years, more luxury chains have moved in. (George Wiebe/Community Impact Newspaper) Changes at RiceVillage bringmore upscale shops
Texas Supreme Court hears high- speed rail case
BY GEORGE WIEBE
The Village has gone through shifts in demographics from its university student/bohemian phase in the ’60s and ’70s to its local stores from the ’80s to 2000s, according to Melissa Kean, an author and retired historian with Rice.
“In the ’60s, one of the things that’s changed a lot is with students it wasn’t super common for everybody to have a car,” Kean said. “So Rice Village was like the center of where they couldwalk to.” CONTINUED ON 16
Established in 1938 as a small body of niche storefronts and tiny cafes, the Rice Village shopping center can be found just west of Rice University, from which it derives its name.
TRANSPORTATION PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE 2022 SAMPLE BALLOT
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Stakeholders use data to address Harris County’s criminal justice systemchallenges BY DANICA LLOYD
“PEOPLE GET LOST IN THE SYSTEM, AND IF WE’RE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE TRENDS AND IDENTIFY
“We’re looking at addressing the necessary systemic changes that need to happen [based on] data [and] best practices so that violence can be stopped, the trauma from that violence can be addressed, [and] the reduction of racial and economic disparities can also be addressed all while attempting to minimize criminal justice exposure as much as possible,” JAD interim Director Ana Yáñez Correa said. CONTINUED ON 18
WHERE THOSE GAPS ARE AND ADDRESS THEM, I THINK WE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF.” STEPHANIE TRUONG, PROGRAM
Local agencies are working together to improve Harris County’s criminal justice system—a system experts said is overwhelmed with a backlog of cases and discriminates against low-income residents and people of color. Harris County Commissioners Court created the Justice Admin- istration Department in 2019 to identify solutions and facilitate meaningful changes to the system.
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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
GET YOUR HEART BACK
TO WHAT MAKES IT REALLY BEAT
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHISMONTH
FROM JAY: Our front-page story this month takes a look at Rice Village and the incredible changes that have taken place over the years since its inception as a small collection of cafes and niche storefronts way back in 1938. You’ll also nd a dining feature in our February edition on a new neighborhood establishment in Bellaire from some longtime restaurateurs in Meyerland. Jay McMahon, GENERALMANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROMSHAWN: With midterm elections coming up in March, we provide a sample ballot (see Page 13) with candidates running in contested races that are relevant to the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University Place areas. For more information and candidate Q&As, visit communityimpact.com/ voter-guide. Shawn Arrajj, SENIOR EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
WHATWE COVER
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MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Jay McMahon SENIOR EDITOR Shawn Arrajj REPORTER George Wiebe SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anya Gallant ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dosia Dixon METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kristina Shackelford MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er ART PRODUCTIONMANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CORPORATE LEADERSHIP GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan SALES &MARKETING DIRECTOR Tess Coverman CONTACT US
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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stores and shipped internationally. www.all do.com COMING SOON 4 A new location of iCryo will have a soft opening Feb. 5 at 3839 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, with a grand opening later in the month. Services will include body sculpting, IV infusions, cryotherapy facials, whole body cryotherapy, infrared sauna services, compression therapy and vitamin boosters. The chain operates in eight states, and other Texas locations are in League City and Dallas. 832-241-6245. www.icryo.com 5 O cials with the upscale dog wash and boutique Petbar are planning to open a new location this spring at 5130 Bisson- net St., Bellaire. The chain o ers self-ser- vice and full-service washes, monthly unlimited bath and brush services, and dog grooming. A la carte services include nail trimming, nail grinding, nail polish, facial scrubs, sanitary trimming and teeth brushing. www.petbar.com 6 Stu ’d Wings will open in early 2022 at 401 Richmond Ave., Houston, adjacent to the Ion tech hub. The new fast-casual restaurant will be the rst brick-and-mor- tar endeavor of the popular food truck, which specializes in traditional chicken wings stu ed with Louisiana boudin. In the meantime, the food truck is typically stationed at 6402 Tierwester St., Hous- ton. 713-702-1286. www.stu dwings.com 7 A new location of the men’s fashion chain Psycho Bunny will open this spring in the Galleria Mall, 5085 Westheimer Road, Houston, on the second oor near the Galleria Financial Center. The mens-
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2 The rst Texas location of Karma and Luck opened in mid-December on the second oor of the Galleria Mall, located at 5085 Westheimer Road, Houston. The modern lifestyle brand o ers handcraft- ed jewelry and home decor items. 713-622-0663. www.karmaandluck.com 3 King Ranch Saddle Shop , a cowboy boots and leather clothes and accessories retailer, was set to open in Rice Village on Feb. 1 as of press time. The store o ers home and o ce goods as well as apparel for men and women at 2401 Times Blvd., Ste. 100, Houston. 281-546-0861. www.krsaddleshop.com
WILLOWBEND BLVD. NOWOPEN 1 The rst Houston location of
Local Houstonians and brothers-in-law Brad Madrid and Bobby Dwyer launched the online pet wellness brand Fido in De- cember. Based in Houston, the business sells dog products that are lab tested and veterinarian approved, including two debut products—Chill Chews and Clear Ears. Chill Chews are calming hemp bites designed to help pets relax during train- ing and traveling. Clear Ears is a eucalyp- tus ear cleanser meant to keep pets’ ears clean and clear of wax, debris, fungus and bacteria. Products are available for purchase online, and shipping is available nationwide. In the future, the Fido team plans for products to be sold in local pet
Advanced Body Scan opened in early January at 4460 Bissonnet St., Bellaire. The clinic provides advanced preven- tive screenings for the heart, lung and abdominal area as well as full-body scans and noninvasive virtual colonoscopies. Preventive scans use state-of-the-art computer tomography scanners using a process that takes minutes. Results are evaluated and read with a licensed radiol- ogist. Other locations are in Oklahoma
City and Plano. 833-411-7226. www.advancedbodyscan.com
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & GEORGE WIEBE
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Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse
Levey Group
COURTESY GATSBY’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE
COURTESY LEVEY GROUP
COURTESY RICE UNIVERSITY The Moody Center of the Arts at Rice University turns ve years old in February.
wear staple debuted in New York in 2005, o ering what company o cials call a “mischievous yet re ned style.” 713-622-0663. www.psychobunny.com RELOCATIONS 8 Shiva Indian Restaurant o cially opened in its new location Jan. 17 at 5220 Bu alo Speedway, Houston. The eatery, previously located in Rice Village, o ers traditional northern Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner. 713-523-4753. www.facebook.com/shivaindianhtx EXPANSIONS 9 Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse nal- ized an expansion into the former Daisy Buchanan Lounge in December. The expanded restaurant at 4319 Montrose
Blvd., Houston, can now hold 150 people. Gatsby’s menu features steak and sea- food dinners and cocktails. 713-393-7282. www.gatsbysteakhouse.com RENOVATIONS 10 Developer Levey Group acquired a 90-year-old boutique Montrose o ce building in November with plans to renovate and add amenities. Located at 4500 Yoakum Blvd., Houston, just south of Richmond Avenue, the 8,791-square- foot building features a kitchen and hardwood oors. Levey will add a tness center, a third- oor balcony lounge and a game room. Levey will occupy the rst oor of the building once renovations are complete, while the other two oors will be leased to other tenants. 713-772-1393. www.leveygroup.com
FEATURED IMPACT ANNIVERSARIES Feb. 24 will mark the ve-year anniversary of the opening of the Moody Center for the Arts on the Rice University campus. Located at 6100 Main St., Houston, the venue will celebrate with three new exhibits over the course of 2022. • “Soundwaves,” a group show highlighting the intersection between art and music, launched Jan. 28 and will run through May 14. • A solo presentation by artist Baseera Khan addresses themes of race, gender and cultural identity and will
run from June 3-Aug. 22. • “Urban Impressions,” a multisite project exploring concepts of the decentered modern city, will run from Sept. 16-Dec. 16. 713-348-2787. www.moody.rice.edu
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
TO DO LIST
February events
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & GEORGE WIEBE
FEB. 05
RUN IN THE 19THANNUAL TEXASMED RUN TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER
FEB. 19
ENJOY A CULTURAL DANCE PERFORMANCE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
The Harris County Hospital District Foundation is holding a fundraiser for the Harris Health System and Food Farmacy Program. Options for 1K, 5K, and 10K runs/walks as well as a “sleep in” are available to raise funds. 8 a.m. $15-$35. 1115 N. MacGregor Way, Houston. 713-566-6409. www.hchdfoundation.org (Courtesy Harris Health System)
Director Ronen Koresh will bring his dance company to the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center for a blend of ballet, modern and jazz. 8 p.m. $15 (students), $20 (JCC members), $30 (public). 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston. 713-729-3200. www.erjcchouston.org (Hunter Marrow/Community Impact Newspaper)
The Houston rodeo kicks o with a parade down Bagby Street. (Courtesy Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo) WORTH THE TRIP Get ready for rodeo at kicko parade Celebrate the start of the 90th anniversary of Houston’s Livestock and Rodeo with a parade that takes place Feb. 26. The parade will start at Houston City Hall and travel around the downtown area before ending at the Houston Public Library on Lamar Street. The rodeo will run through March 20 and includes concerts, rodeo events and a barbecue cook-o . 10 a.m. Free. Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston 832-667-1000 www.rodeohouston.com
FEBRUARY 04 THROUGH06
learning about “Black Health and Wellness” in the 52nd anniversary of Black History Month. The event is online, and guests must register to attend. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Virtual event. 832-393-1313. www.houstonlibrary.com 11 THROUGH 13 SEE ‘SESAME STREET’ LIVE AT NRG ARENA Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! is coming to the NRG Arena. Children will have the opportunity to interact with some of television’s most beloved and recognizable puppets. 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. (Fri.); 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. (Sat.); 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. (Sun.). $22-$90. NRG Arena, 1 NRG Parkway, Houston. 832-667-1400. www.nrgpark.com 12 PREPARE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP The public is invited to take part in a virtual homeownership fair hosted by Houston Habitat for Humanity. The event, designed to equip prospective homeowners with the resources needed to prepare, features a number of sessions, including on the responsibility of homeownership, mortgages and Q&As with experts. All sessions will be available in English and Spanish.
9 a.m.-noon. Free. Virtual event. 713-671-9993. www.houstonhabitat.org 15 PREVIEWWORKS FROMAN UPCOMING AUCTION The Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University hosts a preview party for the center’s rst art auction, allowing attendees to see the works before they go up for auction. Works are by artists who have partnered with the Moody or Rice Public Art, including Omar Victor Diop, Ganzeer, Natasha Bowdoin, Mona Hatoum, Shirazeh Houshiary, Byron Kim, Catherine Opie, Matthew Ritchie and David Scanavino. Registration is encouraged. 6-8 p.m. Free. Moody Center for the Arts Flex Gallery, 6100 Main St., Houston. 713-348-2787. www.moody.rice.edu 16 CELEBRATE ITALIAN CONTEMPORARY FILM The Italian Cultural and Community Center of Houston continues its celebration of Italian movies with director Andrea Segre’s “Welcome Venice.” 6:45 p.m. $10 (ICCC members), $15 (general admission). Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston, 1101 Milford St., Houston. 713-524-4222. www.iccchouston.com
STOP BY THE HOUSTONHOME AND GARDEN SHOW The Houston Home and Garden Show will feature hundreds of booths displaying home appliances, gardening equipment, and experts to give advice on furnishing and landscaping. Noon-8 p.m (Fri.), 10 a.m. -8 p.m. (Sat.), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sun.). Free (under age 12), $10 (ages 12-59), $8 (age 60 and older). NRG Center, 1 NRG Park, Houston. 888-604-5938. www.houstonhomeandgardenshow.com 05 THROUGH 27 SEE A PERFORMANCE OF ’MOTHER OF THEMAID’ Join Main Street Theater as it hosts Jane Anderson’s retelling of Joan of Arc through her mother’s eyes. 7:30 p.m. (Thu.-Sat.), 3 p.m. (Sun.). Main Street Theater, 2540 Times Blvd., Houston. $15-$59. 713-524-6706. www.mainstreettheater.com 10 17 AND 24 CELEBRATE BLACKHISTORY MONTHAT THE GREGORY SCHOOL Join the Houston Public Library in
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Find more or submit Belliare-Meyerland-West University 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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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES Texas Supreme Court begins hearing high-speed rail eminent domain case as bill led in Congress
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ, JISHNU NAIR & GEORGE WIEBE
ONGOING PROJECTS
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY
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The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the rehearing of a petition against the construction of a high-speed rail line Jan. 11. The case centers on a 236-mile high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas being planned by the company Texas Central. Filed by landowner JimMiles in 2016, the lawsuit argues Texas Central does not qualify as a railroad company under state law and therefore cannot use eminent domain to acquire land needed to construct the line. The Supreme Court initially declined to hear the case in June after an appeals court ruled Texas Central could be de ned as a railroad company. Miles petitioned for a rehearing, and the court reversed course Oct. 15 to grant a rehearing. Attorney Je rey Levinger of Dallas-based Levinger PC, represent- ing Miles, focused his arguments on whether Texas Central needed to be operating railroads to be considered a railroad company. Levinger also noted Texas Central had not applied for a permit from the Surface Trans- portation Board, a federal regulatory agency. The STB rejected a Texas Central petition for an exemption from construction approval require- ments in July 2020. Levinger argued construction approval would require the company to disclose its nances. Texas Central declined to comment on its available funds or whether it would receive federal funds from the recently passed bipartisan infrastruc- ture deal. However Marie Yeates of
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A new bill led in the U.S. Congress could thwart Texas Central’s e orts to build high-speed rail in Texas.
West University Place paving and drainage program The West University Place City Council approved design work for paving and drainage on local streets at its Dec. 13 meeting. The rst package will run along University Boulevard and will begin around the end of October. A second package along Wakeforest Av- enue, Rice Boulevard and Duke Street will begin in February 2023. Timeline: October-TBD Cost: $1.2 million Funding source: city of West Univer- sity Place
House Resolution 6365
What it does: bars construction from starting on a high-speed rail project until the operator has acquired all land needed
Status: referred to the subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on Jan. 11
GREENBRIAR DR.
SOURCE: U.S CONGRESS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
RICE UNIVERSITY
Vinson and Elkins LLC, representing the railroad, said the company had received federal funds as part of her argument that Texas Central is “not a sham.” “The question is whether we’re going to allow [landowners who do not allow property surveys] to pre- vent Texas from getting the bene t of this train,” Yeates said. Newbill led U.S. Reps. Jake Ellzey, R Waxa- hachie, and Kevin Brady, R The Woodlands, on Jan. 10 led a bill in the U.S. Congress requiring high- speed rail projects to acquire all land necessary to construct the line before beginning construction. The bill directs the STB to reject construction authorization for
high-speed rail projects longer than 10 miles that have not acquired all necessary land. In a press release, Brady said the bill would protect the rights of land- owners along planned railroads. “Many questions remain about Texas Central’s plans to build and nance this controversial high-speed rail project, and I support any nec- essary reforms that will protect the rights of landowners whose farms, ranches, and homes sit along their proposed route,” Brady said. Texas Central declined to comment on the bill. “They’ve got serious nancial issues demonstrating where they’re going to get the $18 [billion]-$30 billion needed to nish this project,” Levinger said.
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JAN. 31. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT BMWNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Boulevard at its Jan. 12 meeting. The project will make the corridor safer and more walkable while also improv- ing drainage and providing more space for residents. Timeline: summer 2023-TBD Status: $7.1 million Funding source: city of Houston University Boulevard paving and drainage The Houston City Council approved nal design and construction phase work on a project on University
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
CITY& COUNTY
News from Bellaire, West University Place, Houston & Harris County
NUMBER TOKNOW The number of homeless individuals housed under the rst phase of Houston’s Community COVID Housing Program between Oct. 1, 2020 and Jan. 11, 2022 7,040 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY Five new directors were approved by Harris County Commissioner Court Jan. 25 in an unanimous vote. Christina Petersen was named the ood control district’s executive director. Milton Rahman was unanimously approved for county engineer. Daniel Ramos will lead the o ce of management and budget; Lisa Lin will pilot the o ce of sustainability; and Sara Mickelson will head early childhood initiatives. BELLAIRE The Bellaire City Council approved $150,000 for improvements of the Bellaire Family Aquatic Center at its Jan. 24 meeting. Space to store pool equipment, the installation of shade cover and an extension of the fencing are part of the proposed development. HOUSTON The city announced Jan. 20 the deployment of its second Mobile Ambient Air Monitoring Laboratory to give residents, emergency responders and regulators real-time air quality data. The lab responds to reports of unusual smells, airborne particles, smoke, fumes, outdoor pollutants and emergency situations, such as the 2019 chemical plant re in Deer Park. HOUSTON In a Jan. 6 vote, the city approved the expansion of a pilot program designed to provide instant alerts to police o cers when gunshots are red. The $3.5 million contract with ShotSpotter will run for ve years. The technology works by using acoustic sensing to identify and report gunshots. The contract covers 10 square miles, including parts of South Houston under the pilot program and a second location that has not been announced. Bellaire City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire. Meetings are streamed at www.bellairetx.gov. West University Place City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at 3800 University Blvd., Houston. Meetings are available via teleconference. Find details at www.westutx.gov. Houston City Council will meet at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8 for public comment and 9 a.m. Feb. 9 for regular business at 901 Bagby St., Houston. MEETINGSWE COVER
Houston approves plans for homelessness center
BY SOFIA GONZALEZ
HOUSTON Two ordinances were passed by Houston City Council Jan. 26 pertaining to the reconstruction and leasing of a navigation center in the Fifth Ward that proponents said will help people citywide transition out of homelessness. The ordinances—both of which passed with a 12-4 vote—approved the funding for the city’s portion of the reconstruction and the leasing agreement between the city of Houston—the landlord—and The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, which is the tenant. The navigation center, which will be located in a 27,000-square-foot building at 2903 Jensen Drive, will host temporary housing for individuals who qualify, who will have the opportunity to stay for 30 to 60 days before moving on to permanent housing, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. During this time, those who go will also receive employment and medical assistance, he said. Those in the Fifth Ward who are seeking either medical services or substance use disorder assistance will also have the opportunity to get help, Turner said. “We are being hands on to address the needs of the people and beyond,” Turner said. Those who oppose the center, including some speakers at a Jan. 25 public hearing, said they felt the area is already burdened with issues and the funding for the project should be spent elsewhere, such as either on a recreational center for the children or on addressing a previously
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A building on Jensen Drive will be turned into a homeless services center. (George Wiebe/Community Impact Newspaper)
identi ed cancer cluster in the area tied to a Union Paci c Corp. railroad site. Others expressed concerns that the navigation center would cause residential property values to go down and have e ects on surrounding businesses and infrastructure services. Turner said he plans to meet with the community to monitor the navigation center once it opens. The navigation center is part of the city’s second phase of the Community COVID Housing Program, which will help fund a $100 million initiative to house 7,000 individ- uals. That goal comes on top of the 7,000 people already housed under the rst phase of the program. The city’s portion of the cost is roughly $4.2 million, according to information submitted to the council.
Council OKsMaple Street sidewalkdesign
Bellaire’s 3 new council members take oath of o ce
Council assignments New council members were assigned to boards in January.
BY GEORGE WIEBE
Parks and recreation advisory board: Winfred Frazier
BELLAIRE At a Jan. 24 meeting, the city of Bellaire approved design work for a new sidewalk along the south side of Maple Street between Rice Avenue and Loop 610 West. The work will be done by MBCO Engineering and is expected to cost $82,430. While a date for construc- tion is still to be determined, the design and survey work is scheduled to last roughly six months. Plans initially called for sidewalks on both sides of Maple, but they were scaled down. The new sidewalk will be 4 feet wide and total 2,600 linear feet, according to documents submitted to the council. The scope of work also includes the creation of a tree preservation plan.
BY GEORGE WIEBE
BELLAIRE Following elections in November and runo s in December, three new members of Bellaire’s City Council were o - cially sworn in at a Jan. 3 council meeting. New Council Members Winfred Frazier and Ross Gordon won in November’s general elections and were elected to positions 1 and 3, respectively. Brian Witt won fol- lowing a runo race in December for Position 5. Each new member was assigned a role as liaison to the city’s boards and commissions. Frazier was assigned to the parks and recre- ation advisory board; Gordon went to the board of adjustments; and Witt went to the culture and art board. The remaining council members were reassigned to previous roles.
Board of adjustments: Ross Gordon
Culture and art board: Brian Witt
Environmental sustainability board: Catherine Lewis
Planning and zoning commission: Nathan Wesely
Building standards commissions: Jim Hotze
L.I.F.E. advisory board: Andrew Friedberg
MAPLE ST.
610
Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv.
BEECHNUT ST.
SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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11
BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ 2022 P R I M A R Y E L E C T I O N G U I D E GUIDE Candidates and information for the March primaries
D A T E S T O K N O W Feb. 14 First day of early voting
W H E R E T O V O T E
March 1 Primary election day March 1 Last day to receive ballot by mail (or March 3 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election)
Voters in Harris County can vote at any polling center in the county during both the early voting period and on Election Day. A list of polling centers will be published at www.harrisvotes.com.
Feb. 18 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Feb. 25 Last day of early voting
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
S A M P L E B A L L O T
R Republican
D Democrat
*Incumbent
Voters can vote in the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. Only candidates in contested primary elections are listed below.
Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 D Ronnisha Bowman* D Jannell Robles Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 D Lorenzo Williams D Staci Biggar D Porscha Natasha Brown Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 5 D Carlos Aguayo D David Marcel Fleischer* Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 6 D Selina Alaniz D Kelley Andrews* Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 7 D Mauricio Vazquez D Andrew A. Wright* Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 8 D Erika Ramirez D Franklin Bynum* Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 10 D Thuy Le D Juanita Jackson Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 14
R Jon Spiers R Dawn Buckingham D Jinny Suh D Michael Lange D Sandragrace Martinez D Jay Kleberg Commissioner of agriculture R Sid Miller* R James White R Carey A. Counsil D Susan Hays D Ed Ireson Railroad commissioner R Dawayne Tipton R Tom Slocum Jr. R Wayne Christian* R Marvin “Sarge” Summers R Sarah Stogner Supreme Court justice, Place 9 R David J. Schenck R Evan Young* Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 5 R Scott Walker* R Clint Morgan LOCAL U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 R Tim Stroud R Lance Stewart R Tina Blum Cohen R Rudy A. Atencio R Laique Rehman R Johnny Teague R Benson Gitau U.S. House of Representatives, District 38 R David Hogan R Damien Matthew Peter Mockus R Jerry Ford R Richard Welch
R Alex Cross D Duncan F. Klussmann D Centrell Reed D Diana Martinez Alexander State Board of Education, District 4 D Coretta Mallet-Fontenot D Theldon Branch D Marvin Johnson D Larry McKinzie D Staci Childs State Board of Education, District 6 R Will Hickman* R Mike Wolfe Texas Senator, District 15 D Molly Cook D John Whitmire* Texas House of Representatives, District 134 R A. A. Dominguez R Ryan McConnico 14th Court of Appeals, Place 2 D Kyle Carter D Cheri C Thomas 14th Court of Appeals, Place 9 D William Demond D Chris Conrad Harris County judge R H.Q. Bolanos R George Harry Zoes R Alexandra del Moral Mealer R Vidal Martinez R Robert Dorris R Randy Kubosh R Martina Lemond Dixon R Oscar Gonzales R Warren A. Howell D Georgia D. Provost D Erica Davis D Maria Garcia D Ahmad R. “RobBeto” Hassan D Lina Hidalgo* D Kevin Howard Harris County Civic Court at Law No. 4
STATEWIDE
Governor R Paul Belew R Danny Harrison R Rick Perry** R Allen B. West R Greg Abbott* R Don Hu nes R Kandy Kaye Horn R Chad Prather
D Rich Wakeland D Beto O’Rourke D Joy Diaz D Inocencio (Inno) Barrientez D Michael Cooper Lieutenant governor R Todd M. Bullis
R Dan Patrick* R Daniel Miller R Zach Vance
R Aaron Sorrells R Trayce Bradford D Michelle Beckley D Carla Brailey D Mike Collier Attorney general R Ken Paxton* R Louie Gohmert R George P. Bush R Eva Guzman D S. “Tbone” Raynor
D Lee Merritt D Mike Fields D Joe Jaworski D Rochelle Mercedes Garza Comptroller of public accounts R Mark V. Goloby R Glenn Hegar* D Janet T. Dudding D Tim Mahoney D Angel Luis Vega Commissioner of the General Land O ce
D Je’Rell A. Rogers D David L. Singer* Harris County district clerk
D Marilyn Burgess* D Desiree Broadnax Harris County County commissioner, Precinct 4 D Clarence Miller
D Gina Calanni D Ann Williams D Lesley Briones D Sandra Pelmore D Je Stauber D Benjamin “Ben” Chou
R Rufus Lopez R Victor Avila R Tim Westley R Don W. Minton R Ben Armenta R Weston Martinez
R Wesley Hunt R Brett Guillory R Mark Ramsey R Roland Lopez R Phil Covarrubias
D M. K. Monica Singh D David M. Patronella D Treasea Trevino
** CANDIDATE IS NOT FORMER GOV. RICK PERRY
13
BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
DINING FEATURE
BY GEORGE WEIBE
TheOGBurger ($12.95) An 8-ounce beef patty is served on a challah bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, melted cheese and a New York Eatery housemade sauce called OG Sauce.
Quit Ya Kvetchin’ ($13.95) A corned beef sandwich is served on rye bread with corned beef from the New York City-based Carnegie Deli.
The Rabbi ($14.95) Nova lox, whipped cream cheese, onions, tomatoes and capers are served on a bagel bun. (Photos by George Wiebe/Community Impact Newspaper)
3 D I SHES TO TRY
NewYork Eatery Longtime bagel spot branches out with new venture S omething new and some- thing old meet in Bellaire with New York Eatery, an
is the little engine that could,” Sherman said. “You back up your seat, and you’re bumping into the next table.” Seating nearly four times the num- ber of diners, the Bellaire location also added a bar and lounge area. The menu seeks to live up to the New York in the name, o ering matzah ball soup, corn beef sand- wiches and authentic New York-style bagels. Both locations have tradi- tional bagel ovens to keep the craft alive, but authenticity comes with a cost; following a break in the original oven, nding replacement parts posed challenges. “I ew to Chicago to get the part,” CEOMichael Saghian said, “I traveled with an empty suitcase and came back with the part. … There was one
guy in town that I’ve met that knows how to repair these.” Keeping to tradition is not all there is to the eatery. A new dinner menu will be introduced in February. “It’s an all-newmenu, but you can still get your breakfast and lunch all day, at dinner,” Saghian said. The restaurant is also partnering with Carnegie Deli, a chain that grew from a small Jewish delicatessen in New York. The partnership provides quintessential Carnegie Deli items, such as corned beef and pastrami. “We’re still going to keep our identity and who we are, but we’re going to add some of their items to our menu,” Saghian said. “You’ll still be able to get our normal sandwich that you’ve always come in the last 45 years to get.”
extension of the 46-year-old New York Deli and Co ee Shop founded on Hillcroft Avenue in Meyerland. The Bellaire location has two separate entities: the year-old, classic bagel-focused bakery and the newer restaurant and deli, which opened next door in October. Originally known as Brooklyn Bagel, the busi- ness was started in Philadelphia by two brothers looking to ll a hole in the bagel market across the country. The expansion was not just to capture a newmarket, but also to catch spillover from the older loca- tion, Chief Operating O cer Riana Sherman said. “The location on Hillcroft [Street]
Michael Saghian (left) and Riana Sherman are the owners of New York Eatery in Bellaire. (Courtesy New York Deli)
NewYork Eatery 5422 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire 713-692-2435 www.nybagelsand co ee.com Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
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New Adventures. New Tools.
WholeEarthProvision.com
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
NONPROFIT
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
A volunteer with the nonpro t helps transport a mattress to a family in need.
25 years of support Since its founding, Houston Children’s Charity has helped local families in a number of ways.
Children browse through clothing and toys at the HCC Clothes Closet, launched in 2009. (Photos courtesy Houston Children’s Charity)
Laura Ward (center) is one of seven founders of Houston Children’s Charity.
Houston Children’s Charity Longstanding nonpro t adapts to changing needs I n the 25 years since its founding, the Houston Children’s Charity has regularly adapted to the
245 vans distributed for families of disabled, wheelchair-using children
30,000 clothing, shoes and accessories provided
80,000 toys distributed to children every holiday season
remain on the waitlist, Ward said. The demand for assistance rose during the coronavirus pandemic, which Ward said emphasizes the importance for nonpro ts to work together. In addition to running its own programs, the nonpro t partners with existing organizations to help with distribution and to raise funds for administrative needs. Collaboration can also help save money in that it prevents organi- zations from duplicating services, Ward said. “I believe the future of all non- pro ts is going to be collaboration,” Ward said. “I believe instead of having thousands and thousands of children’s charities in this city … that organizations need to begin collaborating and sharing in one administrative cost rather than every organization paying people to do the same thing.” With six people on sta , Houston Children’s Charity relies heavily on volunteers to keep operations moving, Ward said. Those looking to help the organization can ll out a volunteer form or make donations online, she said. After 25 years, Ward said she hears the calling to help children louder than ever. “My mission is to care for chil- dren,” she said. “That’s what I do and do best.”
have been implemented based on needs in the community, Ward said. After years of focusing on collecting toys and clothing, a pressing need for beds spurred the launch of the A Better Night’s Sleep program. “Year after year for about three years, when I would be manning the phones, … so many of the parents would say to me, ‘Could we get a bed?’” Ward said. “After about three years of telling people we don’t have a bed program, I thought, ‘Why don’t we have a bed program?’ Because evidently nobody else has one either.” After two to three years of learning the best ways to collect and distrib- ute beds, the nonpro t now has a program in place through a partner- ship with Texas Mattress Makers that provides beds to 100 children each month. Still, roughly 1,300 children
city’s changing landscape, nding ways to meet the needs of children that were otherwise going unmet. For Laura Ward, president and CEO of the nonpro t and one of its seven founders, the story is one of collaboration. The group partners with more than 300 local agencies to nd the children who are falling through the cracks, she said. With the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating demand for basic needs, like clothing and school sup- plies, that mission is more important than ever, Ward said. “This is a time when we are so grateful that there are so many children’s organizations,” Ward said. “The need is more than any of us collectively have been able to meet in the last several years.” Houston Children’s Charity was founded in 1996 by seven people who were already involved in philan- thropy but were looking for a more exibility to address what they saw as the most pressing needs locally, Ward said. The nonpro t provides clothing through an in-house closet program; it raises funding for the Texas Children’s Hospital; and it runs a donation drive every Christ- mas to collect toys. Over the years, new programs
25,000 children have
School supplies given to
over 40,000 students
received mattresses, box springs, frames, pillows and blankets Provides support to more than 300 partner agencies across Houston
$100,000 awarded every
year in support of families at Texas Children’s Hospital
More than 3.5 million children impacted in total
Houston Children’s Charity 1600 West Loop S., Ste. 610, Houston 713-524-2878 www.houstonchildrenscharity.org
This is a timewhenwe are sograteful that there are somany children’s organizations. The need ismore than any of us collectivelyhave been able tomeet in the last several years. LAURA WARD, PRESIDENT
POST OAK BLVD.
610
SAN FELIPE ST.
AND CEO OF HOUSTON CHILDREN’S CHARITY
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
Owned by the Rice Management Co., the heart of Rice Village can be found in an area between Times and University boulevards. For the purposes of this graphic, Community Impact Newspaper de nes a “local business” as one primarily operating in Houston. VILLAGE S N A P S H O T
changed hands two more times since going from the Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. in 2014 to the current Houston-based Real- tors REIS Associates. Trademark began the shift toward the character of the current Village, according to a 2014 press release. In part- nership with Rice, Trademark o cials said they planned to enhance the streetscape, landscaping, storefronts and facades in a way that “will set the stage for the modern evo- lution of this eclectic urban mixed-use district.” REIS Associates, a private real estate company, has been managing the Village Arcade part of Rice since July 2019. Aj Jennings, REIS’ gen- eral manager of Rice Village, said maintaining that local mom and pop feel remains a priority. “The whole idea behind having a shopping environ- ment and village is for people to stroll and to go into shops,” Jennings said. “We still want to make sure that we have mom and pop shops that might be the only ones in the city.” At least 11 establishments were new to open in Rice Vil- lage in 2021. Eight of those new businesses were national chains, such as the ice cream shop Van Leeuwen and home and furniture stores CB2, Lovesac and West Elm. Comparatively, Badolina Bakery, Christina Greene Jewelry and Cru Home, a furniture/decoration pop-up store, were among the locally owned businesses that opened in Rice Village last year, based on previous Com- munity Impact Newspaper reporting. REIS, though a newer addi- tion, has left its own mark, adding “tens of thousands of dollars” in landscaping in 2021, according to Jennings. “We want people to come and spend time at Rice Vil- lage,” Jennings said. “We also have a focus on bringing really ne restaurants to the market, andwe’ve been doing that with ones that are open- ing up this year.”
CONTINUED FROM 1
R I C E V I L L A G E
Maps of Rice Village in 1968 show how the area catered to the student population: Stores such as Weingarten’s Grocery, the Village Laundro- mat and Otto O ce Supply as well as a U.S. post o ce cov- ered the bare essentials for Rice University’s population. Toward the start of the ’80s, development of high-end housing in West University Place shifted the landscape of Rice Village as shops began catering to residential clients. “Faculty bought houses [in West University Place], and so things were modest; you’d have a vacuum repair shop,” Kean said. “There is no such thing today. Everything got more a uent; even the stu- dents got more a uent.” Rice University began charging students for tuition in 1965. Once they started charging tuition, the student body also became more a u- ent, Kean said. While several stores still carried essential goods and services for students, many of the newer openings exempli- ed this shift in wealth. Mul- tiple jewelers and shoe stores, a guitar shop and a smatter- ing of beauty supply outlets came to the center. While Rice Village main- tains some of the local feel of its previous iterations, a comparison of site maps from 1980, 2001 and 2021 suggest a shift away from local mom and pop shops and toward larger retail chains. Management history Land in and around Rice Village has been owned by Rice University since the mid-1980s, but the commer- cial property on that land has shifted management over the years. In 2014, the Rice Man- agement Co. bought out Weingarten Realty, which had owned and managed the Village Arcade, the southern half of Rice Village between Amherst Street and Univer- sity Boulevard, for more than 20 years. Property management has
RICE BLVD.
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
N
Local business
Chain business
Trends Tailor
Susan's Nail & Facial
Beautique Day Spa & Salon
TIMES BLVD.
Chloe Dao Boutique
E
A
B
D
C
Brown Bag Deli
Prego
Cru Home
Christina Greene Jewelry
D’Amico’s
AMHERST ST.
F
Lily Rain
Clique Salon
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
Percentages are estimates based on site plans for Rice Village Arcade from each of the corresponding years.
A changing landscape
76%
65%
49%
21%
2 0 0 1
1 9 8 0
2 0 1 4
2 0 2 1
of businesses were local, and 24% were chains.
RISING VA LU E S
Property values of buildings at the core of Rice Village have risen over the past eight years, according to data from the Harris County Appraisal District.
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
$2.5M $2M $1.5M $1M $0.5M $0
$5M $4M $3M $2M $1M $0
$5M $4M $3M $2M $1M $0
A
B
C
$5M $4M $3M $2M $1M $0
$60M
$30M
D
E
F
$40M
$20M
$20M
$10M
$0
$0
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, RICE VILLAGE ALLIANCE DIRECTORY OF COMMERCE 2021, NEWCOMER’S GUIDE 1980 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
A NEW BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED AT THIS SITE IN 2018.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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