News
BY VANESSA HOLT & JESSICA SHORTEN
Shenandoah council member sworn in
Renter population grows 1.7% in The Woodlands The Woodlands Township has seen population growth since 2018, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released Dec. 12, and alongside the growth has come a higher demand for renting over homeownership in the area. The township saw the percentage of renters in its population grow by nearly 2 percentage points in 2023 compared to 2018, a trend repeating in the neighboring city of Shenandoah, which saw an increase from 42.7% to 44.2% in renter-occupied properties in the same time period. The big picture The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data shows changes over a ve-year period to demographics in a region. While The Wood- lands and Shenandoah both saw an increase in renter-occupied units since 2018, the proportion of renters in the population decreased from 9.1% to
The Woodlands plans 4 new art benches The Woodlands Arts Council unveiled four new art benches during a Dec. 3 ceremony, adding to the 38 benches and bike racks found throughout The Woodlands. The details The new pieces are named: • Brow Ridge
Regional Grand Parkway safety task force forms The e ort to “end the streak” of daily deaths on Texas roads has received a new boost from the Harris County Sheri ’s Department. The agency has partnered with several other neighboring law enforcement entities to form a new multi- agency partnership to address safety on the Grand Parkway, Harris County Sheri Ed Gonzalez said at a Dec. 18 press conference. Gonzalez said a partnership of area agencies will include the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheri ’s O ce, Montgomery County Sheri ’s O ce and other regional entities. The task force began working in November to increase enforce- ment and awareness of safe driving practices on the corridor, where 2,280 crashes have occurred in Harris County alone in 2024, resulting in nine deaths, Gonzalez said.
Strategies to improve safety
New data shows growth trends in The Woodlands Population
Increasing patrols targeting speeding and impaired driving
109,843 121,514
2018
+10.6%
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough conducted the swear- ing-in of Joe Summerlin Jr. as the new Position 2 council member for the city of Shenandoah on Dec. 11 following the Nov. 5 resignation of longtime council member Ted Fletcher. What’s next?
2023
Using technology for speed detection
Percent of renters
Owners
Renters
Addressing aggressive driving behavior
2018
2023
Educating drivers to obey speed limits, drive sober
28.6%
30.3%
71.4%
69.7%
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
Joe Summerlin Jr.
• Critter Creature • Flight to the Sun • Windswept Oak In their words
Some context The initiative started in November in response to “concerning” statistics on car crashes on the Grand Parkway, Gonzales said. “This corridor has become known as ... a speedway, and it’s a culture that has been allowed to occur with very little law enforcement present and that’s something we want to change,” Gonza- lez said.
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5 YEAR ESTIMATES COMMUNITY IMPACT 3.5% in Oak Ridge North from 2018 to 2023. The changes to buying and renting trends in Shenandoah and The Woodlands come as both areas look to expand their multifamily o erings such as The Ritz-Carlton Residences, which will have 111 luxury units in The Woodlands.
Summerlin will serve out Fletcher’s remaining time in Position 2 until the position is up for election once again in May. Summerlin was nominated by Mayor John Escoto, and has not announced if he will seek election to the seat in May.
“The four new art benches are a welcome addition to the over 80 pieces of public art found throughout our beautiful hometown,” TWAC Executive Director Jenny Caratti- ni-Wright said.
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110 FM 1488 3588 FM 1488 (936) 271-9606
RAYFORD SAWDUST 25044 IH 45 (281) 362-9131 GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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