LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020 • Page 1B
11th Street church demolished for storage By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Last week, the longtime home of Resurrection Life Fellowship, a church at 730 E. 11th St., was demolished. The website for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s Architectural Barriers Projects listed a forthcoming seven-story, self-storage facility project from Big Tex Storage to start construction in March and finish in January 2022. While the news may have been a surprise to many – including followers of the neighborhood Facebook page The Heights Life, which first reported it – Big Tex Storage’s Bobby Grover said the property was purchased months ago. “We worked closely with Traci Rhynes and the Stude Revival board on the purchase of the property, which we closed earlier this summer,” Grover said. “Furthermore, I understand from the brokers, the building was in such physical disrepair the church actually met across the street for the past several years due to safety and membership dropped to five parishioners over the past few years. Timing worked out, and the sellers were looking for a local developer with a successful track record for quality developments.” Many online commenters were disappointed that the Heights had lost a little
Photo by Betsy Denson Resurrection Life Fellowship, a church at 730 E. 11th St., was recently demolished to make room for a seven-story storage facility.
more of its history. Before the demolished building was a church, it was a theatre. The website Cinema Treasures said the Stude Theatre opened at the location on Nov. 16, 1939, with the feature “East Side of Heaven,” starring Bing Crosby and Joan Blondell. “The Stude Theatre was billed as ‘Houston’s New Theatre of Tomorrow,’ with RCA high-fidelity sound, large comfortable seats and air-conditioning,” according to the site. “Like many neighbors, I am sad to see this happen,”
Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin said, noting that her office was not notified about the demolition or the plans for the location. “Historic buildings are part of what makes the Heights so unique. While some areas have protections through historic districts, historic landmarks or lot and setback restrictions, Houston does not have zoning.” Kamin said the City’s Planning & Development Department is leading a Livable Places initiative that is looking at ways to deal with neighborhood protections,
Contributed photo Resurrection Life Fellowship was first built in 1939 as the Stude Theatre. It had become deteriorated and was recently torn down.
among other issues. “I hope community members will get involved and provide their input through this initiative,” she said. Grover said structural analysis showed significant physical concerns with the
now-demolished building. “Further, (it) was found to have asbestos, which prior to demolition we remediated properly with oversight from the appropriate authorities,” he said. “The building had to be torn down.”
Prior to demolition, Grover said he worked with a church leader to donate the useable pews, A/V equipment and fixtures, and salvaged the original church signage. There were a few Facebook commenters who expressed relief that the new build was not a business that would require parking, adding more car traffic to an already-busy area. Grover said his developments have a light traffic footprint, with seven cars per day on average. He said the plan is to develop a pedestrian-friendly plaza with 6-foot-wide sidewalks and a well-landscaped street façade. “Our facility will close at 10 p.m. every night, making it quite possibly the quietest, safest neighbor,” he said. “And as for development concerns related to flooding, we design our storm systems to exceed the city’s storm water detention requirements, utilizing an oversized underground storm water detention system to meet code.” Grover also has Big Tex facilities at 3480 Ella Blvd. and 1810 Richmond Ave. He is the 2020-21 treasurer of the Texas Self Storage Association. For more information on the Livable Places initiative, visit https://houstontx.gov/ planning/livableplaces.html.
Heights bungalows added to national historic registry By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
If you took a drive down Tulane Street in the Heights, you might not be able to tell which two houses were added to the National Register of Historic Places earlier this month. The neighboring homes are not at all big, measuring only 1,317 square feet between them, and there are few signs they are historically significant. The 98-yearold bungalows Dikeman have vintage front porches and features but also fresh coats of paint and a paved driveway between them. According to property owner Neal Dikeman, though, the homes at 1217 and 1219 Tulane St. became the first Heights houses added to the national register in 15 years. “They may not be grand in scale, but they’re grand in terms of history and the makeup of the neighborhood,” said Minnette Boesel, chair of the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission. Indeed, Dikeman’s pair of rental properties already were part of a his-
Photo by Adam Zuvanich The neighboring bungalows at 1217 and 1219 Tulane St. in the Heights were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
toric district designated by the City of Houston. The local real estate investor and his wife, Karen, who own Old Growth Ventures, applied to the Texas Historical Commission and National Park Service to have the
homes added to the National Register of Historic Places. Neal Dikeman said they are among the smallest homes on the register, and they are among a group of less than 30 structures across Texas that
have been added to the register this year. Dikeman has described the process as tedious, but there is payoff. Having the rental homes designated as historic allows him to capitalize on
tax incentives at the municipal, state and federal levels that ultimately could help him recover half of what he spent to renovate the property since purchasing it in 2017. He said there generally isn’t much incentive for resident homeowners to have their houses added to the national register, so going through the process with larger, commercial buildings is more common. David Bush, the executive director of Preservation Houston, said most of the Heights homes on the national register were added in the mid-1980s. “The Heights is our best historic area and has the most historical character, but for (multiple) reasons, these are the first added in a while,” Dikeman said. According to the application form submitted to the National Park Service, the homes on Tulane were built by Cora Canfield in 1922. She had purchased the property from Heights founder O.M. Carter for a total of $750 and had the adjacent Craftsman bungalow homes constructed for a total of $3,750, initially leasing out the four-room home at 1217 Tulane. The two-house property now is valued at $616,535, according to the Harris County Appraisal District. “I do like for folks to understand,” Dikeman said, “if these houses are worthy of marking (historic), the one you’re living in might be as well.”
Real Estate Roundup
HAA names Morgan as first female CEO By Betsy Denson
buyer will be redeveloping the site.
betsy@theleadernews.com
Casey Watts Morgan has joined the Houston Apartment Association (HAA) as CEO, replacing the recently retired Jeff Hall, who led HAA for 17 years. She will be the first female to lead the association, which observes its 60th anniversary this year. Prior to joining HAA, Morgan served as EVP and CEO of the Greater Houston Builders Association, the fourth-largest home builders’ organization in the country. Village Medical to open on 43rd When the former Chase drive-through on the corner of Oak Forest Drive and West 43rd Street vacated the space, it sat empty for months. Now, after Weingarten Realty rehabbed the space and took out the drive-through lanes, there is a new tenant - Village Medical Primary Care. The primary care provider has 30 locations in the Hous-
Since 1928
Space available in Oak Forest Weingarten Realty has tenant availability in the Oak Forest Shopping center across West 43rd Street from the Oak Forest Kroger. A 1,590 square foot space, a 2,600 square foot space and a 1,550 square foot space between the PostNet and Today’s Vision are available to lease, according to Weingarten’s website. Visit
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ton area, including some at Walgreens pharmacies. The standalone location at 1351 W. 43rd St., which will open soon according to the office’s website, is 3,756 square feet and located across the street from Oak Forest Elementary. Undisclosed buyer acquires 1200 Durham
BizNow reports that the 19,200 square foot parcel of land at 1200 Durham Dr. was purchased by an undisclosed buyer. It had been owned by a Houston-based investor. Marcus & Millichap’s Justin Miller, Cary Latham and Adam Abushagur had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller. The undisclosed
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Page 2B • Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020 • The Leader
Real Estate Roundup, from P. 1B www.weingarten.com for details. Red Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar on 34th Red Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar has signage up at 5370 W. 34th St., Ste M17 in the Northbrook Shopping Center where El Rancho Supermarket is also located. Red Crab’s Facebook page says the “famous Cajun Seafood Boil� is coming soon and lists additional locations in Winston Salem, N.C.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Pensacola, Florida; and Fredericksburg, Virginia. New owner for Northwood Village According to BizNow, a private investor has purchased
Northwood Village, a 31,300 square foot retail property at 8100-8140 Antoine Dr. The property is 71 percent occupied and is on a 2.5-acre lot. Marcus & Millichap’s Philip Levy marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a private investor. The buyer was also secured and represented by Levy. NND Real Estate LLC buys property on North Shepherd BizNow also reported that NND Real Estate LLC purchased a 20,000 square foot industrial property at 6003 N. Shepherd Dr. Lee & Associates’ Patrick Wolford and Stephen Kuper represented the seller, Shepherd Real Estate LLC.
Contributed photo Village Medical is a new tenant at the corner of West 43rd Street and Oak Forest Drive after the Chase drive-through vacated the space earlier this year.
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Your Walking Agent Ashley Day 504.237.6535 REALTORÂŽ ashley.day@compass.com
Mike Clark had no real estate background when he jumped from corporate IT work into the world of real estate back in 2007. Debbie Kotzur, on the other hand, worked for a real estate appraiser for years before diving in nearly 30 years ago. But whatever their paths, the two now combine to form a prime real estate team with RE/ MAX Metro serving buyers and sellers in northwest Houston and beyond. “We feel that (working as a team) is a winwin. The clients get two for the price of one,� Kotzur said. “They’re never left in the lurch if something comes up, and makes it really nice for them.� Additionally, the two said they can bounce ideas off each other with regards to marketing, pricing or other aspects of a transaction to pass on to their clients – another unique dynamic to the partnership. “A lot of agents are independent and on their own – as a one-man crew you don’t have anyone to cover for you if you’re gone,� Clark said. “If you are the lone ranger, you don’t typically have that without a business partner, so I think that helps our clients as well.� Focusing primarily on Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights, and other inner loop neighborhoods of north Houston, the pair has worked together with RE/MAX Metro for about eight years. Kotzur is a native Houstonian and has lived in Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, while Clark has lived in Shepherd Park Plaza/Timbergrove for more than 30 years. Kotzur is also a graduate of St. Pius X High School. Clark believes the inherent knowledge of the inner loop neighborhoods as they have evolved helps them find their clients a forever home or the right buyer, because they have an up close and personal perspective on whatever the clients are looking for on a personal level. “Living here helps you learn the ins and outs of the neighborhoods down to the street level and what’s a good fit for your client,� he said. The main priority, they said, is to keep the lines of communication open at all times and always work hard for every client and their indi-
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vidual needs. They want a personal relationship with their clients – though the means of connection have been much different amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s definitely different when you’re showing a property. You’re opening up the doors and standing in a corner to let them look around. You don’t get as close as you used to,â€? Kotzur said. “They come in, and I just stand out of their way. You’re trying to be close to the folks, but you can’t be (physically) close to them.â€? There has also been more virtual connection via Zoom teleconferencing and other means by which to connect with clients and find a perfect fit, making things a little different. But one thing has not changed – they’re still out trying to make things work, and do their best work on behalf of every client. “My favorite part is helping people find their dream home,â€? Clark said. Whatever the need, whether it’s buying or selling, the pair believes they bring every aspect to the table, even in a pandemic. In-person, virtually, or over the phone – they’re always there for their clients. Both know the transaction can be a difficult minefield for those unfamiliar with it, especially in the current environment, and that’s where they come in – to take away as much stress as possible from the process. “It’s their biggest investment, so they need to be able to find a place that makes them happy and comfortable,â€? Clark said. “Then when people are ready for the next stage of their life, it’s really nice to help them sell their home and then find a new one. That’s the most exciting part of it, helping people reach their goals.â€? Kotzur echoed the sentiment. “When you’re with a buyer and you see the lightbulb come on – that, to me, is just so incredibly cool. Sellers do the same thing. The emotions when that happens are just over the top, and I just think it’s wonderful,â€? she said. “To me, it’s really not a job at all – it’s fun being in real estate, and I’ve always been glad I got into it.‌I love helping people find their dream home or sale and moving on with their life.â€? To buy or sell a home with the Clark/Kotzur RE/MAX team, email info@clarkkotzurteam. com.
harley.hedgpeth@gmail.com 1803 W. 43rd St. Houston, TX 77018
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The Leader • Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020 • Page 3B
Can chiropractic care help pets? Dear Tabby, We have an older dog who is starting to have some health issues. I’ve heard about chiropractors for animals and was curious to know if a chiropractor could help our dog? Curious about Chiro in Cottage Grove Dear Curious about Chiro, These days, it’s possible to find vets who specialize in all sorts of modalities--some influenced by Western medicine and some influenced by Eastern medicine (and everywhere in between). Veterinary chiropractic care is becoming more and more popular among pet owners and can help with all sorts of issues in animals of all ages. Check with your vet first First things first, though, make sure that you check in with your vet and let him or her know that you’re planning to seek the consultation of a veterinary chiropractor. While many ailments and injuries are helped by chiropractic care, some issues are not, so there’s no sense in wasting money on chiropractic care when it might not help your pet.
Seek out veterinary chiropractors Also, make sure you go to a veterinary chiropractor. Most human chiropractors have only studied the human body and not the bodies of different types of animals. There is a comprehensive listing of veterinary chiropractors on the website for the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (https://www.animalchiropractic.org/). What can a chiropractor help with? If you’re wondering if your pet could benefit from chiropractic care, here are some of the issues and ailments that it can help (according to Lakeview Animal Clinic in Wisconsin): • Neck pain, back pain, jaw pain, extremity pain • Temperament changes • Loss of interest in activity • Chronic ear infections • Asymmetrical movement • Allergies • Laying or sitting only on one side • Constant licking or chewing • Resistance to brushing or petting • Musculoskeletal problems • Lameness • Digestion problems • Neurological conditions • Diagnosed conditions, such as arthritis, luxating patella, wobblers, disc disease
• Problems eating or playing with toys • Paresis • Sudden back leg paralysis, dragging of back legs • Muscle imbalance, atrophy, strains • Holding tail to one side • Hot spots • Injuries from falls, training, etc. • Stress Cost The cost of a veterinary chiropractic visit varies from practitioner to practitioner, but can cost around $75 per visit and might require (at least) once-a-month adjustments for a period of time. Also, plan for the initial consultation to cost a bit more as the chiropractor will go over your pet’s entire body to assess what is needed. If you have a pet experiencing any kind of health issue, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try chiropractic care either alongside or even before other, potentially more invasive treatment methods. When it comes to the health and happiness of our four-legged friends, it’s a treasure to be able to give them the best care possible and to make informed decisions with their happiness and comfort in mind.
Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week Meet Coco Coco’s story is a sad one. We won’t go into detail, but this 14-year-old very good girl lost her human recently--the only human who doted on and loved her more than anything. Now, Coco is spending the holidays missing her person but hopeful that her new family is right around the corner. Coco loves everyone and would fit effortlessly into your home. Please give her a chance. Go to www.scoutshonor.org to learn more.
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Dogs like Christmas treats, too By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
My 9-year-old golden retriever is just a big fat baby. A big golden goober is what I call him. When I imagine what he would sound like if he could talk, I think about the dog from the Pixar movie “Up.” You know, the one that is constantly distracted by squirrels. And my dog, Auggie, likes to eat more than doing just about anything else. He fetches, but after the 10th throw he decides he’s done. On the other hand, after begging for a 10th treat, he keeps begging. So when Garden Oaks resident Rebecca Bridges, who blogs as HoustonDogMom.com, reached out to me with a puppy treat recipe for making cookies during the holidays, I knew it was something I had to try. Bridges also had a hand in creating The Pup Stop, located on the corner of Alba Road and Wakefield Drive, where pet owners can stop by for free dog treats and potty bags. These homemade treats are available there every second Saturday and the rest of the time it’s store-bought treats. The Christmas-themed dog treat recipes can be found at https://houstondogmom. com/christmas-dog-treatrecipes/. I made the Peanut Butter & Pressed Dog Treats first. I already had most of the ingredi-
ents, which included pumpkin puree, creamy peanut butter, eggs, oat flour and natural food coloring, which was optional. In her recipe, Bridges wrote that with just oat flour, her dough was too sticky, so she added almond and coconut flour as well. I didn’t have either of the latter two on hand, so I crossed my fingers that the oat flour would be fine alone. In an attempt to give it a thicker consistency, to make the flour I used old-fashioned oats and whirled them in my blender. I only used the pulse setting so the oats wouldn’t be cut into fine pieces. This worked perfect. Once I mixed all of the ingredients together, before the food coloring, the dough was very thick and didn’t even stick to my hands. At the end of the recipe, Bridges mentions having trouble with doing the food coloring at the end and that she would instead add it before the flour. I added it at the end, and while it was tough to work into the dough, it turned out well. I cut the dough in half and colored one red and the other green. Most people probably wouldn’t want to do this, but to mix in the color I folded it into the dough by hand to really knead it through. The coloring got all over my hands, but went back onto the dough the more I worked it. I took a little from each color and rolled it into a ball and
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placed it on parchment paper. With a glass, I flattened the cookies. After 15 minutes in the oven, they were ready. Another recipe featured on the blog is Apple Cranberry Dog Treats. The recipe calls for fresh cranberries, apple sauce, whole wheat flour, ground cinnamon, milk, and the option of honey, turmeric and ginger. I pureed the cranberries with the apple sauce, which is a little different than the recipe, which says to puree the cranberries first. I only have a blender, so I needed something with a liquid consistency to help puree the cranberries. I mixed the rest of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Out of the optional ingredients, I only used honey. Then the recipe says to roll out the dough and cut desired shapes from it. My dough was pretty tough to handle because it was stickier. I tried adding more wheat flour, but it still gave me a harder time. I used a few different cookie cutters, including a Christmas tree, a star, a candy cane and a plain circle. I think the candy cane ones turned out the best. The first set are prettier with the Christmas colors. The second set turned out a kind of dark salmon color. Auggie didn’t care what they looked like. He literally was jumping for both. When I tried to get him to choose one, he tried to eat both, so I think it was a successful endeavor.
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Page 4B • Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020 • The Leader
Market Update
Spike in sales, prices characterize local November markets By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
It was a pretty lucrative month for real estate agents in local home markets last month, as the majority of zip codes mirrored Greater Houston with a year-overyear rise in November sales. Year-over-year sales spikes ranged from almost 21 percent (77007) to nearly 63 percent (77092) in the area, though 77091 zip code did see a dip of nearly 7 percent. Home prices – both average and median – also saw a November spike according to the most recent report from the Houston Association of Realtors. As a whole, sales in the Greater Houston market rose nearly 26 percent last month, with both average and median prices increasing at least 10 percent. 77018 It was a particularly fruitful month in the Central Northwest area, which includes Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Shepherd Park Plaza and other neighborhoods. Agents saw 64 homes come off the market in this area last month, a 56.1 percent year-over-year rise from last year’s mark of 41. Yearto-date, this zip code has seen 709 homes sold since the start of 2020 – a 14.4 percent increase over last year’s pace. The average buyer paid $515,157 for a home last month, a year-over-year spike of almost 11 percent. Median home price rose just under 2 percent, up to $427,500. 77092 Just to the west, in a zip code that includes Mangum Manor, realtors saw the biggest percentage rise in yearover-year November sales. There were 26 homes sold in the market last month, representing a 62.5 percent increase compared to 16 in the same month last year. Despite the rise, however, the market is still lagging slightly behind its 2019 pace. There have been 238 homes sold since the start of the year,
compared to 252 during the same period last year. On the pricing front, the average homebuyer cost spiked to $333,131 – an increase of almost 19 percent. Year-over-year median price rose 4.1 percent last month, up to $296,650. 77091 To the north, it was unfortunately a downturn in home sales – though only slightly. A code containing Greater Inwood and Acres Homes sold 14 homes last month –an ever-so-slight dip from the 15 sold during November 2019. However, this market is still well ahead of last year’s pace despite the downturn. Agents have seen 191 homes come off the market since the start of the year, a 22.4 percent advantage over last year’s figure of 156 during the same period. Amidst the slight sales downturn, prices also spiked according to HAR data. The average buyer spent $285,839 on a house here – a 34.4 percent spike – while median prices jumped more than 74 percent up to $313,420. 77008 Down in the Greater Heights, the market was booming once again as it saw one of the area’s biggest sales jumps. There were 85 sales in this market last month, marking a 54.5 percent year-over-year rise that more than doubled the Greater Houston market’s 25.6 percent increase. On a year-to-date basis, there area is about 6 percent ahead of last year’s pace, having seen 987 homes sold since the start of 2020. Median home prices actually fell a little more than 1 percent down to $499,000 last month – one of only two markets to see a dip in year-over year pricing. The average homebuyer paid $585,770 for a house last month, a 5.2 percent yearover-year change. 77009 To the east, a zip code including Woodland Heights
and Norhill neighborhoods was the second-biggest riser last month. Homes sales here increased by 60 percent, with agents selling 56 homes compared to last November’s mark of 35. Despite that, however, the area is still lagging behind last year’s pace. There have been 521 homes sold through the end of November, as opposed to 544 sales during the same period last year. Pricing-wise, the average home sold for $472,235 last month – a slight (1.8 percent) increase compared to last November. Median price came in at $420,027, representing a 5.6 percent drop.
77007 Even though the area including Rice Military and St. Thomas High School didn’t see quite the spike as surrounding areas, it was still a good month. The area 64 homes come off the market in November, a 20.8 percent spike compared to 53 sold last November. It’s also been a good year, with 731 homes sales through the end of November, compared to 715 at the same juncture in 2019. Average home price went up 16 percent to $591,682, while median prices were up nearly 9 percent to $474,950 at month’s end.
Photo from Houston Association of Realtors website Home sales in many local markets such as Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and the Heights saw year-over-year rises last month.
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713-371-3506 Notice Virtual Public Hearing Shepherd and Durham Drives From I-610 to I-10 CSJ: 0912-72-607 HARRIS County, Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority (MHRA) propose to reconstruct Shepherd and Durham Drives from I-610 to I-10 in Harris County, Texas. This notice advises the public that TxDOT and MHRA will be conducting an on-line virtual public hearing on the proposed project to conform to Public Transportation Hearing Texas Administrative Code 43 TAC 2.107. The virtual public hearing will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at 5:30 P.M. To log onto the virtual public hearing, go to the following web address at the date and time indicated above: www.memorialheightstirz5.com/projects/shepherd-and-durham-major-investment-project. Project staff will give a presentation which will be a pre-recorded video that will include both audio and visual components. Please note that the presentation will not be available on the website until the time and date listed above. Following the virtual public hearing, the presentation will remain available for viewing at the web address indicated above. Comments must be submitted by Friday, January 29, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. to be included in the Public Hearing Summary Report. If you do not have internet access, you may contact Sherry Weesner, MHRA President, at 832-429-6237 between the hours of 9 A.M. and 4 P.M., Monday through Friday, to ask questions and access project materials during the project development process. Members of the public may call 832-429-6237 to provide verbal testimony immediately following the conclusion of the virtual public hearing presentation at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, January 14, 2021, through 11:59 P.M. on Friday, January 29, 2021. Formal written comments may also be provided by mail or email as explained below. All verbally provided testimony and timely written comments will be considered by TxDOT and MHRA and included as part of the official record. Responses to verbally provided testimony and comments will be prepared by TxDOT and MHRA, included as part of the hearing and project record, and made available online at www.memorialheightstirz5.com/projects/shepherd-and-durham-major-investment-project approximately three months after close of the comment period. The proposed project would reduce the number of through lanes from four to three and construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the form of sixto ten-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of Shepherd and Durham Drives and bike lanes (six-foot-wide behind the curb) on the east sides of both Shepherd and Durham Drives. The project also proposes to replace and upgrade sanitary and water lines as well as make improvements to traffic signals, landscaping, crosswalk striping and stormwater utilities. The project may require minor right-of-way acquisition at West 20th, West 19th, and West 11th to accommodate turning movements and sight-line improvements. This project would provide new connections to the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail and Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Trail. The approximate length of the project is 2.4 miles. Although additional right-of-way would be required, no residential or non-residential structures are anticipated to be displaced. Information concerning services and benefits available to affected property owners and information about the tentative schedule for right-of-way acquisition and construction can be obtained from MHRA by calling 832-429-6237. Any environmental documentation or studies, maps and drawings showing the project location and design, tentative construction schedules, and other information regarding the proposed project are available online at www.memorialheightstirz5.com/projects/shepherd-and-durham-major-investmentproject. The virtual public hearing will be conducted in English and Spanish. If you need an interpreter or document translator because English or Spanish is not your primary language or you have difficulty communicating effectively in English or Spanish, one will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. If you need interpretation or translation services or you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend and participate in the virtual public hearing, please contact MHRA at 832-429-6237 no later than 4 P.M. CT, Monday, January 11, 2021. Please be aware that advance notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time for the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority to arrange. Written comments from the public regarding the proposed project are requested and may be submitted by mail to MHRA, 1980 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1380, Houston, TX 77056. Written comments may also be submitted by email to comments@memorialheightstirz5.com. All comments must be received on or before Friday, January 29, 2021. Additionally, as stated above, members of the public may call 832-429-6237 and verbally provide testimony from 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, January 14, 2021, until 11:59 P.M. on Friday, January 29, 2021. If you have any general questions or concerns regarding the proposed project or the virtual hearing, please contact Sherry Weesner, MHRA President, 832-429-6237, comments@memorialheightstirz5.com. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 9, 2019, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.