The Guide 2020

The

GUIDE 2020

THE LEADER. 45th Edition • December 19, 2020

THE LEADER • 44th Edition • December 19, 2020

The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 2

WE KEEP YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY TOP OF MIND AND CLOSE TO HOME

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 3

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 4

We’ve persevered and are proud of it Adam

Zuvanich Editor

Y

ou’ll notice a common thread as you flip through the pages in this year’s edition of The Guide, a comprehensive account of life in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other neighborhoods of Northwest Houston.

That thread is actually a term with which we all have become too familiar: COVID-19.

We know you’re tired of seeing and hearing about the pandemic, and we’re tired of writing about it. But we cannot ignore the fact it has impacted our lives and affected the way we operate as individuals, families, businesses and consumers.

The awful, nasty coronavi-

rus has touched almost every corner of the community, reshaping the ways we eat, learn, play, pray, build, heal, create and improve the infrastructure that helps us connect to each other, even if we have to do so while staying physically apart.

But you know what? It hasn’t been all bad, and we’re not here to deliver more bad news.

We’re going to tell you how neighborhood residents, along with the businesses, nonprofit organizations and elected officials that serve them, have adapted to the pandemic and positioned themselves to come out of it better than before.

We’re a bright, resourceful and resilient bunch in this part of town, and that’s never been more evident than in 2020.

We’ve gone outside to exercise, socialize, shop and safely sell our goods and services to the community. Doing so has allowed us to reconnect to the beauty of nature, such as taking in the new Eastern Glades

at Memorial Park, which is featured on this year’s cover.

Many of us have come to realize we can still be productive when we work from home instead of an office, and we can still rely on our faiths even if we cannot gather in places of worship. We can still educate our children by utilizing technology, and we can still enjoy food from our favorite restaurants even if we pick it up and take it home.

And, of course, we’ve never been more grateful for our first responders, healthcare facilities and the brave doctors and nurses who risk their lives to protect ours.

So please take a few minutes to recount all the ways our slice of the city and the people who make it special have persevered and made us proud this year. You can also take comfort in knowing that as rough as 2020 has been, it’s almost over, vaccines are on the way and brighter days are ahead.

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Bikes are complicated sometimes and there are a lot of choices so it’s nice to go to a big shop like iCycle Bike Shop that has a lot of variety and selection and has expert staff to help you.

Our mechanics stay up to date on the latest technology from SRAM, AVID, SHIMANO, ZIPP, and MAVIC to service your pro-level bike. Bring in your bike today for a free diagnosis and estimate! Open 7 days a week, on the White Oak Bikepath, stop in, fill your water bottle and say Hi!

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O

wners Jim and Kathy Stratton and Duane Myers purchased C&D Hardware in 1999 from Mrs. Alice Dailey. The store, located at 314 East 11th in the Heights, was once the site of record shop & jukebox business owned

by Pappy Daily and his sons. With its small-town appeal, C&D Hardware still prides itself on being a family-owned and operated business serving the Heights since 1951. The store has grown through

the years and is constantly adding products to keep up with customers’ needs and expectations. C & D Hardware carved out a niche for itself long ago and continues to strive to maintain outstanding customer service.

Although C & D Hardware prides itself on being a full-line hardware store, the store also carries a large selection of home and garden decor. Looking for a gift?

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and more. Recently-added products include Traeger & Green Mountain Wood Pellet Grills, Yeti Coolers, Tumblers and accessories, a Huge selection of light bulbs, Bona Wood and Hard Surface Cleaners, Science Diet Pet Foods. The store also provides services that include: metal screens made and repaired, key cutting, glass cutting, lock re-keying, sharpening service, carpet cleaner rental, pipe cutting and treading, and computer paint color matching.

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 5

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 6

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Contributed photo The M-K-T development, an adaptive resuse project by Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners, opened this year at the corner of North Shepherd Drive and 6th Street and has more tenants on the way. It offers restaurants, retail and office space along with outdoor amenities.

Commercial, residential development continues to flourish throughout area

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Although the COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed the progress of some projects, there is still a steady stream of activity in area. Whether it is new tenant news or a new retail or residential offering, every month brings more developments.

One that continues to loom the largest is M-T-K Heights, a 12-acre adaptive reuse undertaking by Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners along the Heights Hike and Bike Trail. Buildings one through five at the former industrial warehouse complex have office and retail space available, and a second phase of the project is on the way.

Tenants include Common Assembly and DYI Apparel, Homestead Kitchen & Bar, Honeychild’s Sweet Creams, Pedego Electric Bikes and

Union Studio Yoga as well as the corporate offices of SmartVault and XCL Resources.

There is also a monthly “Sunset Market” featuring Houston chefs along with local businesses offering goods and entertainment.

Another development that is complete is Stomping Grounds at 1225 W. 34th St., near the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA. Its center lawn for events will be a big draw once people can safely gather en masse again. Tenants open for business include Fat Cat Creamery, Threadfare Children’s Boutique and Becca Cakes.

Also taking shape is the westbound portion of 34th Street past Ella Oaks. The former Aztec Rental Center at 2001 W. 34th St., a 5.5-acre site, is home to a Braun Development with newly opened Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage.

Mia and Joe Heil purchased

about an acre of the total from Braun Enterprises to build Oak Forest Academy at 1901 W. 34th St. Another early learning school, Children’s Lighthouse, will open at 2109 W. 34th St. by the end of the year. Alexis Legg purchased the land for the school in 2019.

North Shepherd Drive is also hot with more additions that followed in the wake of the H-E-B at 2300 N. Shepherd Dr. Katz’s Deli & Bar opened next door, one of several new restaurants in the area.

Lowell Street Market, Radom Capital’s complex at North Shepherd Drive and 18th Street; Braun’s Shepherd Row at 1002 N. Shepherd Dr. across from the Kroger; and Gulf Coast Commercial’s 17,200 square foot retail development, called Lot 14 Shopping Center at 3201 N. See Build, P. 8

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 7

The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 8

Build, from P. 6 Shepherd Dr., are all still adding new tenants.

SheSpace, Central Bank and Milano Nails.

Residential + retail The trend for residential and retail is also not slowing down, kicked off in 2016 with the Heights Waterworks project between 19th and 20th streets at Nicholson Street.

Phoenix-based Alliance Residential built apartments at the northwest corner of Nicholson and 20th.

Recently opened is Alexan Lower Heights, a 372-unit, multi-family hub developed

by Trammell Crow Residential occupying 5 acres off Summer Street, which is part of Gulf Coast Commercial’s 24-acre project called Lower Heights District at Interstate 10 and Studemont Street.

Early next year, 1440 Studemont, an approximately 35,000-square foot, two-story building with street-level retail below loft-like offices opening to terraces, will welcome its inaugural tenants, including

Farmers markets reimagined Anh Mai recently told the Houston Business Journal that he sees a big demand for farmers markets in the wake of COVID-19. Railway Heights at 8200 Washington Ave, a 27,000-square foot food hall and market complex, aims to meet that need.

Mai said their retail tenants are smaller and highly localized. The leases are more flexible, too, to draw diverse, independent businesses.

A farmers market on a grander scale is coming together at the 18-acre Houston Farmers Market at 2025 Airline Dr., which was acquired

by MLB Capital Partners in May 2017.

The original market has been around since 1942, but the reimagining will debut in 2021.

The ongoing project, which

MLB’s Todd Mason said will cost about $35 million, will add parking spaces, sidewalks, landscaping and a dedicated green space to the longtime community gathering place.

There also will be about 10 restaurants, including two concepts from Underbelly Hospitality and James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd, who has served as a consultant for the market transformation.

Also recently announced is the addition of R-C Ranch Texas Craft Meats, a Brazoria County-based butcher shop that will feature glass walls so market visitors can see meat being cut.

Apartments and singlefamily homes Yardi Matrix, a provider of commercial real estate data and research, said Houston was No. 7 in the nation for most apartments completed during the first six months of 2020, with 2,085 apartments

built. New complexes in the area include Lincoln Heights, a four-story apartment complex in the Brooke Smith area, and Durham Heights, a 281-unit, multi-family development from Houston-based Slate Real Estate Partners at 720 W. 26th St. Forthcoming is Modera Washington, an eight-story midrise from Mill Creek Residential at 2520 Washington Ave., and a five-story apartment complex from Chicagobased Marquette near the White Oak Music Hall.

There has been ample discussion about the availability of affordable housing in Houston, and the city has made the issue a priority. A 70-unit, affordable rental development targeted for families by Avenue CDC is underway at 2136 W. 34th St., the site of the former Doyle’s Restaurant.

The pandemic has not put a damper on housing sales in recent months. According to the Houston Association of

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Durham Heights, a 281-unit, multi-family development from Slate Real Estate Partners, was recently constructed at 720 W. 26th St. It’s among several upcoming housing options in the area.

Realtors, October brought a 29.2 percent year-over-year increase. The median price of homes rose by 11.1 percent to $266,685, and total sales through mid-December are up by 7.7 percent over this point

in 2019.

The area north of Pinemont Drive toward Acres Homes is a robust market for new builds.

More than 50 new homes were on the market at the time of publication.

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 9

Best Steak House Best Date Place Thank You to

Leader Readers

EAT

for your votes.

Year brings changes to local restaurant scene

By Zarah Parker

zarah@theleadernews.com

The last year has brought much change to the area food scene. While new restaurants have opened their doors and others have closed, all have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that wrought changes to how places operated starting in March.

Openings were delayed and some restaurants closed permanently due to the financial strain of COVID-19 restrictions, which were placed on businesses to help slow the spread of the virus. But a lot of restaurants, breweries and bars were able to pivot their operations and make it through the storm.

Restrictions on the hospitality scene have varied over the course of the year. Inside dining was restricted with an occupancy limit, tables were spaced at least 6 feet apart, paper menus were used, servers wore masks, and then it was made mandatory for patrons to wear masks when they weren’t seated at their tables.

Many restaurants took these changes in stride. Restaurants that didn’t have togo services worked quickly to provide them, along with curbside pick-up. If a restaurant wasn’t able to provide delivery itself, it used third-party options like Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Contributed photo William Price Distilling, 970 Wakefield Dr., pivoted to producing hand sanitizer before making any spirits.

Because a majority of sales from breweries and bars did not come from food, the mandates were different. While allowed occupancy for inside dining expanded slowly over the summer, bars were allowed to open, then forced to close by the state other than for to-go operations after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Places like Eureka Heights Brew Co., 941 W. 18th St., pivoted by creating a drivethrough pick-up for its canned brews. The bar Lei Low, 6412, N. Main St., made profits by selling drinks to-go. And William Price Distilling, 970 Wakefield Dr., which hadn’t even officially opened, starting making hand sanitizer instead of spirits.

Thank you to The Leader readers for

your votes!

Then in August the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) adopted emergency amendments to its rules for granting food and beverage permits, with the move aiming to allow more alcohol-oriented businesses to reclassify and reopen as restaurants.

Bars and brewpubs could qualify for the permit if they sold food from food trucks or other outside vendors, including commercially pre-packaged meals. The meals do not need to be consumed on-site, but the business had to show that no less than 51 percent of its on-site sales were food.

Many bars, which did not focus on food in their business model, took advantage of the new amendments.

Opened this year Even with the economic downturn, many businesses opened before the pandemic and other owners pushed on and owned a new hospitalitydriven spot in the area despite the potential risk.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, 375 W. 19th St., began offering its sweet treats in January.

The permanent location of the food truck Dumpling Haus opened in late January at 2313 Edwards St. Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener St., is a wine bar with Napa Valley ties that opened

See Eat, P. 10

Thank you to The Leader readers for your votes!

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 10

Photo by Zarah Parker Katz’s is on North Shepherd Drive.

Photo from Facebook Fainmous BBQ moved to 1201 Oliver St. in Sawyer Yards.

Breakfast

Eat, from P. 8 at the start of the year.

The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd Dr., opened in February.

The Halal Guys opened its newest location in the former space of a pawn shop at 3008 Ella Blvd. The Halal Guys are known for their chicken and beef gyro that is served with rice or served in a sandwich.

Moku Bar, 2914 White Oak Dr., opened in the Heights and is serving poke, tempura, udon and musubi.

The Heights also gained Hando, a concept featuring sushi hand rolls, at 518 W. 11th St. The menu consists of 12 types of hand rolls, including salmon, yellowtail, toro, scallop, blue crab, spicy tuna, musubi, lobster, shrimp katsu, tofu, cucumber and mushroom.

Drift, 1207 W. 20th St., a “paradise” in the city, opened its doors in the Heights.

Timbergrove Manor is now home to the second location of Dak & Bop, a restaurant that specializes in Korean fried chicken. Dak & Bop took taking over the former La Vista 101 space at 1805 W. 18th St. Local Group Brewing, 1504 Chapman St., is a brewpub that also features a full food menu that opened in February.

Chick’nCone, 1919 N. Shepherd Dr., opened in the Heights with its fork-less chicken in a waffle cone options.

The restaurant featuring traditional Filipino cuisine and tropical cocktails and condiments and sauces made from

The Original Tex-Mex

scratch, Be More Pacific Kitchen and Bar, opened at 500 Yale St. Another poke place to plant roots in the Heights was Hoke Poke Heights, 1040 W. Cavalcade St. Millie’s Kitchen & Cocktails, 3542 Oak Forest Dr., opened in Oak Forest after years of development and just weeks after the restrictions on restaurants began. The menu is seafood-focused.

Common Bond, which has a location in the Height Waterworks Development at 449 W. 19th St., opened open another concept in the neighborhood that specializes in to-go and drive-through services called On the Go by Common Bond at 601 Heights Blvd.

Roast & Brew opened at 931 W. 19th St. and offers different coffees on rotation, roasted by local and foreign roasters, along with beer and wine.

Longtime friends Lukkaew Srasrisuwan and Miranda Loetkhamfu brought madefrom-scratch Thai cuisine to the Heights through their joint venture Kin Dee Thai Cuisine, 1533 N Shepherd Dr. Fainmous BBQ moved into Sawyer Yards at 1201 Oliver St., to serve Tennessee barbecue.

Barnaby’s moved from White Oak Boulevard to a new location at 181 Heights Blvd.

Tenfold Coffee Company at 101 Aurora St. in the Heights, is a three-fold concept that debuted. Tenfold is a wholesale roaster, café and educational

center all in one.

The health-focused eatery Flower Child, 1533 N. Shepherd Dr., opened with a variety of healthy items, such as a selection of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

The new restaurant by award-winning chef Ronnie Killen, located at 101 Heights Blvd., opened and serves southern food staples such as fried chicken.

The Atlanta-based company The Original Hot Dog Factory opened its first Houston location at 920 Studemont St. Ste. 300. The growing franchise’s menu features a variety of hot dogs.

The Arizona-based Bottled Blonde Pizzeria + Beer Garden, known for its Italian fare and cocktails, opened at 4901 Washington Ave. Amsterdam Co. opened at 807 W. 19th St. and carries CBD additives that customers can put in their coffee, CBDinfused coffee and other CBD items.

Katz’s, 2200 N. Shepherd Dr., opened in the Heights and will “never klose,” according to its slogan.

Delicious Concepts has repurposed Blackbird Izakaya, which closed, into a buildyour-own-noodle bowl concept, Robot Noodle, at 1221 W. 11th St. The Viet-Cajun concept Crawfish Café celebrated its grand opening in September in the Heights at 1026 N. See Eat, P. 11

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 11

Eat, from P. 10 Shepherd Dr. The family behind Preslee’s, 1430 W. 19th St. in the Heights, opened the barbecue joint Piper’s BBQ & Beer at 2323 N. Shepherd Dr. The Heights became home to Permission Whiskey, 2920 White Oak Dr., a bar that boast more than 300 varieties of whiskey.

Luce Ave Coffee Roasters, 1717 W. 34th St., opened in Garden Oaks. Luce is a café and roastery that makes unique, handcrafted beverages.

The Sporting Club opened at 5102 Washington Ave. with a menu centered on seafood, light coastal Italian bites and spins on classic bar favorites.

Fat Cat Creamery, a popular Heights ice cream outpost, opened its second location in the Stomping Grounds at Garden Oaks development, 1225 W. 34th St. Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage was opened in Oak Forest at 2001 W. 34th St. by brother-

other cookie varieties.

I Love HOU Tacos rolled up and parked at 1295 Pinemont Dr. to offer the neighborhood a new selection of tacos.

Star Sailor, a one-stop shop for craft beer, wine, foods and retail products, opened at 1710 W. 18th St.

Photo from Facebook Flower Child offers gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options at 1533 N. Shepherd Dr. in the Heights.

sister duo Ricardo Valencia and Vienna Valencia Bement, who attended Waltrip High School.

Vanilla Blue Creamery is a food trailer that’s bringing sweet treats to the neighborhood as it parks in front of Wicklow Heights at 1027 W. 19th St. The gourmet grilled cheese food truck Twisted Grilled

Cheese opened its first brickand-mortar location at 5555 Washington Ave. Active Passion combines health and wellness and a traditional coffee shop at its Heights location at 802 Usener St. The Bearded Baker opened at 518 W. 11th St. The bakery specializes in custom-decorated sugar cookies as well as

Still to come Some new places were announced this year, but won’t open the doors until the new year. And a few have no timeline when they will open.

The space that once housed Liberty Kitchen at 3715 Alba Rd. was purchased by the team behind Savior and La Grande Rue, both of which are still relatively new to the Heights neighborhood.

Co-owner Brain Doke said the nameless restaurant will have the feel of a neighborhood spot that brings a diner, deli and restaurant together.

To be located at 2205 Pat-

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 12

terson St., Patterson Park will be a 4,000-square foot building featuring skylights and large garage doors and feature a 5,000-square foot deck. No opening date has been announced.

Honeychild’s Sweet Creams is currently without a brickand-mortar restaurant, but the company is seeking to change that and has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a shop in the Heights. The shop first signed a lease at the M-K-T development in the Heights in 2019. The campaign aims to help the shop become a reality.

After Common Bond opened On the Go by Common Bond at 601 Heights Blvd., it signed a lease for a space in Garden Oaks at 3210 N. Shepherd Dr., for a similar concept.

Homestead Kitchen & Bar, an all-day café that focuses on brunch and lunch options, is currently under construction at its home within the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Dr. Ste. 440.

La La Land Kind Café, a coffee shop and café, will also plant roots in the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Dr. La La Land describes itself as a “socially conscious” café that prioritizes kindness, ingredients and altruism.

Sharif Al-Amin, Jessie Gonzales and Greg Perez plan to open a new restaurant and bar concept in Garden Oaks where the former Petrol Station space was at 985 Wakefield Dr. While F.E.E.D. TX Restaurant Group still owns the Heights location of Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar, 1050 Studewood St., the group has sold the Treehouse in Memorial City and Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette in River Oaks to Culinary Concepts. Liberty Kitchen in the Heights has been closed since March. Before F.E.E.D. reopens the location, it is planning to reimagine the concept.

The Taco Stand, a concept from The Burger Joint owners, will be located at 2018 N. Shepherd Dr., and will have a patio and full drive-through service. The menu will include street-style tacos such as pas-

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tor, barbacoa, lengua and carnitas all served with onions and cilantro on house-made corn and flour tortillas.

The Los Angeles-based chain Rakkan Ramen is set to open a franchise in Houston next year at 600 N. Shepherd Dr. Ste. 515. The Japanese restaurant is known for its vegetable broths and pearl ramen, which is made with Japanese rock salt and white soy sauce.

Rakkan Ramen is expected to open in March.

Saigon Hustle, now operating in Blodgett Food Hall, will open a flagship drive-through in the remnants of the gas station at the corner of West 34th Street and Ella Boulevard, owned by Revive.

Shoot the Moon is a restaurant and self-serve bar set to open in Spring Branch before the end of the year. Under STM Hospitality LLC, comprised of Kevin Floyd, Dax McAnear and Jonas Herd, Shoot the Moon will have a second location at the Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks.

The timeline for the second location is unknown.

Permanently closed this year With a rocky year for restaurants, some were not able to pull through. Some closed because of financial strain, and others shut their doors for undisclosed reasons.

Morningstar, known for its coffee, doughnuts and other breakfast items, will permanently close its doors at 4721 N. Main St. on Dec. 28.

Snap Kitchen, a retailer for healthy prepared meals, closed 14 stores across Texas, includ-

ing its Heights location at 250 W. 20th St., on Nov. 6.

The Classic, 5922 Washington Ave., which opened in 2018, has closed for good.

The Mediterranean spot Helen in the Heights, 1111 Studewood St. Ste. B, closed at the end of March due to COVID-19.

Alice’s Tall Texan, 4904 N. Main St., a popular dive bar that has served the Heights community for more than three decades, closed at the end of August. The bar cited the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding economic downtown as the culprit.

The Heights Japanese restaurant Blackbird Izakaya, 1221 W. 11th St., also closed permanently.

Charles Donut Shop, 1358 W. 43rd St., closed after 33 years in business.

Petrol Station, 985 Wakefield Dr., the neighborhood bar that served up craft beer and burgers for nearly 15 years in Garden Oaks, permanently closed.

Bernie’s Burger Bus, the school-themed concept that started out as a school bus food truck almost a decade ago and eventually turned into four brick-and-mortar locations, decided to close due to the financial downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All locations, including the Heights shop at 2200 Yale St., shuttered.

Sambrooks Management Company restaurant group closed Sam’s Fried Chicken and Donuts, 601 Heights Blvd, and Pi Pizza, 181 Heights Blvd.

Poitin Bar & Kitchen, 2313 Edwards St., closed in May.

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 14

Area becoming more multimodal

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Contributed rendering from SWA Group The Shepherd-Durham Major Reinvestment Project aims to transform transportation in the Heights.

IMPROVE

Going outside has become the “in” thing to do.

The COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the Houston area in March and has put a premium on open-air settings and the ability to operate outdoors, where there generally is more space and improved air circulation. Such environments are therefore considered safer in terms of mitigating the spread of the new coronavirus.

So residents of the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other local neighborhoods have taken greater advantage of the area’s outdoor amenities, such as T.C. Jester Park and the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail, and are doing more dining on patios and shopping at open-air markets. They also are going outside to socialize, with neighbors interacting

from their own porches and driveways.

The pandemic also has accelerated the area’s shift toward becoming more multimodal, with some residents relying on their bicycles and legs to get around as much as their cars and trucks. And there are several initiatives in the works that will make it easier to do so in the coming years.

The following is a rundown of transportation infrastructure projects that have emerged, made progress or been completed during the last year. They all figure to improve the quality of life in Northwest Houston and for those who work and play here.

11th Street Bikeway As part of the Houston Bike Plan, which the Houston City Council approved in 2017 to make the city safer and more accessible for cyclists, a sig-

nificant stretch of 11th Street in the Heights will be reconfigured in an attempt to make it more navigable for bike-riders, pedestrians and drivers.

The plan is to restripe the road between North Shepherd Drive to the west and Michaux Street to the east, reducing the number of vehicular lanes from two going in each direction to one lane going each way, with a center left-turn lane utilized in some spots.

Protected bike lanes will be added along the outside of the road along with at least one median refuge island – which provides protection to walkers and cyclists as they cross the street – where the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail crosses 11th at its intersection with Nicholson Street.

Houston Public Works and the city’s Planning & Development Department held two See Improve, P. 15

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 15

Improve, from P. 14 public engagement meetings in 2019 and decided early in 2020 to proceed with the project, which is in the design phase. A virtual community meeting is being held this month, with the transformation of 11th Street likely to take place in 2021.

“Ultimately, this is a street safety improvement project,” said co-project manager Lauren Grove, a transportation planner with the city. “We have to address this.”

Garden Oaks/Shepherd Park Drainage Project A three-pronged, $67 million project by Houston Public Works aims to fortify the drainage infrastructure in the neighboring Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Plaza subdivisions while making them easier and safer to navigate.

Phase 1 of the Garden Oaks/Shepherd Park Drainage Project was completed in 2018 and added increased drainage capacity along Alba Road, Brinkman Street and several other roads that intersect them. The city unveiled its plans for Phases 2 and 3 earlier this year, with construction expected to resume in 2021.

Phase 2 will upgrade the drainage infrastructure to the west of the Phase 1 area, primarily along Golf Drive, Wakefield Drive and Chamboard Lane. Phase 3 covers streets that are north and east of the Phase 1 area, including the eastern portion of Wakefield, Sue Barnett Drive and West 43rd Street.

“Once (Phases 2 and 3) are finished, we will see the maximum impact of flood mitigation in the area,” said Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who serves the neighborhoods as part of District C. The final phase, which is expected to cost $18 million but does not yet have a funding source, also calls for some transportation improvements.

Sidewalks will be added near Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet at 901 Sue Barnett Dr., and there is a plan to turn the Xshaped intersection just north of the school into a round-

Contributed photo Texas Central’s plan for a high-speed railway between Houston and Dallas took steps toward coming to fruition this year.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich A cyclist prepares to cross West 11th Street at its intersection with Nicholson Street. The City of Houston’s 11th Street Bikeway project aims to make the street safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

about.

The city also plans to reconfigure parts of 43rd Street between Golf and North Shepherd Drive to the east, reducing the number of vehicular lanes from four to three while adding bike lanes and a median at Sue Barnett.

“We think this will be a safer road for your community,” Ian Hlavacek, a managing engineer for Houston Public Works, said during a community engagement meeting in September.

Shepherd-Durham Major Investment Project A vision to overhaul Shepherd and Durham drives, the parallel one-way streets that run north and south through the Heights, became clearer in late June. That’s when the Houston-Galveston Area Council approved $40 million in funding for Phase 2 of the Shepherd-Durham Major Investment Project, a joint venture between the City of Houston and Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority.

Phase 1 of the project, which is expected to start construction in 2022, had previously been buoyed by a $25 million matching Build Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. And the city is

covering the cost of Phase 3.

The overall plan is to make the streets more multimodal, with expanded sidewalks, the addition of bicycle lanes and a reduction in vehicle lanes from four to three on each road. The public utilities will be replaced beneath each street, with upgraded water and sewage lines and stormwater detention infrastructure.

The roads also will connect to a Bus Rapid Transit stop that METRO plans to construct along Interstate 10.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Sherry Weesner, the president of the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority. “One of the big, important things is obviously this provides significant improvements for all modes of transportation.”

Phase 1 of the project will span from North Loop 610 to West 15th Street, with Phase 2 covering the area between 15th and I-10. Phase 3 will upgrade Durham and Shepherd between I-10 and Memorial Drive to the south.

Sidewalk work Multiple streets in the Garden Oaks, Shepherd Park and Oak Forest neighborhoods recently became more walkable as part of the Houston Public Works Sidewalk Program,

which fulfills requests for sidewalks made by schools, people with disabilities and businesses along major thoroughfares.

A wheelchair-accessible sidewalk was paved over the summer along Dunsmere Road across from Shepherd Park, and 1,950 feet of sidewalk was installed on Du Barry Lane between Oak Forest Drive and Ella Boulevard in response to another pedestrian accessibility request. In response to school-related requests, the city paved sidewalks on Cheshire Lane between Oak Forest and West 43rd Street as well as a 1,875foot stretch along Oak Forest between West 34th Street and Lamonte Lane. Also coming is 1,475 feet of sidewalk along Lamonte between Oak Forest and Ella.

Some of the sidewalks should make it easier and saf-

er for students at Frank Black Middle School and Oak Forest Elementary, which are neighboring Houston ISD campuses, to walk to and from school.

“Children shouldn’t have to play in the street, and old folks shouldn’t have to walk in the street,” Shepherd Park Plaza resident Linda Peterson said.

“Streets are for cars.”

Bullet train The plan for a high-speed railway between Houston and Dallas, which could transform travel in Texas, has continued to chug along this year.

A Texas appellate court ruled in May that Texas Central, the Dallas-based company behind the project, could utilize eminent domain to secure the land it needs to construct a 240-mile railway. And in September, the company announced that the Federal

Railroad Administration had issued a Final Rule of Particular Applicability, which is a series of safety and operational standards that would apply to the bullet train, along with a Record of Decision that solidifies a route. The planned Houston station is the site of the former Northwest Mall near the intersection of U.S. 290, Loop 610 and I-10.

“This is the moment we have been working towards,” Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar said in September.

But hurdles remain for the high-speed railway, which would transport passengers between the state’s two largest cities at nearly 200 mph and in a span of about 90 minutes. Texas Central laid off nearly half its staff in March, in response to the economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and Aguilar said in June that the private company may try to utilize public funding to see the project to fruition.

The bullet train project also has gotten pushback from rural communities along its planned route, although it has the support of Houston’s top elected official.

“The city stands with Texas Central and looks forward to continuing our work together to make this project a success for the City of Houston and our state,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 18

Education options abound for families

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Because Houston ISD is a district that offers school choice, meaning children can attend a school outside their zoned area, parents can be overwhelmed investigating their options.

Area schools offer a wide range of academic programs, from dual language programs at elementary schools to the International Baccalaureate program at the elementary, middle, and high school level to give students the opportunity to think both critically and globally, to the specialty STEM programs in high schools, allowing students to get hands-on training for a future career. There are a number of magnet programs focusing on everything from engineering to communications.

In the academic realm, there is a lot to be proud of, too. Memorial Elementary School was designated a 2020 Blue Ribbon campus by the U.S. Department of Education.

BOMBSHELL HAIR SHOP Photo from Facebook Students from Stevens Elementary, 1910 Lamonte Ln. in Oak Forest, play together before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What follows is a rundown of area schools. For more in-depth information about a particular school – including summary information regarding student performance and outcomes, demographics and enrollment, and school programs for each HISD campus – visit http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/38525.

The HISD schools are organized by zip code. The private schools listed are in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest area or were submitted by local residents.

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 19

Learn, from P. 18 (713) 802-4780 Principal: Priscilla Rivas Harvard Elementary Int’l. Baccalaureate – PYP, Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, ESL, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS) 810 Harvard St. (713) 867-5210 Principal: Laura Alaniz Memorial Elementary Dual Language, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI) and Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 6401 Arnot St. (713) 867-5150 Principal: Maria Teresa Garcia 77008 Field Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 703 E. 17th St. (713) 867-5190 Principal: John Hendrickson.

Helms Elementary PK-5 Dual Language, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Structured Learning Class (SLC) –Alternate Curriculum 503 W. 21st St. (713) 867-5130 Principal: Lola Perejón Love Elementary Dual Language, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 1120 W. 13th St. (713) 867-0840 Principal: Eden Bass Sinclair Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, ESL, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum, Structured Learning Class

(SLC) – Standard/TREK 6410 Grovewood Ln. (713) 867-5161 Principal: Lee Mashburn

Bilingual 4803 Brinkman St. (713) 613-2527 Principal: Carrie Flores

Hamilton Middle School Vanguard Magnet, Pre-AP, Dual Language, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC)–Standard/TREK 139 E. 20th St. (713) 802-4725 Principal: Robert R. Michaels-Johnson

Oak Forest Elementary Vanguard Magnet, ESL,

Transitional Bilingual, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 1401 W. 43rd St. (713) 613-2536 Principal: Andrew Casler

Stevens Elementary STEAM, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS) 1910 Lamonte Ln.

(713) 613-2546 Principal: Erin Trent Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet

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Heights High School Int’l. Baccalaureate - Diploma Programme, Vanguard Neighborhood, Computer Technology, Pre-AP/AP, Dual Language, ESL, Career & Technical Education, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 413 E. 13th St. (713) 865-4400 Principal: Wendy Hampton 77009 Browning Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, Dual Language, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC) 607 Northwood St. (713) 867-5140 Principal: Annie Marie Garcia Travis Elementary Vanguard Magnet, ESL, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 3311 Beauchamp St. (713) 802-4790 Principal: Thomas Day Hogg Middle School Int.’l. Baccalaureate – MYP, Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, Pre-AP/AP, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 1100 Merrill St. (713) 802-4700 Principal: Vanessa Saldaña 77018 Durham Elementary Int’l. Baccalaureate – PYP, Vanguard Neighborhood, Dual Language, ESL, Transitional

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Learn, from P. 19 PK-8 Montessori, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS) 901 Sue Barnett Dr. (713) 696-2930 Principal: Lindsey Pollock Frank Black Middle School Vanguard Magnet, Pre-AP, ESL, Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 1575 Chantilly Ln. (713) 613-2505 Principal: Rhonda Honore Waltrip High School Vanguard Neighborhood, Research & Technology, Pre-AP/ AP, ESL, Career & Technical, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) –Alternate Curriculum, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 1900 W. 34th St. (713) 688-1361 Principal: Michael R. Niggli Booker T. Washington High School Vanguard Neighborhood, Pre-AP/AP, Engineering Professions, ESL, Career & Technical, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 119 E. 39th St. (713) 696-6600 Principal: Carlos Phillips Crossroads/Frances Harper HISD Alternative Program 4425 N. Shepherd Dr. (713) 802-4760 Principal: Raymond Glass 77091 Highland Heights Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Behavior Support Class (BSC) Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 865 Paul Quinn St. (713) 696-2920 Principal: John Flowers High School Ahead Academy (Middle)

Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL 5320 Yale St. (713) 696-2643 Principal: Ericka Austin MC Williams Middle School Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, Pre-AP, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 6100 Knox St. (713) 696-2600 Principal: Roshanda Griffin 77092 Katherine Smith Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual 4802 Chrystell Ln. (713) 613-2542 Principal: Melinda Daugherty Wainwright Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, Math and Science Magnet, Dual Language, ESL, Transitional Bilingual 5330 Milwee St. (713) 613-2550 Principal: Ryan Hutchings Clifton Middle School Vanguard Neighborhood, Pre-AP, STEM Magnet, ESL, Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Successfully Aiming for Excellence (SAFE) 6001 Golden Forest Dr. (713) 613-2516 Principal: Georgina Castilleja Scarborough High School Vanguard Neighborhood, Pre-AP/AP, Network & Computer Administration, ESL, Career & Technical, Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 4141 Costa Rica Rd. (713) 613-2200 Principal: Rod Treviño PRIVATE SCHOOLS Awty International School PreK 3-12th grade 7455 Awty School Ln., 77055 (713) 686-4850

http://www.awty.org/ Assumption Catholic School PreK 3-8th grade 801 Roselane St., 77037 (281) 447-2132 http://www.houstonassumption.org/ Clay Road Baptist School PreK-8th Grade 9151 Clay Rd., 77080 (713) 939-1023 http://www.crbs.org/ Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart PreK-12th Grade 10202 Memorial Dr., 77024 (713) 468-8211 http://www.duchesne.org/ First Baptist Academy Houston PreK-8th Grade 7450 Memorial Woods Dr., 77024 (713) 290-2500 http://www.fbahouston. org/

http://www.sashornets.org/ School of The Woods Pre-K-12th 1321 Wirt Rd., 77055 (713) 686-8811 www.schoolofthewoods.org St. Mark Lutheran Pre-K-8th 1515 Hillendahl Blvd., 77055 (713) 468-2623 gostmark.org St. Rose of Lima Catholic School Pre-K-8th 3600 Brinkman St., 77018

(713) 691-0104 http://www.stroselima.org/ school/home St. Pius High School X 9th-12th 811 W. Donovan St., 77091 (713) 692-3581 http://www.stpiusx.org/

St. Theresa Catholic School Pre-K-8th 6623 Rodrigo St., 77007 (713) 864-4536 http://school.sttheresa.cc/ St. Thomas High School 9th-12th 4500 Memorial Dr., 77007

(713) 864-6348 http://www.sths.org/ The Kipling School Pre-K-8th 620 Shepherd Dr., 77007 (713) 861-6743 http://www.thekiplingschool.com/ The Regis School of the Sacred Heart Pre-K-8th 7330 Westview Dr., 77055 (713) 682-8383 http://www.theregisschool. org/

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Contributed photo A nurse in the Memorial Hermann Health System adjusts a face shield used to protect her from COVID-19.

Area offers many ways to cope with pandemic

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The year 2020 has presented unprecedented challenges to the health of the community and the healthcare system as a whole.

COVID-19 has sickened thousands of residents of the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and surrounding neighborhoods and led to the deaths of more than 100, according to health officials in the City of Houston and Harris County.

The pandemic also has put a strain on hospitals all over the region, which have treated COVID-19 patients while trying to protect their doctors, nurses, other employees and visitors.

Healthcare providers in hospitals, clinics and private practices have been forced to implement strict safety protocols and limit visitors in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, and many

have utilized virtual services that allow them to diagnose and treat patients without seeing them in person. And there has continued to be a need for preventative care and the treatment of other ailments, from broken bones and abrasions to cancer, heart attacks and strokes.

There are multiple healthcare facilities that serve area residents, including The Heights Hospital at 1917 Ashland St. and Northwest Community Health Center at 1100 W. 34th St. in Garden Oaks.

Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest hospital chain in the Houston area, operates a hospital at 1635 North Loop West, urgent care facilities at 300 North Loop #100 and 4500 Washington Ave. #300 and a convenient care center at 1431 Studewood St. Memorial Hermann also recently opened the Greater Heights Community Resource Center at 1740 W. 27th St.,

where the focus is not providing treatment but helping community members gain access to treatment and other services. The facility is designed to help uninsured or underinsured patients receive care. It also partners with the Houston Food Bank and Houston Volunteer Lawyers to help community members cope with hunger, legal issues and housing needs.

“Our goal is to help people develop their road map and provide the guidance, support and connections needed to improve their health,” said Carol Paret, Memorial Hermann’s senior vice president and chief community health officer.

Vaccine coming to area Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital, which is located near the resource center, could play a key role in helping local residents move past the

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich A healthcare worker collects a sample at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site that operated in July at Sinclair Elementary at Timbergrove Manor.

Heal, from P. 21 pandemic. The Department of State Health Services announced in early December that it would soon distribute nearly 225,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine across Texas, with the local hospital slated to receive 1,950 doses as part of the first wave of distribution.

At press time, the vaccine was nearing approval for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Once approved, it will first be administered to healthcare workers and other vulnerable populations, per the state’s directive.

Memorial Hermann said a COVID-19 vaccine would not be available to the general public for several more months.

“Memorial Hermann Health System has been selected as a pre-positioned site for the Pfizer vaccine because of our size, our storage capacity as well as our ability to safely administer the vaccine to thousands of front-line workers,” the hospital said. “It’s important to remember that it will take a number of months for the vaccines to reach everyone who

wants to take it, so we encourage everyone to continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. We know everyone is probably tired of adhering to the safety protocols put in place, but now is not the time to let our guard down.”

Testing available COVID-19 testing is a tool that has been utilized to help residents combat the virus by helping them to determine whether they are infected and need to seek treatment and whether they pose a risk to their families, friends, coworkers and the community at large.

The first free COVID-19 tests available to area residents were at United Memorial Medical Center at 510 W. Tidwell Rd., where drivethrough tests have been administered since March.

The area also is home to a Federally Qualified Health Center, where patients pay what they can afford based on income and family size and are not denied services because of a lack of insurance or inability to pay. The facility at

Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, located at 2150 W. 18th St. in the Lazybrook and Timbergrove Manor area, is supported in part by the Houston Health Department.

Whole health Some of the long-term health issues associated with COVID-19, along with risk factors for serious complications from the disease, have prompted area residents to focus more on staying fit and eating well. The pandemic also has put an emphasis on the importance of mental and emotional health.

Heights for Health, located at 210 E. 4th St., is among the local places where residents can receive holistic treatments for the body, mind and spirit.

Founder Tracy Southwick said she helps clients alleviate anxiety and counsels them on the importance of nutrition, which can entail making dietary changes or taking vitamins and other supplements.

“People are interested in the natural perspective, with regard to lifestyle (and) eating habits,” she said. “They are looking for solutions.”

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 23

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Upgrades give residents options for recreation Compiled by Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The area’s parks and recreation scene offers something for just about anyone of any age. And though 2020 has been an atypical year, one thing remaining unchanged is the abundance of recreation spots for community members to gather – in a safe and socially distanced manner, of course.

Outdoor attractions such as Memorial Park’s Eastern Glades and T.C. Jester Park are flourishing and sit wellpositioned for the future following major and minor upgrades over the course of the year, while the M-K-T/ Heights Hike-and-Bike trail is undergoing a transition after a fire damaged the pedestrian bridge that crosses White Oak Bayou.

The Houston Heights Association has undertaken an effort to revamp and beautify Donovan Park with the help of the community to provide a place for children to play.

And the City of Houston held a virtual community meeting earlier this month to discuss

potential upgrades to Love Park in the Heights.

To get to those parks, trails and playgrounds, there has also been a significant advancement in modes of alternative transportation that manifested over the course of the year.

Whatever your fancy, there’s no shortage of options in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and surrounding areas.

Perhaps the most prominent and notable parks development this year was the Clay Family Eastern Glades, a 100acre area in Memorial Park that underwent a $35 million transformation and opened to the public in early August. Located north of Memorial Drive between the revamped Memorial Park Golf Course and Crestwood Drive, the Eastern Glades can be accessed by foot or bicycle as well as by personal vehicle and public transportation.

It’s the product of a publicprivate partnership between the Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Uptown Development Authority and the Kinder Foundation. In ad-

dition to providing stormwater detention and promoting biodiversity, the conservancy said the park will act as yet another attraction to its 4 million-plus visitors each year.

Among the features of the Eastern Glades are a 5.5-acre lake with surrounding wetlands, more than 2.5 miles of boardwalks and accessible walking trails and community areas such as an event lawn, food truck court and picnic pavilions. There is also an installation around the park’s central lawn containing personal quotes about the park from dozens of Houstonians.

Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the region, more and more Houstonians have been spending more time outside to enjoy a semblance of normalcy while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. And they now have a new space to do so.

“Eastern Glades provides a much-needed place for people to engage with nature and experience Houston in a whole new way,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “And our citizens need and deserve this now more than ever.”

Memorial Park hosts Houston Open A little over a year has passed since Memorial Park Golf Course reopened to the public in November 2019 with upgrades that included changes to the historic 18-hole layout as well as the lighted practice range.

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Contributed photo Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, at podium, speaks at Memorial Park Golf Course before it hosted the Houston Open in November.

Play, from P. 23 with, was to have it ready for the 2020 Houston Open. The PGA Tour event, which annually hosts some of the world’s best golfers, returned to Memorial Park for the first time since 1963 when it took place in early November. This year’s event hosted six of the world’s top 25 golfers, including Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, along with other notable names such as Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth.

“I consider the international spotlight on Houston a holein-one,” Turner said.

HHA reimagining Donovan Park In February, the Houston Heights Association launced the “Donovan Park Reimagined” campaign to redesign and rebuild the park situated at 7th Street and Heights Boulevard. Even though the park, which the HHA manages and operates, remains closed due to COVID-19 guidelines, that doesn’t mean the work has stopped.

The HHA and a group called Friends of Donovan Park has called on community members to pitch in both funds and ideas aimed at improving and beautifying the park, which has been a staple of the Heights for more than two decades.

The initiative aims to raise $1 million for renovations and improvements to the 24-yearold park. For more information or to donate to the effort, community members can visit houstonheights.org/ donovan-park-reimagined/.

T.C. Jester Park trail repaved Work to repave the running, walking and cycling trail along White Oak Bayou in T.C. Jester Park was recently undertaken, with new asphalt being installed.

Houston Parks Board president Beth White said the need for the upgrade was brought to its attention because the old trail had numerous cracks and uneven spots, creating hazardous conditions at times for runners and bikers.

White said it cost a little more than $97,000 for the project, which repaved the stretch from just south of the intersection of East T.C. Jester Boulevard and Du Barry Lane to just south of West 43rd Street.

Houston BCycle releases electric bikes For Houstonians who don’t necessarily want to spend time cooped up in a car but still want to see the outdoors,

Houston’s bike-sharing program took its next step forward in late November to increase affordable means of alternative transportation.

Houston BCycle, a nonprofit created by the City of Houston in 2012, released its first batch of electric bikes, or “e-bikes,” on Nov. 19. Twenty-five e-bikes were put into circulation, with 75 more to be subsequently phased in.

There are 111 BCycle stations throughout the city, including more than 10 in the Heights and Washington Avenue areas.

E-bikes give riders a boost up to about 12 miles per hour, according to BCycle. Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis has donated about $2 million in support of BCycle’s mission since April, calling it “an important step toward bringing a low-cost, zero-emission transportation option to more Houstonians.”

For more information about Houston BCycle and a map of stations, visit houstonbcycle.com.

MKT/Heights Hike-andBike bridge closed after fire On Aug. 19, a fire dam-

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Play, from P. 24 aged part of the pedestrian bridge overlooking the MKT/Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail, forcing its closure and prompting trail users to take a detour in order to cross White Oak Bayou. At least 10 Houston Fire Department crews responded to the scene to put out the fire.

A Houston Parks Board spokesperson said earlier this month that a structural analysis determined the bridge beams and caps were in fair condition, but some bridge piles, an abutment back wall and deck expansion joint will need to be replace prior to reopening. The parks board has secured a contract for the engineering work, which will paid for by the Bayou Greenways Maintenance budget, but said the city, Harris County Flood Control District and the Army Corps of Engineers would need to approve the repairs before they can be completed.

An estimated timeline to get the bridge back in working order is not yet known, according to the parks board.

Trail connection coming The White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail, which connects Oak Forest to the Heights, is a popular path for area

cyclists and walkers. Within a few years, it could be connected to the Energy Corridor well to the west.

Phase 1 of the Spring Branch Trail, which aims to eventually fill the gap between the White Oak trail and the Addicks Reservoir trail to the west, was recently completed. The $1.7 million, 2.4mile segment stretches between Blalock and Wirt roads along the CenterPoint easement to the north of Hammerly Boulevard and south of

Kempwood Drive.

The project is being funded by the Spring Branch Management District, and the first segment was designed and constructed by the Houston Parks Board. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department will maintain the trail.

“I think it’s a game-changer for our city,” said Oak Forest resident Fred Zapalac, an avid cyclist who owns Blue Line Bike Lab at 1504 Yale St. in the Heights.

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Contributed photo Members of Hope in the Heights Lutheran Church, including pastor Andrew Nemmers, at right in back row, pose for a photo before the COVID-19 pandemic. Congregants now meet at Love Dance HTX’s studio space at 2206 Edwards St. Suite B in Sawyer Yards.

Places of worship offer hope amidst hardships

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Everyone looks for a place to call home, whether it be someone who just moved in to the area or longtime residents searching for change of pace or meaningful connection.

Whatever the reasons, there is an abundance of worship options for those in Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights and surrounding neighborhoods looking to find their own spiritual home amidst the uncertainty gripping the region due to COVID-19.

Some churches in the area have undergone hardships that extend beyond the pandemic, but are still looking to spread hope through their response to the hard times. Others just opened this year, and are still looking to find footing in the community. Still others, such as St. Stephens United Methodist Church at 2003 W. 43rd St. and Community of Faith Church at 1024 Pinemont Dr., have pro-

vided hope to the community during COVID-19 by way of providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and meals to furloughed workers.

Many places of worship such as the ISKCON Hindu Temple based at 1320 W. 34th St. have joined businesses and organizations in meeting largely on a virtual basis, while others such as Garden Oaks Baptist, Village Heights and St. Andrew’s Episcopal have begun phasing in-person weekly services back in based on guidelines from the City of Houston. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church was allowing in-person gatherings for mass as of mid-December, with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity.

New Heights church aims to bring hope In September, Hope in the Heights Lutheran Church conducted its inaugural Sunday service inside Love Dance HTX’s space at 2206 Edwards

St. Suite B, just behind Sawyer Yards, and streams the services each week on its website at hopeintheheights.com and its Facebook page.

Started about five years ago by a group of residents in the Greater Heights, Hope signed on with Love Dance HTX last year to expand its reach in the community, with plans for a soft opening in May 2020.

However, due to spikes in COVID-19 cases, the opening was pushed back multiple times until September. But it wasn’t all bad, according to pastor Andrew Nemmers.

“An unexpected blessing of all this has been that we’ve found more ways to make it accessible for more people, so it’s actually turned out pretty well,” he said. “...Now we’ve got our feet under us and we’re ready to start reaching out and doing some ministry in our community.”

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Pray, from P. 26 ings are a “Bible Basics” class to introduce newcomers to the church or faith as well as small group Bible studies and Sunday school. However, everything other than its 9 a.m.

Sunday services have been moved online.

Despite the initial adversity in beginning its ministry to the community, Nemmers said the church’s name - chosen before the pandemic - takes on a doubly important meaning with the current uncertainty around the Houston region. So it pushed ahead with the opening.

“We wanted to be that (hope) for people,” he said.

“We wanted to create a place people can come find rest every week from things going on in their lives, and some spiritual rest from all the stress and the worries that have been everywhere in 2020.”

sity, God’s still at work.”

As for the sanctuary, Brackett said a timeline for its reopening remains fluid due to ongoing insurance negotiations. However, there is scaffolding up in the building with crews working daily to bring it back into commission as soon as possible, and Brackett said some new things are in the works as well.

“It’s been a long journey – I’m just ready to get our church back in the sanctuary,” he said. “… We really want it to be a great space for the community to come and be a part of.”

Area spots reopen for worship Garden Oaks Baptist Church resumed in-person services at 3206 N. Shepherd Dr. on May 17 and is conducting both in-person, socially distanced sermons as well as streaming them on the church’s Facebook page.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd., has been meeting in person since September, but requires reservations for in-person services, with about 25 slots. The church offers four Sunday services, two online through Facebook Live and two in person at 7:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Meanwhile, Village Heights at 311 W. 18th St. began socially distanced, in-person services on Oct. 21 for the first time since March. The church’s in-person services are at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. each Sunday with a virtual service at 5 p.m.

West End Church, 802 Shepherd Dr., also reopened for in-

person services on Nov. 1.

COVID-19 claims life of beloved pastor The July 10 death of Rev. Vickey Gibbs, a pastor at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church at 2025 W. 11th St., made national headlines and was a devastating blow to the Timbergrove Manor congregation. She died from COVID-19 after being part of the church for nearly 40 years and helping it become a welcoming, progressive place.

Gibbs, who was 57 and left behind a wife, two daughters and a grandson, helped the church become diverse in

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Lazybrook Baptist spreading good will despite hardship It’s been a tough year for Lazybrook Baptist Church at 1822 W. 18th St. But pastor Zach Brackett called the year 2020 a fruitful period despite the trying times.

At the beginning of the year – mere months after Brackett took over as pastor – the church offices flooded. Just two months later, COVID-19 took hold. Then on Aug. 21, a lightning strike caused a fire that damaged the church’s sanctuary and forced its closure for the foreseeable future, though nobody was injured in the incident.

“It’s been quite a journey,” he said.

During the four-month period since the fire, Lazybrook has shifted from one weekly service to two that are held each Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the church’s fellowship hall, which can hold about 80 people while still adhering to social distancing guidelines amidst COVID-19. The 11 a.m. service is also streamed live on the church’s website.

“While it hasn’t been easy, we’ve seen God do some really cool things here,” Brackett said. “We’ve seen a lot of fruit – even in the midst of adver-

Contributed photo Members of Lazybrook Baptist Church gather for a socially distant Bible study inside the church’s sanctuary, which was damaged by a fire on Aug. 21.

terms of ethnicity, national origin and sexual orientation.

She was an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and supported the Black Lives Matter movement, among other causes.

“She told me in the last few years that this is what she hoped for, that we would become a church that represented where we live in Houston,” senior pastor Troy Treash said.

“She was very pleased that we are as diverse as we are.”

The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 28

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Contributed photo Heights artist Mitch Cohen enjoys a yarn mural along the Rosemont Pedestrian Bridge at Buffalo Bayou Park, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in October.

Area artists innovate to continue inspiring Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

In the opening of last year’s The Guide article about arts in the Heights area, I wrote the following: “There is art around every corner in these neighborhoods and has been for many years.

Today, there are opportunities for the collector, the artist and aspiring student to fully immerse oneself in the arts, all within the comfort of a few minutes’ walk, bike or ride.”

Opportunities is the word that stands out for me. Join me as I look back over the year starting with March, the month the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. Let’s look for the oppor-

tunities in the lessons 2020 brought us.

With nationwide art festival cancellations being announced daily, Heights artist Kiki Neumann pointed out the positive side for artists in my March 19 column for The Leader, “COVID-19 cancellations crippling art community.”

“We can create even more than ever with the outlook that things will once again return to a form of normalcy,” Neumann said. “It might be returning to a new normal, but the world needs our creativity more than ever!”

By late March, masks for our first responders were the No. 1 topic. Everyone who can sew, it seems, began making masks for our medical community.

“Mask On For A Cause” by the team at Magpies and Peacocks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit design house, announced that

its efforts paid off with a prototype and pattern to create the non-woven polypropylene masks. The group continues to sell its artfully created masks online and at outdoor events.

Many artists with sewing skills picked up the shortage and created thousands of masks. For them, they may not have noticed yet that we were all pretty much isolated.

Can you believe there were 30 named Atlantic storms in 2020? Artist and author Maria Elena Sandovici was in the right place for this. As I wrote at the end of April, Sandovici released her new historical novel, “Storms of Malhado,” a few months ahead of schedule.

Original set for release on the anniversary of the Great Storm of 1900, Sandovici decided on an early release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Too many fun things had

to be cancelled or postponed,” Sandovici said. “This was something much anticipated by my readers, which I could speed up for them.”

The book is available on Amazon.

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Create, from P. 26 $1,500 went to each of the 300 artists who were lined up for Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park with a cash grant.

Checks were distributed by the festival’s nonprofit partner Artists for Artists, an organization that provides emergency recovery grants and free medical programming to Houstonbased artists.

Live streaming and video conferencing became routine business activities for many artists by May. Artists Elena Sandovici and Lauren Luna incorporated video for both socializing and art sales.

“The thing that makes me feel human every day is painting via Facebook Live at 5:45 p.m.,” Sandovici said at the time. She continues to do this today, too.

Luna hosted online painting parties on Facebook Live. I can see how this could expand an audience as we transition back to in-person events. Luna sold paint kits that she shipped ahead of her virtual classrooms. Brilliant!

First Saturday Arts Market returned to West 19th Street in June, with a scaled-back look. With only a couple of dozen artists returning, I may be the first to boast that every exhibitor gets a corner booth.

I spaced out booths 10 feet apart with enormously wide aisles. We all agreed this was something we could get used to.

The enthusiasm to return to normal continued over to second Saturdays when the Sawyer Yards continued with Second Saturday Open Studios.

Getting people indoors was more challenging with social distancing rules in place, and not as many studios were open. Two artists that I interviewed, Stacy Gresell and Lisa Morales, came up with an innovative marketing solution, albeit unintentionally perhaps.

What started as a fun project for visitors in their new studio earlier in the year turned into a thought-provoking collaborative art piece between two artists and the public. The duo created a massive beehive made out of notes from friends and patrons written on

paper, rolled up to form the “honeycomb” shapes.

The original idea was to have guests write out positive thoughts they were grateful for in the spirit of good energy and wellbeing.

“Then COVID-19 hit and flipped the art community on its head,” Morales said. “We decided to pivot and make the first thoughts to go into the hive about how people were handling sheltering at home.”

In the June 20 edition of Art Valet, the signs of successful innovation were apparent.

First and foremost among the virtual innovators was Houston’s own Fresh Arts.

Fresh Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that literally provides the tools artists and creatives need to succeed.

Where an academic education can provide the skills to create, Fresh Arts takes it from there.

Naturally, up until recently, almost all of the programming was done in person.

On March 17, Fresh Arts launched the first of what has become many virtual programs that have exploded their reach to an international audience.

“Since going online in March, we have reached nearly 30,000 users from all parts of the world,” said Marci Dallas, executive director of Fresh Arts. “We are reaching twice as many artists and arts-led organizations as we were offline and ultimately our mission has always been to help advance the careers of local artists and creative entrepreneurs. We’re able to do that even more effectively now by meeting them where they are.”

Learn more about the Fresh Arts programming at fresharts. org.

Archway Gallery joined the virtual world in July when it presented its 12th Annual Juried Exhibition, benefiting the Houston Junior Forum, virtually.

In the fall I wrote about Archway Gallery’s exhibit “What Shapes Us,” featuring new sculptures by Tracey Meyer. The opening featured See Create, P. 30

Contributed photo Nonprofit Magpies and Peacocks made masks for medical workers.

Contributed photo Houston artist Maria Elena Sandovici did live paintings of different astrological signs to create “Zodiac.”

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The Guide • December 19, 2020 • Page 30

Create, from P. 29 an online artist’s talk and included in-person private tours hosted by the artist. Very innovative and well done.

The artists at Hardy & Nance Studios came up with a creative and economical way to have fun and raise muchneeded funds. They hosted “Press Your Luck: Quick Draw Edition” a virtual way to get a portrait done by one of the participating artists at Hardy & Nance Studios.

After submitting an image you wanted to be turned into art (drawing, painting or sculpture), one of the 27 studio artists was selected at random to create the art. Results were emailed within 48-72 hours.

Watching the results online was great fun and obviously very popular.

Details about the studio’s new hours and events are at hardyandnancestudios.com.

In August, artists started coming out of the woodwork.

Arthur Deatly was seen all over the Heights painting on his easel. Deatly is a plein air painter and chose the Heights

as his subject this past summer.

Joe Hale Haden, an outsider artist and art car enthusiast, took to the streets with friends, literally. Haden organized several tributes to the Art Car Parade in the form of processionals. If you caught one of these impromptu groups of art on wheels, now you know.

Art appeared in vacant windows and storefronts in vacated spaces downtown. The Houston Downtown Management District in partnership with UP Art Studio installed the series of public artworks

by Texas-based artists along Main Street downtown.

As part of the Downtown District’s Art Blocks public art program, the strategic placemaking initiative WindowWorks transforms vacant and inactive storefronts with visual art to enliven the downtown streetscape.

October’s weather had Houstonians itching to get outdoors. The fifth anniversary of the completion of Buffalo Bayou Park came to the

rescue and included a Heights yarn group. Their yarn creation in total was 120 feet long and featured giant flowers, snakes, snails and caterpillars intertwined on a giant vine crawled along the Rosemont Pedestrian Bridge railing.

Bayou City Art Festival went virtual for the fall event with a series of virtual happy hours, interviews and online auctions. Check it out at bayoucityartfestival.com.

One nationwide event that got our attention is #ArtistsSunday. Organizers encouraged people to shop for art on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The website grew exponentially throughout the year.

What have our creative communities taught us in 2020? Innovate, pivot, think differently, get outside, try something new and stay in touch. Happy New Year, at last!

Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards.

Find him at ArtValet.com.

Contributed photo Artist Tracey Meyer showcases one of her pieces for the “What Shapes Us” exhibit this fall at Archway Gallery, located at 2305 Dunlavy St. She and other artists continued to create and inspire the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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