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Saturday, February 16, 2019 • Vol. 64 • No. 7
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Housing developer plans to buy Doyle’s Restaurant By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com The property occupied by an iconic community restaurant could be converted into an apartment complex. Mary Lawler, the executive director of Avenue CDC, a not-for-profit developer with a 28-year track record of building affordable housing for Houstonians, confirmed that her organization is in negotiations with the owner of Doyle’s Restaurant to purchase the property and build a small apartment complex. Doyle’s, which remains open at 2136 W. 34th St., is an Italian-American eatery that has been in busi-
Leader file photo Doyle’s Restaurant on 34th Street could be converted into an apartment complex.
ness since 1954. Owner Peter Doyle declined to comment about the sale, which is in the option period for the prospective buyer.
Lawler said the plans are for a fivestory building with 68 apartments, comprised of 21 one-bedroom units, 27 two-bed units and 20 three-bed
units. A surface-level parking lot and green space also are part of the plans. “Housing prices have risen dramatically but income levels haven’t gone up,” said Lawler, who noted that Avenue has about 700 apartment units throughout the city. “There’s a real need for affordable housing. People who could afford to rent or buy 10 to 15 years ago are now being challenged. We make apartments available on a first-come, first-served basis. We find that in our new developments the first tenants are those already living in the neighborhood. A lot of families may be doubled up with parents and See Doyle’s P. 4A
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QUEST FOR CITY HALL
The races we’ll watch most are Mayor, City Council District A, District C and District H – all which have an impact on people who live in this area of Houston. Announced – Mayor
Announced District A
Announced – District C
jasonk@greenwoodking.com GREENWOOD KING
VOTES CAST IN 2015
PROPERTIES
Dr. Ana M. Torres Internal Medicine & Pediatrics
Turner
King
Hellyar
Peck
Kamin
268,812
CONCIERGE MEDICINE
Announced District H Buzbee
Baker
Kennedy
Meyers
Nowak
Scarbrough
Pizza party. Nontraditional toppings have become popular, but is pineapple acceptable?
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Smith
Mayor
Cisneros
WWW.THETORRESCENTER.COM
inside.
20,097 47,188 17,445
713-863-9200 427 W. 20th St. Ste. 503 Houston, TX 77008
MONEY SPENT SO FAR Turner
$633,726
King
$1,677
Buzbee $541,957 Baker Smith
Peck
$750
Cisneros $5,645
$4,120
Members of SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights will vote Feb. 18 on a proposal to build a pool in the backyard of the property. 270,000 240,000 210,000 180,000 150,000 120,000 90,000 60,000 30,000
District A District C District H
Jason Knebel (713)232-9712
Hellyar
$5,398
Kamin
$0
Kennedy $20 Meyers
$0
Nowak $1,356
$0
Scarbrough $0 Source: Harris County Clerk’s office
Peck still pushing for spot on city council By Adam Zuvanich news@theleadernews.com Gone country. John Oates of Hall & Oates fame will perform Feb. 23 at The Heights Theater.
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Amy Peck couldn’t beat Brenda Stardig, so she joined her. Now she hopes to succeed her. Peck first ran for the Houston City Council’s District A seat as a 24-year-old in 2009, when she finished third in an election won
by Stardig. Peck ran again in 2013 and again lost to Stardig, who then hired Peck as her chief of staff. Stardig is now approaching the end of her term limit, so her spot on the council will be up for grabs during the Nov. 5 election. Peck intends to take it. “I’ve been working in the community for many years now,” said
Peck, a Cypress Falls High School graduate who grew up in District A. “I think I know what the needs are of the community, and the community knows me at this point. I think I’ll have a better outcome this time around.” While citywide races remain in See Election P. 4A
Mini mural packs powerful message By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Liftoff. Astral Brewing, a new craft brewery, will open March 2 on North Shepherd Drive.
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The INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 7A Coupons. ................................................. 6A Food/Drink/Art................................... 1B Obituaries.............................................. 6A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports. ....................................................... 9A
A new mini mural of Nobel Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai at T.C. Jester and Ella Boulevard is both a testament to the power of education and a response to some recent hate speech. Ellen Cohen, Houston City Council member for District C and mayor pro tem, said that last year a constituent reported that a traffic control box in the Timbergrove neighborhood, at T.C. Jester and 11th Street, had been vandalized Contributed photo with Islamophobic hate speech. “We requested a mural for that Artist Jessica Padilla works on her painting of Nobel Prize recipient Malala location, but unfortunately Public Yousafzai at the corner of T.C. Jester Boulevard and Ella Boulevard. Works denied the request because goal of becoming an art teacher. the box is due to be replaced in the nearby location. Enter 23-year-old art student She submitted an application in near future,” Cohen said. However, Cohen wanted to re- Jessica Padilla, who is pursuing her November for her first mini mural spond to the hate speech with a education degree at the University positive message on a mural at a of Houston in Clear Lake with the See Mural P. 4A
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Lodge tries to drown dissent as pool plan goes to vote By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The plan to build a pool at SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights has received a wave of support from members and its statewide parent organization, which endorsed the idea at a meeting last month in Temple. So the project continues to swim toward fruition, with another lap likely to be completed Feb. 18, when lodge members can vote to approve the proposal and push it to the design phase. The most vocal opponent of the project, meanwhile, says she has been pushed aside. Kathlyn Curtis, a former Heights resident who joined the Czech fraternal organization in 2017, has publicly criticized the proposal and tried to rally support against it. She claims the community center was targeted and infiltrated by a group of area families looking to create an exclusive swimming club. Curtis said the pool’s funding structure and usage parameters are aimed at shutting out most of the 4,000-plus members of the longstanding lodge, known for its charitable work, youth activities and popular Thursday night bingo games. Now Curtis has effectively been shut out of the lodge. Its five-person grievance committee, in a letter to Curtis dated Jan. 17, told her it was unanimously upholding an expulsion request and that she was not allowed to attend lodge meetings or functions “or involve any media regarding Lodge 88 or this committee’s decision.” Shortly thereafter, however, Curtis said she was called by grievance committee chairperson Melissa Brown and told the decision was being tabled. President Brian Vanicek of the Supreme Lodge, which oversees the local organization, said last week that Curtis “remains a member” of the Heights lodge. Curtis is avoiding the premises at 1435 Beall St. until she receives a formal retraction letter and said her husband, Nick Curtis, received a letter saying he was suspended from the lodge for one year. She also said their 6-year-old son, JeanLuc, continues to attend youth functions at the lodge but has been dropped off and picked up by other people. “It’s a very weird situation,” said Kenneth Mlcak, a longtime Lodge 88 member and former chairman of its board of trustees. While Kathlyn Curtis continues to express her disapproval, saying the lodge See SPJST P. 4A
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