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Inside Today: Where to start planning your Christmas Worship • Page 6B

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Vandalism prompts Heights restaurant to paint over Pride Wall By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The vandalism outside Jenni’s Noodle House last week did not diminish the owners’ support for the LGBT community in Houston and beyond. It did, however, force them to remove the mural illustrating that support. Co-owner Scott Tranweaver said the rainbow-colored Pride Wall painted outside the restaurant franchise’s Heights location at 602 E 20th St. was vandalized on the morning of Friday, Nov. 23. At the request of the landlord,

Photo by Robb Reeves The Pride Wall at Jenni’s Noodle House.

Tranweaver said Tuesday that the wall would be painted white on Wednesday. “We don’t want to take it down,” he said. “The out-of-town building owner thinks the building will be a future tar-

get for vandalism, and he’s right. It’s already happened, and what’s next?” Houston Police Department spokesman Victor Senties said Tuesday that the vandal has not been identified and the investigation remains active. It’s being handled by the department’s criminal mischief division as well as its criminal intelligence division to determine if it was a hate crime. The mural was painted in the spring after Houston’s previous Pride Wall, at Select Skate Shop in Montrose, was vandalized early this year. The one outside Jenni’s Noodle House says “BeVisible” at the top of the wall, with an

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Fitting in - Allegro Builders commences mixed-use project in the Heights.

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Art of imperfection - Local artisti Loveless seeks nothing less.

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FIND IT. GARAGE SALE: Dec. 1, 9 a.m., 323 W. 31st St. 77018. Household items, baby stuff, toys, tools and much more. YOLANDA’S HOUSE CLEANING: Background checked. 713-553-4983, 281-435-4205. Trash hauling available. HEIGHTS AREA GARAGE SALE: Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 840 LeGreen 77008. Too much to list! Come check it out!

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THE INDEX. Calendar/Church. ............................. 5A Classifieds.............................................. 4B Coupons. ................................................. 6A Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries.............................................. 6A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A

See Vandalism P. 3A

Record-setting Gunnell among seniors to leave mark on SPX

Jason Knebel (713)232-9712

INSIDE.

inscription attributed to LGBT rights advocate Jim Obergefell. “I march because of the people who marched before me,” the inscription reads. “I live in a better world due to their bravery. And I owe it to them to continue the fight for equality.” A large black “X” was spray-painted on the mural Friday along with smaller cross-out symbols and the words, “Stop your gay agenda please.” Tranweaver said other nearby businesses were vandalized in a similar manner the same day.

Contributed photo Above, an artist’s rendering of the “M-K-T” development at the northeast corner of Shepherd Drive and 6th Street. At right, developers Steve Radom, left, and Scott Arnoldy. The project, which will repurpose a warehouse complex built in the 1970s, will feature 200,000 square feet of mixed-use space and is slated to be completed in 2020.

Developers transforming old office complex into modern marketplace the rest of the neighborhood. Their multimillion-dollar “M-K-T” project, which also is being funded by Boston-based Long Wharf Capital, LLC, will transform a 12-acre warehouse complex at the northeast corner of Shepherd and 6th Street. Those buildings will be repurposed in the same vein as the yearold Heights Mercantile, which Radom developed at the intersection of Yale Street and 7th Street. He said the new project is about five times larger in scale, with 200,000 square feet of office space, restaurants, merchants and health centers. Slated to open in 2020, M-K-T also will feature a 2,000-foot urban boardwalk and more than 4 acres of green space. It will sit just south of the Heights Hike and Bike Trail, which Radom envisions as a primary entry point for residents of the Heights and beyond. “I like what they did right down here at Yale and 7th,” Heights resident Aaron Cormier said while jogging on the trail last week. “If they’re

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The Heights is known for its hip hangouts, bustling businesses and residential buildings characterized by an eclectic mix of modern structures and historic haunts. Take a much-traveled road that leads into the heart of the Heights, however, and the initial look and feel is much different. Those who exit I-10 and turn north on Shepherd Drive are greeted mostly by a cluster of beige-colored industrial structures – including auto shops, warehouses and oversized fitness centers. “I think the fact that it’s sort of gritty and industrial seems very out of place and out of character,” said Heights-based developer Steve Radom of Radom Capital, LLC. “So we think that’s the opportunity there.” Radom, in a joint venture with fellow Houston-area developer Triten Real Estate Partners, hopes to jumpstart an overhaul of the Heights entryway and make it more in line with

doing that over here, I’m down with that, too. I think that’s great.” Not everyone near the upcoming development is a fan, namely those who will be displaced by it. The 20plus tenants in the existing warehouses, constructed in the 1970s, were given about eight months’ notice to relocate after Warehouse Associates sold the property to Triten. Scott Tichavsky, owner of an industrial controls automation company called Process Computer Technology, Inc., has been a Warehouse Associates tenant since 1992. He said it will cost him at least $50,000 to move his business to a new location and suggested the new developers should help defray that cost. “Warehouse Associates is patting themselves on the back about all the money they made, and these guys are patting themselves on the back for all the money they’re going to make,” Tichavsky said. “But all the little guys and the guys that are in See Developer P. 3A

Last Saturday’s playoff loss to Dallas Bishop Dunne marked the end of an illustrious high school career for Grant Gunnell, who concluded his time at St. Pius X as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Texas history. He departs the Panthers’ program with the state’s records for passing yards and touchdown passes in tow, according to records compiled by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Gunnell’s 16,020 yards in four seasons shattered the previous mark held by Booker’s Hunter Liles, who threw for 14,408 from 2011-14, and his 195 scoring tosses topped the previous record of 184 held by Refugio’s Travis Quintanilla. Gunnell also set the state’s all-time scoring record. He was responsible for 1,340 points at St. Pius X, surpassing the previous mark of 1,232 amassed by former Aledo tailback Johnathan Gray from 2008-11. “One day when I’m older and have kids, it’s going to be pretty cool to show them,” Gunnell said. Gunnell, who plans to graduate in December and take his talent to the University of Arizona, garnered the most individual accolades among the Panthers. But he was not solely responsible for one of the most successful stretches in program history. St. Pius X’s 42-0 loss to Bishop Dunne ended its hopes of winning a 13th football state title - a prize which was about the only one to elude one of the school’s most accomplished senior classes. The Panthers reached three TAPPS state semifinals in the See Gunnell P. 3A

Photo by Wayne Donnelly Grant Gunnell acknowledges the St. Pius X crowd after breaking the Texas high school record for career touchdown passes Nov. 2 against San Antonio Antonian Prep.

Skimmers becoming big problem at area pumps By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Texas Department of Agriculture spokesman Mark Loeffler said the prevalence of skimming scams at fueling stations is the “No. 1 consumer protection issue” in the state, which he hopes will soon become better at combating the problem. It’s been no less pervasive at area pumps. Skimmers are small devices, often inserted into ATMs and gas pumps, used to capture and store information con-

“New technology just kills everybody.” Photo by Adam Zuvanich The Valero station at 5121 N. Shepherd Dr., where three skimmers were removed Nov. 8.

tained in a credit card’s magnetic stripe. According to data compiled by TDAG, based on complaints it receives from consumers and businesses, 15 gas stations in or close to The Leader coverage

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readers on Facebook. Two of those 19 stations, along with five others in the area, were cited in a mid-November Houston Chronicle report about a string of Valero stations where skimmers were found on multiple occasions this year. The Leader previously reported that one of those stores, at 5121 N. Shepherd Dr., had three skimmers removed from its pumps on Nov. 8. “It’s crazy,” said Walt Kalinowsky, a Valero customer and Shepherd Park Terrace resident. “New technology just kills See Skimmer P. 3A

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