Bike Barn Powers Cycling World
Whether for lifelong sport, cleaner air, improving health, saving money on gas, less traffic, turning a work commute into a workout or just to feel the wind, people ride bikes for many reasons. And in Houston, cyclists peddle to Bike Barn. The retailer has been supporting the world of cycling since 1983. Serving Cycling Community Bike Barn’s market niche has been reinforced by increasing trends for bike commuting which has grown by 62 percent since…..Read More
Walnut Bend Reconstruction Near Completion
When Westchase District broke ground on the Walnut Bend street reconstruction project in September 2019, it marked the beginning of construction, but also the end of 18-months of design and engineering that involved approximately eight engineers, CAD drafters and constructability review professionals from Westchase District-based Lockwood Andrews & Newnam (LAN). But as any engineer will tell you, real-world conditions don’t always match up to what was expected when the project was in design. In fact,…..Read More
Elmside/Woodchase Streetscape Improvements Take Shape
Months of construction progress and work are enhancing Elmside and Woodchase Drives as streetscape improvements are nearing completion. Select driveway sections along the path have been replaced and repaved while wider, continuous sidewalks have been built on the east side of the street. The new sidewalks connect pedestrians and cyclists from Westheimer to Woodchase Park. Along the 1.4 mile-path, the District replaced span wires with the installation of traffic light mast arms (at Westpark and…..Read More
February Freeze Claims Mature Trees
Fewer than 50 trees were originally marked to be removed by the construction of Walnut Bend Lane. This included some that were already on the decline, plus some that were in conflict with the proposed improvements. Most of those trees were covered by the City of Houston’s Tree Protection ordinance, which dictates that any removed trees be offset by new trees within the project area. For example, if a construction project removes trees with a…..Read More
Houston TranStar Offers Hurricane Season Preparedness Tips
While residents are no strangers to heavy rain events throughout the year, and particularly during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 – November 30, Transportation and Emergency Management personnel at Houston TranStar are stressing the importance of being prepared for severe weather. “Your ability to survive a hurricane depends on you having a plan, staying informed, and preparing wisely,” said Dinah Massie, Executive Director for Houston TranStar. This year, TranStar is sharing four helpful…..Read More
Illegal Truck Parking Addressed
It is illegal for 18-wheel tractor/trailers to park for more than two hours on any residential street in Houston. It is also illegal for the smaller “box” trucks to park for more than 24 hours on a city street. But if you’ve driven Meadowglen Lane, Elmside Drive or Seagler Road, you know that illegal parking is a chronic problem that interferes with vehicular traffic. Westchase District is actively working to curtail this illegal parking. The…..Read More
Quillian Center Readies for Summer Camp
In Texas, the first week of May means the last month of school. That’s when parents of school-age children are finalizing their summer plans and the team at Quillian Center is ramping up to provide another summer of epic programming for those same children. For 60 years, Quillian Center’s summer day camps have provided outstanding programming to kids from throughout west Houston. Campers can always count on swimming, athletic activities, counselor challenges, arts and crafts…..Read More
A Smile and a Wave Make Officer Wang’s Day
Riding an average of 25 miles a day, HPD bike officer Zhen Wang knows the Westchase District area. “It’s different than being in a patrol vehicle,” said Wang, a nine-year veteran of the Westchase District Patrol. “When you are on a bike you ride past people on the trail and on the streets. It makes my day when people say hello and wave. We love smiles too.” After Wang puts miles on the bike, he…..Read More
nonPareil Students Excel in App Development and Creation
People with autism experience challenges that might not be obvious. Imagine you’re an adult with autism. You can drive to a college campus. But upon arriving, a full parking lot stirs anxiety, fear, mistrust and a lost feeling – causing you to go home. “This happens,” said Anne Marie Blacketer, CFRE and chief development officer at nonPareil’s Houston campus in Westchase District. That’s why nonPareil wants to make learning more accessible than before for adults…..Read More
Leading Businesses, Foundations Kick Off Greenspace Campaign
Westchase District’s Greenspace for Westchase campaign to fund the planned Wilcrest Park is off to a strong start thanks to major donations from companies, organizations and foundations familiar to all Houstonians. The Greenspace campaign was created to cover the $3.2 million gap in funds necessary to build Wilcrest Park into a regional destination. Wilcrest Park will be built on a 3.5-acre parcel of land located on Wilcrest Drive immediately north of Robinson-Westchase Library and Westchase…..Read More