Westchase Today

Year 10 / Issue 1 • News for and about “The community that means business.” • March 2008
Oak Park at Westchase comes full circle
Development lives up to founders’ expectations
By Sherry Fox
Vice President, Communications
ight years ago, Means Knaus Partners and
Florida-based St. Joe Commercial purchased
70 acres near the intersection of Beltway 8
and Harwin. Inspired by the area’s
mature Live Oak trees, they named
the area “Oak Park at Westchase”
and, along with their neighbors,
immediately sought to annex the
area into the adjacent Westchase
District. Their goal was to create
a campus-style corporate environment for large office users,
maintaining high standards for
building materials and landscaping.
E
Means Knaus Partners, he had built the 184,000
square foot (sf) Westchase Corporate Center in 1998
and while at Paragon, Knaus lead the team that
developed the 216,000 sf Frost Bank Building (10333
Richmond) in 1983.
Halliburton was the original owner of the property
backs. And a funded community association
(Westchase Community Association III) was established. In fact, Harwin and Bellaire – the streets
that serve as the development’s north and south
boundaries – have been landscaped by a partnership
of the Westchase Community Association and the
Westchase District. (The Bellaire
landscaping will be complete this
spring.)
A total of 292 of the area’s mature
Live Oak trees were relocated
around the new roadways to accommodate future growth, which earned
Means Knaus Partners and St. Joe
Commercial awards from Trees for
Houston and Park People. They
were also a Legacy Award finalist for
their commitment to environmental
preservation in the development of
Oak Park. “For us, it was extremely
exciting to preserve the trees and
create the landscaped environment
that exists at Oak Park today,” says
Knaus.
Fast forward to 2008 and you’ll find
that the dream has been realized at
Oak Park at Westchase. Today the
entire 225 acre business park is
virtually built-out. And its tenant list
reads like a “who’s who” of corpoimpossible to drive through Oak Park today without encountering cranes and construction traffic. CGG
rate America – Halliburton, CGG It’s
Veritas is building a second building in Oak Park to accommodate employees who are moving to Westchase
Veritas, Quest Diagnostics, Men’s District from the Energy Corridor area.
Other long-time owners include MI
Wearhouse, Jacobs Engineering and MI Swaco.
that would become Oak Park. The company planted
Swaco, which recently purchased another parcel to
the now famous Live Oaks more than 30 years ago.
When he surveys Oak Park today, Doug Knaus is
accommodate the company’s future growth and CGG
When Halliburton considered selling the excess
proud of what he sees. “Everywhere you go, there is
Veritas, which is also expanding into a second buildacreage near its 575,000 sf corporate campus,
construction. But more importantly, we stayed true to
ing. Jacobs Engineering – one of the fastest growing
it
brought
in
The
Staubach
Company
as
a
partner.
our vision from beginning to end.”
engineering companies in the world – built one buildAccording to Staubach’s Dan Bellow, a “ring road”
ing in Oak Park in 2000 and then built a second buildOak Park was a homecoming of sorts for Knaus. As
lined with trees circled the interior of the site, making
ing in 2006. Altogether the company has 585,000 sf
it difficult to subdivide and sell. “When the property
C O N T E N T S
of office space in Oak Park for its 2300+ employees.
is not configured correctly, you have to sell it at a
Continued on Page 3
low price. We advised
District earns Keep Houston
Halliburton to consider
Beautiful Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
re-developing it, dividing it into parcels so
they could sell it at a
New urban living options
higher value.”
in Westchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Summer fun for all ages . . . . . . . . . . . .5
HCC opens its doors at
Westchase campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Westchase District night life . . . . . . . . .7
Neighborhood news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Underground utilities
were installed along
the thoroughfares.
Rodgerdale was
extended as a 4-lane
road through Oak Park.
It now serves as the
area’s major northsouth roadway. Town
Park was cut through
as the east-west roadway. Restrictions were
put in place regarding
landscaping and set-
Construction is underway on One Oak Park, one of two six-story, 150,000 sf office buildings being built
by Means Knaus Partners and The Carlyle Group. One of the site’s 30-year old oak trees is pictured in
the foreground.
None of the Above
est the headline make you think this column
relates to the political world, please know it
refers to the more mundane work of the Board
of Directors in setting the District’s 2008 budget. At
the end of 2007, the Board concluded a four-month
process and adopted a budget for 2008 as well as the
revised 6-year budget forecast we use for longer
term planning. What’s news here is not the budget
per se but how the Board is
spending these funds and
the positive impact this will
produce in the years
ahead.
L
Jim Murphy
General Manager
Westchase District
Our District is fortunate to
have captured an extensive
amount of new construction
over the years, nearly $1
billion since our establishment in 1995. This past
year, improved market
conditions led to higher
values on existing properties as well, offering the
District the opportunity that only comes with a high
level of success, namely, should we A) drop our rate
to provide the same level of funding or B) expand our
services to spend the new revenue? And, as you
might have surmised, the Board chose a different
direction altogether.
Late in 2006 we completed the process of developing
our Long Range Plan (LRP) and then set about
identifying the best projects to start the multi-year
process of implementation. Cost, feasibility, owner
interest, market factors and more were reviewed to
select exemplary projects that would start the
momentum district-wide. As we were wrapping up
this effort in the fall of 2007, the Board connected the
dots and concluded that the increase in WD values
could, if leveraged by some additional funds and
applied for the next five years, provide construction
funds for the first round of projects in the LRP. So the
Board adopted a $1.2 million plan for capital
improvements that will bring more projects like these
WESTCHASE
The projects approved include additions to the hike
and bike trail network, an infill street, and a park.
While each of them is a “good” project, the Board’s
vision for the LRP concentrates on how these projects
lead to more, gradually
building to the critical mass
needed to maintain our
District as the location of
choice for businesses,
residents and investment.
We face an ever-expanding
circle of competition and
well understand that being
ahead of the game today
is good news, but being
Mark Taylor
ahead tomorrow – and
Board Chairman
beyond – is our goal.
Westchase District
Meet the Westchase Staff
today
The Westchase District is a municipal management
district funded by local property owners in a 4.2 square
mile area centered on the Sam Houston Tollway between
I-10 and US-59 in Houston, Texas. It is home to 71,000
employees and 28,000 residents. We promote and
encourage economic development through programs that
enhance public safety, area mobility, area marketing,
area image and beautification.
to the District, provide a learning laboratory for LRP
implementation, positively impact property values,
and help bring about both development and
re-development.
Dave Gilkeson is VP & Chief Operating Officer
ave Gilkeson, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Westchase District, recently
celebrated his 30th anniversary of moving to Houston. In February 1978, Gilkeson arrived in
Houston to open a Marriott cafeteria at the Texas Instruments plant on the Southwest Freeway.
He jokes that if he had been transferred in August, Houston’s brutal summer heat may have driven
him away, but since it was February, it worked out.
D
A Philadelphia native, Gilkeson attended one of the oldest high schools in America – the William Penn
Charter School, which was founded in 1689, almost 90 years before the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. After high school, Gilkeson was Ivy League bound and attended Cornell where he earned
his B.S. in Hotel Administration. Later he received his MBA from the University of Houston.
Between his arrival in ’78 and his acceptance of the Director of Finance position with the Westchase
District in 1999, Gilkeson lived an entrepreneurial life. Using his accounting skills, he worked in
the food service industry and for
a CPA firm. In 1982, Gilkeson
bought a $3,000 Apple computer
and hung-out a shingle starting
his own accounting practice,
specializing in restaurants and
hotels.
Staff
Jim Murphy
General Manager
Dave Gilkeson
VP, Chief Operating Officer
Sherry Fox
VP, Communications
Irma Hernandez
Projects Director
Mark Hubenak
Public Safety Director
Karen Wallis
Administrative Assistant
Theola Cooper
Receptionist
Sebastian Morales
Grounds Crew
Reginald Dyson
Information Technologist
Westchase Today is published by the Westchase District.
Please address all inquiries to Editor, Westchase Today,
Westchase District, 10375 Richmond,
Suite 1175, Houston, TX 77042.
Telephone: 713-780-9434 Fax: 713-780-8025.
We welcome your comments and story ideas.
Visit us online at www.westchasedistrict.com
2
/ westchase today
Both Gilkeson’s professional and
his personal life are interwoven
into the Westchase District. He
met his wife, Lisa, through the
Junior Chamber of Commerce in
1987. Lisa Gilkeson was the
District’s first Director of Finance
and three years later Dave was
hired as the third Director of The Gilkesons assemble for a family photo. The family lives in Katy.
Finance. In 2004, he was promoted to VP of Operations, and he became Westchase’s VP and COO in
2006.
Gilkeson is proud of his work for Westchase, and especially of the District’s street signs – their color,
size and visibility wonderfully brands the District. He’s also proud of the Corporate Challenge.
“We wanted to develop a first class operation and we’ve done it.”
Gilkeson is involved in a number of local civic organizations including the West Houston Leadership
Institute, the Houston West Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, the Boy Scouts and the Cornell
University Alumni Association.
A big-time sports fan, he is an original Texans’ season ticket holder. In fact, he bought his season
tickets three years before the first Texans’ game was ever played, and he has no plans of giving them
up. The only games he’s missed were when he went to Russia to adopt his son.
Christopher Gilkeson was born in Stravopol, Russia, in 2003. He is named after Lisa’s brother who
died at age 21 in a motorcycle accident. The family also has an 8-year-old Welsh Corgie named Stormy.
Try saying “Stormy the Corgie” three times fast!!
Gilkeson has no plans to leave Westchase. “Working for the District has been a great opportunity.”
Founders’ Expectations, Continued from Page 3
Several new office buildings are underway. Myers, Crow & Saviers is
building its third and fourth buildings in Oak Park totaling 309,200 sf. And
Midway Companies is building Oak Park Plaza, a three-story, 53,000 sf
Class A, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
office building. Build-to-suit projects include the headquarters of
Spectracell, Cytogenics and ImageNet.
Knaus saved one of the best parcels for himself. Means Knaus Partners,
in partnership with The Carlyle Group, is building two 150,000 square feet
office buildings on the southwest corner of Rodgerdale and Town Park.
Construction has already begun on the first of two planned buildings that
will feature, according to Knaus, “granite throughout, a two-story lobby,
backlit custom glass around the elevator, water features inside and
outside, as well as a landscaped courtyard between the two buildings.”
Other developments in Oak Park include the recently completed La Quinta
Inn & Suites, plus a 129 room Cambria Suites Hotel which is under
construction. The Hampton Inn & Suites rounds out the three hotels in
Oak Park available for the area’s corporate tenants. Pappas Restaurants
owns a site near Beltway 8 and Bellaire and they’re planning a restaurant
(or two) for that location. A retail development is under construction at
Harwin and Beltway 8 and several banks are also being built on the
property’s south end near Bellaire and Beltway 8.
“It’s just a wonderful feeling when you drive through the area now,”
says Andy Lear, President of the Westchase Community Association and
Westchase Management Company. He brokered the original deal for
Means Knaus and St. Joe. “The hotels, the office developments…to see
it all happening at once is very exciting.”
Bellow agrees. “It’s a tremendous corporate campus. For Staubach and
Halliburton, it was an excellent joint venture and a tremendous success.
Halliburton is now surrounded by great neighbors in a deed-restricted
office park.”
The team that helped create the success at Oak Park includes (from left-right) Peyton
Collins of Means Knaus Partners, Andy Lear, Westchase Management Co., and Cynthia
Rogers and Doug Knaus, both of Means Knaus Partners.
Roses and Recognition
Westchase District has completed its landscaping and esplanade improvements on the
newly expanded sections of Rodgerdale Road between Westheimer and Westpark. Five
esplanades were landscaped with High Rise Live Oaks, Agapanthas, Foxtail Ferns and
Nearly Wild Roses. Two esplanades were finished with red brick pavers. This $121,000
project was accomplished in cooperation with the Westchase Community Association.
The Westchase District earned one of the top honors at the 23rd annual Proud Partner
awards, sponsored by the Keep Houston Beautiful organization. Westchase District
General Manager Jim Murphy and Projects Director Irma Hernandez accepted the award
from Houston Mayor Bill White. The District received the J. Howard Rambin, III
Founder Award, which was previously known as the Distinguished Service Award.
It recognizes the District’s long history of working to beautify the area and its record of
bringing in partnering organizations to support these beautification projects.
westchase today / 3
Portico and Ventura Lofts offer new
urban living options in Westchase District
By Sherry Fox
Vice President, Communications
ith the price of gasoline hovering at $3.00 per
gallon, many people are re-thinking their daily
commute and looking for living options closer
to the office. For the 71,000 people who work for
Westchase District employers, there is good news on
that front.
Two new luxury apartment communities are opening in
Westchase District offering great upscale living options
for anyone who wants an urban lifestyle without the
hassles of home ownership.
Ventura Lofts, located at 2401 South Gessner, is being
built by Sueba USA and managed by Southhampton
Management. It’s a great partnership, according to
Gloria Haney, Vice President of Southhampton. “Sueba
always builds a high-end product and Southhampton is
known for providing superior service to residents.”
Ventura Lofts features 265 loft-style apartment homes
in a 3-story midrise building.
The homes feature 9-, 10-,
and 12-foot ceilings with
hardwood flooring. All
homes have stainless steel
appliances, front-loading
washers and dryers, granite
countertops, and brushed
nickel fixtures and hardware.
The community features a
Starbucks coffee station, a
2-story fitness center, two
resort-style pools, courtyards with fountains, plus a business and conference
center, as well as an 18-seat theater room. “We’re
selling a lifestyle,” says Haney. “This is the new
exclusive address in Westchase.”
Rents at Ventura Lofts range from $1595 for a 952
square foot (sf) 1-bedroom home to $2730 for a 1635 sf
3-bedroom home. Haney says the management is still
finalizing the details of its amenities package, but look
for it to include guard service in the evenings, dry
cleaning drop-off/pick-up on site, as well as cooking
classes, wine tastings and other events for residents.
Haney says the leasing office will open in mid March
and she expects the first residents to move in April 1.
“I’m happy to be opening when we are because that’s
the beginning of the peak moving season.”
Meanwhile, Portico at West 8 is completing final
W
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/ westchase today
construction on its first 230 apartment units in preparation for April move-ins. Manager Kate Smith has
already opened the management office at 3003
Seagler Road and is accepting applications from future
residents.
“We believe our community is state-of-the-art for
Westchase District,” said Smith. “It will be appealing to
busy professionals who already work in the area and
want to live near their office. Westchase District is the
best area of town for business and it’s such a central
location. We must
take advantage of
that.”
Portico’s 1-bedroom homes range
from $1056 (856
sf) to $1128 (845
sf). Two-bedroom
homes range from
$1440 (1105 sf) to
$1980 (1,383 sf).
The Portico’s
state-of the art
fitness center
features high end
exercise equipment
with personal
televisions, plus
two 42” flat screen
TVs on the wall.
They also have two 2,408 sf penthouse units (2 bdr2 bath + study) that lease for $4720. Smith says these
beautiful high-end residences would make an excellent
corporate apartment.
Still looking for something different? Portico has twelve
live-work units, starting at $1860 per month. “These
street-level units are perfect for any kind of homebased business,” said Smith. “Perhaps an insurance
company, a housekeeping service – any business that
may have a few clients, but not a steady stream of
traffic.” The one-story units feature private parking,
wood floors throughout and a separate, private kitchen
and bath area. Otherwise, it is an open concept floor
plan. “Some tenants may not even live there,” says
Smith. “They may use the space exclusively as an
office.”
The Portico’s distinctive Spanish, Mediterranean and
Texas architecture is a prelude to more intimate settings
elsewhere on the property. Smith says there are
several enclosed courtyards at Portico, all of which are
beautifully landscaped featuring fountains. Common
elements include a state-of-the-art fitness facility, juice
bar, wireless business center, conference facilities and a
multimedia theater room, in addition to the pool and hot
tub.
Interior features include Roman soaking tubs, seamless
stand-alone showers, granite
countertops and ceramic tile
floors in the bathroom, plus
built-in entertainment centers
in the living area and built-in
desks in the bedrooms.
High end finishings, including
granite countertops, stainless steel
appliances and brushed nickel
fixtures give the Ventura Lofts
a sleek, sophisticated look.
The Portico is owned and
managed by Richfield
Investment Corporation, which
is developing the entire 100 acre property at
Westheimer and Beltway 8. Portico is the first stage in
what will be a master-planned, mixed-use development
known as West 8.
“We made several design changes throughout the
construction process to make sure this project was
done right,” says Smith. “A lot of love and labor went
into building this community. The residents will certainly
notice.”
JUST THE FACTS:
Portico at West 8
3003 Seagler Road
713-781-9628 www.porticoatwest8.com
Office Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Mon-Fri
10:00 am – 5:00 Sat-Sun
Weekly after-hours orientation for new residents
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Thursdays
Ventura Lofts
2401 S. Gessner Road
832-494-1200 www.venturalofts-houston.com
Office Hours: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Mon-Friday
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday
12:00 Noon – 5:00 pm Sunday
Westchase has a camp for everyone
By Deanna Harrington
Contributing Writer
nine one-week sessions for kids in kindergarten
through 8th grade. Monday through Friday, 7:00 am
until 6:00 pm, each session has a different theme. “In
The Spring Semester is already here, and
addition to ARC, we run enrichment camps which
NOW is the time to start exploring summer
include a variety of different things, including woodcamp options for your children. Fortunately,
working and dance. Some last a week, some last two
Westchase has several wholesome and fun
weeks.”
options for kids of all ages and abilities.
“On-line registration begins March 14. We try to get
Founded in 1984, the “granddaddy” of Westchase
people to commit to their weeks early so they can get
summer camps is
what they want. We can be
With two of
Camp Quillian at First
more accommodating for
the best
Methodist Houston. swimming pools
our specialty camps, such
in the area,
According to Quillian swimming is a
as the sports camps or art
key activity
Center Director Tom
camps, so if a parent
during the
Gaden, Camp Quillian Quillian
decides at the last minute to
Center’s
is one of a few in the summer camps.
sign up for a class, we can
Houston area that is
usually help with that.”
accredited by the American Camp
“Kids come from all the
Association. He adds that this year
community schools –
they will offer 12 one-week sessions.
Briarwood, Askew, Ashford,
The cost is $157 per week per child and camp hours
Ray K. Daily, and Shadowbriar. We market a lot in the
are from 7:00 am until 6:30 pm. The camp averages
area and have even coordinated with local companies
230 kids per session. Online registration for campers
to provide a camp option for their employees’ kids.
begins on April 1st. “Sign-up as soon as you can
About 25% of our kids’ parents work in the District,”
because we fill-up,” says Gaden.
notes Hovanesian.
Program time is from 9:00 am until 4:00
“We view this as a
pm. “At four, the pool opens for our kids. We
ministry first and
swim test our kids to make sure they have
foremost, and our
the skills for the big pool. Kids who may not
goal is to involve
be able to swim well wear an orange wristthe entire family
band to alert counselors to keep an extra
and give them a
eye on them. We offer swim lessons above
sense of belongand beyond camp. Since we have a pool,
ing. We send a
I strongly believe that the lessons need to
questionnaire
be offered. Kids can come before or after
with our summer
camp for group lessons.”
packet so the staff
The Quillian Center shares its pool with
‘meets’ the kids in
other area summer camps. According to Grace campers enjoyed a watermelon eating contest
advance on paper
during Funtabulous Food Week. The hands-behindGaden, “Grace, Ascension and a number of your-back watermelon eating event was videotaped
and get a good idea
and
screened
at
the
camp’s
end
of
summer
party.
daycares use the Noah’s Ark Pool as part of
of the individual
their programs. We welcome kids from the
needs of each child.
neighborhood. The camp is an outreach ministry. Kids
The staff is trained to work with kids who have special
come from Memorial, the Ashford area, Alief, and over
needs.”
a quarter of our kids’ parents work in the area. We’re
also located on Beltway 8 at a good drop off place for
JUST THE FACTS:
parents driving downtown.”
Quillian Recreation Center
Another Westchase summer camp is located a few
10570 Westpark (at Beltway 8)
doors down on the Beltway at Grace Presbyterian. Gail
713-781-9195 www.quilliancenter.org
Hovanesian, Director of the After-School, Recreation
Connection (ARC) Ministry at Grace, explains, “We cap
Grace Presbyterian Church
enrollment at 60 kids to keep it small. Last year we had
10221 Ella Lee (at Beltway 8)
waiting lists.”
713-267-5045 www.gpch.org/arc
ARC offers an extended day program broken up into
T
Quillian Camp’s Gaden adds, “We want the kids to leave
worn out and at the same time can’t wait to come back
the next day. This is summer camp, not boot camp. We
want them to be social and have fun.”
JOY Volunteer Coordinator Melanie Hagar leads JOY campers
in daily morning worship.
Joy Camp Fulfills
a Special Need
he JOY Camp, a First United Methodist ministry, is for special needs children and their
mainstreamed siblings. Tanya Sterling, a longtime church member, founded the camp in October
2005. As the mother of an autistic child, she started
it “because there was no place for my son to go.”
Twelve campers — both special needs youth and
their siblings — attended the first 1-day JOY Camp
in 2006. It included dance and ballet, arts and crafts,
Bible stories and time in the Noah’s Ark pool. In
2007, the JOY Camp lasted three days and was
attended by 28 kids.
The 2008 camp will run for five days from 9:00 am
to 1:00 pm beginning July 28. There is no age limit.
Registration starts April 1. According to Sterling, “the
size depends on the number of volunteers we get,
but this year could end up being around 40 kids.”
“Parents enjoy dropping off their kids together,” says
Sterling. “The special needs kids are laughing and
smiling the whole time because – just for a little
while – they feel like a normal kid. Their mainstream
siblings get to see them enjoy themselves.”
T
JUST THE FACTS:
JOY Summer Camp at First Methodist Houston
10507 Westpark (at Beltway 8)
713-458-4702
www.fmhouston.com/ministries/special_needs.aspx
westchase today / 5
Officer Larry Vaughn finds police work to his liking
By Sherry Fox
Vice President, Communications
there was a bag in the floor of the truck with more than
$4000 cash in it. Vaughn recovered the cash and other
stolen items in the truck and had the vehicle dusted for
fingerprints.
All of this was accomplished on his Westchase District
shift. The next week, in his role as a Tac officer, Vaughn
viewed the CVS video and checked on the results of the
fingerprint analysis. Neither activity was fruitful in helping
Vaughn identify the suspects who got away. Vaughn
was able to return the money to CVS and return the
stolen truck to its owner, which most would consider a
successful law enforcement effort. But Vaughn was
unmarked car outside an apartment watching the
comings and goings of a drug suspect. He baits
prostitution suspects and chases down their pimps.
fficer Larry Vaughn is a 15-year veteran of the
Spending hours on surveillance might be a little tough
Houston Police Department (HPD) having served
for a self-described “action junkie.” But Vaughn
11 of those years on the Tactical (Tac) Unit. In this
happens to be very good at it. One night he was on
capacity, he’s almost always undercover and rarely
surveillance at an apartment waiting for a robbery
wears his HPD uniform.
suspect to return when he noticed several men loading
He says it used to make him nervous when he came to
bags into the back of an SUV. (“It was too much to be
his Westchase shift in uniform. “I don’t want to be
laundry,” he notes.) He followed the vehicle and
noticed by any suspect I might be pursuing. But most
attempted to stop it on a traffic violation. When the
of my contact [on the Westchase shift] is with citizens,
vehicle sped away, Vaughn gave chase. When he finally
not crooks.”
stopped the vehicle, it netted the largest
drug seizure on record for the Tac unit –
Vaughn says the work of the Tactical Unit
180 pounds of marijuana.
and his work on the Westchase Patrol can
often overlap. Such was the case recently
“You never know what’s going on around
when Vaughn was working his Friday night
you if you pay attention,” he says.
Westchase Patrol shift. He was driving
Even though Vaughn catches a lot of bad
through the hotel parking lots on Beltway 8
guys in Westchase District, he notes that
to watch out for any BMV (burglary of a
they don’t live here. “Guys who break into
motor vehicle) activity. A call came through
cars here don’t live here. They come
on the HPD radio about an armed robbery in
because they target the businesses and
progress at the CVS Pharmacy at Richmond
they target the businessmen and women.
and Wilcrest.
They come because of the money.”
When he radioed the dispatcher to say he
Vaughn, who grew up in Louisiana,
was en route, he asked for a vehicle
acknowledges that he never wanted to be a
description and learned that the suspect
police officer. In fact, he wanted to be a
vehicle was a black truck. “I’d just passed
fireman. But after four years in the Army,
a black truck heading eastbound on
Vaughn went to the police academy and
Richmond so I told the dispatcher I was
found he liked law enforcement more than
going to turn around and follow that You won’t often see Officer Larry Vaughn in his police uniform. Except for his work on the Westchase he thought he would. “I discovered I was
vehicle.” By the time Vaughn did a u-turn, District Patrol, Vaughn works mostly undercover.
good at it. I’ve been in lots of car chases,
he’d lost sight of the vehicle. But, on a hunch, he turned
lots
of
foot
chases
and one shooting. I’m aggressive
disappointed that he was unable to identify and arrest
right on the Beltway frontage road and saw a black
and
I
like
to
catch
bad
guys.”
the suspects. But he points out that it’s unlikely that this
truck and a red Mustang parked together in the Red
Vaughn lives in Katy with his wife (and high school
was the first suspects’ (or last) armed robbery.
Robin parking lot. Unfortunately, the suspects saw
sweetheart) Tracey. Their 20-year old son, Larry III,
“Eventually, they’ll make a mistake and we’ll get them,”
him too and they took off in the Mustang. A second
attends UT-San Antonio. He returns as often as
he says confidently.
officer pursued the Mustang while Vaughn investigated
possible to Louisiana to go fishing with his Dad – a
As a Tac officer, Vaughn works hundreds of hours each
the black truck. The truck will still running with no key
respite, perhaps, from his busy life protecting the
month on surveillance. He’s the guy who waits in his
in the ignition (telling Vaughn it was a stolen vehicle) and
streets of Houston from the bad guys.
O
Houston Community College opens Westchase campus
n what must be one of the best re-uses of an existing
office building, Houston Community College has
opened its Westchase District campus in a 283,000
square foot building, formerly occupied by Chevron.
Located at 2811 Hayes Road and
officially known as the “Alief campus,”
the HCC building is already hosting
classes, study groups, labs and a whole
host of campus activities in its new and
improved home. And they’ve noticed an
unexpected enrollment growth at the
new campus. HCC’s Southwest College
Public Relations Director Martha Berrera
says they’ve seen a 3% increase in
enrollment since moving to the new
location at Hayes and Westheimer.
“We knew there was a demand for
classes in this area, and we’re pleased
to see the enrollment numbers
increase,” says Barrera.
Right now, only the building’s 70,000
square foot ground floor is built out for student and
faculty uses. When the entire building is in use, it will
be one of the largest campuses in the Houston
Community College system, says Barrera. “We have
classrooms, faculty offices, recruiting, counseling,
advisers, and cashiers. Soon we’ll have our own
financial aid office and a Dean.”
“This location means a lot to us,” added HCC’s
Southwest College Interim President Winston Dahse.
“We’d outgrown our old facility [on Bissonnet at
Eldridge]. We wanted to bring more services to the area
and with this new campus we can do just that.”
HCC started its spring semester in the new Westchase
campus in January. The college’s Second Start program
started February 5th, allowing students to start classes
later, but finish on time thanks to a compressed
I
6
/ westchase today
schedule of classes. Weekend and Saturday classes are
also offered at HCC to cater to working adults.
“We offer all academic fields at this location,” says
Barrera, “including engineering, biology, and all the
HCC students wait for their next class
to begin in the lobby of HCC’s new
Westchase District
campus.
HCC teaches all
the “basics” at its
new Westchase
campus, allowing
students to earn
credits before
moving on to a
university.
pre-requisites. We
can get you started on the right
track here and the
cost is 70% less
than other colleges. Then HCC’s resource lab offers the
students are prepared to traditional (magazine racks
weekly periodicals)
move on to any of the major featuring
and the modern (Internet-ready
universities.”
computers) to allow students to
access up-to-date information
Barrera adds that the facility for their classes.
will also have meeting
spaces, including conference rooms and a 300-seat
auditorium available for community groups to meet.
“We’re full right now, but are looking forward to
building out the campus in future years to meet
community needs,” said Barrera.
Dahse says there is no timetable for building out the rest
of the building. But college administrators have
launched a master-planning effort to figure out how to
best utilize the building based on community needs.
“We’ll be conducting visioning exercises and asking the
community what they’d like to see at this campus.”
In the meantime, Dahse says they’re
working hard to get the word out
that the new campus is open.
“We’re advertising, getting out in
the community and soon we’ll
host an open house to offer the
community an opportunity to see
our new campus first-hand.”
On Sa turday, March 29th, the
campus will host its annual
International Festival, bringing a
longtime Alief tradition to
Westchase District. The event will be from
10:00 am to 2:00 pm. More information will
soon be available on the Westchase District’s
eCommunity at www.westchasedistrict.com.
JUST THE FACTS:
Houston Community College
2811 Hayes Road (at Westheimer)
713-718-6870
HOURS OF OPERATION:
8:00 am – 10:30 pm Mon-Fri
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Sunday
http://swc2.hccs.edu/swc/0506/operations/alief_campus.php
Westchase Bars: Find the Cool, the Conversational
By Deanna Harrington
Contributing Writer
f you look in the nooks and crannies in Westchase, you can find some great
gems. Cieran Simon, known around Westchase as “Mr. C,” has made a career
out of finding locations for his tucked away bars. Mr. C’s Irish Pub is a classic
Irish public house, and the Fedora Lounge brings a bit of stylish New York City to
the District.
Simon arrived in Houston as a
free-spirited bachelor in 1980
with $100 in his pocket. He
was 21 and “wanted to come
where it was warm.” Now he
has a beautiful wife and owns
four bars.
I
After working a t other
local establishments, Simon
opened Mr. C’s Irish Pub in
1999 on the north side of
Westheimer just inside
Beltway 8. Simon’s parents
emigrated from Ireland in the
1950’s, and he keeps the look
and feel of the bar as a
Mr. C can often be found behind the bar at
friendly neighborhood Irish both of his Westchase District businesses.
pub. “In Ireland, the pub is the
center of the community, and we try to be a part of the community.” If you want
to try your hand at darts, the pub is a
member of the Harris County Darts
Association and hosts league events
three nights a week. For fans of spectator sports, Mr. C’s offers college and
professional football games on satellite,
as well as pro baseball. As one would
expect, Mr. C’s has Guiness and Harp on
draft. Feel free to bring your laptop
while you enjoy a pint, Mr. C’s and the
Fedora Lounge have free WI-FI.
Simon opened the Fedora Lounge,
located just outside Beltway 8 in the
Kaleidoscope Center on Westheimer, in
2003 as a cigar and martini bar. Now
it’s totally non-smoking. The Fedora
Lounge is an upscale bar that features
an art deco oak bar and hand-painted, textured walls. According to Simon, “We
get a high-end crowd – a lot of suits from CityWest are in here around happy hour.
We keep a comprehensive scotch list and serve all sorts of specialty martinis.” Mr.
C is famous for his Lemon Drop Martini – a vodka based drink with fresh squeezed
lemons and a sugar rim.
“We use Bacardi, Jim Beam, Cuervo and Gordon’s in the ‘call well.’ We have a
commitment to quality and freshness. For example, we
use individual cans and bottles for mixed drinks so
there’s no chance of someone messing up a CO2 tank.”
“Jazz, spirits and wine. It’s never over the top loud here.
This is very much a conversation bar. We play jazz
music – mostly late 50’s and early 60’s – Miles Davis,
Stan Getz, the old jazz standards.” Simon describes it
as a “throw-back kind of place with no outside diversions – no TV’s, no darts, but we do keep chess and
backgammon boards.” The bartenders act as de-facto
DJ’s, choosing their selections from a library of 300 to
400 CDs. The bartenders also provide table service.
Fedora Lounge is tucked into the Kaleidoscope Shopping Center
on the northwest corner of Westheimer and Blue Willow.
“I hope the Fedora Lounge represents the future of
neighborhood bars. Screens surround us at home and at
work, and people need a refuge from that. Mr. C’s, on the
other hand, is a place where friends and neighbors can
gather to watch the big games.”
If you’re thirsty and want to experience a bit of NYC or
Ireland, thanks to Simon there’s no need to leave
Westchase.
Quiet conversation is the norm at Fedora Lounge,
but Happy Hours are fun too!
westchase today / 7
Who’s Who in Westchase
aptain Don McKinney of the Houston Police
Department (HPD) has been named the
District’s HPD Coordinator. He works with
Public Safety Director Mark Hubenak to coordinate
the schedules of the 20+ officers who work for the
Westchase District’s Public Safety Patrol.
McKinney has served for 25 years with the Houston
Police Department and is currently the Captain
of the Auto Theft Division.
His Westside experience includes
six years as a patrol officer, one
year with the Tactical Unit, four
and a half years as a Lieutenant
a n d D i v i s i o n a l Tr a i n i n g
Coordinator and five years as a
Field Training Officer and Field Performance
Evaluator. “Captain McKinney brings a wealth of
law enforcement knowledge and HPD experience to
the District’s public safety program,” says Hubenak.
While we say “hello” to Captain McKinney, the
Westchase District bids a fond farewell to Officer
Chris Engelhardt who has served as HPD’s
Westside PIP Coordinator for more than six years. In
that capacity, Engelhardt coordinated all PIP lunches
and speakers for the Westchase District PIP, which
is the most successful PIP program in the City of
Houston. Engelhardt will continue to work regular
shifts as a member of the Westchase District Patrol.
C
Westchase District Public Safety Director Mark
Hubenak presents a special certificate to Officer
Chris Engelhardt
thanking him for
his leadership of
the Westchase
District PIP
program.
The Millennium Tower, located at 10375
Richmond, has earned the US Environmental
Protection Agency’s prestigious ENERGY STAR
certification for 2007. This award recognizes the
Millennium Tower for using 35% less energy than
average buildings in the United States, while still
providing quality service and comfort to its occupants. BMS Management, which owns the
Millennium Tower, earned the award as a result of
energy efficient features and practices put in place
to conserve energy. Examples include retrofitting
the building and garage lighting with electronic ballast and high-efficiency fluorescent lamps, installing
motion sensors, time clocks and photo cells in tenant spaces and common
areas, and installing
Direct Digital Controls
for the HVAC system.
Congratulations to BMS
Management and the
building’s management
staff, led by Patty Phillips.
The Millennium Tower
also earned first prize in
the area’s annual holiday
lighting contest, held
in conjunction with
Wonderland in Westchase. For the second year in
a row, the Millennium Tower lit all the trees that
line the building’s entrance off of Richmond.
Tenant Administrator Lorna Duffield accepted the
first place crystal trophy at Wonderland in
Westchase.
The Harris County Toll Road Authority is widening
the northbound mainlanes of the West Sam Houston
Parkway from the South toll plaza (near Boheme) to
the Memorial Drive exit ramp. This ¾ mile project
was launched in November 2007 and will take
approximately one year. When complete, two new
northbound mainlanes will be added, providing a
This widening project extends the Beltway widening
that was completed more than a year ago, between
US-59 South and Briar Forest.
total of five lanes from the toll plaza to the Memorial
exit ramp.
The Westchase District’s annual Dine Around was a
sold-out success. More than one hundred diners
participated – riding donated buses to three of five
area restaurants. Participating restaurants included
Amazón Grill, Palazzo’s Trattoria, Ragin Cajun,
Rudi Lechner’s, and Santos The Taste of Mexico.
The event, which benefits West Houston
Assistance Ministries, generated approximately
$3000 to support WHAM’s work to assist the needy
in our community. “We appreciate the restaurants
that make this event a success every year,”
noted the Westchase District’s Sherry Fox.
“It’s important
to support these
restaurants
year around
because they
support the
community.”
Leeshan Birney, owner of the Walden at Westchase
and SunBlossom at Westchase, was recognized by
the University of Houston Law Center at its 2007
Arrival Awards, recognizing
immigrant achievement.
Birney, born in Taiwan, is
the founder of Stone
Mountain Properties,
which owns and manages
properties in Houston and
New Jersey. She has served
on the City of Houston
Planning Commission, as
well as the boards of the
Houston Housing Finance
Corporation, the Chinese
Community Center, and the
Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Grea ter
Houston.
One of the most visible buildings on the Westchase
District skyline is now gone. The Cinemark
Tinseltown Westchase Theater has been
demolished to make room for new office space and
a hotel. Simmons Vedder Partners has purchased
the site and will build two, 6-story office buildings,
each with 270,000 sf. Also, Moody National Cos.
will build a Hyatt Place Hotel on the southern
end of the site. The hotel will feature 142 rooms
and 6,500 square feet of meeting space. More
information about both developments will be
published in future editions of Westchase Today.
The
“Tinseltown”
name above the
former movie
theater’s snack
bar is all that
is visible as
the theater’s
demolition
proceeds.
Wonderland in Westchase
brings fun, snow and Santa
to Westchase District
T
he 4th annual Wonderland in Westchase event brought the entire holiday cast of
characters out to Westchase for a free evening of fun. Approximately 7,000 guests
enjoyed this annual holiday tradition.
Thanks to our sponsors, which include Amegy Bank, First Methodist Houston, Loren R. Cook
and Associates, MemberSource Credit Union, Richfield Investment Corporation, Westchase
District, BMC Software, Houston West Chamber of Commerce, Rockwell Management
Company, Quillian Center, and United Recovery Systems.
Activity sponsors included Frost Bank, Granite Properties, HCR Manor Care, Hoar
Construction, LaQuinta Inn & Suites Westchase, Premier America Credit Union, Mary Grace
Randerson, Westchase Specialty Pharmacy, West Houston Medical Center, and the Truth
Seekers, Adelphi & Adult Bible Hour Sunday School classes of First Methodist Houston.
The Memorial High School
Madrigal Choir was just one of the
many area school organizations that
performed at Wonderland.
More than 60,000 pounds of snow
“fell” on Wonderland, allowing
Houston kids to enjoy the thrill of
sliding down a snow hill.
Live actors and animals
(courtesy of Kempner FFA)
portrayed the first Christmas
in Bethlehem.
Red Robin won the prize for
“best food” at Wonderland’s
epicurean event (right).
The Original Marini’s Empanada House also
participated in the epicurean event and earned
top honors for “best decorated booth” (left).
A young man finds a front row seat to
hear Mrs. Claus read a Christmas story.
Santa and his reindeer are always a top
attraction at Wonderland in Westchase.
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