Westchase Newsletter 3-15.indd

WESTCHASETODAY
YEAR 17 | ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2015
BUILDING HIGHER VALUE SINCE 1995
New Apartment Assortment for
Percent Content to Rent
Three luxury multifamily communities coming to District to help match
city’s growth
Residences on the Rise: The 266-unit Residences at CityWest is one of three luxury apartment communities under construction in Westchase District.
D
espite falling oil prices, Houston’s
multifamily housing market shows no
signs of slowing down and three new
communities under construction in Westchase
District emphasize the city’s continued demand
for luxury rental living.
“Now, much more than in prior decades,
people are choosing to rent because they enjoy
the convenience and flexibility of multifamily
rental housing, without being financially tied to
a real estate asset,” said Ryan Epstein, executive
vice president with CBRE and multi-housing
investment expert.
Texas Donut, Anyone?
As Houston’s populace reaches new heights,
Atlanta-based Worthing Companies is nearly
finished with its new luxury apartment community
in Westchase District. The Heights at Westchase
will feature 265 one- and two-bedroom apartment
homes. An internal courtyard will play host to a
pool and fountain, while three exterior courtyards
will each have unique landscaping designed as a
comfortable space for residents to enjoy.
The design of the property is what is known as
a “Texas donut.” The units are wrapped around an
interior garage, allowing for more density. With
land prices at historic highs, it allows developers to
build more units per acre.
“We’re designed for the professionals working
in and around Westchase District who are looking
for features they would find in luxury homes, such
as 10-foot ceilings, gourmet kitchens with islands,
stainless steel appliances and granite in kitchens
and baths,” said Leigh Scofield, area director of new
development for the Worthing Companies.
The Heights at Westchase is now leasing and the
first residents are expected to move in this summer.
The community is located at 3505 West Sam
Houston Parkway. For details, call 888-312-4835.
Twice as Nice
For more than a decade, arguably the most
spacious residential parking garage in Houston
was at Portico at West 8. Built in 2004 as the
first component of the West 8 master plan,
(Continued on page 8)
INSIDE
2 Louie-Lou-ay!
6 The Rain Bird is the Word
3 Buy Some Bison
6 Sue Burnett Before the Boom
4 From Busboy to
Business Owner
7 Officer Has Nose for Trouble
4 When School’s Out,
Hunger Isn’t
5 Taking Steps 2 Success
7 Fund Accepting Online
Donations
8 Neighborhood News
Address Service Requested
www.westchasedistrict.com
10375 Richmond
Suite 1175
Houston, Texas 77042
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WESTCHASETODAY
Westchase TODAY is published quarterly by
Westchase District, 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
on the west side of Houston, Texas.
We promote economic growth by enhancing
mobility, beautification, public safety,
planning and development of the District.
Jim Murphy
Dave Gilkeson
General Manager
VP, COO
Sherry Fox
Irma Sanchez
VP, Communications
VP, Projects
Mark Hubenak
Jonathan Lowe
Public Safety Director
Assistant
Communications Director
Louis Jullien
Projects Director
240 Months Later
T
his year marks the 20th year for
Westchase District. Throughout the
year we’ll note various milestones and
accomplishments, starting with this issue of
Westchase Today. The articles in this issue follow
a long-established pattern of mixing what’s old
with what’s new.
We profile two outstanding team members
who have recently joined us: Projects Director
Louis Julien and Westchase District Patrol
Officer Rudy Trevino.
As is also customary, we feature examples of
the District’s vibrant business community and
outstanding dining. The restaurant is Bistro
Le Cep started by Chef Joe Mannke, whose
Rotisserie for Beef & Bird was one of our
community’s best known fine dining spots for
more than 30 years.
In our other business profile, Burnett
Specialists and owner Sue Burnett have been
here longer. In fact, Sue served on the board
of our predecessor organization, the Westchase
Business Council. These stories show how we’ve
evolved as a community – not leaving our past
behind but building on it in new ways with
new talent.
That focus on building the future is most readily
seen today in the upscale apartment communities
under construction here. The three developments
covered in this issue indicate the high demand for
this part of the housing spectrum and several of the
factors driving it. Demographically, we are adding
jobs in Houston and especially in West Houston.
Baby boomers who are downsizing add to that
demand along with young professionals making
lifestyle choices and busy executives who want that
“lock and leave” freedom. Each of these segments
wants a high quality product in an amenity-rich area
close to lots of jobs. Each values convenience and
has the economic freedom to consider many options,
and they are finding what they want in Westchase
Westchase District General Manager Jim Murphy and
Board Chair Philip Schneidau
District. When new residents move here, they further
strengthen our retail market and become an asset for
local businesses.
Our mission today is the same as when we were
founded: to conduct projects and programs that
help build higher value for our property owners.
Recently that “building” scope has gone beyond
the physical realm. Rest assured, we’re continuing
with effective and innovative programs in public
safety, mobility, marketing and beautification. Now
we’ve added a new dimension with our Westchase
District Community Fund. This charity is targeting
youth mentorship to benefit the next generation
in our community. We recognize that economic
development also can include human development.
And with new employers, owners and investors
arriving daily, we want to provide them opportunities
to give back and to invest in our shared future.
Finally, you might not be surprised to learn
that we are well underway with planning for our
next twenty years. If the past 240 months are any
guide, our achievements will only be limited by our
imagination – and we are thinking big.
John Carey
Farmers Market Manager
Monica Garcia
Operations Assistant
Kathy Kaufman
Administrative Assistant
On the Trail and Down the Aisle
Projects Director Louis Jullien balances work with a wedding
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I
t may seem Westchase District employed
French nobility when hiring Louis Honoré
Jullien, IV. But the District’s new project
director said he’s just a regular guy with a noble
name.
“I’m part of an important family tradition,” said
Louis (pronounced Louie, not Lewis, and definitely not
Louie-Lou-ay, oh, baby...). “I hope one day there will be
a Louis V – or a Louisa the First.”
First Responder
Jullien joined Westchase District last October
to work alongside Irma Sanchez, the District’s vice
president of projects, on...well, projects.
Copyright © Westchase District. All Rights Reserved.
2
“Louis is learning the particulars of the District by
responding to mobility and beautification concerns
such as traffic light malfunctions or outages, damaged
or missing signs, irrigation leaks and landscaping sight
obstructions,” said Sanchez.
Jullien also is leading fund raising for sponsorships
of benches, exercise equipment and other features along
the District’s network of existing and planned hike
and bike trails. “Through sponsorship, businesses and
individuals can increase their visibility to thousands of
workers and residents, all while supporting projects and
programs that benefit the Westchase area,” he said.
Soon Jullien will assume duties associated with the
District’s planning and development portfolio. “He’ll
assist our General Manager Jim Murphy as they discuss
with a targeted list of developers potential development
Farmers Market Vendors Feed the Westchase
Community and Their Families
Entrepreneurs leave traditional jobs to produce bison and salsa for markets
Out on the Katy prairie, a
rural motorist may observe a
site reminiscent of an old-time
cowboy movie -- an open field
of bison grazing on prairie grass.
Patrick Bierschwale sits in his
diesel truck on a bluff observing
his bison and calculating in his
head when he’ll need more to
meet the needs of his growing business.
Just down the road in Brookshire, Ken Salinas and
his crew are washing and chopping avocados, peppers
and tomatoes for this week’s batch of Salinas’ salsa. He
uses the expertise gained during his business career to
contemplate the next expansion of his salsa business.
Both men gave up desk jobs to pursue these
entrepreneurial opportunities. You can meet them and
try their products each week at the Westchase District
Farmers Market.
our bison has no growth hormones. I’ve been known to
give some meat away for free…I tell them to take it and
try it. They almost always come back to buy more.”
Patrick Bierschwale prefers the life of a bison
rancher and farmers market vendor to his
previous desk job.
Secret family recipe yields success
Katerra Exotics sells a lot of bison meat: the
equivalent of three to four animals per month.
Buy Some Bison
Bierschwale operates two bison farms under the
name of Katerra Exotics (www.kateraexotics.com). The
main production herd is located at Leakey, Texas where
50-100 buffalo graze on Texas Hill Country grass.
When the young bison are old enough to wean, they’re
moved to the family’s 100-acre ranch north of Katy,
where the bison continue to graze until they’ve reached
maturity.
A 1,000-pound animal is ready for slaughter at
about three years of age. Bierschwale said that will
result in about 600 pounds of meat. Ground bison is
his biggest seller. But jerky, filets and sausage follow
close behind.
“I get a lot of strange looks at markets,” said
Bierschwale. “People think bison meat will have a weird
taste. But it’s actually a little sweeter than beef. Plus,
There is only one “secret” ingredient in Ken
Salinas’ salsas. That is the dry seasoning he adds to
the tomatoes, tomatillos, onions, peppers, cilantro and
lime juice. He spends just three to four hours a day,
two days a week making his fresh salsas at a commercial
kitchen in Brookshire. The rest of the week is spent
delivering the fresh product to various H-E-B stores
and the farmers markets where he sells his product to a
fast-growing group of regular customers.
“The only preservative we use is lime juice,” said
Salinas. “Our product stays fresh longer. We’ve created
a market for it by getting our customers addicted. They
have to come back to get more.”
Salinas offers three products under “The Salsa
Works” (www.thesalsaworks.com) brand: Original
(recipe passed down through generations of the Salinas
family), Guac ’N Roll (creamy and fresh, full of flavor)
and Nuclear (full of body and burn).
For Salinas, the salsa business grew out of a hobby.
“I’ve always been a ‘chili head’ and a gardener, so it was
a good fit for me,” Salinas says. “When I went to school
at Texas A&M, I would make my grandmother’s salsa
recipe for my buddies.”
Now it’s become a full-time job with the aid of two
part-time employees. He estimates that 60 percent
of his sales are generated at farmers markets, with the
remainder coming from retail sales. You’ll soon be able
to find The Salsa Works at 15 H-E-B concept stores.
Ken Salinas and Patrick Bierschwale are
entrepreneurs who are making a living and providing
for their families through their innovation and
entrepreneurship. Come see them at the Westchase
District Farmers Market, every Thursday at 3 p.m.
Ken Salinas buys much of the tomatoes and peppers
for his salsa from fellow farmers market vendors.
Ken Salinas sells his product at three markets every
week, plus various festivals and holiday markets.
Westchase District Farmers Market
10503 Westheimer
Summer Hours Are Back!
Thursdays 3 – 7 p.m.
www.westchasedistrictfarmersmarket.com
and redevelopment opportunities within the District,” Sanchez said. “He’s ready to go
on tour with the Westchase District road show.”
At Your Service
Sanchez said Jullien’s attentiveness to detail, customer service skills and willingness
to learn distinguished him from other candidates. “He’s a quick study and he’s willing
to invest in expanding and improving his expertise – essentials for our success.”
Customer service is Jullien’s specialty. An alumnus of the University of Houston’s
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Jullien brings seven
years of management experience in the hospitality industry, most recently with Levy
Restaurants. “I’ve learned how to create positive experiences with customers no matter
their dispositions,” he said. “That’s a valuable ability that transfers to any job.”
Groomed to Succeed
It was at UH that he met fellow student Christy Taméz. The couple became
engaged in 2013 and will be married March 15. “Yes, the Ides of March,” Jullien said,
smiling. “In history, it’s notorious as the date of the end of Julius Caesar, but Christy
and I are recasting it as the beginning of our new life together.”
When asked what he’s looking forward to most about married life, Jullien jokes
it’s the perk to drive in Houston’s high-occupancy vehicle lanes with another rider.
“Seriously, Christy is an amazing woman,” he said. “I feel blessed to travel with her
through life.”
Pulling His Weight: New Projects Director Louis Jullien makes time for a
quick workout with the outdoor exercise equipment located along the Library
Loop Trail.
3
Bistro Le Cep Still a Star on the Houston Restaurant Scene
New look, new ownership haven’t changed Westchase favorite
W
alking through the door of Bistro Le Cep is like walking into a warm
French chateau. The plank floors and exposed wood throughout give way
to the restaurant’s extensive wine holdings. Red tablecloths draped with
white linen overlays create an elegant, yet casual table where diners enjoy a glass of
wine while thoroughly reading the menu before choosing one of the restaurant’s French
country specialties.
Little has changed since Bistro Le Cep opened its doors in Westchase District more
than a dozen years ago. Its timeless warmth and proven culinary selections make this
bistro a perennial favorite for business diners and family celebrations alike.
When the restaurant opened, renowned
chef Joe Mannke (known for his Rotisserie for
Beef & Bird Restaurant) could be found in the
kitchen and rotating throughout the restaurant
to chat with diners, many of whom were also
his neighbors. Then, manager Obed Salmoron
was in charge of ensuring that Mannke’s vision
for the restaurant was fulfilled and that diners
left happy, planning to return another day.
Today, Mannke is retired and Salmoron
owns Bistro Le Cep; he’s determined to
continue the good hospitality and fine dining
Owner and General Manager
for which Bistro Le Cep is well-known.
Obed Salmoron has achieved the
Salmoron was hired as a busboy at Rotisserie
American dream after moving
for Beef & Bird not long after having moved to
here from El Salvador.
Houston from his native El Salvador. “I started
as a bus boy, then became a waiter and assistant
manager at Rotisserie. When Mr. Mannke opened Bisto Le Cep, he offered me the
manager’s position. I had no experience, but he told me that in five years, he would retire
and I could buy the restaurant. It took ten years until he was ready to retire, but that’s
exactly what happened.”
Old Favorites Unchanged
Salmeron has changed little in the restaurant since assuming ownership of Bistro
Le Cep two years ago. The décor, the attentive staff and the restaurant’s menu remain
consistent. The menu items that have long been popular – Duck à L’Orange, Pot Roasted
Rabbit, Medallions of Texas Hill Country Wild Boar – are still customer favorites. And
the New England Lobster/Clambake that began as a seasonal favorite continues now
every Friday night. Salmoron cited a favorite American saying in discussing the lack of
changes at Bistro Le Cep: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
“The food we keep the same, but we update the wine list every six months.” said
Salmoron.
He’s grateful to Mannke for the opportunity and for laying the groundwork for
such a successful restaurant operation. “We haven’t hired a new waiter since 2002. Four
people in the kitchen have worked here since we opened,” said Salmoron. “We work as a
team. It’s not ‘my’ restaurant; it’s ‘our’ restaurant.”
Longtime manager David Young still works the host stand during the day and diners
usually find Salmoron behind the host stand in the evenings. “I enjoy serving,” said
Salmoron. “In fact, my name ‘Obed’ means servant. I have worked 32 years in the
hospitality business.”
Salmoron does have a few plans for Bistro Le Cep. He would like to expand the
restaurant’s happy hour
business. He invites
harried commuters to
stop in to enjoy a glass
of wine and an appetizer
before continuing home
after a long day. It’s a
great way to experience
Salmoron’s and Bistro
Le Cep’s time-honored
hospitality.
Bistro Le Cep
11112 Westheimer
713-783-3985
www.bistro-le-cep.com
Bistro Le Cep received an exterior makeover in 2013,
but its iconic cow continues to beckon diners.
When School’s Out, Hunger Isn’t for Families in Need
Help Restock WHAM’s Food Pantry During Annual Summer Food Drive
F
or the 14th year in a row, Westchase District
will team up with West Houston Assistance
Ministries (WHAM) for its Summer Food Drive
from
May 1 – May 31.
Donated food and toiletry items are collected at
dozens of donation locations throughout Westchase
District to restock WHAM’s food pantry for the
summer months. Apartment communities, hotels,
offices and retail locations host Summer Food Drive
collection boxes and promote the event to their
residents, guests, tenants and customers.
Here’s Why:
■ Nearly one in four children in Harris County
lives at or below the poverty level, according to
Children at Risk.
■ The Center for Public Policy Priorities estimates
nearly 81 percent of children in Harris County
receive free or reduced-price school lunches.
■ However, about 60 percent of WHAM’s clients are
forced to choose between putting food on the table
or paying their utility bills, and about 52 percent
must choose between paying for food or paying
their mortgages.
“Our pantry, which normally services about 50 clients
4
per day, is taxed during summer months with requests
from families in need who have school-aged children
on summer vacation and are eating more at home,” said
Verita Duncan, WHAM’s pantry and training manager.
“Your contributions of non-perishable food, toiletries and
money help more local families who need food assistance.
I feel the community’s willingness to support WHAM
represents the kind of spirit that makes Westchase District
such a special community in which to live and work,” she
said.
Marriott Westchase and the UPS Store/Gift Store.
Look for a complete list of this year’s donation
locations in upcoming issues of The Wire, our e-newsletter
sent twice monthly (see page 2 to learn how to subscribe).
If you would like to have a Summer Food Drive
collection box at your location, please send an email to
Assistant Communications Director Jonathan Lowe,
[email protected], or call us at
713-780-9434.
Best Benevolent Boxes
Last year’s food drive saw record participation.
Contributions in 2014 were up by 75 percent over 2013.
Of last year’s contributors, more than half were first-time
food drive participants. The top team by far was GBH
CPA’s, located in Westchase District at 6002 Rogerdale
Road.
GBH’s 32 employees gave a record-setting 2,753
pounds of food (averaging about 86 pounds per
employee) to West Houston Assistance Ministries’
food pantry. Office Manager Monica Perez said while
competition for bragging rights around the office was
intense, employees were motivated by a common goal of
giving back to the community in which the firm works.
Other top contributors last year included the Houston
Top Cone-tributors: As the largest donors to last
year’s Summer Food Drive, employees from GBH
CPAs were recognized with a summertime treat
courtesy of Westchase District and Kona Ice.
Lending a Location for Learning Life Skills
Apartment Community Provides Space for After-school Program
C
onsider yourself fortunate you’re reading
this article: according to the Barbara
Bush Houston Literacy Foundation,
about 60 percent of children in Houston do
not possess the reading-readiness skills expected
upon entering kindergarten and only one out of
300 kids living in low-income homes has a book
at home.
Fortunately, Belmont Place/La Fontaine
Apartments, located in Westchase District at 10501
Holly Springs Drive, has partnered with a local
nonprofit literacy improvement organization to offer
a group of their school-age residents an after-school
enrichment program onsite at the apartment
community.
Stepping Up
Founded by District B Houston City Council
Member Jerry Davis in 2006, Making It Better
partnered with Walnut Bend Elementary in 2007 to
enhance students’ social and emotional learning and
build foundations for academic success. In 2008,
Making It Better approached management at Belmont
Place/La Fontaine about hosting a location for its
apartment-based Steps 2 Success program.
“At the time, we noticed we had kids on property
with nothing to do after school,” said Timothy Kim,
Community Cultivation: Making It Better’s
Catie Licalzi provides after-school enrichment
for grade school students at Belmont Place/La
Fontaine apartments.
community manager for Belmont Place/La Fontaine.
“We thought it was such a great idea that we agreed to
permanently provide one of our units free of charge.
It’s one way we can invest in our families living here
and create an amenity they can’t find elsewhere in
Westchase.”
A Reason to Remain
This unique amenity is also unlike other
after-school programs. “Steps 2 Success is not
homework help and it’s certainly not babysitting,”
said Catie Licalzi, enrichment programs manager with
Making It Better. “We’re about enrichment, about
creating a nurturing and creative space for our kids to
develop positive relationship and leadership abilities.
We’re teaching them life skills that will help them resist
negative influences surrounding them as they become
adults.”
Groups are capped at 12 students to ensure a low
student-to-teacher ratio. Classes alternate days based
on age ranges. On a recent Wednesday, third- through
fifth-grade students responded to letters from pen pals
in Hawaii while a laptop streamed YouTube songs with
titles such as “Do Something” and “Together We Can
Change the World.”
Third-grader Aaditya Krishna has participated in
Steps 2 Success since he was in kindergarten. “He’s
always been a curious child, so this has been great
for exposing him to things I don’t think they teach
in school, like about compassion, respect and even
financial savings,” said Monika Verma, Aaditya’s
mother.
Verma said she discovered the program when her
family lived directly above the unit reserved for Steps 2
Success. “We’ve since moved to a different apartment,
but it’s definitely one of the main reasons we stayed at
this community,” she said. “Not only has Aaditya made
several friends, but I’ve made friends also with the staff
and other moms.”
Family Involvement
Parents are required to participate in pre-program
meetings that outline expectations for their children
Parental Participation: Third grader Aaditya
Krishna and his mother Monika Verma are big
fans of the Steps 2 Success after-school program.
and themselves. Parents also commit to attend
workshops throughout the year designed to equip
them with the tools needed to support their child
and reinforce the skills taught in the program. “Often
parents of our students feel isolated from their child’s
school and other parents,” said Making it Better
Executive Director Jacque Daughtry. “These workshops
provide a place where parents can connect with our
staff and other parents for support, encouragement and
advice.”
Making It Better
713-952-9162
mibtx.org
5
Working with Smart Water, Rain Birds and Visibility Triangles
No, we haven’t lost our minds – we’ve become wiser stewards of our resources
T
wo related beautification projects underway in Westchase District exemplify
how adding technology with experience can equal big savings and improved
aesthetics. One project involves weather-based irrigation control while
the other applies lessons learned over the past decade about landscaping materials.
Together, the projects will increase efficiencies and decrease costs – beautiful things in
their own right.
Reigning Over Irrigation
As the City of Houston has increased irrigation water rates by more than
50 percent in the last decade, Westchase District’s irrigation system is getting
a much-needed retooling that will save up to 20 percent on its water bill.
Water management company WaterLogic will replace the District’s “dumb”
(schedule-based, individually controlled) irrigation system with a “smart”
(weather-based, centrally controlled) one.
“Right now, our older irrigation system requires an enormous amount of time
and effort to manage, with little control,” said Irma Sanchez, Westchase District’s
vice president
of projects. “We
want to make
sure we’re not
watering for too
long or in the
rain or when
it’s too cold or
windy.”
The new
system wirelessly Trickle-Down Economics: This area west of Beltway 8 will
receive irrigation “smart controllers” that will receive hourly
broadcasts
hourly, real-time, weather information. The controllers will then communicate
weather
wirelessly with the valves controlling the irrigation system,
information
resulting in water bill savings.
to Rain Bird®
smart controllers, which determine when systems should water, based on weather
conditions and landscape needs. The system is already in use at such Westchase
District properties as Briarlake Plaza, Camden Holly Springs Apartments, Emerson
Process Management, Millennium Tower and WesternGeco.
“By irrigating with just the right amount of water at just the right time, we’re
improving the care of our landscaping at the same time we’re practicing water
conservation and saving money,” Sanchez said. “That makes everything greener.”
Spatial Profiling
While the District sports attractive trees and flowers on its esplanades, at certain
locations the landscaping has become a little too successful. “In 2004, we planted
varieties such as Knock Out® roses and Indian hawthorn shrubs,” said Irma
Sanchez, Westchase District’s vice president of projects.
“Unfortunately, while they look great along frontage roads, on esplanades
they can become quickly overgrown and block sightlines for turning motorists,”
she said. “We’re constantly pruning them in order to improve an intersection’s
unobstructed visibility triangle.”
To improve the median strips, a project is underway to replace these oversized
species located on six medians along Briarpark Drive between Richmond Avenue
and Westheimer Road, as well as five medians along Briar Forest Drive west of
Beltway 8.
“We’re planting lower-profile items, such as Drift® roses and Lantana and
installing dry creek beds,” Sanchez said. “These improvements will reduce our
maintenance costs significantly as well as create fewer line-of-sight issues.” The
project is funded by the Westchase Community Association, while the installation
is managed by Westchase District.
“Westchase District’s efforts to maintain its public spaces reflect the pride of
the property owners in the area,” said Marilu De La Fuente, Adopt-An-Esplanade
coordinator with the City of Houston’s Parks and Recreation department.
“That translates to creating a beautiful environment which promotes economic
development.”
Westchase District Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Burnett Specialists have seen it all
T
hen-Governor George W. Bush signed into
law legislation creating Westchase District on
June 12, 1995, but that date hardly marks the
beginning of Westchase. Developers started building
office towers and apartments here in the 1970s.
And the Westchase Business Council was formed in
the 1980s, giving root to what would become the
Westchase District.
Sue and Rusty Burnett have seen it all. They first
opened their staffing agency, Burnett Specialists, in
1979 at 3300 Gessner. Ten years, later they would
move into 8th floor offices around the corner at 9800
Richmond. She recalls the truly “grand” opening of
their offices at the new building. The apartments now
located next door did not exist at the time and they
offered tethered hot air balloon rides and helicopter
rides to commemorate the occasion.
Sue and Rusty Burnett chose their Westchase
District office because it was just down the street
from the couple’s home on Gessner.
6
Soon, that would not be possible. More office
buildings started going up, followed by apartment
communities, the Carillon Shopping Center (“until
then, there was not very much to eat out here”),
and hotels. “To see what’s happened here is really
phenomenal,” said Burnett.
Beltway opened Westchase to the
World
“When I first came here, it wasn’t considered a
desirable location, because it was so far out,” said
Burnett. All that changed in 1997 with the opening
of the West Sam Houston Tollway and later the
Westpark Tollway. “I remember when we moved
here, people were talking about this beltway that
would someday open. When it did, it connected us
to the airports much easier. I have a lot of staff who
live out in the 290 area and the Beltway really made it
easier for them to commute to the office.
“The Westpark Tollway had a similar impact,”
added Burnett. “Now Westchase is easily accessible
for my staff who live in the inner loop. And I can
drive to client lunches in the Galleria in 12 minutes.”
Burnett notes that many of her clients also office
in Westchase District. “When National Oilwell Varco,
Cameron and Schlumberger all moved in, it gave the
area more prominence and prestige. And when BMC
built all those big buildings here, it was such a big
deal. This became a place where major companies
wanted to be.”
Boom, Bust and Boom Again
Sue Burnett can verbally list every boom and bust
cycle that has occurred in Houston during the past
30 years. While many of her competitors went out
of business or were purchased by others, Burnett
Specialists has grown to include ten offices in five
cities, including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and El
Paso.
“After 45 years in the business, I’ve learned that
what’s down will come up and what’s up will go
down. We’ve enjoyed staying power because we’re
a well-known name, we’re honored to have won
some awards, we stay visible in the press, and being
diversified is a plus, especially in a downturn. There’s
something to be said for longevity.”
The same thing can be said for Westchase District.
As the District celebrates its 20th anniversary and
Burnett celebrates more than 40 years in business,
both look for continued success in the next
decades.
The opening of the West Sam Houston Tollway
was a game changer for Westchase District and its
commercial real estate market.
Officer knows suspicious behavior when he sees it
Rudy Trevino enjoys proactive police work
Officer Rudy Trevino is a trained observer of human actions and
reactions. He’s a member of the Houston Police Department’s
Gang Division, which is a part of HPD’s Crime Reduction Unit
(CRU). That means his “beat” is the entire city of Houston and
he always has his eyes open for suspicious activity.
“Seventy percent of all crime is gang-related. We learn their
symbols, their colors, their tattoos, their signs and where they
hang out. They constantly evolve, so we have to also,” said Trevino.
Part of that skill is acquired through HPD training and the rest is the result
of sixteen years of street experience. Recently, Trevino spent an entire week in an
investigative class, learning about the new tools and technology that criminals are
using. He was also schooled in interview techniques, body language, and how to
effectively use warrants.
“Everything about a person or a crime scene tells you a story,” he observes. “You
just have to pay attention and look for it.”
lesson from his training that has proven to be true in the field many times. “When
you’re a patrol officer, you have to learn to look past the basic call. You have to
read people, ask them questions.”
As for street experience, Trevino has learned from more senior officers during
his 16 years with the Houston Police Department. “I love working the streets,
running with other officers, learning from them. They want to teach you. If
you’re not being proactive, you’re missing out on knowledge.”
Trevino is expanding his knowledge by learning how to play the guitar and he
shares his knowledge of music, golf and boating with his 9-year old son. On his
days off, they enjoy going to concerts together. The family also keeps a boat at
Lake Conroe.
Unusual Posture Reveals Hidden Cocaine
He recalls a time when, while on duty for CRU in the Montrose area, he and
his partner stopped a car because of the driver’s suspicious behavior. While his
partner questioned the driver, Trevino observed him from the opposite side of the
car. “His arms were outstretched and clinched on either side of the steering wheel.
You could just tell his heart was pounding and he was nervous, more so than the
situation required. I asked to look in the car and immediately found a plastic bag
with 31 grams of cocaine between his feet on the floorboard of the vehicle.”
For the past year and a half, Trevino has put those observation skills to
work during his Thursday night shift with the Westchase District Patrol. On
a typical evening, he’s part of a two-person team, patrolling business parking
lots throughout Westchase District. While they’re strategically driving through
apartment, retail or office parking lots, their eyes are open to any suspicious
activity.
An individual who won’t make eye contact, or turns his vehicle in the opposite
direction when he sees a cop is cause for suspicion, according to Trevino. It’s a
Ofc. Rudy Trevino patrols the parking lots of Westchase District businesses
during his Thursday late night shift.
Bringing Out the Fun in the Fund
Westchase District Community Fund Debuts New Website, Board Members
L
ike frosted shredded wheat cereal,
Westchase District has two sides: one
that fortifies economic development and
another that sweetens the quality of life in the
community. As a government agency, the District
can use public funds only to enhance public
projects. So what about supporting private local
charities? That’s where the Westchase District
Community Fund is a key ingredient.
Founded in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) organization,
the fund’s purpose is to financially support local
projects, programs or events which positively impact
the quality of life in Westchase District. “We’re
the charitable arm of Westchase District that links
donor support with area needs,” said Donna Flowers,
WDCF board chair. “Maybe that makes us the
charitable arms instead.”
involved. ”We’ve always been a good cause, now we’re
good-looking as well,” Flowers said.
New Board Members
Looking over the fund is a volunteer board of
directors comprised of leading citizens. Tim and Blair
Johnson were welcomed in February as the latest
additions to the WDCF Board. Longtime residents
of Westchase District, the Johnsons bring personal
Volunteer Mentors Wanted
Online Offering Opportunities
Those arms have beefed up recently with the
revamping of the fund’s website (www.wdcfund.org),
making it easier to use and to donate online. “Now we
can accept donations via either credit card or PayPal,”
Flowers said. “No amount is too small to give and
taken together, those small amounts can add up to
real change.”
Visitors to the website also can learn about grant
recipients and fundraising events, read agendas for
past meetings, and discover various ways to get
interest and a strong record of community service to
their new responsibilities.
“We love living in Westchase District and we want
to contribute to making it an even better place for
everyone,” said Tim. “For me, finding the groups
best equipped to create the most change in the area
and directing resources their way is really rewarding.”
As for Blair, she said she’s aware of many worthy
organizations doing impressive work in Westchase.
“I’m looking forward to being able to help them
achieve even greater results,” she said.
New Fund Members, Same Fund Mission:
Newly elected Westchase District Community
Fund board members Blair and Tim Johnson.
Last year the fund’s board surveyed community
needs and determined that youth mentoring programs
were in highest demand. “One of our top candidates
for assistance is the Community Outreach Missions
Education Team (COMET),” said WDCF board
member Richard Wall. “It’s a joint venture among
Alief ISD, apartment communities, the Alief YMCA,
5Works and various Alief churches.”
Wall said COMET is currently in three apartment
communities in Alief ISD, though none in
Westchase District. “We’ve identified nine apartment
communities as likely prospects and right now we’re
seeking professionals interested in becoming volunteer
mentors,” he said. Those interested should send an
email to [email protected].
7
(Continued from page 1)
the apartment
community
featured a garage
more than twice
the size needed
for its 230 units.
Architects planned
for an adjacent
set of units, but
the economic
Dos Porticos:
downturn of the
An additional 296 units
late ‘00s caused
will be added to the Spanish
Richfield Real
Mediterranean-themed
Estate Corporation
Portico at West8.
to hold off
on additional
construction. That changed about six months ago
with the construction of an additional 296 units.
“We’ve been at 98 percent occupancy for some
time now, so there’s plenty of demand for our
brand,” said Ginger Stephens, Richfield’s regional
property supervisor. “We’re continuing the Spanish
Mediterranean ambiance of the first phase of units.
There will be another pool, courtyards and outdoor
kitchens, plus a 700-square-foot community room
that’s available for residents to rent for private events.”
Stephens said the first new units will be completed
this summer and, of course, there will be plenty of
covered parking. For leasing, call 713-781-9628, or
visit www.porticoatwest8.com.
CityWest = Walk to Work?
Residences at CityWest, located at 2520 Rogerdale
Road, is the latest luxury apartment community
underway in Westchase District. Crimson Real Estate
Fund and USAA Real Estate Co. will complete
construction of 266 units by Summer 2016.
“We feel that CityWest is well-located to address
the current demand for multifamily in the popular
Westchase area,” said Dean Patrinely, managing
principal of Crimson Real Estate Advisors and
Patrinely Group, LLC. “Located near prime lifestyle
areas, major travel arteries and adjacent to Phillips 66’s
new campus, we feel our property will attract renters
looking for an upscale community with an urban
feel.”
The Class A, four-story community will offer floor
plans from one to three bedrooms ranging from
Rising to New Heights: The 265-unit Heights
at Westchase is well underway and scheduled for
move-ins this summer.
600 square feet to 1,900 square feet. Like the Heights
at Westchase, Residences at CityWest will be built
around a center parking structure and courtyard.
Unique amenities will include billiard rooms, a bocce
ball court and a demonstration kitchen.
But perhaps the property’s most distinguishing
feature is its walking distance-proximity to
BMC Software and the future Phillips 66 world
headquarters, which could make some sweet
commutes for those company’s employees. Then
again, it could mean consuming less gas and oil...
Neighborhood News
T
he Westchase District’s Farmers Market
team recently competed in the Houston
Westchase Rotary Club’s 3rd annual SOUP’er
Bowl cook-off. Communications VP Sherry Fox
and Market Manager John Carey cooked a classic
Butternut Squash Soup. They purchased most of the
ingredients (butternut squash, tomatoes, onions, olive
oil) at the market, picked up the rest (heavy cream,
apple, sage, chicken broth) at the grocery store, then
mixed it all up, cooked it and served it with a side of
bread purchased from market vendor Angela’s Oven.
It may have been the freshest soup available in the
annual soup cook-off event, but that wasn’t enough
to earn top honors in the charity competition. That
went to the team from Alief Independent School
District’s culinary arts department.
John Carey and Sherry
Fox served up Butternut
Squash Soup at the
Rotary Club’s annual
soup cook-off. Stop by
the market any Thursday
to pick up a copy of the
“secret” recipe.
D
r. Zachary Hodges has
returned to Houston
Community College
Northwest, after serving
an interim role as Vice
The Dr. Zachary Hodges scholarship fund will
Chancellor for Academics
be distributed to HCC engineering students.
at HCC’s main campus
Pictured left-right: Joe Synan, President,
downtown. To welcome him
Leadingwell Associates; Dr. Zachary Hodges,
back home, an engineering
President, HCC Northwest; Sandie Mullins,
scholarship was created
HCC Trustee District VI; and Victor Alvarez,
to honor Hodges for his
Spring Branch resident.
pioneering role in higher
education. Most recently, Hodges was instrumental in forging a partnership with
The University of Texas at Tyler to launch a four-year engineering degree program
at HCC’s Westchase District campus. Students can earn a bachelor’s degree in
civil, electrical or mechanical engineering for less than $20,000 without leaving the
local campus. So far, more than $12,000 has been contributed to the fund, which
was created and organized by the HCC Foundation and Joe Synan, of Leadingwell
Associates. Donations can still be made through the HCC Foundation at https://
www.hccsfoundation.org/ZacharyHodgesScholarship
G
race School is building a garden to bring outdoor learning opportunities
to life for lower school students, all thanks to a $2,000 grant from the
8
Whole Kids Foundation and
FoodCorps. The school was
chosen to receive the grant
from a pool of more than
1,300 applicants. “This
gift will open up numerous
possibilities for creating
our garden and making it
accessible to our students,”
Parents and students team up to build the new
said Leigh Anne Shumate,
outdoor educational garden at Grace School.
Head of Lower School. “It
will bring academic subjects
to life in the kitchen, garden, lunchroom and classroom.” Grace serves students
from 20 months through eighth grade.
S
tudents at Revere Middle
School are enjoying their
new SPARK Park, after a
mid-winter dedication of the
new facilities. The covered
portal in front of the school
at 10502 Briar Forest serves
as a METRO bus stop for
students who use buses to
Principal Hafadh Azaiez (second from left)
commute to and from school
cuts the ribbon to celebrate the opening of Paul
and it functions as an outdoor
Revere Middle School’s new SPARK Park.
classroom where students can
charge their electronic devices
with the aid of solar panels. The educational portal was designed and built by
The Design/Build Class of the University of Houston
School of Architecture and was recognized by the
Keep Houston Beautiful organization as one of the
winners of the Mayor’s Proud Partner awards.
T
he next time you visit Salon Park at 9521
Westheimer, say hello to hair stylist Jasmine
Gentry. Gentry, 25, is giving to the community
through her nonprofit “Million Shades of Beauty,”
which offers services for women returning to the work
force. She also volunteers her time through Franklin
Beauty School’s annual “back to school” program,
offering summer haircuts to underprivileged children,
and she participates in various toy, coat and jacket
collections for children.
Jasmine Gentry is a hair
stylist with many causes.