Westchase Newsletter 3rd Qtr 2016_8-16.indd

WESTCHASETODAY
YEAR 18 | ISSUE 3 | FALL 2016
BUILDING HIGHER VALUE SINCE 1995
Hotels Positioning for Upturn
Renovations signal enthusiasm for attracting and accommodating visitors
to Westchase District
Major Makeover: The lobby at the Houston Marriott Westchase recently underwent a complete transformation as part of a $20 million renovation of the hotel.
S
ince 2014, Westchase District’s hotel
market has grown by nine percent, adding
303 new rooms, mostly limited service/
extended stay brands. That construction
boom has slowed, but as the industry rides
out a dip before the 2017 Super Bowl comes
to town, managers at older properties are
staying competitive by renovating their rooms
and meeting spaces. The upgrades position
Westchase District as an attractive place for
travelers staying for business or pleasure.
Timing Transformations
Houston’s hotel market was down by about
nine percent in the first quarter of 2016, according
to industry tracker Source Strategies, Inc. In the
hospitality world, the best time to renovate is when
things are slow. “That way when the market bounces
back, you’re on top with fresh-looking product,” said
hotel development consultant David Parker. “The
challenge is that profits are down, so hotels must have
good cash management to time it just right.”
Harry Greenblatt, general manager of the Houston
Marriott Westchase, agreed. The Marriott, built in
1980, is in the middle of a $20 million renovation,
a project that began this April and will finish in
October. “It’s been about 11 years since the hotel
underwent a full-blown remodel of all guest rooms
and public spaces,” he said. “Now is the perfect time
for us to do this.”
Full Service Refurbishes
Greenblatt said the Marriott is gutting every one
of its rooms down to studs and concrete and replacing
everything with Marriott’s latest room package,
featuring brand new furnishings, fixtures, beds and
bathrooms. Sixty rooms will have walk-in showers.
Each floor takes about four weeks to complete, with
crews working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a
week. All guest rooms will be remodeled completely
by the end of September.
Conference rooms, hallways, elevator interiors,
pool decking and even the buffet area will be redone,
as well as the rebranding of the concierge lounge
(Continued on Page 8)
INSIDE
2 Meet New Board Member
Greg Cardwell
2 Farmers Market Turns Three
4 Portico at West 8 Now Leasing
6 Revisiting Rio Ranch
7 New Ad Campaign Launched
7 Officer Profile: Jose Demeterio
5 Glesby Marks Offers Fleet Service 8 Neighborhood News
Address Service Requested
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WESTCHASETODAY
Scoreboard Says…
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.
S
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
John Carey
ports are everywhere right now. As we write
this article, the Olympics are wrapping up,
baseball is in its home stretch and the NFL
has started a new season. Stories about the athletes
and teams often describe in detail specific training
regimes they undertake, innovations in techniques
and new equipment they employ. These are each
manifestations of the “How” in sports. The “What”
is the scoreboard (or stopwatch, or height, etc.) that
measures the individual’s or team’s achievement. In
the business world, we know it as the bottom line,
and the answer to “what is measured is managed.”
What is our bottom line at Westchase District
and how do we go about achieving the best possible
results? Is there a WD scoreboard at Westheimer and
Beltway 8?
In a very real sense, there is a scoreboard – one of
several we follow – one visible from that intersection
and it is the newly-opened world headquarters of
Phillips 66. This 1.1 million square-foot development
is now home to thousands of P66 employees and
boosting our local economy. Increasing employment
and office occupancy rates are two measures we track
but a headquarters facility has an oversized benefit to
our hotel market and the impact from allied firms,
vendors and suppliers coming to the area adds more
“points” to our scoreboard.
You can learn more about Phillips 66 and meet
our new P66 Board member, Greg Cardwell, in this
issue (see Page 2).
This is a huge accomplishment and we are
justifiably proud. We are also working in several areas
to build on this momentum with two of these efforts
profiled in this issue. While not as challenging as
weightlifting or as spectacular as underwater filming
of our backstroke technique, these are good examples
of how we will continue our success and add to our
point total.
So does the Little Free Library (see Page 4) make
companies move here? Probably not by itself but
these have been added to our amenities/activities
package along with our Hike and Bike Trail network.
They enrich the experience for the trail user,
promote and encourage literacy and serve to build
a community. Plus, the facts that many of these
Westchase District Board Chair Philip Schneidau and
General Manager Jim Murphy.
Little Free Libraries have been sponsored by area
firms, and stocked 100% with donated books, shows
both leveraging and active support for the objective.
They tie into the artwork now being provided by us
across the District on large-scale public infrastructure
projects (murals), traffic signal boxes (muralitos),
and soon-to-be-installed bus shelter wraps. Public art
helps distinguish our area and, as a dynamic business
community that also has lots of visitors and residents,
it shows we promote a vision of being far more than a
9-to-5 location.
You will also read how we have completed (and
you might already have seen) a new commercial for
Westchase District (see Page 7). Our broadcast and
digital ad campaigns follow months of research,
focus groups and planning that started last year.
By promoting our entire area, we can complement
what individual owners do in their marketing and
promote some broad messages into the advertising
world. Its beneficial impact will be measured on the
scoreboards of our individual owners but this exercise
will produce some tremendous results.
And the game continues. We will keep finding
ways to improve our benefits for our owners, residents
and companies. Stay tuned.
Farmers Market Manager
Lauren Cullins
Projects Manager
Kathy Kaufman
Administrative Assistant
Monica Garcia
Operations Assistant
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New Board Member Is On the Move
Greg Cardwell joins Board of Directors amidst relocation to
new Phillips 66 HQ
M
oving can be stressful, presenting various challenges. What to keep? What to purge? How to
disconnect and reconnect services? How to do it all within a short window of time and into a
never-before occupied facility? It’s enough to rattle the coolest of characters. Fortunately, Phillips 66
has Greg Cardwell and a real estate team that knows how to keep calm in the midst of change. Cardwell is one
of three new members to join Westchase District’s Board of Directors this year.
Movin’ On Up
713-780-9434
www.westchasedistrict.com
Copyright © Westchase District. All Rights Reserved.
2
This summer, Phillips 66 moved about 2,000 employees from four different offices (three of them located
in Westchase District) into its brand new, 1.1 million square foot world headquarters, located along the West
Sam Houston Tollway, just north of Westheimer. As real estate services manager for Phillips 66, Cardwell leads
a group of 52 employees. Cardwell and his team handle transactional real estate for the multinational energy
company that ranks as the highest Houston-based company on the Fortune 500 list.
“Our group played a key role in choosing the Westchase District location. We presented land options to
the executive team and facilitated the transaction of permits and approvals along the way before turning things
over to the projects team,” Cardwell said. “Both the prominence along Beltway 8 and the accessibility of the
site to West Houston made Westchase District the best choice for our new headquarters. This summer we
Spray More. Swat Less. Smell Good.
Market vendor combats mosquitoes and other critters with vanilla and research
Along the bayous of Houston lurk
animals that kill more humans
each year than any others. Forget
about gators and snakes, more
than 750,000 people die each year
worldwide because of mosquitoes.
And with the deadly mosquito-borne Zika virus on the
rise, the need to protect oneself has never been greater.
But DEET-based pesticide products, though approved
by the Centers for Disease Control, can cause skin
irritation and the Environmental Protection Agency
says you should wash it off your skin when you return
indoors. What to do?
The Power of Vanilla
The good news is that there are natural alternatives
that can keep mosquitoes away while keeping you
safe – and some are sold at the Westchase District
Farmers Market. BYE-YOU BUG is a new vendor that
makes all-natural, vanilla-based mosquito, tick and
flea deterrents, in both sprays ($10) and lotions ($14).
In 2013, owners Ryan and Sarah McDonner became
curious about why mosquitoes bite. “We decided we
wanted to make a safe, pleasant-smelling, non-greasy
and biodegradable alternative to traditional repellants,”
said Sarah. “We realized that the best way to ensure our
products were effective was to conduct research.”
Enter Laura Plunkett, PhD, Sarah’s mother and
a board-certified toxicologist. Plunkett was able to
help the couple perform scientific testing, which has
shown the BYE-YOU BUG formulas to be able to
repel mosquitoes and ticks. “Strangely enough, we’ve
even gone as far as breeding our own mosquitoes in our
home,” Sarah said. “Sometimes we bring them out to
farmers markets much like a beekeeper displays bees.”
Explosion of Business
The McDonners were using a packing facility in
Spring Branch until it exploded last May. “The entire
building went up in flames – it made the news,” Sarah
said. “We had been considering investing in our own
equipment and the disaster made the decision for
us.” The McDonners found space at a storage unit in
Westchase District within walking distance from the
farmers market and now mix, bottle, cap and label their
products themselves. “There’s even the possibility of us
to package for other businesses,” she said. “It’s ended up
working out great for us in Westchase District.”
Testing and Education
Now fully operational again, the McDonners
continue to research and refine their vanilla extract
formulas with the guidance and advice from Harris
County Mosquito Control and other agencies. “One of
the components of our business that makes us different
is that we try to educate customers about how they can
avoid raising mosquitoes in their yards and help prevent
the spread of mosquito borne diseases,” Sarah said.
“Another is our goal to provide enough data to register
our product with the EPA as a biopesticide.”
To learn more, visit www.byeyoubug.com.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
As Westchase District Farmers Market celebrates
its third anniversary on October 22, the McDonners
establishing business space in the District is one of
many indicators pointing to the success of the market.
As of this summer, more than 45,000 customers have
visited the market since its opening, generating nearly
$700,000 in gross sales for our vendors. The market
has incubated several business to the point where they
have “outgrown” the market, moving on to distribute
to local grocers and chains. Through it all, old friends
and new favorites are there each week to greet you with
fresh local items and friendly faces. Here’s to another
successful year!
Westchase District Farmers Market
Year-round, rain or shine, Thursdays @ 3 p.m.
St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church
10503 Westheimer Road
(at Rogerdale Road, one block west of Beltway 8)
www.westchasedistrictfarmersmarket.com
Sarah McDonner with BYE-YOU BUG.
moved about 500 employees a week for four weeks to the new offices. The move
went smoothly – employees left on Friday afternoons and were operational in their
new locations by the following Monday mornings.”
Cardwell added that he’s excited about the new headquarters and its amenities.
“There are bridges on levels 4 through 13 that will be collaboration spaces, plus a
soccer field and jogging track on top of the parking garage,” he said. “I think the
new location will really increase collaboration among our various departments, plus
it improves our sense of identity, our branding and is a great recruiting tool for
attracting new talent.”
Variety and Engagement
In the energy industry for 31 years, Cardwell has worked for such industry giants as
BP, DuPont and Conoco on motor fuel tax returns, right of way easements, consulting
on international assets and managing tax liability. “What I like best about my current
role is that every day there is a variety of opportunities to engage our customers and
stakeholders,” he said. “I believe we are part of the team that contributes to the success
of Phillips 66 and its various business units.”
Joining the Westchase District Board of Directors in February, Cardwell has seen
his colleagues in action for a few meetings. “I’m
impressed by the significant buy-in and engagement
my fellow board members have in improving
the District,” he said. “There’s a level of detail in
their involvement that has me looking forward
to participating in some of the various board
committees.”
Golf and Grandkids
In addition to his duties with Phillips 66 and
Westchase District, Cardwell is a committee vice
chairman for the Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo, he sits on the board of the nearby Royal Oaks
Country Club, is an avid golfer and a grandfather
of five. “I look forward to opportunities to spoil the
grandkids any chance I get,” he said.
Pumped to Be Here: Greg
Cardwell with Phillips 66
stands next to an antique
gas pump. Cardwell is one
of three new Board members
to Westchase District.
3
Twice as Nice: Apartments Open Phase 2
Portico at West 8 leasing 296 new luxury units along Seagler Road
T
In Italy, the word “portico” simply means “porch” – but in Westchase
District, the word is associated with luxury multifamily living. Since
2008, Portico at West 8, located at 3003 Seagler Road, has treated
its residents to an eclectic mix of Spanish-Mediterranean-Texan architecture
and Class A amenities. Recently the community more than doubled in size,
adding 296 units to its existing 230. The expansion of the four-story, mid-rise
community is the fruition of a master plan years in the making.
and ceramic tile backsplashes,” Calderon said. “The two-bedroom units now have
garden tubs in both bathrooms, the one-bedroom studies are more spacious and we’ve
redesigned the washers and dryers to be in the bathrooms rather than in the hallways.”
Amenities for residents and guests
A new community room – available for parties and meetings – complements the
leasing office lounge, where the staff hosts monthly brunches, movie nights, and arts and
Extended drumroll
crafts sessions. Residents also have access to Starbucks coffee and a juice bar all day long.
The community’s owner, Richfield Real Estate Corporation, always intended for
there to be two phases to the project, even building a shared parking lot with 2,300
spaces. Following the financial crisis of 2009, the second phase of Portico temporarily
was put on hold. “For a while, we had what was arguably the most spacious parking
garage in Houston,” said Daniel Calderon, community manager.
In 2013, Richfield broke ground on Portico’s second phase, adding an additional
296 units to its existing 230 at an unhurried pace. “For the staff, it felt like an extended
drumroll as we anticipated
the Phase 2 opening,”
Calderon said. “Now that
we’re finally here, we’re
excited to fill up the new
units.”
“Also, we offer a limited number of guest suites for short-term stays,” Calderon said.
“We manage it like a hotel. It’s a great amenity for residents’ relatives and friends who
are in town for holidays or a brief visit.”
Calderon and his staff are currently leasing one- and two-bedroom floor plans
between 870 to 1,300 square feet. For more information, call 713-781-9628 or visit
porticoatwest8.com.
A twist of the old
and new
Portico at West 8
features such architectural
elements as articulated
roof lines, wrought
iron railings and arched
entryways. “Each building
is constructed in curved
street patterns to reinforce
a pedestrian-friendly
atmosphere,” said Calderon.
“It’s all meant to feel
more like an old world
neighborhood.”
That old-world charm is
balanced by modern touches
in Phase 2’s design. “There’s
LED lighting, granite
countertops, wood flooring,
two-tone paint schemes
Old World Style, New World Luxury: Clockwise from top left: Portico at West 8 features a mix of Spanish, Mediterranean and Texan
architecture; one-bedroom study units are spacious and modern; the new community room offers residents a place to lounge; a swimming
pool is at the center of this enclosed courtyard with barrel tile roofs and stucco siding.
Recreational Reading as Walking Trail Attraction
Little Free Libraries along Library Loop Trail encourage reading exchanges
P
erhaps you’ve heard of the Little Free Library
movement? The concept is simple: quirky
mailbox-like structures filled with books
supplied by readers that are free for all to enjoy.
Borrow a book or leave one to share with the world
- it’s a grass roots way to promote reading and
randomly discover new books.
Westchase District got on board with literacy love
by installing its first Little Free Library this summer
at the west entrance to the Library Loop Trail, next to
the Robinson Westchase Library, 3223 Wilcrest Drive.
Among the initial titles found in the enclosed,
two-story, birdhouse-looking bookshelf:
• Tuesdays with Morrie
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• The Great Gatsby (complete with handwritten
notes!)
4
Take a book, leave a book: The new, Little Free
Library along the Library Loop Trail is now open for
all to enjoy.
“It creates another cool amenity for our trail users
and they help foster a literacy-friendly community,”
said Louis Jullien, Westchase District’s project director.
“I hope people will find new reading favorites and that
they will share their favorite books with others.”
Jullien said that he’s had to restock the library
several times since its debut. “I think that’s a good sign
that the concept is wildly popular,” he said.
The installation is only the first of several Little
Free Libraries to be located along the trail. Another
one, sponsored by Zachry Group, will appear soon at
the eastern trailhead on Rogerdale Road and a third is
planned near the trail’s Walnut Bend crossing. If you
or your company would like to sponsor a Little Free
Library in Westchase District, contact Louis Jullien,
713-780-9434.
Going the Extra Miles for Its Customers
Westchase District-based Glesby Marks celebrates 40 years in fleet leasing business
and Louisiana. With the collapse of the oil market in the 1980s, the company learned
to diversify to a wider customer base. “Our geographical diversity has allowed us to
withstand regional downturns,” Meyer said. “We provide a lot of work trucks to clients
in the construction industry as well, so we’re not reliant on only a few major accounts.”
The company moved to its current location at 10200 Richmond Avenue in 1997, a
building currently shared with its landlord, Fuller Theological Seminary. “Our location
allows us great access to our customers via Beltway 8. Plus, we have employees from
Galveston to Sealy, so it’s a central location for them as well. “
With only 17 people handling a multi-thousand vehicle fleet, Emily Stoller, vice
president of operations, said it’s the responsiveness of the staff that sets the company
apart from its competition. “Though we have larger fleets, we excel at managing fleets
from 15 to 75 vehicles. Our truck experts are well-connected to outfit work trucks with
special beds, toolboxes, ladders – whatever the customer wants. We’ve even converted
trucks to run on natural gas.”
Trick out My Ride: Upfitting trucks with specialized equipment like this one
is the forte of Glesby Marks.
I
f you choose to lease a car, most likely you’ll head to your nearest car dealership.
But what if you need to lease specialty vehicles for your company, such as buses,
refrigerated trucks or compressed natural gas vehicles? What if you want to lease
a lot of them and you don’t want to deal with several different companies? Well, that’s
when you head to Westchase District to do business with Glesby Marks.
Relationships and Reduced Expenses
40 Years and Rolling
After 39 years at the helm of Glesby Marks, Meyer will retire at the end of the year.
“While the fundamentals of the company won’t change, it’s time for a new generation to
take things to the next level,” he said.
Stoller said she believes that integrity and technology are the keys to moving
forward. “Right now we collect a lot of information on our vehicles regarding fuel and
maintenance. In the future, there’s a lot more we will do with providing those facts back
to our clients in a useful manner to help them manage their fleets even further,” she said.
“Selling service is one thing, proving the benefits of it with solid data is even better.”
With locations in Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle, Glesby
Marks specializes in customized vehicle fleet leasing and management for companies’
transportation operations. “Our full line of services is designed to reduce upfront
costs while delivering the best solutions for our customers’ needs, said Charles Meyer,
president of Glesby Marks.
Meyer said some of those solutions include no down payments, fixed rate payments,
management of licensing and title registration, GPS tracking and assistance in setting up
driver safety programs for clients. “These all lead to reduced overhead expenses for our
customers as well as maximum cost effectiveness.”
“We’re about establishing ongoing relationships with our customers, which allows
them to enjoy access to the best options in the fleet leasing industry, such as longer lease
terms, regular maintenance services and upfitting of auxiliary equipment to meet client
specs,” Meyer said. “We are the shock absorbers for our customers. Most companies
don’t want to be in the trucking business. It’s up to us to absorb our customers’
aggravation and make it as seamless as possible.”
Diversity Defending Downturns
Formed in Houston in 1976 by Morris Glesby and auto dealer Jay Marks, the
company originally focused on the rapidly expanding oil and gas industry in Texas
Downshifting onto Retirement Road: President Charles Meyer (on left, with
Emily Stoller, vice president of operations) will retire at the end of the year,
marking a 39-year career with Glesby Marks.
20 Years of Conference Planning, One Meeting at a Time
Westchase District mainstay Norris Conference Centers keeps pace with the latest trends
E
Norris said while he often receives compliments
ven in today’s world of virtual meetings and
about the technical expertise of his staff, his goal is to
working from remote locations, there’s still
prevent scrambles in the first place. “It’s great when
something to be said for getting up from
someone thinks we helped bail them out of an A/V
your desk and interacting with people face-to-face.
near-disaster, but I want us to be able to anticipate
Well-planned, well-run meetings are a timeless
challenges and handle them before they require
necessity for most businesses. Hotels often specialize
last-minute rescues. That level of service is what keeps
in meeting space, but what if most of your meeting
folks coming back. Well, that and the coffee,” he added,
attendees don’t need sleeping rooms? For 20 years,
laughing. “Seriously, after our exceptional service,
one of Westchase District’s best answers to that
our food and our coffee are what receive the most
question has been Norris Conference Centers.
compliments.”
A fixture of the Westchase District business world
Douwe Drop In
since 1996, Norris Conference Centers, located at
Meet and Greet: Norris Conference Centers’ sales
Through the center’s sister location in CityCentre,
9990 Richmond Avenue, has specialized in hosting a
managers Lillie Reap and Lana O’Neil are ready to
Norris
said the Westchase location offers in-house
range of corporate events, offering clients an alternative book your next gathering in Westchase District.
catering, from cocktails and hors d’ouveres to buffets
to traditional hotel meeting space. One of the District’s
and plated dinners. “We didn’t start out in the catering business, but over the years,
premier meeting facilities (Westchase District hosted a recent meeting of its Board
we’ve learned how to please the appetites of all kinds of groups and it has really
of Directors at Norris), the center has grown from the offshoot of an Austin
earned us high marks from our customers,” Norris said. And the coffee? “We use
location started in 1990 into one of West Houston’s most reliable gathering spaces. Douwe Egberts coffee imported from Holland. When you attend enough meetings,
A/V is A-OK
Teresa Sims, regional general manager, oversees a staff of three full-time
employees, who manage 16,000 square feet of conference space. Full-service
audio-visual capabilities at the location include screen projectors, microphones,
speaker systems, teleconferencing and video conferencing.
“We’ve upgraded our video projection units three times in the past five years in
order to stay competitive with the latest high-resolution technology,” said founder
David Norris. “Some of our clients use sophisticated graphics software and they
want to present images to their audiences as clearly as possible. It’s interesting that
for all the talk about video conferencing though, we haven’t seen the demand for
it we expected. Unless companies are spread out globally, most people still want to
interact in person.”
details like that are highly noticeable.”
Want a sip of that coffee yourself? Sales manager Lana O’Neil hosts frequent free
open houses to the facility to educate potential customers about the services offered.
“We just hosted a Christmas in July open house and in October we’ll host a Girls
Night Out event for breast cancer awareness,” she said. “We’re always happy to give
site tours, but these themed events allow us to show all the rooms set up nicely to
showcase what’s possible here.”
While the center is available 24/7 for round-the-clock, cross-time zone
conferencing, you can’t crash at Norris. “However, we partner with area hotels to
offer special room rates and shuttle service to and from the center,” O’Neil said.
“Our motto is ‘Sleep at a Hotel – Meet at Norris.’”
Norris Conference Centers
9990 Richmond Avenue, Suite 102 • 713-780-9300 • norriscenters.com
Hungry? Meet Me at the Ranch...in Westchase District
Rio Ranch Steakhouse keeps it authentic for hungry herders seeking cowboy cuisine
Don’t call it a comeback: Rio
Ranch Steakhouse, located at 9999
Westheimer Road, has been here
for years. But Judy Orlando, the
new general manager of the Hilton
Houston Westchase, wants customers
to know that as the restaurant
approaches a quarter century of serving cowboy cuisine,
management is upping the ante on its rustic roots,
emphasizing its campfire ambiance and signature
mesquite grill.
“We’ve always been here, but now we’re highlighting
the original concept of our unique southwestern
Hill Country menu,” Orlando said. “We’re tweaking
the décor and the menu slightly to play up the
eating-around-the-campfire feel.”
Food &
Drink
Together yet separate
While technically attached to
the Hilton, Rio Ranch is more of a
freestanding location with its own
prominent entrance and parking. “We
don’t want to be thought of merely as
a ‘hotel restaurant’ because we’re more
unique than that,” said Orlando. “We
conform to the high standard of the
Hilton brand while at the same time we’re
like nothing else Hilton offers.”
Orlando added that Rio Ranch
has always been positioned as a big
networking restaurant, a place where
people can have a casual gathering to
discuss business or meet friends. “Most of
6
our customers aren’t guests at the hotel – and that’s fine
with us,” she said. “We’re a neighborhood restaurant
that’s a destination unto itself.”
Wood-fired, not fou fou
Since 1993, self-taught executive chef San
Hemwattikit has presided over the menu at Rio Ranch.
A native of Thailand but Texan by taste, he features
unique lunch specials such as smoked chile wings and
pulled pork sliders, as well as dinner offerings like
chuck wagon chili and a 16 oz. ribeye steak grilled over
mesquite wood. “I use certified black angus beef, I don’t
use gas grills and, of course, I have my secret seasonings,”
An Appetite for the Authentic: Judy Orlando,
he said. “You can really taste the difference in our steaks
general manager at the Hilton Houston Westchase
stands among the Texicana accessories of Rio
and in our campfire mesquite savory chicken.”
Ranch Steakhouse.
Weekday lunches feature the daily “Meat & Three”
specials with a specially picked protein
and a trio of side dishes. Hemwattikit’s
expansive Sunday hot brunch is arguably
the best in Westchase District. From
made-to-order omelets and a flapjack
griddle with lots of “country fixin’s” to
smoked salmon and sun-dried tomato
pasta salad, Sundays at Rio Ranch offer
something for everyone.
“Over the years, I’ve simplified the
menu and gone back to the basics,”
Hemwattikit said. “Our market out here
is different from inside the loop. We don’t
Kick Up Your Boots: The Rio Saloon is a full-service bar complete with hickory
go for anything too fou fou at Rio Ranch.
and rawhide barstools, a 22 foot long solid mesquite wood bar and a wood ceiling
I’ve been here for 23 years, so we must be
made from a Civil War-era barn.
doing something right.”
Heart of a Champion, Mind of a Crimefighter
From jiu jitsu to nightshift patrol, Jose Demeterio is one hard-hitting officer
A
t 5’5”, HPD officer Jose Demeterio is not the biggest police officer ever
to wear the badge, but he just might be one of the baddest. “I practice jiu
jitsu regularly, which has given me the mental training and confidence
to deal with people much larger than myself. Not too much gives me pause,” he
said with characteristic understatement. As a lifelong athlete and a member of the
Westchase District Patrol, he hasn’t paused much so far.
In perpetual motion
Born in Lansing, Michigan, Demeterio moved with his chemist dad and
schoolteacher mom in 1975 to Piti, Guam. He swam competitively for 18 years,
competing in the 1987 South Pacific Games in New Caledonia and becoming an
Olympic hopeful in 1988. “As a swimmer, I traveled the world,” he said. When not
swimming, he enjoyed surfing typhoon-created waves and nighttime spearfishing
scuba dives. Moving back to the states as a teenager, he graduated high school in
Columbus, Ohio and earned a B.A. in history from State University of New York
at Geneseo.
At age 23, having never played in high school, Demeterio returned to Guam to
play semi-pro football as a receiver and defensive back. “My father would never let
me play as a teenager, so once I was old enough I decided to give it a try,” he said.
When his parents retired in Houston, he relocated again and coached for the Lone
Star Swim Team in northwest Houston for several years before deciding he needed
a career with more excitement.
At age 38, Demeterio attended the Houston Police Academy. “Sure, I was on
the older end of my class, but there were cadets older than me,” he said. “As you
might notice, I’m just a little bit competitive, so I enjoyed the challenge.” Upon
graduation he was assigned to HPD’s North Shepherd storefront before joining
the department’s crime reduction unit, where he worked with fellow Westchase
District Patrol officers Jeff
Sneed, Diego Morelli and
Noe Alvarado. Last year,
Demetrio took a Westside
Division nightshift patrol
in order to be closer to
home.
Verbal judo
A member of the
Westchase District Patrol
since August 2014, he
said he enjoys that every
day on the job is different.
“Interacting with all types
of people is an interesting
challenge, whether it’s
Tough Competitor: HPD officer Jose Demeterio
patrols Westchase District ready for anything.
with people who are off
their medications or with
juveniles who think they’re adults,” he said. “I have to engage in a type of verbal
judo, where I try to talk to suspects and get information from them without it
seeming like I’m probing. I’m always learning.”
Demeterio said Westchase District enjoys a reputation as a relatively low-crime
area in part because of a surprise factor held by the patrols. “Many crooks are not
aware that we’re patrolling the area,” he said. “That gives us an advantage.” When
not sneaking up on criminals, Demeterio and his wife are raising three children,
perhaps his greatest challenge yet. “I have a 16-year-old daughter,” he said, smiling.
“Nothing I’ve trained for has prepared me for that.”
From Commercial Real Estate to Commercial
Westchase District films new ad campaign for cable TV, YouTube and Pandora
T
we’ve been doing and how we might
his fall, if you’re watching
Comcast cable channels,
viewing YouTube or listening
improve.”
Using the metrics system
to the popular Pandora streaming music
All of the ads will end with the
service, there’s a good chance you’ll see or
hear a commercial for Westchase District.
District’s web address, westchasedistrict.
A new 30-second spot, a first for the
com, to serve as a call to action to visit
District, will begin airing in September
the website to learn more about the
that asks the question, “What do YOU
District. “The beauty of these digital
chase in Westchase District?”
campaigns is that they are highly
A new approach
measurable,” Fox said. “We’re able to
Advertising certainly is not a new
concept to Westchase District. The
District has placed print ads in a variety
track who clicks on what with great
Aaaand...ACTION! Actress Kristi Williams prepares for a scene in Westchase
District’s new 30-second commercial.
specificity. At the end of our initial run
of printed publications including the
of the campaign, we’ll use the metrics
Houston Business Journal, REDNews,
gathered to inform how we move
and Texas Real Estate Business News. The
forward in 2017.”
District also has advertised via radio
To XFINITY and beyond
spots during the Michael Berry show on
Roy said the style of the commercial
740 AM KTRH and through radio and
digital ads with iHeart Media, which
is likely to inform the look of updated
owns FM stations 94.5 The Buzz and
marketing collateral. “We want to create
Sunny 99.1.
a unified look to the brand on everything
“We’ve had great success with our
from Westchase Today and brochures to
previous ad campaigns, but we don’t
The Wire e-newsletter and the website,”
want to become complacent in how we
reach our audiences,” said Sherry Fox,
Westchase District’s vice president of
communications. “This year, we decided
to step back and take a fresh look at what
she said. “This commercial is the
Viewer Discretion: (From left) Director of Photography Raul Casares, Vicki
Roy of BQR Advertising and Westchase District’s Jonathan Lowe study the
composition of an outdoor shot for the commercial.
beginning of that process and it will help
to position Westchase District firmly in
the minds of the people who see it.”
7
(Continued from Page 1)
as the M Club. “It’s an exclusive space for gold and
platinum elite Marriott rewards members with premiere
services where guests can work, enjoy a bite, recharge and
connect,” Greenblatt said. “The rooms provide a variety
of seating options to relax or work and the club has a
dedicated host, including a concierge.”
Parker, whose Westchase District-based DP
Consulting focuses on hotel market studies and feasibility
assessments, said full service hotels such as the Marriott
Westchase and the Hilton Houston Westchase are too
expensive for most hotel developers to build, so these
brands are able to stay relevant as long as their rooms and
meeting spaces are up-to-date. “In newer limited service
and extended stay brands, guestrooms are squeezed
smaller in favor of larger social-gathering-style lobbies,”
he said. “Full service hotels still offer more spacious
rooms and conference or convention areas.”
The Marriott is not the only Westchase District
hotel with a fresh look. Since 2012 the Hilton Houston
Westchase, 9999 Westheimer, has seen more incremental
renovations, resulting in another total transformation.
“Everything in the hotel has been touched including
finishes, furniture and flooring, even the hotel’s cooling
towers,” said Judy Orlando, Hilton Houston Westchase’s
general manager. “Our 13,000 square feet of meeting
space has better and more efficient lighting as well as the
latest conferencing technology. We understand that there
are expectations from millennial-age travelers and we
want to always be relevant in customers’ minds.”
On the limited service hotel side, the La Quinta
Inn & Suites, located at 10850 Harwin Drive, recently
completed extensive renovations and is looking pretty
snazzy. “New décor throughout the hotel and our 83
rooms will completely enhance our guests’ experiences,”
said Yolanda Brown, general manager. “We have a
brighter and more polished contemporary look and feel,
even faster high-speed internet and new flat-panel TVs
with 30 channels of HD programming.”
Residence Inn by Marriott, an extended stay hotel
located at 9965 Westheimer, has plans for major
renovations in 2017, but got a head start on them when
some rooms received flood damage from heavy rains in
April.
Greenblatt said he’s confident the current market lag
is only temporary. “This is my fourth downturn in
27 years in the hotel business,” he said. “Am I concerned?
Yes. Am I worried? No. I’ve seen this before and I know
that we’ll be coming back stronger than ever.”
Waking up on the Bright Side: Opened in 2007,
the La Quinta Inn & Suites at 10850 Harwin
Drive underwent extensive renovations earlier this
year, including new décor in its 83 guest rooms.
Neighborhood News
O
ne of Westchase District’s most prime parcels of land is on the market.
Located near the District’s northern boundary, just south of Deerwood
Drive along the West Sam Houston Tollway, sits 24.5 acres for sale. The
site is next to the Walnut Bend neighborhood and is just up Beltway 8 from the
new Phillips 66 world headquarters.
Once home to Dow Chemical’s campus, the land has been cleared for
redevelopment. The property, located at 400 West Sam Houston Parkway, is
represented by Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and is already drawing interest.
“With its unmatched proximity to Buffalo Bayou and Beltway 8, and
surrounded by great neighbors, it is an incredible location for developing a
beautiful corporate
campus,” said Jim Murphy,
Westchase District general
manager. “The right buyer
will be purchasing a real
gem.”
For details, please
call Brandi McDonald,
713-490-9951.
400 W. Sam Houston Pkwy.
H
ot on the heels of the opening of the new Whole Foods Market in the
Westchase Shopping Center, two new stores will join it. Kirkland’s has
announced that it will open its 18th store in Houston next door to Whole
Foods this September.
“This will be the company’s largest prototype store,” said Sarah Dickerson,
senior real estate manager with Kirkland’s, Inc. “It will have the latest in visual
merchandising design and layout for a better customer experience.”
The 10,000 square-foot store will feature:
• furniture
• art and wall decor, mirrors and lighting
• pillows, rugs and curtains
• gifts and holiday décor
Then two doors down, Torchy’s Tacos, home to popular Tex Mex breakfast,
lunch and dinner items, will open a location
later this year. The 5,000+ square-foot
restaurant will occupy the space vacated by
Black Eyed Pea.
8
T
his year’s 14th annual Westchase District Summer Food Drive collected more
than 4,200 pounds of non-perishable items for the pantry at West Houston
Assistance Ministries.
Congratulations to our top donors:
• Zurich Insurance:
1,047 pounds
• Houston Marriott Westchase:
846 pounds
• Grace Presbyterian Church:
698 pounds
• Pape-Dawson Engineers:
98 pounds
Sincere thanks to all who gave
generously at 24 participating
apartments, businesses and offices in Westchase District. WHAM’s pantry, which
distributes food assistance to an average 1,700 people each month, gratefully
accepts year-round donations. Go online to whamministries.org for a list of needed
items.
M
ore than 60 people braved the heat July 23 for Tales on the Trail, our
celebration of reading and of our new mural at the western end of the
Library Loop Trail. Thanks to all who participated and especially to our sponsors:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eagles Trace Retirement
H-E-B
Literacy Advance
McDonald’s/Janus 1 Mural Arts
Playworks
Mural Arts
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Robinson Public Library
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Trader Joe’s
West Houston Assistance Ministries
Westchase District Community Fund