Summer 2016 - Westchase District

WESTCHASETODAY
YEAR 18 | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2016
BUILDING HIGHER VALUE SINCE 1995
Dig It: District Grows Trail Network
Construction underway on Brays Bayou Connector Trail, CenterPoint Trail
coming soon
Pour Me Another: Workers smooth the first section of concrete poured near Rogerdale Road and Town Park Drive for the Brays Bayou Connector Trail.
The 1.92-mile off-street trail running from Richmond Avenue to Bellaire Bouleveard is on schedule for a fall completion. Miranda Construction is building the
$4.2 million trail.
I
n emerging subdivisions or master-planned
communities, it’s relatively easy to develop a
park or design a winding trail for residents.
In an area with precious little undeveloped
land such as Westchase District, shoehorning
in outdoor amenities among existing structures
can prove a challenge. However, by the end
of this year Westchase District will feature
nearly four miles of off-street trails for joggers,
walkers, bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.
This spring Westchase District broke ground
on Brays Bayou Connector Trail (BBCT), a new
1.92-mile off-street trail that will run south from
Richmond Avenue to Bellaire Boulevard. The 8- to
10-foot concrete path will include benches, water
fountains, trash receptacles, landscaping, wildflowers,
tree groves and a four-piece workout station.
Building Connections
The most exciting thing about the trail is its
connectivity to a larger system, according to Irma
Sanchez, vice of projects for Westchase District. “This
trail will connect to the City of Houston’s on-street
bikeway network at each roadway intersection and to
the Westchase Park & Ride on Harwin,” said Sanchez.
The direct trail connection to this METRO facility
will enable trail users access to METRO’s bus route
151 (Westpark Express), which travels to downtown.
BBCT will connect to the 8-acre, city-owned Harwin
Park and the 81-acre, county-owned Arthur Storey
Park, as well as the future Brays Bayou Trail.
On the north end, the BBCT will connect at
Richmond to the District’s existing Library Loop
Trail, which loops east and west between the Robinson
– Westchase Neighborhood Library, 3223 Wilcrest
Drive, and the Deborah Sue Schatz United States Post
Office, 2909 Rogerdale Road.
Underpass access
The new trail will feature underpasses at
Richmond, Westpark Drive, Westpark Tollway,
Harwin Drive and Bellaire, allowing trail users
to safely enjoy the trail entirely off-street. “We’re
replacing the existing corrugated steel storm outlets
and encasing them in square concrete box culverts to
(Continued on Page 8)
INSIDE
2 Greg Travis Eats & Meets
6 Corporate Challenge Winners
3 Atkinson Farms Brings Produce
to Market
6 Kolache Factory:
Born in Westchase
4 Noah’s Ark Celebrates 20 Years
7 Ofc. Alex Mayo follows
family tradition
5 Hunton Group Makes Westchase
Cool
7 Coloring Outside the Lines
Address Service Requested
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10370 Richmond
Suite 1350
Houston, Texas 77042
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WESTCHASETODAY
Something Old, Something New
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.
M
ay graduations are giving way to June
weddings. Westchase District, with
12 houses of worship, will certainly
have its share. And keeping with that theme,
this issue of Westchase Today features:
Something Old – really two things: our
Corporate Challenge, which dedicates all of its
proceeds to the Westchase District Community Fund,
just completed its 19th year (Page 6). And Quillian
Center is completely renovating its hugely popular
Noah’s Ark Pool after 20 great years. (Page 4).
Something New – Meet Greg Travis, our new
City of Houston District G Councilman.
Something Borrowed – It happens every day
at the 22 financial institutions here who were well
represented at the Corporate Challenge, underwritten
by Amegy Bank (Page 6).
Something Blue – Every issue of Westchase Today
profiles one of the 55 HPD patrol officers who works
for Westchase District. On Page 7, you’ll meet Officer
Alex Mayo.
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
But what about the wedding gift? We have an
answer for you in our cover story. Our long awaited
project is at last, and thankfully, underway. The Brays
Bayou Connector Trail (BBCT) is indeed a gift for
our residents, employees and visitors. But it is also a
gift to the Houston region as it connects to multiple
trails, on-street networks, parks, homes, schools and
more.
This project’s history is complicated as its initial
$4 million grant came from TxDOT and funds were
later transferred to the Federal Transit Agency which,
among other benefits, allowed the District’s funding
and construction of the Library Loop Trail to be used
to secure the project’s grant funds. Agreements were
then developed with 43 different property owners
to provide an easement for the trail at no cost to the
District or taxpayers. Quite a “gift” from our area
owners.
We had other partners help make this gift possible.
Harris County Flood Control, which oversees the
maintenance and operations of the drainage canals
where our trails are built, allowed us to share their
Westchase District Board Chair Philip Schneidau and
General Manager Jim Murphy.
space, again at no cost. Once we assembled the
right-of-way and completed the design, we were
stymied by higher than expected bids and had to
tweak our design and re-bid the project – twice.
Thanks to our engineers, Brown & Gay, and
contractor, Miranda Construction for working to
get this completed. But the final tip of the hat goes
to the City of Houston since the 380 program,
designated for trails, parks and roads here in
Westchase District, funded the final $1 million for
this project.
It truly took the contribution of each of our
partners to make this happen and we are extremely
grateful for their support and resources. But we also
have to recognize the Westchase District Board and
staff for first developing the vision for this project.
It is regionally significant now and will become even
more so as additional connections are made.
Finally, we recognize the dedication and
persistence of the Board and staff to overcome the
many challenges this project experienced. The new
term for this in the world of business and leadership
literature is “grit.” There is a growing understanding
of the value of this character trait in leaders and
organizations. We are delighted to note it here. And
it was a key ingredient in this tremendous gift to our
community.
Farmers Market Manager
Lauren Cullins
Projects Manager
Kathy Kaufman
Administrative Assistant
Monica Garcia
Operations Assistant
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Having a Seat at the Table
Come break bread with new District G Councilmember
Greg Travis
G
reg Travis loves to eat out a lot. “Back in my Top Gun days, I was 150 pounds. Man, those were the
days,” he said, chuckling. A former U.S. Air Force jet pilot, Travis is the founder of the Travis Law
Firm, P.C., on Wilcrest Drive. In his 23 years as a litigation attorney, Travis has never lost a trial. That
appetite for achievement spurred him to run for Houston City Council’s District G seat, to which he was
sworn in earlier this year.
Roads to Success
713-780-9434
www.westchasedistrict.com
Copyright © Westchase District. All Rights Reserved.
2
District G encompasses the part of Westchase District north of Westheimer Road. Travis ran his campaign
in part on a platform of infrastructure improvement, which he sees as the most critical issue for District G
in particular. “While I’m upset about inefficiencies in government and am a fiscal conservative, I believe
maintaining roads is one of the city’s most basic responsibilities,” he said.
Travis said while the quality of roads is important, how traffic flows is even more important. “I allocated
about $300,000 from my council district service fund for panel replacements along Kirkwood, easing traffic
which had moved over to Wilcrest,” he said. “Things like left turn lanes, curb cuts and better timing of traffic
signals also contribute to improved mobility.”
Winging It with Atkinson Farms
Nestled between
a residential
subdivision and
apartments under
construction in
Spring, TX sits
Atkinson Farms,
a fourth-generation business run by Mike
Atkinson. One of Westchase District
Farmers Market’s inaugural vendors, the
farm provides more than 45 varieties
of fruits and vegetables to the market
throughout the year.
Selling Since ’61
Purchased in 1961 by Atkinson’s grandfather, the
65-acre farm is supplemented by an additional 85 acres
spread out in New Waverly and Tomball. “Throughout
the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s my grandfather and father raised
vegetables and sold them to Weingarten’s Grocery
Store,” Atkinson said. (Fun fact: though no longer in
the grocery business, Houston-based Weingarten Realty
Investors is Houston’s largest commercial real estate
property owner. The majority of their shopping centers
are anchored by supermarkets, including the Westchase
Shopping Center which is home to Westchase District’s
new Whole Foods Market store.)
In 2004, Atkinson and his wife Theresa opened their
plant where? “Well, it comes from years of
experience farming. I just wing it,” he said.
“We don’t write any of it down. There’s no
book. It’s all in my head.”
Making good calls is a skill Atkinson
has honed over the years and applied to
refereeing high school football. “This will
be my 43rd year as a member of the Texas
Association of Sports Officials,” he said.
“By the time I complete this year’s season,
own roadside market store which is open to the public
seven days a week. “It’s another way to reach more
customers,” he said. The majority of the farm’s crops are
sold to grocers such as Food Town and Canino Food
Mart. The farm also supplies about 10 restaurants –
including Benjy’s, Local Foods and Underbellys – with
fruits, vegetables and even pork. Atkinson also sells at
more than a dozen farmers markets.
Anchored and In Control
“If the market were a shopping mall, Atkinson
Farms would be one of our anchor stores,” said John
Carey, Westchase District Farmers Market manager.
“It’s been a staple of the market since the beginning and
always offers a great variety of high-quality produce.”
Variety seems to be key to selling year-round. “We
have six varieties of tomatoes alone,” Atkinson said.
“We change them out depending on how much sun
the plants will receive. People who say they can’t grow
tomatoes in the summer just don’t have the right variety
to match the weather.”
Recent flooding wiped out only a few of Atkinson’s
crops (“We’re not big, but we’re big enough to survive,”
he said), but filled his irrigation pond. “We don’t plant
anything we can’t irrigate. We’re totally in control
of watering. If we don’t get any rain and we have to
irrigate, we’ll be tired, but we’ll still have a pocketful of
money.”
Official Decisions
In the Driver’s Seat: Mike Atkinson of Atkinson
Farms likes to be in control of all aspects of his
farm’s operations.
Atkinson starts most of his crops in two onsite
greenhouses, then transfers them to the field once they
are hearty enough to brave the weather. So how does
Atkinson know which crops to rotate and what to
I’ll have officiated more than 1,000 high
school varsity football games.”
Long hours on the farm and the football field don’t
seem to bother him. “When I’m on the farm, I get
to spend time with my family,” said Atkinson, who
runs the farm with his wife Theresa, son Bobby and
daughter-in-law Hayley. “Where else can you spend all
day at work and still get to see your wife and kids?”
Service from the Son: Bobby Atkinson of Atkinson
Farms offers fresh vegetables to a customer at
Westchase District Farmers Market.
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
And mobility, Travis said, is one of Westchase District’s best features. “Westchase’s strength is location,
location, location,” he said. “If you want to live, work and play you want to live in District G and Westchase
District is smack in the middle of it.”
Better for Less
Already Travis has found himself in the middle of heated discussions at City Hall regarding pet projects
advocated for by his fellow council members. “Sometimes my colleagues are arguing emotionally, not rationally
and defending what is not wise use of the city’s money,” he said. “A million dollars here and a million there adds
up fast and I believe we can do better for less money.”
Travis said he has no political aspirations to higher office, which he believes is a positive quality for his job. “I
want to be a model for what a real public servant can do when he’s not worried about political expediency,” he
said. “If people criticize me for my decisions, they’ll at least know that I thought them through.”
Let’s Do Dinner
Travis also believes in being accessible to his constituents, whether they want to discuss matters over the
phone or in person. You can reach Travis via email at [email protected] or call the District G office,
832-393-3007. “Every email sent is read and responded to either by me or my staff. I’ll meet with anyone
personally, though it may take a couple of weeks. You can schedule a time at City Hall or come to my law office if
you don’t want to drive downtown.”
Also, Travis has started tweeting (@TravisDistrictG) when and where he’ll be dining out, should people want to
swing by and chat with him during his meal. “I’m going to be there anyway, so why not hang out a bit longer and
have a friendly discussion?” he said. “Of course I’m a fiscal conservative, so we’ll be going Dutch.”
Liable to Be Reached: Trial attorney Greg Travis
was recently sworn in as Houston City
Councilmember for District G.
3
Doing What Your Mother Used to Do for You
The Heights at Westchase has breakfast ready, does laundry for its residents
T
he Heights at
The Heights’
Westchase,
state-of-the-art fitness center
the District’s
offers cardio theater treadmills
newest luxury apartment
and elliptical machines which
allow users to change the
community, opened in
running terrain and track their
November 2015 and
stats. The center also offers
already is ahead of leasing
complimentary sweat towels,
expectations. So what is
bottled water and granola bars.
attracting residents to the
Outdoor amenities include a
seven-building, 265-unit
A Life of Luxury and Clean Linens: Wash, dry and fold laundry service is available three days per
fire pit, two outdoor kitchens
community? Nicki Trinidad,
week at The Heights at Westchase.
and Westchase District’s only
community director thinks
swim up bar.
it’s due in part to the
“signature white glove services” offered. Both Trinidad and assistant community
Superlatives from Our Staff
director Kristy McLocklin live on property, in part because of the services. “Not
With all these amenities catering to busy young business professionals, the
only do I love the amenities, but it’s nice that I can simply take the elevator down
community has attracted two staff members from Westchase District’s project team to
to ‘commute’ to work,” McLocklin said.
sign leases. Both Louis Jullien, projects director and Lauren Cullins, projects manager
moved into The Heights at Westchase this spring and have been impressed with the
Complimentary Conveniences
conveniences offered.
For busy residents rushing out the door in the mornings to face their morning
“My wife, Christy, and I love it,” said Jullien. “I’m especially enjoying the short
commute, the Heights features a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast and coffee
commute. I’m only a block away from our office building, so on a nice day I can walk to
bar Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 a.m. which serves muffins, yogurt, granola,
work.”
cereal, pastries and fresh fruit. The rest of the day, the bar features a variety of candy for
indulging a sweet tooth.
In what might be the best service of all, the apartment community also offers
drop-off wash, dry and fold laundry service, Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays – all at
no extra charge.
Concierge Comforts
For extra fees, residents can enjoy valet dry cleaning service that picks up at their
front doors. Those who would rather skip cleaning their apartment can take advantage
of housekeeping services ($45 for a one-bedroom and $65 for a two-bedroom unit).
“Our housekeeper will mop, dust, and wipe down the kitchen and bathroom,”
McLocklin said, “and if you leave out fresh linens, she’ll even change out your
bedsheets.” Valet trash removal service is picked up Sunday through Thursday.
“The breakfast bar is the best,” Cullins said. “It gives me more free time in the
mornings to sleep in. I can’t wait to enjoy the swimming pool this summer with my
nieces and nephew.”
Trinidad and her staff are currently leasing one- and two-bedroom floor plans. For
more information, call 832-940-7070 or visit heightswestchase.com.
Exclusive Video Content Online
Take a tour of The Heights at Westchase and see for yourself all the
amenities offered at the District’s newest apartment community.
To watch the video, visit: westchasedistrict.com/videos
Forty Days, Forty Nights and 20 Years
Noah’s Ark Pool gets some love as it celebrates two decades of family splashing
T
he term “kiddie pool” can conjure images of backyard plastic and inflatable
tubs or even an oval-shaped afterthought tacked onto a swimming facility.
Twenty years ago in Westchase District, the kiddie pool was reimagined as the
centerpiece for a family-friendly public gathering spot. Arguably one of West Houston’s
most recognizable attractions (at least to families with young kids), the Noah’s Ark Pool
at 10570 Westpark Drive has drawn visitors from all over Houston and beyond.
A ministry of First Methodist Houston’s Quillian Center, the facility is geared
to families with toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-school aged children.
An ark structure with animals is centered in a shallow pool with three slides, a
crawl-through, a mushroom water drop, a rainbow slide and animals spraying water.
Quillian Center also features a full-sized swimming pool with a slide, two diving
boards and Alli D. Gator, a large floating foam
creature enjoyed by all.
Religious Origins
The concrete, steel and safety foam ark and
animals were designed by NBGS International,
makers of one-of-a-kind waterpark attractions
including those featured throughout the
Schlitterbahn chain.
“When we approached them, they were known
for doing pirate ships and submarines,” said Tom
Gaden, Quillian Center director. “We asked them
if they had ever done anything Biblical. Turned out
they had designed, but never built, an ark to be
used at TV evangelist Jim Baaker’s failed Heritage
USA theme park. We said, ‘We’ll take it.’”
4
Fully Renovated
Gaden said that because of wear and tear from chlorine, UV rays and sheer traffic,
Noah’s Ark requires continuous maintenance and upkeep. However, for its 20th
anniversary, Quillian Center performed the attraction’s most extensive renovation
ever. “Some of the animals were starting to show their age, so on the inside we
treated all of the steel to prevent rust,” he said. “On the outside we stripped them
all down and repainted everything. We also added new nets and landing pads. To
someone who was here last season, it probably doesn’t look any different, but it’s
been loved on so that it will last another 20 years.”
Generational Enjoyment
Gaden conservatively estimates at least 660,000
visitors have splashed around the ark since 1996
and he doesn’t see the crowds letting up anytime
soon. “As long as there are three-year-olds, there
will always be another generation learning about
a classic Bible story,” he said.
Admission to Noah’s Ark is $7.50 per person;
children under age 1 are free. Concessions are
available and the pool can be rented for private
parties.
For more information, call 713-781-9195.
Noah’s Ark Pool at Quillian Recreation Center
10570 Westpark Drive
For hours of operation, visit quilliancenter.org
Just Chillin’ at the Local Trane Station
Energy experts at Hunton Group keep Westchase District a cool place to be
A
mong the most crucial elements of maintaining a large office building in
Houston is regulating the building’s temperature and air quality. Today’s
modern offices strive to maximize efficiency while minimizing energy
consumption and operational costs. One of the leading companies servicing many such
buildings, Hunton Group, is located right here in Westchase District.
Sizeable and Centered
Since 1981, Hunton Group has provided Trane-brand HVAC (heating, ventilating
and air conditioning) equipment, service, control systems and solutions for building
owners throughout Texas. It is the largest independent distributer of commercial,
industrial and residential HVAC systems in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, as well
as being the largest distributor of Trane product worldwide.
In 1990, Hunton Trane constructed its 54,000 square-foot headquarters at 10555
Westpark Drive, later changing its name to Hunton Group in 2004. “When we built
our headquarters here, we predicted that Westchase District was going to be the new
center of Houston,” said R.O. Hunton, chairman and CEO. “We were right. It’s a
great location that allows
our associates to get in
and out easily to reach our
customers.”
The company has
five divisions that cover
residential, commercial,
rental, parts and services
and building controls.
On the commercial side,
the company’s portfolio
includes such Westchase
District offices as CityWest
Place, the Hilton Houston
Westchase, NOV Tower
Two Cool Cats R.O. Hunton (left) and son
and Westchase Park 1 &
Richard Hunton oversee operations of The Hunton
2, which is LEED Gold
Group from their Westchase District offices.
certified by the U.S. Green
Building Council.
“When people think of energy services companies, they usually think of oil and
gas,” said Richard Hunton, president, COO and son of R.O. Hunton. “But we’re a
building energy services company. About 60 percent of energy consumption comes from
residential and commercial buildings. We’re here to collaborate on solutions so that
energy doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”
Cornering the Market: The Hunton Group’s Convergentz building controls
subsidiary is located at the corner of Westpark and Hunton Drives.
tenant override management. “We take multiple building systems and integrate them
so that building managers see a consistent dashboard regardless of the underlying
hardware,” said Nathan Hopkins, senior project engineer. “This helps our clients analyze
any energy and system inefficiencies, prevent operational downtime and maintain peak
performance of their buildings.”
“Hunton has installed two 820-ton Trane chillers for us at NOV Tower, our new
24-story, 440,000-square foot development,” said Bahman Mozafari, vice president with
Woodbranch Management, Inc. “In addition, through them, we are in the process of
installing a state-of-the-art control system for both NOV Tower and Millennium Tower
which will control all HVAC equipment with the latest technology.”
Voted by the Houston Chronicle as one of 2015’s top Houston workplaces, Richard
Hunton said the company’s culture emphasizes employee wellness, public recognition
of its team members and morale-building events like snow cone parties and crazy hat
days. “Even though we’ve grown to more than 400 employees nationwide, we’re still a
family business and that includes everyone from our dealers and sales team to our service
technicians and office staff,” he said. “Customers work with people, not companies and
we make sure hard work never goes unnoticed.”
Making Buildings Smarter
One way Hunton Group is saving customers money is through its Convergentz
subsidiary which uses hardware and software to control not only HVAC systems but
to integrate with lighting, fire alarms, energy metering, chiller plant optimization and
Hunton Group
10555 Westpark Drive
713-266-3900 • huntongroup.com
What Up, Dawg? K9 Patrols on Duty
B
A
“Our canine units add a
unique safety component
to our trail patrols and
at special events. They are
among HPD’s elite.”
1
C
2
They say that dogs and their
owners start to look alike after a
while. Think you can match the
correct Westchase District patrol
officer with his canine companion?
The answers are on Page 8.
3
Mark Hubenak, Public Safety Director
5
Costello Inc., Tailored Brands Take Top Corporate
Challenge Prizes
19th annual event generates fun for participants, cash for charities
C
ostello, Inc., a Westchase District-based
engineering firm, claimed the top two spots in
the Westchase District’s 19th annual Corporate
Challenge. The “red” team, led by Chad Hartmann,
earned top honors, while the “blue” team, led by Brent
Palermo claimed the second place trophy. Third place in
the five-event competition went to Tailored Brands and
the team led by Stacy Malin.
Forty-eight teams competed this year, including new
teams from CB&I, Courtyard by Marriott, Lubrizol
Specialty Products, Parkway Properties, Stonecrossing
of Westchase Apartments and the Sugar Land Skeeters.
Each team participated in five different athletic events–
soccer kick, football toss, briefcase relay, NBA 2-ball and
dodgeball.
The winners in the individual events were:
Soccer Kick — EHRA Engineers
Football Toss — Houston Community College
Briefcase Relay — Tailored Brands
NBA 2-ball — Costello, Inc.
Dodgeball — Tri-Tech Surveying
at the award lunch. The money is used by Quillian to
provide need-based scholarships for area children to
attend Quillian Center’s summer day camps.
“We’re grateful for our long-time relationship with
Westchase District and the Corporate Challenge,”
said Tom Gaden, Quillian Center director. “And we
appreciate all the area businesses that participate in this
event and help generate the contribution that will convey
directly to area kids.”
Exclusive Video Content Online
To watch a Corporate Challenge video, visit:
westchasedistrict.com/videos. To view our online gallery
of Corporate Challenge pictures, visit westchasedistrict.
com/pictures.
Summer Camp and Charitable Support
The awards were presented at an April 28th award
lunch, which also recognized sponsors of the 19th
annual event. Since 1998, the Westchase District’s
Corporate Challenge has raised almost $230,000 for
area charities, including Quillian Center’s summer
day camps. The money is distributed by Westchase
District Community Fund. WDCF Chairman Tim
Johnson presented a $10,100 check to Quillian Center
Obstacles to Success: A participant in the barefoot
briefcase relay squeezes his way towards victory at the
2016 Westchase District Corporate Challenge.
Like Father, Like Son:
Quillian Recreation Center’s Tom Gaden
with his son, J.T.
Second Generation
As the son of Quillian Center director Tom Gaden,
J.T. Gaden remembers growing up with the Westchase
District Corporate Challenge. “Each year when the
challenge took place, our after- school group couldn’t
use the gym since it was being used for the event,” he
said. “We’d end up watching a video instead.”
Now an engineer in training at Westchase
District-based EHRA Engineering, J.T. was excited
to learn that EHRA was a regular participant in the
Challenge. “I was pretty excited and definitely wanted
to join,” he said. Not only did the junior Gaden make
the cut, he led his company’s team to win this year’s
soccer kick event.
“I think it’s the first time we’ve had two generations
involved in the Corporate Challenge,” the senior
Gaden said. “It’s always been a special event to me, so
I’m glad it could be me and my son.”
Stuffing Buns across the Country
With origins in Westchase District, Kolache Factory expands nationwide
Behold the Texas kolache: a spin
on Czech- and Slovak- inspired
homemade dough filled with meats,
cheeses or fruits. Over the years, the
popularity of the semisweet pastries
has grown from central and southeast
Texas to spread across the country.
While both Caldwell and West, Texas assert themselves
to be the state’s kolache capitals, Westchase District lays
claim as the birthplace of Kolache Factory, one of the
fastest growing companies in Houston.
Food &
Drink
Local Roots
Though now
headquartered
in Katy, the
enterprise was
co-founded by
John and Jerri
Banks in 1982 in
Westchase District
at the Woodlake
Square shopping
On the Rise: Dawn and Aaron
center. “After a
Nielsen oversee the operations of
couple of years
50+ Kolache Factory stores from
we moved south
across the street to their corporate office in Katy.
9711 Westheimer
because it was a better traffic direction for selling to
morning commuters,” said Dawn Nielsen, Kolache
Factory vice president and the Banks’ daughter.
The store closed in 2013, but Kolache Factory
6
remains a prominent presence in the area with two
Westchase District locations: one at 10535 Westheimer
Road (which features a drive-thru window) and one
at 10455 Briar Forest Drive. “There’s a great mix of
commercial and residential traffic coming in and out
of Westchase District,” Nielsen said. “Our Briar Forest
store reaches folks not on Westheimer and vice versa.”
National Branches
cup of coffee out there. It was an easy decision.”
Enforced Freshness
Aaron said deciding how many kolaches to bake
onsite every morning is an easy decision, too, thanks to
computer software that forecasts the optimal number.
He estimates that 2,500 kolaches are baked every day
at the current Westheimer location. “It allows us to
keep our waste low and our food fresh,” he said. “I sure
wish I’d had this software back in the days when I was
managing the original Westheimer store.”
With each store baking everything it sells onsite, high
freshness and low waste is important, since the stores
are required to discard their entire inventory every four
hours. “We’re not like traditional bakeries because our
products contain meat, eggs and cheese,” Dawn said.
“So you might say that freshness is baked in to our
business model.”
Recognized as one of the top five drive-thrus in
America by Food Network, the brand currently has
24 company-owned and 28 franchise stores, including
locations in California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Virginia. “We
plan to open 100 new stores in the next two years and
we’ll open two or three more in Houston this year
alone,” said Aaron Nielsen, director of franchise sales
and Dawn’s husband. “We’re upgrading the interiors of
all our existing stores and
the Westheimer location
has a full service espresso
bar.”
Supporting another
local company, Kolache
Factory has partnered to
serve Katz coffee, roasted
right here in Houston, at
all of its locations. “We
didn’t want to serve drip
coffee like at some old
diner,” Aaron said. “Of all Decisions, Decisions: Customers at the Westheimer Kolache Factory location have
the brands we sampled,
their pick of dozens of varieties of fresh kolaches for breakfast, lunch or snacks.
Katz was simply the best
Like Father, Like Son, Like Labrador?
Glen and Alex Mayo represent two generations of the Westchase District patrol
F
ollowing in your father’s footsteps can be tough
enough when you’re 5’8” and he’s 6’4”. But
when your old man is Glen Mayo, a 25-year
veteran of the Houston Police Department, a member
of the K9 unit, a supervisor on the HPD dive team
and a member of the Westchase District patrol? Well,
those are some big strides to match. But officer Alex
Mayo isn’t fazed - he’s got his own scuba gear, his own
Westchase District patrol shift...and a pocketful of
Scooby Snacks for his dad’s dog.
From Boy to Man
After graduating from Cinco Ranch High School,
Alex spent four years in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in
the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood. He served in
Iraq for 12 months as a cavalry scout. That means he
was a forward observer, positioning himself in front
of his troops to observe and report troop strength and
movements of the opposing forces.
“Alex was 13 years old when I started on the
force,” Glen said. “At first I didn’t want him to go
into police work. After he pulled a tour in Baghdad
it didn’t bother me at all,” Glen said.
Kneel, Sit, Kneel: Alex Mayo (left), Drummel
and Glen Mayo
Getting Tanked Together: HPD officers, fellow
dive team members and father and son Glen
Mayo (left) and Alex Mayo flash quick smiles
while on duty.
Houston. The night shift is busy, according to Alex,
but he enjoys the pace and the fact that he avoids
working in the worst of Houston’s summer heat.
His Westchase District shift is more proactive. He
works the Friday night shift in Westchase and enjoys
the engagement with citizens and property owners.
Alex never considered any careers other than police
work. “I decided to pick up the family business,” he
said.
Alex has been a certified diver since he was a
teenager. So joining HPD’s dive team – alongside his
dad – was a logical step. He enjoys the opportunity to
help people. He spent several days on dive team duty
rescuing people stranded by high water after the April
18 storms in Houston.
He completed the HPD Academy after leaving
the Army and now has three years under his belt as
an HPD officer, mostly working nights in southwest
“I’m working days and he’s working nights, so
about the only time we see each other is when we’re
both working on the dive team,” Glen said.
Traffic Box Murals Add Color and Whimsy to
Westchase District Streets
Six murals are the first of many public art projects
Y
ou see them as you drive across Houston:
traffic control boxes that sit at intersections
throughout the city. Sometimes they’re
practically invisible, sometimes they’ve been blighted
by urban graffiti.
But coming to a corner near you: stunning themed
murals will be painted on these boxes, bringing urban
art to the intersections of Westchase District.
The first box was painted last November by
artist Anat Ronen for UP Art Studios. Her artistic
rendering of Gulf Coast wildlife brought fun and
whimsy to an otherwise boring intersection. The
project was so-well received by the Westchase District
board and community members that Projects Director
Louis Jullien began looking for more locations, plus
a cost-effective way to bring more painted boxes to
Westchase District.
That’s when he found Larry Crawford, a long-time
Alief resident and acclaimed muralist. Crawford has
done work for various restaurants around Houston
and Texas Children’s Hospital. Now he’s bringing his
talents to Westchase District. In addition to five traffic
control boxes, Crawford will paint a mural on the box
culvert at the west end of the Library Loop Trail at
Wilcrest, plus a billboard-sized mural on the concrete
banks of the drainage canal where the Library Loop
Trail turns south toward Richmond Avenue.
Culture and Color
When possible, Crawford designs his art to
Artist at Work: Larry Crawford uses outdoor
household latex paints and artists’ acrylic to
complete his work.
Finished Favorite: This box, located on the
southwest corner of Harwin and North Course is,
so far, Crawford’s favorite.
incorporate the surrounding culture. The traffic box
in front of Paul Revere Middle School (10502 Briar
Forest) is a patriotic theme painted in red, white and
blue, featuring the American flag, fireworks, and a
young Paul Revere dressed in the baseball uniform of
his namesake middle school.
The box in front of the METRO Park & Ride
(northwest corner of Harwin and Rogerdale) features
an American flag, plus a Texas flag and the red, white
and blue motif that is reminiscent of METRO’s logo;
while the box in front of United Recovery Systems
features a woodland theme with a buck in full antlers,
a grazing doe, and an eagle in full flight. An admirer
noted on Westchase District’s Facebook page that the
deer looks quite realistic. “Hope no one takes a shot at
it,” he posted.
Crawford spends approximately two and a half
days on each mural, but says he’ll spend as much
time as it takes to get it just right. His attention is in
the details: the leaves and foliage in the jungle scene
painted at Westpark and Rogerdale or the folds of
the American flag on the METRO box that give it
dimension and a 3D feel.
Crawford enjoys it when motorists honk and wave
as he works. Perhaps some of them even recognize
him. He’s a graduate of Alief Hastings High School
adding colorful beauty to his long-time stomping
grounds.
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(Continued from Page 1)
create the trail District underpasses,” said Sanchez. “This
way they become a seamless part of the trail and users can
travel right over the tops of them.” Sanchez estimates this
portion of the project will run about $648,000.
Construction of the BBCT will cost about $4 million
and is being funded with a grant from the Federal
Transit Agency and dollars from the 380 Area Agreement
between Westchase District and the City of Houston,
which provides money from property tax revenue
increases to finance public infrastructure projects.
“This project is an amazing opportunity to partner
with the District,” said Gwen Tillotson, deputy director
of economic development for the City of Houston.
“Westchase District is phenomenal at leveraging money
from various sources to achieve their desired projects.
This trail is a great example of that.”
“Our congregation saw it as an opportunity to be
of service to the District,” said Dr. Ed Montgomery,
founder and pastor of Abundant Life Cathedral, whose
property touches BBCT north of Harwin. “The trail is
a way to promote healthy living and family interactions
and I feel it will help to change the environment of our
community.”
The trail construction should be complete this fall.
“We’ve had some rain delays, but overall construction
Partnerships Net Progress
Another significant trail partner is the Harris County
Flood Control District, which had to approve all the
plans for the trail. “Our first mission is storm water
drainage,” said Sandra Musgrove, HCFCD infrastructure
division director. “Properly designed trails support that
mission, while adding visibility and enhanced security
along our bayous.”
Still more trail partners exist in the form of
landowners who gave the District recreational easements
to build on property, which is immediately adjacent to
the channel.
A Scoop of a Story: Dishing the dirt are (from
left): Jim Murphy, Westchase District; Lucio
Ortiz, Texas Department of Transportation;
Gwen Tillotson, City of Houston; Sandra
Musgrove, Harris County Flood Control District;
and Philip Schneidau, Westchase District Board
of Directors.
is good so far,” said Enrique Allende, project engineer
with Miranda Construction, the contractor responsible
for building BBCT. “The biggest challenge is working
in tight spaces along the channel. Fitting our equipment
in and having to work is tricky, but the property owners
whose land backs up to the trail have been great about
accommodating us.”
Power Walk
Another owner working with Westchase District
is CenterPoint Energy, which allowed the District
to maximize the wide swath of greenspace along the
transmission corridor running north and south between
Westheimer to Richmond. Through an agreement with
CenterPoint, the District will begin construction soon
on a trail that will run from the Houston Community
College campus at Westheimer and Hayes Roads to
Richmond, with a mid-block crossing at Meadowglen
Lane. The trail is an example of a larger effort between
CenterPoint and the City of Houston to enhance the use
of some 500 miles of transmission corridors crisscrossing
the city.
“While the trail itself is pretty basic, we’re looking at
adding landscaping and benches to some open spaces
just off the trail,” said Sanchez. “It will be yet another
outdoor amenity that will help enlarge our trail network
and enhance walkability in Westchase District.” She
added that the trail will cost about $600,000, is paid for
with funds from the 380 Area Agreement and a federal
grant, and should be completed by the end of the year.
Neighborhood News
L
auren Cullins joined Westchase District this spring as our new projects
manager who will assist Irma Sanchez and Louis Jullien with various
initiatives in our 380, mobility and beautification portfolios.
Lauren joins us from Baton Rouge, LA, where
she most recently served at the Louisiana Office
of Economic Development handling business
development, program administration and
compliance duties. A graduate of Louisiana State
University, Lauren also worked as an apartment
leasing agent in college and has urban planning
and project management experience.
C
ongratulations to Grace School, 10219
Ella Lee Lane, and its Lower School
(kindergarten through fifth grade) on
Lauren Cullins,
becoming the first elementary school in Texas
projects manager
to receive STEM certification by AdvancED,
an international accrediting agency for public and private schools. STEM
certification is a mark of distinction only offered to institutions that
prioritize Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as disciplines
essential for students’ success.
In order to earn the STEM certification, Grace Lower School demonstrated
proficiency across 11 rigorous STEM indicators. Those standards included
evidence that students have
the skills, knowledge and
thinking strategies to be
innovative, creative and
systematic problem-solvers in
STEM fields of study.
“This is an incredible
honor for our school,” said
Liz Walgamuth Ed.D.,
head of Grace School. “The
recognition from AdvancED sets us apart as a leading institution of learning
and demonstrates our commitment to being forward thinking in preparing our
students for the real world.”
C
ollege students in Westchase
District know a good bargain
when they spot one. As reported last
year in Westchase Today, Houston
Community College has partnered
with UT Tyler to offer four-year
degrees in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering all while attending HCC’s
Westchase District Campus at Westheimer and Hayes Roads. Cost: less than
$19,000 for all four years. In 2012, HCC had 60 students declaring engineering
majors. Now, according to Susan Thompson from HCC’s Engineering Center of
Excellence, that number has grown to more than 1,500.
“It’s an incredible degree that offers young students as well as older working
professionals the affordable opportunity to earn the skills that transfer to real jobs,”
said Thompson. “Students get a top-notch education and the chance to network
with engineering companies, many of which are in Westchase District.”
W
eekly food trucks are back
in Westchase District! Grace
Presbyterian Church, 10221 Ella Lee
Lane, invites you to come sample some
delicious food and fellowship at their
weekly Grace Truck Stop event.
Every Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to
1:30 p.m., about a half-dozen food trucks
will be parked outside the sanctuary on
the corner of Beltway 8 and Ella Lee Lane
(one block north of Westheimer).
Courtyard seating will be available every week. For more information, or to
find out which food trucks will be on site any given week, contact Sarah Brents,
713-267-5043.
Our new address is:
Westchase District
10370 Richmond Avenue, Suite 1350, Houston, TX 77042-4278
Our phone number remains the same - 713-780-9434 - as does our website,
westchasedistrict.com
Answers to Page 5 quiz: A and 2, Officer Bob Opperman and Baro ; B and 3, Officer Glen Mayo and Drummel; C and 1, Officer Stuart Hood and Dirk
8