wcd2-021 - newsletter · transit study aims to improve district mobility pg. 7 who’s who in...

PRST STDU.S.POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 600HOUSTON, TEXAS

10375 RichmondSuite 1175Houston, TX 77042www.westchasedistrict.comAddress Service Requested

WESTCHASEDISTRICT

®

W E S T C H A S E T O D A Y

A n E W S l E T T E r f O r A n D A b O u T “ T H E C O m m u n i T Y T H AT m E A n S b u S i n E S S .”

WestchaseYear 12 | Issue 4

December 2010

By: Stephanie Hashagen

Going Green Gets Competitive PG. 3His Specialty is Catching Bad Guys PG. 4 Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatments Available Locally PG. 5

Saldivia’s is a Uruguayan Home-Away-From-Home PG. 6Transit Study Aims to Improve District Mobility

PG. 7Who’s Who in Westchase

PG. 8

WESTcHASE WEDNESDAyS ARE BAck PG. 2

TAblE Of COnTEnTS

The new and improved Woodlake

Square is scheduled to open in April 2011.

Plans include a Randalls Lifestyle store,

and fuel station, more parking and new

storefronts. Most of Woodlake Square’s

current tenants — including Jos. A. Bank,

Walgreens, Ragin’ cajun and New Image

Dental — will remain in Woodlake Square.

Before Gessner crossed the bayou and before the now-ubiquitous Randalls became a major

player in the ultra-competitive Houston grocery market, there was Woodlake Square. The

shopping center, located at the intersection of Westheimer and Gessner, has been a busy

Westchase District retail destination — and a part of local history — since the early 1970s.

“The Randalls in Woodlake used to be a Handy Andy store,” says Jim Murphy, Westchase District

general manager. “When Randalls entered the market in the 1970s, they bought Handy Andy and opened

one of their first stores in Woodlake Square.”

Times have changed since that early Randalls store first opened its doors: Westchase is now a

booming business district lined with sleek office buildings and high-end shops and restaurants. Old-

school, boxed-in strip malls have given way to open-air, pedestrian-friendly retail centers.

And, although Woodlake Square is still a strong presence in the District, the shopping center is

beginning to show its age. Houston-based development company AmREIT purchased Woodlake Square

two years ago and has started work on a major overhaul to keep up with the changing face of the District.

Room for Improvement “Woodlake Square has some issues,” says Ron Lindsey, managing vice president of development

for AmREIT. “There aren’t enough parking spaces for the Randalls, and the way the store is positioned,

it creates a dead zone for retail space. We’re using the redevelopment as an opportunity to address

structural problems and improve visibility and traffic.”

Plans for the new and improved Woodlake Square — scheduled to open in April 2011 — include

a newly rebuilt Randalls store, more parking, new storefronts and enhanced mobility. A new “collector

street” between Tanglewilde and Gessner will make it easier to access the center.

“Right now, if you enter Woodlake Square off of Gessner, you end up on the side of a building and

A New Look for Woodlake SquarePlans Include Updated Storefronts and a Randalls Lifestyle Store

®

you have to wind around to get in,” says Murphy. The

new Randalls store will also be rebuilt about 50 feet

back from its original site to help improve the flow of

traffic and create much-needed parking.

The Randalls store in Woodlake Square

has already been torn down to make room for a

new Randalls Lifestyle store. The store will feature

expanded produce, deli and bakery departments and

an emphasis on high-quality prepared foods.

Also on the menu for the new store is a

Randalls fuel station. The fuel station will take

over the space currently occupied by upscale

clothing retailer Jos. A. Bank, which will move

into one of Woodlake Square’s new retail spaces.

charles Scoville, senior vice president and director

of operations for AmREIT, says most of Woodlake

Square’s tenants — including Jos. A. Bank,

Walgreens, Merle Norman, Ragin’ cajun and New

Image Dental — will remain in Woodlake Square.

“A Unique Environment” for Shopping and Dining Woodlake Square’s new design will help

accommodate both weekday commuters and

residents in the nearby neighborhoods of Briargrove

Park and Tanglewilde. covered walkways, attractive

landscaping and plenty of directional signage will

help Woodlake Square retain its unique position in

the District and cater to all types of customers.

“you can come for your weekly grocery

needs or a business lunch. you can go apparel

shopping or have a casual dinner. There aren’t

that many neighborhood shopping centers in that

category,” says AmREIT Vice President Lindsey.

WT

Ron Lindsey, managing vice president of development for AmREIT, says, “We’re using the redevelopment as an opportunity to address structural problems and improve visibility and traffic.”


2 3


288

The Westchase District is a municipal manage-

ment district funded by local property owners in a

4.2 square mile area centered on the Sam Houston

Tollway between I-10 and US-59 in Houston, Texas.

It is home to 81,000 employees and 28,000

residents. We promote and encourage economic

development through programs that enhance public

safety, area mobility, area marketing, area image and

beautification.

STAFF

Jim MurphyGeneral Manager

Dave Gilkeson

VP, Chief Operating Officer

Sherry FoxVP, Communications

Irma Sanchez

VP, Projects

Mark HubenakPublic Safety Director

Karen Wallis

Administrative Assistant

Theola CooperReceptionist

Vivian Little

Projects Administrative Assistant

Sebastian MoralesGrounds Crew

Reginald Dyson

Information Technologist

Westchase Today is published by the Westchase

District. Please direct all inquiries to Editor,

Westchase Today, Westchase District, 10375

Richmond, Suite 1175, Houston, TX 77042.

Telephone: 713-780-9434 Fax: 713-780-8025.

We welcome your comments and story ideas.

Visit us online at www.westchasedistrict.com.

WestchasEw e d n e s d a y s

area, even further into the future.

Because the payoff of longer-range efforts is so distant

and since these efforts necessitate the support and cooperation

of other agencies and stakeholders, we are put to the test by our

owners and board as they seek to understand how this work will

help us, and if it merits the investment of our resources. It is also

integral to our mission to create the long-range view for our area

that cannot be undertaken by an individual owner or company.

We are confident that the Pedestrian Transit Plan

is a highly effective use of resources. It will establish a

broad framework of projects, set in place a funding process

and bring serious attention to the development of a pedestrian-

friendly environment that encourages and facilitates the use

of additional transportation options. It will take years so we

want to start today.

A quick review of our history would reveal it was first the

railroad, then stagecoach and later Westheimer Road that brought

about the development of

our community. Then came

Beltway 8 and the Westpark

Tollway, and now we have

initiated a process that

looks far ahead with a nod

to the past. The future is

coming fast — and we plan

to be ready. WT

Mark your calendars: Westchase Wednesdays are

back. The promotion, first launched in June,

features wallet-friendly Wednesday evening

discounts from participating Westchase District restaurants. Area

residents now have a reason to try something new while helping

local restaurants boost weeknight sales.

“Restaurants in the District do a healthy business at

lunchtime but not as much in the evenings,” says Sherry Fox, vice

president of communications for Westchase District. “We wanted

to create a program to bring people in for dinner.”

During the June promotion, 11 Westchase District restaurants

— including Bistro Le cep, Palazzo’s and Sabine River café — offered

discounts and incentives on Wednesday evenings. The promotion was a

big hit with restaurant owners and diners alike. Seventeen Westchase

District restaurants have committed to the current promotion.

“Westchase Wednesdays is a great way for us to get more

involved in the District,” says chuck krauthamer, managing owner

of Sabine River café. “We were very pleased with the results. Sabine

River café will offer a 20-percent discount for this Westchase

Wednesdays promotion.”

John Moore, Palazzo’s owner, is also looking forward to

Westchase Wednesdays. “It definitely helped our business and

brought in people who never tried Palazzo’s before,” says Moore.

Westchase Wednesdays will run until the end of the year.

To learn more and to view a list of participating restaurants, visit

www.westchasedistrict.com. WT

Westchase Spices Up Wednesdays

T his edition’s story on our traveling history

exhibit marks a new direction for us, as

well as the end of one phase of this project

and the beginning of another. The exhibit will now be on tour

throughout the District. But two additional articles in this issue

round out the picture in terms of the horizon of the projects we

undertake. clearly, the history

project looks backward as

we set a context for today’s

news. And that news is about

the current redevelopment of

one of our largest and oldest

shopping centers and the

Pedestrian Transit Master Plan

that is as forward-looking as

our long-range plan yet more

focused on finding funding

for the projects it identifies.

We often find

ourselves so consumed by the issues of today that we miss

opportunities to look at longer-term goals, as well as the

activities we can engage in now to achieve them. Stephen

covey talks about this “tyranny of the urgent,” and we at

Westchase District pay special attention to this issue. Much of

our work is in the day-to-day category: providing public safety,

beautification projects and our marketing efforts. yet our work

in establishing a vision for our area and making the service

and infrastructure improvements to achieve it are longer-range

goals. When broaching the topic of high capacity transit to our

Marking Time

Jim Murphy, General Manager Westchase District

Mark Taylor, Board Chairman Westchase District

By: Stephanie Hashagen

2


3


Westchase District History Becomes Traveling Road Show

By: Sherry Fox

By: Michelle Friedrichs

Mary Butler is leading Granite’s program to compete in the Green Office Challenge.

Mayor Annise Parker announces the Green Office Challenge at a news conference downtown.

Westchase District General Manager Jim Murphy unveiled a new historical exhibit at the District’s 15th anniversary celebration in September.

For whom was the community of Alief named? What two

railroads ran through the Westchase area in the late

1800s? Present-day Westchase District sits on land

owned by what Houston-area oilman and rancher?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you’ll want

to take advantage of the opportunity to view Westchase District’s

historical exhibit, which will be on display at area office buildings and

community gathering locations, beginning this fall.

“It’s been a fun process to investigate and learn about the

history of the land we now call Westchase,” says Jim Murphy,

Westchase District general manager. “The results offer intriguing

glimpses of life in this area for the past 150 years.”

Dr. Bill kellar of Historyconsultants.Net and kimberly

youngblood, a master’s candidate at the University of Houston,

conducted the historical research. keller and youngblood have worked

together on several corporate historical projects, including research

for kelsey-Seybold and the Texas Medical center.

“Dr. kellar understands the importance of historical research

and how it can be used in the business community to market a brand

and help tell a compelling story,” Murphy says. “In our case, we will

use the information to help our apartment residents and working

professionals in the area connect to Westchase District in a way that

makes them want to be a part of our community.”

keller and youngblood’s research uncovered some previously

little-known facts about the area and helped define some of the area’s

early pioneers, including:

• Jacamiah Seaman

Daugherty led the

transformation of the Alief

area from cotton farming

to rice and served as

chairman of the first drainage

district in Harris county.

• Mitchell Louis Westheimer

donated a portion of his land

to Harris county for an early

day farm-to-market road

that has become the longest

major thoroughfare in Texas.

• clifford Mooers purchased a portion of the original christiana

Williams land grant and built an astonishing mansion that

today serves as the centerpiece of the clubhouse at Lakeside

country club.

• Robert E. “Bob” Smith, one of the original partners in the Houston

colt 45 baseball team, once owned more land than anyone else

in Harris county. His Brays Bayou Ranch included the area of

Westchase. Smith was a member of Houston’s First Methodist

church and served as the first chairman of the board of

Quillian center.

“We look forward to bringing this information to businesses

and individuals in the area through the historical display,”

says Murphy. More information will be available at

www.westchasedistrict.com/history.htm. WT

Mayor Annise Parker and the city of Houston have

unveiled a challenge for Houston management

districts, property owners and property managers to

reduce energy use, water use and waste through the city’s yearlong

Green Office challenge.

The program launched last year in chicago as a citywide effort

to help reduce greenhouse gases. chicago’s GOc is now in its second

year, and participation in the program has increased. Houston has

partnered with IcLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability to roll out

the GOc. The challenge is designed to promote environmentally-friendly

building management practices among property owners and managers

and help building tenants get enthused about adopting greener office

practices as well.

Zakcq Lockrem, regional associate at IcLEI, says Houston’s GOc

is uniquely tailored to the city.

“In chicago, the GOc focused on downtown buildings,” says

Lockrem. “Here, we had to think about how to make the challenge

specific to Houston’s fabric — we don’t have one single downtown but

a number of districts that are important for business.”

Houston’s GOc is open to office buildings citywide and is

promoted by various management districts, which have already stepped

up to the mayor’s challenge. “We’re expecting Houston’s first GOc to be

larger than chicago’s,” says Lockrem.

Participation in the GOc is open to property managers and

owners as well as office tenants. The GOc will connect local businesses

and tenants with resources, including workshops and seminars focused

on reducing energy and water consumption and waste generation.

Participants are scored based on current conservation efforts, and then

monitored throughout the year to track progress. An awards ceremony

will honor all participants next fall.

Lockrem says the goal is to have every office building in

Houston participate, especially older buildings. “There’s a special

potential for buildings that would never see a return on investment for

reaching Energy Star or LEED certification,” he says. “The GOc wants to

especially recognize those buildings for the work they do to make their

buildings more efficient.”

Mary Butler, property manager at Granite Properties, says she’s

looking forward to participating in the GOc. Granite’s three Westchase

District properties are already LEED-certified, and Granite is the only

property management company to be recognized by the EPA as an

Energy Star “Leaders Top Performer” three times.

“It’s an exciting thing to be involved with,” Butler says. “Houston

gets a bad rap, but our city has really moved up in the ranks, especially

with Energy Star and LEED-certified buildings.”

Sherry Fox, vice president of communications at Westchase

District, says the District is promoting the GOc among local businesses.

“Many of our owners are already working to be more energy

efficient,” she says.

“This is an opportunity

for them to be

recognized for work

they’re already doing

as leaders in the

business community.”

For more

information about

Houston’s GOc, visit

www.houstongoc.org.

WT

Green Office Challenge in Houston is a GoYearlong Program Encourages Citywide Conservation Efforts


5

W E S T C H A S E T O D A Y W E S T C H A S E T O D A Y

4

Tired of Credit Card Confusion?Come to the Source and Save

Westchase 10100 Richmond Ave. Houston, TX 77042713-627-4000

Apply online at www.membersourcecu.org,

call us at 713.627.4000, option 2, or visit us today!

Officer Thomas Fendia says there’s

a reason people fall victim to scam

artists and other criminals.

“Good people believe all people are good,”

he says. “They believe other people will conduct

themselves with the same set of values.”

In other words, good people don’t think like

criminals. They give a dollar to the homeless fellow

asking for spare change at an intersection, or they

leave valuables and packages in their vehicles, in

clear sight of potential thieves who cruise parking

lots looking for GPS devices and laptops.

Fendia says with the holiday season

approaching, residents and businesspeople in

Westchase District need to step up their crime

prevention tactics by securing their homes,

businesses and vehicles. He also encourages people

to resist the urge to share their spare change.

Fendia says many folks don’t realize

the limping panhandler at the intersection of

Westheimer and the Beltway is really a scammer

looking for easy money. “criminals are predators,”

Fendia says. “They’re looking for the easy targets.”

Fendia admits even he was almost fooled by

a pair of roadside panhandlers. “It took two or three

arrests for me to realize they were just putting on an

act out there,” Fendia says. “One of them told me

he makes about $35 an hour. They are preying on the good nature of

Americans. We are the most generous people in the world.”

Handing change to panhandlers isn’t the best way to make a

difference, Fendia says. “If you want to help people, do it through the

charity of your choice,” he says. “Not at the roadside.”

A Passion for Police Work Fendia recently joined the tactical unit of the HPD’s Northeast

Patrol Division, where he frequently works undercover in high-crime

neighborhoods in and around Houston’s Fifth Ward. The tactical unit

ferrets out murderers, drug dealers, robbers and burglars.

When he’s not working undercover, Fendia is keeping the

streets of Westchase safe. He says he enjoys the change of pace at

his second job in Westchase District.

“This is a really nice area,” Fendia says. “It is funny how

different Houston looks when you go from one side to the other.”

The Westchase Patrol District is composed of 32 officers

from HPD, who work in two-man shifts in patrol vehicles. As many

as four officers can be on duty when the two bicycle patrol officers

also are working, says Westchase District Public Safety Director

Mark Hubenak.

“Putting Two and Two Together” “I just love my job. I love chasing crooks,” Fendia says.

“I love being able to put two and two together, and then being able

to put somebody in jail.”

Fendia says officers are trained to use discretion, experience

and compassion in their jobs, and they often have to make decisions

based on small details, such as how people respond to them during

a traffic stop. If someone is strangely evasive or immediately hostile,

officers are more likely to be suspicious, Fendia says.

When he’s not working his day job or keeping the streets

of Westchase District safe, Fendia enjoys spending time with his

family. Fendia and his wife are the proud parents of a three-month-

old son.

“He seems to be eating up all my time,” Fendia says with a

big grin. WT

By: Anne Marie kildayOfficer Thomas FendiaWestchase Patrol Officer Loves “Chasing Crooks”

Officer Fendia has worked for HPD for four years and in Westchase District for three. He is also a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves.


5


4

Civic Club Members Enjoy Giving Back


By: Sherry Fox

The Westchase Junior Chamber collected more than 2,000 stuffed animals it shipped to Haiti. Pictured (left-right) is Marj Cujko of First Methodist Church and Jenny Bui, Jaycees vice president.

SightLine executives celebrate the grand opening of their Westchase District location. Drs. Julia Oh and Sanjay Mehta wield the scissors at the ribbon cutting.

The 12,000-square-foot structure at the intersection of

Westheimer and the Beltway looks a lot like the other

office buildings and medical plazas that have sprouted

up in Westchase District. But this is no ordinary office space. Inside is

one of the most significant cancer treatment alternatives to hit Texas:

SightLine West Houston.

SightLine, which opened in March of 2010, specializes in non-

invasive outpatient treatment for all types of cancer, including breast,

prostate, bone, skin, brain and bladder cancers. But what sets SightLine

apart are the revolutionary treatment options not typically available.

Innovative treatments include a PET scan designed specifically

for early detection of breast cancer (the only one of its kind in Houston),

state-of-the-art Image Guided Radiation Therapy, Image Modulated

Radiation Therapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

These treatment options offer precise and comfortable

alternatives to traditional cancer treatments. SightLine tailors treatments

on an individual basis to achieve the best results. Tom Morris, certified

medical dosimetrist, uses 3D images to pinpoint and monitor tumors

before and during therapy, helping to develop individual treatment plans.

“It’s a big responsibility,” says Morris. “That’s why patients get

unique and individual treatment plans.”

Radiation oncologist Dr. Julia Oh, breast cancer specialist and

former assistant professor at M.D. Anderson cancer center, oversees

all treatments at SightLine. Dr. Oh says SightLine’s combination of

cutting-edge technology and patient-centered care makes SightLine

unique among cancer treatment centers.

“We try to be in tune with patients and make them as

comfortable as possible,” says

Oh. “Our patient-approval rating

is at 99 percent.”

SightLine’s central

location is another big pull for

patients. “The District is busy, it’s

booming and it’s beautiful,” says

Holle Wyble, physician liaison

at SightLine. “We have patients

coming from Pearland, Sugar

Land, the northwest and katy. It’s

very easy access.”

The center can

accommodate most patients

in one to two days. SightLine

also employs a licensed professional counselor — called a “cancer

navigator” — so patients have access to therapy and emotional support

during their course of treatment. SightLine also provides taxis and toll

fare for patients in need of transportation assistance.

SightLine takes pride in helping the community at large with

cancer treatment issues: the center offers walk-in prostate cancer

screening and monthly community support groups at its offices. Both

services are free of charge and open to everyone.

“We invite anybody from the community to come,” says Wyble.

SightLine West Houston is located at 2610 West Sam Houston

Parkway South. For more information, visit www.sightlinehealth.com, or

call 713-343-6750. WT

Westchase Rotary club President Dee Jones has

a quick answer when asked why busy working

professionals still make time to join civic

organizations. “People want to give back,” she says. “you can get an

immediate return on the time and money you invest in community

activities through the Rotary club.”

Jones says club members raise money through a variety of

projects. They park cars at Wings Over Houston and sell a subscription

service that places flags in individual yards on five patriotic holidays

throughout the year. The money is then used to sponsor various

community activities, including the annual Save Alief Health Fair. The

club also sponsors a water treatment project in India and distributes

annual scholarships to Alief high school students who attend a Texas

college or university.

The club meets every Wednesday at Rio Ranch, 9999

Westheimer, at 7:30 a.m. Visit www.westchaserotary.com, or

contact Membership chairman craig Splawn for more information

at 713-785-3290 or [email protected].

Although the Westchase Rotary club has been in existence

for a quarter of a century, two new civic organizations have formed

in Westchase, offering still more opportunities for area residents and

business professionals to become involved in the community.

The Westchase Junior chamber (Jaycees) is open to members

between the ages of 18 and 41. club Vice President Jennie Bui says

the club exists to teach leadership skills that help young professionals

develop on personal and professional levels.

“Anytime you’re coordinating an activity for the club, you’re

developing project management skills, working to meet deadlines and

learning how to supervise people,” says Bui.

The Westchase Jaycees earned local media coverage

for their first community service project: Bear Hugs for Haiti. The

event collected more than 2,000 donated teddy bears and stuffed

animals that were shipped to Haiti following the earthquake there.

The Westchase Jaycees have also offered volunteer support at the

Westchase District’s recycling events.

“This is a great opportunity for young professionals who want to

get involved in the community and don’t want to drive downtown,” says

Bui. The club meets monthly at the Tracy Gee community center, 3599

Westcenter. E-mail [email protected] for more information

about club membership.

Like the Rotarians and the Jaycees, members of the West

Houston kiwanis club vote to determine the activities and projects

they will support. District resident kirk Dixon, who serves as the club’s

Service and Leadership committee chairman, says the West Houston

kiwanis club supports the American cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

They also provide mentoring, leadership training and fundraising

assistance to key clubs at Alief’s Elsik and Hastings High Schools.

Dixon invites any business in the area to consider the club’s

corporate membership, which means anyone from that organization

can attend the club’s meetings on that membership. The club meets at

noon on Mondays at the Tracy Gee community center, 3599 Westcenter.

contact Alyson White for membership information at 281-750-2508 or,

e-mail [email protected]. WT

Dosimetrist Tom Morris reconstructs 3D images to help treat cancer patients.

SightLine Brings Compassionate, Cutting-Edge Cancer Care to Westchase District

Rotary Club President Dee Jones (second from left) and Rotary District Governor Sunny Sharma award scholarships to area high school students.

Officer Thomas FendiaWestchase Patrol Officer Loves “Chasing Crooks”

6


7


By: Anne Marie kilday

By: Michelle FriedrichsGrace Presbyterian’s Project 180 Improving Area Schools Through Unique Partnership

Saldivia’s South American Grill: a Taste of Uruguay in Westchase District

In just five months, Saldivia’s South American Grill has built

up a steady lunchtime business and repeat-dinner crowd

with spicy steaks, perfectly roasted vegetables and savory

empanadas served in a quiet, posh setting.

The new restaurant, located at 10234 Westheimer,

is a family affair for Gus and christina Saldivia. Their children,

Nicholas and Nicole, love to help out. And the family patriarch,

72-year-old master chef cacho Saldivia, oversees the kitchen

and carefully guards the ingredients in Saldivia’s famous

chimichurri sauce.

“This is very much a family business,” says

christina Saldivia. “Everything we eat in the restaurant we

eat at home.”

Before they opened Saldivia’s, the family owned a

popular restaurant named chimi churri’s in the Bellaire area.

After losing their lease, Gus and christina scouted for a new

location and eventually settled near their home in Westchase

District. christina says she feels comfortable being in the shadow

of Grace Presbyterian church, where the couple married about

20 years ago. Her husband agrees.

“Some people tell us, ‘We never go outside

the Loop.’ I just say, ‘We never go inside the Loop,’” Gus

Saldivia says.

The restaurant’s food is drawn from the traditions

of the tiny South American country of Uruguay, and that is

reflected in the décor. Dark wood paneling and tables are

offset by paintings of vaqueros — Uruguayan cowboys.

Saldivia’s was a very popular venue during recent

World cup soccer games, as the Uruguayan team drew in large

crowds for viewing parties. christina Saldiva says although the

country’s population is smaller than Houston’s, it seemed that all

the Uruguayan residents of Houston found their home away from

home at Saldivia’s.

Saldivia’s specialties include steaks, sausage,

chicken and seafood; beef or spinach empanadas; rice and

roasted vegetables and delicious flan or tres leches — South

American classics — for dessert. The extensive menu also

includes a variety of pasta dishes and salads.

Saldivia’s has an impressive collection of South

American wines, selected by family friend and master

sommelier Guy Stout. If you’re looking for a place to gather

with a few friends after work, Saldivia’s happy hour features

beer on tap and new “wine flights” — a sampling of the

restaurant’s white or red wines. For larger groups, Saldivia’s

boasts a party room, which can accommodate as many as

50 guests.

For more information about Saldivia’s South American

Grill, call 713-782-9494, or visit www.saldivias.com. WT

It all started six years ago with a challenge.

“Our pastor, Doug Ferguson, challenged congregants

to give 180 minutes of our time to someone 180 degrees away

from ourselves during the Lenten season,” says Melissa Brown,

director of missions at Grace Presbyterian church.

congregants took those words seriously — and literally.

Sitting across Beltway 8, 180 degrees from Grace Presbyterian,

was Paul Revere Middle School. That year, more than 1,000

volunteers turned out to help spruce up the local school, and

Project 180 was born.

The result: a mini “extreme makeover” at Paul Revere

Middle School, where volunteers from Grace Presbyterian gathered

to help with landscaping, painting and construction projects. Since

then, Project 180 has become a regular part of Grace Presbyte-

rian’s Lenten celebration, a day of volunteer

service to round out Palm Sunday weekend.

What started as a one-time project

has become a long-term relationship between

Grace Presbyterian and Paul Revere Middle School. Now,

hundreds of volunteers work throughout the school year to

coordinate mentoring and tutoring services, toy drives and

teacher appreciation lunches.

“We decided to work with Paul Revere on a long-term

basis as a way of really showing our love for God and our neigh-

bors,” says Brown. “We have an entire team that orchestrates our

volunteer services at the school. We start in the fall and culminate

in the spring with our Project 180 weekend.”

Bigger and Better Project 180 weekend is now a festival with food, fun and

plenty of goodwill. “Each year the festival gets bigger and better,”

says Brown.

And the committee from Grace Presbyterian already

has big plans for the 2011 celebration. Slated for April 15 and

16, Project 180 weekend will include a community lunch provided

by HISD, live music, clowns, a rock-climbing wall and a petting zoo.

For the younger children at nearby Walnut Bend Elementary, Grace

Presbyterian is hosting a soccer clinic during the Project

180 weekend.

Also on the docket for 2011: hard work. In addition

to improvement projects, volunteers from Grace Presbyterian

are planning some

major upgrades to Paul

Revere’s auditorium.

“We

received a $100,000

grant from the Lowe’s

Foundation, and our volunteers are planning to replace the seating

and sound system in the auditorium,” Brown says.

Project 180 started as a challenge for Grace

Presbyterian members, but Brown says the project wouldn’t be

possible without volunteers and the cooperation of HISD, as well

as Paul Revere and Walnut Bend faculty, staff, teachers and — of

course — students.

“We try to get as many students on our teams as we

can. Project 180 is a household name in the hallways,” says

Brown. “We are so blessed to have this relationship with our local

schools. The faculty will tell you it’s changed the culture at Paul

Revere and Walnut Bend — and it’s certainly changed the culture

at our church.”

For more information about Grace Presbyterian

and Project 180 or to learn about volunteer opportunities,

visit www.houstonsgrace.org, or contact Melissa Brown at

713-267-5001. WT

Saldivia’s boasts an extensive menu of red and white South American wines.

Guests enjoy the restaurant’s thick steaks and famous chimichurri sauce on the patio at Saldivia’s.

The annual Project 180 weekend concludes

with a festival at Paul Revere Middle School.

Volunteers from Grace Church have a good time while working hard during the 2010 Project 180 weekend.

6


7


It’s no secret that Westchase District has experienced a boom

in population and business during the last decade. To keep up

with the comings and goings of residents and commuters in

the area, the District has big plans to help secure federal funds to

improve pedestrian mobility.

“This past August, Westchase District was awarded

Federal Transit Administration grantee status,” says Irma Sanchez,

vice president of projects at Westchase District. “Grantee status

means we can go after federal funds to help improve mobility in

the area — including bus stops and bike trails.”

To aid in securing federal funding, the District recently

contracted The Goodman corporation to conduct a pedestrian

transit study in the area.

“We’re putting together a Pedestrian Transit Master

Plan for Westchase District according to FTA guidelines,” explains

Rick Beverlin, vice president of governmental affairs at The

Goodman corporation. The transit study, says Beverlin, should

provide the data to justify federal funds to make improvements

in the streetscape for pedestrians.

Paving the Way for Bus Stop Improvements But justifying the need for those federal funds is a

complicated task. The Goodman corporation has been hard

at work analyzing mobility throughout the District since the

summer. The process started with an evaluation of current

conditions at METRO bus stops and ridership data for the District.

The physical inventory completed this summer

included cataloguing and measuring pedestrian-oriented

amenities within 500 feet of public bus stops and shelters.

“We measure the width of the sidewalks and the right of way.

We also look at the condition of the sidewalks, the ADA ramps

and the pedestrian lighting,” says Beverlin.

Next, The Goodman corporation analyzed ridership

information for each bus stop in the District to determine

how many people were using public transit, where riders

were going and which bus stops were most popular.

“For example, we learned that the intersection at the corner

of Westheimer and Gessner generates 25 percent of the total

public bus boardings in the area,” says Sanchez.

Based on The Goodman corporation’s ridership information

and the data from the physical inventory, Westchase District

could qualify for federal dollars funded on an assumed increase

in usage if conditions were improved. Sanchez says the money

would be used for upgrading and adding new sidewalks, ADA

ramps, bus shelters, benches, trash cans and pedestrian-scale

street lighting — anything that helps pedestrians get to bus

stops in the District.

Bike Trails and Landscaping to Encourage More Mobility Sanchez says plans are in progress to earmark money

to improve bike access and trails in the District. “Our bike trails

will provide off-street connections between transit centers

and bus stops,” she says. ”We’d like to do anything we can to

encourage people to use them.”

The District could apply for federal funds as soon as

the end of this year, which may mean that District residents and

commuters could see improvements to the streetscape soon.

“If all goes well, some of these projects could get under way by

summer or fall of next year,”

Sanchez says.

And Sanchez is

also hoping to inspire local

businesses to join the effort.

“As we start improving the

streetscape, we’d love to see

our businesses and office

spaces in the area improve

any landscaping that connects

to the right of way,” she says.

WT

These renderings illustrate possible improvements to Westchase District’s pedestrian environment.

District Launches Pedestrian Transit Study to Improve Mobility


“We measure the width of the sidewalks and the right of way. We also look at the condition of the sidewalks, the ADA ramps and the pedestrian lighting,” says Rick Beverlin, Goodman vice president of governmental affairs.


8

chevron’s Briarpark facility has been re-

approved as a Voluntary Protection Program

Star Site by the U.S. Occupational Safety and

Health Administration. The VPP recognizes

employers and workers in the private sectors

and federal agencies who have implemented

effective safety- and health-management

systems, and maintain injury and illness rates

below national averages for their respective

industries. chevron’s Briarpark facility was

originally recognized as a Star Site in 1992 and

has maintained Star status for 18 years through

four re-approval cycles.

TMEIc GE opened a sales and engineering

office in Westchase District and Stephan

Bondy has been named to lead the Houston

division. TMEIc GE is an internationally-based

integrator of drives and automation systems.

The Houston office team will offer TMEIc GE’s

technical and application expertise to Houston’s

large base of upstream and downstream oil

and gas companies, engineering firms and

equipment manufacturers. Bondy says the

company chose offices in Westchase District

to be near its customers.

Students at Alexander-Smith Academy

learned the harsh reality of driving under

the influence or texting while driving when they

participated in a simulated driving experience at

the school. The Arrive Alive Tour came to ASA in

September to show students the consequences

of driving while texting. ASA President David

Arnold brought the Arrive Alive experience to

the school because he says “teenagers think

they’re bullet proof.” He wanted to show them

distracted driving has serious consequences.

The lesson was not lost on senior kirk Richie,

who notes it doesn’t take long to send a text,

but “looking away for a split second is enough

time to crash.” The academy has 60 students

between ninth and 12th grades at its Richmond

Avenue campus. For more information, go to

www.alexandersmith.com.

certainSource Technology Group has

acquired Beltway Business Park from

Granite Properties. This 7-acre property, located

on Rogerdale at Meadowglen, includes more

than 117,000 square feet of single story office

and manufacturing buildings. The company’s

headquarters are located there, along with

its three individual companies: SensorWise

Engineering, Primary Sourcing Manufacturing

and Masterpiece Machining. cST Group is a

vertically-integrated group of companies

providing manufacturing and engineering

services to technology-driven companies.

Westchase District’s monthly recycling

program will continue, thanks to a new

partnership with Republic Services. Recycling

bins will be available at the carillon center,

10001 Westheimer, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

on the second Saturday of every month. you

may bring cardboard, paper, aluminum and

plastic to be recycled by Republic Services.

keep Houston Beautiful, a local beautification

organization, honored the Westchase District

recycling program at its annual Mayor’s Proud

Partners Award lunch in November. WT

Who’s Who in WestchaseBuilding a Better Neighborhood

Gregg Winslow (left) and Gary Newman (center) of chevron accept the Voluntary Protection Program plaque from Mark Briggs, director of the OSHA Houston South Office.

Participants at the TMEIc GE ribbon cutting took a celebratory toast of sake, served in a wooden box. It is a tradition in Japan. Pictured (left to right) are Hidekazu Matsushima, global business development manager, and Stephan Bondy, oil and gas industry segment leader.

Sophomore Sarah Song drives the Arrive Alive simulator car. Most students driving the simulator car were “cited” for speeding or causing an accident that resulted in injury or death.

The cST Group occupies 85,000 square feet at Beltway Business Park.

Thanks to volunteers from the Westchase Junior chamber, Westchase Forest Apartments and West Houston kiwanis club, who contributed to the success of the District’s monthly recycling program.

Views From Westchase District’s 15th Anniversary Celebration

Current and former staff members, board members, business owners and real estate professionals at Rio Ranch restaurant.

Westchase District’s General Manager Jim Murphy (left) discusses the District’s many accomplishments during the past 15 years.

Jim Murphy (center) accepts a proclamation from City Council Members Oliver Pennington (left) and Al Hoang (right.)

Ron Servis (left) and Richard Zientek (right) present a County proclamation to Westchase District General Manager Jim Murphy declar-ing Sept. 23, 2010 as “Westchase District Day” in Harris County.

Perri D’Armond (left), Jim Murphy (center) and Mari Salazar (right) are all original Westchase District employees.

wcd2-021 - newsletter · transit study aims to improve district mobility pg. 7 who’s who in...

Documents