Community

Sitting in the store’s lamp section was a 65-inch floor lamp in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. It looked brand new. Its round shade in a cream canvas color was exactly what the shopper needed to complement his living area. Making the find even better was its price - $20 compared to $70 - $100 at Home Depot or Lowe’s. These bargains make West Houston Assistance Ministries’ (WHAM) Resale Store shopping experience the best deal in…..Read More

After breaking ground last year, a major multifamily development built by McNair Interests is opening its doors to its first residents. McNair Interests, a real estate developer and private investment and management company, has nearly completed construction of Remy on the Trails, Westchase District’s newest multifamily residence. Located at 10421 Deerwood Road at the West Sam Houston Tollway, Remy on the Trails has 400,000 square feet of living space for lease in the first phase.…..Read More

In 2009, Somali pirates took Captain Phillips and his crew hostage. In a crisis that gripped headline news and spawned a Hollywood movie, Phillips’ ship, the Maersk Alabama, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. It was one of 20,000 merchant ships sailing through a vital artery of world trade that opened into two million square miles of water comprised of the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. These acts of piracy posed…..Read More

As crime continues to inch upward in Houston, Westchase District is not immune from the problem. Westchase District’s Vice President of Public Safety Mark Hubenak meets daily with property owners and building managers to discuss their particular needs and make recommendations on how to get the most from their public safety efforts. Many properties employ security officers – either armed or unarmed personnel. “Whether you employ armed officers, unarmed officers, uniformed officers or plain-clothed officers,…..Read More

Once upon a time, there was a popular community event that attracted hundreds of participants to enjoy a day in the sun, while raising money for charity. Then an unfortunate pandemic swept the globe, sending office workers home, shuttering retail stores and restaurants and making “social distancing,” “the new normal,” and “work from home” the new buzzwords. As the effects of the pandemic have subsided and more workers are returning to the office, Westchase District’s…..Read More

It was a windy, sunny fall day when Woodchase Park officially opened to the public before a large crowd of special guests, some of whom were instrumental in the park’s development. On October 28, 2021, Woodchase Park opened and Parks Programming Director Louis Jullien was feeling excited anticipation as he turned his focus to a massive community event only three days away. Jullien marveled over the task of distributing 20,000 pieces of candy to kids…..Read More

Criminal activity and public safety issues never take time off. Neither does Assistant Police Chief Ban Tien with the Houston Police Department. Chief Tien recently gave a 3 a.m. media briefing in the rain for an incident involving a distraught man allegedly threatening suicide. The crisis escalated with gunfire between the man and a responding officer. It’s a dangerous reality that situations can develop at any time and as an HPD senior leader, Tien thrusts…..Read More

With 37 years in commercial real estate – 22 of them at Granite Properties – Sandy Benak has worn many hats during her career. From leasing professional to Senior Director of Corporate Marketing, she’s also served as an officer on the boards of several professional real estate organizations. “I transitioned from leasing to marketing in 2015,” said Benak. “At that time, the Houston portfolio was leased up and Dallas was going gangbusters. The Dallas office…..Read More

As summer draws to a close, Woodchase Park has made the season a magical time of year for kids and families. May through July marked the first summer since the opening of Woodchase Park, bringing a variety filled plethora of activities and new opportunities for summer fun in the park – seven days a week. Parks Programming Director Louis Jullien added dozens of events to the park’s regular offerings, even extending the daily hours when…..Read More

When HCC’s Jordan Carswell first heard about the Westchase District’s Community Garden, he knew it was a great opportunity for HCC and its West Houston Institute to become involved in the community. “The Community Garden fit in with goals that we were already working on,” said Carswell, the college’s director of innovation strategy. “Prior to the pandemic, there was interest in this kind of activity, but COVID zapped all that. This is a great opportunity…..Read More