Westchase Today

Mitigation Plan Ensures that More Trees Will be Planted than will be Destroyed Removing trees that are growing in the public right-of-way can be controversial. We think of these trees as “our” shared property and enjoy the shade they provide, the habitat they offer for birds and small critters and the visual appeal of that leafy, green canopy. Sometimes that is the same for trees on private property that must be removed to accommodate a…..Read More

After 25-year absence, Philippine Consulate General office reopens in Westchase District Earlier this year, the Republic of the Philippines opened a new Philippine Consulate General (PCG) office in Westchase District at 9990 Richmond. The move was met with overwhelmingly positive response from Filipino-Americans and Philippine nationals alike throughout the south-central region of the United States, as the office assists thousands, promotes national culture and strengthens international economic ties. Return to the region In addition to…..Read More

  Later this summer, Westchase District will move forward with the largest capital improvement project it has ever undertaken: a $20 million reconstruction of the section of Walnut Bend Lane that runs from Westpark Drive to Westheimer Road. Workers will reconstruct nearly 6,000 feet of roadway, construct enhanced sidewalks and upgrade underground public utility lines. Extensive improvements will include pedestrian lighting, dedicated bike lanes, custom bus shelters, extensive landscaping, bike racks, benches and signage.  …..Read More

    Within its 4.2 square miles, Westchase District is home to seven degree-granting higher education institutions, including one of the state’s finest recording engineering schools. Nestled in the Wilcrest Green Office Park, MediaTech Institute, located at 3234 Walnut Bend Lane, is a hidden gem for students interested in careers in the digital technology, multimedia production and entertainment industries.   Sunrise Sound The 15,000 square-foot recording studio and production facility was originally known as Sunrise…..Read More

  There’s a new home for guests visiting Westchase District, the Home2 Suites by Hilton Houston Westchase, which opened in April at 3125 Wilcrest Drive. We first reported about the long-awaited hotel in a 2014 issue of Westchase Today, but a change in developers delayed design and construction for several years. However, the wait was worth it – the four-story, 120-room hotel offers guests a sleek, modern design and high-tech amenities in a highly-desirable location.…..Read More

          Cruise Control: HPD Lieutenant Paul George often can be seen cruising by the District’s trail system on patrol.   Over time, Westchase District has earned a reputation as a low crime area, thanks to the consistent efforts of the Westchase District Patrol. That success is tied directly to the high caliber of talented and ambitious patrol officers the District attracts. More than one quarter of the District’s patrol officers hold…..Read More

  When the Westchase District’s Board of Directors met last fall for their annual retreat, they convened in an innovative 4,000-square-foot solution design center at Houston Community College’s West Houston Institute, located at 2811 Hayes Road. The space is called the Collaboratorium and in it trained facilitators conduct workshops using an interactive touchscreen that resembles something from the sci-fi movie Minority Report. It’s a unique facility that employs the latest technology in the service of…..Read More

  As a teenager growing up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Angela Hart-Joseph was fascinated watching the psychological thriller film The Silence of the Lambs, featuring Jodie Foster as a young FBI trainee. “I was inspired seeing a strong female who could solve a case and bring killers to justice,” Hart-Joseph said. “That movie definitely pushed me in the direction of a career in law enforcement.” While her career so far hasn’t pitted her skills against any…..Read More

In today’s world of constant connectivity, it seems everyone is tethered to electronic devices 24/7. But Don McKinney, Westchase District’s vice president of Public Safety, said it’s not uncommon for people exercising to be without their cell phones. That prevents them from being able to quickly alert authorities in the event of an emergency. As an added amenity, Westchase District recently installed eight emergency call boxes at various locations along the District’s trail system. The…..Read More

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, many affected Houstonians benefitted from heroic actions taken by first responders. A second wave of response occurred in the form of temporary shelters and assistance from various aid organizations. But for those in West Houston living with Harvey’s devastating effects a year later, nonprofits such as West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) fill an important role in continuing to support lives still reeling from the costliest tropical cyclone on…..Read More