The number of tuition-free, public charter schools has spiraled upward in recent years as parents demand more accountability and flexibility from their local school districts. Westchase District is served by two school districts. Students who live north of Westheimer attend schools from the Houston Independent School District while students living south of Westheimer attend Alief ISD schools. Now, for the first time, families living in Westchase District have the option of two public charter schools…..Read More
In 1969, all eyes were on the moon or the little town of White Lake, New York as the first manned space mission landed on the moon and half million people turned out for Woodstock. Closer to home, the Houston faithful were making plans for the first-ever worship of what would become Grace Presbyterian Church. On the first Sunday in December 1969, the new combined church of St. Matthews Presbyterian and Second Presbyterian worshiped together…..Read More
Westchase District’s largest ever capital improvement project is underway on Walnut Bend Lane. Workers are rebuilding nearly 6,000 feet of the roadway between Westpark Drive and Westheimer Road. The project scope includes some features that everyone will see and enjoy including enhanced sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, dedicated bike lanes, custom bus shelters, bike racks and extensive landscaping. But some of the most impressive improvements are the ones you won’t see. Walnut Bend Lane was built in…..Read More
Westchase District is home to 31,000 residents living in multifamily communities, ranging from modest workforce housing to luxury living apartments. While these residents enjoy the benefits of superior mobility, public safety and beautification as maintained by the District, there’s one aspect missing from their lives: nearby parks for recreational and social opportunities. All that is about to change. The City of Houston has purchased two park sites in the area and Westchase District will develop…..Read More
If you think of ballet as something exclusive, snobby and competitive, then think again. A new ballet school recently opened in Westchase District that welcomes dancers of all ages and abilities. Bayou City Ballet School is in the Westchase Corporate Park at 11231 Richmond Avenue and Alex Pandiscio, the school’s founder and director, has created a classically-based ballet curriculum updated for the 21st century. The perfect fit “The school aims to prepare aspiring…..Read More
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