Community Champion Laura Smith Joins Westchase District Board
Laura Smith, a newly appointed board member of Westchase District, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community development to her role. Her career path has been a testament to her dedication to creating positive change and her ability to merge her professional expertise with her commitment to helping others. Non-Profit Roots Smith’s professional journey began in the non-profit sector, where she worked closely with refugees assimilating into the U.S. and victims of…..Read More
Westchase District boasts exceptional early childhood education options
Parents who live in Westchase District, or work in one of the many office buildings here, can rejoice knowing there are two innovative and exceptional childcare and educational programs serving young learners. The recently launched Academy of Young Scholars, located at 2526 Walnut Bend Lane, is gaining momentum thanks to working parents who want quality childcare. Under the leadership of Deshonda Shipman and Terry Gaskin, this brand-new preschool is breathing new life into what was…..Read More
McNair Interests to Launch Phase Two of Apartment Development
Less than a year after opening Remy on the Trails to new residents, McNair Interests has broken ground on the second phase of its multi-family development located on Deerwood Drive at 400 West Sam Houston Parkway South. The unnamed second phase “On the Trails” community will feature 221 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartment homes averaging nearly 900 square feet with 3-bedroom units maxing out at nearly 1,500 square feet. “We’re very proud of what we’ve…..Read More
39-Year HPD Veteran Retires
Detective Jeff Miller can point to many signs of his seniority in the Houston Police Department. He’s the last active officer in his academy class. He has more seniority (in years) than the police chief and many of the current HPD leadership. He’s the most senior officer in the robbery division. In fact, last time he checked, he was 45th in seniority among all officers in the Houston Police Department. “When I was a young…..Read More
From Phone Calls to Foodie Fame
Nestled on 2923 Walnut Bend Lane, Dakar Street Food has quickly become a local favorite for those seeking an authentic taste of West Africa. With a remarkable 4.9-star rating on Google, based on 165 reviews, this hidden gem is making waves in the Houston foodie scene. Co-owned by Makhtar Fall and Thierno Ly, Dakar Street Food first started as a catering business in 2017 before officially opening its doors in August 2021. At the heart…..Read More
American Liberty Hospitality Celebrates 50 Years in Business
Westchase District is known for some of the big-name companies that make their home here, including Phillips 66, BMC Software, Chevron, National Oilwell Varco and Apache. Some of the biggest names in the hospitality business – Hilton, Staybridge, Embassy Suites, DoubleTree and The Sam Houston Hotel – all reside here too, under the umbrella of American Liberty Hospital, which owns, operates and develops hotels in Texas and Louisiana. With offices at 2901 Wilcrest, American Liberty…..Read More
A Day in the Life of SEAL Patrol
It has been almost two years since Westchase District added SEAL Security to its public safety program and the results speak for themselves. Overall, violent crimes in Westchase District dropped 33.3% while non-violent crimes fell 19.1%. These drops outpace the reduction in crime that has occurred throughout Houston during this same time. Between October 2021 and March 2022, HPD statistics show violent crime down 12.8% citywide, while non-violent crime is down 2.1%. “We added SEAL…..Read More
Alief Early College High School Offers Smooth Transition from High School to University
Open since 2011, Alief Early College High School, located within its own building on the Houston Community College campus, has paved the way for thousands of students to move on to college and career success. “We serve the typical Alief student,” said Principal Dr. Brandi Brotherton,” but we provide a little different experience for our students.” Starting with competition. The students must apply to AECHS. Between 300 and 500 students apply each year for one…..Read More
Diligence Pays Off in Battle Over Illegal Truck Parking
HPD officers working for the Westchase District Patrol routinely ticket and tow trucks and automobiles illegally parked throughout the District. Their efforts are part of an ongoing effort to improve safety and mobility. “Motorist visibility is so limited when these giant vehicles park on our narrow residential streets,” said Mark Hubenak, Westchase District’s vice president of public safety. It is a parking violation for 18-wheel vehicles to park for more than two hours on a…..Read More
In the Business of Revitalization
Once a dilapidated Hampton Inn & Suites in Westchase, the former hotel has undergone a remarkable transformation under the vision of Champions Club Texas. With a commitment to sustainability and revitalization, the luxury hotel and poker lounge is redefining the image of poker and breathing new life into the property. Champions Club Texas, located at 6440 W Sam Houston Pkwy S, is a 71-room full-service hotel complete with a restaurant, pool and private poker club.…..Read More