News/Events

Fewer than 50 trees were originally marked to be removed by the construction of Walnut Bend Lane. This included some that were already on the decline, plus some that were in conflict with the proposed improvements. Most of those trees were covered by the City of Houston’s Tree Protection ordinance, which dictates that any removed trees be offset by new trees within the project area. For example, if a construction project removes trees with a…..Read More

While residents are no strangers to heavy rain events throughout the year, and particularly during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 – November 30, Transportation and Emergency Management personnel at Houston TranStar are stressing the importance of being prepared for severe weather. “Your ability to survive a hurricane depends on you having a plan, staying informed, and preparing wisely,” said Dinah Massie, Executive Director for Houston TranStar. This year, TranStar is sharing four helpful…..Read More

It is illegal for 18-wheel tractor/trailers to park for more than two hours on any residential street in Houston. It is also illegal for the smaller “box” trucks to park for more than 24 hours on a city street. But if you’ve driven Meadowglen Lane,  Elmside Drive or Seagler Road, you know that illegal parking is a chronic problem that interferes with vehicular traffic. Westchase District is actively working to curtail this illegal parking. The…..Read More

In Texas, the first week of May means the last month of school. That’s when parents of school-age children are finalizing their summer plans and the team at Quillian Center is ramping up to provide another summer of epic programming for those same children. For 60 years, Quillian Center’s summer day camps have provided outstanding programming to kids from throughout west Houston. Campers can always count on swimming, athletic activities, counselor challenges, arts and crafts…..Read More

Riding an average of 25 miles a day, HPD bike officer Zhen Wang knows the Westchase District area. “It’s different than being in a patrol vehicle,” said Wang, a nine-year veteran of the Westchase District Patrol. “When you are on a bike you ride past people on the trail and on the streets. It makes my day when people say hello and wave. We love smiles too.” After Wang puts miles on the bike, he…..Read More

People with autism experience challenges that might not be obvious. Imagine you’re an adult with autism. You can drive to a college campus. But upon arriving, a full parking lot stirs anxiety, fear, mistrust and a lost feeling – causing you to go home. “This happens,” said Anne Marie Blacketer, CFRE and chief development officer at nonPareil’s Houston campus in Westchase District. That’s why nonPareil wants to make learning more accessible than before for adults…..Read More

Westchase District’s Greenspace for Westchase campaign to fund the planned Wilcrest Park is off to a strong start thanks to major donations from companies, organizations and foundations familiar to all Houstonians. The Greenspace campaign was created to cover the $3.2 million gap in funds necessary to build Wilcrest Park into a regional destination. Wilcrest Park will be built on a 3.5-acre parcel of land located on Wilcrest Drive immediately north of Robinson-Westchase Library and Westchase…..Read More

Once upon a time, a small business or entrepreneur had limited choices when they outgrew their home or garage office. Their only option was to engage a commercial real estate broker or negotiate directly with a landlord to secure office space, leased by the square foot. Triple-net, tenant improvement allowances, access to conference space, setting up an IT infrastructure and other challenges would burden the entrepreneur who really just wanted to operate their dream business.…..Read More

As those living on shoe-string budgets during college can attest, instant ramen is a common staple in every dorm room mini-refrigerator. Easy to cook with boiling water or a microwave, mass production makes ramen even cheaper to buy. With his restaurant Ramen Jin, restaurateur and chef Brian Chen is changing how we think about ramen noodles. Ramen Jin isn’t serving your coed’s noodles. Chen’s ramen is notched up, Japanese style made with hand-pulled wheat noodles…..Read More

Crews are finishing work on a 2.25-mile “side path” that will improve connections to the Terry Hershey Trail, while improving roadway conditions that connect the Walnut Bend neighborhood to the West Sam Houston Tollway frontage road. This improvement was first identified in Westchase District’s 2016 Ped/Bike plan that identified pedestrian and bicycling needs and prioritized improvements. “This project quickly rose to the top of the priority list because of the heavy bicycle and pedestrian traffic…..Read More