News/Events

Major Makeover: The lobby at the Houston Marriott Westchase recently underwent a complete transformation as part of a $20 million renovation of the hotel. Since 2014, Westchase District’s hotel market has grown by nine percent, adding 303 new rooms, mostly limited service/extended stay brands. That construction boom has slowed, but as the industry rides out a dip before the 2017 Super Bowl comes to town, managers at older properties are staying competitive by renovating their…..Read More

Tough Competitor: HPD officer Jose Demeterio patrols Westchase District ready for anything. At 5’5”, HPD officer Jose Demeterio is not the biggest police officer ever to wear the badge, but he just might be one of the baddest. “I practice jiu jitsu regularly, which has given me the mental training and confidence to deal with people much larger than myself. Not too much gives me pause,” he said with characteristic understatement. As a lifelong athlete…..Read More

Kick Up Your Boots: The Rio Saloon is a full-service bar complete with hickory and rawhide barstools, a 22 foot long solid mesquite wood bar and a wood ceiling made from a Civil War-era barn. Don’t call it a comeback: Rio Ranch Steakhouse, located at 9999 Westheimer Road, has been here for years. But Judy Orlando, the new general manager of the Hilton Houston Westchase, wants customers to know that as the restaurant approaches a…..Read More

Old World Style, New World Luxury: Clockwise from top left: One-bedroom study units are spacious and modern; Portico at West 8 features a mix of Spanish, Mediterranean and Texan architecture; the new community room offers residents a place to lounge; a swimming pool is at the center of this enclosed courtyard with barrel tile roofs and stucco siding. In Italy, the word “portico” simply means “porch” – but in Westchase District, the word is associated…..Read More

Two new projects are underway in Westchase District which have things looking spiffy. First up: at the request of the District, the City of Houston is upgrading the traffic signal at the intersection of Briarpark and Westpark, replacing the traditional span-wires with the cleaner and safer mastarm signal poles.   Next, the Texas Department of Transportation is landscaping the greenspace along southbound Beltway 8, just north of Bellaire. TxDOT funded 100 percent of the construction…..Read More

In an era when senseless killing seems to be far too common, the question is, "If you are the victim of an active shooter, will you know what to do?" More than 60 apartment managers, hotel supervisors and concerned citizens turned out to hear some answers at the recent Westchase District Public Safety Alliance meeting at the Houston Marriott Westchase, where the featured topic was "Surviving an Active Shooter," presented by Houston Police Department's Stephen…..Read More

The Heights at Westchase, the District’s newest luxury apartment community, opened in November 2015 and already is ahead of leasing expectations. So what is attracting residents to the seven-building, 265-unit community? Nicki Trinidad, community director thinks it’s due in part to the “signature white glove services” offered. Both Trinidad and assistant community director Kristy McLocklin live on property, in part because of the services. “Not only do I love the amenities, but it’s nice that…..Read More

Following in your father’s footsteps can be tough enough when you’re 5’8” and he’s 6’4”. But when your old man is Glen Mayo, a 25-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, a member of the K9 unit, a supervisor on the HPD dive team and a member of the Westchase District patrol? Well, those are some big strides to match. But officer Alex Mayo isn’t fazed - he’s got his own scuba gear, his own…..Read More

Everybody's favorite Westchase District mural painter Larry Crawford, founder of Mural Arts, recently expanded his public art palate from traffic control signal boxes to something a little larger. Residing under a bridge Above the District's water habitat, located just east of Wilcrest Drive and behind the Robinson Westchase Library, is something called a box culvert. It's a concrete structure that spans the flood control channel and it's a space ripe for some artwork. The habitat…..Read More

Phillips 66 celebrated the grand opening of its new world headquarters with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Chairman & CEO Greg Garland. By the Numbers The 1.1 million-square-foot building has two towers connected by a sky bridge. In addition to traditional office space, the buildings have 275 conference rooms and other collaborative working space. A total of 2,200 employees will be moving to the new cutting-edge facility. They will have access to 2700 parking…..Read More