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A Special Focus issue from The Leader which looks at area news and trends Saturday, January 30, 2016 • 1B
business
Putting the ‘art’ in heart at Heights Theater By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader Anticipation continues to mount for the reopening of the historic Heights Theater, as construction on the interior of the building has finally begun. The Leader first broke the news last year that the theater, which first opened its doors in 1929, has been bought by Edwin Cabaniss, the owner of the Kessler Theater in Dallas. The building itself has remained in the hands of local owners Gus and Sharon Kopriva; however the venue will be getting new life under its new proprietor. According to Cabaniss, the
theater is safe from distortion or removal, and is about to assume its rightful position as the cultural heart of the Heights. The venue occupies about 7,000 square feet, and will open this summer as a 300- to 700-seat flexible entertainment facility complete with a historically reconstructed balcony. This is not Cabaniss’ first rodeo. He identifies himself as a preservationist and owns the old, renovated Kessler Theater in Dallas. The renovation there has been successful at breathing life back into that diamond as well as its surrounding community. As with the Kessler, Cabannis plans to offer live con-
certs, as well as independent films and community events. “I understand the role that an old theater like the Heights Theater plays in a community, not only historically, but also in the future,” Cabaniss told The Leader. “Right now, 19th Street largely closes down at night. We operate from about 7 to 11pm. I think we will see the addition of more activity and nightlife to the street when we open.” Cabaniss, who has a family in Dallas, wisely recruited a “dude on the ground” here. Mark Austin is a Houstonian and a band promoter who knows the music industry very well.
“I have been working with The Kessler for some time, and know what a great track record it has,” Austin said. “These type of theaters offer a unique product and when I discovered Houston was getting a sister club to The Kessler, I was thrilled.” As an industry professional, Austin is also happy to report that the Heights Theater is a music space designed for listening to music. Drunkenness, and loud talking will not be tolerated. “I know we all live in our See Theatre P. 4B
Contributed Photo Robert Ellis plays his guitar in the shell of the Heights Theater, currently under renovation.
education
lifestyle
Booming area = zoning changes?
Versatility in fitness By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com The influx of young professionals with money to spend and bodies to maintain (or otherwise improve) has played a big role in the development of athletic centers like gyms. Now, O Athletik is throwing its hat in the ring with a new facility that aims to be a one-stop-shop for fitness needs. The 35,000 square foot facility is finishing its final stages of construction at its home at 767 North Shepherd Drive, just south of the UT Health Physicians Center in the Heights. Operations manager Brian Kawano said he envisions the gym area opening by Feb. 1, and he and his company will be doing their best to attract the Millennial market by
offering a variety of activities under one roof. “Most people have to get multiple memberships for multiple venues,” Kawano said. “We’re focusing on being a major resource in the area for everything from boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to personal training and indoor soccer leagues.” Among the amenities planned at the facility include a juice bar and cafe (open to the public), private showers, a locker room, a sauna & steam room and an isolated and noise proof room for yoga, Kawano said. O Athletik might not be the only game in town, however. The Leader previously reported in early October that
Photo by Betsy Denson Of Oak Forest Elementary’s 812 students, 325 are not zoned to the school. Time will tell if that ratio changes due to population growth within the zone.
See Fitness P. 3B
New look at attendance zones at their outskirts? “It’s pretty simple,” said District II Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones. “There are a certain number of seats at a given school. When they fill up, parents still want viable options. It’s necessary that we do something about it.” That’s why the Board of Education recently proposed and approved a plan calling for the evaluation of attendance zone boundaries for all schools within HISD. According to HISD’s Media Relations Manager Holly Huffman, “the first phase of the plan will be to seek out an independent consultant who
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com It’s no secret that The Leader area is booming with families who want the best in public education. Whether this is accomplished by buying a house – and spending more – in the zone of their preferred school or by transferring into a desirable magnet program, the end result is the same. However, those in the latter category are finding it is no longer certain that they will find a spot in their first choice school outside their zone. And what about those school zones, with the most sought after areas bringing developers to build higher density housing
Contributed Photo Renders of the soon-to-be-finished O Athletik club show a wealth of modern amenities and all-inclusive features including a boxing and mixed martial arts area, an indoor soccer field, activity room for yoga, a cafe, showers and an outdoor area.
safety
See Schools P. 4B
For local area, the future looks even safer By Alan Rosen Harris County Precinct One Constable One reason is that I have made sure my staff will have cutting edge technological tools to better keep the peace and improve the already-robust quality of life in greater northwest Houston. Ours is the only law enforcement agency I know of in Harris County whose entire fleet of patrol cars already is equipped with video and audio recorders. The equipment does not only ensure that our encounters – good and bad – with the public are carried out correctly. It also makes a record of crucial evidence we need to take criminals off the streets. This year I will distribute “body cams” to all of our officers, for the same reasons.
We are trying to stay ahead of the curve. Also, we will soon unveil a free mobile phone app through which residents can send us crime tips, anonymously or not, and stay up to date on information about our operations. Sometimes a crime tip is a cell phone photo of the license plate of a suspicious car. Sometimes it’s a video of suspicious activity. Preventing crime in the Heights/Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area? “There’s an app for that!” Late last year the City of Houston provided funding for, and entrusted Precinct 1 with the responsibility of, obtaining, deploying and monitoring 25 more surveillance cameras at suspected sites for illegal dumping. We are close to finishing the project. Either people will dispose of tires,
furniture and other refuse at the proper locations -- or they will risk having their freedom trashed. Because our deputies have the unique job of ensuring the safety of the Downtown Courthouse Complex and other government buildings, we have gained some very detailed insights into the implementation of the Texas “open carry” law as well as dealing with the threat of an “active shooter” in public. We have conducted training sessions for select groups on these topics and I plan to bring the sessions to other interested groups. With neighborhood safety as our continuing focus, our patrol force has grown by a third and I hope to continue the increase. We will be adding a second deputy to our
animal cruelty and neglect program, in which we work exclusively with the Houston SPCA to bring to justice those who mistreat animals! Certainly one of the big challenges ahead is marshalling limited financial resources at the Houston Police Department, with which we work closely as siblings of a sort. Mayor Turner has said the department needs more officers, and at the same time the city government is facing budget problems. Without an HPD expansion, more neighborhoods in The Leader circulation area may choose to sign up for extra patrols via a contract with Precinct 1. Of course a patrol contract requires the residential organization pay the county for the services. But from our view, contract patrol work is one
Contributed Photo
Harris County’s entire fleet of patrol cars already is equipped with video and audio recorders.
our most satisfying and effective activities. It allows us to carry my community-oriented policing strategies into neighborhoods that become so familiar that we can better sense when something is out of kilter before it can develop into serious crime. Our contract deputies get to know almost every facet of residents’ home patterns – their children, pets
cars and other things important to all families. Regardless, I feel confident that we are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the next few years – especially as we have the readers of this message, and their neighbors, looking out for each other and working with us to keep you safe and secure in your neighborhoods.
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Page 2B • Saturday, January 30, 2016
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Saturday, January 30, 2016 • Page 3B
Oil and optimism
By Jacob Millwee For The Leader It is our nature to be optimistic about the future. Hope is the eternal savior of mankind, and it is no less so for us in the Heights as we consider where we are going as a community in the next few years. We have an obligation though, as we look down the road at all the wonderful places we are going, to also spot the pot holes and plan for the detours. The Heights has spent the last few years in a period of revival, spurred mainly on by the revitalization of the residential real estate market. New homes have been built and old homes renovated, and fresh new people have moved in next door to our wonderful long time stalwarts. This in turn has strengthened our local economy, breathing life into community favorite restaurants and stores and bringing in new businesses. Once again the Greater Houston Area knows what local residents have known for generations: the Heights is the place to be. Unfortunately the Greater Houston Economy, rolling along its roller coaster track through the decades, seems to have hit a slow stretch as upstream oil struggles in response to very low prices of oil. For those of you who are worried about what effect that might have on the Heights, I wouldn’t be too concerned. Our central location, long community history, and unique culture will sustain us through this particular patch of economic unpleasantness. Houston as a whole won’t even break stride as the downstream market is booming, the medical industry is – if you’ll forgive the expression – healthy, and the ship channel continues to be an economic juggernaut. We do have pot holes ahead of us however. Things that we should be concerned about. The one that keeps me awake at night is actually as much of a product of the real estate market as our current growth and strength. Developers are buying old lots, tearing down old houses, and filling that lot, which before had a single home on it, with four to eight brownstone style homes. You know the ones - it’s basically a stack of rooms reaching up three to five stories if you count the ga-
rage on the bottom. They are very stylish, and seem to contribute to the uniqueness of the Heights; we continue to look different than any other community in Houston. By and large these homes are being bought, mostly by younger professionals. This demographic has also been a boon to the area as they care about good food, art, and the quality of the neighborhood around them. Unfortunately those stylish homes, due to their design, mostly have very steep stairs and an economy of space that does not make them ideal – by and large – for children. And whether kids enter the picture or not, young professionals eventually become old professionals and those stairs and extreme vertical designs are going to be less appealing once they are in their sixties and suffering from hip and knee problems after a lifetime of crossfit, marathons, and tough mudders. Chances are these are not forever homes. Meanwhile new homes and new businesses are lovely, but what we are not getting is new streets. Our plumbing is ancient and our storm drains predate the wheel. Many of these brownstone packed lots push all the way to the curb (remember when we had sidewalks?) and most are built with no concern for parking outside of the garage. So if you stand on the street and look around, ask yourself what happens when someone throws a dinner party? Where do their guests park? What is this block going to look like on Super Bowl Sunday? When we look at the one house becoming six on the same lot, add in the multiple new apartment complexes being built throughout the area, we have to realize that the population of the Heights is going to quadruple (at the minimum) over the next two to three years. And our infrastructure is not being updated to address the increase. Traffic is going to be a whole new animal as people try to get to and from work. Now remember above where I mentioned that when people age and have children their trendy homes might not be comfortable anymore? Well, they will probably move. Throw that in the pot with the traffic and infrastructure issues and there is a danger that in ten years the Heights could become slums. Do I really believe that is going to happen? No not really. I believe in our community and I believe in our businesses. I believe in our people. But the time to address these issues is now, if we want tomorrow to continue to be bright and full of hope.
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Fitness from P. 1B Adventure Sports Gym will be taking a similar approach at targeting young and active consumers. CEO Guy Paproski and CFO Chuck Baldwin were in the midst of raising capital for their project, which they envision as a 115,000 square foot facility with indoor and outdoor exercise amenities and even a 20,000 square foot area focused on children and a 55,000 square foot area dedicated to CrossFit and obstacle training. O Athletik will also be hedging its bets on young, Heightsarea professionals with an emphasis on merging technology and accessibility. The facility will be one of the only gyms in the area to utilize FreeMotion Live Axis equipment, and traditionally “offline” equipment like bike machines and treadmills also come with their own surprises. “Our FreeMotion Tour De France Bikes are hooked up to Google Maps,” Kawano said. “If an area has StreetView enabled, you can essentially use the screen attached to your bike or treadmill to run or ride anywhere in the world. If you want to bike the streets of France, you can do it right here.” Bluetooth connectivity is
also offered with equipment, and a special smartphone app will allow members to review their progress and set new goals, but also challenge themselves and others and organize group outings, Kawano said. Memberships, which cost in the $95 to $120 range, also include free league play for sports like ultimate Frisbee, soccer, lacrosse and even dodgeball. The indoor field can also be rented out for birthday parties or other gatherings. While leagues will be restricted to members only as far as players go, the cafe at the front of the facility will be open to the public. Personal training and group classes are also offered with memberships. The opening of the facility will be the start of what Kawano wants to be a productive relationship with the community as well. “We’ve already become new members of the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce and we’re going to be making a big effort to be involved in the surrounding community.” Kawano said. For more information, visit www.oathletik.com or call 713-320-2450.
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We recently changed our name to Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to advancing health. So as our community continues to thrive, rest assured we will continue to support it with the innovation and compassion it deserves. Look at the remarkable care that has been delivered over the past 50 years:
· We have welcomed nearly 70,000 babies into the world · Our affiliated experts have performed over 200,000 surgeries · You have trusted us with over 1.2 million medical emergencies · We are nationally accredited in Chest Pain, Primary Stroke, Breast Cancer, Joint Replacement, Level III Trauma and recently introduced TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Services
Call 713.222.CARE for a physician referral or visit memorialhermann.org/heights Located at Loop 610 and Ella Boulevard Contributed Art The back of O Athletik will offer a sand pit for volleyball and other activities and an enormous inclined ramp for running and conditioning.
Page 4B • Saturday, January 30, 2016
Schools from P. 1A can help the district determine future needs based on current and anticipated population changes across the city.” Huffman said that while it’s too early to know specifics, they expect that a variety of data — birth data, housing projections, enrollment trends, community input, and neighborhood demographic shifts — will be considered as the plan is developed. “Any proposed plan then would need approval from the Board of Education before it could be implemented,” she said. There is already an internal demographer on staff at HISD who produces a yearly report which can be found on their website. Primary sources for this report include HISD enrollment data and TEA interdistrict transfer information. Among other things, the report details who goes to their zoned school, and for those that don’t, where they do enroll. “The Census plays a minor roll — primarily in determining how many school-aged children live in a zone,” said Huffman. “Our demographer also keeps track of housing projections and growth in the district.” The current monitoring of growth and housing is what precipitates proposed boundary changes. That’s what happened in May of 2015 when the board considered zone changes at Sinclair, Love, Memorial Elementary, Stevens, Katherine Smith, Crockett, Travis and Harvard Elementary schools. The most vocal opponents of the changes were Shady Acres residents, who would have been moved from Sinclair to Love Elementary. Because the boundary change proposal was an all or nothing proposition, when it didn’t
pass, nothing changed. This year Skillern-Jones led a successful smaller scale rezoning for Stevens, Wainwright and Katherine Smith. District I’s Anna Eastman said Travis was tweaked too. “It’s not a lockstep process,” said Eastman, who didn’t support the May 2015 changes because it rezoned students out of high performing schools. She also wanted the student/ teacher ratio to be a part of the conversation, particularly with English language learners who really benefit from the lower ratio. The best scenario would be schools who perform at a level to keep more of their zoned students. Eastman said this is happening at Hogg, Hamilton and Black middle schools. She said that other schools near her area, like Marshall and Burbank middle schools, are “thriving”, so they’re not sending as many kids to schools in her district. Eastman represents schools like Reagan, which is at capacity, and those like Scarborough High School and Memorial Elementary which still have room. In large part, it’s the elementary schools that are filling first. Oak Forest Principal April Williams, said that the school “has space in a few classes, very few.” Oak Forest is also an example of a school where a lot more people transfer in, 328 according to last year’s HISD report, as compared to the 63 in the zone who transferred out. Durham Elementary’s principal Amy Poerschke said that they are 40% magnet, which means of Durham’s enrollment of 607, 242 of students are not zoned. “This year, we are 38 students over projections,” she said. Harvard’s Laura Alaniz said they had two grade levels reach capacity but continue to
have capacity for 55% magnet transfers. As a point of comparison, Tim Weltin with Black Middle School said that they are at 970 and anticipate passing 1,000 students in the fall. HISD lists Black’s capacity at 1,250. There is some precedent for schools not being able to take students from out of the enrollment zone. Huffman said that Horn Elementary in Bellaire stopped enrolling transfer students last year to ensure they had appropriate space for their zone population, which was growing. Eastman said that it’s been many years since HISD built a new school in her district. In fact, ten years ago, she said HISD was closing under enrolled schools, like Holden Elementary. Because of high construction and renovation costs, Skillern-Jones wants to ensure first that the district is better utilizing the space it currently has before looking to build more schools. For some parents who live in their desired school zone, any zoning changes would be an unwelcome development. Realtor Ginny Ledwell who sells homes in Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and Shepherd Park Plaza said that “people in this area pay a premium to be zoned to certain schools, and changes made to them will cause a fluctuation in home prices. I would say that around 65 percent of my clients chose homes based on schools.” Lisa Gutierrez said that her child is in a dual language program and if rezoning occurred, she would expect to be able to continue the program. “Fortunately, in a city as large as Houston, there are many options available to all of us with a little creative thinking and perseverance,” she said.
cal preservation requirements. Now complete, construction of the interior has begun. “We expect this phase to take four or five months, and to open in early summer” said Cabaniss, “We are taking our time to do everything well. After all, we are not interested in being a part of the Heights for years, but rather, decades.” While the theater will host national acts, some of whom
have not played in Houston due to the lack of a venue, it will also offer local and regional talent. “I will say I am surprised by how very deep the bench of talent is in the musical community here,” he said. “Houston has wonderful talent at the street level. It’s pretty amazing and we feel really good about it.”
Theater from P. 1A cars here, and its nice to meet up and talk to our friends; however, people who want to talk during our shows will be asked to leave,” Austin explained. One measure of excitement from local residents has been the theater’s Facebook page which has 3,000 followers. When will it open? Phase One consisted of jumping through local, and federal hoops, as well as the histori-