MICHAEL SILVA
brought to our readers by neighborhood attorney Phyllis Oeser Call Phyllis at 713-692-0300
This week’s
713.725.8748
Sale
Established 1967
johndaugherty.com
Buy 2...Get 1 Free
(of equal or lesser value)
Houston Business Journal Top 25 Residential Real Estate Professional
michaels@johndaugherty.com
BTGO Sale
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
Flower & Gift Shop 10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350
Saturday, June 27, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 34 Leader Small Display_Silva NEW PHOTO.indd 4/17/15 2:04 1 PM
‘ReBuilding’ T.C. Jester
About Us
2015
3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.
Your voices have been heard! Find out who made this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards!
AREA SPECIALIST
Find it on 6A
Too much skin?
Ê , < 832.419.9969
INSIDE.
The Do-Over Returns Leader contributer Cynthia Lescalleet makes her return in this month’s edition of Leader Listings with another installment of The Do-Over. This month, she spoke with several area professionals on ways to avoid common pitfalls when remodeling a home.
Find it on 1B Elizabeth Villarreal REALTOR®
832. 712.1320
elizasgarden@outlook.com HomeServiceS Anderson ProPerties
INSIDE.
Ella Boulevard’s changing faces Find out all about the growth and new businesses along Ella Boulevard in this month’s Leader Listings.
Find it on 1B
The INDEX. Church
7A
Classifieds
7B
Coupons
8A
Food/Drink/Art Obituaries
11A 10A
Opinion
4A
Public Information Puzzles
2A 5A
Photo by Jonathan Garris Honeowners living along T.C. Jester Boulevard from Timbergrove Lane to Washington Avenue had a chance to listen and be heard regarding the city’s plans to rebuild much of the 1.5 mil thoroughfare at Tuesday’s meeting. (Top) Larkin and T.C. Jester Boulevard will be one of several intersections likely receiving a considerable facelift.
City to revamp 1.5 mile portion of T.C. Jester Boulevard By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
What is ReBuild Houston?
New pavement, improved intersections and new bicycle lanes are just a few of the improvements Houston officials are hoping to roll out across T.C. Jester Boulevard between Washington Avenue and Timbergrove Lane in the next few years as part of the Rebuild Houston initiative. Houston City Councilmember Ellen Cohen hosted a public meeting Tuesday evening at the Texas Department of Transportation on Washington Avenue for homeowners living nearby the affected 1.5 mile strip along T.C. Jester Boulevard. Carol Haddock said she hoped the public meeting, which invited questions and comments from residents, would be a change of pace for those who have lived through other major city construction projects in the past. “We’re working to make sure we understand what all the needs are in the community and we’re incorporating that before decisions are made that don’t necessarily work with the community’s desires,” Haddock said. “I think it’s a step in the right direction […] so we can all get on the same page.” Haddock said this particular stretch of T.C. Jester Boulevard first came up as one of the early Rebuild Houston need areas, identified mainly for its pavement condition. The priorities for the project include addressing lane widths, adopting better standards for bike lanes in tandem with the city’s long-range bicycle lane planning, better traffic congestion management, and upgraded storm drainage, water and sewer infrastructure. “We have some tricky intersections,” Haddock said. “We routinely see people turn out on the wrong lanes along T.C. Jester at Washington.” Officials are looking into imrpoving roadway configurations at T.C. Jester and Washington, T.C. Jester and I-10,
Photo by Jonathan Garris Some residents living near the Cover Girls billboard on Pinemont believe the advertisement is unfit for the area.
Residents say billboard too explicit for area By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
Officials say ReBuild Houston utilizes a pay-as-you-go fund to maintain the city’s infrastructure and allows the city to plan upgrades to meet future needs as the city continues to grow. Funding for ReBuild houston comes from four sources according to the program’s website. • Ad Valorem Taxes • Third Party Funding, such as METRO, TxDOT, and Federal Grants • Drainage Utility Charges • Developer Drainage Impact Fees The initiative allows the city to pay for new projects in cash as opposed to the city’s previous model, which officials compare to putting purchases on a credit card. By issuing debt to pay for construction, officials say the city currently has about $1.7 billion in debt as a result of bond obligations for street and drainage projects along with paying $150 million per year in interest on debt on similar projects accrued in years past.
T.C. Jester and Larkin and T.C. Jester and West 11th Street. The intersection at Washington would feature added bicycle lanes and left-turn bays at the median opening to the north and the I-10 intersection will balance northbound and
Some residents living in Forest West say they are tired of a local billboard featuring a strip club advertisement and want it taken down. A petition on GoPetition.com now features over 80 signatures from residents who are calling the billboard too raunchy for families and children in the area. The advertisement, located on Pinemont near the intersection of Bingle Road, features several scantily-clad women from the neck down wearing provocative clothing, with the address and phone number for Cover Girls, located at 10310 West Little York Road. Ben Tuma, a member of the Forest West Civic Club, first published the petition several weeks ago and says the advertisement is not compliant with regulations regarding sexually oriented businesses. On the GoPetition page, he cites “City of Houston Informational Letter #0001-2003” and that the sign in question “can not contain photographs, silhouettes, drawings or pictorial representations of any type whatsoever.” He is calling on the city to remove the billboard which he calls See Billboard, P. 3A
See ReBuild, P. 4A
Oak Forest, Durham school principals announce resignation By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Two Leader area elementary school principals have announced their resignation. Jenny Thomas, the principal of Oak Forest Elementary for the last four years, announced on Tuesday that she is leaving the school to become the principal of a school in Clear Creek ISD, which is closer to her home. And Angela Sugarek, the current principal of Durham, has accepted a position as the new principal of Hogg Middle School. Thomas will continue to support the school through July. Rachel Folse, Oak Forest Elementary’s assistant principal, will assume leadership of the school during the interim while the district searches for a permanent replacement. A community meeting will be scheduled soon at the school to discuss the search for new leadership. “I have spent the last 18 years serving
students in HISD and these recent years at Oak Forest have been some of the most special. When I came here as the principal four years ago, this community accepted me with open arms,” said Thomas. “I’ve been so proud to be associated with such an amazing group of students, teachers, parents, and community partners. The positive impact that the last few years have had on me is immeasurable.” The reaction from the Oak Forest community was one of sadness and good wishes for Thomas. “Best of luck on your new adventure,” said Stephanie van Walleghem. “You will be missed.” In her statement to the Durham community, Sugarek said that given her past experience at Hogg and her passion for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, she could not help but See Principals, P. 8A
Contributed photo Oak Forest Elementary School Principal Jenny Thomas (center) with Assistant Principal Rachel Folse (Left) and Magnet Coordinator Patricia Shepherd. Thomas served as the principal at OFE for four years.
Marianne Terrell Realtor
®
Heights resident & community volunteer
Market Expertise in Heights | Riverside Terrace | Oak Forest
First time buyers & sellers trust Marianne’s expertise and enthusiasm.
713.515.9451 | marianne@yourblvd.com