VOL 10 No. 29
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
8 FBISD students named Texas WCJC breaks ground on National State Karate Champions Richmond construction project
Tyler Lopez, left, Jayden Goodman, Nalika Nana, Christina Korman, Sensei Cassie Pham-Korman; and (back row) James Goodman, Jr., Sensei Nizar Albagdadi, Kaito Sengoku, Sensei Ramon Veras, Rylan Garza, Elaina Lan, Charlize Lopez and Sensei Andres Sanabria. Eight Fort Bend ISD students (the essence and foundation of and Kumite) helped form a 16-member ath- karate that focuses on form), Ku- •James Goodman, Jr., 5th grade, letic team that competed at the mite (face-to-face combat that Palmer Elementary (Gold, Kata; 2017 Texas National State Ka- incorporates attack and defense Bronze, Kobudo and Kumite) rate Championship and Qualifier techniques) and Kobudo (the •Elaina Lan, 8th grade, Quail Valin May, with individual members weapon systems of Martial Arts). ley Middle School (Silver, Kata) FBISD students earning top •Jayden Goodman, 3rd grade, placing in the top three posiPalmer Elementary (Silver, Kotions of their divisions. They awards are: were among 290 athletes from •Charlize Lopez, 5th grade, Set- budo; Bronze, Kata) throughout the state to enter the tlers Way Elementary (Gold, •Akira Santoso, 4th grade, Commonwealth Elementary (Silver, competition, regarded as the Kata and Kobudo Kata) largest and most prestigious ka- •Tyler Lopez, 1st grade, Sullivan Kata; Bronze, Kumite) rate tournament in Texas. Elementary (Gold, Kata and Ko- •Kaito Sengoku, 4th grade, Austin Parkway Elementary (Bronze, The FBISD athletes were budo) among those, age 4-60, to com- •Nalika Nana, 2nd grade, Oyster Kumite and Kobudo) pete in various divisions of Kata Creek Elementary (Gold, Kata See KARATE, Page 3
State representatives and Fort Bend County officials recently joined Wharton County Junior College trustees and administrators for an official groundbreaking ceremony at WCJC’s Richmond campus. The project will renovate 9,000 square feet and construct an additional 3,600 square feet for the benefit of the Cosmetology and Process Technology programs. Pictured, from left to right, are WCJC trustee Scott Glass, WCJC Vice President of Student Services Dave Leenhouts, WCJC Trustee Monty Merecka, former WCJC Trustee Lloyd Nelson, WCJC Trustee Larry Sitka, State Representative John Zerwas, WCJC President Betty McCrohan, State Representative Phil Stephenson, City of Richmond Mayor Pro Tem Barry Beard, WCJC Chairman of the Board of Trustees Danny Gertson, WCJC Foundation member Suzanne Armour, WCJC Trustee Amy Rod, WCJC Vice President of Technology and Institutional Research Pam Youngblood, WCJC Vice President of Administrative Services Bryce Kocian, Vice President of Instruction Leigh Ann Collins, WCJC Trustee Ann Hundl and WCJC Trustee Merle Hudgins. Story on Page 6.
Missouri City charter election on Nov.7
By BARBARA FULENWIDER At the Missouri City Council’s special meeting on July 3 members discussed potential amendments to the city charter and also changing city elections from May to November. The new election date this year will be for a general election so voters can choose their
district council member and they will vote in a special election to approve or not various additions and changes to the city’s ordinances. At their July 3 special council meeting members decided to have the city’s legal staff draft an ordinance ordering a general and special election for Mis-
souri City on Nov. 17, 2017. Background information to council members regarding the 2016 Charter Review Commission’s final report went to council on Dec. 28 last year. Their changes will be what voters will consider. Council discussed ordering a See CHARTER, Page 3
Johnson Development reports sharp rise in home sales; Houston home prices, sales volume set record in June
New home sales are flourishing in Johnson Development’s Houston-area communities, with builders reporting 27 percent more homes sold during the first six months of 2017 than the previous year. Builders sold a total of 1,560 homes through the first half of the year, compared to 1,225 in 2016. Three developments reported a year-over-year sales increase topping 35 percent: Richmond’s Harvest Green, with 48 percent more sales in 2017; Harmony in Spring, with 45 percent more sales during the first six months; and Imperial in Sugar Land, with 37 percent more sales this year. In terms of actual number of homes sold, Riverstone heads the list not only among Johnson Development’s Houston-area communities, but all developments in the region, according to a recently released mid-year sales report by housing think tank Robert Charles Lesser & Co. (RCLCO). With 276 sales — a 19 percent increase from mid-year 2016 — Riverstone is ranked at No. 1 in Houston, No. 2 in Texas and No. 16 in the nation. Johnson Development had six Texas communities ranked among the top 50 on the RCLCO list: Riverstone, Cross Creek Ranch (No. 31), Sienna
Plantation (No. 32), Woodforest (No. 37t), Harvest Green (No. 41) and Viridian (No. 49t). “Again this year, we were blessed to have more top-selling master-planned communities in the nation than any other developer,” said Doug Goff, President and Chief Operating Officer for Johnson Development. “Thanks to a great team of professionals who manager our communities, our home sales are on pace to exceed 3,000 in the Houston market in 2017.” Newmark Homes President Mike Moody says it’s the outstanding amenities found in Johnson communities and the thoughtful development that has fueled home sales. “We build in seven Johnson developments and do so because we know the community will be well planned and no corners will be cut in creating a neighborhood where people will want to live,” he said. “Our sales are especially strong in Harvest Green where residents can grow their own produce on an on-site farm and pick fresh herbs from the edible landscape.” Three Johnson communities started their first full year of home sales this year: Grand Central Park in Conroe, Jordan Ranch in Fulshear and Veranda in Richmond.
In its 42nd year, Johnson Development has 17 communities under active development — 14 in the Houston area, two in Dallas-Fort Worth and one in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.johnsondevelopment.com.
Houston area home sales
Home prices and sales volume reached new heights, keeping 2017 on track to be a record year for Houston real estate. The greatest sales gains took place among homes priced from $750,000 and above (categorized as the luxury market), followed by homes in the $150,000 to $249,999 range. June was the eighth straight month that the luxury segment enjoyed rising sales. A total of 8,414 single-family homes sold in June compared to 7,771 a year earlier, according to the latest monthly report produced by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). That represents an 8.3 percent increase and marks the largest one-month sales volume in history. On a year-to-date basis, home sales remain ahead of 2016’s volume by 7.4 percent. New listings pushed inventory levels from a 3.9-months sup-
An aerial view of Johnson Development’s Riverstone ply to 4.4 months, the highest in strong employment numbers age price edged up 1.5 percent and healthy housing inventory to $304,155. Both figures are almost five years. “June proved to be another levels, we expect the market all-time highs. June sales of all phenomenal month for the to remain vibrant.” The sin- property types in Houston toHouston real estate market with gle-family home median price taled 9,993, up 8.3 percent from buyers and renters sending vol- (the figure at which half of the the same month last year. Total ume and pricing into record ter- homes sold for more and half dollar volume for properties ritory,” said HAR Chair Cindy sold for less) climbed 2.6 per- sold in June rose 10.4 percent to Hamann. “Between continued cent to $239,023. The aver- $2.9 billion.