houstonintown.com
MARCH + APRIL 2020
Experience Luxury Senior Living in the heart of Rice Village. Be inspired by the modern elegance, custom contemporary finishes, exceptional services and amenities. • Active Urban Living with walkability to retail & restaurants • Breathtaking skyline views • Exceptional Dining • Sky Lounge & Bistro • Valet & Concierge Service • Transportation to Texas Medical Center and Rice Village Shopping District
OPENING MAY 2020 Hurry, Pre-Opening pricing ends May 2020! 5020 Kelvin Dr. | Houston, TX 77005 | www.villagesouthampton.com
Your Well-Being Is Our Passion. Imagine living in a safe and convenient community, with everything you need just steps outside your door. A place to relax, a place to explore, a place for all ages. The Village of Southampton luxury senior living community is the new centerpiece to the long successful, highly awarded mixed-use area in West University, where you’ll find Rice Village District shopping, restaurants and entertainment. This pedestrian-friendly area consists of over 300 shops and is located just a few blocks from Rice University, Hermann Park, the Museum District and world renowned Texas Medical Center. You will enjoy shopping the boutiques, concerts in the park and the fine arts. Stay connected to the energy of the performing arts, continued learning and rich and varied social scene that only Houston can deliver. The Village of Southampton offers programs that keep you engaged with always something new to learn or do. It is a great place to meet new-found friends with likeminded interests who are just as eager as you to continue to broaden their horizons. Take off as a group on one of our many adventurous outings and leave the driving to us. Wake up to a dip in the heated pool and spa or try integrating a new innovative exercise program into your daily routine in our state-of-the-art fitness center. No matter what exercise you choose, your health and wellness are our primary focus. Our community areas are designed with you in mind. Relax in the outdoor oasis with lounge seating, flower boxes and view of the Houston skyline. Prepare your pallet for an exquisite dining experience as you retreat for lunch or dinner in our beautiful dining room. If you are on the go with no time for formal dining, grab a quick snack or sandwich in the Bistro. Enjoy conversation with friends and family while you unwind from a busy day of adventure with a glass of wine in the Sky Lounge. Once you settle into your new home at The Village of Southampton, the sounds of the city and hustle of the world seem to fade away. It’s where you love the possibilities that each day offers. Sophisticated independent living, with assisted living and memory care services —The Village of Southampton is where you Live Life Well®. We invite you to come explore Houston’s best kept secret. If you would like to learn more about how The Village of Southampton can be your new home, call Jill Conant at 281-886-8082. Reserve today and become an exclusive VIP Charter Club Member.
Hurry! Pre-opening pricing ends May 2020 and apartment homes are going fast.
Two downtown locations. One shared commitment to care.
If you’re in downtown Houston, now it’s twice as easy to connect with the quality, coordinated care you need. At Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, we believe in connections. Connections between primary care physicians and specialists. Between technology and diagnostics. And most of all, a strong connection to our patients.
Now 23 locations across Greater Houston, including two downtown! ACCEPTING 50+ HEALTH PLANS
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Connect with the care you need, when you need it, at one of our two downtown clinics or the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic nearest you.
Our Original Location – Downtown at The Shops
1200 McKinney St., Suite 473
Get comprehensive multispecialty care that’s focused on you. • Specialists in Dermatology, Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Occupational Medicine, Orthopedics/ Sports Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Podiatry, and Rheumatology • On-site diagnostic services, including 3D mammography, bone density tests, and ultrasound • On-site laboratory and X-ray • Kelsey Pharmacy
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Get quick, convenient care from a name you trust. • Primary care services for sick and well care • Immunizations • On-site laboratory • Coming soon: On-site Virtual Care and more!
kelsey-seybold.com/downtown
Intown
/ March + April 2020
Send comments, thoughts or ideas to intownmagazine@gmail.com
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ON THE COVER 26
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8-9 ARTS + EVENTS 10-11 TREASURES FROM HISPANIC MUSEUM 12-21 FOCUS INTOWN REAL ESTATE 22-23 INTERVIEW: HGO’S PERRYN LEECH
24-25 KITCHEN REDESIGN 26-27 THE GAME FINFINANCIAL FOCUS 28-29 FINANCIAL FOCUS
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THE BUZZ
PRODUCTION
Intown houstonintown.com
PUBLISHER
M. A. Haines EDITOR
Lisa June
CONTRIBUTORS
Lindsay Mowad William Hanover Marene Gustin Evans Attwell Philip Berquist Minnie Payne
Web Design CSS Art & Design Layout & Graphic Design CSS Art & Design
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Intown magazine is published bi-monthly by SNS Media. Articles are welcome and will be given careful consideration for possible publication. Intown magazine does not assume any responsibility for unsolicited materials. Materials submitted will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Box 980757 Houston, TX 77098. You can also e-mail intownmagazine@gmail.com. Copyright 2019 by Intown magazine. All rights reserved. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without permission from Intown magazine.
6 | Intown | March + April 2020
CONCIERGE
SERVICE
Catherine Van Zutphen cath@cathvz.com 843-276-5271
Claudia Hellmund Chellmund@kw.com 832-309-9390
Colette Franz colettefranz@kw.com 713-416-4257
Genevieve Rowland genevieve@ rowland-properties.com 281-904-7014
James Selig james@theseliggroup.com 409-256-1274
Bell Property Team teambellsels@kw.com 214-763-2762
Jen Tran jentran@kw.com 832-646-2674
Lauren Taylor teamtaylor@kw.com 713-465-6105
Melonee Piperi mel@movinghouston.com 713-705-6029
Montse Foster Montse@kw.com 713-965-3019
Tara Kordula Anderson tarakordula@gmail.com 713-202-4101
The Property Joes joseph@diosanagroup.com 281-650-4658
Keller Williams Memorial 950 Corbindale Rd #100, Houston, TX 77024 Phone: (833) 533-6400 Fax: (713) 467-6226
Arts +
EVENTS
Artupdate houston published every two weeks by houstonintown. Go to website and sign up for newsletter to receive free update. MUSEUMS Asia Society Texas Center
Eternal Offerings Chinese Ritual Bronzes Through August 29
Form is Emptiness, Emptiness in Form Through March 29
Museum Of Fine Arts Houston
Norman Rockwell: American Freedom Through March 22
A History of Photography: Selections from the Museum’s Collection Through May 3
Radical: Italian Design 1965-1985, The Dennis Freedman Collection Through April 26
Francis Bacon: Late Paintings
MARKET SQUARE PARK HOSTS FREE SAINT PATRICK’S DAY CONCERT ON MARCH 14 The Houston Downtown Management District (Downtown District) hosts its annual Saint Patrick’s Day Concert at Market Square Park on Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 2 p.m. Market Square Park will come alive with food, lawn games, family friendly activities and free live music from local Celtic rock band the Blaggards. Event-goers are encouraged to stay Downtown and explore the neighborhood after the concert with drink specials at the area’s eclectic bars and restaurants. Visit www.downtownhoustonparking.org for an interactive map with garages, surface lots and other parking options in the area. For more information about the Saint Patrick’s Day Concert at Market Square Park, visit www.marketsquarepark.com. WHAT: Saint Patrick’s Day Concert at Market Square Park WHEN: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 2 to 3 p.m. WHERE: Market Square Park 301 Milam St Houston, TX 77002 COST: Concert is free to attend MORE INFO: www.marketsquarepark.com ABOUT DOWNTOWN DISTRICT The Downtown District was formed in 1995 for the purpose of revitalizing the urban core of the country’s fourth largest city. Over the past decade, the Downtown District has used a combination of public funds and private resources to catalyze area improvements focusing on the city blocks bordered by Interstate 10, Highway 59 and Interstate 45. 8 | Intown | March + April 2020
Through May 25
Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait Glory Of Spain: Treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library March 1 through May 25
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Hamman Hall Of Texas Coastal Ecology Herzstein Foucault Pendulum John McGovern Hall of The Americas Lester & Sue Smith Gem Vault Morian Hall of Paleontology Starke Hall of Malacology Wiess Energy Hall Welch Hall of Chemistry Special Exhibits Stonehenge: Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries The Art of the Brick Death by Natural Causes “Moon” by Luke Jerram Tourmaline Treasures State of Water: Our Most Valuable Resource MUSIC & DANCE Houston Ballet
The Sleeping Beauty
Through March 8
Forged In Houston
March 12 through 20
Houston Symphony
Garrett Bradley: American Rhapsody
Adams” El Nino
Through March 23
March 14 & 15
Slowed and Throwed: Records of the City Through Mutated Lenses
Swing to Rock with Dave Benett March 20,21,22
March 6 through June 7
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20
Holocaust Museum Houston
Andres Conducts Mahler
March 26, 28 & 29
The Book Smugglers
April 3, 4, & 5
Menil Collection Collection Close-Up: Of Heaven and Earth
April 10, 11
March 13 through August 16
Through March 15
Think of Them as Spaces: Brice Marden’s Drawings Through June 14
Photography and the Surreal Imagination Ongoing through June 14
Si Lewen: The Parade
April 24 through August 23
Houston Museum Of Natural Science
Permanent Exhibits Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Hall Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals Earth Forum Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife Frensley/Graham Hall of African Wildlife Hall Of Ancient Egypt
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert Aretha: Quenn of Soul
April 17, 18, & 19
THEATER A.D. Players
The Spitfire Grill
April 24 through May 10
ALLEY THEATRE
Camp David
Through March 15
1984
March 16 through March 29
Dead Man’s Cell Phone
April 17 through May 10
SPORTS
FARMERS MARKET
Houston Astros
Minute Maid Park
April 7 - 8 NY Mets 17 - 19 Anaheim 20 - 23 Tampa Bay 24 - 26 Oakland
Houston Dynamo
BBVA Compass Stadium March 14 Seattle
Broadway Across America
Honky Tonk Laundry
April 4 Portland 11 Inter Miami 15 Minnesota
Hobby Center Come From Away
Sensitive Guys
Houston Rockets
March 3 through 8
Fiddler on the Roof
March 24 through 29
STAGES REPERTORY THEATER
The Fantasticks
Through March 15
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March 6 through May 24 March 20 through April
THE ENSEMBLE THEATER
Autumn
March 19 through April 12
Theatre Under the Stars
Pure Country
April 14 through 26
Toyota Center March 5 8 10 17 19 21
LA Clippers Orlando Minnesota Cleveland Sacramento Chicago
Wednesdays - Saturdays
City Hall 2752 Buffalo Speedway
8am - noon
April 2 Golden State 5 Toronto 8 San Antonio 10 Washington 13 Phoenix 15 Memphis
300 Artists 2 Music Stages Food Trucks Chef’s Demonstrations Children’s Creative Zone Sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital Specialty Care
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Craft Beer & Wine Garden www.bayoucityartfestival.com #HouArtFest #BayouCityArtFest
MARCH 27-29 2020 FRIDAY - SUNDAY 10 AM TO 6 PM TICKETS $12 ONLINE $15 CASH $16 CREDIT FEATURED ARTIST MCKENZIE FISK @M CKEN Z I E _ F I S K _ A RT
Produced by Art Colony Association, Inc Benefiting Houston Non-Profits
March + April 2020
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MFAH Lets Rip With Treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library By Virginia Billeaud Anderson
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e-emphasizing wife Josefa, and mistress Leocadia, 44 years younger, misguided romantics spin Goya as lusting after the Duchess of Alba. They believe the painting “Naked Maja” which hangs in the Prado and got Goya investigated by the Inquisition, is a portrait of Alba. What better proof that the old deaf painter’s sexual desires were fulfilled, they argue, than this reclining nude with hands behind head, direct gaze, and faultless thighs and pubic triangle. The nude is not Alba. Scholarship determined that Alba and Goya were close trusting friends, she popped into his studio, he hung out at her Madrid palace, and her country estate. Flirty, liberated, the Duchess was Goya’s favorite subject, he captured her in formal portraits, informal paintings teasing servants, holding children - and in multiple drawings. Yet Goya revealed feelings. He painted Alba standing in a black dress, the Duke had recently kicked the bucket, with her finger pointed to an inscription on the ground that reads “Solo Goya.” Only Goya! In 1906 Archer M. Huntington paid a hefty price to lasso Goya’s declaration of love for the Hispanic Society, and it’s worth the trip to Manhattan just to see the artist’s treatment of embroidery in Alba’s red waist sash. No need to travel. Alba’s portrait is currently in Houston, a centerpiece of MFAH’s exhibition Glories of Spain: Treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, through May 25, 2020. Archer Huntingdon became seduced by Hispanic culture in Mexico in 1898, and began to study Spanish literature, and to concoct the idea of creating a museum devoted to the Roman, Portrait Bust, c. 138-150 AD, Marble, the Hispanic Society of America. Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes), The Duchess of Alba, 1797, oil on canvas, the Hispanic Society of America.
Celtiberian, Silver and Gold Torque, c. 172150 BC, silver and gold, the Hispanic Society of America.
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Seville, Plate, c. 1500, earthenware with cuerda seca decoration, the Hispanic Society of America.
art and artifacts of the Spanish Empire. He collected books and manuscripts, then traveled to Spain to collect archaeological artifacts. To know the “soul” of Spain, Huntingdon learned Arabic and interacted with ordinary Spaniards. The windfall that came with his father’s death allowed him to add rare volumes and purchase art by Spanish masters. In 1904 Huntingdon founded the Hispanic Society of America and built his museum, which opened to the public in 1908. Today the collection has 750,000 objects from Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines. Over 200 of these - paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, maps, textiles, porcelains and ceramics, metalwork and jewelry, spanning 4,000 years of Hispanic culture, are exhibited at MFAH. If as Polybius believed, we’re lazy to be ignorant about Rome’s territorial expansion, take satisfaction in knowing the Romans began to gobble up Spain in 218BC, and after vanquishing the Carthaginians, controlled the entire Iberian Peninsula. The Romans built 12,000 miles of Spanish roads and bridges for their chariots. You get a sense of Spain’s importance to Rome at Merida’s archaeological ruins, where the temples, theater, baths and racecourses rival Rome’s Imperial architecture. Among the exhibition’s Roman artifacts are a 1st century marble Portrait Bust from Italica, a 1st century bronze Oil Lamp with the head of the god Pan, and a 1st century floor Mosaic with the head of Medusa. By 1300BC, Celts from the north had inhabited Spain and mixed with indigenous Iberians. The people who resulted were Celtiberians, who annoyed the Romans because they resisted subjugation and cleaned their teeth with urine. Like the other pre-Roman occupants of Spain, the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians, Celtiberians parlayed Iberian silver mines. Excelling at metalwork, they produced the Celtiberian Gold and Silver Torque (neck ring). Centuries later, the Church commissioned very elaborate silver objects such as the Reliquary Cross from Barcelona (c.1400). Quite sumptuous objects were crafted out of gold plundered from the Americas. Market excursions reveal pottery is a cash cow. Pottery became significantly refined after Muslims entered Spain in 711 and Muslim potters introduced the technique of separating color glazes to decorate surfaces, as seen in the ceramic Plate with Dragon from Seville (c.1500.) Some exhibition ceramics date back to 2400BC. The Visigoths ruled Spain after the Romans, they contributed blue eyes, and gave the Catholic Church its foothold. See the exhibition’s Visigothic Belt Buckle (550AD) studded with garnets. Also exhibited: more Goyas, El Greco, Velazquez, mediaeval illuminated Manuscripts, Silk Textile from the Alhambra (1400), a 15th century Spanish iron Door Knocker with Dragon Head design, an earthenware Jar from Mexico 1660, an 18th century silver Vessel from Peru. March + April 2020
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Memorial Villages
Bellaire Briargrove
Memorial West
The Heights
River Oaks
Independence Heights
West University
By David Michael Young
2019 was an incredibly busy year in residential real estate in Houston.
More homes sold in the Houston Metro Area than any other year, but homes in many areas took a long time to sell and many sellers decided to lease instead. We have a strong local and national economy and buyers are showing great confidence in the market. There is still a lot of inventory out there, but economists are forecasting a strong market and continued low interest rates, so we should get back to a more balanced market by the summer. For more real estate updates log on to www.houstonintown.com and sign up for our newsletters.
Top Ten Single Family Sales in 2019 Sales Price
Address
Area
Agent - List / Buy
$15,680,000 $10,000,000 $9,500,000 $9,000,000 $8,480,000 $7,350,000 $6,750,000 $6,560,000 $6,300,000 $6,100,000
2930 Lazy Lane 3456 Inwood Dr 3 W Rivercrest 3458 Inwood Dr 3014 Del Monte Dr 2320 River Oaks Blvd 3195 Inwood Dr 11302 Jamestown Rd 3433 Westheimer PH 1-E 3434 Ella Lee Ln
River Oaks River Oaks Rivercrest River Oaks River Oaks River Oaks River Oaks Piney Point The River Oaks River Oaks
Jeanne Marosis/Non-MLS Agent Katie Forney/Katie Forney Susan Boss/Virginia Westbrooks Katie Forney/William Wheless Clayton Katz/Clayton Katz Robert Bland/Shirin Petty Walter Bering/Thomas Cervone Laura Sweeney/Steve Baumgardner Carmela Lummis/Karen Gillespie Clare Leppert/Pama Abercrombie
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Val Arbona REALTOR, CLHMS, CRS RE/MAX Vintage (713) 562-4903 valarbona.com
Mariana Saldana Broker Associate Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (832) 338-4040 Mariana@uptownhouston.com
Wendy Cline Broker/Associate Wendy Cline Properties Group Keller Williams Memorial (281) 858-3451 www.WendyClineProperties.com
10 Magnolia Woods Drive | Deer Ridge Estates
List Price $3,750,000 | MLS #50130592
Grand 12,708 SF estate on 3.85-acre lot in guard gated Estate. Backyard playground features a large pool, secluded hot hub and walking trail through the woods. High end custom finishes with a room for every occasion – wine room, media room, study, music room, ballroom, and more. Only 30 mins to Downtown Houston via resident only accessible back gate.
David M. Young | Douglas Elliman Real Estate | 713-320-6453
Weldon Rigby CRS, ABR Founding Member KW Luxury Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (713) 621-2555 www.weldonrigby.com
David Michael Young BROKER, CNE, CLHMS, GREEN Douglas Elliman Real Estate (713) 320-6453 www.youngrealtyhouston.com
Beverly Smith CLHMS, Lake Conroe Specialist Coldwell Banker United, Realtors (713) 569-2113 www.lakeconroebeverlysmith.com
10181 Valley Dr. | Lake Conroe
List Price $2,100,000 | MLS #94233735
Your own private oasis on Lake Conroe with 540 feet of Magnificent Waterfront on a1.36 acre peninsula. The home has walls of windows with breathtaking views, an enormous kitchen. The home has 8 bedrooms with lake views from 6 of them and 5 being Master size suites. The back yard has a fire pit, 2 decks a dock/lift, and a 46 foot pool with spa.
Beverly Smith | Coldwell Banker United, Realtors | 713-569-2113
January + February 2020
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May + June 2019
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Bellaire by Neil Silverman
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he City of Bellaire, referred to as “City of Homes” due to its residential character, was established in 1908 and incorporated in 1918. An Enclave Community surrounded by the city of Houston, Bellaire enjoys all that Houston has to offer with the comfort of knowing we can depend on our first-class municipal services and public safety departments, truly setting Bellaire apart. Bellaire population is 18,425 with just over 6600 homes and has a landmass of 3.6 square miles. There are almost 20 parks that offer an assortment of amenities and vary in size, 1 Public Library, 4 Tennis Courts, Aquatics Center, Evergreen Pool, Recreation Center with basketball and fitness room, and multiple baseball and softball fields. In 2019, Bellaire saw the completion of the Municipal Facilities project, including the construction of a new City Hall and Civic Center and a new Police and Municipal Court building. Neil Silverman, a local neighbor for over 25 years, with Bernstein Realty who list and sells homes in Bellaire, welcomes the opportunity to be of service, please contact him for all your Real Estate needs at 713.725-9750.
E A S T E R
HE
IS
S E R V I C E S
RISEN
Sunrise
Contemporary
Family-friendly
7:00 AM • Courtyard
8:30 AM • Sanctuary
9:45 AM • Sanctuary
Traditional
Spanish Language
Portuguese Language
11:15 AM • Sanctuary
11:15 AM • Chapel
6:00 PM • Chapel
MDPC
A Guided Walk for Children and their Families to Experience the Sights and Sounds of Holy Week
Free FamilyFriendly Activity!
Good Friday, April 10 Tours begin from 9:15-11:00 AM Register for your tour time at CrossJourney.mdpc.org
Celebrate the Season with MDPC
EasterServices.mdpc.org CrossJourney.mdpc.org
16 | Intown | March + April 2020
Briargrove
Compliments of Bernstein Realty
by Melinda Gordon
B
riargrove is a beautiful neighborhood conveniently located 2 miles west of The Galleria in Houston as far south as Westheimer as far north as Woodway just west of Fountainview, the north section borders Tanglewood. There are many excellent local restaurants and shops within walking distance. Briargrove Elementary is a highly ranked HISD school. The community has just over 900 homes total with a solid HOA, which provides a 24 hr. Security Patrol. Briargrove has a neighborhood playground with a pool that offers a swim team in the summer months. You can always find neighbors out front hanging in their Adirondack chairs! Melinda Gordon, a local neighbor, with Bernstein Realty who lists and sells homes in Briargrove, welcomes the opportunity to be of service, please contact her for all of your real estate needs at 713.256.9145.
(713) 542-9860
LOCATED IN MONTROSE
TEJASCUSTOMBOOTS.COM March + April 2020
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The Heights by Amanda & Rich Anhorn
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his diverse small-town community was developed in the 1890s by its founders Oscar Martin Carter and Daniel Denton Cooley. They were the principles of the Omaha and South Texas Land Company, and these midwestern investors were drawn to the higher elevation of the area and purchased 1,700 acres of land. With electrification, the developers could expand further from downtown Houston with the use of the city’s streetcar system. The Heights became the city’s first large, planned community and existed separate from Houston until annexed in 1918. Today the Heights has much to offer its residents, including one of Houston’s grandest boulevards, home of a 3-mile walking trail, majestic trees, and public art sculptures. The Heights architecture ranges from Texas Victorians, turn-of-the-century bungalows, and new development. Other amenities the Heights offers are exemplary schools,
18 | Intown | March + April 2020
acres of parks, miles of trails, an exploding restaurant scene, live entertainment, antique stores, and offbeat boutiques. Recently, portions of the Heights have been designated as historic, which has preserved the original character of the neighborhood. Single-family homes range from $325,000-2,100,000 with standard lot sizes ranging from 4,400 square feet up to 7,500 square feet. The amount of single-family sales for 2019 was close to 1,300 transactions, with an average price per square foot of $256. Townhomes mostly exist on the outer bound-
aries of the Heights and range from $300,000-$530,000. In 2019 there were 141 transactions with a price per square foot of $187. Lots in the Heights range from $210,000-$1,800,000, with an average price of around $57 a square foot. If you’re in the rental market, there is a wide variety to choose from, including garage apartments, which start around $775 a month to luxury homes up to $7,000 a month. Amanda & Rich Anhorn | Greenwood King Properties |713.255.5123 anhorn@grenwoodking.com Top Producer 2004-2019
Independence Heights by Jessica McCreary
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ouston’s newest “hot spot” for new construction is called Independence Heights. Located North of the Houston Heights, just outside 610 Loop, “The Super Neighborhood,” was created by the City of Houston, which drew its borders as Tidwell to the North, Shepherd Drive to the West, 610 to the South and 45 to the East. Similar to the Heights, this area is rich with history. It started to develop in 1908 by Wright Land Company and was incorporated Independence Heights. It became the first African American municipality in Texas. Then in 1929, the community was annexed by Houston. In 2018, the Houston Chronicle said this area “has it all” and cited a study conducted by Redfin, who ranked neighborhoods based on what buyers wanted. Priorities were good schools, transit options, commute times, crime, and affordability. Independence Heights ended up ranking 13 out of 25 in their nation-wide study. The recent development of a Whole Foods 365 at 610 & Yale has prompted other businesses to take a risk in this “upand-coming” location. For 2017, the average sales price for a lot was $45,316. In 2019, that jumped to $62,954. Let’s not forget the area’s popularity with Millennials, as well. As of two years ago, they represent the largest cohort of homebuyers in the country, and Houston is no different. The key to their heart is also affordability. New construction ranges from $300k-$365k in most cases. Jessica McCreary is Broker /Owner of HTX Living, LLC. p. 713 408.3195 Currently, for Sale 183 Homes / 56 Listings are Lots Currently for Lease 35 Homes As of 1/1/2020: 6 Lots Sold / Avg. Lot Size is 6,281sf / Avg. Sales Price is $126,833 16 New Single-Family Homes Sold / Avg Lot Size is 2,456sf / Avg Interior Size 1,680sf / Avg Sales Price is $283,890 March + April 2020
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Memorial Villages/Memorial West Memorial Villages
Memorial West
by Alex Loyd
T
he Memorial Villages consists of six villages. Four are just south of I-10: Hunters Creek, Piney Point, Bunker Hill, and Hedwig, and two villages just north of I-10: Spring Valley and Hilshire. They all serve as a collection of upscale residential communities right outside the 610/I-10 interchange. The largest village, according to the 2010 consensus, is Hunters Creek at New construction in Hilshire Village, around 4,300+ residents, and the smallest compliments of Alex Loyd is Hilshire, with just under 800 residents. 77024 Villages Stats (Per MLS) All six of the villages are served by the Village Fire Department and have their own Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2019 elected mayor and city council. The Me- • 11 Single Family Homes Sold Average Sales Price: $1,898,245 morial Villages Police Department serves Average SF: 5,445 Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village, Average Lot SF: 25,485 Hedwig, and Hunters Creek Village, • 4 Lots Sold while Spring Valley and Hilshire Villages Average Sales Price: $1,142,725 are serviced by The Spring Valley Police Average Lot SF: 27,168 Department. Jan 1 - Today, 2020 All six villages are zoned to the Spring • 13 Single Family Homes Sold Branch Independent School District Average Sales Price: $2,378,427 (SBISD), which is a highly rated public Average SF: 6,298 Average Lot SF: 24,851 school district with an overall ranking of an A-. In Harris County, SBISD is rated • 8 Lots Sold #5 best places to teach, #6 best school Average Sales Price: $1,121,844 Average Lot SF: 19,842 district and #7 best district for athletes **25% Price Increase in Single Family and safety and #8 in diversity. Home Sales!!** Being a resident of Spring Valley Village for over eight years, I love this com- 77055 Villages Stats (Per MLS) munity and watching my children grow Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2019 up the way I did, playing outside in the • 10 Single Family Homes Sold front yard and running from one house Average Sales Price: $882,012 Average SF: 3,288 to the next. From the neighbors to the Average Lot SF: 12,325 police department, everyone watches out for each other, and I feel incredibly • 1 Lot Sold Average Sales Price: $637,500 safe living here. It is not only a beautiful Average Lot SF: 9,527 place to live and raise a family, but it’s • Jan 1 - Today, 2020 also a great place to invest in real estate. 6 Single Family Homes Sold Before 1981, city ordinances limited all Average Sales Price: $1,232,437 single-family homes to one-story, but Average SF: 3,831 today, most have been renovated or torn Average Lot SF: 11,175 down for new construction. Due to the • 2 Lots Sold tremendous population growth, Spring Average Sales Price: $607,000 Valley’s Planning and Zoning Commis- Average Lot SF: 13,512 sion made it mandatory, unless grand- **40% Price Increase in Single Family fathered in, for lot sizes to have a mini- Home Sales mum of 10,000 square feet. Alex Loyd is a Top Producer with Compass RE Texas p. 713-851-2521
20 | Intown | March + April 2020
by Amy Bernstein
Memorial West encompasses a wide variety of neighborhoods, and all located North of I-10. Some of the most popular neighborhoods inside the Beltway are Frostwood, Memorial Forest, Memorial Bend, Tealwood, Sandalwood, and Fonn Villas. The area also extends outside the Beltway to Memorial Glen, Gaywood, Nottingham, Nottingham Forest, Wilchester, and beyond. It is convenient to City Centre, Town and Country, and Memorial City Mall and a short commute to the Energy Corridor. Memorial West is also home to one of Houston’s largest parks, Terry Hershey Park. Amy Bernstein, a local neighbor, with Bernstein Realty, is a top producing real estate agent who has listed and sold homes in the Memorial West area for more than 30 years. Bernstein Realty welcomes the opportunity to be of service, contact us for all your real estate needs at 713.932.1032.
River Oaks by David Young
R
iver Oaks is undisputedly Houston’s premier subdivision. With a buy-in price of $1 million and previous non-MLS sales above $30 million, this genteel neighborhood is home to many of Houston’s wealthiest families. Established in the 1920s by Houston’s famous Hogg family and anchored by the exclusive River Oaks Country Club, the River Oaks subdivision of roughly 1,300 homes built out in the 1920s and 1930s. Most homes have been designed by renowned architects and builders and preserved over the years. The River Oaks Area would also include the subdivisions of Tall Timbers, Homewood, Royden Oaks, Oak Estates just west of that, Avalon Place, and Glendower Court. These deed-restricted subdivisions are served well by the highend retail shops and excellent restaurants
River Oaks/West University West University
77005 Stats (Per MLS)
by Alex Loyd
West University Place, well-known to many as “West U,” was developed in 1917 by then Governor of Tennessee, Ben Hooper, and sat on about 2 square miles of land. Many of the streets bear names after many colleges and universities because of the proximity to Rice University. However, in the 1920s, a Rice University English major, Lilly Nicholson, was asked to help name a few of the streets, so she took to her books and named them after some of her favorite literary authors, like William Shakespeare and John Dryden. West U is often called “The Neighborhood City.” It boasts nine neighborhood parks and community pools, and you will always find the neighbors of West U spending time outdoors or at the infamous West U Little League Ballpark. West U is among the safest communities
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PROPERTIES
in Upper Kirby, the River Oaks Shopping Center, and Highland Village. Many of the highest-priced homes do not appear in MLS, but according to HAR MLS, there were 107 sales of single-family homes in the River Oaks Area in 2018, ranging from $815,000 to $15,680,000 and averaging $2,716,808 ($496/SF) – 9% lower than 2018. There are also eight luxury HiRISE condominium towers in a broader River Oaks Area, including The Huntingdon, 2727 Kirby, Regency House, The Willowick, Lamar Tower, Inwood Manor, Chateau Ten and the new The River Oaks. 48 condos sold in these buildings in 2019, ranging $170,250 to $6,300,000 and averaging $948,404 ($366/SF). David Michael Young, Broker Associate Douglas Elliman Real Estate david@youngrealtyhouston.com
Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2019 • 16 Single Family Homes Sold Average Sales Price: $1,384,500 Average SF: 3,540 Average Lot SF: 5702
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| Intown |21
Intown’s Classical Music Critic, the Hon. Philip Berquist Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia for Texas
An Interview with Perryn Leech
Managing Director of Houston Grand Opera
S
ince its founding in 1955, Houston Grand Opera has become one of the great opera companies in the United States, and by extension, the world. It has won numerous important awards, a Tony, two Grammy awards, and three Emmy’s. It is the only company in the United States to have won all three. HGO is lead by Patrick Summers, the Artistic and Music Director, and Perryn Leech, the Managing Director. It maintains its own orchestra and chorus and performs at the Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. I recently sat down with Perryn Leech to discuss the 2020-2021 season that was just accounted. Perryn has an interesting background. Born in Bristol, England, he was recruited by then-HGO Managing Director Anthony Freud to become the technical and production manager of HGO in 2006. They had previously worked together at the Welsh National Opera. He became the Chief Operating Officer in 2010, and when Freud left to lead Lyric Opera in Chicago, Perryn became the Managing Director. INTOWN: Perryn, thank you for this opportunity to discuss Houston Grand Opera. Before we get into talking about next season, perhaps we can go over some basic questions that our readers, and myself certainly included, might have regarding how HGO actually puts a season together. For openers, how far out do you plan? LEECH: We have an outline planned for three years. Three years is pretty solid normally. INTOWN: What is the most difficult part of putting a season together? LEECH: We tend to have singers that we want to use and that means looking at a long time out; singers that we have relationships with, and we do plan on using singers from the Houston Grand Opera Studio. INTOWN: I see that most of the productions each season are actually “co-productions” with other major companies. Can you explain how that actually works? LEECH: In the last twenty five to thirty years most companies are co-pro-
22 | Intown | March + April 2020
ducing because it makes financial sense. It is rare now not to have co-producers on projects. On Carmen, for example, we are the lead co-producer. So we built it, we were the “bank.” There were three companies that put in $300,000 each for a total production budget of $900,000. That number includes the physical properties, set costumes, wigs etc. All of that is from the lead co-producer and then a fee from the others is paid to the lead for use of the production. The contracting of singers is the absolute responsibility of each of the co-producers. INTOWN: Let’s discuss the ranking of North American opera companies. I always considered that the size of the annual production budget realistically determined the ranking and that would be the Metropolitan in New York, the Lyric in Chicago, San Francisco Opera, and then Houston Grand Opera. Is that a fair way to look at it.? LEECH: Unfortunately the size of the budget becomes one of the criteria by which companies are ranked by but it is not a really good way of looking at
it because you could have a very large budget and do very uninteresting work. It is more important to look at the quality of past several seasons to evaluate. I would mostly agree with your rankings although there are different models, for example, Santa Fe uses a “festival model” which means a shorter summer season and I think that LA should be included in your top five. INTOWN: How does HGO go about “balancing” a season? LEECH: It’s about balancing a repertoire that allows there to be something for everybody. People want their “grand opera,” Italian opera, they want their more popular titles, and we want to do two or three of those each year. We have a long term commitment to do large scale German work, for example, “Salome” this year and “Parsifal” next season, as well as a commitment to do new works, for example, “Snowy Day,” and then “Breaking the Waves” so if you do that we have three popular operas or musicals, a large scale German work, and a world premiere (“Snowy Day”) so we are now at five in a
Dress rehearsal, Carmen. Photo: Lynn Lane
HGO 2020-2021 Season Carmen
October 23 - November 13, 2020
Werther
October 30 - November 15, 2020
The Snowy Day
December 10 - 20, 2020
Parsifal
January 22 - February 7, 2021
Cinderella
January 29 - February 12, 2021
Breaking the Waves April 16 - May 1, 2021
The Sound of Music April 30 - May 15, 2021
seven opera season so then Patrick (Summers, HGO Music Director) then gets a little more expression in the other two selected each season to artistically make the statement. “Breaking the Waves” is not a world premiere but it is very recently written and it makes an absolutely sensational new title in the opera world, written by Missy Mazzoli, whose works have been commissioned by the Met and Opera Philadelphia and who is becoming the pre-eminent American composer of her time. It is an amazing piece and I saw it twice in Edinburgh and it really is one of the most amazing pieces you can imagine. INTOWN: Let’s finish by talking about the recently announced 20202021 season. LEECH: “Carmen” has huge dance components and we are thrilled that Isabel Leonard is making her debut as Carmen. She is one of the real rising stars of the opera world. Rob Ashford is the choreographer and his dancers have performed at the last eight or nine years or so at the Academy Awards. “Werther” is a French opera and one of the problems is how to cast the title role and we have Arturo Chaćon-Cruz
to sing it. Then we have our world premiere, “Snowy Day.” “Snowy Day” is an iconic African-American story by a very young composer (33!), Joel Thompson. The book is the most checked out book of the New York City Library. With Richard Wagner’s “Parsifal,” Russell Thomas, who sang Radames in our “Aida” this season, is singing the title role with Christine George singing Kundry. I think that we are doing the large scale Wagner operas extraordinarily well now. “Cinderella” (Rossini) is one very light piece to pair with the very heavy meal of Wagner so during that rep period one will experience opera at its heaviest and at its lightest. You can only this show with an absolutely amazing and magnetic star and we believe we have one in Emily D’Angelo and will be in that generation of great stars. “Sound of Music” is very much a piece that is there to appeal to a much wider audience. With Jeanine De Bique we believe that we have the first African-American will be cast as Maria. “Breaking the Waves” is going to be making a real bang in the community - it has
lots of conversations about stability, what it means sacrifice things you believe in to appease or alter your relationship with your loved one. INTOWN: I believe that there is a religious aspect to it. LEECH: Yes, the religion part is very interesting - in the production you don’t know whether she is talking to God or or is deeply disturbed. INTOWN: Perryn, to wrap things up, it seems to me that your background as theater technical operations and production designer to stage manager to Managing Director of a major opera company. LEECH: Yes, it is a different background for sure though, of course, Joe Volpi worked his way up from a bench carpenter to become General Manager of the Met. It allows me to - I know how to put shows on. Listen, eight years ago the Board gave me this responsibility and each year that passes with the whole company not going up in smoke, I think that, well, I have repaid a little bit of that faith. Let me hear from you with your thoughts, comments and suggestions for this column classicalmusicberquist@gmail.com March + April 2020
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DESIGN
HOME C ONT RA C T I NG
Designer Shows Why Not To Wait on that DREAM KITCHEN By Deloris Ludwig Designer
A
Before wall is removed
fter Hurricane Harvey brought floodwaters into Betty Wiley’s home, she knew it was time for a change. While the repaired kitchen was usable there was a plan in place down the road to upgrade to her dream home. “I wanted to create a welcoming kitchen that was easy to function in, easy to organize and looked great,” she says. Why not now she thought. No time like the present The original floor plan was a long galley kitchen that separated it from the living room. Betty as many people do, wanted an open concept that would not only expand the kitchen and connect the living room space, but transform the home by creating an inviting larger room where she could host friends and family in a much larger setting. To make it happen, she contacted our company, which has been in busi- Photo by Erica Hernandez ness since 1987. We are a design-tobuild renovation company for residen- ception to completion to be as stress-free tial and commercial customers. Home as possible for their clients. For every Contracting Inc. works side-by-side project, it is best to start with an on-site with homeowners to remodel kitchens, personal consultation followed by 3D bathrooms, install flooring and com- design ideas based on the client’s vision. plete many other custom services. We Then it’s showroom or internet surfing have worked with businesses such as to choose materials and finishes with Pluckers Wing Bar and Hilton Hotels. the designers input. Next make sure and Deloris Ludwig, who manages the com- schedule each piece of the project so that pany, has been doing design and renova- the amount of disruption for the client is as short as possible. tion work for nearly 25 years. “We never start demo until all the “I’m always aware of making sure the job is done correctly and catching materials are received and available to install,” states Ludwig. “And we have the things as we go along,” Deloris says. team to do the work.”
THE HOME CONTRACTING PROCESS Home Contracting employs a process to every remodel project from con24 | Intown | March + April 2020
REMOVING A LOAD-BEARING WALL To open up the kitchen, the separat-
ing wall needed to be removed, but it was a load-bearing wall as it many times is. Home Contracting’s experts had to plan not only the demolition but also to install a support beam running the length of the kitchen. This would make room for a sprawling island in Betty’s new open-concept kitchen. The process was involved, but the designer stays engaged throughout. “I was nervous about the support beam,” Betty says. “But the company and the engineers she got made me feel at ease.” During the process, they found a section of the ceiling attached to the wall that was dropped to hide gas, water and electrical lines. However, the team engineered a solution that solved the problem and created a butler’s nook that became a unique accent to the kitchen.
THE DESIGN SELECTIONS We chose a subway tile backsplash, Brazilian-granite countertops, white allwood cabinetry and engineered hardwood floors to match her living room. Betty also chose to install new recessed lighting, a light over the island and a custom-made stove vent. They replaced baseboards and even rebricked a portion of the outside of her home that had to be altered during the renovation.
A NEW SPACE FOR ENTERTAINING While Home Contracting shoots for a 10-day renovation on a room, Betty’s project took a bit longer because of the structural changes with the elimination of the support wall. Yet, within a few more weeks, Betty’s kitchen was just as she’d imagined—striking granite countertops, clean cabinetry and an open-concept layout with a timeless design.
“I just think it upgraded the whole look of the house on the first floor,” Betty says. She believes that working with Home Contracting and getting Deloris’ help, you get your choice of style without feeling overwhelmed by handling a renovation project alone. “I think these types of projects are good when you have the homeowner and designer working together and managing it as a team,” Deloris says. Betty Wiley can’t wait to entertain in her newly designed kitchen. For info contact HomeContractingInc.com, p. 832.653.7294
AFTER
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| Intown |25
The
GAME
INTERVIEW WITH
Tim Kurkjian
Jake Asman: ESPN baseball reporter Tim Kurkjian and one of the best reporters in the business Asman: What has this been like for you Tim you’ve covered baseball since 1979. Can you ever remember just every single day a different star player openly criticizing other players who belong to the same union as of course all these guys in the MLB Players Association belong to. Tim Kurkjian: Yeah I did not see this coming. In 40 years of covering baseball I’ve never seen anything quite like this. And I’ve covered every strike starting with 1981 and I did the whole steroid era. Pete Rose and now this. And I’ve never seen player versus player quite like this. And I simply did not see it coming and I don’t think anybody else did. And it’s not just player versus player it’s great players. It’s Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger Mike Trout, and Nick Markakis. They’re all over the place and it’s like every day there’s somebody else speaking out and just another reminder that this story is not going to end anytime soon. Asman: Manfred has said he couldn’t punish the players because the 26 | Intown | March + April 2020
MLB P.A. would fight it and they would win. Is that a fair enough reason though in your mind for not even at least attempting to try and punish the players. Kurkjian: Yeah, I think there is a way they could have gone about punishing the players. But the commissioner think he speaks the truth when he says realistically there’s no way he could have gotten to the truth without giving the players immunity. And once you grant them immunity that’s pretty much the end of the punishment there. This is a very slippery slope. A Rob Manfred is a very smart lawyer and he knows how the MLBPA works. And I think he looked at it and said the only way to get to the truth without subpoena powers is to grant them immunity. So that’s where we are right now. And I think all he can do is come out the next time and say if this ever happens again if we catch somebody cheating using electronics there will be no immunity. Asman: We know Cora of course goes from Houston to Boston but it just seems like based on what’s been out there it’s not going to be as severe at least from what we could tell. What are you hearing
in regards to Boston’s punishment? Kurkjian: Well that’s what I’ve been told from the beginning is that the Astros went above and beyond anybody else in baseball with what they did including the Red Sox. So I’m going to hold to that because I haven’t heard anything different than that since. However this investigation was supposed to be over basically before spring training. Clearly the commissioner wanted to interview players and some people again. So maybe he’s found out something else. Maybe he took so much heat for the Astros that he needs to re-examine whether the penalties on the Red Sox is the proper penalty. That’s where we are right now. I still don’t expect it to be close to the Astros punishment. Asman: Do you think if if Manfred came out from the beginning and vacated the Astros 2017 championship but still didn’t suspend the players the outrage would be anything close to what it is currently? Kurkjian: I think the biggest the biggest complaint is that this report says it was player driven and yet no players were punished. I think if you stripped
the title which I think at this point cannot be done because it’s just too late in that process. I think that would have upset a whole lot of people but I think the suspensions and no penalty is what has most people upset. I would add this is fairly obvious the punishment has already begun. I know no one’s rings or championships or money or statistics have been taken away but if you’re around the Astros at all those guys are being punished right now. And maybe it’s not enough punishment I understand that completely but maybe for the rest of the season maybe for the rest of their careers. This tag is going to be around their neck. Whether it’s correct or not. Asman: Tim, you obviously have covered baseball since 1979. You covered the steroid era. Is this a worst story, is a worse thing for baseball than the steroid era? Kurkjian: I’m going to still go with the steroid era was a bigger issue than this but this story is gaining steam and it may become bigger than the steroid era and people that I know and trust in this business my business as journalists have now placed it above the steroid era. I’m still not ready to go there but the story’s not over yet. We still have to see what develops. Asman: The Astros still have to go out there in 2020 and play as a team. They bring in veteran manager Dusty Baker to replace AJ Hinch. What do you think of that decision by Jim Crane to hire Dusty? Kurkjian: Well it was definitely the right decision because we have a lot of smart people in the game but we don’t have enough wise people in the game and there aren’t many
people wiser in the game than Dusty Baker. He can’t talk his team out of this one no matter how good he is and he’s one of the best and he’s a really good manager. So Dusty was the perfect hire there but we’re learning this is bigger than anybody and that’s why it’s going to take more than Dusty Baker to solve this issue and you know the Astros are in for massive distractions as this season begins. If they think it’s going to end when the season begins they’re going to get questions wherever they go from the media and they’re going to have all kinds of booing and everything else. Maybe they’re going to be good enough to handle all of that because they still have a really good team. But this thought that they’re going to be able to put this aside I’m not sure it’s going to be easy at all to do that. Asman: They open up the season they got four games at Minute Maid Park against the Angels they then play 12 of their next 14 games on the road. What’s it going to be like for them. Can you picture just the animosity and the hostile road environments that these Astro players are going to be walking into every time they step foot on a field away from Houston. Kurkjian: Yeah it’s going to be very difficult. I know Jim Crane did not appreciate what was going to happen this year because he’s not a player. And I think he was a little bit naive to what the Astros are going to be up against. But I think now with the way so many players have spoken out against the Astros they all have an understanding what this season is going to be like and it’s not going to be easy.
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March + April 2020
| Intown |27
Financial
FOCUS
O
n the face of it, money and financial planning seem universal, the same for men and women. But just beneath the surface are hard realities—longevity, employment inequities and more—so that realistically, men and women aren’t necessarily on equal footing when it comes to their finances.
For starters, women tend to live longer—about five years longer than men, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. A longer life requires more money, but women are often hampered by lingering wage disparities. To complicate matters, women tend to take more time away from their careers— about 15 percent of their work life compared to 1.6 percent for men—to care for children, grandchildren or aging relatives. For scores of women, that all translates to less money to save for goals, such as their own retirement, and even reduces Social Security payments because of how benefits are calculated. 28 | Intown | March + April 2020
As if these realities aren’t dismal enough, the divorce rate in the U.S. now hovers between 40 and 50 percent for first marriages (higher for subsequent marriages), and the average age of widowhood in the U.S. is 56. In fact, nine out of 10 women will be totally responsible for their own finances at some point in their lives—because they never married, they married and divorced, or they married and were widowed, according to the National Center for Women and Retirement Research. Steps to take control of your financial life: • Build an emergency fund of your
own sufficient to sustain you for six to 12 months. • Avoid debt and increase your opportunities to build wealth. • Develop a strong relationship with a banker, attorney, accountant and wealth advisor. When you need them, you’ll have advisers you know and trust. • Educate yourself about financial planning, especially investments, so you can confidently make decisions for yourself. • Manage risks with insurance cover-
age, such as life, disability and long-term care insurance. • Actively participate with your spouse in financial planning activities. Speak up to ensure your current and future needs are considered. • Review and understand your spouse’s estate plan so you know what your financial situation will be if he predeceases you. Make sure that joint assets are truly joint. • Focus on saving money for your own retirement in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other retirement option.
Would you like to talk to a financial professional? Contact Evans at 713.388.1367 or evans.attwell@frostbank.com.
By Evans Attwell Senior Vice President Frost Bank
Investment and insurance products are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, and may lose value. Brokerage services offered through Frost Brokerage Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through Frost Investment Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Both companies are subsidiaries of Frost Bank. Investment management services, financial planning and trust services are offered through Frost Wealth Advisors of Frost Bank. Additionally, insurance products are offered through Frost Insurance. Deposit and loan products are offered through Frost Bank, Member FDIC. Frost does not provide legal or tax advice. Please seek legal or tax advice from legal and/or tax professionals.
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Unmatched service. Sound advice. And peace of mind knowing your money is well cared for. Now, how can we help you today? Visit us at our River Oaks Financial Center, 2443 Westheimer or call at (713) 388-1059.
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March + April 2020
| Intown |29
James && Emily Emily Yardley Yardley James and Lindley Lindley && Jason Jason Arnoldy Arnoldy and
Elizabeth Ortega, Joni Fichter and Peyton Wallace
Ed and Denise Sobash
Brett and Stephanie Magill
Kelly Beth Hapgood and Lauren Droubi
Nelson and Ellen Mabry
John and Cherie Lindley
Park Lovers’ Ball Close to 600 West University Place neighbors and friends gathered for “A Medieval Knight in the Park” for the 29th annual Park Lovers’ Ball which raised over $490,000! The event honored loyal and generous Friends supporter IBC Bank. The President of IBC Houston, Jeff Samples, was amongst the attendees to accept the acknowledgement. IBC Houston has played a monumental role in the success of Friends’ fundraising efforts year after year. Event co-chairs Mary Frances & David DuMay and Kimberly & John Carr Eads chairs credit the success of “A Medieval Knight in the Park” to their team of steadfast and meticulous volunteers. The auction co-chairs were Laura Avila and Elizabeth Rambin. Underwriting and sponsorship cochairs were Lindley Arnoldy and Emily Yardley. Rounding out the captivating atmosphere were the décor cochairs, Lauren Droubi and Kelly Beth Hapgood.
Laura Umansky and Carol Rowley
Dr. Julie Longoria and Dr. Stephen Chen Michelle and Doug Huth
Doug and Courtney Goff
Philip and Susan Berry Donna LaMond, David & Mary Frances DuMay, Kimberly & John Carr Eads and Sami Morrison
WORTHWHILE CONVERSATIONS
ARE WE STILL OK AFTER THE SECURE ACT?
J. Harold Williams, CPA/PFS, CFP®, and Jessica Banitt, CPA, CFP®, discuss the SECURE Act, and the importance of having a team of professionals to determine the right choice for you. IS THERE REASON FOR CONCERN IN LIGHT OF THE RECENTLY ENACTED SECURE ACT? No, most people should continue to feel secure (pardon the pun). The financial media has enjoyed a field day describing the SECURE Act, which affects retirement accounts, as a game-changer. We have received questions from clients, but the group of people who need to modify their planning is a relatively small number. Although a bit of an oversimplification, it really boils down to just two main things.
WHAT ARE THOSE TWO “MAIN THINGS”? The age at which you must start drawing down your retirement balances has been moved back to age 72. It was 70-1/2 previously. The new starting age applies to anyone not already 70-1/2 at the end of 2019. The later start improves planning flexibility for people who might retire
before age 72 but, because of other income sources, may not actually need immediate withdrawals from their retirement accounts. Phillip Hamman, CFA, CFP®, heads our Wealth Planning Committee. He describes it as: “They can develop an ‘optimization strategy’ for drawing down these accounts”.
YOU SAID THERE WERE TWO “MAIN THINGS”… The other important item generally affects beneficiaries of IRA accounts who are NOT the surviving spouse of the deceased account owner. Before the SECURE Act, these inheritors could slowly draw down these retirement accounts in installments over their entire lifetime. That offered some great income tax planning flexibility. The SECURE Act generally shortens the withdrawal period to a maximum of 10 years. In certain cases, where families fully expect that retirement assets will pass to the next generation, planning should likely be updated.
IS THERE A “BOTTOM LINE” HERE? Everyone needs good planning around configuring cash flow in retirement. If you have not focused on this area, we recommend sitting down with a financial advisor who is a fiduciary 100% of the time, like Linscomb & Williams. We have an experienced and fully-credentialed team and are available to meet in our office right here in the Houston Galleria area.
For more information, or a copy of our Form ADV, Part II, with all of our disclosures, call Grant Williams at 713 840 1000 or visit www.linscomb-williams.com.
Linscomb & Williams is located at 1400 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1000 in Houston, TX For more information call 713 840 1000 or visit www.linscomb-williams.com. Linscomb & Williams is not an accounting firm.
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