Bike Trail Detours

The Heights and White Oak bike trails detours as part of construction work on I-45 will begin as soon as June 25th and is expected to last until the third quarter of 2017. According to the official press release:

The detour along Houston Avenue is provided on the west side of the southbound lane between Spring Street and White Oak Drive. Two detour plans are to be implemented in an effort to provide a more feasible, long-term solution in partnership with TxDOT, the City of Houston and Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.

City of Houston Traffic Meeting June 13, 2016 – Video

Home Tour Recap

The 2016 Woodland Heights Home Tour was a resounding success, despite less-than-ideal weather, raising more than $31,000 for the neighborhood and showcasing our “hometown near downtown” to our fellow Houstonians. 

Many thanks to the homeowners who graciously opened their homes to the approximately 700 tour goers. The tour featured a wonderful mix of sizes and styles of historic homes, each thoughtfully updated for modern living in line with our “Reinventing for Today” theme. 

Much fun was also had at the preview party, “Premiere Night on Byrne: Boas and Beads,” including the wonderful music, amazing decorations, delicious food and fun 1920s Hollywood-glam costumes worn by many of the attendees.

The home tour co-chairs would also like to extend our thanks to:

• Our wonderful committee chairs and committee members who donated many hours over almost a year.
• The approximately 130 volunteers serving as docents and ticket sales tour weekend.
• Our sponsors who contributed $16,000 to support the neighborhood.  
• Our in-kind sponsors, from designers and photographers donating their talents to vendors providing at or below-cost services. 
• Our local restaurants, grocery stores, and caterers who provided an abundance of food and drink for our preview party as well as to the raffle donors. A first time for us, the raffle raised $1,000. 
• Janeen Cook to whom we can’t thank sufficiently for opening up her lovely home for the 3rd time for the preview party.
• Our local florists who provided awesome arrangements for the homes.
• The 11 merchants who willingly agreed to sell
• Last, but not least, the neighborhood’s support by purchasing tickets to view the homes. The event also was a chance to showcase Woodland Heights across Houston. Tour goers came from across the metroplex including League City, Katy, Bellaire, Cypress, and The Woodlands.

Please review the full list of generous home tour sponsors who contributed money and in-kind donations. They were absolutely vital for our success. Over the next months, you’ll also see ads showcasing some of these sponsors on the website and in the newsletter. We hope that you will patronize these neighborhood supporters when you have the opportunity.

We still have a few outstanding expenses, but the net proceeds from the preview party and home tour topped $31,000 – a new record for our home tour. The money is expected to be used primarily for beautification – making our “hometown near downtown” even more desirable. The WHCA board will share more details as projects mature.

Please visit our Home Tour page to view a list of our generous sponsors.

Guests at the 2016 WHCA Home Tour Preview Party.

Constable Patrol: April 2016

Newsletter readers: To view charts of crime stats please visit this article on the WHCA website.

The Constable Patrol operates on a fiscal year ending March 31. Membership renewals have lagged this year – approximately 150 members from last year have not renewed as of late May.  If you have not renewed, please do. If membership does not increase, at some point we will no longer be able to support two patrols. You can also find information for membership on the Woodland Heights webpage. Please support the Constable Patrol.

WHCA Crime Report

It is the time of year where we start to see an increase in theft of yard equipment and other crimes of opportunity involving things taken from yards, porches and open garages. Don’t leave valuable items unattended for even a brief period of time. Theft from cars continues to be the most common crime, many taking place in the parking lots of area businesses. Please don’t leave valuables in your vehicle.

While not in the neighborhood, most months we see one or more assaults or robberies in the 3600 block of North Main. There is no particular pattern that I see – just be aware of your surroundings when in that area.

The City is using a new crime reporting service which provides limited detail regarding types of theft. Starting in March, if it isn’t theft from a vehicle, it is classified as “other” which typically includes non-breaking and entering type property theft. Burglaries: residence 3500 block of Michaux, building 3200 block of Houston Ave.; Auto Theft: 900 block of Pecore.

We remind everyone for a crime in progress, please call 911 first. If our deputies are on duty, they should be monitoring those calls, though you can also call Precinct One dispatch after calling 911 for crimes in progress.

Our deputies come to work in our neighborhood, and remain through their shift, unless they are called to respond to a nearby contract. When they stop to look at something or take some action, they keep a log, so we have a general idea of their activities. For April 2016 here is some of their activity:

Number	Activity
15	Traffic stops, resulting in 6 citations. The deputies have radar and use it to monitor speeds in areas where there are complaints, and they pay particular attention to speeds in school zones;
8	Suspicious person call responses (we average about 10 per month – please do not hesitate to call about something that does not look right)
8	Suspicious vehicle call responses
10	Number of times they stopped to check something in the parks (mostly along White Oak, Stude and Usener).
193	Number of times they stopped to check something in the neighborhood (not otherwise included in these statistics).
5	House alarm responses.
16	Miscellaneous: responses to traffic issues (11), various disturbances/loud noise, gunshots, mischief (5)
38	“Meet the Citizen” – this is a conversation with a member of the neighborhood in a fashion that’s not covered above, (e.g. to introduce themselves or to answer a question). Our deputies are very service oriented, so if you see a deputy and have a question, or just want to say hello please flag them down.

Yard of the Month

Yard of the month for May goes to the Forrest Family at 620 Omar. Their yard is a crisp, clean, traditional landscape with bright pops of red and pink which stand out nicely with their evergreens. Congratulations!

If you have a recommendation for our next Yard of the Month please let us know.

Accident at Bayland and Morrison

An accident involving a car and motorcycle occurred at the intersection of Bayland and Morrison on Friday, May 20th around 8 PM. Both drivers were taken away by ambulance. The WHCA, through the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan, has proposed a traffic circle for this precise intersection to encourage drivers in both directions to be more aware.

Photograph by Woodland Heights resident Cindy Wilson.

Woodland Terrace Homeowner Signup

If you're reading this in our monthly newsletter and the form below doesn't work please click on the article headline to visit our website and signup there.

Recently many residents within the Woodland Terrace subdivision were served in a lawsuit as part of an ongoing litigation between Ronald Taylor, as plaintiff, and the WHCA and certain named individuals, as defendants. The WHCA is trying to arrange a meeting of all Woodland Terrace residents so that we can go through a full discussion then. Please fill out the contact form in this post to ensure you receive notification of any future meetings or notices. Feel free to share this page with your neighbors via email or social media. If you have any elderly neighbors who may not have internet access please feel free to register on their behalf.

Every registration must include a valid address so we can confirm you're within the Woodland Terrace boundary. Please refer to our Land Use page for boundary information and the current deed restrictions for Woodland Terrace.

Video: General Meeting May 2016

Things to do: Cigna Sunday Streets May 22nd

Sunday Streets returns to the Heights on White Oak Drive between Heights Blvd. and Watson May 22nd from noon to 4pm. Mark your calendars!

Constable Patrol: March 2016

Newsletter readers: To view charts of crime stats please visit this article on the WHCA website.

The Constable Patrol operates on a fiscal year ending March 31, and we are in the midst of this year’s renewal campaign.  We recently sent a mailer to everyone in the neighborhood inviting you to support the Constable Patrol and the Civic Association.   You can also find information for this on the Woodland Heights webpage.  Please support the Constable Patrol.

WHCA Crime Report

It is the time of year where we start to see an increase in theft of yard equipment and other crimes of opportunity involving things taken from yards, porches and open garages. Don’t leave valuable items unattended for even a brief period of time. Theft from cars continues to be the most common crime, many taking place in the parking lots of area businesses. Please don’t leave valuables in your vehicle.

The City is using a new crime reporting service which provides limited detail regarding types of theft. Starting in March, if it isn’t theft from a vehicle, it is classified as “other” which typically includes non-breaking and entering type property theft. Assaults: 200 block of E. Woodland (of family member), 800 block of Studewood; Burglaries: residence 2500 block of White Oak, residence 900 block of Byrne; Auto Theft: 600 block of Byrne.

We remind everyone for a crime in progress, please call 911 first. If our deputies are on duty, they should be monitoring those calls, though you can also call Precinct One dispatch after calling 911 for crimes in progress. Our deputies come to work in our neighborhood, and remain through their shift, unless they are called to respond to a nearby contract.  When they stop to look at something or take some action, they keep a log, so we have a general idea of their activities. For March 2016 here is some of their activity:

Number	Activity
16	Traffic stops, resulting in 7 citations. The deputies have radar and use it to monitor speeds in areas where there are complaints, and they pay particular attention to speeds in school zones;
8	Suspicious person call responses (we average about 10 per month – please do not hesitate to call about something that does not look right)
2	Responses to calls about (door to door) solicitors (we usually have 8-10 per month).
8	Suspicious vehicle call responses
12	Number of times they stopped to check something in the parks (mostly along White Oak, Stude and Usener).
152	Number of times they stopped to check something in the neighborhood (not otherwise included in these statistics).
5	House alarm responses.
6	Miscellaneous: responses to traffic issues (2), various disturbances/loud noise, gunshots, mischief (4)
32	“Meet the Citizen” – this is a conversation with a member of the neighborhood in a fashion that’s not covered above, (e.g. to introduce themselves or to answer a question). Our deputies are very service oriented, so if you see a deputy and have a question, or just want to say hello please flag them down.

Yard of the Month

Yard of the Month is honoring 90-year-old Peggy Williamson at 3206 Morrison. Peggy works in her yard planting and maintaining her array of flowering plants and vegetables. An organic farmer before it became popular, oak leaves are her preferred mulch and top coat for her plantings. Some of the plants found in her yard include a huge plumeria in the side yard, firecracker plants, lilies and roses. Tomatoes, eggplants and other cooler weather veggies line her driveway and grow in her backyard.

Peggy moved into her house in 1933 as a seven year old. She attended Travis Elementary for one year then transferred to Incarnate Word Academy riding the Houston Avenue trolley downtown to school every day. After graduating, Peggy entered the working world and had a long career with Prudential Insurance until her retirement. After her mom died in 1962, Peggy moved back home to help care for her dad. She only began gardening after moving back home. Known for her Lights in the Heights parties, she threw her last one at age 89! In the evenings, you will find Peggy and her beloved pooch, Gin Gin, relaxing at home with a nip of bourbon.

Storm

Photograph by Susan Pennebaker, 2016.

Message from Outgoing WHCA President

From outgoing WHCA President Tim McConn:

I have had the absolute pleasure of serving as President of the Woodland Heights Civic Association for the last year. I call it an absolute pleasure because it has provided me the opportunity to work with and get to know a number of my neighbors from across this great neighborhood, all of whom love this neighborhood dearly and all of whom have a common purpose in mind: ensuring that the Woodland Heights continues to be the best neighborhood in Houston. And it was by working with those great neighbors that we were able to accomplish so much this past year. 
 
Preserving and beautifying our green spaces is always a top priority for the WHCA. This past year, we devoted significant funds to maintaining and beautifying the wonderful green spaces around the neighborhood, including the Norhill Esplanade, Ley Plaza Park, and the Watson Esplanade.  
 
Preserving the integrity of our neighborhood through the enforcement of deed restrictions is also a top priority of the WHCA, and this year we made great strides on that front. Members of the WHCA Board worked tirelessly with the members of the Norhill Deed Restrictions Committee to help shepherd the Norhill Deed Restrictions through to approval, ensuring that a large portion of our beautiful neighborhood is protected by reasonable and balanced deed restrictions. Also, our deed restrictions team continued their monitoring efforts around the neighborhood, and as a result, we were able to work with multiple residents to make sure their renovations and new constructions complied with applicable deed restrictions.
 
Helping to ensure the safety and security of the neighborhood will always be a top priority of the WHCA. This past year, we fully funded two shifts of Constable service. We also worked with the City on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program because of serious and very real concerns about the increasing volume and speed of traffic in our urban neighborhood. I know that not everyone in the neighborhood is in favor of the measures being proposed, but I hope everyone understands that all of the hard work of the WHCA Board members and the Neighborhood Traffic Committee on this issue are being driven by one goal: maintain the safety and security of Woodland Heights residents. I am very proud of our efforts on this issue.  
 
The WHCA also works hard to maintain open lines of communication with government officials to make sure they are fully aware of the needs and viewpoints of Woodland Heights residents. Last July, when the closure of I-10 at I-45 sent big rig trucks and thousands of other vehicles streaming through our neighborhood, we spent hours working with Council Member Gonzales’s office, the Mayor’s office, and TxDOT to remedy the situation and to make sure it doesn’t happen again. These efforts resulted in TxDOT officials and new Council Member Cisneros coming to our General Meeting in November to discuss what should be done during a similar closure in December. The result of this meeting and follow up discussions was that there was virtually no impact on the neighborhood during those most recent closures. We also held a debate at our September General Meeting for the candidates for the City Council District H position. This provided our members a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the candidates.   
                   
Finally, we organized a number of events to bring neighbors together in a fun and social setting. We had our first Movie Night on the Norhill Esplanade in October, and we put on the 2nd annual night before Lights in the Heights gathering for the neighborhood. But the best of all was yet another successful Lights in the Heights. Jan Greer and her team of volunteers did an amazing job, and the result was a fun-filled night for all who came. We hope to duplicate this success as we bring back the Home Tour in April.   
 
We could not have accomplished so much without such an active and hard working Board. These people are volunteers who have full-time jobs and families, but they spent several hours each week working hard to ensure the success of all of the WHCA’s projects. They all deserve our heartfelt gratitude.  And an extra big thank you to David Jordan, who is rolling off the Board after serving for several years in various capacities, including as President. We all owe David our gratitude for his hard work and passion for this great neighborhood of ours. 
 
Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your President. You’re in great hands with incoming President Casey Ballard and the new Board.

Sponsor: Greystar Begins Pre-Leasing Luxury Apartments at Elan Heights

Greystar is pleased to announce the start of pre-leasing at Elan Heights in Houston, Texas. The 326-unit apartment community is conveniently located at 825 Usener Street near the intersection of White Oak Drive and Taylor Street. The high-rise development will include seven floors of luxury apartment homes in Woodland Heights.

Elan Heights is being developed and professionally managed by Greystar. The community will feature spacious studios, one and two-bedroom apartment homes ranging in size from 627 to 1,427 square feet of living space. Modern interior finishes will include quartz countertops with undermount sinks, stainless steel appliances, upgraded French-door refrigerators, built-in microwaves and ovens, custom glass-front cabinetry and hardwood flooring. Apartment homes will incorporate features such as gourmet kitchens, ten foot ceilings, Saflok® electronic locking system, custom closets, private balconies, and full size washers and dryers in every unit.

The community will provide a signature amenity package that includes an on-site fitness studio, yoga room and virtual exercise routines and classes by Fitness on DemandTM. Elan Heights will include a state-of-the-art conference center, a resident lounge and game room. Residents will be able to enjoy a sky lounge with indoor and outdoor seating areas, a resort-style swimming pool, courtyard, outdoor kitchen, grilling stations and a fire pit. The pet friendly community will offer a dog spa, dry cleaning service and on-site parking.

Construction is expected to be completed by October 2016. For more information on Elan Heights, visit www.ElanHeights.com.