WESTCHASETODAYWestchase District Projects Stay on Track

Y E A R 2 2 | I S S U E 2 | S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

Parks and streetscapes progress despite shutdown

Picture this: The children’s play space, along with its water misting feature, is expected to be one of the most popular spaces in Woodchase Park.

10370 RichmondSuite 1350Houston, Texas 77042westchasedistrict.com

IN THIS ISSUE:

2 John Boriack Joins Board

3 Farmers Market Learns to

Social Distance

4 Bouncing Back From the Shutdown

5 Meet Ofc. Ana Bertens

While much of the world ground to a halt in mid-March, some projects in Westchase District were expedited because fewer cars on the road meant

that construction crews could work more quickly to complete their projects.

The most visible such project was the Texas Department of Transportation’s resurfacing of Westheimer Road, which is one of the most heavily traveled roads in Houston and home of METRO’s busiest bus route. TxDOT crews began working 24/7 in early April to complete the resurfacing while the stay-at-home work order was enforced. They moved in record time westward from Loop 610 through Westchase District and on to Dairy Ashford where the project wrapped up.

Simultaneously, Westchase District’s Westheimer Streetscape project also got underway. Crews from

CenterPoint Energy and Harper Brothers Construction began relocating utilities and pouring sidewalks that are part of the enhanced streetscape.

The Westchase District improvements will all be “back-of-curb,” meaning that it won’t impact the driving lanes but will have a substantial impact on the pedestrian realm.

“We’re adding new, wider sidewalks, new pedestrian lighting, custom bus shelters and landscaping that will have a positive impact on pedestrians and the Westheimer retail experience,” said Irma Sanchez, Westchase District’s vice president of projects. “These improvements will benefi t the retail space, better support transit operations and improve connectivity for pedestrians, all while making this major roadway more distinctive and attractive.”

The Westheimer Streetscape project includes $10.3 million in federal funds and $5.8 million from the 380 Area Program with the City of Houston. METRO is a supporting partner of the project.

Park construction underway On June 8, the Westchase District Board of Directors

met in regular session to approve a $2.8 million bid from D.L. Meacham Construction to build Westchase District’s fi rst park.

Woodchase Park is a 1.7-acre park, located on Woodchase Drive at the Westpark Tollway. It connects to the Westpark Trail and is easily accessible from METRO’s Gessner Park & Ride. It will feature a children’s play area, activity lawn, a multi-purpose pavilion, dog park, community garden, public art, restrooms, and food

(Continued on Page 8)

6 Nonprofi ts Help with

COVID Response

6 Self-storage Industry Booming

7 Salata Remodels and Reopens

8 Neighborhood News

The world has changed since my last column in the spring issue of Westchase Today which focused on all the park and roadway projects

underway. The COVID-19 pandemic eff ects are widespread and a bit of a local focus is provided for you in this issue. But the aspect of COVID-19 that is perhaps the most disconcerting is that its impact, and the direction and timing of our recovery, are simply unpredictable. The Westchase District Board has already taken action to reduce our 2020 budget and is considering modifi cation to future budgets in light of the pandemic’s impact on our property owners. We can’t control our circumstances; only how we respond. This situation reminds me of the adage, “you can’t predict but you can prepare.” We have taken that concept to heart over the last few months.

This issue provides numerous stories and examples of how our businesses and property owners are responding in deliberate, bold and positive ways. For our part, the street, trail and park projects you read about last quarter are all on schedule and we have even added a few. The importance and value of these projects have been substantially increased through the pandemic. We are headed into a highly competitive real estate market and these new amenities will greatly benefi t our owners, residents and businesses.

The 23rd annual Corporate Challenge was cancelled due to COVID but almost all our teams and sponsors skipped refunds so we could accomplish our goal of helping local charities. Our Westchase District Community Fund then donated thousands to help West Houston Assistance Ministries and Quillian Center who are each helping our neighbors in need.

We have helped our community though monetary donations, volunteering and encouraging

others to volunteer. But our primary response to this challenging and unpredictable environment has been to keep working on the projects and programs approved by our Board. In addition to keeping our capital projects on schedule, Westchase District has continued police patrols, landscape maintenance, and marketing activities without pause. It’s not “business as usual” for us but our “business” goes on and that is the case in this issue of Westchase Today. You can read about one of our new Board members, peruse a profi le of one of our outstanding police offi cers, and enjoy an article about one of our local restaurants.

Keeping our momentum going is the best way we can be prepared for and support economic recovery and expansion here. You can count on us to continue these eff orts. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you.

WESTCHASE TODAY

WESTCHASE TODAY is published

quarterly by Westchase District, a

municipal management district funded

by local property owners in a 4.2 square-

mile area centered on the Sam Houston

Tollway between I-10 and US-59 on the

west side of Houston, Texas. We promote

economic growth by enhancing mobility,

beautifi cation, public safety, planning

and development of the District.

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Copyright © Westchase District. All Rights Reserved.

2

Dave GilkesonVP, COO

Sherry FoxVP, Communications

Chester JacintoCommunications Director

John CareyFarmers Market Manager

Rayshell FordOperations Assistant

Irma SanchezVP, Projects

Don McKinneyVP, Public Safety

Louis JullienProjects Director

Kathy KaufmanAdministrative Assistant

Finding That Path Forward

Veritas sets example in Class B apartment living

John Boriack brings leadership skills to HAA and Westchase District

John Boriack punched his ticket to commercial real estate success in a very unusual way when, after graduating from high school, he accepted

his parents’ off er to take the money they’d saved for college and launch a business instead. “I set out to fi nd an industry where no one in my family had any experience and I found it in commercial real estate,” said Boriack.

He joined Lifestyles Unlimited, an education and mentoring group for real estate investors, located in Westchase District. With their advice and tutelage, he purchased eight foreclosed homes in 2008 and turned them into rental properties. Boriack’s education continued with the purchase of a 50-unit apartment community in Sharpstown.

In 2012, he recruited 12 families to invest in his dream of owning even more real estate when he purchased a 200-unit apartment community. “For the fi rst time, I had staff , I had accounting software and management software. I also surrounded myself with a good team, some of whom are still with me today.”

Boriack has repeated that model every 18 months. He is president of Veritas Equity Management which now owns 1,258 units in fi ve communities. Their newest acquisition is the 456-unit Westchase Creek apartments located at 3000 Woodland Park Drive.

“Westchase Creek is the largest community in our portfolio,” said Boriack. “When we purchased it, the community needed a facelift. We added fountains, new pergola and new furniture to the pool area. We replaced a lot of rotting wood and patched the concrete on the sidewalks and

staircases. We added lots of exterior lighting and converted everything to LED. We upgraded the interior of the units with new appliances, new fl ooring, new fi xtures and new paint.

“I tell my employees that we have to make sure our residents get what they expect,” added Boriack. “We can make sure they have a home that is a safe refuge in which to nurture their families. We have so much ability to aff ect their lives in a positive way.”

Esprit de corps “We have a relatively unique culture here,”

said Boriack. Four of his original employees still work for Veritas, and Boriack’s wife, Katelin, is Director of Aesthetic Design. She also coordinates many of the company’s employee events.

“Every month we have a party to celebrate all the team member birthdays,” said Boriack. “A second monthly event brings together team members from our fi ve

Westchase District Board Chair Harry Greenblatt

Undercover Boss: John Boriack is a hands-on owner who regularly visits his Westchase Creek apartment community.

WESTCHASE TODAY

3

Out of a crisis emerges resiliency. The Westchase District Farmers Market vendors were a proven source of food and example of endurance.

During the COVID-19 crisis, grocery stores were deemed essential businesses and remained open. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also placed farmers markets in an essential category. Pre-COVID, the Farmers Market was the spot for people casually buying local produce and authentic items. By March, it began augmenting the food supply chain and never closed to the public.

Vendors quickly adopted CDC safety guidelines and served the community for more than 16 Thursdays since March. Not only was it a place to shop but an alternative to restaurants who shifted to carry out, curbside and delivery service. That’s when Avila Flavors & Experiences joined the scene.

The caterer desperately needed to make up for lost business after its wedding, social gatherings, and corporate events were suddenly cancelled. Avila began off ering its to-go empanadas fi lled with beef or chicken to hungry market goers using mobile thermo heating ovens to keep the ready-to-eat meals warm. “Going from zero, to a few orders here, is better than nothing,” said owner Nelson Padron.

Starting up in a crisis In mid-January self-described coff ee

fanatic Clint Underwood was getting ready to enter the coff ee roasting arena. Normally brewing is a good thing in the coff ee world. Except when it means something more ominous like an unsuspecting pandemic bubbling under the surface of everyday life set to unleash unforeseen trouble to lives and economies.

“Friends tell us we’re brave for opening Inconceivable Coff ee Roasters when we did,” said Underwood. “We had no idea

when launching what we were up against with COVID-19. But as with other fellow small businesses, we are survivors. We cannot give up. We were able to pivot quickly to serve online customers with our coff ee, make use of eff ective personal protective equipment, and do what is needed to stay safe and keep thriving. The pandemic has brought numerous challenges to businesses, but we feel lucky. This farmers market allows an outdoor space for new customers to try our coff ee and see what’s in our ‘magic beans.’”

Finding the right fi t at the Westchase District Farmers Market Researching several markets, Underwood wanted to join a well-established

farmers market with a strong local community following with a location on or near Westheimer. One held on Thursday met his other criteria since those are slower days for his product. “Westchase presented the ideal scenario and I feel blessed to join with a fi ne group of folks,” said Underwood.

Before entering the coff ee roaster world, Underwood worked as a chef in numerous restaurants. He has always relished the joy of cooking, especially

grilling food. He had a brief stint in New York and credits his Texas roots for giving him a unique understanding of what makes an excellent cup of coff ee.

Entrepreneurial resilience “All of this experience led me to become a coff ee roaster,” explained

Underwood. “What really kicked me into gear with Inconceivable Coff ee was that, in 2019, I received an unexpected fresh start when my former employer sold my division to a competitor. I knew it was time to embark on my dream of coff ee roasting and that’s when Inconceivable Coff ee was created.”

After learning all he could about coff ee roasting through extensive classes and formal education, Underwood knew his leap was the right move. “Now, there’s no turning back. Every day, I get to do what I love.”

Underwood sees a silver lining in what’s happened. “During a pandemic, coff ee can keep you going or give you that little sense of comfort, whether you’re a parent at home trying to work while teaching your kids, or a frontline medical worker, or an essential worker, coff ee is the constant. The pandemic has brought a new appreciation to roasting coff ee. It off ers simple comforts to those who need it, and we’re grateful for that,” said Underwood.

Market adapts to changing times

Farmers Market Vital to Food Supply Chain

Westchase District Farmers MarketYear-round, rain or shine, Thursdays @ 3 p.m.St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church10503 Westheimer Road (at Rogerdale Road, one block west of Beltway 8)

www.westchasedistrictfarmersmarket.com

communities and our corporate offi ce staff . We’ve had beach days, fi shing trips, spa days, and paintball. We like to see our team engage with each other outside the offi ce. As a company, our priorities are clear: God fi rst, family second, work third.”

Leadership calls Boriack joined the Westchase District Board of Directors in December 2019. “I’d always heard

about the Westchase area, but I was relatively unfamiliar with Westchase as a management district. I’m very impressed with how much they do. There are real tangible benefi ts it brings to the owners and residents of Westchase.”

Boriack is president-elect of the Houston Apartment Association, which he fi rst joined in 2013. “It requires a lot of time and travel, but the quality of people that are involved in HAA’s leadership is amazing. It’s been tremendous for my personal and professional growth.”

Boriack is justifi ably proud of the company he’s built in little more than ten years. “We’ve been successful because we’ve established our niche and we stay in that box,” Boriack added. “We’re not going to buy fancy Class A apartments or offi ces or storage facilities or go after a land play. Our niche is in Class B housing and giving our residents the best possible living experience.”

John and Katelin Boriack have three children, Danielle, Bradley and Ellie.

Eyeing survival: Like everyone else, Clint Underwood didn’t see COVID-19 coming but he won’t let it diminish his coff ee roasting dreams.

Teamwork: John Boriack does a COVID-19 fi st bump with community manager Ruha Vohra. Wife Katelin Boriack (center) is an important member of the Veritas team.

Caterer to Marketer:Avila Flavors & Experiences’ Nelson Padron turned to the Farmers Market to sell his prepared empanadas after his catering events came to an abrupt stop.

WESTCHASE TODAY

4

Blink Fitness opened its Westchase District location with much fanfare in December of 2019. Located at 11145 Westheimer, the 13,500-square-foot fi tness center has cardio and strength equipment, state-of-the-art Precor

equipment, stretch areas, and designated space for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), body weight circuit training and more. Just as the gym was hitting its stride and growing in membership, COVID-19 struck, forcing its abrupt closure.

“It was a shocker, but we understand that it needed to happen,” said Chrissy Napolitano, Blink’s training club manager in Houston. “Our members were sad that we closed but they’re super-excited to see us re-open.”

Blink took the unusual step of freezing all memberships during the closure. And members who are not yet comfortable returning to the gym can continue to freeze their membership.

Blink has more than 100 locations in nine states and the Texas gyms are the fi rst to re-open. “We’re following all the CDC guidelines and our employees are

going through intense training,” said Napolitano. “We take cleanliness to a new level. We did even before COVID happened, so we feel confi dent opening back up.”

Equipment has been reorganized for social distancing and when it can’t be moved, it’s unplugged or marked as unavailable. “Each location has its own capacity limits and we track the number of members coming in so we don’t

exceed capacity,” said Napolitano. “Our members are eager to get back to their regular routines and we want to help them achieve their fi tness goals.”

36 years of traditionbeat COVID-19

COVID-19 halted many things, but it couldn’t halt camp, not very long anyway. “We were forced to close our spring break camp after just one day,” said Quillian Center Director Tom Gaden. Quillian was closed all of April and most of May with staff working minimally to get

the pools and facilities ready for an eventual opening. “We spent three months planning summer camp, then totally redesigned it in three days to accommodate all the new health guidelines,” said Gaden.

New protocols include twice-daily temperature checks on staff and campers, curbside drop-off and pick-up for parents, extra custodial staff to wipe down surfaces and sanitize, dividing the campers into smaller groups and keeping them within their age group. All counselors must wear masks as appropriate.

Gaden says the number of campers is smaller this year but growing each week. Both pools opened May 29th and youth basketball is returning. “We’ll have fewer kids, but we’ll have enough kids to have a league,” said Gaden.

Printing fi rm helps businesses bounce backPaul and Sharon Rayner, owners of the Minuteman Press franchise in

Westchase District, didn’t miss many days of work during the shutdown. “We print labels for food companies and we handle about 100,000 mailings a month,” said Paul Rayner. “So our business is considered essential. There were days we didn’t come to work because we didn’t have anything to do, but we stayed pretty busy during the shutdown.”

The Rayners were able to keep their three employees, despite a 50% drop in revenues. “We cut payments to ourselves, but that’s what you do when you’re in business. The owner is the last to get paid,” said Rayner.

When the Minuteman Press corporate offi ce announced the Bounce Back campaign, Rayner was quick to sign on and off er the full resources of his franchise. They personalized the campaign to Bounce Back Westchase and created a special Bounce Back Westchase website. “We solicited partners like Westchase District, the Houston West Chamber of Commerce, and local elected offi cials to help us get the word out,” said Rayner.

Westchase businesses are encouraged to create an off er and post it on the website. Off ers typically include a percentage discount or buy-one-get-onepromotion. Consumers are encouraged to download the off ers and take advantage of the discounts. They can register to have weekly emails sent to them with updated off ers.

“The best thing you can do for a business now is fi nd them a new customer. We hope this program will help,” said Rayner. “We remember what it is like when you’re a new business. If this had happened 15 years ago, we probably would’ve closed.”

Post your business’ off er or register to receive off ers at bouncebackwestchase.com.

Bounce Back Westchase campaign aims to help businesses recover

Businesses re-open with new procedures

Mask up: Blink employees will wear masks and greet members from behind Plexiglass windows under their reopening protocols.

Logo up: Westchase District businesses displaying the Bounce Back logo are off ering various discounts and savings to bring in new customers as they reopen.

Wild West: Themed weeks make Quillian Center’s summer camps especially fun for kids 5-12.

WESTCHASE TODAY

5

You could say Ana Bertens was worlds away before joining the Houston Police Department. Her unlikely path to law enforcement came while she traveled back and forth to live between two continents: North America and South

America. Born in Santiago, Chile, Bertens’ parents brought her and her siblings to the United States in the 1990s where she spent half of her life between Florida and Houston.

After turning 20, she moved back to Chile for seven years working as a producer for a children’s TV show and on music videos. Bertens met her future spouse in Chile and the two got married, deciding to begin their life together in the U.S.

“Being a producer fulfi lled my passion for writing,” said Bertens. “But, I had another passion I wanted to pursue, and that was working for HPD. The best thing that ever happened to me was getting into HPD.”

Santiago shakes, a call for help goes unansweredPrior to returning to the United States, things happened in Chile that set

her new future in motion. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country. The three-minute earthquake triggered more than 1,000 landslides, damaged 370,000 homes and left 802 people dead. “I’ve never been in an earthquake,” said Bertens. “Hurricanes and tornadoes don’t bother me as much as the ground shaking because you have nowhere to go. It is pretty intense.”

Despite the danger of being stuck in a seventh-fl oor apartment with her mom, Bertens said she felt calm during the unfolding horror. “I didn’t hesitate. I wasn’t scared. I’ve never felt so focused under so much pressure,” she said.

Although the natural disaster confi rmed her strengths, a man-made tragedy had a sobering eff ect on the disparities she saw in emergency responses by government. She witnessed an apartment resident get shot at close range. Bertens rushed to call emergency responders, but when she repeatedly dialed Chile’s version of 911, no one answered.

Without these experiences, Bertens might have chosen another path. Bertens credits her late father for his infl uence on her wanting to help others. “You’ll always feel better helping people,” she recalls him saying. “I don’t know why it took me so long to fi nd this path, but I think I had to live certain things to see it,” she said.

Drastic differences in law enforcement abroad

She also had a dual perspective of how law enforcement was handled and viewed in two countries. “I think I could be good at this,” she recalls thinking during a pivotal point.

“You have to be level-headed because there are people that count on you.” said Bertens. The two-year HPD veteran joined Westchase District Patrol last year. “I love Houston because we are close to the community. We pride ourselves on that. Even when we speak to a suspect, it’s always with respect. Ironically, people that I’ve taken to jail have thanked me for treating them with respect.”

From South America to America, Bertens says her journey enabled transitions that were life changing. Speaking to people, fi nding out what’s going on is her approach to Westchase District. She feels she’s serving the community and connecting with people.

Bilingual offi cer connects with community

Global Experiences Shape Offi cer’s Career Track

Westchase District’s Library Loop Trail was completed in 2013 as the first leg in what is now a 5-mile system of trails. Since then, the tree canopy has grown and new amenities have been added, making the trail a premier

walking and cycling experience for Houston residents and overnight guests in Westchase District.

Trail usage increased this spring as furloughed employees and quarantined families welcomed the opportunity to walk, hike, ride bikes, spot nature, view art and enjoy the weather and fresh air. With that in mind, Westchase District created two fun games for families to enjoy along the trail.

“Trail Fun” is designed for young readers to learn about the area’s historical fi gures, early transportation and some of the plant life and wildlife that may be spotted along the trail. “I Spy Bingo” is designed for younger children to be alert to the treasures all around them in nature.

“Between the demands of home schooling and the fact that zoos, museums, malls and other entertainment venues were closed, we wanted to create a new opportunity for parents.” said Sherry Fox, vice president of communications for Westchase District. “Parents and their children can leave the house together. They can enjoy a safe environment and relaxed physical activity while learning new things about the area. It’s like a PE class and fi eld trip all rolled into one.”

The answers to the “Trail Fun” game can all be found by reading the informational spikes along the Library Loop Trail, while the “I Spy” game is designed for young children. “We hope they’ll enjoy looking for the various amenities along the trail, plus other exciting creatures like water birds, butterfl ies, turtles, and caterpillars,” said Fox.

Participants are encouraged to take pictures along the trail (selfi es or other discoveries) and post them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using #Westchasetrailfun.

Where to beginThese fi rst two games are limited to the Library Loop Trail, a 1.7-mile section of

trail that runs between Rogerdale Road and Wilcrest Drive. The trail is located along the banks of the Harris County Flood Control District drainage channel just north of Richmond Avenue.

“It’s a lovely walk,” said Fox, “but it may be a bit much for young children. If that’s the case, we hope families will come back and fi nish the walk another day. They may see completely diff erent critters along the route another day.”

End at the Farmers MarketAll participants are invited to bring their completed game forms to the

Westchase District Farmers Market for a special gift. The market is hosted every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church, 10503 Westheimer. Farmers markets are exempt from the Harris County “Stay at Home” order and the Westchase District Farmers Market is a great place to pick up farm-fresh produce, eggs and honey, plus artisan bread, jams and prepared foods.

Download the game forms and the answer sheet at westchasedistrict.com/trailfun.

Individuals and families can identify amenities and wildlife along Library Loop Trail

Westchase District Creates Trail Discovery Games

Spiked Content: All the answers to the “Trail Fun” game can be found on the informational spikes along the Library Loop Trail.

Coff ee and Conversation: Bertens makes frequent stops at the Houston Marriott Westchase where she’s well known by the hotel staff .

I See You: The youngest trail users can look for clues to the “I Spy” game in murals painted along the Library Loop Trail.

Long before the sun rises in the morning, area residents are lining up their cars on Rogerdale Road and Meadowglen Lane. They have come to West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) to have their vehicle

trunks filled with food and supplies to get them through another week. WHAM’s Executive Director Mark Brown can recite the daily statistics on how

many families were served and how long they were able to work before supplies ran out. He reports the daily results on Facebook and on his blog – revmarkbrown.com. On a recent day, he tallied a record number of 439 cars, which adds up to 2,073 individuals who were served with food in less than four hours.

“We give out a lot of food; much, much more than other places,” said Brown. “We also provide water and other supplies like pet food and diapers. We even give out toys and masks. So naturally, this takes longer to get into each car.”

Brown’s team consists of approximately 10 staff and 10 furloughed restaurant workers (who were paid by a grant for a total of 10 weeks), plus eight National Guard personnel. Another 50 volunteers rotate through the ranks. “We have a core group each day, then a rotation of various volunteers throughout the week,” said Brown.

The process has evolved under Brown’s leadership as needs have evolved. “I saw the pandemic coming,” said Brown, “In the beginning, I spent each morning

researching the situation. It was – and remains – important to me to not react, but to be prepared to meet the need when it comes.”

Grants continue to come in to help with rent and utilities. WHAM received $573,000 from the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund, $15,000 from Christ the Servant Lutheran Church and $5,000 from CenterPoint Energy. Thanks to these and other grants, WHAM provided around $8,000 a day in fi nancial assistance for rent and utilities.

As of the end of May, WHAM had helped more than 41,000 individuals in just nine weeks.

Friends serving friendsFriends of Westchase was formed in early 2019 to help address concerns

in under-resourced communities. It is operating out of donated space at Grace Presbyterian Church. Executive Director Nancy Bailey was busy organizing ESL

classes and mentoring programs at Paul Revere Middle School and Walnut Bend Elementary School when COVID-19 forced both schools to close. Bailey’s operation quickly pivoted as well.

Friends of Westchase partnered with 3 The Harden Way (James Harden’s community foundation) to host The Harden Way’s weekly food distribution at Grace Church. “Friends of Westchase recruited volunteers from the community, while Grace staff managed the logistics. Through our six weekly food distributions, we helped feed more than 600 members of the community,” said Bailey.

A second opportunity benefi ted an existing Friends of Westchase partner. “We learned that teachers at local schools were struggling to get students to login to the online learning courses and that food insecurity had increased,” said Bailey. “We partnered with MOD Pizza to donate a hot, delicious pizza to students who were nominated by their teachers for working hard in their online classes. Over six weeks, volunteers delivered pizzas to 100 students.”

Created for thisThe Westchase District Community Fund (WDCF) also jumped in to help. In

mid-March, they contributed $2,000 to WHAM, which represented some of the proceeds from Westchase District’s cancelled Corporate Challenge. Additional contributions to the WDCF allowed the organization to donate another $20,000 to WHAM.

“The two things WHAM needs during this crisis are money and volunteers,” said Craig Eichhorn, chairman of the WDCF. “Westchase District staff also volunteered at WHAM’s food distribution one morning and recruited other volunteers to the eff ort. It’s very gratifying to be able to bring attention to the needs in the community and see our community respond with generosity.”

Even as the calendar turns from May to June to July and many people return to work, the Westchase District’s nonprofi t community continues to serve those in need.

Volunteers and Donations keep local agency serving other

WHAM Transitions to Relief Agency to Serve Community Needs

6

WESTCHASE TODAY

Two years ago, the Houston area experienced a self-storage boom where new construction saw 6.7 million square feet added to the market. The city’s strong job and population growth contributed to this healthy industry climate.

However, before the pandemic struck, construction began slowing. Developers added 1.3 million square feet of storage in 2019 compared to 3.8 million in 2018.

“The three main reasons people use self-storage are death, divorce and displace-ment, all related to life events,” said Steve Mellon, managing director of the national self-storage team for JLL Capital Markets. COVID-19 created another category: Disruption by being put on hold. For instance, Mellon said, a restaurant might store their equipment hoping to come back once normal business resumes.

While this unintended consequence has created a small uptick when it comes to demand, density is the main driver said Mellon. “One out of 10 households use storage; the more people, the more need for storage,” he added.

Most investors and developers look at a three-mile radius for their demographic analysis. Most self-storage customers come from communities and neighborhoods close by. Ricky Jenkins, principal of The Jenkins Organization, says Westchase’s mix of multi-family residential and business are a good source of customers.

“Apartment dwellers, homeowners and businesses are all frequent users of self-storage,” said Jenkins. “Businesses typically comprise 20 percent or less of a

storage property’s rented space. Thus, residential customers represent a much larger segment of the market while multi-family residents typically rent smaller unit sizes.”

Storage options in the districtPublic Storage, which has 1,000 units,

leases 5’x5’ space ideal for items that clutter garages. Located at 2850 Rogerdale Road, its larger 10’x10’ and 10’x20’ spaces serve renters who have limited storage space because their apartment or condo doesn’t have the room. Rental rates here are comparatively less than other facilities because none of its units are climate controlled. Another Public Storage,

located at 2900 Woodland Park Drive (at Meadowglen Lane), does have climate-controlled units.

JLL’s Mellon says space needs in Texas average around 10 square feet of storage supply per person. “New supply should not be added until the current supply drops to 7 square feet per person.” Mellon said the District’s self-storage inventory is on par with the rest of the city.

For the past year, any commuter on the W. Sam Houston Tollway could watch the construction of Westchase District’s newest self-storage facility. CubeSmart opened in June with 1,311 climate-controlled units on fi ve fl oors. Many observers were surprised when CubeSmart broke ground immediately adjacent to the U-Haul Moving & Storage of Westchase. Perhaps that speaks to the demand for local self-storage as much as anything.

Not your average self-storageOff ering 698 units, U-Haul has features not

typically found in self-storage facilities. Business offi ces can be leased on the second fl oor of its Building A. These units come with a window and parking. Storage units are available directly across from each offi ce. Wine connoisseurs will appreciate another specialty with U-Haul’s block of wine storage units which is kept at 57-degrees.

Security Self-Storage, located at 9526 Westheimer Road, features units ranging from 5’x5’ up to 10’x30’. They have both climate controlled and non-climate controlled units.

Mellon cautioned that Houston has been dealing with an oversupply of new storage space. He said additional development will be challenging for the Houston market for the next few years.

“Pre-Covid, Houston has been dealing with an oversupply of new storage space, thus there is heavy competition for new renters which lead to lower rents,” said Mellon.

Oversupply fosters rent competitionDistrict’s Self-Storage Supply is On Par with Houston

Wine Storage: While there are many places in Westchase District to wine and dine, U-Haul at 2890 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S has space to actually store your wine…all at a cool 57-degrees.

Ongoing need: WHAM volunteers distribute food every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. until it’s gone.

MODern help: Volunteers from Grace Church pick up donated pizzas from MOD Pizza to be delivered to local students.

Spacious and climate-controlled: CubeSmart, at 2840 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S, is the newest self-storage facility in the District, bringing a whopping fi ve fl oors of space.

Tina MacInnes was operating two of the highest volume restaurants in Salata’s growing restaurant chain system. Then, out of nowhere, COVID-19 strikes. Between the excitement of seeing her customers relish build-your-

own salads and a dynamic transformation of her restaurant, a pandemic crashed the economy, putting her business in survival mode.

New year, new look, new challenge MacInnes unveiled a new look for her 10898 Westheimer Road location in

January after using the Christmas holiday to perform extensive renovations. The ceilings, formerly orange, were painted white. Wood fl ooring replaced tile. “All tables and booths are new,” said MacInnes. She swapped old dining room chairs for ones made of teak. There’s new signage. New glass at the ordering line touches the counter for a complete seal. “We didn’t intend for this to be a COVID barrier during our renovation, but it works perfect,” she said.

Salata typically does a fi ve-year refresh and 10-year remodel of its stores. MacInnes’ store in Westchase District was at its six-year mark when she decided on the refresh. Her restaurant’s success also drove the timing. “This location is very popular so it led to wear and tear,” said MacInnes. New Salata restaurants will mirror her store’s interior and don a new, rebranded logo.

Familiarity with Westchase DistrictA Houston native, she learned about business from her father who owned a

construction company. She started with three Salata locations and now owns four. Her Westchase location, opened in 2013, ranks second in the company while her I-10 and Mason Road store is number one. Her success will be accentuated when Salata expands outside of Texas and California with growth plans calling for 300 more stores.

Having grown up in the area and living in Alief as a newlywed, MacInnes knew about the District’s market strengths. “It’s a strong area, has the business and established neighborhoods a restaurant needs,” said MacInnes. From the moment she opened her Westchase location, it became a community favorite. “The regulars live right here; they live right behind us. I wanted to start a business in an area where

I really knew the clientele and people. It’s been extremely successful being here – being on Westheimer close to the Beltway is a plus,” said MacInnes.

Flying high until hitting harsh COVID headwinds The COVID crisis and mandatory shutdown forced MacInnes to wrestle with

how to keep employees while revenue losses mounted. By mid-March her anxiety level peaked as the painful reality of layoff s set in. Once offi ce buildings closed, her lunch crowds and catering orders stopped. “We’re a lunch-based business and were super happy to reopen our dining room,” said MacInnes. “We were able to secure a PPP loan which helped us survive.”

Designed for small business, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was funded by stimulus relief packages passed by Congress. Her landlord even waived one month’s lease payment. “We’ve had to lay off a few employees but were able to bring some back. Once people return to work in the area, we’ll get back on our feet.”

Adapting to COVIDMacInnes hasn’t let

COVID deter her business. The company recently launched a Salata app. Customers can customize individual and catering orders and earn rewards. Every 100 points earns users a $7 salad kitchen credit. “There’s huge need for an app as more people want contactless ordering. It’s very easy, it’s very effi cient,” said MacInnes.

Like all member-based organizations that serve businesses and the community around the nation, the Houston West Chamber of Commerce (HWCOC) had to adapt.

HWCOC is a professional organization that serves West Houston with engaging live events that connect members to economic opportunities. In addition, the HWCOC connects members to important community issues and helps build stronger communities, encouraging its members to stay involved in business, civic and social priorities.

Events are held weekly throughout the year. The unexpected crisis posed a huge challenge - marquee events long planned on the organization’s spring calendar were cancelled as gatherings were prohibited. HWCOC President Kari Werner did not let COVID-19 further disrupt plans even if her staff had to work remotely. Werner transitioned scheduled meetings and events to Zoom, even opening them up to non-members.

Maintaining a continuity of programs is valuable to members. Werner says it was critical for her organization to learn how to pivot. “With the many events and meetings that we have, we had to learn to do them all virtually,” said Werner.

Focus on membersIn a letter to members, Werner wrote:

“Despite all the distractions associated with this pandemic, our team operation has remained laser-focused on continuing to build our Chamber and ways to innovate us.”

Understanding that the crisis was going to infl ict severe economic pain on members, a majority of whom are small businesses, HWCOC set up daily newsletters and a recovery and resources page on its website. Members can submit a need or resource that HWCOC would share with others and match within its network to assist in fi nding help.

As the federal government unveiled emergency SBA programs, HWCOC provided links and updates to funding options. Further, HWCOC hosted Q&A style webinars with diff erent categories each week. From social media seminars to Networking After Hours

to SEO411 Internet Marketing, HWCOC hosted far-ranging events with topics customized to member interests.

Werner heard from numerous members who turned to the HWCOC for help. When asked advice on how to weather the storm she took a positive outlook.

“Change is not a bad thing,” said Werner. “Learning to do something diff erently to conform to the new norm presents opportunities. If there is a will there is a way.”

Werner didn’t look far for her own inspiration. “It has been an adventure for the past three years at the Chamber and I would not be here without the guidance and mentoring of our CEO Jeannie Bollinger,” said Werner. “She has been inspirational to me and the team and we continue to learn more and more every day. She is a gem.”

Pivot…and pivot again “As her term began in January, Kari jumped right in, rallied staff members

to accommodate the membership, brought in new members, instituted budget reductions and moved events to the last quarter of the year,” said Dave Gilkeson, HWCOC board chairman. “The response from the members has been exceptional and this is a result of the leadership skills that Kari has exhibited.”

The HWCOC will present a Salute to Veterans on October 30th at Houston Community College - West Houston Institute where the keynote speaker will be Congressman Dan Crenshaw. The theme of the event is “Freedom Isn’t Free.”

Meanwhile, HWCOC will continue engaging audiences virtually.

Live events returning in the fallHWCOC’s Werner Keeps Organization Focused During Crisis

7

WESTCHASE TODAY

Westchase location is high performer

Salata Restaurant Perseveres After Remodel and Shutdown

Virus Protection: A glass barrier to the counter on the ordering line is part of Salata’s remodel. Unaware of COVID when it was installed in late December, MacInnes said it creates an ideal safety barrier against the virus.

Pivoting During a Pandemic: Kari Werner ensured that the HWCOC didn’t miss a beat serving members’ needs virtually.

Virtual Networking: Zoom provided a tool for people and companies to stay connected to HWCOC. Members and non-members joined the live video meetings weekly.

truck parking. Woodchase Park will be fully maintained, staff ed and programmed by Westchase District. Daily activities will include arts and crafts or board games. Weekly book clubs and boot camps are planned. Monthly activities might include gardening workshops and “yappy hours.”

“We haven’t even broken ground on this park yet and we’re already planning all the activities that will take place there,” said Sanchez. “In addition to the daily and weekly activities, we’ll program seasonal and special events, like trick or treating, a Christmas festival, or movie nights and concerts.”

The 10-month construction will begin in late July.

Elmside/Woodchase improvementsA project, known internally as the “Elmside/Woodchase Side Path,” will bring

back-of-curb improvements along the east side of Elmside Drive and Woodchase

Drive, between Westheimer Road and Westpark Drive. This 1.25-mile path will be upgraded with wider, continuous sidewalks and improved landscaping, including the planting of additional shade trees.

Other improvements include an exercise station, half-moon spheres that promote creative play and pedestrian lighting. A pedestrian-activated traffi c signal will be installed at the Richmond/Elmside intersection to provide a protected pedestrian crossing and the Westpark/Woodchase traffi c signal will be upgraded from a span wire to mast arms. Finally, the intersection approaches and curb ramps will be upgraded to meet current standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“This area has a lot of pedestrian traffi c as transit users make their way to a METRO bus stop or the Gessner Park & Ride,” said Sanchez. “These improvements will not only benefi t those pedestrians but will also encourage more outdoor fi tness activity.”

D.L. Meacham Construction was the low bidder for this project at $3.1 million. “This project will improve transit connectivity, enhance property values and promote a healthy community,” said Sanchez. It is expected to take 10 months to complete.

Projects = ProgressMeanwhile, the complete rebuild of Walnut Bend Lane is on schedule. Contractor

Harper Brothers Construction is pouring some of the fi rst concrete on the completed roadway sections.

The fi nal design of Wilcrest Park is underway and will be complete this fall. Westchase District received a $500,000 grant from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission for Wilcrest Park and is actively seeking other donations to fully fund the park’s planned amenities.

Construction of a dog park at Sneed Elementary School will take place over the summer months, bringing the very fi rst dog park to Westchase District.

“We realize this has been a tough few months for everyone in Houston,” added Sanchez. “Our team worked remotely throughout the shutdown to ensure that all of our projects stayed on schedule. And our contractors kept up their schedules. We all need some outdoor amenities to enjoy in a post-COVID world and Westchase District is looking forward to delivering them.”

Neighborhood News

8

WESTCHASE TODAY

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Despite its cancellation, the Westchase District’s Corporate Challenge generated a $17,829 contribution to the Westchase District Community Fund (WDCF). So far, the WDCF has passed along $2,000 to West Hous-

ton Assistance Ministries and $8,815 to Quillian Center’s summer day camps. “We were pleased that so many of our spon-sors opted not to receive a refund and instead do-nated their sponsor fees to the WDCF,” said Craig Eichhorn, chairman of the WDCF. “It has allowed us to have tremendous impact in our community.”

The Westchase District Community Fund will host its annual school supply drive through-out July and needs businesses to host donation boxes and companies to participate in the collec-tion of needed school supplies. If your business would like to host a donation box, please contact Louis Jullien at 713-780-9434 or ljullien@west-chasedistrict.com. You can fi nd a list of donation locations and requested school supplies on the organization’s newly revamped website at wdcfund.org.

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is looking for Westchase area businesses to host a blood drive. If you have access to an indoor conference space that would meet social distanc-ing requirements, or have a parking lot that would accommodate the donor coach, please contact Victoria Tidwell at 832-602-9350 or vtidwell@giveblood.org. Closures of schools, churches, and government offi ces have caused a shortage of collection sites. But the need for blood is still great. The Blood Center must collect 800-1,000 donations every day to accommodate hospital needs. Blood Center personnel are following increased sanitization and safety guidelines to

ensure that blood donations continue to be a safe process.

The Westchase District Farmers Market is bringing back its popular Farmtastic summer series of events. The Farmtastic series was fi rst created in 2017 to teach kids about what is involved in bringing farm products to the dining room table and encour-age more families to shop at the weekly Thursday

market. Special kid-friendly activities are scheduled this year on July 9 and August 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. We’re committed to bringing fun activities like balloon animals, face painting, watermelon contest, pickle making, a caricature artist and miniature ponies, all while following the appropriate COVID-19 protocols. Follow the market on Facebook for more information and updates at facebook.com/westchasedistrictfarmersmarket.

Oldham Goodwin Group and its tenants at 10440 Richmond will host a block party for area employees and residents on Thursday, July 23rd from 3 to 6 p.m. The tenants will be off ering samples and coupons, and the Kona Ice Truck will be there. Tenants include JJ Wings and Seafood, Allure Massage, Pollo Bravo, B Braiding and Richmond Dental. Y’all come!

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Round the clock: Crews worked 24/7 to fi nish the Westheimer overlay in record time.

Overfl owing generosity: EHRA Engineering was one of many generous donors who contributed to the 2019 school supply drive..

Campers benefi t: The WDCF offi cers make their annual contribution to Quillian Center. Pictured left-right are: Lisa Iparrea; Kimberly Crow; Blair Johnson; Tim Johnson (WDCF); Tom Gaden, Quillian Center; and Louis Jullien, WDCF.

Quick and easy: Grace Presbyterian Church hosted a three-day blood drive recently for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.

Sweet and sour: Kids and adults alike enjoy making pickles with Pat D’Agrella from PEAS Farm during our annual Farmtastic event.