HTX-WDL: Impact 10/21/2025

A proposed, unfunded project to widen Grogan Mills Road is “anticipated to be moved to 2045” in Houston-Galveston Area Council's regional transportation planning, officials said in an update given at the Oct. 16 The Woodlands Township board of directors meeting.

As a special-purpose district, the township does not have authority or responsibility for public roadways. However, the item was discussed at the Oct. 16 meeting to clarify the status of the project, which officials have said has no funding tied to it or plans to initiate it, according to meeting materials.

How we got here: The project was first proposed in H-GAC’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan in 2007 but has not been moved forward, according to meeting materials. It came up again in early 2025 as part of the H-GAC’s 2045 RTP as an unfunded, proposed project.

What's next: In early 2026, H-GAC will work with local project sponsors to identify potential projects to be included in the 2050 RTP update.

Dudley Sports Plaza planned to begin construction of its Elite Pickleball Club Oct. 15, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing.

The details: The Elite Pickleball Club space will be 21,000 square feet and is estimated to cost around $600,000, including eight pickleball courts, a pro shop and administrative space, per the filing.

• 3905 FM 1488, Ste. 110-120, The Woodlands

Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit that offers children a home while awaiting placement with a foster family, opened up a house serving Montgomery and Walker counties earlier this year.

Two-minute impact: Usually, when children are removed from their homes by Child Protective Services, they are brought to the department’s office, Emily Miller, who leads the location serving Montgomery and Walker counties, said. The Isaiah 117 House provides the children a home stocked with clean clothes, beds, food, bath items and toys they can stay at instead.

The nonprofit also works to lighten the load for the caseworker who will stay at the house with the child and help ease the transition for the future foster family by making sure kids walk out the door with clothes and other necessities like school supplies.

By the numbers: Miller said 34 children have come through the Isaiah 117 House serving Montgomery and Walker counties since the location opened at the end of January. Miller also said there are currently 97 volunteers at the location.

Houston renters saw more listings in September while lease prices remained steady compared to this time last year, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ September 2025 Rental Market Update released Oct. 15.

Two-minute impact: There was a 5.3% increase in the number of single-family homes leased this September compared to the same time last year, according to the report. Surpassing last month’s record, 11,255 single-family homes were available for rent in September. 

The average lease price was $2,341 per month, which is statistically unchanged from September 2024, per the report. This marks the third month in a row where the average listing price remained flat, indicating a plateau in prices.

Quote of note: “We continue to see steady demand for single-family rentals as many people find homeownership challenging right now due to affordability issues—not just in Houston, but nationwide,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said via the report. “With so many properties on the market, renters have more choices than ever, and that’s helping them find places that fit their needs and budget."