A new 25-acre Cottage Green community will bring 278 high-end rental homes to Tomball as developer HMF Americana expands its footprint across Greater Houston.

The details: HMF Americana, a horizontal multifamily developer, will begin construction on its Tomball project in mid-November, according to a Nov. 5 news release. The community will feature single-story homes designed to offer the feel of homeownership with the flexibility of renting.

Each residence will include private yards, large porches and traditional architectural details, per the release. Planned amenities include a resort-style clubhouse and pool, a dog park, pickleball courts and several pocket parks connected by an internal main street.

“Houston’s growth continues to create demand for housing options that blend comfort, privacy and a sense of community,” Tim Crawford, founder of HMF Americana, said in the release. “Our focus is identifying new land opportunities and establishing long-term partnerships to sustain growth across Greater Houston.”

Owner Yohanathan Toro brings Venezuelan flavors to Pinehurst with Primos Venezuelan Food.

What you need to know: Toro's family-owned restaurant serves a mix of Venezuelan street food and American fusion, including burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, traditional arepas and lunch specials such as beef fajitas. 

The restaurant plans to add a small bar and live music soon, Toro said.

• 32360 Hwy. 249, Pinehurst 

Community Impact interviewed Ron Papsdorf, the Chief Transportation Officer for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, about the current state of transportation in the Greater Houston area.

The gist: H-GAC is a regional organization through which local governments consider issues and cooperate in solving problems in areas such as transportation. Papsdorf, who stepped into the role of chief transportation officer in June, spoke about the biggest priorities and challenges for transportation in the Greater Houston area as well as new trends he is seeing in mobility needs across the region.

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out the top trending stories from Community Impact's coverage areas in Houston from Nov. 3-7.

1. Houston Airport System issues advisory about indefinite TSA delays

2. See unofficial voting results for LCISD’s $1.99B bond

3. Unofficial voting results show all three Magnolia ISD bond propositions fail

4. Conroe ISD's Grand Oaks zoning plan in the works as area continues to grow

5. Sugar Land to make code changes as 52-acre Lake Pointe redevelopment nears construction

More than 20 months after wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle in early 2024, burning over 1.2 million acres of land, state lawmakers questioned if Texas has the tools needed to tackle another major fire.

The context: Texas is always a fire-prone state, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. The association’s website reports that annual wildfire risk is most severe from February-April, when dry grasses and high winds can cause fires to spread, and August-October, when high temperatures and droughts contribute to fires.

“Our purpose today is to figure out—what is our response going to look like next February and March?” Rep. Ken King, a Republican representing Canadian and other Panhandle communities, said during a Nov. 3 committee hearing. “Are we better prepared … or are we in the same position we were in 2024, when our response was lacking?”

The details: Officials said Texas owns just two firefighting aircraft, with others "essentially [subleased] through the federal government."

During peak wildfire season, this means Texas may have access to limited resources.