Two transportation projects by the Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone are slated to start construction in late 2026, including the controversial West Alabama Street reconstruction project and a streetlight audit aimed at identifying gaps in lighting.

Check out these three local road projects going on in the area. 

West Alabama Street reconstruction
The Montrose TIRZ board held a virtual open house on the project Aug. 3, with the comment period ending Aug. 17 for the full roadway reconstruction project. Results will be shared at a later date.

Streetlight Audit
Board officials unanimously approved a streetlight study during the July 20 meeting to identify gaps in where lighting isn’t present or is too far apart to address safety concerns, which will involve coordinating with CenterPoint Energy to provide the TIRZ with all locations of their existing streetlights.

I-45 North Freeway
Bridge repairs were completed at Crosstimbers Street in July for the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project. 

Kamp Houston, an indoor/outdoor lounge and restaurant, has closed in the Galleria area after six years.

What happened: In a post on its social media pages, the restaurant announced that it officially closed Aug. 9.

Kamp Houston, which was owned by ALife Hospitality Group, was a camp-themed restaurant and nightclub in the Galleria area known for its food and entertainment, as well as a go-to spot for rapper Drake and other celebrities.

“After [six] amazing seasons, the Kamp Grounds is officially closed,” officials said in a statement on its social media pages. “Kamp was more than a restaurant. It became a staple Houston experience, and we’re forever grateful to everyone who was part of the journey.”

Some background: Officials said they were unable to come to terms for a lease extension, and ongoing noise complaints and parking issues with nearby residents led to its closing.

However, they also said that “this isn’t the end” and for customers to “stay tuned for our next concept.”

• 6025 Westheimer Road, Houston

Houston City College has received another investment to meet Greater Houston workforce needs. 

What’s happening: The college has received a $103,000 investment from NRG Energy Inc. to broaden apprenticeships for students seeking employment in the growing energy industry, officials announced in an Aug. 17 news release.

A closer look: HCC’s instrumentation and controls programs include classroom instruction as well as employer established hands-on training, per the release.

Graduates can expect to gain knowledge in operating, maintaining and troubleshooting automated systems that support power generation and industrial operations.

What they’re saying: “Industry is no longer simply advising higher education, it is helping shape it,” HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said. “Through partnerships like this with NRG, Houston City College is preparing students for careers that are in demand today while building the workforce Texas will need tomorrow.”

The subway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport—designed by Disney engineers using the same technology used in Disneyland—recently celebrated 45 years of service, per an Aug. 3 news release from the Houston Airport System.

How it happened: The airport was expanding heavily in the 1970s, as was Disney’s linear induction motor technology for transportation across the Disneyland theme park. Per the release, the company was looking into expanding the use of its technologies at other facilities, which is when they set eyes on IAH.

Disney eventually put a successful bid in for the project in 1979, with construction ending and the subway opening in 1981. Per the release, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck attended the grand opening, marking the occasion with a Disney touch.

The bottom line: IAH saw 12.4 million passengers in 2025, with the Disney transit system serving over 3.3 million of those passengers. Houston Airport System officials said the foundation of that travel around the terminals can be attributed to Disney’s technology and some "Disney magic."

The Harris County Office of Budget and Management rolled out its proposed budget to county commissioners Aug. 17, with priorities for pay parity, bolstering the justice system and maintaining existing services outlined amid a $181 million shortfall.

The gist: OMB Executive Director Daniel Ramos presented the $3.096 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. However, the proposal also comes with a recommendation for a 3.5% tax rate increase, according to budget documents. 

The budget was created amid financial pressures from “rising health care costs, jail outsourcing, increased indigent defense expenses, state-mandated spending requirements and diminishing federal aid,” per a news release.

Also of note: The county also has to grapple with losing federal funding it received during the pandemic, with money from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, ending at the end of the year.