Roundup: 10 updates on projects funded through Humble ISD's 2022 bond
Here’s an update on some projects included in Humble ISD’s $775 million bond approved by voters in May 2022. This list is not comprehensive.
Ongoing projects Summerwood Elementary addition: Campus additions include six new classrooms in the southern wing of the building—which opened in August—and eight new classrooms in the northern wing set to open in October.
Timeline: Projected completion in October
Cost: $13.5 million
Recently completed Lake Houston Middle School: The district’s 11th middle school is a roughly 213,000-square-foot, three-story facility designed to house around 1,100 students. The campus features three stories with one grade housed on each level. Additionally, officials noted each floor of the building features an outdoor learning area. The campus will relieve student capacity for Autumn Ridge, West Lake and Woodcreek middle schools.
J. Jill to open new women's clothing store in Kingwood Commons
J. Jill will soon be opening a new location in the Kingwood Commons shopping center. The women's clothing store offers sizes extra small through 4X with regular, petite and tall options.
The timeline: Construction on the 3,257-square-foot project began in July and is expected to wrap up by mid-October, according to an April 7 filling with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Per a sign on the storefront, the new location is expected to open this fall.
Get involved: According to the J. Jill website, the company is currently hiring for several positions for the upcoming Kingwood Commons store, including store manager, assistant store manager, sales lead and sales associate.
Houston controller recommends policy change to sustain city during disaster events
Years of hurricanes and extreme weather events have devastated Houston, and Controller Chris Hollins’ office said if the city wants to provide disaster relief and have the money for it, it needs to make certain policy changes.
In a nutshell: Deputy Controller Will Jones told City Council during a Sept. 2 Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting said the city is spending more than it brings in, leaving limited space in the budget for disaster preparedness.
Jones said if the city wants to sustain itself after hurricanes, Houston would need to consider making policy changes, such as:
Raising its minimum fund balance
Increasing the size of its budget stabilization fund
Directing year-end surpluses toward the budget stabilization fund
More details: Council member Abbie Kamin proposed an amendment to the city’s financial policies during the meeting that, if passed, would increase the budget stabilization fund from $20 million to $25 million and replenish it within a year.
Harris County Flood Control seeks public input on flood risk plans across 11 watersheds
Harris County Flood Control District officials are looking for residents to provide input with their flood experiences during extreme weather events and how the county’s 11 watersheds have impacted their communities.
Two-minute impact: Along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the HCFCD is spearheading Phase 1 of what’s being called the Solutions for Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and Resilience study. The SAFER study’s aim, according to HCFCD, is to evaluate and identify large-scale flood risk reduction projects across these 11 watersheds in Harris County:
Brays Bayou
Buffalo Bayou
Clear Creek
Cypress Creek
Little Cypress Creek
Greens Bayou
Halls Bayou
Hunting Bayou
Sims Bayou
Vince Bayou
White Oak Bayou
What they're saying: HCFCD officials at an August Cypress Creek workshop said the multiyear, multiphase initiative will incorporate technical analysis to develop a strategy using both structural and non-structural tools such as detention basins, tunnels and floodplain risk analysis.
What residents should know: The online survey on the HCFCD website is available for Phase 1 public input until Sept. 25.
