Good Morning, Bellaire, Meyerland & West University!
Top Story
Harris County commissioners authorize letter urging updated flood maps from FEMA
Harris County commissioners are urging officials from The Federal Emergency Management Agency to release updated floodplain maps.
The gist: Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia brought the motion to the Aug. 26 court meeting, where commissioners unanimously voted in favor to authorize a letter signed by court members to prioritize and expedite the maps which guide infrastructure and insurance decisions for a county with a growing population of more than 4.7 million residents and nearly 1.8 million households, according to the latest data by the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We respectfully urge FEMA to prioritize and expedite the release of these new flood risk maps for Harris County," Garcia said.
Zooming out: The last time frame FEMA was set to release Harris County’s preliminary flood insurance rate maps was in 2023, according to Harris County Flood Control District officials, as previously reported in Community Impact. Previously, the HCFCD projected FEMA would release maps in the spring or summer of 2022, but has continually pushed back its estimate.
Newly opened kosher restaurant serves American, international cuisines
Offering Tex-Mex, Asian and American flavors, Kfir Azaria, the owner of Mexicano, said he doesn’t want the restaurant’s title to be the only type of food available.
What’s special about it: Located in the center of Houston’s Jewish community, Mexicano serves a variety of food that is kosher, which means that it adheres to the Jewish dietary law.
Azaria previously opened the kosher pizzeria Rafaello Pizza & Coffee in 2024 and said he wanted to open a second restaurant that allows the Jewish community in Houston to eat meat, as dairy and meat are prohibited from being consumed together in Jewish culture.
On the menu: One of the restaurant’s most popular items is the America Mix, a type of burrito with spiced chicken breast and chopped skirt steak. Additionally, Mexicano features kebabs, burgers and toast naknik, which is a popular Israeli dish similar to a hot dog.
George R. Brown Convention Center transformation project expected to create $20B in spending
A new study found that Phase 1 of the George R. Brown Convention Center’s transformation project will help attract new spending, meetings and conventions to the center, as well as drive up hotel occupancy for years to come, according to an Aug. 27 news release.
The details: Houston unveiled a new master plan in March to transform Downtown Houston and its East End into a more walkable convention and entertainment district, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
The first phase of the project, which was the main focus of the study, includes a 700,000-square-foot expansion of the GRB, which the city dubbed GRB Houston South.
According to the analysis, conducted by destination real estate advisory group Hunden Partners and commissioned by Houston First Corporation, GRB Houston South will generate more than $20 billion in spending, increase the number of citywide meetings and conventions by 62% and reduce “dark days” or downtime at the facility by 66%.
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.
Houston Health Department director retires after 21 years
Houston Health Department Director Stephen Williams is retiring from his role after first joining the position in 2004, council member Mario Castillo announced during an Aug. 26 City Council meeting.
The backstory: Castillo said during Williams' time as director, Williams helped initiate a minimum wage for city employees, paved the way for Houston to become the first Texas city to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board in 2014 and helped launch My Brother’s Keeper, a program aimed at addressing inequitable conditions for the city’s youth, particularly boys and young men of color.
Quote of note: Williams said when he first came to Houston in 2004, he didn’t “particularly like Houston,” and expected to only work as the director for three and a half years.
However, he said his mindset changed as he continued to work in the city, calling the city a “fertile ground” for creativity and new ideas.
