HTX-BMW: Impact 11/6/2025

On Nov. 3, Bellaire City Council members voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing for Dec. 1 regarding a petition from property owners along Pine Street to install speed humps along the block.

According to the agenda item, the project's scope would include the 4800-4900 blocks of Pine Street, between Pauline Street and Ferndale Street, as well as the properties adjoining the north side of Pine Street.

In a nutshell: The city clerk's office received a petition from more than 80% of property owners Sept. 7 requesting the installation of speed humps, which differ from speed bumps by their gradual, rounded and wide design, according to Reliance Foundry Co., a metal casting supplier firm.

Travis Tanner, director of development services, said during the City Council meeting that before considering the item, the city will need to review the request "more closely," which includes monitoring the speeds in the area.

The Rice Village location is Liberty Kitchen’s third restaurant in Houston, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What’s on the menu: With locations in Memorial and River Oaks, Liberty Kitchen is known for its raw bar selection and seafood. Additionally, Liberty Kitchen serves desserts, including key lime pie, pistachio cake and white chocolate raspberry bread pudding.

One more thing: Instead of a happy hour, the restaurant offers a “Royale Hour” Tuesday through Friday from 3-6 p.m., featuring small plates like salmon tartare and wagyu nigiri sold at a discounted price.

• 5212 Morningside Drive, Houston

Houston City Council on Nov. 5 tabled its decision to create a new “high-risk” rental property inspection program after several council members said the proposal lacks proper enforcement measures.

What happened: Seven council members, including Letitia Plummer, who proposed the program, voted against tabling the decision during the Nov. 5 meeting, saying Council should pass the ordinance so the program can be implemented and properly evaluated. City Council has the legal authority to amend ordinances after they’ve been adopted, the city attorney said.

However, eight council members and Mayor John Whitmire disagreed and voted to refer back to the ordinance Dec. 10 so the policy can be revised to include clearer enforcement protocols.

“We’re at the finish line with an unfinished product,” Whitmire said during the meeting.

About the program: According to the ordinance, multifamily rental properties that receive too many certified habitability citations within six months would have to register as a “high-risk” building and could face daily fines ranging from $250-$2,000 per violation.

Several claw machine arcades opened in the Houston area this year, per previous Community Impact reporting. Here are a few:

Claw City
Claw City officials confirmed the entertainment center opened a new location in late March. Claw City is a coin-operated claw machine arcade offering games and prizes, per its Facebook page.

• Opened March 30
• 19003 Windsor Pointe Drive, Ste. 300, Tomball

• Opened Jan. 25
• 19014-A Gulf Freeway, Friendswood

• Opened in September
• 7914 Fry Road, Ste. 260, Cypress

The Harris County Flood Control District will hold two virtual meetings Nov. 10 and Nov. 12 to discuss the increased investment in maintenance. 

The gist: During the webinars, titled "One Year Later: See How Your Dollars are Making an Impact," officials will present visible progress and news on projects for 2026. The webinar will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and at noon Nov. 12 via Zoom, according to the district's website.

Digging deeper: The Harris County Flood Control District has 36 major maintenance projects on tap across the county’s four precincts, as previously reported by Community Impact. Estimated costs have not been calculated for 20 of those projects, and the remaining 16 will cost a projected $20.8 million.

At least $410 million worth of flood projects throughout the county are going to be bid in the next 12 months, equaling more than 30 project packages, according to Harris County Flood Control District’s construction bid calendar.

Quote of note: Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said at the Oct. 30 court meeting the flood district is also working with federal and state partners for funding. 

“Identifying roughly $400 million in projects that will be bid in the next 12 months, that is encouraging,” Ramsey said. 

Zooming out: Various flood mitigation projects in high-flood-risk areas across Harris County have advanced with secured local, state and federal funding partnerships after the unanimous approval from Harris County commissioners in September as part of a restructured proposal built upon the work completed from the 2018 flood bond.