The Houston Health Department on Nov. 20 broke ground on a 13,756-square-foot laboratory facility dedicated to infectious disease testing for the Bureau of Laboratory Services.

Read all about it: The project is a public-private collaboration between commercial real estate agency Amelang Partners Inc., the city of Houston and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a Nov. 17 news release from the city.

Located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center campus at 2250 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, the two-story Holcombe Lab will focus on testing for infectious diseases, including avian influenza, measles and mpox, per the release. Additionally, the laboratory will track foodborne illnesses and health care-associated infections.

Quote of note: “This collaboration, thanks to all of you, allows the Houston Health Department to expand our operations within the VA campus, bringing cutting-edge laboratory services close to veterans and ensuring seamless coordination between the city and federal health agencies,” HHD Director Theresa Tran said at the Nov. 20 groundbreaking event.

The retail area will welcome MilkBath Hair & Scalp Spa in 2026, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

Learn more: Founded by local Houstonian Kristin Chandler, MilkBath Hair & Scalp Spa offers customized treatments for dry hair, itchy scalps and hair loss, along with other enhancements. 

About the project: According to the filing, construction at M-K-T will begin in January and finish in April 2026. The space will span 1,342 square feet, and the renovations are estimated to cost around $250,000.

• 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 132, Houston

As Thanksgiving week is expected to be one of the busiest U.S. travel periods for Texans, according to projections from AAA, Houston travelers flying on Frontier Airlines from George Bush Intercontinental Airport will have four new nonstop services starting Nov. 20.

What they're saying: “With our launch of new service to Baltimore, Detroit, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale, we are thrilled to offer Houston-area consumers affordable travel to even more exciting destinations just in time for the busy holiday travel season,” said Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operations design, in a Nov. 20 news release.

Digging deeper: A record 5.8 million Texans are projected to travel within and outside the state from Nov. 25-Dec.1, according to AAA, which is up from approximately 5.7 million travelers in 2024. The airline announcement comes just days after the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration lifted a flight reduction emergency order for 40 airports across the country, including IAH, on Nov. 17.

Home affordability in the Houston region has remained steady, according to the October housing affordability report from the Houston Association of Realtors.

The big picture: HAR reports single-family home sales rose 3.2% year-over-year compared to October 2024.

The average home price has remained flat at $423,955, while the median price of $330,000 has declined for the seventh month in a row.

HAR states the trend indicates that the market is gradually shifting toward a more balanced level after years of rapid price growth.

Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out the top trending stories from Community Impact's coverage areas in Houston from Nov. 17-21.

League City residents raise concerns about Marina del Sol
Several residents raised public safety concerns about the waterfront Marina del Sol development at the Nov. 18 League City City Council meeting, prompting city officials to commit to seeking solutions at a future December meeting.
Uncover the full story by Reporter Rachel Leland.

Conroe City Council approves contract for traffic signal reconstruction at I-45, South Loop 336
Conroe City Council voted Nov. 13 to award a contract for the reconstruction of a damaged traffic signal at the intersection of I-45’s southbound frontage road and South Loop 336, according to city documents.
Expand your knowledge with Reporter Nichaela Shaheen.

Sugar Land’s Walmart Neighborhood Market to remain open during renovations
The Walmart Neighborhood Market stor is set to undergo after-hours renovations to streamline the shopping experience while remaining fully open to customers, store officials said.
See more from Reporter Valeria Escobar.