Westchase, Houston Explained

Westchase
Settlement Type:Business district of Houston, Texas
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Type3:City
Subdivision Name1: Texas
Subdivision Name2:Harris
Subdivision Name3: Houston
Government Type:Special district
Governing Body:Westchase Management District
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:4.32
Population Total:26,122
Population As Of:2012
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone1:Central Standard Time (CST)
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:77057, 77063
Area Code:281, 346, 713, 832
Area Code Type:Area codes

Westchase is a business district and neighborhood in western Houston, Texas, bounded by Westheimer Road on the north, Gessner Road on the east, Houston Center Boulevard on the west, and Westpark Tollway on the south. The area is bisected by Beltway 8. Westchase is adjacent to Greater Sharpstown, the International District (which includes part of Chinatown), and the Royal Oaks Country Club subdivision. The area is immediately northeast of Alief.

A large portion of Westchase is covered by a special district, the Westchase Management District, which was created by the Texas Legislature in 1995.[2] This entity, funded by a tax increment on businesses within its boundaries, provides branding, urban planning, and public safety functions for its constituents.[3]

More than 1,500 businesses reside in Westchase; several are associated with the petroleum industry, for which Houston is considered a major capital. Major employers that have offices in Westchase include ABB Group, BMC Software, Chevron, Phillips 66, Dow Chemical, Petrochina, and Jacobs Engineering.[4] The Westchase management district is approximately 4.32mi2 in size, with 16.3e6ft2 of office space contained in 118 buildings.[5]

In 2006 Westchase was described by John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press as suburban in nature, with a high concentration of chain stores along its major arterial roads.[6]

History

In the 1950s, large portions of Westchase were purchased by Robert E. Smith, a Houston oilman and philanthropist well known for creating the Houston Colt .45s baseball team.[7] In 1969, Friendswood Development Company purchased a section of Smith's land to form what is now Woodlake, a residential subdivision at the intersection of Westheimer and Gessner.[8] In 1973, Westchase Corporation, the predecessor to the modern management district, purchased 760acres of Smith's land and began preparing land parcels for corporate development. Chevron and Western Geophysical were some of the first companies to establish operations in the district.

Construction on Beltway 8 (the Sam Houston Tollway) through the area began in 1985 and was completed in 1988. Financing for this section of the tollway was particularly challenging, as the Texas Department of Transportation's right-of-way acquisition program coincided with the rapid development of Westchase and Sharpstown, induced by the 1970s energy crisis.[9] In order to ensure that the highway would be built, landowners and developers in Westchase and Sharpstown formed the Beltway 8 Group, which coordinated with TxDOT to lock in property values at rates the state could afford.

In the early 1990s, BMC Software relocated its headquarters from Sugar Land to a new 20-story tower in Westchase.[10]

Legislation creating the Westchase District was passed by the 73rd Texas State Legislature and became law on August 28, 1995.[11]

In 2012, after splitting from ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66 began construction on a 14acres corporate headquarters in the district. The project was completed in 2016.[12] That same year, due to the 2010s oil glut, Halliburton moved out of its 48acres campus near Chinatown, and Maersk Oil ended operations in the area.[13] [14]

Economy

The following companies have regional or international headquarters in Westchase:

Additionally, the following companies have operations in Westchase:

Westchase is home to a growing number of hotels; between 2014 and 2016, the hotel market in the district grew by 9%.[28] The two flagship full-service hotels in the district are the Marriott Westchase and the Houston Hilton Westchase.

Westchase is home to one of Houston's only Japanese markets, the Nippan Daido (大道日本食料品店 Daidō Nihon Shokuryōhinden).[29]

In 2022 the Bechtel announced it would move its Houston area offices, currently in the Houston Galleria area, to Westchase effective late 2023.[30]

In 2023 Mattress Firm announced it would move its headquarters to Westchase as the lease at its current headquarters ends.[31]

Halliburton previously operated the Houston Office (a.k.a. Oak Park Campus) on 67acres of land located in Chinatown and in the Westchase district.[32] [33] [34] [35] [36] The complex included the Latin America division of Easywell, a division of Halliburton.[37] The building first opened as a Brown and Root facility in 1979.[38] In 2009 the Westchase campus had 1,700 employees; Halliburton plans to increase its workforce at Oak Park to 3,000 workers. At the Bellaire site Halliburton plans to build a 16-story tower, a two-story "life center," an additional parking garage, expanded child care facilities, auditoriums, and bridges to connect the many buildings. In 2009 Halliburton had about 1,000 employees worked in leased office space in Westchase. During that year Halliburton stated that it planned to vacate the leased space.[39] The plans for the Oak Park office had been delayed by one year, and Halliburton expected completion in 2013.[40] However Halliburton closed the facility in 2015, and in 2020 a planned demolition was revealed.[38]

Diplomatic missions

See also: List of diplomatic missions in Houston. The consulate generals of Costa Rica, Indonesia,[41] and the Philippines reside in Westchase.[42] The Indonesian consulate has been in Westchase since 1993.[43] The Philippines consulate opened on September 24, 2018.[42]

In 2015, Saudi Arabia submitted plans to construct a new 3acres general consulate complex in Westchase.[44]

In 2019 the Mexican government agreed to give the state government of Texas the land of the Consulate-General of Mexico,[45] in Southeast Houston,[46] [47] in exchange for the state giving the Mexican government 3acres of land in Westchase,[48] that was previously state property. The move is rebuilding so the state government can reconstruct freeways in the Southeast Houston area.[45] The current Mexican consulate opened in June 2021.[49]

Demographics

In 2015 the Westchase Super Neighborhood, defined by the City of Houston and with boundaries different from that of the Westchase Management District, had 29,149 residents in 2015. 33% of them were non-Hispanic black, 26% were Hispanic, 25% were non-Hispanic white, 13% were non-Hispanic Asians, and 2% were non-Hispanic others. The super neighborhood had 21,017 residents in 2000. Of the residents, 40% were non-Hispanic white, 22% were Hispanics, 23% were non-Hispanic black, 13% were non-Hispanic Asians, and 2% were non-Hispanic others.[50]

Government and infrastructure

Municipal services

Westchase is located in Houston City Council district F.[51]

Two Houston Fire Department stations, Station 69 Westchase and Station 83 Royal Oaks, serve Westchase.[52] Both stations are a part of Fire District 83.[53] Station 69, located on Beltway 8, opened in 1980, after rapid area development stressed existing emergency infrastructure.[54] Station 83 opened in 2005.

The Houston Police Department's Westside and Uptown Divisions serve separate sections of the district.

County, state, and federal representation

Westchase is located in Harris County Precinct 3, which is headed by Commissioner Steve Radack.[55]

The United States Postal Service operates the Westchase and Debora Sue Schatz post offices in the district.[56] [57]

Education

Colleges and universities

Houston Community College Alief Campus, opened in 2007, is located along Westheimer in Westchase.[58] In 2017, the West Houston Institute, a STEM-focused facility, opened adjacent to HCC Alief.[59]

American InterContinental University, a for-profit institution, operates its Houston campus in the district.[60] Remington College opened a campus in the district in 1997.[61]

Primary and secondary education

Much of Westchase is zoned to Alief Independent School District.[62]

Public schools

Most of Westchase, which is south of Westheimer Road (Farm to Market Road 1093) and west of Gessner Road, is zoned to schools in Alief Independent School District, while the parts north of Westheimer and parts east of Gessner Road are zoned to the Houston Independent School District.

Two AISD public schools are located within the boundaries of the district, Alief Early College High School and Sneed Elementary School.

The school zoning for the Alief ISD portion is as follows:[63] [64] [65]

The school zoning for the Houston ISD portion is as follows:

Private schools

Private schools in Westchase include Alexander-Smith Academy, River Oaks Academy, Wesley Academy, Woodlake Square Children's Center, Ascension Episcopal School, Children's World Learning Center, and the Grace Presbyterian Church and School. Westchase Methodist School is a preschool and kindergarten in Westchase.[70] The Tenney School is also in Westchase.[71]

Public libraries

The area is served by the Judson W. Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library of Houston Public Library at 3223 Wilcrest Drive.[72] The branch is named for Judson W. Robinson Jr. (1932-1990), who in 1971 became the first African-American elected to the Houston City Council. The library, originally opened in 1991, was closed for major renovations in the fall of 2016, and re-opened in the spring of 2018.[73] [74] [75]

Transportation

METRO maintains a park and ride station for commuting to the central city. This station's construction had an anticipated start date of September, and there were plans for it to have spaces for 1,473 vehicles.[76]

Parks, recreation, and culture

The Westchase District maintains a network of trails along a tributary of Brays Bayou which flows through the center of the district. The Brays Bayou Connector, which commenced construction in 2016, will connect Richmond Avenue and Bellaire Boulevard with a 1.92miles grade-separated trail, providing pedestrian and bicyclist access to the International District and Arthur Story Park.[77] The district government had revealed its initial plans for it in 2012.[78] Another section opened in 2016.[79]

In 2016 the city government bought 3.4acres of land, on two plots adjacent to the library, to create a park there.[80] Houston City Council voted to approve creation of a park the following year.[81] Wilcrest Park is scheduled to begin operations in December 2022.[82] Woodchase Park, 1.75acres in size,[83] had its opening scheduled for October 2021.[84] Prior to the openings of these parks, as of 2020, Trust for Public Land described Westchase as having a below average number of public parks for a city neighborhood.[82]

Harris County operates Tracy Gee Community Center, named after Tracy Gee, a Chinese American university student who was murdered in 1990.[85] The center opened in 1993.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston maintains the Chinese Cultural Center in Westchase.

By 2020 the farmers market in Westchase had an increase in traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas.[86]

Congregation Or Ami, a Jewish congregation, is located in Westchase.[87] the rabbi is Gideon Estes.[88]

See also

External links

29.729°N -95.564°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Super Neighborhood Resource Assessment: Westchase. August 2014. City of Houston Planning and Development Department. 28 February 2017.
  2. Web site: HB 3204. 5 April 1995. Legislative Reference Library of Texas. 28 February 2017.
  3. Web site: Municipal Management Districts. Texas Legislative Reference Library. Allen Boone Humpheries Robinson LLP. 25 February 2017.
  4. "About Westchase." Westchase. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
  5. Web site: Westchase District Land Use Map. https://web.archive.org/web/20140512213847/http://westchasedistrict.com/pdf/2014_Westchase_District_Land_Use_Map.pdf. dead. 2014-05-12. Westchase Management District. 2019-08-14.
  6. Lomax, John Nova. "The Sole of Houston." Houston Press. October 12, 2006. 3. "[...]And Westchase is huge -- it runs all the way from west of Wilcrest damn near to Fondren. It's virtually all chains -- a Geography of Nowhere wasteland of Boston Market, Borders, Kroger, Randalls, Taco Bell, Citgo and Sonic.[...]"
  7. Web site: Westchase: A Community History. Westchase Area Management District. 1 March 2017.
  8. Web site: History. Westchase Area Management District. 1 March 2017.
  9. Book: Slotboom, Erik. Houston Freeways. Oscar F. Slotboom. 2003. 0-9741605-3-9. 300–301. Chapter 5: The Loops.
  10. Bivins, Ralph. "BMC building 20-story tower near tollway on city's west side." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday August 6, 1991. Business 1. Retrieved on August 3, 2009.
  11. "History of Westchase." Westchase. Retrieved on February 4, 2009.
  12. Web site: Phillips 66 to move into global headquarters in July. Smith. Cara. 6 June 2016. Houston Business Journal. 2017-03-01.
  13. News: Halliburton lists 48-acre west Houston campus. Sarnoff. Nancy. 14 September 2016. Houston Chronicle. 2017-03-01.
  14. Web site: More details on oil giant's Houston office closure. Smith. Cara. 6 April 2016. Houston Business Journal. 2017-03-01.
  15. Web site: Worldwide Contacts. BMC Software. 1 March 2017.
  16. Sebastian, Simone. "Phillips 66 to build global headquarters in West Houston." FuelFix (Houston Chronicle). September 12, 2012. Retrieved on September 13, 2012.
  17. Web site: Worldwide Locations: USA and Canada. Geokinetics. 1 March 2017.
  18. News: Men's Wearhouse to move from warehouse. Feser. Katherine. 4 September 2006. Houston Chronicle. 2017-03-01.
  19. "Randalls Food Markets Inc." Randall's Food Markets. March 3, 2000. Retrieved on April 30, 2009.
  20. Web site: Statoil more than doubles footprint in Westchase District. Pulsinelli. Olivia. 8 October 2013. Houston Business Journal. 2017-03-01.
  21. News: The oil industry likes west Houston best. Sarnoff. Nancy. 7 October 2005. Houston Chronicle. 1 March 2017.
  22. Web site: Chevron Announces Plans to Construct a Downtown Houston Office Building. 2013-07-03. Business Wire. 2017-03-04.
  23. News: PetroChina to Expand in US Market. 2013-11-22. Oil & Gas Eurasia. 2017-03-04.
  24. News: Westchase District benefits from 2012's largest office lease. Spring 2013. Westchase Today. 1 March 2017. Westchase District.
  25. Web site: ABB to be first tenant in Westchase Park. Dawson. Jennifer. 20 February 2009. Houston Business Journal. 1 March 2017.
  26. Web site: Run the World: Bauer Alumnus Connects with Listeners as On-Air DJ for 104.1 KRBE. Navarro. Jessica. 2015. Bauer College of Business. University of Houston. 1 March 2017.
  27. Web site: Vroom, Inc. company profile . 12 November 2023 . LinkedIn.
  28. News: Hotels Positioning for Upturn. Fall 2016. Westchase Today. 1 March 2017.
  29. Houston Chef's Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Bayou City’s Iconic Restaurants. Globe Pequot, November 6, 2012. p. 142. Retrieved on March 30, 2014. "For exquisitely fresh fish to make sashimi plates or sushi at home, the Nippon Daido market in Westchase is the spot to go."
  30. Web site: Luck. Marissa. Engineering giant Bechtel to move Houston offices out of Galleria. Houston Chronicle. 2022-07-11. 2022-07-12.
  31. Web site: Luck. Marissa. Mattress Firm moving headquarters to Houston's Westchase area. Houston Chronicle. 2023-04-07. 2023-04-09.
  32. Rodriguez, Lori. "Opinions vary over naming the growing Asian community on Houston's southwest side" (Archive). (Archived on May 15, 2008). Alternate version without Chinatown map: "DIVERSITY DEBATE / Chinatown outgrowing name / Opinions vary over naming the growing Asian community on Houston's southwest side." Houston Chronicle. Wednesday May 9, 2007. A1.
  33. "SECT5-key.gif ." Westchase District. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.
  34. "Office Location." Halliburton. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.
  35. Clanton, Brett. "Halliburton to consolidate in 2 locations." Houston Chronicle. April 3, 2009. Retrieved on April 3, 2009.
  36. Sarnoff, Nancy. "Halliburton move could create hole in Houston's office market." Houston Business Journal. Friday August 10, 2001. Retrieved on November 11, 2009.
  37. "Easywell Offices ." Halliburton. Retrieved on April 3, 2009.
  38. Web site: Sarnoff. Nancy. Giant Halliburton building to be demolished this week. Houston Chronicle. 2020-11-19. 2020-11-25.
  39. "HALLIBURTON TO CONSOLIDATE HOUSTON OPERATIONS ." Halliburton. April 3, 2009. Retrieved on January 22, 2010.
  40. Dawson, Jennifer. "Despite delays, suburban Halliburton campus developments take shape." Houston Business Journal. Friday December 25, 2009. Retrieved on April 5, 2010.
  41. News: Consulate offers tasty way to learn about Indonesia. Baird. Annette. 1 October 2013. Houston Chronicle. 2017-03-02.
  42. Web site: PH Reopens Consulate General in Houston . Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines). 2018-10-10.
  43. News: . Real estate briefs . https://web.archive.org/web/20110522021046/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1111310 . dead . 2011-05-22 . 1993-02-04.
  44. Web site: Saudi Arabia Consulate Development Reaches Houston Planning. Pesquera. Adolfo. 28 May 2015. Virtual Builders Exchange. en-US. 2017-03-02.
  45. Web site: Begley, Dug. Mexican consulate moving to southwest Houston to make way for downtown freeway rebuild. Houston Chronicle. 2019-12-16. 2019-12-17.
  46. "Area Maps ." (Map 1, Map 2) Greater Southeast Management District. Retrieved on May 22, 2009.
  47. "INFORMACIÓN SOBRE EL CONSULADO." Consulate-General of Mexico. Retrieved on July 27, 2009. "Dirección: 4507 San Jacinto St. Houston, Texas, 77004"
  48. Web site: Pulsinelli, Olivia. Texas, Mexican Consulate to swap land in Houston as part of major highway project . Houston Business Journal. 2019-12-16. 2019-12-17.
  49. Web site: Tallet. Olivia P.. New Mexican consulate opens in Westchase area of Houston. Houston Chronicle. 2021-06-18. 2022-03-27.
  50. Web site: Westchase Neighborhood Resource Assessment No. 19 Westchase. City of Houston. 2019-08-14.
  51. Web site: City of Houston 2016 Council Districts. 2016. City of Houston.
  52. Web site: HFD Fire Stations. Houston Fire Department (City of Houston). 2017-03-02.
  53. "Fire Stations." Houston Fire Department. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  54. Web site: Fire Stations. Houston Fire Museum. 2017-03-02.
  55. Web site: Precinct 3: About. Harris County Precinct 3. 2017-03-02.
  56. Web site: Westchase. United States Postal Service. 2017-03-02.
  57. Web site: Debora Sue Schatz. United States Postal Service. 2017-03-02.
  58. News: HCC's new AlieI-57 in Illinois campus set to open. 2007-12-13. Houston Chronicle. 2017-03-03.
  59. Web site: New HCC campus offers innovative opportunities for West Houston community. 2016-02-04. Houston Community College. en. 2017-03-03.
  60. Web site: Houston Campus. American Intercontinental University. 2017-03-04.
  61. Web site: Westchase Technical School. Remington College. en. 2017-03-03.
  62. Web site: Attendance Zones / Boundary Maps. Alief Independent School District. 2017-03-02.
  63. "2007–2008 Elementary/Intermediate School Boundaries." Alief Independent School District.
  64. "2007–2008 Elementary Bilingual School Boundaries." Alief Independent School District.
  65. "2007–2008 Middle/Intermediate School Boundaries." Alief Independent School District.
  66. https://www.aliefisd.net/Sneed Home
  67. Westchase Subd. Sec. Five (PDF, JPG). Harris County Appraisal District. Retrieved on March 23, 2019. Indicated by Alief ISD school site marker.
  68. "Registration." Briarmeadow Charter School.
  69. "Westside High School." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on July 6, 2017. "Students zoned to this campus are eligible to apply for a Boundary Option Transfer to Lamar High School"
  70. "Schools & Day Cares in the Westchase District." Westchase. Retrieved on January 28, 2009.
  71. "Contact Us." The Tenney School. Retrieved on August 14, 2019. "Contact Info 3500 South Gessner Houston, Texas 77063"
  72. "Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library." Houston Public Library. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  73. News: Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library to close for renovation. Houston Chronicle. 2018-05-24.
  74. Web site: Robinson-Westchase Library Re-opening Celebration – City of Houston Newsroom. cityofhouston.news. en-US. 2018-05-24.
  75. Web site: Judson Robinson, Jr. Westchase Neighborhood Library. April 19, 2018. houstonlibrary.org.
  76. Web site: Byrnes. Debra L.. Park & Ride station coming to Westchase. Houston Chronicle. 2002-08-29. 2021-12-20.
  77. News: Westchase District breaks ground on Brays Bayou Connector Trail. Kuhlmann. Landan. 2016-03-30. Houston Chronicle. 2017-03-03.
  78. Web site: Graham. Rusty. Hike-and-bike trail will connect Westchase with Art Storey Park. The Examiner. Houston Chronicle. 2012-04-11. 2021-12-20.
  79. Web site: Jones. Jaimy. Westchase District Trail gets longer with new section opening in 2016. Houston Chronicle. 2016-10-24. 2021-12-20.
  80. Web site: Morris. Mike. New park gives Westchase families reason to cheer. Houston Chronicle. 2016-10-12. 2021-12-20.
  81. Web site: Morris. Mike. City moves forward on new Westchase park. Houston Chronicle. 2017-04-05. 2021-12-20.
  82. Web site: Lapin. Elliott. Westchase District set to get 2 parks by 2022 for nearly $20 million. Houston Chronicle. 2020-11-21. 2021-12-20.
  83. Web site: Cowen. Diane. Park-hungry Westchase District gets a new green family and pet space. Houston Chronicle. 2021-12-17. 2021-12-20.
  84. Web site: Lapin. Elliott. Grand opening Westchase District's Woodchase Park will take place on Oct. 28. Houston Chronicle. 2021-10-26. 2021-12-20.
  85. News: Rosenberg killer faces execution today. Ruiz. Rosanna. 2007-06-20. Houston Chronicle. 2017-03-03.
  86. Web site: Lapin. Elliott. Westchase District Farmer Market sees growth as residents flock to outdoor shopping during coronavirus pandemic. Houston Chronicle. 2020-08-01. 2021-12-20.
  87. Web site: Land Use Map. Westchase, Houston. 2019-11-09. - PDF
  88. Web site: Iracheta, Michelle. Sunday Conversation: Rabbi Gideon Estes, Congregation Or Ami. The Katy Rancher. Houston Chronicle. 2018-09-10. 2019-11-09. [...]Congregation Or Ami located at 3443 Wilcrest Drive.[...]Congregation Or Ami, a synagogue in Katy/West Houston, for eight years..

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