heights_yankee

I heard it's the same guys who did 2727 Kirby. However, I am surprised if those guys have the capital considering I heard that high rise was kind of a flop??? On the other hand, there is another "developer" out of CT with the same name and it seems like this is a spin off of that group. Either that or these guys are 100% ripping off someone else's ideas. http://www.vitanuova.net/index.php

Agreed here as well. I would like an HEB because their store brand stuff is way better than Kroger and their meat is usually better as well. However, I would really be fine with no more supermarkets in the area. 11th St Kroger is huge, they have a neglected one on 20th to deal with. HEB could do something great with their location on TC Jester/Ella. Plus we have 2 good Fiestas and the Target on Sawyer is super-expanding their food lines. How much more food can the Heights possibly buy?

Didn't the one about the Target on Sawyer have 10k? If not, it was close but I swear it had 12k... And yeah, this thread definitely jumped the shark.

Well, someone on my FB page pulled the permit and looks like it is going to be mixed use. Someone on the blog commented that they heard six stories. I wonder if the Heights Assoc is going to address that like they did on White Oak.

I just blogged about this today, as well. I have no idea but I emailed a pic to Swamplot so maybe we'll have answers soon...

It was emailed to Heights Kids Group, which has 900+ members. Not all of them are super active and a percentage don't live the zipcodes needed, but there should be some traction by tomorrow. At least I hope so for the people working on this. Apathy is a huge issue and many people probably feel that Hogg is a lost cause, but personally I never underestimate what a group of motivated parents can do. Here is another email that was circulated today that I thought some of you might like to read... The note below is one sent by my husband to parents at Travis associated with the Vanguard program - so the details are Traivs-specific - but note that it will apply to a great many magnet programs across the district: I have had a series of meets with Suzy Walker and Christine Cole regarding the highly concerning HISD Magnet Review report originally issued January 6th, 2011 and now re-issued (MAJOR CHANGES, with additional focus on Vanguard) January 14th, 2011. I attach a link below to the website where you can get the report, plus additional information. http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=eab4ff276604b210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=9339e02e91b23110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO OTHERS. In Simple Summary, the HISD report recommends the following:- • Remove Magnet status from all 11 HISD Vanguard schools o Vanguard is not considered to be a Magnet program by the MSA's definition • Remove Magnet funding from all 11 HISD Vanguard schools o $105,000 per year to be removed from Travis Elementary o $1,500,000 per year to be removed from all HISD Vanguard Schools • Retain transportation Why is the HISD Report Totally Unacceptable • The Vanguard program IS FULLY consistent with the definition of Magnet program (Tenets and Essential Elements) o Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs are still considered Magnet yet they are just alternative delivery methods • The recommendation to remove all Magnet funding from Vanguard programs is arguably a pure cost cutting measure with NO CONSIDERATION of the broad benefits that the program provides to the school as a whole • Totally insufficient time (just half a day) was spent by the HISD consultant reviewing Travis Elementary and its Vanguard program • ABSOLUTELY NO evaluation of the impact to the broad quality of education within the Vanguard schools has been offered • No alternatives have been considered What Will Happen to Travis if Magnet Funding is Withdrawn • Existing Travis budget has no real ability to absorb significant funding cuts • Current Magnet budget is equivalent to two staff members and difficult decisions will have to be made that will likely impact entirety of school's students • Vanguard program may transition to homogeneous Neighborhood program classes seeking to provide Gifted & Talented teaching for few qualified students in each class • Current Vanguard parents may withdraw their children and themselves to alternative schools with loss of student and parent/community benefits History of Vanguard Program at Travis Elementary •Travis has operated a Magnet Vanguard program since 1987 (i.e. for the last 23 years) •Travis's Vanguard program has provided enhanced opportunities to BOTH to ALL its school students (i.e. including Neighborhood students) and its alumni --Access to additional material such as books and equipment --Access to specialized teachers --Raising broad motivation and expectations across the school Tenets of Travis Elementary's Vanguard Program •Enhances the conventional school curriculum that develops and maintains students' interests in school •Improves academic achievement in BOTH Vanguard and Neighborhood programs --Provides specialized and highly qualified Gifted & Talent teachers to students --Shared Vanguard materials, such as books •Produces higher attendance rates and graduation rates THROUGHOUT the school •Boosts parental and broad community involvement to the benefit of all students and teachers Travis proactively promotes its Vanguard program to the broad community to offer equitable access (311 of the 734 students enrolled at Travis are in Vanguard.) What Can Travis Parents Do? • Contact the HISD Board of Education Superintendent and trustees o Anna Eastman is our District I representative (aeastman@houstonisd.org) o Contacting Board Members by Mail Board member name c/o HISD Board Services Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center 4400 West 18th Street Houston, TX 77092-8501 o Contacting Board Members by e-mail  Board Services Office boardservices@houstonisd.org  District I Anna Eastman aeastman@houstonisd.org  District II Carol Galloway cgallowa@houstonisd.org  District III Manuel Rodriguez mrodrigu@houstonisd.org  District IV Paula Harris pharris3@houstonisd.org  District V Michael L. Lunceford mluncefo@houstonisd.org  District VI Greg Meyers gmeyers@houstonisd.org  District VII Harvin Moore hmoore1@houstonisd.org  District VIII Juliet K. Stipeche jstipech@houstonisd.org  District IX Lawrence Marshall lmarsha1@houstonisd.org o Contacting Board Members by By telephone  Board Services 713-556-6121  Constituent Services 713-556-6111 • Attend Community Magnet Meetings…see Magnet Flier attached (MagnetFlier 1 14 11 eng.pdf) o January 25  Bellaire High School 6:30 p.m.  Lamar High School 6:30 p.m.  Madison High School 6:30 p.m.  Ortiz Middle School 6:30 p.m.  Sterling High School 6:30 p.m.  Waltrip High School 6:30 p.m.  Austin High School 6:30 p.m.  Westside High School 6:30 p.m. o February 1  HMWESC, Board Auditorium 9:00 a.m.  Wheatley High School 6:30 p.m. o February 5  HMWESC, Board Auditorium 9:00 a.m.  Austin High School 1:00 p.m. • Support your Parent Teacher Organization and School Decision Making Committee Funding Status of HISD It looks like HISD have seen this coming for months and that the Magnet review was most likely a way to cut funding. HISD stands to lose between $203 MM and $348 MM annually! Review the recent and rather alarming article from the Houston Chronicle that talks to the state of Texas' and HISD's Education Funding issues. http://blogs.chron.com/schoolzone/2011/01/hisd_could_lose_up_to_348_mill_1.html

got this email from a neighbor and fellow HKG mom this morning and thought I would share for you HAIFers who might be interested: A group of community parents have been investigating ways to revitalize Hogg Middle School. A few us met with Dr. Grier to discuss the need for significant change and improvement to Hogg. He seemed to appreciate our directness and asked us to gather Grassroots support. To demonstrate that improving our neighborhood school, Hogg MS, is an issue widely-supported by the community, an online petition has been created. We are hoping to gather 1000+ signatures from the 77007, 77008 and 77009 zip codes in the next 10 days or so. Below is the link: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/42231.html Please sign the petition, if you support this effort and live within the 77007, 77008, 77009 area. It would be great if you would also forward to other individuals you know in the community. Our need for a strong, viable neighborhood middle school option grows every day! How wonderful it would be to send our children to school down the street and with the classmates with whom they have shared so many years already. Every child in our diverse neighborhood deserves a quality education.

Wasn't Mardi Gras sold in the last couple years? I heard the new owners don't treat their employees very well so I have stopped going...

MAP said 3, but she said it by way of example so I don't know how official that number is.

Gotcha!

I actually asked about this at the meeting for Norhill on Saturday. I was told that if you own a tract of land, i.e. consecutive properties, you only get one vote. However, if you own multiple properties around the district, you get multiple votes. I'm pro-preservation, so I probably should keep this tidbit to myself. On the other hand, I am pretty discouraged with MAP and the City in general right now so I do desire to see truth and overall transparency that is brutally lacking right now. Anyway, double check the number of votes you may cast (unless you own consecutive lots, in which case your current evaluation is correct).

Actually, I did mention those reasons. I didn't point to TAKS specifically but my first response in this thread said "We are (not optimistically) hoping to see some changes in the way public schools operate like less teaching to the test, the return of arts, less homework and more recess. " As I also mentioned, testing is my primary reason for sending my son to a pre-K that goes all the way through high school. I think that the current state of public education has its focus all wrong but were that to change, I would love to send my kids to public school.

Private schools can be very diverse. My sons class is 30 students and pretty much every "common" ethnic group is represented at least twice. At Awty, the international school, over 50 nationalities are represented on campus. Public schools can, at the same time, have a startling lack of diversity. Half one thing and half another doesn't make a school diverse. I am not saying there is no merit inyour comment but the generalizations shouldn't be taken as absolute. Diversity/private are not mutually exclusive and public does not automatically = diverse.

I don't think so. After looking at the picture again, I am thinking the wind was very strong that night/morning and I would guess it was blowing west, away from the urn... I am trying to get the picture on here but it won't use either image extension from the shuttercal site...

Yes! I am not usually much of a conspiracy theorist but I went by there today to take a picture (I'm doing a 365 project, where I take pics every day and load them to a calendar. It will be a photo diary of the year and I want to remember this event) and noticed there was a urn on a brick pedestal that had red flowers and was totally green. However, the brick column and flowers are up very close to the fence line, which would not have been right based on my recollection. The house was pretty far back from the fence. Maybe this was freestanding closer to the fence... Who knows, but it sure looked weird to see that pristine plant in the midst of all that destruction and sadness.

I hadn't thought of this is in all the chatter but yeah, a house that size with a wheelchair bound occupant and multi-million dollar collectibles should have had an alarm system that would have notified the fire department. I mean, hell, my crappy 1980s alarm system in my 1930s bungalow is equipped to do that... I have been poo-pooing the idea of arson and still doubt it, but that does make it seem like something fishy was up. I am just so heartbroken for her children and the family of her caregiver. My hope is that they were quickly overcome with smoke and didn't linger long.

Oh, we totally agree on that point as well (has hell frozen over? ). I don't think I suggested private for HS would be the easy route. I only discussed public schools. One of the reasons we did pre-K at a school that goes all the way through HS was because we want that option if we don't see any changes in the public school system on the horizon. Please keep in mind, these changes would be public schools across the board, coming down to over all education policy, not just Heights schools. I am well aware that it's a luxury to be able to be so principled when it comes to things like standardized testing, but if I couldn't swing tuition and had to go the public route, I would feel very comfortable sending my kids to any of the elementary schools discussed and my thing about upper schools is that I think it's too soon to tell. Whether people love or hate this whole gentrification thing, it is and will continue to have an effect on the schools. If Hogg is closed, that could really change up the face of what track lots of Heights kids will take. Reagan is already much improved over just a few years ago, both in facilities and program wise. While it doesn't have the cache or the IB you can get at Lamar, it can still offer a solid education. Lamar seems to have a bad point for every good one, as well. I think in HISD there are more options for HS than there are in lower grades, so by the time the kids we are discussion on here, infants and toddlers now, are in HS there is no knowing what the landscape will look like. To J008's point, I have a friend who moved to Cypress from the Galleria area after her daughter was born. She bought in a new subdivision that was known for having small, nice, new schools. Before her daughter even hit kinder, they ended up moving. Land is cheap out there and some developer decided to build a bunch of cheap apartments. Not saying this is right (in fact, I think it's kind of disgusting) but friend ended up selling her house and moving to an older neighborhood (still in Cypress) that was more established because the new apartments were bringing in... I don't know... lesser quality people than she expected Either way, the school system she was buying in to was about to (and did) change dramatically and that was in less than 4 years. I know I am preaching to the choir on this point for the most part, but can you have to much anecdotal evidence in a conversation like this?

One thing I've seen is that, because kids here go to so many different schools, that kids have both school friends and neighborhood friends. We got involved with the neighborhood parents' group when I was pregnant and my sons have friends that they have known since they were born. Now the older kids all go to different schools and have that whole additional group of friends. Also, remember that kids relationships develop a LOT differently than they did when we were kids with email and social media sites. We have some friends who live in Spring Branch, are zoned to a good school but their daughter goes to Duchesne. She is considering leaving because she doesn't want to be in an all girls' Catholic school all the way through high school (she's in 7th grade now). I don't think she is the least bit concerned about keeping or losing friendships because of how they are connected in a different way than we were when we were young. Also, we looked at Awty as a possibility for our son and a friend cautioned us that "in an international school your kids can lose friends all the time because their expat assignments change, etc..." I thought a lot about that and then realized that in Houston, we have such a transient population, due in large part to the oil industry, that this can happen anyway. Just another thing to consider. Honestly, the sense of community and the access to arts and culture your kids will have in the city is a great reason to stay. I grew up in a small town and boredom was what caused the most trouble. Friends who grew up in suburbs often say the same.

I have a son who will be 4 this month and a 20 mos old. Right now, my older son goes to pre-K at a private school. All pre-k is tuition based, even at public schools. We are very happy with where he is and will probably leave him there for a couple of years since we've gotten accustomed to the current budget. When we have a 2nd going to school, it might be different. We are (not optimistically) hoping to see some changes in the way public schools operate like less teaching to the test, the return of arts, less homework and more recess. These things may or may not come about and we will cross that bridge when we come to it. As far as individual schools, I am zoned to Browning and will not send my kids there. However, I would feel very comfortable with Love, Field, Helms in addition to Travis and Harvard when/if we move him. I am really not going to sweat middle school. It's six years away and a lot can happen. If Hogg stays open, there are already parents trying to work with our school board rep and HISD to work on the issues the school faces. All the parents who worked so hard to make elementary schools in the Heights viable for their children aren't going to just roll over for middle school. Hamilton has a vanguard program and is considered a decent school. However, I have heard there is a real divide and a lot of animosity between the Vanguard kids and the "regular" students. I heard that from a teacher at the school. I have heard similar stories from people regarding vanguard/magnet at other schools as well. I really don't love that aspect of the way the schools function. One thing to remember is that if you are in HISD you can enter the lottery and get in to a school where you are not zoned. I know families in the Heights who go to all different schools around the city, from River Oaks to Poe to Garden Oaks and, of course, everybody's Montessori darling, Wilson. Wilson goes all the way through middle. (Side note: Garden Oaks will be all Montessori starting next year, I believe). Because of the lottery system, I don't think location is as important. I mean, lots of people want to go where they are zoned but if you have a nice home in a good area and like it, you have other options for public schools. SInclair elementary in Timbergrove is also a great school with a very high level of parent involvement. I don't know where those kids would go to middle. Reagan HS had a multi-million dollar expansion of facilities but did not increase enrollment. It is also the technology magnet for HISD. Again, if your kids are not even in elementary yet, I wouldn't worry about where they are going to go to high school. Suburban high schools (and all schools) are changing all the time as those areas grow and develop. A lot of them have the same issues that city schools have these days. ANother thing to consider is not all schools in a district are the same. Spring Branch has both exceptional schools and terrible schools, so just being in SB district doesn't guaranty a good education. And just one person's perspective on moving to the burbs--- as a parent, I can see some of the benefits of suburban living. However, my husband works a lot of hours and living close to his office means that he can put in a 10-12 hour day and still tuck his sons in at night. I know people who never see their kids because they commute from places like The Woodlands- leaving before their kids are off to school and returning after they are in bed. Sure, schools are good up there but the best school in the world will not take the place of parental involvement. My brother and I went to really crappy schools and have both done well because our mother never stopped emphasizing that our education was important. We did the most with what we had with great success. The school itself is only half the battle. Besides the commute issues, there are so many other positives about raising kids in an area like this that I think the suburbs can never match.

I am also not saying that every school in HISD is viable, but Hamilton is full to capacity so if they close Hogg, where are all the kids from Travis/Harvard/Helms going to go? It's not like Lanier has a lot of room ,either. As far as the elementary schools, yes, some will close but I think showing the support of the community now for the ones we would like to keep NOW is better than waiting. The wheels of HISD bureaucracy work slow right up until you don't want them to. It never hurts to try and impact the decision making process early, which is why parents who care should get involved now.

Enrollment doesn't mean there are fewer children. It means the schools are bad and people are choosing alternatives. I know 4 families in the Heights who homeschool and 1 more who is considering taking her kids out of private school to do the same. Many families go the private school or parochial school route and these are not always "rich" families. Some scrimp, save, get scholarships and use other means because education is important to them and they feel the public school system is failing. If HISD wants higher enrollment, they have to offer schools worth attending. Cramming more bodies in to already inadequate classrooms won't do that. Again, one suggestion would be to re-evaluate how kids are zoned. I know 4 kids who would go to Field (their parents have said as much) if they were zoned there BUT if parents have to play the lottery game, they're going to choose Harvard, Travis etc instead. I can see where there needs to be school closings. BUT I think that right now, some of the listed schools are right at the tipping point to the good side for once. Many parents in the Heights want their kids to go to public schools and really want them to go to the school they are zoned to- saving themselves the paperwork and commute to a school father away. I hope HISD looks at the community and not just the numbers. We have an opportunity to educate more kids and educate them better because, as you proved, with every upper income family in the Heights comes more lower income. As a tax payer, I want my money to go to the best possible use and I would rather pay for kids to be educated and start off on the right foot now than pay for them later...

There are currently 2 groups of parents working with the PTOs and Principals at both Love and Field. Both of these groups are mostly parents whose children will enter Kinder in the next two years, i.e. their children are 3-4 years old this year. These groups are highly motivated and, for better or worse, want the schools to be up to par with what most parents consider Harvard and Travis to be now. It's just a shame that HISD isn't meeting with the communities. When I bought my house in Norhill 6 years ago, there was one family on the street who moved to another part of the Heights about 3 months after we moved in. We now have 2 children and there are 4 other households with kids on our block, age ranges from 10 mos old to 12 years old. 4 of these kids were born while their parents lived in the Heights, while others moved in from elsewhere. Yes, childless couples gentrify, but they often do so with an eye to starting a family. They buy a house, fix it up and expand in to it. Also, these days more and more families are moving within the Heights (and also to Garden Oaks/Oak Forest/Timbergrove/etc) when they outgrow their 1st Heights home, rather than moving to Katy or Sugarland. In fact, I know several families who tired of never seeing their kids due to commute times and have moved back in the loop from the suburbs. Having been immersed in kiddo world for the last 4.5 years, I can say one of two things has happened: there are a lot more young families (and these would be people who moved her 5-10 years ago, when they were young and childless and now have kids in the newborn to 5 year old range) and/or more families are engaged and participating in the neighborhood. Either way, this will mean a need for more public schools seats and, again, 2 of these schools are just getting ramped up with parent involvement. The mom who is heading the community involvement at Field actually emailed Heights Kids group a couple of days ago and said that Field is only 17 students away from the cut off. What will probably happen is there is a program, can't remember what right now, that will get cut and the school will lose the funding from that but it will probably remain open. Like Norhill, I live close to Field but am zoned to Browning. It doesn't make a lot of sense logistically. HISD might be better off to look at who is zoned where. Browning is not a school where families I know would send their kids, so even though much of Norhill is zoned there, families here use the lottery system to send their kids to other schools- usually choosing the most desirable like Harvard, Travis, Garden Oaks and Wilson. And Helms, which many parents really love. I'm surprised anyone feels that Helms is an underperforming school at all! On the other hand, at least a few of these families would send their kids to Field. Many families who live in the Heights now want public school and want more options, which is why the parents are getting involved before their kids are even school age. This whole thing is short sighted in HISDs part and once those schools are gone, there will be no getting them reopened even if there is a need for it. HISD needs to look a lot more carefully at the situation in the area before it cuts off its nose and spites its face.

As the number of families of school age children in the Heights explodes, we may lose 1 middle school and 2 elementary schools. Interesting. I live 5 blocks from Field but am zoned to Browning, twice as far away. Of course, by all accounts I've heard, the new Superintendent is a schmuck so maybe he can't be counted on to make good decisions... Hogg Middle School and Field and Love Elementary Schools are on a list of "small schools" HISD is considering closing or re-organizing. Here is the article from the Chronicle: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/7348147.html Here is a link to the complete list of 66 schools: http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2010/12/houston-isd-releases-list-of-66-small-schools-being/1292514679.column

We've been around 4 times. With two toddlers, it's an easy dinner out where we know we're not going to have to wrestle them for their dinner choice. They get the mac w/ broccoli. I love the buffalo mac, but I am addicted to Frank's Red Hot. My husband has tried a couple different varieties and liked them all. Do I think it's the greatest place around? No, but it's quick (when you're in the early dining set like we are) and easy. I think they did the right thing having a small space with a limited number of seats because their concept is so narrow. They are, however, adding paninis to the menu for a little diversity (still carbs + cheese). I've never had temperature issues with the food but since I have had the same dish at least 4 times, there were some small consistency issues. One time the hot sauce was only on top so I needed extra. When I ordered the next time, I asked for extra but this time they mixed the hot sauce in to the mac and also dumped extra on top when I requested it. At that point, it was too much. Next time I'll just get extra on the side. I also wish they opened at 11 on Sundays since we have to feed those rug rats around 11:30 or they go nuclear. While I feel like it might be hard for many people to be real regulars, i.e. once a week-ish, I can see us going at least once a month, especially since the 4 year old asks for it by name.

My post was edited by HAIF, just to be clear.