Category Archives: Elsewhere in Houston

Turning office space into coliving space

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Definitely worth considering. Nationwide, commercial vacancies are becoming increasingly noteworthy as the gulf between residential rental rates and stagnant wages widens. Low-income earners, folks making between $20,000 and $30,000 annually (typically minimum wage employees, students and seniors living on Social … Continue reading →

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If the Texans want a new stadium, they can build it themselves

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, no. When Texans owner Cal McNair named a new team president last month, the first thing he touted about Mike Tomon’s resume was his “extensive history in stadium development.” Tomon was previously an executive at Legends, a stadium operations … Continue reading →

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Ismaeli Center update

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

An almost-20-year saga is drawing to a close. I’m excited to see what the end result is. Work has resumed on the massive Ismaili Center near Buffalo Bayou after the death of the Aga Khan IV, the leader of the world’s millions … Continue reading →

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RRC finds no fault in that Energy Transfer Pipeline explosion

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What’s a giant fireball among friends, am I right? An investigation by Texas regulators into the massive pipeline explosion in Deer Park last fall has found no safety violations by the pipeline’s operator Energy Transfer Company – a determination drawing … Continue reading →

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The Houston animal ambulance service

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating. I had no idea. When a cat was stranded on the roof of a west Houston apartment complex at the height of this week’s winter storm, a 24/7 ambulance for animals responded to the call. The cat, which had … Continue reading →

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Driver who caused the Energy Transfer pipeline fire ruled to have died by suicide

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The report has not been published yet, so there are still questions to be answered. The driver who caused a massive pipeline explosion and fire in Deer Park last fall died by suicide, according to the Harris County medical examiner’s … Continue reading →

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I sure hope these are the only cases we see

Posted on January 25, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Stay away, measles. The Houston Health Department said [last] Friday it has identified two cases of measles in adults who’ve recently traveled internationally, the first cases in Houston since 2018. The adults live in the same household, and it’s unknown … Continue reading →

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This time the power stayed on

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The weather cooperated by not being as bad as it could have been. Most Houston-area residents woke up to two delights Tuesday morning: an unusually thick blanket of snow, and the power thankfully still on. It was a sharp contrast … Continue reading →

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Snow Day 2025

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

That sure was something. Houston woke up to a winter wonderland Tuesday as a fresh blanket of snow fell across the region. The winter storm that also brought sleet should taper off through Tuesday afternoon. How does this snow — … Continue reading →

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Bald eagles

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know why it had never occurred to me before, but there are numerous bald eagles in the greater Houston area, if you are of a mind to try to spot one in the wild. The bald eagle has … Continue reading →

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Time for the annual Christmas tree recycling post

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the most wonderful post-Christmas Day post of the year. The City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) and Houston Parks and Recreation Department invite residents to recycle their live Christmas trees and contribute to a greener holiday season. … Continue reading →

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Recycle those Christmas lights

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Public service announcement: Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department has asked residents to recycle their discarded holiday lights in a very particular way. Instead of leaving them in a recycling bin, they are asked to bring them to either the Westpark … Continue reading →

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IAH Terminal E to be named for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Fitting. City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution to rename a terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in honor of the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. The late congresswoman, who died in July from pancreatic cancer after representing … Continue reading →

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621 set to roll out

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Our newest area code will soon debut. Houston’s newest area code, 621, will officially launch on Jan. 23, 2025. The 621 will be the fifth area code associated with the Houston region, joining the quartet of 281, 346, 713, and … Continue reading →

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On landfills and methane

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

To the extent that we can, we should capture methane gas from landfills and use it for energy. Around 20 miles north of downtown Houston, seated between Interstate 69 and the Sam Houston Tollway, acres of pipeline weave through piles … Continue reading →

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The Ashby Highrise is getting close to being finished

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Wow! Developers recently hit a key milestone in the construction of a high-rise apartment complex in Boulevard Oaks that sparked one of the fiercest land battles in Houston’s history, more than 17 years a high-rise on the site was initially … Continue reading →

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Harris County Sports & Convention Corp to do its own Astrodome assessment

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’re on the way to something. Destination TBD. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. — which oversees the management, operation and development of NRG Park — has approved a study to consider the future of the Astrodome, whether it … Continue reading →

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We have another plan for repurposing the Astrodome

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what the version number is for this, but whatever it is, increment it by one. The Astrodome became the world’s first domed stadium upon opening its doors in 1965. Financed and developed primarily by then-mayor Roy Hofheinz, the … Continue reading →

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Compost those pumpkins

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

News you can use. The day after Halloween, the city of Houston will roll out its annual effort to keep pumpkins out of landfills where they would contribute to the production of harmful greenhouse gases. The city’s Solid Waste Management … Continue reading →

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Saint Arnold gives a boost to the Beer Can House

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Houston Beer Can House, one of the city’s most famous and beloved artistic landmarks, will now have free admissions and expanded hours thanks to a partnership with Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Located in the Rice Military neighborhood, John … Continue reading →

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Art Car Museum to get a new home

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

A very pleasant surprise. Six months ago, Houston’s Art Car Museum rolled out the news that it would shutter at the end of April. But now, plans are revving up to not only keep it open, but give it a … Continue reading →

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SUV that crashed into the Energy Transfer pipeline valve recovered

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Human remains were found inside, sadly. Deer Park city officials confirmed human remains were found in the vehicle involved in the pipeline fire near Deer Park and La Porte after it was towed away Thursday morning following the four-day-long incident … Continue reading →

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The Energy Transfer pipeline fire

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is never a good thing: Pipeline fire in Deer Park, TX. ~10 miles north of Johnson Space Center, and even closer to my Earth home. Nikon Z9, 200mm f2, 1/320 sec, ISO 25600. — Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) 8:56 AM … Continue reading →

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River Oaks Theater set to reopen

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. It ended with “Nomadland” and it’s starting again with “Joker: Folie à Deux.” After more than three years in the dark, the River Oaks Theatre is again turning on the lights. Culinary Khancepts, the Houston-based company that operates the … Continue reading →

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Everything you wanted to know about trees in Houston but were afraid to ask

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

A good overview. In the weeks following the storm, Houstonians had to dodge fallen trees, branches, debris and more across the region. In fact, Hurricane Beryl potentially impacted about 50 percent of urbanized-area trees, according to the Texas A&M Forest … Continue reading →

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Heat mapping

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty cool. Or hot. Kinda both. Your choice. Chris and Rachel Powers were ready for their second drive of the day when they parked outside a bakery in Houston’s East End. They cracked the passenger-side window of their Audi and … Continue reading →

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Our West Nile summer

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of rain = lots of mosquitoes. Local health authorities worry the post-Beryl explosion of the blood-sucking insects could become more than a nuisance, raising the risk of infections of West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses. At least 496 mosquito … Continue reading →

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Brace yourselves for the 2028 RNC in Houston

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, this is looming in our future. Houston isn’t taking any chances. As host of the next Republican National Convention in 2028, the city has dispatched teams to Milwaukee this week to get a handle on how to … Continue reading →

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No more “CenterPointLe$$”

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll always have the memes. Drivers passing by the I-10 West freeway will no longer see the “CenterPointLe$$” graffiti tag. Friday morning, city workers removed the words aimed at the utility company’s response to Beryl — a hurricane that left … Continue reading →

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Yeah, COVID is still out there

Posted on July 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not the threat it once was, thankfully, but still a threat. The arrival of summer is once again coinciding with an uptick in COVID-19 infections in Houston. Infections are on the rise for the fifth summer in a row in … Continue reading →

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Reps. Fletcher and Hunt push flood tunnel study

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good teamwork. After six years of delays, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is under new bipartisan pressure to complete the study of a massive underground tunnel system in Houston that could prevent catastrophic flooding like what happened during Hurricane … Continue reading →

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Is the Houston Zoo too expensive?

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know how high a priority this should be, but I’ll engage the question. Houston Mayor John Whitmire is upset about what he thinks are exorbitant costs to visit the city’s historic zoo, and he is vowing to do … Continue reading →

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Bird flu found in Houston wastewater

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

No need to panic, but good to know. Bird flu has been detected in wastewater around the Houston area, Harris County Public Health officials said Tuesday. The source of the Bird flu, or H5N1, found in Houston water between March … Continue reading →

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Houston janitors win new contract

Posted on June 3, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Houston janitors agreed Saturday to ratify a new union contract with building contractors that will see wages for full-time workers reach $15. Full-time janitors will see their wages increase to at least $15 during the course of … Continue reading →

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