Commuting from West Houston to Downtown is a daily battle. So, METRO is expanding its Commuter service in the Katy area with the new 222 Grand Parkway Park & Ride. Service will run weekdays from the METRO designated parking lot, east of the Cinemark 19 Theater. The new 222 Grand Parkway Park & Ride will offer direct service between Grand Parkway and Downtown. Buses will depart every 15 minutes from 5:30 to 8:15 a.m., and return every 15 minutes from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.The cost to ride is just $3.50 each way, and using your METRO Q Card makes paying your fare quick and easy. With the Q, you’ll also enjoy bonus trips – five free trips for every 50 paid trips. Remember, METRO customers can park for FREE when using your Q Card. Non-METRO riders are required to pay $3.50 for parking. If you haven’t made the switch to the new Q Card – now’s the time, as METRO will stop selling ALL magnetic passes as of January 31, 2008. It’s all part of our new fare system roll out.
As Katy prepares for the coming influx of 50,000 people over the next five years, local hospitals are making plans to expand themselves to meet the needs of the growing Katy community.
Methodist Hospital
The $300 million 192-bed facility will feature open heart surgery capability, an emergency room capable of treating 30,000 patients annually, 14 operating rooms, an imaging center, and labor and delivery services. The hospital will occupy half of its 86 acres; the other half will be used for expansions.
Wayne Voss, vice president of community operations and development of the Methodist Hospital System, says construction of the facility, which is located along the north side of the Katy Freeway between Barker Cypress and Greenhouse roads, will commence in April and should end by 2010.
The Methodist hospital will be built west of where Texas Children’s Hospital plans to build a pediatric hospital, which should coincidentally be completed in 2010.
“We felt it was good synergy being next to Texas Children’s,” said Voss. He adds that the location should allow better access to patients east of Katy.
St. Luke’s
St. Luke’s recently purchased 27 acres on the corner of Grand Parkway and Kingsland Boulevard where the new hospital will be built. The 100-bed facility will be part of The Reserve, being developed by Vista Equities Group. Plans and designs have not yet been established, says David Koontz, senior vice president of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Systems.
Texas Children’s
Plans are being made for a pediatric hospital on Barker Cypress and Katy Freeway. The $220 million, 350,000 square foot hospital will be built on 55 acres. The campus will be the first pediatric hospital in the Katy area.
The first phase of the project includes an ambulatory care facility with outpatient clinic and professional medical building, which should open in 2009. The following year, it will open a 24-hour emergency care center and have 48 beds. The hospital hopes to have 96 by 2015.
With so much news about the mortgage industry here in Katy and all over United States,looking back can be frustrating for some and a relief for others.
It was bad if you were pre-approved for a mortgage only to face the loan requirements increased suddenly and see your dream come to an a end. It was also a bad year if your house payment increased due to taking out an ARM and not being able to refinance your mortgage. Even worse if you lost your home due to forclosure in 2007.
On the bright side, many home buyers enjoyed the abundance of homes in the market. Many were able to get a low mortgage payment on a great home due to the price being lower than expected and being able to buy bigger houses than they could have in previous years. low interest rates and FHA helped many achieve the ''American Dream'' with instant equity at closing.
Many buyers found their dream home. Eventhough real estate maybe slow for appreciation, buyers undestand the reality of the market and they will enjoy their new home for years to come. They have a great home at a great price and no worries about higher payment in the future when interest rates may climb and home prices will gradually increase.
Dec. 3, 2007
Fourteen schools in the Katy Independent School District were among an elite group of public schools across the state to be named to Texas Monthly’s “Best Public Schools” list.
A total of 859 elementary, junior high and high schools were published on the list in the magazine’s December 2007 issue.
The magazine in partnership with the National Center for Educational Accountability composed the list of high-performing schools on the basis of Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test results for the past three years. The top 5 percent of schools are automatically included, and the additional schools are added because they performed better than statistically predicted.
Elementary schools
Eight elementary, four junior high and two high schools made the list. Elementary schools are Alexander, Creech, Fielder, Hayes, Katy, Pattison, Williams and Winborn. These elementary schools performed better across all grades on the TAKS test than other similar elementary schools around the state.
“I’ve got a building full of learners,” said Elisa Farris, principal of Alexander Elementary. “This is a learning community, and the kids see the teachers as learners right beside them.”
Farris also explained that this level of success wouldn’t be achieved by the students if it weren’t for the supportive community that enables teachers at Alexander to focus on their jobs.
On December 15 Kenzo Sushi Bistro celebrated its official grand opening. The restaurant offers lunch, dinner, and a full sushi bar daily. The menu includes Kenzo gazpacho, smoked tomato lettuce wraps and herb dusted lamb with braised fennel and eggplant mash and a red wine frappe, and other such meal ioptions
Kenzo is located at the south end of la Centerra. For more information,visit www.kenzosushi.com or call 281-371-8200
In less then two years of development, Firethorne, a residential community in the Katy-Fulshear area, recently acheived 523 housing starts. Two new sections should be ready for homebuilding by January and are currently being prepared for construction.
The Firethorne builder team is comprised of Conventry Homes, David Weekly Homes, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes, Partners in Building and Wiesner Homes. It is located on FM 1463 near the crossroads of the I-10 West corridor, the WEstpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway.
Reduced $20k.
• 2,633 sq. ft., 4 bdrm 2 story
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MLS®
$200,000 USD
- Dramatic High Ceilings
Tealbriar, Sugar Land
Property information
• 1,923 sq. ft., 3 bdrm single story "Traditional"
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MLS®
$155,000 USD
- Diamond in the Rough
Lone Oak Village, Cypress
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Honey stop the car,this is it!- This gorgeous home features tile floors, and upgraded carpet! Comfortable and elegant! as soon you walk in you feel rigth at home, Stainless Refrigerator included, gourmet kitchen with diamond cuts backsplash,Built-in microwave, Moen faucets, gas stove,lots of cabinets, fireplace with custom mantle, oversized whirlpool tub, marble vanities, ceiling fans and Faux wood blinds.Easy acces to Cy Fair college, 1-10 & 290.
Property information
• 1,695 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "traditional"
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MLS®
$97,000 USD
- Diamond in the rough
Westlake, Houston
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Recent AC, Roof, front door and paint, kitchen island and formal dining with tile floor, High ceiling and Sky Ligth in the den, spacious split plan , Large bedrooms w/ walk/in closets. fireplace, Large fenced back yard,Three side-brick.This home offers elegant curb appeal with a traditional style. Immaculate ready to move in.
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