Saturday, July 27, 2013

“Curved Taco”, “Half-Bowl”, and More Coming to League City’s Skate


League City’s City Council recently approved a construction contract to Teamwork Construction Services for the upgrade of the Skate Park located at Big League Dreams, 1150 Big League Dreams. The $220,860 addition will bring more of what local skaters want: a curved taco, a half-bowl, speed hump and a ramp. The Park currently offers skaters the challenge of stairs, ledges, rails and hips.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

As originally posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Offical Blog: “Curved Taco”, “Half-Bowl”, and More Coming to League City’s Skate/

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

CCISD Superintendent Honored by Texas PTA

Dr. Greg Smith, Ph.D., Clear Creek Independent School District Superintendent, was honored as “Superintendent of the Year” by the Texas Parent Teacher Association during their Summer Leadership Seminar held at Hotel Anatole in Dallas, July 19-21.

The 2013 Texas PTA Educator Awards received nominations from PTA members throughout the state to recognize teachers, principals and superintendents known for “Building A Child’s Tomorrow”.  Awardees receive this award based on their accomplishments made on behalf of Texas children.

Texas PTA hosts their annual Summer Leadership Seminar to offer training to members, opportunities to network, and to recognize achievements of local PTAs and their members.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

League City, Name That Park!

Citizens of League City are being encouraged by city officials to submit a name for the new Eastern Regional Park, which opened last fall.  The city will choose a name that honors veterans of the military and a decision should be made by late this summer.

What’s your vote?


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Kemah Picnic Parks Offer Shade & More to Visitors

Hugh Lazenberry and business partner, Shane Tallman, have enjoyed success in their new venue “The Kemah Lighthouse Maze” located in the Lighthouse District. Now, thanks to these gentlemen, anyone visiting the Kemah Boardwalk entertainment area can find a place to sit, enjoy a picnic lunch, and most importantly SHADE from the summer Texas Sun. Kemah Picnic Park has also been made possible by the kind support of area businesses sponsoring a palapa, a table, a palm, etc.

The Kemah Picnic Park will soon be complete and a grand opening ceremony will be held-no date at present. There will be three phases in this development; the first (and almost completed) phase is located at 409 Bradford Avenue, next to the Kemah Lighthouse Maze, in the Lighthouse District. Tables fitted with custom palapa umbrellas and benches are located throughout the park. Free Wi-Fi and outlets to recharge electronic devices, water fountains, ATMs, and a featured activity is also part of this unique plan.

This concept is a “no brainer” and has been a long-time coming, but thanks to Lazenberry and Tallman, visitors will have a place to regroup, recharge, and find shade from the extreme summer sun. You can follow the progress of the Kemah Picnic Parks through their Facebook page.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

Monday, July 8, 2013

Taylor Lake Village Announces Planned Repairs Began on June 17th


Taylor Lake Village Mayor, Jon Keeney, recently posted a notice to residents about long-awaited changes coming.  After working with Harris County, approval has been made to begin planned repairs in neighborhoods, City Hall and the TLV Park.

Construction began around June 17th with a completion estimate of 150 days later. The scope of work is the continuation of the street, sidewalk, and emergency staging area around City Hall. The city park will receive new roads and parking lot, an upgrade of the track, and drainage.  Trees of Houston have donated numerous trees to dress up the park.

The TLV Building Official has made affected homeowners aware of the pending construction and will keep them informed. A grant, written by a former member of the Taylor Lake Village Council, was instrumental in helping to get these repairs accomplished.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

As Posted on Brockway Realty's Official Blog.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Forecast: A Growth Spurt in League City

By Heber Taylor | Posted: Sunday, May 5, 2013 – The Galveston Daily News

“League City’s “Long Range Financial Forecast (FY 2014-2018)” is out, and, if you like economic growth, it’s good news.

This year’s forecast, which covers fiscal years 2014-18, says: “League City is experiencing a sudden surge in growth that is similar to the growth taking place in the Houston area at large.”

Economic growth in League City has averaged 2.2 percent to 2.3 percent the past two fiscal years. It’s expected to hit 3.3 percent this fiscal year and stay at 3.1 percent in fiscal 2014.

The forecast calls for growth at 2.6 percent to 2.8 percent from fiscal 2015 to fiscal 2018, but that’s a conservative estimate. The spurt in growth could easily extend beyond fiscal 2014, according to the report.

To put those numbers in perspective, from 2002 to 2008, League City boomed. Then the Great Recession hit, along with job cuts at Johnson Space Center. Growth in League City slowed to 1 percent to 1.5 percent. Given that history, you can see how a forecast of 3.3 percent growth this year should be a relief to people in business.

There’s another point to make about League City’s forecast. It has been accurate.

Mike Loftin, who is now city manager, has a background in finance and came to League City with the reputation for using financial models to accurately predict revenue.

All cities in Galveston County forecast their revenues as part of their budget processes. But those forecasts range from guesses in the wind to sophisticated models that include many variables.

In League City, this means there is less variance between what was budgeted and what actually comes in. There are fewer surprises today than there were years ago.

The report is a good model. Some of League City’s neighbors would do well to copy it.

A city government that is good at forecasting revenues probably is good at watching expenses — which means making sure that they are rational.

From 2000 to 2013, League City’s population grew from about 45,400 to 90,700, or 5.6 percent per year. The city’s staff grew from 350 to 554, or 3.6 percent per year. …”

The League City Long Range Financial Forecast 2014-2018, can be viewed on the City of League City’s website.

As Posted on Brockway Realty's Official Blog.

Monday, July 1, 2013

“Experts Say Bay Area Positioned for Continued Strong Growth”

(Reprinted from the Houston Chronicle/Ultimate Bay Area Newspaper)
(Written by Jason Seidel, May 28, 2013)

“In February, local business leaders told members of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership that the economy in the region was looking good. Just a quarter later, they say it looks even better. "We continue to beat expectations," said Bob Mitchell, the partnership's president. The percentage increase in tax revenues is in the double digits across the Bay Area.

"We continue to see good growth," he said.

A presentation by Robert Hodgin and John Murasko from the University of Houston Clear Lake's School of Business covered a 30-year retrospective (1980-2010) and an outlook for 2013 and beyond for the Bay Area. According to the report, employment in the Bay Area continues to be largely professional, service and sales oriented with 42 percent of local households having annual incomes of $75,000 or higher. Twenty-eight percent of households have an annual income of $100,000 or higher.

Population growth, from 1980 to 2010, has averaged 3.3 percent annually, from 277,305 to 567,740. Of that, 223,000 or 40 percent of the total population is Hispanic, up from 40,000 or 7 percent in 1980, the report said. The age profile for local residents has seen little change since 1990, and the Bay Area remains a relatively young community.

Trendmaker Homes, a Houston-based company, is working on a 370-acre development in Clear Lake called "The Reserve at Clear Lake City," with prices starting under $300,000 and tapering off around $1 million. In all, 700 homes are scheduled to be built in the development. "Clear Lake City hasn't had any new construction in a while. It's now entering something of a Renaissance period," said Will Holder, president of Trendmaker Homes.

Holder attributes the growth of the Bay Area to improvements made to local transportation, citing Beltway 8 and Interstate 45 specifically, as well as no state income tax and "lower regulations" compared to other states. "Texas is what America used to be," said Holder.

This has created high demand for the area's very limited quality lots.

Pinnacle Construction Industries Inc., another Houston based company, is also seeing an increase in business. One of the upcoming projects involves an exterior renovation of 400 W. Bay Area Blvd. "Business has been good," said Pinnacle owner Cody Owen. "We're seeing a lot of people who are able to do things now that weren't able to a couple of years ago."

This growth means good things for the Bay Area. According to Mitchell, the increase in revenue means more jobs as well as improvements to local schools. One foreseeable challenge that the Bay Area is facing is a decline of skilled laborers. As the current generation of construction workers, pipefitters, electricians and welders begins to retire, employers are left with an ever-shrinking pool of skilled blue-collar labor. "I see it being a problem in the next 10 to 15 years," said Owen. "Today's youth isn't interested. They are finding a lot easier ways to make money."

For the purpose of the presentation, the report focused on 13 BAHEP member cities within the Bay Area, including Clear Lake Shores, Dickinson, El Lago, Friendswood, Kemah, La Porte, League City, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Taylor Lake Village, Webster and four ZIP codes inside the city of Houston (77034, 77058, 77059, 77062).

"Bay Area Houston has many positive forces that include a strong regional infrastructure in the health care, aerospace, specialty chemical, and maritime industry sectors," said Kathryn Cooper, communications manager of BAHEP. With these sectors being supported by young and educated professionals, the economic forecast for the Bay Area looks bright.

For a more in-depth look at the report provided to BAHEP, visit: www.bayareahouston.com

As Posted on Brockway Realty's Official Blog.