Missed any Community Impact articles from this week? Check out the top trending stories from Community Impact’s coverage areas in Houston from Jan. 26-30.
Kresston expansion brings larger homesites, adds Toll Brothers and Huntington Homes in Magnolia
Kresston, a 1,400-acre master-planned community in Magnolia, is expanding its home lineup with larger homesites and two new builders, according to a Jan. 22 news release.
The new neighborhood, Heartland Reserve, will add 70-foot and 80-foot homesites to Kresston’s existing mix of 40-, 50-, 55- and 65-foot lots. An initial phase of 39 70-foot homesites is expected to be released to builders in March, with home presales starting soon after, per the release.
“This next stage of development elevates our home offerings in Kresston, giving more options to buyers needing larger homes,” Stephen Barrera, vice president and general manager of Kresston, said in the release.
Barrera said Heartland Reserve will feature a style reminiscent of Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country.
Read all about it by Reporter Nichaela Shaheen.
IAH to wrap up $1.46B Terminal Redevelopment Program in early 2026
Houston Airport System officials have nearly completed George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s $1.46 billion Terminal Redevelopment Program as the airport continues to strengthen its international travel options.
HAS Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak said the Terminal Redevelopment Program represents the single largest investment the city of Houston has contributed to IAH.
Szczesniak noted most of the major phases associated with the project—including the Terminal D-West Pier, Terminal D updates and the airport’s new International Central Processor ticketing hall and security checkpoints—are either finished or nearly completed.
“We’ve got some minor finishing work that’s going on,” Szczesniak said in a Jan. 8 interview. “Most of the work is done. … The remaining thing right now is actually testing and certifying the baggage system.”
See the full story by Reporter Wesley Gardner.
7 Harris County judge candidates raised just over $1M for March primary election campaigns
Campaign finance reports filed in January covering July 1-Dec. 31 show both Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County judge raised just over $1 million in total for their March primary election campaigns.
Seven of the nine candidates filed their reports with the Harris County Clerk’s Election Office, with Republican candidate and local firefighters union president Patrick “Marty” Lancton receiving the largest sum, over $500,000 in campaign contributions. Former Houston Mayor and Democratic candidate Annise Parker was second with over $416,000.
Uncover the full story by Reporter Melissa Enaje.
Harris Health nears $100M capital fundraising goal less than 3 years after bond vote
Harris County’s hospital district has raised $99 million, just $1 million shy of Harris Health’s fundraising goal to support the $2.9 billion capital building initiative approved by voters in the 2023 bond election.
Harris Health President and CEO Esmaeil Porsa shared the update on the hospital district’s philanthropic efforts at the Jan. 29 Commissioners Court meeting, days after hospital officials finished the newly named John M. O’Quinn Hospital in northeast Houston, also part of the 2023 bond.
Porsa said the $99 million raised is seven years ahead of schedule.
“I want to thank Harris Health leadership, my team, employees, and medical staff,” Porsa said. “It is because of them, because of the trust that they have instilled in our community that we were able to achieve the 72.3% vote supporting our bond proposal, and to be able to achieve this milestone including $40 million from John M. O’Quinn Foundation, the largest single gift ever given to Harris Health, and the single largest gift ever given to any safety net hospital in the state of Texas.”
Take a closer look with Reporter Melissa Enaje.
University of Houston launches new online film leadership certificate
The University of Houston is set to open applications in February for a new online graduate certificate aimed at preparing students for jobs in Houston’s rapidly growing film and television industry, according to a Jan. 22 news release.
Housed in the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, the Graduate Certificate in Film and Media Production and Leadership will offer evening synchronous online classes and is designed to build a local workforce pipeline for producers and project leaders, said Fleurette S. Fernando, associate dean and director of the Arts Leadership Program.
“We really wanted to ride that wave and create a program that can help to strengthen workforce development in film and television in Houston,” Fernando said.