A wild arrest 👀 a Norhill update + something new coming to the Heights😊

Hey, Heights!👀

Happy Monday! Last week was so busy. But I am realizing, I am saying that every week. LOL.

I’ve also realized just how much you guys like when I’m on Instagram Stories asking questions, sharing what I’m hearing and showing some of the DMs that come in. I want to do more of that. But for now, there were a lot of things brought up we need to talk about — so let’s get into it.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WOAH.

If you missed this one, go watch the video. Seriously.

A 49-year-old man was arrested after Houston police say he was caught dismantling rooftop A/C units at several Heights-area businesses, allegedly to steal copper.

A repairman reportedly spotted him on the roof of Northside Accident Injury Chiropractic and called police. Investigators say the damage across multiple businesses is expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars.

And I’ll say this: It’s pretty rare that we get video showing someone allegedly committing the crime.

**Read the full story here.**

NORHILL: THE LATEST ON THE DESIGN GUIDELINES

I’ve been waiting on an update about what happened last Thursday night at the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission meeting, where the Norhill Historic District design guidelines were once again on the agenda.

I was planning to go, but ended up working morning hours instead. Yeesh.

I finally got an update Friday afternoon.

The short version: they’re still working on them. I know, I know...

Staff told the HAHC that the subcommittee reviewing the draft guidelines has met four times since the June meeting. They’re working through the conditions approved by the HAHC, verbal conditions from the June 18 meeting and remaining language issues.

The public comment period also closed September 8.

If everything stays on track, the redlined version of the guidelines could be presented at the October 8 HAHC meeting.

So, for everyone who has been asking me, “Okay, but where are we actually at with Norhill?”

That’s where we are.

A LITTLE GOOD NEWS IN COTTAGE GROVE 🌳

You may remember the Cottage Grove tree situation I reported on earlier this year.

Trees for Houston had planted 15 trees as part of a neighborhood beautification project, and they were later mowed over. About $7,400 worth of trees and work was lost.

I’ve been following up on what happens next, and I got an update from a Cottage Grove resident this week.

She says District C told them the city is moving forward with payment to Trees for Houston, which would hopefully allow the trees to be replaced sometime this fall! YAY!

That’s not quite the finish line yet, but it sounds like there is finally a path toward getting those trees replaced! Can’t wait to see them! 🌳

SOMETHING NEW IS COMING TO THE HEIGHTS 👀

This one caught my attention.

A private, AI-driven K-8 school called Alpha School is planning a Houston Heights campus. The school has confirmed it is eyeing locations and one of those could potentially be 777 W. 23rd St, potentially in 2027-2028.

And this is definitely not a traditional school model.

Alpha says students complete their core academic work in about two hours each morning using AI-powered learning tools. The afternoons are focused on workshops like entrepreneurship, public speaking, leadership and other life skills.

Tuition for the Heights location is confirmed to be around $50,000 a year!

One of the things I’m most interested in: Why the Heights?

Alpha says its expansion is driven by demand from local families. I’m digging into what that actually means and how the school determined there was enough interest here to open a campus.

Look for more on that this afternoon. Reel coming soon!

IN CRIME NEWS...

And then there’s the fatal shooting near the Heights that happened Sept. 3rd.

I was out of town when that broke, so my coworkers handled the initial coverage. But because it happened in the area I cover, I wanted to make sure you had the latest here, too.

A 19-year-old, Jhoan Gomez, is charged with murder in the shooting death of Drelien Washington, who was sitting inside his vehicle when he was shot.

Police say surveillance video and Flock cameras helped investigators track down the vehicle connected to Gomez, who was later arrested after running from officers into a nearby park.

There are still questions about what led to the shooting and exactly what happened between the two men beforehand.

Read the latest reporting here.

WHAT I’M LOOKING INTO NEXT!?

A few things are on my list right now.

One is Long Weekend, and the ongoing fight over the property and neighborhood concerns there. There was been a lot of interest in that story whenever I’ve shared it on social, so I’m considering taking a deeper look at the lawsuit, what’s actually in the court documents and what comes next.

_____________________

And as always, if there’s something happening in your neighborhood that you think I should know about, tell me!

One of my favorite parts of this job so far has been running into you guys out and about.

So if you see me around the Heights, come say hi! I want to meet you and hear what’s on your mind.

See you around!💛

Nicole