1. Retail developments bring new business to Cy-Fair

What we reported Major retail developments broke ground in 2016, several of which are tied to master-planned communities in the area, including Bridgeland, Towne Lake, Cypress Creek Lakes, Fairfield and Miramesa. The Boardwalk at Towne Lake celebrated a grand opening on Barker Cypress Road in summer 2016, and construction on the Fairfield Towne Center reached a milestone when Phase 1 was completed in November off Hwy. 290.

The latest Construction on several projects is underway, including Miramesa Town Center off Fry Road and Phase 2 of Fairfield Town Center. Several critical tenants and popular restaurants were signed at the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017, including Old Navy, Marshalls and Party City in Fairfield; Pizza Cucinova in Bridgeland’s Lakeland Village Center; and Taisho Japanese Grill in Towne Lake.

What’s next Construction is expected to be completed this year on both the Miramesa Town Center and Phase 2 of the Fairfield Town Center. For the centers where construction is completed, including the Lakeland Village Center and the Boardwalk, more tenants are expected to be announced as officials continue to lease the remaining space.

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[caption id="attachment_214161" align="alignright" width="220"] Oil and gas companies in the Northwest Houston area, including Baker Hughes, had to cut jobs during the downturn.[/caption]

2. Oil and gas downturn recovery begins

What we reported Greater Houston area employers cut 1 in 7 jobs across oil-related industries after the price of oil dropped from $105 per barrel in June 2014 to $35-$40 per barrel in December 2015, according to the Greater Houston Partnership. However, energy industry experts expect the oil industry to stabilize in early 2017.

The latest Employees who left or were laid off from the oil industry found an entrepreneurial spirit, which led to a surge in new small businesses in Cy-Fair. Local businesses, such as Daniel & Son Fence Restoration, Sub Zero Ice Cream, The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, 11 Below Brewing and the Entrepreneur’s Source, all emerged from the oil and gas downturn.

What’s next Despite continued losses in construction and oil field services, GHP projects a net gain of 29,700 new jobs to be created in 2017 in markets, such as health care, hospitality and education.

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[caption id="attachment_214162" align="alignright" width="220"] Jarvis Road was one of several major Cy-Fair roads to be inundated with water during the Tax Day flood in 2016.[/caption]

3. Harris County works to mitigate future floods

What we reported A historic rainfall event on April 18, which has since become known as the Tax Day Flood, dumped more than 17 inches of rain on the Cy-Fair area, much of which fell over a 12-hour period. The result was the kind of flooding that experts expect to take place once every 500 years. Cy-Fair ISD schools were closed for one week, many homes were flooded and several roads remained impossible to travel on for days.

The latest Officials with the Harris County Flood Control District have several projects planned but said they would need about $140 million more per year to fund all recommended projects. Citizen groups like Residents Against Flooding say better development standards are needed to keep developers from exacerbating flooding.

What’s next Harris County announced a desire to install at least eight rain gauges in surrounding counties—including Waller, Montgomery and Grimes—to get a better idea of when potential flooding could be coming. The HCFCD also has several projects on its five-year plan in the Cy-Fair area, such as the Langham Creek Frontier Program.

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[caption id="attachment_214163" align="alignright" width="220"] Future plans for the Cypress Creek Greenway could involve creating a paddling trail from Bud Hadfield Park in 2017.[/caption]

4. Partnerships boost work on Cypress Creek Greenway

What we reported The Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition is working on a greenway project along the creek that will eventually stretch 40 miles from Hwy. 290 in Cypress eastbound to where Cypress Creek joins Spring Creek. The project involves partnerships with Harris County as well as a number of utility districts and other organizations.

The latest Work progressed in 2016 on several park projects connected to the greenway, including the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve near Hwy. 249. The coalition also got approval in 2016 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to move forward with the creation of the Cypress Creek paddling trail, which would start at Bud Hadfield Park and go to Hwy. 59.

What’s next The paddling trail is expected to be completed and open in 2017. Meanwhile, work will continue on the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve, which will also open sometime this spring. The greenway coalition is also working with entities to develop more general connectivity in the area, including plans to extend an existing trail at Cypresswood Drive to Matzke Park.

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5. Cy-Fair ISD construction picks up on bond projects

What we reported CFISD’s 11th high school, Cypress Park High School, opened with more than 600 ninth-graders Aug. 22.

The latest Adam, Bane and Watkins elementary schools and Dean Middle School are all undergoing renovations and additions, which are due to be complete in August.

What’s next Contractors will bid on another phase of facility upgrades to Cypress Springs and Cypress Falls high schools in early 2017. The district will open four new schools in August for the 2017-18 academic year: Bridgeland High School, Wells Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, which will serve pre-K-2, and Matzke Elementary School’s replacement building.

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6. Hwy. 290 completion pushed back to 2018

What we reported Several portions of Hwy. 290 construction progressed in its fifth year of construction, but flooding and utility relocations caused delays in 2016. The highway is being widened to varying widths of three to five lanes between Loop 610 and FM 2920.

The latest Utility relocations continue for the bridge over Hwy. 6. Construction will begin this year, and the project is scheduled for completion in 2018.

What’s next The Texas Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County are working together to solve congestion issues along Hwy. 290. TxDOT's design team is exploring options, and the two agencies are discussing a new option. Final details of the plan will be decided early this year. Although certain portions of the expansion project are expected to be completed in 2017, those sections will not be open to drivers until the entire project is completed in 2018.

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7. Entertainment venues target Cy-Fair

What we reported In July, Movie House & Eatery backed out of its plans to bring a new venue to Cypress Creek Lakes, which was slated to open this spring. Meanwhile, Star Cinema Grill is still moving forward with plans at Miramesa Town Center at the intersection of Fry and West roads.

The latest In December, Star Cinema Grill took over Vintage Park’s Alamo Drafthouse. The company plans to update the Vintage Park theater by adding luxury recliners, push-button service and new decor, according to Vice President Jason Ostrow. The theater is open and screening movies.

What’s next The new location of Star Cinema Grill going into Miramesa Town Center will feature a Sony 4K Digital Projection system, RealD 3-D technology, state-of-the-art sound systems, luxury recliner seating and large movie screens. The theater will provide a contemporary lounge area that will give the community a place to host private and professional events.

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8. Memorial Hermann plans to open Cypress hospital

What we reported Memorial Hermann is building a new hospital in Cypress that will feature 80 beds, eight operating rooms, a 16-bed intensive care unit, a neonatal ICU and a cardiac catheterization lab. The hospital will be located near a Memorial Hermann convenient care center that was completed in early 2016, between Mueschke and Mason roads north of Hwy. 290.

The latest A job fair took place last September, and Memorial Hermann officials said the number of qualified attendees exceeded expectations. As a result, officials said they expect to open fully staffed.

What’s next Memorial Hermann officials are targeting March 31 for the hospital's opening.

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9. Tin Hall slated to become restaurant in Cypress

What we reported Ownership of the historic Tin Hall dance hall fell back into the hands of previous owner Fred Stockton and his partner, Cy-Fair restaurateur Joe Duong. The two are working on plans to turn the facility into a restaurant. Duong also owns and operates The Shack Burger Resort and Melt Gourmet Grilled Cheese in Cy-Fair.

the latest Stockton said he is still working through the city of Houston permitting process before he can relocate internal parts of Tin Hall into a brand new steel building. The location has not been disclosed, but Stockton said it is within a few miles of the site on Spring Cypress Road where the previous owner wanted to move it.

What’s next Stockton said he hopes the process of moving Tin Hall will pick up steam in March. Additional details about the restaurant itself are likely to be released around that time.

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[caption id="attachment_214169" align="alignright" width="220"] Pipelines are being built underground to carry water from Lake Houston to the Cy-Fair area as part of a state mandate.[/caption]

10. Water use rates increase to fund pipeline projects

What we reported The North Harris County and West Harris County regional water authorities have been tasked with transitioning the Cy-Fair area from groundwater to surface water. The state is requiring that 60 percent of water use come from surface water by 2025 and 80 percent by 2035.

The latest The authorities are both working on pipeline projects that will help carry water from Lake Houston to pumping plants in the Cy-Fair area, where municipal utility districts and water providers will then pump the water along to residents.

What’s next Water pumping fees, which are paid by residents through their water bills, are expected to increase in 2017 to help fund the projects. For the NHCRWA, the rate will rise on April 1 from $2.40 to $2.90 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped and $2.85 to $3.35 per 1,000 gallons of surface water pumped. For the WHCRWA, the rate rose on Jan. 1 from $2.25 to $2.45 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped and $2.65 to $2.85 per 1,000 gallons of surface water pumped.