SHARPSTOWN NEWS

August 10, 2008

HEARING ON EL ZORRO DISCOTHEQUE FINALIZED (8/10)

By Milton Winebrenner

There’s good news for the residents of Sharpstown.  Following the August 7-8 hearings on El Zorro’s application for a mixed-beverage license, the Judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings will recommend to the Texas Alcoholic & Beverage Commission (“TABC”) that the liquor license for 8150 Southwest Freeway be denied.  You will recall that this business faces Beechnut and was formerly known as the Carnaval Night Club.  The final decision rests with TABC in Austin.

The license was sought by Texas T Promotions, whose owner operates a similar club in Atlanta, Georgia. The club here would have been named El Zorro Discotheque.

Objecting to the license were the “Protestors”.  These were TABC, Mayor White and the City of Houston, Chief of Police Harold Hurtt, HPD Captain Richard Gerstner, District F Councilmember M. J. Khan, State Representative Scott Hochberg, your Sharpstown Civic Association and a number of individual homeowners in Sharpstown. Precinct 3 County Commissioner Steve Radack also joined the protest of a license.

In addition to the official Protestors named above, other residents from Sharpstown who attended the hearing were permitted to speak at the beginning of the hearing.  Plus, those who wished to write their views and give them to the Judge were encouraged and permitted to do so.

Objections testified to by the Protestors of the license largely focused on the history of the location when it was Carnaval.  The Protestors believe, and evidence supports the fact, that it will be highly unlikely that any new owner can prevent the same problems at that site in the future.  That is, a proven crime-ridden site that was a known gathering place for gangs, drug and alcohol offenses, physical violence, crime, disturbance of the surrounding areas, etc. to such an extent that it had become a community nuisance would not change.

The Sharpstown Civic Association and our homeowners owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Protestors, those who were able to attend the hearing and all of you who stood behind us in this protest. 

STAPLES TO OPEN IN SHARPSTOWN (8/10)

As reported in the Houston Chronicle on August 4, Staples has signed a 25-year lease for a store at 8225 S. Gessner in Sharpstown. This major office supply store will be at the site formerly occupied by Best Buy, before they moved to a new location across the street.  A construction firm will complete the 30,000 sq. ft. project at U.S. 59 and Gessner.  Staples will then take 20,000 sq. ft. and will have 10,000 sq. ft. available for lease. 

SHARPSTOWN MALL UPDATE (8/8)

Sharpstown Mall (Urban Mall Houston, LP) has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy for over a year now.  During that time, efforts to sell the mall have failed.  At this time, creditors have been working with the Bankruptcy Trustee to resolve their claims and there is at least one and possibly two potential buyers working with the Trustee about purchasing the mall.

Sharpstown Mall is not owned as a single entity; "the mall" includes only the connecting building between the "anchors" -- which are the former Foley's/Macy's, former J.C. Penney, Burlington Coat Factory (formerly Montgomery Ward), and the Jewelry Exchange Center.  Each of the anchors is owned separately.  Only the mall is under bankruptcy protection and is in process of being sold.

Because we do not know who the purchaser may be, we can't begin to speculate on future plans for the mall.  We also do not know what the anchor owners may do as a result of the sale.  We'll keep you posted when something final happens.

FUNNY LOOKING SYMBOLS ON BELLAIRE BLVD. (8/8)

We've received several calls and emails asking about the circle medallions with a funny squiggle line in them that have been painted onto the street along Bellaire Blvd.  These symbols are for Metro's new "Quickline" Bus Service on Bellaire Blvd. -- the symbols are a  fancy "Q").  The Quickline service stops at only certain locations on Bellaire. 

The new bus shelters on Bellaire were provided and installed by the Greater Sharpstown Management District.