Parkway expansion paves way for growth
Completion of the first segment of Grand Parkway (Texas 99) in Fort Bend County drive homes and businesses to the area increasing the assessed value in of the adjacent areas 15 fold, said David Gornet, assistant executive director of the Grand Parkway Association. With that simple statement he had the attention of more than 100 Realtors at the Houston Association of Realtors breakfast at Raveneaux County Club on Wednesday.
Gornet told the group the two segments are being done simultaneously with the U.S. 290 stretch to I-45 and the I-45 to U.S. 59 run scheduled for completion in 2015. He said the 120 bridges in that segment will use enough concrete decking to cover 90 football fields.
When the section is complete it will connect Cypress to the new Exxon campus in Spring, he said. The parkway was first proposed in 1961, the first 31-mile segment was completed in 1983.
The road will be restricted to EZ Pass holders with a toll rate of 18 cents a mile. The four-lane highway is built to handle 80,000 cars a day, with a wide median designed to add additional lanes if needed “down the road.”
For updates and info about the project go to www.grandpky.com.
Mark McNitt with Bernstein Realty played it forward recently traveling to Huntington, W.V., to help friends open their new real estate office. He assisted with Bunch Real Estate Associates’ open house and greeted fellow Realtors, lenders and friends that stopped by. McNitt said he was happy to do this for his friends W.G. and Tracy Bunch, who have visited the Bernstein Realty office in the past to teach real estate classes.
John Daugherty, Realtors new sales manager Kenya Burrell is busy settling into her new role at JDR, but that didn’t stop her from pulling out all the stops when she planned a exceptional birthday for her 6-year-old daughter Kate at the Museum of Natural Science.
Cleopatra greeted the more than 30 children and 20 adults when they arrived at the Egyptian-inspired themed party. Kate was joined by a host of family and friends as they toured the Hall of Ancient Egypt. Afterwards, the guests enjoyed crafts, airbrushed face painting, balloon animals and magic tricks. It’s likely Cleopatra herself never had it so good.
The countdown to Rodeo Houston is on, JDR agents Debbie Pearce and
Christina Christina Sacco Sacco attended the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Trailblazers luncheon at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Each year, the Trailblazers recognize leading women of the show who have raised significant funds, and who have dedicated countless hours volunteering for various committees. Guests were treated to fashions from Saks Fifth Avenue, featuring what to wear to a ranch, resort or evening event.
Sacco is a vice chairman of the Gatekeepers committee and committee member on the International Committee, while Pearce is a committee member on the International Committee and served on various committees over the years.
JDR’s Jack Jack Swanson Swanson was up early to be a guest speaker at the B2B Network Breakfast at the Daily Grille in The Galleria. More than 20 executives and small-business owners showed up bright and early to hear Swanson discuss the Houston housing market forecast. In the last eight years, the B2B Network brought together 660 deals as a result of its members helping each other grow their businesses. To find out more about the next breakfast meeting or how to join, call 281-565-6510.
Bernstein Realty recently was recognized at the 16th annual Economic Devel- opment Summit’s Star Awards, a program created to honor the business champions who along with financial success contribute to the community. Bernstein Realty was recognized as a finalist in the Real Estate/Construction category. Several Bernstein Realty agents attended the awards ceremony with Amy Bernstein and enjoyed networking and hearing Dr. Robert W. Gilmer, present the first-ever economic study focused entirely on west Houston.
Cross Creek Ranch recently honored its top 10 Realtors for their role in selling the Fort Bend master-planned community. The top of the class for 2013 are: Jimmy Franklin, RE/MAX Grand; Clarann McCoy, Heritage Texas; Janice Ireland,
Heritage Texas; Owen Dry, Coldwell Banker; Maria Locascio, RE/MAX
Grand; Christine Duncan, Heritage Texas; Joe Rothchild, KWSignature; Jay Thieme, Re/MAX Professionals; Javier Tello, RE/MAX Professionals; and
Karen Karapasha, RE/MAX Westside. Ireland, Locasio and Dry live in the community.
“It’s easy to sell a place you call home,” said Ireland, one of three Cross Creek Ranch residents to be named among the community’s top producers for 2013.
Cross Creek Ranch had 509 new-home sales in 2013.
Judi Griggs is a Realtor and writer enjoying both careers immensely. You can contact her at realnewshouston@gmail.com or check out judigriggs. com.