Consumers looking for an apartment home in Westchase District have a new option to consider -- one with an efficient living space and all bills paid. The Westchase Apartments have opened at 4033 W. Sam Houston Parkway S. in the remodeled Sonesta Simply Suites Hotel.

The 123 units include studio and one-bedroom apartments with all bills paid. Prospective residents can opt for a furnished or unfurnished unit. The 310-square-foot studio apartments range from $1085 - $1285 per month and 1-bedroom apartments are $1195 - $1395 per month for a 420-square-foot unit. The community features a laundry room and gym.

District Supervisor Tracey Rangel with AOG Living, which manages the property, said the community caters to individuals who may be seeking affordable housing options without the financial burden of multiple utility deposits and bills. The community offers lease terms of three, six, nine and twelve months.

"Our owners are committed to creating a great environment here," said Rangel. "We're still getting apartments ready. Some are getting new flooring and blinds."

AOG Living is exploring opportunities to enhance the overall ambiance of the community through community events, social gatherings and resident-driven activities, fostering a vibrant and inclusive living environment where residents can truly feel at home.

As summer approaches, the Westchase District Farmers Market is excited to welcome back two beloved seasonal products: peaches and watermelons.

The market’s watermelons are sold by Watermelon Army, a veteran-owned and operated vendor led by Eric Cabello. He personally handpicks the watermelons from local Texas farms, ensuring top quality and freshness.

Watermelon Army offers a variety of melons, including seedless and seeded options, yellow meat Black Diamonds, red meat Black Diamonds, Red Diamonds, and orange meat melons. In addition to their watermelons, Watermelon Army also offers other products like coffee (flavored with watermelon of course) and honey. 

Summer at the Westchase District Farmers Market also marks the return of ripe Texas peaches, courtesy of annual market vendor Hesters Peaches. Peaches from the Texas Hill Country are highly anticipated every year. John Carey, Westchase District Farmers Market manager, highlights the popularity of Hesters Peaches, saying, “Hesters Peaches has a large following. Whenever peach season arrives, we see people flock to the market every Thursday to get another batch.”

Whether you are craving the sweet crunch of a perfectly ripe watermelon or the juicy burst of a fresh peach, the market has something to satisfy every palate.

Westchase District staff members were accompanied by Board Chairman Harry Greenblatt on a recent construction tour of Camden Park. Led by two members of the design team from OJB, staff walked through and around the park, enjoying a sneak peek of the park features taking shape as construction clears the 15-month mark. “It’s rewarding to see all the features that were created in our minds, coming to life within the park,” said Westchase District President Irma Sanchez, who oversaw the park’s design.

The 3.4-acre park is located at 2951 Wilcrest Drive, immediately north of Richmond Avenue. The walking tour offered a glimpse of what is being built behind the construction fencing.

The dog park, which is divided into separate areas for large and small dogs, is taking shape with berms and trees. The tunnel in the small dog portion of the park has been installed, while construction stakes mark the location of where the exterior fence will be located. Several Cypress trees have been relocated from the Beltway (where they were scheduled to be removed due to a planned roadway project) to the dog park. OJB’s Justin Seale said the trees were moved in early, because a giant spade was required to move the mature trees and their 100-inch root ball. The dog park features moss rock boulders, hand-picked and sourced in Texas.

The exterior walls for the 2,800-square-foot restaurant that will be home to Sunday Press are built. The restaurant will have indoor seating, a walk-up service window and outdoor, movable seating. Diners will enjoy the large glass windows and natural light throughout the building.

Summer Movie Nights are one of the most anticipated events at Woodchase Parl. Gather family and friends and come out for some fantastic movies under the stars. Events start at 7:00 p.m., and movie showings begin at 8:30 p.m. Upcoming movies include "Migration" on June 14, sponsored by Friends of Westchase, "Luca" on June 28, “Coco” on July 12, sponsored by Harris County Precinct 4, and "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" on July 19 . Arrive early to secure your spot on the lawn, get something to eat from food trucks, purchase lemonade and grab your free popcorn. Don't forget to bring your blankets and lawn chairs for a cozy movie-watching experience.

A new addition to this year’s summer movie nights is an interactive performance from Young Audiences of Houston (YAH). At 7:00 p.m., before the movie begins, YAH artists will offer a different performance each week. These performances are geared toward kids and incorporate music, storytelling, theater and learning.

Westchase District's newest fitness facility offers corporate memberships for you and your work colleagues to get fit together. Planet Fitness, located at 10770 Westheimer, offers corporate memberships that allow individuals to join for no money down (no enrollment fee or prorated dues). The Corporate Classic membership requires no commitment (as opposed to the 12-month commitment that is required if your company does not offer a corporate membership) and the annual fee on the Black Card membership is waived, which is a savings of about $50 per year.

If the company wants to cover the cost of its employees' memberships, the company must set up a master billing account and employ at least 50 people. If the company wants to offer it as a self-pay option to its employees, nothing is required. They can simply share a Planet Fitness flyer with their employees, who can sign up if they choose. The Classic membership is $10/month and the Black Card membership is $24.99/month.

Interested businesses should contact Abby Belaire with Houston Fitness Partners.