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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350
Saturday, August 10, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.32
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INSIDE.
Teachers, support staff are in for a free treat at The Union Kitchen
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Son charged in mother’s alleged 10-year-old murder COMMUNITY REPORTS Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the death of a woman believed to have occurred in August of 2014, but not reported to Houston police homicide detectives until three years later. The suspect, Donny Soundara Daosavanh, 37, is charged with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the 184th State District Court. Daosavanh is accused in the killing of his mother, Amnoun Sayphanya, believed to be 60 at the time of her death in 2014. Her body has not been recovered.
HPD Homicide Division officials said that in October of 2017, the HPD Homicide Division received information that a male identified as Donny Daosavanh had confessed to a relative that he had killed Sayphanya, his mother, who had been living with Daosavanh and was financially dependent on him. Daosavanh was soon arrested on an unrelated warrant and reportedly also confessed to homicide investigators his role in the beating death of his mother with an object. He said he later disposed of his mother’s body by burying her at an unknown location, but he declined to provide the location of her
remains because he did not want to be reincarcerated. According to court records, Daosavanh allegedly beat his mother to death with a hammer, then kept her body in the bathtub for a week before wrapping it in a comforter and burying it in an unknown location. Extensive efforts were made to locate Sayphanya’s body or to find any physical evidence of the homicide, but all efforts proved unsuccessful. Additional investigation eventually provided sufficient evidence of Photo released by HPD
See HOMICIDE P. 4
Donny Soundara Daosavanh
BREAKING GROUND AND GROUND-BREAKING
North Canal Project enters design phase, aims to mitigate flooding By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
The project also supports community spaces with continued trail connectivity within the Yale/Heights areas of White Oak Bayou
Welcome: Meet the new assistant principal at St. Ambrose CS
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Opinion: Lynn Ashby’s 4,516 cents
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More than a date: Experience the power of Executive Connections
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Support young entrepreneurs at Heights Kids Market Aug. 10
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In a significant step toward addressing the city’s long-standing flood challenges, the North Canal Project has been launched with an ambitious aim to reduce the risk of flooding in downtown Houston and mitigate flood damage to upstream areas along White Oak and Buffalo Bayous. This $131 million project, funded through a mix of federal and local resources, is set to begin construction in the summer of 2026, with completion targeted for the winter of 2029. Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Construction is underway on the first hotel ever built in downtown Heights. The Hotel Daphne will span the majority of the 300-block of W. 20th and is currently expected to open in the summer of 2025.
An exclusive look into why this downtown Heights hotel project is beyond personal to its developer By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
EVOLVING DEMOGRAPHICS AND COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
Whichever side of the fence you may fall on, most can agree that the Houston Heights, especially the Historical Downtown Heights, has remained resistant to change for many years. This was in part due to an aging population of long-time residents, partly due to a sense of loss for longstanding buildings and customs, and partly because of the influence of the former Baptist Temple, whose social doctrines were of significant impact, influence and importance to the Heights community. As the demographics of both of those catalysts have continued to change and evolve over the last two decades, so have the predilections and proclivities of the members and visitors of this small Houston community.
The population has become increasingly younger and the Temple is now renamed Heights Church, to reflect the way it has broadened its precepts and congregation base, to encompass and embrace diversity and inclusivity. With these changes came the creation of new businesses, standing side-byside with existing establishments that have been doing their best to preserve history, while expanding to meet the needs of the ever-changing demographics. There is no question that the downtown Heights has grown into its own pedestrian-friendly livable neighborhood; having a number of midrise apartments, most with an average of 300 units each, and many other residences and single-family dwellings.
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THE INDEX. People ���������������������������������������2 Topics ����������������������������������������4 Classifieds ���������������������������������7 Local Culture �����������������������������8
FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS The project is part of the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) acting as the recipient of HMGP funding. The City of Houston is the sub-recipient and is partnering with the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority on behalf of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number 5 (TIRZ No. 5). The funding structure for the North Canal Project is based on a cost-sharing model, with 35.15% of the costs covered by federal funds and 64.85% by local resources. This collaborative approach ensures that multiple stakeholders are invested in the successful completion of the project. See NORTH CANAL P. 2
19th Annual Houston Heights Bicycle Rally & Scavenger Hunt: A weekend of fun and adventure By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
Art Valet: Giving life to glass (and babies)
See DAPHNE HOTEL P. 5
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Ben Ackerley, developer of the Daphne Hotel stands before his masterpiece-inthe-making, flanked by his two greatest canine admirers; Meatball on the left, and the name-sake for his first hotel, Daphne, on the right, staring up at him adoringly.
PROJECT OVERVIEW The North Canal Project is located at the confluence of White Oak and Buffalo Bayous. The initiative consists of two primary components: a high-flow diversion channel and channel improvements. These enhancements are designed to increase the conveyance capacity of the bayous, thereby significantly reducing flood damage in vulnerable areas.
The Houston Heights Association proudly announces the 19th Annual Houston Heights Bicycle Rally & Scavenger Hunt, rescheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 7, and Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. This event promises a fun-filled weekend for riders of all ages, combining the thrill of a bike ride with the excitement of a scavenger hunt. It was previously scheduled for June 1 and 2, but postponed due to storm clean-up efforts. Open to riders of all ages, the rally is designed as a casual, self-paced ride. Participants can choose between a 15-
mile course through the greater Heights neighborhoods or a shorter 5-mile ride. At the end of the route, the participants who find the most clues and get them correct, will win prizes. The Houston Heights Association is also hosting an After Party picnic at Marmion Park from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, with live music and free food. The After Party is open to the community (no need to participate in the event), but donations are welcome. On Sunday morning, families are invited to a brief bicycle safety course at Marmion Park where they can learn the basics of riding around the neighborhood and get some fuel (fruit, granola) prior to starting their
ride. Certified bicycle safety instructors will be on hand.
EVENT DETAILS:
When: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, through Sunday, Sept.8, 2024 Where: Various locations along the route, with the After Party at Marmion Park (1800 Heights Blvd.
SCHEDULE:
Saturday, Sept. 7: • 8 a.m. – Participants in the 15mile route may start their ride any time after 8 a.m. • 8 a.m. – Participants in the 5-mile route may start their ride any time after 8 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 8: • 3 p.m. – Clues due at the Heights Fire Station, 107 W 12th St, Houston, TX 77008, or bring them to the After Party. • 3-5:30 p.m. – After Party at Marmion Park with refreshments provided by Eureka Heights. The whole family is welcome, even if they didn’t participate in the ride. • 5 p.m. – Winners of the scavenger hunt will be announced at the After Party. Participants will be emailed a rally map and scavenger hunt clue list the day before the event begins. The clue
H E L P SUPPORT LO C A L J O U R NA L I S M Scan this QR code to make a donation through Paypal today!
See BICYCLE P. 3