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The Insider · River Oaks

River Oaks Insider

Neighborhood news, River Oaks Shopping Center and River Oaks District openings, homeowner rules and what is coming up in River Oaks.

Upcoming in River Oaks

All River Oaks events

  • River Oaks · Festivals and markets

    The Market Presented by Sterling's Market

    Sun, Oct. 25 · 11 AM - 3 PM

    River Oaks District · 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77027

    Cost Not listed by the organizerOrganizer River Oaks District with Sterling's Market

    A vendor market of local artisan and specialty food sellers; Oct 25 is the last date of the 2026 season listed.

    River Oaks District is on Westheimer, outside River Oaks proper

    Official details · Checked Oct. 21, 2026

  • River Oaks · Seasonal

    Sip, Shop & Savor

    Thu, Nov. 12 · 5:00–6:00 PM VIP early access; 6:00–8:00 PM Sip, Shop & Savor

    River Oaks Shopping Center · 2030 W. Gray St., Houston, TX 77019

    Cost Not listed by the organizerRegistration RSVP requestedOrganizer River Oaks Shopping Center

    A holiday shopping evening with in-store offers and complimentary drinks at participating shops, plus dining offers for wristband holders.

    Official details · Checked Oct. 21, 2026

  • River Oaks · Arts and culture

    Docent-Led Tour of Rienzi in Spanish

    Nov. 14, Dec. 12 · Noon-1 PM

    Rienzi (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) · 1406 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77019

    Cost Free for MFAH Members; $10 for Adults; $8 for Seniors (65+ with ID); $5 for Students (with ID); $5 for Youth (ages 13–18); Free for Children (ages 12 and younger)Registration Tickets requiredOrganizer Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

    A Spanish-language guided tour of the Rienzi house museum, its collection and gardens in River Oaks.

    Official details · Checked Oct. 21, 2026

  • River Oaks · Arts and culture

    Studio Saturday at Rienzi

    Nov. 21, Dec. 19 · 10 AM-Noon

    Rienzi (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) · 1406 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77019

    Cost $20 Adult; $17 Senior (65+); $15 MFAH member, student (19+), youth (13–18); FREE Child (12 and younger), MFAH youth member (13–18)Registration Tickets requiredOrganizer Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

    A guided sketching class for all skill levels that uses the house's architecture and art as subjects.

    Official details · Checked Oct. 21, 2026

  • River Oaks · Seasonal

    Tree Lighting

    Sat, Nov. 21 · 4pm - 7pm

    River Oaks District · 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77027

    Cost Not listed by the organizerOrganizer River Oaks District

    The district's annual holiday tree lighting with a live band performance and a visit from Saint Nicholas.

    River Oaks District is on Westheimer, outside River Oaks proper

    Official details · Checked Oct. 21, 2026

News and development

River Oaks

Approved

Houston's new $5 monthly garbage fee will include sales tax

The city's FY 2026-27 budget added a $5 monthly solid waste administrative fee, which the finance director said will rise to $10 in FY 2028-29. At the Sept. 30 council meeting officials said sales tax is a fixed part of the fee.

Source: Community Impact, Sept. 30, 2026

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Near River Oaks

Under construction

The RO's second phase rising at W. Alabama and Buffalo Speedway

Transwestern's 17-acre RO has an office building that opened to tenants in June and a second phase under construction: an 80,000-square-foot retail village, The Clayton apartments and The Birdsall, an Auberge hotel and residence tower. Retail tenant announcements are expected in late 2026 and phase two completion in early 2028.

Source: Community Impact, July 20, 2026

Where: The source places this in the River Oaks area; the address is outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Near River Oaks

Under construction

2811 Kirby mixed-use tower under construction, completion set for 2028

Southern Land broke ground in April on a 38-story residential tower with 18 penthouses and a 10-story office building with about 15,000 square feet of restaurant space at 2811 Kirby Dr. Completion is expected in 2028.

Source: Community Impact, April 14, 2026

Where: The source places this in the River Oaks area; the address is outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Near River Oaks

Proposed

Ace & Ivy condo tower planned at 3100 W. Alabama

Everlight Group plans 31 condominiums in an 11-story tower at 3100 W. Alabama St., with occupancy estimated for 2028.

Source: Community Impact, March 2, 2026

Where: The source places this in the River Oaks area; the address is outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

New and opening

Near River Oaks

Open

Picos reopens at a new Westheimer address

The Mexican restaurant, open more than 40 years, closed its old location Aug. 30 and reopened in September at 3736 Westheimer Road.

Source: Community Impact, Sept. 22, 2026

Where: The source places this in the River Oaks area; the address is outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Near River Oaks

Opening soon

Leica plans first Texas store and gallery at River Oaks District

The camera maker plans a store and photo gallery at River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer, next to Le Colonial, slated to open in 2027.

Source: Community Impact, Sept. 15, 2026

Where: River Oaks District is on Westheimer, outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Near River Oaks

Opening soon

Island Grill plans spring 2027 opening at 2810 Westheimer

The family-run Mediterranean American restaurant plans its sixth Houston location in the space now used by Relish, targeting spring 2027. Relish's plans were not confirmed.

Source: CultureMap Houston, July 21, 2026

Where: The source places this in the River Oaks area; the address is outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

River Oaks

Closed

Perry's Steakhouse closed its River Oaks Shopping Center location

Perry's closed its only inner-loop location, at River Oaks Shopping Center, on Jan. 24, 2026. No replacement for the space was announced.

Source: CultureMap Houston, Jan. 24, 2026

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Near River Oaks

Opening soon

Café Feuillette still listed as opening soon at River Oaks District

The French bakery-cafe's first U.S. location, at Betis and Westcreek in River Oaks District, is listed by the District as opening in fall 2026, with no date given.

Source: River Oaks District

Where: River Oaks District is on Westheimer, outside River Oaks proper

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

River Oaks

Open

Leo's River Oaks listed as now open at River Oaks Shopping Center

The restaurant and bar at 2009 W. Gray is listed as now open by the shopping center, and its own site posts hours (closed Mondays). No opening date was given.

Source: Leo's River Oaks

Checked Oct. 21, 2026

Listed because a business site, its current social account or a news report confirms it. Not a review or a ranking.

Market snapshot

$3,339,447Median Market Value2025 Facts
$633.87Median Sold Price / Sqft2025 Facts
1,273Single Family Properties2025 Facts
4,946Median Sqft2025 Facts
11,453Median Lot SqFt2025 Facts
1950Median Year Built2025 Facts

Values exactly as shown on HAR.com for River Oaks, checked Oct. 21, 2026. A neighborhood figure is not a value for any one home. Request a property-specific pricing review.

Homeowner tips

  • Heavy trash: check your pickup date and set-out window City crews pick up heavy trash every other month, up to six times a year, for homes on city curbside service. Look up your date with the city's lookup tool or the HTX Collects app, and set items behind the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the Friday before (8 cubic yards max; no contractor debris). Source: City of Houston Solid Waste Management
  • Use Houston 311 for drainage, street and trash requests Houston 311 takes service requests by phone and online for things like missed collections, potholes, drainage problems and street issues, and shows a map of open requests. Source: City of Houston 311
  • Look up your address on the county flood mapping tool Harris County Flood Control District's mapping tool shows mapped floodplains, floodways, watersheds and street ponding by address. It shows mapped data only; it does not predict whether a home will flood. Source: Harris County Flood Control District
  • File your homestead exemption with HCAD If you own your home and live in it as your principal residence, you can apply for a residence homestead exemption with your county appraisal district (HCAD in Harris County). The state's general filing deadline is before May 1, and school districts must offer at least a $140,000 homestead exemption under state law. Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
  • Check which city permits a home project needs The Houston Permitting Center's Project Planner walks through a renovation and lists the city permits it needs, and you can track plan review and inspections by project number. Source: Houston Permitting Center

Guides and resources

Neighborhood guideRiver Oaks Buyer and Seller Planning GuideHistory and deed restrictions, HAR market facts, taxes, flood research, city services and a step-by-step checklist for buying or selling in River Oaks.Community pageRiver Oaks and MemorialWhere it is, homes and character, schools and getting around.

Thinking about River Oaks?

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Michael O’Neal · Broker · REALTOR® · The Michael O’Neal Group · 832-797-3780

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