Rooftop report: Affordably priced houses with waterfront views in Galveston? It sounds as elusive as mermaids and pirate treasure. But it’s what developer Jerome Karam has planned for Hideaway Estates on the southeast corner of Zingleman and Ostermeyer roads on Gangs Bayou on the island’s We…

A much-awaited chicken restaurant hatched in Texas City, a long-delayed beer house opened in League City and, after decades of dashed hopes, one developer made good on his promise to put the old Falstaff Brewery building in Galveston back to use. 2019 was a year of fruition and saying "final…

Wait is over: Island-based American National Insurance Co. for several years has wanted a six-story, 550-space employee parking garage in the block west of the company’s downtown tower — One Moody Plaza — and planned to partner with Port Arthur-based development firm The ITEX Group to get it done.

Fresh from the oven: Texas City’s 6th Street just got a little sweeter. As promised, Kaitlin Stafford has opened Bear Fruit Bakery, 611 6th St., next to Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream.

Stack flak: After an expensive nine years, the Village of Tiki Island has agreed to settle a lawsuit, allow a proposed dry-stack boat storage development to proceed and to compensate the plaintiff.

Alternative banking: A group of investors has acquired a 70-acred tract in Lago Mar that it will eventually sell to developer Land Tejas as part of an unconventional business practice called land banking.

Greek revival: A rocky restaurant year will end on a tasty note for fans of Greek cuisine.

Just add water: How much water does it take to fill a 12-acre lagoon? A lot — 23 million gallons, to be precise. That’s enough to fill 35 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Reel deal? Warning: This buzz is rated R for rumor. Word has it a developer plans to buy land on the less developed side of Lago Mar for a new Cinemark movie theater in Texas City. But insiders say the real estate deal isn’t done, so it’s premature to roll the previews.

Home again: An historic island property, which for 20 years operated as a bed and breakfast, has new owners and will soon become a home again.

News cycle: Indoor cycling is popular on the island, and now there’s a studio dedicated to the activity.

Room with a view: After two years renovating what would be his most challenging development yet, Jerome Karam has unveiled Events @ The Tasting Room in the original tasting room of the Falstaff Brewery building in Galveston.

An old fast food restaurant building is on the way out and a larger gas station and convenience store will take its place at the intersection of FM 1764 and Interstate 45 in La Marque.

Nearly two years of anticipation Katie’s Seafood House launches in Galveston; meanwhile plans are being made to reopen and rename a popular Seawall eatery

Blue-plate buzz: For weeks and weeks, readers have inquired about the unexpected closure Mel’s Blueplate Diner, 910 38th St. in Galveston. The diner left few crumbs to follow. But there’s finally news.

Banana splitting? Is Del Monte Fresh Produce, which has been a figure on Galveston’s public docks since the 1960s, planning to leave the island for another port? That’s the rumor lapping at the waterfront.

Crunch time: Demolition crews last week began tearing down a long-vacant restaurant building at 14th Street and Seawall Boulevard to the cheers of neighbors. But if history is a lesson, what rises in its place might not elicit the same response.