Convenience Big Store: Far-away towns are eerily similar to The Woodlands. Here's why

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Check out these three master-planned communities that inspired The Woodlands.

The Woodlands' design might not be quite as unique as you think.

Before you start typing up a defense of the venerable George Mitchell, who I also somewhat worship, don't fret—this is more of a compliment than a diss.

The Woodlands was one of the first large-scale master-planned communities of its kind when it was designed in the early 1970s. But it's not the first. Inspired by the "garden cities" movement in London and works from several pre-war planners, a "new town" movement began cropping up across the country in the United States after World War II.

The first was Reston, Virginia, which hosts a Town Center designed by some of the same firms as our own. Then came Columbia, Maryland, which hosts curvilinear streets, villages and village centers so similar that Columbia native Scott Nudelman felt right at home when visiting The Woodlands on business.

Mitchell assembled many employees from Columbia and Irvine Ranch, California, to help build The Woodlands. Read about those uncanny similarities, beef with the "Columbia Boys" and their worldwide legacy here.

Have you been to any master-planned communities that feel familiar? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Education

Fourth graders at Hancock Elementary School have their lunch served on Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Houston. The school offers a program where parents can put extra money in the funds so students who forget their lunch money get a full meal. ( Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle )

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

Conroe ISD and other Houston-area school districts offer free meals to all children this summer

To combat food insecurity, these Houston-area school districts are offering free meals for children this summer, regardless of enrollment status.

Growing Woodlands

The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway are seen near The Woodlands Mall, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Woodlands' Research Forest 'resurgence' includes new $56M biotech facility

The Woodlands soon will add another California-based biotechnology company aimed at cell therapy with Bionova's $56 million expansion into the growing life sciences corridor along Research Forest.

Need to Know

FILE - A sign outside the Internal Revenue Service building is seen, May 4, 2021, in Washington. The IRS has announced Jan. 29 as the official start date of the 2024 tax season, and expects more than 128.7 million tax returns to be filed by the April 15 tax deadline. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Photo by: Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Conroe pastor tells church to 'stuff the ballot box'. What tax law says

A 70-year-old law prohibits churches from endorsing candidates but lack of enforcement is making the practice more mainstream including for a popular Conroe church.

Soap opera stars Paul Tinder and Vaughn Taylor are photographed in their acting studio, Class Act Studio, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Spring.

Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Staff Photographer

Soap opera stars to open new film acting studio near The Woodlands

The couple behind a former San Antonio theater and two films will venture to The Woodlands area with a new acting studio for TV and film.

Openings and Closings

Old Town Spring brewery Excalibur Brewing has expanded with a new location in Magnolia, just across from Alden Bridge.

Sip on an India pale ale (if you must) or try out the new coffee bar and food trucks at the new 5505 FM 1488 location.

Shout out

The King is alive and well in Conroe.

At least, that's what you might think if you saw aspiring Elvis tribute artist Jordan Smith's pompadour and sideburns around town.

One last thing …

It looks like this is becoming the "extreme weather" section as we ping-pong between unbearable heat and surprise storms.

Texas is set to "roast like a slab of brisket" as a heat dome parks itself (thankfully) far west of Houston this week, our meteorologist Justin Ballard writes.

For anyone who also shudders at the sound of the word "heat dome," here's an explainer on what it is and how it forms.