If he was afraid of traffic, he wouldn't be considering moving to Houston. Spring, Sugarland, Kingwood, the Woodlands, etc are all good suggestions, but Katy should be mentioned too. KISD is a very good school district, and outside of clubs, and bars, the area has pretty much everything else to offer. And it's only 15-20 minutes away from highway 6/Westheimer, one of the best areas in Houston. I have lived my whole life on both sides of the Fry Road overpass, and I wouldn't trade Katy for any other suburb. It has a small town feel with big town amenities, and it's a rapidly rising suburb. However, if you want to live in the best part of Katy by Cinco Ranch and Katy Taylor high school, houses are expensive. It's a great place to live, but you are looking at 6 figure homes. You can find homes for 70-80k in the older section though. Finally, I-10 is bad, but it's bad all over town. So, in conclusion, having grown up in Katy my whole life, I definitely would recommend living there, but if you want to live in the best part of town, it will cost you a pretty penny, and you would have to use I-10 to get to Houston. I definitely recommend living in a suburb of Houston though, but obviously I would, as it's where I've grown up.
Picky, picky. I consider my traffic/sprawl comment an attack on *traffic* to some of the suburbs, not an indictment of suburbs in general. It's something you get more from actually living in Houston instead of just visiting the city, so I thought it would be helpful to consider that the traffic density on commutes is different depending on the suburb. Like I said, I thought the commute from Clear Lake was better than from other areas.
I just moved closer into town (Belt-8 and Westheimer) from Katy, and I can say at least one thing -- my life is about 1000x better without having to deal with that traffic. I like the Katy area quite a bit, but argh, the traffic is just so horribly awful. I used to have to be on the road by about 6:45 to get to work by 7:50. If I left at 6:00, I'd get home by 7:00. Now, I can wake up at 7:30 and be at work by 7:50 and coming home is even better. I'd still like to be closer in, but where I'm at now is good enough. I can't say what's best for you -- I can't really identify with your situation (married, kids, etc.), but the one piece of advice I can say is to try to avoid as much traffic as you can -- I cut at least an hour and a half of driving a day off by moving closer to my work, and to where I tend to do things. I know quite a few people who are moving out to Katy and the Woodlands, and while they've got all these nice homes and what not, I don't think they realize how much time they'll be spending on the road and not at their nice houses. The stress level, the comfort, the energy, everything is just so much better now that I don't have to deal with the traffic. I know you don't commute a huge amount, but there's lots of driving that still comes around -- lets say you get Rockets tickets, well if you're in Katy/Woodlands/Sugarland/where ever, what is the drive like? Are there places you like to go around town? Shopping? Kids activities, etc.? Friends? You get so much more time at home, etc. if you don't have to sit in traffic so long. I hope you make a decision you're happy with -- you ought to try to make a jaunt down here for a few days and get a good feel for everything. Personally, I love the woodlands area (trees and what not), but I couldn't stand the drive to work or to the Toyota Center/Reliant Stadium/Minute Maid Park. Sugarland is nice, but so many people I know there are kind of snobs. But the area really is pretty nice, and I think that's probably just my bad luck. Katy is a really nice place and it's growing FAST, but argh the traffic is so awful . . . I know it's bad everywhere, but having spent so long living there and now being free of the beast (I-10), I can't ever imagine moving back.
If I were going to be missing out on the amenities of inside-the-loop life, I would head straight to the places in Houston that have some character to them: Pine Forest: Woodlands Water: Clear Lake League City Kemah Those places have some other things going for them other than cleanliness.
Stay in Austin. My only complaint about Austin ( I haven't been there for 3 years ) is that it is getting overcrowded. I think Houston is much, much worse in this respect.
I just want to say first of all that I think it is a great idea to move to Houston. I became really disenchanted with the city esp the last couple of years (roads had gone to total ****, road construction everywhere, no zoning, just an absolute mess). However, ever since Bill White has been elected, I feel the fixing of the roads, dealing with the construction issues, etc will move along at a much quicker and more EFFICIENT rate. Houston just got into a bit of a rut under a bad mayor, but good days are ahead imo. The huge attraction to Houston atleast for me is the fact that it is probably the most cultuarlly and ethnically diverse city in the south and definitely the most culturally and ethnically diverse in Texas. In addition, if you go in town, there are SO many good places to eat at a very reasonable cost. Also, the cost of living is very reasonable overall. As far as places to live.... I grew up in Katy and went to Katy schools (1984 - 1997), then went to UT Austin for 4 years till 2001. Since then, I have lived in First Colony for the last 3 years or so. Katy - I would not recommend to anyone to live in Katy. Esp considering Clutch has lived in Austin, which is an awesome place. Living in Katy, Texas is the polar opposite of Austin. Austin is the type of place where there are very liberal, open thinking people and no one is trying to force their idelogoies down your throat. Moving from Austin to Katy, Texas would be the equivalent of transferring from UT Austin to Aggieland. Educationally, Katy schools are very solid, but aside from that, they leave much to be desired. I'll give you a few examples of why I think despite the pretty solid education, Katy schools are not a great place to send a child (esp one that does not fit a certain profile). Lets put it this way, my graduating class in 1997 at Taylor High School had an ethnic breakdown very similar to a school like A&M or Baylor as opposed to UT Austin. For instance, in a Houston Chronicle article a few yrs ago, they cited the lack of ethnic diversity at Aggieland. The published numbers of 2% Asian Americans was jaw dropping for me; compare this to the 20% at UT Austin. In my graduating class, of 540, you could count on one hand the number of Indians and Pakistanis in the class and probably another two hands the numbers of Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. Essentially, I would say less than 1% of my graduating class was of Asian American descent. Add to that, there are a lot of "skinhead" types at Katy schools that simply have no tolerance for people of other skin color, and it makes it even worse. There was an African American family that lived right down the street from where I lived that a cross burned on their front lawn on Juneteenth. This was big news when it happened; iirc, that family has since left Katy. I have not even mentioned the traffic on I-10. I-10 is much worse than any freeway in Houston. For instance, people in Austin complain that I-35 and Mopac are trafficky, I-10 esp during rush hour is MUCH worse. Also, property values in Katy suck. There is still so much available land and builders keep putting out new homes so property values in the existing homes stay the same. After living in Katy for 17 yrs and selling, there was absolutely zero profit on the house when you factored in selling expenses and such. Supposedly the higher end homes (ie Windsor Park Lakes) get more appreciation, but the mid level homes dont see it b/c there are SO many of them and more are springing up. Sugar Land - I have been very happy with the Sugar Land area the time I have lived here. First off, the ethnic diversity is absolutely amazing in this area. It was a very good carryover from being at UT Austin for 4 years and seeing the diversity there. In addition, there are very strict regulations in Sugar Land which is why it looks a whole lot more organized and better put together than the rest of Houston. The only billboards you will see in Sugarland are a few along 59. However, once you exit the freeway, you will see absolutely none as they simply are not allowed. Even when you enter a Randalls parking lot for instance, the sign showing what all places are in the shooping center is restricted to a certain height. Also, the roads are very good in this area. Far less potholes than in the inner loop, and planned very well. Ever since 59 was completed, its been very good. Unless you are travelling in absolute rush hour time, you can get from Sugar Land to the Galleria in a little over 20 mins and to downtown in the 25-30 min range. Ofcourse, people that speed a lot can do it faster. As far as property values goes. If you buy a place in the Sweetwater or First Colony part of Sugar Land, you are definitely in a situation where your property value can increase. For instance, a new subdivision (Avalon) was built a few yrs ago near Sweetwater, and folks I know that bought there intially have seen their property value increase a good bit. Do a search on har, and it is tough to find any house in that subdivision for less than 250K. I dont remember it being anywhere near that expensive when the subdivision started. Im not a big fan of the part of Sugar Land that is farther Southwest (ie at Grand Pkwy and 59) b/c that part is not zoned to the really good Sugar Land schools (ie Clements) and is way too far out there. Plus that part of 59, from Hwy 6 to Grand Pkwy is about to be constructed on.
Wow great post! I can relate to it! I also don't really like Greatwood and Grand Parkway...too far away..and now that's where the traffic is starting to build up. But these houses are cheaper..schools are mediocre. Growing really fast. Houston is not crowded..there is lots of land..we probably have a relatively low number of people per square mile. There are crowded areas and there are very open and manless areas. Just avoid the highly congested areas at certain times.. Yep my old house..bought it for 70k.....10 years later...180k sold. We could have sold it for more..or kept it..because now its value is even higher!
Clutch, Atascocita is nice because the area is growing...schools is fairly decent...home values go up (for example, my Mom's house was paid for at $86K, and now appraised at $127K after only 5 years of living there...the house is under 10 years old)...It is easy access to 59...and this is important because you know why...It won't take long to go to 1 real nice outdoor shooting range, and 1 fair indoor range...Got a mall, and nice movie plex near by,...You like jogging?,...They got a nice jogging path I'm frequenting near the Humble civic center, close to the hoods...Like squirrels?,...they got plenty of them too ready for kill shots, easy processing, and then marinating and grilling,...but you do live in Austin, where this small game is unfunly/unfairly domesticated...(freaked me out when I went there as a kid and a little critter came down to sit on my shoulder and stared at me with his sinister, and voidless black beady eye ) However, I will be rejoining my wife in the Nashville area in a few months, and as I'm writing, I'm over there now...flying back later this evening...The reason I'm telling you this is because I know "change" is hard...During my week of "vacation" here, I got to see and do alot of things...and I think about quality of life and what simple things are important,...#1 is family and familytime, and every once in a while "ROXRAN" time, where I do selfish things like target shooting, or hunting, and watching my favorite sports teams...Ask yourself lots of questions as I did to make the right choice in the move, and then what area...Can you enjoy your personal time in Houston as you do in Austin?...If you have concerns, check them out ahead of time,...I know personal time seems trivial, considering other things, and family time will take the majority of your personal time, but I believe even a family guy needs opportunities of time out and personal reflection to fulfill balance...The change/move will likely have lapses of minor "home sickness", and a big reason for this is all the little, fairly minor things you enjoyed not being there like before, and foresighting this adjustment with research, thinking and planning about it will help you a lot...
Stone Brook Village Quiet - Gated community with really friendly people Inexpensive $160-190K for 1-2 story homes, 6 years old, good quality, 2000-3000 Sq ft. Reasonable location - 30 minutes to Galleria during rush hour - 30 minutes to downtown via park-N-ride - halfway between 610 and 8 on 290 - located near Bingle and West Little York Time Warner Cable and Earthlink cable modem access available CyFair schools 2 miles from the best inexpensive private golf course inside the city, Inwood Forest. Let me know if you have any other questions, Clutch.
As of 2006, all billboards will have been removed thanks to a city ordinance. As for greenery, Houston is actually in a temperate zone, one of the few places in the US that can boast that. We can grow plants and trees here that will not grow in almost any other part of the country. For trees, the Quality of Life Coalition, founded by our new mayor, along with the help of the Greater Houston Partnership has committed to planting over 1 million trees along freeways and other thoroughfares by 2005. That doesn't even include the massive effort by the Park People along with several other groups to plant thousands of trees over the next few years or Central Houston and the Main Street Coalition who have planted hundreds of live oaks from downtown to Reliant Park. You also failed to point out that the city has strict ordinances that have been in place since the 80's defining what trees can and cannot be cut down. Nevermind Trees for Houston or the Galveston-Houston Area Council who helped us get designated as a National Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation. Houston has won awards for its tree preservation, planting efforts and use of trees in the natural landscape. Mayor White has even committed to building a sprawling public park on the city's east end before he leaves office that will rival Memorial Park. And speaking of parks, I'm guessing you also didn't know that Memorial Park along with the arboretum make up the second largest park/undeveloped area in or near and urban setting in the country. The first is Central Park in New York City. As for "shrubs and bushes" not counting, you clearly have not been atop a building downtown or even out Westheimer for that matter. Clutch and I were here meeting a client late last year our off of Westheimer and Highway 6 and both remarked how many trees were visible. There are some developments out I-10, 290 and 59 that, without question, are fairly barren of trees. But, what you fail to realize is that those areas of the city are very different in terms of their plant life. Go out I-10 and you have the Katy Prarie, one of the few natural prarie zones to exist in this part of the coutry. Head out 290 or south on 59 and you experience similar grassy areas where trees don't naturally grow. Hell, even heading south, you eventually begin to move into coastal growing zones where many trees simply do not thrive due to the change in acidity in the soil. You can't just hop on a freeway, take a drive out to the suburbs and assume you know what Houston is. At least we are trying to fix some of the mistakes we have made in the past instead of just sitting around and complaining about it.
Amen, Jeff. The billboards - is there a grandfather clause? Will all billboards come down for sure? I thought I had read somewhere that there were some sneaky exceptions, especially tied to signs for stores on their own lots, which meant that the signage would become shorter and just increase. (Sorry, this is waaay off-topic.) Houston is trying to fix its issues, that's true. It really does seem like the next 10 years will define the city. It's an exciting time to be in Houston, Clutch.
I moved from Houston to Austin 3 years ago and IMO it is less crowded than when I moved here. Alot of people that lost their jobs after the tech bubble burst have moved back to the larger cities(ie. Dallas, Houston). It would take a great opportunity and alot of money for me to move back to Houston. Too many knuckleheads, too much traffic, too much construction and too much asphalt.
The rule for the billboards is this: Any billboard must contain advertising ONLY for the business or establishment on the SAME PROPERTY as the billboard itself. In other words, Gallery Furniture could put up a billboard on its own property where the business is located on I-45 advertising itself, but that billboard would not be allowed to advertise ANYTHING else. Since something like 90 percent of billboards (last time I read something about it) actually sit on an easement - the area between the street and an actual property - most of them will have to come down. Also, most businesses don't use billboards on their own property. They are costly and take up space they could use for parking. This does NOT include the county so anything outside of the city limits is fair game but this ordinance was really meant to attack billboards along the major freeways - 45, 10, 59, 290, the beltway, etc - and major thoroughfares like 1960 or Westheimer inside the city limits.
If all the billboards come down and they will actually plant trees, Houston will at some point look completely different from how I knew it. Why don't they plant a lot of palm trees? It would be warm enough...and would give Houston a bit of the Miami feeling...
So you guys are saying that if I wait a couple years to visit, then the removal of signs and addition of trees will make Htown a lot less of an eyesore. That's nice to know. Now if you could just get rid of the crime, smog, traffic, and humidity!!
