Surprisingly, palm trees don't grow well in Houston. Houston has clay soil and palm trees need sandy soil to grow well. People still plant them, but they need a TON of care. The indigenous trees here are things like oaks, elms, pecans and pine trees. Additionally, most of the trees being planted are also designed to help eliminate or reduce the heat island effect created by all the concrete. Palms don't do a very good job of absorbing heat and creating shade. Actually, violent crime has diminished dramatically over the past 20 years despite a bump this past year. We rank in the top third in per capita violent crime in cities in America. We still are high in auto theft but that isn't surprising considering the large numbers of cars. Cities like Houston, LA and Detroit are always high on the list. As for smog and traffic, they are invariably linked together. The EPA has required that Houston reduce its smog emissions enough to come into compliance with the Clean Air Act by 2007 or face losing federal highway funding. As a result, the city has undertaken massive efforts to cut the pollutants and conditions that cause smog. Part of the problem is that our summers are condusive to holding ground-level emissions down close to the ground. There isn't much we can do for that, but the city and local industry have teamed up to radically reduce pollutants and it is estimated by the Houston-Galveston Area Council that we could see ozone and smog cut by as much as 50 percent by 2010. Traffic is always an issue in a big city. It is the nature of living in a city with a lot of people. It won't be eliminated ever, but the city is building rail and encouraging businesses to go to staggered work schedules to reduce traffic at peak hours. As for humidity, the problem for most isn't the humidity so much as the heat-humidity combination. While we can't change the climate, I have always thought that Houston was a reverse of many cold weather cities. Instead of three months of bitter cold and snow where the heater is running constantly and heating oil bills are through the roof. We have three months of brutal heat with the a/c running constantly and electric bills through the roof. But, come October through April, I'll put Houston's weather on the whole up against just about any big US city.
I agree with that, except Miami and some cities in California. But the summer in Houston is BRUTAL as soon as you leave the air-conditioned zones .
Places to live in Houston... 1. River Oaks 2. Areas neighboring River Oaks, i.e. Royden Oaks, Greenway Plaza, etc. 3. West University 4. Memorial 5. Bellaire 6. Heights Anything else I don't know much about, but I don't think First Colony, Katy, etc. are that bad. I also think it would be interesting to live Downtown and Montrose, I just don't know too much about it. And either suburbs or 'artsy' places wouldn't supplant any of my top 6 even if I knew them.
Jeff, when did you become a Landscape Architect? I've gone off on Houston in the past on this BBS, but it is encouraging to hear some of the new laws and initiatives. Over the past 4-5 years I've actually been a little jealous of Houston (I live in Austin). Austin is a wonderful place to live, but it is very difficult to get any development done here. I could make a list of about 50 things that have disappointed me about Austin in it's recent history. It doesn't seem to matter if your intentions are good/bad, grand/small, standard/unorthodox, etc.... everything is equally scrutinized and rejected. After attending Austin City Council meetings Antoine Predock, the Architect for the new City Hall, said something to the effect of Austin was "paralyzed by democracy". The biggest disappointment was actually with the hiring and firing of the Swiss Architects Herzog & DeMeuron for the new Blanton Museum of Art on the UT campus. These guys are probably the most recognized Architects in the world right now, but their proposals were rejected by the UT Board of Regents. I'm beginning to see the beauty in Houston's chaos more and more... not that you would catch me dead in a Houston suburb (unless I was visiting my family). I prefer a pretty hilltop view somtimes. To it's credit, Houston has long been a favorite of urban design researchers who view it as a giant sociological experiment. No topography, no zoning, no control, just capitalism and a voracious growth and annexation rate. Probably the most plastic city in the world.
That's ALL my wife. She knows a lot about that stuff. I just learn from her. The problem with #1 - #3 is that they all are too expensive. You can't get a house in River Oaks for under $1 million. The areas near River Oaks are $500,000 and up. West U is much the same. Heights is too expensive for what you get if you have kids and want a big house, yard, etc. I know Memorial has been mentioned, but Bellaire isn't a bad choice if you can find the right place.
I'll limit my suggestions to close in and relatively cheap. Try the close in Southwest of Woodshire,Woodside, Willowbend, Meyer Park, Meyerland, Post Oak Manor etc. Anything in 77025 zip code, that isn't too pricey. These neighborhoods are close to West U and Bellaire so you get access to rich, close in stuff, like good schools, upscale shopping, book and computer stores as well as upper middle class kid's team sports etc. , but are close to museums and things. We miss the Heights area as we have lots of friends there, but the better schools and many other amenities are closer in the above mentioned areas. I think it is the best combo of inner loop-suburban, if you are talking family. Prices start at about $150k for 2,000 sq. ft. in Post Oak Manor on up. If you need new or 3,000 sq. ft and want to spend less than $300k, better go to the real burbs.
Hey Clutch, what are the best places to live in Austin? Close in preferred, 3 bedrooms, $200k or less.
Back to the Bill boards. What about the Be a part of something big boards. They had them everywhere during summer break, even on Highway 6 you saw the boards. And There is a strip of palm trees on 90 I believe, looks pretty sweet last I remember
I'd like to help, but can't read much into this. I prefer living in the loop. I live near Rice University, and really couldn't live anywhere else again. My kids get all kinds of opportunities here that we probably wouldn't discover if they weren't so close. My 7 yr old daughter started taking piano at Rice and music theory. The classes are taught in the music hall by graduate students under the direction of faculty. It's a great program. She also goes to Houston ballet academy. She's had some trouble with reading, so we take her to a rotating collection of libraries for a reading group my wife started. The library at the children's museum is good, btw. She loved the "great century" exhibit at "big museum". Because we live close, I was able to take her on the entire cow parade, when that was here. We catch the ballet and opera and dance at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Theatre Under the Stars has the Humphries School of Musical Theatre for kids. It's a great program, and you can do a little or a lot. We go to Palmer Episcopal Church and they have a fantastic music program that costs almost nothing, taught by a Rice PHD and wife. They even have a program called kindermusik for very small children. My two year old has a great montessori down the street. We walk to the Rice village to eat, when my two year old can sit still. Sometimes we just go for a stroll, and window shop. I could go on. There's a lot of opportunities that you just discover if you live close in. The flower market, the parks, restaurants, the beautiful homes and stately oaks on rice blvd, in blvd oaks, shady acres, lovett blvd ; coffeehouses, neighborhood bars, antiques on westheimer, the funk of montrose, the hip of midtown, main street, the new rail, the quick shot downtown for specs, the theatre district, market square. Houston culture - it's all there to experience if you want it within minutes. I love Houston. ................................................................................. I grew up in Clear Lake and the area is ok, I just always felt something was missing, and was pulled toward the city, or even Galveston, for some history. (Don't live in Galveston, though, its a mess. That just describes my mixed-up mind as a teen that loved architecture.) I'd recommend Silverlake in Pearland for the suburban/close to the city thing. A lot of med center workers live there. My sister did; they both worked in the med center and had 2 kids (now 3). It was good for them. The area is getting better and better; it's close and a comfortable drive into the city from 288.
Palm trees - as you go south on 45 towards Galveston, you'll start seeing new palm trees. I think the Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) and 45 intersection is where it's most prominent. I think it's a cool idea.
I agree completely. Once you find a nice place in the city, the suburbs will never do again. (unless the woman you love makes you.)
Clutch, Just stay in Austin....a lot less traffic, good clean air, and a MUCH safer city to live in....and you get all the Houston sports teams games without any worry of blackouts. I recommend Circle C. DD
Maybe "less" traffic but one of the worst interstate systems I've ever driven. You take your life in your hands everytime you try to get on one of those short on ramps near town.
Something about a brand new house sitting next to a 40 - 50 year old home just strikes me as unusual. Eventually, most all of the older homes will be <i>scraped off</i> and replaced by new houses, but the current transition phase takes some getting used to.
Personally, I find I-35 to be worse than I-10, especially if you consider the relative sizes of Austin and Houston. It's not that there is more traffic, it's because a lot of Austinites drive incredibly slow on the freeway. On the whole, I think Houston has a lot better drivers than Austin, but the fact a lot of Austin is either really young(college age, like myself) or elderly(because of the nice scener in the hill country) people may be what drags Austin down, I'm not sure. I'm lucky that I live next to Spicewood Springs and the Arboretum area this year so I can take Mopac to and from campus.
I apologize for the late response all. I had typed up a long response the other day then lost it so I waited to type this up again A huge thanks for all your help. Right from the beginning I was using Pole's advice and everyone's comments have been very helpful. I literally didn't know much about 3/4 of the places being discussed here, so this has been very educational for us. Again, thanks for taking the time. To be more specific, I do think the suburbs would be the place for us. I'm home the vast majority of the time. I'm married with 2 kids. Museums, nice restaurants and professional sports are all nice features in the city, but I don't think in my situation I need to live close to them. What I would love about being close to the city is the investment the house would probably be, but I don't think I could sacrifice things I would need (home space, backyard, maybe schools). I don't know .... we'll see. I'll check around. What's important to us, possibly in this order, is schools. My oldest starts kindergarten next year. Lots of home space (say a liberal range of 2800 - 4000 sq. ft) and a nice backyard. Nice community with nice amenities. A solid investment is important. In short I can afford to be patient and find the right house/deal. If possible, nice parks or scenic areas to visit. From the little I knew going in, The Woodlands really sounded close to ideal, but sounds like there are some other places to check out. RocketsPimp, DaDakota - you're playing on my worst fears about Houston. I love Austin ... I love the feel of the city and I know the area very well. It's very hard to think about leaving. Austin vs. Houston has been and still is the discussion here. But most of the work I do is centered around Houston and eventually I think I will need to be there and for that reason I hesitate to commit (buying a house) to Austin right now. I don't know if it will be 4 months or 4 years, but eventually we think Houston is where we will be. What I want is to narrow it down to a few areas in Houston that we would love to be, if not the one area we want, so we can visit the area(s) and keep an eye on homes for sale. Again all, thanks for the help.
My wife's grandmother passed away a while back and her home was in Bellaire. She had one of the few old houses left on that street. Anyway, when they probated the will and sold the house, they ended up selling it for $250,000. The tax records valued the house at $15K and the land at $235K. A builder ended up buying the lot and they are already in the process of tearing the house down. The cool thing is, her grandparents bought the house back in the $40s for something like $15K. What a nice inheritance for her children.
