Inner Loop/Southwest (Area 17)


The City of Bellaire

Bellaire, the "City of Homes," is an incorporated city in the heart of the Houston area. As an incorporated city, Bellaire has its own Police Department, Water Department and Fire Department.

In 1909, W. W. Baldwin bought 9,700 acres of the De Moss Ranch and the original townsite of Bellaire was part of this purchase. It was registered in 1911 and incorporated as a city in June, 1918. During the early years no taxes were collected by the city; the marshall was the only paid employee and his salary came from fines levied against owners of wayward cattle.

The city grew slowly between 1918 and 1940, with only 25 homes built before 1919, 75 by 1929, and up to 330 by the end of 1939. After World War II there was a relative boom, with 2,856 additional homes built by 1950. During the last several years, Bellaire has enjoyed strong redevelopment of its neighborhoods. Many existing homes on treed lots have been torn down to make room for two- story traditional family homes.

Bellaire residents have always had a great deal of community pride which has weathered even the strongest controversies, including the building of Loop 610 in the 1960's, resulting in the loss of about 250 homes in the city.

Today, Bellaire homeowners have a lot about which to be proud, including the excellent reputation of its neighborhood schools, its surrounding commercial development, and the beauty of the various architectural styles found in its homes. Bellaire is close to many major highways in Houston, providing easy access to the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, The Galleria, various business districts and a wide assortment of cultural events.

The City of Bellaire offers many advantages to its residents, and with more than 80 years of history as a precedent, it continues to be a thriving community which attracts a great deal of homebuyer interest.    MAP
 

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The City of Southside Place

The beginning of Southside Place traces back to 1924, when E. L. Crain developed the community with Colonial, Spanish and English bungalows. Chinese tallows recommended by Teas Nursery became a trademark of the neighborhood.

Builders used to shy away from Southside Place because it didn't have the name recognition of neighboring West University Place. Southside lots were also larger and more expensive than West U. Now new construction has spilled over and those roomy lots are a strong selling point. Most new construction costs between $500,000 and $600,000. Lots are usually priced between $200,000 and $300,000.

As the bungalows have been replaced by new construction, property values have skyrocketed. Modest bungalows average $225,000, while larger two story homes start around $285,000.

Bordered on three sides by West University Place, The main part of the city is rectangular in shape. In the center is a park with a clubhouse, tennis courts, softball field and swimming pool. New streets and curbs complete the tidy look of the community. The streets are even in alphabetical order. The city comes complete with its own police and fire departments to patrol and protect its streets. Police are particularly vigilant in patroling the stretch of Bellaire Boulevard that falls within their jurisdiction, and speeders along this main throughfare are not tolerated.     MAP

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The City of West University Place

As its name reflects, West University Place is a residential neighborhood located near Rice University. Established in 1911, West University Place is actually a small incorporated city within the confines of the City of Houston. Architectural charm and protective residential zoning have combined to make "West U" one of Houston's most appealing neighborhoods.

From the beginning, the city has maintained its original integrity and prospered from residents' insistence on zoning and adherence to deed restrictions. Today's zoning and setback rules were written in 1937, and the City of West University Place later incorporated them into law. The laws protect the city from industrial development while requiring open space on 40% of every lot. In an era of rapid metropolitan expansion, West University has emerged as an island of residential stability.

With more than 80 years of construction history, West University is a rich divergence of architectural style. From traditional to contemporary, zoning codes have ensured that the mixture of the different styles has developed harmoniously.

In the last 20 years, many young professionals have "discovered" West University, and have added to the architectural mix. While remodeling was the trend during the 70's and 80's, new construction is the trend of the 90's. The result can double or triple the initial value of the property, making it an appealing investment while providing a comfortable residence for homeowners.

Located on the southwestern edge of Houston's central business district, West University offers quick access to museums, the Texas Medical Center, Greenway Plaza, Memorial Park, The Galleria, and the freeway system. Its residential character has created a small-town atmosphere and true community spirit unique among Houston's exclusive neighborhoods.

The city offers many quaint parks, centrally located community recreational facility (complete with Olympic-sized pool), library, city hall, and police station.

By maintaining the original integrity of the neighborhood, while offering many "small town" advantages to its residents, West University Place is, and will continue to be one of Houston's finest neighborhoods.    MAP

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Braeswood / Old Braeswood

Originally called "Braeswood", this Medical Center neighborhood is now called "Old Braeswood" due to the stately Pre-War Georgians found along its tree lined streets. The neighborhood started off slowly in 1928 with only a few homes being built each year. In 1940, a sudden building surge hit the neighborhood and approximately half the homes in the first section were built during that year. Braeswood continued as a popular area to build through the early 1970's due to its proximity to the Medical Center and heavily wooded Brays Bayou location.

Homes range from single-story small cottages and bungalows to large two-story Georgians and Southern Colonials. Lot sizes start at 6600 square feet and grow to over 1/2 acre towards Brays Bayou. New construction is slowly coming into the area as the smaller homes are torn down. Prices range from around $100,000 for a small lot to over $750,000 for a new custom home along the bayou.

Old Braeswood is bounded by West Holcombe Boulevard on the North, Kirby Drive on the West, North Braeswood Boulevard (Brays Bayou) on the South, and South Main Street to the East. Its large oak trees and its walking-distance to the Medical Center location make this neighborhood a favorite among Houston physicians.

Old Braeswood is HISD zoned to Roberts Elementary, Pershing Middle and Lamar High School.



Braeswood features top architecture

By KATHERINE FESER
Houston Chronicle  11/16/1997

Some of Houston's finest architecture is found in Braeswood, where 70-year-old homes are not uncommon.

"Old Braeswood," as it is known, was developed as a garden suburb along south Main Street in 1927 by banker and lawyer George F. Howard. The layout, with oaks planted along the curved streets, was planned by Kansas City landscape architects Hare & Hare, which also designed Highland Park in Dallas. About half of the lots were developed as planned, with most of the others filled in by rambling ranch designs characteristic of the 1950s.

The Old Braeswood Civic Club commissioned a book by the Anchorage Foundation of Texas to catalog the development of the neighborhood, which boasted the Battlestein and Hobby families as early residents. Some houses featured in the book have been torn down and replaced with grand custom ones.

"I would say there's more renovations of the old homes than tear-downs," says Kathy Lord, who lives in one of the first homes to be built in Braeswood. Her English manor house was designed by Carl A. Mulvey, who once worked with noted River Oaks architect Birdsall Briscoe.

Like many in the neighborhood, the gabled house features an asymmetrical design, with solid cypress doors and pillars, and interior walls made of plaster. Bay windows and decorative brickwork are other elements found in Braeswood's period homes with French, English, Italian, Spanish and American colonial influences.

Gracious homes with plenty of space between them have appealed to buyers looking in the Texas Medical Center area.

"I enjoy the sturdier construction of a little bit older home," says Janet McNeill, a new resident who works for Rice University nearby.

One new project is Braeswood Court, a gated enclave of six homes planned by McVaugh Custom Homes. The houses will be constructed of stone, brick and stucco and priced from around $650,000, says Ruthie Porterfield of Martha Turner Properties.

Another development is The Reserve at Old Braeswood, an apartment and town home community being developed by Trammell Crow Residential near Maroneal and Greenbriar.
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 338
Median price $270,300
Median price per square foot $108.97
Median size 3,070 square feet
Median lot size 11,200 square feet
Median year built 1945
Average number of bedrooms 3.4
Average number of baths 2.8
Median estimated tax $7,459
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Roberts Elementary, Pershing Middle and Lamar High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors
 

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Braeswood Place


Things are looking up in Ayrshire

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  7/10/94

The view from Ayrshire across Stella Link keeps improving.

"A group of homeowners has gotten together to redevelop the area," says Steve Anton of Hallmark Properties. "We've torn down a lot of rundown apartments."

The Stella Link Redevelopment Association has scooped up property adjacent to Ayrshire, located east of Stella Link between Pershing Middle School and Mark Twain Elementary. The association plans to develop a recreational/educational corridor, including a YMCA, a public library and park space.

"We've encouraged redevelopment where we go out and solicit builders to take a look at our neighborhood," says board member Bob Barnes.

"We've seen new homes being built," Barnes says. "Builders are also building spec houses, which is a sign of confidence in that marketplace."

The ranch homes in Ayrshire were built since the late 1940s of brick, stone, wood or shingles. Lots are typically wider and deeper than in neighboring Braes Heights, but prices are roughly the same. Original smaller homes start around $115,000, while larger, updated homes cost up to $180,000. New construction ranges from $285,000 to $375,000.

Cul-de-sacs lie along the west portion of the neighborhood, which backs up to railroad tracks.

"The property values are increasing at a steady rate," says resident Ray Cook. "There is some renewal being done in Ayrshire."

Many residents are spending $30,000 and more to update kitchens, master bedrooms and baths.

The location is convenient to the Texas Medical Center, Greenway Plaza and the bike track along Brays Bayou.

Good public schools are a selling point for Ayrshire, which is zoned to Bellaire High School.

On the north fringe of the subdivision, developer Frank Liu of Lovett Homes has cleared land to build patio homes and town homes someday. The decrepit apartments that once occupied the property have been torn down.

"It may not be the best investment in the world, but at least I feel like I'm helping to clean up the neighborhood a little bit," Liu says.
 
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 2,006
Median price $135,100
Median price per square foot $81.89
Median size 2,006 square feet
Median lot size 9,024 square feet
Median year built 1953
Average number of bedrooms 2.9
Average number of baths 1.9
Median estimated tax $3,374
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Mark Twain Elementary, Pershing Middle, Bellaire High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors



Braes Heights area talking about trash

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  4/23/95

The neighbors are talking trash in Braes Heights again.

The monster trash buckets provided by the city of Houston for the new once-a-week pick up schedule have become a topic of conversation.

"My two neighbors and myself would be hard pressed to fill one of these trash cans in two weeks," says Anne Palony of the new cans, which hold up to 85 gallons.

"You could put a body in these things," says broker Steve Anton of Hallmark Properties. "Some of the older residents complain that the can is just too unwieldy."

The city does, however, offer assistance for those who have trouble handling the bulky containers.

Braes Heights is one of seven subdivisions collectively known as Braeswood Place, which share services such as constable patrol. The community was developed between 1947 and 1952 with ranch style homes. Original homes range from $130,000 to $250,000.

Just over 100 new homes have been built, mostly in the north part of the subdivision. New construction generally costs between $275,000 and $450,000.  Tear-downs sell from $90,000 to $135,000.

"We've thrived because of our affordability and value," Anton says. "Buyers are surprised how much their money will buy compared to other Med Center neighborhoods."

Developments in the area include the new Vanderbilt Square shopping center, which is anchored by a Randalls Flagship and Barnes & Noble bookstore. A new high-end apartment complex has replaced the local driving range.

Stella Link Redevelopment Association is still acquiring land for the recreational/educational corridor, which will include parks, a YMCA and a public library.

The association had some seedy apartments near the schools torn down. "There's been a real resurgence in the schools," says resident Jim Ainsworth. "The biggest problem that we found was perception because of a lack of a peer group for both kids and parents. That has changed a lot and is continuing to change as more kids go to the school."
 
 
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 896
Median price $141,700
Median price per square foot $90.22
Median size 1,954 square feet
Median lot size 8,400 square feet
Median year built 1952
Average number of bedrooms 2.9
Average number of baths 2.0
Median estimated tax $3,402
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Mark Twain Elementary, Pershing Middle and Lamar High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors
 

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Broad Acres

One of the smallest and most exclusive neighborhoods south of Highway 59, Broad Acres is the crown jewel of Houston's Museum District neighborhoods. Broard Acres is comprised of 26 mansions, on exquisitely manicured grounds, that face onto the oak lined 1300 - 1500 blocks of North Boulevard and South Boulevard. The area has a "Great Gatsby" atmosphere since the majority of these homes were built during the Teens and Twenties, with only one being built after World War II.

Most Broad Acres lots are between 3/4 of an acre to over an acre in size. The homes start at just under 4400 square feet and max out at over 8600 square feet. Average home prices are $1 million - $1.3 million.

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Edgemont / Ormond Place / Chevy Chase (Boulevard Oaks)

The subdivisions of Edgemont, Ormond Place and Chevy Chase make up the area known as Boulevard Oaks. As the name implies, this area contains large homes built in the 1920's to 1940's situated along oak lined boulevards. English Tudors, Southern Colonials and Georgians constitute the majority of homes in this area. Most of the homes have been lovingly cared for, or recently restored.

This area, combined with Broad Acres, which lies just to the East, was the main competition to River Oaks. In 1928 after all, River Oaks was built on the wrong side of the dump and was way out in the country. River Oaks went on to become Houston's most famous neighborhood, leaving Boulevard Oaks as one of the City's best kept secrets.

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Greenbriar

Greenbriar is a small neighborhood just East of Morningside Drive. It encompases the 2300 blocks of Barlett, North Boulevard, South Boulevard and the north side of Bissonet Avenue. Almost all the original homes were modest one-story brick cottages built in 1939, with a few being finished in 1940. New construction in the neighborhood has been limited to townhouses and one single family home.

Prices start at just under $100,000 for a lot and can reach almost $350,000 for a new single family home. Townhomes sell between $145,000 and $230,000.

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Knollwood Village


Knollwood is a good place to settle down

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  1/22/95

Bob and Carolyn Florek weren't planning on a longtime investment when they bought their home in Knollwood Village 11 years ago.

Counting on a transfer that didn't happen, the central location and moderate prices seemed like reasons enough to live in the neighborhood for a couple of years.

"It's been a real surprise to us," Bob Florek says. "We moved in not looking for a family neighborhood, but it's turned out real lucky."

When they first moved there, it was a quiet subdivision with many empty nesters. Many young families have moved in since then. The big bonus for them is the public schools. Longfellow Elementary offers a magnet program for performing arts and computer science. Pershing Middle, a fine arts magnet, and Bellaire High have strong reputations.

The community near South Braeswood and Buffalo Speedway was developed in the 1950s. Most homes have slab foundations and hardwood floors.

Almost all of the streets were recently repaved. Homes in good condition are priced from $90,000 to $135,000, which is comparable with neighboring Braes Terrace. Houses that need major refurbishing cost from $60,000 to $70,000.

"A lot of the homes are being remodeled and updated," says Lydia Crystal, a Realtor with Callager/Hamlin & Associates.

The location is convenient to the Texas Medical Center and the Astrodome. But it's also close to South Main, which has been a spot for some seedy motels and retail developments.

The Texas Department of Transportation plans improvements to the stretch of South Main between Kirby Drive and the South Loop.

"There won't be ditches and weeds and lanes of traffic on two different levels," says Susan Young, president of South Main Center Association. "It will be more like an Allen Parkway."

"We're looking forward to the development there because South Main was always such a blight in the past," says resident Peter Garcia.

One concern to homeowners is heavy cut-through traffic from Broadmead Drive to South Main.
 
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 511
Median price $104,100
Median price per square foot $65.61
Median size 1,688 square feet
Median lot size 7,918 square feet
Median year built 1952
Average number of bedrooms 3.0
Average number of baths 2.0
Median estimated tax $2,506
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Longfellow Elementary, Pershing Middle School, Bellaire Senior High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors

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Linkwood

Linkwood, located on the southern shore of Brays Bayou, provides buyers with an Inner Loop address at outside The Loop prices. Bordered on the west by Stella Link and to the north by South Braeswood Boulevard, the subdivision offers buyers close-in convenience, tree lined streets and sought-after Bellaire High School.

The first Linkwood homes were completed in 1948, most of the neighborhood being built between 1952 and 1956, with original construction wrapping up in 1960. The average home runs around 2200 square feet, while homes up to 4000 square feet can be found along scenic South Braeswood Boulevard. Home prices in 1995 were between $71,000 and $165,000, the average 50's style ranch going for $110,000 to $130,000.

Tearing down these older homes for new construction does not seem to be in Linkwood's immediate future, but several homes in the neighborhood have been recently renovated or enlarged.

The main negatives to the neighborhood are the commercial buildings on Stella Link and the neighborhood's less desirable, south of Brays Bayou location.



Linkwood gets ready for revamping

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  5/11/97

Revamped deed restrictions in Linkwood allowing two-story houses are not likely to cause a rash of new construction, but it does open up options for remodelers.

"We're preparing for the future," says Peter MacRoberts, who led the effort. "With the age of the subdivision, which is now 45 years, we could see replacement coming up in the next 10 to 15 years."

The new restrictions were designed to preserve the look of the neighborhood so that new and remodeled homes would blend in. The civic association consulted with lawyers, architects, city planners and realty agents in devising the restrictions, which address building materials, drainage, setback lines, height restrictions and placement of windows to protect privacy of neighboring lots.

Tear-downs in the area are usually smaller homes, located north of Brays Bayou in Braes Heights. Substantial ranch houses along Linkwood's curved streets range from 1,700 to 3,000 square feet, and are valued from $120,000 to more than $200,000.

"The typical buyer would probably rather go in and rehab that house," says Steve McGuire, an appraiser with Brubaker & Associates. "Those houses have a lot to say for them, so there's no point in tearing them down."

Not limiting houses to one level, which cost more to build than two-stories, makes new construction more feasible in a neighborhood where land values are high, McGuire says.

Julie Rosenberg and her husband plan to build a two-story brick Georgian house on the only vacant lot in Linkwood, saving the pecan trees in the yard.

"We wanted to preserve as much of the green space as possible," Rosenberg says.

Knowing guidelines for renovations were in the works comforted Janet Bricker when she invested in remodeling her L-shaped ranch house on a corner lot. Some of the work included gutting and redoing the kitchen, replacing sliding doors with French doors and refinishing wood floors. The family is considering adding a room over the garage or extending the back of the house.
 
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 145
Median price $121,400
Median price per square foot $63.39
Median size 2,077 square feet
Median lot size 10,400 square feet
Median year built 1952
Average number of bedrooms 3.0
Average number of baths 2.1
Median estimated tax $3,350
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Longfellow Elementary, Pershing Middle School, Bellaire Senior High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors
 

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Medical Center/Museum Area

Focal point for Houston's vibrant visual arts community is the intersection of Montrose Boulevard and Bissonet, some three miles south of downtown just off Main. Without beating around the bush, or the graceful live oaks that shade the neighborhood, the locals call it simply - "The Museum District." Here you'll find The Museum of Fine Arts, with its impressive Impressionists, elegant sculpture garden and adjacent art school. Close by are the Comtemporary Art Museum, Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel, Rice University galleries and some of the better art dealers, restaurants and residential architecture.

The Museum District is one of Houston's most interesting residential areas, offering all types of lifestyle choices, from stately boulevard mansions to soaring high-rise condominiums. The area also contains some of Houston's most sophisticated and architecturally diverse townhouses and garden homes. Offering a rich cultural atmosphere and close proximity to Houston's world renowned medical center, the Museum District is a prime choice of astute urban dwellers.

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Ranch Estates

Ranch Estates is a small neighborhood tucked between Highway 59 and Broad Acres. The subdivision contains 72 homes in the 1300 - 1500 blocks of Milford and Banks Streets. The vast majority of the original homes were built between 1947 and 1950 and are, as the name implies, single-story ranch houses. New or recent construction now constitutes 10% of the neighborhood and this figure is certain to grow with each passing year.

The older, ranch style homes are valued between $100,000 and $180,000 with new or recent construction fetching $350,000 or more. Lot sizes range from 6000 to over 10,000 square feet.

The neighborhood has a convenient close-in location, but its proximity to the Southwest Freeway makes it less desirable than other areas just to the South.

Ranch Estates is HISD zoned to Poe Elementary, Lanier Middle and Lamar High School.

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Southgate

Location is one of Southgate's prime features. Immediately west of The Houston Medical Center and South of Rice University, Southgate offers convenient access to work, shopping and recreation.

Although there has been some recent construction in Southgate, it hasn't matched the pace of some other nearby neighborhoods, including Southampton and West University Place. In general, most homes are still worth more than lot value. Most homes are priced between $150,000 and $350,000 and date from 1926 to Present, most being built in the 1940's and 1950's. The original homes have been well maintained and have held up well over the years due to their quality of construction. Several homes have been improved with an extra bedroom and bath upstairs and/or a family room downstairs.

Homes north of Southgate Boulevard are generally two-story and older. To the south, one-story ranches, cottages and bungalows are common.

A resurgence of interest in Roberts Elementary School has been a boost to the neighborhood. Roberts is a "magnet school" for fine arts and physical development and was named a Texas Exemplary School. Spark Park, which will include playground equipment, ball fields and a track, is being built on the campus.

In addition to the Houston Police Department, Southgate is patrolled by the Rice Area Constable service, which boasts quick response times.

Duplexes on the fringe of the neighborhood are popular among Rice students and medical interns and overflow vistor parking from the Medical Center can be a problem along some residential streets.

New townhome developments, such as Southgate Square, are beginning to fill some of the empty lots on the perimeter of the neighborhood.



Southgate's neighbors draw residents

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  7/16/95

When her family outgrew their 1940s-vintage bungalow in Southgate, Joan Gilliland started thinking of a place to move.

But the prime location next to Rice University and the Texas Medical Center was hard to beat.

"We made the decision to stay here," Gilliland says. As it turns out, she didn't even have to change her address. The bungalow was replaced by a new two-story brick house.

Although there has been some recent construction in Southgate, it hasn't matched the pace in some other nearby neighborhoods, including Southampton and West University Place.

In general, the houses have greater value than the land has. Most homes are priced from $150,000 to $350,000.

The original houses have a lot of consistency in quality and have been well maintained.

Several have been improved with what is known as the "Southgate addition" - an extra bedroom and bath upstairs and a family room downstairs.

Homes north of Southgate Boulevard are generally two-story and older. To the south, one-story ranches, cottages and bungalows are common. A resurgence in interest in Roberts Elementary has been a boost to the neighborhood.

"People come by and get a map of our zone so they can get in our boundaries," says Beverly Sones, school secretary.

Roberts is a magnet for fine arts and physical development and was named a Texas Exemplary School. A park is being built on the campus, which will include playground equipment, ball fields and a track. Southgate is patrolled by the Rice Area Constable service, which boasts of quick response times.

A problem in some parts of the neighborhood is Medical Center visitors parking on residential streets.

Duplexes on the fringe of the neighborhood are popular among Rice students and medical interns.

New town homes are beginning to fill some empty lots on the perimeter of the neighborhood.
 
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 560
Median price $201,650
Median price per square foot $103.19
Median size 2,112 square feet
Median lot size 6,875 square feet
Median year built 1939
Average number of bedrooms 3.0
Average number of baths 2.2
Median estimated tax $5,514
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Roberts Elementary, Lanier Middle School and Lamar High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors

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Southampton Place

Bordering Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, the Museum District and Hermann Park, Southampton Place is an outstanding neighborhood, perhaps best known for its handsome, oak-lined boulevards.

Houston developer E. H. Fleming planned the residential and business community of Southampton Place in 1922, using about 160 acres of land he purchased from Nellie B. League of Galveston.

Southampton is governed by a strict set of deed restrictions, which were written on April 15, 1923. A civic club was formed in 1929 to enforce the deed restrictions, and the club is still active today. The original homes in Southampton were traditional, two-story homes built on wooded lots. The architecture remains consistent today, both in restored homes and in new construction.

Southampton attracts many business executives and medical and other professionals who are drawn to its charming homes, shady boulevards, close proximity to Downtown, the Texas Medical Center and numerous cultural activities.

Through the years Southampton residents have worked together to ensure that the beauty and integrity of their neighborhood remains in tact. "Friends of Fleming Park" was organized to raise money to upgrade the neighborhood park on Sunset Boulevard at Kent Street. The park now has new play equipment, picnic tables, landscaping, tennis courts and an on-going fund has been established for maintenance and further improvements. Throughout the year, neighborhood festivities are held at the park, such as a Halloween party, Christmas carolling party and a spring picnic.

Southampton's picturesque boulevards and prime location in the "backyard" of Rice University, the Museum District, Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center make it one of Houston's most attractive and convenient neighborhoods.



Southampton a good spot for walking

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  10/23/94

Southampton Place may be one of the few spots in Houston where you really don't have to have a car to get around.

"What's so great about Southampton is it's so close in," says resident Paul Chapman.

Located across from Rice University, this upscale neighborhood is near the Texas Medical Center, the Museum District and is not far from downtown.

"It's very much a neighborhood," Chapman says. "You can walk to Seekers, the Village, or to get cappuccino at Allegro."

Butera's, the longstanding neighborhood grocery store on Bissonnet, was purchased this year by Seekers grocery stores, which has maintained the store's small town character. "The civic association has been vigilant about maintaining restrictions and keeping the quality of the neighborhood intact," says area resident Marilee Wood, who grew up in Southampton.

The association fought attempts by the city to ban use of the alleys that run behind the houses for trash pick-up. "The city ended up getting smaller garbage trucks to service the area," Wood says.

When sewer lines were put in, the association insisted on tunneling rather than digging to protect the old oaks prevalent in the neighborhood.

"People value the fact that the neighborhood has been there for a long time and they have protected the neighborhood," Wood says. "I like the old houses and I think it's wonderful that they have been preserved and updated."

Southampton was developed in 1922 by E.H. Fleming with mostly large bungalows and Georgian homes. Oak trees form a canopy over Rice and Sunset boulevards.

Nice older homes generally sell from $300,000 to $500,000. Some new homes have been constructed that fall in the $600,000 to $700,000 range.

Southampton is known as a viable remodeling neighborhood.  It really has some of the most charming cottages and architecture in the city.

Public schools are highly regarded. Poe Elementary hosts an annual Halloween carnival.
 
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 592
Median price $270,100
Median price per square foot $131.02
Median size 2,649 square feet
Median lot size 7,200 square feet
Median year built 1936
Average number of bedrooms 3.3
Average number of baths 2.6
Median estimated tax $7,465
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Poe Elementary, Roberts Elementary, Lanier Middle and Lamar High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors

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Sunset Terrace/Montclair

Sunset Terrace/Montclair neighborhoods are located just above West University Place, between Wesleyan and Edloe, just south of Highway 59. New brick and stucco houses are sprinkled among the neighborhood's quaint traditional and ranch style homes built since the late 1940's. The area is heavily treed with oak branches arching over the streets. Some duplexes lie along the fringes of the neighborhood and there are some apartments on Law Street.

New houses start about $300,000, with older homes priced from $130,000 to $250,000. Lots are priced from $100,000 to $140,000, which is comparable to some of the lower-cost lots in West University, which tend to be a little smaller. Sunset Terrace/Montclair lots tend to be deeper than their West U. counterparts.

Good public schools are a draw to the neighborhood, which is zoned to West University Elementary, Pershing Middle School and Lamar High School.

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Westridge

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Woodshire

Woodshire has affordability and the perks

By Katherine Feser
Houston Chronicle  3/6/94

Some of Woodshire's greatest assets are the same things you might find in affluent neighborhoods nearby - good public schools, proximity to the Texas Medical Center and an inside-the-loop locale.

But Woodshire is more affordable. "You get more home for the money," said Mary Agnes Trainor, an agent with Callager-Hamlin Realtors, who has the $135,000 listing on a 2,450-square-foot home in Woodshire. "You would not get that in Bellaire or West U."

Many young professionals and medical personnel live in the area, Trainor said.

Mature trees shade ranch-style brick homes prevalent in the neighborhood. Most are one-story houses built in the 1950s. Townhomes lie on a few streets on the south side of the subdivision. Railroad tracks are next to the back yards of residents on the western edge of the neighborhood.

Schools are a plus. Woodshire is zoned to Longfellow Elementary, a magnet school for the creative and performing arts; Pershing Middle School, a fine arts magnet; and Bellaire High School, a foreign-language magnet. Bellaire also offers the International Baccalaureate program.

An active civic association and deed restrictions keep the area viable, said Judy Wansbrough of Gary Greene Realtors.

In 1989, the community's civic association was part of the coalition that pushed the Houston Police Department crackdown to clean up then-drug-infested, crime-ridden Link Valley, which is located down the street from Woodshire.

Since the cleanup, crime is minimal in Woodshire, said Louise Stark, an officer at the police department's Southwest Station. "The neighborhood has a sense of peace of mind that the Link Valley sweep brought about."

Woodshire is near major traffic corridors and has good access to city buses on Stella Link. It's a nine-mile, 20-minute drive to downtown Houston.
Neighborhood facts and map
Number of homes 317
Median price $125,000
Median price per square foot $58.98
Median size 1,748 square feet
Median lot size 8,429 square feet
Median year built 1956
Average number of bedrooms 3.0
Average number of baths 2.1
Median estimated tax $2,564
School district Houston Independent School District
Schools Longfellow Elementary, Pershing Middle School, Bellaire Senior High School
Source: Crawford Realty Advisors

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