"Downtown feel" outside of Downtown Houston

[tstone]

Originally Posted by RocketSci

Even living in Clear Lake, local traffic sometimes results in 20 to 30 minute drive anyway, and much longer to get to parts of Friendswood and Pearland.

Where were you driving that it took 30 minutes to get somewhere locally, and what's ''local''? Either I must be missing something or our definitions of "local" are different. Traffic inside 610 is much heavier than here as well, but you do have the option of ditching the car and walking in some cases.

I also find no reason to go to Pearland, unless you like Bass Pro Shops. Friendswood can also be way out there, close to Alvin. Either way, you're talking about 13 or 14 miles from 'Clear Lake City' and with no freeways. That's like driving from Alief to Montrose using Bissonnet.

[RocketSci]

Originally Posted by tstone

Where were you driving that it took 30 minutes to get somewhere locally, and what's ''local''? Either I must be missing something or our definitions of "local" are different. Traffic inside 610 is much heavier than here as well, but you do have the option of ditching the car and walking in some cases.

I also find no reason to go to Pearland, unless you like Bass Pro Shops. Friendswood can also be way out there, close to Alvin. Either way, you're talking about 13 or 14 miles from 'Clear Lake City' and with no freeways. That's like driving from Alief to Montrose using Bissonnet.

NASA1 and Kirby to Baybrook Mall. Major jams often occur on NASA1, Space Center, and especially Bay Area Blvd when school and work lets out. The Bypass may be an option, but traffic STOPS on 45 between 528 and 2351 at many hours during the day. During Christmas, Bay Area often backs up to Hwy 3 from the mall, and the lights on Hwy 3 are often so horribly timed that sometimes Hwy 3 and 2351 goes thru 4 or 5 light cycles before one can pass.

I would often drive thru the neighborhoods to get around the major streets, but unless you know your way around them they are mazes.

So yes, sometimes you can get from NASA to 2351&45 in 10 minutes, sometimes 20, sometimes 30.

The reason I mentioned Pearland and Friendswood is that many people live there and work at NASA. It takes about as long to get to NASA from there as it does from downtown, although they are about 10 miles closer.

And regarding the comment that traffic inside the loop is heavier, I disagree. 6 lanes of traffic on Bay Area is much worse than nearly any area inside the loop, with the possible exceptions of parts of Kirby and near the Med Center. But even there you have parallel side streets as options, where once you are stuck on Bay Area west of Hwy 3 you are stuck. In general, I can get almost anywhere inside the loop in 10 minutes or less because things are so much closer, and there are always alternate routes.

And inside the loop I can avoid the freeways.

[tstone]

Yeah down there I can see that, and everyone knows to stay off Hwy 3. My perception is from Clear Lake City Blvd and everything is within 10 mins, some that is easily walked/biked to. Traffic flow problems are about nil. Downtown/museums are about 25 mins away off peak. Now way down where you're describing is getting isolated from Houston but they pretty much have their own recreational thing going on anyway. Being situated between the two is pretty good IMO. Maybe I don't fully realize just how spread out this area really is.

Oh, and working/experiencing several years of Galleria to Downtown rush hours, I still think the traffic between those two points is heavier than anything here, except during Xmas of course. People who live on a 50 mile stretch of I-45 seriously make things hell that time of year because there is no good/comprehensive shopping near them.

I still think for the OP, a 6 month stint somewhere around here would be good to get his bearings straight before taking on the longer commute. When you're wrapped up in a move and a new job, 6 months = a blink of an eye.

[Frankie2011]

I don't think the traffic will be that bad because you are going against traffic. If you lived in Seabrook and were traveling to downtown Houston, then you would have a problem.

[westhou]

Originally Posted by mavey

Thank you--I think I would feel the same way. I'd rather be close to something that interests me then have to constantly drive into downtown to find something to do.
I think I'll try living downtown and if it doesn't work out I can always move.

I hope you enjoy living Downtown. Seems like a great place to live. Hopefully later on you'll find a job inside the loop.

[hhheights77007]

The reverse commute makes a HUGE difference. My friend moved to midtown even though he works in DIckinson (down by Galveston). Since he's going against traffic, it only takes 35-40 minutes leaving at 7:15a & 5p.