Westheimer (Houston, Richmond, Woodway: 2010, apartments, rental)

[southland]

I just took a job in Houston and I am considering moving in a neighborhood on Westheimer between Wilcrest and Kirkwood (west of the Beltway 8)

How is that area as far as traffic, crime, and entertainment?

Any help would be appreciated. I'll be in town soon to check everything out for myself, but it's impossible to make an accurate judgement without talking to the folks that live there.

Thanks in advance for the response.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by southland

I just took a job in Houston and I am considering moving in a neighborhood on Westheimer between Wilcrest and Kirkwood (west of the Beltway 8)

How is that area as far as traffic, crime, and entertainment?

Any help would be appreciated. I'll be in town soon to check everything out for myself, but it's impossible to make an accurate judgement without talking to the folks that live there.

Thanks in advance for the response.

I consider this area very safe. A lot of clean looking apartments all the way up eldridge. There are homes for the aged and a hospital i think. Traffic is very light

[Cheasare]

Originally Posted by southland

I just took a job in Houston and I am considering moving in a neighborhood on Westheimer between Wilcrest and Kirkwood (west of the Beltway 8)

How is that area as far as traffic, crime, and entertainment?

Any help would be appreciated. I'll be in town soon to check everything out for myself, but it's impossible to make an accurate judgement without talking to the folks that live there.

Thanks in advance for the response.

You say you are considering moving into a neighborhood, does that mean renting an apartment or buying? What kind of entertainment?

There are nice apartments on Eldridge (runs across Westheimer North/South about 4 lights west of Kirkwood) like the previous poster said and there are some new apartments on Shadowbriar Drive which is two lights west of Kirkwood. There are some nice apartments on Meadowglen (runs parallel south to Westheimer) especially on Woodland Park Drive (runs across Westheimer North/South) before you get to the Royal Oaks gated community. Woodland Park and Hayes are the two streets between Wilcrest and Kirkwood. Traffic is always steady on Westheimer and of course heavier during rush hour but there are four lanes on each side and the traffic moves fairly well. I'm assuming that since you picked this area to live because you will be working nearby also? If so you will not have a problem once you get to know the major streets that run parallel and perpendicular to Westheimer.

Crime will not be a concern in this area. Entertainment is another thing because it depends on what you are looking for. You will have to drive down Westheimer pass the Beltway (Sam Houston Tollway) to Voss/Hillcroft and beyond to find bars/clubs on Westheimer and Richmond. There are many restaurants all along Westheimer and you will find pool halls like Slick Willie's if you're into that. For theater/shows/concerts/sporting events you will have to go Downtown or south of the Medical Center for events at Reliant Park. There is nice entertainment complex at I-10 and Silber Road which at night will be about a 30 minute drive from Wilcrest/Westheimer.

Anyhow, if you can provide a few more details I'll shout out what I know.

C.

[Historian/Traveler]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

I consider this area very safe. A lot of clean looking apartments all the way up eldridge. There are homes for the aged and a hospital i think. Traffic is very light

Agreed. Living off the Westheimer/Richmond strips is invaluable in terms of entertainment. They are historical major corridors linking the burbs in the west to Uptown (the Galleria area - West Loop 610) and Midtown/Montrose/Downtown (at their eastern end) with restaurants, bars, clubs, stripclubs, and a cornucopia of other types of venues.

[Redrover]

I agree with Wysiwyg about the apartments on Eldridge. However there aren't a large number of entertainment venues or good restaraunts in that neighborhood. But you would be fairly close to shopping in Memorial City Mall, Town & Country Village and West Oaks Mall (not so great but...). But you would be able to cut over easily to the West Park Tollway and easily get to the Galleria area where there would be more dining & shopping options. That said, you will find that there are lots of things to do in Houston. Suggest you go to the online Houston Chronicle to browse activities and get a feel for the wonderful cultural things here in the city. You will find Houston to be a great city for food, shopping, medical facilities and sports. The neighborhood you are considering is just about as safe as you could want and suggest you visit the H.E.B. grocery store at Kirkwood & Westheimer for really great produce, meat and seafood. Also, there is a Spec's Liquor just down the street with a great wine selection (wait'll you see the main store on Smith St. on the edge of downtown) as well as any other beverages you may like. Welcome!

[southland]

Thanks for the responses and the kind words.

There are two rental houses in that area that I was considering. I just faxed over the lease to one of them. The area seemed clean and nice when I visited last week. I didn't notice many clubs, bars, or even movie theaters around, so I was curious. It's close enough to my place of business, and the price is right.

The new company that I am working for is very reputable and everyone over there seemed really nice. That's a good indication of what the people in Houston are like.

[southland]

more details:

One of two locations that I will be working out of will be on Shepard Highway @I-10.

About how long a commute time is that normally?

[Redrover]

I am confused by the "highway" after Shepherd. If it is the Shepherd I believe it to be, it is way in town and will be quite a commute for you. Your options would be using I-10 (hellish). Briar Forest into Woodway, Memorial Dr., or picking up 59 and going to Shepherd. Here is the Mapquest link to that location:
Map of I 10 & Shepherd Dr Houston, TX by MapQuest