Sharpstown Mall Closing? (Houston, Sugar Land, Bellaire: apartment complex, leasing, condo)

[Panochote]

One way to rid of the gang bangers is to not build a Walmart even though one is down the road near Airport. The entire Belaire area needs to be demolished. The area is trying to shape up a tad by buldozing one apartment complex on Bellaire near Hilcroft. That is just a start. Sharpstown needs to become another Westwood Mall whch is nothing fornow. It is a shame.

[johnherrera305]

These landlords are just PLAIN crazy in the apartments in the near vicinity of the mall. They are just South of Westheimer, 10 mins form the Galleria/Uptown areas, have direct access to the Tollway, 59 and minutes from 610 even locally. A nice drive to downtown. Close to the burbs like Sugarland. Those apartments are a potential GOLD MINE! If I had the cash, I would buy them up. Renovated them all and jack up the rents to reflect what that neighborhood is REALLY worth as far as geographic location. I would not rent to any Illegals. That's it. It so simple. That area's tax appraisals went up 30%...thats a sign of the county forcing the area to change, huh?

[EasilyAmused]

HCAD hit everybody this year. A 30% increse is getting off lightly. I'm hearing upwards of 35-40% in all directions and neighborhoods. the lines to protest are already forming. The villagers have torches.

[tstone]

30%?

Did they remove the caps this year?

Not surprising, cut our tax rate by 10%, raise our value to the max.

[EasilyAmused]

There are loop holes to caps. Typical government.

[tstone]

Hmm...

Well ours is capped at 10%, appraised value went up 10% this year. ''Market value'' went up even more. It was the same for the past 4 years so I can't complain, but I still think a protest is in order.

[KerrTown]

Sharpstown still has alot of amenities that Memorial is missing. One amenity is an alternative to the Public School system. Sharpstown has the Catholic High School that also serves Memorial and Alief. It is entirely possible to educate your children in non-public schools without leaving the neighborhood (St Francis de Sales for Grammar and Strake Jesuit for High School). The choice of an alternative school system within the community is a great selling point.

Another selling point is the aforementioned Sharpstown Mall. It is centrally located in the community (per the plan) and has the freeway access. Westwood Mall was like an annex to Sharpstown--it had retailers who weren't able to obtain space at Sharpstown (Dillard's and Sears). Unlike Westwood, Sharpstown has survived so long due to residential neighborhoods close-by. Westwood's legacy is luxury car dealerships that still exist today. The problem with revitalizing the mall is the chicken-and-the-egg syndrome.

With gas prices skyrocketing and the gentrification just east of it in Bellaire and Galleria it's ripe for a renaissance. I drove down Mary Bates yesterday and noticed the houses and yards are in decent condition. I expect Memorial Village-style gentrification soon. Unlike the suburbs that are being built out in Richmond, the infrastructure is there but it just needs to be modernized. Frank Sharp designed Sharpstown for all stages of life (it even includes a University!) except death. Why cause sprawl when the infrastructure for a suburban neighborhood already exists? Doesn't it feel much better to renovate and be environmentally-friendly?

[EasilyAmused]

Strake is very good..however Memorial has LOTS of private schools, so I don't know where you are trying to go with that one.

[johnherrera305]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Sharpstown still has alot of amenities that Memorial is missing. One amenity is an alternative to the Public School system. Sharpstown has the Catholic High School that also serves Memorial and Alief. It is entirely possible to educate your children in non-public schools without leaving the neighborhood (St Francis de Sales for Grammar and Strake Jesuit for High School). The choice of an alternative school system within the community is a great selling point.

Another selling point is the aforementioned Sharpstown Mall. It is centrally located in the community (per the plan) and has the freeway access. Westwood Mall was like an annex to Sharpstown--it had retailers who weren't able to obtain space at Sharpstown (Dillard's and Sears). Unlike Westwood, Sharpstown has survived so long due to residential neighborhoods close-by. Westwood's legacy is luxury car dealerships that still exist today. The problem with revitalizing the mall is the chicken-and-the-egg syndrome.

With gas prices skyrocketing and the gentrification just east of it in Bellaire and Galleria it's ripe for a renaissance. I drove down Mary Bates yesterday and noticed the houses and yards are in decent condition. I expect Memorial Village-style gentrification soon. Unlike the suburbs that are being built out in Richmond, the infrastructure is there but it just needs to be modernized. Frank Sharp designed Sharpstown for all stages of life (it even includes a University!) except death. Why cause sprawl when the infrastructure for a suburban neighborhood already exists? Doesn't it feel much better to renovate and be environmentally-friendly?

Exactly! This has got to be the next "up and coming" neighborhood. It's destined to be. As the areas to the north, east and west become more expensive, this area will be caught up in the wave! 5 years...that's my hunch!

[Spade]

Ahhh. another mall is closing. Brings a tear to my eye and it's tears of happiness.