HEY! I finally made it to Houston (Galveston, The Woodlands: apartment complexes, rental)

[robertpolyglot]

Hi gang:

Ok, I finally made it to town for an interview. It was in the public sector. While on the trip, a job in Calif. firmed up and an offer from the Houston area employer would not materialize in time. They were super nice but I believe a local imcumbent would be getting the job.

Ok, about Houston...Houston can still be Houston even though it mixes variables of other cities, per my observations. To me, I see similarities to other cities I've been to or lived in and I've seen quite a few of them...LOL...

That being said, Houston seems to be a mix of 40% Jacksonville FL, 25% Atlanta, 20 % Los Angeles, 10 % Las Vegas and 5 % miscellaneous. Let me explain.

Houston is at JAX's latitude and has similar topography, vegetation, weather and proximity to water. When driving down FM 1960 between Humble and Spring, I immediately thought of the road from I-95 to Fernandina Beach in JAX.

Like ATL, Houston is a hub, has a ring road with a CBD and satellite downtowns, not to mention nice large homes in the suburbs featuring a lot of stone. Driving around nicer newer suburbs definitely reminded me of living in Atlanta.

Houston has the size and bustle of LA and those freeways with HOV lanes up in the air definitely reminded me of my hometown of LA. When I looked at the skyline from 610, I thought of downtown LA without a mountain backdrop. When I was driving down Kirby near 59, I thought of Lankershim Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley.

Houston pulls in residents like a Las Vegas and there are signs advertising inexpensive newer home developments everywhere. It is a boomtown.

The other is intangible, hence the 5 % is "wild card." Nevertheless, in mixing these ingredients, Houston is unique. It feels like all of them, yet it is different.

Other observations:
(1) damn, the place is big
(2) people are generally nice and fairly unpretentious, it seems...not as uppity or genteel as Atlanta...and I still liked ATL when I lived there
(3) it does NOT feel like other parts of Texas...it feels like a large Southeastern megalopolis
(4) it is extremely multicultural...you will see everything and everyone...I don't think people have time to "pass judgment"...it's too sophisticated for that
(5) I was hard pressed to find much of an accent, even among locals
(6) oh yes, it's weird how it can be 87 and have those hazy clouds typical in a humid climate ...again, like Jacksonville or the Florida panhandle
(7) the frontage roads are a TRIP...I've never seen U-turn pockets like that elsewhere and people drive fast on those frontage roads, so it takes nerves of steel to get out of shopping center driveways
(8) Westheimer west of the Outer Loop says Cali. sprawl all the way but inside the Inner Loop appears to be bohemian
(9) the homes along Memorial east of Voss and outside 610 inside that forested area are stunning...I could have spent a day in there driving around..I once worked for a homebuilder, so being a looky-loo is fun
(10) two neighborhoods that I liked but were very different - a) The Woodlands for its forested ambience and b) South Shore Harbor in League City for nice homes on shady streets...couldn't reconcile which I would like better
(11) the homes in the Heights are overpriced for what you get, but then I don't like older frame, clapboard bungalow-type homes
(12) Galveston - boy is it sleepy - not that clean, but it's a beach - it was cool to see that it was a cruise port with a Carnival ship in port
(13) Greenspoint (Gunspoint) is scary...not many trees in the area, a mall with vacant anchors and decrepit apartment complexes...I can see why it's called Gunspoint!
(14) Niko Nikos...damn damn damn...among the best Greek food I have ever tasted and I inhale Greek food! I went 2 times in 5 days...I would recommend it to anyone going to Houston
(15) well, it doesn't look like I am getting a job offer, otherwise I would have sensory overload to contend with

Well, gang, am I observant? Comment away!

[jfre81]

Sophisticated but not uppity, that's the way we roll...nice take. And welcome.

And Niko Niko's is the shizzle fo shizzle or uh....yeah. You're sold on it anyway.

[bostoner]

Very perceptive. I'd say you nailed it. Congrats on the job offer. Come back and see us sometime!

[operadivo]

Yeah, that sounds like the city I know and love!

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Hi gang:
.....

(14) Niko Nikos...damn damn damn...among the best Greek food I have ever tasted and I inhale Greek food! I went 2 times in 5 days...I would recommend it to anyone going to Houston

....
Well, gang, am I observant? Comment away!

Now I'm going to have to get some Niko Niko's this week... gyros!!!!!!!!

[Premont]

All your observations are true. There's a lot of subtlety to the city though. Houston has a way of changing from block to block.

[Texas Mack]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Hi gang:

Ok, I finally made it to town for an interview. It was in the public sector. While on the trip, a job in Calif. firmed up and an offer from the Houston area employer would not materialize in time. They were super nice but I believe a local imcumbent would be getting the job.

Ok, about Houston...Houston can still be Houston even though it mixes variables of other cities, per my observations. To me, I see similarities to other cities I've been to or lived in and I've seen quite a few of them...LOL...

That being said, Houston seems to be a mix of 40% Jacksonville FL, 25% Atlanta, 20 % Los Angeles, 10 % Las Vegas and 5 % miscellaneous. Let me explain.

Houston is at JAX's latitude and has similar topography, vegetation, weather and proximity to water. When driving down FM 1960 between Humble and Spring, I immediately thought of the road from I-95 to Fernandina Beach in JAX.

Like ATL, Houston is a hub, has a ring road with a CBD and satellite downtowns, not to mention nice large homes in the suburbs featuring a lot of stone. Driving around nicer newer suburbs definitely reminded me of living in Atlanta.

Houston has the size and bustle of LA and those freeways with HOV lanes up in the air definitely reminded me of my hometown of LA. When I looked at the skyline from 610, I thought of downtown LA without a mountain backdrop. When I was driving down Kirby near 59, I thought of Lankershim Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley.

Houston pulls in residents like a Las Vegas and there are signs advertising inexpensive newer home developments everywhere. It is a boomtown.

The other is intangible, hence the 5 % is "wild card." Nevertheless, in mixing these ingredients, Houston is unique. It feels like all of them, yet it is different.

Other observations:
(1) damn, the place is big
(2) people are generally nice and fairly unpretentious, it seems...not as uppity or genteel as Atlanta...and I still liked ATL when I lived there
(3) it does NOT feel like other parts of Texas...it feels like a large Southeastern megalopolis
(4) it is extremely multicultural...you will see everything and everyone...I don't think people have time to "pass judgment"...it's too sophisticated for that
(5) I was hard pressed to find much of an accent, even among locals
(6) oh yes, it's weird how it can be 87 and have those hazy clouds typical in a humid climate ...again, like Jacksonville or the Florida panhandle
(7) the frontage roads are a TRIP...I've never seen U-turn pockets like that elsewhere and people drive fast on those frontage roads, so it takes nerves of steel to get out of shopping center driveways
(8) Westheimer west of the Outer Loop says Cali. sprawl all the way but inside the Inner Loop appears to be bohemian
(9) the homes along Memorial east of Voss and outside 610 inside that forested area are stunning...I could have spent a day in there driving around..I once worked for a homebuilder, so being a looky-loo is fun
(10) two neighborhoods that I liked but were very different - a) The Woodlands for its forested ambience and b) South Shore Harbor in League City for nice homes on shady streets...couldn't reconcile which I would like better
(11) the homes in the Heights are overpriced for what you get, but then I don't like older frame, clapboard bungalow-type homes
(12) Galveston - boy is it sleepy - not that clean, but it's a beach - it was cool to see that it was a cruise port with a Carnival ship in port
(13) Greenspoint (Gunspoint) is scary...not many trees in the area, a mall with vacant anchors and decrepit apartment complexes...I can see why it's called Gunspoint!
(14) Niko Nikos...damn damn damn...among the best Greek food I have ever tasted and I inhale Greek food! I went 2 times in 5 days...I would recommend it to anyone going to Houston
(15) well, it doesn't look like I am getting a job offer, otherwise I would have sensory overload to contend with

Well, gang, am I observant? Comment away!

Wow. You're quite observant. I can't disagree with much of it. Although, east of Greenspoint is pretty green. Large mature pines lining most streets. Of course, the apartment complexes are indeed creepy (not all but far too many). And to think that in the late 60s to late 70s this was a bustling, burgeoning, desirable area.

[Jammie]

(12) Galveston - boy is it sleepy - not that clean, but it's a beach - it was cool to see that it was a cruise port with a Carnival ship in port//Unquote

I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your post. Could you elaborate on number 12 though~the sleepy part?

[Wysiwyg]

didnt have time to visit downtown and comment on its zombie residents?

[Tinnie]

Why are so many people moving to Texas? Is it the great housing market? The diverse communities, or the Job market? Or all of this combined. Will someone tell me about housing in Katy, Texas. I heard it is very affordable and a great diverse area!! I would like to move to Texas and I am seeking high quality rental property before I decide to purchase a home. Any good suggestions!!