288 Pearland, old pearland or Friendswood (Houston, Alvin: crime, new home, buy)

[Melissa34]

My husband works near 288 off of Mchard rd. we live in Manvel but need a little change. we original were palnning to move to shadowcreek or in that area maybe Southern Trails which is nice. But shadow creek turns my stomach when I think about living there with all the crime and bad feedback I have read about it.

Right now we have two acres and I was just thinking it is going to be hard having neibors so close. we are use to haveing big get togethers on the weekends, so we have plenty of room for parking and it is okay to be a little loud and still not distrub neibors.
Also with my kids I want them to be in a good school district I will have two in High school next year,one in JR high , and one starting Kindergarden . I'm not to happy with Alvin ISD. personaly.
So we have been considering Friendswood becuse of the acadimic levels, but what about the olderside of Pearland or maybe even the new subdivisions off of Pearland Parkway close to the beltway side. We would like a home on atlleast a 1/2 acre. are the schools on the Friendswood side of Pearland good schools.

I would Prefer Friendswood but, what is the best and fastest comute to 288 Mchard rd. if we moved to Friendswood .As far as Nieborhoods we dont really want a old, old nieborhood but a relaxed one where neibors like to get together for Barbque , block parties etc. I also Like a more wooded look to my yard.

I am more for friendwood , My husband is finally drifting way from wanting to live near Shadow creek which is just a 3 min. comute for him to work. I finally got him intrested in the far side of Pearland ? pearland parkway area but I am tring to push him a little farther into Friendswood. LOL any input on these areas from anyone familiar with them is Greatly appreicated.

[arbucle]

I would choose Friendswood because I live here now.FISD is one of the best in Houston.Some complain that it is 87% white and it gets complaints but people can live where they like the last time I checked.My daughters 8th grade class had two students fail the taks test in math.Thats the entire 8Th grade not just her class.This is simply not happening in most schools in the state.%53% were rated as comended.98.7 passed the reading taks with 63% rated as comended.87% of High school grduates go on to higher education.Friendswood will also never have another High school due to being almost built out.Homes here will cost more if you buy new but 2 year old houses are much less.The cheapest new homes are over 3k now.

[jfre81]

OK....the drivetime from old Pearland or Friendswood to 288 isn't getting any shorter. Manvel's got a little time before it gets built up, and it's better to go straight on 288 than trying to get on it with 518. That's quickly working its way up on my "places to avoid" list and it has nothing to do with the crime reports.

Last summer I was out in the parking lot near the Best Buy over there and got asked by a homeless guy for $10. Seriously. Usually the ones downtown only ask me for a handful of change.

[Melissa34]

I'm really not to trilled with the idea of living near 518 and 288 . I have had simuliar experiences.

could you recommend a few neiborhoods in Friendswood or off of Pearland Parkway . I quess we just need to drive out there and figure out the fastest comute back to 288. If it is near the beltway then it shouldnt be to big of a problem. but I know going down 518 to hit 288 will take forever, when everyone else is taking this comute to and from work.

[tstone]

Almost anything in Friendswood is good except for Forest Bend and some parts of Heritage Park. Much of Friendswood does not have super easy freeway access, but Pearland is worse.

Just a thought -- If you lived around Clear Lake near Ellington (Dixie Farm Rd or Clear Lake City Blvd east of I-45) you could feasibly get to I-45 in 5 minutes, to the tollway in another 3, and then another 10 to 288/McHard. However coming back home during rush hour it can get jammed at 45/tollway. Add 10 minutes delay.