why must builders use every single piece of land in Houston Preserve our forests and natural resources! (Mesquite: houses, landscaping) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

parisby · 03-25-2009, 10:47 PM

I really hate the fact that when I drive all over Houston to find that developers and builders seem to destroy a lot of forests and such. Why must they use every piece of available land to build on. It would be nice to have natural parks filled with trees, forests, and have some nature to look at rather than driving and seeing nothing but residential communities, industrial and commercial zones. This really saddens me. It's already bad that the landscape down here is very flat and boring. Now to find out that all our trees and empty landscapes are being used is frightening.

It would be nice to see different parts of the town being divided with well established forests and trees that have been growing for decades and remains tall. It would create a sense of "warmth" and coziness and definetly provide us with more oxygen to breath and not to meantion a lot of shade to keep things cool during summer.

I wish we can voice our opinions and be heard so that somebody out there can really do something to prevent Houston from becoming a city with no lush atmosphere. I am at least happy we have the woodlands. I wish more of houston had so many greens, flowers, landscaping and natural beauty like that.

Please don't tear down any more trees or forests! if you must build, at least have some sort of division. Would love to see natural forests divided up evenly among different sections, suburbs and parts of the city. Especially now that they are expanding westward way out past Katy area. They are destroying so much land to build all these houses. Wish the developers would at least plant and grow a lot more trees and flowers and add big rocks and stones to make Houston feel nicer.

What do you guys think?

Wysiwyg · 03-26-2009, 12:53 AM

I live in Alief. we came from NYC so we're used to living with people and the diversity. we are not buying into this exburb bullcrap. i'm with you but personally more bothered theres no small quiet towns to visit around here because all the excessive build out of mansions everywhere. small town festivals are one of our favorite weekend getaways back in NE, where the calendar is packed with such events.

parisby · 03-26-2009, 01:24 AM

i am also from New England. Connecticut to be exact. Exactly what I mean. It would be nice to get away from it all. But then it's difficult because you have developers/builders cutting down and tearing up every available piece of unused land. Sigh. It's sad seeing all those trees being cut down. I really hope someone brings it up to their attention somehow to stop killing mother nature and give us some natural resources for once. It would be nice to drive through a nice forest with lots of tall trees, seeing rocks and stones along the way with colorful flowers and plants around here for once. Rather than seeing nothing but residential and commercial zones everywhere.

houstoner · 03-26-2009, 06:16 AM

Good luck fighting the good fight. Too bad you will lose. People let the developers run rampant here, and they're like those old cartoons where the characters get dollar signs in their eyes. They see, hear, and breathe money. Cha-ching!

Mom2Feebs · 03-26-2009, 06:45 AM

It makes me sick--I just hate seeing trees come down so senselessly. I remember when Deerbrook Mall was built--it was started in 1984--I was 13. On that parcel sat an enormous slab of beautiful, tall, stately pines. Can you imagine that? It was gorgeous. I was so excited about the mall until I saw the price that had to be paid for it. I was very upset, even then!

If The Woodlands can build sensitively, why can't others? I just don't understand.

I am a tree hugger for sure!

EasilyAmused · 03-26-2009, 06:56 AM

As long as people want to pay 300k or less for a 4000sf NEW, House... the forests and praires will be eaten up.

It takes 1 1/2 hours now just to break free of Houston's Exurbs on the North side.And that's on a good day. But once you do, then it's the true relaxing/hometown vibe that the MPCs try to immulate.

The Hill Country is getting lost to it too. All those stupid 5 acre ranchettes. I'm really starting to think NE Texas is the last, true small town area with space.

PS- The Woodlands is getting pretty concrete-ish now too. There's even whispers of a Casino up there.

tstone · 03-26-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parisby

I really hate the fact that when I drive all over Houston to find that developers and builders seem to destroy a lot of forests and such. Why must they use every piece of available land to build on. It would be nice to have natural parks filled with trees, forests, and have some nature to look at rather than driving and seeing nothing but residential communities, industrial and commercial zones. This really saddens me. It's already bad that the landscape down here is very flat and boring. Now to find out that all our trees and empty landscapes are being used is frightening.

Generally speaking, on the NW/N/NE sides the landscape starts looking nice (entrance to piney woods). The Woodlands is a good example of this and it looks like there was some kind of preservation up that way. On this side of town, I think more could be done for preservation. But it's easier and probably cheaper to simply clear-cut everything and start anew, rather than selecting trees to preserve and building around them.

However come down SW/S/SE, and the ''coastal forest'' is nothing aesthetically pleasing. The Tallow is the dominant tree, and they are literally deemed invasive. Elm is probably the dirtiest tree here. Mesquite also starts creeping in esp to the SW, and that's just as dirty. I'd be willing to be most people don't want that crap in their yard.

I'm down south and my pines, oaks, crape myrtles are nice to have but they require some maintenance, and they can be a pain in the ass. (My elm has got to go.) But the nice trees are still ''dirty''-- they spread irritating pollen, drop leaves, break off in summer storms, and with the help of squirrels, spread dozens of volunteer trees that must be uprooted. And then when they get larger they (esp oaks) will create sinkholes, kill the grass causing a muddy yard (and standing pools in the sinkholes), and crack sidewalks & foundations.

Don't get me wrong... I prefer a lot of trees regardless of the work they cause. Money (exurban/cheap) probably has the most influence. It's sad but it is what it is.

chris_ut · 03-26-2009, 07:57 AM

Move to Kingwood...

parisby · 03-26-2009, 09:33 AM

Very sad indeed. I whole heartedly agree with preserving mother nature like The Woodlands. If other developers/builders can follow that then it would be great. Everyday I drive home and as time goes by I see beautiful unused land with trees and prairies getting zoned and prepped ready to be built on.

When will the madness end in Houston. It is also good for the environment also. I believe for us to go greener then we need to let the developers have an understanding about this. But I guess that is pointless. I doubt anyone cares that all our trees, unused lands are getting eat up by these greedy developers.

EasilyAmused · 03-26-2009, 09:36 AM

This is why Memorial is so expensive. All along the bayou its almost a preserve, park land in other places. No one can ever build on it. The lots are bigger and trees are pretty important to the residents.

Ps-Developers see green in concrete, not in trees. The Woodlands has fallen prey to this despite what you think. Have you driven TownCenter or Sterling Ridge lately?