the beginning of the end (sharpstown gentrification) (Houston, Spring: apartment complexes, cheap house)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

My question would be why. What does Sharpstown offer besides a wide selection of ethnic food? Its location isn't close enough to the center of town to make it special the way the Heights was. It has a massive crime problem in parts.


I really don't see what the appeal would be for yuppies (the demographic that typically does gentrifying). They typically target neighborhoods like EADO and the ones in Houston are huge inner loop snobs.

Pretty much the same appeal as Westbury. Relatively close in. Affordable compared to West U or Southhampton.

Sharpstown was a premier section of town not that long ago. 70s it was the place to be for upper middle class. 80s it was still pretty good.

[txdemo]

Originally Posted by detachable arm

It'll never happen. First of all there aren't enough pretentious, uppity whites around to gentrify it like they did Oak Forest.

We will never have a shortage of these.

[philopower]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

My question would be why. What does Sharpstown offer besides a wide selection of ethnic food? Its location isn't close enough to the center of town to make it special the way the Heights was. It has a massive crime problem in parts.


I really don't see what the appeal would be for yuppies (the demographic that typically does gentrifying). They typically target neighborhoods like EADO and the ones in Houston are huge inner loop snobs.

What are you talking about? Its location is excellent. Sharpstown is next to Bellaire (sharpstown section 1 even borders some mansions in the bellaire area), 10 min drive to the galleria area, 20 min drive to downtown, close to sugarland as well. The homes are relatively spacious, high quality, and the neighborhood is very green with a very developed tree canopy. The food is unbelievable. Oh and the area is still cheap which is why it's booming at the moment.

[recuerdeme]

You can definitely find diamonds in the rough in Sharpstown.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by philopower

What are you talking about? Its location is excellent. Sharpstown is next to Bellaire (sharpstown section 1 even borders some mansions in the bellaire area), 10 min drive to the galleria area, 20 min drive to downtown, close to sugarland as well. The homes are relatively spacious, high quality, and the neighborhood is very green with a very developed tree canopy. The food is unbelievable. Oh and the area is still cheap which is why it's booming at the moment.

20 minutes from Sharpstown to Downtown/Midtown isn't an excellent location. The Sharpstown areas growth comes mainly from immigrants. Thats not a bad thing and fits the character of the area nicely.

Think for a minute about who typically gentrifies neighborhoods. Yuppies and the LGBT community. Those are two demographics that typically spearhead it. Those communities like to be close to the center of town. Thats why they tend to go into bad neighborhoods close to the core. EADO is a perfect example of that. Sharpstown is not a section of town those demographics would be interested in.

Look at other sections of Southwest Houston:

Myerland: Old Jewish suburb. Most people have been there for generations and the new additions are attracted by being right next to 610 and the Bellaire schools.

Willowbend: People are attracted by the proximity to the Medical District and most young families here work in the Medical Center or the Galleria Area. The elementary and middle schools are also good.

Westbury: There is a desirable area of Westbury and an area that isn't so much. The desirable area of Westbury is east of Hillcroft. As you go west from Hillcroft towards Sharpstown, the houses become less kept up and you get closer to low income apartments.

Sharpstown doesn't have the schools and doesn't have the proximity. It does have cheap houses and excellent food, but thats not going to be enough to draw large amounts of yuppies.

[hendersj31]

Why does it have to be LGBT? Oak forest was not turned over by this community it was families mainly. Spring Branch the same. The original housing stock in these areas is similar as well.

[cougarlaw11]

I am one of those yuppies that have bought in Sharpstown. My morning commute to the office -door to door- mind you, is 9-12 minutes(galleria). It is quite marvelous! Then, when the day is over, I make a quick trek home, call my dogs in from the backyard, and stroll down streets covered in shade from he canopy of tree cover.

I am so glad I made the decision to buy an affordable home close enough into town. My colleagues stretch their six income salaries to live in cramped tin can homes in the loop. I get to barbecue on my deck outside on the weekends, max out my retirement and investment portfolios, and travel.

I actually hope others continue to look over this little gem of a neighborhood. It will keep the tax bills low and traffic away!

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by hendersj31

Why does it have to be LGBT? Oak forest was not turned over by this community it was families mainly. Spring Branch the same. The original housing stock in these areas is similar as well.

It doesn't have to be. Re read my post.

[hendersj31]

^^ I get it. My bad.

[LocalPlanner]

Sharpstown isn't necessarily as close-in as the Heights, for example, but it's still pretty close in relative to other suburban areas, especially for those commuting to Uptown or Westchase, which are major job centers. Plus it's a very quick drive from there to fun activities outside working hours in Upper Kirby, Montrose, Rice Village, CityCentre etc. So locationally it's pretty good - really no worse than Oak Forest.

And since Oak Forest, Meyerland, the Heights, Bellaire, Riverside Terrace etc. are becoming expensive (in spite of having had some pretty rough edges themselves or in directly adjacent areas), Sharpstown is a logical progression of gentrification. The ethnic diversity of the area has the potential to make it a broad-spectrum gentrification, not just affluent Anglos. I don't expect it to become expensive overnight, especially with the economy having slowed down, but continued long term growth and increasing property values in the urban core will lead it to happen eventually. Even Gulfton and the Richmond Strip will eventually change their profile - they're a bit stickier because those immigrant-occupied apartments throw off lots of cash - but at some point developers will find more value in redevelopment than keeping them as they are.