sugarland (Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City: crime, mattresses, appliances)

[teacher5]

I am relocating to Houston next month. Everytime I go to chron.com, I read about someone being murdered in SW Houston. Is there less crime in Sugarland? Should I be concerned? I've lived in both Chicago, IL and Jackson, MS, should I be worried about crime?

[icon7]

you have to remember the News and Papers only have bad news to report. Look at the type of people that are involved in the crimes. Do not Worry, Houston is rather Large. Sugar Land is very safe. But you always have to look at your surroundings. i mean I am not out walking along Ghetto Ave. at 2 am wearing a Rolex?

The bad parts to avoid on the sw side are Alief, Sharpstown, Gulfton, and eastern Missouri City.

[Topaz]

This is from the Awards page of the City of Sugar Land Web site:

2007

Sugar Land was named America's Fifth Safest City, a distinction based on an analysis of FBI crime statistics. The national ranking is included in the 14th edition of City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America, published today by Washington-based CQ Press, the reference and textbook-publishing division of Congressional Quarterly. The publication's authors have compiled state and city rankings books for almost two decades.

I live in Sugar Land and I don't venture north of here into Southwest Houston. I went once to a Sears at Bissonnet and 59 (Westwood Mall) and the vibe was scary. I later discovered that Sears is the only store left in that shopping center...not a promising sign.

[SilverWings]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I live in Sugar Land and I don't venture north of here into Southwest Houston. I went once to a Sears at Bissonnet and 59 (Westwood Mall) and the vibe was scary. I later discovered that Sears is the only store left in that shopping center...not a promising sign.

Actually I didn't find that Sears all that bad - problem is it's the only one in the area. They really need to open one farther down in SL/MO City area. Went to Sharpstown mall once, and wow did that give me the willies though. I won't be sad to see that one go.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by SilverWings

Actually I didn't find that Sears all that bad - problem is it's the only one in the area. They really need to open one farther down in SL/MO City area. Went to Sharpstown mall once, and wow did that give me the willies though. I won't be sad to see that one go.

There's a Sears on Highway 6 in Sugar Land but they only carry hardware and appliances. They were sold out of the vacuum cleaner I wanted so that's how I ended up at Westwood Mall. If Sharpstown Mall is worse than Westwood Mall, I sure won't be going there, that's for sure!

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I went once to a Sears at Bissonnet and 59 (Westwood Mall) and the vibe was scary. I later discovered that Sears is the only store left in that shopping center...not a promising sign.

Very old news. When I was young I used to hang out at that complex formerly known as the Westwood Mall. It was a double decker mall with a big carousel. That Sears was the only thing that survived apparently. The mall shut down; stores moved to First Colony I believe. There's a bank on the other side of the street where hookers used to come up to you in broad daylight and sell themselves as you went through the drive-thru ATM. Up 59 north one exit down, there was a gas station that had mattresses on the ground, inside the fenced off dumpster area behind it. I've seen the hookers loitering around there (esp at night) but the story above was all over the news not very long ago. Gives you an idea of the area.

I noticed a Timmy Chan restaurant popped up right by that building too. That's always a sure sign you're in the hood. However, this is the only Timmy Chan I've ever stopped by with bulletproof glass + microphone/speaker set up at the drive-thru, and a sliding steel tray the money/food goes in/out.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by tstone

Very old news.

Not to me...I just moved here and I don't know the areas.

[Alphalogica]

You people who just move to the area are funny. Anyone who grew up in SW Houston during the 80's and 90's (before FC Mall) knows about Westwood and the carousel. I have fond memories there and pictures taken on it. (I was born in '84.) Westwood Mall was never that ghetto it just had problems competing with nearby Sharpstown Mall (remember, Sharpstown Mall used to be excellent), and when FC Mall opened in '96, that was the nail in the coffin. The Sears at Westwood was there before the main part of the mall existed and from what I hear is doing real well long after it has been gone.

SW Houston isn't that bad, if you're from the area and know how to tip-toe your way around, one will be just fine.

[EEstudent]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I live in Sugar Land and I don't venture north of here into Southwest Houston. I went once to a Sears at Bissonnet and 59 (Westwood Mall) and the vibe was scary. I later discovered that Sears is the only store left in that shopping center...not a promising sign.

That Sears is really not that bad... me and my family go there all the time. I dont know what you could have seen that made you feel scared. But I guess Sugar Land was made for people like you.

To the OP...

Dont be scared there is a reason why Sugar Land is called the "Bubble", nothing really ever happens around this neck of the woods. If someone gets robbed, it makes front page news sometimes. SW Houston is really not bad either, there are some crimes but if you keep a mindful eye out you should be OK.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by Alphalogica

You people who just move to the area are funny. Anyone who grew up in SW Houston during the 80's and 90's (before FC Mall) knows about Westwood and the carousel. I have fond memories there and pictures taken on it. (I was born in '84.) Westwood Mall was never that ghetto it just had problems competing with nearby Sharpstown Mall, and when FC Mall opened in '96, that was the nail in the coffin. The Sears at Westwood was there before the main part of the mall existed and from what I hear is doing real well long after it has been gone.

I get the impression the concept of indoor malls went "out" years ago. The demo of Town & Country Mall and now its turn into CityCentre is a much more pleasant and attractive concept. Even First Colony Mall built all that outdoor mainstreet type development over mall parking spots, and put in lights and crosswalks to make the connection to the Sugar Land town square.
I wonder what will become of all the other malls around the metro... I'd love to see something better become of West Oaks (love going to the Alamo Drafthouse there) and that whole area revitalized along Hwy 6 between Richmond Ave and Briar Forest...