Where is this house located?

[AK123]

Originally Posted by bamba_boy

The view from my backyard in Lakes of Fondren Southwest. Inside the Beltway and Houston city limits but feels like country. Looks just like Compton, huh? Have you ever actually been to SW Houston and driven into the neighborhoods off the main streets? Sheesh. There are streets in the area that if you took somebody who had never been here, blindfolded them, and drove them into the better parts of the area tucked off Fondren and Gessner they'd swear they were in River Oaks or Memorial. Doesn't this look better than a new recent master-planned community in Montgomery County with 6' trees leaning on stakes and 1.5 hr commutes into Houston?

And you're not wrong. There are some beautiful subdivisions in southwest Houston. And the location is great as far as commute. The problem is the thousands of low-rent apartments have brought the whole area down; the area was overbuilt with apartments. At least that's what I have to assume in why many of the schools rank so terribly. Which is why I stated in another thread that I'd like to see a developer buy up a bunch of those areas that are just block upon block of massive apartment complexes, and convert them into single-family home subdivisions. In many cities this wouldn't be able to happen; it's a great way to take advantage of Houston's lack of formal zoning.

[Callo]

Originally Posted by AK123

And you're not wrong. There are some beautiful subdivisions in southwest Houston. And the location is great as far as commute. The problem is the thousands of low-rent apartments have brought the whole area down; the area was overbuilt with apartments. At least that's what I have to assume in why many of the schools rank so terribly. Which is why I stated in another thread that I'd like to see a developer buy up a bunch of those areas that are just block upon block of massive apartment complexes, and convert them into single-family home subdivisions. In many cities this wouldn't be able to happen; it's a great way to take advantage of Houston's lack of formal zoning.

That's a wonderful idea. I'd also like to convert some of them into public parks, since we don't have enough of those.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Football

Yes, that area is like Houston's version of Compton, CA.

Not exactly. Have to go north a bit or east to Cullen.

Fondren SW was once an up and coming neighborhood but it has stalled and there are some portions that can get a bit rough. I don't like seeing "Astros Stars" tats on people's faces (anyone know what that means?). Makes me uncomfortable.

By the way, what are you going to do with 6 bathrooms???

[bamba_boy]

Originally Posted by jimboburnsy

Not exactly. Have to go north a bit or east to Cullen.

Fondren SW was once an up and coming neighborhood but it has stalled and there are some portions that can get a bit rough. I don't like seeing "Astros Stars" tats on people's faces (anyone know what that means?). Makes me uncomfortable.

[How many baseball players you've shot or robbed]



By the way, what are you going to do with 6 bathrooms???

[It's great when there's a hurricane and the water becomes undrinkable on tap - you have 6 whole tanks for fresh pre-storn water to drink]

[AK123]

Originally Posted by AK123

... I stated in another thread that I'd like to see a developer buy up a bunch of those areas that are just block upon block of massive apartment complexes, and convert them into single-family home subdivisions. In many cities this wouldn't be able to happen; it's a great way to take advantage of Houston's lack of formal zoning.

Originally Posted by Callo

That's a wonderful idea.

This city of Houston site (Super Neighborhood Technology Center Map) (http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/suprnbhds/TechCntrInfo/sn_map_w_links.html - broken link) has some interesting reads when you click on each area and look at the descriptions...

Sharpstown: "Even its problem areas, such as the densely sited and poorly maintained apartments found on Beechnut in the southern part of the community, are examples of what to avoid."

Meyerland: "Recently a deteriorated apartment complex was torn down for the construction of new luxury homes, reflecting the continued high demand for homes in the area."

Maybe someone's actually starting to catch on!