The Heights Skyline Update

[citizen4rmptown]

i like the faster load time, as ive mentioned before, but i actually wanted to look at most

of these pics in a larger frame, so i had to click on them more than i wanted too,

good 4 u, bad 4 me....

[NenaE]

Great job...I have a question, about the old elem. school (I forgot the name) that sits on the hill, north of downtown, & just east of I-45 North...there is a City of Houston improvement sign...what is that about?

[jfre81]

Great job...I have a question, about the old elem. school (I forgot the name) that sits on the hill, north of downtown, & just east of I-45 North...there is a City of Houston improvement sign...what is that about?

Here's a better look. Looks like it's to be a community center.

i like the faster load time, as ive mentioned before, but i actually wanted to look at most

of these pics in a larger frame, so i had to click on them more than i wanted too,

Yeah, just trying to make this somewhat accessible to the non-broadband crowd, lol.

Edited June 27, 2009 by BrewsterMcCloud

[jfre81]

Whoops....we were here last week. My bad. How about we fix that?

WELCOME TO WARP ZONE

I'll do more of a neighborhood tour in the Upper Kirby/Montrose area sometime. Haven't done anything like that in a good while. Today is a day for the Heights.

And....here we are.

Now Playing: Aerosmith > Toys In The Attic (1975) > Walk This Way

I kind of just randomly meandered through streets here, but I'll try to give us some idea of where we are.

You can get a cool little garage apartment in some spots around here.

I'm disappointed. I went right by Sheila Jackson Lee's congressional office. With a camera. And she didn't come out to mug in front of it. I'm gonna try not to let this spoil my day.

Anyway, I've actually been through here before, but the shooting conditions are a little better this time. "Downtown" Houston Heights. As you might know, the Heights was once its own town.

I didn't stick around to see which pigeon won this fight. I didn't place any bets either.

Historical markers are not an uncommon sight around here. Mind, what the historical markers are marking might not be with us anymore.

The walk down Heights Boulevard is a great one, but I did it last year. Let's try something a little different this time.

The folks in the Heights are still coexisting with apartment dwellers.

And then sometimes that no-zoning thing sneaks up on us here too.

Reagan High School. Right here my camera tells me "WARNING! BATTERY EXHAUSTED!" And then a few seconds later I turn it on again...

I keep shooting...

And I don't have to actually change my batteries until quite a few shots later. Today was a good day, you see.

ARF ARF RRRRRRRR

Approaching Studewood.

This turns into Studemont and eventually Montrose as you go south.

See, if we didn't change street names every two miles or so, it'd be boring.

You know, there's something missing in this photo thread....let's see if I can find what it is...

Aha. Wouldn't want to alienate the grit-o-philes.

Conveniently - well, look where I happen to be now.

SEE THIS LITTLE POSTERBOARD THINGY AINT WRITTEN IN AMURICUN I CAINT UNDERSTAND WHAT ITS SAYIN

Coronado was an explorer. He went places people didn't much see before. I'm kind of doing something similar.

And Walling, well....Denny Walling played for the Astros back in the 80s.

They've got the bare necessities of life here.

And food too.

Well, that was fun, and I'm not even tired yet.

Unfortunately, I regret to report that the card in my camera's about full. Need to get a new big one since my other busted.

I'll come back here again some other time. In fact....north on Airline or east on Cavalcade? You decide.

Thanks for viewing.

Follow me on Facebook!

[Porchman]

Nice stroll, as usual, jfre. Some very good captures of the 'hood!

[sevfiv]

Here are the rest of the pictures...and I vote for north on Airline!

Coronado was an explorer. He went places people didn't much see before. I'm kind of doing something similar.

And Walling, well....Denny Walling played for the Astros back in the 80s.

They've got the bare necessities of life here.

And food too.

Well, that was fun, and I'm not even tired yet.

Unfortunately, I regret to report that the card in my camera's about full. Need to get a new big one since my other busted.

I'll come back here again some other time. In fact....north on Airline or east on Cavalcade? You decide.

Thanks for viewing.

[Dan the Man]

North on Airline is more visually interesting, but also more dangerous. Cavalcade was re-aligned and extended over Little White Oak Bayou in the early 1960s, so many of the buildings along that stretch are cheap '60s & '70s commercial buildings that were built when the neighborhood had already started its decline.

I'd recommend walking through the Brooke Smith Addition. Lots of interesting things to see - gracefully dilapidated bungalows, architecturally-disasterous remodels, nicely executed restorations, as well as a few neat contemporary houses. It's kind of like what most of the Heights looked like 20 years ago.

[jfre81]

North on Airline is more visually interesting, but also more dangerous.

Sounds like a winner on both counts.

sevfiv, what would I do without you? I think what's happening here is when I break it up in three posts, the two replies to the first post get merged and because it's over the photo limit we just get links instead of the actual photos.

[sevfiv]

Reminds me of something I started about three years ago and never picked back up:

http://www.arch-ive.org/airline/

[jfre81]

Reminds me of something I started about three years ago and never picked back up:

http://www.arch-ive.org/airline/

That looks pretty cool. I guess that's more outside 610 heading toward Northline Mall/Center/whatever it is now?

[(Otto Mation)]

elnina999 has added a photo to the pool:

Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr

[(Otto Mation)]

elnina999 has added a photo to the pool:

Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr

[(Otto Mation)]

elnina999 has added a photo to the pool:

Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr

[(Otto Mation)]

Patrick Feller has added a photo to the pool:

Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr

[Triton]

Transformation of the Heights

 

 

I enjoy riding my bike throughout Houston and this weekend I targeted the area I live near, the Heights, and I'll later post the even greater change occurring in the First Ward.

Most people that don't live in the city do not realize just how transformative the past 5 to 10 years have been to the area and how it certainly continues to change today.

 

Just some disclaimers:

• To cut back time on making this thread, instead of doing my usual resizing of the photos, I'm going to leave them the size that they are.
• I'm going to mark a few general areas that I was at but none of it will be 100% accurate and I'll even take a few streets that aren't listed in red.
• I'm not even getting half of the developments because there are simply too many to cover.

 

 

Going to start in the northern area of the Heights, near 610.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A better view of that area....and all the available land for new development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New office along Yale.

 

 

Close to "downtown" Heights... renovations and a lively scene.

 

Heading south.

 

 

 

 

 

Heading down the Heights Bike Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then come to an end on our journey in this section of the Heights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexan Heights

 

 

And then for the final houses... This bike trail takes me to my next stop: the First Ward.

The roofline is actually slanted.

 

 

 

I'll post the Transformation of the First Ward soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LarryDierker]

Great job! haif needs more threads like this.

[brijonmang]

Awesome work! Thank you for taking the time get these photos and posting them.  There are so many cool projects going on around town that don't often get put on here.  This one thread had tons those kind of projects.  Thanks again.

[citykid09]

Very nice! Only problem I have is the streets! That make everything very disjointed (ditches etc).

[Marcus Allen]

Good GOD! Outstanding post. Thank you very much. Two things immediately spring into my mind. 1. Uhhh, Marcus, it's been a while since you visited this area. Shame on you. AND 2. Why oh why isn't this sort of renaissance in HTown, along with all the other stellar development a matter of national (or at least YOU, TX Monthly) attention? I mean when places like Portland, OR, Seattle, Miami, Phoenix and LV transformed we had to endure those accolades (not begrudgingly on my part) via, Time, Newsweekly, and US News etc., as well as other media venues. Where is Houston's recorded renaissance gonna rear it's potential laden head? Sigh, but I blather on. Great post. Great pictures. Thank you again.

[Montrose1100]

Wonderful post! It is so odd to me how some of the new construction is so tastefully done. Looks clean, classy, and just the right amount of ornamentation. And then you have these hideous multi-colored, plastic side panel, mish-mashed messes.

[Triton]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

 

Although it's not as big of a change as the Heights, the next area I planned on targeting is the East End. Maybe I can do Midtown if people are curious about that change too.

[Moore713]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

 

Although it's not as big of a change as the Heights, the next area I planned on targeting is the East End. Maybe I can do Midtown if people are curious about that change too.

Thanks you you have armed us Houstoines with much ammo the next time we find ourselves in a Vs thread and someone says houston s not denifying..lol

 

But seriouly this shows how Houston is starting to knit itself together.  Slowly but we are still doing it...I keep telling people if we maintain a strong market by 2025 your not going to reconize Houston

Edited February 4, 2014 by Moore713

[Marcus Allen]

I agree with the above post. Also, Triton, I would love to see, in the next few years, your chronicle of the change along the North Line, via Fulton to Crosstimbers. I would love to see a reincarnation of that area.

[H-Town Man]

Wonderful post! It is so odd to me how some of the new construction is so tastefully done. Looks clean, classy, and just the right amount of ornamentation. And then you have these hideous multi-colored, plastic side panel, mish-mashed messes.

 

 

This.  It seems like about 65% of new Heights residents appreciate beauty, and about 35% just appreciate garage doors.

[Triton]

I agree with the above post. Also, Triton, I would love to see, in the next few years, your chronicle of the change along the North Line, via Fulton to Crosstimbers. I would love to see a reincarnation of that area.

Absolutely. There actually are some massive school renovations going on in the area plus all of the new sidewalks and light rail are sure to change the area. There actually is a new townhome being built near the rail. We'll have to see if that leads to anything.

 

 

I guess I'm giving away where I live but I'm fairly close to the light rail (3 blocks away) in the Glen Park neighborhood which used to be the Woodland Heights before I-45 was built. Anyway, my point is that they are building a 3-story home in the neighborhood now and started building it the same day the light rail opened. My neighbors are split half and half. Half welcome the new development and are glad the dilapidated building that existed is long gone. The other half are lower income families and know this means their property taxes are going to rise. I guess it's just a sign of the gentrification that is coming to the area!

[little frau]

This is a great thread.  Thank you Triton.

 

 

[Heightsite]

Nice work, Triton. I even though I thought I was somewhat immune from the gentrification of the Heights, I was quite taken back by all the construction behind Home Depot on 26th. Thought I was in Rice Military for a few seconds. With all of the "upgrades", will our streets be gentrified some day? I don't expect the @sshole construction crews who don't care where or how they park will ever practice courtesy, but neighbors need to practice civility on the roads. Why aren't developers expected to assist with street improvements on a residential level?

PS I can see my neighbor's bed through the large picture window in the room. Should prove to provide interesting views.

[Heightsite]

BTW, would love to see a rendering of EADO. The developers have realized the potential, just hope original Wilson homes don't succumb to that neighborhood's gentrification.

[bachanon]

good stuff triton!  posting on the haif facebook page.

[Marcus Allen]

Triton. Was about to move back to my roots, and a fantastic opportunity rose for me in the Sugar Land area. But I still admire, visit and stalk the area because of my roots. My current crowd questions what the heck I am doing in THAT place. I just smile and say wait and see. I lived in NoHo CA for awhile and saw it's reincarnation. I feel the same about the Wards, The Heights and dismissed points beyond. Keep giving us hope via photos. Bravo to your compilation of photos.