East End revitalization in the news! (Houston, Bellaire: lofts, houses, neighborhood)

[vegankris]

East End undergoing large revitalization project that includes building of new Dynamo stadium, METRO light rail | abc13.com

[HtownLove]

I have real hope for the area. Hope it doesn't get overpriced overnight. That is what killed the southern part of Midtown, while the NorthWest Side of Midtown flourished

[MikeyAusmus]

I think the East End will really pick up especially after the light rail lines come through and the BBVA Compass Stadium opens. I really love this area and it's so unique!

[David Dollar]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

I have real hope for the area. Hope it doesn't get overpriced overnight. That is what killed the southern part of Midtown, while the NorthWest Side of Midtown flourished

I am not picking a fight and being serious here, isn't already over-priced and out of the reach of the average Houstonian already?

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by David Dollar

I am not picking a fight and being serious here, isn't already over-priced and out of the reach of the average Houstonian already?

The East End???

No, not yet.

The East end had a negative stigma of being a heavily industrial area. It was filled with warehouses and Railway lines. It was most of its history a poor minority area going from majority poor black to majority poor hispanic.

The couple of blocks right next to Minute Maid may be overpriced, but I am talking about the entire east end, not just the parts that used to be downtown but got cut off by 59.

[David Dollar]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

The East End???

No, not yet.

The East end had a negative stigma of being a heavily industrial area. It was filled with warehouses and Railway lines. It was most of its history a poor minority area going from majority poor black to majority poor hispanic.

The couple of blocks right next to Minute Maid may be overpriced, but I am talking about the entire east end, not just the parts that used to be downtown but got cut off by 59.

Ahhh, East End. I saw Vegan Kris and instantly thought Eastwood. My bad.

[Oildog]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

The East End???

No, not yet.

The East end had a negative stigma of being a heavily industrial area. It was filled with warehouses and Railway lines. It was most of its history a poor minority area going from majority poor black to majority poor hispanic.

The couple of blocks right next to Minute Maid may be overpriced, but I am talking about the entire east end, not just the parts that used to be downtown but got cut off by 59.

Thats the migration pattern...industrial> poor minorities> artists> gays> value seekers> STARBUCKS> then yuppies & married couples...

Pricing has gone up the last couple years, get in now while you can....

[micmac99]

Originally Posted by Oildog

Thats the migration pattern...industrial> poor minorities> artists> gays> value seekers> STARBUCKS> then yuppies & married couples...

Pricing has gone up the last couple years, get in now while you can....

If I drive down Harrisburg between downtown and Wayside and see a Starbucks I will burst out laughing. And no, I don't think one is there right now.

The East End was the first neighborhood in Houston I lived in when I got here almost two years ago. I can see some revitalization with the light rail, and if they fill in the vacant lots, especially the huge one at Lockwood and Harrisburg - I was told it was the Stewart and Stevenson site and it's perfect spot for an HEB or a Randalls shopping center - but I just do not see the blue-collar Hispanic core of the area up and leaving. Not unless they get mega good offers for those old houses in the neighborhood. There ARE several young working-class families with kids in the area.

But people told me that's exactly what happened to the Heights. I go through the Heights and it almost feels like Bellaire.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by micmac99

but I just do not see the blue-collar Hispanic core of the area up and leaving. Not unless they get mega good offers for those old houses in the neighborhood. There ARE several young working-class families with kids in the area.

But people told me that's exactly what happened to the Heights. I go through the Heights and it almost feels like Bellaire.

They don't need to leave by choice. When the property taxes in the area start shooting up (including their own) They will have no choice but to leave.

That is the very definition of gentrification. Wealthier people flee and area, property values go down. The poorer people move in, the value of the land goes down further. The area rots. Wealthier individuals then realize they have moved so far from the core that they want to do a 180 and move as close to the heart of the city as they can.
When the wealthier people start moving in, the prices shoot up. They fix up homes which shoot the prices up further. They attract fancy coffee shops which spike prices up even more. Then the poor neighbors start realizing they have to hightail it out of there because they are leaving in a broken down house but paying mansion level taxes on it. Classic Gentrification

The next part of your assertion is also the opposite of what usually happens. Most times these poor minority families are clueless about the value of the land and they do not have the finances to fix up the house before sale. These families will sell those houses for 75K and they will be flipped and sold for 275K

[txstate]

Its going now as we speak....new lofts, stadiums, the rail, I work in the East End/2nd ward..A lot of progress I feel the lower income folks. The meek shall inherit...