Houston pros and cons (Katy, Charlotte: homes, allergies, live)

[Charlottetohouston?]

Hi - in searching the forum threads I just came across a really long one from last November where the guy just trashed the city. Generally I think when someone has only bad to say, it is the person and not the place. He lived in Katy and said it was ugly, the only restaurant was Chilis and that you had to drive for hours to get anywhere. Somehow I think this cannot all be true?! But the main thing he said that really concerned me was that it is really moldy. I have an 11 year old son with asthma and I did not know this about Houston. Do you know how air quality compares to other cities? Is it unhealthy for asthmatics? Thanks so much.

[chris_ut]

Air quality is not one of Houston's strong points. It is built on a swamp, is very humid most of the year and has tons of chemical plants and refineries.

[EasilyAmused]

Mold is an allergy issue here.

[Kandy]

Houston is not friendly to those with Asthma. It seems asthmatics would fair better in a dryer climate.

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by Charlottetohouston?

Do you know how air quality compares to other cities? Is it unhealthy for asthmatics? Thanks so much.

Houston's air quality ranks among the worst in the nation. The humidity which contributes to mold and mildew, huge numbers of cars driving long distances, abundance of chemical plants in the region--it's pretty much a pulmonological train wreck as far as places in the U.S. go.

Katy is a suburb in far west Houston. It largely consists of planned developments of nice, big, but ultimately cookie-cutter homes surrounded by strip malls and big box retail centers containing the typical assortment of chain store stuff. Like almost all of Houston, it is devoid of any natural beauty features (flat as a pancake, no natural water). Compared to some parts of the Houston area, Katy is somewhat lacking of trees, too. Katy is not bad, but it is entirely unremarkable and indistinguishable from any number of similar clones one could find throughout the U.S. For those looking for a typical suburban place, you can't do much worse than Katy.

[Premont]

Go here - B4-U-EAT - Katy Area Restaurants See if it's only Chili's. A lot of people say ridiculous stuff on the net. You'll find most everything you need in Katy.

[Charlottetohouston?]

Thanks for your responses. I am really confused now as we were really considering the move, but the 2nd of our 4 sons does have asthma. I am now thinking that maybe it is not an option at all.

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

For those looking for a typical suburban place, you can't do much worse than Katy.

I need to revise my remarks here. I intended to say that for those looking for a typical suburban place, you can't do much better than Katy. That is, Katy is a nice enough but ultimately unremarkable suburb of Houston.

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Houston is a bad place for people with bad allergies and asthma.

[rgb123]

do people excercise outside? or is running for the gym only!?