houston-neighorhoods

THE MEMORIAL VILLAGES

Following the Texas War for Independence from Mexico, soldiers were given land grants to honor their service. The land that now makes up the Memorial Villages was part of land grants to John Taylor and Isaac Bunker. As the land was subdivided and sold off, much of it was purchased by German settlers. Sawmills and lumberyards sprang up in the deeply wooded area.
Memorial Drive was at that time the road bordering the village farms. Highway 90 was known as Katy Road at the time. Piney Point Road was developed in the 1900-1905 time frame as first a dirt road and then it was covered with oyster shell. Development of the Villages as they are known today began in the 1950s. For a detailed history of the area, please visit the City of Hedwig Village website.
The Memorial Villages include Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village, Hunters Creek Village, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village, and Spring Valley Village. These six exclusive residential communities in the greater Memorial area are all independent municipalities.
Hedwig Village has its own independent police department. Hilshire Village and Spring Valley Village police services are provided by the Spring Valley Village Police Department. Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village and Hunters Creek Village have combined their resources and formed the Memorial Villages Police Department to serve their needs for police protection. Implementing their own police services allows the Villages to purchase better equipment than the larger departments can afford and guarantees faster response times because their officers are always in the neighborhood. Their Officers are also able to participate in more community activities like the House Watch program and events like DARE.
The Villages Fire Department serves all six Memorial Villages. Their Insurance Service Organization rating is an exceptional “1,” an accomplishment they are very proud of. This recognition makes every homeowner eligible to save money on their personal insurance policies.

BUNKER HILL VILLAGE

Bunker Hill Village is know for its large wooded lots offering a comfortable space between neighbors. Approximately half of the families have children under 18 living at home. The median income for a family in Bunker Hill Village is approximately $200,000, and the median price of a home in Bunker Hill Village is $1.24 million.

Schools: Most of Memorial is zoned to the highly acclaimed U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District. 
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: All pre-kindergarten students in Spring Branch ISD attend the Wildcat Way School in Memorial. Elementary students in Bunker Hill Village are zoned to either Bunker Hill Elementary School, Frostwood Elementary School, or Memorial Drive Elementary School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Memorial Middle School or Spring Branch Middle School.
High schools: All students from the Villages attend Memorial High School in Hedwig Village.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Bunker Hill Village and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Villages and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

HEDWIG VILLAGE

Hedwig Village is not part of the City of Houston, but is instead an independent self-ruled city. Its original settlers were German immigrants. The name originates from Hedwig Vankowski (who later married a man by the last name of Schroeder). Her family migrated here from Germany when she was 19 years old in 1906. She soon met her future husband, Henry Schroeder who was the son of one of the original settlers – Jacob Schroeder. Hedwig Road, which was built on land purchased by Ms. Hedwig Jankowski Schroeder, for just 25 cents per acre. She donated the land for Hedwig Road and Hedwig Park is named after her. The residents of Hedwig Village wisely incorporated before Houston could annex it.
The City of Hedwig Village encompasses a total of 0.9 square miles, making it one of the smallest municipal areas in Harris County. Located south of IH-10, east of the City of Houston, north of Bunker Hill Village and Piney Point Village, and west of Hunter’s Creek Village, Hedwig Village offers its residents award-winning schools, minimum lot sizes of 15,000 square feet, a peaceful residential setting, and easy access to the amenities offered by its Houston neighbors. The average price of a home in Hedwig Village is $1.64 million, making it one of Houston’s most expensive neighborhoods.

Schools: The City of Hedwig Village is zoned to the highly acclaimed U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District. 
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: All pre-kindergarten students in Spring Branch ISD attend the Wildcat Way School. Elementary students in Hedwig Village are zoned to either Bunker Hill Elementary School or Memorial Drive Elementary School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Spring Branch Middle School.
High schools: All students from the Villages attend Memorial High School in Hedwig Village.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Hedwig Village and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Villages and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

HILSHIRE VILLAGE

The land now known as Hilshire Village was purchased in the 1940s by Mr. Frank Bruess and his mother. Construction of Hilshire Village, known then as Hilshire Manor, began in the 1950s. Residents of Hilshire Village, fearing annexation by the City of Houston, voted to incorporate in 1955.
Hilshire Village is considered one of Houston’s most desirable residential neighborhoods. Oversized wooded lots, a serene setting, a central location for commuting to work and nearby amenities, and zoning to some of the best schools in Houston area makes Hilshire Village one of the most sought-after locations in Houston.
A blend of old and new architectural styles can be found in this quiet, unassuming residential neighborhood of 298 homes. The secluded location has attracted a recent burst of new home construction. Today the median price of a home in Hilshire Village is $1.53 million.

Schools: The City of Hilshire Village is zoned to the highly acclaimed U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District. 
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: All pre-kindergarten students in Spring Branch ISD attend the Wildcat Way School. Elementary students in Hilshire Village are zoned to either Bunker Hill Elementary School or Memorial Drive Elementary School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Spring Branch Middle School.
High schools: All students from the Villages attend Memorial High School in Hedwig Village.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Hilshire Village and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Villages and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

PINEY POINT VILLAGE

“Charming” is the word to describe Piney Point Village, where home sites feature spacious wooded lots and streets wander along winding country roads. City zoning ordinances allow only single-family homes on lots no smaller than 40,000 square feet. With median home prices of $2.1 million, Piney Point Village is known as “the wealthiest place in Texas.”
The site where Piney Point Village was developed came from a land grant to Stephen F. Austin in 1820. In 1885 Piney Point became a station on the Texas Western Railroad. In the early 1900s the area began seeing settlers from the German community move into the area. Major development did not begin in Piney Point until the 1950s, when Memorial Drive was upgraded to a major thoroughfare, making travel much easier. Not very long after that (1954), area residents banded together and incorporated to avoid annexation by Houston.

Schools: The City of Piney Point Village is zoned to the highly acclaimed U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District. 
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: All pre-kindergarten students in Spring Branch ISD attend the Wildcat Way School. Elementary students in Piney Point Village are zoned to Memorial Drive Elementary School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Spring Branch Middle School.
High schools: All students from the Villages attend Memorial High School in Hedwig Village.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Piney Point Village and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Villages and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

SPRING VALLEY VILLAGE

Spring Valley Village, one of the six Memorial Villages, is an autonomous city located in west Houston at Wirt Road. The city is 1.3 square miles with an estimated population of 4,224 as of 2016. Police protection is provided by the Spring Valley Village Police Department, and Fire/EMS services are provided by The Villages Fire Department.
As rumors of annexation spread in the early 1950s, residents became uneasy. They completed incorporation in 1955. Today the average price of a home in Spring Valley Village is $1.1 million. Many original homes have been torn down and replaced by homes three times the size of its predecessor. Town bylaws require a lot size of 10,000 square feet. Beautiful manicured lawns invite you to put your roots down in Spring Valley Village today!

Schools: The City of Spring Valley Village is zoned to the highly acclaimed U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District. 
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: All pre-kindergarten students in Spring Branch ISD attend the Wildcat Way School. Elementary students in Spring Valley Village are zoned to Bear Boulevard School or Valley Oaks Elementary.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Spring Branch Middle School.
High schools: All students from the Villages attend Spring Branch High School or Memorial High School.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Spring Valley Village and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Villages and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

Hunters Creek Village

Hunter’s Creek Village, one of the six Memorial Villages, is an upscale city on the west side of Houston. The city is 1.9 square miles with an estimated population of 4,367 as of the 2010 census. In the year 2000, Hunter’s Creek Village was named the fifth wealthiest location per capita in Texas; in 2010 Business Week stated it was the most expensive suburb in the State of Texas; and in 2008, Forbes chose Hunters Creek Village, Bunker Hill Village and Sugar Land as the “Top Suburbs to Live Well” in the Houston area.
Police protection is provided by the Memorial Villages Police Department, and Fire/EMS services are provided by The Villages Fire Department. Hunter’s Creek Village was incorporated in 1954. Today the average price of a home in Hunter’s Creek Village is $2.2 million. Lot sizes start at a half acre and zoning is restricted to single-family homes and townhomes. There is a small commercial zone as well. Amenities available to residents include hike and bike paths, wooded properties, and highly acclaimed schools. The Village’s pace of life and visual appeal make it an exceptional and desirable place to raise a family.

Schools: The City of Hunter’s Creek Village is zoned to the highly acclaimed U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District.
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: All pre-kindergarten students in Spring Branch ISD attend the Wildcat Way School. Elementary students in Hunter’s Creek Village are zoned to Hunter’s Creek Elementary or Memorial Drive Elementary School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Spring Branch Middle School.
High schools: All students from the Villages attend Spring Branch High School or Memorial High School.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Hunter’s Creek Village and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Villages and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

Tanglewood

Tanglewood was once referred to by the Houston Chronicle as “a leafy, upscale subdivision,” fitting for a neighborhood named after the elegant 210-acre formal gardens of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Its name has also been attributed to Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Negotiations with tree conservationists in 1997 resulted in the developers keeping as many of the existing trees as possible. Tanglewood Boulevard is lined with beautiful live oak trees planted by the Tanglewood Garden Club. Its lovely path and benches serve as a central gathering place for residents.
Lots in the neighborhood run from 10,000 to more than 40,000 square feet. Larger lots and tree-lined streets are why Tanglewood is considered one of Houston’s best neighborhoods for land value appreciation.
Located near the Memorial area of Houston, homes in Tanglewood range from 2,000 to more than 10,000 square feet, come in four- to seven-bedroom floor plans, and range in price from $750,000 to more than $6,000,000. The average sales price in Tanglewood is $1,475,000. The original homes in the neighborhood were “rambling ranch” style architecture. However, two-story English brick and stone and Mediterranean stucco homes with clay roofs began replacing the rambling ranch design in the 1980s. Many newer homes include 11-foot ceilings, three-car garages, and wine cellars, to name a few of the updates.

The Local Schools: Tanglewood students attend Briargrove Elementary School and Mark White Elementary School (and may apply to Briarmeade Charter School), Tanglewood Middle School, and Margaret Long Wisdom High School (with an option to attend Lamar High School or Westside High School), all part of the Houston Independent School District.
Nearby Private Schools: St. Michael School, a Roman Catholic K-8 school that is a part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, is in the area. Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning, a private K-12 Islamic school, is in the area. Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and Saint Agnes Academy are in the Sharpstown area, west of Tanglewood. Other nearby private schools include St. John's School in the Upper Kirby district of Houston and The Kinkaid School in Piney Point Village.
Things to Do Nearby: The Tanglewood residential community includes the Houston Country Club, a members-only country club featuring a golf course, tennis courts, and other luxury amenities. There are hundreds of upscale boutiques, stores, restaurants, bars and cafes nearby. Memorial Park, Houston’s 1,500-acre midtown park, is just a short drive away. The Racquet Club and Houstonian are two additional nearby country clubs.
At one time, former President George H.W. Bush called Tanglewood home.
Nearby Employment: Downtown Houston is just seven miles and the Galleria is less than three miles from the Tanglewood subdivision, making it centrally located to most Houston employers.
Buyer Options: Since many of the homes in Tanglewood were built many years ago, there may be a diamond in the rough waiting for someone willing to love a fixer upper back to life.

Lucille Fendley has served this community as one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years and is knowledgeable about the area and future plans for growth and construction.

BRIARGROVE

Known in the area as one of Houston’s friendliest, most family-oriented neighborhoods, Briargrove was founded by the Peckham family, who left life inside the city limits for the peace and quiet to be found on their family land. The Peckhams sold their land to developers in the 1950s, and Briargrove, a community of approximately 1,000 single-family homes, was developed.
The median price of a home in Briargrove is $1,078,280, and the main architectural style is ranch-style homes. You will find the neighbors friendly and the location convenient to work, shopping, and entertainment.
The community offers pool and recreation facilities, jogging tracks, and playgrounds for use by its residents.

Schools: Approximately half of the families have children under 18 living at home, and the local award-winning schools play a strong part in families choosing Briargrove as home.
Pre-kindergarten and elementary school: Elementary students in Briargrove attend either Briargrove Elementary School, Mark White Elementary School or Briarmeadow Charter School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Tanglewood Middle School (formerly Grady Middle School).
High schools: All students from Briargrove are zoned to attend Margaret Long Wisdom High School (formerly Robert E. Lee High School), but may choose to attend Lamar High School or Westside High School.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Briargrove and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Briargrove neighborhood and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

RIVER OAKS

The River Oaks suburb of Houston, Texas, is a residential community of approximately 1,100 acres. The community was settled in the 1920s by the Hogg brothers, William and Michael, and quickly became known as a national model for the new concept of community planning. The community was advertised as a “distinguished experiment in fine living.” Homes built along Kirby Drive were restricted to either American Colonial or English Tudor architecture.
Highlights of this exclusive neighborhood include the River Oaks Country Club, featuring an elite golf club originally designed by Donald Ross, and redesigned in 2015 by Tom Fazio. The Country Club has hosted the River Oaks International Tennis Tournament since 1931. Details of the development required parks and esplanades resplendent with oak trees, shrubs, azaleas, and other local flowers. River Oaks is also proud to be the home of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra.
Real estate valuation in River Oaks varies widely – from $1 million to more than $20 million. Consequently, it is known as the most expensive neighborhood in the Houston area.

Elementary school: Elementary students in River Oaks attend River Oaks Elementary School.
Middle school: Middle school students attend Lanier Middle School.
High schools: All students from River Oaks are zoned to attend Lamar High School

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in River Oaks and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the River Oaks neighborhood and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

WALNUT BEND

The Walnut Bend suburb of Houston, Texas, is a residential community located between Westheimer and Buffalo Bayou just off Beltway 8.
  Community amenities include a recreation center, three swimming pools, playgrounds, tennis courts, and parks. Several groups are active in the neighborhood, including The Walnut Bend Goodtimer’s Club (55+), Mom’s Club, Book Club, Garden Club, Ladies Club, and the Sharks neighborhood swim team. Several community events are planned every year, including pool parties, Moms Club events including Hay Day in the Park, Easter Egg Hunt, Garage Sales, Fall Festival, and many more.
  Home values range from $280,000 to $500,000+. Architectural styles include traditional, ranch, and colonial designs

Elementary school: Elementary students in Walnut Bend attend Walnut Bend Elementary School
Middle school: Middle school students attend Revere Middle School with an option to attend West Briar Middle School.
High schools: All students from Walnut Bend are zoned to Westside High School, but may attend Lamar High School.

Lucille Fendley, of Martha Turner Sothebys, specializes in Walnut Bend and has been named one of Houston’s Best Realtors for more than 25 years. She is knowledgeable about the Walnut Bend neighborhood and the plans for future growth and development in the surrounding areas.

SUGAR LAND

Sugar Land’s early influences were Native American, Spanish, the Mexican government, Mexican immigrants and American Pioneers. In 1823 Stephen F. Austin was given a charter to settle 300 American families in Texas. Early settlers began farming and creating plantations that produced sugar cane. In 1908, a nearby sugar cane refinery was purchased and renamed Imperial Sugar. With the growth of this company, homes were built nearby to house employees and their families. In 1959, Sugar Land was incorporated as a City and has since added several master-planned communities. Community amenities include many parks, first-class shopping, medical facilities nearby as well as being recognized as one of America’s Safest Cities since 2008.
Sugar Land offers a wide variety of neighborhoods. Some range from $200-400,000, others offer a private country club and have a median price range of $600,000, and Sweetwater is a luxury community offering an average home price of $2,4500,000.
There is a home for everyone in Sugar Land with home values range from the $200,000s up to over $6 million!
Elementary, middle and High Schools in Sugar land vary by area. Several of the schools in Sugar Land are award winning in the state!

Katy

Katy is a suburb of Houston well known for its attributes towards families and highly rated schools. Located on the West side of Houston, Katy spans from just East of Brookshire, Tx on the West side to Highway 6 on the East, Westpark tollway on the South and Clay road on the north.
In the early 1800s Katy was known as “Cane Island” after a creek that ran through the area that was filled with tall cane. In 1845 James Crawford received a land grant for the area. With hot summers and clay soil, it was difficult to attract settlers to the area. In 1895 James Oliver Thomas developed a town and in January of 1896 it was named Katy (derived from the MKT Railroad Company that was commonly called the K-T). Cotton, peanuts and corn were the first successful crops but rice soon became the primary commodity crop. In 1945 Katy was incorporated as a municipality. With the construction of Interstate 10 in 1966, Katy began to grow rapidly. There are now over 270,000 residents in the grater Katy area. In recent years Katy has added multiple master planned communities drawing residents from far and wide!
Katy offers many amenities, from a first class Medical center, shopping, dining, splash pads, Texas Typhoon water park, an outlet mall and miles of biking and walking trails. There is a home for everyone in Katy with home values range from the $150,000s up to over $2 million!
Elementary, middle and High Schools in Katy vary by area. Several of the schools in Katy are award winning in the state! Many families relocate to the area because of the high ranking school district.