Jdorfma1

Sorry, I meant that the change would be that there would be more kids in the neighborhood and thus more push to clean up the park, not that more kids would change the school boundry. I don't think that's happening at all. I agree, WA is a wicked pissa right now, new construction everywhere. I want to buy that pawn shop, Super location, I can see 100 different things there, all of them better than the pawn shop. I wonder if he's just waiting for the right offer. And in 2014 when we start serious dicussion of light rail down washington connecting downtown to the uptown line... Its the only logical place right? I mean you have to complete the choo-choo circle and Washington Ave is the only reasonable option.

Bingo. That's why the same house on the west side of Shepherd is 100k more than the east side. Lamar vs Regan. Not a knock on Regan, which I drive by and looks like a gorgeous school and the kids seem happy, but its perception here, not reality, that drive prices and make some neighborhood kid friendly and others not. Maybe this will change in 5 years as all the young couples in WE start making with the babies and stuff.

I don't think the issue at WEP is cleanliness, the park is actually well maintained. The issues, as I see them, are: 1. Lack of children. Its simply not a child-heavy neighborhood. If there were a lot of kids in the park after schoold playing and being watched by mindful parents the dealers would be pushed out. Maybe its a chick-egg issue and there are kids in the neighborhood and they're not there because of the dealers but I don't see it. The HISD schools zoned for WE are not attractions so young families are still looking elsewhere. West End is young singles and childless couples in thier 20s and 30's right now. 2. Customers. Patterson is a majorish thoroughfare (not Shepherd major but it gets a lot of traffic) and the dealers and thugs that hangout there make money. I wouldn't be anxious to leave either if I was them. 3. Empty lots. As I said above, two sides of the park are developed but the other two are still spotty. THe emptiness means no people watching or complaining. Blight attracts criminal elements. It will change but not overnight. 4. Bums vs. Dealers. WEP is not a place for derelicts. I've seen the occasional bum sleeping in the pagod (I forget, tent like thingy, my vocab sucks today) but the park is mostly dealers, its not a place for users and vagrants. Quite frankly its better this way. I'd rather leave near a dealer stop than a homeless park, if I'm forced to choose). Jeff

Perhaps, but the types of people that have THAT level of influence are already living along Memorial Drive and don't hear the train. I see prospective buyers all the time in my neighborhood and when they ask about the train they are convinced that in a year or so enough rich folks will live here to make the city make it a quiet zone. It ain't happening, not for 3-4 years minimum, its not even on the table right now. The luckiest we might get is a grade seperation at Durham and Shepherd but that's a long shot right now too. Learn to love the train and bless its little heart for keeping your taxes lower. Jeff

I bought on Eigel just west of Patterson in October 2007 (actually summer of 2006, contruction took FOREVER). Anyways, I can toss a softball into West End Park from my window (well I could until my bulder built another six units blocking my view. But they are listed for 50k more than I paid for mine so I'm happy as a crack dealer in West End Park... kidding!) OK, here's the deal. I love my 'hood and its quirky wackiness. Let's define WE as east of Shepherd, North of Washington, south of I-10, and west of Yale for arguments sake. It is pierced by the tracks along Allen. 1. The prices for new construction are on the rise, but this is shaded by the larger size of the new homes. Parra is the dominant bulder in this zone (I own a Parra home, and before you knock it bite me, i love it). Parra started with 1450sf 2/2.5 with lofts that started at around 175 and are now ranging from around 205 to 215 on resale. then he started with 3/2.5 with lofts and 3/3 with big decks at 1850sf and 1820sf. The started at 225 and jumped to between 260 and 299 now (there are 5 unsold and 6 under construction but purchasing has been steadyish). All the new contruction, especially along Inker and Thompson/Koehler have been minimum 3 bedroom 2200sq and prices have ranged from 299 to 500+. It ain't River Oaks, but the trend is moving upscale, not flat or down. 2. Da Train. I've written on this previously and yes yes, the train was here first. But I'm here now and I'm an obnoxious white yuppie who doesn't like it (I'm used to it now though). I think the train noise is depressing prices around 10 to 25% depending on proximity and quality. The first night you'll show up to work bleary eyes, you'll be fine in a week, i don't hear it much anymore. Anyway, I have spoken via e-mail with the city official in charge of quiet zones and this area (Yale to TC jester I think) has been designated a Tier 3 project for quiet zones. No, I have no idea what that means exactly but its been explained to me as "don't hold your breath before 2010 but 2012 seems possible). It is HIGHLY unlikely the train will be moved though, its got nowhere to go and is too vital. It doesn't bother the people who live in the quiet zone along the west loop though. 3. The drug dealers. Short answer is there are fewer hanging out in the park than 12 months ago but they are there. Quite simply they don't bother me and I don't bother them. they're losing customers and will move on soon. The area just north and east of the park has been developed/is developing. South and west, not so much, and it may not get really developed until the train noise is dealt with. Jeff

Any word on this? thanks! Jeff