memebag

One or two people? I don't think so. In that case, the entire white population of Houston would be trying to move to the middle of wherever it is all white these days (I don't know of any places like that). How would you explain places like 77079 (west Memorial) still gaining in value? And what about 77479 in Sugar Land, in which the Asian population is as large (in some areas larger) than the white population? Again, another area still gaining in value even in this economic climate (you can look this all up on HAR.com)

I don't hear of areas going into decline until there is an overbuild of apartments and low-income housing, and I don't hear of the white population really moving out until the minority population is more like 40%+. And even in that case, if the schools still rank well they may not move out in droves.

I don't think you understand what "white flight" is. It happens when an all-white neighborhood gets a non-white resident. Some folks feel that threatens property values, so they immediately put their homes on the market. Other folks may not see it that way, but the race to sell starts a decrease in property values. The panic (sometimes fanned by "blockbusting" by real estate agents) creates a scenario where the first to sell get the highest price, so everyone is driven to sell as fast as possible. This is all pretty well documented. You can read about it on Wikipedia.

"White flight" isn't the only effect at work, it's just an obvious reason for Sharpstown's racial history.

White flight was the result of the above. Poster asked "why" did it happen, not "what" happened.

I disagree. When white folks move away as soon as one or two slightly darker people move in, it causes all kinds of economic changes in a neighborhood. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy that drives down property values.

So many things. Zoning. Cheap apartments. Fiesta Food market. Poor immigration enforcement. Age. Slum lords. You name it.

You forgot "white flight".

We went Sunday and I hated it. The park is way too popular now. All of these improvements have brought out the worst sort of people, the kind that breathe and move about and park. Four or five years ago we could go on a nice Sunday afternoon and there were 1/3rd the number of humans there. The bridge was ugly and we saw a duck commit murder. My wife was upset by it, but we don't know the whole story. The dead duck could have killed the other duck's father, for all we know.

Oh, and if you're going to look at the zoo's red panda ("The Cutest Animal In The World!"), don't bother. It's just a raccoon.

Guess I'm to ignorant to know the difference. How would you know? Couldn't an article be both?

It seems to have been dictated by "Stephen J. Ewbank, executive vice president of Planned Community Developers, Town Square's developer". That's a big clue that it's a press release.

Article in Chronicle about Sugar Land Town Square.

chronicle

Article or press release?

They all seem to be regulation animal size to me.

What's being torn down to build this?

Can't wait to see what's in store for the HMNS.

And I'm eager to see the new HMNS exhibit about Genghis ...

KAHN!

I know it's spring break for a bunch of people, and the Children's Museum just opened up a new section.

So what is your point? That he was there "trying to do a pickup". A man can't drive around in his own neighborhood? Do you have any facts to back up your assertion or are you just being a gossipy old lady? Also, how do you know so much about what this area is like late at night? Cruising around "trying to do a pick up"?

Vertigo is sticking it to the man! Developers don't like it, but he won't sugar coat it! You go, Vertigo!

The Pot Pie (before they were a pizza place)

That last cold spell had me craving the old Pot Pie. I used to live next door and pop over there at any hour to get one. Mmmmm.

True - I need to get around to watching this:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/

Everyone needs to watch that.

Thanks for the great info, DrFood! I had forgotten all about Venture being where Target is now.

I have to disagree about the Target being "filthy dirty", though. I go to this one and the S. Main store pretty frequently and have never noticed one being dirtier than the other. They're both clean when I visit, and I've never seen half eaten food. For dirty, try the Wal-mart at Meyer Park.

But does anyone know what happened to the actual grocery bldg? It was there in the aeriel maps, and then it was gone (in the aeriel maps).

I'd guess it was torn down, then. They rarely move grocery buildings to museums.

Are you folks talking about the grocery store that was on the south side, facing the loop? If so, I went to a sci fi or gaming convention there in the early 80s. The grocery store had closed, but the space had been rented to Houston Con or some other operation. I remember I was in a Dungeons & Dragons tournament that was held back in a meat locker. I won $50.

wow, for someone who is not The Rabbit's target market, you certainly do know a lot.

I dunno. "Master of pleasure" is probably somewhere in their target market.

The Rabbit isn't hot anymore??

Not really. In 1998 it was featured on "Sex and the City", and sales went through the roof.

That was not just any "sex toy shop." That was Condoms Galore!

They're all a blur at this point. All I remember is they had The Rabbit when that was hot, and I think they had some realistic items under the counter when those were banned.

I drove through that intersection yesterday and was appalled. The tattoo parlor is gone, the sex toy shop is gone, it's just all falling apart. What's worse, there seems to have been no effort made to save these historic landmarks of my middle age.

Ho hum. Another bank imploding.

Oh wait, this is a bank building. That's more fun.

True. But JoJos was something else entirely, it was like fern bar meets Denny's. On Saturdays people would wait an hour for a table at 2:00 am. Imagine a slightly cleaner and better decorated I-Hop filled to the gills with drunk party people. I think it was the only place I've seen people doing lines in the bathroom while waiting for their order of pancakes and bacon to come out.

Houst of Pies, Charlie's, the Denny's on I-45 south ...

Oh wait, that was just me doing lines. Probably doesn't count.

Ouch.

So now it appears we lost a historic structure for what will turn out to be somewhat of a spec strip mall?

I'm betting we lost my favorite Black-eyed Pea for what will turn out to be an empty strip mall.

Cattitudes!

Damn you, Dan the Man! Now I have to edit my memory all over again.

I remember a purple themed store in Galleria I under the stairs. I remember a cat themed store on the first floor, west side of the original Galleria III. It had an annoyingly cute name that I have edited from my memory.

Feh. I like the current size. Why does it need to be bigger or more visible?