jbjo

This is definitely not original to Bellaire, none of the monster houses there are. I would say 98% of the original houses were one-story before they started tearing them all down in the late 80's.

I agree that Bellaire has lost most of its charm...I just mean the concept of what happened there is a good thing....new retail and restaurants, new construction and remodeling of old homes, increasing property values...if it can be done in a way that stays true to the feeling of our area.

I'm new to the site and have to say that I'm a little surprised to see that there is resistance to the positive change that is going on in Oak Forest. I agree that the original character of the place should be protected and think that things like the plasma donation center at 43rd and Ella need to go. But, I also look forward to the day that I can drive down Ella without seeing old furniture and washing machines on people's porches and cars parked in yards. If that means new construction then bring it on. It's exciting to be a part of the transition that the neighborhood is going through. I grew up in Bellaire and remember hearing the same kind of resistance from my parents and grandparents and thier friends to the changes that went on there in the late 1980's. But people are pretty happy now that their 2 and 3 bedroom ranch homes are easily worth over $300,000. At least the developers in Oak Forest aren't building the ugly, boxy brick monstrosities that went up in Bellaire and West U when all the new construction started there. If people in Oak Forest will embrace positive change, take pride in the appearance of their homes (hopefully tear down their ugly metal carport if they have one) and do everything possible to maintain the quaint, family feel of the place...it will be the next Bellaire. And, I'm sorry if I'm the only person who thinks so, but that is not a bad thing.