amal70

What do you Westbury residents think of the crime incidents around Bellfort and Fondren... I think there was a gang shooting there the other day? Does that crime happen only on the main streets, and near the apartments, or does it trickle into the neighborhoods?

The interior areas of the neighborhood tend to be pretty insulated. With over 5K houses in the area, there's going to be some crime activity (part of the urban sprawl). Most crime stats that I've seen tend to concentrate crime activity around the convenience stores on chimney rock/burdine (also an area with high apartment concentration and thru traffic) for instance. The Neighborhood bans all garage sells to spur traffic of non residents coming in/out. Civic Association does a spot on fantastic job of painting over graffiti within a couple of days of idiots putting it up. The neighborhood has voluntary dues for residents for most of Westbury. But initiative are underway to make them mandatory. The inflow of this extra money will continue to improve the security of the area akin to Meyerland.

Flipper.....How long have you lived in Houston? How many folks to you know in Westbury? How much time do you spend in Westbury? Are you a member of the GLBT population?

Like I said we (my partner and I) have lived in Westbury for 14 years and I grew up within 10 miles of Westbury so I think I know the area well enough to give a very thorough analysis of the area.

You state in your profile you live in Willowbend. Most folks over there based on personal experience don't even know Westbury exists.

And as for your comment about the % make up. The survey was done by 2 reputable groups who know how to survey GLBT populations. Also, the 2000 census numbers showed that in 2 person same sex occupants who considered themselves "married" or "coupled" the numbers reflected similar numbers.

And let me scare you Mr Flipper with this statistic. In the Willowbend/Willow Meadows area their statistics showed there were pockets with 50% GLBT home ownership. Hope that doesn't scare you. But in general Willowbend/Willow Meadows is considered to have between a 10 & 15% GLBT population. Also remember the property costs in Willowbend/Willow Meadows are out of site for most folks now. Come 2 miles west and get a bigger lot and bigger house for 50% less.

Now you ask why are the numbers so high. Well as members of the GLBT population age (yes despite our own fears we do grow old) they are not so inclined to want to be in the center of the gayborhood and they want to be around more "normal" folks. So they tend to look for comfortable neighborhoods. According to the Houston Press and the Houston Chronicle....Westbury is the area that turned up to be #1 among the GLBT population in Houston for where they wanted to live or would move if they could afford it.

The bottomline is there area a lot of areas a GLBT person could move, but there are very few in Houston where a GLBT person would be welcomed with open arms. Westbury is that area.

I totally agree. I've lived in Westbury for a little over 2 years and can honestly say it's one of the most gay friendly neighborhoods in Houston (including Montrose). On my street alone in Westbury 3, south of W. Bellfort and North of Ludington, there are (including me) 5 gay households (with one household with young kids) And around the corner another 2 same sex couples. Not to mention others that I seen around Westbury. The mixture of folks here is eclectic with mixture of retirees (original owners), young professionals (30-50), and all others that fall in between. The civic association, mostly retirees, are very active and have the desire to continue to bring the neighborhood to its former glory (best place to live) Since I've moved here, I've seen more and more people walking their dogs, jogging, and riding bikes (same sex, different sex, old, young, with kids, w/o kids). There are areas on the fringes mainly due to neglected apartments, which give the area a bit of an "edge". However, that'll even change (already began) as the area continues to get blended with professional middle class. I've got a feeling that with the high commuting gas prices and infrastructure proposed (connection of 610 to Ft. Bend toll road among others mentioned in earlier posts), the area will absolutely excel.....It's a super neighborhood!