njvisitor

I know exactly what you're going through.

Early in our home-search, we were torn between Avalon Terrace and SCR. We ultimately decided on Southern Trails, which is west of 518, adjacent to SCR.

I asked a similar question last year, and got some terrific responses. Here are some of the Pros and Cons of buying a home in a smaller community (Sunrise Lakes, Avalon Terrace, Autumn Lakes, etc.) versus a large master plan (SCR, Country Place, Silverlake, etc.):

Pros:

- Pearland ISD (Schools)

- Lower Taxes

- Lower HOAs (sometimes)

- Often less expensive.

Cons:

- Not as scenic as the big master plans.

- Not as many local, social amenities (clubs, groups and whatnot)

- Distance from 288 (518 traffic is often very bad).

- Not knowing what will occupy nearby empty land (shopping malls, self-storage, etc.)

Thanks to the TheNiche, Timnwendy, Musicman, and Vicman for the input...

Here's the thread I posted in its entirety:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...ic=9409&hl=

I went to take a look today.

The store itself (design, layout, & size) is impressive. The furniture, however, isn't exactly my thing. But it's definitely what, I imagine, Pearlanders will appreciate...

Pearland Police Department's new Crime Tracker: http://gisweb2.ci.pearland.tx.us/web/crime/index.cfm

As reported by Robert Stanton at "Inside Pearland"

Pearlanders now have a new way to fight crime, and it's right at their fingertips, courtesy of a new Web site launched by the Pearland Police Department.

By simply entering an address into the new Crime Tracker Mapping program, residents are able to access crime stats for their neighborhood.

There are two ways to access the information -- a Radius Summary Crime Tracker that generates a half-mile summary of reported crimes, along with a map and bar graph listing the crimes; and an Interactive Crime Tracker that displays an aerial view of the entire city.

So, I've been messing with for a bit. It's a little complicated and has a few bugs, but it's a fantastic concept. Seeing that little box on your street indicating a robbery will undoubtely make you more vigilant. Glad to see that the PD is embracing the power of the internet...

It takes a few minutes to get the hang of it, but it's definitly worth it.

Warning: this technology is not for paranoid people...

Regardless of whether or not the restrictions address the issue, the signs are allowed. You can refer to Texas HB 873 for more information. Signs must be allowed 90 days before an election and up to 10 days after an election. There are other restrictions, but if the guidelines are followed, the signs must be allowed by the HOA/POA. It was passed in 2005 by a margin of 138-0 and signed by Gov. Perry.

Wow, what a brilliant piece of legislation. Many liberal states don't even have such a law.

So I suppose I'll be able to put up a sign for the upcoming primary.

Thanks Houston Realtor!

And good luck Tim. The HOA really needs to represent the interests of the community.

Southern Trails deed restrictions section 9.21 reads as follows:

"9.21 Signs. No signs, flags or flag poles shall be displayed to the public view on any Lot without the prior written approval of the Architectural Control Committe, with the following exceptions: (i) Declarant and homebuilders may erect and maintain one or more signs or flags for the construction, development, operation, promotion and sale of the Lots: (ii) the patriotic display of flags not exceeding 4N x 6N in size shall be permitted on customary holidays; and (iii) signs of customary dimentions (3N x 4N maximum) advertising said property or portions thereof for sale. Notwithstanding anthing herein contained to the contrary, any and all signs, if allowed, shall comply with all sign standards of the City of Pearland, Texas, as such standards may be applicable to the Properties."

Thanks. That's truly a shame. I'm surprised to see no reference of election signs... Anyone know how to get in contact with this "Architectural Control Committee"?

thanks for clearing it up! glad to see that a fire station will be arriving soon!

On an unrelated note, does anyone know our HOA's stance on political yard signs? Are they banned entirely, or do they have time-limits? Anyone know?

Thanks,

Did you folks see them build it after you moved in? I suspect that (like many things in west Pearland) it was there first, and Southern Trails came along after it.

If that land between ST and the towncenter is really planned for more residential development, I don't see how that yellow tower can remain there. But then again, here in the greater Houston area, I guess anything is possible. They might just build around it!

It was definitely constructed recently, as I recall seeing it for the first time in Jan. or Dec.

But yeah, Houston does have ridiculous zoning laws...

I live in Southern Trails and love it. Nice, family-friendly...great people around. My only issue is that there is a drill (?) located nearby (in between us and the soon-to-be-completed Macy's) and some nights it's really, really loud.

Glad you mentioned that!

Are you referring to the large yellow tower with flags on top? I've been wondering what that was. It certaintly looks like some kind of drilling tool.

It's outrageous to think they're allowed to construct something like that in a strictly residential/commercial area...

I'm wondering how they will handle access to those new developments on the west side of 288 before 518. They can't hook in directly to 288, and extending roads from SCR or from behind the new HEB complex seems cumbersome. It would be nice if they built a feeder road along 288 between 2234 and 518. That would make for easy access. However, that would also take more approval (and maybe funding) from the state, right?

It looks like they're going to use Business Center Dr., which functions as a distant feeder road, connecting 2234 and 518. Though it's a bit too narrow and hidden to be a highway feeder. The article also says that they have a good deal of roads to lay before construction.

http://www.globest.com/news/1088_1088/houston/168053-1.html

Mark P. Carroll, vice president with Houston-based Crosswell Greenwood Commercial Development LLC, says Reserve at Shadow Creek Ranch's development was contingent upon Memorial Hermann's and Kelsey-Seybold's closings. Kelsey-Seybold will construct a two-building, 120,000-sf office complex on its 10-acre site. Memorial Hermann's planners haven't yet said what is planned for 12 acres that it acquired. The development sites are located at the intersection of Texas 288 and FM 518. No ground-breaking dates have been said although Carroll says both could get under way by early 2009.

According to the article, the new development will be built along the intersection of 288/518, so I believe they're referring to the open space running alongside 288S before the 518 exit (the land neighboring Memorial Hermann).

Glad to see that Kelsey-Seybold will be expanding; its Silverlake clinic is simply too small for such a large community. The developer also mentions his interest in selling the land to "multifamily" developers, which worries me quite a bit...

EDIT:

Map & site plan for the development discussed in the article, courtesy of Rajuncajun (thanks!):

http://thereserveatscr.com/Site-Plan.html

Hmm, maybe this is what will happen at the Waterlights park...

People will erupt into arguments over executive authority and presidential legacies!

In case you've haven't seen it, the Chron's "Inside Pearland" blog has an update on the Presidents' Heads:

http://blogs.chron.com/pearland/2008/02/fi...busts_head.html

Glad to see that FDR & JFK made the list!

I lived for a few years on Highway 3, in Clear Lake, a few miles away from Ellington.

To put it briefly: it was hell.

Those military jets are incredibly deafening. I can't even describe the pain...

http://thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8fe1512273d949ba

The 450-acre airport in Pearland's southeastern extraterritorial jurisdiction has about 235 airplanes in its hangars and sees about 120,000 takeoffs and landings each year.

It averages about $900,000 worth of revenue annually, Rivera said.

"Pearland's growing," he said. "We are fortunate. Our location makes us valuable."

Pearland city staff have taken notice of the improvements Rivera's company has made to the 68-year-old airport, and officials sent a non-binding letter of interest to Clover Acquisitions Inc. about the the possibility the city could purchase Pearland Regional Airport, Mayor Tom Reid said.

If the city purchases the airport, it would be used as a reliever airport, Reid said. As a reliever airport, it would provide space for smaller aircraft that would clutter the runways at Hobby Airport.

One reason the city is researching the airport is additional tax dollars, Reid said. An airport could bring in many aviation-related businesses to the area.

"There is additional space outside the airport where businesses could go," Reid said.

A city-operated airport would probably undergo regular expansion, meaning increased air traffic - something I could definitely do without! Of course, the location is considerably distant from "new" Pearland (see Google Maps).

I'm glad to see that Pearland is trying to diversify it's retail economy...

I'm not sure if anyone knows anything about the Spectrum project. It's been very shrouded in mystery. Much of it is supposed to be office buildings but let's wait 10 years for that to really take shape.

Fortunately, the Spectrum project recently began construction a few months ago, so it should be done in a few years.

Here's the website: http://www.thespectrumclearcreek.com/about...=about⊂=

Nice place, Timnwendy! Though these kind of pictures never really do the homes justice.

But on that note, there's a very nice Ashton Woods house that went on sale on our street. The front is fantastic, and the home itself is very spacious.

During construction, it had a buyer, but as soon as they finished it, the buyer dropped out (or so it seems), and now there's an "Available" sign.

Def. worth checking out. It's on Forest Sage Lane, towards the cul-de-sac. We'd love to have some neighbors

Nice job finding the site plan, Timnwendy! Definietly looks like that July 08' date might get pushed back.

It'll be interesting to have a mall 1 minute from the house...

I smell this odor even in our mall (very east) on the other side of 288 across from Shadow Creek Ranch. Even in the Mall the odor could be very-very strong. The mall is 2-3 miles east from us.

Perhaps you were smelling something else. Store garbage bins often produce strong smells in their immediate area.

It's highly unlikely that the odor would be present at such a great distance from the source, across a bustling highway, in such a large concentration.

But you may be right. Either Pearland Township or the SCR HOA ought to invest in accurately measuring the odor, so it can be properly addressed.

twgreen, can you tell me if the landscaping at the entrance to Southern Trails will eventually look like the photo I've attached? I pulled the photo from David Weekley's site advertising Southern Trails. Can you tell me if that little forest of trees will indeed be planted as frontage, or was that just an artist's conception? Thanks.

Wow! That looks extraordinary!

Southern Trails would, hands down, be the most appealing development if it had a entrance like that...

I've noticed this as well when we were looking at homes in SCR.

I believe that the physical location and type of market is to blame. That area is the least favorable in terms of distance from both 288/518 and the central amneties of SCR (big lakes, main community centers). Couple that with all the trouble within the sub-prime market (many of the homes in that area would likely be financed by sub-prime lenders), and you get a decline in the western section. It's important to note that this decline is not as widespread as one would imagine; there are certain sub-divisions within the SCR / Southern Trails area that are really turning properties.

I imagine that the western end will soon be filled, given the rapid retail expansion that's currently taking place on 518. I suppose it's only a matter of time...

With the money AW seems to be putting into the infrastructure at ST, I wonder why they don't do something about those unpainted wooden fences along Southern Trails Drive? If they want to attract more of the upscale buyers away from Shadowcreek Ranch, they should seriously consider replacing them with brick walls. Just my opinion.

I agree!

the restaurant poll is an interesting way of doing business... def. a plus!

Though crowded and moderately priced, the new HEB has an amazing selection, far better than Supertarget and/or Kroger. I especially like the organic/specialty products - glad to see such high quality products in a local store.

Thanks twgreen!

Do you know if the large lake in the front-right of Southern Trails Dr. will be raised? I'm not talking about the lakes with the Southern Trails signs

Thanks again!

Yea, you were right, it was just a pre-opening party. It WILL open on Nov 7., 6am to 12pm (midnight).