I am a member of the Westbury Civic Club Board and wanted to provide some facts to help understand why Westbury Square and Centerette are the way they are.
1. Westbury Square
There has been a lot of discussion about what to do with WS since the 1980's but the current ownership does not want to do anything with the property. There are theories as to why they don't want to do anything and you can speculate amongst yourselves. The City of Houston has tried a number of times to take action, but everytime they do the property title is transferred to a new "owner". Its a very messy situation and seems only to get messier. The property is in terrible condition and should be torn down. There are homeless folks living in a number of the closed retail locations. The theatre groups location has water leaks and huge holes in the back walls.
2. Westbury Centerette, Strip Center facing W. Bellfort next to Auto Zone, Exxon Station (abandoned)
The Centerette and Strip Center are owned by a family living in Mexico. There have been attempts to buy the property but as with family ownership there has yet to be complete agreement on a deal by all parties. So they sit and are an eyesore.
The Exxon Station which was closed in the late 1990's is currently abandoned and growing weeds and attracting graffitti. The tanks were removed by Exxon. The owner is Saeed Gaddi and his wife Shazia. Mr. Gaddi is quite active in the Indo-Pakistani community in Houston and owns other commercial property in the area. He even has a radio program. Several people have attempted to negotiate a sale but he is not interested in doing anything with the property. it might be a case where Councilman M.J. Khan (evidently a friend of Mr. Gaddi's) will have to intervene to get an abandoned building (which MJ hates) sold, demolished, or cleaned up.
3. Westbury Triangle Shopping Center w/99 cent only store
Our friends at Weingarten's realty own this shopping center. Evidently they kept ownership of it from the 1960's when a Weingartens was located there. The center is currently over 25% vacant since CVS abandoned the store. The auto repair isn't really welcome by Westbury residents, we've already got enough auto repair eyesores. I've suggested we try and get them to redevelop the center and buy up the Westbury Square land and create a really nice shopping village.
The civic club is very active and is working on a lot of plans. Westbury has a lot of potential and with the changes coming as a result of Willow Waterhole park and a new Master Plan for the community things are very exciting for us.
Do you know anything about the attempts that have been made to purchase the Exxon station and the property owned by the family in Mexico? It would seem like if they got a good enough offer they would be willing to sell, but as you said, some people don't have sense.
I live in Westbury and drive by that place every day, and for some reason a few months ago I began to wonder what the situation was there. I was delighted to find the information you posted.
I am curious to know how much has been offered and what has prevented a deal from going through. Also, do you know if has anyone recently tried to buy either property?
Westbury Square History
in Historic Houston
Posted
Do you know anything about the attempts that have been made to purchase the Exxon station and the property owned by the family in Mexico? It would seem like if they got a good enough offer they would be willing to sell, but as you said, some people don't have sense.
I live in Westbury and drive by that place every day, and for some reason a few months ago I began to wonder what the situation was there. I was delighted to find the information you posted.
I am curious to know how much has been offered and what has prevented a deal from going through. Also, do you know if has anyone recently tried to buy either property?