brigantes

Not that I speak for Macbro...but I don't think he was referring specifically to you...there are a lot of people on this forum that try to bash any area other than their own, and a lot of people that hear about one unfortunate crime committed in a generally nice area and espouse a sky is falling mentality about the area turning ghetto. I have only ever lived in one other city (Austin)...but does anyone else have any experience with another place that has more upper-middle class areas afraid of turning bad than Houston...is this unique to Houston because of it's sprawl? I knkow this wasn't around in Austin.

Honestly, is there any other place that has the zoning issues (or, more appropriately, lack of zoning issues) of Houston? I don't think it's 'racism' or snobbery that drive these concerns, some of which are admittedly hyped and without substance. Rather, what lies behind this reaction to dilapidation and crime is the fear of losing valuation in what is usually the largest investment most people make...their home. To me, it isn't about living in a big house in a perfect neighborhood or having neighbors who look different from me...I could not care less about that. No, to me, it's about putting money into my home and then losing it.

Why would you drive all the way to The Galleria? That's crazy. Willowbrook isn't that bad.

Because, though I live in the suburbs, I do very commonly venture outside the boundaries of the Great Northwest. (Imagine that macbro. ) My son has private music instruction in the Old Spring Branch area, my husband's business is on Post Oak, we have friends in MidTown, I love everything the Rice U area has to offer, our docs are at the Med Center....so a run to Galleria is no more inconvenient than a run to Willowbrook, and much more preferable.

No ... I think you and I are in agreement. I guess it just bites when people downgrade an entire swath of an area or city for whatever reason.

Some folks do it because, well ...they're snobs and can't imagine living anywhere else other than (fill in the blanks). Others do it because they really are scared to step out of their houses or get fearful when they see someone (or many .. too many?) of a different ethnic or racial group.

Some people just like to talk and some people (as I've said in another group) seem to be (or act as) know-it-alls about everything. Everything.

I think you are taking a big leap regarding what people are trying to say on this forum. You infer snobbery or racism based on what? That some people are concerned about the twin facts of increased crime, and commerce centers that have been allowed to age to the point of being eyesores, in specific areas along FM1960?

As I've said, I've lived in this area for 20 years. My eyes and ears don't lie to me.

And since I am new to this forum, I certainly hope you are not referring to me with your derogatory comments about 'know-it-alls'. Personally, I think it's nice to get to know people a little before I consider calling them names.

Ah hyperbole. What would we do without it.

I've personally never said I was afraid to leave my house or that 1960 or Willowbrook is 'ghetto'. But the facts are, whether anyone wants to deal in them or not, crime has increased in the mall area, many commercial areas have been allowed to decline aesthetically and one has to wonder if reinvestment in the area is coming in time to woo customers back and away from newer and better commerce centers. And one has to wonder, does greening up the medians even matter if there are Zone d'Eroticas popping everywhere? It's a mixed bag...and to say the final outcome is not certain is just practical observation.

I'm sorry, but I am just not seeing what you guys are talking about...I think "pretty rundown" is a very applicable phrase for the shopping centers along 1960 with are getting up there in age now. Yeah, they built apartments and now there is a little more crime and undesirable looking cars in the area, but ghetto??? I don't think so, not even close. My wife and I spend a lot time over there eating at County line, shopping at Willowbrook even with the "newer" clientel. We have even seen movies at the AMC on the other side of 249. I go to REI all the time. We had our baby at Methodist Willowbrook. This area is not as bad as is being described here. I am sorry you had your car vandalized, but those things happen everywhere, at every mall, and it is a petty crime even though I know how violated and angry it makes you feel. And as many times as I have stopped at Willowbrook and run in to make a puchase, our cars have never been vandalized (eknock on wood).

In my opinion, hopefully the Mall will be renovated as it is sorely needed. And hopefully the work to beautify 1960 will trickle down to some of the aging shopping centers to get some facelifts.

I should note that I am only talking about the Willowbrook area, the closer you get to 45, the more and more I agree with most of these comments.

I have the same hopes cnote. But the first step is recognizing there has been a decline in the Willowbrook area. I'm pretty plugged in in our area and I know of very few people who go to the Willowbrook area for anything other than an infrequent run for an absolute necessity. Fifteen years ago, I was in the mall or shopping that area from Toys R Us to the former Oshmans on a weekly basis. Now I take my business to 290/SC Road, or the Galleria. I'd love to get our Willowbrook back to it's former self. But nothing will happen if everyone insists there isn't a problem.

Yes...to my mind...Champions extends from the beltway side of 1960 (I'm thinking Kinsmen area) all the way north to SC Road (the direction of the expansion Mr. Football describes). In my post I am strictly speaking of commercial part of Champions which is located along FM 1960 (FM1960 and Willowbrook being the topic of discussion), not the expansion of of residential neighborhoods north to Louetta and SC Road. And I am lamenting primarily the condition of 1960 from east of Champions and from Willowbrook to almost Eldridge. To say those areas are have gotten 'pretty rundown' is putting it mildy....and they do flank the 1960 portion of Champions. If people in Champions are 'on notice' about the slide, then good on them. They should be.

I went over to the Champions area tonight for dinner tonight and instantly thought about how ludicrous some of the comments on this thread are.

For now. But I know Alan Murphy decided to get while the getting was good. And according to employees there, more of their neighboring retailers plan to leave as well. I do agree with the comments about retailers following their clientele. But then the question becomes why are their clientele moving away from the FM 1960 area?

Right now, Champions at 1960 is a little pocket of upscale commerce...but to the east and to the west....not so good. So how long can Champions hold out? We've lived in this area for 20 years and sometimes I'm taken aback when I think of how things used to be on FM 1960, when I would run my kids to the pediatrician down at Red Oak or pop in to the wallpaper store near Kuykendahl, and how things are now. From west of Stuebner to I-45, forget it. From Willowbrook past Fallbrook, forget it.

One other thing....

I don't know if this attempt to hold the line at FM1960 is too little-too late. I know of some retailers and business owners moving off 1960 and further north....Alan Murphy to Vintage, Silkz to SC Road, etc......because the area has gotten too rough. Seems like some are taking the approach that rather than 'hold the line', they'll 'move the line'.

I guess my point is that entire area is what I consider the Willowbrook Mall area. For lack of a better term, I think we all refer to that huge area of retail/commerce as Willowbrook or Willowbrook Mall.

I do not think we are at the Greenspoint stage yet, but something needs to happen or that's where we'll end up.

It's a sad state of affairs when you cannot watch a movie because of hoodlums fighting in the lobby and outdoor entrance to the movie and incorrigibles pulling the fire alarm. The last movie we attended, someone pulled the alarm and the theatre was evacuated THREE times during one movie. We never went back.

It's a sad state of affairs when a retired gentlemen decides to take in an afternoon matinee alone and is beaten so badly IN the theatre, he must be hospitalized.

It's a sad state of affairs when you cannot run into a department store at 5 p.m to pick up a quick gift without wondering if your vehicle will be vandalized. Last year, I was parked in the very FIRST parking space near a department store door at 5 p.m. and after 20 minutes, returned to my vehicle to find the back gate window bashed. City of Houston police never came. I waited, with a mall cop, for two hours and they finally called us back and asked if we wouldn't mind filing a report from home because they were too busy with other, bigger crimes.

And it is a sad state of affairs if people are taking shots at each other in locations and on streets I would very much consider to be a part of the Willowbrook Mall area.

Isn't the Jack in the Box and Sports Authority at Mills and 1960, one traffic light away from Willowbrook Mall? (Grant Road intersects SH 249, not FM 1960, near Methodist Hospital.)