Sharpstown Mall/PlazAmericas At 7500 Bellaire Blvd.

[musicman]

If you tore down Sharpstown Mall, where would TV Johnny go? His grills are world-renowned!

dang and co is already in the galleria.

[WAZ]

There is a retractable-roof mall in Dubai. There is a proposal for a retractable-roof mall in Phoenix AZ.

The Sharpstown Mall was Houston's first indoor, air conditioned shopping mall. It would be fitting to renovate it into Houston's first mall with a retractable roof.

Not that I think a developer would be willing to put up that kind of money in Sharpstown. At least, not just yet. It's sad. Sharpstown is in a great location, but its reputation still scares investors away.

[infinite_jim]

nothing will make a difference until you address the "people" that "bez chillin der"....until that is cleaned up no one will want to come near there for anything

This is why I do not think that Sharpstown needs to be redeveloped more so than the circumscribing neighborhoods that have a greater influence on the area as a whole. A twenty year community redevelopment program is needed to both rise the tide of education in the public sector and IMHO serious tax incentives needed to "de-densify" the suburban scaled and internal cloistered development patterns of the apartment complexes in the area.

I'm thinking on the scale of the tear-downs of downtown and midtown in the late 60's - 70's. The problem has always existed, by way of short sighted, poorly designed developments of 2-4 storey stick frame complexes in the late 70's-early 80's. If more oversight were present at the time of their planning this area would not have had the "dross" effect it currently represents; but that is hindsight now and not a genuine concern of our city.

FWIW I do not have a problem with low-income housing at all, but when clustered largely in one part of town like Gulfton, it breeds an unhealthy ghetto like environment. That is a detriment to the generation being raised in the area. With diverse demographics and socioeconomic housing options, neighborhoods benefit from the equalizer that is public space and the public life that comes with it. An example of this goodwill is when people drive courteously it tends to influence other drivers in proximity to drive courteously, however the the same is true for bad driving and it's infectiousness. This where gov't should reward good behavior from developers and ignore (or punish/tax in extreme cases) bad behavior w/r/t urban planning in a non-zoned city.

The only reason I can think of for improving the mall would be to attract more affluent residents in it's adjacency.

[TexasVines]

FWIW I do not have a problem with low-income housing at all, but when clustered largely in one part of town like Gulfton, it breeds an unhealthy ghetto like environment. That is a detriment to the generation being raised in the area. With diverse demographics and socioeconomic housing options, neighborhoods benefit from the equalizer that is public space and the public life that comes with it.

actually recent studies that HONESTLY looked at the issue have disproven this theory

all recent studies have shown when you spread out the ghetto all you do is spread out the ghetto and tear down neighborhoods that were marginal or even decent further towards a ghetto

this is why section 8 and programs like it are so despised by anyone that has lived in an area that has section 8ers

[WAZ]

actually recent studies that HONESTLY looked at the issue have disproven this theory

all recent studies have shown when you spread out the ghetto all you do is spread out the ghetto and tear down neighborhoods that were marginal or even decent further towards a ghetto

this is why section 8 and programs like it are so despised by anyone that has lived in an area that has section 8ers

I believe that. I've seen it first hand.

On a grand scale, the only answer to the apartment problem is to stop subsidizing new low-cost apartments. Instead use those subsidies to renovate or demolish problem apartments and replace those demolished with mixed use developments and parks.

But I digress.

[TexasVines]

I believe that. I've seen it first hand.

On a grand scale, the only answer to the apartment problem is to stop subsidizing new low-cost apartments. Instead use those subsidies to renovate or demolish problem apartments and replace those demolished with mixed use developments and parks.

But I digress.

fixing up what people have torn up so they can tear it up again is not the answer

the real answer is much more simple than that

[gwilson]

The single biggest problem Sharpstown has is the low income apartments along Gessner, Bellaire, Fondren and behind Sharpstown Mall. If those went away, Sharpstown could enjoy its hay-day once again.

I get a lot of grief from people, generally who have no clue about the area, its history, or the real crime states either, for defending Sharpstown. I live in Sharpstown and will more than likely always live here until I can afford to spend 3mil on a lot and move to Rivercrest.

Right now I'm looking at a lot on the NW side of the Golf Course and even looking at a couple condos on the Golf Course, but since I have to worry about the old folks I live with, that might not happen.

Most of Sharpstown's poor image comes from the media who lumps SW Houston and Sharpstown together. When someone is murdered or robbed in Braeswood, Westbury, Alief, Meyerland, Forum Park, Fondren SW, etc, (where most of the crime actually is) people identify that with Sharpstown unless it is said otherwise. You can sift through the crime stats and see that there are virtually no violent crimes in Sharpstown. The ones that were happening consistently were in the parking lot of the Carnival night club, which is now shut down thanks to the efforts of the Sharpstown community (Now we just have to get Pappagayo's shut down!).

Sharpstown is a very safe place but I do acknowledge the grime along the main thoroughfares.

Let me ask this question though, if you had the ability to condem all of the apartments and duplexes down Gessner, the crappy apartments down Ranchester, the crappy apartments behind Sharpstown mall, what would you do with the area to make it financially viable? If you can answer that question, then we'd be n the right track to save the landmark that is Sharpstown Mall and the historical area that is Sharpstown.

[Jeebus]

There was just another shooting at the Sharpstown Mall.

It raises the question: should the Sharpstown Mall be torn down?

I'm of the view that surrounding areas will come back if the Sharpstown Mall can be addressed. I would let those work themselves out.

OK, I'll end my pipe dream here. Reality is that I guess the Sharpstown Mall should be torn down - but as an architect I am a dreamer.

First off, the shooting was at an apartment complex on Bellerive.

Second, if you tear down the Sharpstown mall, you're just going to get all that traffic to go to a different mall more often than they do now (think First Colony, Memorial City, or the Galleria) and drag it down.

Third, there is nothing you can do to any of the commercial space in Sharpstown until you address the low-rent apartment living surrounding it.

Fourth, even if you did do something about all those low rent apartment, i.e. evict the tenants and demolish them, they will just find a new neighborhood to destroy.

Its Sharpstown's destiny to accept the poor, the criminal, and the illegal. If it doesn't harbor them, then that means yet another marginal, on the edge neighborhood, will have to suffer.

Edited December 8, 2008 by Jeebus

[WAZ]

Its Sharpstown's destiny to accept the poor, the criminal, and the illegal. If it doesn't harbor them, then that means yet another marginal, on the edge neighborhood, will have to suffer.

The poor, the criminal, and the illegal already are ruining other neighborhoods. There was a cop who lost his life off West Tidwell in Northwest Houston. Alief is terribe. West Bellfort is horrible. Highway 6 near the Westpark Tollway and Beechnut is starting to go downhill in a big way. So is the FM1960 area.

Cities are dynamic things, and it is never one neighborhood's "destiny to accept the city's poor, criminal, and illegal."

[WAZ]

The single biggest problem Sharpstown has is the low income apartments along Gessner, Bellaire, Fondren and behind Sharpstown Mall. If those went away, Sharpstown could enjoy its hay-day once again.

I get a lot of grief from people, generally who have no clue about the area, its history, or the real crime states either, for defending Sharpstown. I live in Sharpstown and will more than likely always live here until I can afford to spend 3mil on a lot and move to Rivercrest.

Right now I'm looking at a lot on the NW side of the Golf Course and even looking at a couple condos on the Golf Course, but since I have to worry about the old folks I live with, that might not happen.

You're right. People think "Sharpstown" and they immediately think "apartments and criminals and bad schools, Oh My!" it blinds them to all the good things about Sharpstown.

HBU is in Sharpstown. It's a university with an $80 million endowment, a new President, and big plans for the future.

Memorial Herman Southwest is in Sharpstown - a major hospital with a Level III trauma center that could well go to Level II in the near future.

There are three golf courses with easy access to Sharpstown - one public course and two private country clubs.

Most of all, though, is Sharpstown's location and price. If you look for houses in other places with that short a commute (Memorial, Bellaire), you're looking at $300,000 lot-value-only fixer uppers. You can buy something perfectly livable in Sharpstown for $100,000.

But to get back to the Sharpstown Mall. My experience is that people who live in houses in and around Sharpstown, don't shop at the Sharpstown Mall. I live just outside Sharpstown myself, and I drive by the Sharpstown Mall every day. But when I want to shop, I go to Meyerland Plaza. That was the impetus for my dream.

[tomv]

nothing will make a difference until you address the "people" that "bez chillin der"....until that is cleaned up no one will want to come near there for anything

This is only my opinion, but I do not think putting quotation marks around the word people is necessary or helpful.

I realize there are problems with the mall and with a few of the people who hang out there. However, There's a well known quote that says you can't solve the problem at the level of the problem.....

That being said, I guess I am showing my age by remembering that when the mall was built in the 60's, it actually had two sets of restrooms, one set for "regular" folks, and a second set for "colored" folks.

Now we have a black president. We've come a long way in a short time.

Always take the high road.

[Fringe]

HBU is in Sharpstown. It's a university with an $80 million endowment, a new President, and big plans for the future.

Memorial Herman Southwest is in Sharpstown - a major hospital with a Level III trauma center that could well go to Level II in the near future.

There are three golf courses with easy access to Sharpstown - one public course and two private country clubs.

My sons girlfriend attends HBU. It's not the school it once was. They warn the students early about the area and how it's not safe.

Have you ever been in the Memorial Herman Southwest ER? Be prepared to wait a long time before getting treated. Illegal aliens use it like a clinic.

I still golf at the Sharpstown course. Best course in town for the money. Now they have to get your drivers license as a deposit until you bring back the keys to the golf cart. They are constantly being stolen.

Sharpstown still has some nice little pockets but the only way the area will ever come back is if they mow down every single apartment complex on the southwest side of Houston.

[TexasVines]

This is only my opinion, but I do not think putting quotation marks around the word people is necessary or helpful.

I realize there are problems with the mall and with a few of the people who hang out there. However, There's a well known quote that says you can't solve the problem at the level of the problem.....

That being said, I guess I am showing my age by remembering that when the mall was built in the 60's, it actually had two sets of restrooms, one set for "regular" folks, and a second set for "colored" folks.

Now we have a black president. We've come a long way in a short time.

Always take the high road.

so pretending that many around there don't act like animals will solve the issue....maybe if we all close our eyes and click our heals we can pretend we are not about to get mugged at Sharpstown Mall....especially when we just closed our eyes for a second!

some may have come a long way.....but many more have gone a long ways backwards......no matter what one thinks about separate facilities for races only a fool would argue that Shaprstown was not a hell of a lot safer back then than it is today.....if 70% of black kids born in single parent homes and 50% of black kids graduating high school along with a half black president raised by white grand parents and sent to all the best private schools....much less the condition of Sharpstown and Greenspoint (even with multirace bathrooms) is progress then I would hate to see what lack of progress is

I guess progress to some is having access to and the ability to destroy and dump on and ignore what others have

also nowhere did I mention race until this post responding to yours.......don't try and push your feelings and "insight" about the animals that trash that mall and many others off on me......you were the one that took a word "people" and injected race into it not me.......which tells me you may deep down know where the issue is, but try and ignore it and pawn it off on others as their thoughts and statements.....when the reality is you see what anyone without blinders on sees....but you don't have the guts to allow yourself to realize what you are seeing

Edited December 8, 2008 by TexasVines

[Fringe]

Carefull TexasVines. In our "politicaly correct" climate, some people do not like to hear the truth.

[jgriff]

I try to stay away from the area but I drove through there a few months back just to check it out. The most memorable thing was a guy whos pants were so low that he could have pooped without hitting them. He was holding them up with one hand while walking down the street.

I say leave it as is. At least we know where to stay away from.

Edited December 9, 2008 by jgriff

[WAZ]

I'm of the view that surrounding areas will come back if the Sharpstown Mall can be addressed. I would let those work themselves out.

I wish I hadn't written that.

It is what I want to believe. I want to think that by Sharpstown's location, the surrounding location will come back if something big is done (like fixing the Sharpstown Mall). But I'm really not convinced that it will work out that way. It may take some intervention into the apartments to get the commercial portion of Sharpstown turned around.

I will add, though - it is unrealistic to expect all the apartments in Sharpstown to be demolished. Nor is it needed. Only a small portion of the apartments in Sharpstown are so bad they need to be demolished. Another portion is marginal, and could be OK if they were put under new ownership and management.

[N Judah]

Obviously none of you have been in town long enough to have seen the turnaround at Memorial City. Trust me, all the malingering in the world won't improve an area, no matter how you feel about anybody else.

[TexasVines]

Obviously none of you have been in town long enough to have seen the turnaround at Memorial City. Trust me, all the malingering in the world won't improve an area, no matter how you feel about anybody else.

Memorial City was never close to being in an area as bad as Sharpstown Mall....and sticking your head in the sand has never done much as well

[gwilson]

First off, the shooting was at an apartment complex on Bellerive.

Second, if you tear down the Sharpstown mall, you're just going to get all that traffic to go to a different mall more often than they do now (think First Colony, Memorial City, or the Galleria) and drag it down.

Third, there is nothing you can do to any of the commercial space in Sharpstown until you address the low-rent apartment living surrounding it.

Fourth, even if you did do something about all those low rent apartment, i.e. evict the tenants and demolish them, they will just find a new neighborhood to destroy.

Its Sharpstown's destiny to accept the poor, the criminal, and the illegal. If it doesn't harbor them, then that means yet another marginal, on the edge neighborhood, will have to suffer.

I'm more than happy to let them move to another neighborhood. I'm no socialist. They have no right to bring down my quality of life. So if they move on to Alief, fine with me, so long as they aren't in my area.

[gwilson]

My sons girlfriend attends HBU. It's not the school it once was. They warn the students early about the area and how it's not safe.

Have you ever been in the Memorial Herman Southwest ER? Be prepared to wait a long time before getting treated. Illegal aliens use it like a clinic.

I still golf at the Sharpstown course. Best course in town for the money. Now they have to get your drivers license as a deposit until you bring back the keys to the golf cart. They are constantly being stolen.

Sharpstown still has some nice little pockets but the only way the area will ever come back is if they mow down every single apartment complex on the southwest side of Houston.

HBU is still a great school and the area is plenty safe. HBU is very near the beginings of the Fondren SW/West Belfort Area (down Fondren toward Bissonett) and it does get bad down there some times.

SW ERs is just fine. The wait there is no different than any other and patients are treated them same as well. If you have a true emergency, you'll get in immediately. If you're there for the sniffles, you'll be waiting. Just like every other hospital in town.

Sharpstown GC could use some work, but it is still a great course. My uncle and I had some ideas of having it privatized or at least semi-private so there could be some investment in it to improve the grounds and facilities.

The "pockets" actually make up the majority of the land area. The neighborhoods is where you see the true beauty of Sharpstown. That isn't to say there are some who let their houses fall in to disrepair, but my neighborhood, and the neighborhood surrounding the Golf Course are very nice.

so pretending that many around there don't act like animals will solve the issue....maybe if we all close our eyes and click our heals we can pretend we are not about to get mugged at Sharpstown Mall....especially when we just closed our eyes for a second!

some may have come a long way.....but many more have gone a long ways backwards......no matter what one thinks about separate facilities for races only a fool would argue that Shaprstown was not a hell of a lot safer back then than it is today.....if 70% of black kids born in single parent homes and 50% of black kids graduating high school along with a half black president raised by white grand parents and sent to all the best private schools....much less the condition of Sharpstown and Greenspoint (even with multirace bathrooms) is progress then I would hate to see what lack of progress is

I guess progress to some is having access to and the ability to destroy and dump on and ignore what others have

also nowhere did I mention race until this post responding to yours.......don't try and push your feelings and "insight" about the animals that trash that mall and many others off on me......you were the one that took a word "people" and injected race into it not me.......which tells me you may deep down know where the issue is, but try and ignore it and pawn it off on others as their thoughts and statements.....when the reality is you see what anyone without blinders on sees....but you don't have the guts to allow yourself to realize what you are seeing

Holy crap! Great post.

You will no doubt be labeled a racist, but great post regardless.

Memorial City was never close to being in an area as bad as Sharpstown Mall....and sticking your head in the sand has never done much as well

How do you define bad? If you mean crime, Sharpstown isn't bad. The crime rate in the area is exponentially lower than most think it is. The trashy apartments and the trash that live there are the problem. I wouldn't go out and immediately call them all criminals, but I would, at the least, say they have no respect for those around them nor pride in their surroundings.

[TexasVines]

Holy crap! Great post.

You will no doubt be labeled a racist, but great post regardless.

it happens so often on the internet for me that I just laugh....people can brand me anything they wish, but I will not be the one suffering the wrath of those they take up for....usually it will be the ones they take up for suffering it the most....and strangely I never mention any race....but those trying to brand me always do....and strangely I have never felt that the inability to wear cloths properly, act decently in public, turn down the volume of music, avoid starting large fights in malls, avoid milling about and just trashing a place and using horrible language and making rude comments to people especially girls and women was something that should only be looked down on when one particular race does it......but again one particular race always seems to use their race as an excuse to excuse that behavior ...and to attempt to brand those that look down on it or go to lengths to avoid it as racist

How do you define bad? If you mean crime, Sharpstown isn't bad. The crime rate in the area is exponentially lower than most think it is. The trashy apartments and the trash that live there are the problem. I wouldn't go out and immediately call them all criminals, but I would, at the least, say they have no respect for those around them nor pride in their surroundings.

by bad I mean the mall was never surrounded by horrible low rent apartments full up of people trashing the place they call "home".....and the mall itself was mostly dead VS filled with losers that can't pull their pants up or avoid clogging entrances and passage ways while those actually shopping are forced to go around them and or suffer their dirty looks and insults....much less the sometimes violent behavior

[N Judah]

Memorial City was never close to being in an area as bad as Sharpstown Mall....and sticking your head in the sand has never done much as well

The mall itself used to be much worse...and the area north of I-10 was about as bad as Sharpstown is now.

[DrFood]

The thing that amazes me is how many discussions there are on HAIF about Sharpstown. Folks seem to be obsessed with beating a dead horse to death.....and that horse that is being beaten is Sharpstown as a whole. The heart of each discussion seems to be the mall. Well if that is the impetus to get a fix started, then someone buy the mall demolish it and do something good with the land and surrounding property.

I am a native Houstonian and my family moved into 1 of the first houses built by Vista Homes in 1966 just west of Gessner and Beechnut (for the first 11 years of my life we lived in Braeburn Terrace). My dad commuted everyday along Hillcroft to Westheimer until we moved to Sharpstown so I was able to watch Sharpstown grow from the original sales office at Hillcroft/Bellaire (torn down and the Citgo Station sits on that location now). I watched them build Sharpstown Mall. I watched them extend the SW Freeway out from 610 to Hillcroft to Beechnut to Bissonett and further out. I attended Pat Neff in 1/2 of 4th grade and all of 5th grade. I was in the first 6th grade class of Ed White Elementary and in the first 7th grade class of then Sharpstown Jr./Sr. High School (Now Sharpstown Middle School). My folks still live in the house they purchased brand new in 1966.

I own a home in Westbury near Hillcroft/W. Bellfort (14.5 years now). And FYI Westbury is not a hot bed of crime as some on here would have you believe. I've been on the civic club board and know the crime statistics for the area.....we are not a hot bed of crime.

I think I can speak expertly as someone who knows Sharpstown and the surrounding area. Much moreso than yankees who moved in during the late 70s and 80s. And the folks who moved in after the oil bust because you could get a house for cheap.

There is a simply solution to Sharpstown.

1. Demolish the apt and townhomes along Gessner, Beechnut, Ranchester, Town Park, and along Bellaire Blvd and the area around Jane Long and the old Sharpstown General Hospital. Replace them with single family homes. If you look at areas like Meyerland and Maplewood that have single family homes along major streets you will not see the crime and "ghetto" influence. What do you do with the folks who live in the demolished properties. Create apartment communities where you have zoned building and building codes. Heck put them on the site of Sharpstown Mall. If you create an apartment enclave and provide services such as transportation and shopping within walking distance you will have a more urban like setting similar to Chicago or NYC. You haven't kicked the apt dwellers out of Sharpstown, you've simply managed housing in a more efficient manner. I cannot think of any city in North America or Europe that has successfully integrated apartments into single family home neighborhoods as we keep trying to do here in Houston.

2. Demolish all of the old run down retail like Target on 59 and K-Mart on 59 and Sam White Olds (no long Sam White) and create some green space along the freeway. We don't need all the land paved over. Make Sharpstown a green community.

3. Create a zone similar to the Heights where you have mandatory deed restrictions and homeowners covenants.

4. Run light rail down Bellaire Blvd or Beechnut run it N-S on Hillcroft and Gessner. Reclaim some of the green space that once was esplanades. Again make Sharpstown greener.

5. Get the churchs involved in the rebirth. I went to Sharpstown Baptist and they just celebrated their 50th anniversary. I didn't even find out about it until after the fact. Churchs in Sharpstown site on huge chunks of land and can be a pillar to the community. They were when I was growing up. Now most of them are barely hanging on financially and have to host multiple congregations just to maintain a physical plant.

I have yet to see anyone address the chunk being lost directly across the street from the mall....what happens with the Circuit City building? Let's hope a dubz shop or another carnecaria move in.

I disagree 100% with the comparison of Memorial City and Sharpstown. No way can you ever equate the 2. Memorial City Mall simply suffered from neglect and a poor management. They never had ghettos and criminals living within close proximity. You never had "grillz" shops in Memorial City. But you did have a hospital and a property management company come in and decide to make the area a focal point for the city. Unfortunately Memorial Herman and even HBU are simply too far from the current mall site to make a difference in Sharpstown Mall.

As I've said on numerous posts about Sharpstown. I refuse to visit my folks after dark. The area is simply too unsafe for me to be driving around. And I don't say this lightly. I will walk or drive around Chicago, NYC, Miami, DC, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney at any time of the day or night and I never feel unsafe. And I will drive around Houston at all hours of the day EXCEPT Sharpstown. Fondren Southwest is safer than Sharpstown. I get gas at W. Airport and Fondren at all hours of the day, never feel unsafe. I shop at Fiesta and Walgreens on Fondren. Never feel unsafe. But I do not feel safe at CVS at Gessner/Beechnut except in full daylight.

It's going to take a visonary person to fix Sharpstown by leading a group of folks.

The mall itself used to be much worse...and the area north of I-10 was about as bad as Sharpstown is now.

[Vertigo58]

That is the best comments I have ever heard relating to this eyesore mall.

Its so tempting to aim a rocket launcher or military-like flame thrower at it as you pass by on 59.

Its a shame that Hurricane Ike couldnt have done the demo to this dump for the city free of charge. This place is a true embarassment to the city as a whole ...Ars gratia artis.

[Fringe]

West Oaks mall is not far behind.

[Pumapayam]

West Oaks mall is not far behind.

No so, unlike Sharpstown Mall, West Oaks had a complete renovation similar to Memorial City. Looks wise, Sharpstown looks dated and the collection of stores within is questionable.

[Fringe]

No so, unlike Sharpstown Mall, West Oaks had a complete renovation similar to Memorial City. Looks wise, Sharpstown looks dated and the collection of stores within is questionable.

It's not the mall. It's the Alief area clientele.

[Jeebus]

No so, unlike Sharpstown Mall, West Oaks had a complete renovation similar to Memorial City. Looks wise, Sharpstown looks dated and the collection of stores within is questionable.

Actually, I'm going to have to disagree with you. In spite of a great West-Texas themed renovation, stores are still pulling out. Linens-N-Things, as well as Steve and Barry's are the latest two, both which were considered anchors to the mall.

Too many other "upscale" developments like First Colony Mall, Town & Country/Memorial City, La Centerra, the Galleria, and even the two big outlet malls to the west/northwest, have made retailers withdraw from West Oaks Mall.

I do foresee West Oaks Mall seeking out more independent "urban" retailers to replace the nation franchises that keep pulling out for greener pastures - similar to that of Sharpstown. I do not see it closing though, as its all alone where it sits and will always have customers.

This article eludes to its troubles.

[Jeebus]

1. Demolish the apt and townhomes along Gessner, Beechnut, Ranchester, Town Park, and along Bellaire Blvd and the area around Jane Long and the old Sharpstown General Hospital. Replace them with single family homes. If you look at areas like Meyerland and Maplewood that have single family homes along major streets you will not see the crime and "ghetto" influence. What do you do with the folks who live in the demolished properties. Create apartment communities where you have zoned building and building codes. Heck put them on the site of Sharpstown Mall. If you create an apartment enclave and provide services such as transportation and shopping within walking distance you will have a more urban like setting similar to Chicago or NYC. You haven't kicked the apt dwellers out of Sharpstown, you've simply managed housing in a more efficient manner. I cannot think of any city in North America or Europe that has successfully integrated apartments into single family home neighborhoods as we keep trying to do here in Houston.

That's a great idea, but you're basically describing the same failed developments that made Chicago and New York City famous.

2. Demolish all of the old run down retail like Target on 59 and K-Mart on 59 and Sam White Olds (no long Sam White) and create some green space along the freeway. We don't need all the land paved over. Make Sharpstown a green community.

This is a great idea I'd love to see all over the city. I don't live inside the city so I have no say in the matter, but if I were a resident, I would gladly pay a higher tax to have the Mayor's Office run an "Office of Urban Renewal". This office would seek out dilapidated properties that with tax money would be demolished and converted into green-space, or purchased and re-sold to re-development firms to create new development from the existing parcels.

3. Create a zone similar to the Heights where you have mandatory deed restrictions and homeowners covenants.

Sharpstown is not deed restricted already? The "Welcome To Sharpstown" sign seems to think so.

4. Run light rail down Bellaire Blvd or Beechnut run it N-S on Hillcroft and Gessner. Reclaim some of the green space that once was esplanades. Again make Sharpstown greener.

Well, you just got the Bellaire BRT! I know, I know, its not light rail, but yes, light rail down Bellaire and Bissonnet would greatly improve the area.

5. Get the churchs involved in the rebirth. I went to Sharpstown Baptist and they just celebrated their 50th anniversary. I didn't even find out about it until after the fact. Churchs in Sharpstown site on huge chunks of land and can be a pillar to the community. They were when I was growing up. Now most of them are barely hanging on financially and have to host multiple congregations just to maintain a physical plant.

Good advice.

I have yet to see anyone address the chunk being lost directly across the street from the mall....what happens with the Circuit City building? Let's hope a dubz shop or another carnecaria move in.

Who was it that got involved and kept the owner of Carnival from building on the old Gillman lot? Perhaps they could get involved.

As I've said on numerous posts about Sharpstown. I refuse to visit my folks after dark. The area is simply too unsafe for me to be driving around. And I don't say this lightly. I will walk or drive around Chicago, NYC, Miami, DC, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney at any time of the day or night and I never feel unsafe. And I will drive around Houston at all hours of the day EXCEPT Sharpstown. Fondren Southwest is safer than Sharpstown. I get gas at W. Airport and Fondren at all hours of the day, never feel unsafe. I shop at Fiesta and Walgreens on Fondren. Never feel unsafe. But I do not feel safe at CVS at Gessner/Beechnut except in full daylight.

Now that I'm married & have a daughter I've grown to feel this way too, after dark, on certain thoroughfares like Westheimer west of 610, Bellaire west of Chimney Rock, Bissonnet west of Hilcroft. Gang-bangers don't take they bus on the west-side, they drive just like you and me - and I don't like sharing the roads with them.

[gwilson]

As I've said on numerous posts about Sharpstown. I refuse to visit my folks after dark. The area is simply too unsafe for me to be driving around. And I don't say this lightly. I will walk or drive around Chicago, NYC, Miami, DC, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney at any time of the day or night and I never feel unsafe. And I will drive around Houston at all hours of the day EXCEPT Sharpstown. Fondren Southwest is safer than Sharpstown. I get gas at W. Airport and Fondren at all hours of the day, never feel unsafe. I shop at Fiesta and Walgreens on Fondren. Never feel unsafe. But I do not feel safe at CVS at Gessner/Beechnut except in full daylight.

This part still gets me. Sharpstown is simply NOT unsafe. Thinking it is is nothing more than buying in to the rhetoric. The crime stats prove any claims of Sharpstown being unsafe patently false. Between the stats and anecdotal evidence, you simply cannot call Sharpstown unsafe from a logical point of view.

Who was it that got involved and kept the owner of Carnival from building on the old Gillman lot? Perhaps they could get involved.

My uncle was spearheading this campaign along with a few other residents. He also got the PID and the TIRZ that are paying for the Bellaire esplanade work established and is responsible for the police storefront in the mall as well as a few others like Gulfton. The Sharpstown storefront was originally intended to be a community center as well as a place for the City Counsel rep to work out of, but MJ Khan abaondoned that idea to get buddy buddy with his Harwin ilk.