Champions Green: Multifamily At 14141 Champions Dr.

[mrfootball]

If I'm not mistaken, this is where they stuck a bunch of Katrina people. Again, people who've no business being here, causing trouble, ruining it for everyone. Get'em out.

Perhaps Champions can put some legal heat on the apartment owner/slumlord and get this place dozed.

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?new...32256&rfi=6

[TheNiche]

If I'm not mistaken, this is where they stuck a bunch of Katrina people. Again, people who've no business being here, causing trouble, ruining it for everyone. Get'em out.

Perhaps Champions can put some legal heat on the apartment owner/slumlord and get this place dozed.

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?new...32256&rfi=6

Bulldozing apartments will do nothing to eliminate the real problem.

[mrfootball]

Bullmanure it won't.

It'll get them out of a place they've no business being in.

[TheNiche]

Bull#### it won't.

It'll get them out of a place they've no business being in.

And I suppose you think that they'll just disappear into thin air?

[mrfootball]

As long as they disappear.

Cut their funding...like water, they'll go the path of least resistance and clear out.

It is a major disservice to hard working taxpayers that their community be used as some sort of experiment in social engineering (a failed one at that). Not only will it depress the area around it, it creates problems for the county gov't who along with increased need for policing, face a potential decline in property values.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

If these apartments are bulldozed, we wont have this mess in this area. These are the only apartments in this area. I have been after these bastards for a while!!!!!

This complex was nice and upscale, it has now gone to the dogs. As i have said many times before, people in this area would rather pay a high mortgage than a high rent. The end result being, these apts. lowering thier rents and rental requirements and that more often than not attracts so not so savory eliments.

[TheNiche]

As long as they disappear.

But you don't get it. They don't disappear. They just go into someone else's neighborhood (or become homeless and destitute in yours).

[PureAuteur]

MrFootball- you seem really possessive with the Champions area. You don't even live anywhere near those apartments. Don't you live in Longwood?

Niche is right. Just because someone gets shot, they should just bulldoze the apartment complex? How about just stricter rules on who can move in and regarding income, employment, and credit history? Katrina was a year ago. Whatever residents from N.O. that still live there are Houstonians now. That was actually one of the apartments I was looking at in my quest to find an apartment closer to work.

How do you know the shooter or the victim were from N.O. anyways? Not everyone at the complex is from N.O. Believe it or not there are a lot of unsophisticated white people in NW Houston, and I wouldn't put it past one of them to shoot someone in the stomach.

[mrfootball]

MrFootball- you seem really possessive with the Champions area. You don't even live anywhere near those apartments. Don't you live in Longwood?

I grew up in that area, It's my "hometown" so to speak. I would like it remain nice. Granted, I live in Longwood, but I still consider that area "home" and its not too far away.

[RedScare]

From the article...

Officials say that the man was shot at close range with an undisclosed firearm. The bullet entered through the man's stomach and exited through his back. Police detained the victim's girlfriend, who witnessed the crime, for questioning.

"We're going to call it a domestic dispute," said lead investigator Sgt. Noel Araguz. "We have no charges pending as of yet, and I cannot speculate on suspects at this time."

Domestic dispute? Katrina people? Sounds like your garden variety NW Harris County redneck ex-boyfriend revenge to me.

But, if it makes you feel better to blame it on Katrina, knock yourself out.

[mrfootball]

Redscare, you wish to place a little wager?

For the sake of argument, lets say you're right, does it change the argument at all? Whether they're white, black or blue...they're still lowlifes - probably on some sort of public assistance and wouldn't be there if not for all of us helping foot the bill.

Of course, this kind of crap is going on all around Houston as the recent FBI report corroborated.

[PureAuteur]

I know how you feel. I would like the neighborhood I grew up in (Woodlands Trails West) to remain nice, but it got flooded out 3 times and the county is tearing down about 50% of the homes and the rest remaining are really cheap now with the lower class moving in.

Just be happy the home you grew up in is still there. Can't say the same for myself.

[rps324]

Bullshit it won't.

It'll get them out of a place they've no business being in.

I certainly understand the frustration. If you can send that bulldozer down to Glenbrook when your done with it...

The reality is the real owners of these properties are usually REITS or someone far away who is not looking at anything but the bottom line income on their spreadsheet. They could care less about the residents that are paying them, let alone the community at large. They don't respond to pressure from the community so, there will be no bulldozing.

The sad part is there is no reason for that property to be in that shape. My brother lived there once. It has been a tough market for suburban properties but still, I think they could do better.

The FEMA free rent gravy train runs out after Feb. So whatever impact the free rent program is having, that component will dry up in about 60 days.

[TheNiche]

The reality is the real owners of these properties are usually REITS or someone far away who is not looking at anything but the bottom line income on their spreadsheet. They could care less about the residents that are paying them, let alone the community at large. They don't respond to pressure from the community so, there will be no bulldozing.

Nah, REITs don't generally won't touch anything but A and B complexes. The C and D complexes, I've found, have a disproportionate tendency to be owned by local lawyers that are shrouded by a confusing array of legal entities.

[rps324]

Nah, REITs don't generally won't touch anything but A and B complexes. The C and D complexes, I've found, have a disproportionate tendency to be owned by local lawyers that are shrouded by a confusing array of legal entities.

That's the sad part. This property was a solid A. It should at worst be a B right now. It is right on Champions Drive just down from the country club. If it is not the same design it is very similiar to the Waterford(?name) Apartments on Alabama about a block west of the bookstop. Really nice floor plans, not the usual plain garden-style units.

[TheNiche]

That's the sad part. This property was a solid A. It should at worst be a B right now. It is right on Champions Drive just down from the country club. If it is not the same design it is very similiar to the Waterford(?name) Apartments on Alabama about a block west of the bookstop. Really nice floor plans, not the usual plain garden-style units.

Owner is a non-profit based in Washington D.C. That explains things.

http://www.nhtinc.org/

[Guest danax]

That's the sad part. This property was a solid A. It should at worst be a B right now. It is right on Champions Drive just down from the country club. If it is not the same design it is very similiar to the Waterford(?name) Apartments on Alabama about a block west of the bookstop. Really nice floor plans, not the usual plain garden-style units.

As Niche discovered, these units are now "affordable housing" via tax incentives. No way it will ever be A again, but why?

If government is going to meddle in the market by "preserving" affordable housing, then they ought to study how they are meddling in the property values of the neighborhoods surrounding each one of these projects first. Government officials who pass these laws obviously have little faith in capitalism. Are they afraid that these people would be unable to find a place to live if they didn't "benevolently" interfere? Would Houston and other big cities lose their low wage population? Or, would the population and local economy adjust on their own? I say they would. These laws are passed by a combination of semi-socialists, partisan panders or those that succumb to pressures by lobbying groups such as the non-profit mentioned in the previous post who I suspect are more interested in their own success than that of the cities who are affected by their efforts.

But I'm a guy who believes in sink or swim and pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.

[rps324]

Owner is a non-profit based in Washington D.C. That explains things.

http://www.nhtinc.org/

That does explain a lot. These were actually built as condos I think originally, but of course they wouldn't sell back in the 80's oil bust and you saw a lot of them being turned into apartment complexes. I remember they had these tricked out models back then, one of each floorplan. They had done all this customizing inside of them with special paint treatments, mirrored walls, and one had a lot of redwood paneling, (this was the 80's after all), and the explanation at the time was they were set up when it was going to be condos, so people could pick upgrades and customize them if they wanted.

They have come a long way down since then.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

These were actually built as condos I think originally, but of course they wouldn't sell back in the 80's oil bust and you saw a lot of them being turned into apartment complexes.

This is what i was told last year when i started looking into this complex. They dont look like and are not designed as typical apartments. I have been inside them and the units are actually very nice. Some of them have lofts and fireplaces, big bay windows etc etc etc.

As i said before, this was upscale, but upscale rentals in this area do not survive. The complex was literally swimming in available units. These apartments currently have some sort of government bond thing in place. Dont really know what that is all about except that it is low income. All of those empty units that they previously had available were soon filled to capacity after hurricane Katrina. Since Katrina, this complex has gone to the dogs.

If you are familiar with the area, it should strike you as odd having an apartment complex here. This area isnt geared towards that type of living to begin with. I would like nothing better than to see these things removed!

[rps324]

This is what i was told last year when i started looking into this complex. They dont look like and are not designed as typical apartments. I have been inside them and the units are actually very nice. Some of them have lofts and fireplaces, big bay windows etc etc etc.

As i said before, this was upscale, but upscale rentals in this area do not survive. The complex was literally swimming in available units. These apartments currently have some sort of government bond thing in place. Dont really know what that is all about except that it is low income. All of those empty units that they previously had available were soon filled to capacity after hurricane Katrina. Since Katrina, this complex has gone to the dogs.

If you are familiar with the area, it should strike you as odd having an apartment complex here. This area isnt geared towards that type of living to begin with. I would like nothing better than to see these things removed!

Once they quit getting all the free rent from FEMA, they will probably be struggling again. About the best realistic solution would be if they change hands again and become a condo conversion. Since it is a "stand-alone" complex in a very desirable area, versus being in the middle of a glut of apartments, it would stand a better chance of being brought back up.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

Once they quit getting all the free rent from FEMA, they will probably be struggling again. About the best realistic solution would be if they change hands again and become a condo conversion. Since it is a "stand-alone" complex in a very desirable area, versus being in the middle of a glut of apartments, it would stand a better chance of being brought back up.

I would have no problem with going the condo conversion route. That would clean up the mess thats there. Nothing like taking pride in homeownership to get one interested in the upkeep and betterment of ones surroundings.

[TheNiche]

If government is going to meddle in the market by "preserving" affordable housing, then they ought to study how they are meddling in the property values of the neighborhoods surrounding each one of these projects first. Government officials who pass these laws obviously have little faith in capitalism. Are they afraid that these people would be unable to find a place to live if they didn't "benevolently" interfere? Would Houston and other big cities lose their low wage population? Or, would the population and local economy adjust on their own? I say they would. These laws are passed by a combination of semi-socialists, partisan panders or those that succumb to pressures by lobbying groups such as the non-profit mentioned in the previous post who I suspect are more interested in their own success than that of the cities who are affected by their efforts.

But I'm a guy who believes in sink or swim and pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.

Although there's lots of bad press about tax credit, bond, and Section 8 apartment complexes being built in otherwise-wealthy neighborhoods, a disproportionate number are built in areas that are already heavily-populated by poor folks. This is generally a politically-acceptable solution because local representatives of poor neighborhoods want to stregnthen their poor voting block, and people in wealthier neighborhoods don't want to be challenged by it. However, it sort of defeats the purpose of the programs because the poor don't have access to better schools or amenities; they're suppressed amongst themselves. Although there is a system in place for tax credit status so that a developer is required to get a market study, the study doesn't capture externalities, and frankly, is easily manipulated to produce results that are consistently favorable to the developer. The whole process is a sham.

I would have no problem with going the condo conversion route. That would clean up the mess thats there. Nothing like taking pride in homeownership to get one interested in the upkeep and betterment of ones surroundings.

It happens from time to time (ex. Club at Stablechase), but not frequently. Don't count on it.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

It happens from time to time (ex. Club at Stablechase), but not frequently. Don't count on it.

It would be nice to see these things gone altogether or converted over to condos. Having an apartment complex in this area is about as out of place as a whore in church on Sunday!!

[TheNiche]

It would be nice to see these things gone altogether or converted over to condos. Having an apartment complex in this area is about as out of place as a whore in church on Sunday!!

They're certainly not about to be demolished. You can be sure of that.

[SpringTX]

I agree with our Northwest neighbors on this forum. The problem isn't these "riff-raff"; it's that these "riff-raff" are in too high of concentrations, and shoved into the wrong places at the wrong times by noble-minded do-gooders meddling with the free market. And the result is an inefficient, un-economical distribution of resources.

[PureAuteur]

It would be nice to see these things gone altogether or converted over to condos. Having an apartment complex in this area is about as out of place as a whore in church on Sunday!!

Actually, there are lots of apartments in this area that have been functioning nicely alongside the Champions area homeowners.

Champion Woods, Champions Park, Raveneaux, Cypress Commons, Chasewood, Prestonwood Apts, The Lodge, The Retreat, Sendera Champions Forest, Copper Creek, Brookfield, Champion Oaks, and everything else along Wunderlich, are just some I can name off the top of my head.

[mrfootball]

I'm curious. How many people in Houston do we have living on Section 8 and other Rental Assistance.

[TheNiche]

I'm curious. How many people in Houston do we have living on Section 8 and other Rental Assistance.

There are 234 (!) Section 8 complexes and well over 400 that are either Section 8, bond, or tax credit.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

Actually, there are lots of apartments in this area that have been functioning nicely alongside the Champions area homeowners.

Champion Woods, Champions Park, Raveneaux, Cypress Commons, Chasewood, Prestonwood Apts, The Lodge, The Retreat, Sendera Champions Forest, Copper Creek, Brookfield, Champion Oaks, and everything else along Wunderlich, are just some I can name off the top of my head.

None of which i can see, the Champions Green, i can see. Once you enter Champions Dr. from FM 1960, its like a whole other world. Away from the traffic and such. Nice and peaceful with one mess---Champions Green Apts. As you well know, this area is a collection of cul de sacs which is geared towards the family life style. Each street from 1960 is like its own little area within the Champions/Champion Forest areas.

I'm curious. How many people in Houston do we have living on Section 8 and other Rental Assistance.

I dont have a problem with rental assistance, but i do have a problem with this apt. complex.

[mrfootball]

Does Dallas do this as well? What about Austin? Do they like to sneak these lowlifes in among nicer areas or are their local governments more accessible to the concerns of the actual taxpayers?