A little apartment-gardening operation, and these places will be good as new:
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Commercial and Community Structures
- St. Joseph Surgical Training Lab, 1800 Saint Joseph Pkwy. 77003
- Garden Oaks Apartments, 3405 N. Shepherd Dr. 77018 (balcony and patio demo on 18 buildings)
Residences
- 8218 Oleander Ct. 77017 (garage)
- 8222 Oleander Ct. 77017 (shed)
Photo of 3405 N. Shepherd Dr.: LoopNet
Why couldn’t they have torn these completely down. We don’t need low income housing in this neighborhood it only brings crime in. This will effect Garden Oaks Elementary also. This should have been another yuppie townhouse community instead.
Um..SCW80, answer me this. Where are low income people suppose to live? Way out in the boonies, away from public transportation routes, stores etc? And when the “good” people decide to expand further out of the city, do we tell the low income people to leave? Not everyone can be yuppies like you and live wherever they want. Personally, I am glad that someone is fixing that place up instead of demolishing it so some cheaply made, overpriced shlock can take its place.
Hanabi-chan. Sorry I disagree. When business and neigborhoods go through transition, its in the best interest for all people in the community that the area continues to improve. A cheaply renovated low income community in the area is going to increase crime – proven fact, and certainly not enhance the area. A lot of very upset people over this. Are you moving in ?
Good grief, what do some of you consider low income housing? Is it a housing project or just apartment owners fixing up their properties so they don’t become “ghetto”?
I’m so sorry you have to share Garden Oaks with “Apartment People” Ick. I even hear there are “bus people” in the neighborhood too. You poor darlings.
The apartments have been there for how long? And Garden Oaks gentrified all the while that the complex was there, and in deplorable condition. If it didn’t “ruin” Garden Oaks, or stop it’s chances to improve when it was a wreck, it won’t when it is renovated. Apartments are everywhere in Houston, get over it.
Fair comment from people who clearly arn’t affected by it. Houston is a joke when it comes to planning. I suppose we all know that there isn’t going to be enough parking for the amount of apartments per city code … However… The city ‘approved’ the variance. So, more ‘apartments’, not enough parking, only an ‘upgrade’ of old apartments. I know, why do I think about it.. Of course, it’s the best thing to happen to the area since sliced bread…
Apartment haters gonna hate…
More nimbys, what’s next…..a Walmart?
There is worry that lower income people living in fixed-up apartments won’t have enough parking? The areas where parking is scarce is often those “gentrified and improved” areas with 3 story townhomes crammed together with vehicles spilling out onto streets. Please don’t begin to blame low-income housing for parking shortages in Houston.
There are not more apartments. They are remodeling older apartments. How in the world, even in the world of a Garden Oaks yuppie, is this a bad thing?
Where do you think the people who work at Pink’s pizza or wherever you people go to eat are supposed to live?
If these apartments are the ones I’m thinking of, they’ve been shuttered for at least 2 years.
I know nothing of demo permits, but I would imagine that this is just stage 1 of a wrecking-ball job. They don’t look like rehab candidates.
I look at these shantys everymorning out of my kitchen window. The original plan was for sub-prime condos and they were about half way complete when that market collapsed in 2008. The developer walked with some money and the investor/owners were not unified, so the complex sat and decayed for 4 years. The complex finally sold, but the economics apparently supported refurbishment versus demo and new build. Like most Garden Oaks residents, I would have preferred something new but frankly anything is better than what it had become. Garden Oaks elementary lost hundreds of students when they shut the aparments down. GOE is now a magnet montessori program and enrollment is competitive but clearly some of the kids living in the apartments will enroll once the rehap is complete. Some of us may cringe, but poor kids are not bad kids and they are just as derserving of an education. The reality is that if every neigborhood in Houston had some low income housing we would have fewer ghettos and a more vibrant city. I understand “not in my backyard” because this litterly is in my back yard, but its not a helpful mantra.
These units have been falling down for a while, and are already housing more than a few vagrants & homeless (I live nearby and have been watching with great interest). Demo activity (grapple equipment, roll off boxes) has been happening there for several weeks now, and I, for one, welcome the clearing of the lot. I’ve read rumors on the Shepherd Forest FB page that they might become high-end condos; Im following up with the individual who posted that and will add info for you all here when something is actually verified. Let’s not get our NIMBY knickers in a knot until we know for sure.
I don’t know whats intended, but the lot is not being cleared. They have already completed removing the exterior sheathing and have begun to shore up the structures. I seriously doubt the intent is “high end”.
weren’t these already “low income” apartments when they were occupied 3-4yrs ago? you know, BEFORE they were condemned and shut down by the city for the conditions people were living in. i feel like i’m the only one remembering this. may we learn nothing from history, sigh.
yes they were but the previous owner was a known slum lord. responsible ownership and low income housing can co-exist. What would your lesson in history be? Restrict private property sales to ensure no one constructs low income housing? Like I said, my home is 100 yards from this complex….I wanted town homes but something is better than nothing. Its not as though the City was going to buy the land and make it a park.
Jeeterbug: I think the previous name of this complex was Carter’s Grove. If my recall is correct, there was an incident a couple or so years where a child was electrocuted because they were playing with an exposed breaker box. (The cover was gone). I believe that is why the city finally condemned the buildings.
Dara & Hanabi – you are both correct. The lot will not be cleared (wishful thinking on my part) and this IS the former Carters Grove Apts. (the sign is still there). I still maintain that ANY activity here (rebuild/rehab or renovate) is better than the present situation. Low-income residency is still preferable to the current occupants who may or may not be visiting my/our neighborhood in search of “alternative” sources of sustenance.
all i say is just be careful what you wish for. after having low income housing nearby my subdivision and all the crime that went with it i was very happy to see it torn down and be a vacant lot over the past yr. although it’s not my ideal choice in an occupant,the carls jr be a welcomed addition to where the old “ella square apartments” were. imo, it’s better than replacing the low income housing w/more low income housing all that seems to go with it.
I pass this site every day and am thrilled with the progress. Income level does not a good neighbor make. Back in my apartment days, I had to provide work history (which was verified), personal & professional references and confirmation of a bank account, to name a few things, and that was in the days before credit checks. There’s a difference between decent people who don’t happen to have high-paying jobs at the moment and deadbeats. Mix the latter with landlords who don’t care who moves in as long as they have a wad of cash and there’s the recipe for trouble.
The apartment complex I have found out will have more apartments. The majority of 3 bedroom Carters apartments are changing into 1 bedroom apartments so there will be more apartments with not enough parking. From what we are seeing and finding out, it’s just lipstick.
The result is fewer families and fewer kids.