Inside the loop and bordered by I-10 and I-45, The Houston Heights (or simply “The Heights”) is a historic neighborhood with the simple charm of a small town and the attractions of a metropolitan center. This northwest-central Houston community looks like a small town nestled inside of a big city.
History of the Heights. Houston Heights is a very old, well known neighborhood. It was founded by millionaire Oscar Martin Carter in 1891. His Omaha and South Texas Land Company established the neighborhood as a streetcar suburb of Houston for those who did not want to live in the huge city. Today, this popular area of Houston carries its original history and the history of the nation. The Houston Heights World War II Memorial is a popular attraction in the area. Harvard Elementary School, part of the HISD system, was opened in 1898 and still serves children. The Heights is a welcoming neighborhood. Its founder’s purpose, to provide residents with an escape from the city, is still maintained.
Homes in Houston Heights. People usually picture classic, cool, funky old houses with front porches and full-grown trees in the yards. Most homes in The Heights were built in the early 20th century. In fact, the Houston Heights’ Official Website (created by the Houston Heights Association) features a tool which residents can use to research the history of their own homes. Many homes in The Heights are registered under Houston’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, which protects exterior styles of buildings which are valued as part of the city’s history.
Culture in The Heights. The Heights Neighborhood Library, located at 1302 Heights Boulevard, is a stately and old fashioned building that is part of the Houston Public Library system. The building is often referred to as a “voodoo museum” because of its unique architectural design. The Heights features local sources of artistic enrichment and entertainment, such as the renowned Opera in the Heights. The Heights has the highest concentration of professional artists in the state of Texas and a large number of small, local galleries and museums.* Since The Heights is only a few miles from downtown Houston, large attractions such as the Toyota Center, Wortham and Alley Theaters, Minute Maid Park, and more are just a short drive away. Eclectic museums in the area include the ArtCar Museum and the Museum of Printing History. The Menil Collection (and park), the Holocaust Museum, and the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston are only a few minutes further.
The Heights Community. The Heights has much visual appeal because of its mature trees and open, green spaces. There are multiple parks and recreation centers in the Heights, including bike and hike trails, indoor gymnasiums, weight rooms, pools, basketball and other sports courts, and much more. Parks and community centers include Love Park and Community Center, Milroy Park and Community Center, and the Heights Boulevard Park, each featuring different sports, exercise, and community meeting facilities. Many of the public facilities in The Heights, such as parts of Milroy Park, are gated or indoors for comfort and safety.
Events and Attractions in The Heights. The Heights maintains its community with events, such as the 5th Annual Heights Bicycle Rally and Scavenger Hunt, which will take place in October, 2010. The Heights also hosts Fun Runs, which are kid-friendly and offer prizes. Community events and attractions are great places for people of all ages to have fun. Family businesses have been an influential part of the community events for a century. For example, The Heights Boulevard is home to a widely known shopping center featuring authentic restaurants such as Phil’s Texas Barbeque, Pink’s Pizza, and Waldo’s Coffee House. Centers with these local restaurants and mom-and-pop stores and boutiques have periodic weekend shopping events that are family friendly and a great way to support local businesses and build community.
Entertainment. The Heights is a great place to unwind after work and on weekends. Multiple community programs recur weekly, monthly, and annually and give residents much to look forward to. Lights in the Heights is an annual festival in which residents decorate their homes for the holidays and walk the streets, enjoying refreshments and chatting with neighbors. Mistletoe Madness is a similar holiday themed shopping exposition in the community. The Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour goes hand in hand with these traditions. With affordable tickets (under $20), patrons can tour decorated historical homes and buildings in their own neighborhood. The Heights 1st Saturday happens on the first Saturday of every month. It is a day of shopping, food, and art and free transit via the Heights’ public shuttle. Another shopping and entertainment option is the periodic White Linen Night in The Heights, which features a night of shopping, food, drinking, live music, art, galleries, and much more.
Education. The Heights is served by a few public schools in HISD. Reagan High School and Waltrip High School serve teenagers in The Heights. The public middle schools in the area are Hamilton Middle School and Hogg Middle school. A few of the many elementary schools include Field, Harvard, Love, Crockett, Sinclaire, and the Helms Community Learning Center. Parents also have the choice of two public charter schools, the Houston Heights Learning Academy and the Houston Heights High School. Private schools serve multiple grade levels and include The New School in The Heights (K-9), the Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (K-8), and the Houston Outdoor Learning Academy (6-12). Parents have ample public and private school choices in the Houston Heights.
Nightlife in The Heights. In addition to the attractions within The Heights community, the neighborhood is not far from the Galleria and other shopping centers, and only four miles from Downtown Houston. The Heights recently had a nightlife boom, and White Oak and Washington Streets feature cool bars and pubs not far from home. Attractions here Porch Swing pub, the Big Star Bar, Jimmie’s Ice House, the Shady Tavern, and the Boom Boom Room. Some of the best restaurants include the Glass Wall, Heights Hickory Hollow, Berryhill Baja Grill, and many more, all with excellent ratings by Houston’s local magazines. With all of its attractions, new and old, The Heights is one of the most popular spots to unwind on weekend nights.
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*National Geographic, March 30, 2010