South Central

This section of Houston is very diverse. There are many different cultures that settled in this neighborhood, most prominantly the African-American culture. The 3rd ward in particular was famous for many African-American dancehalls, restaurants and most famously, Texas Southern University, which was established as "An equal college for black citizens" in 1946. Now 3rd ward is more diversified and less of an almost-exclusively African-American neighborhood.

West of 3rd ward is the Museum District. This neighborhood consists of many different cultures, families and a sizable gay/lesbian population. There are also many Rice University students living in this enclave due to the proximity to the university.

On the east end of downtown lies Eastwood, a subdivision platted in 1913. This neighborhood is older and has seen better days, but like its neighbors is rapidly becoming the place to live. The people are mostly older and its not uncommon for generations to live in this neighborhood. The population is mostly Hispanic at this writing, but is rapidly becoming more diverse.

There is a huge social scene in south central Houston due to the closeness of Midtown, Montrose, and the fact that there are usually alot of neighbors around.

Restaurants are plentiful, with many different flavors and prices. Most of the restaurants in this area are small family owned affairs. There are a few chains on Old Spanish Trail (OST to the locals). If you are a breakfast lover, there are many locations for a reasonably priced breakfast or brunch.

Bars are quite common, but you might want to stick to the ones nearer to Rice Village and the Museum District. Some of the other ones are a bit shady or overpriced.

Clubs are varied, but most of them are north of the neighborhood in Montrose and Midtown.

This area used to be very inexpensive to live in due to the crime rates and blight. That is no longer true, but you can still find some good deals.

Since this neighborhood is older, the houses are a bit smaller than some might be used to and the same goes with older apartment complexes. Recently there has been alot of newer complexes built for the newer population moving in.

These newer complexes offer the best amenities in the area, with washer/dryer in unit and larger rooms. Usually these apartments go for $800 to $3000 depending on the number of bedrooms. Its very expensive, but well worth it if you are looking for a modern home not far from the Medical Center or Downtown. More often than not, they also have a move in special so you will not have to worry about coming up with a large amount of money at one time.

The older complexes are just that - older. They offer very few amenities unless you have found one that has been updated. Due to the new demand for this area, you will find quite a few that have been updated. The rooms and storage spaces can be very small, and you may have to park off-street if you own more than one vehicle. There are also many homes available that have been converted into four-plexes. These are a less expensive alternative to renting a house and more often than not they have been well taken care of. These will run anywhere from $350-$1000 depending on the number of bedrooms. You will probably have to have the last months rent also, which make these kind of expensive to move into.

Houses for rent are available, but rare except for the Eastwood neighborhood. When you do find a house for rent, its often very large, with smaller rooms and few amenities. These start at $900 and go up from there. You will also have to have a deposit equal to the rent in most cases.

Transportation is usually no problem in this area. You have 59, 610, I-45 and 288 to chose from to get to where you need to go. If you happen to work out of the downtown area, you will go against traffic at rush hour times.

Public transportation is plentiful in this area due to the closeness of the Downtown Transit Center. You can also use the light rail to get back and forth from Downtown or the Medical Center.

Parking can be a pain at times because the neighborhood is so old. When this area was originally platted, there were few cars or just one family lived in a house that is now a duplex/fourplex. Now parking has had to be crammed in, so this can cause a few issues. The newer apartment complexes and highrises have garage parking, so there is no concern there. If you are looking to rent an older apartment or duplex, you may have to settle with one car on the curb and another in the parking space. There are older strip centers that also do not have much parking.

This area is predominantly older, with many of the homes being built circa 1915. This poses many issues that you, the consumer, must be aware of.

The older homes and apartment complexes likely will not have the space or amenities you are looking for. You can't change this. You can however see if the owner is willing to work with you regarding updated appliances or other features that you may like. You can also attempt to stagger the payment of the deposit if it is equal to the first months rent.

If you are looking into a newer complex, you will have great, modern amenities at a great cost. Most complexes in this area will offer move in specials, especially with the demand of apartments in the area.

Never take an older house or apartment in this neighborhood sight unseen. Also, observe the activity around the apartment in the day and night. Look at the grocery store or gas station around the home that you will be shopping at. The unfortunate facet of this area is that there is some gang activity and there are pockets of crime that happen. Just be aware of where you are going to live.

This neighborhood is quite pet friendly. Oftentimes however the deposits are high for your pets to move in with you. This can also be worked out with the landlord if you would like to pay it off in installments.

There is a dog park located at Dunlavy and 59, and another one north of the area at Allen Parkway and Montrose.

If you are moving into an older complex or house, be advised that the square footage of your new home can be small, and your large dog can make you feel very crowded.

This area is filled with things to keep you busy.

First off, you will be in the middle of the Museum District, with a high concentration of many different collections for most peoples tastes. Movie theaters can be a litlte hard to find however.

There are many parks to choose from, and a very nice public golf course located in Hermann Park.

Rice Boulevard is a great place to go shopping, drinking or meeting friends. The parking can be a little maddening, but its worth it.

LaBranch in 3rd ward is a neat drive down to see lots of historical buildings, and lots of trees.

Polk can be a wonderful drive on a Saturday due to all of the older homes and history.

Grocery stores are plentiful in this area, but are often small. There is a Whole Foods in Rice Village, and several Kroger locations around.

In the Medical Center there are many full service banks, but the traffic will drive you mad.

Gyms are also plentiful, with a YMCA Downtown location and many privately owned gyms.

This area is quite family friendly, but unless you can afford a 2 or more bedroom, can get very pricey. There are many schools to choose from, and a very large population of private schools.

Daycare is pleniful and much of it is run out of private homes. Craigslist is a great way to find what is available in this neighborhood.

Since you are very close to museums and the Houston Zoo, this is a wonderful place to bring the kiddos on a Saturday morning. The Museum District also sponsors a free day every Thursday.