What is the deal with this area? Would it be a decent area to buy in? Looking for 2000 square feet, and wouldn't mind doing some work on the property.

the only thing "Historic" about that area is the signs. they fold down on football game weekends to say no parking. the city must of not wanted a bunch of blank signs the rest of the year, so boom, "historic" district.

I would really like to live there, but I think everyone is very proud of their property there. People are selling for a premium and sometimes people are gutting and rebuilding or they are totally demolishing and starting over. You have to watch constantly to see property going on the market.

We have discussed the Southside Historic District before on this board.

This may be more information than you are interested in. This link takes you to what what we kicked around last year. Be my guest.

http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?forum_id=35&topic_id=1173196

fossil-thanks for that link. I guess my search didn't go back far enough.

Fossil, that was a great post on that thread! Where can I buy a copy of "The Complete History of College Station by Fossil Ag?" I'd love to have that book! ;-)

It's either the most expensive area in Brazos County or #2 next to living on Miramont.

To have a new upated home. $200+ sq/ft.

Location, location, location. Many people forget that.

Another great older neighborhood with large lots is North Oakwood. It is still close to campus, but it is in Bryan. There is alot of neighborhood pride and a semi-central park. I would think that the prices are lower than Southside.

I live in the Southside area, but closer to the "poorer" part. There really is no "historic" area even though some houses do have Historic Plaques on them. The City had the signs made and the area designated to ensure that there would be enough room for emergency vehicles to get down the streets on game days.
I LOVE living here. It is close to everything. This area has character and charm as well. Yes, the prices for property have gone up a lot since I bought my house 8 years ago and LOCATION is the single most reason why!

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Another great older neighborhood with large lots is North Oakwood. It is still close to campus, but it is in Bryan. There is alot of neighborhood pride and a semi-central park. I would think that the prices are lower than Southside.

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That is one of the areas I really love. I drive through there a lot and there are a lot of pretty houses.

I grew up in North Oakwood, right behind my father's childhood home. I feel like the neighborhood still has its charm. There are so many beautiful trees. I would recommend looking at anything that comes up on the market because there are so many hidden jewels.

The area is "historic" for many of the well known figures in A&M history who lived in houses in the area. There is a house at the corner of Dexter and Aberdeen where P.L. "Pinky" Downs lived. Pinky is known for walking around campus after the turn of the century(1900) giving the "Thumbs Up" sign to students. We all know "The Rest of that Story".

Great place to live, close to campus, historic in the sense that it is the oldest residential area in CS (which is not saying much since we ain't that old). It is turning into West U/Belair lately with some teardowns and MacMansions going up - really ugly houses. Probably will be more in the future as the less desirable/historic houses are bought up by rich folks looking to put in a 6000 sq foot monster "statement" house.

Those signs flop down to say no parking this side of the street during football games. Yes, some of the streets are very narrow and fans would park willy nilly all over the place (on my lawn if I did not stop them since we did not have curb and gutter where I lived) and there was no way an ambulance or fire truck could have made it through. Very much a public health and safety issue.

Look at the East Gate area across from the main entrance to campus. Some fine houses there, too. Big problem with both areas and north of campus is the student rental houses. You can find a lot of talk on this subject here if you want to look. Just keep your eyes open and good luck.

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Great place to live, close to campus, historic in the sense that it is the oldest residential area in CS (which is not saying much since we ain't that old). It is turning into West U/Belair lately with some teardowns and MacMansions going up - really ugly houses. Probably will be more in the future as the less desirable/historic houses are bought up by rich folks looking to put in a 6000 sq foot monster "statement" house.

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Yea, but you have to admit there are some houses in southside that would be better served torn down and replaced. See exhibit A:

Some parts of southside are in the process of requesting a "preservation overlay" or preservation district designation from PRCS. That will put major restrictions on the types of add-ons and re-construction that can take place. Sorry I don't know more details.

This was a citizen-intitated response to a couple of the McMansions that went in close to G Bush Dr over there. Council was happy to jump in on behalf of one of the three neighborhoods that carried them into office.

There is also a new historical preservation committee established this year by PRCS. They will have the power to unilaterally declare your home (or storage shed) as historically significant and then you won't be able to fix it, tear it down, or even change the paint color without their approval.

Telefunk, can you educate us on either of these? that's about all I know.

Is that why the Breezy Heights reconstruction project is going on? Because the subdivision is considered "historical"?

And that house in that picture is not historical as much as it is hysterical. Who would want a tiny, ugly house like that? YUCK!

I live in Southside Historic district and my house was built in 1943. I do believe that is historic. Correct me if I am wrong.

where I grew up, historic is 1600s-1700s. 1940s we tear down in heart beat.

Just because something is old doesn't make it historic.

hth

Sure it does! We just need an asterisk*

Recognize the photo? (Photo date about 1900)



[This message has been edited by fossil_ag (edited 4/8/2009 5:49p).]

You can not tell in fossil's picture but the railroad stop was originally named simply "College" from the days of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad.

Where, exactly, would the original train station pictured above be located? I am sure it's gone now, but what street/railroad intersection (today). Thank you.

Roughly where Old Main crosses the tracks now.

I see. I found a picture on the page linked below that shows where it sat. Of course you are right. I guess I shoulda googled it before I originally asked

http://www.benjaminknox.com/info.asp

For those of you interested in A&M history I will volunteer as a tour guide.

The date of this photo is about 1926 or so. The two railroad stations that served the college are noted in the lower part of the photo where College Main crosses
Wellborn Road at the tracks.

Barely visible in the photo is the College Creamery at the very bottom edge of the photo. The structures up College Main drive toward the Academic Building is the tent city (known as Hollywood) that housed the Corp.

You will note that the tent city occupied the location that would in 1928 become the site of Law and Puryear Halls.

You will note also located behind the Academic Building a rather large Cow Barn. That was the location of Dean Kyles's School of Agriculture.

The university would have to wait two m0re years until 1930 for work to begin on the Systems Building ---- which would be the new crowning jewel of the A&M campus.

Upon completion of the Systems Building, New
College Main drive was inaugurated to the newly opened Texas Avenue in College Station.

The rest is history.


[This message has been edited by fossil_ag (edited 4/9/2009 2:50a).]

Talk about waxing nostalgic! Great post.

I do not wish to hijack this thread Fossil_Ag,but I am wondering how you are doing. Great to see you posting again!

[This message has been edited by 1984Consol (edited 4/9/2009 1:57p).]

I am wondering why A&M didn't try to preserve one of those for history's sake?

They left it to Benjamin Knox.

It's not the station itself, but a storage building that had been adjacent, is on Hwy 21 between the Brazos River bridge and Cook's Point. Seems like they moved that in the late 70s or early 80s.

The colorful house that was pictured actually doesn't look that bad in person. The yard is always kept tidy. I think it is made of cinder blocks, so it does have to be painted to look decent.
If you look at truly historical homes throughout most of the country, bright colors were what was used to paint them. This house may actually be painted more historically accurate than the rest of those in our area.

And with all of that being said, I would say snatch up some property in this area as soon as you can. I bought my house 8 years ago, which is in the "poorer" part and my property value has raised drastically.