Anybody live in or near Westbury? Is it ghetto?

I don't live there, but it's not a very good area.

It's not GHETTO, but it's not Cinco Range. Somewhere in the middle.

I was zoned to Westbury High School. GHETTO

I'm not THAT worried about schools, other than for resale value. Hopefully, the rugrats will go to private school. I'm wondering if it's better to buy somewhere like Westbury (more in-town), rather than Katy with the way the market is now.

Look at Maplewood -- south of Braeswood, east of Hillcroft, west of Chimney Rock and north of Willowbend. It's basically Meyerland without the prices but public schools aren't really an option.

Megs,
Been living in Westbury for over 6 years and love it. I've had no problems whatsoever. More young couples moving into the area too. Yea, there is some trash outlying the subdivision but you get that in Bellaire too.

My wife and I have lived in Westbury for over a year. Like the poster above said a lot of younger couples are moving into the area. It's easy access to 610, 10 mins to the Galleria, 15-20 to downtown, and 10 to the med center. I've never once (or my wife either) felt unsafe while we've lived here.

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It's basically Meyerland without the prices but public schools aren't really an option.

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I'd agree with you on the high school...it's ghetto as hell, but that's not the case with the elementary(Parker) and middle school(Johnson) that feed from that area (i.e. Maplewood, Parkwest, etc). Both are magnet schools for music and the performing arts, and I believe the elementary school recieved an exemplary rating from the state this past year.

[This message has been edited by Green Fairy (edited 1/20/2010 7:31p).]

[This message has been edited by Green Fairy (edited 1/20/2010 7:33p).]

Marilyn Estates, Barkley Square & Maplewood (east of Hillcroft) are great neighborhoods & housing $ investments.

i have a few friends that live in Westbury, and we have also noticed more younger couples moving to the area. the location is nice, its just not very pleasing to the eyes.

I grew up in Westbury and my parents still live there. There are pockets of neighborhoods that aren't bad, but Johnston and Westbury are terrible schools. Avoid any place that has cheap apartments nearby.

I grew up in the area and went to Westbury High School(graduated in 96), and the key is to be east of Hilcroft, and north of W. Belfort. Also...it is the apartments that make the area ghetto...so live as far away as possible from them (West Airport and Fondren are packed with them) I have scene the Swat Team a few times living in the area. I did love being so close to 610. You have to eat at Q's burgers off of Post Oak. I think Westbury will be really nice again someday. Westbury Square was awesome back in the day!

I live in Parkwest 1, right behind Parker Elementary. The area is pretty decent, as it's somewhat shielded from the W. Bellfort area. If you look in Westbury/Parkwest, you definitely want to be east of Hillcroft, north of W. Bellfort (as close to Willowbend/S. & N. Braeswood as possible). Although, you don't want to live on Braeswood because the bayou has a tendency to flood in Hurricanes and the traffic is horrendous. Same with Willowbend and Chimney Rock and Hillcroft -- the prices of the homes may be great but you don't want to live on the busy street.

Home prices wise, we're doing pretty good. The area is starting to be marketed around the world as the next Bellaire area. I believe Westbury got a decent write-up in the London Financial Times a few months ago. If you want to renovate, there are a lot of older homes that haven't gone through any renovations and there are homes that have gone through entire rehauls.

Parker's a good elementary school, and there are several good private schools around as well. St. Thomas is in the area, as well as Westbury Christian Academy.

The amenities in the area aren't the greatest -- The Walmart in the area is HORRIBLE, Randall's isn't too bad, the Kroger is pretty much trash, and there aren't really any restuarants unless you like the few that are offered in Meyerland Plaza. However, you aren't that far from the Galleria, Sugarland, and Memorial City.

Being close to 610 is a good choice, especially because the streets don't get too congested at rush hour. Your biggest problem on the morning commute would be getting past the 59 exchange, which is rated one of the worst highway exchanges in the country.

All in all, it's not a bad neighborhood. And for what it's worth, there's never been a major robbery on my block.

[This message has been edited by jopatura (edited 1/21/2010 2:01a).]

[This message has been edited by jopatura (edited 1/21/2010 2:02a).]

thanks guys this info is really helpful.

Thanks so much! We're going to check out the area on Saturday...wish us luck!

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I live in Parkwest 1, right behind Parker Elementary.

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Jopatura, it sounds like we're practically neighbors. I live on Stillbrooke right behind the park/school.

I just ripped out all the 50 y/o shrubs from around our house this past weekend, and could use some help removing the stumps. What do you say, neighbor?

[This message has been edited by Green Fairy (edited 1/21/2010 8:14a).]

Moved to Meyerland this past year, but lived in Westbury (near Chimney Rock and Willowbend) for the previous 4 years before that. My wife and I really like the area for all the things previously mentioned. I can't imagine having a 60-90 minute commute to Sugarland/Katy every day.

The only potential negatives are crime and schools. If you listent to the advice that people gave about location (basically, closer to 610 the better), you are fine. My wife has never not felt safe. The elementary schools are fine and Johnston is okay. Westbury is awful, which is sad considering how newly rebuilt the school is.

I was reading recently how Westbury has become known as "Little Montrose" in the Houston Press. Apparently lots of gay couples moving there. The reason I bring that up is in my mind that makes it a decent area investment wise to buy in. Just an interesting tidbit. The gays are usually pretty honed in on the "up and coming spots". (wow I really teed that up for somebody)

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"Our bodies are designed to chase down slower, dumber animals and eat them." Anthony Bourdain

Another thing to keep in mind with the younger couples moving in. Younger couples will have kids that will start moving into the local public schools. For a while the neighborhoods were dominated by older folks whos kids were long out of school and the ghetto nature feeds from apartments. As you re-influx young families into the neighborhoods you'll likely water-down the ghetto nature of the schools.

As for the "little montrose" thing... Yeah, I'm just not going to touch that one.

Ya had to be careful how I worded that one. Say it one way and I'm a "typical redneck Aggie who hates the gay." Say it another and the next thing ya know people are raiding my facebook page so they can photoshop my face on a picture of a bunch of dudes dancing at Montrose Mining Company. Or something like that...

We live in Willowbend, which is on the other side of S. Post Oak from Westbury. It's actually a great place to live. It's quiet and you can be anywhere in town in 15 minutes. There are bad areas that surround us, but that can be said for most places in and around the loop. Westbury looks very similar when I have driven through. I will say, however, that I drove past Wesbury High School one day as school was letting out. It was bad. Real bad. I rolled the windows up and didn't stop at lights until I cleared the area.

We're okay with the gays.

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Jopatura, it sounds like we're practically neighbors. I live on Stillbrooke right behind the park/school.

I just ripped out all the 50 y/o shrubs from around our house this past weekend, and could use some help removing the stumps. What do you say, neighbor?

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We practically are; I live on Briarbend, so one street behind you.

I know nothing about stump removal, but if it's hands you need I guess I could be of service...

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I know nothing about stump removal, but if it's hands you need I guess I could be of service...

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Nah, just giving you a hard time. There's no way I'm digging those things up by hand. God didn't give some guy the idea to create a stump grinder for nothing.

My wife and I have considered moving to the Westbury area but we're wondering about the commute time for my wife.

Anyone have an idea how long it would take to get from Westbury to say Heights Blvd. and Washington in the mornings? Would be leaving between 6:30 and 7am.

I would guess twenty minutes, up to 30 with some traffic. 7 should be early enough to avoid most of the traffic.

My wife makes it downtown in 15-20, and I make it to 610/I-10 on the east side in 20.

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My wife and I have considered moving to the Westbury area but we're wondering about the commute time for my wife.

Anyone have an idea how long it would take to get from Westbury to say Heights Blvd. and Washington in the mornings? Would be leaving between 6:30 and 7am.

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I'm not sure what your budget is but Oak Forest would make more sense for that commute.

Issue with Garden Oaks (I think) is that my office is down in League City.

I'm not sure the commute would be significantly different from Garden Oaks/Oak Forest would it?

You're going to have to get on 45 south either way.

Thoed!

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grew up in the area and went to Westbury High School(graduated in 96)

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Sent you an email, Diggity

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Anyone have an idea how long it would take to get from Westbury to say Heights Blvd. and Washington in the mornings? Would be leaving between 6:30 and 7am.

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It takes me about 20-25 minutes to get downtown leaving around 6:30-6:40am. I work near 610/290 on Friday, and it usually takes me 5 or so minutes less to get there. That should at least give you some point of reference.

Thanks Green Fairy

Thoed is right!...NO LIE...Flava Flav came over to my house one time for a hair cut. I used to cut peoples hair all the time, and one of my friends was a rapper..and had a cut with Flava Flav. He also rapped with Toe Down (Country Rap Tunes song) He came over for a hair cut, and so did Flava Flav.

No...he did not wear his clock, and yes..he is maybe the blackest guy i have ever seen!

I thought it was normal to see ice cream trucks with chrome rims growing up.

megs

If you're looking for a home in the Westbury area or nearby, I will be happy to help you out if you do not have an agent already. I live a little northwest of the area and can show you some other neighborhoods as well. Shoot me an email.

Kevin@KevinLWill.com

[This message has been edited by KDubAg (edited 1/22/2010 4:08p).]