GREATER HOUSTON HEIGHTS
The Heights
The Heights, a planned residential community developed in the 1880s, is known for its stately elegance, yet also is recognized as one of the most visionary communities of its time. This elegant area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to 100 structures on the National Register, a testament to its persevering beauty and grace.
The esteemed history of The Heights dates back to 1886, when Oscar Martin Carter had a brainstorm: what if he were to plan a full-service residential community outside of the city, targeted at Houston's growing middle class? Carter's company purchased 1,756 acres, built a business district at 19th and Ashland Streets to serve the new residents, and voila!, The Heights real estate was born. In 1892, a streetcar line debuted that linked The Heights to Houston, four miles away.
Carter and his colleagues built a number of grand Victorian homes along Heights Boulevard, from the plans of Tennessee architect George Franklin Barber. Barber sold his plans through a catalog, allowing home buyers to make their own adaptations, which Barber would incorporate. Two of the original 17 homes are still there.
In 1917, The Heights was annexed by the City of Houston. The community has maintained a strong sense of tradition, however: It is a dry district where no alcohol can be sold, just as it has been since the beginning.
An Urban Renewal
In 1973, the Houston Heights Association began working on the neighborhood's revitalization through such measures as an annual holiday celebration (called "Lights in The Heights"), a turn-of-the-century Victorian rose garden, live oak plantings and other preservation and beautification efforts, with much success. Today, The Heights is enjoying a strong upturn in home values and is a residential place of choice among professionals and families who enjoy being close to downtown, yet with a small-town quality of life.
