Robindell, Houston

Robindell is a subdivision in Southwest Houston, Texas.[1]

History

Robert Kuldell developed the community in the 1950s on 110 acres (45 ha) of farmland that belonged to his family. The neighborhood was originally targeted at former members of the United States Armed Forces. Robindell was developed before Meyerland, Sharpstown, and Westbury were.[2]

In 1997 the City of Houston added Robindell to a neighborhood restoration program.[3]

In 2009, Houston real estate blog website "Swamplot" nominated Robindell as Houston's Most Underappreciated Neighborhood. Similarly in 2010, the Houston Press nominated Robindell as one of Houston's Most Underrated Neighborhoods.[4]

In 2014, Robindell was awarded 2nd place for "Neighborhood of the Year" by Swamplot.

Cityscape

In 2010, when comparing and contrasting Robindell to Bellaire and Meyerland, Richard Connelly of the Houston Press said that Robindell, like the other two neighborhoods, has trees, but that "instead of McMansions it's been able to keep its older homes from being uprooted."[4] Connelly added that in Robindell, like the other "hidden neighborhoods" on the list, "you don't have to travel far to find trouble, but it's worth the occasional siren going by in the night."[4]

The subdivision has 610 houses as of 1996, with sizes ranging from 1,100 square feet (100 m2) to 1,500 square feet (140 m2). As of that year the median price was $56,590. As of 1996 the older houses, closer to Beechnut Street, had prices beginning at $50,000 ($93295.14 in current money). As of the same year larger houses, closer to North Braeswood Boulevard, had prices beginning at $100,000 ($186590.28 in current money).[2]

As of 1996 housing prices are lower in Robindell than in Meyerland and Maplewood because the Robindell houses are smaller and because Robindell is not zoned to Bellaire High School.[2]

When the houses were first built, customers met with homebuilders and determined which style the house would use. This led to a variety in the housing architecture. Many of the homes are of the mid-century ranch style. Katherine Feser of the Houston Chronicle said that all of the houses had "quality workmanship and materials."[2]

Transportation

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) operates public transportation services.

Around 1988 METRO proposed having Beechnut Street widened. Residents of Robindell, Meyerland, and Maplewood appeared before the METRO board and protested the plans, stating that they would result in increased traffic. METRO dropped the plans.[5]

Government and infrastructure

Katherine Feser of the Houston Chronicle said that Robindell has always had an active civic club.[2]

Education

The Houston Independent School District operates public schools.[6]

Part of Robindell is zoned to McNamara Elementary School, and part is zoned to Herod Elementary School.[7][8] Part of Robindell is zoned to Sugar Grove Middle School,[9] and part is zoned to Fondren Middle School.[10] All of the community is zoned to Sharpstown High School.[11]

Previously part of the subdivision was zoned to Sharpstown Middle School.[2]

Media

The Bellaire Texan, which served the Robindell community in the mid-20th Century,[12] was headquartered in Bellaire and published by the Texan Publishing Corporation.[13] By 1975 it became known as the Bellaire & Southwestern Texan and was published by the Preston Publishing Company. It was then headquartered in Houston.[14]

References
  1. Feldstein, Dan and Claudia Kolker. "Carless in Houston/Going carless/View is different from the slow lane." Houston Chronicle. June 15, 1997. Retrieved on August 8, 2011.
  2. Feser, Katherine. "Robindell going strong after 40 years." Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 6, 1996. Business 10. Retrieved on August 8, 2011.
  3. Morganfield, Robbie. "City Hall adds 15 neighborhoods to renovation program." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday December 5, 1995. A18. Retrieved on August 9, 2011.
  4. Connelly, Richard. "The Five Most Underrated Neighborhoods In Houston." Houston Press. Friday August 13, 2010. Retrieved on November 3, 2012.
  5. Mintz, Bill. "Residents win fight on Beechnut plan." Houston Chronicle. Wednesday September 21, 1988. Retrieved on August 8, 2011.
  6. Harris County blockbook maps: Section 1
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2011-10-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2013-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-03-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-19. Retrieved 2012-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 31, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 14, 1955. p. 1 of 16 (see page). At the Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas. Retrieved on March 2, 2017. "215 N. 6th St., Bellaire, Texas"
  13. The Bellaire Texan (Bellaire, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 31, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 14, 1955. p. 4 of 16 (see page). At the Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas. Retrieved on March 2, 2017. "215 N. 6th St., Bellaire, Texas"
  14. The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan (Bellaire, Tex.), Vol. 24, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 25, 1975 Page: 2 of 47 (see page). At the Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas. Retrieved on March 2, 2017. "6622 Ferris St. Houston, Texas 77036"

29.685°N 95.499°W / 29.685; -95.499

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.