West University Place Retains Small-Town Character
Many thanks to the Houston Chronicle, who interviewed me for this article about real estate in the City of West University Place.

West U Retains Small-Town Character

January 22, 2010

Dartmouth, Georgetown and Rutgers -- Judging by the street names alone, West University Place is an accomplished community, and its not just monikers making this bedroom community popular. Despite being in the middle of the fourth largest U.S. city, West University Place has managed to remain a small town.

With a population of about 14,000 in 2000, West University Place also is referred to as West University and West U. Bounded by Kirby Drive to the east; Bellaire Boulevard and W. Holcome Boulevard to the south; Bissonnet Street along the north and west and Community to the west; West University Place boasts abundant green space and convenience to all Houston has to offer.

"This is a neighborhood that prides itself on knowing your neighbors, biking and walking to restaurants, and sitting on the bleachers to watch Little League baseball while enjoying a hotdog and soda," said Roger Martin, owner of Roger Martin Properties.

West University Place primarily is residential, though there is a downtown area with small shops and offices and with the established Edloe Deli as a focus. The self-sufficient city has a mayor and city council, police and fire departments, trash pick-up and utilities, and six public parks within city limits. Most of the area's commercial centers and nightlife are on the edge of town, including grocery stores, restaurants and bars.

The city plans to unveil a $13.8 million West University Recreation Center, Colonial Park swimming pool and a senior center early this year. Residents passed a bond to fund the project in 2008 and construction of the recreation center is expected to be complete in March. The recreation center will include a large, multipurpose room; several smaller rooms for classes and fitness activities, cardio and weight room, multifunction sports courts, and bathroom facilities with access to year-round swimming pool.

The Colonial Park pool and senior center are expected to be complete by May. The pool will include a zero-depth entry, interactive play features, toddler's slide, lily pad walkway, floating log, lounge and bench seating, and lap lanes. Deep-water amenities include a climbing wall, drop slide and diving board. The senior center will include two multipurpose rooms, poolside concession area, bathroom facilities with access to the pool and a park-side restroom.

Since there is not a 'typical' home in West University Place, buyers will find primarily single-family homes, patio homes and townhomes starting around $400,000 to more than $3 million. With more than 75 year of history, West University Place has older two-bedroom, one-bath cottages.

Resale homes are the primary mover in West U, with new-construction projects slowing. As of Jan 1 there are 185 properites on the market with 64 as resale, 22 rentals, five townhomes, 23 tear-downs, 32 new-construction homes and 11 lots.

Heather Nicholson, the Houston Chronicle

I am proud to be a resident of West University Place. This really is a great residential community.  To read the full newspaper article, click here.

Roger Martin