Scott Street Area, 4th Ward and 5th Ward

[Hadar Orkibi]

HI BP Houston members, 

While i visited Houston we had a drive by Scott Street, where the 2 universities are, inside the inner loop and Greater 3rd Ward. My agent saying that this area is going to be a good investment. With gentrification taking place and the huge student housing project that is almost completed on Scott Street, the Icon.

I would much appreciate some local knowledge and feedback on this area of greater 3rd Ward and the Greater 5th Ward around Lockwood Drive and Lyons Ave Zip 77020.

Many Thanks in advance, 

H.

[Account Closed]

Folks looking to invest in 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Wards, please read up on the history of these areas so that you can get a feel for them. Run some Google Searches and find some Houston Chronicle and Texas Monthly articles. Balance what you find there with info from the community redevelopment websites. Zillow and Trulia only have so much information to offer. 

Texas Monthly has described 5th Ward as "Texas' toughest, proudest, baddest ghetto." There is blues song by Juke Boy Bonner titled “Stay off Lyons Ave.” The rush in development along Lyons Ave is for the purpose of erasing its extremely bloody history.

2nd Ward is the most family friendly of the three.... because it is "policed" by your friendly neighborhood Banditos chapter whose families live there and (ironically?) do not tolerate violent crime in their own back yard. 3rd Ward (aside from the University area) is "policed" by the old gangsters because their mothers live there. The reason the Icon is adding so many beds, is because most people will pay more to have their college kids in a safe cozy building attached to the campus, with lots of cops around, because 3rd Ward is the 15th most dangerous neighborhood in the US, according to the FBI. 

All of these areas have strong and proud communities. There is so much history on the streets in these developing parts of town. Familiarize yourselves with the roots of the area. Please don't jump in blind, feet-first. Yes, gentrification is happening. Yes, it's basically unstoppable. Educate yourselves 1st, please.