West Oaks, Houston

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
West Oaks, Houston
Country USA

West Oaks is a small subdivision in

National Geographic wrote that compared to River Oaks, West Oaks is "more nondescript".[3] Beginning in the 1990s, George H. W. Bush
became a resident of the neighborhood.

Cityscape

As of 1992 West Oaks had 30 houses on fairly large lots.

interior designer from Connecticut who lived in West Oaks and was quoted in Feldman's article, said that the area was "charming" and reminded him of his home state.[1] As of 1992, in West Oaks, mansions and regular houses that had decaying paint were next door to one another. Many "for sale" signs are visible throughout the neighborhood, while Tanglewood does not allow "for sale" signs. Feldman said "If Tanglewood is homogenous, West Oaks is not."[1]

As of 1992, many older houses were being torn down so newer houses could be built.[5] Feldman added that "Most of those down-at-the-heels homes will be snatched up, then bulldozed to make room for town homes."[1] In 1992 Tony Freemantle and William E. Clayton, Jr. of the Houston Chronicle said that "the trend recently is toward smaller lots and self-standing townhouses" such as the lot that the house of George H. W. Bush was built on.[4]

Residence of George H. W. Bush

In 1981

horseshoe pit and no lawn for the grandchildren," caused some people to criticize Bush.[11] Jack Steel, a friend of the Bush family, said that the location would be too accessible for a residence of a former U.S. president.[13]

John "Jack" Fitch, a longtime personal friend and former neighbor of George H. W. Bush,

Washington, DC, had been unable to find a suitable alternative, they temporarily began leasing Fitch's former house, a two bedroom house appraised for $367,200 in 1992.[10] In 1992 City of Houston employees repaved West Oaks Drive with a cost of $12,000 ($26054.54 in today's money), to anticipate Bush's arrival.[15]

In December 1992 the Bush family announced that it was building a new house on the lot.

U.S. Secret Service detail.[4]

By 1993 tourists began to visit the Bushes' house. The neighbors felt upset due to the increased traffic and security issues. The subdivision received approval from the Houston City Council to erect gates to block the portion of West Oaks that houses the Bush residence from the general public.[17] When Houstonians heard that the city may pay for the gate, Houston City Council member Christin Hartung, whose district covered West Oaks, received mostly negative telephone calls.[18]

The Bushes, as of 1994, live in the West Oaks house.[1] Swartz wrote that the Bushes prefer West Oaks because they "are too studiously sedate to live in River Oaks".[3]

Education

The subdivision is within the

Briargrove) and Tanglewood Middle School (formerly Grady Middle School).[20] High school students are zoned to Margaret Long Wisdom High School (formerly Lee High School)[21] and may choose to attend Lamar High School or Westside High School.[22]

Residents of the Briargrove Elementary School attendance zone may apply for the Briarmeadow Charter School.[23]

Mark White Elementary School is scheduled to open in August 2016. Residents of the Briargrove Elementary zone, along with those of the Pilgrim, Piney Point, and Emerson zones, will be allowed to apply to this school.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Feser, Katherine. "Tanglewood's tale had a slow start." Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 2, 1994. Business 6. Retrieved on October 13, 2012.
  2. ^ Feldman, Claudia. "Moving back to the 'hood . . ./CITIZEN BUSH." Houston Chronicle. Sunday December 13, 1992. Lifestyle p. 1. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  3. ^
    National Geographic
    . March 2006. Retrieved on June 4, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e Freemantle, Tony and William E. Clayton, Jr. "Bushes to build home here." Houston Chronicle. Friday November 20, 1992. A1. Retrieved on October 17, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Hamm, Madeleine McDermott. "Architect Eubanks gets the nod to design Bushes' new house." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday December 1, 1992. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d Hickey, Elisabeth. "Bushes' lot: No room for real estate." The Washington Times. Thursday November 19, 1992. Part E Life E1. Accessed on LexisNexis.
  7. ^
    Toledo Blade. Sunday August 16, 1992. Section A, Page 4. Retrieved from Google News
    (3 of 70) on October 14, 2012.
  8. ^ "AE1997_67_0069.jpg." (Archive) Harris County, Texas. Retrieved on October 14, 2012.
  9. ^ "Map." (Archive) Tanglewood Homes Association. Retrieved on October 14, 2012.
  10. ^
    Ocala Star-Banner. Saturday November 21, 1992. 2A. Retrieved from Google Books
    (2 of 84) on October 14, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Hickey, Elisabeth. "Tour bashes Bush's little plot on the prairie." The Washington Times. Monday August 17, 1992. Part A Nation A3. Available on LexisNexis.
  12. ^ Wines, Michael. "THE TRANSITION: The Republicans; Bush Seems Unsure About His Plans." The New York Times. November 9, 1992. Retrieved on October 14, 2012.
  13. ^ Warren, Susan. "Convention '92/More than just home suite home/Bushes' residential roots here started with houses, not hotels." Houston Chronicle. Sunday August 16, 1992. Special p. 8. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  14. ^ McDonald, Greg. "Bush says U.S. raid on home of diplomat was `screw-up'." Houston Chronicle. Sunday December 31, 1989. A1. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  15. ^ a b "BUSH Houston rolls out new asphalt for president." San Antonio Express-News. December 3, 1992. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  16. Victoria Advocate. Saturday November 21, 1992. 9A. Retrieved from Google News
    (5 of 21) on October 15, 2012.
  17. The Deseret News
    . September 4, 1993. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  18. ^ Liebrum, Jennifer. "Bush fence proposal gets low approval rating." Houston Chronicle. Friday May 7, 1993. A32. Retrieved on October 17, 2012.
  19. ^ "Briargrove Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District.
  20. ^ "Grady Middle Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District.
  21. ^ "Lee High School Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District.
  22. ^ Home Page as of May 9, 2005. Lee High School.
  23. ^ "Registration." Briarmeadow Charter School.
  24. ^ Baird, Annette. "Planned HISD elementary to relieve crowding." Houston Chronicle. June 10, 2014. Retrieved on December 21, 2014.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Oaks,_Houston&oldid=1186577288"