[.50cal]

Greenspoint is a 12 square mile district North of downtown Houston at the intersection of Beltway 8 and I-45. There is a mall, hotels, businesses, and thousands of apartment buildings in this area. According to Wikipedia the district is home to 3,000 businesses, 55,000 employees, and nearly 900,000 residents. It also has 18,000sf of office and retail space. Back in the 80's and early 90's it was called "Gunspoint" because of the high crime rate. The area is mainly low income and working class apartments. My sister used to live here, and I would not recommend it. Cheap rent, but you definitely get what you pay for.

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There are a lot of oil and gas companies here along with many warehouses, because of it's location close to the airport.
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Back to Montgomery County
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[theWatusi]

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is this hell?

[Michi]

Yah, the only thing I like about Greenspoint are the fun freeway bridges to drive over. Other than that, it's a bit doomed...other than its proximity to the airport. Isn't Haliburton over there too? Ugg.

[Rail Claimore]

Reminds me a bit of Schaumburg.

[araman0]

Greenspoint is a 12 square mile district North of downtown Houston ....

According to Wikipedia the district is home to 3,000 businesses, 55,000 employees, and nearly 900,000 residents.


75,000 ppsm? :stunned:

[OhioGuy]

Yah, the only thing I like about Greenspoint are the fun freeway bridges to drive over. Other than that, it's a bit doomed...other than its proximity to the airport. Isn't Haliburton over there too? Ugg.

Yup, Haliburton is up in that area. I would see it right along the Beltway every time I was driving to/from the airport. And you're right, the only good thing about that area is that it is sort of "fun" driving over the freeway bridges. :haha:

(btw, what lead to your relocation to Houston, Michi?)

[DTLA]

^^aramanO, that must be a misprint, my guess is that it is 90,000 ppl cause otherwise that district would be denser than Manhattan & there is NO way that can be right especially since it looks like a pretty low density area

[kcexpress69]

Nice shots!! It doesn't appear to be that densely populated. Maybe more so after you get off the highway! :cool:

[.50cal]

900,000 seems like a misprint, but the number of apartment complexes in the area is really high. ? This area is not easy on the eyes, with the freeway, power lines, strip malls, warehouses, etc. The mall has been horrible for quite a while, and people generally go to the area to work, then go home.

[weatherguru18]

The last two shots are from 45 approaching The Woodlands...far from a bad area...very affluent.

[.50cal]

That's why it says back to Montgomery County Captain Obvious.

[flar]

Thanks for the tour. It looks like a terrible place to live, definitely not human scaled.

[Atlantan26]

Houston has that gritty northern city look. the freeway system looks cool though

[soleri]

Parking spaces galore.

Now, where is everybody?

[Reverberation]

Not Hell. Class C. I think it's 18,000,000sf of office space. But northern Houston is miserable between 610 and the Sam. The airport is a mixed blessing.

[Trae]

is this hell?

Yes.

Greenspoint sucks. Typical suburban business district. Except it has a ton of apartments. The Woodlands really hurt Greenspoint, but companies still like being close to a large international airport, so Greenspoint is still attractive.

They are trying to revitalize some of it though. Supposedly going to redevelop the mall into a big mixed-use development.

And I thought Haliburton's HQ were on the west side, near Westchase?

[OhioGuy]

And I thought Haliburton's HQ were on the west side, near Westchase?

Maybe they have multiple buildings? Though I can't recall ever seeing it in the Westchase area. But I did always get a snickle and then ended up rolling my eyes whenever I drove by Haliburton on the Beltway (somewhere between I-45 and the airport exit).

[Samwill89]

According to the Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce, Greenspoint has a 2005 population of 185,000 in the 12 square miles....nearly all cheap apartment complexes and a couple of suburban neighborhoods. You have to get off of the freeways to see the dense neighborhoods. The area is surprisingly walkable (i guess it has to be since people here are really poor with no cars).

I grew up in that area.....it is no place for a child to live. The area is roughly 80% Hispanic and African American and drugs are a HUGE plague within this community. The promised mixed-use developments planned for the area should help.

[tdawg]

Just hearing "Bush Intercontinental" makes me shudder.

[.50cal]

Haliburton is just before the airport exit on the right heading East from Greenspoint. It is set back into the trees so you can miss it. ExxonMobil, Smith Services, BJ, and Hydril all have facilities in the area. Most of the major players in the oil patch have something here.

[Paulyt23]

I think I'll stay away!

[dharper6]

According to the Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce, Greenspoint has a 2005 population of 185,000 in the 12 square miles....nearly all cheap apartment complexes and a couple of suburban neighborhoods. You have to get off of the freeways to see the dense neighborhoods. The area is surprisingly walkable (i guess it has to be since people here are really poor with no cars).

I grew up in that area.....it is no place for a child to live. The area is roughly 80% Hispanic and African American and drugs are a HUGE plague within this community. The promised mixed-use developments planned for the area should help.

Sounds like you're saying there's something wrong with an area being 80 percent Hispanic and African American. Also, the people in the area may be poor, but they do have cars.

[.50cal]

It's not the people, it's what the people are doing. The pictures may not show the grit, but it is a rough area.

[dharper6]

Just hearing "Bush Intercontinental" makes me shudder.

I don't know if it's any consolation, but the airport is named after George Bush senior.

I liked it better when it was simply named Houston Intercontinental Airport. When it was being built in the 60s, when the main airport was still on the other side of town, it was going to be named Jetero (accent on second syllable) but it didn't fly (pun intended).

[urbanactivist]

Nice effort on the tour, but no thanks. I detest Greenspoint... all the sprawl of a Sugar Land, without any of the benefits. I think I'll just stay inside the city where its safe ;)

[Llyod Banks]

Lol...I'm moving close to Greenspoint maybe in Greenspoint..i'm not sure yet but i'm just moving to an apartment since it's cheap..but the many times I've been to Greenspoint it wasn't that bad but then again I was going there for reasons like talking to females and buying some u know what..lol and yeah they still call Greenspoint Gunspoint..it wouldn't be my first choice as far as residing there for good..but just a temp. thing

[TexasBoi]

I don't know if it's any consolation, but the airport is named after George Bush senior.

I liked it better when it was simply named Houston Intercontinental Airport. When it was being built in the 60s, when the main airport was still on the other side of town, it was going to be named Jetero (accent on second syllable) but it didn't fly (pun intended).

I believe that most of the Houston residents still refer to it as Houston Intercontinental Airport. The residents of the city did not vote on the name change.

[dharper6]

I believe that most of the Houston residents still refer to it as Houston Intercontinental Airport. The residents of the city did not vote on the name change.

That's good to know.

[daithi]

I grew up in that area.....it is no place for a child to live. The area is roughly 80% Hispanic and African American and drugs are a HUGE plague within this community. The promised mixed-use developments planned for the area should help.

Can't forget the white boys with gold teeth trying to be black.

[Samwill89]

Sounds like you're saying there's something wrong with an area being 80 percent Hispanic and African American. Also, the people in the area may be poor, but they do have cars.

Of course not! I am an African American and I was just noting my disappointment with how drugs have caused decay within the Greenspoint community. I can also personally attest to the fact that many residents there do not have their own vehicles. The Metro ridership there is high, not because people love buses, but because it is the only option for many.

My family left the Greenspoint area 7 years ago for suburban Cypress, TX. I can honestly say that any suburb is better than that area.....and thats saying something.

[JManc]

yay...gunspoint! cool buildings but it is a pretty shitty area.

[sogod]

I really like seeing pictures of the average and nice looking parts of Houston. I have to say Houston is under represented in that regard. Most of the Houston photo threads are pictures of inner-city power-lines and potholes, and they tend to have that odd orange tint. Not the good CSI Miami orange tent either, but something rather unhealthy looking.

[Hayward]

It's amazing how those powerlines can almost look beautiful across an open farm field but look absolutely horrible in suburban settings.

[Metro Matt]

Greenspoint does have a high crime rate, but its definitely A LOT lower than other areas in Houston such as 5th Ward aka the "bloody nickel", or even Southwest Houston.

I went to school for 2 years just north of Greenspoint & never once felt unsafe in the area & I'm white.

[dharper6]

I really like seeing pictures of the average and nice looking parts of Houston. I have to say Houston is under represented in that regard. Most of the Houston photo threads are pictures of inner-city power-lines and potholes, and they tend to have that odd orange tint. Not the good CSI Miami orange tent either, but something rather unhealthy looking.

It all has to do with how a particular forumer wants to portray a city. Some are fascinated with power lines and like to put orange tints to photographs. But some of the same photographers have posted some really beautiful photos of Houston.

It's easy to make any city look good or bad with select photos. Even with as good of a reputation as Austin has, I could easily post 20 photos that would make it look like the grimmest place in the country.

You've made a good observation. Thanks for bringng that up.

[Michi]

(btw, what lead to your relocation to Houston, Michi?)
Three equations really:
Michigan + Economy (- Michigan) = Texas
Michigan + Jobs (- Michigan) = Texas
Detroit - Detroit = Houston + Detroit
900,000 - 900,000 = 2,000,000 + 900,000 (= 2,900,000)

Ok, that makes no sense, but you get my point! ;)

[glowrock]

Yah, the only thing I like about Greenspoint are the fun freeway bridges to drive over. Other than that, it's a bit doomed...other than its proximity to the airport. Isn't Haliburton over there too? Ugg.

Evil Empire! Evil Empire! :)

(This coming from a Schlumberger employee, of course! :))

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Trae]

Just hearing "Bush Intercontinental" makes me shudder.

Me to. The first Bush though, so it isn't that bad. Most call it "The Big Airport" though.

Greenspoint has gotten better over the years though. It's where the Carolina Panthers stayed during the Super Bowl four years ago. Don't think the city would put them there unless the area was cleaned up.

[Austinlee]

Weird! nice pics though.

[jowens]

Stayed at the Wyndam Greenspoint many times because of its proximity to the Airport.

The Greenspoint Mall across the street looks scaarry!

[urbanactivist]

I believe that most of the Houston residents still refer to it as Houston Intercontinental Airport. The residents of the city did not vote on the name change.

Most of the news organizations refer to it as "the big airport" :koko: I can't decide which is worse... that or saying "Bush airport".

[Trae]

Stayed at the Wyndam Greenspoint many times because of its proximity to the Airport.

The Greenspoint Mall across the street looks scaarry!

Not really. Greenspoint Mall doesn't look scary.

[Double L]

The way I see it, it still is "Gunspoint".

In fact, there was a shooting inside the Greenspoint mall in 2007.

[KevinFromTexas]

Most of the Houston photo threads are pictures of inner-city power-lines and potholes, and they tend to have that odd orange tint. Not the good CSI Miami orange tent either, but something rather unhealthy looking.

It's called photographic creativity. Seriously, the air in Houston is not orange. And I rather like that style of photography. Most of the photos you're talking about were taken at or near sunset, so yeah, orange. I've done the same with some of my photos in Austin, and the air here is also most certainly not orange.

[Trae]

The way I see it, it still is "Gunspoint".

In fact, there was a shooting inside the Greenspoint mall in 2007.

Yeah, because a guy killed (or shot, don't remember) his girlfriend. Wasn't random (but still stupid).

[Boris]

Amen Kevin,

the grity Houston threads kick ass.

[JManc]

Most of the news organizations refer to it as "the big airport" :koko: I can't decide which is worse... that or saying "Bush airport".

outlaw dave (local DJ on KLOL) used to call it the "big bush" as opposed to the smaller hobby.

[daithi]

Yeah, because a guy killed (or shot, don't remember) his girlfriend. Wasn't random (but still stupid).


She must've spent all his money.

[Surrealplaces]

Interesting photos. I was through that area a couple of years ago.

[jowens]

She must've spent all his money.

and he was upset that she wasted the money at that nasty mall.:D

http://www.deadmalls.com/malls/greenspoint_mall.html

[sogod]

It's called photographic creativity...

Creativity is making something original or, in the case of photography, capturing something original.

I don't have any problem with the gritty side of Houston, or pictures of it, I just want to see more threads like this that give me an idea of what life is like in other parts of the city.

[Great_Hizzy]

Greenspoint isn't a great area but its reputation is often exaggerated. There are some low to middle income apartment complexes mixed in with some decent ones. Crime wise, the ones west of I-45 and centered on Northborough from Greens to Rankin appear to have the most trouble, although there are some along Imperial Valley that are shakey, too.

Visually, it looks like typical suburbia except with a more modest per capita income and higher-than-average crime rates. Given this site, obviously everyone will say it sucks both asthetically and intuitively, which is fine, but it's not rundown or suffocating in decayed buildings. But for a suburban community in a city with a lot of propserous ones, it certainly isn't impressive in any way, shape or form.

The one good thing you can say, though, is that its crime rate has gone down significantly from the early 90s (although, granted, the early 90s were especially bad for this particular area).

[krudmonk]

I need to take a shower now...

[vjhe]

Greenspoint isn't a great area but its reputation is often exaggerated. There are some low to middle income apartment complexes mixed in with some decent ones. Crime wise, the ones west of I-45 and centered on Northborough from Greens to Rankin appear to have the most trouble, although there are some along Imperial Valley that are shakey, too.

Visually, it looks like typical suburbia except with a more modest per capita income and higher-than-average crime rates. Given this site, obviously everyone will say it sucks both asthetically and intuitively, which is fine, but it's not rundown or suffocating in decayed buildings. But for a suburban community in a city with a lot of propserous ones, it certainly isn't impressive in any way, shape or form.

The one good thing you can say, though, is that its crime rate has gone down significantly from the early 90s (although, granted, the early 90s were especially bad for this particular area).

Very well stated, and true in every sense. There are some "rough" areas in other cities where Greenspoint is paradise in comparison. For a area known for crime, the landscaped streets and relatively modern apartments would make one think otherwise.

[KevinFromTexas]

Creativity is making something original or, in the case of photography, capturing something original.

I don't have any problem with the gritty side of Houston, or pictures of it, I just want to see more threads like this that give me an idea of what life is like in other parts of the city.

Agreed. Houston is such an animal. It's cool seeing all the nice clean and comfy urban neighborhoods, but Houston does have some really gritty industrial areas of course. I'd even like to see more of the east side where more of the refineries are. There's really nothing else in Texas like Houston. It has a little bit of everything.

[dharper6]

I remember the Greenspoint area when it was just getting started, right after the airport opened. It was mostly pine forests and fields, and a nice countryside to drive through. When all the development first went it, I thought it looked really nice. I agree it's not as nice as many areas in the Houston metro, but it's not bad. I don't know why so much time has been devoted to picking on that area.

[JManc]

Agreed. Houston is such an animal. It's cool seeing all the nice clean and comfy urban neighborhoods, but Houston does have some really gritty industrial areas of course. I'd even like to see more of the east side where more of the refineries are. There's really nothing else in Texas like Houston. It has a little bit of everything.


refineries are pretty much a no-no for photography becuase of that whole cameras + infrastructure = terrorism thing. and some of the gritty areas are a bit too rough to go wandering around with an expensive camera...especially if you look out of place; john mayor latte types driving around the hood.

[eddie21]

How cute! :jester:

[southernfried]

i used to lived there i had no problems

[llamaorama]

It would be interesting if it could come back as a reasonable example of what it was meant to be at least. The fact that the office district is still nice (because it has a unique locational advantage) is a plus. I can say I have been there at least, when I was a little kid my family shopped at that mall often before The Woodlands mall opened(Willowbrook mall was always closer but harder to get to being on 1960 and 249). I know someone who now lives down in those apartments, in some of the nicer ones. Also my Grandfather's business partner has a surveying company in an office suite there.

Then again, realistically, trying to "clean up" bad apartment complexes, public housing, etc, just serves to displace the problem elsewhere as it does to try and fix it. And that's assuming things are really as bad as they seem. Not all the apartments back there seem horrible. Common sense says that entire section of north central Houston is not the most wonderful part of the city, and any major center that draws from it will get stigmatised.

[photoLith]

Gunspoint could have a lot of potential. At certain points driving around it, it almost feels like a city. They could easily make it more dense and actually feel like an urban center, instead of just a shitty suburban mall/office complex.

[Metro Matt]

Gunspoint could have a lot of potential. At certain points driving around it, it almost feels like a city. They could easily make it more dense and actually feel like an urban center, instead of just a shitty suburban mall/office complex.

They need to start off by tearing down that mall & using the available land to build condos with street level retail kinda like they have in The Woodlands & Sugar Land.

Planting more trees would also help identify the area as Greenspoint. One thing I can't stand is looking at a bunch of barren concrete.

[diskojoe]

gunspoint! :twoguns:

and greenspoint has no potential.

[Tom Servo]

75,000 ppsm? :stunned:

LOLOLOL @ 900,000 people!

Greenspoint neighborhood in Houston, Texas, 77037, 77038, 77060, 77067:

Area: 8.139 square miles

Population: 40,580

Density: 4,986 ppsm

...lay off the wikipedia, bro

[salaverryo]

Just hearing "Bush Intercontinental" makes me shudder.

"Intercontinental" means "between continents", even though Houston's big airport hosts relatively few of those flights. But, as you know, everything's big in Texas, even the names. "International" wasn't quite enough, in true Texas style they had to make it "intercontinental".

[AusHou]

"Intercontinental" means "between continents", even though Houston's big airport hosts relatively few of those flights. But, as you know, everything's big in Texas, even the names. "International" wasn't quite enough, in true Texas style they had to make it "intercontinental".

Actually, there are many intercontinental flights out of Bush. Check flightaware.com.

As an aside, "Bush" refers to the first Bush, not the second, thank goodness.

[Ray]

pssh... I flew into Houston straight from Tokyo this year :notacrook:

[Metro Matt]

"Intercontinental" means "between continents", even though Houston's big airport hosts relatively few of those flights. But, as you know, everything's big in Texas, even the names. "International" wasn't quite enough, in true Texas style they had to make it "intercontinental".

Houston is a hub for air travel to & from other countries, especially Latin America, Europe, & Asia.

[STLgasm]

Houston has that gritty northern city look. the freeway system looks cool though

??? Pass the bong, dude.

[JivecitySTL]

Houston has that gritty northern city look. the freeway system looks cool though

I assume you're joking. If you're not, I don't think you've ever been to a "gritty northern city."

[glowrock]

gunspoint! :twoguns:

and greenspoint has no potential.

I disagree, diskojoe. I think Greenspoint has plenty of potential, but yes, it will require the demolition and redevelopment of the old mall into a good mixed-use development, in addition to "cleaning up" some of the more dilapidated old apartment complexes. There are enough office towers, enough middle class apartments, enough large corporate campuses in the area to make it good again, it's just going to take substantial effort on Houston's part to make it happen.

Of course perhaps I'm naive about this, though I hope it's true, given that I now work right on JFK a touch north of the Beltway! :)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[AusHou]

I disagree, diskojoe. I think Greenspoint has plenty of potential, but yes, it will require the demolition and redevelopment of the old mall into a good mixed-use development, in addition to "cleaning up" some of the more dilapidated old apartment complexes. There are enough office towers, enough middle class apartments, enough large corporate campuses in the area to make it good again, it's just going to take substantial effort on Houston's part to make it happen.

Of course perhaps I'm naive about this, though I hope it's true, given that I now work right on JFK a touch north of the Beltway! :)

Aaron (Glowrock)

You have quite a commute, right? I forget where you said you lived; was it on th west side somewhere? What's the best route to get to JFK Blvd? My sister has moved to Cypress, and they go to the airport via the tollway, and it's very fast for them.

[llamaorama]

Yeah.

If the city or developer did something novel to the place it might have potential. Alternatively, just trying to spruce up the mall(with say, more food places that are good) and making it into something more fitting for the community it serves(adding an educational or public component in place of any empty anchor space) might work. It's not quite as vacant as you guys might think, even if half the anchors are gone and the businesses tend to be lower end. Here's a store directory http://www.greenspointmall.com/index.php?option=com_directory&task=alpha&Itemid=47

Here's my idea based on a mixture of different proposals floating out there. You'd either redo or bulldoze the empty anchors that are on the freeway side of the mall and pull in the parking lots. So the main trunk of the mall would seem more accessible and open, and you'd lose the dead weight. Then on the other side, by Greenspoint Drive, would be some NICE condos/townhomes flanking a good, community-oriented park that would also face a new grand entrance to the mall. This grand entrance itself would be partly outdoors and be the new expanded food court with an open air cafe type eating area.

For security, a "koban" police box, like they use in Japan, would be placed in this park within view of the whole mixed use area, and one officer from the Greenspoint Mall substation would be stationed out there.

All this would front the office district, which as people have said, is still desirable. In terms of an architectural/aesthetic sense of place, the whole little skyline there overlooking the open space and rows of new stuff would be pretty spiffy. Also, for access to the rest of Greenspoint, depending on how you pulled it off, there could be a hike/bike trail between the buildings and apartments cut out to the greens bayou path. Maybe to double as a storm water drain, a trickling water feature placed along this narrow, tree lined path(traveled by a cop on a bike occasionally...) would put some green in the name greenspoint.

These things would actually be as nice as anything in The Woodlands "town center"(sans the cheesy boats).

Also, I was thinking about something- Back in the early to mid 90's, things were a lot different. There weren't competing big box stores just everywhere, even in sprawling Houston. The only other mall, Willowbrook, and the one Target, Best Buy, etc, was up on FM 1960- the slowest, most congested suburban arterial road you will ever see. So even back then, if you lived along 45, it might have made sense to go to Greenspoint for shopping. The Woodlands mall changed all that. "Gunspoint" might have been a major blow to the place, but competition with other centers is why personally my family quit going there when I was a kid. All it really needs to do is become unique and attractive again. Eventually the bad apartments and criminal element will just move on, that's how the city is.

[simms3_redux]

I assume you're joking. If you're not, I don't think you've ever been to a "gritty northern city."

I agree with you. And frankly, I think Atlanta actually looks far more "northern" than Houston so I'm not sure what Atlantan was getting at. I did enjoy the pictures, though, and I definitely would not want to live there. If I lived in Houston, being near Halliburton and Bush Intercontinental would not upset me in the least, especially if I was gainfully employed by either institution.

[glowrock]

You have quite a commute, right? I forget where you said you lived; was it on th west side somewhere? What's the best route to get to JFK Blvd? My sister has moved to Cypress, and they go to the airport via the tollway, and it's very fast for them.

It's all about the Beltway, NewTex! :)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[JManc]

they tried revamping gunspoint in the late 90's. with new apartments and a PR campaign to get people to live out there. didn't work out so well. the mall and the surrounding commercial area might have potential but the area is surrounded by ghetto.

[AusHou]

Although I haven't driven around the area in proximity to the airport, from the air it looks like that general area is getting pretty scuzzy looking. I don't know if I'm getting the right impression viewing from the air, but maybe others who are more familiar with that part of the beltway area can comment. If my impression is correct, seems like Greenspoint would have a harder time coming back.

[diskojoe]

The problem with greenspoint is not where its at but rather who lives there already. its ghetto! and peeps from northside are crazy. if you ask anyone from the northside they would probably agree with you too that all the peeps out there are crazy. they can renovate all they want but people arent going to move there when there are more attractive locations within a commutable distance which in houston could be 30 - 50 miles.