Garden Oaks Homes: a close-in neighborhood of approximately 1400 homes.
Just north of Houston’s 610 Loop, this was to be Houston’s “next River Oaks” when it was established in 1937. The first homes were in fact very large plantation and ranch style homes on huge lots.
Garden Oaks - Typical Cottage
The deep setbacks, curved streets, and the many trees did give Garden Oaks a graceful, sophisticated look, which it retains today. The timing for this development wasn’t the best though. WWII began and building slowed.
Building picked up tremendously after the war in the 1940’s though. The returning GI’s had the GI Bill and were ready to buy homes. Not grandose plantation homes, however. The new market for Garden Oaks homes became the smaller cottages for this group of Buyers. This shift resulted in a broad range of styles and prices that still exist today. These range from huge plantation style homes, ranch style, traditional, down to quaint cottages and bungalows. It is definitely not a cookie-cutter neighborhood.
Garden Oaks homes are often compared to West University and Bellaire because of the large homes, large shaded lots and its homogeneity. The Heights by comparison, is still a transitioning neighborhood with its old commercial pockets still scattered around.
Garden Oaks homes offer excellent location, mass appeal, oversized lots, and booming property values. Garden Oaks is just north of Houston Heights and east of Oak Forest. Other close neighborhoods are Mangum Manor, Shepherd Park Plaza.
The real estate market is very strong for Garden Oaks homes. Even in this current recession house building and renovations are going strong. The reasons for the strong market are multiple:
- Deed restrictions require large lots and deep setbacks. Mature towering pines and magnolias shade the area. People are always drawn to winding, tree lined streets and large, well-manicured lawns.
- Garden Oaks is convenient for those who want the amenities and culture of the big city, and still have a neighborhood feel. Minutes from downtown Houston, the Medical Center and easy access to freeways. It has a small-town atmosphere, close to everything.
- Inner loop prices keep going up, while the lot sizes are getting smaller. Garden Oaks is still very affordable, and very close in.
- New home construction pushes prices up. Some of the smaller homes may not be suited for major renovations and addition, but the large lots make a perfect setting for a larger 2 story home. These new homes push up land values and correspondingly, the values of homes around them.
History: In 1937, Edward L. Crain established Garden Oaks on a tract of land just north of the Houston Heights. Comprised of 5 sections, Garden Oaks offers a unique blend of mid-century homes—mostly pier and beam cottages. The western edge of the neighborhood is comprised of G.I. homes built for returning veterans after World War II.
Location: Just north of Houston’s 610 N Loop. Residents of Garden Oaks have easy access to downtown Houston, the Uptown/Galleria area, the Medical Center and Houston Intercontinental Airport. Very close also to Hiway 290 and I-45.
Garden Oaks, Just off Houston's 610 N Loop.
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