Woodland Heights Homes

Woodland Heights Homes Are Among the Most Desirable of the Heights

When platted in 1907 by William A. Wilson, the neighborhood was a 20-minute streetcar ride north of downtown via Houston Avenue. Although originally designed as an independent streetcar suburb, it was eventually incorporated into the city of Houston and is now one of the closest residential neighborhoods to downtown (aside from the much smaller Sixth Ward).

Driving into Woodland Heights From Watson Street

Woodland Heights Home Tour - Teetshorn St

602 Teetshorn: 1920 raised Craftsman bungalow with converted crawlspace and attic

Woodland Heights Began in 1907

Because of the time period these Woodland Heights homes were built, they have a different feel than the homes of neighboring Houston Heights which was platted in 1891.
There are two major differences: One of these differences is the style of homes built. The predominant style of the 1890’s was the ornate Victorian home. Drive down Heights Blvd in Houston Heights today to see some exquisite original Victorian homes. Victorian homes have tall roofs, ornately detailed trim outside, and inside have chopped up, small rooms
Driving down Woodland Heights streets like Bayland or others is an entirely different feel. There is nothing frilly and ornate about these homes. The Arts and Crafts movement had emerged in the intervening 15 years as kind of a backlash against the lavishness of the Victorian period. The Craftsman style home emerged from this and became the major style of Woodland Heights homes. The Craftsman bungalow especially dominated house building here. Solid, low-slung homes with large, exposed eaves, large squared columns supporting big, open porches.

Quoting from the 1910 sales brochure of the Wilson Land Company: “Woodland Heights; the Bungalow Section of Houston.” It is just as easy to build a beautiful, cozy, convenient, artistic home as the other kind. The plans and designer make all the difference. While as much money may be expended in the construction of a bungalow as one may choose, it is a fact that there is no other form of construction that lends so readily to moderately priced homes, because there is no other that gives so much beauty and grace and solid comfort for the same amount of money.”

See the YouTube Videos of Woodland Heights Homes below:

The second huge difference in Woodland Heights and neighboring Houston Heights is that it is deed restricted. It was restricted in lot size and prohibited obvious businesses. It remains so today due to the work of the Civic Association. The minimum lot size meant that people remodeled, or added on to their homes instead of tearing them down and squeezing two homes onto a 50 ft lot. The lack of alley-access also prevents putting in the tall, skinny home with alley access garage. The side drive or porte-cochere is standard.
The dynamic Woodland Heights Civic Association (WHCA) sponsors several events each year. The Woodland Heights Home Tour, Garden Tour, and the crowd-drawing Lights in the Heights (LITH). If you want to step back in time and see block after block of 100 year old homes at their Christmas best, come visit. The crowds now are in the thousands, strolling up and down tree-lined streets with music, dance troupes, etc on dozens of porches. We do love our porches this time of year. WHCA also publishes a Monthly Woodland Heights Newsletter.
See my post about stumbling upon the neighborhood, falling in love with Woodland Heights, and becoming a Houston Heights Realtor.
See my Interactive Map of Neighborhoods to see how Woodland Heights fits in with Houston Heights and other close-in Houston neighborhoods.

Woodland Heights also has some smaller adjoining subdivisions that are lumped together. Woodland Heights Annex, Woodson Place, Ridgemont, etc. These share similar deed restrictions.

See my blog posts under neighborhood category Woodland Heights.
If you are currently looking at Woodland Heights homes or if you just would like more information regarding the area call Houston Heights Realtor Rich Martin today. I specialize in Houston Heights homes and the surrounding inner-loop areas. Call today: 713 868-9008

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Woodland Heights Homes