Woodland Heights Homes

Woodland Heights homes are in demand for several reasons:

  • It is deed restricted, no warehouses, no high-density homes
  • It is zoned to exemplary Travis Elementary
  • It is known for Lights in the Height

Woodland Heights is arguably the premier neighborhood in the Heights.

This neighborhood is next to Houston Heights and part of Greater Heights.

See my Interactive Heights Map to see how they all fit together.

Woodland Heights Homes are  Deed Restricted. They are restricted in lot size (so single lots generally cannot be subdivided) and restricted to residential use. Therefore you don’t have two tall skinny houses packed onto a single lot; nor do you have warehouses, etc., scattered throughout. This gives the area a more uniform feel.

The Bellaire and West U people like uniformity; they feel more comfortable buying in this part of the Heights than some of the more scruffier parts ;-)

Woodland Heights Historic District:

The Heights has several Historic Districts. Woodland Heights is now one of them. The map had to be gerrymandered a bit to exclude the blocks that didn’t sign the petition.

Adjacent to Woodland Heights is another recent historic district, Germantown. It is between Houston Ave. and I-45.

Woodland Heights Historic District Map

Woodland Heights House Style and Age

Craftsman style homes predominate. This is because of the age of the subdivision. Whereas Houston Heights was developed in 1890’s, Woodland Heights began in 1907. There was a huge change in house styles during these two decades. The big Victorian homes gave way to simpler, less fussy Craftsman style homes. The predominant house style in Woodland Heights is the one story Craftsman bungalow. There are of course, a lot of bigger homes, some Victorians, but mainly derivatives of the Arts & Crafts style.

Woodland Heights Home-Craftsman bungalow

Typical Woodland Heights Craftsman style home

A brick Craftsman bungalow in Woodland Heights

Woodland Heights home style-Craftsman bungalow

Craftsman homes have more horizontal lines, overhanging eves with exposed rafter tails, big porches (to merge indoor and outdoor living) with simple square columns. The Victorian was the opposite; tall vertical lines, lots of extraneous decoration and ginger bread; turned columns, turrets. More elaborate. Drive down Bayland St in Woodland Heights and compare the Arts and Crafts style with the Victorian homes lining Heights Blvd.

A larger early Craftsman style home is shown below.

Large Craftsman style home in Woodland Heights

Woodland Heights Location

Woodland Heights is across Studewood form Houston Heights. The boundaries covered by the Civic Association are roughly between Studewood and I-45. The North-South boundaries are Pecore St and I-10. Woodland Heights encompasses a lot of smaller subdivisions too. The attached pdf map shows many of these.

Woodland Heights MLS Home Search. Woodland Heights is a complicated neighborhood with several smaller subdivisions included. This search will pull up most of the homes. A map search is better; let me know if I can send that to you.

Neighborhood History

The Wilson Land Company developed 106 acres just north of downtown Houston in 1907; just north of White Oak Bayou. The local attraction of Highland Park (now called Woodland Park) on the bayou was already a popular water spot. The Houston Electric Company extended its streetcars from downtown to Woodland Heights. The original oak trees lining Bayland Ave made this a tree-lined expanse that is now a canopy growing over the street. I have the original deed for my house on Omar St. $3500.00 direct from the Wilson Land Company. Again, the predominant house style are Craftsman bungalows, or larger four-square homes. A 1910 brochure from Wilson Land Company quoted “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.”

Woodland Heights Today:
A very strong Woodland Heights Civic Association and neighborhood pride has made the area a very desirable neighborhood. Home Tours and  Garden Tours highlight our homes. The annual Christmas event of Lights in the Heights draws 1000’s to walk the streets on that one night and view the decorated homes, complete with dance groups, music on porches and more. The event was getting out of hand, so is now being scaled down some. Buses bringing in people was just too much for this little neighborhood.

New homes and Remodels in the Neighborhood

Lots in neighboring Houston Heights are typically 50 x 132 ft with alley access. These lend themselves to splitting the lot and building two tall skinny homes with the garage in back. Woodland Heights does not have alleys, and the lots are typically 50 x 100 feet. Deed restrictions typically prevent them from being split and without an alley, front-loading homes would REALLY be frowned upon. So, when these homes are demolished, or renovated and expanded, they build up and out. Because a driveway is needed (no alley) porte-cocheres are popular. Travis Elementary (like Harvard Elementary in Houston Heights) is an exemplary school and people will pay a premium to live in that school zone.

Misc. Woodland Heights Facts:

Civic Association:Yes, WHCA is very activeactive.
Deed Restrictions: Yes, min lot size is strictly enforced.
Lot Size: Typically 50 X 100 with no alley access.
House Age & Style: Craftsman style. Early 1900’s to new (lots of new homes in last few years)
Historic Districts: Yes
Flood Zone: Mostly not, a little corner next to Little White Oak Bayou is in the flood plain.
Townhomes: A few older condos/townhomes on the fringes. No new..
Rentals: Rents here are high, about $1.50/SF/month. Thus 1200 SF is about $1800/mo.
Woodland Heights Size:

Let me know if I can help you buy or sell a home in Woodland Heights or other nearby neighborhoods such as
Brooke Smith Homes
Norhill Homes
Sunset Heights Homes
Contact Me here or Call Rich Martin at 713 868-9008

Lights in the Heights 2021

Filed in Uncategorized, Woodland Heights Homes by on November 12, 2021
Lights in the Heights 2021

Lights in the Heights – Dec 11th, 2021 Woodland Heights’ yearly Christmas event, Lights in the Heights is getting a slow start this year, but it is going to happen.. The permit was just received, giving the go ahead. The two streets that will feature porch parties, entertainment, etc. are Euclid and Byrne. These two […]

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Video: Heights Historic District Home for Sale

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on January 30, 2019
Video: Heights Historic District Home for Sale

Remodeled Heights Historic District Home: $524,900 This beautiful Heights historic district home at 2906 Houston Ave has been totally remodeled and is priced at $524,900. Located in the Heights Historic District of Germantown. It is just next to Woodland Heights and zoned to exemplary Travis Elementary. Note of 3/27/19: Price reduced to $512,500 See more […]

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Woodland Heights Walking Tour 2018

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on April 7, 2018
Woodland Heights Walking Tour 2018

Woodland Heights Walking Tour, April 8th, 2018 Preservation Houston offers monthly guided walking tours (generally the second Sunday of the month) through some of Houston’s architecturally and historically significant old neighborhoods. This month there is a Woodland Heights Walking Tour. Tickets: This is an exterior tour only, (no restrooms) lasting 90 minutes. The cost is […]

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Woodland Heights National Night Out

Filed in Heights News & Events, Woodland Heights Homes by on October 3, 2017
Woodland Heights National Night Out

Woodland Heights National Night Out Tonight It looks like a rain-out, but just in case it clears up: Woodland Heights National Night Out is tonight. WHCA (Woodland Heights Civic Association) celebrates the National Night Out tonight on the Norhill Esplanade. The event features: – A trio of food trucks, including; Churrasco Food Truck & Catering, Wokker […]

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What are Home Costs in Woodland Heights?

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on June 27, 2017
What are Home Costs in Woodland Heights?

Home Costs in Woodland Heights Home costs in Woodland Heights are expensive. It is one of the premier areas of the Heights. People buy here for various reasons: To be zoned to exemplary Travis Elementary. Most of the Woodland Heights area (multiple small subdivisions) is zoned to Travis. For the uniformity of the neighborhood (lots of 1920’s […]

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Woodland Heights House Price Update

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on March 1, 2017
Woodland Heights House Price Update

Latest Prices of Woodland Heights Homes Woodland Heights is known for its predominantly Craftsman style homes; lots of bungalows with big porches, large overhanging eaves. These are making way for bigger homes though. They are mostly being renovated and big additions expanding the space. More and more though they are being knocked down and big […]

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Preservation Houston – Woodland Heights Tour

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on August 10, 2016
Preservation Houston – Woodland Heights Tour

Walking Tour of Woodland Heights by Preservation Houston I have gone on several Preservation Houston Walking Tours of downtown Houston areas. They are all fascinating and led by very knowledgeable people. This coming Sunday, August 14th, their 90 tour will be in my neighborhood of Woodland Heights. Woodland Heights was a streetcar neighborhood of downtown […]

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Woodland Heights Home Tour 2016

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on April 10, 2016
Woodland Heights Home Tour 2016

Woodland Heights Home Tour There is still time to get advanced tickets to the 2016 Woodland Heights Home tour on April 15-17th. Tickets are $25 on the day of the tour, or $20 in advance at 10 locations in the Heights. Details are at the website for the Woodland Heights Civic Association, an excerpt is […]

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Latest Woodland Heights Home Prices

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on April 9, 2016
Latest Woodland Heights Home Prices

Woodland Heights Area Home Prices 1st Q 2016 What do homes cost in Woodland Heights? It is one of the Heights’ premier neighborhoods, so they are not cheap. A Quick look: Tear-downs (on a typical 5000 SF lot): ~ $400K ±$25K Nicely done 2/1’s: ~$500K ± $25K Nice 3/2’s: $600K ± ? New Homes: $1.35M ± $.25M For you […]

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Woodland Heights Sales

Filed in Woodland Heights Homes by on January 22, 2015
Woodland Heights Sales

Woodland Heights Area Home Sales-Early 2015 Demand is high in Woodland Heights (It is deed restricted and zoned to Travis Elementary) but there was little inventory at the end of the year. Because of this I used sales for the last 4 months (instead of just last quarter) to get enough data to be significant. This represents […]

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