NW Expressway

[ddavidson8]

How is the NW Expressway corridor holding up? Specifically west of the Lake Hefner Parkway? When I lived there about 10 years ago it seemed like more and more buisnesses were closing. Now that I'm in Houston I'm curious if it's made any sort of resurgence.

[Steve]

I'd say it's still shaky

[jbrown84]

I'd agree. Although a lot has been added in the last 10 years as well. It's patchy. A lot has gone in at Council and the Silver Springs Crossing land has been mostly filled in.

There is also a new hotel going in where the old Guaranteed Credit Auto was across from the shopping center that housed Service Merchandise. The shopping center is pretty much empty, however.

[ddavidson8]

It's a weird set up. From Hefner to the east it's relatively "upper crust" but it drops off again until about MacArthur where it becomes slightly upper middle class.

[edcrunk]

this is totally not what you asked about but they are tearing down the old executive terrace building at may and nwx. they are putting in a decent hotel there. there was also a new bank put in on may as well, just north of there. combined with the refurbished 360 at founders plaza... that area excites me.

[ddavidson8]

I've always liked that area of May and NW Expressway.

[OUGrad05]

How is the NW Expressway corridor holding up? Specifically west of the Lake Hefner Parkway? When I lived there about 10 years ago it seemed like more and more buisnesses were closing. Now that I'm in Houston I'm curious if it's made any sort of resurgence.

I moved out to Wilshire and Council in 1989. I was 8 at the time and I remember numerous stores going out of business. Things slowly improved after 1993 or 1994 and it has been built up a fair amount since 1998 but for some reason things are still a bit questionable as you get out towards Council....but compared with 10 years ago things are better. Compared with 20 years ago things are drastically better.

[jbrown84]

What exactly was bad about it 20 years ago?

As a kid, I lived for a while at Hefner & Council in Old Windmill Estates, and went to Will Rogers Elem.

Those homes were the starter homes like you now see popping up all over the Quail Springs area and West Edmond. They were built cheap and most of the neighborhood looks very shabby. I'd say some of those neighborhoods are almost blighted.

[CCOKC]

Just North of that area is Cobblestone which are very nice houses. I also know someone who lives in Old Windmill and while it is not a huge house it is in no way blighted. My mom lives in Rock Knoll at NWE and Rockwell and it is pretty hit and miss for sure.

[Video Expert]

How is the NW Expressway corridor holding up? Specifically west of the Lake Hefner Parkway? When I lived there about 10 years ago it seemed like more and more buisnesses were closing. Now that I'm in Houston I'm curious if it's made any sort of resurgence.

I'm a little puzzled with some of the responses to your post. Since 1998 (when I last lived in that area), the NW Expressway Corridor West of the Hefner Parkway has had fairly significant growth.

The big box retailers like Home Depot, Wal Mart, Office Depot, and Sam's in the Silver Springs Crossing area have assisted in the the development of pad sites and adjoining retail. Rockwell Plaza has been completely remodeled and is anchored by a large Target...a far improvement from the days when the dingy "Venture" was the centerpiece of the shopping center.

A Six-Story La Quinta Hotel was built a few years ago just west of Meridian, and another hotel is on the way just before MacArthur in Warr Acres. Several major new car dealerships have now relocated to brand new facilities out by County Line Road.

New housing is going up fairly rapidly west of County Line from Wilshire northward. Even further west, The Kilpatrick Turnpike has seen increases of traffic that will most likely spur a 2nd area of development along this interchange in the near future.

Yes, there are still some trouble spots along the area, (like the shopping center at NW Expressway and Council), but overall the area has grown pretty well since you last lived here.

[edcrunk]

i remember when everything just stopped at council. like that book "where the sidewalk ends"

[MadMonk]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I remember driving down NW Expressway out past County Line to get fireworks. Back then it was a crappy pothole-filled two lane road. It's much better now and is four lanes all the way to Okarchie.

I used to live in Rambling Acres and had friends in Northridge around NW Expressway & Council. I never really liked the housing around that area. Those early '80s homes always seemed to have shoddy/cheap construction. I haven't been back in that area for some time now, but I imagine it's not holding up too well.

[metro]

FYI....the low rise (4-8 story) office building at NW Expressway and May has finally been completed demolished (within the last few days) in front of the La Quinta. I know they are building another new hotel on that site, but I forget which one.

[BDP]

The NW is a great example of disposable development. It's kind of an endless string of low density retail housed in forgettable box structures and lifeless strip malls. But what's weird is, instead of replacing the disposable developments with better ones, it seems to just keep on stretching out and adding more and more cheap structures. So, it keeps "growing", but the old featureless strip malls become undesirable, making it harder for them to maintain occupancy, which is slowly eroding any functional density it may have had in the first place. However, May to Classen Circle seems pretty healthy with the continued success of Penn Square, efforts to upgrade areas around May, and with the Belle Isle Shopping Center being almost full.

[lasomeday]

You guys didn't mention the Hideaway that replaced the Chilis and the new Express Personnel Headquarters close to Countyline by the car dealerships. They bought the little movie theater in front of the little "wanna be mall" where TJMaxx is now. They made into a little conference center.

Lowes is also looking at putting a store out there between Countyline and the Turnpike, so it will sprawl out some more.

NW Expressway still looks great around Penn Square Mall, they built an Olive Garden on the East side of 50 Penn Place, and they added an Elephant Bar and a Cheesecake Factory in the Penn Square Parking lot, which makes Christmas time impossible to find a parking spot. They also tore down the strip mall with Beverly's Fried Chicken place to the west of the mall and they are making it another strip mall.

[foodiefan]

hmmm. . . I'd hardly classify Talbot's as a tenant in a "strip mall". . . unless you would classify the little group of shops West of Penn Square (Koslow's, Duncan Brothers, et cet) as strip mall. Technicall, perhaps it is, but I think it depends on the tenants.

[bluedogok]

i remember when everything just stopped at council. like that book "where the sidewalk ends"

I remember when the Medco Catalog Showroom (a Service Merchandise competitor) in Springbrook Plaza just west of Wilshire was the edge of commercial development, that was right around the time that Lansbrook was first starting to be developed...but there was pretty much nothing west of that until the McCartney's Grocery store went in at Rockwell.

[BB37]

I remember when the Medco Catalog Showroom (a Service Merchandise competitor) in Springbrook Plaza just west of Wilshire was the edge of commercial development, that was right around the time that Lansbrook was first starting to be developed...but there was pretty much nothing west of that until the McCartney's Grocery store went in at Rockwell.

Yep. My folks bought a home in Surrey Hills in 1974, and you're right -- Springbrook Plaza was the 'edge of town' back then. NW Highway west of County Line was a 3-lane concrete pothole collection. At that time Surrey Hills was way, WAY out in the country. However, we're seeing commercial development starting west of the turnpike on NW Highway, with more residental development south of the highway. Another 10 years or so, I expect Surrey will be enveloped by 'the city.'

[oneforone]

I noticed that 7-11 finally built a new story in Surrey Hills. I wonder if the new store will be 24 hours. I know the old store was only open 6am to 11pm.

[yukong]

I noticed that 7-11 finally built a new story in Surrey Hills. I wonder if the new store will be 24 hours. I know the old store was only open 6am to 11pm.

Yes, it will be a 24 hour store. It will also have pay at the pump gas pumps. It will be real nice. They are also remodeling the old strip center where 7-11 is now and it will look a lot better. The businesses along NW Hwy by Surrey Hills Blvd are growing. There will be a new BBQ restaurant in one of them. The lady that is opening the restaurant is very good with BBQ. I've heard a liquor store is going in next to the new 7-11. Not sure about that, but that is what I'm told.

[jstanthrnme]

I've heard a liquor store is going in next to the new 7-11.

Of course there will be.
They go together like peanut butter & jelly.

[donbroncho]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I remember driving down NW Expressway out past County Line to get fireworks. Back then it was a crappy pothole-filled two lane road. It's much better now and is four lanes all the way to Okarchie.

I used to live in Rambling Acres and had friends in Northridge around NW Expressway & Council. I never really liked the housing around that area. Those early '80s homes always seemed to have shoddy/cheap construction. I haven't been back in that area for some time now, but I imagine it's not holding up too well.

I grew up in Wilshire Hills(in one of those early 80s homes lol) and I go through there occasionally. Sure some of the houses havent held up well, but alot of the neighborhood is in pretty good shape. The house across the street from me was in bad shape when i was a kid and still is lol.

I think the area around there will be fine. They are good neighborhoods and Northridge was a good school( my alma mater).

I do not think NW Expressway is as bad as its described. Sure there are some abandoned buildings and low quality development as well. Maybe im biased, since i lived very close to it, but theres always a good amount of traffic on it and is home to many successful businesses.

The only area i can think of thats rough around there is wilshire east of rockwell. There are lots of apartments in less than desirable shape and lots of crime...

[bluedogok]

It seems no matter where in town they are most of those apartment complexes built in the early 70's are run down and now problem areas. Most of the ones in my parents area (16th & Meridian for 43 years) have done this, it is a shame what the areas saturated by these neglected complexes have become. I know my parents have seriously considered moving, they have a good street and neighborhood with many long time residents who keep things nice but the area around them have suffered.

[ShiroiHikari]

It seems no matter where in town they are most of those apartment complexes built in the early 70's are run down and now problem areas.

Tell me about it. I live in one of those run down 70s apartment complexes and I can't wait to get outta here.

[BB37]

I'd agree. Although a lot has been added in the last 10 years as well. It's patchy. A lot has gone in at Council and the Silver Springs Crossing land has been mostly filled in.

There is also a new hotel going in where the old Guaranteed Credit Auto was across from the shopping center that housed Service Merchandise. The shopping center is pretty much empty, however.

Yep. Market Place has had big trouble since Service Merchandise went out of business; just a few retailers have held on. Hideaway Pizza's new restauraunt in the former Chili's always seems full, but it's doubtful whether that will help out the strip.

Another perennial loser is Peppertree Square, between Wilshire and Rockwell. There are storefronts in that strip that have never been leased in the 20+ years of its existence!

Re Silver Springs Crossing, that development got caught in the 80's oil bust, and sat untouched until the late 90's. It wasn't until Wal Mart went in at Council that SSC finally took off.