Where are some cool places to live in inner-loop Houston?

April 21, 2009 10:14 PM

Where are some cool places to live in inner-loop Houston?

My lease is up at the end of July and I'm excited to find a new place, and to live on my own for the first time in awhile. I want to stay inside the Loop, but I'm not entirely opposed to going a wee bit outside. I'd love some suggestions on neighborhoods to look in, apartments to check out, tucked away, hidden charming little places, etc.

What I'm looking for:

1. An old house/apartment/duplex/whatever. I've got to live somewhere that has character. I do not want to live in a new building. I would go so far as to say this is the most important factor for me.

2. It will just be me and my two pugs, so I don't need a whole lot of space. A bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom is enough, but I am hoping to find a place with either a second bedroom or similar kind of space that I can use as an office.

3. I would kill to live in a loft. Like, a real loft. I love the artists lofts in the Heights, but I don't know if there are any residences around those buildings.

4. I am a single young woman and need to be in a place that is fairly safe. I need to be able to walk my dogs around the block when it is dark outside. This may very well make #3 nearly impossible, but safety is quite important, obviously.

5. I would prefer to NOT have to park in a parking garage.

6. I'm a high school teacher, so that's the kind of rent we're talking about. I can pay up to $850/month plus utilities/cable/internet, but that is stretching it a tad bit.

I've lived in Houston all my life and am pretty familiar with the neighborhoods inside the Loop on the West side. I'll definitely be looking in the Heights, Montrose, Cherryhurst, West U., Southampton, Downtown, Boulevard Oaks, Upper Kirby, etc. What I'm asking you for are more specific recommendations, and suggestions of areas I may not have though of. If you have a friend who used to live in a really cool place, or if you have heard of a great spot, etc.

Ah, one more very important thing -- I am NOT interested in living in midtown.

Thanks!

posted by junipero to Home & Garden (1 answer total)

You can find some reasonable duplexes between Richmond and Westheimer a few miles outside of the loop. I lived at 5616 Winsome Ln. about 10 years ago. Not sure what rents have done since then, but $850 is about what we were paying. The space was pretty big and quite nice for being a bit old. We had a fireplace, Spanish tile floors on the ground floor, tall ceilings, reasonably sized kitchen. There was a master bedroom and two smaller bedrooms on the second floor. There were a total of 4 apartments in the complex, all populated by younger professional types at the time - the place had a bit of a Melrose Place feel to it.
posted by syzygy at 4:30 AM on April 22, 2009