Southampton, Houston facts for kids
Southampton Place, often called Southampton, is a friendly neighborhood in Houston, Texas. It has a special group called the Southampton Civic Club Inc. This group acts like a homeowners' association, helping to keep the neighborhood nice.
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A Look Back: Southampton's History
Southampton was first built in the 1920s by a person named E.H. Fleming. The Southampton Civic Club, which helps run things in the neighborhood, started on May 24, 1929.
In the early 1990s, the value of some land in Southampton went up a lot, even doubling in some cases. More than 30% of the people living there were surprised and protested. The local appraisal office explained that this happened because older, smaller houses were being replaced with bigger, newer ones. This made the land seem more valuable.
Around 2007, a company wanted to build a very tall, 23-story building called the Ashby High Rise. It was planned for a spot near 1717 Bissonnet at Ashby. Many people in Southampton did not want this tall building so close to their homes. Residents from Southampton and a nearby area called Boulevard Oaks teamed up. They formed a group to stop the building and even hired a lawyer named Rusty Hardin to help them.
Exploring the Neighborhood: Cityscape
Southampton is in a great spot in Houston. It's close to important places like Rice University, where students go to college, and the Houston Museum District, which has many cool museums. It's also near the Texas Medical Center, a big hospital area, and Downtown Houston, the city's main business area.
The neighborhood is famous for its many large live oak trees. These trees line streets like Rice Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. Katherine Feser from the Houston Chronicle newspaper said these trees are a "hallmark," meaning they are a special and well-known part of the neighborhood. An architect who lives there, Bill Merriman, noted that the way these trees are neatly arranged has inspired newer master-planned communities like First Colony. Southampton also has larger yard sizes compared to some nearby areas like Southgate.
Homes in Southampton
In 2000, Southampton had 601 houses. The homes here are varied and include charming brick cottages, cozy bungalows, and classic Georgian-style houses. Many of the older homes were built with side porches and big wooden windows. These features helped keep the houses cool before air conditioning was common.
The houses also have alleys behind them. This design keeps cars and trash cans out of sight from the main streets, allowing for more green space in front of the homes. By 1999, many older houses had been updated to fit what modern families wanted. A typical update might include adding a new main bathroom, making the kitchen bigger, or adding a family room.
Because of its central location, homes in Southampton are very popular and can be quite expensive. In 1999, most houses sold for between $300,000 to $600,000. Some renovated older homes even sold for over $1 million. Newer homes, often in stucco or Mediterranean styles, sold closer to $600,000. Smaller cottages on the edge of the neighborhood could be found for less than $300,000. By 2000, houses were selling for $50,000 to $100,000 more than they did in 1998. In 2001, the least expensive homes started around $300,000.
When Southampton was first planned around 1925, there were rules about how much houses had to cost to build. For example, homes on Sunset Boulevard had to cost at least $8,000 to $10,000 to build. On Rice Boulevard, the minimum was $12,000 to $15,000. In other parts of the neighborhood, the minimum was $5,000 to $7,000.
Who Lives Here: Demographics
In 2005, a writer named Allison Cook mentioned that people in Southampton, along with areas like Broadacres and Shadow Lawn, tend to have more "disposable income" than those in Southgate. This means they generally have more money to spend after paying for necessities.
Learning and Schools: Education
Southampton is part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). This means students living here attend specific public schools. Younger students go to Poe Elementary School, which is located in Boulevard Oaks. Middle school students attend Lanier Middle School in Neartown. Older students go to Lamar High School, located in Upper Kirby.
The Southampton Civic Club once tried to convince HISD to build a new high school closer to the neighborhood, but Lamar High School ended up opening on Westheimer Road instead.
There is also a private school right in the neighborhood called the Southampton Montessori School. Another nearby school is St. Vincent de Paul School, which is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Mail Delivery: Postal Service
The United States Postal Service has a post office nearby called the Greenbriar Post Office. It's located at 3740 Greenbriar Street.
Fun and Games: Parks and Recreation
Fleming Park is a city park located right in Southampton. It has two tennis courts where you can play, a picnic area for outdoor meals, and a playground for younger kids. A group called "Friends of the Park" helps to keep the park looking nice.
News and Media
The Houston Chronicle is the main newspaper for the Houston area. On Thursdays, residents of Southampton receive a special local section of the paper that covers news from nearby areas like Bellaire, West University, River Oaks, and Meyerland.
There are also local newspapers that are delivered in the community, such as West University Examiner and Village News. In the middle of the 20th century, a newspaper called Southwestern Times used to cover news for Southampton and other nearby areas. Its office was in Rice Village.
