Meyerland, Houston, Texas

Meyerland is a convert|6000|acre|km2|0|sing=on community in southwest Houston, Texas, outside of the 610 Loop and inside Beltway 8.

A notable feature of Meyerland is Meyerland Plaza, a large outdoor shopping center. Meyerland also is the center of Houston's Jewish community. Meyerland is the home of Houston's Jewish Community Center, Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, and several smaller synagogues.

The neighborhood is named after the Meyer family, who bought and owned 6,000 acres (24 km²) of land in southwest Houston.

History

George Meyer developed convert|1200|acre|km2|0 of former rice fields into the Meyerland subdivision in 1955. Richard Nixon was at the subdivision's ribbon-cutting ceremony. Meyerland was one of several post-World War II subdivisions that appeared during the onset of suburbanization in the United States.

Government

Federal, state and county representation

Meyerland is in Texas's 7th congressional district. [" [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/tx07_109.gifCongressional District 7] ." "National Atlas of the United States".]

Education

Primary and secondary education

Public schools

The neighborhood is served by several Houston Independent School District schools. [ [http://www.meyerland.net/images/meyerland_section_map.gifMeyerland Section Map] . "Meyerland". Accessed September 20, 2008.]

The portion of the neighborhood north of the Brays Bayou is zoned to [http://es.houstonisd.org/lovettes Lovett Elementary School] . [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/LovettES.pdf Lovett Elementary Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".] The portion of the neighborhood south of the Brays Bayou is zoned to [http://es.houstonisd.org/kolteres Kolter Elementary School] . [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/KolterES.pdf Kolter Elementary Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".] The portion of the neighborhood on the west (section 10, which has a western edge boundary of Hillcroft Avenue) is zoned to [http://es.houstonisd.org/herodes Herod Elementary School] . [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/HerodES.pdf Herod Elementary Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".]

Almost all of the neighborhood is zoned to [http://www.johnstonmiddleschool.org/ Johnston Middle School] (also located in Meyerland) [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/JohnstonMS.pdf Johnston Middle Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".] . All students who are zoned to Pershing, Johnston, or Long have the option to apply for the regular program at Pin Oak Middle School in the city of Bellaire. Therefore Pin Oak Middle School serves most of Meyerland. [" [http://web.archive.org/web/20020214054405/http://dist.houstonisd.org/southwest/schools/pin_oak/letter5.htm Pin Oak Middle School] ." "The Southwest District". "Houston Independent School District".] One section of Meyerland is zoned to Fondren Middle School. [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/FondrenMS.pdf Fondren Middle Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".]

Meyerland residents are zoned to Bellaire High School, which is also in the city of Bellaire. [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/BellaireHS.pdf Bellaire High School Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".]

Residents of several nearby subdivisions which are associated with Meyerland but are not a part of the Meyerland subdivision itself are zoned to Westbury High School.

Gallery of public schools

Private schools

Several private schools, including St. Thomas' Episcopal School, are in Meyerland. The Robert M. Beren Academy, Episcopal High School (Bellaire), and Emery/Weiner School are near Meyerland.

Public libraries

The Houston Public Library operates the Meyer Neighborhood Library, which is near Meyerland.

Police service

The neighborhood is within the Houston Police Department's Southwest Patrol Division [http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cs/beatpages/southwest.htm] .

Parks

Two city-operated parks are in Meyerland.

Meyerland Park, located at 5151 Jason, is classified as a neighborhood park [http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/images/NeighborRev2List2.gif] .

Godwin Park, located at 5101 Rutherglen, is classified as a community park [http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/images/communitylist1.gif] . [http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/CommunityCenters.html# Godwin Community Center] is located on the same lot.

Community information

The closest YMCA branches are the Weekley Family YMCA (in Braeswood Place) and the Westland Family YMCA.

The closest mainstream movie theater to Meyerland is the Edwards Grand Palace 24. The AMC Meyer Park 16 movie theater in the Meyer Park Shopping Center closed in 2007.

Real Estate

Meyerland contains over 3,000 residences, most of which were built in the 1950s. While the community has not been swept with the "tear-down" trend seen in West University Place and Bellaire, it may only be a matter of time. Although technically not "inside the Loop", Meyerland's convenient central location, its zoning to Bellaire High School, and Houston's continued economic expansion continue to drive appreciation of Meyerland property (and demand for its land). Average sales prices of homes in the neighborhood have increased nearly 50% since 2004, from around $100 per square foot of structure area to $150 per square foot.

Media

The "Houston Chronicle" is the area regional newspaper. On Thursdays, residents receive the Bellaire/West U/River Oaks/Meyerland [http://www.chron.com/news/community/bellaire] local section.

The " [http://www.examinernews.com/bellaire Bellaire Examiner] " is a local newspaper distributed in the community. [" [http://www.examinernews.com/about_us/ About Us] ." "Examiner News".]

The Meyerland Journal is an alternative weekly political paper that covers the Meyerland and Bellaire regions.

References

External links

* [http://www.meyerland.net/ Official Meyerland Community Improvement Association website]
* [http://www.meyerlandplaza.com/ Meyerland Plaza website]