Sharpstown is a master-planned community in the Southwest Management District (formerly Greater Sharpstown), Southwest Houston, Texas."Districts ." Greater Sharpstown Management District. Retrieved on August 15, 2009. It was one of the first communities to be built as a master-planned, automobile centered community and the first in Houston. Frank Sharp (1906–1993), the developer of the subdivision, made provisions not only for homes but also for schools, shopping and recreation areas. While this model has been duplicated countless times in the past fifty years, at the time it was quite revolutionary, attracting national media attention. The development was dedicated on March 13, 1955.
Overview
The residential architecture in Sharpstown consists of post–World War II bungalows, modern and traditional homes. The materials used in building these homes were of sound quality and have withstood the wear and tear of the baby boomer generation as well as the test of time.
History
Sharp donated a 300-foot-wide strip of land through the development to the state of Texas for construction of the Southwest Freeway (Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59). This ensured easy access from Downtown Houston to homes in the neighborhood, as well as to Sharpstown Center, Houston's first air-conditioned, enclosed shopping mall, now known as PlazAmericas.
From the 1980 U.S. Census to the 1990 Census, many African-Americans left traditional African-American neighborhoods and entered parts of Southwest Houston such as Sharpstown. The Hispanic population increased by an amount between 1,000 and 3,500 per square mile. Many Asian-Americans also moved into the Sharpstown area, creating one of the largest concentrations of Asian-Americans in Houston. Glenda Kay Joe, an Asian community leader, said in a 1991 Houston Chronicle article that the Sharpstown Civic Association and the Southwest Advocate newspaper opposed Asian-American settlement in Sharpstown. According to Joe, once Sharpstown residents became accustomed with Asian immigrants, the opposition disappeared.Rodriguez, Lori. "Census tracks rapid growth of suburbia." Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 10, 1991. Section A, Page 1. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.
Sharpstown was affected by the Sharpstown scandal. The scandal combined with a set of apartment complexes that became run-down ensured that Sharpstown became a neighborhood surrounded by crime by the mid-to-late 1990s. Crime increased in the 1990s with the deterioration of area apartment complexes.Sarnoff, Nancy. "A diverse Sharpstown still on the upswing." Houston Chronicle. July 1, 2016. Retrieved on July 11, 2016.
A 1992 Houston Chronicle article described Sharpstown as "a racially mixed neighborhood with a strong Vietnamese community."Criss, Catherine and Eric Hanson. "Ultimate divorce: a murdered family." Houston Chronicle. Saturday May 20, 1991. A2. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.
With Sharpstown's close-in location, there is renewed interest in revitalizing the neighborhood. In 2005, median home prices in Sharpstown had roughly doubled since 2000.
In a 2007 Houston Press article journalist John Nova Lomax said "residential Sharpstown never changes" and that "the houses are still decent and the apartments still rotten."Lomax, John Nova. "I am a Pedestrian Report: Bellaire ." Houston Press. May 25, 2007.
In 2010, Mary Ellen Carroll, a conceptual artist who taught at Rice University's School of Architecture realized Phase I of the work prototype 180. The catalytic moment was the 180 degree revolution of the single-family home and its surrounding lot at 6513 Sharpview in Sharpstown Section I. prototype 180 occupies architecture to make it perform, albeit as a work of art. It is a collection of processes that utilize land-use policy or no zoning, and the lack thereof in Houston as a material condition and is an example of 'considered urbanism'. The site functions as a visible museum of post-war planned communities and architectural interventions. prototype 180 raises questions regarding planning and policy in aging first ring developments.Turner, Allan. "About-face for Sharpstown urban blight." Houston Chronicle. September 23, 2010. Retrieved on October 14, 2010. In 2017, the structure that had been compromised during Hurricane Harvey was 'unbuilt' in a performance on November 11, 2017 in front of an invited, live public audience for Phase II of prototype 180. The unbuilding of the structure was titled Daringly Unbuilt and was introduced by the Charles Renfro, a partner in the firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro and the performance artist Joseph Keckler sang a requiem accompanied by the acclaimed violinist Rubén Rengel.
Phase III for prototype 180 will be the rebuilding of the structure that will be done with a proprietary process that incorporates a substrate made by reconstituting the salvaged building materials to rebuild the original structure and the creation of an ethno-botanic garden in the land surrounding the structure.
During the same year the Houston Press named Sharpstown the 2010 "Best Hidden Neighborhood." The Houston Press stated that Sharpstown "is less a "hidden" neighborhood than it is one that's undervalued and underrated.""Best Hidden Neighborhood – 2010 Sharpstown." Houston Press. Retrieved on December 13, 2010. In 2013 Houstonia magazine stated that Sharpstown was one of the "25 Hottest Neighborhoods" in Houston.Holley, Peter, John Lomax, and Todd Spoth. "25 Hottest Neighborhoods" (Archive). Houstonia. June 1, 2013. Retrieved on November 2, 2015.
Cityscape Sharpstown has a lot of mid-century style houses on large lots.
Government and infrastructure
The Houston Fire Department operates the Fire Station 51 Sharpstown along Bellaire Boulevard, a part of Fire District 68."Primary Run Area ." Houston Fire Department Station 68. Retrieved on December 13, 2008. Station 51 opened in 1962. Since then it had two facelifts and a renovation in the financial year of 1999."Fire Station 51." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.
After the 2012 redristricting process, Sharpstown is split between and
The neighborhood is served by two Houston Police Department patrol divisions. Areas north and west of Interstate 69/U.S. Route 59 are served by the Midwest Patrol Division. Areas south and east of I-69/U.S. 59 are served by the Fondren Patrol Division."Beat Map." Houston Police Department. Retrieved on April 5, 2010. The portion that is now in the Midwest Patrol Division was formerly in the Westside Patrol Division."Crime Statistics for Westside Patrol Division." City of Houston. Retrieved on April 5, 2010. At one time the police department operated the Sharpstown-area police storefront at Bellaire Boulevard at Rogerdale.Mangin, Charles de. "Alief 's first / New police storefront set to open." (Archive) Houston Chronicle. Wednesday March 15, 2000. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on December 30, 2011.
The City of Houston Health Department operates the Sharpstown Health Services clinic. Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) designated Valbona Health Center (formerly People's Health Center) in Greater Sharpstown for ZIP code 77074. The nearest public hospital is Ben Taub General Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. - See ZIP code 77074. See this map for relevant ZIP code.
Political representation The City of Houston instituted the current nine city council districts in 1979. Sharpstown has been districted in District F since 1980. District council members elected to the Houston City Council have been past presidents of the Sharpstown Civic Association – John Goodner (1980–1993), Ray Driscoll (1994–1999), Mark Ellis (2000–2003), M.J. Khan (2004–2010), and Aloysius Hoang (2010/11 – prior to the City of Houston redistricting). As of 2011, Sharpstown was redistricted into District J where Mike Laster is the newly elected council member.
Houston City Council District J now covers Sharpstown.City of Houston, Council District Maps, District J." City of Houston. Retrieved on November 5, 2011. District J was created to allow Hispanics to more easily elect representatives who cater to them.Shauk, Zain. "Hispanic-opportunity district draws three candidates." Houston Chronicle. Friday October 14, 2011. Retrieved on November 4, 2011. Robert Jara, a political consultant of the group Campaign Strategies, drew the boundaries of District J in order to ensure that Sharpstown and Gulfton were together in one area. That way, the Hispanic residents could lobby for influence with their city council representative, whether he or she is of Hispanic origin or not."Political challenge: Revised council redistricting plan offers Hispanics a third majority district." (editorial) Houston Chronicle. Wednesday May 18, 2011. Retrieved on November 5, 2011. City Council District F previously covered Sharpstown. As of 2008 M. J. Khan represented the district."COUNCIL DISTRICT MAPS > DISTRICT F." City of Houston."City Council." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 10, 2008.Bernstein, Alan. "Rookie members to decide city matters for years to come." Houston Chronicle. Sunday September 24, 1995.
In 1989, during a city council race, many in Sharpstown voted for Jim Westmoreland for an at-large position. In one precinct 68.5 percent of the voting residents voted for him. Westmoreland drew controversy after reports of a joke that was characterized as racist spread. Westmoreland was defeated in that race. In a 1989 Houston Chronicle article, Nancy Palm, a Republican Party activist from western Houston, said that the residents who voted for Westmoreland had social ties with them and did not see the controversy as significant.Bernstein, Alan. "Core of white support failed to halt Westmoreland's defeat." Houston Chronicle. Sunday November 12, 1989. A1. In the first 1991 Mayor of Houston election most Sharpstown voters voted for Bob Lanier.Rodriguez, Lori. "Saying goodbye, with no regrets." Houston Chronicle. Saturday November 9, 1991. A31.Bernstein, Alan and Jim Simmon. "Black vote went solidly for Turner/Whitmire failed to produce split." Houston Chronicle. Thursday November 7, 1991. A21. By December 3, 1991, increases in crime and changes of demographics in southwestern Houston neighborhoods lead to many challengers desiring to fill the city council seat of District F.Johnson, Stephen. "Crime, drugs main issues in Dist. F race." Houston Chronicle. November 3, 1991. Voter's Guide, Page 5. In 2005 Khan promoted an anti-graffiti campaign in Sharpstown and other communities in his district.De Mangin, Charles. "Summit to address public safety / Councilman, HPD to give tips, information to cut crime rate." Houston Chronicle. Thursday March 24, 2005. ThisWeek 1.
Culture, parks, and recreation