Pecan Park, Houston
Pecan Park is a neighborhood in Houston, Texas.
Pecan Park is located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) south of downtown Houston inside Interstate 610, known as "The Loop", to the east of Interstate 45 in the East End, Houston area. The name Pecan Park generally refers to the larger neighborhood, of which there are over 30 individual subdivisions, with Pecan Park being the largest. The typical size of the lots is 5,000 square feet (460 m2) and the average size of the homes is 1100-1600 square feet. The Gulfgate Center, formerly the Gulfgate Mall, is located just south of the Gulf Freeway from Pecan Park. The neighborhood is served by the Pecan Park Civic Association.
This area also includes Ingrando Park, home of Dixie Little League. It also has a local library, the Lucille Yvonne Melcher branch of the Houston Public Library system.
History
The heart of the area was once a pecan orchard dating back to the late 19th century with platting of lots for sale by the Magnolia Park Land Company beginning in 1926. The original streets were paved in shell, with asphalt paving becoming widespread during the 1930s and 1940s, when the majority of the homes in the area were constructed. The area was nearly completely built out by 1955, with the homes being examples of typical middle class residential architecture for Houston at the time; Bungalow, both brick and wood sided, Cape Cod (house), early Ranch-style houses and many mildly Tudor influenced English Cottages. Between 1980 and 1990 the area gained 1,000 to 3,500 people per square mile.[1]
Education
Pecan Park is zoned to Houston ISD schools. Homes are zoned to Southmayd Elementary School, Deady Middle School and Milby High School. Houston Community College's Southeast campus is located on the edge of the neighborhood near the Gulf Freeway.
Free Wireless
In 2005 Pecan Park was the first area in the United States to provide a super wireless hotspot for free or at a low cost. The service currently offers internet access close to 20,000 residents. Rice University students collaborated with the non-profit organization Technology for All (TFA).[2][3]
Metro Routes
Getting to Pecan Park can be accessed on the Houston Metro system on Bus 36 Kempwood/Lawndale which travels North to South on Evergreen Dr and also on Bus 50 Harrisburg/Heights which travels also North to South on Broadway Blvd. Both Routes have access to the Magnolia Transit Center on Harrisburg for additional transportation and also access to the METRORail Green Line when completed in late 2014.[4]
References
- ↑ Rodriguez, Lori. "Census tracks rapid growth of suburbia." Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 10, 1991. Section A, Page 1. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.
- ↑ TFA-Wirelesss "TFA Organization and Map .
- ↑ Houston Chronicle "http://www.chron.com/business/technology/article/Houston-gets-nation-s-first-super-WiFi-hot-1685492.php Houston Chron article talking about free wifi.
- ↑ Houston Metro Bus Schedules http://www.ridemetro.org/schedulesmaps/bussched.aspx
Coordinates: 29°42′36″N 95°17′06″W / 29.710°N 95.285°W
