I love my barrio…I really do. If you haven’t been to the East End of Downtown Houston…you need to check it out. I live off of Clinton and Gregg. It’s a stone’s throw from 5th Ward and Minute Maid Park. It’s a very historic part of town and the last bastion of development near downtown. A great mix of old and new. You’ve got old warehouses and businesses from yesteryear, lots of industrial and manufacturing companies, and brand new residential development in the form of free standing homes, condo’s, lofts, apartments, and mid-rises. The best way to explore the neighborhood and area is by bicycle and one of the most enjoyable natural features of the area is Buffalo Bayou. The city has constructed miles of paved hike/bike trails all along the Bayou that are a blast to cruise along. The Bayou itself is getting a lot of attention these days and you’ll find regular boat tours, kayakers, and even some fisherman (although I wouldn’t dare eat anything caught there).
The surrounding area has a large Latino population and with that comes a beautiful vibe, culture, feel, cuisine, and art. There’s lots of hole in the wall Taqueria’s, street art and murals, and a general fun and festive feeling. There’s also a new art gallery on Canal Street and a bunch of dive bars like The Moon Tower and The White Swan. And yet it’s extremely quiet and peaceful as well.
What’s most exciting is the new plot of 136 acres of land that used to be owned by KBR that is now for sale. The city, architects, planners, developers, and residents are all super stoked about it and all have lots of great ideas as to how this huge tract of land should be used. I foresee a mixed use plan of residential, commercial, retail, and entertainment. There is also lots of talk of further developing the water-front area along the Bayou. One things for sure is that this area will soon rival The Heights and Montrose as the place to be if you live in, work in, and love H-town.