When asked to help name the streets of West University Place, Texas in the 1920s, young Lilly Nicholson and her friend made it fun by pulling out an English literature book and (perhaps) a few college catalogs and assigned names to the streets including such notables as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Tennyson, Dartmouth, Emory, Duke, Purdue and Wesleyan, misspelled as Weslayan.
Nearly 15,000 people live in West University Place situated in a total area of two square miles
When asked to help name the streets of West University Place, Texas in the 1920s, young Lilly Nicholson and her friend made it fun by pulling out an English literature book and (perhaps) a few college catalogs and assigned names to the streets including such notables as Shakespeare, Chaucer, Tennyson, Dartmouth, Emory, Duke, Purdue and Wesleyan, misspelled as Weslayan.
Nearly 15,000 people live in West University Place situated in a total area of two square miles. The subtropical climate is extremely humid and hot especially during the summers when air-conditioning is considered a near necessity for living here. West University Place is a city within the city of Houston, a true municipality with its own police and fire department. It shares borders with the cities of Houston, Bellaire and Southside. The city draws its name from its close proximity to Rice University, a prestigious private research university. The most common nicknames for West University Place is "West U" or "The Neighborhood City." So what're you waiting for, it's time to get moving to West U.
The weather is always nice in Texas and the sun is almost always shining. But moving when it's 80 out isn't the best idea. If possible, avoid March through October, which is when the weather is between 70-90. The winter months will be your best bet for a comfortable move, but if you can't avoid moving in the other months, March and April are the mildest in terms of hot weather.
"Urban sophistication" describes the West University Place lifestyle due to strong community support of the arts and cultural pursuits such as ballet, opera, theater and the symphony. Residents have easy access to Houston's Medical Center, Rice University and the downtown business district. There are three distinctive neighborhoods within the confines of West U with a variety places to live. If you are planning on a move to this neighborhood, begin looking as early as possible.
Weslayan Street / Case Street: Composed almost entirely of three to five bedroom homes, the Weslayan Street / Case Street area may prove slightly challenging but not impossible for renting an apartment. Enjoy the West University Place Recreation Center located on Bellaire Boulevard offering a wide variety of programs and activities for residents including swim lessons, boot camps and art courses. Colonial Park Pool on Byron is the place to splish-splash or relax on a hot summer day. The pool area features a play structure, drop slide, rock wall and lily pad crossing. Colonial Park amenities include two tennis courts, sand volleyball court and playground.
City Center: Find happiness in City Center, located between Weslayan and Westchester Streets. Places to live include homes for rent, townhouses and the occasional furnished apartment. The neighborhood is well established, with most residencies built between 1970 and 1999. Indulge your inner bookworm at the West University Library on Auden Street, a branch of the Harris County Public Library. You can get a block party application or bring your extra papers for shredding day at the West University Place Public Works, located on University Street. Feel comforted by living in the same neighborhood as the West University Place Fire Department where residents can even ask for guided tours -- and who doesn't love shiny fire engines?
Buffalo Speedway / Sunset Boulevard: Jump for joy as you return to your home in the Buffalo Speedway / Sunset Boulevard neighborhood located between Westchester and Kirby Drive. Many of the homes in this area consist of three to five bedroom houses and luxury townhouses. Discover an urban retreat at Wier Park featuring two lighted tennis courts, picnic tables, basketball court and playground. Learn about vino by enrolling in a wine education class at the Texas Wine School on Bartlett Street offering a variety of courses suitable for beginners to advanced wine connoisseurs.
Locals go to great lengths to preserve the small-town feel in the West University neighborhoods. Residents delight in a large selection of local dining and shopping opportunities. West University Place enjoys a WalkScore of 75 making it a highly desirable location for getting around without getting into that hot car. During the holidays, many of the West U homes display festive holiday lights and decorations drawing ooh-ers and aww-ers from all over the city.
Rice Village
Since the 1930s, Rice Village, or "The Village" as it is known to locals, is the beloved shopping-dining-entertainment haven for West University place residents. Recognized as a premier shopping destination, Rice Village offers retailers from small eclectic boutiques to large specialty stores such as The Village Clothier, Maison de Mode, Jenny Kim Couture, White House / Black Market, Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, Just Add Water and Elegance Apparel Accessory Alley. Dining options range from casual to fine at Rice Village and includes Caf Rabelais, Kin's Caf Chinese Cuisine, Dimassi's Mediterranean Caf and Bombay Brasserie. Peek in at the Lisle Violin Shop and grab a new bow for your fiddle. Every hour is 'happy hour' at the Chocolate Bar, a shop dedicated to all things delicious and chocolateand open until midnight on weekends. It's perfect for late night cravings.
Things to Do
Contrary to what you might now believe, there are other things to do in West University Place besides eating and shopping. During the summers, the West University Place Recreation Center hosts special events such as the Party on the Patio Concert Series, Music Under the Stars and Easter Spring Celebrations. Since the 1970s, Main Street Theater located on Times Boulevard has offered excellence in theatrical performances from Shakespeare to Shaw. Listen to jazz music at Ovations or check out the Big Easy on Kirby for live Blues and Zydeco music. For a one-of-a-kind experience, stop by Under the Volcano for the tacky tiki decor, creative signature drinks and spontaneous local music jams.
Meet your friends inside a bank vault guarded by a suit of armor at the Kelvin Arms located on nearby Dunstan and bring your darts. If you like pubs in an old house setting, stop by the famous Ginger Man located on Morningside Drive "regarded as one of the finest beer pubs in the world."
You will never get bored living in the vibrant and lively neighborhoods of West University Place. People love living here for the energetic economy, strong appreciation of arts, exceptional housing market, friendly people and commitment to the preservation of community.
