Victorian Village 1
Houston, TX
Location
This townhomes village is located on the west side of Houston, in Spring Branch disctrict or how many call it “The Spring”. The front side buildings are facing Hammerly Bulevard and then spreading further inside all the way to Emnora street. This location is just perfect for all trafic aspects wheather you drive or ride the Metro bus.
Due to close proximity to I-10, North Gessner, Beltway 8 and US 290, it offers to residents many excellent transit options. Just to mention that Downtown Houston is about 10 miles away and the Memorial Mall and Memorial Herman Health center are just 2 miles away.
About
There are 197 townhomes with a lot of green space between. Townhomes were built back 1970-s but nicely dispersered so each one has access to the green areas with trees and the blue sky with a lot of sunshine.
All townhomes are individually owned and the homeowner’s association involving Genesis Community Management Inc. are managing all property needs.
Within this property, the following amenities are offered: Clubhouse, playground, basketball court, swimming pool and covered parking. In addition to a full time maintenance staff the weekly grounds keeping is handled by a contract landscaping company.
As far as a parking goes, each unit has assigned 2 parking spots under the carport which doesn’t mean you cannot own more than 2 vehicles. Each vehicle parked on the property is required to have a parking permit sticker.
Community & Safety
This community is really a tranquil oasis in hearth of Houston city, offering something for every life style. However, there are specific rules and regulations each resident has to honor while living here. Owners really own only the inside of their home and they don’t pay taxes for the patio or carport area. For those each owner has an exclusive use privilage, but not the ownership. In other words, if you like to work on vehicles in your driveway, it is not permitted. The HOA is reponsible for the roof, building exterior, the fences, gates, sheds and carport area. Therefore, any modification within those areas of townhomes must be reviewed and approved by the association board.
This area is patrolled by the Houston Police Department, Harris County Precinct 5 Deputies, Spring Branch Independent School District Police Department as well as VV1 own on site Courtesy Patrol.
Spring Branch school district
The school campus is just accross the Hammerly bulevard and contains all what is needed: preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, High School and Natatorium. Our kids attended all of them and never needed to use school buses or private cars, which was very convenience. Overall, Spring Branch Independent School District appears to be a well−regarded school district with a strong academic record.
Based on Niche reviews, the district has received excellent and very good ratings from the majority of reviewers.
The Victorian Era refers to the 64−year period when Britain obtained immense amounts of power and wealth by extending its kingdom across the globe. It’s also known for its beautiful architecture style bringing a lot of landscape changes over the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901.
While there are many different styles encompassed in Victorian−era architecture, some common features that will help you spot a Victorian from the outside include:
♦ Steeply pitched roofs
♦ Plain or colorfully painted brick
♦ Ornate gables
♦ Churchlike rooftop finials
♦ Sliding sash and canted bay windows
♦ Octagonal or round towers and turrets to draw the eye upward
♦ Two to three stories
♦ Generous wraparound porches
♦ Asymmetry
Several styles of Victorian−era architecture also spread internationally to places like North America, Australia, and New Zealand, where various countries and regions adapted it to fit local tastes, lifestyles, and building materials.
Per many researches, the averaged owner of the traditional home spends at least one day in yard or maintaining the exterior of a house. On yearly basis that would be 52 days. Perhaps, that is fun but imagine spending that time in more creative ways. That is one of a big advantages having a property in this townhome community where everything outside your property is managed by the Association.
Looking into our townhomes here, they really look nice although built more than 50 years ago.
The pool area is pretty much reserved for residents and their few guests only. Each owner or renter must obtain the pool key from the management association. It is considered to be the Olympic five−lanes pool where in past swimming meets were taking a place. Along the pool area the Club House is a perfect place for bigger parties.
Children were not forgotten when laying the architecture of this complex. In the front or behind of each unit, there is plenty of green area, something like meadows, where any green grass sport activity can be exercised. But it doesn't need to be limited to sports’ activities......
The debate about renting vs. owning a property was always a living factor among Americans. In reality, owning a house was always more expensive solution.
Back 1970-s started a trend to built such townhome communities having properties with a great values but owners wouldn’t need to spend any money for outside house services.
At that time, like today it was considered as a big saving. For example looking into other houses built back 1970-is with a little or none investments into their exterior space, they pretty much look deteriorated requiring a lot of work and financial funds from their owners.
On the other side, looking into some images from 1970 brochure of our townhouses, currently they look much nicer than then. Regardless of how many owners they have changed, none of them had to put any money for facades, roofs, landscape etc...at any point. The idea was that owners were paying a monthly fees and those funds were used to maintain all the “outside property projects”.
The fee kept adjusting to the life style throughout years, but this common maintenance program is still in place.
Homes in Victorian Village are usually labeled “townhouses” which is somehow misleading. It is a protected community of “cluster homes”.
The purpose of clustering the homes in Victorian Village is to eliminate the wasted space created by small chopped up lots in old style subdivisions. This elimination includes the five of ten feet on each side of the house providing more meaningful and usable space.
Texas skies are amazing; from a bright blue horizon to the orange sunset....
...and when the night falls, our building decorations look realy nice...
While oters mow you lawn and paint your house, you can relax in the private Victorian Village club, or simply walk around the village like I like to do. Each time I find something new and more interesting on building facades...
Like everything else, this Victorian Village tour comes to the end. We moved here back in 2000th and still enjoy and love being here. Hope you enjoyed too!