River Oaks, Houston
River Oaks is an affluent community located in the geographic center of Houston, Texas. It is inside the 610 Loop, halfway between Downtown and Uptown. River Oaks spans 1,100 acres (4.45 km²) in area. River Oaks is north of the Houston district of Upper Kirby and nearby area of Neartown/Montrose.
Overview
River Oaks consists of approximately 1,100 properties in a region bounded on the north by Buffalo Bayou, on the east by South Shepherd Drive, on the west by Willowick Road, and on the south by Westheimer Road. Residents are predominately successful professionals and real estate values range in from $1 to $20 million U.S. dollars[1]. The commute from River Oaks to Downtown, Uptown, or the Houston Medical Center is generally ten to fifteen minutes. The community is minutes from every major Houston thoroughfare such as Westheimer, Richmond, San Felipe, US-59 ("Southwest Freeway"), I-10 ("Katy Freeway"), and Interstate 610.
The community has a country club, River Oaks Country Club[2]. River Oaks operates its own private security force, River Oaks Patrol, commonly referred to as "ROPS" or "ROPO."
River Oaks is, as of 2006, currently in the process of implementing a completely revised set of deed restrictions which can be found at http://www.ropo.org/DRR.html.
Government
Local government
River Oaks is a part of the Houston City Council District G [1].
Federal and state representation
River Oaks is in Texas's 7th congressional district [2].
Schools and public libraries
Two schools are located in River Oaks, River Oaks Baptist School[3] (a K-8 private school), and River Oaks Elementary School (a K-5 public school).
Several other independent (private) schools serve the community, including:
- St. John's School (K-12, in the adjacent Upper Kirby district)
- St. Anne Catholic School (K-8, between River Oaks and Montrose)
- Annunciation Orthodox School (K-8, in the Montrose district)
Public schooling is available under the Houston Independent School District and consists of River Oaks Elementary School, Lanier Middle School (6-8, in the Montrose district), and Lamar High School (9-12, in the Upper Kirby district).
The neighborhood is served by the Looscan Branch of Houston Public Library. As of 2006 the Looscan Branch is under construction as of 2006. The old non-Americans with Disabilities Act compliant library, which was established in 1956, closed on August 27, 2005 and was demolished in February 2006. The new library is scheduled to open in late 2007 [3].
Businesses
River Oaks homes are within a couple miles of both River Oaks Shopping Center[4] and the Highland Village Shopping Center[5] and adjacent the business areas of Upper Kirby and Greenway Plaza.
As of 2006, Landmark Theatres operates two "arthouse" theaters within a mile of River Oaks, The River Oaks Theater (east) and Landmark Greenway (south) in Greenway Plaza. The closest mainstream movie theater to River Oaks is the Edwards Theatres Grand Palace 24.
History
Will and Mike Hogg, the sons of former Governor of Texas Jim Hogg, and Attorney James Potter established River Oaks in the 1920s[6]. Potter obtained an option to purchase 200 acres around the River Oaks Country Club in 1923, and in the following year Hogg established the Country Club Estates in order to augment the development. The two brothers promoted lots in the subdivision for $2,200 apiece in 1928[7].
Will, Mike, and Ima Hogg, oversaw the construction of a stately southern-style home, Bayou Bend[4], on a 14-acre plot sitting high above Buffalo Bayou on Lazy Lane.
Deed restrictions at the time prohibited home prices of less than $7,000 and required control in architecture, with a gentlemen's agreement excluding blacks, Jews, and other minorities[6]. Homes along Kirby Drive were only allowed to be American Colonial or English Tudor styles[7].
The usually peaceful community was the site of the 1997 murder of Doris Angleton.
References
- ^ "House values in River Oaks". Retrieved June 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) at House Almanac - ^ http://www.riveroakscc.net/
- ^ http://www.robs.org/
- ^ http://www.riveroaksshoppingcenter.com/
- ^ http://www.shophighlandvillage.com/
- ^ a b River Oaks from the Handbook of Texas Online
- ^ a b http://houston.about.com/od/neighborhoods/p/riveroaks.htm
![[2]](http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/tx07_109.gif){kind=link}