5th Ward homes in the news

Read the article by Nancy Sarnoff about our 5th Ward Homes in the Houston Chronicle. Homebuilder sees Fifth Ward as “the next Heights”. 

In 1989, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation was organized to help restore one of Houston’s oldest and culturally rich communities. A neighborhood with strong growth after WWII and during the 1950s, the Fifth Ward suffered a gradual decline in the 1960s as businesses and residents began moving to other areas. During the 1990s, community organizations provided the first steps for the renewal that is still going on today. 

The Fifth Ward retains considerable cultural and historical relevance, and many of its once famous sites are being restored. The Deluxe Theater, a symbol of the Lyons Avenue Corridor, is in the process of being renovated. The City of Houston has approved a $6.8 million project to restore the building and convert it into a multipurpose resource center, housing a library, a theater, and other shared spaces. Located in the heart of the Fifth Ward community, right next to the historic Julia C. Hester House, Boyce-Dorian park is dedicated to the memory of Rev. James H.M. Boyce and Louis Dorian. 

The Julia C. Hester House has constructed a new Recreation Center, a multi-purpose space for sports activities such as basketball and volleyball. The aquatics area offers recreational and competition swimming as well as beginner's classes. It also includes areas for seminars and continuing education classes.  

The Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center at Lyons and Lockwood provides limited stop and express service to Downtown. It is a transfer point among eight bus routes, including the 26/27, which provides the only “one-seat” ride to locations such as the Texas Medical Center, Rice Village, and the Heights.  

The Houston ISD Atherton Elementary School recently opened its new facility in September 2013. Constructed under the 2007 bond program, the 86,000 sq. ft. building features bright colors and flexible learning spaces, providing a school for the 21st century learning needs of its students.