Idylwood is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of the I-610 loop in Houston, Texas. Idylwood, as of 2021, is the most expensive neighborhood in the East End. As of that year its houses were priced between $295,000 and $679,900. It currently has approximately 340 homes. Bill England, a redeveloper in the East End area, stated in 2004 that Idylwood appealed to buyers who are priced out of houses located in the cities of Bellaire and West University Place.Athavaley, Anjali.
INSIDE THE LOOP Finding happiness as an Inner Looper
" ''

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With i ...

''. July 10, 2004. Retrieved on January 7, 2011.

History

Idylwood was developed in the 1930s. Richard Connelly of the ''

Houston Press The ''Houston Press'' is an online newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in the Midtown area. It was also a weekly print newspaper until November 2017. The publication is supported entirely by advertising ...

'' said "like most of these underrated ouston neighborhoods" Idylwood "watched helplessly as development trended elsewhere" as more prominent development appeared west of

Downtown Houston Downtown is the largest central business district in the city of Houston and the largest in the state of Texas, located near the geographic center of the metropolitan area at the confluence of Interstate 10, Interstate 45, and Interstate 69. The ...

instead of southeast of Downtown Houston.Connelly, Richard.
The Five Most Underrated Neighborhoods In Houston
" ''

''. Friday August 13, 2010. Retrieved on November 3, 2012. From 1998 to 2003, houses in Idylwood appreciated 10% per year. In 2010 the ''Houston Press'' ranked Idylwood one of the "Five Most Underrated Neighborhoods In Houston."

Cityscape

Idlywood is inside the

610 Loop Interstate 610 (I-610) is a freeway that forms a loop around the inner city sector of the city of Houston, Texas. I-610, colloquially known as The Loop, Loop 610, The Inner Loop, or just 610, traditionally marks the border between the ...

and southeast of

. The neighborhood is bounded by the Brays Bayou, the Wortham Golf Course, and the Villa de Matel, a Roman Catholic convent and basilica. Forest Park Lawndale, a cemetery, lies on the other side of the Brays Bayou.About Idylwood
" Idlywood Civic Club. Retrieved on January 7, 2011. "Encroaching commerce is kept at bay on three sides of the neighborhood, thanks to the Villa de Matel, Wortham Golf Course, and Brays Bayou." The neighborhood features some of the few rolling hills located within the City of Houston. As of 2004, at a certain point of time, six to nine houses are on sale, and sales conclude quickly. In 2009 Richard Connelly of the ''

'' said that the classic-style houses in Idylwood were "affordable." Anjali Athavaley of the ''

'' said that flooding is not a significant problem for Idylwood residents. In 2001

Tropical Storm Allison Tropical Storm Allison was a tropical storm that devastated southeast Texas in June of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. An arguable example of the " brown ocean effect", Allison lasted unusually long for a June storm, remaining tropical or s ...

affected some houses located in proximity to North MacGregor Way. The houses primarily consist of cottage bungalows. Idlywood is in proximity to the

Texas Medical Center The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is a medical district and neighborhood in south-central Houston, Texas, United States, immediately south of the Museum District and west of Texas State Highway 288. Over 60 medical institutions, largely concentrat ...

, the

Houston Museum District The Houston Museum District is an association of 19 museums, galleries, cultural centers and community organizations located in Houston, Texas, dedicated to promoting art, science, history and culture. The Houston Museum District currently inc ...

Hermann Park Hermann Park is a urban park in Houston, Texas, situated at the southern end of the Museum District. The park is located immediately north of the Texas Medical Center and Brays Bayou, east of Rice University, and slightly west of the Th ...

, the

University of Houston The University of Houston (UH) is a public research university in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1927, UH is a member of the University of Houston System and the university in Texas with over 47,000 students. Its campus, which is primarily in s ...

, and

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a private research university in Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranked among the top universities ...

Government and infrastructure

Idylwood is in

Houston City Council The Houston City Council is a city council for the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas. Currently, there are sixteen members, 11 elected from council districts and five at-large. The members of the Council are elected every four years, w ...

District I. The

Harris Health System The Harris Health System, previously the Harris County Hospital District (HCHD), is a governmental entity with taxing authority that owns and operates three hospitals and numerous clinics throughout Harris County, Texas, United States, includin ...

(formerly Harris County Hospital District) designated the Ripley Health Center for the ZIP code 77023. - See ZIP code 77023
See this map for relevant ZIP code
In 2000 Ripley was replaced by the Gulfgate Health Center.

.

Harris County Hospital District The Harris Health System, previously the Harris County Hospital District (HCHD), is a governmental entity with taxing authority that owns and operates three hospitals and numerous clinics throughout Harris County, Texas, United States, includin ...

. Accessed October 17, 2008. The designated public hospital is

Ben Taub General Hospital Ben Taub Hospital is a public hospital located in Houston, Texas within the Texas Medical Center. Having opened in May 1963, the hospital is owned and operated by the Harris Health System and is staffed by the faculty, residents, and students f ...

in the

Education

Idylwood is within the

Houston Independent School District The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest public school system in Texas, and the eighth-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and ...

. Idylwood is zoned to J.P. Henderson Elementary School, Navarro Middle School (formerly Jackson Middle School), and Austin High School.

Parks and recreation

Spurlock Park, operated by the City of Houston, is located within Idylwood.Spurlock Park
" Idylwood Civic Club. Retrieved on January 7, 2011.

References

External links

Idylwood Web Site
{{coord, 29.721, -95.310, region:US-TX, display=title Neighborhoods in Houston East End, Houston Geography of Harris County, Texas