Life in the East End 2024
Developing Community
The historic East End has shaped the fabric of Houston’s identity since the city’s founding. What began as little more than a geographic focal point for industrial activity—in proximity to Ship Channel and railroad infrastructure —has transformed over the decades into the neighborhoods, nostalgia evoking restaurants, iconic parks, and community supported businesses that residents have made as much a part of their identities as their family names.
The area’s arts and cultural scene are made richer by the legacies, histories and cultural revolutions that underscore its artists, creatives, painters, and scholars. In short, the East End exemplifies the very best of Houston only because of its people, and in 2023 the area welcomed new projects, organizations and partners focused empowering residents from all walks of life. Houston’s East End is at the forefront of new developments and continued growth. The East End prides itself on being the place to work, live and do business and with that slogan, With the help of the East End Chamber of Commerce and its President, Frances Castaneda Dyess, leading the way, progress is set forth to continue to be strong and plentiful.
For over eighty years and through four generations, J.L. Proler has stood for a firm commitment to providing prompt and reliable pick-up service on scrap, turnings, and metals for industrial companies throughout Houston and the surrounding area.
Since the company's establishment in 1942 and through the many ups and downs of the Houston economy, J.L. Proler has been a proud and steadfast member of the East End community: many of the company's employees are long time East End residents, with parents and even grandparents having worked for the company. Keeping with that commitment, J.L. Proler is dedicated to responsible and environmentally safe procedures and practices, being an early adopter of industry-developed and comprehensive environmental operating guidelines.
East River 9, situated in Midway’s East River development, offers a unique recreational experience, and features Houston's only Par 3 golf course, plus a driving range, pickleball courts, and a full-service restaurant and patio bar overlooking the Houston skyline.
East River 9 is the 2024 Houston East End Chamber Ed Wulfe Economic Development Award Recipient. Located in Midway’s East River development at the intersection of the Clinton Drive & Hirsh Road, East River 9 features Houston’s only Par 3 golf course plus a driving range, pickleball facility, and full-service restaurant and patio bar venue. There, you’ll discover magnificent views of the Houston skyline and Buffalo Bayou. The restaurant venue, known as Riverhouse, offers an extensive food and beverage selection that is perfect for a casual lunch or your next big corporate event! With live music every Friday and Saturday, there is always a good reason to visit.
Follow @EASTRVIER9 on Instagram to stay up to speed on their latest events.
One of the gems in Houston’s East End is the Houston Botanic Garden -- a 132-acre urban oasis and outdoor living museum that opened in September 2020 –located along one of the Bayou City’s eponymous waterways on the site of a former municipal golf course. The Garden inspires and connects visitors with a curated collection of tropical, sub-tropical, and arid plants from around the world that reflect the city’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity.
With a mission to enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment, the Garden is more than just a pretty place. The Garden hosts nature-themed exhibitions and a variety of classes and workshops in gardening, wellness, arts, and more. We encourage you to follow their social media pages and visit their website for new events coming to the Garden.
Visit Houston Botanic Garden
Garden Entrance - One Botanic Lane Houston, TX 77017
Roadway capacity bottlenecks, intersection and roadway geometry, and network connectivity are some current and predicted issues that will be addressed with the Navigation/Jensen/Runnels Roundabout. 2011 Second Ward Livable Centers studies introduced this project and it was reinforced by the East End Mobility Study in 2012.
Safe pedestrian passage and connection to Guadalupe Plaza Park and the adjacent Buffalo Bayou Trails are included in the recommended improvements to the local infrastructure. The project’s completion will be around the end of Summer 2024 contingent on weather, materials, and other factors.
Click here for project updates and other District news.
Sims Metal is a business division of Sims limited. They are a world leading publicly listed metal recycler. Their operations encompass the buying, processing and selling of ferrous and non-ferrous recycled metals. Their metals recycling operations are geographically diverse, with operations in five continents, including the United States, Australasia, and the United Kingdom, comprising a network of processing facilities. Sims Metal buys ferrous metals from metal dealers, peddlers, auto wreckers, demolition firms and others who generate obsolete metal, and from manufacturers who generate industrial metal.
They source non-ferrous metals from manufacturers, known as production offcuts, and from generators of electricity, telecommunication service providers, as well as others, who generate obsolete metal. Peddlers and metal dealers, who collect from a variety of sources, also deliver material directly to their facilities. Sims Metal provides customized recycling services to meet the individual needs of commercial and industrial scrap metal producers. Their goal is to ensure that each client receives the same high level of customer service and efficiency. Sims Metal services are customized to maximize each scrap provider’s net scrap revenues.
Located at 3101 McKinney, in the heart of East End, Sunrise Lofts is an 89-unit housing complex for youth aging out of foster care. According to Tejano Center CEO Adriana Tamez, “Sunrise Lofts will provide a safe, healthy and comfortable environment, in which these vulnerable youth will be able to take charge of their lives, develop independent living skills, be prepared to enter the workforce, and become productive members of society.”
Transitional age youth is often an overlooked demographic. Most supportive housing projects focus on traditional housing or rehousing of the homeless population but do not address the issue from a proactive perspective. When transitioning out of foster care, young people face an inordinate number of challenges and shortage of support. Sunrise Lofts will not simply re-house youth aging out of foster care but will work to prevent these youth from becoming homeless, altogether. Sunrise Lofts will provide what are commonly referred to as “wraparound services” to be facilitated through a case-management system. The services would address such things as developing like skills: how to open and manage a bank account (financial literacy); making healthy choices when grocery shopping; and how to do laundry. Case managers would also facilitate developing skills needed both in and out of the workplace, including: communication, resiliency, decision-making, cooperation, ability to accept constructive criticism, time-management, and technology. The goal is to create a paradigm shift among the youth, that their to-date life circumstances will not dictate their future, and they will be empowered to thrive as productive and contributing members of society.
The Thai restaurant Street to Kitchen, known for its "unapologetically Thai" cuisine and led by James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan “G” Jabthong Painter, has undergone a significant expansion. After three years of operating in a modest gas station location in Houston's East End, the restaurant has relocated to a space in the mixed-use development area known as the Plant in Second Ward. The new location, situated at 3401 Harrisburg Boulevard, is a spacious 2,800-square-foot venue, accommodating 100 guests, a threefold increase from its current capacity. The renovation, led by Chef G and her husband Graham Painter, co-owner of Street to Kitchen, will also include an outdoor patio.
Chef G expressed her excitement for the expansion, emphasizing a commitment to serving more Houstonians and contributing to the local food scene with their distinctive Thai offerings.
https://www.streettokitchen.com/
3401 Harrisburg Boulevard, Suite G | Houston, Texas 77003
Houston East's End is not just witnessing development; it is embracing a holistic transformation that encompasses infrastructure, recreation, sustainability, community support, and culinary diversity. These initiatives collectively contribute to the growth, vibrance, and resilience of the East End Community, shaping a promising future for residents and visitors alike.
The East End represents a number of the city’s most historic and culturally significant neighborhoods. Many area residents can trace their ancestors back to some of the area’s early settlers and some of Houston’s original recorded deeds are in the East End.
The homes built in Eastwood were custom homes reflecting the early 20th century fondness for Craftsman, Arts & Crafts, Foursquare and Mission architecture. Today, Eastwood has one of Houston’s largest intact collections of these architectural styles.
Please take a look at the East End's premier neighborhoods:
Houston Country Club Place
Eastwood
East Lawndale
Fullerton Place
Harrisburg Civic Association
Idlywood
Greater Magnolia Park Pine View
Middle Street Lofts on the Bayou
Twenty-two new residential communities have become a part of the East End landscape bringing new and old together in a fashionable way. In town Homes the newest development in east downtown offers a variety of townhomes and lofts sure to suit your style!
For current residential properties for sale in Houston’s East End please click on the following links:
East End Entertainment Venues
Part of the vibrant redevelopment of downtown includes entertainment venues located on the eastern side that include Minute Maid Park- home of the Houston Astros, and the Toyota Center- home to the Houston Rockets. Also calling the East End home are the two-time MLS champions, the Houston Dynamo, and the Houston Dash, the National Women's Soccer League.
Cultural Arts
Houston is second to only New York as a major cultural arts center. More than 200 cultural institutions are dedicated to bringing art to the Houston community. Houston is one of the few U. S. cities that offer world-class year-round resident companies in all of the major performing arts. Visual arts are served with distinction in Houston by the Museum of Fine Arts, Contemporary Arts Museum, and the Menil Collection. Joining the Menil are several other museums including a wide range of commercial galleries. East End treasures also feature and promote Latino artists and theater groups providing extraordinary imagination and the opportunity to express personal artistic vision through unique public art.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll along Brays Bayou in Houston’s Historic East End! From hike and bike trails, linear trails to parks nestled in historic neighborhoods offering a beautiful backdrop of downtown Houston. Visit the East End and enjoy amenities including a skate park, golf course, swimming pools, soccer fields and community gardens. Take a drive down East End streets and enjoy lush and beautiful canopies of trees lining the neighborhoods! The East End your HOMETOWN in A Big City!
Trails
Brays Bayou from Lawndale to Forest Hill
Brays Bayou from 75th to Evergreen
Harrisburg - Sunset Drennan to Marsden; Ave. R to Ave H
Hike and Bike Trail
Eastwood Park - 5000 Harrisburg
Hartman Park - 9311 Ave P.
Mason Park - 541 75th Street
Parks
Broadmoor/Kretschmar Park - 1500 Elliot St.
Brown Foundation Plaza - 2801 Harrisburg Blvd.
Denver Harbor Park - 6402 Market St.
De Zavala Park - 7520 Avenue J/907 76th St.
Eastwood Park - 5000 Harrisburg
Eastwood Skatepark - 5020 Harrisburg
Glenbrook Park & Golf Course - 8201 North Bayou Drive
Gragg Park Complex - 2999 S Wayside
Guadalupe Plaza - 2311 Runnels
Gus Wortham Park & Golf Course - 311 S Wayside Dr
Hidalgo Park - 7000 Avenue Q
House of Tiny Treasures - 1529 Lombardy St.
Ingrando Park - 7302 Keller St.
Japhet Creek - 4600 Clinton @ Emile St.
Jenkins Garden Corner of Lockwood & Harrisburg
Mason Park - 541 South 75th St/Tipps
M.C Cullinan Park - 5120 Polk
Milby Park - 2001 Central
Park Drive Park - 4600 Park Dr
Park Place Park - 8600 Detroit
Peiser Park - 8510 Manchester St.
Reveille Park - Oak Vista
Settegast Park - 3001 Garrow
Smither Park - 2441 Munger St.
Spurlock Park - 6700 Park Lane
Tony Marron Park - 808 N. York
Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park - 2300 S. Sgt. Macario Garcia Dr.
Over 25 murals can be found in every nook and cranny of the East End. From world-renowned artists to local talent telling the East End story and its rich history, you do not want to miss taking a drive and checking out these colorful works of art. Stop and enjoy a delectable dessert or coffee or enjoy lunch at one of our many restaurants.
A Mexican Mountain Scene - 521 S. Wayside @ Avenue P
Aerosol Art Wall - 4500 Harrisburg Blvd.
Angel Wings - 6632 Harrisburg Blvd.
Baile - 6311 Gulf Fwy.
Coffee Plant/ Second Ward - Metrorail Station - 511 York St.
Conduit - 5020 Harrisburg Blvd.
Don't Forget Your Roots - 6635 Harrisburg Blvd.
East End: Birthplace of Houston - 3715 Harrisburg Blvd.
Eastside Houston - 802 Telephone Rd. @ Dumble
El Callejon de Los Murales - Oshman’s Building - I-45 @ Wayside
El Centro de Corazon - 5001 Navigation
El Derecho el Respeto Ajeno - 2950 Broadway
Frenetic Theater - 5102 Navigation Blvd.
GEEMD/ East End Foundation - 3211 Harrisburg Blvd.
Goodwill Building - 4535 Harrisburg
Harrisburg Plaza - S. Wayside @ Capitol
Houston's East End - 1450 Gulfgate Center Mall
Jardin - 6311 Gulf Fwy.
Jungle - 5100 Polk St.
La Reyna del Acorden - 6901 Harrisburg
La Virgen Encantador - 2405 Navigation
Las Mananitas - 6311 Gulf Fwy.
Lee Angel Ramirez - 6300 Navigation
McDonald's Mural: "Arte Sin Barrerras" - 6000 Gulf Fwy.
Metamorphosis - 110 N. Milby St.
Nuestra Familia, - Nuestra Comunidad - 4410 Navigation Blvd.
Nuestra Senora - 5100 Polk Street
Papel picado - 6311 Gulf Fwy.
Paz a Las Americas - 6635 Harrisburg Blvd.
Peace to the Americas - 6635 Harrisburg Blvd.
Port Houston - 1929 Dorsett St.
Rebirth of our Nationality - 5800 Canal
Sal Creations at Crespo Navigation - 2516 Navigation Blvd.
Selena - 7037 Capitol
The Houston Ship Channel - 6601 Harrisburg
The View from Magnolia - 7748 Avenue K
Ventanas de Opportunidad - 2704 Navigation - (behind Original Ninfa’s)
Voodoo Queen - 3004 Canal St.
Walmart Mural: "Together Somos Mas" - 2391 S Wayside Dr.