Acres Home

The Acres Home area is located in the Northwestern portion of Houston. It is just North of the 610 loop, and is a wooded mixture of rural and urban land. The Acres Home area is nicknamed “The 44” because of the Acres Home Limited Metro Bus Route #44. The Acres Home area provides easy access to Hwy 249, otherwise known as West Mount Houston Road, as well as Interstate 45. Automobiles are the major mode of transportation in the area but many locals use the Metro Bus system as it has routes that run in the area. Nearby streets include Pinemont Drive to the south, North Shepherd Drive to the East, Gulf Bank to the north, and Antoine to the West.

Chaotic and unappealing to the eye are a few terms I would use to describe this area that is largely made up of a middle aged Hispanic population. Many of the homes in the community are vacant, and rental homes are run by absent landlords. You will find a variety of local corner stores and hole in the wall dining, but for large chain restaurants and higher end entertainment and night life, you will have to travel down 249 or I-45. A family atmosphere seems to be important to the Acres Home area, and you will find a list of local parks including Winzer Park, Sylvester Turner Park, Highland Park, and Lincoln City Park. Depending on the time of day you visit, various activities can be seen at these parks such as tennis, baseball games, and residents exercising on running tracks.

Several school districts encompass the Acres Home area, including Houston ISD, Klein ISD, and Aldine ISD. Students attending college in the area can find local education at Houston Community College and Lone Star College System. Child care is available in various forms including in-home childcare and private daycares. The prices in the area are very reasonable; however, the facilities and level of education are on the lower end for the most part.

The actual word I would use is 'dismissed' and I would be remiss to say that I like anything about this area. Particular sections of this neighborhood are adorned with homes that look more like rentable barns or shacks. To call them small would be understating something very obvious. Finding trash and used or unusable belongings on the front porches or lawns of houses is pretty common. While there are trees, they do not provide a lot of shade or are dying. It's an older neighborhood and looks it. Renovations to any property, shops or otherwise, look to have been under the wear of time for quite a long time, the wears of neglect and dishevelment heavy. The parks in the area, and there are a few, suffer the same neglect and offer little other than grass, which is most often dead in Houston weather. There are a lot of major streets running through the neighborhood, though. West Little York runs east to west and off of W Little York runs Wheatley, a north-south street. Tidwell can be found a little further south and will take you to 261, which runs mostly parallel to I-45. I-45 provides an excellent opportunity to get out of the area and experience nightlife, entertainment of any kind, food, shopping or just a little escape from your next door neighbors trash heap.