Briarhills, Houston

In 2013 Faye Liu, a prospective homeowner quoted in a Houston Chronicle article, speculated that there were many employees at BP and Shell Oil Company who were buying houses quickly in Briarhills since they were able to pay with cash; these employees would be in the later stages of their careers.[2]

The community is in proximity to the intersection of Texas State Highway 6 and Briar Forest.[1][3] Briarhills has 664 houses. Meadowbriar has about 125 houses. Oaks of Parkway has about 100 houses.[3] Lakes of Parkway,[1] Parkway Villages, retail developments, and restaurants are nearby.[3]

As of 1996 the housing sizes are 1,800 square feet (170 m²) to 3,400 square feet (320 m²).[1] In 2003, the lot sizes ranged from 5,500 square feet (510 m²) to 16,000 square feet (1,500 m²). The first generation houses, which were constructed in the late 1970s,[3] include contemporary house and patio houses.[1] In 2003 Nancy Scott, a real estate agent of John Daugherty, Realtors West Houston, stated that these houses had "more-modern kitchens and baths than most houses had" in the late 1970s and that "they were very innovative in their designs".[3] 1980s-built houses included traditional patio and "soft contemporary houses". Houses built in the early 1990s included two-story traditional brick houses. The 1990s houses were priced from $140,000 ($228224.06 according to inflation) to $200,000 ($326034.37 according to inflation), or beginning at $70 ($114.11 according to inflation) per square foot; these houses were more inexpensive compared to those in the nearby gated "Parkway" communities. A real estate agent quoted in a 1996 Chronicle article, Rita Tucker Wright, stated that she believed that the diversity in housing styles makes Briarhills "the most unusual neighborhood in the west side of Houston."[1]

As of 2003, according to Scott, the price range of the houses in Briarhills was $160,000 ($222373.37 with inflation) to $290,000 ($403051.74 with inflation).[3]

The community is within the Eldridge/West Oaks Super Neighborhood (SN17).[4]

Barbara Bush Elementary School in Parkway Villages

Residents are in the Houston Independent School District.[5] The zoned schools are Barbara Bush Elementary School,[6] West Briar Middle School,[7] and Westside High School.[8]

Residents zoned to Ashford, Askew, Bush, and Daily may attend Shadowbriar Elementary School's magnet program.[9] Residents zoned to Westside may transfer to Lamar High School.[10]

In 1996 Bush was ranked as an "Exemplary" school, and that year Katherine Feser of the Houston Chronicle stated it was a "selling point" of Briarhills.[1] In 2003 Feser wrote that Bush "was a key factor in buying in the neighborhood" and that it was "highly rated".[3]

Bush opened in 1992.[11] Westside opened in August 2000.[12] West Briar, which was given a name combining those of Westheimer Road and Briar Forest, opened in 2002.[13] Previously residents were zoned to Revere Middle School,[14] and Wisdom High School (formerly Lee High School).[1][15] Wisdom High School is over 10 miles (16 km) away from Briarhills. Grant Farris, a resident of Briarhills quoted in a 2003 Houston Chronicle article, stated that the openings of West Briar and Westside increased property values and increased cohesion in the community.[3]

The Houston Chronicle is the citywide newspaper.

The Briarhills POA publishes the Briar Beat.[16]

Briarhills has basketball courts, a pool, tennis courts, and a 5-acre (2.0 ha) park. The park includes a clubhouse,[1] and Meadowbriar and Oaks of Parkway residents share the facilities with Briarhills. The community is in proximity to Terry Hershey Park.[3]

The community has a swim team called "The Dolphins".[17]

• Briarhills (Archive)
• Briarhills Swim Team