Near Northside Neighborhood
The Near Northside neighborhood, located just north of downtown Houston, is a significant residential development begun in the 1880s-1890s with the expansion of the adjacent Hardy Rail Yards. With the decrease of rail traffic and increase in suburban development, the neighborhood began to decline after World War II.
2005: Only a handful of residents still live in the neighborhood that was altered drastically in 1954 by the construction of the Elysian Viaduct. The viaduct was built over the Elysian Street right of way leaving houses virtually underneath the overpass. The Texas Department of Transportation is conducting surveys to widen the North Freeway, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority is planning an extension of light rail through the neighborhood. The proposed expansion would displace residents, hamper local revitalization efforts, compromise the tax base and result in the demolition of blocks of historic houses, including properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
UPDATES: In 2011, a portion of Near Northside (roughly bounded by Little White Oak Bayou on the north, Hogan Street on the south, I-45 on the west, and North Main Street on the east) was listed as a district in the National Register. The Avenue Community Development Corp. supported the listing.
In 2013, the expanded METRORail red line which runs through the Near Northside Neighborhood with several stations along North Main Street and Fulton Street began operations.
As of 2023, the area remains threatened. Modest historic homes are being demolished for townhouse development, which applies primarily to the neighborhood outside of the National Register district. The proposed I-45 expansion could still impact the neighborhood.
LOCATION: Just north of downtown Houston
DESIGNATION: NRHP District
STATUS: Threatened
OWNER: Various
RESOURCE TYPE: District
YEAR LISTED: 2005
