Oak Forest neighborhood is located in Houston, Texas in Harris County. It is the third-largest subdivision in the county.
Brief History
The community was founded by Frank Harris in 1947. He built the first section, mainly residential houses, through Oak Forest Realty Corporation where he worked as a developer. He saw seventeen more sections and installed utility lines and streets. Many of the original settlers were polish and Czech Texans.
Geography
The suburban town of Oak Forest Community is bordered by 610 loop to the south and US Route 290 to the west. It is surrounded by Cook County Forest hence the name. Neighboring communities include Markham to the East, Crestwood to the north, County Club Hills-South East and Midlothian to the northeast.
Developments
Owing to its early establishment, most of the houses are built in the 50s style. The town had over 5,000 houses as of 2011. This can be attributed to the relatively affordable houses here despite the fact that the community is at the centre of Houston, relatively. Many of the original homeowners sold them to the WW2 veterans returning home or remodelled their houses while others tore them down to build better ones. The Realty Corporation, Light Group, nowadays seems to focus on building houses. Building custom homes have however seen the rise of home prices. This, coupled with the proximity to town, has seen many people seeking to reside in Oak Forest. Homebuilding in the area is on the rise and will continue for the foreseeable future. It seems Sharp’s apt vision is still as good as in the 40s.
Transportation and traffic
The area provides better options for transportation than the nearby Garden Oaks. There are alternative routes to be used when going to Oak Forest when there is heavy traffic in Loop 610 main lanes Residents of the Oak Forest can use the Metra Commuter Line to Chicago. Pace runs from Harvey to Tinley Park. Changes have been made to the traffic rules in the area. In the 70s, the speed limit for drivers was 40mph, but following the death of a young lady, it was reduced to 25mph. Traffic lights and signs were put as well.
Security
The police department in the area has done a pretty good job of maintaining security. Information from them is communicated promptly to the residents. In addition to this, a non-profit organization gave out a number of shotguns to the residents for self-defence in 2013. The community has parks and hospitals as well as public and private schools within its locality.
Buying your home in Oak Forest would be a great advantage. Contact Build-1 Custom Homebuilders today.