Shaun Vembutty, owner of Ashton Gray Development and previous partner of Square Stone Homes believes that the town center may attract more retailers to the area. Indeed, Rosenberg’s business-friendly environment has been key to the incredible growth the City has experienced over the course of the past ten years. This, coupled with its strategic location and convenient access to the ports of Freeport and Houston makes Rosenberg ideal for anyone seeking small town life and opportunity at the same time.

1. The Heights were initially an independent Municipality
but were brought into the greater City of Houston by
1919. Industrial parties utilized this Northwest Central
region of Houston during the post WWII era, but
residentially speaking, the neighborhood had become
synonymously associated with low-income housing and
crime by the 1970s. The seedy and dangerous
personality of the Heights became infamously linked
with the likes of Dean Corll, the serial killer known for
coaxing young male teens into dwellings he lived in
around the area. With the promise of parties, he would
abduct them for rape and torture, and then eventually
kill them with two teenage male accomplices.
Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights I”

2. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights I”
Established prior to the turn of the century in 1891, The
“Houston Heights” was realized by the construction of
streets, schools, public parks, and utility services put in
place by the South Texas Land Company. According to
Ashton Gray Development, it was one of the first
planned communities in Texas, and was spearheaded by
the affluent and wealthy millionaire, Oscar Martin Carter.
At that time, Shaun Vembutty says that the development
cost a total of $500,000 and it was marketed to those
who were hoping to escape the crowded inner city of
Houston. Currently, the district that is commonly
referred to as “The Heights” includes more recently
added neighborhoods that lie adjacent to the original
development of the “Houston Heights”.

3. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights I”
This grisly string of murders where at least 28 boys died
of either strangulation or a .22 caliber pistol became
known as the Houston Mass Child Murders and spanned
in a timeframe between 1970-1973. Corll was referred to
in law enforcement circles as “The Candyman” or “The
Pied Piper” because his family was known in the
community as the owners of a local candy store and
Dean was remembered as a smiling face that would
often hand out free candy to the neighborhood children.
During the decade between 1980 and 1990, the
population of the Heights plummeted over one thousand
people per square mile, as it seemed few wanted to live
in the locale associated with what was known during the
time as one of the most awful cases of serial killings in
American History.

4. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights I”
But as previously exhibited by Shaun Vembutty with
Ashton Gray Development, time can heal many wounds
with regards to Real Estate property values, and the
location of the Heights within the coveted 6-10 loop of
Houston, a dated taboo on an ideally situated
neighborhood is bound to fade. Today the district has
been revived with young professionals moving to the
area, many of whom enjoy prestigious employment in
Downtown Houston and the culture of the Heights has
improved in both its image and with what it has to offer
both the visitor and the resident. Much like Bellaire, it
has been redefined in a modernized affect all the while
maintaining much of its historical concept through the
refurbishing of original architecture. Although many of
the retro homes have been demolished, the landscape of
this region of Houston is a bit paradoxical with its
exhibition of newly built boutiques alongside still
standing homes that were constructed in the early

5. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights II”
The Houston Heights was of the first communities to
actually be planned for in advance by developers in the
state of Texas. Shaun Vembutty notices how it is dotted
with odd idiosyncrasies in landscape and what it offers as
a community compared to other outlying cities from the
Downtown area in the Houston sprawl. According to
Shaun Vembutty, it has been referred to by a local
Houston editor as “Houston’s own mini Austin” with its
vast assortment of restaurants known for their chill
atmosphere and the thickly canopied tree cover that
splashes the walk-able streets in a deep plush of green.

6. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights II”
Some of the after hours dining spots also include
tastefully trendy beer gardens, such as Coltivare Pizza
and Garden on White Oak Drive, where fresh produce
from their property garden is included in Italian inspired
menu items. Much of the nightlife in the Heights is
characterized by the growing population of young
business professionals, which necessitates the likes of
Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant on Studewood Street
that boasts an eclecticly delicious Sunday Brunch. One of
the more casual favorites is the Lei Low Bar, a tiki-
inspired decore that features Caribbean style cocktails
with a Polynesian theme.

7. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights II”
Interestingly enough, the Heights has a long history of
banning alcohol to be sold in stores or establishments
since Prohibition in 1912. It was only recently lifted by a
Proposition vote in 2016 that allowed alcohol to be sold
in stores so long as it was not consumed on the
premises. It became legal for restaurants and bars to
have typical liquor licenses to serve customers provided
they met the Federal age of 21. Local restaurants and
bars previously skirted this outdated law by way of
having their customers sign up with them as club
members so they could consume alcohol on their
property. However, the recent lift on this ban has
significantly reshaped the economic and entertainment
landscape of the Heights in Houston.

8. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights II”
Shaun Vembutty believes one of the iconic focal points of
the Heights nightlife is located at 339 W 19th St. The
original HEIGHTS THEATER that has been restored from
the early 1900s has charming curb appeal with its
vertical street sign illuminated for all of to see. It is now
available for private events and hosts many modern day
concerts where yelp users rave about every seat in the
house providing an up close and personal experience
that is simply not found in more modernly constructed
concert venues.

9. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights II”
Much of the alluring aspect of the Heights is the quaintly
obscure variety of properties, both residential and
commercial, that together mosaic-ally comprises the
overall atmosphere of the general community as a
whole. Associates at Ashton Gray Development recognize
that a ready to live in home in the Heights for less than
$200K is becoming a difficult find, as property values
between the years of 2002 and 2003 increased by almost
9%. Cross examine this to an article published in 1976,
where words such as “seedy” and “middle-class” were
used to describe a district once deemed to have
fashionable housing, but at the time was known as the
area of town you didn’t want to be caught alone on foot
once the sun goes down.

10. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights III”
The present day Heights of Houston enjoy a culturally
diverse population of residents. It houses one of the
highest volumes of local professional artists in Texas
according to a research group at the University of
Houston. A plethora of loft suites are advertised both in
the multi family housing lateral, such as Holden Heights
Apartments on West 24th street, as well as the more
unique one off bedroom remodel in larger historic
homes where the owner and resident are renting out a
smaller space within their own personal dwelling.

11. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights III”
Ashton Gray Development notes an eclectic approach to
commute and travel is utilized through a Rails-to-Trails
hike and bike trail project, which empowers commuters
and residents with transportation options differing from
the drive only standard that most of Houston is known
for. TrailLink.com is an excellent resource for the
resourceful green conscious commuter and features
filters and breakdowns of the most useful trails located
in the intended region of travel. As pointed out by Shaun
Vembutty, the 4.6 mile MKT/SP “Heights Trail” begins at
the intersection of Hogan Street and the I-45 HOV lane
and runs all the way north nearly to the intersection of
the 610 loop and Nicholas street.

12. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights III”
In other words, despite being immersed in one of the
most congested with traffic metropolitan cities in the
nation, a hiker or biker has access by foot or by cycle for
travel to some of the most alluring and happening
locations within the city limits. The Houston Heights
Association website features a comfortable combination
of historical context married to current upcoming events
and available activities, such as the front page pictured
link inviting clickers to “Rent the Fire Station” for an old
timey feel to your upcoming wedding, holiday party, or
family gathering.

13. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights III”
Front and center as the first clickable link, the visitor is
routed to a donate/contribute page, dedicated to the
many efforts of the district to either restore local sites of
heritage, or to beautify the space with gardens and park
improvements. Although the virtual calendar only seems
to include HHA meetings and trash pickup dates, the
website includes a separate page that informs visitors
and residents of exciting upcoming community events.

14. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights III”
Some of these opportunities for community fellowship
include Bike Ralleys, Scavenger Hunts, and planned tours
of local Gardens and Historic Holiday Homes. However,
despite being pegged as one of the up and coming
districts just off the beaten path of downtown, the
internet was flooded with photos of the Heights after
Hurricane Harvey that showed Yale street turned into a
torrential and churning river that resulted in flood waters
in buildings which took weeks to drain.

15. Shaun Vembutty | The “The Heights III”
The closeness in proximity to Buffalo Bayou puts the
Heights of Houston at high risk for flooding, says Shaun
Vembutty. Videos went viral showing only the tops of
trees visible from floodwaters with the familiar streets
far below the rushing waters. But as the hype of natural
disaster slowly fades, the culture of the area re-emerges
and whether it is enjoyed in public at the First Saturday
Arts Market or more secluded in a local café known for
its mom and pop character, this neighborhood has
proven to be deserving of attention with its diverse
origins and bizarre history.

16. For More Information Visit:
https://www.shaunvembutty.com/
https://www.ashtongraydev.com/
https://twitter.com/shaunvembutty
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