Your Expert Guide

Montrose: Vibrant, diverse, and walkable historic charm in the heart of Houston

There are so many great places to live in Houston that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Montrose has been described as "the heart of Houston" since 1910, says real estate agent William Finnorn, "and I firmly believe that its true beauty lies in the fact that it contains something for everyone. I see the neighborhood's vibe as an inveterate mix of creativity, eccentricity, and diversity."

Finnorn has lived in Montrose for the last five years, becoming a homeowner here three years ago.

"Montrose offers a unique lifestyle that combines historic appeal with contemporary living," Finnorn says. "Its charming streets, diverse housing options, and wide range of dining and shopping choices make it an exciting place to call home."

The area offers a little bit of everything, done well and finished with a certain artistic flair. One of the best things about Montrose is that it's a truly walkable neighborhood, Finnorn notes, giving its residents an easy way to explore all the area has to offer. Tree-lined streets offer a picturesque backdrop for the homes, with the mature oak and pecan trees not only providing shade but also enhancing the neighborhood's overall appeal.

Montrose also has a strong sense of community engagement, and is a place where people actively participate in volunteer work and contribute to various charitable causes, creating a close-knit and supportive community.

Finnorn himself has previously served on the board of directors for the Houston Area Parkinson's Society and is currently involved with the Montrose Center's young professionals group.

Finnorn was recently named to the Houston Association of Realtors' 20 under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate, an award given to HAR members who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of sales, leadership, and community involvement.

"I love the neighborhood's vibrant and eclectic energy," he says. "It truly embodies my idea of the perfect place to live, work, and play. It's a neighborhood that keeps on giving, and I'm more than happy to help others find their own piece of this vibrant and eclectic enclave."

Finnorn offered up a few of his personal favorites about life in Montrose. Here's his guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
"The neighborhood offers endless options, representing a wide spectrum of cuisines," says Finnorn. "Whether you're in the mood for a burger, shareable plates, pizza, or a bowl of ramen, Montrose has it all."

A few of his recommendations include:

Bludorn, where chef Aaron Bludorn elevates classics with dishes like lobster pot pie and dry-aged burgers.
Hugo's, Hugo Ortega's eponymous spot in Montrose for upscale Mexican classics.
La Guadalupana, a go-to spot for Mexican breakfast classics and café de olla (Mexican cinnamon coffee).
Uchi, a renowned Austin-based restaurant that has become an integral part of Montrose's food scene.
Ramen Tatsu-ya, the go-to ramen joint in Montrose.
Clark's Oyster Bar, another Austin export that just opened at the corner of Montrose and West Alabama, for top-notch seafood and martinis.
March, a posh tasting menu restaurant from Goodnight Hospitality for a full sensory experience.
Rosie Cannonball, also from Goodnight Hospitality, for wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta.
Montrose Cheese & Wine, for the rotating selection of cheeses and wines.
Nobie's, a classic Montrose bungalow turned eatery for its shareable plates and famous olive oil cake.

Where to play
Cherryhurst Park features a tennis court that's open to the public, and Finnorn comments that "it's a nice spot to enjoy a casual game with friends or practice your tennis skills."

Buffalo Bayou Park offers a natural escape in the heart of the city. Visitors can enjoy walking and biking trails, public art installations, and scenic views of the bayou. "While some choose to bike or kayak along the Bayou, I prefer to explore its pathways on foot," says Finnorn.

Bell Park is a small but charming park in the neighborhood offering green spaces, walking paths, and a peaceful environment for relaxation.

What to see
Finnorn recommends stopping into "art museums and galleries like the Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, and my personal favorite, the Cy Twombly Gallery."

La Colombe d'Or's striking architecture and art-filled interior make it a unique landmark to visit. And don't miss out on the variety of cultural events and festivals that take place here throughout the year, including The Original Greek Festival.

Where to live
"The homes in Montrose are as diverse and eclectic as the neighborhood itself," Finnorn says. "Montrose is known for its charming historic bungalows, a mix of architectural styles, and a wide range of housing options that cater to various tastes and preferences."

In addition to bungalows, look out for Craftsman-style homes, Spanish Revival designs, Tudor Revival, and contemporary construction.

"This diversity gives the neighborhood a distinct aesthetic," Finnorn notes. "It also contributes to the neighborhood's popularity and its continued growth. Montrose attracts a diverse community of movers and shakers, artists, young professionals, and those who've called it home for many years, all of whom have contributed to its rich history."

Cherryhurst, an enclave within Montrose, is especially known for its strong sense of community. Residents take pride in their homes, and you can see the results in well-kept properties and beautifully landscaped yards.

Here, you'll find cozy cottages, larger single-family homes, and even multi-story townhouses, catering to a broad range of residents.

Many homeowners have taken on restoration and renovation projects to preserve the historical integrity of their homes while adding modern amenities and finishes.

Living in Cherryhurst means you're within walking distance to Montrose's art galleries, restaurants, boutique shops, and cultural attractions.

A recent listing of Finnorn's, 1635 Hawthorne St., embodies the essence of Montrose living by combining classic charm with modern amenities, emphasizing meticulous attention to detail, and preserving its historic architectural character.

"It's a prime example of how homes in Montrose offer a unique blend of timeless elegance and contemporary living," says Finnorn.

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William Finnorn works and plays in Montrose. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email william.finnorn@sir.com, or call 713-306-0194.

Photo courtesy of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

Spanish Revival-style homes join several other architectural styles in the neighborhood.

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your friends and neighbors

Pioneering East End development brings cohousing to Houston

Digital image of a a finished cohousing development with people in the foreground.

Render provided by CoHousing Houston

A digital rendering of the finished CoHousing Houston.

Houston's East End neighborhood will soon welcome a bold new experiment in housing in the next couple of months, one dedicated to communal space and curing the epidemic of isolation plaguing modern America.

Called CoHousing Houston, the development occupies a property at 114 Delmar St. that consists of 33, individually-owned units built around a central courtyard. This layout isn't much different from a modern apartment complex, but there are architectural deviations and governing principles that gently nudge the residents toward in-person interactions.

One is the common house, a massive gathering space, kitchen area, and work station that serves as a community center and event hall. While the individual units do have their own kitchens and bedrooms, they are short on extra rooms. This encourages people to move their hobbies and activities to the common house or to the shared outdoor porches and balconies when the weather is nice.

The idea of communal housing is as old as humanity itself and is practiced by groups as different as hippy communes and the U.S. Army. However, few Americans live in communal housing after they reach adulthood, preferring privacy and a large space to call their own. CoHousing Houston is aiming to be the best of both worlds.

One resident is Kelli Soika, a married mother of three who lived in a similar cohousing unit in Colorado before moving to Houston in 2018. She found the cohousing model incredibly liberating, and worked to create the first one in the Bayou City.

"You have this great place to solve problems you didn’t even know you know you had," she tells CultureMap. "I would have to go to the grocery store with the three kids, and it was hard. Now, I can ask a neighbor to watch the girls for an hour. I hear it’s like living in a small town in the past, though I'm not old enough to remember that. It's the kind of place where if you leave the door open, someone will check to make sure you're okay. In a regular house, you could fall down and it might be days before someone found you."

Soika emphasized the power of community connection. Surrounded by multi-generational households that are funneled into the communal spaces by design, she can draw on the innovation of young couples or the wisdom of the elderly. With one kid starting college, it's nice for her to be able to talk to someone close by who has gone through the same thing. Her husband can drop into an evening bike riding group whenever he wants without having to arrange various schedules. In her opinion, little neighborly touches like that are worth the slight loss of privacy or space that are inherent to cohousing.

"If the power is out and you don't know what’s going on at CenterPoint, you've got a group going through it with you," she says. "These things keep happening, and when I moved into cohousing, it's just not a crisis because you've got other people to help you and be with you in it."

Isolation and loneliness is a major problem in America, studies suggest. Increased workloads and the explosion of social media have led to a sharp decline in time spent in "third places," locations that are not home or work. According to some estimates, people stopped going to third places as much as 37 percent between 2014 and 2017, and that was before COVID sent people into deeper isolation. In Houston, soaring temperatures and poor public transit keep some people out of parks and other outdoor activities even as the city invests heavily in park improvement. Some activities such as pickleball and live-action gaming centers have picked up the slack, but these still involve planning that many tired workers simply don't have the energy for.

In that world, cohousing seems like a viable alternative to increase social engagement, though it may be too big a change for Americans, who are famously individualistic.

Soika says that there are weekly meetings in the common house to deal with issues that affect the entire campus, such as parking disputes and insurance. Residents own their $300,000 to $525,000 homes, but there is still an HOA, and governance is democratic. CoHousing Houston tries to make sure that the majority of people can still attend and have their voices heard in the regular meetings. Those disinclined to group gatherings can still participate in small groups that handle specific matters, but like all democracy it involves more work than simply owning your own home. There's also the worry that such a governing structure tends to empower people who have time and resources to attend meetings, such as single income households.

"You don’t want to have the decisions dominated by people who have managed to dominate the meeting structures," says Soika. "We have rounds where we laboriously go through each person and have them talk about it. It helps the quieter ones. We want everyone to be heard."

Another concern is safety. Soika was unable to say of there was any kind of provision for what to do if a resident became a problem, such as exhibiting violent behavior against other residents.

"I guess we would call the police," she says. Having lived in cohousing since 2012, she says she's never come across such a situation.

CoHousing Houston is expected to open fully this fall. Soika already lives on site, and most of the units in the $300,000 range have been sold. Units in the $450,000-525,000 range remain available. Interested buyers can find more information at CoHousingHouston.com.

homes-for-sale cohousing houston cohousing

Your Expert Guide

Montrose: Vibrant, diverse, and walkable historic charm in the heart of Houston

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