Despite the City of Houston’s lack of master planning, which has always seemed to be a gigantic criticism, something seems to be right with the mish-mosh of businesses, historic homes, new constructions, and the web of short streets that make the Montrose area one of the American Planning Association’s top ten best neighborhoods in the country.

Montrose is not necessarily the most clean or tidy area of town, and is host to numerous parades that clog the already narrow streets with hundreds of people.  There are townhomes towering small bungalows, not to mention all the businesses intertwined amongst them.  But this eclectic charm seems to be what makes this neighborhood work: it is organic and evolves with the times, making Montrose diverse and original.

The near-by Courtlandt Place neighborhood seems to be all that’s left of this once elite master planned subdivision, which was Montrose in the early 1900’s.  Over the years, Montrose fell victim to abandonment, vagrants and was forgotten.  The early 1990’s breathed life back into Montrose as it became the prime location for urbanization in the Gay and Lesbian community, which pioneered what Houstonians consider one of the most eclectic and art-driven areas in Houston with a community to match.  The diversity of its residents keeps the area fresh with new shops and restaurants to appeal to this colorful neighborhood – cafes, bookshops, coffee houses, antique shops and restaurants from Italian to Indian litter Westheimer and Montrose; the neighborhood’s center point.

Montrose’s tightly woven collection of homes and businesses are another feature that caught the eye of the American Planning Association.  Not only do the residents have an array of different shops and restaurants, but they don’t have to get in a car to enjoy them.  Originally a "streetcar suburb," Montrose was designed with walkability in mind.  The short streets with no cul-de-sacs make it easier to leave the car at home and walk to your destination.  A Montrose resident can walk to a fine restaurant and go to the grocery store after dinner.  Antiquing is a great fall activity with all the antique shops right next to each other; you can stop for a nice lunch or cup of coffee in the middle of your shopping excursions.  Montrose gets its residents out of their cars and on their feet.

Lastly, Montrose’s unique selection of real estate exemplifies this area’s eclectic sense of style.  Since 1/3 of the city's historic areas are in Montrose, much of its original architecture is still in tact, so Mid-century Art and Craft style homes neighbor new Contemporary townhomes instead of tearing down and re-building.  This well-deserved praise for Montrose proves that there’s something to be said about being yourself!