Pasadena ISD Bond Election       Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Highway 3, I-45 corridor becomes
prime area for development

The Highway 3 and Interstate 45 corridor has become another hot spot for growth in the Pasadena Independent School District.

The major area of growth is this region is the Southway Gardens subdivision, that will eventually feature 348 homes when entirely completed. In addition, a new area recently platted by Lennar Homes could bring as many as 800 additional homes to the district.

Moving a few miles to the north down Beltway 8, Strawberry Glen subdivision near the intersection of Strawberry and Almeda-Genoa Road will feature 151 new homes. The new Broadwater Apartments on Crenshaw houses 248 units. An additional apartment complex that is planned near Burke Road and Vista will have 274 units.

David Jarvis of MetroStudy said he expects more residential development to begin on land at the southwest corner of Beltway 8 and Interstate 45 by the end of this year.

"There are still large amounts of undeveloped land in the southwestern portion of the district and in areas east of Interstate 45 and south of Crenshaw," he said. "Much of that land is along the Sam Houston Tollway corridor."

Pasadena ISD Superintendent Dr. Rick Schneider said the numbers become more critical when the district looks at available acreage than has not yet been platted.

"These other areas, such as the Highway 3/Interstate 45 corridor are prime areas for future residential development," Schneider said. "Preliminary conversations with property owners indicate it is not a matter of 'if' these areas will be developed, but a matter of 'when.'"

Among the schools most seriously impacted by the new developments along the corridor are Genoa Elementary School, Pasadena Memorial High School and Bondy and Miller intermediate schools. "Seven of our 10 intermediate schools enroll more than 1,000 students today," Schneider said. "Four of those seven schools have more than 1,100 students. By 2006, all 10 schools could exceed a student enrollment of 1,000 students."

Demographic studies show that Beverly Hills, Jackson, Miller and Thompson intermediate schools could top 1,300 students in two years. Pasadena ISD's goal is to have fewer than 900 students at an intermediate campus, according to built capacity of its schools. In two years, three elementary schools could exceed 1,000 students with 19 campuses exceeding the district's goal of 750 students for its elementary schools.

The district has been watching the enrollment data continuously since 1998. The trends, while steady in the past, now show a rapidly increased growth curve. A community wide facilities committee studied the district's building needs for more than year, seeking ways to address the new growth.

"The signs of growth are a reflection of the quality education you're providing in your schools," said Bob Stein, Rice University professor and noted political analyst. "Good schools attract new growth and new residents. Your district is certainly a catalyst in this rapid rate of growth."

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