It’s not all business in the Energy Corridor, though, because there is more than 25,000 acres of park space around the area. There’s also a special management district in place, so the Energy Corridor is a focus of constant beautification and improvement.
As one of the most active economic centers in Houston, the Energy Corridor is a primary target for professionals and their families looking for a long-term place to call home. Expert Energy Corridor movers can help these families get started on the right foot by handling the move. Packing, loading, driving, unloading and unpacking – an experienced Energy Corridor moving company can do it all, and help professionals focus on their job, not a stack of boxes. JTMelia is a popular choice for Energy Corridor relocation services, as our professional movers can handle every aspect of the moving process for you. We can handle the tough part of moving, so you can focus on settling into your new community.
History
The Energy Corridor began developing in the 70s, but slowly as energy companies looked west for a better place to set up offices. It was around this time that the suburbs west of Houston began springing up too, so employers in the Energy Corridor had plenty of new housing developments to attract professionals.
In 2001, the Texas Legislature established the Energy Corridor Management District, and that’s when the area really took off. Management districts in Texas collect extra taxes from commercial entities, as long as these taxes are dedicated to urban planning, public safety, infrastructure and district branding. Many of the Energy Corridor’s initiatives are focused on beautification, so it’s one of the city’s best maintained areas. It’s also one of the most stable, as even during the oil downturn in the early 2010s, the Energy Corridor still added new hospitals and office space.
Shopping
The Energy Corridor is close to several of Houston’s most popular malls, and there’s so many places to shop and eat nearby that residents don’t have to leave the district to get everything they need. Some of the shopping centers in the area include:
- Memorial City Mall – Memorial City Mall has been around for decades, but it’s received a recent facelift. It’s now a destination for shoppers and families alike, with plenty of clothing outlets, specialty stores and attractions. One of the city’s largest indoor playgrounds is here, along with an outdoor hangout area where the kids can have fun, a living room-like space with a roaring fireplace, and an ice rink where local hockey teams play.
- West Oaks Mall – West Oaks Mall tends to be less busy than Memorial City Mall, which could mean easier shopping for people that just want to get in and out. There are plenty of clothing, footwear and eyewear shops here, as well as eclectic places to dine.
- The Galleria – The Galleria isn’t just a standout mall in Houston, it’s one of the most luxurious malls in the nation. If you’re going to find a celebrity in Houston, they are probably at the Galleria, and there are hundreds of high-end apparel stores, as well as fine dining and an ice rink in the center of the mall.
Parks
Energy Corridor District
777 N. Eldridge Parkway, Suite 270
281-759-3800
https://www.energycorridor.org/contact
Energy Corridor is marked by its towering office buildings, but there’s a lot of natural beauty within 10 or so minutes of the area. Some of the standout parks include:
- Bear Creek Parks – Bordering the north side of the Energy Corridor is a set of connected parks. The largest is Bear Creek Pioneers Park, and it includes several playgrounds, picnic areas, soccer fields, baseball and softball fields, lit tennis courts and horseshoe courts. The park is also home to a small zoo and equestrian trails, and nearby is a sprawling dog park with plenty of room to run.
- George Bush Park – George Bush Park borders the Energy Corridor on the west side, covering nearly 8,000 acres of green space. Most of the area is dedicated to an active reservoir, though there are nature reserves, baseball and soccer fields, a large dog park and a shooting range for enjoyment.
Other things to do in the Energy Corridor
The Energy Corridor is conveniently located, near some of the city’s most important thoroughfares. That means residents can easily get into, out of and around Houston. Here are some of the more popular things to do in the area:
- The Energy Corridor is within five miles of nearly every type of cuisine you could think of, and new culinary experiences you would never think of. Houston is a foodie paradise, so if you enjoy a variety of cuisine types, you’ll surely love the options.
- The west side of Houston is less dense than the inner city, and there are a lot of parks, biking trails, walking trails and plenty of room to run with the pup or play with the kids.
- George Bush Park, in particular, is a popular spot for geocaching, which encourages people to get out in the wilderness and look for points of interest using GPS.
- A new waterpark, Typhoon Texas, just opened up in Katy, and is already a popular summertime destination.
- There’s a never-ending list of things to do in inner Houston, from professional sports to world-class cultural experiences, like the Houston opera, ballet and symphony.
Helpful Information for New Residents
Energy Corridor District
777 N. Eldridge Parkway, Suite 270
281-759-3800
https://www.energycorridor.org/contact
Houston Police Department
1200 Travis St.
713-884-3131
https://www.houstontx.gov/police/
Houston Fire Department
1801 Smith, 7th Floor
713-247-5000
https://www.houstontx.gov/fire/
Vehicle registration
https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle
Driver license offices
http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense
Energy Corridor School Districts
Houston Independent School District
4400 West 18th St.
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 556-8501
https://www.houstonisd.org/
Katy Independent School District
6301 S. Stadium Ln.
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 396-6000
http://www.katyisd.org/Pages/default.aspx
Spring Branch Independent School District
955 Campbell Rd.
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 464-1511
https://www.springbranchisd.com/