Cypress booms as country's other suburbs remain stagnant
More than 75 percent of the growth in Harris County took place in unincorporated areas between 2000 and 2010, according to a 2011 Harris County population study. By 2018, the population in unincorporated areas is expected to rise to more than two million, which would surpass the city of Houston.
"I think [the growth] is a good combination of the schools, the option of master-planned communities with lots of amenities and the value for what you're purchasing here for a house," said Jim Mulholland, owner of Mulholland Realty. "In places like Katy, The Woodlands and Sugar Land, home prices are a lot higher. Cypress gives you the best of those three worlds."
Unincorporated growth
Roads and tollways are being built, strip centers are expanding and several subdivisions are under construction in Cypress—all more than 30 miles from the core of Houston.
From 2000 to 2010, Harris County's population outside Beltway 8—which includes mostly unincorporated areas—grew by 40 percent, from 1.5 million to about 2 million, according to the county's 2011 population study. In addition, two of the three fastest growing areas in the county in the past decade include Cy-Fair, according to the study.
U.S. Census Bureau data released in April suggests that nationally the outer suburban areas grew faster in 2000 than the urban areas. However, by 2010 they were the slowest growing. That is not the case in Cypress, as more than 250,000 new residents moved into the Cy-Fair ISD boundaries from 2000 to 2010, according to census data.
"When you spend $200,000 in Cypress, you'll get a much larger home than you would in Katy or Sugar Land," said Kathy Jones, owner of Cypress-based Giraffe Realty. "Katy's home values have substantially increased with the expansion of I-10 and the Grand Parkway. Cypress hasn't realized yet that once the Grand Parkway makes its way through here, the values of our homes will explode."
Although there are not yet many restaurant or retail choices in Cypress that are similar to those in areas near the Galleria or downtown Houston, the beginning strides are being made to bring new choices to the area.
According to the West Houston Association, the northwest quadrant of Harris County will likely see the most growth in the next few decades, as the area's population is expected to increase from about 500,000 to more than 1.2 million by 2050.
"Growth will occur in proximity to employment, and right now, the northwest quadrant is the place that has the room and opportunity to grow," said Roger Hord, president of the West Houston Association.
New retail choices
Several new retail outlets are expanding or arriving in Cypress this year to serve the growing population. Construction started in April on a new H-E-B at Mason Road and Hwy. 290 in Fairfield, and it is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
"Cypress is an ever-growing community," said Cyndy Garza-Roberts, director of public affairs for H-E-B. "Density there continues to grow, and we thought there was an opportunity to serve customers in that area."
The store will be about 100,000 square feet, which is comparable to the Cypress Market store at Barker Cypress Road and Hwy. 290.
Farther east, one of Cypress' busiest commercial centers is bracing for an expansion. Located between Spring Cypress and Skinner roads off Hwy. 290, plans call for several new stores at Cypress Towne Center. Charming Charlie, Michael's and James Avery are under construction and slated to open there later this year.
Sustaining the growth
Although the projected growth appears positive for Cypress, there are transportation and monetary issues involved in maintaining such a highly populated area that has not been annexed. Unincorporated Harris County is growing at a rate more than six times that of the city of Houston, but the county must rely mainly on property taxes to maintain its services.
"Unlike the city, which has a sales tax, we don't have that mechanism for providing some of our services," said Jack Cagle, Precinct 4 commissioner. "It's a challenge to be fiscally responsible and get to provide quality services. But as a general rule, most of the folks prefer to live in the county, even though we don't have that extra penny to tack onto sales tax."
When Hwy. 290 is improved, Mulholland said he expects Cypress will grow even faster.
"The Grand Parkway will also help a bit for people commuting to the Energy Corridor and eventually The Woodlands when the next segments are complete," Mulholland said. "Bridgeland's Towne Center development was conceptualized around the Grand Parkway, so that will only make things bigger out here."
