Energy Corridor - Houston, TX

The history and current reality of the Energy Corridor is inextricably linked with the creation and growth of the energy-industry related businesses that have come to grow in flourish in this community. This trend began in the early 1970's when Shell Oil Company and ConocoPhillips relocated their booming businesses to the area. Many more oil and gas companies followed suit, building top-of-the-line campus facilities. It wasn't until 2001 that the area officially became known as the Energy Corridor, when the area's commercial property owners requested that the Texas State Government redefine the area as a Municipal Management District.

There's not a robust art scene to speak of, but local museums like the Offshore Energy Center provides education and culture. The museum is dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of offshore energy by providing educational opportunities and experiences. If festivals are more your style, enjoy the 4 day Greek Festival that is hosted by St. Basil’s Greek Orthodox Church’s each year in May.

People from all walks of life and cultures have migrated to live and work in the Energy Corridor, and the impressive array of dining options reflects that diversity. From authentic Italian, Greek, Asian, and Mexican fare to authentic Texan-style Grub, the Corridor has something to offer every palate.

Satisfy your hunger with a quick slice of Calabrese (pepperoni pizza) at Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana. This laid back, bring-your-own-booze, family-run pizzeria serves quality food for budget prices. If you're in the mood for something a little more upscale, indulge in one of the Corridor's fine-dining options with some Lobster Risotto at Le Mistral Restaurant.

There are plenty of sports bars and lounges to choose from in the Energy Corridor, such as the chic and stylish Next Door Bar and Lounge and Watson's House of Ales — an English tavern with classic bar grub. Lupe Tortilla, a local Tex-Mex joint famous for its homemade tortillas that complement sizzling fajitas and cheesy quesadillas, serves up out-of-this-world margaritas, from the classic lime-squeezed to the sassy mango-rita.

The Shakespeare Pub is another funky local favorite known for its rough, bare-bones appearance and soulful atmosphere. Hit up this pub to enjoy live blues, folk and zydeco entertainment every day of the week and free pool with $2, 20-ounce pints every Tuesday for College and Industry Night.

The Energy Corridor hosts a large number of Houston Employees, so it comes as little surprise that the area strives to provide efficient and convenient means to commute to and from work. The community promotes as many cleaner alternative transport choices as possible including a Metro Park-and-Ride, car and van pooling, free shuttles, as well as many wide, well marked and safe bike lanes and trails.

Should you desire to explore outside of the community, the Energy Corridor is close to all major interstate highways and thoroughfares. If you wish to discover the heart of Houston, it's a straight shot, 20 mile drive on I-10 East to reach Downtown. Even if your business will be taking you further away from Houston, the Energy Corridor has you covered with easy access to two major airports. Within the Energy Corridor, the importance of using clean energy alternatives is emphasised in many ways, such as using cleaner-burning natural gas powered buses. In fact, beginning in November of 2013 the 75 Eldridge cross-town bus, began providing Free-Ride Fridays. If you are coming from or going to downtown you can hop on the 75 through the Addicks Park and Ride stop, via the 228 Addicks and 229 Kingsland/Addicks lines. Using this method of public transport you could make a one-way trip from the Energy Corridor to Downtown for under $3.

The Kendall public library on Eldridge even provides stations to plug in and charge your electric car. With plenty of free parking and over fifty miles of bike and walking trails, it is super easy to leave your automobile behind and enjoy this beautiful, friendly neighborhood on foot. You probably wont be able to flag down a cab off the street in this neighborhood, however, so your best bet is to call ahead. There are several providers within the area, from Executive Transportation, BP Cab Taxi, and Luxor Limousine, to online alternatives such as Uber.

After their gas and oil related business, the Energy Corridor is second best known for its parks, trails and recreational areas. The area is flanked by two major parks, including George Bush Park and Bear Creek Pioneers Park. With an acreage of 26,000, these parks are the largest urban parks outside of the National Park System.

With over 50 miles of free and dog-friendly hiking and biking trails, it's easy to forget you are in the fourth largest city in the United States. The Terry Hershey Park, which is conveniently located in the heart of the Energy Corridor, has over eleven miles of scenic trails that winds around many of the businesses and neighborhoods in the community. As an added bonus you can find many outdoor exercise centers along the trail for your convenience.

This area also hosts many annual events to further encourage the community to get out and get active, such as the yearly Trash Bash which brings out thousands of volunteers to help clean and preserve the Texas waterways. You will also find the BPA Bayou Adventure Race, which is the Terry Hershey version of a triathlon with a 5K run, 3K canoe run and a 10-15K bike run.

The cost of living in Houston is 10% less than the national average, largely due to the fact that the housing costs in Houston averages out to be 22% less than the national average. Because of this, especially when you consider that Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S., Houston is considered one of the more affordable cities to live in. The Energy Corridor has an advantage in public transit, as they have begun to implement more programs in addition to their metro buses, shuttles and park-and-rides with ideas such as the CarShare program and vanpooling. These programs, combined with the areas numerous and accessible bike lanes and trails have the potential to drop the amount you spend on transportation which could lower your cost of living compared to the city's average.

The average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment within the Energy Corridor runs between $1,000 and $1,100. The price of gas in Houston is nearly 6% lower than the national average. The average cost for a local draft beer will run you between $8-$9 which is slightly higher than the national average, however, you can usually find specials on seasonal brews that run around $3-$4 per beer.

All in all, if you want to enjoy city living without the big price tag, the Energy Corridor in Houston will give you a fabulous city experience while still helping you stay on budget.

The Energy Corridor strives to provide convenience in everything, and shopping is no different. With at least seven shopping centers located on Eldridge Parkway, including the Century Plaza, Parkway Village Plaza and the Enclave on Eldridge, this strip definitely serves as the center of shopping within the Energy Corridor. Find high-end fashion at Rouge Boutique, or get a little thrifty at A Perfect Fit Resale Boutique.

If you'd like to broaden your shopping horizons beyond the immediate area, two major shopping malls and many more shopping centers sit within a very short drive, including Memorial City Mall and Katy Mills, an outlet mall.

The Energy Corridor holds a diverse selection of stores, both traditional and specialty, to meet your grocery needs. Hebert's Specialty Meats is a Cajun market that supplies hard-to-find meats and provides delectable hot meals such as stuffed brisket and unique turducken. Leibman's Wine & Fine Foods is a gourmet market for wine and exotic grocery specialty items; the store also contains a superb deli where you can create your customized sandwich.