Woodlands gals who live in Cochrans - come in.

KKMMex

We're considering a move closer to the front of TW.  Can you tell me what your favorite neighborhoods are?  What are your thoughts about being on the Lake Woodlands side of CC versus the Research Forest side?  How has the lack of bus service impacted your particular school?  Do you like your elementary school (if your child is school age)?  Please share any and all opinions about life in Cochran's Crossing.

monkaloo

We live on the Research side of Cochrans and I love it here.  Absolutely love it.

We have friends who live on the Lake Woodlands side and I don't think there's necessarily anything less desirable about it.  Though I think some of the houses tend to be slightly older than the ones on our side.  I know a lot of people complain about Research, but since the expansion - it's been great.  They've really built up a lot of stores and restaurants, so it's become super convenient.  (Though I do wish they'd stop with the building now!)

I will say that I do appreciate being right in the middle, so getting to Lake Woodlands/Woodlands Pkwy or to 242/1488 is equally convenient. 

Traffic can get hairy in the mornings and afternoons during the school year.  We're right over by TWHS so the afternoons can back up pretty heavily with the multiple schools right there.  Car line at Powell can get ridiculous - and if it's a rainy day dismissal - don't bother driving there until at least 3:30.  Losing bus service was annoying, but we've managed and now we're used to it.  Walking actually tends to serve us better, assuming the weather cooperates.

In terms of schools, we love Powell.  Both kids will be there next year and we're all really looking forward to it!  Tons of parental involvement, great communication from the administration, and we've loved the teachers so far.

As for neighborhoods, I've always loved the houses in Cochran's Green.  Then again, I love our neighborhood and the immediate ones around us as well.  I'm not sure of your price range, but we have a huge variety of pricing within a fairly small geographic area.

We've got a lot of great amenities close by - Bear Branch park and Sport Fields, Shadowbend Y, Hubbell & Hudson Bistro (so yummy!), and a bunch of other restaurants/shopping now.  Cochran's Crossing and Alden Bridge shopping centers are equally close by, and it doesn't take much longer to get to Panther Creek shopping center, either.  We also have VillaSport right off Technology Forest, which is amazing.  It's beautiful and offers so much.

I could go on and on about what we love about this area, but I'll save you from my rambling for now!  If you have any specific questions or would like more detail about specific neighborhoods/houses, Powell, or anything else - please feel free to email me.  I would be more than happy to go into further detail.  lvmyveedub at yahoo .com

plaidfrogg

We live in CC between RSF and Lake Woodlands (LW). We rented in Sterling Ridge for the first 18 months we were here and spent a lot of time figuring out exactly where we wanted to live w/in TW based on location, schools, neighborhoods, access, and lot sizes.

Like Monkaloo, I don't necessarily think one part of CC is better than the other....just personal preference. I, too, could go on and on about what I love about living in this area.  For starters, we wanted a smaller elementary school and wanted to be more toward the front of TW. We considered Gosling to be about the east-west midpoint so we wanted to be close to or east of that, which narrowed things down to CC and Panther Creek (along Lake Woodlands). Again, not knowing your price point, the neighborhoods I lean toward most are Shadowlake Forest/Golden Shadow, Hayden's Run, North Turnstone, and Capstone. Runners up were Cochran's Green, Cochran's Bend, Forest Ridge (older homes, but lots of young kids). There are some others, including one in Panther Creek *just* on the other side of Gosling (Hidden Lakes?) but the names escape me.

Anyhow, we are almost equidistant between RSF and LW and I can't imagine having better centrality than we do here. DH isn't limited to just one way in/out for his commute, which can be nice if there is a snarl or construction somewhere. We love that we live close enough to walk! We can also easily walk/bike to Bear Branch and Shadowbend parks/pools, Bear Branch Sports Fields, CC shopping center, the Y (Villa is also quite close), and Panther Creek shopping. Town Center (mall, Market Street) is usually less than 5 minutes and Gosling makes it an easy shot over to 242 (though Alden Woods in another area you might consider for its accessibility).  There's not really any unusual congestion around here other than maybe during rainy day dismissals around the schools.  

 As for school, we adore David Elementary....there is a lot of parent involvement,  teachers are wonderful and helpful, and it just has such a nice feel about it. My preschooler has special needs but as I've gotten to know the faculty, already I feel good about her transition to David next year. We have experience at Powell Elem and also found it to be a very nice school. I've also heard glowing things about Galatas Elem, but for my own reasons preferred not to go there. Bussing: Last year, my kindergartener enjoyed riding the bus a couple of days/week, but since we are just a hair under the bussing limit, we no longer have that option. Honestly, it hasn't made much difference! The bus used to drop her off at 3:35, but as it is now, I pick her up and the kids play at the school for about 20 minutes or so (longer if we walk to one of the parks across the steet), so we end up getting home at that time, anyhow. I have a few neighbor friends with whom we take turns taking the kids back and forth (either by car, foot or bike). 

 So much for keeping this short! Anyhow, As you've likely seen, I think every area within TW has its strengths and limitations, so much influenced by personal preference. If you have any questions or want additional information on a specific area or David Elem., feel free to email me (plaidfrogg at gmail dot com).

 

 

KKMMex

Thanks so much to both of you for your detailed replies.  I'm glad to hear such great reports about both Powell and David.  We've been going to preschool near Galatas for the last four years and I've spent lots of hours driving through the various CC neighborhoods in between preschool pick-up and kindergarten pick-up.  I love the area for its mature trees and charming neighborhoods, but especially for the schools and location.

 I've fallen in love with both Hayden's Run and Mystic Lake (which is on the Research side and zoned to Powell).  Mystic Lake is five minutes from the freeway!  Hayden's Run is a gorgeous neighborhood that's affordable and so close to Galatas.  I have a good friend who lives in Cochran's Green and she loves being so close to Powell. 

While we've enjoyed our time in Sterling Ridge, it would be so much nicer to be closer to the front.  Also, the transportation changes greatly impacted our school.  I think it's because of the number of students attending and their ages.   We have 5th/6th graders who race down the sidewalk on their bikes which can be truly intimidating when you're trying to get to school with a 5yo and a 3yo in tow.

The area around our elementary school obviously wasn't developed with the idea in mind that so many of the students would be walking/biking.  It can truly be a hairy experience to maneuver the sidewalk to and from school.  Next year we'll have an additional intersection to navigate because they've punched a road through from 2978 to Terramont Drive, alongside Bear Branch Junior High to the west.  Also at this intersection is a new preschool that's opening, with parents dropping little ones off in the morning during the school rush.  I think it will be even harder next year for those of us using the north side sidewalk and I honestly fear for my children's safety.

Thanks again for all the great info and for sharing your email addresses.  I'll add them to my contacts and will definitely be emailing with questions when I have them!