The near northwest neighborhood of Brookwoods Estates sits just north of the convergence of the US 290/Loop 610 interchange. Its elongated shape extends from Mangum Road to West T.C. Jester. The neighborhood was the site of a rural forest and dairy farm owned by the Neuhoff family until 1949, when a developer purchased the acreage for homebuilding.

Starting at the western edge of the acreage on Mangum Road the developer installed iron ore streets, surveyed and platted lots, and sold them to individuals and builders. Most of the lots were sold to individuals who built their own homes choosing their style and design. The homes of Brookwoods Estates today reflect a diverse architecture ranging from brick one story ranch style homes to two story colonial, Spanish, and modern designs. The oversized lots and abundance of landscaped yards with numerous trees give the neighborhood a look of spaciousness and natural feel.

Perhaps no one has a better knowledge of the neighborhood than Brookwoods Estates Civic Club President Sonny Gray. His family was among the early Texas pioneers who lived in the area since the mid 1800s. They owned over 1400 acres from West 12th Street to West 18th Street, and from Mangum Road east to Durham. The Vollmer line of his family had a home in what is now Jaycee Park in the Timbergrove subdivision. His great grandfather lived in a large family home near where Scarborough High School is located today.

Sonny grew up in a large Cape-Cod style home on Sherwood Lane and remembers Brookwoods Estates before homes were built. "At that time West 34th ended on the east side of White Oak Bayou," he says, "and before development the Brookwoods area was heavily wooded." According to Sonny, the woods was a popular campground and at night the glow of many campfires could be seen from his home on Sherwood.

Sonny returned to Brookwoods in 1991 after his mother died, and he moved into the colonial style home his parents built in 1966. When the civic club was reactivated 14 years ago Sonny was elected president. He worked to invigorate the neighborhood and adopt new deed restrictions. "The early deed restrictions contained too many outdated rules, like restrictions on the number of cows, chickens and outhouses residents could have," he says, "so we had to change it." Most of the homes in the subdivision are deed restricted.

Due to the neighborhood's close proximity to US 290, the civic club has been active in keeping the residents informed about the planned widening of that freeway. Their concerns at present are focused on the potential for increased noise from high ramps to be built on the 610/290 interchange, and the increase in cut-through traffic with the proposed elimination of the Mangum Road entrance and exit ramps on US 290. According to TxDOT's project maps there are no homes in Brookwoods Estates that will be affected by right of way acquisition. However, as president of the civic club, Sonny Gray says he intends to stay informed on the US 290 project and will urge all residents to be proactive in protecting the neighborhood in the coming years.

The Brookwoods Estates subdivision is small, contained and conveniently located just outside the Loop. Near the major thoroughfares of both the North Loop and U.S. 290, the neighborhood is a desirable place to live for those who commute to downtown and inner loop destinations. In contrast to the high density development trend in other neighborhoods, Brookwoods offers its residents plenty of green space with a touch of rural lifestyle.