Apartment Locating in Upper Kirby, From Side Streets to Levy Park

Kirby Drive Traffic, US-59, and Getting Around

Upper Kirby runs along Kirby Drive between Westheimer to the north and US-59/I-69 to the south. The immediate US-59 access is the practical advantage of this address. It helps if your commute runs to the Galleria, Downtown, or anywhere else off that freeway. Downtown is a short drive outside peak. River Oaks sits directly north, and Greenway Plaza is just southwest along US-59.

METRO bus service runs along Kirby Drive and Westheimer Road. There is no rail. A car is necessary for most errands outside the immediate strip. Kirby traffic at rush hour is the neighborhood's standing complaint. Northbound Kirby in the evening is real congestion. It is worth checking where on the street you land when comparing two units in the same building.

Levy Park sits just off Kirby Drive, a truly well designed neighborhood park with events, a dog run, and a community garden. Many newcomers to the area do not know it exists until a neighbor mentions it. If you own a dog or use parks regularly, it is a meaningful draw that does not show up in a standard amenity comparison. Our free commute tool lets you check drive and transit times for your own hours. If your commute is the Texas Medical Center or the Galleria, the math usually works from here.

Compare the Apartment Communities in This Area

Mid rise apartment communities along Kirby Drive between Westheimer and US-59; compare parking fees and access to Levy Park. The buildings here are mostly newer mid rise, built since the mid-2000s along Kirby Drive and the main streets. Amenity packages are full at the newer communities, and concessions are running right now (2026 rates).

Parking is separate at most buildings here. Confirm the monthly garage rate and add it to the effective rent before you compare two options. Amenity and valet trash fees sit outside the quoted rent too. Together they can move your real monthly number by $150 or more. Ask what concession is running the week you tour and whether free rent is repayable if you leave early. The clawback is standard.

Formal screening runs throughout. That means a co-sign company like TheGuarantors, a larger deposit, or qualifying on documented assets can be a path. They work if your income holds but your file has a complication. After a denial based on a screening report, you're usually owed a notice naming the reporting company. You can get a free copy of the report if you ask within 60 days. Ask for written tenant selection criteria before paying an application fee. Look yourself up in Harris County JP court records before you apply anywhere.

Electricity is deregulated on the CenterPoint grid. Compare plans on the state's Power to Choose site and read the Electricity Facts Label rather than the advertised rate. Parts of the area near bayou tributaries have flood history. Check every address against the current FEMA map and the Harris County Flood Control District viewer before applying. In Harvey, flooding reached many Harris County homes outside the 100-year floodplain, so flood zone status alone is not reassurance.