Around the 1990s artists began arriving in the area and caused it to change. By 2003 many young professionals moved to Rice Military to be in proximity to restaurants, theaters, and Memorial Park. During that year, Tim Bammel, a real estate agent working for Martha Turner Properties quoted in the "Houston Chronicle", said that Rice Military became "a real urban center." In 2003 the community was trying to have a roundabout at Washington Avenue and Westcott Street created; that roundabout would link Rice Military with Downtown Houston. In 2008 Martin said that due to the large amount of development, the neighborhood was "nearly at capacity", forcing developers to begin developing surrounding subdivisions. Around that period residents of Rice Military campaigned to have a grocery store built in an area between Interstate 10 (Katy Freeway) and Washington Avenue.