FOR PRESERVATION NEWSLETTER OF THE GREATER HOUSTON PRESERVATION ALLIANCE
Volume Two Number One
GHPAANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 29, 1986 6:00 P.M. at the
KIRBY MANSION 2000 Smith at Gray Courtesy of Thomas C. Thompson Investments, Inc.
THE PILLOT BUILDING The future ofthe Pillot Building, for the first time in a decade, looks bright, indeed. County judge jon Lindsey and Commissioners Court, at last yielding to pressure from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance and the Texas Antiquities Committee, agreed to permit the preservation of the Pillot Building by the private sector, if developers could be identified who might be interested. An ad hoc committee was then formed in the Spring of 1985 to determine the type of County lease agreement and to identify interested developers. It was comprised of Ron Dear and Perry Simmons from the County judge's Office, County Engineer Dick Doss, Mary McKeliearfrom the County Attorney's office, Barry Moore and Minnette Boesel from the GHPA, and joe Opperman from the Texas Historical Commission.
january 1986
A draft lease and advertisement for bid was prepared and sent to Com missioners Cou rt for approval in the early summer. The final draft proposed a "footprint" ground lease with easement access on the west side, for a fifty year term. On August 13, 1985, two bidding developers were present: Bill Neuhaus, AlA, representing john Hannah, and Dick Knight, President of City Partnership Ltd. Mr. Knight was the successful bidder and had incorporated into his team Barry Moore Architects, Inc. The lease was signed on September 18, 1985 and within 60 days aschematic presentation was made, on November 14, to Dan Elswick of the Texas Historical Commission, in accordance with the terms of the lease. Pending approval by the Antiquities Committee, by way of Dan Elswick of the Texas Historical Commission, the team will proceed with contract drawings. The proposal consists of three floors, no basement, with existing wood structure replaced with fire protected steel, and an authentic restoration of the east, north, and west walls. The central stair will be replaced in steel and the vault will be preserved. A new service core wili cover the south wall, comprised of elevator, fire stairs, toilet rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms. The developers are pursuing leases in the "hospitality" industry, with a restaurant on half of the first floor and a private club on the remaining two and one-halffloors envisioned. They anticipate executing leases early in 1986 and public announcements will be made at that time.
President's Mc_ jage A great deal of preservation action has taken place in Houston over the last four years. The source of much of this positive action has been the members of the GHPA. I have enjoyed serving as Chairman of the organization. The support of members and friends of the GHPA has made this task a memorable experience. We have seen the results of preservation efforts - the impending preservation of the Pillot Building is a shining example. I predict an increasing call for the services of volunteer preservationists in the future. I hope that the GHPA can continue to count on each of you for your continuing support. I look forward to the coming year. I will be serving on the board in the position of Immediate Past President. Please join me in supporting our new chairperson, Minnette Boesel. We are extremely fortunate to have a preservationist of Minnette's caliber leading our organization. Thank you again for your generous contributions to historic preservation in Houston.
A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT GLENWOOD The GHPA and the Victorian Society in America - Texas Chapter hosted a program on Sunday, October 20, 1985 at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue. The event began at the Eastlake Office Cottage, built in 1888, just inside the cemetery. Attendees enjoyed presentations from GHPA Board Member Barry Moore and Victorian Society President Peter Flagg Maxson. A history of the cemetery, and other Houston cemeteries was provided by Douglas Milburn, Associate Editor of Houston City Magazine and author of Our Ancestor's Graves; Houston's Historic Cemeteries. Following the presentations, guests toured the cemetery. The combined knowledge of
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the hosts and guests made for an enlightening tour of the grounds. After the tour, attendees enjoyed a fashionable lemonade and cookies tailgate picnic. Thanks to tour planners Michael Wilson and Barrie Scardino for organizing a delightful and well-attended event.
REHAB TAX CREDITS THREATENED! President Reagan's Tax Reform Proposal recommends terminating the 15%,20%, and 25% investment tax credits allowed for rehabilitation expenditures on older and/or historic income producing buildings. Extensive lobbying efforts by preservationists, architects, developers, and others persuaded the House Ways and Means Committee to retain the investment tax credit for certified historic rehabilitation and 10% for rehabilitation expenditures on nonhistoric buildings constructed before 1935.
Let your Congressmen and Senators know that you support investment tax credits for the rehabilitation of older and/or historic buildings. Congressman Bill Archer from Houston is a key member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Projects such as the Lancaster Hotel, EI Mercado del Sol, the Pillot Building, the Kress Building rehabilitation on Main Street, the Texas Commerce Bank Building (formerly the Gulf Building), the State National Bank Building rehabilitation, and others might not have been accomplished without this investment tax credit. For further information contact Minnette Boesel, Chairman of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, 1100 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002.
GHPA Electlvns
MfhlBERSHIP DUES
Election of officers and board members of the GHPA will be conducted at the annual meeting on January 22, 1986. The slate submitted by the Nominating Committee is as follows:
GHPA membership dues for 1986 are due in January. The GHPA fiscal year was aligned with the calendar year in 1984.
Immediate Past Chairman Beverly Pennington Chairman - Minnette Boesel 1st Vice-Chairman 2nd Vice-Chairman - Bart Truxillo Secretary - Mike Davis Treasurer - Pat Burris Council (Board) Members Nia Bechnel Jane Ellen Cable John Hannah Jackie Hirshberg Barry Moore Bill Neuhas Beverly Rudy Barrie Scardino Gabrielle Fraser Warren Michael Wilson Houston Archeological and Historical Commission Liaison - Stephen Fox
Please complete and return the membership form in this edition of FOR PRESERVATION. If you know of others who may be interested in membership please call Mike Davis, at 522-0100. A membership brochure will be mailed to prospective members. Thanks for your continuing financial support and volunteer efforts on behalf of the GHPA. Send in your membership form today!
Greater Houston Preservation Alliance 1986 Membership Form Name ___________________________ Address _________________________ City
State __ Zip _ _ __
Membership Categories Non-voting student membership
$ 5.00
Regular membership
10.00
Contributing membership
25.00
Benefactors'membership
50.00
Patrons'membership
100.00
Corporate membership
500.00
Amount enclosed _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __
Make checks payable and mail to:
GREATER HOUSTON PRESERVATION ALLIANCE "LlOT
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1100 Bagby Street Houston, Texas 77002
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By Libby Barker Field Office Coordinator Texas/New Mexico Field Office, NTHP Author's Note: The Texas/New Mexico Field Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation was established in April 1984 in Fort Worth, Texas to monitor and assist preservation projects in the two states of Texas and New Mexico. The office has assisted the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance in several projects including the award of a National Trust Preservation Services Fund grant of $1,000 for the Sabine Historic District project and the development of a Critical Issues Fund grant proposal for a neighborhood training program in the same area.
This column focuses on current projects of the Field Office.
Those of you who have been following the reorganization of the National Trust under the direction of President J. Jackson Walter are aware that the Trust's regional offices are moving in the direction toward projectoriented preservation, that is, identifying a particular preservation problem and marshalling resources across a broad spectrum to produce solutions to those problems. We are finding that each region will have projects which particularly suit its historic and geographic location. In the Texas/New Mexico area, our office is working on two specific preservation projects which have long needed some coordination and comprehensive solutions. The first is rural preservation.
Several regional offices of the Trust have already discovered and are working on setting up programs which assist in the conservation of our rural heritage while they also contribute to the reuse of historic rural buildings and their place in local rural economies. In New Mexico, the rural preservation project is shaping up as an adobe conservation program for communities which are seeking to use historic mission churches as places of worship as well as community meeting centers.
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A second area of concern in our region is the development of historic railroad depots. Often we find that depot buildings are historically and architecturally significant in both the local and state contexts. Unfortunately, they are often also vacant buildings which attest only to what they were used for yesterday rather than what they can continue to be used for today. We believe that a comprehensive program of education about alternatives for railroad depot use can be a successful tool to use with the companies which own the buildings and with the towns which would like to see these buildings become viable parts of their local economies again. During 1986, our office will be working on form'ulating specific projects for both the rural and railroad preservation issues. It will be a year of discovery and exciting project development. We think that both projects have the potential to produce tangible results on the local and state levels and I will look forward to reporting on the progress of each project as we get underway.
Historic Preservation Ordinance An ad hoc committee led by the GHPA has been formed to evaluate the need for additional local incentives and protections for historic preservation. The Historic Preservation Committee has worked at a series of meetings over the past several months to devise a proper approach to increasing the level of protection afforded local historic structures, sites, and objects. The Committee is in the process of finalizing its proposals. The next step will be voluntary legal review followed by development of a final proposal for the consideration of City Council Members. If you would like information about the Historic Preservation Ordinance Committee, contact GHPA, at 223-8367.
SABINE COMMI. fEE The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance has taken over management of the assets of the Sabine Association, Inc. Following negotiations involving the boards of both organizations, the membership of the Sabine Association voted to dissolve their non-profit organization and to transfer assets of the corporation to the GHPA. The funds have been placed in a special account, the Sabine Fund. The funds in this account are restricted to use for preservation projects in the Old Sixth Ward/Sabine Historic District. The agreeement also calls for the creation of the Sabine Comittee of the GHPA. This committee will oversee the Sabine Fund and all preservation projects in the neighborhood. All Sabine Association members automatically became GHPA members. The organization of the Sabine Committee further emphasizes the expanding role of
the GHPA ant. .lS commitment to facilitate preservation throughout the Houston area.
Happy One-Hundredth Members of the GHPA, the Market Square Association, and the Houston/Harris County Sesquicentennial Committee hosted a 100th birthday party for the Old Cotton Exchange Building on December 4, 1985. Indoors, guests enjoyed entertainment by the Bayou Belles, greetings from organizational representatives, and a slide show depicting the building's past. Guests marveled at the birthday cake - an edible model ofthe beautifully restored building. Outdoors, December 4th marked the inauguration of Houston's first Christmas on Market Square, the lighting of buildings in the downtown, the Candlelight Tours of Sam Houston Park, and the Mayor's Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Greater Houston Preservation Alliance 1100 Bagtby Street Houston, Texas 77002 713/223-8367
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City Hall and Market House Houston, Texas, George E. Dickey and Company, Architect. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.
FOR PRESERVATION is published as a service of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. Editor - Mike Davis, Contributors - Beverly Pennington, Michael Wilson, Barry Moore, Minnette Boesel, Barrie Zimme/man. Libbv Barker, and Bart Truxillo