For Preservation NewsCetter of tfie Greater Mouston J'reser\1ation AC(iance
I V0i..UME9.NUMBER2
M-\y, 1993
Bill by Congressman Andrews may revive historic tax credits
Market Square Historic District: case study in preservation perseverance
{I
u" .~
U ~
~ 0
:I: ':"': L ' ''--
----.
90 "B.
GHPA took U.S. Congressman Mike Andrews on a walking tour in downtown Houston on April 7 to look at some of the many examples of historic buildings in need of improved economic incentives to spur their preservation and rehabilitation. Andrews is co-sponsoring a bill in Washington that will partially restore tax credits for certified rehabilitation of historic buildings. Renovations dropped by about 80 percent after passage of the 1986 Tax Reform Act, which severely restricted the use of the historic tax credits.
GHCVB moves to historic district
Turn-Verein building headed for demolition After years of neglect and vandalism, the National Registerlisted Houston Turn-Verein Clubhouse appears headed for demolition to make way for a new Walgreen drug store. Located at 5202 Almeda, the Houston Turn-Verein Clubhouse is a 2-story, white building of reinforced concrete, hollow tile, brick and stucco. This fourth building of the Houston Turn-Verein Association
Modern Movement. Details of the panels above door openings depict bowlers and bowling pins, a hint of the activities inside. Joseph Finger (1887-1953) was one of the first architects in Houston to design in the Moderne manner. Several redevelopment schemes have been proposed during the past decade, but none of the re-use projects has materialized. In June 1991, a hearing by the City of Hous-
by Eddie Webster As the new president of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, I'm delighted at the numerous changes we are making on behalf of Houston's hospitality community. Our first-and most encouraging change-was our recent relocation to Houston's historic Market Square. Finally our offices are in a more accessible location to visitors and, more importantly, in an area of which we can be proud. The tens of thousands of visitors who come through our offices each year will now be in the heart of one of Houston's historic districts. I believe this will help call attention to the Market Square area and its unique and historic architecture. The contrast between our gleaming skyline and eclectic historic buildings appeals greatly to tourists as evidenced in our downtown walking tours which continue to be popular with visitors. It is my hope that the Bureau's move to this area will provide the catalyst needed for new business development as well as future renovations of these buildings. continued inside
Persistence is finally paying off in Houston 's Market Square Historic District as recent preservation successes rejuvenate the area. As the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, we can all be proud of GHPA's role in the revitalization of our city's birthplace. When the Alliance was incorporated in 1978, one of its prime concerns was the deteriorating condition of the Market Square area. While the Market Square Association and the Old Town Development Corporation were already working to promote the area as an entertainment and tourist center for Houston, the Alliance, under the leadership of two of its presidents Beverly Pennington and Bart Truxillo, adopted an approach to protecting the district that combined education and activism. In 1981, with partial funding from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston, the Alliance published Last o/the Past: Houston Architecture 1847 to 1915, by William Scott Field. Public walking tours were initiated. A 1982 calendar illustrated important buildings in watercolor renderings. Although the District was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in ) 982, on the initiative of the Old Town group, the absence of specific legal protections and economic incentives to stimulate preservation and rehabilitation resulted in the loss of many historic buildings. The Zindler Building, South Texas National Bank, Warren's Inn, the RadoffBuilding and many others fell to the wrecking ball, sometimes in the middle of the night. And as Houston real estate values skyrocketed in the early 80s, newly constructed office towers loomed like a relentless host of titans threatening the fragile historic district in downtown 's north end. In one hold-out transaction at the corner of Congress and Main, the historic B.A. Shepherd Building, which soon after was demolished, sold for $600 per square foot based on land! Fortunately, the sweeping federal economic incentives afforded by the 1976 Tax Reform Act and the 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) helped to mitigate the otherwise unremitting destruction of historic structures. ERT A provided a 25% investment tax credit (ITC) on the rehabilitation costs of income-
producing, designated historic structures and a 20% ITC on the rehabilitation costs of non-historic income producing buildings more than 40 years of age. Buildings that benefited included the Hogg Building, which shed its aluminum slipcover; the Lancaster Hotel; Kiam's Department Store; and the genteel old State National Bank Building. The Pillot Building, Houston's oldest three-story commercial structure and only example of cast iron architectural detailing was saved largely through the advocacy of the Alliance. In 1985, Harris County, the Pillot Building's owner, was finally persuaded to lease it for 50 years to a developer who would restore it to its former prominence. Dick Knight of The City Partnership won the lease/ bid. Although the restoration was fraught with seemingly unending challenges, including the collapse of most of the exterior walls, the project was finally completed in 1990. Today the delightful Pillot Cafe, occupying the ground floor and adjacent courtyard, continues to grow in popUlarity. In 1988, the Alliance coordinated a symposium, co-sponsored with several other local organizations and chaired by Stephen Fox, to explore the possibilities for preservation through economic development in the Market Square District. Subsequently, a task force chaired by Minnette Boesel of the Downtown Houston Association, developed key recommendations for preservation in three areas: economic development, urban design, and promotion. To market the revitalization plan of the task force, the Alliance proposed publishing a promotional booklet. With grants from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and the College of Fellows Fund of the American Architectural Foundation, supplemented with funds from the Downtown Houston Association, a brochure entitled "It's Time to Capitalize On Our Historic Assets" was published. The three major recommendations advanced were: (1) to establish a revolving/loan fund to purchase, lease or rehabilitate endangered buildings; (2) to implement a three-year historic district management program with a fulltime director; and (3) to initiate a comprehensive development strategy that would create public/private partnerships and financial incentive packages. continued inside
Rehab project under way at Cannata Houses
.;:;
째e ~
'" ~
~
t was designed by Joseph Finger in ) 929 on the 75th anniversary of the Houston Turners, at a cost of $150,000. For forty years this familiar landmark housed the activities of Houston's oldest German social and fraternal club. In 1969, this location was vacated in favor of a new suburban location near Sharpstown. The Turn-Verein Clubhouse is one of the few buildings in Houston to make extensive use of zig-zag Moderne detailing. This Moderne style, which achieved wide-spread popularity in the United States in the late I 920s, is an amalgamation of various tendencies in both American and European architecture of the
ton determined the roofless structure to be a dangerous building. The Walgreen developer lacks only a city permit to proceed with demolition. Although GHPA has been meeting over the past several weeks with representatives of Walgreen Drug Stores, the Midtown Civic Association, and Houston City Councilmember AI Calloway to explore preservation alternatives, no solution has been identified that will save the building. As a last resort, provisions are being worked out with Unicorp Asset Management, Inc., Walgreen's developer, to compile a record of the building for the local architectural archives.
As previously announced, GHPA is receiving a $5,000 grant from the Texas Historical Commission for the Cannata Houses. The objectives of the project are: (I) to restore both houses on the exterior following the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings; (2) to bring the interior of both houses up to City of Houston Building Code; (3) to make affordable housing available for qualified low income persons. The Old Sixth Ward Community Development Corporation, with whom GHPA is working to identify potential purchasers for these two houses, has been interviewing applicants and think they are close to finding buyers who will meet the qualifications required by Texas Commerce Bank, who will be the mortgage lender. Phase I includes termite treatment, foundation repair and leveling, all part of the necessary first step to stabilize the two houses. Termite treatment is finished and appears to have been successful. In the foundation repair, existing piers and beams will be repaired where possible. Materials of comparable size and
"8 ::< ~
c
~
<C
<;
! The first phase of work for the rehabilitation of GHPA's two residential properties in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District has been initiated. strength will be used when replacement is required. GHPA is soliciting donations of items needed for the Cannata Houses, including 2000 sq. ft. of shingles, 600 sq. ft. of exterior siding, 600 sq. ft. of flooring decking, 450 linear ft. of plumbing pipe, 2 bath tubs, 2 bathroom sinks. 2 toilets, 2 kitchen sinks, 2 garbage
disposals, cabinets for kitchens and bathrooms, interior and exterior paint, 3600 sq. ft. attic and floor bat insulation, and 300 linear ft. of cedar fence. If you or someone you know may be interested in donating to this worthwhile preservation project, please call the GHPA office for a complete list of items needed.
- P-"'~~2~
FOR PREsERvATKlN
President's report by Barry Moore The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance has a lot to be proud of at the beginning of 1993: our first low-income housing project, the Cannata Houses in the Old Sixth Ward; and our growing role in the Houston community as responsible stewards for our built architectural heritage, dramatically demonstrated by our intervention to save the Lomas and Nettleton Building. This has happened in no small part because of the vision and courage of our organization. We have some big shoes to fill. In 1993 we envision internal expansion of our organization as we grow to most Houston's needs. A new Speaker's Bureau, under the leadership of Betty Chapman, will carry our message to organizations city-wide, and the Endangered Buildings Committee, co-chaired by David Hodgson and Gerald Moorhead will adapt their data to a computerbased format and add a photo archive. The Special Events Committee, chaired by Beverly Rudy, will assess all of our public events and award programs, with an eye for increasing public visibility and broadening our base of financial and volunteer support. In 1993 GHPA will be focusing on three long-range priorities to take us into the future: • The successful completion of the Cannata Houses, as a point of beginning for future historic neighborhood development projects; • Keeping the pressure on the city to enact historic overlay zoning for historic districts; as we have allieamed. good and effective zoning does not happen to those who just sit and wait; • Seeking a permanent home. We will have a task force to investigate the feasibility, location, financing, as well as assessment of value for us in terms of visibility and influence that a historic building can give us. When I first became active in the GHPA, I assumed that this organization was just about historic preservation. I have since come to realize that we are really about peopleactivists. lawyers. developers. architects, students. accountants. engineers. salespeople, teachers, bankers, administrators. investors, planners, musicians, business people-all
At Home with History by Barry Moore
Houstonians who share a common interest in historic preservation and in the belief that through our joint efforts we can make our city a better place to live and visit. I would like to especially thank Vicki List, my predecessor, for a job very well done. I first met Vicki in 1987; she sought me out in her final year of graduate school because she wanted to be an architectural preservationist. Now. in a perfect and symmetrical reversal of roles, she has shown me how to be an excellent and effective president of the GHPA. And special thanks to our retiring board members Rosie Zamora Cope, Graham B. Luhn, Kathy Wild, and Joe Allen. You have made our work a little easier. I look forward to working with all of you in an exciting and successful year to come!
Moore takes office A native Houstonian, newly elected GHPA president Barry Moore is an architect specializing in historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects and teaches at the University of Houston College of Architecture. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Moore was president of the Houston Chapter AlA in 1983, and is active on numerous professional committees. He has served on the GHPA board since 1987. Other officers elected to the 1993-94 Board of Directors are David F. Beale, president elect; James A. Tinsley. first vice president; Kenneth M. Williams, second vice president; Betty Chapman, secretary; Morgan A. Hill, treasurer. In addition to GHPA officers, the following individuals were newly elected to the Board of Directors: Gabriella Gutierrez, Elizabeth Rockwell, Rolando Romo, Bevery Rudy, and Linda Weiland. The 1993 annual membership meeting of GHPA was held on March 30 at Lawndale Art and Performance Center in their new home at 4912 Main, a 1931 Joseph Finger Art Deco landmark. After accepting the presidential gavel from Vicki List, Barry Moore talked about his vision for the upcoming year.
Perseverance, continued The Distnct'sSecurity Committee, chaired by Harris 'County District Clerk Katherine . . . Tyra, worked with the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Constable's office to enhance patrols; solicited the leadership of City Council member Eleanor Tinsley to introduce and successfully pass an ordinance to curb aggressive panhandling; developed a position paper on the right of municipalities to pass ordinances regulating alcohol consumption in public areas; worked with the vice squad in
Economic development activiti~~..Lesulted in the relocation of the Greater Ho'uston Convention & Visitors Bureau headquarters and visitor center in the Henke Building on Market Square; initiation of a facade grant program seeded by a gift from the Houston Endowment; approval by City Council of $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for grants and/or loans for rehabilitation work; and the initiation, in partnership with the Preservation Alliance, of discussions encouraging Harris County's
~
~
§ ~
,g From left to right: Baker building, demolished 1992; Simmler Building, demolished 1980; Rotge Building, demolished 1980; Schuplinsky Buildings, demolished 1980. monitoring pornographic theaters operating without permits and brought to Harris County's attention through a public hearing process liquor establishments which had a high number of police reports. The Urban Design Committee, chaired by architect/professor Rafael Longoria, monitored and consulted extensively on Metro's transit proposals for downtown; coordinated a three day "Resource Consultant Team" visit by experts on parking, economic development and historic preservation; joined the Preservation Alliance and neighborhood groups in promoting the passage of a demolition moratorium ordinance for Houston's historic structures and in shaping development of the Historic District Overlay Section of the proposed City Zoning Ordinance. Design assistance and/or pro form as for over two dozen properties were also provided by Texas Urban Main Street Program architect, Vince Hauser.
adaptive re-use of the Lomas & Nettleton Building, resulting in a $43 million redevelopment plan. Substantial effort was also devoted to developing the Project's information base. A public opinion survey was conducted. A photographic and slide inventory and information files on all buildings and a real estate data inventory were developed. The total investmeni for the two years ending January, 1993, includes approximately $6 million in acquisitions and approximately $ \.5 million in repairs, expansions and/or renovations. Public improvements include the $800,000 Phase II renovation of Market Square Park by the Market Square Park Project of DiverseWorks. Several new businesses have recently opened, including Carter & Cooley Deli in the Henry Brashear Building; the METRO Ridestore in the Scanlan Building on Main Street; and Blues Burgers at 311 Travis
'"
While Houston waits and waits for housing available funds for interim funding of redevelopment, Allen Parkway Village rots purchases. Procedures were established for and the Fourth Ward falls down, New prequalifying buyers for the slightly belowOrleans--our disregarded older sister to the market-rate government-backed mortgages, so east-has created an imaginative way to save the PRC could provide interim funding for its historic inner-city neighborhoods, while at acquisition and renovation at minimal risk. the same time encouraging ethnic and This procedure is the keystone of the project: economic diversity. A prospective homeowner finds a property The Preservation Resource Center of New and goes through the approval process, Orleans was started like a lot of other similar triggering purchase and renovation by the organizations PRC with interim elsewhere: in this funding; upon case by the Junior completion the League 1974. new owner's In 1986-87 a similar project was Probably someone mortgage kicks in. undertaken in Houston's Old Sixth Ward. said, "We've got In addition to its With grants from the Cultural Arts Council to save these great interim-funding of Houston and GHPA, Minnette Boesel old houses!" The program, the PRC and Barrie Scardino organized an exterior PRC ultimately also launched its rehab project in partnership with Private grew away from "Christmas in Sector Initiative. Eligible sites had to be the founding October" program owner-occupied, and household income organization into to assist needy had to be below a certain level. Volunteers a broad-based homeowners in the from Exxon, Enron and other companies community group, target neighborcompleted work on 18 houses . the overall as was the hood with painting effort was instrumental in jump-starting original intent. By and minor repairs, the Old Sixth Ward Association. "It was 1988, the PRC further strengthenone of the most exciting things /' ve done in had created an ing the neighborHouston!" remembers Boesel. ambitious plan to hood spirit. address a real root Christmas in problem in urban October has decay-revitalizabecome a great tion of blighted inner-city neighborhoods. vehicle for the PRC to attract corporate Operation Comeback started as a three-year support and attract additional media coverage. project, targeting 24 blocks in the Lower It also enables long-term residents to remain Garden District, with the purpose of increasing in the neighborhood. home ownership, eliminating blight in historic By the end of 1992 New Orleans could look neighborhoods and making it a better place for at some impressive statistics in the Lower all who live there. The neighborhood was Garden District: Since 1988 the number of inventoried and photographed by volunteers, severely blighted buildings had shrunk from architects rendered "after" sketches, planning 100 to 22; the owner-occupation percentage studies were done by students at the University had ballooned from 28 percent to 48 percent; of New Orleans, and major corporate sponsors and the number of vacant properties had been were found. reduced from 60 to 32. In addition, 40 houses Next, three major banks cooperated by were purchased, renovated and occupied by extending lines of credit to the PRC, making new owners (but only 14 with Operation Comeback interim financing); 18 properties were purchased and renovated by investors; 17 properties were renovated by existing owners; and 45 homes of elderly, handicapped and poor people were improved by Christmas Street. Rehab projects are underway by The in October. City Partnership of the Sweeney, Coombs and The PRC has spread its gospel of neighFredericks Building and of the magnificent borhood resurrection to the Irish Channel, Houston National Bank. Renovation of the Algiers Point and Faubourg St. John neighRice Hotel is attracting increased interest by borhoods; in addition, they have reached both the city and private investors. In virtually every other blighted historic inneraddition, The University of city neighborhood in New Orleans through Houston-Downtown is raising funds for a Operation Comeback II and its "Live in a new student center. Landmark" campaign, a site-specific program In the nonprofit sector, the Alliance is that utilizes the same identification, predeveloping a children's heritage education qualifying, purchase and renovation techprogram focusing on the Market Square niques perfected in the Lower Garden District. Historic District. The Buffalo Bayou Most parts of the Operation Comeback Partnership is exploring ways to resurrect story are known around these parts. The Allen's Landing. The Downtown Houston Galveston Historical Foundation's revolving Association has recently hired Tim fund for saving important sites there predates McAuliffe, an economic development efforts in New Orleans, but on a much smaller specialist, as the new Director of the Market scale. Houston has seen massive, corporationSquare Historic District Project. sponsored neighborhood fix-ups, but not in Despite these success, setbacks have also historic neighborhoods. And our Habitat for occurred. After more than 25 years in this Humanity offspring search earnestly for area, McCrory's closed. 1992 witnessed the modestly priced housing solutions-but not in tragic loss of the Kennedy Comer Building recycled old houses. The Greater Houston and the demolition of the Baker Building. Preservation Alliance has taken its first steps Still, many new trends are improving in interim funding, with the help of Texas redevelopment opportunities. Real estate has Commerce Bank for renovation by become more affordable. When Houston's prequalified buyers of two venerable but new zoning ordinance is enacted, for the first modest shotgun houses on Decatur Street in time a process will be provided to protect the Sabine/Old Sixth Ward National Historic Houston's historic resources. An anticipated Register District. The properties were donated expenditure by METRO of approximately by their owner, who realized it was a better $100 million in streetscape and design deal to give them away and get a tax deducimprovements in downtown may provide a tion than tear the houses down and sell the catalyst for increased private investment. The lots. It's a slow and tedious beginning, but an new Houston Downtown Management excellent learning opportunity. Corporation is providing additional street I have to believe that all these elements in maintenance, security, a trash collection Houston could come together and achieve program and other streetscape enhancements. results similar to Operation Comeback in New At the federal level, the new administration's Orleans. We've got all the pieces and the philosophy of inner city revitalization offers players, but not yet the community commithope for a newly enhanced urban policy and ment. This kind of effort could rejuvenate the for strengthened programs to improve Fourth Ward/Freedmen's Town in a way that economic conditions in areas such as the American General's dead-in-the-water Market Square Historic District. Founders' Park never could. Think about what As a result of determination, leadership and we could do in the Sabine, the Old Fifth commitment from both the public and private Ward, the West End. We don't have the sectors, the Market Square Historic District is prettiest or the oldest architecture, but what showing signs of revitalization. The rewards we have is all we've got. of perseverance are coming-for the benefit of Houston's economy and for future generations of Houstonians. Many individuals The above article reprinted, with and organizations deserve credit for the permission,from the March J 1, 1993 improvements that are becoming visible. issue a/the Houston Press. Especially noteworthy for her determination and leadership in Market Square is one of Houston's staunchest preservationists, GHPA past president Minnelte Boesel. Thank you, Minnette.
I
For~PREsERVAT1ON
-a - - - - - --
PAGE3 -I
Preservation Projects by Anna Mod Leroy Hermes, of Hermes and Reed, architect for Harris County in the renovation of the Lomas and Nettleton Building, presented his schematic design for the redevelopment plan to Commissioners Court on May 18th. The plan keeps the original Lomas and Nettleton facade and provides additional floors on top of the present building set back so as not to detract from the historic part of the building. Mr. Hermes is working with David Hoffman and Co. of Austin who is acting as liaison with Texas Historical Commission. Neil Sackheim of Carter & Cooley Deli has received a Community Development Block Grant of $75,000 to restore the facade of the Henry Brashear Building at 910 Prairie. The interior renovation of the Ill-year-old building was funded by Sackheim and his partner for fe-use as a deli, now open from 7a.m. until 3p.m. Monday through Friday. Carter & Cooley Deli is one of the first businesses to locate in a formerly abandoned building in the Market Square Historic District.
~. ,.~... ;:1
house small law firms on the upper floors and a gift and news store at street level. The building, designed by George Dickey in 1889, is known for its fanciful comer turret overlooking Main Street. Liz Salinas reports from MECA that the organization is in the process of fund raising to support their move from 1505 Kane to the recently abandoned Dow School in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District. Architects presented their recommendations, one of which is to update the existing cafeteria/auditorium to support performing arts activities. MECA is a non-profit group with diverse services for after-school and summer programs for area children. David Hoffman, preservation architect from Austin, reports that the U.S . Customs House at 701 San Jacinto is undergoing a project of restoration and modification . On the interior, all of the period and original components of
be removed and replaced with replicas of the original wooden windows. The new windows, fabricated in metal, were custom designed for the project. All windows will be replaced using the original plans for both the original building and the 1931 addition. The building is owned by General Services Administration (GSA), a federal agency which acts as landlord for the federal government. All funding will be provided through GSA. The building will continue to be used as a post office and the upper floors will house the Military Entrance Program , an entry center for separate branches of the armed forces. The project has been reviewed and approved by the Texas Historical Commission through the Section 106 planning process. Rick Carter of the Original Hyde Park Civic Club chaired "Save the Dolphin Fountain" which raised $1000 and recruited volunteers to repaint the 1936 dolphin fountain at the comer esplanade of Hyde Park and Commonwealth. The fountain was built in 1936 when Houston hosted the World Floral Exposition in the Coliseum downtown. After the expo, Ed Scherrer, owner of Hyde Park Funeral Home,
Left to right, 914-910 Prairie: Stegeman Building (1879), Packard's Troy Laundry (1880) and the Brashear Building (1882)
:=::::::::
~
the first floor lobby and the main corridors on the upper floors are being preserved. Exterior work is limited to a restoration of the original configuration of windows. The present windows, which were installed in the 70s, will
The Past in Print by James A. Tinsley The popularity of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is an annual reminder of Harris County's ranching heritage. Emil Henry Marks (18811969), a third generation GermanAmerican born in the small farm and ranch area of Addicks and Bear Creek west of Houston, contributed to that history. Equally important, he preserved traditions and lore associated with our cattle culture. An orphan by 1891, young Marks lived with relatives who grazed cattle along the Brazos River and taught him "the cow business." He returned to Addicks in 1898, registered the LH7 brand, and started his own modest operation on sixty acres of grassland with "a Longhorn cow and calf worth $25." Open ranges and Longhorn cattle had already given way to fenced land and heavier purebred stock, however, and Marks chose Brahman cattle to improve the value of his herd and steadily add to the size of his holdings. Unlike ranchers who only sold in the live cattle market, Marks slaughtered and dressed out some animals each week for sale to grocery stores in Houston. Though limited to a third grade formal education, Marks had artistic traits~inherited perhaps from his immigrant grandfather, a piano tuner in Germany~that made him something of a poet and showman. He first staged a public rodeo in connection with the ranch round-up in 1918 and made it an annual affair until the land where the grandstand was located became part of the BarkerAddicks flood control project in 1950. His flair for the dramatic was also
Fountain project has repainted, using teal, swimming pool green, and dolphin grey. The newly painted fountain was up and running recently when the pump died. Project leaders are now working to raise an additional $1000 for a new pump and landscaping of the esplanade. The 1934-35 Joseph Finger-designed Byrd's Building at 418-420 Main Street, home to Crown Jewels, is undergoing restoration and conversion of the upper floors into residential apartments. Work on the ground floor, which consisted of removing the false ceilings to expose the original deco-style high ceiling and mezzanine, has been completed. Eight to ten apartments are planned for the upper floors. The Byrd's Building is one of three remaining buildings in the Market Square District designed in the moderne style and survives as one of the landmarks of the last building phase in the northern part of the downtown area.
GHeve, continued/rom page one
~==========~~ =. ~ Dick Knight, of The City Partnership, is in the financing stage of plans for the renovation of the Sweeney, Coombs & Fredericks Building, and work is expected to start in July . U\lon cOffi\lletion, the 3-story building is to
purchased the fountain and donated it to the city with the stipulation that the fountain be placed on the esplanade in front of his business. The fountain pool originally was constructed of glass brick with colored neon running through it and surrounded with marble dolphins which sprayed water towards â&#x20AC;˘ the center. Through the years, the fountain fell into disrepair and the neon was lost. In the 70s the city stepped in and rewired, replumbed, plasteredover and painted it "fountain white." The Save the Dolphin
Dolphin details demonstrated in other ways, most notably as co-leader with Reese Lockett of the first Salt Grass Trail ride in 1952. Marks also appreciated the historic symbolism and admired the enduring qualities of Longhorn cattle. Beginning in the 1920s, he maintained a small herd of these cattle. Accepting Houston oilman W. A. Paddock as a business partner in 1923, Marks ran 6,000 head of Brahman cattle on 36,000 acres of pasture at the peak of his ranching career. Unfortunately, the cattle market dropped to ruinous levels in 1936. Paddock, was able to ride out the difficulty and hold onto land that ultimately became very valuable as commercial and residential property when Houston developed toward the west and northwest. Marks had to begin anew, however, with only his brand, a 200-acre homestead, and 20 head of cattle. With the help of his son Travis, a Texas A&M University graduate in animal husbandry, Marks gradually regained a few hundred acres of pasture and developed a show herd of Brahmans to compliment his Longhorns. After their father died, Travis and his sister Maudeen divided the Longhorn herd and established separate ranches in Fannin and Bandera, respectively, where they continue to share the LH7 brand. In 1985 the Texas Historical Commission designated the original ranch headquarters a State Archeological Landmark. Marks' legacy is sympathetically described in this slender and well researched volume by Deborah Sizemore, a frequent contributor to magazines in the field of Western history and Texas business. THE LH7 RANCH IN HOUSTON'S SHADOW: The E. H. Marks ' Legacy, trom Longhorns to the Salt Grass Trail. By Deborah Lightfoot Sizemore, (Denton: University of North Texas Press, 1991. Pp. xii, 224, $22.50.)
Promoting Houston's historic buildings and rich history will be a focal point of the Bureau's plan of work. In June, our public relations department will develop brochures and stories on historic places in this city. We believe travelers are intensely interested in this subject. Our brochure will act as a "Guide to Houston's historic sites." By focusing our efforts on the cultural diversity of Houston, the international appeal, arts and theater attractions, and historical places to visit, we will tap a new market of travelers.
Reflections . .. by Vicki List When asked to reflect upon GHPA and historic preservation over the past year, my initial inclination was to review all of our many accomplishments, congratulate us on a job well-done and feel proud of all the successes of this past year. Those observations are, of course, true; however, I suggest we not lose sight of the many years of groundwork laid by those who were championing preservation long before it was a particularly popular activity. Consequently, I want to begin my reminiscence with an acknowledgment of those who prepared us to be where we are today. The hard work of those still involved, such as Bart Truxillo, Barrie Scardino, Minnette Boesel, Stephen Fox and John Hannah, as well as those who have moved away, such as Steve Brooks and Mike Davis, and those we have lost, such as Nia Becnel, Pat Burris and Michael Wilson, has built our foundation . And how we have begun to build on that foundation! As mundane as it may seem, I consider the staffing and equipping of our offices the major accomplishment of recent history. I personally believe that it has been easier to save historic buildings than it was to get us in business. Having Margie Elliott and Anna Mod in the office, with adequate equipment, open full time, has facilitated many of our successes. GHPA has made great progress in formulating and initiating an organizational structure and a set of procedures that has, and will even more so in the future, allowed us to be involved in more and varied activities. Our major program activities this past year, the Preservationist of the Year Award and our Good Brick A wards, were more successful than ever before. We have succeeded in beginning to broaden awareness in the community of the role that preservation plays in almost all aspects of our culture, from education to art to politics. Our committees have been diligent in their charges from both the administratively focused committees to the
issue-oriented ones such as Endangered Buildings and Historic Neighborhoods. The work of G HPA in the zoning process is perhaps the most significant advocacy role for our organization. We are in a position to shape the future of the Houston's preservation effort, and the time and energy that has gone into our involvement has only begun. We did lose historic buildings this year, with Casa Mare, the Baker Building and the Kennedy Comer Building all demolished. However, we have seen the City of Houston preserve an historic building with the purchase of the Star Engraving Building that houses Stages Repertory Theatre, and we have seen Harris County initiate a project to incorporate the Lomas and Nettleton Building into their facilities expansion in the Main Streel/Market Square Historic District. GHPA has begun restoration of two shotgun houses in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District. Upon completion, these houses will be sold as affordable housing for that neighborhood. The Old Sixth Ward Community Development Corporation is working with us on this project, an example of exactly the type of joint efforts we have identified as one of our goals. All this in one year, and we have barely begun! Our community's needs for more preservation projects and programs seem endless. As fortunate as we have been to have office facilities donated to us by Texas Commerce Bank in the historic Gulf Building, I am committed to GHPA having a permanent home of our own in the downtown Historic District. Even though we have miles to go, I am excited by the progress being made, the commitment of our Board of Directors and our Advisory Board, the zealous efforts of our Staff, the enthusiastic new leadership in our 1993 Executive Committee, and the-challenges of preserving our architectural and historical resources for future generations of Houstonians.
In Brief Pappas family tined The Houston Chronicle reported that four members of the Pappas Restaurant family were fined $1000 on Tuesday, May 11 by the Texas Air Control Board for failing to give environmental officials notice of plans to demolish the 124-year-old John Baker Building on Market Square. Notification is required so that officials can monitor demolitions that might spread asbestos. The building, at the comer of Preston and Travis, was razed very early on a Sunday morning in April 1992 after a demolition permit was issued by mistake.
Market Square looking up Market Square and the new businesses opening there was the subject of several articles in the daily papers in April. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau moved into the Henke Building on Market Square earlier this year. Pat and Pete's Blues Burgers opened next door to Treebeard's on Travis, and Treebeard's has extended its business hours and is open for dinner on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and for lunch on Saturdays.
Original Finger drawings archived Thanks to diligent efforts of University of Houston architecture student Lynn Edmundson, the architecture component of the Houston Public Library's Archives Department recently acquired the 1935 blueprints of architect Joseph Finger's well-known Clarke & Courts building, which was completed in 1936 and is located at 1210 West Clay Avenue. Lynn had contacted the Architectural Archives in an effort to locate some of Mr. Finger's plans and was surprised to find that this famous Houston architect's work was represented by only a few sheets of the Auditorium Hotel (now Lancaster Hotel) and the Houston Municipal Airport. A recent oral history interview with the architect's son, Joseph Finger, Jr., had revealed that most of his father's drawings had been tragically destroyed some years after his death. Since the Clarke & Courts Building was one of the Finger designs that Lynn was researching, she contacted the building's owner, Mr. Randall Davis, who had the original blueprints in his office. Mr. Davis generously agreed to donate all 22 sheets of the originals to the Archives department, provided that he be furnished with
copies. Lynn was gracious enough to split the copying costs with the archivist, Steve Strom, and also facilitated the transaction. Because of Lynn's diligence and interest in historic preservation matters, the City of Houston now has the plans of this architecturally significant building in its permanent records. Thank you Lynn Edmundson and Randall Davis!
Historic Sixth Ward Fund Raiser The Metropolitan Community Church of the Resurrection will be sponsoring a community fund raiser on Saturday, June 5th from Ilam to 6pm in the 2000 block of Decatur in the Sixth Ward. Entertainment and guest speakers will highlight this free event and BBQ plates will be available at $5 each.
Reprinted from the May/June 1993 Medallion: The staff of the Texas Historical Commission has been busy in recent months on a project to review historic properties and archeological sites administered by the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). The goal of the project is to verify the historical significance of properties before they are auctioned. The THC hopes new owners will be sensitive to the special needs of these properties, and preserve and protect them accordingly. Among the properties reviewed by the THC was the Texas Tower (formerly the PostDispatch Building in Houston, which, at 22 stories, was the tallest reinforced concrete building in the city in the 1920s. It was built by Ross S. Sterling, publisher of the PostDispatch, who also dabbled in oil, banking, real estate, and politics (he served as Texas governor from 1931-1933).
Inside GHPA Endangered Buildings Committee The Endangered Buildings Committee will meet for the first time this year at a brown bag lunch, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, June 15, 1993, at the GHPA offices, 712 Main Street, Suite 110. Please contact David Hodgson at 939-7161 to volunteer and for additional information. The city of Houston recently released a list
of 11 ,700 hazardous buildings in the city, of which 417 are identified as historic. GHPA has identified numerous mistakes in the list. The initial work of the Endangered Buildings Committee will therefore be to refine the list of historic buildings on the city's hazardous building list. Thanks to the many interested volunteers and their hard work. last year's Endangered Building Committee developed strategies for surveying aging historic properties in the Houston area and began this survey work. With interest high again, the committee this year looks to continue the survey work and begin creating a computerized data base of Houston' s endangered historic buildings. So, if you have an interest in protecting the historic character of your neighborhood or city, or simply have a favorite building you would like to learn more about, we invi'te you to join the Endangered Buildings Committee.
Village Theater task force A GHPA ad hoc task force was formed in February in response to reports that the Village Theater was threatened by demolition as part of the plan to develop Arcade II, patterned after the highly successful Arcade I on the comer of Kirby Drive and University Blvd. in the Rice Village. The theater was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by the Texas Historical Commission in 1992. As a result of this determination, the building has been added to the list of historic buildings in Houston that are currently protected from demolition under provisions of an ordinance approved by Houston City Council in 1991. The mission of the task force was the development of a preservation, adaptive re-use plan to present to the property owner Rice University. In early May the task force provided Rice officials a packet that included information about the historical and architectural significance of the
theater; the importance of the architects, Mackie and Kamrath; information about preservation tax credits and economic incentives; a re-use proposal; examples of other preservation projects involving theaters including Houston's BookStop; and letters of support from city leaders, area civic groups and individuals. Letters of support for the preservation of the Village Theater are still being accepted. Letters should be addressed to Barry Moore and mailed to: 712 Main Street, Suite 110, Houston, Texas 77002
Powell Grant The Preservation Alliance is very pleased to announce a grant of $3,000 from The Powell Foundation to assist our work to preserve important historic sites, buildings and neighborhoods. The funds will be used to support the Alliance's 1993-94 preservation programs. We are extremely grateful to the board of The Powell Foundation for supporting local historic preservation.
Welcome new members The following are new members of GHPA as of 23 May 1993: Corporate: Mr. Marshall Lightman; Patron: Ms. Carol E. Dinkins; Family: Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Barnum, Mr. and Mrs. John Blass, Mr. and Mrs. William Hauser, Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Hobby, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Hollinden, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Workman; Individuals: Ms. Dianne W. Bauman, Ms. Theodora K. Baumgartner, Mr. Michael B. Bell, Ms. Ethel K. Bowman, Mrs. Thelma Scott Bryant, Mr. Carl Detering, Jr., Mr. Robert J. Dooling, Ms. Carmen Druke, Ms. Janet Gilmore, Ms. Donna S. Hahus, Mr. Gregory L. Harper, Ms. Trudy H. Herolz. Dr. Frank Hill, Ms. Jo Hintner, Houston Proud, Ms. Ann Liggio, Mr. Robert Lindsey, Mr. Fletcher Mackey, Mr. Timothy McAuliffe, Mr. Robert Morris, Ms. Nedaye Gray Potts, Mr. Tom Rommel, Ms. Danni Sabota, Mr. Palmer Schooley, Ms. Sarah Smalling, Ms. Andrea Stieneker, Mr. John W. Touchet, Ms. Marchi Schultz Waldrop, Ms. Jan Wilbur, and Ms. Cindy Wingo.
~MBERSHIP APPLICATION BoARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVISORY BoARD
Barry Moore, President David F. Beale, President Elect James A. Tinsley, 1st Vice President Kenneth A. Williams, 2nd Vice President Morgan Hill, Treasurer Vicki List, Past President Betty Chapman, Secretary
Nancy C. Brainerd, Downtown Houston Association Jane Ellen Cable, Harris County Heritage Society Kay Crooker. Houston Homeowners Association Franklin Denson,
Jeffery S. Baloutine R. George Cunningham Gabriella Gutierrez David B. Jones Susan Keeton Staci Minchen Elizabeth Rockwell Rolando Romo Beverly Rudy Mercedes Terry F. Carrington Weems Linda Weiland
TEXAS UMITED
Lee M. Ellwood, University ofHouston, Downtown
Edwin A. Eubanks, Eubanlcs. Bohnn Associates Stephen Fox, Fellow. The Anchorage Foundation James E. Furr, F.A.I.A., Hoover & Furr-3D/l Jim Greenwood, Houston City Council Guy Hagstette. Houston Downtown Mgmt. Corp.
Please enroll me as a member ofthe Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. My contribution for the following category is enclosed. Individual Patron Corporate
$25 $100
$500
Family Business Student
$40 $250
$10
(enclose copy of ID)
Nmne __________________________________________ Address ________________________________________ City/State/Zip _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ Telephone _______________________________________ Mail with your check to:
Greater Houston Preservation Alliance 712 Main Street, Suite 110 Houston, Texas 77002·3207 713/236-5000 The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
John T. Hannah Janet Landay,Museum ofFine Arts. Houston
EX·OFFlCIO
Margie Elliott, Executive Director Donald Skipwith, Old Sixth Ward Historic Neighborhood Kelly Thompson, Houston Archeological & Historic Commission Paul Guariglia, City Planning Dept. Tim McAuliffe, Market Square Project Al Davis, Chairman. Harris County Historical Commission
Truett Latimer, Houston Museum ofNatural Science Joi1o Logan, Christ Church Cathedral
Stewart Morris, Jr., Stewart Title Company Martha Murphree. American Institute ofArchitects Emilio Sarabia. Tejano Assn.for Historic Preservation . Inc. Vince Ryan, Houston City Council Barrie Scardino
Charles D. Maynard, Jr.• Legal Council
Linda Sylvan, Rice Design Alliance Eleanor Tinsley , Houston City Council
Margie Elliott Anna Mod
712MainStreet,Suite 110 Houston, Texas 77002-3207
Louis Marchiafava, Houston Public Library
Bart Truxillo, Director Emeritus
NEWSLEITER COMMITTEE
The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance
Betty Wardwell, Houston Proud
Address Correction Requested Return Postage Guaranteed
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID Houston, Texas Permit No. 712