Spring 1983 GHPA Newsletter

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G*H*P路A 1100 Bagby Houston, Texas

77002 713 223 8367 Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Founded 1978

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1111111I1111 Preservation Alert

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

by Beverly Pennington

People are becoming interested in preservation! SOI.1e interest is the result of the proposed historical district in downtown Houston, as well as the bayou beautification project. Some people want to find and restore older homes. Several realtors have expressed interest in historical properties. And many people, not least the media, are concerned about the Rice Hotel. We will want to discuss some of these exciting prospects at GHPA's May 12th Meeting.

The GHPA has been busy: We had a booth in the Henke Building during the Houston Festival.

We sold books, calendars and T-shirts; we gave tours of the area and enjoyed the IIllSic and the people. We were given a guided t01..rr of La. Carafe (Kennedy Bakery) and saw some decorative stones from the old Market Building which burned in the 1960s. Even Mayor Whitmire stopped by our booth! We hope the Festival is even better next year and welcane your suggestions.

Hany of you expressed regret you were unable to help during the Festival. There are many other opportunities for involvenEnt. Our regular cormrittees are Research, 11:mbership, F\m.d Raising, Programs and, of course, Clerical. Special projects include Publications, and this effort is foc.'USsed on two areas - Book Sales and the Newsletter, PRESERVATION AlERT. Another important need is to publicize the historical importance of the Rice Hotel, which is for sale again, and the buildings which back up to it on Prairie Avenue. You will be able to sign up for these cOIIIIIittees during the Hay 12th l1eeting, or call me at 623-2491. See you on the 12th!

GHPA NEWSLETTER DEBUTS

by Randle Pollock

With this first issue of PRESERVATION AlERT, the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance is able to inaugurate an important new service for the allied interests in historic preservation of Houston area organizations. To be published quarterly, PRESERVATION ALERT is available as a benefit of membership in the GHPA. Your ideas, suggestions and newsworthy items are welCOIIEd and solicited--please forward them to the office or call me at 552-2055. Be in touch!

HOUSTON'S MOST ENDANGERED BUILDINGS

by Bart Truxillo

1< The B.A. ShepherdBuildin~, 219 Nain at Congress, is a rare Victorian Gothic conmercial buildiIig construct::ed in L83 for Benjamin Shepherd by the architect, George Dickey.

Current Status: VACANr!

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Henry Brashear Building, 910 Prairie Avenue, is the work of Eugene Heiner, a prominent architect of the late l800s. An ornate, 3-story edifice with elaborate sheet metal comice, this 1882 building is truly one-of-a kind in Houston. Status: VACANT!

* The Radoff Building,

202 Milam at Franklin, was built by August Baumbach in 1896. Currentowned by Texas Conmerce Bank, it is a 2-story, plastered brick structure designed in a romantic, even IlEdieval style. Status: VACANT!

* The Pillot

Building, 1016 Congress, is Houston's oldest extant building. Constructed only 20 years after Houston's founding, it displays a rare iron facade with corbelled brick cornices. Status: the local bar association is considering using it, but it is nCM VACANT!

Published by the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Edited by Randle Pollock

NEWSWORTHY

/ Minnette B. Boesel

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~ HISTORICAL DISTRICT, involving the Hain Street/Market Square areas of old Houston, has been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by the Old Town Development Corporation--a non-profit group formed to rebuild and revitalize the north end of Houston's Central Business District. The designated district comprises about 14 city blocks and was part of the original Houston as laid out by the Allen Brothers in 1836. Seventy-two buildings, two sites, and one structure fall within the district lines. The Texas Historical Corrmission Review Board has approved the districting proposal. If the U.S. Depart:nent of the Interior also approves it, qualified property owners and lessees will be eligible for a 25% invest:nent tax credit on rehab costs; a 50% local property tax abatement for rehabbed structures; a charitable deduction for encumbered development rights if a preservation easement is placed on the property; and grants-in-aid as adrrinistered by the Texas Historical Commission (TIlC). Preservation consultants on this first historic district in Houston were Mirmette Boesel, Barrie Scardino and Stephen Fox.

~~ CONGRESSIOJ.\lAL JOBS BIlL ADDS $25 lffiLION FOR PRESERVATION PROJECTS. Of that amJtmt, the TIlC will receive over $450,000 as its share of tIle fUIldirig, to be used as grants for historic rehabilitated projects--those listed in the National Register, with ~rl< tmderway no later than 1 January 1984. Contact the mc at P.O. Box 12276, Austin, 'IX, 78711 for more info.

PLAN TO ATTEND

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On Thursday, 12 May 1983 between 5: 30 and 7: 30 PM there will be a

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GHPA GENERAL MEETING

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at The Ma~olia Roam, 715 Franklin at Milam, in the Market Square area of Or Houston. The agenda will include a presentation by lENWOOD HOWEIL of the Metropolitan Transit Authority discuss ways ME1RO will safeguard historic properties in the central business area while building the subway, as well as how it will deal with archaelogical findings. Also, MIKE DAVIS of the planning staff of the City of Houston will describe the B.A. Shepherd Buildi,--aoe of Houston's ''t-bst Endangered" structures. Discussion will ollow.

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Cues ts are invited to this WINE & CHEESE EVEN!': All are invited! ! !

Call 223-8367 or 861-6236 for more information.

G*H*P*A 1100 Bagby Houston, Texas 77002 7132238367

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Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Founded 1978

See you there.