January 1989 Market Square Association Newsletter

Market Square Association Newsletter Jan 1989 IVol I No I

levitalilation Plans Underwayl We face an enormous challenge.

Houston is the only major city in the country that does not have a preservation ordinance, loning mechanisms or policy to protect, enhance and provide revitalization incentives for historic and architecturally significant buildings and districts. The Main St.reet/Market Square Historic District was listed in the National Register in 1983.

It is Houston's most dense historic area and reflects most significantly her history and architecture from the 18505.

The Market Square Association is an outgrowth of the successful preservation symposium ReclAimin& Houston Doyntown: New Directions for the Main Skeel/Market Square Historic District held last January.

It was formed to develop a creative but realistic plan to transform the Historic District. into a vital. urban neighborhood where people can shop, dine, be entertained and possibly live. With the opening of the GeorgeR. Brown Convention Center and the formation of the Theater District, the need is a.cute for a pedest.rian oriented district wit.h shops. restaurants, galleries and nightclubs.

Throughout. t.he country restored historic districts provide these types of amenities.

Dallas' West End Historic District is one of the biggest attraction areas in the state proving t.hat preservation and economic benefits go hand and hand .

Currently working under the aegis of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, the Market Square Association is for the first time coordinating the efforts of the many varied interests in the Historic District. We hope The Newsletter will inform you of our progress and inspire you to join with us

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Property Owners. Tenanb and Presenationists You are invited to

A PUBLIC FORUM Thursday. January 26th 3:00 - 4:30 PII Treebeard's Restaurant (facin,lIarket Square) 31~ Travis. secoad floor R.S.V.P.

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Share your vision and get an update on our progress.

'1/ e need your ideas and inputl Questions or comments: call Bart Truxillo at 861-6236 or Minnette Boesel at 528-7129.

Market Square Association St.eeria. eo ••iUee: Minnetle Boesel. Chairman Mar8ie Elliott. Secretary Barrie Scardino. Grants Coordinator DOU8 Crollson. Economic Development Clark Martinson. Physical Environment Guy Hasstette. PhYlLical Environment Kerry Goelzer, Physical Environment Kim Watson. Martetin8 Bart Truxillo, Property Owners Robert Hartsfield, A.I.A. The Market Square Association 1080 was desisned by Neal vonHedemann.

WALlING TOUR BROCHURE TO BE PUBLISHED BY TEXAS EASTERN

PROJECT UPDATES RITZ THEATRE: Progress continues on the

One of the first items on the agenda of the Steering Committee was to produce a brochure that could be made available at the Visitors and Convention Bureau and elsewhere to pUblicize the Main Streetl Market Square Historic District. Kim Watson of the Steering Committee and Kathy Wild, in charge of regularly scheduled walking tours for the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, teamed up to design, write and publish a guide based on the tours now given by the Preservation Alliance. They enlisted Ellen Cruise to write the text and Lisa Martinson to design the brochure .

With the help of Stephen Fox, among others. they have completed an informative and attractive 16-pa,e. pamphlet-sized publication . Texas Eastern has generously offered to print the first 10.000 copies, which will be available in February.

Featured will be historic photos of the area, an update of Jeffrey Ochsner's axonometric "map," keyed to a self-guided tour with interesting text on the history and architecture. Requests for copies should be mailed after March 1st to the GHPA. 712 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

GHPA TO FEATURE MARlET SQUARE AT ANNUAL MEETING Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance will hold an open house in Market Square on the evening of January 19. Several buildings including the Ritz Theatre, Old Houston Cotton Exchange. Houston National Bank and Diverse Works will be open from 6 to 7 PM. A Dinner will be held in the Magnolia Ballroom at 7 after which the history of the Preservation AHiance will be recounted and GOOD BRICK AWARDS will be presented for outstanding work in local preservation during the past year. for more information, please call Barrie Scardino at 528-1521

renovation of the original Ritz Theater at 911 Preston . The Ritz, designed by WiHiam Ward Watkin in 1926, is Houston's only surviving movie palace . The 800-seat theater will be converted into a venue for live entertainment and special film presentations. An extensive collection of antique lighting fixtures. stained glass, and furnishings is being incorporated into the design plan along with rare marble and ornamental plaste.rwork salvaged from other demolished Houston movie palaces The project is being developed by Gary Warvick (For now, keep up with the messages that appear weekly on the theater's marquee)

PILLOT BUILDING: Drawings are now being completed for the reconstruction of the Pi110t Building by The City Partnership .

The significant cast iron facade remaining along Congress Street will be preserved as will the interior brick vault. Allowing time for review of the building plans by the Texas Historical Commission and the closing of the construction loan, The City Partnership anticipates the long-awaited groundbreaking this spring .

Once complete, the building will house a restaurant on the first floor and law offices on the upper two floors.

OLD HOnSTON NATIONAL BAN:t: This historic building at ZOZ Main Street. corner of Franklin. was designed by Hedrick and Gottlieb in 1928. It has one of the most imposing facades and most elaborate interiors in the historic district The owners are look.ing for a viable use of this important and strategically located building. For further information please contact Barry Moore at 523-6616 Please send comments or information that you would like to see included in the next issue of The Newsletter to Barrie Scardino.

2230 Rice Boulevard, Houston . Texas 77005

FIRST CHARETTE HELD NOVEMBER 5

The Physical Envi.ronment Committee sponsored a one-day charette to brainstorm and sketch ideas for future development of the Historic District. Architects, planners and Market Square Association members identified seven concepts to define and revitalize the Historic District. These ideas are a first step in the planning process.

Strategies need to be developed to increase public awareness of the economic potential of the District and to enact local legislation to provide incentives for appropriate development. A second charette will be held in February to refine these concepts.

1) Develop the Buffalo Bayou Waterfront (restore historic bridges; link Market Square and waterfront with a water feature; remove selected roadways along bayou; expand waterfront parks; encourage more recreational activity on bayou; construct Waterfront hotel; and develop Allen's Landing as active commercial site) .

2) Revitalize Main Street (relocate AMTRAK station closer to METRO station at UH-Downtown; create "gateways" to Historic District at UH-Downtown station and Preston Avenue entrance to Prairie Avenue Station; retain pedestrian/bus/auto use; restore facades of historic bUildings; and create design guidelines).

3) Restore Preston Avenue as a pedestrian promenade and establish pedestrian connections with Theater District and CiVic Center (relocate historic City Hall clock tower along Preston; reinforce pedestrian connections between Sesquicentennial Park, Market Square Park, METRO transit stations and Harris County Courts complex).

4) Create appropriate identifyine amenities yithin the Historic District (Restore the historic nature of the streets, sidewalks, storefronts and public spaces to attract and complement pedestrian activity; establish system of street furnishings such as street light standards, trash cans, trees, flower pots, signs, historic markers, visitor information kiosks and street vendor carts and booths; remove peep-show signs; paint wall murals; establish design guidelines for both new and old facades), 5) Develop METRO transit stations and environs to provide attractive and easy access to Historic District (establish tunnel/mezzanine connections between a Texas Avenue-Preston station and existing tunnel system; restore street level canopies, awnings and arcades to complement historic facades for pedestrian weather protection; construct mid-block courtyards and alley-ways in conjunction with new infill construction to create backdoor courts, outdoor cafes, and entrances to businesses; rehabilitate existing buildings for a mixed-use center emphasizin& storefront and 10ft commercial businesses in historic setting with prominent transit access), 6) Develop vacant office and upper-level commercial space alon, Main Skeet as a uniQue housine district (capitalize on historic character of buildings; provide adequate parking; encourage support-service businesses on street-level such as grocery stores, cleaners, book stores, etc,; encourage new low-rise, high density housing on vacant land; restore Rice Hotel as mixed-use center), 7) Develop shops. bars and restaurants surrounding Market Square Park as an Entertainment District <construct a stage in Market Square Park; establish such entertainment facilities at street-level in new construction on Market Square; restore Ritz Theatre and encourage other small performance spaces or movie theaters; and reestablish a Farmer's Market).

THE CASE OF THE MISSING -, ,'INION STATUS: CASE SOLVED During the fall of 1988 consumer surveys were distributed at local businesses in the Historic District. Consumers responded to questions concerning event participation. revitalization and restoration plans. dining and entertainment choices. sources of entertainment information and shopping desires. Survey results have been tabulated and indicate that an enterprising entrepreneur should consider opening a book store. a bakery. an art gallery or museum. Copies of the results will be available at the Public Forum on Jan . 26th .

We would like to thank the following for their participation in distributing the surveys: Bob ~ Linda's Sandwich Shoppe; Carmen's Mexican Restaurant; Excelecut; Franklin ~ Fannin Garage; Glatzmaier's; La Carafe; Market Square Park Grille; Salad Bar; Treebeard's; and the Univeristy of Houston. Downtown.

Market Square ASSOCiation Post Office Box 61 466

Houston, Texas 77208-1466

The Market Square Association Newsletter is published by the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance.

GIL_J~TS

AWARDED

Two matching grants have been awarded to produce a Main Street/Market Square Revitalization and Preservation Plan . The Cultural Arts Council of Houston has awarded a $5.000 grant and the Collele of Fellows Fund of the A.erican Institute of Architects has awarded a $2.500 grant. These grants are matched by local funds and have enabled the Market Square Association Steering Committee to proceed. At the end of 1989 a Plan will be published which will serve as a guide for further development and as a fundraising tool to implement some aspects of the Plan These grants were applied for under the auspices of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance.

Congratualtions!! The first Annual Ney Year's ETe Party on Market Square was a grand success. Look for announcements of the Irish FestiTal on Market Square.

March 17th.

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