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For Preservation Newsletter of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance May 1996
Volume 12, Number 1
Move to Market Square - It's the Hip Thing to Do Revitalization of downtown's Market Square is getting another enormous boost as two longvacant historic high rises are being converted into loft condominiums and condominiums the Hermann Estate Building and Union National Bank.
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The Hermann Lofts project, at 204 Travis, has been a longtime aspiration of developer Doug Crosson, whose company, Threshold Interests, has joined forces with Byers Street Properties, a Denver loft condominium developer. 220 Main, is a development of Q-Ratio Texas Inc. The eight-story Hermann Lofts will include 32 units, which are selling between $90,000 and $290,000 depending on size and floor location. The renovation is projected to cost $2.5 million. The 220 Main project will convert the 12-story building into a combination residentiaVcommercial development with a two-story penthouse. Unit prices will range from $120,000 to $500,000, and the projected cost is projected at $10 million. The announcement of both projects comes on the heels of the rehabilitation of the W.L. Foley Building, which contains two loft apartments on the second story and two art galleries at street level. And just three blocks away the Hogg Building was converted into loft units last year by developer Randall
Davis, who has shown major, mainstream loft projects in historic downtown can be done. "We are excited about the Hermann Lofts, as we believe the project plays an integral role in Houstonians' renewed commitment to this great city's rich history," Crosson says. Crosson's typical loft will sport new electrical plumbing systems, modern kitchens and baths, hardwood floors along with the exposed concrete, brick and plaster surfaces. Each loft will come with a reserved parking space and storage unit within the building. Some of the interesting historic detailing being renovated in the common areas will be the marble tile floor and plaster relief historic ceiling of the main lobby and the cast iron canopy facing Travis. The history of the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is undoubtedly worth saving. Built in 1917 from financing set aside by millionaire philanthropist George Hermann, the building was erected to answer the need for more office space for the cotton industry. Cotton was the cash crop at the time, and brokers, exporters and classers had outgrown the Old Cotton Exchange Building which shares the north wall with the Hermann Estate Building.
When the Hermann Estate Building was completed for $100,000, it was the largest building built in the city that year. It was designed by architects F.S. Glover and Sons. The iron sidewalk canopy is one of the few remaining examples of this common practice in the city. Construction is scheduled to start early this summer, and the project is expected to be ready for move-in the summer of 1997. For more information, call 523-1122. Q-Ratio, developer of 220 Main, has developed properties in Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Orlando. It has also completed more than 1 million square feet of historical renovations in Canada, mainly in downtown Toronto. The residential units at 220 Main will be more like high-rise apartment living units than loft spaces. Some of the unit highlights will include granite kitchens and baths, security systems, fireplaces, concierge service, dry cleaning and laundry service, valet service, grocery delivery and car wash/oil change service. Historically, Union National Bank was completed in 1911 by Rice Hotel architects Mauran, Russell &. Crowell "40 days ahead of contract time." Its interior was lavishly appointed with white and green marble and
Honduran mahogany. The exterior still displays ornate terra cotta and stone trim, especially noteworthy at the cornice and column capitals. Beloved residential architect John Staub once officed in the bUilding. For more information on residential or commercial space, call 965-0494.
PRESERVATION ALLIANCE HIRES NEW DIRECTOR
Patricia S. Ekstrum, GHPA's new Executive Director
Patricia S. Ekstrum has joined the Greater Houston Preservation The Jackson Ballet has since achieved international acclaim, hosting Alliance as its new executive director. Ekstrum, who took the post in the International Ballet Competition every other year. Ekstrum grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, and always loved the January, brings an impressive resume of experience in the corporate Civil War era homes in nearby historic Natchez. She says she's long world as well as the non-profit community. "The organization is at such a critical point right now," been interested in historic architecture as a sideline hobby. "I always points out Minnette Boesel, past president who served on the wanted to be involved in it somehow," Ekstrum says. Search Committee. "We decided as a committee of board repIn her first months as GHPA executive director, Ekstrum has been resentatives that GHPA really needed someone with strong busy acclimating herself to the office, the programs and the people. For the future, in addition to following the plan set by the board, she has non-profit management skills. That was almost more important than intimate knowledge about preservation issues. We wanted great goals, especially for increasing volunteer involvement and garsomeone to be able to lead us to the next level in program and nering more corporate support. financial development. We knew the right person would be "I want to see this organization grow to become one of the major enthusiastic enough to learn all the ins and outs of preservation contributors to the betterment of life in Houston," she says. "I want us over time." to become even more well known as the group that's saving the herThe six-person Search Committee was impressed with itage of Houston." Patricia's corporate background and strong connections through her work with 3DIInternational and Treasure d St a))er ,r( Departs Insource Technology Corporation over the last 18 For the past year, GHPA's enthusiastic Office Administrator Connie years. Her strength in cost reduction measures was also appeal- Vellozzi has cheerfully and skillfully run our office. Originally starting ing. In one position, she saved her company $1 million by on a temporary baSis, Vellozzi came with great experience having renegotiating an unexpired office lease for space reductions, worked for the Bayou Bend Collection. She soon became an indispensable planning the reduced facility and auctioning off the excess member of the preservation community. As a staff of one, Vellozzi had a furnishings. At 3DII, she negotiated a lawsuit settlement challenge juggling the needs of the office and trying to direct preservation inquiries, many of them of a pressing nature. from $2 million to $25,000. "I look forward to the day when GHPA is in a position to Vellozzi and her husband, David, have been transferred to Saudi Arabia save $1 million," Boesel says. "But until then, we look forwith Aramco. We are indeed appreciative of Vellozzi's contributions and ward to benefiting from Patricia's creativity in this area." sad to see her leave. We wish them well on their new life adventure! Ekstrum loves a challenge. She says she thrives on building something out of nothing. Take the Jackson Ballet. She was a co-founder of the Jackson (MissiSSippi) Ballet School, which collected 20 members during its first year. As a board member, she helped the fledgling organization grow to a regional theater that hosted principals from the New York City Ballet. By the time Patricia left six years later, the group had grown to over 400 members. Performances grew from one night drawing 200 people to three nights of a full auditorium.