Winter 2005 GHPA Newsletter

For Preservation The Newsletter of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance

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Volume 16, No.1

Winter 2005

2005 Good Bricl~ Awards Honor Preservation Excellence Greater Houston Preservation Alliance will present the 2005 Good Brick Awards for excellence and leadership in historic preservation on Friday, January 28, during the Cornerstone Dinner at The Houston Club. Ed Wulfe is honorary chair for the event. GHPA board member Charles Foster and his wife Lily are the event's co-chairs.

GHPA has presented the Good Brick Awards since 1979 to honor exceptional preservation projects and the people who make them happen. This year, more than 20 award nominations were received. The winning projects, which range from late Victorian cottages to a post-World War II industrial plant, were selected by a jury of design and preservation professionals and community leaders. GHPA board member and architect Natalye Appel chaired the jury.

"We were impressed with the variety of nominations, which ran the gamut from individual homeowners who did the work themselves to public institutions that could bring in nationally-known consultants," said Appel. "Each of these projects represents an exceptional commitment and sends an important message about the value of historic preservation in Houston."

Members of the Good Brick Awards jury were architects Harry Gendel and Shafik Rifaat, developer Andrew Kaldis, Daniel Carey of the National

Trust for Historic Preservation, Sanford Criner of CB Richard Ellis, GHPA Past President Anita Garten, Houston Chronicle design writer Deborah Mann Lake, art historian and community volunteer Judy Nyquist, GHPA Director Emeritus Bart Truxillo, and landscape historian Joanne Wilson.

The award winners were officially announced at the kick-off party on November 19; please see the related story on page 3 of this newsletter.

The Cornerstone Dinner presenting the 2005 Good Brick Awards will be held at 7 p.m., January 28, in the Texas Room of The Houston Club, 811 Rusk. Tickets start at $150 per person. Reservations must be received by Monday, January 24. A ticket order form is available online at www.ghpa.org or call 713 .216.5000 for reservations.

Internationally-known blues guitarist 1.]. Gosey will perform during the event. Gosey is featured in the book, Down in Houston: Bayou City Blues, one of the 2005 Good Brick winners.

During the Cornerstone Dinner, American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter, will also present two awards recognizing distinguished architecture of lasting value. The AIA Houston 25 Year Award will be presented to Galleria I (1969-1971) and its architects, Hellmuth, Obata &: Kassabaum, and Neuhaus &: Taylor. The AIA Houston SO Year Award will honor Foley's Main Street store (1947) and its architect, Kenneth Franzheim.

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Clocktower Enterprises, Inc., LP for 3401 Allen Parkway.

The renovation and adaptive re-use of the former Rein Co. Building preserves an important part of Allen Parkway's rapidly disappearing architectural heritage. The former printing company was built in 1928 in the popular Spanish Colonial style. Now known as the Clocktower Building, the project is a very visible historic preservation success. The project architect is Cisneros Design Studio.

Heights Industrial Center for 22nd Street Lofts.

After a long period of neglect, this 1l0-year-old former textile mill and mattress factory is finding new life as a residential development. A sensitive renovation enhances the building's straightforward industrial design while maintaining the courtyards and green spaces of the late 19th-century factory complex.

The project architect is Nonya Grenader, FAIA.

Carl and Carrie Corson for 308 Cordell Street.

The owners of this 1910 bungalow in the Brooke Smith Addition met the challenge of adapting a small historic house to modern lifestyles, while preserving the home's original materials, detailing and character. The owners did much of the critical work themselves, including selecting quality materials to maintain the home's architectural integrity.

Bill England and Minnette Boesel for "Rosecroft."

Built in 1916 at 4809 Walker, this Craftsman style home is one of at least four Californiainspired houses built in the Eastwood subdivision by artist Charles T. Sherman. The sensitive renovation of this historic house restored Sherman's original painted frieze in the sunroom and maintained the distinctive built-in Arts &: Crafts style fixtures.

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From the Executive Director GHPAS role as a preservation advocate has never been more important. As the new year begins, homeowners in historic neighborhoods across Houston are facing significant challenges.

The recent controversy over potential toll lanes through the Heights is a case in point. After confirming the information that was brought to our attention, staff members notified GHPAS Board and membership, contacted interested organizations and public officials, and released our position on the matter to the local media. Within days, Harris County issued assurances that it had no current plans to build the project, even though a letter from the Toll Road Authority described the property in question as "ideal" for a toll facility.

By encouraging individual initiative, fostering communication between organizations, opening dialogue with public officials and focusing media attention on preservation issues, we are empowering people to take action.

While GHPA alone cannot save enough individual buildings to have a major impact on the city, we can educate Houstonians about the economic and aesthetic benefits of preservation, and enlist their support when our historic resources are threatened.

~L Ramona Davis Executive Director

Road Projects Tal~e Toll on Historic NeighLorhoods GHPA is monitoring Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) projects that will have a significant impact on historic neighborhoods north of downtown Houston. One of the proposed projects is linked to the Hardy Toll Road extension, while another involves managed lanes, which combine high-occupancyvehicle lanes with toll lanes for

This ca. 1890 Queen Anne style home is one of the historic houses in the path of the proposed Elysian Viaduct extension.

individual drivers.

"With so many areas being affected, we are working hard to keep residents informed and to facilitate communication and cooperation among the neighborhood associations," said Thomas McWhorter, director of GHPA's Historic Neighborhoods Council (HNC) TxDOT has already conducted surveys on the Near North Side along the route of the Elysian Viaduct, a 1950s-era overpass in the vicinity of Minute Maid Park.

Although both the Houston Downtown Development Framework and Buffalo Bayou Master Plan call for the viaduct's demolition and replacement with an at-grade boulevard, TxDOT and HCTRA plan to extend the overpass to 1.6 miles as a secondary connector to the Hardy Toll Road.

The proposed expansion would displace residents, result in the demolition of blocks of historic homes, hamper local

revitalization efforts and compromise the tax base.

"The Near North Side has the kind of historic architecture that most people don't believe exists in Houston anymore," said McWhorter. "There is huge potential here that will not be realized if this project goes ahead as planned."

GHPA is working with the local neighborhood association, Northside BOND, and cooperating with Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Avenue Community Development Corp.

Representatives from all four organizations attended TxDOT's December 7 public meeting on the viaduct's reconstruction.

On December 6, the Houston Chronicle published GHPA's guest editorial about the overpass project, which helped attract more than 200 people to the TxDOT meeting. GHPA staff members have also met with State Representative Jessica Farrar, City Council Member

Adrian Garcia and County Commission Sylvia Garcia to discuss the project.

The Near North Side will also be affected by the proposed widening of the North Freeway to accommodate four managed lanes. This project will impact Woodland Heights as well as lesser-known historic neighborhoods, such as the Brooke Smith Addition and Grota Homestead, where preservation is just getting a foothold. GHPA staff attended a November 16 TxDOT meeting with neighborhood residents on this project as well.

GHPA is also cooperating with the Citizens Transportation Coalition (CTC) after the release of a HCTRA letter describing the MKT Railroad right-of-way through the Houston Heights as an "ideal" location for managed lanes connecting U.S. 290 with downtown Houston. After significant public outcry, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels issued a release stating the

County is not currently planning to go through with the project.

GHPA and CTC have asked Houston City Council to support efforts in the Texas legislature to make the state's toll road authorities more accountable to local municipalities and residents .

GHPA will continue to monitor each of these road projects and advise its members of any new developments.

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Houston City Council Member Adrian Garcia addresses his constituents during the December 7 TxDOT public meeting about the Elysian Viaduct project.

Good Bricl~ Awards (continued)

Preservation Progress

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Geoffrey and Karlene Poll for 1605 Heights Blvd.

In 1918, Alfred C. Finn, architect of the San Jacinto Monument, designed this impressive home for an oil company executive. The house was eventually divided into apartments and a period of neglect compromised the architect's vision. The current owners used quality salvage materials and Finns original blueprints in their faithful restoration of this National Register-listed property.

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now a vital part of Houston's revitalized Main StreetlMarket Square Historic District.

Mitchell, Carlson & Stone, Inc. was the project architect.

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University of HoustonDowntown for the Willow Street Pump Station.

Portions of the 1902 Willow Street Pump Station were on the verge of collapse when the Workshop for Historic Architecture at the University of Houston College of Architecture and the Engineers Council of Greater Houston adopted the site as a project Today, the Romanesque Revival style structures have been preserved as a community conference center and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gensler was the project architect.

220 Venture Partners, LP and Benchmark Hospitality for Hotel ICON. The 1911 Union National Bank Building had stood vacant and deteriorating for almost 20 years when new owners began the two-year process of transforming the 12-story neoclassical building into a luxury hotel. Restored to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Rehabilitation and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this local landmark is

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building today houses traditional office space, medical research and educational facilities, laboratories and a telecommunications center. WOo Neuhaus and & Associates were the project architects.

Avenue Community Development Corp. and Anthony Colca for the Summer Street Project.

Nine historic cottages dating from the 1870s to the 1940s have been renovated as affordable housing through the efforts of an innovative non-profit organization and a concerned property owner. Avenue CDC, which develops affordable housing and promotes historic preservation in Houston's First Ward, and Anthony Colca, who had inherited the properties and still lives in the neighborhood, were determined to preserve the area's historic character and protect long-term tenants from being displaced.

Texas Medical Center for the John P. McGovern Campus.

When Nabisco's Houston Bakery opened in 1949, it was said to be the most modern bakery in the United States. More than 50 years later, Texas Medical Center chose to preserve the building and convert its 11 acres of floor space to a multi-use medical office building. Transformed "from cookies to caring," the

Roger Wood and James Fraher for Down in Houston: Bayou City Blues.

This comprehensive book documents the evolution of Houston's unique form of the blues through evocative photography and extensive interviews with performers, club owners, record producers and audience members. At the same time, it celebrates the vibrant African-American community in the Third and Fifth wards that produced this distinctive sound . Published by the University of Texas Press, Down in Houston is available for purchase online through the GHPA Bookstore at www.ghpa.orglboohstore/.

GHPA Preservation Partner in Print Award to Houston House & Home Magazine.

Since founding this monthly magazine, Publisher Mike Harrison and Creative Services Director Tim Beeson have offered extensive coverage of local preservation projects.

Their personal commitment to preservation is exemplified by the transformation of the 1950s cinder-block building at 931 Yale into the magazine's headquarters, which enhances their historic Heights neighborhood. Their support of GHPA includes contributing design services for this newsletter.

Stewart Title Award to MeniI Foundation for the MeniI House.

In 1951, completion of this International style house provided a home for John and Dominique de Menil's extensive art collection and introduced architect Philip Johnson to Houston. On inheriting the property, the Menil Foundation was faced with many difficult decisions, but ultimately decided to preserve and conserve this important building. By preserving this landmark, the Menil Foundation is helping explain the history of modern architecture in Houston and the de Menils' unique contributions to the cultural life of the city. Stern and Bucek Architects supervised this proj ect.

GHPA President's Award to Minnette Boesel.

Long-time preservation advocate Minnette Boesel is being recognized with GHPA's Presidents Award for her leadership, dedication and years of volunteer service. A former GHPA president, Boesel was one of the first to promote downtown revitalization through the adaptive re-use of historic buildings as residential lofts and apartments. She remains a leading proponent of downtown redevelopment and has been a driving force in Eastwood's revival, as a member of a partnership that has renovated several homes in the area.

Bratty-West Building, 1912 (Ihown ca.

1920) Courtesy Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

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Bratty-West Building (shown 200-+)

Plans are under way to rehabilitate the 1912 Beatty-West Building at the comer of Main and Walker. The project will include a complete restoration of the buildings exterior. Architect Suzanne Labarthe, AlA, is designing new storefronts for the street level fac;:ade, which has been significantly altered.

The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission has approved the building's designation as a City of Houston Historic Landmark. GHPA staff members have met with the owners over the years encouraging them to preserve the building and providing preservation tax credit information.

The six-story reinforced concrete building was deSigned by architect Henry C. Cooke for David R. Beatty to house Beatty's oil and gas company. James M. West bought the building in 1922 and renamed it. West was a prominent businessman with interests in lumber, oil, banking and ranching..

The Beatty-West Building housed a variety of retail tenants on its ground floor, including Craigs clothing store and Vogue Shoes. The local chain James Coney Island had its original location in the building from 1923-93.

For information on other preservation projects, including the Plaza Hotel and Texas State Hotel, please visit www.ghpa.org.

Volunteers needed for the clean-up of Olivewood Cemetery GHPA is coordinating volunteer efforts to clean up historic Olivewood Cemetery. On most weekends, volunteers are clearing brush, removing small trees and pulling weeds at the heavily overgrown site on White Oak

GHPA member James Sandoz and his daughter Laura assist in the Olivewood clean-up

Bayou near the Heights.

Individuals, families, civic, school and church groups have assisted the descendants of those buried in the cemetery in reclaiming the area. Among the organizations that have participated in the project are the National Charity League-Heart of Texas Chapter and YES Academy. ''I'm hoping that one day it will be a tranquility park where people can come to enjoy the peace and quiet," said Margott Williams, whose great-greatgrandfather is buried there.

Williams founded the Olivewood Coalition to reclaim the cemetery and plans to have Olivewood designated a Historic Texas Cemetery.

When Olivewood was platted in 1877, it was the first AfricanAmerican burial ground within

the Houston city limits. The sixacre site included more than 700 family plots around a graceful, elliptical drive that originated at an ornate entry gate. The cemetery contains the graves of the well-to-do and those who died in poverty. Grave markers run the gamut from elaborate Victorian monuments to simple, handmade headstones.

Although burials continued through the 1960s, Olivewood is relatively unknown today. It is hidden behind a large shipping complex. The cemetery is heavily overgrown, but traces of its former landscaping hint at its original beauty. Many mature specimens of oak, pecan and elm trees provide shade. Tulips and lilies still bloom even though the cemetery has not been regularly maintained in over forty years.

Individuals, families or representatives of groups who would like to assist in the clean-up should contact Thomas McWhorter at 713.216.5000 or tmcwhortcr@ghpa.org.

Almost 100 students Jrom YES Academy took part in a community project at Olivewood Cemetery.

Ornate Victorian grave markers dot the grounds oj Olivewood Cemetery.

Author Stephen Harrigan addresses GHPA Annual Meeting Almost 150 preservation supporters gathered on October 18 when author-screenwriter-journalist Stephen Harrigan addressed GHPA's Annual Meeting. Members of the Harris County Historical Society joined GHPA members for

Stephen Hanigan, author of the New York TImes best-seller The Gales of the Alamo, discussed history and myth during GHPA's Annual Meeting at the Magnolia Hotel.

the special event hosted by the Magnolia Hotel.

During his presentation, Harrigan discussed the eight years of research and writing that went into his award-winning historical novel The Gates of the Alamo. He said he wrote the book because, "it was important to rescue the Alamo from the suffocating mythology and render [the story] on a human scale."

"It is the historians job to sort out the facts about his or her subject and set them down in a way that is illuminating and trustworthy," said Harrigan. "For historical novelists, the truth is emotional truth. The novelist's job is to make the characters' motivations resoundingly believable."

At the start of the program, GHPA President Rick Walton introduced the officers and board members who will be guiding the

During the meeting, Walton recognized retiring officers Anita Garten and Louis Skidmore for their years of dedication and commitment to GHPA. Walton also thanked retiring GHPA board members Monique Bossett, Gracie Cavnar and Gigi Huang for their service to the organization.

organization during 2004-2005.

In addition to the returning members, 11 new voting directors will be taking seats on GHPA's Board: • Fred Baca, president of Colliers International, a commercial real estate firm.

• Tim Cisneros, AIA, principal of Cisneros Design Studio, Architects.

• Sidney Faust, a leader in Houston community affairs.

• Bill Franks, preSident of Spire Realty Group, LP • Cindy Crane Garbs, a prominent community volunteer.

• Madeleine Hamm, former Houston Chronicle home design editor.

• c.c. Lee, AIA, president and CEO of STOA International Architects.

• Jim Murnane, president and CEO of North Houston Bank.

During the Annual Meeting, GHPA President Rich Walton recognized Past President Anita Garten for her years of

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service to the organization.

THE MAGNOLIA

• Randhir Sahni, AIA, principal of Llewelyn-Davies Sahni, Architects Planners Consultants.

• Janet Spencer, a neighborhood preservation activist.

• Larry Whaley, PE, president of Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc., structural engineers.

For a complete list of members of the 2004-2005 Board of Directors, please see the back cover of this newsletter.

GHPA gratefully acknowledges the Magnolia Hotel for underwriting the 2004 Annual Meeting. Housed in the 1926 Post-Dispatch Building, The Magnolia was recognized with a 2004 Good Brick Award for the adaptive re-use of this local landmark. For more information, please visit

www.magnoliahotels.com .

Good Bricl~ Awards Kicl~-off Party More than 100 guests were on hand when Cornerstone Dinner Co-Chair Charles Foster offiCially announced the winners of the 2005 Good Brick Awards on November 18. The event provided the first opportunity for the people responsible for the winning projects to meet the members of the Good Brick Awards jury and GHPA's Board of Directors.

The kick-off party was hosted by Gene and Astrid Van Dyke, who generously provided underwriting for the event. The Van Dykes' landmark home provided a gracious setting for the evening. The house was deSigned by architect Eugene Werlin for Walter Fondren, Jr., son of the legendary oilman and philanthropiSt. Gordon Fowkes, Cornerstone Dinner Co-Chairs Uly and Charles Foster:

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Astrid Van Dyke, GHPA Board members Janet Spencer and Diane Gendel.

Derby Wilson, Good Bricks jury member Joanne Wilson, Good Brick Award winner Minnette Boesel, Peter Boesel.

Phyllis Childress, Stewart Morris, Jr., GHPA President Elect Eileen Hricih, GHPA Vice President/Events Nancy Ames.

GHPA Executive Director Ramona Davis, GHPA Board members Patty Porter and Beth Madison.

Michelle Sabino and Steve Sucher of University of Houston-Downtown, Clyde Reynolds.

Greater Houston Preservation 2004-2005 Board of Directors

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Officers Rick Walton President

Eileen Hricik President Elect

Lynne Bentsen Secretary

Tony Abyad Treasurer

Nancy Ames VP-Events

Al Calloway VP-CommunicationlExternal Relations

Susan Hill VP-Historic Neighborhoods Council/Programs

David Jones VP-Development

Voting Directors Natalye Appel Fred Baca Tim Cisneros Sidney Faust

Charles Foster Bill Franks Cindy Crane Garbs Diane Gendel

Madeleine Hamm Paul Homeyer Patricia Laurent c.c. Lee Cora Sue Mach

The mission of Greater

Beth Madison Jim Murnane Carmen Nadolney Patty Porter

Mary Ann Reynolds Randhir Sahni Janet Spencer Larry Whaley

Charles D. Maynard, Jr. Legal Counsel

Jane Cahill Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Assn.

Al Davis Chairman, Harris County Historical Commission

Gensler Greenwood King Properties G.T. Leach Construction, Inc. Halliburton Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc. Heritage Texas Properties Hines Housing Horizons, LLC Houston Chronicle The Houston Club Houston Hispanic Forum Houston House & Home Irvine Team ].E. Dunn Construction JPMorganChase Kirksey Kendall Heaton Associates Lancaster Hotels &: Resorts Landry's Restaurants, Inc. The Magnolia METRO Transit Authority

preservation and appreciation cultural historic resources

Robert Litke Director, City of Houston Dept. of Planning and Development

Randy Pace City of Houston Historical Preservation Officer

through education, advocacy and committed action, thereby creating economic value

Bart Truxillo Director Emeritus

and developing a stronger sense of community. GHPA is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit

Business Members Tony Abyad 1917 Franklin Land, Ltd. American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter Associated General Contractors, Houston Chapter Bowne Blumenthal Sheet Metal BMS Management, Inc. J. P Bryan 1 Gage Hotel Budweiser 1 Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P Camden Property Trust Canyonlands Corp.

Case &: Associates, General Contractors Clocktower Enterprises, Inc., LP Compass Bank Connelly Baker Wotring Jackson LLP El Paso Energy Corporation Foreman, DeGeurin &: Nugent Fretz Construction Company George H. Lewis &: Sons 1 Forest Park Lawndale

(GHPA) is to promote the of Houston's architectural and

Non-Voting Ex-Officio R. George Cunningham Parliamentarian

Houston Preservation Alliance

The Mid-Continent Companies, Ltd. Minnette Boesel Properties Mission Constructors, Inc. Nadolney Enterprises North Houston Bank PaineWebber Investment Banking Pearson English Phelps Dunbar LLP Rice Construction Russo Painting &: Carpentry SpawGlass Construction Corp.

Spire Realty Group, Inc. Stewart Title Story Sloane's Gallery Union Pacific WS. Bellows Construction Corp.

Walter P Moore Ward &: Ames SpeCial Events Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects Webb Architects Winstead Sechrest &: Minick

corporation.

GHPA is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.

For Preservation is edited by

David Bush and published with the generous support of Houston House 1St Home

magazine.

Copyright 2005 Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. All rights reserved.

GHPA Calendar For updated information on each of the following events, please visit www.ghpa.org.

Saturday, January 22 Historic Neighborhoods Council meeting. Location to be announced.

Friday, January 28 The Cornerstone Dinner presenting the 2005 Good Brick Awards. The Houston Club.

Architectural Walking Tours will be held on January 23, February 27 and March 27,2005.

Greater Houston Preservation Alliance 712 Main Street, Suite 110 Houston, Texas 77002-3207 Address Correction Requested Return Postage Guaranteed

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