For Preservation The Newsletter of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Houston's Local Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
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Volume 18, No.2
Fall 2007
Houston Gains Protected District, Two Historic Districts Mayor Bill White achieved one of his most ambitious preservation goals on August 1 when Houston City Council voted to designate the Old Sixth Ward as the city's only Protected Historic' District. Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association tenaciously'supported the mayor's effort, which is designed to ensure the future of the historic residential area. "With the highest concentration of architecturally and histOrically important structures in the city, Old Sixth Ward presented a unique opportunity .to recognize and preserve important pieces of Houston's history," said Mayor White. The ordinance went before Council after the neighborhood association submitted the required petitions, Signed by a majority of the district's property owners, requesting the protected deSignation. After the vote, the Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association was applauded for its work in support of the measure, as were District H Council Member Adrian Garcia, At-Large Council Member Sue Lovell and Jill Jewett, the mayor's speCial assistant for cultural arts. At-Large Council Member Michael Berry cast the only vote against the designation. The ordinance creates a 33.8acre protected district within the larger, existing Old Sixth Ward Historic District. The protected area contains a high concentration of houses that are 100 years old or older. The measure gives the Houston ArcheolOgical and
Historic homes like this one, built in 1916 at 603 Avondale Boulevard, are being rehabilitated in the proposed Avondale West Historic District.
Historical Commission (HAHC) authOrity to prevent the demolition of contributing and potentially contributing historic buildings within the protected area. Previously, HAHC could only delay demolitions for 90 days. Homeowner Steve Kirkland told the Houston Chronicle, "[The deSignation] protects our investment. It protects the hard work we put into saving these houses so there's something we can tell the next generation about." The ordinance also institutes design review guidelines within the protected district. Mayor White emphasized that the guidelines do not dictate land use or architectural styles. The guidelines do address building placement, massing, orientation and construction materials. City officials stressed that the ordinance applies only to the Old Sixth Ward and does not lay the groundwork for any other protected districts.
Avondale West As this newsletter goes to press, homeowners in Avondale West are expected to succeed in their efforts to have their neighborhood deSignated as a City of Houston Historic District. A majority of property owners in the proposed district have signed the necessary petitions requesting designation. City Council should approve the measure creating Houston's ninth City historic district in the weeks ahead. Avondale homeowners Rob and Betty Barrett and homeowner/ GHPA member Tim Womble led the designation effort. "Avondale West residents are very proud of our historic houses," said Womble. "Our goal is to have the historic district in place for Avondale's 100th anniversary in 2008." GHPJ% Historic Neighborhoods Council (HNC) actively supported the district's creation. Former HNC Director Thomas McWhorter attended all of the Avondale West
Historic District Committee meetings and helped develop strategy, create the petitions and set the district boundaries. Avondale contains significant examples of early 20th-century residential architecture, including Prairie, American Four-Square, Craftsman and Tudor Revival houses. The new historic district is roughly bounded by Avondale, Taft, Pacific and Crocker streets. The substantial loss of historic resources at the center of the subdivision resulted in the creation of two Avondale historic districts. Houston City Council deSignated the Avondale East Historic District in 1999. Broadacres Broadacres homeowners have also succeeded in their efforts to have their neighborhood designated a City of Houston Historic District. In April, City Council approved the ordinance creating the Broadacres Historic District. Neighborhood resident and GHPA member Marianne Jones spearheaded the petition drive that registered the support of a super majority of property owners. Broadacres is located in the 1300 to 1500 blocks of North Boulevard and South Boulevard near Rice University The neighborhood features designs by some of Houston's most prominent architects, including William Ward Watkin, John F. Staub and Birdsall P. Briscoe . Broadacres was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
2007 Annual Meeting at Faust Distrihuting, Monday, Octo1er GHPA members are encouraged to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting on Monday, October 15, at Faust Distributing Company, 10040 East Freeway (1-10 East), just nine miles from downtown Houston. A complimentary cocktail reception will be held from 6:30 to 8 p .m., followed by the business meeting. During the meeting, incoming GHPA president Tony Abyad will reco gnize retiring Board members, announce the slate of officers for 2007-2008, and introduce the new members of the Board of Directors. The meeting will also include a presentation on Houston's Art Deco architecture by GHPA volunteer Jim Parsons and Programs and Information Director David Bush. The program will be based on their research for GHPJ% new Web site, www.houstondeco.org, and the new book, Houston Deco.
Faust Distributing Company will host GHPAS Annual Meeting at its Santa Fe-inspired headquarters on the East Freeway.
GHPA is very pleased to be holding its Annual Meeting at Faust Distributing's impressive facility The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007. Don
Faust founded the firm in 1957 as a Falstaff beer distributor. The company now distributes Miller, Coors and a variety of craft and import beers.
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GHPA members will enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeurves in the open air atrium, view the extensive Western and Native American art collection and visit a recreated pub filled with Falstaff beer memorabilia. Coffee and dessert will be served before the business meeting begins at 8 p.m. For directions to Faust Distributing, click on "Contact Us" at wwwjaustdistributing.com. Reservations are required for the Annual Meeting. Current members are requested to contact the GHPA office by 5 p.m., Wednesday, October 10, with the number of those attending the meeting. Please call 713-216-5000 or e-mail dbush@ghpa.org. GHPA is very grateful to Board member Sidney Faust and Don Faust for graciously hosting and underwriting the 2007 Annual Meeting.
From the Executive Director I often equate GHPJ% accomplishments with the effect of water on stone. Progress is slow and steady; cumulative change is evident over time. When this organization was incorporated in 1978, Houston was still 17 years away from getting its first historic preservation ordinance. Today, under Mayor White's administration, the City of Houston is preparing to designate its ninth historic district and has created a new protected historic district. More than 200 property owners have successfully nominated their historic buildings for designation as City landmarks. In such diverse historic neighborhoods as Freedmen's Town, Houston Heights and Boulevard Oaks, the owners of 45 buildings have ensured the future of their historic properties by having these important structures designated as protected landmarks. None of these achievements would have been possible without your support of GHPA and its mission. You have literally changed the face of Houston. As GHPA approaches it 30th anniversary, preservation is receiving regular coverage in the local media and is the subject of spirited public debate. In light of the ongoing challenges, it is easy to overlook the progress that preservation is making in Houston. In this issue of the newsletter, we have made a conscious effort to report some of the positive things happening in our community With your continuing support, we are creating a preservation ethic for Houston.
~L Ramona Davis Executive Director
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