For Preservation The Newsletter of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Houston's Local Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Volume 18, No.1
Winter 2007
Good Bricl~s Honor Preservation Excellence
Restorations of three post-World War II houses are among the projects being recognized with 2007 Good Brick Awards, from left, William R. Jenkins House (1955) in Willowbend, Hugo V Neuhaus, Jr. House (1950) in River Oaks, and David & Gloria Frame House (1960) in Memorial. Modem architecture takes center stage when Greater Houston Preservation Alliance celebrates the unsung heroes of historic preservation during the 2007 Good Brick Awards ceremony on Friday, February 2. For the first time since GHPA began presenting the awards in 1979, most of the historic homes being recognized were completed in 1950 or later. "Houston enjoyed spectacular growth after World War II, so it has a wealth of notable modem architecture," said Executive Director Ramona Davis .. "The National Historic Preservation Act defines historic buildings as being 50 years old or older, enabling us to reach out to neighborhoods that hadn't previously been seen as significant." Mica and Robert Mosbacher will accept the Stewart Title Award for their vision in preserving the National Register-listed Hugo V Neuhaus, Jr. House (1950) in River Oaks. The Mosbachers purchased what was being marketed as a "tear down" rt::habilitatt:u one of Houstons earliest and most important modernist designs. Vanessa and Jason Smith are being recognized for the high standard set during the restoration of their 1955 home at 10920 Willowisp in southwest Houston. The Smiths' work remained true to architect William R. Jenkins' distinctive modernist plan. Dana Harper is receiving a Good Brick Award for his meticulous restoration of the 1960 David & Gloria Frame House, 403 Westminster, in Memorial. Designed by architect Harwood Taylor, this exceptional house takes full advantage of its terraced site overlooking Buffalo Bayou. Owners who restored more traditional historic houses will also receive awards. Laura and John Calaway carefully reno-
vated the National Register-listed Paine House (1910) in the Westmoreland Historic District. When they purchased the home at 232 Emerson, most of the original features were intact. The Calaways' painstaking attention to detail preserved this historic home's architectural integrity Stephen Steiner and Keith Wallace rehabilitated one of the three oldest homes in Eastwood. The comfortable two-story house at 4620 McKinney was built in 1912 by William A. Wilson, who developed both Eastwood and Woodland Heights. The owners' careful renovation of the Craftsman style interiors has brought a beautiful home back to life. In addition to those listed above, several other individuals and organizations will receive Good Brick Awards. Joella and Stewart Morris will accept GHPAS Presidents Award for their outstanding leadership and personal commitment to historic preservation. The Morrises have been responsible for Significant preservation projects in the Greater Houston area. Houston Chronicle Arts Editor Lisa Gray will receive GHPA's Preservation Partner in Print Award. Gray is being recognized for her outstanding coverage of preservation issues in Houston, particularly the recent threats to the historic River Oaks Shopping Center, River Oaks Theatre and Alabama TheatreIBookstop. Andrea and Dave Matthiesen will be recognized for their successful adaptive re-use of the National Register-listed Roy & Margaret Farrar House (1923), 511 Lovett, in Montrose as a mediation center. Holy Rosary Church, 3617 Travis, will receive an award for the exterior restoration of its 1933 church building and the construction of an architecturally sympathetic parish hall.
Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 6621 Main Street, is being recognized for its master plan, which respects the parish's historic architecture while providing for new construction on its restricted site near Hermann Park. Harrisburg Plaza, Ltd. is receiving a Good Brick Award for its redevelopment of a 1929 Joseph Finger-designed super market at 5104 Harrisburg in the East End, one of HoustonS most overlooked historic neighborhoods. Post Wood Municipal Utility District will receive its Good Brick for developing the Seal McDougle Memorial Park, 23110 Cypresswood, to preserve the remnants of a historic African-American cemetery in north Harris County Award reCipients were selected by a jury of design and preservation professionals and community leaders. GHPA board member and architect Natalye Appel chaired the Good Brick jury The other jury members were Keiji Asakura, Bob Fretz, Maggie Galehouse, Mary Lawler, Peggy Lindow, Bruce MacDougal, Jim Parsons, Bart Truxillo and Tim Womble. The Cornerstone Dinner presenting the 2007 Good Brick Awards will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, February 2, at River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd. Beth Madison, Fran Fawcett Peterson and Kelly Fawcett Somoza are the eventS co-chairs. Janet Spencer is the silent auction chair. Reservations start at $200 per person. For reservations and information, call 713-216-5000. An order form is also available online at www.ghpa.org. Proceeds benefit the programs and projects of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance.
GHPA Adds West Mansion to Endangered List ~~
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West~
The West Mansion (1930) in Gear Lake could be demolished even though it is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is listed in the National Register.
Development is encroaching on].M.
The James & Jessie West Mansion on NASA Parkway at Space Center Boulevard in Clear Lake is the latest addition to GHPAS Endangered Buildings List. In October, former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon purchased the 17,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance mansion and its 41-acre site from the Pappas family The restaurant owners had held the remnants of the former West estate for several years. Olajuwons company immediately put the waterfront property back on the market. According to the Houston Chronicle, the site is being offered for subdivision and may be sold for highrise residential projects or retaiVoffice development. "Over the years, GHPA has been approached by a variety of individuals and small organizations who wanted to acquire the West Mansion and operate it as a museum, but were never able to develop viable financial plans," said GHPA Executive Director Ramona Davis. "We had hoped that Mr. Olajuwon would use his resources to preserve this extremely important property as he did with his adaptive reuse of the Houston National Bank building on Main Street," said Davis. 'That has proven to be wishful thinking."
with twin gazebos, historic swimming pool and changing rooms, nine-car garage and managers house. West sold the ranch to Humble Oil in 1939, but kept the mansion and grounds. After WestS death in 1941, his wife never returned to the property Humble Oil purchased the house and remaining land from Mrs. Wests estate in 1953. Eight years later, the oil company donated the mansion and 21 acres to Rice University, which later purchased additional acreage. Humble Oil donated an adjacent 1000 acres as the site of what is now the Johnson Space Center. From 1969 to 1991, the mansion housed the Lunar Science Institute (later Lunar and Planetary Institute). Rice University again took possession after the Institute vacated the house. Rice sold the property to the Pappas family, who, in tum, sold the back portion of the land for apartment/condo development. Despite the intrusions, the house, outbuildings and grounds have been well-maintained. GHPA will continue its efforts to focus media attention on this significant property and increase public awareness of the threats to this irreplaceable landmark.
The West Mansion, also known as the West Ranch House, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Neither designation would prevent the buildings demolition, although National Register listing means the property is eligible for substantial federal preservation tax credits if the house is restored to high standards. The City of Pasadena has annexed the West Mansion and its grounds. Pasadena has weak land-use regulations and no historic preservation ordinance, which would offer the only local protections. In the late 1920s, lumber and oil magnateJ.M. West, Sr. commissioned architect Joseph Finger to design what became one of the most opulent houses in Texas. The mansion was completed in 1930 as the centerpiece of WestS 30,000-acre ranch in southeast Harris County Although the house appears to be a traditional, if expansive, villa, the interior boasts outstanding Art Deco and Moderne design and once had custom furnishings throughout. While the furniture and many decorative fixtures have been removed, the house is otherwise largely intact and unaltered. In addition to the mansion, the wooded site includes the original tennis court
historic waterfront estate.