The Norman apartment building at 717 West Alabama at Stanford St. caught fire and burned last August. The 8-unit Montrose building, which the Houston Press saw fit to declare the city’s “Best Apartment” back in 2004, showed up in Swamplot’s Daily Demolition Report just before Christmas. A reader sends in pics of the new multicolored stucco-and-foam construction going up in its place and notes:
It appears that they were quick to rebuild, It looked to me that they used the old piers, and just added the support beams for a (pier & beam foundation). Glad to see that they took advantage of the exsiting foundation.
And look, new foam quoins at the corner, to hold the stucco rainbow together! Are they fireproof?
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Swamplot roving photographer Candace Garcia was ahead of the game — she took these photos of the woodish frame last month, long before anyone knew there’d be so much uh, going on on top of it:
And . . . it’s for sale. The listing doesn’t mention a price, but says the building will contain six 1-bedroom apartments and two efficiencies, laminated wood floors, and of course granite countertops — though what color isn’t mentioned. There’ll be a 4-machine in-house laundromat, too.
- 717 W. Alabama [CityFeet]
- Fire at Montrose Apartments [abc13, via HAIF]
- Best Apartment – 2004 [Houston Press]
Photos: Candace Garcia (bottom); Swamplot inbox (all others)
Sure it’s not pretty but if it’s a new and affordable option in Montrose then I’m all for it!
Isn’t that the landmark apartment building whose vintage hippie-dippie 1970’s re-do (45-degree angle siding, round windows) lasted until the present day?
Isn’t that the landmark apartment building whose vintage hippie-dippie 1970’s re-do (45-degree angle siding, round windows) lasted until the present day?
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It was. Vintage and not cheap. I wish they had just duplicated the original. This looks boring. And probably not cheap.
For better or worse, they didn’t use the old foundation as it was … there’s some sort of pretty thick concrete slab underneath this new
monstrosityurban living concept.I was hoping the original would be replicated, but the new one is awful looking. It lacks even the faintest hint of builder’s charm.