Tenants in a bank of courtyard-style apartment complexes across from Poe Elementary School at the northwest corner of North Blvd. and Hazard St. have received notices that their structures have been sold and will be demolished, so that the buyer can build single-family dwellings in their place. “I know one tenant has a lease until May 2013,” a source tells Swamplot, “but they are offering free rent for Sep/Oct if the tenant agrees to vacate by Nov 1.” Another tipster claims the buyer is Lovett Homes, and that the homebuilder plans to build 6 new “very high end” homes on the property.
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The soon-to-be-vanquished addresses are 5010 Hazard, and 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2024 North Blvd. The buildings range in style from post- pre-war mod to Asbestos Shingle Style. They’re flanked by a few more brick apartment buildings.
Photos: Candace Garcia
That’s a shame–the neighborhood will become less diverse when these modestly priced apartments are replaced by high-end houses.
I really can’t wait for the cycle to be complete and people want to live in the burbs again.
Yes, I am sure homeowners in the area are just crushed at the loss of diversity when so-so apartments are knocked off in favor of upper end SFH. I personally shed at least one tear each time a shotgun shack or fully depreciated garden apt complex is taken down in favor of a nice home for someone who actually cares about the place in which they live.
The Inverse Doughnut theory in the works! Start with ghetto inner city and the affluent suburbs. Step 1, make it fashionable to live close to inner city and affluent start moving in, driving up real estate prices. Step 2, make cheap suburbs, former inner city lower class moves out there. Step 3, complete the flip by inner city becoming affluent and the burbs becoming the ghetto and the former inner city dwellers will never be able to afford to go back. I propose a new future joke: “If you want diversity, move to the suburbs!” :)
What a shame. During the late 90’s I lived in the upper unit at 2016 North Blvd. I absolutely loved that apartment! The interior of my unit had a beautiful curved wall as well as other features that were indicative of 1940, when these were built. When I lived there, these were not trashy apartments, maybe a little worn down on the exterior, but the interior was nice. They were expensive to rent and my fellow apartment neighbors were all urban professionals. Hate to see them go.
Some of the brick ones sporting some pretty serious brick crack scars from years of under maintenance. They were also leasing these things as of two months ago.
To be clear, Boulevard Oaks is not kicking them out, a developer had the money and the vision for something else.
How can Lovett expect to build “very high-end homes” in the Ashby High Rise’s shadow?
I knew it. I saw a soil test being performed about a week ago. Also fresh survey stakes. It’s odd they are lowering the density there, if it truly is 6 houses going in. I would think high end patio homes would be the replacement for those apartments.
Those are thoroughly middle class apartments, not at all slummy. I live in the neighborhood precisely because its diverse and not a collections of gaudy McMansions.
Wow the opposite of densification.
It’s a shame, but not surprising. That’s progress. Whomever owned that row of apartments shouldn’t be required to keep them in that use forever; the property taxes have skyrocketed over the years, I’m sure.
But the eternal student in me will always mourn the loss of some of the few remaining (affordable) apartments anywhere within walking or biking distance of Rice.
Lovett Homes = Very High End?
I see the words, but they aren’t making sense.
Ian-
You’d be surprised. I’d be willing to bet a small majority of the neighborhood would rather retain the apartments than replace them with the typical oversized lot busters that Lovett builds. This is an area where history matters to a lot of the home owners. How do I know? I live in Boulevard Oaks and HATE the new crap that’s been put up over the last decade and many of my neighbors feel the same way.
“To be clear, Boulevard Oaks is not kicking them out, a developer had the money and the vision for something else”
Stucco is a vision????
That’s too bad. I always wanted to live in one of the pre-war apts. And, btw, I am a renter,and I care very much about the place I live in.
A lovely Craftsman home was torn down across the street from me,so two unattractive townhome things could go in. Not progress as for as I am concerned.
Oh well, when the western half of the inner loop becomes the exclusive bastion on those with high end jobs like Doctors, investment bankers and the like, the east end will (contintue to) welcome the Bohemians, the artists, and the other assorted unwashed masses priced out of places like 006 & 007. You know, those folks that made many of those inner loop areas more interesting in the first place. Those that the market, (and other fans of enclaves of PLU folks), seem to now deem unworthy of the increasingly “upscale” and increasingly generic western half of the loop. The way things are going, more and more people will able to obtain that Cinco Ranch style blandness without ever having to leave the loop.
Stucco is a vision. Not mine and I’m guessing not yours either.
Also coming soon, something at the corner of Sunset and Ashby. Signs went up last week for a variance request.
It is time for many of these small apartment communities that were built within neighborhoods closer in to meet their last day……. Replace them with high end single family instead of driving the already high in to numbers they will never be able to sustain……..Also the metal lunch boxes built in Riverside Terrace need to be cleared so that area can be another option for those of us who only want to spend $250k on a single family home……..townhomes are a worthless joke in most areas since Houston has so much land……..they only work well in the Midtown-Downtown EADO areas since those areas are meant for high density………Also Endeavour Clear lake would make a great resort for Hilton, they could buy the old condos next door and add a hotel and run the tower as a condo, spa, resort……..let’s clean this town up people together!!!!!
Maybe BOCA will finally quit their whining about the “Tower of Traffic” since the removal of all of these units will go towards offsetting the density of the Ashby Highrise.
Some of you guys really crack me up.
If all this dirt was vacant today and Lovett decided to built THIS EXACT project on the site, most of you would be up in arms hollowing about the horrible architecture, poor design, cheap materials, and improper land use.
If it’s being torn down though, you hate to see it go.
And one other thing for all you lovers of vintage Inner Loop apartments….
A much larger bomb is about to be dropped.
Whatever,
I really had no idea that Boulevard Oaks was ever a neighborhood that ever had any real diversity. I am sure my mother in Southampton would be quite surprised.
Bernard, what’s left to demolish? Parkview on Hermann Drive, Wilshire on Dunlavy, the ones either side of Buffalo Speedway at Westpark and on east to Edloe, the ones on Cambridge at OST…all the 1940’s garden apartment complexes are gone. Unless you’re talking about the remaining Lurie Apts, what’s left inside the loop?
Someday the entirety of Fountain View between 59 and Woodway will probably be demolished and redeveloped.
I can confirm without a doubt that these were bought by Frank Liu. For everyone upset by this, there is still a similar style complex on the northEAST corner of North blvd and Hazard that was not purchased…
After seeing St. Louis, MO mid-July this year, I’m grateful Houston residents has vision and money. Yes, townhouses tH3 5uX but the alternative …
Hope and change
There are still several thousands units of the older/vintage variety. You say “what’s left?”, but a quick drive around the area and you’ll see them all day.
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Specifically, there are 228 buildings that are 10+ units, they make up 9440 units. That doesn’t include the thousands of units in buildings smaller than 10 units.
I’m sorry to see these old apartments go. We’ve lot so many of these early apartments in the past decade. I doubt whatever they build will have any character or charm. Why can’t developers use some imagination?
The terms “Lovett Homes” and “very high end†are mutually exclusive.
Lived there right out of law school. Terrific, well-designed interiors with stylish built ins, sun windows, nice glass bricks and the porches upstairs were terrific. Very sad to see them go.
These properties were deed restricted to single family a long time ago. If torn down they could only be developed as single family. Sorry to see these units go- they are a great low-rent option for Rice grads and young professionals who want to stay in the area.
Cody, I was referring to the large garden-type complexes, the ones that occupied and defined two or three square blocks. Of course there are thousands of smaller collections.
@ Camille: Are you sure that these were deed restricted to single family? It would seem unlikely.
^agreed, Camille – that was my observation as well. As far as comments like below, it just shows how presumptuous, misinformed, and rude people can be.
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“I personally shed at least one tear each time a shotgun shack or fully depreciated garden apt complex is taken down in favor of a nice home for someone who actually cares about the place in which they live.”
Ian wrote:
I personally shed at least one tear each time a shotgun shack or fully depreciated garden apt complex is taken down in favor of a nice home for someone who actually cares about the place in which they live.
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Most of the residents are Rice students, so it’s not at all as you characterize it.
Camille solved the mystery!
I lived in the apartments on the NE corner of Hazard and North Blvd. as a new attorney after graduating after law school and really enjoyed being part of the neighborhood. Sorry to see it change. The majority of my neighbors were grad students and young professionals who were responsible renters and the older residents were very nice to us.
I just want to chimed in and put in my opinion that Lovett Homes treat their clients pretty badly for a high-end company.
Its sad to see them go, but the buildings that are being demolished are so run down compared to the ones that will remain. Some of these comments are so rude. The lots ARE deed ristricted. Only single family homes can be built. Doesnt leave a lot of wiggle room. I at least hope they are not too cookie-cutter!
I’m sorry to see these apartments go – I loved living there as a Rice undergrad.
Ah, well, I’m very late to the party. Still, I want to mourn the loss of these buildings, which I grew up in between 1959 – 1976, from 1962 on in the bright red brick building at the corner of Hazard and North Blvd. That building, that extremely spacious apartment, with hardwood floors and an unusually large living room, were lovely on the outside as well as inside. It will always be “home” in my imagination, but of course, nothing sweet, nothing not inherently rather vulgar, can be allowed to last in Houston. I’m grateful to Candace Garcia for her historian’s instinct and photographer’s eye, otherwise, I’d have only memories, nothing preserved. How I miss the Houston that was!