- 1818 Locksford St. [HAR]
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Lazybrook
A Swamplot reader in motion along 290 sends photos of the late-stage demolition in progress on Exxon’s former Brookhollow campus, now down to its last office building at 4550 Dacoma St. Tear-down began on the structure last July after a partnership connected to Fidelis Realty Partners and Williamsburg Enterprises bought the 24-acre property just outside the Loop the year prior with plans to build a retail center on the site. The ruined 254,566-sq.-ft. structure is one of 3 office buildings that once stood on the campus.
A few more photos of the crumbling facility:
Roadside Distractions
- 1718 Tannehill Dr. [HAR]
COULD COYOTES BE KILLING THE KITTIES OF TIMBERGROVE AND LAZYBROOK? 
Over the past six years Jennifer Estopinal has recorded the violent demises of about two dozen house cats in Timbergrove and Lazybrook. Their manners of death have typically been grisly — some were beheaded, others bisected, in some cases paws were removed — and on some occasion the cadavers have appeared to have been left on display. It’s all been enough to raise suspicions that a sicko serial kitty killer was at work. There is now a hefty bounty on the alleged predator’s head: four different donors have cobbled together a kitty of almost $25,000 in reward money. But might the killings simply be nature taking its course? Last month a coyote was sighted brazenly attempting to enter the lobby of the Bayou Bend Towers at Memorial and Westcott. More recently, Estopinal and husband Mark saw another of the canine carnivores while out patrolling Timbergrove in search of the culprit. At the corner of Ella and Grovewood (not far from forested W. 11th St. Park), the Estopinals saw and pursued a coyote, watching as it attempted to raid a pet-food bowl on a front porch, then chase a cat, Â then scale a 6-foot privacy fence “with ease.” Mystery solved? Possibly, if only partially, Estopinal believes. “I’d like to believe a coyote is what’s been killing so many cats lately,” she posted in a neighborhood group message board. “I think its possible a few could have been but not all, as there are too many things that have been done that would’ve been impossible for a coyote.” [Houston News; CultureMap] Photo: Mark Estopinal
From reader Jody Henry comes this pic of the newly transformed facade of the former Country Kitchen location on the western reaches of 11th St. near Seamist. The front patio is built out; burgers, salads, beers, and wings are waiting in the wings. Warehouse Bar & Chill is a week and a half away from opening at 3333 W. 11th St., according to the new establishment’s Facebook page.
- Warehouse Bar & Chill to Open in the Heights [Eater]
- Coming Soon! [Warehouse Bar & Chill]
Photo: Jody Henry
Just Add Patio
We don’t have all that many to spare, but it appears that there will soon be one fewer thin-shell paraboloid roof in Houston: HISD says it plans to demolish the 1958 James M. Delmar Fieldhouse (known now as the Delmar-Tusa Fieldhouse) and build a new facility in its place. According to a press release, the old stadium is “currently in poor condition with major roof leaks, flooding problems in the locker rooms and a sports medicine area that falls short of athletic league standards.”
The 5,000-seat swayback fieldhouse is located at 2020 Mangum Rd., just outside the Loop in Lazybrook and Timbergrove. Designed by Milton McGinty, who also had a hand in the Rice Stadium, the gym served as the home court in the ’60s for UH and the Elvin Hayes-powered Coogs. But it would seem that HISD wants to make haste and move on from that history: “The goal is to have the site ready for construction as soon as possible and complete the replacement facility by late 2016.”
Photo: Houston Daily Photo
A pair of new restaurants are moving into old places in the Lazybrook and Timbergrove area. The former Queen Burger at 1802 W. 18th St., shown here, is being renovated and rechristened as Hughie’s Tavern and Grill. (A menu posted on Hughie’s Facebook describes the food as “Asian fusion.”) No date’s been given for the opening. And not half a mile away at 1951 W. T.C. Jester there’ll be a new Spaghetti Western . . .
Pardon us, one at a time, while we slip — slowly — into a slightly higher elevation.
Emerging this week onto the market from usually low-slung Lazybrook: This honking 2-story from the seventies, weighing in at 3,670 sq. ft. on a half-acre lot. Just a few blocks south of White Oak Bayou, in the upper left armpit of the 610 Loop, the place looks like it has room for more than a couple: There are double ovens, double disposals, double dishwashers, double AC systems, double sinks in the Master Bath, and recent double-paned windows. Only one swimming pool, though. Then there’s this logo and mascot:
COMMENT OF THE DAY: AND WHERE WOULD THAT PUT VERSAILLES? “If Louis XIV was reincarnated as an insurance broker in Houston, this is where he would live.” [finness, commenting on Where the La-Z-Boys in Lazybrook Are Frozen in Time]
Two Swamplot readers wrote in separately to suggest this new listing as a subject for our weekly Neighborhood Guessing Game. But really, doesn’t this 3-bedroom, 3-bath home have Lazybrook written all over it?
A reader declares that this home “has got to be the largest original home in Lazybrook/Timbergrove.” And:
This is the highest quality of wood paneling I’ve seen in a home in Timbergrove/Lazybrook, and I’ve never seen the wood beams. Too bad the house is so disorganized inside, I’d love to see it fully furnished and cleaned up. An nice little step back into time.
How far back? This 5-bedroom home — on almost half an acre in the upper left armpit of the 610 Loop — was built in 1968.
Just what is it about the layout of this seemingly restful seventies Rancher, waiting quietly on the market on Tannehill Dr. in Lazybrook, that might foster such dastardly schemes?
Welcome to Lazybrook, a sleepy little northwest corner of the Loop that really only gets riled up when White Oak Bayou decides it wants some action! These four lazy homes will be open this weekend . . . if you feel at all like stopping by. Or not. Whatever.
Location: 1811 Tattenhall Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 1,652 sq. ft.
Price: $288,000
The Scoop: 1957 ranch with selective updates, including Lone Star pattern in leaded-glass front door, ceiling fans, crown molding, and “marbleized look formica” countertops. Back yard has small wooden deck on top of pavers; sprinkler system. On market since mid-January; $7K price cut in March.
Open House: Sunday, 2-5 pm
Want more like this? This way . . .
