November 6, 2009 – 1:44 pm
Nancy Sarnoff hears word that the owners of the 100-year-old Teas Nursery at 4400 Bellaire Blvd. near Newcastle are hoping to sell off the property for single-family homes: “The Bellaire business will be relocated, sold or liquidated, according to Tom Teas, president and manager of the landscaping division. Plans are for the nursery company to redevelop the five acres of land itself and then sell lots to builders. The project will start in January.” [Prime Property; previously on Swamplot]
Read more about: 77401, Bellaire, Houston History, Land Sales, Proposed Developments, Redevelopment
November 5, 2009 – 11:55 pm
What corner of the city should we document next week — for Swamplot’s new group photo feature? How about the intersection of Hillcroft and Harwin? Take pix of anything you find within 500 ft. of that corner, and send them in! We’ll have a few more details — plus photos from the past week’s project — on Friday.
Read more about: Notices, Photography, Swamplot Projects
November 5, 2009 – 12:23 pm
A well-timed bankruptcy filing earlier this week by the entity that owns Wilshire Village did in fact prevent the almost-8-acre vacated property at West Alabama and Dunlavy from foreclosure: “Matt Dilick, whose name is listed on the Secretary of State’s web site under registered agent for Alabama & Dunlavy Ltd., said his role is that of development manager. His company, Commerce Equities, ‘is proceeding with its development plans on the property and continues to market the property,’ Dilick said. He recently told me that the property was being offered for sale, but there was a chance he’d still build something on the land.” [Prime Property; previously on Swamplot]
Read more about: 77098, Bankruptcies, Foreclosures, Lancaster Place, Land for Sale, Neighborhood Disputes, Wilshire Village
November 5, 2009 – 9:35 am
“Yesterday, a friend of mine sent an e-mail out with this in the subject line: ‘You can’t own anything nice if you live inside the loop…’ She sent this because the large wooden bench she keeps on her front porch had been stolen. Carted off. In broad daylight. This was a big bench. It was not a one-person job. This tells me there must be a big gang of these people in the Heights, strolling around while we sit at our desks in office buildings, treating our houses like unattended garage sales. I would tell her to get a dog, but we have a dog. And we’ve still had every single thing not attached to our concrete foundation pilfered. Maybe she should get a dog bred for something besides decoration. Maybe that’s the key.” [A Peine for Your Thoughts]
Read more about: 77009, Crime, Furniture, Heights, Home Decor, Security
November 4, 2009 – 11:28 am
Among yesterday’s election results: Victory for Propositions 1 and 2 in Friendswood. That means grocery, wine, and convenience stores will be able to sell wine and beer, and restaurants will be able to serve wine, beer, and mixed drinks in the city’s downtown. “Both propositions allow alcohol sales in a corridor along FM 518 between FM 528 and FM 2351. The city, founded by Quakers, banned alcohol sales in April 1963, the year Friendswood was incorporated.” [Galveston County Daily News]
Read more about: 77546, Friendswood, Nightlife
October 30, 2009 – 12:49 pm
Nancy Sarnoff recounts the distinguished real-estate ventures of Houston attorney John O’Quinn, who was killed in a car accident on Allen Pkwy. yesterday: “He was a financial partner with Trammell Crow Co. on 120 acres of land in Katy where KBR was planning to build a corporate campus. He was planning to help fund Ballpark Place, a downtown residential tower across from Minute Maid Park that never got off the ground. In 2004 he contributed $225,000 to the renovation of Lawndale Art Center at 4912 Main St., a 1931 art deco building designed by Joseph Finger. He was a major investor in Houston-based Flagship Properties, an apartment developer. He partnered with Houston-based Levcor Inc. on the Centre at Bunker Hill, the Costco shopping center along the Katy Freeway. And after a $25 million gift to St. Luke’s, O’Quinn was given naming rights to the 506,000-square-foot O’Quinn Medical Tower - the 28-story twin-towered structure whose spires resemble hypodermic needles.” [Prime Property; previously on Swamplot]
Read more about: Real Estate Investing
October 30, 2009 – 12:21 pm
Brittanie Shey reports on the grand opening of the local brewery’s new home at 2000 Lyons Ave. in the Fifth Ward: “We got to see the top secret investor’s bar, a swanky-looking room in the back with a lovely carved wooden bar-top. We also heard the story of how the building, which was once an HISD food distribution facility (a.k.a. a giant freezer and refrigerator) had to be literally thawed out — there were icicles hanging from the ceiling — before it could be inspected. . . . The newery has four floors, but most of the action is in the middle two. The first floor is where the brewing takes place. The second floor, with huge windows looking down to the first floor, is where the tastings are and where parties will take place for those who have rented out the brewery. The company is thinking of using the basement for aging beers, and the third floor, right now it’s just filled with storage.” [Houstonist; previously on Swamplot]
Read more about: 77020, Adaptive Reuse, Attractions, Fifth Ward, Industrial Properties
October 29, 2009 – 11:58 pm
Aim your cameras within 500 ft. of the intersection of 43rd St. and Ella Blvd. Where Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, and Shepherd Park Plaza meet — maybe for brunch? More details coming . . .
Read more about: Notices, Photography, Swamplot Projects
Comment of the Day: Staying Safe in Midtown, Back in the Good Old Days
“Last I lived inside the loop was 17 years ago in Midtown…before it was chic. I lived behind an 8 foot chainlink fence topped with razor wire. My friends called it “the compound” but I never ever had a problem.” [Tex, commenting on The Front Porch Gang]