Swamplot’s Daily Demolition Report lists buildings that received City of Houston demolition permits the previous weekday.
Hello and good morning! We’ve got these properties to take to the dumpster. Then we’ll be right back for construction fun!
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Community Structures
- Rummel Creek Elementary, 625 Brittmoore Rd. 77079 (Spring Branch ISD)
- 8200 Knox St. 77088Â (new lift station demo and flow diversion)
Residences
- 817 W. 17th St. 77008 (Houston Heights; photos)
- 2045 Harvard St. 77008 (Houston Heights; new construction by Smith Family Homes; more info)
- 902 Graceland St. 77009 (Lindale Park; garage only)
- 1435 Althea Dr. 77018 (Oak Forest; new construction by David Weekley Homes)
- 7916 Cinderella St. 77028 (main structure)
- 8130 Bonaire St. 77028 (Holleman; main structure)
Photo of 2045 Harvard St.: HAR
Wow. So 2045 Harvard sold at lot value for $65/sf. This may be a new high-water mark for land in the “Free Heights”.
The 4300 s.f. new build is listed at $1.65M. At what price point does a large house stop being considered a McMansion and start being considered an actual mansion?
@ Angostura – I don’t think the “Mc” in McMansion refers to size. I think it refers to cost/price, and where that price falls on the income/wealth distribution curve (aka – is attainable to large numbers, like McDonalds). For example, a 4,300 sq/ft house selling for $300k in Cypress would be a McMansion. The same home selling for $1.65 million in the Heights is probably a mansion. The same home selling for $4.0 million in River Oaks would certainly be a mansion.
We really live in a city where a charming home like 2045 Harvard is considered a tear-down (I’m going from the photo only). If it’s true, it’s Twilight Zone crazy.
Is there any other city where this is happening? Is there any end in sight?
I realize it’s free enterprise and out with the old and all that, and I understand it, and honestly, I don’t care that much either way but.
It’s just bizarre.
Angostura – I think maybe a house is considered a real mansion when it is not crammed on a too small lot and actually has at least a yard? I don’t know any more.
Like “literally”, “decimate” and “nonplussed”, the term McMansion has evolved in meaning. It once meant a large but inexpensive home, usually in the suburbs, accessible to a family with a middle class income.
Among a certain type of internet commenter, however, it now means: “house whose size offends my sensibilities”, regardless of price, quality or location.
@Danogris, I took a walk-through of 2045 Harvard to assess it for materials salvage. The house hadn’t been properly maintained for some time, and it would have been a total gut job to save.
When it comes to a poorly maintained 1k sqft house on a 6600 sqft Harvard St and builders are paying $65 psf for the dirt… economics dictate the wrecking ball is nigh.
I live right in the area and at numerous tidy ~1k sqft bungalows have changed hands intact in the last year or so.. a house 1 block north of comparable size is actually getting a full reno as I post this. Things are not so bleak.
They are tearing down Rummel Creek Elementary?
When the property taxes exceed the amount of gross rental possible on a bungalow, it usually becomes imperative to sell to the developers who caused the property values to rise in the first place. I am not a TEA party sympathizer, but something needs to be done about this manner of taxation.