Recent redevelopment of neighboring lots into townhomes has brought higher (and higher-density) neighbors (top) to this circa-1950 retail-ish space converted at some point into a low-rise loft (above). Currently an artist’s live-in studio, the fortress-fenced mixed-use property appeared on the market earlier this month with a $1.295 million asking price. It’s located on the east side of Midtown, southwest a block or so from the 59-288-45 spaghetti bowl.
Reader Seán Judge notes the recent transformation of a warehouse property on Larkin St. near the corner of Sherwin in Cottage Grove, where something that “LOOKS like a little restaurant” is taking shape from a once-ramshackle property presided over by a metal building: “There’s a bunch of ‘parking lot’ space on one side, and what look like bistro tables sitting outside the building,” he notes. “It is definitely looking at least bar/loungey with a lot of liquor, cushy seats, tables outside. And a sign on the door saying ‘Private Party: Thank you. Management.’ . . . Any idea what may be going in there?”
DON’T WORRY, YOUR LISTING IS STILL SAFE 
Police arrested 4 individuals on the scene early this morning after a break-in at the Houston Association of Realtors “SuperCenter” at 3693 Southwest Fwy., west of Edloe. The suspects were not believed to have made off with anything, but are being investigated for possible involvement in another organizational crime: The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Building across 59 and Buffalo Speedway at 3110 Southwest Fwy. was also broken into overnight. [KHOU] Photo: Andrew Horansky
Your votes have been tallied, and here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for — well, sort of. It’s time to reveal the second-place winners of the 2013 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate!
But before we do that, we want to thank all of you who voted, commented, nominated, campaigned, and cajoled in support of your favorite candidates. You make the Swampies possible.
The actual award winners will be announced in a later post, but now’s the time to let the second-place finishers shine. For many categories, it was a close race; under slightly different circumstances, these could have been the winners. So let’s have a big round of digital applause for the 2013 runners-up in the Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate — the Swampies!
They are:
Swamplot’s Daily Demolition Report lists buildings that received City of Houston demolition permits the previous weekday.
If you could pull this thing out we’d be eternally grateful.
Photo of BLVD Place construction: Russell Hancock via Swamplot Flickr Pool
Could the clipped and sculpted shrubbery outside this 1998 townhome (top) with fenced side yard have sent invasive shoots inside? A colony of photo-ready greenery appears to have taken root and taken over (above) within the otherwise cleared out corner unit, located in the Bakerdale subdivision of North Montrose, east of Montrose Blvd. near Wharton Elementary School on West Gray. The plantings aren’t the only signs of growth for the property. The asking price for the property, which earlier today was listed for a third time, is now $309,900. Back in its initial listing in September 2012, the price tag was $280K, which went down to $274,900 in October. A price reduction soon thereafter to $269,900 preceded the property being withdrawn from the market the following month.
Why were crews yanking out and replacing a brand-new 240-ft.-long stretch of rail and concrete on the not-even-opened-yet Southeast Line at McKinney St. (above), next to the Columbia Tap trail in East Downtown, earlier this month? Because back on May 30th, a 7.2kV CenterPoint Energy electrical line fell onto the tracks and their overhead line three-quarters of a mile to the south, at Scott St. and Coyle St.
Zzzzzzap!
In addition to the McKinney St. burnout, 20-ft. sections of rail and track slab got zapped near crossings at Nagle St. and Elgin. At the incident site, 80 ft. of concrete and anti-vibration insulation had to be scrapped and replaced.
This is it. The deadline for voting in this year’s Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate is today at 5 pm. That means there’s only a few more hours left to get your votes in. Does that leave enough time for a come-from-behind candidate in that category you’re watching to gain the lead? Sure! If enough supporters cast each of their 4 votes in each category.
Without your votes, will the best candidates win all the 8 categories? Take a look at the votes in the comments section of each category, and add your votes if you haven’t already. We need your help to make the 2013 Swampies the best they can be.
Here’s a link to all the official ballots, and here they are, one by one:
Tell us who your favorites are!
A quickly appreciating property on Piping Rock, and other demolition tales:
Photo of downtown: Russell Hancock via Swamplot Flickr Pool
Over in Brighton Place, an earthbound 1978 home with minimalist brickwork and window detailing is finishing out the year with a freshly painted multi-surfaced interior. Its floor plan adds some extra roomage. The property’s listing earlier this week carries a $669,900 asking price.
COMMENT OF THE DAY: WE HAVE MET THE TRAFFIC, AND IT IS US 
“. . . Next time you are stuck in traffic, remember that you ARE traffic. You don’t really have much of a right to complain about the traffic you are sitting in, because, well, you are part of the problem. And when did people think they could live in the urban core of the fourth largest city in the United States and not have to deal with traffic? Saying that a new development will result in ‘increased traffic’ really is the most ridiculous rationale that one could provide against such a development. I dislike traffic as much as anyone else, but I also like density and density means more traffic. Maybe if some of our representative politicians didn’t fight tooth-and-nail against alternative forms of non-automotive transportation we could all enjoy the benefits of increased density without increased traffic.” [thedudeabides, commenting on Grocers Supply Sale Will Supply 15 Acres for Apartments, Shops Across from Studemont Kroger] Illustration: Lulu
