As of this morning, Historic Houston has been able to raise only $13,000 of the $50,000 executive director Lynn Edmundson had figured the organization would need to keep its North Montrose building-parts salvage warehouse in operation for just 3 more months. After this weekend, she tells Swamplot, she will have lost all employees other than her crew. That means the warehouse at 1307 West Clay St. will only be able to be opened by appointment. This Saturday from 10 to 4, though, she’ll be holding a last-ditch 50-percent-off sale with a bonus: All purchases will be tax-free.
As a nonprofit, Historic Houston is allowed to hold 2 sales-tax-free sales a year. Similar events put on by the organization in past years have been “pretty big successes,” according to Edmundson. “There seems to be something about not paying taxes” that really encourages people to buy, she says.
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Edmundson and her crew are in the final stages of clearing all flooring, shiplap, and siding out of a separate warehouse on Joe Annie St. and bringing it to the West Clay location. Meanwhile, she’s been in talks with Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Harris County about the possibility of combining their salvage programs, and has applied for a grant to a foundation that provides emergency funding to nonprofits facing closure.
- Previously on Swamplot: Can Historic Houston’s Salvage Warehouse Be Salvaged?, Historic Houston Ending Its Salvage Program, Shutting Down North Montrose Salvage Warehouse
Photo: Candace Garcia
Per-tee sad commentary (if you care about the preservation of old houses) about this teardown town that a place like that can’t even sell enough to stay open. The Emporium up and left for California and now all that’s left will be Adkins. But 50K for 3 months to operate? Might be time to gut and remodel the business plan.
wow some one is way over paid. what can the possible bills be each month the place is hardly ever open.
I went to this place thinking I would find some great things. Instead, all I found was overpriced materials even at 60% off. Seriously, for goods this banged up they should be more like 90% off. Now I understand why they were in trouble in the first place.
Same old song…
“we need to save [fill in the blank] !!!”
.
“to save ____ would cost $x”
.
“oh, never mind”*
.
(*the last line is often replaced with simple inaction or a call for someone ELSE to pay)
Closed on Sunday???? I could not believe it.
From truthbetold:
Seriously, for goods this banged up they should be more like 90% off.
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I suspect they go in after the demolition crew is finished. That or their “workers” just toss everything in the back of the pickup and don’t care if it all gets a little banged up. But then it is all “historic” and so it should be a little “banged up” which gives it an “antique” look as well.
I gave up on preservationists when the Studes sold the McDermott home on Lazy Lane to an attorney who of course had called a demolition company before they closed. The Studes supposedly “restored” it. But suddenly it was “structurally unsound” is the excuse I believe that was used. It just wasn’t structurally ostentatious enough.
Let it close – Habitat Restore on 249 does a much better job at the whole salvage/resale thing. Perhaps Historic Houston’s downfall was their home relocation program, where they would move whole houses to new lots in an effort to preserve them. That must have cost quite a lot and I think the warehouse sales were supposed to support those efforts. Also they didn’t stock anything newer than 1940ish – declined donations of materials I brought from a 52 ranch – I only find it surprising they managed to stay open as long as they did.