Swamplot Archives by Tag: 77025

Monday, August 10, 2009

Swamplot Price Adjuster: Blue Bonnet Spread

August 10, 2009 – 6:14 pm

The Swamplot Price Adjuster needs your nominations! Found a property you think is poorly priced? Send an email to Swamplot, and be sure to include a link to the listing or photos. Tell us about the property, and explain why you think it deserves a price adjustment. Then tell us what you think a better price would be. Unless requested otherwise, all submissions to the Swamplot Price Adjuster will be kept anonymous.

Location: 3105 Blue Bonnet Blvd., Southern Oaks
Details: 3 bedrooms, 4 baths; 4,109 sq. ft. on a 16,992-sq.-ft. lot
Price: $3,400,000
History: On the market since last Thanksgiving. Price reduced $100K mid-June.

Our nominator, struggling with the price tag:

Typical newer construction home in Southern Oaks. The chandelier in the foyer is way too ostentatious for my taste…but to each their own. The rest of the house shows like any other new construction mcmansion in Southern Oaks and Braes Heights that list between $1,000,000 - $1,300,000. Also, it’s sits four houses off of Buffalo Speedway in one direction and two houses down from a huge apartment complex in the other direction. The only advantage I see this house has is that it’s on a 16,000 sf lot, whereas most of the others average 9,000 sf. The house is only 4,100 sf, making it smaller than most of the new construction in the area. So, the question is, why the $3.4 million price tag?

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6:14 pm | 19 Comments | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Braeswood Place, Neighborhoods: Southern Oaks, Price Adjuster
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Thursday, March 19, 2009

Comment of the Day: The New Kirby Trees

March 19, 2009 – 4:36 pm
   

“. . . the stretch of Kirby south of Rice Village to Brays Bayou is finished. It now has a center median. The tree planting is identical to the Kirby project from Westheimer to Richmond. Tree plantings on both sides of the road and in the median. The bonus of the Westheimer to Richmond section is that all the power lines will be underground. So the trees will be able to grow freely unlike the ones that were removed!” [kjb434, commenting on West Ave School of Loud but Muffled Knocks]

4:36 pm | 2 Comments | Read more about Comments, Neighborhoods: Braeswood, Quicklink, Streets
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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Comment of the Day: Great Challah Drought

March 5, 2009 – 3:55 pm
   

“Yay, welcome back 3 Bros! Hopefully this will prevent a repeat of the great challah drought of the ‘08 Rosh Hashannah season, when I almost had to knock down a little old lady at the Rice Epicurean on Post Oak for the last loaf of raisin.” [lildebbi, commenting on Openings and Closings: Super Happy Baking Brothers]

3:55 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Comments, Neighborhoods: Linkwood, Openings and Closings, Quicklink, Retail
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Openings and Closings: Super Happy Baking Brothers

March 4, 2009 – 11:16 am

As the retail churns . . .

  • Reopening Soon: The original Three Brothers Bakery next to Brays Bayou in Linkwood, closed since Hurricane Ike, has a permit in hand to rebuild. Cynthia Lescalleet reports in the River Oaks Examiner:

    While the exterior of the building, 4036 South Braeswood Blvd., will retain the colors, 60s-vintage architectural elements and windows of its past, the inside has been reconfigured a bit to be “cozy,” with a more efficient layout.

    Among the tweaking are the addition of a small room for wedding consultations and staff offices that look out over the interior so they can see and connect with the customers they’ve missed since Hurricane Ike damaged the business, [co-owner Janice] Jucker said.

    “We’re almost like therapists over the bakery counter,” she said.

    But: no plans to return to the River Oaks Shopping Center or Sugar Land.

    Any future expansion would likely be into properties the bakery would own and build itself, she said: “We want control over our destiny.”

    Near the end of the 10- to 12-week building project, the building’s crooked sign will be re-set. If you see a straight sign, that’ll mean the bagels are almost ready.

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11:16 am | 1 Comment | Read more about Neighborhoods: East Downtown, Neighborhoods: Linkwood, Neighborhoods: Museum District, Openings and Closings, Restaurants, Retail
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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Openings and Closings: Galleria Gallery, Paulie’s Retreat, Not Mulch More

February 19, 2009 – 11:47 am

So what’s new?

  • Opening: There’s a big new Gallery Furniture taking over the old Pier One space in the Post Oak Shopping Center, across from the Galleria. Isiah Carey notes that there’s a (much smaller) “coming soon” sign out front. Also coming to the strip from Mattress Mack: a new and more upscale Kreiss Furniture store, where Pier One Kids used to be.
  • Closed: Paulie’s restaurant reports receiving an undisclosed “offer we couldn’t refuse” to close its Holcombe at Kirby location, and dutifully complied on Monday. The original Paulie’s, on Westheimer at Driscoll, will remain open.
  • Hoping to Spread: And Katharine Shilcutt reports that Otilia’s Mexican restaurant, the longtime Long Point standout, now “a bastion of the upper class yuppies who reside quietly in the nearby Memorial Villages and wash down their rice and beans with bottles of Merlot,” isn’t closing, despite rumors she had heard. But:

    it turns out instead that Otilia’s is actively seeking to franchise their restaurant. A bright sign by the register blinked this advertisement every five seconds as we ate, while the waitresses sullenly confirmed this fact.

Then there’s that Main St. mulch . . .

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11:47 am | 7 Comments | Read more about Art, Furniture, Neighborhoods: Long Point, Neighborhoods: Museum District, Neighborhoods: Southgate, Openings and Closings, Parking, Restaurants, Retail
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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: Across the Street

January 29, 2009 – 8:08 pm

Unlike properties featured in previous rounds, the home in this week’s Neighborhood Guessing Game wasn’t for sale. It was listed on HAR as a rental.

Maybe that’s what made it so difficult?

Well, someone must have found it. Sometime between Tuesday and today the listing disappeared.

Your guesses? Three for Montrose. West University, Southampton, and Southgate attracted 2 each. There were a number of long or inventive neighborhood names, such as “near the Menil,” Bellaire outside the Loop, the “Vassar/Milford/Banks” area, “somewhere off Fountainview somewhere near 77056,” off Hammerly/Long Point, East University (“whatever the area west of Greenbriar, north of Holcombe, east of Kirby and south of the Village is called”), “the Mandell/W. Mandell area bordered by Westhiemer to the North, W. Alabama to the South, S. Shepherd to the West and Montrose to the East,” “the area between Westheimer and West Gray bounded by Shepherd to the West and Montrose to the East,” “that neighborhood that’s just west of Weslayan on the north side of the SW freeway,” and “in the Meyerland area, all the way in along da bayou to the med center area.” The rest: Medical Center, Museum District, the Heights, Hyde Park, Riverside Terrace, Garden Oaks, Lynn Park, and Weslayan Plaza.

No winner this time. But we have 2 strong runners-up: Brad, who came close enough to set up his own neighborhood:

. . . for lack of a better idea, I’ll guess whatever the area west of Greenbrier, north of Holcombe, east of Kirby and south of the Village is called… East University?

And marmer, who tells a pretty convincing story:

This is a nice little pre-war two story that someone added a big den to the back of. Notice how there’s painted brick to the right of the fireplace but not the left? That’s where the end of the original wall was. The fireplace brick is different (though the chimney brick looks similar though unpainted.) Enclosed sunroom was probably the sleeping porch, originally screened. The dining room bay window keeps it from being too old. You see this kind of thing all the time in Galveston where someone will make a historic southern townhouse livable by adding a big den and kitchen in the back. But I don’t think it’s Galveston. Probably more likely Montrose, Southgate, or Southampton.

Keep going with those “South”s . . . !

But the real answer is . . .

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8:08 pm | 4 Comments | Read more about Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Neighborhoods: Braes Heights, Neighborhoods: Southside Place
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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: The Missing Link

January 8, 2009 – 8:38 pm

Knollwood Village was the clear favorite of this week’s neighborhood guessers, with 4 of you spotting the house there. A few more guesses huddled nearby in the southwest corner of the Loop: Linkwood, Woodshire, Woodside, “south of Braeswood between Buffalo Speedway and Stella Link,” and “the neighborhood South of Holcombe/Bellaire and West of Stella Link behind the Palace Lanes (Lanark St).” Riverside Terrace got 2 votes. The rest: Meyerland, Afton Oaks, “around the Galleria, Chimney Rock, Richmond area,” Bellaire, Antoine/43rd St. off 290, Willowbend, east Westbury, Braes Heights, Ayrshire, Robindell, Long Point Woods, Royal Oaks, and Shadow Oaks.

Great work, everyone!

We had 2 winners this week. Chris, who included all the right names in this neighborhood roundup:

. . . ahhh those corner windows, itsy-bitsy crown molding, and green tile betray this home’s location. The only area I know of that is so corner-window crazy is the Knollwood/Linkwood/Woodshire/Woodside part of the inner loop.

And Swamplot-Award-winner Miz Brooke Smith, who turned in another strong performance:

I would narrow the area to south of Braeswood between Buffalo Speedway and Stella Link. The living room-dining room-kitchen layout, quality and nature of the wood floors, old-fashioned wooden bathroom cabinets & knobs, proportion of door to 8′ ceiling height, and tell-tale brass-colored doorknobs also speak of this time & place. Same goes for the view out the window through mature oak limbs to the one-story brick rancher across the street (both of which — house & roadbed — doubtless have their share of historic clay-gumbo cracks and seams). The handsome re-do includes new windows, and perhaps a built-out sun room and porch off the kitchen, overlooking the backyard deck?

Honorable mentions go to all the Knollwood Village guessers — Joni Webb, toadfroggy, and Pat — who were close but ended up on the wrong side of Buffalo Speedway.

And here it is:

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8:38 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Homes for Sale, Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Neighborhoods: Linkwood
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Thursday, August 14, 2008

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: The Netherworld

August 14, 2008 – 2:24 pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game 20: Living Room

The house with the red carpet prompted a wide range of neighborhood guesses this week: 2 each for Willowbend, Lindale Park, and Spring Branch (one of them specifying the area near Long Point or Gessner). Plus: River Oaks, Afton Village, Champion Forest, Oak Forest, Pasadena, Irvington, Meyerland, Sharpstown, Houston Country Club Place, Simms Woods, Hampshire Oaks, Mason Park Terrace, Glenbrook Valley, the East Side, the near East Side, the North Side, the near South Side, and Briarcroft.

But that wasn’t all. A larger number of you this week provided longer descriptions for the neighborhoods. Are we running out of names? These included the I-45/Tidwell/Airline area, the Tidwell/I-45 area close to Luna St., “the cultural cavity that is bounded by I-45/59/I10/610″ (??), the North Side near the Hardy Toll Road, East Westbury off Bellfort, “north of 610 N between the toll road and 45,” the Gulfgate area “east around the brewery or on the other side of the east loop,” “the post-oak so main area in the netherworld between the loop and the beltway,” “Stella Link/Willowbend - to the east of Post Oak and South of the Loop,” off Irvington Park Blvd. just north of 610, “East Side, south of the Lawndale/Telephone nexus but well inside the South Loop,” Riverside (Terrace)/MacGregor, OST/Griggs/South Loop area, “Mykawa/South Acres/Bellfort/Almeda Genoa-kind-of-area,” Mangum/290, and Westbury Sq./W. Airport.

Whew. Those Willowbend guesses . . . so close! The winner was tcpIV, who impressed the judges with this more specific entry:

Poor Granny. We loved her so. I’m hoping for the Stella Link/Willowbend area - to the east of Post Oak and South of the Loop. She was quite a housekeeper though. Gosh I miss her.

tcpIV edged out Chuckles, who drew a slightly larger boundary around

the post-oak so main area in the netherworld between the loop and the beltway

and went home with the Silver. Actual subdivision name: Westwood.

An honorable mention goes to marmer, who wrote:

This looks a lot like my mom’s house, which was built in 1952. The attic fan switch and heater filter detail are identical. Lots of other bathroom elements and little architectural touches are similar. Unfortunately for this particular Guessing Game, she doesn’t live in Houston. Fortunately for me, she’s still alive and has neither the money nor the bad taste to do this to her house. Mid-to-low priced postwar tract house. Not a bungalow. Pre-MCM. Could be almost anywhere.

After the jump: The gory details.

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2:24 pm | 4 Comments | Read more about Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Neighborhoods: Westwood
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Friday, July 25, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Braes Heights and Emerald Forest

July 25, 2008 – 10:58 pm

Above the gentle northern banks of Brays Bayou lie this weekend’s featured neighborhoods: the curiously named Emerald Forest and lofty Braes Heights. Midcentury Mod and Newcentury Faux, side by side! Why not take a peek?

3747 Gramercy St., Braes Heights, Houston

Location: 3747 Gramercy St.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,600 sq. ft.
Price: $449,500
The Scoop: 2-story postwar Mod in Braes Heights holding its ground between recent stucco interlopers. Many neutralizing updates. Three bedrooms on first floor. Large back yard; no garage. One of 3 Houston Mod “Mods of the Month” this weekend. On the market for a month and a half. Price already chopped $25.5K.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

Want to see more bayou-side treasures? Click this way, please!

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10:58 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Neighborhoods: Braes Heights, Neighborhoods: Emerald Forest, Open Houses
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Friday, May 30, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Woodside, Braes Terrace, Knollwood Village

May 30, 2008 – 11:55 pm

Southern ranches almost as old as air conditioning itself! This week’s homes are low slung and and unsung, but still have room to party in back! Woodside, Braes Terrace, and Knollwood Village hook into the bottom of the Loop, between Stella Link and South Main.

8714 Bevlyn Dr., Braes Terrace, Houston

Location: 8714 Bevlyn Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,955 sq. ft.
Price: $329,900
The Scoop: Expansive 1953 brick ranch in Braes Terrace. Featured here back in August, for $55K more, before all that beautiful wood paneling was painted over. Game Room, Study; Sunroom leads to backyard deck and pool with changing rooms and half bath. Just relisted.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

More dressed ranches this way . . .

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11:55 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Braes Terrace, Neighborhoods: Knollwood Village, Neighborhoods: Woodside, Open Houses
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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Belgravia: The British Empire Strikes Back

February 12, 2008 – 12:50 pm

Elevation of Proposed Belgravia Condos at 4026 Bellefontaine, Houston

Nineteenth-century British architect John Nash is apparently staging some sort of comeback in Gramercy Park. Here’s some of the marketing copy for the Belgravia, a 44-unit midrise condo building planned for Bellefontaine St., just west of Stella Link:

Following the traditions of neo-classical design, by one of Englands greatest architects John Nash, The Belgravia takes us to one of the most exciting times of British innovation where the most remarkable landmarks were sought, built, and admired.

The planning commission recently approved Sunhill Development’s replat of the property, over some vocal neighborhood opposition.

After the jump, more pics of the former British Empire’s Braeswood Place outpost!

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12:50 pm | Read more about Condos, Neighborhood Disputes, Neighborhoods: Braeswood Place, Neighborhoods: Gramercy Park, Proposed Developments, Real Estate Marketing
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Monday, October 29, 2007

The Belle Meade: Apartments Step Onto the Podium

October 29, 2007 – 11:07 am

Belle Meade at River Oaks Elevation Drawing

Belle Meade at River Oaks on Westheimer

A permit was issued late last week. And so sitework begins for the 119-unit, 168,398-square-foot Belle Meade at River Oaks, on Westheimer between Ferndale and Sackett, developed by Grayco Partners:

The project is a 6-story epicore (light steel) construction on top of a 2-story podium garage. The boutique building will resemble the look of turn of the century, old New York hotels in brick with cast stone details, while spacious interiors will include such amenities as hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and individual wine chillers. Community amenities will include conditioned interior corridors, heated pool, fitness facility, business center and a resident recreation room.

Grayco is also developing Museum Place, at Fannin and Oakdale in Midtown—a “contemporary design” also on a two-story podium. And Braeswood Place, on North Braeswood just east of Stella Link: the more usual four-story stick apartments hugging a parking garage, but it’ll also include 21 townhouses. It’s meant to look like Rice. All three properties will be managed by Camden Property Trust.

11:07 am | Read more about Apartments, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Neighborhoods: Museum District, Neighborhoods: River Oaks, Neighborhoods: Texas Medical Center, New Construction, New Construction: Residential, Townhomes
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Friday, September 14, 2007

Daily Demolition Report: It’s All Happening at the Zoo

September 14, 2007 – 7:57 am

Another motel will be torn down, plus some demolition work at the Houston Zoo. Read our daily demo address list—after the jump.

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7:57 am | Read more about Daily Demolition Report, Demolitions
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Thursday, September 13, 2007

Daily Demolition Report: Holiday Extended

September 13, 2007 – 8:45 am

More structures at the Holiday House Motel come down, along with a Holiday Inn cabana. Read the addresses in our daily list, which begins after the jump.

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8:45 am | Read more about Daily Demolition Report, Demolitions
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Daily Demolition Report: The Holiday Is Over

September 12, 2007 – 7:22 am

Postcard of Holiday House Motel, Houston

One of the last 1950s-era motels on South Main checks out. Plus: The Salon de Bouté gets cut. Our address list of daily demos begins after the jump.

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7:22 am | Read more about Daily Demolition Report, Demolitions
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