Swamplot Archives by Tag: 77057

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Take the Money and Iran

November 12, 2009 – 7:26 pm
   

“Federal prosecutors are seeking to seize the Islamic Education Center at 2313 S. Voss, just north of Westheimer, as part of a move against the Alavi Foundation, nonprofit organization with suspected ties to the Iranian government: “Faheem Kazimi, chairman of the board of directors of IEC, said tonight that the center leases its building from Alavi Foundation. No other connection exists, he said. . . . The Center’s premises on South Voss is occupied by one of Houston’s largest Shiia mosques and Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning, a private Islamic school. . . . The mosque . . . will remain open while the forfeiture case works its way through court in what could be a long process. What will happen to them if the government ultimately prevails is unclear. But the government typically sells properties it has seized through forfeiture, and the proceeds are sometimes distributed to crime victims. There were no raids Thursday as part of the forfeiture action. The government is simply required to post notices of the civil complaint on the property. Prosecutors said the Alavi Foundation, through a front company known as Assa Corp., illegally funneled millions in rental income back to Iran’s state-owned Bank Melli. Bank Melli has been accused by a U.S. Treasury official of providing support for Iran’s nuclear program, and it is illegal in the United States to do business with the bank.” [Houston Chronicle]

7:26 pm | 3 Comments | Read more about Financing, Neighborhoods: Briargrove, Quicklink, Religious Facilities
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Former Mob Boss to Penthouse Club: Keep Your Pants On

September 15, 2009 – 2:11 pm
   

The Penthouse Club just off Westheimer at 2618 Winrock — shut down by the city a year ago for violating the city’s sexually oriented business ordinance — is reopening this Thursday! But . . . there’ll be no nudity this time, promises the club’s global licensing director. Who owns the club? According to KPRC Local 2 Investigates reporter Robert Arnold, that would be admitted murderer turned government witness Vincent Palermo, the former acting boss of New Jersey’s DeCavalcante crime family: “In addition to the mansion on Memorial Drive, Local 2 found Palermo, now using the last name Cabella, also owns the property that is the Penthouse Club on Winrock Boulevard near Westheimer Road. Harris County records show he also owns the Mexican food restaurant [Ruchi's Grill] in front of the Penthouse and the [Super Clean] car wash behind the club. State records show a company called “Hereweareagain, inc.” owns and operates the Penthouse Club, and another company called “6430 Westheimer, inc” owns and operates All Stars Cabaret across the street from Penthouse. Palermo’s wife and son are listed on corporate filings for these companies.” [Click2Houston; previously on Swamplot]

2:11 pm | 8 Comments | Read more about Crime, Neighborhoods: Briargrove, Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Quicklink
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Great Houston Strip Club Crackdown

May 27, 2009 – 11:57 am
   

The arrests last week of 6 dancers, the DJ, the manager, and the “house mother” at the All-Star Men’s Club on the corner of Winrock and Westheimer — along with legal action against the club for operating a sexually oriented business without a license — are the latest rounds: “‘This is part of a bigger effort by the White administration to use the powers that are available to the city to protect and improve the quality of life in the city’s neighborhoods,’ said private attorney Patrick Zummo, who was hired by the city to help enforce its sexually oriented business ordinance. ‘We are working on another lawsuit that would include many of those businesses that are operating illegally, and which will probably be filed in the next couple of weeks.’ . . . Frank Michel, a spokesman for Mayor Bill White, confirmed Friday’s legal action is the beginning of an offensive against sex clubs that operate in areas where they would not qualify for a city license.” [Houston Chronicle, via Boyd's Blog]; previously in Swamplot]

11:57 am | 6 Comments | Read more about Development Restrictions, Neighborhoods: Briargrove, Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Quicklink
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tracking the Disappearance of Antique Properties

April 28, 2009 – 10:32 am

Jerry and Wynonne Hart are scheduled to be sentenced today for “misapplication of fiduciary property” in the operation of their auction business at the Hart Galleries. In return for the couple’s guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of theft and money laundering.

11 News reporter Dave Fehling spoke to several former Hart Galleries customers:

The auction house thrived for years. The Harts enjoyed a sterling reputation among the rich and not so rich who all trusted the Harts to sell their valuables. But around 2003, something strange began happening . . .

. . . the Harts auctioned furniture and antiques for John Zielinski and his wife.

They were expecting to get $20,000.

“And I said, ‘where’s our money?’ And they said, ‘we’re having difficulty collecting some of the checks,’” said Zielinski.

The next thing Harts’ customers learned was that the couple was bankrupt.

Continue Reading This Story >

10:32 am | 5 Comments | Read more about Bankruptcies, Crime, Fraud, Furniture, Neighborhoods: Galleria, Neighborhoods: Upper Kirby, Redevelopment, Retail
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Friday, April 17, 2009

Augusta Demo and Storage

April 17, 2009 – 12:46 pm
   

The new owner of a small Galleria-area office building directly across the street from the parking garage for San Felipe Plaza plans to tear down the 2-story 1977 structure, which suffered a roof collapse and $2.7 million worth of damage from Hurricane Ike. “[Seller Robert] Clay is under the impression that a self-storage facility will be built there. In fact, four parties interested in buying the site wanted to build development storage units there, he says. [Hasad Development's Sam] Amber, the buyer, has developed several ProGuard Self Storage locations around town. However, a company spokesman in Houston would not comment on future plans for the nearly one-acre site. Based on buyer interest, Clay concludes that, ‘This location is a perfect private mini-storage location.’” [Houston Business Journal]

12:46 pm | 6 Comments | Read more about Demolitions, Disaster Aftermath, Land Sales, Neighborhoods: Galleria, New Construction, Quicklink
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Comment of the Day: The Great West Houston Divorcée Belt

March 18, 2009 – 11:32 pm
   

“It basically runs in between Beltway 8 and 610 and is crossed by the likes of Westheimer, Woodway, Richmond, Bissonnet et al. Basically these people met in drunken stupors along the Richmond strip in the early 80s at those cheesy night clubs; tried to make lasting marriages but eventually divorced; and then bought homes and patio homes close but not too close to their old stomping grounds. Incidentally, many of them work non-descript office jobs at middle market companies in the Westchase district and raaaaaave about the tres leches cake at the Churrasco’s out there on Westheimer. Yay Divorcee Belt!” [Bobby Hadley, commenting on Neighborhood Guessing Game: Blue Check]

11:32 pm | 6 Comments | Read more about Comments, Neighborhoods: West Houston, Quicklink
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Woodways and the Westheimers

January 13, 2009 – 12:18 pm
   

“I sometimes think that Woodway is made nicer by the fact that Westheimer exists. There are certainly numerous suburbs and exurbs where the Westheimers look like Woodways. Oh, there’s retail, but it’s set back from the street, perhaps behind a tree buffer, with tasteful monument signage out front. I’ve always found such environments to be stifling. It’s so obviously contrived. All-night, six- and eight-lane arterials are SUPPOSED to have large illuminated signs. They’re SUPPOSED to have ratty businesses alongside the nice ones. Every suburb has a Target and a ratty convenience store. Westheimer has a Target and twenty ratty convenience stores, plus ‘24 hours video and news.’ I’ve never been in there, but its existence tells me that this strip is whatever it wants to be. This holds true of Woodway. It’s not a pure residential drive; there is retail, much of it even with tasteful signage. The signage follows from the road - Westheimer has large signs because it’s big and straight and a larger sign means higher visibility. Put up a larger sign on Woodway and it’d just be obscured by trees. Some people think of Westheimer (and other streets like it) as ugly. I don’t, but I understand where they’re coming from. Perhaps if they wanted to do something about it, they should plant trees instead of making rules about commercial signage. Proactive versus restrictive. Woodway is a nice drive because it was built to very nice design standards (10′ median with staggered trees) and because the people who own stores and homes along Woodway want to keep it pleasant. And so it is.” [Keep Houston Houston]

12:18 pm | 6 Comments | Read more about Neighborhoods: Tanglewood, Quicklink, Retail, Streets
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Penthouse Stripped

September 10, 2008 – 10:15 am
   

The Penthouse Club at 2618 Winrock has been closed by court order — the first such action stemming from Houston’s 11-year-old sexually oriented business ordinance: “State District Judge Mark Davidson issued a temporary injunction Tuesday afternoon and ordered the club to shut down immediately. A trial in which the city will argue for permanent closure is set for Oct. 27. Davidson’s order is a major victory for the city, which has spent more than $1.2 million defending the ordinance against challenges by adult-oriented businesses, said attorney Patrick Zummo, hired by the city to help it enforce the law. ‘It means that this ordinance that we fought so hard to pass and prove constitutional, that it will actually work,’ Zummo said. ‘We’re not through. We’re looking at other locations around The Penthouse.’” [Houston Chronicle]

10:15 am | Add a Comment | Read more about Development Restrictions, Neighborhoods: Briargrove, Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Quicklink
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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: Garage Zero

July 24, 2008 – 11:49 pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game 17: Bedroom

Good work this week! Four of you guessed Briargrove. Meyerland, Tanglewood, and Old Braeswood attracted two guesses each. Fall Creek, Memorial outside the Beltway, the Elkins Lake Country Club area in Huntsville, Fonn Villas, Tealwood, West Grove Court, Buffalo Speedway & Braeswood, Shepherd Park Plaza, and Afton Oaks attracted guesses as well.

And Briargrove it was! The winner was tcpIV, the first to stake that claim in our comments section — with this pithy entry:

Briargrove?

Yes!

An honorable mention goes to a later Briargrove guesser, BJ, who came up with plenty of story:

The front room with the big window screams ranch. That cavernous master bedroom looks big enough to pull in mom’s Chevy Suburban LT-1 and dad’s 5-series, so it is likely a converted garage. It also looks like the owner dropped a small fortune on antiques in Round Top, white-slip covered furniture and big fancy flat-screens. I also see an orange blanket on one of the kid’s beds–probably Longhorn fans. Lastly, several kids clearly inhabit those rooms–they’re likely playing out front while mom and her friends sip martinis, or at soccer practice at Kinkaid. I say Briargrove all the way!

Special recognition this week for the bamboozling skills of David W, who emailed us the actual listing but whose attempt to throw other players off the scent ended up sounding rather plausible:

Looks like a 60’s subdivision house to me - maybe Fonn Villas? Tealwood? Those aluminum framed bay windows and shiny brass chandelier scream Kickerillo circa mid 60’s. I’m guessing the master bedroom is an add on as well as the breakfast room with skylights. Those rooms almost look like they are from a different house.

Want the scoop on this place?

Continue Reading This Story >

11:49 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Neighborhoods: Briargrove
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Friday, May 23, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Briargrove and Briargrove Park

May 23, 2008 – 11:49 pm

Briargrove and Briargrove Park are 5 miles and (to judge from this weekend’s open houses), about $700,000 apart. But both feature homes so eager to be sold that they’re giving up a good portion of their Memorial Day weekend just so you can visit.

10335 Lynbrook Hollow St., Briargrove Park, Houston

Location: 10335 Lynbrook Hollow St.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths; 2,958 sq. ft.
Price: $410,000
The Scoop: 1976 brick home on cul-de-sac in Briargrove Park, built around brick courtyard. Two bedrooms, including Master, downstairs. Partial second story. Partially covered deck in back. On the market since mid-January. Price cut $25K last week.
Open House: Sunday, 3-5 pm

More Briargrovian homes below:

Continue Reading This Story >

11:49 pm | 2 Comments | Read more about Neighborhoods: Briargrove, Neighborhoods: Briargrove Park, Open Houses
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Friday, May 2, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Westhaven Estates

May 2, 2008 – 11:53 pm

Westhaven Estates is patio-home heaven! There are no wasted yards, and all homes are carefully protected from the streets. This weekend: Tour some freestanding homes for sale here!

2323 Potomac Dr., Westhaven Estates, Houston

Location: 2323 Potomac Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths; 3,018 sq. ft.
Price: $584,900
The Scoop: 1999 Dollhouse Mediterranean in 8-building gated compound. Carport fronts 2-car garage. Master retreat has gas fireplace and bay window; adjacent Media Room with wet bar and balcony is next to separate Study. Hardwood floors on second-level living areas. Has been on market for 2 months already.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

More patio homes this way . . . !

Continue Reading This Story >

11:53 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Westhaven Estates, Open Houses
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Thursday, May 1, 2008

A Walk Down Cheezy Street: Richmond Avenue, Past Its Prime

May 1, 2008 – 3:41 pm

Corner of Richmond and Fountainview, Houston

Pedestrian scribe John Lomax and Marfa City Council candidate David Beebe have, by this time, earned the right to make a few sweeping statements about various Houston neighborhoods. And Lomax exercises that right in his chronicle of the pair’s latest adventure on foot, along Richmond Avenue from Mission Bend to Midtown:

. . . the epicenter of H-Town cheese is the corner of Fountainview and Richmond. A four-story, day-glo, red, white, turquoise, and tan building looms over the southeastern corner there, and it houses a Sprint shop, a little downstairs bar with the godawful name Identity, a scalper’s office, a massage therapist, and a huge Darque Tan outlet.

Sure, Westheimer’s got some cheese, and is a little tattered around the edges in spots, but there’s a veneer of gentility as expressed by old-line businesses like Christie’s Seafood. Richmond, by contrast, used to have that sub-Landry’s fried seafood emporium King Fish Market, which despite the incessant awful commercials that polluted local airwaves circa 1999, is now out of business and practically in ruins. The whole lot of it is a great vat of rancid Velveeta.

As is much of the Richmond Strip. That giant sax outside of Billy Blues is looking more and more like the torch sticking out of the sand at the end of Planet of the Apes.

After the jump: how’s the nightlife?

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3:41 pm | 3 Comments | Read more about Neighborhoods: Afton Oaks, Neighborhoods: Richmond Strip, Nightlife, Streets
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Woodway Glen Fourplex Condos: Converted, but Still Not Sold on the Idea

February 26, 2008 – 11:49 am

6323 Deerwood Rd., Woodway Glen, Houston

Here’s the plan: Buy a fourplex on a cul-de-sac near the intersection of Woodway and Voss. Do some painting, replace the roof and repair the exterior, put in granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances in one of the units and new appliances and carpet in the rest. Then . . . convert the place to condos, and flip them one at a time!

Except . . . there are a heck of a lot of condos out there in the $150K-$230K range, and selling is tough.

Bummer. But there’s still a moneymaking way out: If you can’t make the condo flip yourself, that doesn’t mean you can’t sell someone else on the idea of doing it. And you’ve already done the conversion work!

Just listed on MLS: 6323 Deerwood. Four units built in 1975, totaling 7,564 square feet, on a 10,171-sq.-ft. lot. Apartments lease for $1200 and $1400. Asking $645,000:

Units have already been condo converted! Investor can sell units separately or keep as a fourplex.

Will consider seller financing!

After the jump: the renovated innards.

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11:49 am | Read more about Apartments, Buying and Selling, Condos, Neighborhoods: Briargrove, Neighborhoods: Woodway Glen, Real Estate Marketing
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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Fairmont on San Felipe: Stacked!

February 14, 2008 – 2:19 pm

Rendering of The Fairmont on San Felipe, Houston

It looks like our earlier report about the Fairmont at San Felipe — the strip-center-apartment combo planned for the southeast corner of San Felipe and Winrock — was wrong. Judging from this new rendering of the complex, it sure looks like those apartments will actually be stacked directly on top of the retail spaces, forming a lovely parking-lot-courtyard tableau!

Permits for construction of the apartments were just approved by the city. After the jump: closeups, plus the plan that led us astray.

Continue Reading This Story >

2:19 pm | Read more about Apartments, Commercial Real Estate, Mixed Use, Neighborhoods: Briargrove, New Construction, New Construction: Residential, Retail, Strip Centers
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Friday, December 28, 2007

Sterling Senior Condo Sales Staff Retires

December 28, 2007 – 10:19 am

Sales Sign for Sterling at Memorial VillagesRemember that fancy 27-story condo tower planned for Voss between San Felipe and Woodway? The one that was “for seniors only” and featured three floors of assisted living? Where you could buy a spacious 950-square-foot unit for just a tad under $500K?

Well, neither did we.

But if you were too busy pursuing an active lifestyle to notice that the sales center had shut down and the website disappeared, today’s Houston Business Journal makes the official announcement: The Sterling at Memorial Villages is dead, for lack of interest.

The project site holds a shuttered retail facility where a Chipotle formerly operated. The western-most part of the site, which is not owned by [Sterling developer] Sunrise Senior Living, is being marketed for sale by McDade Smith Gould Johnston Mason + Co. The eastern portion of the property — where the condo was to be built — is now being marketed by Wheless Properties.

The public company will see what offers it gets for the land, but [Sunrise Senior Living rep Jamison] Gosselin says it also is considering developing a rental property at the site.

Not mentioned in the article: Links to The Sterling of The Woodlands on the company website no longer work either.

Photo: HAIF user BuilderGeek

10:19 am | Read more about Condos, Highrises, Neighborhoods: Memorial Villages, Proposed Developments, Senior Living
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