Swamplot Archives by Tag: Bellaire

Friday, November 6, 2009

It Didn’t Take, This Broken Wing: What the Developer of Wilshire Village Had in Mind for Bellaire

November 6, 2009 – 8:13 pm

Lauren Meyers, archivist of would-be Houston, digs up an earlier plan for a building at 4500 Bissonnet, on the corner of Mulberry St. in Bellaire. That’s the vacant property long in the possession of legendarily delinquent Wilshire Village landlord Jay H. Cohen, where Matt Dilick, the man who now apparently controls it, is planning to build a 2ish-story stucco mild-West meets retail-Tuscan strip center and sell off the rest of the land.

Back in 1946, Cohen’s father, who had developed the Wilshire Village Apartments on West Alabama and Dunlavy 6 years earlier, planned a 122-home subdivision on the 30-acre strip between Avenue A (now Newcastle St.) and Mulberry St. with a partner. And at the southern end of the property, facing Richmond Rd. (now Bissonnet St.), a sweeping, low-slung modern structure spanning Howard St.: the Mulberry Manor Community Center, designed by Houston architects Lloyd & Morgan.

Meyers quotes a Houston Chronicle report from September 1, 1946:

Continue Reading This Story >

8:13 pm | 8 Comments | Read more about Commercial Real Estate, Houston Architects, Houston History, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Proposed Developments, Retail, Strip Centers
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First They’ll Need To Clear Out All That Vegetation That’s in the Way

November 6, 2009 – 1:44 pm
   

Nancy Sarnoff hears word that the owners of the 100-year-old Teas Nursery at 4400 Bellaire Blvd. near Newcastle are hoping to sell off the property for single-family homes: “The Bellaire business will be relocated, sold or liquidated, according to Tom Teas, president and manager of the landscaping division. Plans are for the nursery company to redevelop the five acres of land itself and then sell lots to builders. The project will start in January.” [Prime Property; previously on Swamplot]

1:44 pm | 12 Comments | Read more about Houston History, Land Sales, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Redevelopment
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

On Bissonnet near Newcastle: More Pieces of the Wilshire Village Package

November 3, 2009 – 10:15 am

Let’s see . . . there was today’s planned foreclosure auction for Wilshire Village. What else does Matt Dilick of Commerce Equities have going on?

Swamplot’s neighborhood correspondent for Bellaire reports on Commerce Equities’ proposed development on one portion of a couple of long-vacant tracts at the northeast corner of Bissonnet and Newcastle:

The plots of land at 4400 and 4500 Bissonnet, between Newcastle and the Centerpoint service center, are being cut up and sold. . . .

Evidence of surveying and subdivision in recent weeks has recently given way to signboards indicating that the north third of the open land at 4500 Bissonnet will be cut up into six residential lots while the two-thirds fronting Bissonnet is reserved for commercial. The next block over, across Howard Street, commercial space is being developed to open before April of 2010. According to flyers on broker David Nettles’s website, approximately 62% of the 20,000-some-odd square feet of office space is still available.

But the two parcels — totaling almost 4 acres — have more of a connection to Wilshire Village than just the involvement of Dilick.

Continue Reading This Story >

10:15 am | 4 Comments | Read more about Commercial Real Estate, Land for Sale, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Proposed Developments, Retail, Strip Centers
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Openings and Closings: Down the Donut Hole

October 21, 2009 – 5:57 pm

Just a couple items this time:

  • Closing: The Dunkin Donuts at 5406 Bellaire Blvd. near Bissonnet, after more than 2 decades in the same spot. When it’s gone, there’ll be just 4 of the chain’s locations left in the Houston area. The Bellaire Examiner’s Steve Mark:

    [Owner Henry] Tsao’s current agreement with the donut chain is expiring; the company requires new agreements to last a 10-year duration with a new set of parameters for facility and mechanical upgrades totaling as much as $400,000. Tsao, 62, doesn’t want to make a long-term commitment at his age and isn’t inclined to make the required financial reinvestment, so his store will close Oct. 24.

  • Moved to the Rice Village: Dog- and baby-friendly Olivine has taken over the former location of Back Be Nimble at 2405 Rice Blvd. Making the trip from Uptown Park: owner Helen Stroud’s collection of linens, loungewear, and reproduction and slipcovered furniture. In the back: baby clothes. Cote de Texas’s Joni Webb reports:

    Helen spent all of September getting the new shop ready – and if you ever wanted to check out wall to wall seagrass, this is your chance – I think she bought out all the rolls of it available in town.

Continue Reading This Story >

5:57 pm | 4 Comments | Read more about Franchises and Chain Stores, Home Decor, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Neighborhoods: Rice Village, Openings and Closings, Restaurants, Retail
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

John Teas, 1934-2009

August 25, 2009 – 9:52 am
   

That 1916 house on Teas Nursery property at 4400 Bellaire Blvd. — now home to the company’s landscaping business — was his birthplace. He died yesterday. “His grandfather, Edward ‘Papa’ Teas, Sr., whose family had been in the nursery business since 1843 starting in Indiana, moved his family to Bellaire from Missouri in 1910 to grow and sell produce, but turned to landscaping when a freeze in 1913 wiped out his business. He was responsible for introducing azaleas and crepe myrtle to the area, so legend goes, and for planting some of Houston’s enduring natural beauty, including Rice University’s oaks. John Teas helped plant the oaks along the Rice campus on Fannin Street as a boy. The family’s nursery businesses extended from Fort Bend County through Conroe, but the roots were sunk the deepest in Bellaire, where the nursery and landscaping business continue to this day.” [Bellaire Examiner]

9:52 am | 9 Comments | Read more about Gardening, Houston History, Landscape, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Quicklink, Trees
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Monday, July 27, 2009

Swamplot Price Adjuster: A Little Corner of Bellaire, As It Is

July 27, 2009 – 11:39 am

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: 4901 Evergreen St., Bellaire
Details: 6,890 sq. ft. lot, marred by only by existing house. “BEING SOLD AS LOT VALUE ONLY***DRIVE BY ONLY***Great Corner Lot***Lots of Trees**”
Price: $700,000
History: Listed at the current price since late May.

Note: Story updated below.

The reader who’s nominating this Bellaire lot wonders why it’s priced like a Bellaire house:

This is probably priced more than double what it should be. While Bellaire is not a cheap neighborhood, there are plenty of nice 3700-4000 square foot homes selling in Bellaire for this same price or lower. It isn’t even a big lot. The appraisal district appraises it at $254,069 for a price difference of $445,931 . . .

It is also a corner lot, and there is a stop sign in front of the house. I know there is an older house on the lot, but the agent is selling it “As-is” without scheduling appointments . . .

There is a beautiful 4400 sq foot house also on Evergreen a block or two away (5113 Evergreen) on a similar size lot that is selling for 825 [was recently reduced to $799K].

What would be a better price for this little piece of Bellaire?

Continue Reading This Story >

11:39 am | 15 Comments | Read more about Land Prices, Land for Sale, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Price Adjuster
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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Comment of the Day: How a Form-Based Code for Bellaire Might Work

June 18, 2009 – 5:07 pm
   

“In the interests of improving the community as a whole do you think it would be possible for the City of Bellaire to call a moratorium on the building of faux Tuscan McMansions? Or perhaps a number of turrets per home limit?” [Jimbo, commenting on Crossing That Thin Baby Blue Line]

5:07 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Development Regulations, Home Design, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Quicklink
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Crossing That Thin Baby Blue Line

June 17, 2009 – 4:17 pm
   

Two Bellaire City Council members are upset about a very long, baby blue line Metro painted along Bellaire Blvd. last month: “‘We work hard in Bellaire to improve the look of our community, the planning commission is working hard on a comprehensive plan, and then some outside entity decides to paint a stripe down our street, and I don’t like it,’ said Councilmember Peggy Faulk at Monday night’s council meeting. ‘We are continually plagued by visual pollution,’ said Councilmember Pat McLaughlan, who also challenged signs posted at-will by government jurisdictions through Bellaire. Metro painted the blue line along the entire route of its Quickline Signature express service, which offers high-tech hybrid buses at peak hours down Bellaire/Holcombe Boulevard from west Houston to the Texas Medical Center.” [Bellaire Examiner]

4:17 pm | 79 Comments | Read more about Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Quicklink, Streetscapes, Transportation
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Great Inner-Loop Teardown Backup

March 25, 2009 – 11:53 am
   

“Since builders cannot get credit to build spec homes right now, they are not buying older “tear-down” homes in West U and Bellaire. As a result, the $400K-$499K price range in West U and Bellaire is a strong buyer’s market with inventories stacking up.” [Strictly a Buyer's Agent]

11:53 am | 6 Comments | Read more about Demolitions, Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Neighborhoods: West University, Quicklink
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Friday, October 10, 2008

The Real Story Behind the Bellaire Rotunda Craze

October 10, 2008 – 12:12 pm

5607 Whitehaven St., Bellaire

From the website of Top View Builder — builders of this 6,017-sq.-ft. home at 5607 Whitehaven St. in Bellaire — under “Company History”:

Founded in 2007 by four well-rounded partners, the company is desitned to set the benchmark of excellence.

Maybe helps explain the bloated look, too.

12:12 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Homebuilders, Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, New Construction: Residential
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Friday, October 3, 2008

JPI: Nothing Doing

October 3, 2008 – 3:07 pm

Pool, Jefferson Estates at Bellaire Apartments, Houston

More real-estate-firm troubles you haven’t read about in the newspaper: JPI, a multifamily developer based in Irving, Texas, earlier this week shut down or canceled all new development and construction projects — and laid off development, design, and construction teams. Existing projects already underway will be “completed and wrapped up by a small team that will remain behind until they are complete,” according to a company email provided to Swamplot. The email blamed “the ongoing credit crisis” and “the inability to obtain credit at any price” for the closings.

JPI did not appear to have any projects planned for Houston, but JPI Living does operate Jefferson Estates at Bellaire, an apartment complex at 4807 Pin Oak Park, just inside the Loop between Bissonnet and the Southwest Freeway.

Photo of Jefferson Estates at Bellaire: JPI Living

3:07 pm | 1 Comment | Read more about Apartments, Commercial Real Estate, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Openings and Closings
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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Shell Still Leaving Bellaire

July 2, 2008 – 7:54 am
   

Shell Oil will renovate and expand its Westhollow campus off the Westpark Tollway near Highway 6 and send most Bellaire employees there. “. . . two-thirds of the 5-acre [Bellaire Technology Facility] is built on leased land. That lease will expire in 2010, which added to the decision to close the operation there.” [Houston Chronicle]

7:54 am | Add a Comment | Read more about Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Office Buildings, Openings and Closings, Quicklink
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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Bellaire New Home Showcase Tour: Webb Edition

July 1, 2008 – 12:31 pm

Joni Webb goes on a tear through Bellaire, describing some new builder homes:

Each year, Bellaire builders compete in a Showcase of Homes where they try to out build each other with more and better amenities, more square footage, more details, more windows - more of everything and anything to win the Best of Show. The builder is the star here, architects are rarely if ever mentioned. I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t want to claim one of these “show” houses myself. Is it truly harder to design an attractive house? Is it more difficult to design a home with inviting curb appeal? I don’t think so. I think it actually must be harder to design one of these detailed overloaded showcase style houses.

And then . . . she takes readers on a tour of Bellaire’s baddest spec homes! Here’s Swamplot’s edited version . . . actual addresses, details and asking prices, and links to the listings have been added (and some contrasting homes Webb likes much more have been left out):

4701A Braeburn Dr., Bellaire, Texas

Location: 4701 Braeburn Dr.
Details: 4-5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths; 5,076 sq. ft.
Price: $999,000
The Pitch: “Stunning Mediterranean stone and stucco new construction in Bellaire! . . . Virtual grass added to photo!”
Docent Comments: “Is it Mediterranean or French, contemporary or Tuscan? Take your pick, there are elements here of each style. The front loading garage is the focal point. Can someone please explain the two windows lowered on the stone at the front of the garage? Are they lowered for children or dogs to peer out of them? And why are there two faux windows on each side of them? I count FIVE lanterns on the garage alone. The house itself is barely noticeable, it’s so pushed to the back of the garage. The front door is encased in a square stone facade, again, why? Two turrets of different heights flank the front door. The stone work is placed with no regard to design. The left turret has a stone base, the right turret has a stone facade with bands of colored stucco at its base. The windows are contemporary, while the house is not. And why are there three faux windows with a small gable above the right turret on the second floor? There is nothing, absolutely nothing attractive about this house. If someone buys it, it will be a miracle.“

Oh, yes . . . there’s more!

Continue Reading This Story >

12:31 pm | 9 Comments | Read more about Home Design, Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, New Construction: Residential
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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: Red Brick Type Jobey

June 26, 2008 – 11:40 pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game 13: Bar

The votes are in! Thanks to all of you who played this week’s game! We had some great comments this time.

Two of you thought the house we showed might be in Sugar Land. Another two guessed Clear Lake. Tanglewood also got 2 votes — one specifying “near Winrock.” Bellaire had two too — one of them pegging it off Newcastle, south of Bissonnet. There was a traffic jam around Memorial, with single guesses of Memorial, the Memorial Villages, “west of 610/east of Voss and north of San Felipe/south of Memorial,” “Blalock/Bunker Hill area near Memorial/San Felipe,” “one of the Kickerillo subdivisions,” “off Briar Forest between Kirkwood and Dairy Ashford,” and Huntwick. The Woodlands, Crestwood, Champions, Augusta, Rice Military, Westhaven Estates, the Heights, Pearland, Manvel, Riverside Terrace, Midtown, Buffalo Speedway, Knollwood, Woodlake Square, and Greatwood attracted one vote each.

The winner was CK, who took a stab at Bellaire . . . and nailed it. Good work!

Honorable mentions go to four contestants who were able to tease out a few interesting details about the house. First, Scott, for this sad but brilliant bit of real-estate logic:

If it’s a new build, where’s the wine fridge? Get those bottles off their butts and on their sides!

Joni Webb figured out that the exercise room was on a 3rd floor, and pegged the house as so 20th century:

this is newer build, probably 1990s because the flooring is wood and tile, not the newer limestone. plus - brass hardware screams 80s and 90s not 2000s.

margo captured the gist of the place with this classic comment:

this is some sort of eary 90s red brick type jobey.

markd distilled that even further, to “Bellaire McMansion.” Right on . . . but a little late. Plus “off Newcastle” is a few blocks off.

No secret agents played the nastier version of the game this time!

After the jump: It came from Bellaire!

Continue Reading This Story >

11:40 pm | 3 Comments | Read more about Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Neighborhoods: Bellaire, Neighborhoods: Bellaire Oaks
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Friday, June 6, 2008

The Fall of the House of Quaid

June 6, 2008 – 9:45 am

Dennis Quaid’s Sophomore Year Yearbook PhotoFrom a story by Mauricio Guerrero in this week’s Village News:

The Bellaire home at 4616 Maple St. where Dennis and Randy Quaid grew up during the 1950s and 1960s will be torn down. The house was previously owned by Kathleen McQuill[an], who purchased the home in 1978 from the Quaids.

“I bought from Mrs. Quaid herself,” she said.

Nita Quaid was the realtor and owner of the house.

McQuillan lived in the house for three years, then let her mother-in-law, sister and various other friends rent and live in the former Quaid home. She said that after owning the house for the past 30 years, it was time to sell.

“It makes me sad, but progress is ongoing,” she said when she found out that the house would be torn down.

  • Quaid Home Will Fall to Wrecker’s Ball [Village News]

Photo from Dennis Quaid’s Sophomore yearbook: Flickr user denquaidfan

9:45 am | Add a Comment | Read more about Demolitions, Neighborhoods: Bellaire
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