What will we cut out this time? How about a few of these fine structures?
In this episode: More apartments depart. Plus the end of the Grand Room.
We just know you’ll be wanting to get in one last snoop-through of that 5,701-sq.-ft. 1928 mansion on Chevy Chase that received its demolition permit yesterday. And who is Swamplot to deny you?
Who’da thunk that — try as he might, River Oaks society architect Charles Oliver still couldn’t design something as attractive as the four-fifths-of-an-acre lot he placed it on?
Now we’re getting down to business — by knocking these businesses down! Plus one little River Oaks Mansion:
Meanwhile, in West U:
The Gami family purchased the lot directly behind their own house to transform it into a new backyard, and they said they wanted to somehow give back to the community in the process. That’s when they decided to donate the old cottage in the 4200 block of Byron Street to the fire department for a few weeks before demolishing the house. . . .
The training at the Byron Street house has been so lifelike it has garnered attention from many residents on the street. Henry Stelzig, who lives right next to the house, said he thought it was a real emergency, and he wished firefighters would have notified neighbors not to worry.
“We were alarmed because, gosh, they had two ambulances out here, they had two fire trucks, they had everything,” Stelzig said. “We thought the house was on fire.”
The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance has sent out an email reporting that the congregation of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Heights voted in a special meeting this past weekend not to demolish its sanctuary building after all.
So what’s going to happen to the unused 1932 brick structure instead? Says the GHPA:
The Gothic Revival building on Cortlandt Street at East 15th Street will be used as flex space to accommodate church functions and Immanuel Lutheran School activities as well as community events.
Sure, it’s likely to make a great space for events. But how could any church function match an all-out building demo for fun?
The GHPA reports the congregation has committed to spending $150,000 on the rehab — about twice the cost of the demolition, which had already been scheduled for May. GHPA credits the 90-days-to-oblivion feature of the city’s otherwise toothless preservation ordinance for the save:
“The ten houses in Idylwood, 6 along N. Macgregor, 2 on Wildwood and 2 on Park Ln were all heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike.
Most all those houses have been hit numerous times, not the least of which was Allison. Those homes were right on Brays Bayou. Come on folks, some of the homeowners hated to sell to FEMA but it was either that or jump through impossible hoops to raise the homes’ foundations.
True, there’s been a lot of improvement to the bayou but who knows if those improvements will be effective when the next flood hits?
Not everyone chose to take the buyout.” [PYEWACKET2, commenting on Daily Demolition Report: Idylwood Hat Trick]
Swamplot’s Daily Demolition Report lists buildings that received City of Houston demolition permits the previous weekday.
It’s house party time! We’re trashing these places next:
Another crop of dust fades into Sunset.
We’ve cut the very best demos available down to these 6 finalists. And they’re all winners!
That’s the thing about demos. It’s always the best ones are already taken. And now these!
Swamplot’s Daily Demolition Report lists buildings that received City of Houston demolition permits the previous weekday.
Let’s kick off the week and the month right, shall we? We can begin by getting rid of these:
From 1stSatArtMarket (Mitchell Cohen): RT @swamplot: How Much Is That Chaise on the North Freeway? http://tinyurl.com/ybajtnm I know a place where they could sell that!
From htownjenny (Jenny Staff Johnson): @swamplot Having trouble opening your links this week...
From nataliebogan (Natalie Bogan): @swamplot Went to a party there once, the kids playroom would be all the space my plant and I need.. No one would even know I was there!From nataliebogan (Natalie Bogan): @swamplot Such a cozy bungalow! http://swamplot.com/piney-point-village-megamansion-now-10-million-off/2009-09-03/
From aharvey321 (Ashlea H): Hey @swamplot , why can't I see your new posts on your homepage?
From azizgilani (Aziz Gilani): @swamplot the third house just got torn down on my street (lorrie) in 3 months! No one told Knollwood Village about the market slowdown
From houstonnownews (HoustonNowNews): Sweet! RT @swamplot: H-E-B Plans To Build a Montrose Grocery Store at Wilshire Village http://twurl.nl/vf3w4o #hounews
From Illini_Jen (Jennifer Vodvarka): RT @houston_foodie: Sweet! RT @swamplot: H-E-B Plans To Build a Montrose Grocery Store at Wilshire Village http://twurl.nl/vf3w4o #hounews
From houston_foodie (Houston Foodie): Sweet! RT @swamplot: H-E-B Plans To Build a Montrose Grocery Store at Wilshire Village http://twurl.nl/vf3w4o #hounews
Comment of the Day: The River Oaks Middle Age Spread
“What’s sad is that River Oaks is losing the land versus house battle . . . What made River Oaks so elegant, really, was the amount of land on each lot which was probably 1/3 house to 2/3 land in most cases. Now it’s more like 2/3 house to 1/3 land. Many are nothing more than enormous townhouses with front yards.” [Matt Mystery, commenting on Down and Out in River Oaks]