- 2917 Lafayette St. [HAR]
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Tag: Homes for Sale
“Little Castle” or “Tree House”? This coastal property forged of sticks and stones in Shoreacres is known by either name; it’s a 1932-built landmark near the Houston Yacht Club in La Porte. Thick, rough cut rocks clad much of the exterior, which comes with a chimney-hugging turret (top). Near its breeze-facing entry off a patio, 4 ‘faux bois’Â pine trees — one of which looks a bit squirrely (above) — lend their support.
Rocky and Squirrely
- 1611 Ebony Ln. [HAR]
A CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN TO KEEP THE WICHITA ST. MYSTERY HOUSE UNDER RENOVATION FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS OR SO 
A former city librarian is channeling the don’t-stop-the-renovating spirit of Charles Fondow in her bid to raise enough funds to purchase the seminal Houston DIY-contractor-hobbyist-visionary’s remarkable former home in Riverside Terrace. “Help us raise the funds to buy it outright so we can complete the additions in our own time,” writes Virginia Verner in the promotional copy for her crowdfunding effort on website GoFundMe. Keeping the whir of power tools going appears to be one of the goals: “Current plans are to repair necessities first, inhabit the front house, and over time work to complete the unfinished bits. Events for repair and recreation will become a fixture in this abode.” The homeowner Verner hopes to replace in the 4,861-sq.-ft. expansion and renovation project at 2309 Wichita St., just 5 houses east of the Hwy. 288 feeder, worked consistently at his creation for 31 years before passing away in 2011. Perhaps paralleling the sincere, hardworking, but perenially underfunded Fondow, Verner has set the fundraising goal for her effort at $150,000 — the exact asking price for the property, which appeared on the market last Friday for the first time since its foreclosure in 2011. No mention is made how renovations might be funded after the acquisition. As of this morning, the website indicates she’s received pledges for 0.1 percent of her goal. [GoFundMe; previously on Swamplot] Photo: HAR
- 2110 Chesswood Cir. [HAR]
Fans and confounded passers-by of the unique castle-like construction at 2309 Wichita St. that former VA nurse Charles Fondow left after his death in 2011 will be interested to note that the 31-year Riverside Terrace renovation and expansion project he never completed is now for sale again — as of yesterday afternoon. And the price is significantly lower than the $325,000 it was listed at 3 years ago. The new owner of the 4,861-sq.-ft., 5-bedroom property —Â who according to county tax records is a division of Deutsche Bank — is asking just $150,000 for the property.
A Renovator’s Dream
Far into the woods of the Memorial Oaks section of Hunters Creek Village, a 1958 contemporary attributed to Houston architecture firm Neuhaus & Taylor seems to defy access. There is, however, a mini-driveway extending from a private road that peels off an equally discrete cul-de-sac street west of Wirt Rd. Originally, the secluded property also had ramps spanning the ravine lot’s “intermittent” stream bed of Briar Branch. Or so reported one of the daughters of the original owners in an online forum about 5 years back.
Bring Your Squeegee
- 1715 Maud St. [HAR]
Standing side by side and way, way back on their neighboring lot-ettes, mirror-image mini-mansions with mid and upper decks front Rodrigo Park in the Camp Logan area off Wescott near Memorial Park. The setback from the street and its drainage ditch leaves space for a ground-level front patio fenced at the dividing line. Earlier this week, the brick-and-stucco 2011 home on the right (top) was listed with a $1.295 million asking price.
Doubled Parking
- 1919 Marlberry Ln. [HAR]
There’s a gussied up front door and porch on the far side of this tilt-topped 1960 home in Mangum Manor, but it’s the unobtrusive side door off the double driveway that appears to be the main entry, dropping arrivals neatly between the living room and kitchen (top). The tidy midcentury property, sporting a new roof and a recent paint job, jumped into the MLS fray earlier today with a $229,990 asking price.
Absolutely Refloored
Despite an assemblage of botanical print wallpapers reflecting (sometimes literally) another interior design era, a 1975 townhome in gated Indian Trails, west of Chimney Rock Rd., also has a few features ahead of their time: like extra high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and double vanities in the bathrooms. A bit camera shy, the corner property has a $1.17 million price tag and keeps its elevation as under wraps as the perimeter windows in the listing photos. Here’s a possible hint why:
Garden Variety, or Deeply Closeted?
- 1812 Bissonnet St. [HAR]
It only took 3 days for a 13th floor condo unit with 2 slate terraces in Inwood Manor to go under contract — after being listed last week with a $995,000 asking price. Those who missed out have a few smaller options to consider elsewhere in the 16-floor beehive building of 110 units (top). A cast concrete tower designed by architect Harwood Taylor, the property has loomed over River Oaks and its hinterlands since 1962. A neighboring 13th floor 1-bedroom unit, furnished, is up for grabs as a lease starting April 1. And a couple smaller units on lower floors are still lingering, including one fitted as an office (above) by Houston interior design legend Herbert Wells, who died in 2010.
Unit Pricing
- 2535 Glen Haven Blvd. [HAR]
