As Federal-style homes go, this ivy-clad example on North Blvd. in Edgemont has a pedigree that earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places. An understated bronze plaque displayed discreetly beneath a demilune portico says so, but doesn’t elaborate. The 1925 home’s design is reportedly the work of C.B. Schoeppl & Co., whose efforts can also be found in a NRHP pair on Westmoreland Ave., as well as in a few other older Houston neighborhoods. Listed a couple of weeks ago for $1.9 million, this green-roofed home at the eastern end of the Boulevard Oaks Historic District sits back from — and a bit above — the tree-lined esplanade along North Blvd. But its corner-lot address is a tad shy of the double-allees of live oaks found a half-block to the east, in Broadacres.
***
There’s a little more Ivy League landscaping trained into the brick-edged walkway (above) leading to the entry.
In addition to a fair number of fanlight transoms and arches found inside and out, the 4,181-sq.-ft. residence has hardwood floors and upstairs-downstairs sun rooms:
There’s a second staircase off this wooden-shuttered study:
In the dining room, 3 sets of French doors open to a brick-edged patio at the back of the house.
The kitchen, redone sometime in the nineties, has electric appliances, 2 refrigerators, and Corian countertops. An informal dining area with a wall of cabinets is right next door, as is a hallway leading to the porte-cochère:
Off the living room, there’s a sun porch and this space, with a view of the southern-exposure back yard:
All 4 bedrooms are upstairs. The listing counts 3 1/2 baths.
This bedroom-with-porch has direct access to a shared bathroom that also opens to the hallway:
Off this blue-carpeted bedroom is a rooftop “terrace”:
The listing’s 16,900-sq.-ft. corner lot has a 2-car garage, which houses the utility room, a “tool room” and an apartment. In addition to the driveway, there’s a service alley running behind homes on this block.
Can you spot the horseshoe pit in the back yard? Make that the 2 horseshoe pits . . .
North Blvd.’s esplanade divides traffic flow on the block; the lane in front of the home handles eastbounders. Cross street Mandell, meanwhile, becomes a bridge over a below-grade section of the Southwest Fwy. 3 blocks north.
- 1603 North Blvd. [HAR]
Window unit?
“Window Unit?” that is why the ask price is only $1.9M. Someone will buy this and put $500K into it. This is a wonderful house, despite the looming “Tower of Traffic” that is going to turn BOCA into a ghetto.
That kitchen in that house? What the what?
Damn, that’s alotta shit in that house. And cheap, bad shit at that. If the clutter wasn’t bad enough, the 1978 kitchen and suspect window unit top it all off.
$1,900,000 for that ?
Only one TV. Amazing.
Great location? Check.
Beautiful lot? Check.
Well crafted 1920s gome? Check.
$1.9 is priced to move. I am actually surprised it hasn’t gone under contract already. A renovated house of that size on North Blvd could easily fetch closer to $3 million.
I don’t know anything about the market comparables, but I’m genuinely curious: Does the price make sense? Obviously it is a huge lot with a beautiful exterior on one of the nicest streets in Houston. But on the other hand, anyone with $1.9 million lying around is going to want to do a lot of updating and renovating to get the house up to snuff. I mean, I have a nicer kitchen than that in my Heights bungalow.
Yes, the price makes sense. One block over renovated house is listed at 5.9, across the street is 5.7. As doofus noted, “I am actually surprised it hasn’t gone under contract already” too.
Anyone checked out the house on the same street with the FAUX historical medallion. Hilariousity ensues.
Worth every penny. Has it sold while I was posting????
Yeah, it needs work. BUt that’s a lot of house & yard in west u. The price looks right to me. By the way, it does have central air & heat- not sure what the window unit is for.
Pretty inexpensive deal, bet it doesn’t last long. I wonder if it has a basement?
Is it so awful? I was thinking how much I like it, especially the dining suite, the rattan divan and those unusual shutters, and the wallpaper in the bathroom, and all the comfortable easy chairs and the apple-green butler’s pantry and even the blue carpet against the white walls with all the dark wood around; all except the beds, the Aubusson(?) rug and that horrid red tapestry. I was even wondering whether they might have an estate sale…It’s true there is a shocking lack of beige, and no furniture you get to assemble yourself with an allen wrench.
Apartments at North Blvd and Hazard are officially sold to Lovett Homes. Demolished by end of year. Plans are to build six single family homes?
Had the same thought Luciaphile. Color! I’ve been browsing houzz and other decorating sites lately and it’s pretty much all beige all the time. A red throw pillow comes across as a refreshing color extravagance! This house looks like it would be great fun to spend time and money on.
If the house has central a/c the window unit may be like what my neighbors have one for…to hook up to an emergency generator when power is lost. It ain’t pretty but it works.
This is a lovely house!
For it’s period.
But, yeah, will anyone want to adopt this baby?
The owner is a surviving over 65 spouse according to HCAD, and thee house was bought in 1965, so it’s not surprising the updates aren’t new.
It’s a great house, I wish I had that kind of money. A window unit is cheaper than redoing the central air to get a single room cooler.
That house is a steal at that price.
@ northside girl, that’s not west u.
Anyone who is questioning the price isn’t all the familiar with this exclusive enclave.
SK,
Where did you hear this? I had recently looked into a 1 bedroom there, not just a few weeks, that was for lease.
Great bones, location and presence. Concur with the notion that the price is reasonable if not good. I’d even bump it up to $750k for tasteful reno/resto and you’d still be good.
priced for the person who does not intend to tear it down……
Ugly kitchen granted, but the old stove is sort of awesome. Its not like the house needs a whole gut job just the kitchen, a bit of landscaping, and whatever electrical/HVAC that is obviously needed. I would think you could spend less that 100K and have a really beautiful big old home.
It will not sell quickly. No amount of renovation/remodeling could give this house the kind of “fuck you, I am rich” feel that wealthy Houstonians demand from their houses.
SK, you say the apartments at North Blvd and Hazard are officially sold to Lovett Homes. Are these apartments to the east or to the west of Hazard Street?
Unless there is a “Thou Shalt Not Tear Me Down” covenant attached to the “National Register of Historic Places” plaque, the plaque means nothing and it will be demolished along with the rest of the house. Hasn’t happened yet in Houston. But there’s always a first time.
Apartments to be torn down are west of Hazard on North Blvd, across from Poe Elementary. The yellow buildings and two brick bluidings on both sides. Four apartment buildings will stay, closest to Shepherd. Different owners.
One more comment, this house will sell! All the houses on North and South blvd have been renovated or newly built the last two years.
Old School- Don’t confuse this neighborhood with River Oaks. The big money here is big, but with a much more refined sensibility. This house is presented and priced as a good deal on a renovation project, and this neighborhood means something to a certain sort of buyer.
Harold: Tongue and cheek. The house is a gorgeous example of the reserved refinment of the old South wealth. Plenty of people with big money in Houston appreciate the iconic North/South St houses and someone will certainly jump on this opportunity. But there are just as many if not more who would not be caught dead in a house as austere and understated as that one. $1.9 mil can get you an 8,000 sq ft Texas Tuscan monster in Sugar Land by a fake lake that screams “fuck you, I am rich.”
Matt, there is absolutely a “Thou Shaly Not Tear Down” rule with that little plaque. There is also a “Everything you do to this house will cost 3X as much and must be approved by the National Register” rule, which explains why this house is listed at $1.9M rather than $2.5M. This is a beautiful house, but they built houses like this differently back then, and they are not easy to bring up to modern standards. It would be difficult, and expensive, enough to do right without the National Register involvment. I would guess it will cost $1.5M to $2.0M to remodel this house since it is Registered.
So says a builder who is totally against historic preservation in any form.
Oh and just fyi, that little plaque is a National Register plaque, according to the post. With a National register plague there are NO restrictions unless Federal monies are attached to it. http://www.nps.gov/nr/faq.htm#restrictions So, where are you coming from with all the talk of it being worth less because of the expensive regulations? Or is this just another example of builders bashing historic preservation at the expense of the truth?