Houston Historic Retail

A look into Houston's retail past

Category: Daily Demolition Report

This Week in Demolition: Marching orders given for a 1930s bungalow in Rice Military

Welcome back to This Week in Demolition! This week we have an almost completely residential mix with some real gems that should have been saved and a few that needed to go. Let’s start by taking a look at some of the demolitions of note from the week. The cover story is similar to last week, 4617 Gibson is another 1930s home that has been kept tastefully up to date. A house that was less tastefully updated is 2038 Banks while the exterior is quite nice the split level kitchen with obscured headroom is a dealbreaker for me. 703 Timberline on the other hand is a house that needs to go, it is a row of townhomes in the former Forest Cove neighborhood in Kingwood. The number of houses in the development had steadily dropped over the years due to flooding but was really finished out by Harvey. While some homes are still owned by individuals, most of the sites have been sold to the Harris County Flood Control District and it seems mostly empty as of 2020.

When the weather is nice this porch must be great. Photo Source: HAR

This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.

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This Week in Demolition: Bulldozers to a 1938 Boulevard Oaks Bungalow

Happy “Demolition” New Year! This is the first post of the year to contain demolition permits issued in 2021. This week we see an uptick in the number permits issued for pre-1950 homes, mostly in great condition. Along with two art deco apartment buildings in the medical center. Some of the homes worth taking a look at this week include 3445 Wickersham a two story home in the heart of River Oaks including a garage apartment, 927 Lamont a well maintained 1948 single story home with a gorgeous backyard, and of course our cover story this week 1920 Banks. The demolition of this charming Bungalow is made worse by the fact that in addition to tasteful updates many original features of the house were intact. Including what was likely original 1930s stained glass in all three upstairs windows.

Photo Source: HAR.com

This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.

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This Week in Demolition: Sticking out like a sore thumb

Welcome back to another edition of This Week in Demolition! This week the Oak Forest massacre continues with three more houses biting the dust. Other items of interest on the list include some older Houston houses  This includes 1340 Waverly a 1920s shotgun house, 2142 Chilton a 1935 Original River Oaks Home, and 2005 Brun a 1935 home which doesn’t quite fit the neighborhood anymore. This house is dwarfed by the multiunit structures to the right, and looks downright out of the past. From the window units I remember growing up, to the power and phone just cutting through the yard this is the Houston I remember as a child. Not the bland stucco on top of multistory monstrosities.

Do you ever feel… out of place? Photo source: HAR

This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.

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This Week in Demolition: The Most Dangerous Gas Station in the World

Welcome back to another Demolition Report. I’m trying a new format in which I compile the entire week into one post. Let me know what you think in the comments!

This week we see more commercial properties, and some expensive new houses. Maybe some demo permits were issued as Christmas presents. Anyways, one building that caught my eye was the former Valero off of Highway 6. This gas station is about halfway between Westheimer and I-10 on Highway 6. For many years it was the only gas station on this stretch of road. As the years went by the gas station gained many competitors and eventually shutdown after Hurricane Harvey. It has sat vacant with the store, canopy, and pumps all still in place since 2017. The small dirt hill behind the gas station is actually the Barker Reservoir, and the main gates are only a short distance North. I would assume that this has something to do with the gas station’s inability to sell. At least according to flood insurance maps this would be the most dangerous gas station… in the world.

While obviously not directly dangerous, I would guess high property insurance rates are part of the reasons for closure. Photo Source: Loopnet

This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.

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This Week in Demolition: What’s Pappa’s Plan?

Welcome back to another Demolition Report. I’m trying a new format in which I compile the entire week into one post. Let me know what you think in the comments!

This week we see a far wider selection of homes, with Demolition permits coming in from all around the city. One house that stuck out this week is what appears to be an original 1930s house with a second story addition from the 1950s. Interesting enough in its own right, it seems that it is the final piece of a now demolished block that holds Pappa’s Warehouses. The question is, what’s Pappa’s Plan? The lot is too small for a restaurant, and wouldn’t add much in terms of warehouse space. My guess would be to expand parking.

The lot contains just the house, garage, and small patio. The garage directly backs up to the warehouse, or as described in the listing “no neighbors!” Photo: Har.com

This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.

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This Week in Demolition: The Heights loses a Theater

Welcome back to another Demolition Report. This time I’m trying a new format in which I compile the entire week into one post. Let me know what you think in the comments!

This week we see a large number of older houses on the South side being purchased by individuals. As well we take a look at the single commercial demolition from the week.

The former Stude Theater will be torn down and replaced by another big white building with no windows.. huh. Photo Credit: Patrick Feller / CC 2.0

 

This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the week before this post.
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Spring Break Demolition Report: Bringing it to a Close

Today we say goodbye to the Spring Break Demolition Report, with a palty list of 3 demolitions. Saying goodbye doesn’t mean that I wont ever do this again. I anticipate a repeat next Spring Break, this was never meant to be a permanent solution but a tiding over. If you enjoyed this or not, let me know, I always appreciate feedback.

The feeder is where a neighbor’s house once stood. This development predates I-10 by about 15 years.
This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the day before this post.

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Spring Break Demolition Report: Threading the Needle

Multiple older homes from prior to 1950 today. Also featuring a return to Westway, where we’ve been at least twice this week.

With new houses on every other side, the demolition of 6406 Haskell will be filling in the gentrification gap
This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the day before this post.

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Spring Break Demolition Report: It looks like a Cheap Mad Scientists Lair

Two bits of the continuing grentification of Montrose, and we’re back in Westway on the same street.
I don’t know what’s worse, the plastic fireplace cover, or the TV console up on the rocks.
This is a list of the buildings which received a City of Houston demolition permit the day before this post.

Continue reading “Spring Break Demolition Report: It looks like a Cheap Mad Scientists Lair”