Willowisp

We got in. The realtor says the family would love to see the house saved, but that just doesn't happen these days in that neighborhood. You should see the monster going up across the street. Here's the living room. I believe the room outside was taken in as a sun room. Here's the dining room. Cool Pella accordian door Classic window Bathroom, all original Front Door. My next door neighbor has a front door similar to this. In conclusion, I felt like there was an excellent chance this was a Bill Jenkins design, but no one knows for sure. The owners were not the original owners, having moved there in the early 70s. Tracking down original owners sons/daughters could be done, at least maybe if they have unusual last names... There was even what looked like it could have been a possible pond that had been filled in with quikcrete. It felt like a sister house to my own house in some ways. I hope if (when) it does get torn down, they will let me salvage some of the original fixtures.

That's one of the most depressing things I've heard in awhile! Maybe the realtor will be receptive to my passion/obsession and let us in. Thanks for the info. This will likely be less productive than I hoped. But at least there are lots of windows. Jason

In my Jenkins research I found this little street. Turns out 11718 Longleaf was by Jenkins but was either torn down or altered and "remodeled" in 1982 according to HCAD. When I went over there I found this house as well thinking it could be Jenkins or Floyd. I mailed the owners of both houses last year but got no reply. Today on a whim I typed longleaf into HCAD and sure enough this house came up. Not a lot of pictures, definite teardown possibility, especially considering the listing. I may drop everything tomorrow to get a look at it if I can get a realtor friend to meet me over there. http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y

Just thinking about this house today. It's down to $850K now. That seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Thanks for this! I've never seen that article. Reminds me I should scan some things in... Someday. Jason

I got this in my email box this morning and thought I'd share. Mod Squad and former Mod Squad members are having their houses shown on the tour this year. It should be excellent. As many of you may already be aware, this year RDA's annual architecture tour will feature 9 houses under 2000 square feet. The tour will be held on March 28-29 from 1-6 each day. Visit rda.rice.edu for more information about the tour. In collaboration with the tour, we will be holding a Civic Forum next Thursday, March 19th, to discuss some of the challenges and rewards of building small. Representatives from the mortgage banking, development, and government sectors will discuss some of the issues that necessitate the trend towards smaller, more efficient houses. Architects and homeowners participating on the tour will be in the audience to ask questions and stimulate discussion related to their own projects. This event (as with all our Civic Forum events) is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Brown Auditorium, MFA,H at 7 pm. We hope to see you on the 19th, and again on the tour!

The help will be much appreciated. Do you work there over the summer too? If so we can definitely collaborate. Another thing that would be great would be an archive of all the Houston houses that appeared in all those magazines. I've got a bunch of xerox copies that I've found over the last couple of summers. Most of mine were found through that big green Avery index, but I know that's not all that's out there. The reason all my research isn't on our website yet is just time and sometimes a lack of vintage photos. We need to pay our respects to more of the "lost moderns", but time has been a factor. We also worry a little about copyright, but I don't think it will be that big a deal. If someone wants us to take an old photo down we will. Thanks for the offer! Jason

Whoa! I was just at the house yesterday to talk to the owner again about our tour (April 25, RSVP to me!). For this house we will do an exterior tour and walk around the back of the house. It has seen some changes, but it is still great. Jason

Houston Mod is looking for volunteers who have the time to search out plans and architects there in Meyerland. It will be my main project this summer. I've got a growing list of addresses that will be researched. My other project is to scan in vintage magazine photos to share. Jason

I would love to buy this house and land. I would love to own 3 acres (to retire on), even in that part of Pearland. I just love the idea of owning a big property like that. But we are weary of our commute as it is and we're in Willowbend! 10 minute drive to drop my wife off at the Galleria and 20 more down to Sugar Land against traffic where I work and that's about my limit for driving. We're doing it all with one car right now. Talk about living in the 50s... I've got my fingers crossed for this house. I bet if one did some digging they would find a good story behind this house, possibly with the name Floyd attached. Or maybe it's one of those magazine houses, like a Better Homes plan book house. Jason

Hi all, I will post more info about the William R. Jenkins home tour here in the near future, but I just wanted to start the thread now to tell you all to make sure you save the date. If you've been missing my presence on the boards lately, this is why. I've been pretty consumed with this tour and book. Here are the basics: On April 25th, during the Lawndale Modern Market, Houston Mod will be renting a bus and driving to many of William R. Jenkins early houses. Some of these houses will be open for the first time. Some will be open for the first time in years. Some will be exterior tours and some will be interior. The tour will last about 3 hours. Refreshments will be served at the final home on the tour (10920 Willowisp). A full color publication discussing Jenkins and the houses (with new photographs by Benjamin Hill) will be available for $15. Tour: Member price = $20 Non-Member price = $30 Join Houston Mod at the individual rate, get the book and take the tour = $60 Payments will be accepted through paypal or by cash or credit at our functions leading up to the date. Space will be limited so make sure you reserve your spots by emailing info@houstonmod.org. I'm hoping for full participation from each and every one of you! Jason

Because the owners have a lot of stuff or does it have a fish pond? Those are the trademarks. Sharpstown might have some Jenkins, but I don't know of any.

And The Frame House, EmanuEl Temple, and Shell One. It was a good year for moderns. I think it was just an oversight and they're planning on putting it up. We never did see the pics they took of us with our brick though. But the people we sat next to were very friendly. They were personal friends with one of my boyhood idols, Itzhak Perlman, and invited us to see him in concert and meet him afterwards, thrill of my life! By the way, is anyone here going this year? Look for Houston Mod and say hi! Jason

I'm assuming the Sobel designed house is #16? I'd like to see that. Give us a heads up if it's open some Sunday. Thanks a lot for the information. Things are looking up for 5000 Longmont. It's a beautiful and posh place. I forgot what was written before, but no one would argue that "mid-century modern fans" don't want microwaves, computers, or flat screen tvs. For some reason I've got two microwaves. We had just gotten a new one before we moved and the house came with one so we kept both, and actually use both at the same time too often. I do still have the original stovetop though, and I'm pretty proud of that. It works just fine, as does my awesome 50s blender and mixmaster. But I wouldn't go for a 50s washing machine. I digress. You're right, few published Houston mid-century homes began with owners who wanted modern furniture. I know Jenkins and Keeland were fans of it and staged some of the homes they designed with it for photos, and of course the Gordon House interiors were designed by Florence Knoll herself, and later on the Style in Steel townhomes were staged modern, but I'm not sure of many others. Bolton's own house is pretty eclectic. The Owsley House, Menil House, Maher House, Neuhaus House etc, were fully decked out in antiques or eclectic new versions of antiques when they were published/photographed. I get that, but when I've visited some of those houses, I've wondered what they would look like with Knoll and Herman Miller furnishings... Is that just me? Jason

From what I've heard, it needs to be a cash sale. The banks don't want to finance it. There are several interested buyers, but no one can get the loans. Jason

I think TJones may be thinking that the mural you put up is from this house. It's not though, right? I thought you just put up the mural to show an example of what someone might do with Chinese Modernism. I wouldn't go that route, but someone might...

It's refreshing to see a house marketed for its architectural qualities.

Congratulations! I hope they make it on a tour someday so I can see it in person.

Thanks for your post and the note on the double lot. I have visited with Preston Bolton and he was happy to talk about 5000 Longmont. #16 is for sale right now. Do you know if any of the owners own mainly modern furnishings? Just curious. I would love to see one of these really shine with modern furniture in it, and I'm sure that one of us would love to photograph something like that... Jason

Here's 843 W. Friar Tuck now. Enjoy - the house of your sarcastic dreams. http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cfm?mlnum=8677021 Sorry, I'm a little upset today with this revisiting of the Cohen House and the Formica House. Formica was nearly saved, but I don't know if it can be. I don't know if ANYONE can make the numbers work on this house with a bank right now and no one's coming in with a cash purchase. That's 2 buyers they've had and lost. We also had to come up with an endangered top 10 at the Houston Mod Board meeting last night. Oh what fun that was... Any suggestions?

The date is not confirmed yet, but I went to see it yesterday and it is beautiful. It's small though, and not as "open plan" as you might expect. The setting is woodsy to say the least, but no "back yard" really, just a forest. Jake (my dog) would not appreciate that. Jason

Houston Mod is in touch with the realtor to do a Mod of the Month here in August, but I'll be over there today to check it out.

I don't know about a happy hour, but my band (Alkari) is playing at Warehouse Live later that night! Look us up on myspace if you're interested... Jason

Sorry, I didn't mean to say not to consider it. It was definitely one of the most important things we considered when we bought here. When they told us it hadn't flooded in Allison despite being right next to the bayou, I felt like if we ever flood, then everyone is flooding. All I'm saying, at least in our area, is that huge holes have been dug to remedy possible flooding situations. Of course, new development (oh boy) is going in not far from us (other side of S. Main) and that may offset some of the efforts. I agree with the thought that this is not a flip house and the buyer will have to live there awhile to make it financially viable. Boy does that sound familiar. Jason

http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y