ISMDAVID

I didnt notice any site drainage detention installed on this site as part of the new construction. Is this because it was previously 100% impervious with concrete and now has a tiny bit of greenspace making it an "improvement" in total impervious space?

and we kept hearing that they were easy to work with.....now they are exercising their dislike of her design for a denial even though she appears to have followed the rules as written? Travesty - I agree that the gentlemen with the beard simply could talk himself to sleep with such nonsense. I loved the comment about letter her demolish the house - that comment alone should get him thrown off of this board in my opinion. There isnt a chance in ____ that I will be renovating any of my properties while the HAHC is in control - I may paint them some bright offensive color though since that cant be dictated.

Preservation Houston is proud to announce a very special February event. Villa de Luxe, a historic Houston estate, will be transformed into a stunning design showhouse from February 1 until February 17, 2013. The house, designed by William Ward Watkin, was built for hardware magnate F.A. Heitmann in 1924. The house stands at #1 Longfellow on two acres in historic Shadyside, a private place neighborhood adjacent to Rice University. Luxe Interiors + Design is the premier media sponsor of this event, which will benefit Preservation Houston. Event chairs are Jane-Page Crump and Bill Stubbs, ASID designers. The landscape architect is McDugald-Steele; The interiors are being handled by a top-tier group of Houstons Interior Design community - Peggy Hull–reception hall; Sandy Lucas & Sarah Eilers—dining room; breakfast room—John Robinson; kitchen and butler’s pantry—Julie Koch; back entry and porch—Diana Walker; front porch and pool area—Connie LeFevre; conservatory—Audrey Drought; and basement—Darla Bankston. Also, library—Marjorie Slovack; master bedroom and bathroom—Donna Vining; nursery and bathroom (bedroom 1) –Marlys Tokerud; front bedroom (2) and bath—Donna Jarnigan; bedroom 3 with balcony—Lynne Jones; bedroom 4—Lisa Roth and third floor—Sharon Staley. Jane-Page is designing the living room and Bill Stubbs is handling the solarium which has the most incredible windows. Tickets $30 at the door $25 in advance $20 for groups of 20 or more Showhouse dates February 1 through February 17, 2013 Showhouse hours Saturdays, February 2, 9 and 16: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, February 3, 10 and 17: noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays, February 7 and 14: for scheduled events Pop-up café Jackson and Company will provide box lunches for purchase on Saturdays and Sundays and for all scheduled events.

With this board becoming an entertaining daily read again, is there any news on the progress of the lawsuit that was filed earler this year?

You must be new to these historic discussions. Now i see two steps in that anthill that had gone months without being disturbed.

You have stepped in an anthill with that comment...and on Christmas Eve no less. Ill refrain from my true feelings and let you enjoy the holidays with your holier than thou friends and family.

They will need all of your luck to navigate the minefields. Im sure everyone in favor of the ordinance will be comforted knowing that they are living in a Historic Home-(all 500 square feet of it)

The demo that occurred yesterday in the 900 block of Columbia, where literally 3/4 of the "historic" home was allowed to be removed, showcases to me how much of a hollywood idea this ordinance represents. Take a drive by and see how silly this looks in an attempt to appease the preservation mentality. If this is how one defines preservation, whereby the facade is preserved and the rest is new, i continue to find fault with the overall intent of the ordinance. Laughable implementation.

Why thank you for such a quick response. I went back and read the ordinance related to pending districts to learn if they can go on indefinitely. There is some language written in their that relates to termination of the pending status. Item 4 caught my eye and I wonder if this applies to Heights South in the current situation? ( The protected status provided in subsection (a) above ends on the earliest of the following dates: 4. In the case of an application for designation of an historic district initiated by property owners, the 181st day after the director determines the application is initially complete ;

What then is the current status of the Heights South? On an empty piece of land that I own currently, am I able to get a permit for construction without getting any type of historical commission approval? same with repairs to existing homes?

Are there any updates on the Heights South status?

Historic districts see few changes Chronicle article in todays Saturday paper.

I love this quote of yours! - I'm in line right behind you regarding appropriate retribution and am anxious for it to escalate to more that just talk on this website and begin to raise this sunken ship.

Too bad that they didn't send out the "survey's",(ahem - BALLOTS) with the annual tax bills and asked that the survey be returned with my tax payment. Since they limited me to one vote, but still collected taxes on the multiple properties in my ownership, I wasn't able to vote with the weight of my ownership dollars(and tax dollars). They have gladly accepted all of my tax money, but they didn't offer me an equal say in this debacle representative to my ownership level. This tactic certainly benefited their vote totals and was another planned method by the politically saavy to sneak this ordinance by. Keep up the fight. Expose the lies. Speak at a minimum with your vote. Vote em out.

Regrettably, Sue was not present tonight to offer up her opinions, Annise and Marlene Gafrick lead the propaganda charge for the evening activities.

It now seems evident that there has been a concerted effort to dilute the "powers" of owners of multiple tracts of land by limiting their powers to a single "vote" for each owner per tract of land, regardless of how many lots that individual owns if they are contiguous pieces of land. The definition of tract placed in the ordinance diminishes the rights of larger property owners by limiting their full stake in the process that is determining the future of the neighborhood. Its seems to be an intentional definition placed within the ordinance that defined a tract of land as a contiguous piece of land under the same ownership. Basically, a larger group of properties in the Heights that in some cases comprises an entire city block with a single owner, gets only one vote. This could be 10 individual properties with 10 homes on them, it doesnt matter if they are all owned by the same owner as this is defined as a single tract of property. An individual could in theory, own 90% of a city block and still have that block faces fate be determined to be historic or not if two landowners (10%) on that block decided that they had a differing opinion than you. I haven't had much reason to be involved in a process like this before, but this "political" process has so often sickened me with the tactics that have been utilized. I have heard of Louisiana politicians with more ethics. Are there any possible legal grounds to challenging this ordinance based on the limiting powers placed on these multiple property owners voice in this matter?

I am upset that a future "non vote" on this issue by a property owner counts as a YES vote in the current ordinance. I'm smart enough to know that this must have cleared the city legal department, but it nonetheless concerns me that apathy will lead to the current ordinance not being overturned. With all of the attorneys that put their eyes on these postings, does anyone know if this type of vote has any grounds to be challenged and upheld? I own two parcels of land adjacent to each other, but they are under one hcad account for tax payment simplification. Does anyone know for certain if I Will get two votes, or one? Are any Heights residents like myself considering moving away if this ordinance is upheld? I guess that may depend on how this affects their investment.

In a communication I had this morning with the folks at http://www.responsiblehistoricpreservation.org/ they met yesterday as a small group to do determine a path forward to collect additional signatures on the proper paperwork that the city will require. They think that early next week they will have that paperwork and hopefully can disseminate information regarding a sign up process. Are there any business owners out there who would act as sign up location without fear of alienating clients who think differently? Would the neutral Heights Association allow use of Marmion Park as a sign up location that could be marketed for a specific time/date? 15 days wont be a lot of time

Do you think it too early to begin the signature collection process? We could learn where we stand and get a jump on the 15 day BS.

Sad days indeed ahead as we watch with seemingly little recourse political wheels steamrolling ahead. The Heights stands to lose many homeowners with vested interests that have brought the Heights from its intrepid depths that it reached at its low ebb. Stagnant property values and slow redevelopment certainly lie ahead. I will be looking to take my own investments in Houston elsewhere when the Heights South becomes officially Historic. We are good people who simply dont share a common opinion regarding government involvement with my personal property.I'm certain that my investments will be welcomed elsewhere - Good riddance Heights, Good riddance Houston.... it was a pleasure knowing you.....

It makes me a little curious, when viewing the odd perimeter outlines that they have sliced and diced, how the street signs that announce the historic district will be applied. For example, the corner of 11th and Arlington where C&D hardware is located? Its boxed out of the district, but I bet they consider putting a sign on that corner. This whole process of redrawing the districts to fit their agenda is utterly disgusting, ludicrous and seemingly unethical at best.

Do you know how the two Boulevard properties owned by the Heights Association were listed ??- 712 Heights Blvd. 1800 Heights Blvd. Per their website, "At its June 21 meeting, the Board of the Houston Heights Association voted to take no position at this time on the temporary discontinuance or any of the changes that have been informally proposed"

City owned Esplanades counted towards this percentage they needed? Really? Really? Your joking right.

Is a list of all of the supporting homeowners that signed the list for Heights South available for public record? I would be interested in viewing that approval list but haven't seen such a list online. Is anyone knowledgeable of its location or how I can have access to the list?