Raven Tower Metal Highrise with Weather Vane

[zaphod]

anyone have pictures of the "Crows Nest".

at least i think thats what its called.

you can see from 45 just north of downtown and it looks like a short airport control tower and has a large weathervane type thing on top.

[editor]

No pictures, but I know what you're talking about. I've seen it a few times. Strange building.

[Subdude]

It's the Raven Tower.

[LTAWACS]

I would not mind living there. It looks cool

[nmainguy]

A guy I used to know is the nephew of the guy living there. His uncle built it as an observatory in case of an invasion by "unknown" enemies...it is the biggest trailer trash piece of crap on a stick on the planet. Like the smell of dog piss and rotting mold? Have I got a place for you.

P S: The view WOULD be great if the windows were clean enough to look out of-I'm guessing..

[RedScare]

I hope these "unknown" enemies don't have rpg's. They could take that place out in a heartbeat. This guy must be a military genius.

[zaphod]

maybe a programmer or 3d artist working from home for the people who make counterstrike or ghost recon is living there for inspiration....

And i cant believe nobody has any pictures of that place.

i cant find a website on it anywhere.

[Casual Observer]

You just named my two favorite FPS's..

[LTAWACS]

You just named my two favorite FPS's..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:roofles:

[TexasHome]

They have some pretty cool condos going up all around Houston.

[rkimberly]

I hope I'm not asking about a building already talked about. But I had no idea how to even start searching for info about this place.

Does anyone know the story behind this building?

It is off of North St, near the 45N. Google Map link here...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Houston,+TX,...p;z=19&om=1

[Daniepwils]

I think, I can't really remember, but someone once told me it was a radio station of some kind!

[tmariar]

I think it's the "Raven Tower" and has come up a couple of times - here and here.

Edited September 20, 2007 by tmariar

[rkimberly]

On one of the other related threads...

"A guy I used to know is the nephew of the guy living there. His uncle built it as an observatory in case of an invasion by "unknown" enemies...it is the biggest trailer trash piece of crap on a stick on the planet. Like the smell of dog piss and rotting mold? Have I got a place for you."

What a great combination of strange architecture and conspiratorial paranoia. Previously, I had visions of Farrah Fawcett posters, wood paneling, brown shag carpet and bongs. But now I see maps of hidden government complexes, walls of short wave radios and diagrams of secret societies and the institutions they have infiltrated.

I'm liking Houston more every day.

[SecondTour]

What a great combination of strange architecture and conspiratorial paranoia.

Well,yeah - but the cost of living is pretty low here.

[cosmic08]

I almost wreck everytime I drive down 45 and try to get a good look at this place and figure out what the heck it is. So interesting. Any new info on this place? I need to take a pic so everyone knows what I'm talking about. I think it has a rooster on top too? On the east side of 45 north between downtown and n. main. looks like a teeny tiny air traffic control tower

[macksfischer]

I almost wreck everytime I drive down 45 and try to get a good look at this place and figure out what the heck it is. So interesting. Any new info on this place? I need to take a pic so everyone knows what I'm talking about. I think it has a rooster on top too? On the east side of 45 north between downtown and n. main. looks like a teeny tiny air traffic control tower

I was always told by my family members that it was a "penthouse"?? But whoever or whatever lives there has never remodeled the place and it's kind of an eyesore now. If anyone finds out, it'd be interesting to hear about it!

[cosmic08]

I'll see if I can get the address and go from there.

[Subdude]

Note merged Raven Tower topics.

This is one of my favorite buildings in Houston.

[cosmic08]

I wonder what the point of the rooster on top is?

[rsb320]

I wonder what the point of the rooster on top is?

Weathervanes historically had a rooster on them or (don't laugh) a "Weather Cock". I'd wiki it, but I'm getting out of here for the day.

[cosmic08]

Ah ha! I did giggle when I read your response.

I drove by this place yesterday and the ground level of the property is massively cluttered with junk. I wish a reporter from the Chronicle or some other publication would interview the owner of this place and get the scoop on the vision behind it - That would be interesting.

Does anyone remember this place when it was under construction? I bet neighbors were like what in the...?

[Downtown]

I hope I'm not asking about a building already talked about. But I had no idea how to even start searching for info about this place.

Does anyone know the story behind this building?

It is off of North St, near the 45N. Google Map link here...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Houston,+TX,...p;z=19&om=1

Houston's own REDNECK HI-RISE!!!Time to count the empty beer cans thrown down below? I wonder:ELEVATOR or STAIRS? Window units or chill water! HA!

Only in TEXAS...

[strickn]

Taken as a compliment, of course! Ever notice how when the internet demographic thinks of Houston, 75% of their mental reference points are exclusively to features in the Southwest quadrant of the loop (Enron Field in the northeast corner, Northwest Mall in the northwest)? And how the cityscape gets a lot less sterile once and only once you get out of any respectable 'world-class' areas?

[strickn]

The salient point is not what one thinks is world-class, but that the territory whose concerns are largely national and international (not many people know how many offshore platforms in Africa, and how much of the national circulatory system, is controlled from nondescript blocks in Southeast Texas) are much more arid in terms of fitting human inhabitation in all its detail - surprisingly impoverished by comparison to the parts of town whose everyday concerns are primarily local. If that fitness seems to oppose intuition, then maybe something is missing from our standards.

Which is interesting that it could be, since Texas (and by extension Houston) does, much as you say, occupy the role of that second place in relationship to the rest of the country. The less we veer away from the way of life of the place, the more intelligently and healthily we will be able to embrace it. (If a person stops short after the sense of humor and doesn't want to think about it more - most of Houston's 'urbanists' can't go two sentences without apologetic irony, and irony is a way of avoiding useful focus - then they miss the part that's worth dwelling on).

Edited August 7, 2008 by strickn

[cosmic08]

Ah ha! I did giggle when I read your response.

I drove by this place yesterday and the ground level of the property is massively cluttered with junk. I wish a reporter from the Chronicle or some other publication would interview the owner of this place and get the scoop on the vision behind it - That would be interesting.

Does anyone remember this place when it was under construction? I bet neighbors were like what in the...?

I'm answering my own question...sort of

A co-worker of mine told me that this place was built in the late 70's and that the Houston Post interviewed the owner. She couldn't remember specific details.

I would always notice this place while riding in the backseat of my parent's car as a kid. I just picture a spooky guy all cooped up

[cosmic08]

I'm answering my own question...sort of

A co-worker of mine told me that this place was built in the late 70's and that the Houston Post interviewed the owner. She couldn't remember specific details.

I would always notice this place while riding in the backseat of my parent's car as a kid. I just picture a spooky guy all cooped up

I'm happy to report that this place survived Ike...at least for the most part! I was curious about any possible damages and made sure to catch a peek as I drove down 45 yesterday.

[cosmic08]

Ok so, I don't have any new info on this place, but I want to throw it back out there in the mix to see if anyone has new/additional info.

[nursewalker]

I know this an old discussion but to clear up a few things. It is Raven Tower owned and built by metal enterprises. The man who built it was a wonderful man. He wanted to create something different. It was an office below for the metal building business and an apt above.

It has both stairs and an elevator. Also access to the roof for a beautiful view of Houston.

The rooster I think he just liked.

[Adams01]

As a child & young teenager, I was at Raven tower numerous times. My Dad & the owner were best of friends. The owner use to have a small zoo against the fence by the office. The tower kitchen had a floor made of pennies & acrylic. The wall in the living room turned around exposing a huge TV that you could watch in the living room or bedroom. The roof had a heated dog house for his dog. He also had a professional picture taken of his view of Houston on the wall. If I remember correctly, it was a time lapse. The owner was a very generous & kind man. The last time that I talked to him he was living  outside of Houston & enjoying his turtles in his lake. I posted this because I thought I might be able to make a few things clear. By the way---the elevator always scared me to death.

[Triton]

Being that I live really close to this tower, I do know that the Pegstar crew that is building the new concert hall at this location is wanting to keep the tower in some form.

[DMac]

Been doing some snooping & came across the following: 

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=8S0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=raven+tower+houston+texas&source=bl&ots=U6cUKgu0NW&sig=rS2-UxsSN-qL0Zo_xlAixUf3Jew&hl=en&sa=X&ei=92cQVd7qNav7sASOtoGQDw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=raven%20tower%20houston%20texas&f=false

 

Also snooped @ GM (Google Maps) & came up w/an address of 310 North str. tween Main & Manfold.  Key Map 493C. Zoomed in tight for a close up of Ravens Tower.

 

DMac

[mkultra25]

Been doing some snooping & came across the following: 

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=8S0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=raven+tower+houston+texas&source=bl&ots=U6cUKgu0NW&sig=rS2-UxsSN-qL0Zo_xlAixUf3Jew&hl=en&sa=X&ei=92cQVd7qNav7sASOtoGQDw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=raven%20tower%20houston%20texas&f=false

 

Also snooped @ GM (Google Maps) & came up w/an address of 310 North str. tween Main & Manfold.  Key Map 493C. Zoomed in tight for a close up of Ravens Tower.

 

DMac

 

HCAD has it listed as 310 Glen Park, but North turns into Glen Park. Looks like ownership was transferred from the gentleman in the Texas Monthly article to who I'm assuming is his son in 2010, and then again to the Pegstar-affiliated group last year. I really hope they're able to preserve/repurpose the tower.