Subdude Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 This is great news from the GHPA newsletter, and is online at Greater Houston Preservation Alliance website. Beatty-West Building Plans are under way to rehabilitate the 1912 Beatty-West Building at the corner of Main and Walker. The project will include a complete restoration of the building's exterior and will comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission has approved the building's designation as a City of Houston Historic Landmark. The six-story reinforced concrete building was designed by architect Henry C. Cooke for David R. Beatty to house Beatty's oil and gas operations. Cooke was also the architect of the 1912 Magnolia Brewery Tap Room and Caf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Good news. This will nicely compliment the Stowers building. Walker is a pretty sketchy walk in the AM. This should really help.Next, the Moon scape across Main from this building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 ::Faints...:: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Is it me? Or does that small two story building behind the West building look like it's not there anymore? And if so, why is there not a gap where it should be? It looks like the Stowers building was expanded towards main to fill the gap, or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 That building is now Stowers. Built in 1922 I think?It's also in the process of being renovated into office condos. I should take some pictures. I have good roof access across the street on Fannin.Stowers:The 125,000-square-foot Stowers Building is located at 820 Fannin at Walker. Spire plans to lease the first two floors of the 10-story building to retail tenants. The 80,000 square feet of space on upper floors will be sold to businesses needing as little as 2,500 square feet, to firms that want to own multiple floors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 11, 2005 Author Share Posted January 11, 2005 Good catch 2112! I'm thinking maybe the West Building was expanded back to Stowers, but I can't exactly tell by the pictures. Coog, arent' you in Houston Center? By any chance from where you are can you count the windows on the Walker side of the West Building? That would clear it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Yep, I can see it from here. On the Walker side, there 22 single windows. I think they are group in sets of two. In the middle, a few are bunched together, which makes me think they did add on, since it butts up directly to Stowers. Many windwos are covered by plywood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I'm still woozy from this news. Subdude, this better not be some early April Fool's joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 ::Faints...:: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 As a knee-jerk preservationist, I usually defend old buildings. Even the plainest can contribute to the fabric of an urban space.But after taking a long, hard look at the West Building (located at the northeast corner of Walker and Main), I really don't see much to like. With the exception of a couple of brackets at the original roofline, there is little to indicate that the builder had any architectural vision in mind. The top story appears to be a poorly conceived addition. What's up with those silly-ass Corinthian columns, anyway?This building, coupled with the cruddy grocery store across the street, are the most persistant vestages of the blight that infested Main Street until just a few years ago. Replace it with something better, fix it if you must, or just implode the sucker - but please, it's time for a change! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 the facade is terrible - agreed. there is no signficant change from the out. however, has anyone visited any of these units yet? i believe they are open to visit now.EDIT - My mistake, they are not open as earlier thought. I guess it's the Kirby that is now open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted May 14, 2005 Author Share Posted May 14, 2005 Looks like demolition may not be happening - the West Building is slated for renovation. We'll see if it happens. Do you remember when this building was covered in a gold aluminum mesh screen? It came off after the fire a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ V Lawrence Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 ::Faints...:: Â <{POST_SNAPBACK}> roflol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ V Lawrence Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 I'm still woozy from this news.Subdude, this better not be some early April Fool's joke. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> roflol part 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 But after taking a long, hard look at the West Building (located at the northeast corner of Walker and Main), I really don't see much to like. With the exception of a couple of brackets at the original roofline, there is little to indicate that the builder had any architectural vision in mind. The top story appears to be a poorly conceived addition. What's up with those silly-ass Corinthian columns, anyway?This building, coupled with the cruddy grocery store across the street, are the most persistant vestages of the blight that infested Main Street until just a few years ago. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Since it's going to be restored in a historically correct fashion by professionals, it could end up being a real jewel. Have you ever seen any before and after pictures of those Italianate row houses in SF? I think just taking off that ridiculous red banner from the front will make it look 1000% better. Those columns could be Colonial Revival but they do look a little goofy. You really think that top floor is an addition? Maybe it was supposed to look divided like that, kind of like a frieze. The windows seem to match the rest of the floors. Why would they add a floor with matching windows then make a dividing line to make it look separated? Who knows. Maybe someone does here and can educate us. That gray concrete box on the roof hopefully will be removed.That market across the street is living on borrowed time. I don't see much of a demand for 40 ouncers and grape-flavored condoms in 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 That market across the street is living on borrowed time. I don't see much of a demand for 40 ouncers and grape-flavored condoms in 5 years. I just prefer bottled Shiner, but I'm sure they will offer other, more prefered, flavors for the new demographics. Ricco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 although the significance of this building may be lacking, it's renovation will provide added interest to the main street "streetscape", as well as increased activity in the area. i'm happy about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 Since it's going to be restored in a historically correct fashion by professionals, it could end up being a real jewel. Have you ever seen any before and after pictures of those Italianate row houses in SF? I think just taking off that ridiculous red banner from the front will make it look 1000% better. Those columns could be Colonial Revival but they do look a little goofy. You really think that top floor is an addition? Maybe it was supposed to look divided like that, kind of like a frieze. The windows seem to match the rest of the floors. Why would they add a floor with matching windows then make a dividing line to make it look separated? Who knows. Maybe someone does here and can educate us. That gray concrete box on the roof hopefully will be removed.That market across the street is living on borrowed time. I don't see much of a demand for 40 ouncers and grape-flavored condoms in 5 years.It looks like the top floor is original, but the gray concrete box on the roof was a later addition. It probably dates from when the building was expanded back to the Stowers building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 It looks like the top floor is original, but the gray concrete box on the roof was a later addition. It probably dates from when the building was expanded back to the Stowers building.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>You're probably right. The link you provided shows an early postcard view, and the automobiles and peoples attire seem consistant with the c. 1912 construction date. That weird top floor treatment is there in all its glory.With professional restoration - assuming that some of the original decorative elements are restored - it will be an asset to Main Street. However, I still think it's no great shakes architecturally. And yes, that anodized alumiinum screen was quite a sight. What were they thinking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 The side street truly does smell like urine. Seriously. And to imagine it's one block from light rail. Hopefully another successful bum bump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Is it me? Or does that small two story building behind the West building look like it's not there anymore? And if so, why is there not a gap where it should be? It looks like the Stowers building was expanded towards main to fill the gap, or something.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I was thinking maybe that was where the original James Coney Island was...ate there alot growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houstonian in Iraq Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Seeing that this this thread has been dug up from along time ago......does anyone know how the restoration been coming along?? Have they done anything since this has first been posted? Or is it just another stalled project? Any pictures anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 15, 2005 Author Share Posted July 15, 2005 They haven't done anything so far. False alarm?Nmainguy, you're right, the original James Coney Island was on the Walker side of the West building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Anybody think this building favors St Germain in some of the detailing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 (edited) some of the detailing kind of does... i think it will take a whole lot more than a good scrubbing to make this place functional again ---------------- detailing: Edited January 13, 2009 by sevfiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 The outer skin of the building is entirely gone, and the first section of structural steel has been removed from the Main Street side. Seems strange to see a gap in the facades of buildings in that part of Main Street.If you've ever been curious about how these old steel-framed buildings were constructed, better hurry downtown before it's completely gone. The West Building's steel beams were joined with rivets and bolts, a more time-consuming but sturdier method of fastening than welding. (The Empire State Building also was constructed in the same way, which is how it withstood an airplane crashing into it in 1945.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 The San Jacinto building formerly across the street likewise had very sturdy construction and took a while to dismantle. Does anyone have pictures of the partially demolished West Building? I know it was a bit of an eyesore, but it is sort of a shame to see another old building being demolished (it dates from 1912). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 The San Jacinto building formerly across the street likewise had very sturdy construction and took a while to dismantle. Does anyone have pictures of the partially demolished West Building? I know it was a bit of an eyesore, but it is sort of a shame to see another old building being demolished (it dates from 1912).I posted a few photos in the MainPlace thread about 2 weeks ago. Here's the post-specific link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 The other day I noticed that the second-floor ceiling has a sort of Googie-style curvy thing going on. Any idea what used to occupy that space? It's on the south side of the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 The other day I noticed that the second-floor ceiling has a sort of Googie-style curvy thing going on. Any idea what used to occupy that space? It's on the south side of the building.I went to check that out when I was in Houston. It looks like one of Morris Lapidus' famous "woggles". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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