mdadm

There really ARE NOT McMansions in Glenbrook Valley. There are about 1250 houses in the neighborhood and there are two newer houses that I can think of that were built in an innappropriate scale and style in relation to the rest of the neighborhood. That is why I described the neighborhood as "largely untouched". Nothing was bulldozed to put these up...one of these was built on a vacant lot and one on a lot where a fire burned down the original. The highly visable one on Santa Elena and Broadway may be the one of two you are referring to. Luckily there are enforced deed restrictions in Glenbrook Valley and those two were built within the setbacks (No Lotliners Allowed) established by the deed restrictions and enforced by the Civic Club. Now, I am not saying there aren't some bad additions or remodels etc! But, Mcmansions are not a problem at this time. The neighborhood contains over 1200

I like your summary. I think you are basically right about your observations. I jumped on the chance to buy my modern house in Glenbrook Valley 4 years ago because of much of what you are saying. It was a good house in mostly original condition in a good old and somewhat forgotten 1950s neighborhood. I don't think the most recent Glenbrook Valley news has been discussed on this forum, but I don't know for sure. There is a core group of relatively new residents who have been actively working toward a historic designation for Glenbrook Valley. This has been ongoing and was aimed primarily at starting with a small section of the neighborhood on or near Cayton streeet where there was a 1954 Parade of Homes. Recently however, the City of Houston selected Glenbrook Valley and the Woodland Heights neighborhood for a Project Leadership program in neighborhood preservation. This gives our preservation effort a huge amount of support from the City and some fresh enthusiasm. We are now determined to apply fo a designation for our entire neighborhood. I think that a designation for Glenbrrok Valley will be hugely important in preserving the original houses and character of the neighborhood. So far, for whatever reason, Glenbrook Valley has sat largely untouched by developers and new construction. There is a window of opportunity for the neighborhood to apply for the historic district and recieve the protection the city's oridinance provides before the wrong people (the ones who build McMansions) figure out how nice and affordable the neighborhood is. I think then the neighborhood can improve and increase in value at a healthy rate without succumbing to developers, new construction and skyrocketing property values that lead to teardowns. This will be a unique situation in Houston. If we get the designation it will be the only post war historic neighborhood and the only historic neighborhood outside the loop. Thanks for the post and for the chance to update everyone on Glenbrook Valley's preservation effort progress!

I have to admire you BryanS for your self confidence (and flip commentary) given so little information you must have about the house being discussed and about Glenbrook Valley in general. Maybe you know the neighborhood better than I think you do, but it doesn't seem like it since you also made your "20 houses" comment. Its too easy to say that vapor lights and burglar bars are all one needs to know about a neighborhood to warrant staying clear of it. If you know GV and Houston, you should know that compared to other "nicer" post WW2 Houston neighborhoods, GV is still largely intact. The real estate values mostly remained high in 1950's neighborhoods on the west side of town. And yes, the schools are better over there and there are nicer cars in driveways and there are fewer burglar bars and vapor lights. All those things usually indicate a "higher quality of life" neighborhood. But, the people with money (and taste maybe) who live there have always been able to afford more additions, conversions and updates. And since additions frequently aren't enough for those people, they will simply bulldoze whats there and build their lotliner fantasy houses. GV is different...or at least it has the potential to be different depending on what happens in the next few years. An interesting thing is happening there with or without your approval. A small but steady stream of innercity refugees and others are moving in who are mostly young and like minded about preservation. Although diverse in careers and backgrounds, many share common interest in the arts and politics and the neighborhood. The civic club and a historic designation committee is active. Speaking of which...as far as a historic designation goes, the large number of original homes in GV will be exactly what will help GV qualify (if it does). So the houses that you may deem as not worthy of preserving, are still very important to the original spirit of the neighborhood and the continuity to form a district. I am not trying to convince you or anyone that GV is the absolute, very best neighborhood in town. I just want to express my opinion, which is that I think Glenbrook Valley is a neighborhood with substance, relevance and much potential. I am a second generation native Houstonian, but I didn't know Glenbrook Valley existed. It took me one day to determine that GV is an exceptional neighborhood in Houston. As time passes, I become more sure of it. I have been slowly and painstakingly restoring the modernist home I bought there three years ago. I have been able to enjoy the experience (even though it has been truly difficult at times) because the house itself is amazing. In addition, I firmly believe in the significance of the neighborhood and I have many, many kind and supportive neighbors nearby.

Can anyone be more specific? What is there to see exactly? I just came back from an amazing modernist architecture/art trip...beginning in Long Island up through Connecticut and all the way to Buffalo, NY. We visited the Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner house, Phillip Johnson's Glass House, DIA Beacon, Russel Wright's Dragon Rock, the Corning Museum of Glass, the Roycroft Inn and the F.L. Wright Darwin Martin house. We missed Jack Larson's Longhouse, New Haven's architecture and museums and the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. We will have to go back! That is what I call a trip. What is in or around Columbus Indiana along those lines?

A short regular trek over to Mi Tienda is worthwhile. Its a neat cultural experience and fun shopping. I think you can actually pay with Pesos! I got really good prices on produce the last time I was there...like 3 perfect small avacados for $1. The bakery goods and hot food look really good too but I haven't tried those yet. While you are in Pasadena, if you like to shop for vintage clothing, there are three or four huge thrift stores within a couple minutes of Mi Tienda. Hard core vintage fashion and mid century modern dealers/collectors have been hitting Pasadena thrift stores for years, but they still aren't as pricey and picked over as the ones closer in to town. You could actually make a day of shopping the thrift stores then hitting Mi Tienda for a late lunch and grocery shopping.

Thats the spirit. I like gritty bars too, but I just wanted you to know. Yeah the Lone Star was kind of cool...probably has valet parkers now! There are a few neat surprises out there that you might not know. There is a small book that was just published on Telephone Road that gives some history of the Southeast side. You should pick up a copy. Also, the park I mentioned actaully has an olympic sized pool that is not too crowded in the evenings and its free. There is a small bird sanctuary over on the bayou in the old Park Place section. And, the old Municipal Airport tower is now a museum over at Hobby. The tower was designed by architect Joseph Finger who designed City Hall, Lawndale Art center etc. Very moderne and very cool. I have been told that after the restoration of the tower is complete, there is going to be a restaurant in there too. I don't know much about the bayou restoration except that there is money in place for the jogging/biking paths.

I have been living in GV for 3 years now and I really like it. Will you be working "in town"? Since I'm in town for work every day, I frequently shop for groceries and stop off for drinks while I'm in. The grocery stores in our area are not too good, but you can get most things you want. It will be awhile before there is a Whole Foods out there! There are no fine restaurants in our area. However there are some good places nearby for Mexican food, Chinese food, diner food, seafood and pizza. I haven't seen any normal bars that I would recommend, but if you like gritty dive bars and ice house type places there is no shortage of those! There is a Pizza restaurant, Spanky's, at Telephone and The South loop that seems to be a popular neighborhood place to stop for a beer. There are jogging/biking paths being put in right now along Sims bayou, but I haven't heard if they will be lit at night. I would think so. There is a park/pool/golf course complex just across I-45 where you could safely run I'm sure. It really is only about 10-12 mins to downtown proper with normal traffic via I-45. Driving in or out at peak traffic times will be longer. I don't know about the schools. I have heard the quality is low. If you can afford to send your child to a private school in town, that is what I would do. If you can't, I would consider a different area or be aggressive about getting your child in to the magnet school program. I think the neighborhood has amazing potential. It was a very nice neighborhood from the beginning. The majority of the houses are good quality custom houses. The neighborhood is full of good (and sometimes still relatively untouched) examples of ranch and modern design houses at very fair prices. This post WW2 architecture is just now coming in to vogue again and I think the appreciation for these homes is going to continue. The civic club in GV is very active and the deed restrictions are enforced. A neighborhood committee is pursuing a historic designation for a section of the neighborhood. There is also a core group of residents that are starting to come together to do things socially on a regular basis and new residents are always welcome! If you think of other specific questions keep them coming!

It all sounds great!!! I will be there! I may have missed it, but what are the hours on this special event? With so much to see I hope we have all afternoon! Fortified on Mimosas, this should really be a treat. The weather is going to be dry and clear too. Thanks...see you tomorrow.

I haven't been in this house, but I live directly across from it and it has very nice curb appeal as is. As far as the exterior, to me this house is just neutral enough that if you want to leave it the way it is, its fine and it has a perfectly nice clean ranch appeal. HOWEVER, if someone used some neutral paint colors and period landscaping, I think it would really elevate the architectural features of this house. It has a very pure, modern aesthetic that is not currently accentuated. I think with a small amount of work this one would show off as a restrained mod which I think is what it is. Without going inside, I don't know how difficult it might be to undo the updates, but the size of the rooms and floor plan look good to me in the pics. The exterior of this home has been meticulously maintained...one can hope that this would apply to the systems in the home too. One other note, whoever moves into this home will be directly across from two recent inner city transplants who are active in neighborhood activities like the Glenbrook Valley/Meadowbrook Supper Club, the GV Civic Club and the GV historic neighborhood movement. Just so you know!

To all the modern design connoisseurs out there. Its that time of year again, time for Lawndale Art Center's annual Modern Market. This year, Lawndale's fundraising gala/shopping event includes two educational programs...a lecture on modernist jewelry by Cindi Strauss from the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and a design exhibition organized by Don Browne. Please see the information and pictures relating to the exhibit below...and plan to attend! More info on all the Modern Market events can be found at the Lawndale website. www.lawndaleartcenter.org EXHIBITION INFORMATION: In addition to the lecture, a design exhibition has been added to this year

This is a bit racially charged, but I will try to give my opinion as delicately as possible. FYI, I am white and straight, but have been mistaken for gay by most people my whole adult life. I also am a native Houstonian and love the city. I think you will be just fine in Riverside Terrace, but I base that on my own experience and my comfort level when I am in a neighborhood where I am a minority. I have never lived in that particular neighborhood. I can't tell you how to "behave" in your own life, but I might suggest, that you learn about and be very respectful of the history, traditions and current residents of the neighborhood you choose. This doesn't mean you have to give up any of your own identity, but be prepared to interact with people who are "different" than you are. Although its not politically correct, I think there are clearly some differences between blacks and whites, gays and straights, rich and poor, men and women, etc... Forget politically correct...the differences are what make us interesting and what makes city living rewarding!!! Gay people and black people are both minorities and both groups have suffered oppression and discrimination in this country. That is something that you hold in common which I think is a good foundation for being tolorant of others (and each other). I think that is a plus. My experince in living adjacent to Freedman's town in Houston for many years and staying in Harlem in New York for many years is that the black community takes a great deal of pride in their neighborhoods. The problem is that there is frequently a lack of resources that the community has access to. So, the neighborhood frequently looks "bad" even though the community is tightly knit and looks out for each other. Like any neighborhood, there is always a risk of crime and in a depressed neighborhood perhaps moreso, but there is also the chance to buy much more house for less. I suggest you don't be afraid to try that neighborhood. That location is very nice and the value will continue to rise in my opinion. Support the businesses, join the civic club if there is one, introduce yourself to your neighbors! If you make an effort to fit in and be respectful of the residents and businesses there, I think it will come back to you. Be mindful though...its the big city...which means wherever you are you should lock your doors, watch your back and not let your guard completely down. One more thing...if you still want to consider other neighborhoods...you might take a look in Glenbrook Valley. We looked in Riverside Terrace, but opted for GV. Its a VERY interesting neighborhood with great 1950s architecture, a very active civic club and LOTS of potential. And, its CHEAP and 10 minutes from downtown. Good luck!!!

Great photos. Thank you so much for posting. How was the Teepee motel? And, tell us some more about the 20th century technology museum.

I like it and from what I can see I would call it very modern. It is a later 1970s mod, and a little more time needs to pass before lots of people are ready to embrace a more recent vintage modern design like this!!! Of course, that is when you can buy at a low price. Talk about amazing square footage for the price! Wow. But, if the REALTOR says it needs alot of work, that tells you something. If the place was built by a decent builder who didn't cheap out on everything, I think the building itself might be worthwhile project...I don't know a thing about the neighborhood. Just my thoughts... OK, so I am not a modernist, I just like neat stuff. (I just used neat... wow.) So, take a look at this place and let me know if you'd consider it "mod" or some other name. Some houses, I know would be considered mod. Some, like this one, I'm not so sure. I'm guessing that, by some strict definition, it's not. However, by the "Metropolitan Home" definition, it probably is. I go more by the Met Home definition of mod, and tend to like all the places that would fall into that more general bucket. I've actually gone to look at this place (years ago). Other than the neighborhood, it looked like the house could be made into something nice with the right people working on it. If I were single, I'd take it on. Thoughts on the house and the SW Fondren Northfield subdivision/area? Thanks, TK

A favorite house in Houston? I'm not feeling much from this one. I never saw it on a tour and maybe in person it has something I can't see in the pics. The interiors are so decorated that its hard to tell, but it looks like some kind of 1970s mausoleum modern (sort of) and watered down Frenchy townhouse to me. I don't see any Texas regionalism at all...maybe New Orleans regionalism? Help me out here! What am I missing?

I don't know the details, but it sounds like maybe they were reroofing. Did the house have a flat or low pitched roof? If a built up roof was being applied with the hot tar it very well could have been an accident. It was explained to me by my roofers that the tar (and the hot mop) is VERY combustable when it is in the high, high temperature liquid state that it needs to be in when applied to the roof. Just a persapective for you to consider. Don B.

Glad to hear missjane got to see this house before the contract was in. By the time I spread the word and a friend of mine called on it, the contract was in. According to her, the listing agent specialized in foreclosures and just started to try and sell her on some other misc properties. I don't know this for sure, but it sounded to me like the agent was unaware that there are people looking for this type of house. My guess is that he had the green light to sell it cheap and fast, and thought nothing of the design in setting the price...except maybe to make it lower!

Not surprised at all to hear about the contract. I didn't expect it would last until next week for missjane1 to get around to seeing it. I hope someone who appreciates modern design made a swift move on the property, but at that super low price any type of buyer might have been motivated. While some potential buyers are taking their time being troubled over the problems that Glenbrook has, the neighbor hood will continue to change. Right now the problem certainly isn't the price, but give it a little time. All this is pretty predictable. Now while risks are higher, prices are lower. As the neighborhood becomes more "blue chip" over the next few years, the prices will catch up. Buying in Glenbrook now isn't for everyone, but I think the risks are lower and benefits higher than some might think.

Wow! My only concern would be the condition at that price. That is a very reasonable price for a 2000 square foot house on a 10,000 sq. ft. lot with that much Mid Century mod style and curb appeal. AND, its in Glenbrook Valley. My wife and I have only lived in Glenbrook for less than a year, but we are sold on the neighborhood. We are involved in an ongoing restoration of the house we bought. However, we consider every penny spent as a good investment and are in it for the long haul. There are enough modern homes in Glenbrook for the Houston Mod community to settle in to it and make this quite an exciting enclave of restored MCM homes. In my opinion, as a generalization, this neighborhood is THE magic combination of quality larger houses (many in the mid century modern style), large lots, strong deed restrictions/civic club, close proximity to downtown/universities/medical center/museums AND low prices!!! People interested in owning and/or restoring a modern house will be happy to find that many Glenbrook homes have not been remodeled over and over again. Much of the southeast side of town, where Glenbrook is situated has sat somewhat undisturbed since the 1950s. Houston

From what I know of Don Emmite's collection and what I have seen in the press...the exhibit will include appliances used around the house that made mid-century life easier AND were designed in a modern design aesthetic. For example, everyhing from the big chrome "Toastalator" with a porthole window...a unit that the toast inches through one side and out the other...to a can opener with tiny spindly legs that was inspired by the American space program's luner module. There will be some design by many of the heavy hitter's of mid century industrial design from the period...Norman Bel Geddes, Walter Dorwin Teague, Henry Dreyfuss, Raymond Loewy etc. I also expect some fun things and maybe some surprises! I am hoping a matching pink washer and dryer with beautiful chrome dials and knobs that light up like a fifties automobile dashboard will be on display!!! Oh and the "Partiocart" will be there...which is a self contained party on wheels for a swanky backyard bar-b-que!

Many of you may already have this on your calendars since it has been covered in Houston House and Home and the Chronicle. If not, plan on attending this show. I can't wait. It is curated by Don Emmite. He colaborated on the Mid-Century Modern Revisited exhibition at Brazos Projects a couple years ago. Anything Don is involved with is top notch and will not dissapoint. He is a veteran collector and has a dead eye for good design. I don't know much more than what I have read, but everyday appliances from 1930 to 1960 will be featured and celebrated. Some are truly small masterpieces of design. If you are a modster and have an insatiable appetite for all good modern design, this exhibition will be a rare chance to see up close these remarkable vintage objects displayed together in one show. If you can't make it Thursday for the opening, I believe the show will be up through sometime in October.

Great! Keep me posted. Thank you.

I was afraid of that, what a shame. Well, if anyone out there sees a vintage stainless electric cooktop or double oven available in GOOD condition, please feel free to let me know or post it on the sight. I am currently looking to replace my stove and cooktop with vintage ones. Same with my plumbing hardware...looking for vintage bathroom (basins and tub) and kitchen plumbing faucets/hardware by American Standard that were pretty common circa 1960. The ones I'm after have a faucet that has a flat, wide bar profile with seperate hot and cold handles. The handles are a soft star shape with a metal disc in the center with H and C. Best thing for me to do would be to get a picture and post it, but I don't own even one of these faucets right now to photograph...sorry. Also, faucets don't have to be free! I'm will buy them or pay someone a finders fee. The key is that they be in GOOD condition. Thank you.

I almost hate to ask for fear of the answer, are these still available? I would be very interested in the cooktop for my 1959 Mod house. I am looking for one very much along those lines. The oven is super cool, but I am not sure about it...does it open down the middle??? My house originally had a double oven, but this one looks so cool that I would totally consider it. Of course, I would need to measure, then come look at them to be sure. Please let me know. what the status of these is. I have serious interest, and will come see ASAP and tell you yes or no on the spot. Thank you.

Hello all. I'm a newbie, a brand new-bie. First time posting...I hope I do it right and I apologize if this info is somewhere on this sight already. If so, please just refer me to where?! Here is my situation: I bought a mid-century modern house recently. I suspect that an architect designed the house, maybe a local one maybe not, maybe one of note maybe not. I have asked around the "mod" community and no one so far has knowledge of the house or an attribution that goes anywhere. I keep hearing that I can go downtown and research the records that were made when the house was originally being permitted etc and that there might be details of the house that could be of interest eg. dates, architects, builders etc... I thought surely that many of you have already done this. If someone could take a few minutes to respond and tell me exactly where to go and what to expect, I would sure appreciate it. Thanks in advance.