heights_yankee

But what's the condition of the original house? I assumed the Foyts (or just one) lived in it until they sold it. It doesn't look like a teardown from Google maps, but is it?

So Greg and Li decided to buy a house in a historic district with strong deed restrictions. Did they not know ahead of time what would and would not fly with the deed restrictions or get a COA?? Sounds like they may have not researched enough. So then they want to tear down what they see as an "unlivable" house and start all over?

Like the OP mentioned, there are empty lots available and in much less restricted areas.

A couple of people in the area say they were in the house recently and they do not see how the owners' claims can be true. I mean, wouldn't a "cracked foundation" have shown up in their inspection? Cracked foundation being what they told some neighbors who inquired. And does a pier and beam house have the ability to have a cracked foundation? Hmmmm... They also said to the same neighbor that they were recently told it would cost 1/2 to rebuild rather than remodel.

They definitely did know about the deed restrictions because they went through the certificate of appropriateness process and the submission to the PPNA board the 1st time. When they were denied, they clearly got annoyed/angry and now are saying the house in unlivable. It was plenty livable with a aluminum, arched windows and a stucco addition.

As you said, you will have say over what's built in its place, so what is the problem? You can make sure the right type of structure is built.

but the hitoric nature of the homes is important to this part of the heights. that is why this neighborhood has deed restrictions and a historic designation. yes, a lot of it is sentimentality but that is also why most ppl live in this specific area. you can get a new, big house in other parts of the heights that are less $ than a 2/2 bungalow in proctor plaza...

You think they're proposing to make an outlay of thousands of dollars in order to eliminate the sole element of the property that would allow it to generate cash flow...to spite the neighbors? Yall up in the Heights sure do think highly of yourselves.

The first thing you ought to do is contact the owner to try to figure out what is motivating them to demolish the property. It's probably a reason far more mundane than yourself.

I, as part of the neighborhood assoc board, have already met with the owners. They submitted renovation plans to the board and were denied because their plans were not "appropriate" [i put this in quotes because they have to have a certificate of appropriateness from the city]. they changed materials actually making it less appropriate- from hardiplank to stucco. the hardiplank was not the reason the plans were denied. the plans were denied for significantly altering the facade and aluminum windows, both against the deed restrictions. The board invited the owners and their architect to a meeting so we could openly discuss why their plans were denied and the material changes they could make to the plans to get approval.

They left and said they would resubmit. Instead, they applied for a demo permit.

I guess living here means I think highly of myself. OK. Admittedly, I do think highly of this part of the Heights, which is the largest historic district in Houston. Additionally, all homes on the streets surrounding Proctor Park are brick. This was intended by the developer. They are all original homes and it's a really special and beautiful area. People want to preserve that. There are actually vacant lots available in Proctor Plaza (where these home owners would STILL have to get their plans approved by the PPNA board) and there are many other areas in the Heights where they could build and not have to jump through these hoops. That is an option for them that remains open...

So I looked at the house on Google Maps and I don't see anything all that unique about its architecture. It doesn't seem like the neighborhood is losing anything significant if this house is demoed. Why don't you just leave them alone?

unique doesn't matter. original matters. if they want to be left alone, they should have bought in a non deed restricted neighborhood, which is 80% of the heights.

along with other Proctor Plaza Neighborhood Assoc members and residents of the neighborhood, I will be attending a hearing regarding the applicationfor demolition of 801 Pizer in the North Norhill Historic District. It is my opinion (shared by many others) that the new owners of this property are applying to demo out of sour grapes because their initial rehab plans were rejected by the PPNA board for inappropriate materials and design.

Before anyone lectures me on property right (that means you, MarkSMU ) please know this is a historic district and heavily deed restricted. The PPNA will also have oversight in to what is built should their application for demo be approved. As an organization the PPNA board is tasked with protecting the historic nature of the neighborhood.

So, besides showing up at the hearing (whose location has been moved without notice on the sign, all bait-and-switch like) what else can/should I do for the greatest impact in protesting this?

Has anyone else been a part of the process and had success challenging an application?

Thanks!

I noticed a demolition sign in the side yard of 801 Pizer St yesterday. All the landscaping is cleared from the property.

05/28/2009 sale:

http://www.har.com/HomeValue/dispSoldDetail.cfm?MLNUM=185254

the board of the proctor plaza neighborhood assoc is going to the hearing to fight this attempted demo. while its little condolence, if the application is approved the ppna has pretty strong oversight in to what is built in its place due to the deed restrictions.

sold after he put in multiple parking spaces

Maple Syrup?? You mean the Log Cabin jugs?

oh yes. i should have said "maple colored HFCS with attempted maple flavor." as a yankee, i should be ashamed!

Isn't Prive and Heights Sports Lounge closed? Both look like they've been abandoned.

If 11th Street is under new management, has the menu changed? I'd love to see something that isn't fried or full of grease on the menu. Also, the place could use a little TLC inside. There's so much potential with that location!

i don't mind a good greasy sppon (esp after too much good wine the night before) but i can do without the maple syrup containers that are so old the labels are half faded and peeling.

you're right. tons of potential.

How are they violating the law? If the grocery stores aren't pressing charges and post no notice on the cart advising people to keep it on-site, and have installed no countermeasures to keep the carts in place, perhaps they don't mind people taking the carts home. Do you take the plastic bags home? Did you pay for the bags?

this is fiesta. this is why they have a truck dedicated to picking up their carts around the neighborhood. they don't think it's stealing.

across the street from me there is an elderly hispanic couple whose adult, special needs granddaughter lives with them. they do have a car but the man uses it for work. the grandmother and granddaughter walk about 4 blocks to fiesta, bring their groceries home in the cart, leaving the empty cart on their curb for pickup. it never stays more than 48 hours. no, they don't return the cart. i imagine for a mentally disabled granddaughter and her elderly grandmother (who also take the bus on occasion when the grandfather is working) walking 12 blocks would be a little much.

they are not thieves, litterers, arsonists or people who can't afford a car. that doesn't mean everyone should do it, but this household is certainly one anyone would like to have as neighbors (friendly, clean, quiet).

What's the sign say? Closed?

ha! i am laughing over here. sooo tired.... anyway, the sign said "OPEN UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP"

just wondering if the all-knowing HAIFers have the scoop?

saw the sign today. anyone know what the deal is there?

Rode down to the bridge Friday, and there was lots of activity. I couldn't get too close because I had the baby trailer, but it looked like the bridge surface was there. Maybe all they have left is railing. Anyone get a closer look?

someone posted on twitter today that its ready to go except no side rails...

I see a HAIF PIE PARTY in our future.

i want pie too

Reading some of these posts, it sure doesn't sound like the vast majority wants a rebuild, which is why I spoke up. I am all for saving as many mature trees as possible, and I do not believe trading a mature tree for a sapling is an even trade. However, these issues are dealt with by negotiating with the city planners, NOT by opposing any improvement at all. To repeat, I am a Heights resident, and I use this road. A rebuild helps ME, a Heights resident. Those claiming otherwise are ignoring all of the residents who use the road, and I will continue to point that out.

well, considering it was my posts you were quoting previously, i feel the need to respond to clarify yet again. i do not oppose redevelopment. i oppose the designation and marketing, for lack of a better term, of Yale as a "thoroughfare." i do not think higher speed limits and increased traffic on yale will benefit the neighborhood. i use it, too, and would love a smooth ride but i also walk with my kids around the neighborhood and walkability is one of the things that sets the heights apart from all other parts of houston. the more our neighborhood becomes a cut through for people who don't live here, the harder it is to maintain that walkability. that is an issue for me, whether or not it is for you.

additionally, i live 3 blocks off of studewood. frankly, i wish it was under construction again. i liked it better when no one used it to access 610 from downtown. now i have cars doing 40-50 mph down TEMPLE AND MELWOOD cutting from studewood to main or 45. in case you are unaware, these streets have a busy park between them. no one should be driving 40 down a residential street, park or no park, but someone is going to get hurt and that will be a tragedy for the child, their family, and the poor jackass who hit them. their life will be ruined because they shaved 10 minutes off their commute.

again, i am not having a "knee jerk" reaction to this. the amount of traffic in this neighborhood effects me and my family. i would love a nice paved road with slightly more even sidewalks (i say slightly b/c the trees do not allow for a totally even sidewalk) where people who LIVE HERE can use it to get in and out of the neighborhood efficiently without the hassle of being stuck behind a redlight with every resident of Tomball trying to get to 290 without spending too much time on the Loop.you commute on yale, red. i don't want you to have to deal with those people, with 18 wheelers who can't navigate the turns, with people who swerve between lanes because they are looking at their GPS wondering how the heck to get out of this scary, transitional neighborhood. i want better for you!

i whole heartedly agree with you on certain points. however, my impression is that the city is want to encourage this as a thoroughfare from 10 to 610/290. this is the part of the plan i find objectionable.

as i said, i am curious as to who the COH feels they are doing this project for. do they want to benefit the heights or do they want to make the heights a passthru? their intentions are important to the issue. i have emailed CM Gonzales with that question but not heard back at this point.

my feeling about this is not knee jerk and i am not the only one who is dismayed by the project as it is currently being proposed. i have read all the documentation/information in this post and used it to form my opinion. i have not been able to find any information that goes above and beyond what i found here so this is what i am going on....

wow. that is full of typos and i could not find the edit button. forgive me. i swear i am literate.

I am not getting the impression that you've really thought about who will use this street. Firstly, the street is not planned to increase drastically in size. It is not getting any more lanes than it already has, and the only expansion is a foot wider lanes in some parts. It will become concrete, just like Studewood, and soon, North Main. I don't know about you, but I really enjoy driving the new Studewood, as opposed to the old crappy one. I am sure I will also enjoy driving the new Main Street.

Yale will not really help anyone trying to save time getting to 290. Perhaps Shepherd does, but even I do not use those streets to get to 290. Both Shepherd and (to a lesser extent) Yale are used to avoid I-45, and only by those people coming from the Greenway area. Anyone who uses the roads (as I do) to avoid I-45 congestion knows that Shepherd is a far better street for doing so...and will remain so. Why? Because the biggest traffic choke point on 45 is the Shepherd curve. Taking Yale to I-45 will put you on 45 AHEAD of the curve, and in the middle of the congestion. Taking Shepherd put you on 45 AFTER the curve, missing the worst of the congestion.

Furthermore, Yale effectively begins at West Gray. It is too complicated to be useful as a thoroughfare after that. Moreover, it gets very skinny (2 lanes) at its northern end, so it is not even that useful as a shortcut to I-45, except for those of us who live near it. Frankly, it simply will not get that much busier than it already is, certainly not enough to oppose rebuilding it.

I use this road nearly every day to access I-45. I SEE who is driving on it, and I know why it is used. This rebuild will not change the traffic patterns for the worse.

I certainly understand NIMBYism, but when NIMBYism threatens to make life WORSE as opposed to better, I speak up. This road needs to be rebuilt, not repaved. I applaud those who are working to make the rebuild the road in a way that saves as many trees as possible. I stick my tongue out at those who are kneejerk opposed to it.

i whole heartedly agree with you on certain points. however, my impression is that the city is want to encourage this as a thoroughfare from 10 to 610/290. this is the part of the plan i find objectionable.

as i said, i am curious as to who the COH feels they are doing this project for. do they want to benefit the heights or do they want to make the heights a passthru? their intentions are important to the issue. i have emailed CM Gonzales with that question but not heard back at this point.

my feeling about this is not knee jerk and i am not the only one who is dismayed by the project as it is currently being proposed. i have read all the documentation/information in this post and used it to form my opinion. i have not been able to find any information that goes above and beyond what i found here so this is what i am going on....

As mentioned, I posted it from another site's post. I believe the incident happened on Thursday (garbage day) and I posted it the day I read it (Friday). The original post is a bit confusing, but I thought those of us who know the area could figure out the general block of the occurance. Hope that helps clarify my post.

I realize we live in the big city and have lived in the Heights for years & years. I don't recall this many attacks, and various types of violent (or attempted violent) crime, in our hood since I've lived here. In the past, it's been petty theft of a bicycle, lawn tools, front porch flower pots, etc. Perhaps crime is being reported more, but without community forums, we'd probably never know what's gone on.

I hope folks keep posting, get descriptions and share them, call the police when you see something out of the norm and remind all of us to be neighborly and aware of our surroundings at all times.

i do think that more chatter about it and more reporting of it via forums and message boards has a lot to do with it. certainly violent crime has always existed in all parts of the city. we hear so much more about it now due to the internet. pre-message boards/forums, you would hear the stories that made the news, which were often the most gruesome, and stories by word-of-mouth so how much you heard depended on who you knew.

i thought the validity of the story in bullet point 1 was questionable?

Oh, how could I forget...North Main Street.

right. north main, shepherd/durham, studewood already all go through the heights. a nighborhood this size doesnt need another thoroughfare. it needs a well paved road capable of handling heavy neighborhood traffic but it doesnt need rush hour traffic trying to shave 3 minutes off their commute to 290

also, perhaps i missed it but do we know who the city sees as the beneficiaries of this project, i.e. the widening and use as a major thoroughfare? i can't imagine that it's residents of the heights. i would love to hear their reasoning for doing anything more than repaving...

i posted this topic to heights kids' group recently and another mom emailed Deb Broman about the status. she rcvd this note back:

Here's the email response Debra Broman sent:

Thanks so much for your concern... What I do know is that Yale St has become one of the most studied streets in Houston. I am proud for that... We got the City to take a serious look. What "they" say is that Yale at 6th to the frwy and Yale at 20th to the other frwy will be widened and those trees will be lost. From 20th to 6th "they" will do their best to preserve those trees. I have my doubts. They have not come out with the official word, BUT, they know our concerns. We are working closely with our area Council man. I will forward you an email from The deputy director but I encourage you and your group to voice your concerns with the councilman.

any word on a (re)opening date?

he said " the next few weeks" which is about as vague as you get... but today when i drove by it looked painted inside and partially set up. last time i tried to peek in, all the furniture was pushed up against the windows so i guess this is progress

had lunch on friday at Stella Sola with Heights Womens Club. it was great. the restaurant isn't open yet but we ate upstairs in a small banquet room. the food was excellent- pumpkin ravioli to start; i had the short rib for my main. it was excellent, in a wine sauce with root veggies.

jason gould came in and spoke the group. he said it will be texas food in that it will be as much local as possible but with Tuscan influences. he said it will be casual, more affordable (i believe he meant than Bedford) and family friendly. i am really, really looking forward to it.

i actually did all my grocery shopping at kroger for the 1st time since i had kids. i think that issues like only 2 things of almond milk will end when the store is complete and they know what is going to sell. until then, i'm sure they need to be careful about overstocking stuff that won't move. i love the wide aisles as well. now i can continue on my merry way while people on scooter carts load up with 15 cans of condensed milk (true story).

as far as HEB- i only want one if it nothing at all like the HEB on bunker hill. the store is too big. if i want lawn furniture, i'll go to home depot or C&D. if i want toys i'll go to a toy store. i would like a pantry foods sized HEB with high quality meats, fish and produce- as local as possible. a small but well stocked prepared foods section, deli counter and solid wine and beer department staffed by someone who knows what they are talking about. in short, i want it to be an old school, small town grocery before mega-marts became the grail. if it's like bunker hill or buffalo speedway, i'll stick with kroger on 11th 95% of the time because once development starts on yale, on studewood near arne's and the washington development continues eastward, i will be hard pressed to go south of i10 for anything.

Or maybe Marksmu is an AWP. They're like zombies. They don't eat the brains of their own kind. There's only one way to find out if Marksmu is an AWP or not, and it's by answering this question: Marksmu, how do you take your Starbucks?

can someone define AWP for me?