lilyheights

One of our trade contractors worked on the demo and told me last week that the structure was seriously damaged. I know the conspiracy theorists won't believe it but much of Mr. Hanna's response seems to be accurate. It doesn't excuse demolishing the building without exhausting whatever public/private avenues were available for saving the structure but it's probably a stretch to conclude that the owner is a lying, cheating bastard with a blatant disregard for his neighbors, good taste and humanity.

Good points.

Does the city issue a condemned certificate of some sort? If so, I'd like to see it. If they don't have one, what other proof besides a paid-for opinion of their engineers do they have? I'd like to see the paper before I believe their story.

In the same vein, y'all often appear smug and a little self-abosorbed.

Well, that wasn't my intention. I grew up in Sharpstown in a track home. I could tell you great things about that too, but this is the Heights forum.

My mom does remember a different Houston and there just isn't much of it left. The track homes are a dime a dozen...so if we seem smug and self-absorbed about trying to preserve this tiny piece of remaining memories, so be it.

People in CL really harp on the disgrace of loosing the real Kemah...their sentiments are no different...so I guess they're also smug and self-absorbed?

I hope that my children will preserve some of the good things I remember about Sharpstown. There are some significant things there that are worthwhile. I am increasingly happy to see people taking an interest in mid-century modern homes for the same reason I am interested in preservation/sensitive development of the Heights.

So, I think you read these narrowly focused responses but may not recognize that people on these boards have broader interests and varied histories.

I'm sure they'll patch together another side to this story.

I can't tell them that explaining their plans to the Heights Association or Heights residents would have been easy. We're not an easy bunch...but that isn't a bad thing. Too much in this town is too easy.

I can completely understand why they wanted to go behind everyones' backs...it was EASIER...but easy isn't always best. I hope they'll learn that lesson.

The Heights is different: we care. I work in the 'burbs and they wish they had half the passion in their home owners organizations that we have in our voluntary associations and our run-of-the-mill passive residents. We are keeping a part of Houston -- the real Houston, the one that my mom remembers, not the track home Houston -- alive.

We try to keep the old and influence the new...we don't want to become Bellaire and loose our flavor.

Why was this simple reality so difficult for those people to grasp? This attitude has been around for several years and it will likely bite that owner in the backside.

Ask any builder in this neighborhood and he or she will tell you about the Heights Assoc. and the pull it can muster.

If they come back with some silly story, too bad. No matter how true, they should have faced up to the reality of their demographic and explained themselves clearly. Without that, you have to assume they are just backpeddling.

Yes. That is what peeked my interest. I'm curious if they do it all, including sprinklers and drainage. I have a quote from Teas but I liked what I saw from Backyard Gardener on the home tour and just wanted to get some more information from people who have used them.

Has anyone used them? What did you think about the experience? Do they only do landscaping or do they also do drainage and sprinklers??

Any input would be appreciated...

C

I'm also surprised by that. I wonder what prompted them make such a drastic decision. I know the place was perhaps awkward for their restaurant plans...but like HeightsYankee said, there are plenty of places to choose from that are unquestionably tear downs.

Also, there are so many more sensitive choices before resorting to the wrecking ball. I could imagine several options from buying a different place to doing a sensitive rebuild/restoration.

I know those options may have been too much $$, but now they have a restaurant that will always have a bad taste, like burnt chocolate pudding...too bad the new developers didn't consider that.

I like the paint at Definitive Paints (used to be on Washington, now off Old Katy). They sell the C2 colors and there are some amazing choices. (The colorists of Pratt and Lambert spun off this company...it is their dream number of pigments or something...plus, P&L is now Sherwin Williams...)

Just a thought. The people who work there are extremely helpful and keep records of your purchase, which has helped us out.

I have often thought that townhomes, yes townhomes, would be a great alternative to these empty retail spaces. I don't see whatelse they are trully viable for with little business/retails districts becoming very distinct in the neighborhood. Maybe that will give the developers something to focus on rather than tearing down perfectly good housing to fit 4 on 1 lot...

My wish, since I live across the street, is that it would become a mini Whole Foods. I know, it is a pipe dream but it isn't that much smaller than the old store on Shepherd by the Bookstop. I really miss having a grocery there. I thought when I moved in it looked ugly, but I came to love the convenience.