johnfinley

Good Gravy! This is fantastic! Thank you so much! How many more pictures are there that aren't on the website?

Doesn't the house already have missing tiles? It's a miricle that the house didn't sustain any more damage. Do you all think it'd hurt if I downloaded my copies of the blue prints on here?

Also, I hope this isn't a silly question. Would it be okay if I could get some people here in Fort Worth to sign the peteition?

I forgot to say that the first picture looks like Mrs. West's bedroom. The child's room doesn't match any other family bedroom in the plans, with the exception of the identical maid's rooms (one above one another) and the "secretary's" room between the music room and library.

I'm sorry I didn't answer any questions any sooner. I forgot the name of the gentleman who I contacted, but he was really nice and he was with the Fondren Library. I have copes of the original plans, and copies of the remodel plans too. Hey Sloane, how were you able to get those old black and white pictures?

I don't think it's even been flooded. I've seen pictures of it (recent) on the inside and it looks like there is no interior flood damage on the first floor. We had some great pics of the house here a while back, but we had to take them down. I still have them on my pc at home, and I bought the plans from Rice. It's a special house.

I sure hope that nothing happens to the house.

Were they moving dirt around when the fences were up? More than likely, the orange fence was a silt fence. They are used to keep debris and muck getting off the property.

Lang and Witchell designed dozens of colonial revivial mansions in Dallas, early in their partnership. Of course, none of them are around any more. A few Lang and Witchell designs are left in Dallas, but are of varying architectural styles. There was a house in Lancaster, Tx that was a cross between 1766 Pasadena and 217 Westmoreland that L&W designed. If I could get my hands on a color scanner, I'd scan my pics of it for you all.

From HCAD, it appears that a frat sold the house on Pasadena to it's current owner. I did google the house Westmoreland house, and it's under another topic here on this board. It appears that it's owners are a little eccentric.

That house is on Pasadena. The other house I'm referring to is on Westmorland.

Is this house and the other colonial mansion still around?

I just got the plans in from Rice. It's such a great house. The second floor is laid out beautifully, but the original first floor layout is a maze of small rooms. I guess that's why people build huge kitchen/family rooms. Included in the plans are the plans from the 1968 remodel. Rice removed a majority of the bathrooms on the second floor and turned them into offices. In addition, Rice moved around the walls and reconfigured Mr. West's and Mrs. West's bedrooms. Funny thing is that there was a miad's room across from their bed rooms orginally, right above the one on the first floor. Mrs. West had the largest master bedroom, but the smalles bath. Mr. West had the exact opposite. The music room/library and den had an interconnecting room in the middle for a secretary. In the den, there was a closet (with gun rack) with a "magic" door that hid the safe. Also, there was an adjacent dressing room, bathroom, closet, and entrance porch for the den that was only accessable through the den and service porch; not through the adjacent Palm Room. I could go on and on.....Sadly, I only got the elevations and floor plans. The others are not available; garage, room finished, landscaping, etc. The plans I bought are full size reproductions, but black and white copies; not color. Not bad for $40.00.

If the sale is complete, and the civil engingeering plans partially complete, I bet that they are going to start grading the land soon. What does the fence look like? I know either a short one (less than 3 feet tall) with wooden posts, and black plastic banding or orange webbing is a silt fence. Silt fences are designed to keep waste dirt and debris from leaving the property, going into the streets, neighboring properties, and storm sewers.

The 95 pic makes me want to cry. Home Depot is nothing but a thug. They had enough of a parcel of land to place the store facing Chimney Rock with the rear facing the square with enough room for trucks to be able to get to their loading docks. As it is over 50% of the Home Depot lot is never used. The only time I recall it was even over 50% capacity occupied was in the 2-3 day period right before hurricane Rita was coming this way. If they had bulit a lake (as city park property) where the land was in the glory days of the square we might have been spared the ugly Home Depot coming in.

Although it will likely not occur I would like to see that whole area gutted and single family homes built where Home Depot, 99 cent store, and the Chase are. With rising energy prices this location is more valuable than it used to be when gas was 99 cents and Sugarland was a viable option.

It is very odd that this parcel of land sat idle so long from the 60s to 95. Currently there is a small lot of land right in front on Home Depot next to the Dominos Pizza for sale. It is big enough to accomodate a fast food joint. I pray that does not occur. God help us if a McDonalds opens up and all sorts of crime comes along with it.

The amount of parking required is determined by the maximum amount of people the building is designed to hold, through percentages, per the city's engineering/planning department. In addition, the fire marshall gets to review that stuff and add his two cents and regulation as well. Those factors are what make parking lots so darn big. Too big!

We've got enough people here to work there, own it, and keep it profitable! Not to mention their families, friends, etc.

She's probably calling the liqour store as we speak, using Joan Crawford's voice!

Hey! Who are you calling a HAIFER! Just kidding! Thanks for making me feel a little better.

If anybody has quoted me about how and where to park and where the floor plans are, please edit your posts and delete what I said. I'm sorry I caused this trouble.

Prisclynn, here's a link to a pdf article on the house........

http://www.houseandhomeonline.com/home/doc...pp_0207_hou.pdf

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In the postcard, you can't see windows. However, on the right hand side of the pic (before you get to the car) there is some sort of railing that could be possibly going around a light well. The railing could possibly be blocking off a set of stairs that lead to the basement.

That's awesome! Thanks for the pictures and story. I wonder what they'll do with the stuff that was found in the basement?

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To quote Jeebus from 2005, yes the street does go both ways. When I went to vote the last time, I saw the usual candidates standing outside. This guy that was running for mayor was just having a great old time passing out flyers with his name on them and his causes. When my white behind walked up to him, he completely ignored me as I approached him. Since I hated the current Mayor, I was going to vote for him. So, I just didn't vote forthe rude candidate. Similar incident happened to me while driving past an intersection with church memebers panhandeling for thier childrens' camp, and the other drivers in the car next to me.

Also, I wouldn't call them "ghetto mansions." However, that term seems correct, in its'pollitical incorrectness. Who wants to pay a million plus for a house in a neighborhood that has an ugly McMansion with a simlulated stucco facade on two-thirds of the exterior and a hardiplank rear facade? Also an over sized porte cochere in front with 1967 Impala's with 22" dubs sitting underneath? I wouldn't! To me, that type of junk is simply that. Junk! No matter what religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation you are. Trash is trash.