Willowisp

I shouldn't let the cat out of the bag on this yet, but clear your plans for Feb 17th... If it sells before that though we may be out of luck.

A bit of the modern flavor was lost to time (the flooring wasn't my favorite), but overall it was beautiful and very spacious, with a big courtyard in the middle of it. I talked to the realtor who must have not gotten my email, so maybe we could still have a MOTM there in the future. He was definitely a modernist himself and pleased to meet someone who just showed up for the architecture. It still needs some work though, and it's on the end so I would think that would be less appealing as it's closest to the street. You would expect that premium of a price to be an absolutely perfect example. I forgot to ask to see the "common areas" of the place. Jason

You rarely get the figure you ask for. I guess they'll see how low they have to go pretty soon. Jason

If I ever have my own house designed and built, I've already decided it will be Mark Schatz and Anne Eamon to do it (m+a architecture 713-440-0083). If you build a relationship with an architect, you can almost design the house yourself and then they will do the hard part, turning your ideas into a house. I've heard from naysayers that the 50s can't be redone because of new building codes and that's why we're stuck with the cheap and easy tract homes as they are. But Mark and Anne just did a project that was some kind of contest to design a house for a lower income family at about the size you are describing. All I'd need to do is tweak with their ideas for my "dream house". I'd also get ahold of some dwell mags, and search through the prefab manufacturers as well. There are some great ideas out there, and lots of them are flexible. As far as Braeburn Valley goes, I've heard good and bad. If there was an already empty lot in Robindell, I don't think I'd have any problem building there. Are you thinking North of Braeswood or South? I've seen some nice houses just North of Braeswood and West of Fondren near the golf course. Is that where you're talking about? As for a whole development of these kinds of economical houses, I'd be pleasantly surprised to find that happen in Houston. I've heard of it in other places though in Atomic Ranch. Jason

For getting to the Med. Center, I'm sure it's a godsend because S. Main is like a freeway all the way to 610. But if you live down in Missouri City or Sienna Plantation and you want to avoid 59 and get to the Galleria/Bellaire/Greenway, you get dropped off at Chimney Rock or S. Main & S. Post Oak. Then you drive up Bellfort or S. Post Oak to the on ramp of 610 at Bellfort & S. Post Oak. That's where it's a problem. There are schematics of the Ft. Bend Tollway extending from S. Main where it stops now to go all the way to the 610 loop, but they are on hold. I actually can't be sure if all that traffic is coming from the Ft. Bend Tollway, but it's gotten worse since that opened. There are also a lot of people coming from neighborhoods South of S. Main that drive up S. Post Oak to 610. Jason

It's definitely one of the ritzier townhome addresses in Houston. Probably a little overpriced... But just for perspective, The George & Barbara Bush family used to own #8 and used it as their "Houston base" for many years. This is a nice place in the heart of the galleria area. But it's not really even gated. Maybe they gate it at night? The asphalt is a little street. There is a lot of greenery on the "commons" ground and there is a pool. I can't wait to see it in person. It was featured in Arch. Record when it was built and the architect, P.M. Bolton liked it enough to live there himself. Jason

The last time I saw it, I thought the gate just happened to be open on accident. I snapped a quick picture and left. One or two weeks later BenH called me and told me the news that it was demolished. I wished I had gone up to the door and figured out it was empty. I would have at least walked around the outside taking shots. If it was in bad shape inside, there was no evidence of that from the outside. Usually a house looks run down from the outside as well. I'm afraid it's just a case of someone wanting the land and not knowing or caring how important the house was. I don't guess the new house has sold yet, but when it does, I bet it will be in the 4 million range. I have a good vintage picture of the back of it on my computer somewhere. I'll try to get it on photobucket. Jason

http://www.har.com/7475233 I tried to email this realtor to ask if they'd like to be a mod of the month earlier in the month, but never heard back. Well, it's open this Sunday, so go if you can... Jason

I don't know how it is at S. Main because I don't drive it, but I live near S. Post Oak and Willowbend Dr, and S. Post Oak is getting really crowded in the mornings and afternoons. A lot of people who drive the tollway are stuck because like you said, where it drops off you either take S. Main up to 610 near Reliant (makes sense if you're going to the Medical Center or Downtown on 288), or if you want to go up to the Galleria area you take Bellfort or S. Post Oak to get to 610. That's where the mess is, and lots of people aren't happy about it. Westbury (Bellfort/Chimney Rock) isn't happy and Willowbend (S. Post Oak/Willowbend) isn't happy. So the next step is to rip up S. Post Oak and turn it into a tollway to lead on to 610. That's in the works, but no one says when or if it is actually going to happen. www.texasfreeway.com may be of more help to you. Look at a map and picture that whole section between getting dropped off at S. Main to get to 610 as bumper to bumper. Jason

I was thinking the same thing. Whenever I get pulled over, I was going way faster than they say I was. In 20 years of driving, I've only gotten one or two tickets I didn't think I deserved. Come to think of it though, that was when I was your son's age. I don't know if they saw I was young or if it was random. One of them was passing on the right around someone going 50 in the fast lane. I was patient and waited but they never got over so I sped around them and then started making up for lost time... I thought the slow person should have been the one pulled over. I just take the ticket and be more careful in the next year since you can only do one defensive driving a year. When I get a ticket I think back to the times they didn't catch me going 125. But the worst ticket I ever got was when they were watching for non-stoppers on my street and I got pulled over for no front licence plate right after my mechanic had told me "they never pull you over for this". I thought that was ridiculous and I was mad at my neighbor because he was the one who called in the "sting operation". And still no one stops at that sign. Jason

That's at least the second 2007 Good Brick Award House to go up for sale. I find that strange in the declining market, and so soon after winning the award (he's not a flipper by any means). Wonder if they just decided Houston's not right for them... Jason

Nothing happened for Mod of the Month for January. I'll keep trying for another house soon... Jason

That should give us all something to talk/cry about...

In that case, I need to find the email and let them know we're ready when they are... It's really nice to see these not get destroyed once in awhile. Jason

The mod on the corner of Glourie belongs to Edward Davis, a long time Houstonian architect. He designed the house himself, I believe in 1968. That house will be up on the website at some point soon. There are some other MCMs in that area. Cool blog and great idea with the maps and all. Jason

I may be thinking of the wrong people, but I'm pretty sure the new owners of this house had contacted Houston Mod and were planning on inviting us over to see it once they had it fixed up. Maybe they changed their mind. I'll have to search old emails to figure it out. Jason

Just don't tell me they took out the kitchen cabinets. If this one was butchered up too, I'm going to start wondering about having Mods of the Month. It seems like more than half of the ones we feature get butchered up despite our efforts. Jason

The Burdette Keeland Townhome (Mod of the Month in November) was somewhat in this style. So was the first homes we looked at, the Townhomes at the corner of Fountainview and San Felipe. From living here though, I admire the less steep slope of my own roof to these. But I think if it had a cool atrium in the middle and/or a lot of (esp. indirect) light and glass I could work with it. I've been pretty deeply brainwashed into the 50s to early 60s by now though. Jason

That's an incredible collection of photographs! I still need a "front" of The Frame House more than an interior. I think a closeup of the entry would work or the angle from the cover of the Houston Mod catalog (garage). I don't really like to do the back of the house for the website because it may bring up privacy issues. It's hard to know if DH knows or approves of those shots being online, even though the house was in ads for rent so I have very similar shots saved on my computer already. And yes, it is a magnificent home. One of the best designs in Texas, and set in an amazing location. It's Harwood Taylor's residential masterpiece. Jason

The Lieb house is one of the most interesting and esoteric houses I have ever seen. I knew it from the arial pic in that first post. I thought "Ahhh, yesss. I know that house!" That's another one I have to get around to putting online. It's hard to get a definitive picture of though. Jason

The Lawyer House was named as a "Mod of the Month" when we were in the market for a house. It was too expensive for us though. I think that was before the tours started. Jason

Wow! What a letter we received! Thanks so much to you guys for finding him online. Reading this letter, it seems that Formica would never have become synonomous with 1950s & 60s countertops like it is without the salesmanship of Larry Stephens. Dear Mr. Smith: You emailed me with inquiry about the Meyerland Formica House. Indeed I was the architect for that house and it was one of the most interesting experiences of my professional career. The house was constructed by Al Fairfield/Builder Inc, and the year was probably 1965 [actually plans say April, 1966]. Mr. Fairfield and I were associated in a Design/Build relationship that produced several hundred custom designed houses from 1963

I don't mind threads getting hijacked, but to get this one back on track... Houston Mod received a (snail mail) letter from this house's architect, Waller Poage yesterday. The man who checks our PO boxis forwarding it to me so I'll reprint it here when I get it. That's exciting. And like Spaceage said, that was a great mod of the month. Maybe the best attended one we've done when it was just one house, especially for a December afternoon. Wish we had been able to make it 2 houses, but looks like we'll do Meyerland again in January as the other one wasn't ready to go on the market yet. The tentative date will be January 13th. Jason

I saw that in a catalog and had a good laugh! My neighbor told me he has made Miesian gingerbread houses at parties before. I keep thinking I'll do it too someday. The farthest we've gotten with "mod christmas" is an aluminum tree and a color wheel to shine on it. Jason

Never got word back from the architect, but we will hold the house open as one of 2 Mods of the Month in Meyerland this Sunday from 2-4. Since the Texans are playing Thursday night there should be no conflicts! Jason