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Many early neighborhood boulevards were actually designed to be grand, exclusive promenades. No zoning, lapsed restrictions, and rapid city growth have stripped their true identity.

Nice article... see caption and image 9. Yes... more of this.. not concrete. And I like the boulder idea. Memorial Park was designed as a natural "forest playground", to be guarded from human encroachment. This is why park change is slow. The idea was engrained long ago, to resist civilizing it like Hermann Park. source: Memorial Park - S.Emmott. (p.27) There have been numerous proposals to alter the park. It was even considered as a possible site for the Astrodome. I was horrified to see the loss of some of the tallest, possibly oldest trees in the park after the latest hurricanes ripped through Houston. No doubt, the drought furthered the loss. But hopefully new ones have been planted. This city needs more green landscape, not less. The migratory path is a special part of Houston's identity. Abundant wildlife, especially birds are noted in many early visitor's diaries... why, then, do we pose to alter and threaten this huge wildlife attraction? And, I thought we had recognized that the straightening and hard containment of the bayous and resulting escalation of water downstream was not the answer. Surely, there is a better solution to the erosion issue. Oh... and yeah, those police horses. pens and stables had been there for quite a while. I always thought they were in a strange location, so close to the freeway. Well, they weren't, originally. The 610 behemoth cut through the wooded area. There was also a horse (exercise?) track south of the stables (GoogleEarth).

Yeah... that's ridiculous... it's FM1960...no parkway. Who allows this stuff? And what's the difference between a park way and an expressway? more landscaping?

great news ephernan! Keep us posted on all the progress. And welcome to HAIF.

I believe those graves were moved. Can someone confirm?

Looks like it was bought by George Guy Lavinghousez in 1986. It was built in the early 50's. Shows a cracked slab. Has a pool, but that was filled in a while ago, per GoogleEarth. Has a driveway entrance off of Roseneath. Concerning the two properties, it would be nice to see the land bought as a package deal and then sold, in sections. The land deals could fund a restoration of the Weingarten estate, with the front estate view left alone. The overall space would be condensed. Yet, it would still be a nice piece of property. And, at least the main residence and garage apartment would survive. Wishful thinking on my part. The appraisal records list the 4000 S. MacGregor Way residence as Superior Quality. I've looked at a lot of appraisal records. I've never seen that description. The condition is listed as very poor. Under extra feature - cracked beam - crawl space.

I believe the fire was next door, or very close to the Finger property.

http://www.garygreene.com/homes/TX/HOUSTON/77021/3932_South_MacGREGOR/13170593099/index.html ...ok. Here's the listing for 3932... is that house also part of the original Weingarten estate? On the market at the same time as the huge house. Does anyone know it's story?

The two lots.

yeah... that will be a hard one to take. I could see the house staying, and the back part sold for development, though, and maybe the side lot too. It is listed as two separate lots.

Is there not a durable yet somewhat porous material that could complement at least part of the ugly, impenetrable concrete ditches? I'm thinking of something that would also allow growth of vegetation and roots to settle. maybe along the top half. Of course there is always the speed of the water, from the unpredictable rainfall... too much would rip it all out. Seems like I've seen some kind of netting or rubber material with holes used in recent bayou update projects. Letting the bayous flow somewhat the way they want to (some oxbows) is not a bad thing, IMO. Houses/ apartments have been removed and no future building is allowed, anyway, in some of these problem areas. I' I'm thinking of Simms Bayou after Telephone Road.

Gulfgate HEB is a good ways away. I could see another one being built, especially with the UH status change/ growth and EE development.They should do it. The good thing about HEB is that they poll neighborhoods of each targeted area, to see what they want in a future store.

Is this a fact or speculation based on Houston's past tract record? pun intended.

Great plan for the reuse of the Fingers property. I hope to see it actually developed soon by some company. I've read so many posts about the need for updated grocery stores in the area.

Battlesteins! Love.

Very nice! ... Spotted the Post Bldg. 1st pic. On the rt. corner. Nice arch. Oliver's Music, 2nd pic. (saw that in a 1926 Directory, recently) Boston Chocolate, Eureka Laundry, Bristol Hotel, Majistic ? Cafe ( with an I)? It's blurry.& Sherwin- Williams (with the round dripping paint sign?)

I'm not saying you are wrong, just that I don't remember. Maybe it was originally in the Pizza Inn bldg. Similar layouts... located behind the McDonalds, facing Broadway, across the median from SoundWaves.

I was really thinking about the time period for those small tile street signs, as well. My great-grandmother's bungalow had tile kitchen countertops. It was built in the twenties. Certainly, with the introduction of the Spanish or Mission style, tiles were used extensively. During the forties, many buildings had black tile details. At one time, pale green tile was popular...theaters, like the Santa Rosa reflected it. Correction to my previous post...meant to say 1940's <. A bit astray from topic... but, I've been studying Acres Homes a bit. Interesting history, beautiful lots so close to the city. It's a very distinct area, when viewing GoogleEarth. I was reading that the area is attracting a few artists who can't afford their previous haunts, such as Montrose.

Thanks to you both for the info. I've always wanted to see the interior. Those time warp pictures in the listing are interesting. Did you see the dining room table and the study's leather furniture? Didn't see any kitchen shots. Must be in bad shape. I never realized the property had such a slope. Makes sense, looks like a gully runs through those trees. Are there any restrictions on fences in Riverside Terrace? I always wondered why there was never one surrounding the property.

The Pasadena - Spencer location of Shakey's is where we went - complete with pizza oven observation window and barbershop quartet type - banjo and bow ties, live band. A while later, my parents (and our neighbors) switched to the A-framed looking"Village Inn Pizza Parlor" located behind Pasadena Plaza. It had a live band every Friday night... Rock music, frosty beer pitchers, and pepperoni pizza. It was fun...ran all around that place. The Shakey's building was later occupied by a mexican food restaurant with a small plane on its roof. I don't remember the Shakey's at Bellfort & Broadway. I remember a Pizza Inn and Pizza Hut, late '70's.

The bridge looks ok to me. But I do love that whole Memorial City Memorial Hermann complex. And, the rendering looks similar in design. Around Eldridge... What is the larger road in the lower part of the pic. Beltway?

Skilled architects/ landscape architects might just see that as a nice challenge. Having a little isolation from the central downtown core may not be a bad thing, As long as easy bridge/path/ street access is present. Lord knows, it's all about the view. Rapid gentrification is here. It's affecting all sides of downtown... I doubt the east and north side will be left out. They will just be the last chosen, IMO. I've never seen this scale of building in Houston. I'm shocked at how fast it's all changing, suburbs and inner city.

Those concrete corner street posts were in Oak Meadows in the '60's as well. The houses were built in the early to mid 1950's. I always saw the blue and white porcelain curb markers in older neighborhoods, 1940's >.

I guess nobody else knows, either. I've never seen anything like that.

Cypresswood... From Champions Area/ Country Club to Grant Road.