sevfiv

protest still on:

from STB:

The protest planned for today will now also be a wake.

As is typical, the builder, Harry James, tore down the Doyle Mansion as quickly as possible after the public got wind of the plan.

PLUS, another historic home was demolished at 401 Heights Blvd yesterday as well.

Gather at 10th Street and Heights Blvd at 5pm today, Thursday July 19th.

Letter from Gilbert Perez, one of the main organizers, below:

Dear Friends,

Just in case you haven't heard, it saddens me to inform you that the Doyle Mansion was torn down today. In spite of all the pleads from the neighborhood, community, Historic Houston, several members of the Houston Heights Association, and many preservationists, Harry James Builders spat in our faces by demolishing a one-of-kind historic home in the heart of our "historic" neighborhood.

Another historic home was also demolished today on Heights Blvd. between 4th and 5th streets, that's two in one day. Though I don't know who is responsible for that one, it wouldn't surprise me at all if tomorrow we find out that it was also the actions of Harry James Builders.

In light of what has transpired today, we need to (now more than ever) come out Thursday the 19th (tomorrow) to let Harry James and other builders know that we are going to put an end to this repulsive act of insensitivity, ignorance, and greed.

Please don't let yet another builder have the last laugh. Come and join us tomorrow (Thursday the 19th) on the Blvd. in front of the land of where a one-of-kind historic home lived for over 106 years. Come out and bring your signs, noisemakers, energy and vigor to let the builders and others know that we are fed up.

Though we had a setback today , we must gather tomorrow in front of the corner of Heights Blvd. and 10th Street ( formerly The Doyle Mansion, 945 Heights Blvd.) and let our voices be heard so that we can one day be victorious!!!

See you there!

Gilbert Joseph Perez

his homes can be seen on his site:

http://www.harryjamesbuilder.com/

at some point i will get everything uploaded to its own page on my site,

but here are a couple pictures post-demolition:

i just got the email...will be heading there after work

People who flick their cigarette butts out their windows!

I swear, I see 2-3 cigarette butts bouncing sparks down the freeway every morning.

i am with you on the littering thing...

there's always "Report a Litterer" (and a cigarette butt is on the drop-down list)

http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org/report_a_litterer.php

the aragon was directly behind the montagu hotel (hotel cotton)

here is a picture of the fire that occurred there (from the montagu's site):

http://www.hotelcotton.com/images/hotelcot...0background.jpg

there is some talk of the aragon ballroom on this thread:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...?showtopic=5694

ooh...and those photos of the menu:

http://i17.tinypic.com/4visa5w.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/4lp6wp5.jpg

Doyle House Protest

Thursday, July 19th, from 5-6 pm at 945 Heights Blvd. (at 10th St.)

google map

articles:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/hei...ws/4975382.html

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/kho...n.80671659.html

http://houstonist.com/2007/07/17/classic_victori.php

from Save the Bungalows:

This Thursday, July 19 at 945 Heights Blvd & 10th, from 5 - 6 pm, join

protest Thursday, 5pm:

Heights residents plan to protest the anticipated demolition of the Patrick Francis Doyle House at 945 Heights Blvd. at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The protest follows a week of conversation between area preservationists and Harry James Building and Design, which recently purchased the Queen Anne style house.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/hei...ws/4975382.html

i wonder if that is really the name of the bar, too...will check city directories this evening

Looking at the picture above ^^^, is that street level retail in the bottom right?

yes - here is a view from main and walker:

Thanks for posting that photo. I was expecting something much much worse from all the negitive comments.

imo, on the main street side it actually blends a little because of Battelstein's, but on the Travis side not so much (next to 801 Travis (?))

Midtown Fiesta is my favorite grocers. And Montrose Krogers. OTOH, I've been thinking about starting to enforce a "buy local" policy. I may start buying produce at the farmer's market (I hear one exists, sometimes..)

there's a farmer's market every tuesday from 3:30-7 at Rice, and Saturdays from 8-12 by Onion Creek.

http://www.houstonfarmersmarket.org/

for grocery stores, disco kroger on montrose, even through all my moves

from GHPA:

Heights landmark facing demolition;

Historic district petitions still need signatures

Heights Boulevard is facing the loss of another landmark. The 1906 Doyle House, a National Register-eligible property at 945 Heights, is set to be demolished. Harry James Building & Design plans to construct a new

Another forum seemed to suggest the news cameras were coming out sunday to do a segment on the house. Anyone know if that happened?

a small crew arrived around 3pm or so

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/kho...n.80671659.html

I jog by this site almost daily and the fence was removed from the perimeter about 2 months ago.

i'm remember now (been a few months since i've lived over there) - there was a gate on the fence that had been opened prior to its removal, and i would see folks let their dogs in to do their thing on the lot

i had to go to a wal-mart in semi-rural missouri (southwestern) and it was relatively clean, organized, and efficient.

ther than that, i have been to two wal-marts in houston - dunvale and meyer park - and they were filthy and unkempt. they must rake in enough money to keep from getting the once over...

yep - the Bond Clothing Store, Beatty-West building and the Montagu (Hotel Cotton) will be demolished for this project.

more Bond pictures:

http://www.arch-ive.org/bond

and from the Houston deco/ghpa site:

http://www.houstondeco.org/1940s/bond.html

So this is "high end".

"The Tipping Point is a high-end sneaker store that deals in hard-to-find and limited edition shoes."

Partay pics: http://www.chron.com/entertainment/photogallery/Party_.html

oh my. SHOES!

those Converse in one of the shots are available from the converse site for about $95...i wonder how much they sell em for

http://www.converse.com/zproductdetails.as...bb=1&bhqs=1

Took a look at the house yesterday about 6:00 PM. Still there. Any word on why the demo didn't take place. I'm hoping the house was saved but that may be too much to hope for.

the demolition permit has been issued, but it doesn't hold the owner to a particular date to demolish

i agree, but to the provosts, even an 846 decrease in enrollment could be the start of financial issues.

i was surprised to read this, though:

UH began as a place for the children of the city's blue-collar workers to get an education, but too many students now leave for jobs before earning a degree. About one-fourth of the university's freshmen don't return for their sophomore year. And six years after entering UH, only 42 percent of freshmen will have earned degrees

Can anyone post a picture of what was there before?

i'm sure i have something buried somewhere at home

there is a postcard earlier in this thread

there is a small image of the demolition on this page, but the building isn't from the fifties, just the remodel:

http://www.mindspring.com/~tbgray/writings.htm

and an article about the demolition (reg. required):

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=2003_3680866

It seemed at one point that Hines was considering using the building, but obviously that didn't happen:

It has been widely speculated that Hines will tear down the San Jacinto building and construct a parking garage, Cook said. But a spokeswoman for Hines said Wednesday the firm is considering several possibilities for the San Jacinto property, but no final decisions have been made.

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=1999_3169526

some would argue there is a big difference between "architectural knowledge" and the subjectivity of what one thinks is aesthetically pleasing. just because it is a "premium finish" doesn't mean that it doesn't still look raw, or that this attribute is just plain ugly to some.

there is also the issue of the hype associated with this garage pre-construction

and the demolition of the bender/san jacinto hotel that made this parking garage a reality :closedeyes:

to me, it is plain and boring. i would expect nothing less from a parking garage. it is just sad to know what was there before, and to also have the hope that the garage might be different in some way

i was at the house yesterday - it is behind a huge facade of greenery, but the house itself is still beautiful and worthy of restoration, imo. the inside has been exposed to the elements a bit, and there is trash everywhere, though, but nothing beyond salvaging.

from Save the Bungalows (address listed is 935 Heights)

Harry James Builders has purchased a fine old Heights Boulevard Victorian that is definitely restorable but they have already pulled permits for demolition.

Historic Houston and other concerned folks tried to offer alternatives but the builder is, as usual, unwilling to consider any alternative, even those that financial incentives for restoration.

Sunday, July 15 at 935 Heights Blvd, 2:30pm.

At least one TV station is expected to be there to cover yet another sad turn of events.

A crowd would be nice - please do stop by.

You can also write Harry and let him know how you feel HJ20@nextel.blackberry.net

or call 713.695.7007

ONE PER DAY - that is the current rate.

If your block isn't protected, please check our website for how to information.

http://www.savethebungalows.org/The_New_Laws_____.html

Harry James Builders has purchased a fine old Heights Boulevard Victorian that is definitely restorable but they have already pulled permits for demolition.

Historic Houston and other concerned folks tried to offer alternatives but the builder is, as usual, unwilling to consider any alternative, even those that financial incentives for restoration.

Sunday, July 15 at 945 Heights Blvd, 2:30pm.

At least one TV station is expected to be there to cover yet another sad turn of events.

A crowd would be nice - please do stop by.

You can also write Harry and let him know how you feel HJ20@nextel.blackberry.net

or call 713.695.7007

ONE PER DAY - that is the current rate.

If your block isn't protected, please check our website for how to information.

http://www.savethebungalows.org/The_New_Laws_____.html

yeah - not sure about that, although the lighting was brighter than the picture shows - this was taken about 6:30 pm or so, and it was a bad glare in the sky

i hope it isn't finished - up close it looks rough.

i can't really see how this one can be salvaged at this point, though