Home At 945 Heights Blvd.

[dbigtex56]

That cheesy faux stone around the turret and foundation is a really nice touch.....

It'll compliment the future occupant's huge collection of Thomas Kinkade prints.

[20thStDad]

I'm definitely not an architect or even much of a student of building style, but damn, you people can be hard on some building designs. I'm not saying you're wrong, everyone has an opinion, and I'm not saying I love this place. But compared to the crap they build and have built forever in Baton Rouge, Houston has a very diverse style, even for what you call out as McMansions. I'll take a Houston McMansion any day over the crap that all the new neighborhoods in Baton Rouge look like. Garage in the front to the side, stucco around the front door, brick around other areas, fake gas lamps on each side of the door. I can't stand it. I love to see the new, weird, different things going up around Houston. Whether they build 3 or 5 in a row that look similar, I could care less.

I think I got off of my original thought there. Right. So, I have no architectural knowledge and very little capacity for design or style, I just like what I like. And if I ever decide to and am able to build a house, I'd be hesitant to post any pictures or details as it would most assuredly get torn apart with criticism of how it is bad or wrong. People buy/build what they 1) like and 2) can afford. If we could all have our dream homes in our 20s then they wouldn't be called dream homes.

[ISMDAVID]

Disappointing is an understatement. What could have been and will now never be ! - lots of design detail "misses" already and I haven't seen the inside. The stone treatment on the turret has to be the cheapest thing Ive seen done on a feature element in quite some time on a comparable home. It looks to be flooring material placed on the vertical surface and gives off no dimension or depth to the surface.

I also believe the quantity of porches is overdone. This house has an abundance of porch areas with columns that aren't centered on doors/windows but just simply placed at an equal spacing with no regard to the views out from the interior. Have you seen the roof covering over the garage door. To say that it is out of scale with the facade is an understatement.

Was this home designed by an architect? or is this simply a building designer modification to a previous home he has built. I sure wish more money was invested in the design and I believe the house could have commanded a higher price.

[heights_yankee]

I'm definitely not an architect or even much of a student of building style, but damn, you people can be hard on some building designs. I'm not saying you're wrong, everyone has an opinion, and I'm not saying I love this place. But compared to the crap they build and have built forever in Baton Rouge, Houston has a very diverse style, even for what you call out as McMansions. I'll take a Houston McMansion any day over the crap that all the new neighborhoods in Baton Rouge look like. Garage in the front to the side, stucco around the front door, brick around other areas, fake gas lamps on each side of the door. I can't stand it. I love to see the new, weird, different things going up around Houston. Whether they build 3 or 5 in a row that look similar, I could care less.

I think I got off of my original thought there. Right. So, I have no architectural knowledge and very little capacity for design or style, I just like what I like. And if I ever decide to and am able to build a house, I'd be hesitant to post any pictures or details as it would most assuredly get torn apart with criticism of how it is bad or wrong. People buy/build what they 1) like and 2) can afford. If we could all have our dream homes in our 20s then they wouldn't be called dream homes.

what you have to remember here is that there was a beautiful, interesting and HISTORIC house standing where this is going up. that makes us much less "warm" to whatever style it's going to have. also, the McVictorians are definitely better than the suburban pink brick McMansions from a design standpoint, but this is also (a term i 1st heard here on HAIF) the "disneyfication" of the Heights. and, sorry, but i walked by there with the hubby and bambino (yes, remember i *am the wife* people) this morning and that stone turret is fugly by anyone's standards.

also, harry james is not building someone's dream house. this house is currently for sale and is being built because he can. it is being built for profit. he buys, he tears down, he builds a barbie dream castle and then he waits until someone who doesn't know any better buys. my inlaws stayed at sara's b&b last week and they were stunned that the house was for sale. they said they couldn't believe someone would just build something like that without a buyer/commision. welcome to the heights, i said.

[20thStDad]

what you have to remember here is that there was a beautiful, interesting and HISTORIC house standing where this is going up. that makes us much less "warm" to whatever style it's going to have. also, the McVictorians are definitely better than the suburban pink brick McMansions from a design standpoint, but this is also (a term i 1st heard here on HAIF) the "disneyfication" of the Heights. and, sorry, but i walked by there with the hubby and bambino (yes, remember i *am the wife* people) this morning and that stone turret is fugly by anyone's standards.

also, harry james is not building someone's dream house. this house is currently for sale and is being built because he can. it is being built for profit. he buys, he tears down, he builds a barbie dream castle and then he waits until someone who doesn't know any better buys. my inlaws stayed at sara's b&b last week and they were stunned that the house was for sale. they said they couldn't believe someone would just build something like that without a buyer/commision. welcome to the heights, i said.

I agree that tearing down a historic old house to replace it with this one is a horrible thing. I probably posted my sentiment in the wrong thread, it should have gone in that other McMansion thread I guess. I'm all for preservation when there is something worth preserving. I just don't mind at all when an empty lot or a run-down place of no style or historical significance gets dozed for something newer. This is clearly a sad exception. As for its looks, I still love it TONS better than the new builds in LA that I referred to. I haven't driven by and checked it out since the faux stone went on though, might change my mind.

[20thStDad]

...so, I took a closer look, and I agree about the stone look. That doesn't make any sense.

[Dan the Man]

I can't wait until stucco and cultured stone fall out of fashion.

[west20th]

Well maybe the builder is just being pragmatic. If he has extra material from the turret he can do a tub surround with it.

[Panhandle78]

http://www.dianalynntarley.com/ewr/listings.asp

The house is listed at 1,350,000. Any comments?

[RedScare]

http://www.dianalynntarley.com/ewr/listings.asp

The house is listed at 1,350,000. Any comments?

Awesome Home on Heights Boulevard, quickly becoming the St. Charles Ave. of Houston!

St. Charles Ave. AFTER Hurricane Katrina, perhaps.

[Rammer]

Heights Hierarchy

Dilapidated and crumbling visually offensive Contemporary < Newer visually offensive Contemporary < Dilapidated and crumbling original < McMansion < McVictorian/McBungalow < Well preserved original Victorian/Bungalow

[Dan the Man]

I like the heirarchy, but I'd place "dilapidated and crumbling original" above "mcmansion." Many "dilapidated and crumbling originals" can be renovated into very unique houses at a cost less than that of a generic mcmansion.

[heights_yankee]

http://www.dianalynntarley.com/ewr/listings.asp

The house is listed at 1,350,000. Any comments?

the whole listing just makes me go "ew"

[20thStDad]

Rode by today...anyone else think the paint job made it look even worse? Too many shades, so busy.

[heights_yankee]

i pretty much hate everything about it. why couldn't he buy and tear down the ghetto apartment building (abandoned, i must add) next to my son's MDO instead?

[RedScare]

Rode by today...anyone else think the paint job made it look even worse? Too many shades, so busy.

My new route to work takes me by it twice a day. I can think of nothing good to say about it. It is large, if that counts as good.

[Porchman]

I can think of nothing good to say about it. It is large, if that counts as good.

So negative, Red

How about: It respects the frontage (if not the width!!!!) of other homes on Heights Blvd

The stone turret is not painted yellow, pink or purple.

It provides Sara's B&B with shade...from the north.

It's the same price as a Heights bungalow...per square foot...a bungalow in really good condtion...not on a thoroughfare with a bus route..a bungalow loyal to tasteful architecture and finishings..in scale.

It can serve as an outlying control tower for those planes making the final turn into Hobby (or as a missle center if they get too close to the CBD)

It doesn't have French doors all over. Those are American doors, dammit!

Hardiplank is a big improvement over that antique cypress.

Tyvek...Let's practice safe housing y'all

Harry James found a legal option to wagging it in the middle of the esplanade

It'll compliment the future occupant's huge collection of Thomas Kinkade prints.

[dbigtex56]

Harry James found a legal option to wagging it in the middle of the esplanade

Perhaps a fountain at the apex of the roof would complete the illusion...

[RedScare]

So negative, Red

How about: It respects the frontage (if not the width!!!!) of other homes on Heights Blvd

The stone turret is not painted yellow, pink or purple.

It provides Sara's B&B with shade...from the north.

It's the same price as a Heights bungalow...per square foot...a bungalow in really good condtion...not on a thoroughfare with a bus route..a bungalow loyal to tasteful architecture and finishings..in scale.

It can serve as an outlying control tower for those planes making the final turn into Hobby (or as a missle center if they get too close to the CBD)

It doesn't have French doors all over. Those are American doors, dammit!

Hardiplank is a big improvement over that antique cypress.

Tyvek...Let's practice safe housing y'all

Harry James found a legal option to wagging it in the middle of the esplanade

Yeah, but the turret isn't even round. It's an octagon. Other than being cheaper to construct as an octagon than a circle, is there any other reason that it is not round?

Any faux-Victorian architecture experts out there who care to weigh in? Harry? Harry?

Thomas Kinkade Online Gallery for future homeowner

Edited October 30, 2008 by RedScare

[sevfiv]

from Marksmu's post in the Craftsman on Steroids thread:

http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...931&class=1

$1,277,500

Stately Victorian Mansion with elegant Stone Tower, elaborate Detailed Trim, Slate Potches, Stained Glass and Period Fixtures & Finishes throughout. Perfect for either a Home or Business. Builder has FULL SET OF APPROVED PLANS & PERMITS FOR COMMERCIAL USE CONVERSION. All Electrical, Plumbing and A/C is COMMERCIAL RATED. Also APPROVED FOR 17 ON-SITE PARKING SPACES + street parking (some additional upgrades needed to convert). Also includes a 3-Car Garage Apartment w/ Full Kitchen & Bath.

[MaggieMay]

Yeah, but the turret isn't even round. It's an octagon. Other than being cheaper to construct as an octagon than a circle, is there any other reason that it is not round?

Any faux-Victorian architecture experts out there who care to weigh in? Harry? Harry?.....

Even a square turret can look good. But I doubt the house in question will be "finished" in the correct Addams Family style.

[EMME]

Approved for 17 onsite parking spaces? OMG.

[Zippy]

Approved for 17 onsite parking spaces? OMG.

Well.. if it were for a business, that wouldn't be out of the ordinary..

Or plenty of space for some exotic Italian marques would be fine as well..

[sevfiv]

Here is the house throughout the past year and a half or so - February 2008, June 2008, and May 2009:

[NenaE]

I don't mind this design, but why slate floors on a Victorian porch? That just ruined it for me.

[Porchman]

Update: Harry James apparently sold this property a couple weeks ago. The buyer is 945 Heights Boulevard, LLC.

Managers: Timothy M McCloskey and Mark A Carrigan, Carrigan McCloskey & Roberson, L.L.P.

[sevfiv]

Yep, $1.2-1.4 million, 10.29.09:

http://www.har.com/HomeValue/dispSoldDetail.cfm?MLNUM=6079931

Entity Information:

945 HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, LLC

717 RIEDEL DR

HOUSTON, TX 77024-4308

Registered Agent:

TIMOTHY M MCCLOSKEY

717 RIEDEL DRIVE

HOUSTON, TX 77024

SOS Registration Date:

August 25, 2009

Taxpayer Number:

32040163415

[heights_yankee]

sold after he put in multiple parking spaces