liammclaren Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Does anyone know anything about Isabella Court, on main street in midtown? i looked on HCAD and it says that they were built in 1929, i guess as apartments. Evidently at least part of the building is still used for apartments. Are they nice? What about the prices? Anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rps324 Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 They're great apartments, each one different I think. They have multiple levels & teepee shaped stucco fireplaces. I don't think they were ever that expensive, but always had dozens of people on a waiting list. I doubt that has changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Yes, they are absolutely gorgeous! I snuck in there one time and looked around and was absolutely fascinated, they are pretty incredible. They are apartments that all surround this sort of inner courtyard area, I can't describe them because I have never seen anything like them. Very Spanish/Italian/Old World and gloriously kept that way, managing to escape any attempts to modernize, yet they have been brought into modern times easily. I used to desperately want to live there. It is hard to get in, at least it was when I was looking! Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchcats Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Hi,I looked at these about 2years ago on this site:http://www.har.com/AWS/AWS.CFM?AGENT_NUMBER=424421At that time they were about $900/mo. It looks they do not have any available right now.Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Note merged two Isabella topics. There's a picture of the interior court in one of the Houston architecture guides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liammclaren Posted August 9, 2006 Author Share Posted August 9, 2006 Thanks for all the replies, I don't suppose anyone has any pictures do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Thanks for all the replies, I don't suppose anyone has any pictures do they?I've been inside a couple of the units. They are not ADA compliant, so any updates the owner has made trough the years are very minimal, so except for paint and trim, they are pretty original. The coutyard and glass topped atrium is unusual, very Mediterianean looking. The Haroltz 2 company ownes and manages it. Their offices are on the side street. (No covered parking....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
templehouston Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 I understand that renting an apartment at Isabella Courts is as difficult as getting a place at the Beaconsfield. I also have an impression that they did not rent to men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 They definitely rent to men. I know two that lived there over the years and their apartments were amazing. Nothing like it in Houston. I also toured the ground floor retail spaces two years ago for a place to put my furniture showroom. They are quite neat as well but the apartments are unbeatable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Here is that old world courtyard. Courtesy of justinhamilton.org @ flickr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Don't know if it was mentioned already, but FYI there was an article (w/ pics) about Isabella Court in the Sunday, January 25, 2009 Houston Chronicle, in G section, titled A Midtown Monument - Courtly Days and Nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 ^Interesting article:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6227558.htmlAnd a Swamplot entry:http://swamplot.com/life-at-isabella-court...int/2009-01-28/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I also have an impression that they did not rent to men.Illegal, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 All of the people interviewed were dudes. Why would you say that they don't rent to men? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earlydays Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 All of the people interviewed were dudes. Why would you say that they don't rent to men?My wife and I wanted to live there after we got married in 1967, but there was even a waiting list in those days..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 You would think that a developer would replicate this sort of design, especially given the occupancy rate for 80 years. I've always seen this place from the outside, but had no idea it was so charming inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 You would think that a developer would replicate this sort of design, especially given the occupancy rate for 80 years. I've always seen this place from the outside, but had no idea it was so charming inside.I wonder what the rent is like...and I'm sure Houston's typical developer would scoff at the craftmanship and say it's too expensive to reasonably replicate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I like the picture of the inside walkway, shows how they have left it in a somewhat original state, didn't slap a new coat of paint on it. Reminds me of some of the bldgs in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I remember when there used to be a really good little sheet music shop and a leather craft shop at Isabella Court. Seems like there was at least one antiques place there too. But the train killed the retail, I'm guessing, and parking is kinda hard, and the hood was a little sketchy ten years ago. Shame, because they were nice places to shop, and convenient to Rice.I wonder what the rent is like...and I'm sure Houston's typical developer would scoff at the craftmanship and say it's too expensive to reasonably replicate.I think one of the articles mentioned it and it was something like $880 for the one bedroom units and $1225 for the only two bedroom unit. I'm just guessing, but I bet you could get bigger, safer, and newer with good parking for that or less in several places around town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Part of me thinks it's a shame that nothing has really been developed near here, however I know it would just be some bland Camden complex. I hope some developers really try to match the architecture this place has whenever the empty blocks around here are developed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I remember when there used to be a really good little sheet music shop and a leather craft shop at Isabella Court.The music shop was Wadler and Kaplan, the only place in town that sold classical sheet music. All the classical instrument musicians bought their sheet music there. If it wasn't in stock you could special order and get it in a few days.The Penders Music Company bought it in 2000, and it became Penders-Wadler-Kaplan. I don't think it's there anymore. It's been a while since I've been to the mid-town area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 The Penders Music Company bought it in 2000, and it became Penders-Wadler-Kaplan. I don't think it's here anymore. It's been a while since I've been to the mid-town area.they moved just inside the west loop off of i10 in that biz park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 they moved just inside the west loop off of i10 in that biz park.Correct. For a while, I think, there was actually Penders Music next door to or beside the Wadler-Kaplan shop. If I recall correctly they specialized in church and choral music while W-K specialized in instrumental music. Later they moved to the Port West industrial park on I-10 just east of 610. That, of course, made them very inconvenient for the Rice, UH, and UST music majors. I think Penders is gone now. There's AMC Music on Feagan at Durham, beside that most people buy online now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liammclaren Posted February 1, 2009 Author Share Posted February 1, 2009 Correct. For a while, I think, there was actually Penders Music next door to or beside the Wadler-Kaplan shop. If I recall correctly they specialized in church and choral music while W-K specialized in instrumental music. Later they moved to the Port West industrial park on I-10 just east of 610. That, of course, made them very inconvenient for the Rice, UH, and UST music majors. I think Penders is gone now. There's AMC Music on Feagan at Durham, beside that most people buy online now.I was a piano major at UH in the 90s, and went to Wadler-Kaplan all the time. Good store, good selection, had a lot of obscure music. Well, some of the time. I was disappointed when the moved to that business park because it's a total pain to get to. Cheaper though I'm sure. Now it's called Dowling music, I have no idea why. Same location though, and same staff, for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 One just opened up on HAR. 700 sf for $850. http://search.har.com/engine/1005-Isabella-St-37-Houston-77004_HAR90378018.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 One just opened up on HAR. 700 sf for $850. http://search.har.com/engine/1005-Isabella-St-37-Houston-77004_HAR90378018.htmNice. That courtyard and corridor patina looks like neglect to me, though. I might get tired of looking at that after a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I was a piano major at UH in the 90s, and went to Wadler-Kaplan all the time. Good store, good selection, had a lot of obscure music. Well, some of the time. I was disappointed when the moved to that business park because it's a total pain to get to. Cheaper though I'm sure. Now it's called Dowling music, I have no idea why. Same location though, and same staff, for the most part.Dowling Music was started by local pianist Richard Dowling who decided that the area needed a retail classical music store. He may have hired some of the old W-K staff (that would have been a smart and classy thing to do) but it is in a strip center on 59, not in either of the former Penders locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Nice. That courtyard and corridor patina looks like neglect to me, though. I might get tired of looking at that after a while.I like that part. Makes it look like a place with some history, and the actual unit seems perfectly clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 What a great looking place, with a lot of character. Rare, for this city. Bet it'll go quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I've always heard that they had a waiting list. I guess with the economy and all, one unit will sit vacant for a short while.I wish there were more complexes with character like the Isabella. It should be used as a model for future Midtown development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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