Endangered Houston Landmarks

Brennan's and Mayor White

2009-03-03T11:26:00.002-06:00

The Houston Downtown Alliance posted information from today's press conference with the owners of Brennan's and Mayor Bill White. Details are still emerging, but both parties are excited over the prospect of the famous Houston landmark opening in October, nearly one year after the damage by fire during the onlslaught of Hurricane Ike. Most of the original facade remains and will be preserved in the renovation.
http://www.downtownhouston.org/en/art/18/
Brennan's of Houston to Re-emerge This Fall One Year After Hurricane Ike

Brennan's

2009-02-09T17:11:00.006-06:00

Brennan’s suffered catastrophic fire damage on September 13, 2008. The winds and rain from Hurricane Ike hastened the destruction from an electrical fire which left three injured and the John Staub landmark in rubble. Opening in 1967, Brennan’s was a pioneer in Houston’s Midtown, ultimately acting as the template for other New Orleans-themed developments in the neighboring blocks. Before the Brennan family opened a Houston version of the famous New Orleans restaurant, 3300 Smith Street was home to the Houston Junior League.
Houston Chronicle's Shelby Hodge’s blog on September 15, 2008 was first to report that owner Alex Brennan-Martin claims that they will rebuild, although no dates were given.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hurricane/5999179.html
http://www.brennanshouston.com/koonce/about/
http://www.brennanshouston.com/koonce/about/

The Black Labrador

2008-06-24T22:56:00.000-05:00

The Black Labrador is the signature tenant at 4100 Montrose Blvd., also known as The Campanile. In 1986, developer John Hansen bought the former Central Church of Christ and renovated the sanctuary into a library (Houston Public Library’s Eleanor Freed-Montrose Neighborhood branch), and the fellowship hall into offices and commercial space, now home to Kraftsmen Bakery, Cezanne’s jazz club, and the British pub and restaurant The Black Labrador.

On February 23, 2007, The Houston Business Journal reported the sale of the property including the two adjacent office buildings John Hansen Investment Builder (now Hansen Partners) to The University of St. Thomas. Jim Booth, Vice President for Finance at St. Thomas, stated, "We'll continue to lease the property and use the cash flow to pay off our debt.” What does this mean for tenants of The Campanile? While the Houston Public Library is safe, other tenants do not have the same agreements. Booth would not comment on whether The Black Lab will eventually be evicted, "That's way down the road at this point," Hansen’s group will continue to manage The Black Lab for now. Hansen Partners’ John Andell has confirmed to Amnesia Houston, “Yes, we have sold the buildings to the University of St. Thomas…. HOWEVER, before we did, I signed the restaurant up for a LONG term lease. The university appreciates how the pub has been such an integral part of the neighborhood and the student body, and would like The Black Lab to keep on serving up their Bass Ale pints for years to come.”

http://www.jhib.com/properties/4100.htm

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/Building/2060/Campanile__The.php

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/02/26/story2.html?t=printable

http://blacklabradorpub.com/

Olivewood Cemetery

2007-07-02T23:35:00.000-05:00

http://www.descendantsofolivewood.org/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olivewood/

Stag's Head Pub

2007-06-24T23:11:00.000-05:00

http://www.stagsheadpub.com/

Third Ward

2007-06-24T23:09:00.001-05:00

test

Shudde Brothers Store and Hat Factory

2007-06-24T23:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.shudde.com/Default.htm

TSU Tiger Walk

2007-06-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

test

Brazos Bookstore

2007-06-24T23:00:00.002-05:00

test

Wilshire Village Apartments

2007-06-24T22:58:00.001-05:00

Test

Freedmen's Town

2007-06-24T22:57:00.001-05:00

Test

West Mansion

2007-06-24T22:56:00.001-05:00

Test

Astrodome

2007-06-24T22:53:00.009-05:00

Late in 2007, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo rejected the Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation’s plan for converting the historic sports venue into a hotel and entertainment facility. Some have been whispering that the Dome is obsolete and should be torn down like so much else in Amnesia City. Before we decide what its future use will be -- Let’s all commit right now to preserving our beloved Astrodome. All agreed? Good.

Yes, the idea of transforming the Dome into some sort of mixed-use project with restaurants, hotels, and parking seems to be a clever way to make money for its owner – Harris County. On the other hand, the Rodeo folks argue that any new money-making ventures might compete with their month-long occupancy of Reliant Park. Like many others, I think a compromise can be found for those two parties.

Remember, WE own the Astrodome.

Some highlights:

1960s Former Mayor Judge Roy Hofheinz conceives idea for the world’s first enclosed, air-conditioned domed stadium.
1965 Harris County Domed Stadium opens, home to Astros, and is dubbed Astrodome.
1966 Artificial grass is introduced, dubbed AstroTurf.
1966 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo move to Dome.
1966 “Game of the Century” - University of Houston Men’s Basketball defeats UCLA.
1968 AFL Oilers move to Dome.
1970 Elvis Presley plays Rodeo for the first time.
1988 Oilers owner threatens to move team, lobbies for, and wins modifications to Dome. Four-Story tall Scoreboard removed to add 15,000 new seats.
1989 Four circular stair towers added to exterior.
1992 Republican National Convention.
1996 Oilers owner moves team to Tennessee.
1990s Astros owner proposes moving team, or city building new facility.
1999 Final Astros game in Astrodome
2000 Ballpark at Union Station opens Downtown, now Minute Maid Park.
2002 Reliant Stadium opens next to Dome, home to Texans expansion football team
2003 Owner Harris County request for proposals issued.
2003 Final season of Rodeo in Astrodome, later moves to Reliant Stadium.
2005 Houston hosts 25,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina in Dome and surrounding Reliant Center.
2006 Astrodome Redevelopment Co. formed to propose new use for Dome. City Council rejects demolition proposal.

Alabama Theater

2007-06-24T22:53:00.001-05:00

Test

River Oaks Theater, River Oaks Shopping Center

2007-06-24T22:50:00.000-05:00

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/heights/news/4911051.html