Second life

Bold new makeover planned for historic downtown Houston building

A long-vacant landmark at Allen's Landing, the storied Sunset Coffee Building is getting a new lease on life.

Built in 1910 along Buffalo Bayou, the warehouse is perhaps most famous for housing the Love Street Light Circus — the groovy '60s-era psychedelic club that played host to legendary regional acts like the 13th Floor Elevators and the Moving Sidewalks (an early ZZ Top project).

The historic building will undergo roughly $8 million in renovation work led by award-winning architecture firms;Lake|Flato and BNIM, along with landscape designers SWA Group.

After years of neglect, officials announced Tuesday that Sunset Coffee will undergo roughly $8 million in renovation work led by award-winning architecture firms Lake|Flato and BNIM along with landscape designers SWA Group.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for April with a completion date set for mid-2014. A bike, kayak and canoe rental facility will be located on the ground floor with offices for the Buffalo Bayou Partnership located above. The top floor and rooftop terrace, with its striking views of the downtown skyline, will be available for private events.

During a press conference next to the aging brick building, Mayor Annise Parker noted the historic importance of Allen's Landing — where the Allen brothers purportedly came ashore to found the City of Houston — as well as the bayou's increasing importance as a meeting place and recreation hub.

"I get asked regularly what my favorite place is in Houston and I always say my own home. But after that, I say the bayou," Parker laughed.

"I get asked regularly what my favorite place is in Houston and I always say my own home," Parker laughed. "But after that, I say the bayou."

"I've been out here in dragon boat races. I've been out here with the trash skimmer. I've been out here in kayaks. I've even watched the Art Guys swim across the bayou and drink out of it a few years ago . . . And they lived."

The Sunset Coffee Building, which is aiming for LEED certification, will be connected to nearby Commerce Street by a bridged walkway that extends out from the vintage warehouse to form a lookout over the bayou. Once fully refurbished, the building also will connect to the Buffalo Bayou Park trail system that runs from downtown Houston to Shepherd Drive.

A bridged walkway connects the building to Commerce Street and extends out from the vintage warehouse to form a bayou lookout.

Sunset Coffee Building, renovation, rendering

Rendering courtesy of Houston First Buffalo Bayou Partnership

A bridged walkway connects the building to Commerce Street and extends out from the vintage warehouse to form a bayou lookout.

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Parks Purchases

Galveston billionaires' massive Hill Country ranch may become a state park

Photo from property listing by Icon Global

Silver Lake Ranch is currently held by the Moody family.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staffers say they want to buy ranch land in the Hill Country and turn it into a state park.

They're working to acquire the 54,000-acre Silver Lake Ranch, which is located around 150 miles west of San Antonio, between Rocksprings and Uvalde in Kinney and Edwards counties.

The Hill Country ranch features diverse terrain, wildlife, and a spring-fed lake. It’s currently owned by the Moody family from Galveston.

According to the nonprofit coalition Environment Texas, the ranch could be the first land purchase made with the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which was created by the Legislature and approved by voters in 2023. The Centennial fund has recently inspired a boom in new parks, which have recently been purchased with other appropriations and would be developed using the fund.

“This is a milestone for all Texans and the wildlife who share our great state with us,” Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger said. “The purchase of Silver Lake Ranch marks the first major step in fulfilling the promise of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, ensuring Texans have more parks to explore and more natural treasures preserved for future generations.”

The fund provides dedicated, long-term financing for acquiring and developing new state parks.

“Expanding public access to Texas’ natural beauty is one of the most meaningful investments we can make for future generations,” said State Sen. Tan Parker, one of the authors of the original bill. “As our state grows, more families need places to hike, fish, camp and experience the wonder of the outdoors. Texas belongs to the people, and it is our responsibility to safeguard the lands that define our heritage while creating opportunities for new memories – ensuring that future generations can enjoy the freedom and beauty of our great outdoors for decades to come.”

Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added context about the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund.

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