A city block filled with vintage buildings is at the center of a new debate in the Museum District, as respected Houston-based developer Hines looks to build a 20-story apartment tower on the site between Asia Society Texas Center and the light rail line.
"We're of two minds about this project," Seán Murphy, president of the Museum Park Neighborhood Association, tells CultureMap. "We're excited to have Hines come into the area, but completely bewildered as to why they'd pick a site with so much architectural and cultural significance, especially when there are so many vacant sites close by to chose from."
Bordered by San Jacinto, Caroline, Southmore and Oakdale, the block in question maintains two notable Houston buildings — the 1928 Winslow Manor (insert Steve Urkel joke here) and the Leonard W. Macatee House, a 1915 Spanish revival listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Winslow and several other early 20th-century buildings would be leveled for the new tower. Macatee, the block's lone hold-out, would remain.
Unlike other groups like Stop Ashby High Rise, Murphy and his cohorts welcome new development to the area, which, after years of neglect, is seeing much-welcomed revitalization thanks to MetroRail and an ever-growing number of nearby museums, restaurants and galleries.
"We're a great neighborhood with a great his tory, and that's starting to draw a lot of people's attention."
"We're a great neighborhood with a great history, and that's starting to draw a lot of people's attention," he explains, noting the number of lots just waiting for large-scale developments. Possible tall building sites remain close to Hermann Park as well as along Almeda, Main and even San Jacinto, just catty-corner from the potential Hines high rise location.
George Lancaster, senior vice president of communications for Hines, tells CultureMap that plans for the block have yet to be finalized and that any forthcoming project would be in line with the company's tradition of promoting architectural quality. As of yet, he says he is unable to comment on the recent neighborhood concerns.
In the past half century, Hines has earned a reputation for working closely with some of the biggest names in design, from I. M. Pei and Cesar Pelli to Frank Gehry and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. In Houston, the company is known for The Galleria as well as a plethora of Philip Johnson skyscrapers (Williams Tower, Pennzoil Place, Bank of America Center).
Winslow Manor-owner Lewis Marks tells CultureMap that he still holds the title to the building, which was built as a single-family home and converted into apartments after the Second World War. However, rumors continue to circulate throughout the area that the full block (sans the Macatee House) is under contract with Hines, which will take over the lots in August.
During an interview with KRTK earlier this week, one Winslow Manor renter says he's been informed his yearly lease will change to a month-to-month starting in 2014.
At left is Asia Society, with Winslow Manor at center and the historic Macatee House to the far right
