Preservation Push
Historic Houston holding out hope for Salvage Warehouse as it tries to avoid the"Houston solution"
Is there hope yet for the beloved trove of historic construction fixtures, Historic Houston's Salvage Warehouse?
"I'm very optimistic that it will happen," the non-profit's executive director Lynn Edmundson says of a potential windfall of donations.
The warehouse reopened to organization members on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Shoppers will be able to cash in on steep discounts — other than flooring, lumber and siding, all objects are 65-percent off, and 75-percent off if members arrange to have their goods taken away immediately. The members' sale continues on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Edmundson estimates that the organization has already raised in surplus of $8,500, working towards a goal of $500,000. She is in talks with a few local non-profits about a potential merger, and has also encountered support from such peripheral companies as Martha Turner Properties.
"I'm hopeful," she tells CultureMap. "From the outpouring of e-mails and phone calls, I can tell people really want to see us stay around." Still, more money is needed.
This is that moment where you realize that you believe in this, and you need to help us financially so that we can have a little time to look at the options rather than just liquidating and going away. That is such a Houston solution to things."
Ideally, the cash goal will be met by April 1 in order to pay the warehouse's rent.
"I have a clock ticking away," Edmundson says. "I deplete all the cash I have to make payroll this week, so some decisions have to be put in place pretty urgently."
Editor's note: For more on Historic Houston's plight, read CultureMap's earlier story.
