reaching new heights

Meet the visionary leading historical preservation in Uptown Conroe

Revitalization efforts for Conroe’s downtown began during the ‘90s and have been quite a success. Antique and vintage shops, independent clothing boutiques, restaurants, and live music venues surrounding the square are all attractive options for Houstonians in search of a day trip destination, especially for the Saturday morning farmer’s market.

The same study that green-lit the downtown revitalization project also suggested efforts be made to improve the adjoining residential neighborhoods, specifically their Uptown area, to promote walkability and support the rejuvenated downtown.

While it certainly takes a village to accomplish such a venture, one man has taken on a very large portion of this undertaking himself. Mark Canada is a lifelong Conroe resident and a member of the Montgomery County Historical Commission. With the personal catchphrase “long live old houses,” it’s little wonder that he’s spearheading this campaign himself. Canada and his committee are currently working to establish guidelines for the preservation of these 50-plus year old homes and has sought counsel from the Heights Historic District, as Conroe aspires to achieve similar levels of success as the Heights.

Photo by Emily Cotton

The centerpiece of Historic Uptown Conroe was built in 1930.

Canada describes his mission as “preserving, updating, and extending the life of these unique structures to enhance the area for future dwellers and professionals to live and work and at the same time honor and preserve history. And to compliment the Conroe Downtown area.”

Canada purchased his first historical Uptown home in the 1980’s as his personal residence and photography studio. Since that time, Canada has gone on to purchase, restore, and maintain 24 historic homes, 14 of which are located in the Uptown area. While these homes span multiple decades, the jewel of the collection is undeniably the 1930 mansion that is nearing completion of its full restoration. Much like the Heights, many of these restored homes are occupied by law firms and the like, feeding a constant stream of patrons to the businesses downtown.

“We are emphasizing the historic neighborhood as the area where the original settlers and builders of Conroe lived. Sheriffs, merchants, judges, teachers, and clerks all lived in the area,” Canada says. “We are doing a survey of the homes that have historical significance so we can record the history and create a historical marker for the property. We have sought info and advice from the Heights in Houston Historic Districts.”

Historic Downtown Conroe is easy enough to locate, but what defines “Uptown” as a neighborhood? Geographically, it runs from Conroe’s historic downtown to loop 336 and sits in between old highway 75 and the railroad tracks.

“The Uptown District is a blend of homes located north of downtown Conroe,” Canada explains. “The homes were built from 1910 and as you travel north through the neighborhood you can see the evolution of growth as the house styles go from 1910, 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, to 70s.”

Recently, other preservationists have joined Canada and are following his lead. “My efforts have inspired others to call me and do the same. There have been many challenges to our goals but we have made a difference for present and future generations to live and work while still preserving some sense of history and unique architecture,” he says.

Canada hopes that gaining recognized historical status for the area and individual properties will draw those looking for an intimate sense of community to the neighborhood. “I hope as downtown growth expands northward into the Uptown District that we can establish an area that draws likeminded individuals and groups to invest, live, and work, continuing to preserve and enhance the neighborhood. This will promote good property values, a cleaner, safer lifestyle, and guard against decay and crime.”

An additional asset to the Uptown District is the beautiful Art Deco building from the late 1930s that was the original Sam Houston Elementary School, but is currently Conroe ISD’s Walter P. Jett Continuing Education Center. The building’s entrance has thankfully maintained its terrazzo floors and other architectural features from the period. Canada hopes that if the building is ever in need of a new purpose that it will become a community arts center and theater.

The multitude of Live Oak trees that populate the Uptown District make for a lovely canopy for anyone looking to enjoy a sightseeing stroll after a meal downtown. Canada’s brother Mike owns the two-story vintage and antiques mall, Conroe Central Market, off of the square. Lots of times you can find Mark ponied up at the counter with his brother, and if you ask nicely, he loves to give tours.

We love a preservation project. Fingers crossed that Uptown Conroe reaches new heights.

respectful design

New Montrose studio brings bespoke European design to Houston

Photo by Laurie Perez

Armazem.design is located in the historic Winlow Westheimer buildings.

Houston’s newest interior design showroom is a dazzling display of how historic preservation and swanky European design can slip into a harmonious dialogue that quietly dismisses the longstanding notion that contemporary furniture has no place within the oftentimes rigid constraints of a traditional home.

Tucked between The Upper Hand Salon and The Phoenix Pub in the historic Winlow Westheimer buildings, Armazem.design is a lifestyle design boutique carrying elevated European design and architectural solutions from century-old brands such as Arclinia, Lema, Barausse, Foscarini, Gaggeneau, and Sub-Zero Wolf.

The name Armazem pays homage to founder and principal Jon Fante’s Brazilian roots. Traditionally, armazems were community cornerstones — general stores where people not only shopped but also learned, connected, and built long-term relationships. Appropriate then, that Fante would choose to nestle himself between a salon and a pub, two businesses that are traditional archetypes for familiarity and community.

Armazem.design is set up like a bespoke home as opposed to a traditional contemporary design concept space. With everything from stately 1920s Victorians to cozy 1930s bungalows still in play in Montrose, setting up shop in a “Houston Browns” brick building from the 1930s — complete with original wide plank floors, exposed brick interior, and open rafter ceilings — allows clients to get a genuine feel for how the product lines work within the framework of these older homes.

Fante, who was born, raised, and educated as a civil engineer in Brazil, came to the States in 2006 to handle US operations for Florense. Fante retired from his position as CEO in 2017 to start Armazem.design in Chicago. The decision to expand to Houston is something that Fante says was a no-brainer, as Houston has been moving towards a more contemporary style overall.

“What we are trying to show here is that you don’t have to be in the extremes. You don’t have to be in the extremes of classic American design, which is beautiful, and what is also perceived here as European design, which is super contemporary, which is also beautiful,” Fante tells CultureMap. “There is a breadth of solutions in the inbetween.”

The buildout for Armazem.design takes clients on a journey through two kitchens, a living room, dining room, generously-appointed closet and dressing space, home office, and casual den space, all outfitted with wall units, complex storage solutions, and warm, comfortable furnishings. Formerly open spaces have been divided into distinct concepts using architectural partitions that can be designed for any space.

Every aspect of Armazem.design is custom made to order. The design may follow a more European school, but there are wooden elements and handmade objects that protect their environment from the contemporary curse of feeling cold, uninviting, or institutional. With lead times around three to four months, going bespoke here is as accessible as placing orders from mainstream retailers.

“While there is a focus on kitchens, there are a lot of different products that we bring,” says Fante. “We are a showroom that is focused on interior architectural applications for home. We have partners in doors, partitions, wall paneling, closets — there is a lot. We got this historical place in Montrose and we made it as a home. We want people to walk in and feel like they could live here. It’s very comprehensive.”

The owners of the building are currently working with the city to gain historical recognition, something that would mean a lot for the neighborhood, and to Fante.

“We were very lucky to find this space. We preserved every historical element in the showroom — you see these very rustic floors, these floors are almost 100 years old.” Fante discovered more of the historic “Houston Browns” brick during the renovation (the classic Houston brick has been out of production for decades), all hidden behind swathes of drywall. “We ripped that all out to expose the true character of the space,” Fante explains. “Of course we kept the brick.”

Fante shares that the decision to restore the building led to a phrase from an architect in their Chicago showroom that has remained their motto here in Montrose: “Let’s not bully the space, let’s respect it.” That’s a sentiment that the entire neighborhood can get behind.

Armazem.design is located at 1911 Westheimer Road and is open Monday through Friday from 9 am-5 pm.

Photo by Laurie Perez

Armazem.design is located in the historic Winlow Westheimer buildings.

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