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

This restored property includes a gazebo.

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.

they're durable, too

3D-printed Houston housing project cements a more affordable future

Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.

Houston is putting itself front-and-center to help make sustainable, affordable housing a reality for 80 lucky homeowners in a scalable housing community that will hopefully catch on nationwide. Recently, developer Cole Klein Builders partnered with HiveASMBLD to pioneer what’s touted as the world’s first large-scale, one-of-a-kind, affordable housing development using 3-D printing technology, merging robotics, design, and sustainability.

Located across from Sterling Aviation High School, near Hobby Airport, Zuri Gardens will offer 80 two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes of approximately 1,360 square feet situated in a park-like setting, including walking trails and a community green space.

Homes in Zuri Gardens will hit the market in early summer of 2026. Final pricing has yet to be determined, but Cole Klein Builders expects it to be in the mid-to-high 200s.

Interestingly, none of the homes will offer garages or driveways, which the developer tells CultureMap will provide a savings of roughly $25,000 - $40,000 per home.

Instead of parking for individual units, 140 parking spaces will be provided. Ideally, this small-town-inspired design will provide opportunities for neighbors to meet, connect, and build community.

Each two-story home is comprised of a ground floor printed by HiveASMBLD, using a proprietary low-carbon cement alternative by Eco Material Technologies that promises to enhance strength and reduce CO2 emissions. The hybrid homes will have a second floor built using engineered wood building products by LP Building Solutions. Overall, the homes are designed to be flood, fire, and possibly even tornado-proof.

The Zuri in Zuri Gardens is the Swahili word for “beautiful,” a choice that is fitting considering that the parks department will be introducing a five acre park to the project — with 3-D printed pavilions and benches — plus, a three acre farm is located right across the street. The Garver Heights area, where Zuri Gardens is located, is in what’s classified as a food desert, which means that access to fresh food is limited. Residents will have access to the farm’s fresh produce, plus opportunities to participate in gardening and nutrition workshops—that’s a win for everyone.

With the novelty of Zuri Gardens, it’s no surprise that the neighborhood already has an 800 person waitlist, but with stringent buyer requirements, it’s unclear how many of those 800 will qualify. Developer Cole Klein Builders created Zuri Gardens in partnership with the Houston Housing Community Development Department, who provided infrastructure reimbursements for the roads, sewer lines, and water lines. In return, CKB agreed to push the purchase prices for the homes as low as possible.

Zuri Gardens also received $1.8 million dollars from the Uptown Tourism Bond, 34 percent of which must be used with minority owned small businesses. Qualified buyers must fit a certain area of median income according to HUD guidelines, and must be owner occupied at all times — so no property investors or short term vacation rentals will be allowed.

“They’re trying to bridge that gap to make sure there is a community for the homebuyers who need it — educators, law enforcement, civil workers, etc.,” Cole Klein Builders’ co-principal Vanessa Cole tells CultureMap. “You have to go through a certification process with the housing department to make sure that your income is in alignment for this community. It has been great, and everyone has been really receptive.”

Cole has also brought insurance underwriters to visit the site and to help drive premiums below regular rates for Houston homeowners since homes in Zuri Gardens are not built to traditional standards — claim risks for one of the 3-D homes are extremely low. Tim Lankau, principal at HiveASMBLD, notes that the 3-D hybrid design allows for a more traditional appearance, while having the benefits of a concrete structure: “That’s where the floodwaters would go, that’s where you can hide when there’s a tornado, and that’s where termites would eat. So you get the advantages of it while having a traditionally-framed second floor.”

It’s important to note that Zuri Gardens is not located in a flood prone area, nor did it flood during Hurricane Harvey — being flood proof is merely a perk of a cement house. The concrete that Eco Material Technologies developed is impervious. The walls are printed into hollow forms, which house rebar, plumbing, and accessible conduits for things like electrical lines and smart house features. Those walls are then filled with a foamcrete product that expands to form a “monolithic concrete wall.”

David McNitt, of Eco Material Technologies, explains that his proprietary concrete is made of PCV, and contains zero Portland cement. Instead, McNitt’s cement is made from coal ash and is 99 percent green (there are a few chemicals added to the ash). Regardless, it’s made from 100 percent waste products.

“This is a product that has really been landfilled before,” says McNitt. “It’s coal ash, and it’ll set within 8-10 minutes. It’s all monolithic, and one continuous pour — it’s literally all one piece.”

Eco Material Technologies’ concrete product is impressively durable. A traditional cinderblock wall will crush at around 800 psi, while this material crushes at about 8,000 psi.

“It’s ten times stronger than a cinderblock wall that can withstand hurricanes,” claims McNitt. “I don’t think you’d even notice a hurricane. It’ll be really quiet inside, too — so you won’t get interrupted during your hurricane party. It’s way over-engineered, it really is.”

The second story is built using weatherproof and eco-friendly products by LP Building Solutions. Their treated, engineered wood products come with a 50 year warranty, and their radiant barrier roof decking product blocks 97% of UV rays, and keeps attic temperatures 30° cooler than traditional building materials. These materials, combined with the concrete first floor, will keep heating and cooling costs low — something the folks at HiveASMBLD refer to as “thermal mass performance.”

Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.