bart's house

Ultra-rare historic Heights Victorian mansion lands on market for $2.28 million

Bart Truxillo Heights Victorian mansion 1802 Harvard

Preservationist Bart Truxillo's rare Heights mansion was built in 1892.

Photo courtesy of Amy Lynch Kolflat

One of the most iconic homes in Houston’s Heights, a rare Victorian mansion built in 1892 and owned by beloved preservationist, Bart Truxillo, has hit the market. “Everyone and their brother is trying to see it,” says realtor Amy Lynch Kolflat, who posted the listing and was “dear friends” with Truxillo, who died suddenly last year of a brain aneurysm.

The home, located at 1802 Harvard St. and priced at $2.28 million, is a City of Houston landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The five-bedroom property sits on a 21,120-square-foot corner lot and features a carriage house, guest house, a pool, and even basement living. Another distinguishing feature is the aviary, which housed Truxillo’s 50 finches, 20 doves, “and all those heirloom chickens,” adds Kolflat with a laugh.

Preservation buffs and historians will delight in the home’s status as the only spec home built by Omaha and South Texas Land Company, the original developers of Houston Heights. “If there was a model home for The Heights, this would be it,” says Kolflat, says of the estate designed by architect George Barber.

Truxillo was a giant of Houston’s preservation movement, gaining notoriety for restoring downtown’s Magnolia Brewery. He owned several properties and his recent estate sale “had people wrapped down around the driveway in line,” recalls Kolflat.

The realtor, who recalls driving Truxillo around during last year’s Art Car Parade in her popular “Zebra Car,” says that her friend’s home is a living legacy to his passion and a beacon to the historic neighborhood. “When you see that house, you know you’re in The Heights.”

home-for-sale

A Montrose jewel box

Charming Montrose townhouse with 2-story atrium hits the market

Photo by Sonya Sofrankpo for Sotheby’s International Realty

1507 Harold Street is on the market for $950,000.

Montrose has long been Houston’s neighborhood for the eclectic, a place where cute bungalows, mom-and-pop shops, and trendy bars and restaurants sit side-by-side. The neighborhood is a microcosm of the city itself: diverse, developing, beloved.

And even as the neighborhood has steadily gentrified, echoes of its past remain. One of those is now for sale. 1507 Harold Street, a remodeled jewel box of a space, is on the market for $950,000 and represented by Tracey Smith of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty.

The 1950s townhome has fabulous natural light, balconies, a courtyard filled with native plants, and a funky charm that evokes the neighborhood’s past and present.

Painted tile floors and long hallways with splendid light set the tone for this home. They give way to an open, airy arrangement, showing off 1507 Harold’s nearly 3,000 square feet. The three-bedroom, two-bath home is immediately centered in its neighborhood, but also a retreat from the bustling city around it.

If the devil is in the details, 1507 Harold has plenty of them. Think painted clay tiles on the first floor and solid red oak hardwood on the second floor. Add to that custom Pedini Italian kitchen cabinets, Neolith countertops, and a Quemere custom backsplash in the kitchen. See also the epoxied garage floor with glass garage door.

Floor-to-ceiling windows not only let in the natural light, they give 1507 Harold the feeling of being surrounded by nature. That feeling is enhanced by the home's two, second-floor balconies. One of them, off the primary bedroom, overlooks the cloistered courtyard filled with native plants, park bench, and natural seating. The other faces the neighborhood. A two-story atrium provides space for meditation, contemplation, and casual gathering.

The dining room has a dry bar that’s perfect for storage and an Aobosi dual-temperature wine refrigerator. The primary bedroom has built-in bookcases and drawers, and an ensuite bath with soaking tub and shower. Sliding doors lead to the balcony.

The garden’s irrigation system waters plants daily, keeping this green space well-tended.South Texas cactus and olive trees welcome homeowners and visitors at the front entrance.

The home's welcoming vibe has to be seen to be believed. It’s rarely been on the market, and the odds are high that its next owners will keep it for a very long time. It’s just that kind of place.