Building watch - 1947 Houck house

The Houck house was built in 1947 and originally inhabited by the founder of the Braes Heights subdivision (now part of the larger Braeswood Place), Harvey Houck, and is located at 3780 Gramercy St. According to the Houston Architectural Guide,* it was a "late but spirited modern house, incorporating such contemporary details as the solarium's canted green glass windows." The house was included in Houston Mod's endangered list around the time it was put up for sale several years ago.

In 2004 the house was purchased by Richard and Susan Serbin, and the next year transferred to an entity named the "Serbin Partnership II, Ltd." Between 2004 (pictured, middle) and present-day (pictured, bottom) the house's exterior has drastically deteriorated, and during the Serbins' ownership, much of the streamline moderne architectural details have been consumed by the wildly growing landscape. Today, there are orange paint marks on the front and garage doors, but no demolition permits have been issued thus far.

According to the Chronicle's 2001 neighborhood guide for Braes Heights, the face of the neighborhood has been changing - as of six years ago, 180 of the 2200 original mid-century homes had been replaced with the larger, stucco variety. The neighborhood's desirability stems from its close-in location, but unfortunately less and less for its mid-century architecture. Take the Petersons, for example, who have owned a home in the area since 1991 and didn't want to maintain their ancient 50s home: "'We elected to tear down and build on our lot because we like our subdivision,' Peterson says. 'We like our neighbors and we like our location.'" Last year the Petersons paid over $16,000 in property taxes on their newer 4,000 square foot home which is appraised just short of $725,000.

Despite efforts of local organizations like Houston Mod and the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, Houston is left with a dwindling amount of art deco and mid-century modern architecture, and with the deterioration and impending demolition of the Houck house, a dismal handful of streamline moderne.

• more Houck house photos

-top Houck house photograph © Houston Architectural Guide*
-2004 Houck house photograph courtesy of Karen Lantz, AIA

*Fox, Stephen (1999). Houston architectural guide. Houston, TX: Herring Press.