Houck house (1947-2007)

A rare example of residential streamline moderne architecture, Harvey Houck's Braes Heights home is no more. Designed by Harry B. Grogan and built in 1947, the only things remaining after sixty years are the walkway, foundation, and a mangled palm tree.

The land, which measures about 14,500 square feet, was originally surveyed as two separate lots on the 1946 plat. If the tired trend holds, the lot could be divided and occupied by a couple new houses (to get an idea, here are a few examples of what's been going up lately in the area: 3847 Gramercy, 3116 Murworth, and 3610 Maroneal).

While we were caught off guard, we weren't too surprised - since the house sold in 2004 to Richard Serbin (who, judging by his actions, our best guess is a real estate broker), it has been in continual decline. With the lopsided home/lot values that are common in Braeswood Place and other "transitioning" neighborhoods, the number of original homes are decreasing, and as Steve Anton mentioned in the neighborhood guide several years ago, "...the fate of other houses has not been so good as close-in lot values continue to escalate. The definition of a tear-down keeps changing. We're seeing better and better houses being removed."
Anton, a real estate broker, is also the current president of the Braeswood Place Neighborhood Association.

• Houston Mod - Mod no More
• Braeswood Place homeowners association
• more Houck house photos

Special thanks to Karen Lantz, AIA