D 1510Ovidlandmarkreport.Pdf

CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission _ __ Planning and Development Department Houston

LANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT

LANDMARK NAME: 1510 Ovid Street House AGENDA ITEM: D OWNERS: Jordan Weller & Brittany Weller HPO FILE NO.: 21L335 APPLICANTS: Jordan Weller & Brittany Weller DATE ACCEPTED: 1/19/2021 LOCATION: 1510 Ovid Street, Houston Texas 77007 HAHC HEARING: 01_28_2020 SITE INFORMATION: LT 1 BLK 1 TRUXILLO GARDENS. THE SITE INCLUDES A ONE-STORY, SINGLE-FAMILY, 936 SQUARE-FOOT, FRAME HOUSE BUILT C. 1907 ON A 3678 SQUARE-FOOT LOT. THE SITE IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF OVID STREET IN THE FIRST WARD. TAX# 1398730010001. TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUESTED: Landmark Designation HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE SUMMARY Awarded a 2020 Good Brick Award for preservation by Preservation Houston, "The House at 1510 Ovid Street" is a circa early 1900s one-story frame, vernacular Folk Victorian home in Houston’s First Ward neighborhood. One of four homes on the north side of Ovid Street near Houston Avenue that once belonged to Bart Truxillo, a key figure in the historic preservation movement in Houston and a co-founder of what is today Preservation Houston, this house represents an example of the early Folk Victorian architecture that once dominated the neighborhood and stands as a relic of a bygone era among Houston's ever-changing architectural landscape. The home was respectfully restored in 2019 by Four Square Design Studio, a key player in historic preservation in Houston's First Ward, paying special intention to maintain the character of the house's original details, including wainscoting, sash windows, and gingerbread trim. The current owners, Jordan Weller and Brittany Weller, purchased 1510 Ovid in 2019 and proceeded to apply and secure minimum lot size and lot line ordinances to protect the block of Ovid Street between Houston Avenue and Johnson Street from encroaching townhome development. The First Ward is one of the four original wards created by the City of Houston in 1840. It included part of Houston’s early business district, and was strategically located at the intersection of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou near Allen’s Landing at the foot of Main Street. The term “First Ward” is still used today and generally refers to the area immediately west of I-45, east of Sawyer Street, south of I-10, and north of Washington Avenue. In recent years, rapid development in the First Ward has drastically reduced the historic housing stock in the neighborhood. The neighborhood still has a number of Folk Victorian, Queen Anne, and Craftsmanstyle homes built between 1890-1930, representing some of the oldest structures in Houston. Concerted efforts by residents and advocacy groups to preserve historic housing resulted in the City of Houston designating the High First Ward Historic District on May 28, 2014. The current owner is seeking a landmark designation for the home. The House at 1510 Ovid Street meets criteria 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for landmark designation.

[1510 Ovid Street] Page 1 of 12 [21L335] CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission _ __ Planning and Development Department HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

The First Ward is one of the four original wards created by the City of Houston in 1840. It included part of Houston’s early business district, and was strategically located at the intersection of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou near Allen’s Landing at the foot of Main Street. First Ward was defined as all areas within the city limits northwest of Congress Street and Main Street. In 1866, First Ward’s boundaries changed; land to the north and east of White Oak Bayou and Little White Oak Bayou became part of Fifth Ward. Although the ward system is no longer in place, the name First Ward is still used to describe the general area immediately west of I-45, east of Sawyer Street, south of I-10 and north of Washington Avenue. The neighborhood was historically working-class and consisted of many grocers and railroad workers. The area’s proximity to the Houston and Texas Central railroad lines, Market Square, and Buffalo Bayou resulted in an ample source of jobs. The success of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad greatly influenced the growth of the First Ward. Economic opportunity attracted many immigrants from Europe who sought employment on the railroad. Later, African-Americans and immigrants from Asia and Latin America moved to the neighborhood seeking economic opportunity. Many started their own businesses. In recent years, development in the First Ward has drastically reduced the historic housing stock in the neighborhood. Rampant and rapid construction of townhouses predominates over the preservation of historic homes that were built between 1890 and 1930, including vernacular Victorian cottages and Craftsman bungalows. Nevertheless, the First Ward still has a number of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century houses, including some of the oldest structures in Houston. Concerted efforts by residents and advocacy groups to preserve historic housing resulted in the City of Houston designating the High First Ward Historic District on May 28, 2014.

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION AND RESTORATION HISTORY The house at 1510 Ovid Street is a one-story frame, vernacular Folk Victorian house with a half-hipped gable roof. The roof and gable are typical of Folk Victorian houses. The front facade features 2-over-2 sash windows with original molding above and below the windows, a transom above the door, and distinct gingerbread trim around the top of the front porch that runs the entire width of the house and is adorned with slender posts. The house sits on a pier and beam foundation. As far as the front-facing facade, there was little in the way of restoration necessary in that area when Foursquare Design Studio (Olive Grove LLC) purchased the property, as it was in very good shape. However, Foursquare Design Studio, being mindful of authenticity, cleaned up the face/exterior and painted it, replaced one cracked pane of glass in one of the front-facing sash windows, removed the asphalt shingle roof that was not original to the home and replaced it with metal which is period-appropriate. Lastly, the front door that was on the home was not original, so a period-appropriate door was salvaged from a vendor in Gonzales, TX.

[Landmark Name] Page 2 of 12 [21L335] CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission _ __ Planning and Development Department OWNERSHIP HISTORY 1510 Ovid was originally part of a 14,100 square foot lot which also included the properties now known as 1508 Ovid, 1506 Ovid and 2107 Houston Avenue. 1510 Ovid was likely built around 1907. The house was included in volume 2, page 66 of the 1907 Sanborn Map (see Exhibit C). It was a rental for most of its history. The first time this address was listed in the Houston City Directories was in 1908 as vacant. The first resident, William Hix (a car repairer for Southern Pacific Shops) was listed in 1910-1911. The 1912 and 1913 City Directory placed Alonzo R. Southward at the property afterward. Southward had a few different occupations; he worked as a newspaper advertising sign manufacturer, sign painter, clerk and advertising manager. The longest residents were the Luitich family. They moved here between 1913 and 1915. The 1913 directory places them at 2107 Houston Avenue and the 1915 directory shows them at 1510 Ovid. They resided very briefly at 2107 Houston Avenue; they first appeared at this address in the 1910 directory. The Luitich’s lived at 1510 Ovid until 1925. Baldo, the head of the house, died February 24, 1923. Annie, his widow, moved shortly afterwards with their children. Her new address by 1926 was 1717 Weber. From 1926 to the late 1930s, there were a series of residents, most living at 1510 Ovid for 1 to 2 years. Another long-term resident moved in between 1937 to 1940, Elmer C. Turner (a baker). He lived here until around 1954 or 1955. According to Harris County Appraisal records, Antonio Montalbano owned the original 14,100 square foot lot encompassing several properties including 1510 Ovid as early as 1933 and as late as 1969.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Ancestry.com, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed November 2020. Harris County Appraisal District, Real Property Account Information and Ownership Information for 1510 Ovid Street, Houston, Texas, 77007. Accessed November 2020. Harris County Tax Appraisal and Building Assessment Records for 1510 Ovid Street, Houston, Texas, 77007. Harris County Archives. Accessed November 2020. Houston Public Library, Digital Archives. Houston City Directories, Years 1910-11, 1912, 1913, 1915. Accessed November 2020. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. Houston Public Library online, Texas Digital Sanborn Maps, Accessed November 2020. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/home/design/article/Preservation-Houston-announces-2020-Good-Brick-1 4999875.php https://www.papercitymag.com/home-design/preservation-houston-good-brick-awards-before-after-photos/#2769 19 https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/First-Ward-renovation-project-a-tribute-to-the-15749351.php#phot o-20301283

[Landmark Name] Page 3 of 12 [18L###] CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission _ __ Planning and Development Department APPROVAL CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION Sec. 33-224. Criteria for designation (a) The HAHC, in making recommendations with respect to designation, and the city council, in making a designation, shall consider one or more of the following criteria, as appropriate for the type of designation: S NA S - satisfies D - does not satisfy NA - not applicable ✓ ☐ (1) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area possesses character, interest or value as a visible reminder of the development, heritage, and cultural and ethnic diversity of the city, state, or nation; ☐ ✓ (2) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area is the location of a significant local, state or national event; ✓ ☐ (3) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area is identified with a person who, or group or event that, contributed significantly to the cultural or historical development of the city, state, or nation; ✓ ☐ (4) Whether the building or structure or the buildings or structures within the area exemplify a particular architectural style or building type important to the city; ✓ ☐ (5) Whether the building or structure or the buildings or structures within the area are the best remaining examples of an architectural style or building type in a neighborhood; ✓ ☐ (6) Whether the building, structure, object or site or the buildings, structures, objects or sites within the area are identified as the work of a person or group whose work has influenced the heritage of the city, state, or nation; ☐ ✓ (7) Whether specific evidence exists that unique archaeological resources are present; ✓ ☐ (8) Whether the building, structure, object or site has value as a significant element of community sentiment or public pride. AND ☐ ✓ (9) If less than 50 years old, or proposed historic district containing a majority of buildings, structures, or objects that are less than 50 years old, whether the building, structure, object, site, or area is of extraordinary importance to the city, state or nation for reasons not based on age (Sec. 33-224(b)).

Sec. 33-229. Criteria for protected landmark designation S NA S - satisfies D - does not satisfy NA - not applicable

✓ ☐ (1) Meets at least three of the criteria for designation in section 33-224 of this Code; ✓ ☐ (2) Was constructed more than 100 years before application for designation was received by the director; ☐ ✓ (3) Is listed individually or as a contributing structure in an historic district on the National Register of Historic Places; or ☐ ✓ (4) Is recognized by the State of Texas as a Recorded State Historical Landmark.

[Landmark Name] Page 4 of 12 [18L###] CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission _ __ Planning and Development Department STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission recommend to City Council the Landmark Designation of the [Full Name of Landmark Name] at [Address].

HAHC RECOMMENDATION

[Landmark Name] Page 5 of 12 [18L###]