Change of Address

A few weeks ago, I was driving home from who knows where and came across this:

House chained to a truck with a sign for a moving company

A couple of neighbors were outside watching and I thought I would park for a minute and see what was going on. I figured it would be pretty cool to see a house get hoisted up on a truck or something like that. At first it looked as though this old yellow truck was going to be the carrier. I soon realized that was wrong. There was no way this old tow truck was going to hoist up and carry a house. There was another truck tethered to the house by a chain, but it looked like it was just the cab section of an 18wheeler with some kind of winch on the back. Was a bigger machine coming, I wondered?

The guys working the job stopped the trucks and were finding old pieces of plywood and board around the house, putting them down on the ground on the other side. What was going on? Whatever they were trying to do, it clearly wasn't working.

They fiddled and made adjustments. I started to think I wasn't going to get to see anything worth bragging to my kids about.

But then they changed their tack, moving Mr Old Yellow over to the other side and confirming Mr Blue Cab was ready to rumble.

At this point, one of the guys who seemed to be in charge walked my way and I stopped him to see where the house was going.

"It's not being moved anywhere," he told me. "It's just changing direction."

"On this same lot?" I asked. Basically, it was just a change of address. The house was currently 933 Herkimer; soon it would have a new address on 10th St.

"Interesting." I muttered. "It has something to do with the historic district," he told me, but he didn't know what or why. I don't know what or why either. I can figure only 2 possible scenarios.

1) 10th is the border to a historic district. By giving the house an address on 10th, the property owners are ensuring it doesn't get torn down.

or

2) 10th is outside of a historic district, but the 900 block of Herkimer is in a HD. Moving the house to have a 10th St address means the house can be demoed.

Can anyone think of any other reason for the property owners to move the house? Does anyone know the borders of the district? Considering that area of the Heights is far more new homes than old, I was surprised to think there was a Historic Designation over there at all.

In any case, they rearranged the trucks in to a formation that seemed to be working. Both trucks hit the gas, causing Yellow to smoke and Blue to loose his footing.

But the house did move, sliding on huge steel beams and random pieces of plywood...

Eventually landing here, 90 degrees from where it had sat for the last ~80 years.

In the middle of typing this post, I got up from my computer and drove over to 10th @ Herkimer. The house is still there, has new piers under it and an orange tag on the front door. I'm guessing whomever owns this house is trying to save it. I still don't know the answer about the Historic District and moving the house. I was wondering if I could find HCAD records for the owners, see if it was a business like Bungalow Revival, but then I realized... I don't know the new address.

Keeping Love Alive

Not everyone may be aware that HISD planned to close Love Elementary as a cost saving measure. Love Elementary is one of the oldest schools in Houston and it's been on the radar of the booming population of young families in the Heights. If you're not aware of the threat of closure, you may also not be aware of the struggle to save this historic school in our neighborhood.

Parents started getting involved with the active PTO at Love before their children were even school age, hoping to have somewhere wonderful to send their kids when schools like Harvard and Travis are at capacity. Many just wanted to be able to help shore up the school they were zoned to. Love's Principal, Robert Chavarria, is an open and enthusiastic administrator, liked and respected by parents, teachers and students. He welcomed parental involvement and everyone saw great things coming for Love's future. Current and future school parents were completely blindsided when it was announced that Love was on the chopping block. They mobilized and called out to the entire neighborhood for help. Like every struggle against City bureaucracy, there were times when it seemed a little hopeless. The neighborhood fought on, though, and received a positive outcome this week as the school closure announcements were finalized, preparing for the May 12th vote.

Without coming right out and saying it, evidence in the HISD Press Release points that Love has been saved, listed as a school that will receive new students from the (unfortunate) closing of Stevenson Elementary in Cottage Grove.

"Stevenson Elementary (current enrollment of 357 students) would close. Students would be redistributed to Memorial and Love elementary schools."

Love Elementary

1120 W 13th

It really is amazing what we can do when we pull together! The thing about the effort to save Love Elementary that makes me most proud is what a community effort it was. It was not just parents of kids going to Love; it was parents from all over the Heights, many who already have school age kids in other schools or residents who don't even have kids yet! Everyone came together to show that our neighbors' struggles are our struggles. It was evidence of the understanding of a common future. Educating our kids is tantamount to our success as a society and having neighborhood schools for our children is of great benefit to everyone in the Heights. Schools are huge community builders. Through the efforts to save Love Elementary, we have once again woven the fabric of neighborhood tighter.

Congratulations to all the hard working teachers, administrators, PTO parents and community members who made this happen!

Heights Happenings: April 20- April 27, 2011

Friday, April 22, 9 AM- 5 PM: Easter fun at Fixer's Automotive

• Fixer's has invited the Easter Bunny and your family to come by their shop photos and fun.
• Moon walk, candy eggs, popcorn and more for the kids
• Special drawings for automotive repair for adults
• 147 E 11th

Saturday, April 23, 11 AM: Overture presents "Guiding Your Child's Musical Development" at Studio Nia Moves

• Overture celebrates National Week of the Young Child with this free parent's workshop, "Guiding Your Child's Musical Development."
• For caregivers of children from birth to age 5 (adults only - no childcare provided)
• Nia Moves Studio, 3221 Houston Ave
• Invite a friend, feel free to come without a reservation. Call 832.390.4010 or emailworkshops@overturekids.com with questions.

Looking for family Easter Egg hunts this weekend?

• Buchanan's on 11th will host a hunt on Saturday, starting at 8:30 AM
• Heights Presbyterian Church is having a hunt Sunday at 10:30 AM. They are serving breakfast at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall, the egg Hunt at 10:30 on the lawn and worship at 11:00 in the Sanctuary.
• St. Mark's Methodist on Pecore's Easter Sunday schedule: 6:30 AM- Sunrise Service on Lawn; 7:30 AM- Breakfast; 10:00 AM- Easter Egg Hunt; 10:50 AMTraditional Worship. If choose to participate in the hunt, St Mark's asks you to please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to the food pantry.
• St. Andrew's egg hunt is after their 10:30 service. They are also having breakfast at 9:30 with greening of the cross for kids. There is childcare available for the 10:30 service.

OUTSIDE THE HEIGHTS:

Thursday, April 21, 3:30 PM: Oak Forest Neighborhood Library reopening

• Join Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Director, Houston Public Library

  • and

    CM Brenda Stardig, Houston City Council District A,

    for the

    Re-Opening Celebration of the

    Oak Forest Neighborhood Library

• 1349 West 43rd St.

Thursday, April 21, 5 PM: My Houston 2040 Happy Hour and Discussion

• Air Alliance Houston, Citizens Transportation Coalition (CTC), and Houston Tomorrow agree that we can build a better Houston today by thinking about the Houston we want in 2040.
• This happy hour will include discussions with two passionate speakers who share an interest in active transportation: Catherine Burst of the Houston Parks Board will talk about legislative changes needed to allow creation of new hike and bike trails in private utility line corridors and Complete Streets. Gina Mitteco, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, will share her vision for a regional Houston bikeway network.
• Rudyard's upstairs, 2010 Waugh Dr, Houston, 77006 (map)

Friday, April 23- Saturday, April 24: Cavatore Italian Restaurant's "Adult Egg Hunt"

• Go to Cavatore for dinner and your table will be offered an egg from the basket. Every single egg in the basket will have a price, anywhere from a glass of wine to a free dinner. They will have one $100.00 gift card each night.
• Easter weekend schedule: Friday and Saturday dinner only from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
• 2120 Ella

IN OTHER NEWS:

I recently received an email from Heights resident Nadia Lauterbach, a Designer with her own residential studio in the neighborhood. She has recently started a blog about architecture, design, travel, art, decoration, that kind of thing. The most recent post is about the Victorian Architecture of the Heights and I thought I would share it with my own blog readers. Nadia says "I know there are several blogs bouncing around about the Heights, but I thought this one might be a little different since it is someone with an architecture degree, as well as a homeowner, doing the writing. I plan to do a whole series about the Heights on different topics." Sounds interesting and I can't wait to see more!

http://dearpolia.blogspot.com/2011/04/heights-living-victorian-style.html

Heights Happenings: April 14- Apr 20, 2010

Thursday, April 14, 6 PM-9 PM: The Bayou Village School in the Heights potluck dinner and open house

• Housed in two adorable cottages at 747 E. 18th Street, Bayou VIllage School is a Waldorf inspired school offering Pre-K and Kindergarten program for children ages 3-6, a part-time 3^rd/4^th grade class for homeschooling children, a Homeschooling enrichment program and an After School Arts Enrichment Program.
• The school will host a potluck dinner and special guest presentation by Kathryn King, a visiting Waldorf educator from Austin. Discussion will follow. This event is open to the public. Anyone working/living with children and/or with an interest in learning more about Waldorf education is welcome to join us.
• Free childcare will be available. Reservations can be made by contacting the school at bayouvillageschool@yahoo.com or 713-499-0598. Suggested donation is $10/ individual or $15/couple.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Saturday,