Houston Historic Preservation Ordinance Update

A Revision to the Houston Historic Preservation Ordinance

Preservation – Yes. Protected Districts – No!

was recently drafted by the Houston City Council, after many tumultuous meetings. A revision that makes more sense to me but leaves some preservationist unhappy.

Instead of re-hashing this article, I’ll quote from Houston Chronicle – 09/18/10 Chron.com:“The city on Friday released the final draft of a drastically revised historic preservation ordinance, one that could meet with less opposition from developers and business groups, but could find resistance among preservationists.As expected, the revised law will close a loophole that allowed property owners to demolish the structures on their land even when a city commission disapproved of their plans.

Yes! To protected Districts

However, the city also is raising the bar on neighborhoods that wish to receive the historic designation, reducing the size of areas that can qualify and requiring the approval of far more property owners to achieve the distinction. Existing districts will keep their historic designation unless 25 percent of property owners within the boundaries petition the city for reconsideration….”

For the entire article, and to see how see how it affects proposed Houston historic districts like Woodland Heights see link.

Woodland Heights is one of the areas it affects. For info on this area (my neighborhood), see Proposed Woodland Heights Historic District.