Residents are outraged after an historic Houston mansion was partially demolished, apparently to make way for a possible gas station.
Demolition crews began dismantling 200 Smith Street brick by brick on Friday. The property is one of Houston’s last remaining Tudor Revival homes.
Known as the Kirby Mansion, the 20,000-square-foot residence had stood on the street for more than a century. Despite its age and prominence, the home did not have historic designation.
Locals were shocked to see the crews arrive because the only permit issued for the property was for sewer disconnection—a step that can precede an application for demolition. An asbestos abatement project had also been scheduled to run from Tuesday through November 6.
Public records identify OB Texas Properties LLC as the owner, with Omair Bashir listed as its registered agent. The property was purchased around October 1.
After learning of the demolition, the nonprofit Preservation Houston requested a meeting with the new owners to discuss their plans for the property.
‘We wish the owner had been transparent and honest about the plans for this property and willing to discuss preservation options,’ Preservation Houston Executive Director Jennifer Kapral told the Daily Mail.
‘We offered to explore ways to give this building a future. We also asked for the opportunity to document it and discuss salvaging irreplaceable materials if demolition went ahead. We received no response. Houston deserves better than this.’
The Kirby Mansion in Houston, Texas, was partially demolished on Friday as the site could potentially be redeveloped as a gas station
The home had stood on Smith Street for more than 100 years, but it was never designated as a historic building
It remains unclear why the demolition stopped or what will happen to the property
The Daily Mail has contacted Bashir and Houston Public Works, the department responsible for issuing permits, for comment.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: NATO Expanding and Putin Accuses it of Deceiving People with False Claims to Start a War – NewsFinale
The demolition stopped halfway through on Friday for reasons that remain unknown. Kapral believes the work may have been halted because the proper permission was not in place.
‘But I mean, you can see from the images, a lot has already been lost,’ she told Houston Public Media.
Witnesses told Houston Public Media they saw a shelf of books on the home’s second floor while the crews were working, suggesting the mansion may not have been cleared before demolition began.
Eric Lezias, a Houston resident, said he had known the building since childhood and never imagined it would be destroyed.
‘We always thought that it could be something like a food spot or something like that,’ he said.
‘I always wondered that it could be something better, something more…. It really is sad to see it gone, but it’s how it is in this city. They’re tearing down stuff that’s ancient.’
Kapral told Houston Public Media that the property will most likely be converted into a gas station.
The mansion was once owned by lumber magnate John Henry Kirby (pictured)
Kirby purchased the original home off JS Price and rebuilt the home there today
‘We’re losing it to a gas station and convenience store, from what we can tell from all the permits,’ she told the outlet.
The original home was built in 1894 by JS Price, who later sold it to lumber mogul John Henry Kirby. Kirby then rebuilt the property into the home that is currently being destroyed, Houston Public Media said.
It is one of the last remaining remnants of the old South End neighborhood.