Under New Ownership

Someone has taken on the challenge of restoring this house in the 300 block of University. So many of the old houses along University have been lost, it is nice to see one being saved.

Down to the Shell

This house in the 900 block of Walnut Street has sat vacant for several years. Now it appears that renovation work is in full swing. The house has been stripped down to the shell and a new addition and garage are being added.

Transformation

The transformation is complete on the house at 17th and Main Streets, which was originally featured here in November 2010 (bottom photo).

Near the Square

Several properties near the downtown square are undergoing renovation. Someone purchased an old warehouse building on Myrtle Street (bottom) and is fixing it up nicely. A small bungalow on Rock Street was also gutted recently and had a new driveway put in (top photos). Ironically, both buildings have a similar mustard yellow color!

The Barcus House

A few weeks ago I met the new owners of the Barcus House at the corner of 11th and Ash Streets. This house is called the Barcus House because one of its first owners was J. Samuel Barcus, who served as president of Southwestern University from 1924-1928. The new owners are doing several things to restore the house, including straightening the garage (see photo below) and restoring the windows in the house to their original size.

Inappropriate additions?

This little house on Hutto Road used to be really cute, with a small dormer window above the door. In a quest to get more space, the new owners have put on an addition that is totally out of context with the house's architectural style. This isn't the only home on Hutto Road that has suffered this fate. Just up the street is a newer home with what many people consider to be a very inappropriate addition in the rear. Under new rules recently passed by City Council, additions will not be permitted on the front of houses in Old Town without approval from HARC.

Demolition by Neglect

This house at 707 E. 13th St. has been an eyesore to neighbors for 15 years. What is particularly sad is the fact that the owner lives in Georgetown but has not bothered to visit the property for five years. So when he applied to HARC for permission to demolish the house, HARC denied the request due to the fact that the it was an obvious case of demolition by neglect. Unfortunately, the owner will eventually get to demolish it - all he has to do is wait 175 days and then HARC has to approve his request for demolition. Under a proposal now before City Council, property owners who are guilty of demolition by neglect would have to wait a year before they are allowed to tear down houses in Old Town. Photos of two houses just around the corner from this house show what it might look like if it had been properly maintained.