Former Exxon Building Conversion To Residential At 800 Bell St.

[Highrise Tower]

Photo of the building I took this week.

[hindesky]

Houston City Council is considering the historical landmark designations of seven properties across the city, and that status would regulate and limit future modifications of the buildings.

Humble-Exxon Building and Garage at 800 Bell Street and 1616 Milam Street.

Owners of the Humble-Exxon Building are asking city council to designate it as both a protected landmark and a significant structure. Protected landmark status would protect it from "demolition over inappropriate alterations," Jennifer Ostlind, interim director of the city's Planning and Development Department, said to city council. Additionally, significant structure designation permits tax exemptions.

While most of the properties are homes of late community leaders, Humble-Exxon is a 45-story building downtown and Mayor John Whitmire said he is wary of limiting potential renovations there.

"I understand the historic homes residences, I think everyone would applaud that," Whitmire said. "But a viable business structure in the central part of Houston – I think we ought to be cautious." 

Ostlind said the building and its garage are seeking landmark status because it's "a distinctive part of the Houston skyline," adding that it was the tallest building west of Mississippi in the early '60s.

But Whitmire emphasized that he is going to carefully consider the designation. 

"I just think it's not apples to apples with the other structures that you laid out this morning," he said.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2024/06/26/491917/houston-city-council-considering-new-historical-landmark-designations-for-seven-buildings/

 

Note: If the owners want it, the council and Whitmire should let them acquire the designation, IMHO.

 

[j.33]

So are they wanting the historical designation so they can get some tax incentives, which will allow them to rehab the building? 

[mollusk]

Whitmire just doesn't know when to butt out.  The owners of the property are asking for the designation (yes, the tax incentives are probably part of that), and that's exactly who is willing to limit the scope of allowed alterations for themselves.

Sheesh. 🤯

[j_cuevas713]

On 6/27/2024 at 12:24 PM, mollusk said:

Whitmire just doesn't know when to butt out.  The owners of the property are asking for the designation (yes, the tax incentives are probably part of that), and that's exactly who is willing to limit the scope of allowed alterations for themselves.

Sheesh. 🤯

He's an idiot. Time and time again he keeps getting proven wrong. He's so out of touch with what Houstonians want.

[EllenOlenska]

Oh, yeah, this is definitely an oof. 

[hindesky]

Now Chaad just appointed his own yes woman to head the Planning Commission and cut their budget by 30%. Get ready to go back to the '60's and '70's Houston.

[hindesky]

First time noticing the whole block has been fenced off. I wonder if it's derecho, Beryl or possible renovation related?

[Brooklyn173]

The fence went up after the derecho, though I haven't noticed any windows missing. The fences were all knocked over with Beryl but have since been uprighted. Maybe it's just precautionary for some not so obvious reasons.

[rechlin]

As posted by u/GlobalFuel7337 on reddit, there are a bunch of broken windows:

Edited July 30 by rechlin

[j.33]

On 6/27/2024 at 10:11 AM, hindesky said:

Houston City Council is considering the historical landmark designations of seven properties across the city, and that status would regulate and limit future modifications of the buildings.

Humble-Exxon Building and Garage at 800 Bell Street and 1616 Milam Street.

"Elise Marrion, spokesperson for the Planning and Development Department, told the Chronicle the Humble-Exxon Building’s owner has since withdrawn the application."

Houston City Council approves landmark status for 5 more buildings (houstonchronicle.com)

[hindesky]