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The Kirby Mansion was one of the last reminders of Houston’s once-grand South End residential district. It had served as the local Red Cross headquarters and later found a new use as offices, but it had no landmark protection. After the property changed hands, Preservation Houston repeatedly sought a meeting with the new owner to discuss ways to keep the mansion in use. Those efforts went nowhere, and crews began tearing down the house before the city issued a demolition permit.
The loss exposed a gap in Houston’s preservation system. What can the city do when a significant historic building without landmark protection is at risk?
Join us for a town hall to work through that question. We’ll take a brief look at what happened at the Kirby Mansion, share what Preservation Houston plans to do next and ask where you think the city could act sooner or respond differently. Bring an idea, a question or an example from anywhere in Houston. We’ve already begun talking with city officials about how Houston could handle cases like this, and what we hear from you will help shape what we bring to those conversations.
The town hall begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Fellowship Hall at South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Free parking is available in the church’s surface lots off Main Street.