Preservation Houston is creating a watch list to identify threatened historic buildings that could be redeveloped using local, state and federal preservation incentives. PH has traditionally worked behind the scenes contacting owners, architects and developers to explain the benefits of rehabilitating and repurposing historic properties. The watch list will provide PH members with regular updates on threatened buildings.
Weiner’s Dry Goods Store No. 12
Weiner’s Dry Goods Store No. 12 (1946, Irving R. Klein), shown in 1946 / PH file
Rendering of proposed alterations to the Weiner’s building / Cisneros Design Studio
Renderings of proposed alterations to the former Weiner’s Dry Goods Store No. 12 (1946, Irving R. Klein) at 4901 Washington Avenue were released in mid-December 2018. A remodeling of the property to accommodate a new tenant, Arizona-based beer garden chain Bottled Blonde, includes eliminating the largely extant Streamline Moderne-style façade. The former Weiner’s store most recently housed a branch of Cash America Pawn.
Preservation Houston contacted the project team with an offer to research and write a City of Houston landmark nomination for the building. We also explained parking and tax benefits available to the owners if they chose to preserve the building's historic character and provided photos to show how much of the original building survives and could be rehabilitated.
The Weiner’s building is not listed as a city landmark and is not located in a city historic district, so there are no restrictions on alterations by the owners.
Update (summer 2019): New owners have dramatically altered the building, removing all its historic architectural elements.
Resources
Bottled Blonde grabbing Weiner’s Dry Goods on the corner of Wash Ave and Durham (Swamplot)
Weiner’s Dry Goods Store No. 12 (Houston Deco)