James & Jessie West Mansion (1930, Joseph Finger), shown in 2009 / photo by David Bush
By now, you've likely seen the news that the James & Jessie West Mansion on Clear Lake has been demolished. The house was completed in 1930, was designed by Joseph Finger and for many years housed the Lunar Science Institute (later the Lunar and Planetary Institute). Its architectural and historical significance was never in doubt, so how could it be torn down?
Great hall in the West Mansion, 2008 / photo by Jim Parsons
The West Mansion was a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These designations provide recognition and access to financial incentives that encourage owners to voluntarily preserve historic buildings, but they do not prevent demolition.
In historic preservation, the strongest protections are local protections. The West Mansion was within the Pasadena city limits, and Pasadena does not have a preservation ordinance to protect significant historic buildings. The lack of local protections allowed the house to be demolished without notice or public discussion.
The property has changed hands several times since the Lunar Science Institute moved out in 1991. A covenant attached to the deed protected the house for many years, but the covenant expired and current owner Hakeem Olajuwon moved forward with demolition this week.
The mansion was built with steel framing, so it was structurally sound. The interior and exterior had survived largely unchanged for 89 years. Photos of the demolition indicate that there was little or no salvage effort. High quality, easily re-usable historic materials, including doors, casement windows and light fixtures, will be buried in a landfill along with marble and wood flooring, roofing tiles, columns and unique decorative elements like imported tile and elaborately carved woodwork.
Elaborately carved woodwork in the West Mansion, 2008 / photo by Jim Parsons
Over the years, Preservation Houston has supported efforts to develop the land surrounding the house. Proposals included building a hotel and a retirement community on the site. Each project would have used preservation tax credits to restore and repurpose the West Mansion, its outbuildings and gardens as a distinctive centerpiece that would distinguish these developments from competing businesses. These incentives would have allowed the current owner to realize the property’s unique potential. A growing number of Houston developers have already used tax credits to repurpose significant historic properties.
Art Deco overmantel in the West Mansion, 2008 / photo by Jim Parsons
We are fortunate that Houston has a municipal historic preservation ordinance. However, less than 3 percent of the city’s land area is covered by protected historic districts, and many of our individually designated landmarks can and have been demolished after a 90-day waiting period. One of our most visible historic properties, the Kirby Mansion in Midtown, has no city, state or federal designations to protect the property or encourage its preservation.
Preservation Houston remains vigilant and is working with individual property owners to designate protected City of Houston landmarks that cannot be demolished. We regularly meet with owners and developers to encourage the use of state and federal tax credits to rehab and repurpose significant buildings. In the past year, Preservation Houston has helped local nonprofits bring in more than $3 million in preservation incentives to restore their landmark buildings. Preservation Houston provides these services at no charge and does not benefit financially from these efforts.
Preservation Houston has a very small staff, so our members, friends and neighbors are our eyes and ears in the community. We are very grateful when you share information and contacts. We follow up on the leads you provide and keep our sources confidential.
The demolition of the West Mansion only makes us more determined to prevent similar losses. With your support, Preservation Houston will continue its important work to protect our city’s irreplaceable historic buildings and sites.