Did you know the Woodland Heights neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Houston? It was originally created by The William A. Wilson Realty Company, which began developing Woodland Heights in 1907 on 136 acres of land that was once part of John Austin's Mexican land grant. In 2011, the Woodland Heights neighborhood became a Historic District for three significant reasons: it illustrates Houston's development between 1907 and 1925, its association with William Wilson and other notable residents, and its architecture. According to the COH Planning and Development Department's Historic Preservation Manual for the Woodland Heights:
"Most of the buildings in Woodland Heights are one-story and two-story houses. The neighborhood also contains a few duplexes and four-plex apartment buildings. The most common type of house is a wood-framed bungalow. A bungalow is a one-story house with a low-pitched roof, wide eaves, and a large front porch. The bungalow was one of the most common house forms in Houston's suburban neighborhoods between 1905 and 1925. Some bungalows have Craftsman details."
Preservation Houston will conduct a Woodland Heights Architecture Walk on Sunday, September 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. As the name suggests, this is an exterior-only walking tour designed to highlight the 20th-century architectural styles in our neighborhood. If you're interested in taking the tour, be aware that advance tickets are required, as no tickets will be sold on the day of the tour. You can find more information, including ticket prices for this event, on Preservation's Houston website.
Is your home one of the historic-style homes found in our neighborhood (foursquare, cottage, or bungalow)? During this tour, you can learn more about your style of home and understand why so many residents work hard to preserve it. Hall, one of Woodland Heights residents, created and leads the WHCA Venerable Home Program (also referred to as the 100+ Club) to recognize homes over 100 years old,
"Working together, I believe we can preserve this community...Fortunately, we have lots of original homes, and we want to recognize and encourage others to preserve and care for them. That is the thought behind the WHCA historic site designation."
One hundred and thirty homes currently carry the proud designation of being members of the 100+ Club; you can see their signs proudly displayed in their homeowner's yards. To add your home to the 100 Club+ list, you must meet the following criteria
A home must be at least 100 years old (to verify your home's age visit HCAD)
Homeowners must be current members of the WHCA (to join or renew your membership, visit the WHCA website)
Then contact Debbie Hall at debhall945@gmail.com. Is your home a candidate for the 100 Club+ list? Our neighborhood has homes built as early as 1881. Join us!