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Houston's 132-year-old Kirby mansion demolished, may become gas station

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Crews dismantled the 36-room Tudor Revival structure at 2000 Smith St. despite a Sunday vigil held by community members hoping to spare it. The tear-down initially commenced without an authorized permit due to unaddressed plumbing issues, but the owner resolved the paperwork to proceed with the clearance. The site was acquired by an entity tied to a convenience store operator, though formal redevelopment plans have not been publicly confirmed.

Key points

  • A total absence of official historic landmark designation left the building without legal…: A total absence of official historic landmark designation left the building without legal safeguards to prevent demolition.
  • The property is now owned by OB Texas Properties LLC, an entity run by a commercial fuel…: The property is now owned by OB Texas Properties LLC, an entity run by a commercial fuel station operator.
  • Local preservation leaders intend to pursue municipal policy changes to safeguard remaini…: Local preservation leaders intend to pursue municipal policy changes to safeguard remaining historic structures across the city.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Houston’s historic Kirby Mansion has been demolished after city inspectors briefly halted the work because crews had started without a required demolition permit. The 36-room Tudor Revival home at 2000 Smith St. had never received historic landmark designation, leaving it without that layer of protection. There was "not much left" of the 132-year-old mansion after the demolition resumed on Monday, Nov 2, according to a report by ABC13. Filings by the new owner point to a possible gas station and convenience-store development on the site, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Preservationists and community members were concerned about the fate of mansion, which changed hands in late September, when OB Texas Properties LLC bought it. The LLC is owned by Omair Bashir, whose business interests include the Brake Time gas station chain, according to public records. Bashir and his companies did not comment on plans for the property's redevelopment, Houston Public Media reported.

Demolition complete

Demolition began Friday, but was halted by city inspectors after they found the crew did not have the nrequired permit. Crews had already destroyed about half the…

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