HISTORIC RIVER OAKS HOME TO BE DEMOLISHED, GROUP TO HOLD VIGIL
River Oaks Examiner, May 12, 2005

River Oaks residents - and the rest of Houston - are about to say goodbye to another historical landmark, but in this case, the owner may have had little choice in the matter.

"I understand the historical significance of the land and the existing house," said John Arnold, owner of the home at 2950 Lazy Lane. "However, the consensus opinion of several local and national architects was that renovation of the house would be extremely difficult."

Built in the 1920s, the mansion was once occupied by Judge Frederick C. Proctor and wife, Lucy, and later Mike and Alice Hogg. Arnold bought the property, which is assessed at $4.9 million, in August 2004.

"The land was on the market for three years, versus the River Oaks average of less than five months, when I purchased it," Arnold said.

Jane Dale Owen, president of the River Oaks group, Citizens' League of Enviromental Action Now, has organized a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. May 18, to recognize what she calls a "great loss" to the community.

According to a history of the house written by architectural historian Steven Fox for the Citizens' League, it was built from 1926 to 1928 by architect Birdsall P. Briscoe, "in tandem with Bayou Bend." The two homes share a driveway.

Bayou Bend, at 1 Westcott St., was the home of the late Ima Hogg, a celebrated philanthropist and art collector, daughter of Texas Gov. James S. Hogg and sister of Mike Hogg. Currently, Bayou Bend is a part of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

With the loss of the Proctor house, River Oaks and Houston will lose "a tangible link to historical personages associated with the property who were significant in the business, political and cultural history of twentieth-century Texas," writes Fox.

Owens says, "The history of the Hogg family, Bayou Bend and River Oaks is enriched by the presence of the Proctor house. Without it, that history is diminished."

The home, she said, is more than part of the neighborhood's history, "It is part of our social fabric."

Arnold, a former Enron trader who currently runs Houston-based Centaurus Energy, said despite reports to the contrary, he offered the entire contents of the site to both Bayou Bend and Historic Houston, with Bayou Bend accepting.

"I have worked closely with director Bonnie Campbell to preserve any elements they desired," he said.

For Owen and other preservationists in Houston, the demolition of the house is a symptom of a larger problem - the lack of protection in general for historic landmarks and homes.

"The issue of historic preservation is a big problem in our area because of the lack of zoning in Houston," she says.

The Proctor house is eligible for historic designation by the city, which requires a house to be more than 50 years old and to have been either designed or occupied by a person of historical significance. However, the owner must apply for the designation. Owen said the new owner of the Proctor house did not apply for it.

Last year, 23 historical homes in River Oaks were demolished, according to Owen.

"If people want to build a modern house, they should look for a vacant lot," she said.

Arnold said he has worked extensively to find architects who will build a replacement house that will preserve the "integrity of the site and the neighborhood."

"I interviewed five preeminent architects and chose Alexander Gorlin Architects," said Arnold. "Gorlin is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, taught at the Yale Schoold of Architecture, and was recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the country's 30 leading Deans of Design. I am very confident he will design a house worthy of the neighborhood and land."