Hi All,
Since this may seem as self-serving, I'm reluctant to post anything about our home on the forum but there is a preservation side to this issue. I won't go into all the changes on Samuels Avenue that have occurred since we bought the historic Riley-Lehane house in 1989; in 2008 the property was almost sold to a developer for more than is being asked for now. The landmarked 1890's Queen Anne style Garvey house was sold to a lawyer-investor last September but remains partially gutted without any signs of work since last November. I keep hoping for a favorable outcome. Far more encouraging is the mid-1880's Getzendaner House at 760 Samuels that was given a new lease on life over the past two years. (Thanks, Gwen and Jim!) Now we have 823 Samuels which would have been fully restored by now if the economic winds of fate had been more favorable over the years. Age (64) is starting to creep up as well; I can no longer stand working on scaffolding or a ladder for a full day. In short, it's time to pass this well preserved Fort Worth home on to some new, caring owners with the resources to complete the restoration. They will become only the third owners to live in the house because the original owners, members of the Riley-Lehane family, lived here for 98 years! (1890-1988) I was honored to have 823 Samuels posted on the nationally known Old House Dreams website: http://www.oldhoused...ort-worth-tx-2/ There are some interior photos, and an extensive number of archival images and historical narrative. It would be improper to discuss pricing here but I will add it's negotiable. Any prospective buyer will be offered my entire collection of documentary resources not only this property but for all of Samuels Avenue as well. Concerns about redevelopment are valid but currently there are no announced projects pending. Carleton Properties announced in Oct. 2013 a 230+ unit apartment complex with an eleven story tower across from Pioneers Rest Cemetery but the 6.4 acre parcel has been recently placed up for sale. A long time major developer exited the neighborhood a couple of years ago. There's at least some indication that the middle of the Samuels Avenue/Rock Island neighborhood will remain residential and mostly single family for the foreseeable future. Age and (spouse's) declining health now make it a favorable time to sell and relocate from downtown to a quieter, perhaps rural locale. The Stockyards District is but a couple of blocks due north off Decatur Avenue. From a strictly preservation perspective, documented 1880's vintage houses are exceedingly rare in Fort Worth; most early homes remaining here are on Samuels Avenue. It is my wish and hope the next owners can restore the Riley-Lehane House back to period perfection and will seek out national register and/or Registered Texas Historic Landmark (R.T.H.L.) designation for the home. All the documentation necessary for such designation is available. We raised our two children from pre-school to graduation and adulthood here and will always have many fond memories of this special place. Realtor contact information is available on the Old House Dreams site and I'll be happy to answer any questions if I have the answers. I'm hoping there is at least one preservation minded prospective buyer we can work with in our city. Posting the 1880's Getzendaner House (760 Samuels) and the 1890's Garvey House (769) on the Fort Worth Forum led to their sale, so I'm hoping by posting 823 Samuels here the preservation work I began long ago can be continued. Not many intact Victorian era homes remain here. My apologies to John Roberts if posting this is inappropriate; it was posted on Historic Fort Worth's site a couple of years ago but did not generate a lot of interest.