11 replies to this topic

[Zetna]

I've been told that 3 houses on Hemphill are to be demolished for a retail strip. The southernmost one is addressed 2812. All 3 are structurally sound and are about 100 years old; a bungalow, an airplane bungalow and one that looks pre-1910. They all have garage / apartments. If these were in Fairmount they would be restored. I don't think there will be any effort to move these. I'd post photos, but don't know how to do that. Anyway, they all have a lot of character that I know the retail strip will not have...I don't know why these couldn't be cute little offices or shops w/ walking in between...I guess it's profit over beauty...anyway, just wanted to remember what was there and also, if anyone else knew about the properties. 

[Zetna]

I stand MUCH CORRECTED!!!! My source was incorrect. I looked at the 4/12 zoning change request online and the houses will be restored for the purposes of office / retail! Yay, for 3 old houses to be preserved! Sorry for "jumping the gun" on this.

[Austin55]

These three right here? 

 

 

That's a real shame, they are quite beautiful houses. 

I wouldn't be to upset if something beautiful and without a parking lot is built in their place, but judging by the surrounding commercial strips like the one across the street, that probably won't happen

[Zetna]

Austin 55 - Yes, those are the houses, BUT look at my 2nd post.....I was told they would be demoed for some crap retail strip, but I was way wrong! I checked out the 4/12 council meeting for the rezoning in this case and the owners want to restore these house to "their former glory" and lease them as office rentals. A big win for the old homes you pictured!

[Austin55]

Oh man, I must have been posting when you did. Great news. 

[John T Roberts]

These houses have been on Historic Fort Worth's radar for a couple of years.  In the photograph, the house on the right is the George C. Clarke House, built around 1910.  George C. Clarke was a developer,civic leader, and school board member.  In 1914, an eight classroom elementary school was built and named in his honor, a few blocks away at 3300 S. Henderson St.  Here's a link to the school listing: http://www.fortworth.../clarkeelem.htm.

 

Below is a current photograph of the school:

[Zetna]

Interesting history...I see that he developed Hemphill Heights where his house is too. I like the school photo as well....I guess every school in Fort Worth has lowered their old windows and blanked out the tops of them....maybe for HVAC?

[John T Roberts]

Yes, all of the FWISD schools had the tops of the windows blanked off.  This was done due to the new air conditioning systems installed in the buildings.  The windows went from desk height to the bottom of the original ceilings.  I attended elementary school here, and we had heat from the boiler in the basement, but the building did not have air conditioning in the 1960's. 

[John S.]

Both the house on the far right and the Airplane Bungalow next door are excellent Southside architectural examples. The far right house may not be as large as some built on Hemphill but it did (maybe still does) have some great details like art glass windows and architectural embellishments on the exterior. If the exterior is any clue about the interior this might be quite an impressive early 1900's house. (architect designed)

[Zetna]

John, yes, the house on the far right does have nice details / cast ornament on the outside...it also has 3 nice chimney caps and some wrought iron bracing back to the roof. It did look like there was some dirty stained glass design as a transom above the large window on left...couldn't see past the dirt / shadows on the right side. You had said this was a 1910 house....I saw on Zillow where the airplane bungalow is from 1919 and the bungalow to the left of that is 1922. Even though the bungalow on the far left is rather simple I love the railing design. I am so glad they will be restored and repurposed.

[McHand]

Thanks for posting GC Clarke Elementary, the Clarke in Shaw-Clarke!! Also my son's school.

 

Zetna, that is great news about the houses.  I've been watching the white one on the far right for years; I remember when the porch was taken off, and I assumed someone would build a new one promptly.  I was wrong.

 

And now to know it is the Clarke House!  Apparently, he lived in what is now South Hemphill Heights rather than SC.  We have two houses in our neighborhood that appear to be from 1900 or so, and I assumed one was his.  Thanks for sharing, John.

 

This is great news for Hemphill Street.  Soon, people will see a glimpse of the ritzy street it once was, and South Hemphill Heights will have the benefit of a commercial structure within its boundaries.  Good news for the whole South Side.

[John T Roberts]

These three houses are on the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission agenda in May for a local landmark designation.  This is very good news.  The proposal is to restore the houses, demolish the middle house's garage, and to provide parking in the rear for all three properties. The Landmarks Commission meets on Monday, May 12th at 2:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.