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Downtown Preservation Project to Receive 2006 Good Brick Award
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The redevelopment of the historic Byrd’s Department Store building at 420 Main Street as Byrd’s Lofts will be among the projects recognized when Greater Houston Preservation Alliance (GHPA) presents the 2006 Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. The awards will be handed out during GHPA’s Cornerstone Dinner on Friday, January 27, at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
Architect Joseph Finger designed the Art Moderne style building in 1934. The property had stood vacant since for several years before being purchased by Fretz 420 Main, Ltd. Fretz Construction Company based the exterior restoration on Finger’s original blueprints, which the company still possessed. Fretz Construction was the general contractor for the project in 1934. The facade restoration was funded in part by a grant from the Main Street/Market Square Development Authority’s Historic Building Exterior Preservation and Restoration Grant Program.
Ray + Hollington Architects designed the conversion of the building’s top two floors into five residential condominiums. The first floor and mezzanine levels are reserved for a commercial tenant. Ray + Hollington received a 2003 Good Brick Award for its renovation of the 1949 Weldon Cafeteria Building, 4916 Main Street, as the architecture firms offices.
Bob Fretz, Jr., president of Fretz Construction, credits the building’s preservation to Sheldon and Sondra Epstein, the property’s former owners. The Epsteins refused offers from potential buyers who did not plan to preserve the historic structure.
During the Cornerstone Dinner, Houston Mayor Bill White will also accept GHPA’s President’s Award for preservation leadership.
“From the beginning of his first term in office, Mayor White has supported historic preservation,” said GHPA Executive Director Ramona Davis. “He recognizes preservation’s economic and aesthetic value to the city, and that has translated into good public policy.”
A complete roster of Good Brick Award recipients, including photos and descriptions, may be viewed online at www.ghpa.org.
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