Home Tour

Free Home Tour Ticket for Docent Volunteers!!! by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The tour requires a lot of willing hands to make it a success. Special thanks to all the committee chairs who have been laboring long – even longer than normal this tour, with all the virus-related delays.

SIGN UP FOR A 3 HOUR SHIFT | Afternoons of Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27

You’ll be provided with a script and instructions. You will be guiding visitors through the home while sharing bullet points on history and décor. It’s a great way to support the neighborhood and meet interesting folks.

For Questions Contact Louis Moss, one of our Co-chairs | limoss@comcast.net | 713.703.1412

2018 Home Tour Sets Revenue Record by Lori Bigler

The home tour committee would like to extend its effusive thanks to the sponsors, homeowners, volunteers, and party and tour goers who helped us set a new record with the 2018 tour – the neighborhood’s major fundraiser. The tour and preview party’s net revenue of $44,048 exceeded the goal by more than $10,000 and topped the 2016 tour proceeds by more than $12,000! Thanks to everyone who helped showcase our “hometown near downtown.”

Proceeds will support enforcement of deed restrictions, beautification, general operations. Further, up to 10 percent will be allocated to support the constable patrol. 

  • Total proceeds were $48,851. 
  • Home tour underwriting revenue - $16,090
  • Home tour ticket revenue - $23,301
  • Preview party underwriting revenue - $2,500
  • Preview party ticket & raffle revenue - $6,960

Thanks to the many generous in-kind donations from our wonderful neighborhood businesses, expenses were kept to approximately 10 percent of revenue at $4,802. 

Looking ahead: The committee will select 2020 home tour homes next spring/summer. If you’d like your historic home to be considered, please email limoss@comcast.net. While it may be a high bar, the committee would love your help in showing off our charming neighborhood to the rest of Houston and hopefully setting a new record next time. 

2018 Home Tour Wrap-Up by Lori Bigler

2018 WH Home Tour Delivers Roaring Success!

Woodland Heights put its best foot forward, welcoming hundreds into our neighborhood to tour eight historic homes in late March. With thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, support from sponsors, the generosity of civic-minded homeowners and interest from lots of tourgoers, the tour set a fundraising record.

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The weekend kicked off with a sneak peek of the eight homes on tour followed by the preview party at Janeen Cook’s historic Rolle House. Close to 100 partygoers mixed and mingled in their “construction chic” garb and some dancing broke out to the toe-tapping Latin jazz of Zenteno Spirit. The delicious spread featured a wide range of nibbles, from hors d’oeuvres through desserts donated by local restaurants with beer, wine and non-alcoholic libations on tap.

A gallery of pictures from the preview party is available at the WHCA web site.

Janeen led an impromptu tour of her 1910 William Wilson home that has remained in her family since its construction. A raffle with exciting prize packages raised another $1,200-plus dollars and one lucky neighbor took home the wine-and-food pairing for eight door prize donated by Kagan Cellars. The “Bob the Builder” mural painted by Hogg Middle School art students and construction props leant by neighbors Jane and Steve Ista set the theme. See the sponsor list for all who contributed to another fun preview party, with thanks to Peggy Sparks, Pat Schaper and Kim Lytle for leading the preview charge.

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The next two days saw more than 800 visitors touring some or all of the eight featured homes, ranging from a 1,200-square-foot charmer now housing a family of five to the 6,600-square-foot beauty built by Woodland Heights’ founder William Wilson for his family. Some 200 docents and cashiers made the visitors feel welcome and shared the homes’ fascinating histories. Three of the homes were recently saved from the wrecking ball by homeowners with a love of the past and passion for restoration. Others had gone through earlier renovations, revisions and expansions to provide modern comforts while respecting their storied past.

The home tour chairs would like to express their sincere gratitude to all who came together to make the event such a success. The neighborhood’s largest fundraiser, proceeds will help keep our community connected and beautiful – truly “our hometown near downtown.”

Homes for the 2020 tour will be selected summer 2019 so if you would like yours to be considered, please email limoss@comcast.net.

Janeen Cook offers a calendar containing photos of her family's historic Rolle House. The house has been in the family since it was built.

Janeen Cook offers a calendar containing photos of her family's historic Rolle House. The house has been in the family since it was built.

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Joey and Kelly Sanchez of the Blue Tile Project generously donated the homeowner thank-you gifts this tour. Each received the house's street spelled out in the blue tiles. Installed as markers for Houston's first paved streets in the 1920s -- including throughout Woodland Heights -- many examples of this early "street art" still remain. More information on the project that salutes our history and to order your own sign, visit BlueTileProject.com.

Pam & Greg Roach of 3304 Beauchamp with their new sign courtesy of the Blue Tiles Project.

Pam & Greg Roach of 3304 Beauchamp with their new sign courtesy of the Blue Tiles Project.

Thanks to our 2018 Home Tour Sponsors! by Lori Bigler

Our wonderful neighborhood businesses help make the tour possible. Please reward these firms with your business and let them know you appreciate their support!

Banner
Morningside Architects

Door Hanger
Lucas Craftsmanship, Inc.

Homes
Sara Black Team, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Anderson Properties
Kay Harden, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
Grogan Building Supply Co. and JELD-WEN Windows & Doors (2 homes)
Lucas Craftsmanship, Inc.
Yvonne Meyer, Karen Stowers, Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty, and Renovative Thinking
Melissa Kubala, Boulevard Realty, and The Modern Bungalow Co.
Mary Wassef, Circa Real Estate LLC & FW Heritage, LLC

Tickets
Boulevard Realty

Ticket Booth
Elizabeth Smith, The Mortgage Group

Brochure
Greenwood King Properties, Brigette Larson & Caroline Schlemmer
Bodensteiner Service Inc.
Four Square Design Studio
Hirsch & Westheimer PC
Master Car Care & Collison
Nick’s Plumbing & Sewer Service Inc.
Linda Hulsey & Steve Ciapi, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

Floral
Athas Florist
Darlene’s Flower and Gift Shop
Gaye Jackson’s Flowers in the Heights
J.A. Polito III and Scherry Lindley
Kroger on Studemont
Nuvo Builders
Picked Flower Co.

Friends of Woodland Heights
Jane & Steve Ista
Nuvo Builders

In-Kind
BlueTileProject.com
Crowley Signs & Graphics
LP Printing
Pennebaker

‘Bob the Builder’ Preview Party
Special thanks to Janeen Cook

General Contractors
Mary & Nelson Curl
Greystar
Montalbano Lumber

Subcontractors
The Contemporary Craftsmen
Gina Lesch
McIntyre + Robinowitz Architects PLLC
Semmler Pollard Properties

Vendors
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, Deborah Markey
Ista Construction
Hogg Middle School, Kati Ozanic’s class

Suppliers
Alexander Valley, Arnold Gilberg
Alice Blue
Andy's Home Café
B B's
Becker Vineyards
Bellagreen
Roland Chavez
DaCapo’s Pastry Café
Fusion Taco
Ginger & Fork
Good Dog
Hughie's Heights
Kroger on Studemont
Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Los Pinos Wines
Mister French’s Gourmet Bakers
Pinkerton’s BBQ
Red Dive Dessert
Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant, Heights
Peggy Sparks, Realtor, Semmler Pollard Properties
Sprouts Farmers Market
Town in City Brewing

Door Prize
Emily Trout & Mark Ellenberger, Kagan Cellars

Raffle
Berryhill Baja Grill
Bojangles Music School
Buchanan's Native Plants
CAMBRIA
C&D Hardware
Citizen Pilates
Eclectic Home
Howard Safe & Lock
Gridiron Cookers
Joshua's Native Plants & Garden
Lin Chong
Mila Nelson, Satori Salon
Natran, LLC
Polish Parker and Roe
Richard Hall
Sharon Greif
Tacos a Go-Go

2018 Woodland Heights Home Tour by Lori Bigler

Fresh Traditions - plus 3 Bonus - “Teardown Turnarounds.”

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Woodland Heights will once again welcome visitors into some of its most charming historic homes during its “Fresh Traditions” biannual home tour March 24-25, from noon to 6 p.m. In addition to five original homes ranging in size and style, the tour will showcase three “teardown turnaround” bonus homes. Once considered unsalvageable, these houses are testament to how a homeowner’s vision and commitment, combined with creative architects and experienced contractors, can rescue even the most neglected house and turn it into a showplace.

Tickets $25 in advance, $30 starting March 23. Purchase today online. Tickets will also be available at a variety of local merchants beginning March 1st.