Star Engraving Company Building

United States historic place

Star Engraving Company Building

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

The building's exterior in 2010

Show map of Texas

Show map of the United States

Location| 3201 Allen Pkwy
Houston, Texas
Coordinates| 29°45′37″N 95°23′57″W﻿ / ﻿29.76028°N 95.39917°W﻿ / 29.76028; -95.39917
Area| less than one acre
Built| 1930
Architect| R. D. Steele
Architectural style| Spanish Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.| 94001521[1]
Added to NRHP| January 6, 1995

The Star Engraving Company Building is a building at 3201 Allen Parkway in Houston, Texas, built in 1930 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style by the Star Engraving company to house its engraving factory.[2] The building is currently (as of 2013[update]) owned by the city of Houston and serves as the Houston Center for the Arts, housing the Stages Repertory Theatre, the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Bayou Preservation Alliance.[3]

## Historical landmark

[edit]

1921 Star Engraving Company advertisement

It was designated a local historic landmark in 1986,[4] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.[1]

## Residents

[edit]

The Stages Repertory Theatre has resided in the building since 1985, and the Children's Museum of Houston resided there until 1992.[5] The building became the subject of controversy in 1992 when then-owner 3201 Allen Parkway Ltd. indicated its intent to evict the Stages Theatre and the Children's Museum in order to develop the building into loft condominia in partnership with developer Gross Investments.[5] The Children's Museum had long been planning a move to the Museum District anyway,[5] but Stages and its supporters protested that a move would greatly harm the theatre, and requested local-government assistance in buying the building.[6] A few months later, the development deal with Gross Investments fell through, and 3201 Allen Parkway Ltd. offered to sell the building to Stages.[7] However, Stages couldn't meet its asking price and negotiations broke down. The City of Houston eventually purchased the building, after a controversial threat to use eminent domain powers to confiscate it, and turned it into a municipal arts center.[8] In 2020, the property was acquired by Houston-based real estate firm Radom Capital and remodeled into boutique offices, restaurant and retail space.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. ^ "Star Engraving - Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas". Arrow Rock Architects. Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved December 25, 2006.
3. ^ "Houston Center for the Arts". City of Houston. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
4. ^ Gram Gemoets (June 9, 1992). "Big, Bad Wolf Huffing at Local Theatre's Door". Daily Cougar (University of Houston).
5. ^ a b c "Stages fans urge council to save theater". Houston Chronicle. April 15, 1992. p. 6 (Houston section).
6. ^ "Stages says move would be devastating". Houston Chronicle. May 15, 1992. p. 8 (Houston section).
7. ^ "Stages offered chance to buy theater's home". Houston Chronicle. July 28, 1992. p. 1 (Houston section).
8. ^ "City to purchase home of Stages theater group". Houston Chronicle. October 22, 1992. p. 25 (section A).

* v
* t
* e

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Topics|

* Architectural style categories
* Contributing property
* Historic district
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* Keeper of the Register
* National Park Service
* Property types

Lists by state|

* List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state:
* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Lists by insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Minor Outlying Islands
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* Virgin Islands

Lists by associated state|

* Federated States of Micronesia
* Marshall Islands
* Palau

Other areas|

* District of Columbia
* American Legation, Morocco

Lists of specific structure types|

* Amusement rides
* Jails and prisons
* University and college buildings

Related|

* National Historic Preservation Act
* Historic Preservation Fund

* National Register of Historic Places portal
* Category

*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template