Tax Credit Program Highlight: Westfall House

Houston, Harris County

1905

Designation	Listed in the National Register as part of the Westmoreland Historic District.
Historic Use	Single family home
Current Use	Single family rental home
Total Rehabilitation Cost	$955,590
Qualified Rehabilitation Expenses	$854,282
Date Certified	July 7, 2017
	Certified for state and federal credits.

History

The Westfall House was built for George and Emma Westfall in the newly developed Westmoreland neighborhood, at the cost of $2,500. The house was built following plans purchased from a mail order catalog, “Art in Architecture,” by George F. Barber, who had a prolific career based on the number of plans he sold. This plan was labeled as a “Rustic Design.” The house is also notable as an early example of an Arts and Crafts bungalow, built before that house type had become popular in the U.S.

Rehabilitation Project

The house was altered only minimally over time, although it did sit vacant for several years while a neighborhood preservation organization attempted to raise funds to undertake a rehabilitation. The group was unable to raise funds, and the property reverted to private ownership, who undertook this project. Although the house had excellent integrity, it was in poor condition due to vacancy and previous tenants. The project mostly consisted of repair of deteriorated historic fabric, including porch and chimney masonry, wood siding, windows and doors, and interior woodwork and plaster. Foundation work was also undertaken, with new piers dug and poured for the porches and chimneys, while a non-historic sleeping porch was removed from the rear of the house. New bedroom closets on the second floor were built out into attic space. The non-historic kitchen and bathrooms were updated, and new MEP and HVAC systems sensitively installed throughout the house.