[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6612035,"mediaKeyId","2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789","parentId",2892663,"title","Commission approves verification request for 1808 Avenue K under historic rehabilitation tax‑exemption program","audioSeconds",148,"startMs",909000,"endMs",1057000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789&start=909&end=1057","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789/thumbnail_909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6612035/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Commission-approves-verification-request-for-1808-Avenue-K-under-historic-rehabilitation-taxexemption-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612035-48bbd62c2052d3d6291d8032e2009953/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207517&Signature=BIxe7-MpOUvc9BZFsPWMJX~XXr12PiHwuHkMzO0bqsulj0Mopru-XS9jTVixYmlqtve~WOCwyVgj29ROJcUrdbGcBnlm1trYHnRiAtpFIMIKGLj74Rsb54h7topVyqX0KGFRJ-JLk64LKmWQ4FSmvWXRfOmg0TaYW1MdAF4-A6umF7f~xvD3ECb~a4VQo~4p7qz2pVSiyaQJOQtXNpBFRWLa2ZIHgSA-NfxO9FQ~qCalsXEW8l4TSFT6x9Y9OIvVNy-fsyBSjLCWCDnTbtbs3ywLv4eF1ZF3951S1-gh1GsUAm7dZX9TLmNt4JQ1MKDwuVmM7053YIaognNIMiD4Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Galveston","date","2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Galveston Landmark Commission voted to approve a verification request for 1808 Avenue K that the property meets the requirements of the city’s substantial rehabilitation historic‑properties tax‑exemption program and to forward the verification to City Council for final action.

Staff (Kathryn) summarized the application and told commissioners the program’s participation threshold was $338,000. The staff report listed documented contractor expenditures of $170,000 for repairs, roofing and new systems and an applicant estimate of $64,000 in sweat equity. The packet states the applicant exceeded the program threshold; the figures in the staff summary (documented $170,000 + estimated $64,000 sweat equity = $234,000) are less than the stated $338,000 threshold. Staff nevertheless recommended approval, and City Council will consider final verification at its April 24 meeting.

Applicants Mike Greer and Bobby Greer described purchasing the house three years ago, doing extensive restoration work to match original moldings and exterior railings, and characterizing the project as “a labor of love.” Mike Greer said they tried to preserve historical accuracy, including color research, and that the neighborhood reaction has been positive.

A commissioner moved to approve the verification with staff recommendations; there was no second, the commission proceeded to a vote and approved the motion by unanimous voice vote.

The staff report included before‑and‑after photographs and summarized eligible expenditures; staff noted that City Council has final authority to grant the tax‑exemption verification.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Galveston - Landmark Commission - Apr 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission voted to recommend verification that work at 1808 Avenue K meets the substantial rehabilitation requirements for the historic‑property tax‑exemption program and will forward the request to City Council; staff reported an apparent discrepancy between the program threshold and the expenditure figures in the packet.","taxTitle","Galveston , Galveston County, Texas","taxId",5145,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6612038,"Commission recommends landmark status for 2116 Post Office, the former Central Drugstore building",274,558000,832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789&start=558&end=832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789/thumbnail_558000.jpg","/articles/6612038/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Commission-recommends-landmark-status-for-2116-Post-Office-the-former-Central-Drugstore-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612038-86cb6c7a3cf54d3f72eb4a6e763b237f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207517&Signature=ZiBoJbfNUZDO7FyldiLsrUFVeuxE2Y64fuzby-6Dt1bT7PtB-yBoy1Gs8xyQwbTtnj4kO7dHay9FcbrcPhNUDAgRUgXfdUUk92bo8mkfMJBAAP1GhhQQZoe7hGDb--UaBDUXNvDRv9geUGUGcugQsY28Dsk2rXtA3PMbKq9s4DJhgGRRgrhro6kQvA0WMZxNGc0j~oP4oj-K0R~Nbg7kvqGr~mxYxM8Kz~7uIPnFXGWyqaqcTELC4tf3V04PIgUxouhAwXFcommVmZvAQsOAOkFvs0icAgLK7NbvItMGlEa5hJbm0pH-7UW291sSGmM3FFO8ahDqDsbGb7HkmPJMTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Galveston Landmark Commission voted unanimously to recommend landmark designation for the building at 2116 Post Office — historically home to the Central Drugstore — and forward the nomination to City Council for final action.

Staff described the building, constructed in 1914 in the Chicago commercial style, as a brick, stucco‑over‑metal commercial block with plate‑glass storefronts, high ceilings and original tilework at the storefront. The property is not in a historic district and is eligible for local financial incentives for historic properties; staff recommended approval with the commission’s standard condition and noted the nomination will go before Planning Commission on April 8 and City Council on April 24.

Julie Baker, a former commissioner and one of the applicants, said research into the building revealed it was part of a local culture of drugstore lunch counters and community gathering places; she told commissioners the business and its lunch counter were “a real part of the fabric of Galveston.” Clyde Wood, who purchased the building 16 years ago and operates a business there, described efforts to preserve interior features, saying he preserved the back counter and original iceboxes and tile and had worked to keep the building’s integrity.

A commissioner moved to approve the recommendation and another seconded; the commission voted in favor and will send the nomination to City Council for the final decision.

Staff presented photographs showing the storefront tile inlay that identifies the Central Drugstore and interior photos referenced by the owner that show an intact counter and original fixtures. The staff report and applicant testimony emphasized the building’s commercial architecture and role in everyday social life in early 20th‑century Galveston.","The commission unanimously approved forwarding a nomination to designate the 1914 Central Drugstore building at 2116 Post Office as a Galveston landmark; proponents said the building is an intact example of early 20th‑century commercial architecture and a local cultural hub.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6612042,"Commission approves landmark nomination for 2528 Post Office, a house tied to Galveston’s historic red‑light district",385,88000,473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789&start=88&end=473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892663-2e46ed57c6c3228e635709f83fa44789/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6612042/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Commission-approves-landmark-nomination-for-2528-Post-Office-a-house-tied-to-Galvestons-historic-redlight-district","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6612042-ad5e5d1cd2ac7a90508fbb915f3c7111/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207517&Signature=Zt-7uH-aMe4BdIxz8AOdlPFTgpa0SNMIlXGMwfTU1YEX0EAEgzPP0VbeemIBysPQJpSuNyMcT7K-5Lo26LQkwQfUuFxnBpW8ExgCrdcHMAPzw40pWpI-OwunrT6BVYF0TWUEZF4rzzRl-1S9idI-xh8oStYjeXJTVJw63nmivy566Cc~AILJrLFPAgRZVa2RKxpq9gMfvvLNsRNzOyvbCvXyAONwCbsjp0gKC1fdxi4Mb4igvMdn5NjX5aaPZiU2yravt~CxmOMSY0kjZ8PKevScJQpfy3S1ENshiDrv34nMQ~AWXhRz5kKxDbRk~d0R~afW6~6gC~WvBaQXmO8x3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Galveston Landmark Commission voted to approve a request to designate the house at 2528 Post Office as a Galveston landmark and forward the nomination to City Council for a final decision.

Staff said the house, completed in 1886 and commonly called the Molly Walters house, is significant for its architecture and its documented association with Galveston’s late‑19th and early‑20th century red‑light district. Daniel, a historic preservation staff member, told commissioners that historic evaluation is “content neutral” and that “it is our duty and best practice to consider the historic value of a structure regardless of anything else.”

The staff report describes the property as a two‑story, wood‑frame National Folk–style house on a corner lot, with porches on two sides and a history of alterations and restorations. The report says Molly Walters operated boarding houses and brothels in Galveston after arriving from New Orleans in 1868, purchased multiple properties, and by the 1890s had establishments in the area historically known as the city’s red‑light district. Staff noted the property already appears on the National Register and is eligible for local historic‑property financial incentives. The report recommended approval with the commission’s standard condition 1 and noted Planning Commission review on April 8 and City Council final action on April 24.

Architect Laura Carrera, who represented the applicant, said she and others involved in the nomination are “very excited about this property” and described research into the house’s history and connections to published local histories.

Commissioners moved and seconded the nomination and voted unanimously to approve the request and forward it to City Council for final consideration.

The nomination package and staff photos presented at the meeting show the house’s current exterior and reference an earlier bay window facing 26th Street that the current owners plan to restore. The staff report also referenced other Galveston properties previously recognized for associations with vice‑era history, including the R.F. Martin building, to show precedent for recognizing such sites under established historic‑preservation criteria.","The Galveston Landmark Commission voted unanimously to recommend landmark designation for a wood‑frame house at 2528 Post Office associated in historic records with brothel keeper Molly Walters; the request now goes to City Council for final action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves verification request for 1808 Avenue K under historic rehabilitation tax‑exemption program

Commission recommends landmark status for 2116 Post Office, the former Central Drugstore building

Commission approves landmark nomination for 2528 Post Office, a house tied to Galveston’s historic red‑light district