Council approves move of James Arthur Tate House to Cotton Belt Depot historic district

The Grapevine City Council approved a contract and appropriation to relocate the James Arthur Tate House (a circa‑1888 folk‑Victorian Texas prairie house) from its current location to a site in the Cotton Belt Depot Railroad District for restoration and public interpretation.

City preservation staff described the house as a well‑preserved example of a Texas folk‑Victorian prairie plan with original doors, windows and underlying ship‑lap siding. The structure was reportedly moved once in the early 1950s to make way for lake construction; staff said much original material remains and that non‑original additions will be removed before the move. The house will be transported in two pieces and set on a prepared foundation between the Bragg House and Blacksmith's Shop in the Cotton Belt Depot area, where staff said it will support small retail tenancy (two commercial spaces of roughly 400 and 800 square feet) and interpretation about local history.

Public speakers and preservation advocates supported the relocation as a public‑benefit preservation action. City staff requested a sole‑source contract with a qualified house‑moving firm (HD Snow & Son, name transcribed from staff presentation) to perform the move and initial stabilization and asked council to appropriate funds for the work. Council approved the contract and appropriation with a motion and second; staff said the goal is to complete exterior restoration in time for the holiday season if trades and schedules permit.

Staff said original siding and trim will be repaired or replicated as needed, and interior nonhistoric additions will be removed. After restoration the house will be interpreted to explain its place in Grapevine’s prairie‑era building history and the Tate family connections.