Star Engraving building
Encyclopedia
The Star Engraving 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.
, the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Bayou Preservation Alliance.
in 1995.
resided there until 1992. 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
condominiums in partnership with developer Gross Investments. The Children's Museum had long been planning a move to the Museum District
anyway, but Stages and its supporters protested that a move would greatly harm the theatre, and requested local-government assistance in buying the building. A few months later, the development deal with Gross Investments fell through, and 3201 Allen Parkway Ltd. offered to sell the building to Stages. 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.
Allen Parkway
Allen Parkway is an arterial road west of Downtown Houston, Texas. It has a distance of approximately 2.3 miles , running from Interstate 45 west to Shepherd Drive, where it becomes Kirby Drive...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, built in 1930 in the Spanish Colonial Revival
Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style was a United States architectural stylistic movement that came about in the early 20th century, starting in California and Florida as a regional expression related to history, environment, and nostalgia...
style by the Star Engraving company to house its engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
factory.
Ownership
It is currently owned by the city of Houston and serves as the Houston Center for the Arts, housing the Stages Repertory TheatreStages Repertory Theatre
Stages Repertory Theatre is a theatre company in the city of Houston, Texas. It generally produces more experimental plays in a more intimate setting than the city's prestigious Alley Theatre: the Houston Chronicle calls it "the equivalent of off-Broadway in Houston".-History:Stages Repertory...
, the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Bayou Preservation Alliance.
Historical landmark
It was designated a local historic landmark in 1986, and was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1995.
Residents
The Stages Repertory Theatre has resided in the building since 1985, and the Children's Museum of HoustonChildren's Museum of Houston
The Children's Museum of Houston is a children's museum located in the Houston Museum District in Houston, Texas. The museum welcomes more than 750,000 people annually, making it the highest-attended youth museum for its size in the USA...
resided there until 1992. 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
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
condominiums in partnership with developer Gross Investments. The Children's Museum had long been planning a move to the Museum District
Houston Museum District
The Houston Museum District commonly known as, “The Museum District,” is an association of museums, galleries, cultural centers and community organizations located in Houston, Texas, dedicated to promoting the arts, sciences, and cultural amenities of the area.The Houston Museum District currently...
anyway, but Stages and its supporters protested that a move would greatly harm the theatre, and requested local-government assistance in buying the building. A few months later, the development deal with Gross Investments fell through, and 3201 Allen Parkway Ltd. offered to sell the building to Stages. 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
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
powers to confiscate it, and turned it into a municipal arts center.