Kirby Mansion Demolition Completed
The South End structure was red-tagged on Friday but work finished by Monday.
By Eric Coleman ·
A 19th-century landmark in Houston's South End neighborhood was fully razed on Monday, ending a brief legal pause.
Demolition crews returned to the Kirby Mansion on Monday after a Friday halt. The stoppage occurred after neighbor James Fuller saw a crane operating on the site. Fuller stated that he and others contacted city officials to halt the work. A city inspector subsequently issued a red tag to the building, citing a lack of a valid demolition permit.
A different neighbor disputed the citation, claiming the current owner possessed the necessary permit. This dispute allowed the demolition to continue through Monday. Activists described the property as a historic site that hosted presidents George H.W. Bush and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The night prior to the final demolition, preservationists organized a vigil to save the structure. The event was coordinated by Mister McKinney's Historic Houston. Despite these efforts, the building was torn down.
Reporters who visited the site on Monday described the scene as having little remaining structure. The property owner has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding future plans for the land.
Source: KTRK-TV
