Take a Rare Look Inside Houston’s Gated One Street Neighborhood — the Lovely Wonders of Courtlandt Place

This Home Tour is Truly a Special Treat

By Matthew Ramirez

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No. 6 Courtlandt Place today.

No. 5 Courtlandt Place today.

Vintage photo of No. 4 Courtlandt Place, designed by Sanguinet and Staats for Sterling Myer, chief developer of Courtandt Place. It was completed in 1910.

No. 4 Courtlandt Place today.

Vintage photo of No. 5 Courtlandt Place, completed in 1913, and designed by Sanguinet and Staats for Judge James and Allie Autry.

Vintage photo of No. 6 Courtlandt Place, completed in 1909 for Charles and Emilie Neuhaus and designed by Sanguinet and Staats.

Vintage photo of No. 8 Courtlandt Place, completed in 1911 for a reported $20,000, was designed by Sanguinet and Staats for Alexander S. Cleveland. The Cleveland family lived in the house for 60 years.

No. 8 Courtlandt Place today.

Vintage photo of No. 15 Courtlandt Place, completed in 1925 and designed by architect Carlos B. Schoeppl for two sisters, Caroline (Caro) Bryan Chapman and Johnelle Bryan.

No. 15 Courtlandt Place today.

Vintage photo of No. 22 Courtlandt Place, designed in 1917 by Birdsall Briscoe for Murray Brashear Jones and Alice Baker Jones.

No. 22 Courtlandt Place today.

Vintage photo of No. 9 Courtlandt Place, completed in 1914 for John M. Dorrance, designed by Sanguinet and Staats, in the "California Style."

Vintage photo No. 19 Courtlandt Place, completed in 1913 and designed by Birdsall Briscoe for John Wanroy Garrow. It was featured in "Architectural Record" in 1915.

Courtlandt Place east entrance prior to 1920.

Courtlandt Place, one of the loveliest streets of old Houston, thrives today due in no small part to Courtlandt Place Historical Foundation’s mission to promote historic preservation.

A neighborhood consisting of one street, Courtlandt Place was planned in 1906, and construction on the first homes began in 1909. Gated on both ends, 15 of the 21 homes carry National Register of Historic Places plaques, and the street itself has been an NRHP since 1980.

Far-sighted denizens kept razing of homes and commercial aspects at bay — deed restrictions were written to never expire, and the homeowners own the street itself. Notable architects commissioned to build homes included Birdsall Briscoe, Alfred C. Finn, Warren & Wetmore, and John Staub.

For the first time in nine years, Courtlandt Place homes will be open for a Holiday Home Tour on Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, from 11 am to 5 pm both days. This special tour is chaired by Suzanne Nimocks and Amy Taylor. Six homes and three gardens will be on the tour, which benefits Preservation Houston and Courtlandt Place Historical Foundation.

The street will be closed during the tour, with vintage Packard cars on exhibit; Uber encouraged.

Tickets $45 in advance, $50 at the door. For tickets, click here.