Real Estate / Houses

Historic Houston Bungalow Hits the Market with a $949,000 Price Tag — and Plenty of Surprises: This Protected Landmark Brings a Wealth of Modern Amenities

BY // 08.14.18
photography TK Images

Houston history buffs are likely already aware of the cozy-ish bungalow on an attractive corner lot in the Brooke Smith neighborhood, due to the home’s Protected Landmark status. But for home-shoppers in the area, the circa 1918 gem at 400 Cordell could be a rich surprise.

Just shy of 3,000 square feet, the Whitaker-Graliano-Brown house retains the historic footprint of the original dwelling. Inside, it’s an entirely different story. While original salvaged elements have been maintained, the interiors enjoy 21st century aesthetics. Think open floor plan, modern amenities in the completely remodeled kitchen, three bedrooms and three full baths, one half-bath.

Contemporary nods include white oak floors, Samsung smart kitchen appliances, quartzite counters, a hand-painted tiled powder bath and a master suite with a mega closet, unheard of in homes of that era, thus a genius reconfiguring on the upper floor.

In addition to the comforts of contemporary living, the house comes with a bundle of history, 30 pages to be exact in the application for the Protected Landmark status. Perusing the remarkably detailed history of the three resident families, you will learn that the house was built by Lee Roy Whitaker, a peddler; later owned for three decades by the Graliano family, Italian immigrants who first anchored in New Iberia, Louisiana; and then by Michael K. Brown, curator at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens (1987-2013) and a nationally acclaimed expert on early American decorative arts.

Brown lived in the house for more than 30 years until his death in 2013, several months before the landmark designation was given. The confirmation letter from the Houston Planning & Development Department noted, “This  official designation recognizes your home as an integral element of our city’s architectural and cultural heritage. As the steward of a City of Houston Landmark, you have committed yourself to its future preservation for the benefit of not only yourself, but all Houstonians.”

Those not familiar with the neighborhood might confuse it with The Heights as Brooke Smith is located a few blocks north of N. Main and west of Interstate 45.

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The house just listed on HAR with a price tag of $949,000. The listing agent is Clayton Katz with John Daugherty, Realtors.

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