About 50 Houstonians on Sunday stood in front of a historic Midtown mansion half reduced to rubble to say goodbye, protest and reckon with losing a piece of city history to developers.
Flowers and signs that read “Save this 1894 House: Honk” and “History lives here” lined the fence at 2000 Smith Street, where demolition began Friday on the historic Kirby mansion. After a significant chunk of the Tudor Revival house had been razed, city officials discovered the work started without the required permit. A stop-work order was issued Friday, but according to preservationists at Sunday’s protest, developers obtained the permit later that day.
INSIDE THE MANSION:Photos: Inside the historic Kirby Mansion before demolition of the 132-year-old home
The 36-room house is one of Houston’s largest remaining historic homes, but is not a designated historic landmark. It was sold at the end of September to OB Texas Properties, which is owned by Omair Bashir, who, public records indicate, is involved in the Brake Time gas station chain. Bashir, through a limited liability company he owns, holds an active beer and wine license and hemp retail registration at the address of the mansion, state records show…