Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, Inc.
history in progress
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Many historic neighborhoods are dealing with issues of affordable housing and displacement in the face of redevelopment pressures. Preservation Houston (PH) is working to address these challenges using historic preservation. In most U.S. cities, preservation protections fall under municipal zoning ordinances. Because Houston does not have zoning, many of the tools used in other cities are not available here, so different strategies are required. Houston landmark and historic district designations are owner-initiated, a challenge not faced in many cities. PH continues to address the misconception that Houston has no significant historic architecture. The city has important buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, but the greatest growth happened after World War II; midcentury design has only recently been recognized as worthy of preservation.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Advocacy
Support of Preservation Houston's operating budget allows staff members to advocate preservation on a personal level. Preservation Houston's staff members regularly appear before the Houston Archeological & Historical Commission and City Council. Preservation Houston responds quickly to preservation issues that arise in the media to ensure our message reaches a broad audience.
Preservation Houston staff members meet with neighborhood residents to explain the benefits of historic district designation and meet with individual property owners to explain the advantages of historic landmark designation.
Technical Assistance and Advice
Preservation Houston staff members hold advanced degrees in historic preservation, public history and public administration, and possess skills and experience rare in Houston. Preservation Houston is the only local nonprofit organization that provides preservation services to the public free of charge. Preservation Houston does not benefit financially from these efforts.
Preservation Houston staff members research and write City of Houston Landmark and Protected Landmark nominations at the request of the owners of qualified historic properties. This service is provided free of charge and is particularly valuable for individual home owners who may not have the resources to hire private consultants. In 2018, Preservation Houston created and filled a new position, Community Outreach Coordinator, to increase the organization's presence in underserved communities.
Staff members also share their expertise by providing information about the city, state and federal preservation incentives to the owners and developers of historic commercial buildings. Unlike federal preservation statutes, Texas preservation law allows nonprofit organizations to benefit by selling state historic preservation tax credits to private investors. In 2019, with Preservation Houston's assistance, local nonprofits received more than $3,000,000 toward the restoration of their significant historic buildings.
Architecture Walks
Architectural walking tours are among Preservation Houston's most visible and popular means of focusing public attention on local heritage. Every month, trained volunteer docents lead participants on guided tours of the city's varied historic neighborhoods using Preservation Houston's professionally researched scripts. So far, more than 40 neighborhoods and landmarks have been documented. In many cases, Preservation Houston's copyrighted tour scripts are the only comprehensive written records of these community histories.
Preservation Houston also conducts quarterly guided tours of historic Glenwood Cemetery as well as private tours for school and civic groups and visiting organizations.
Good Brick Awards
The Good Brick Awards are a valuable tool for promoting the benefits of historic preservation to a broad audience. Preservation Houston has presented the Good Brick Awards since 1978 to recognize leadership and excellence in historic preservation. Along with traditional rehabilitation projects, winners have included individuals who researched and published family histories, organizations that have carried out community service projects, and groups that have created and support small museums.
Preservation Houston believes that recognizing outstanding projects and the people who make them happen is one of the most effective means to promote preservation and increase awareness of Houston's architectural and cultural heritage. The Good Brick Awards are promoted through the local media, and have been the subject of major features in the Houston Chronicle.
The awards a presented during the annual Cornerstone Dinner, Preservation Houston's largest single fundraising event.
Good Brick Tour
In conjunction with the Good Brick Awards, Preservation Houston produces the annual Good Brick Tour to showcase outstanding preservation projects by opening award-winning historic homes and buildings for guided tours. These historic properties are privately owned and not usually open to the public.
Public Programs
History in Print, Preservation Houston's author series, provides a public venue for the writers of recently published books related to history, architecture and historic preservation. The Preservation in Practice lecture series provides the public an opportunity to learn about the workings of preservation projects from architects and building professionals. Whenever possible, the History in Print and Preservation in Practice programs are held in the historic building being discussed and include a tour of the building.
Pier & Beam
Pier & Beam is Preservation Houston's affinity group of next-generation preservationists. Pier & Beam welcomes members from any field to participate in community and cultural events, personal development opportunities and partnerships designed to support Preservation Houston's mission and engage young professionals in the appreciation and redevelopment of the city’s irreplaceable architectural and cultural heritage.
Pier & Beam membership includes membership in Preservation Houston.
Where we work
Awards
Citation of Honor 2008
American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter
Advocacy Award of Excellence 2015
Documentation and Conservation of the Modern Movement, US (Docomomo)
Affiliations & memberships
National Trust for Historic Preservation Leadership Forum - Member 2006
Preservation Texas - Member 2008
Documentation and Conservation of the Modern Movement, US (Docomomo) - Member 2016
International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS) - Key Contact 2018
Partners for Sacred Places - Member 2020
National Preservation Partners Network - Member 2021
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsTotal number of guided tours given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Good Brick Tour
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
During the Good Brick Tour, volunteer docents conduct guided tours of historic homes and buildings. In 2020 and 2021, the tour was virtual. In 2022, the tour returned to being held in-person.
Number of competition winners declared
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Good Brick Awards
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Good Brick Awards are presented to property owners who carry out exceptional historic preservation projects. The number of awards vary depending on the projects completed and nominated each year.
Number of unique website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2020-21, PH did not present in-person events due to the pandemic. All website activity dropped as a result.
Total number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Household memberships, which may include more than one person, and Dual memberships, which include two adults at the same address, count as a single membership. Membership dropped during the pandemic.
Number of media articles reflecting preferred issue framing
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Advocacy
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
Houston Chronicle and Houston Public Media/NPR are PH's two main sources of coverage. PH has been featured on local news broadcasts and in Preservation, Texas Monthly and PaperCity magazines.
Number of website sessions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2020-21, PH did not present in-person events due to the pandemic. All website activity dropped as a result.
Number of website pageviews
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2020-21, PH did not present in-person events due to the pandemic. All website activity dropped as a result.
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Public Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Includes Architecture Walks in historic neighborhoods, Glenwood Cemetery tours, History in Print author series, Preservation in Practice lecture series. In 2020-21, most programs were held virtually.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Preservation Houston will promote grassroots involvement in the process of historic preservation by developing broad-based strategic partnerships with individuals, firms and organizations that support and promote historic preservation in multi-faceted historic communities across the economic spectrum, with particular focus on underserved historic neighborhoods.
PH will assist the owners of qualified historic homes and buildings and the residents of qualified historic neighborhoods in protecting their properties through designation as City of Houston historic landmarks and historic districts. PH will also help owners and residents explore opportunities to preserve the character their neighborhoods using such tools as the City of Houston's minimum lot size and prevailing setback protections.
PH will promote the redevelopment and repurposing of significant historic buildings by providing appropriate advice and assistance to property owners and developers.
PH will inform and advise nonprofit organizations that own qualified historic buildings about the potential for using Texas' historic preservation incentives to renovate and/or restore their properties.
PH will expand its range of meaningful, accessible public programs and activities while continuing to update and improve its existing calendar of events.
PH will continue to serve as a consulting party on such significant public projects the restoration of Apollo Mission Control at the NASA Johnson Space Center, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (I-45 re-alignment) and the restoration and repurposing of historic Riverside General Hospital (former Houston Negro Hospital).
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Preservation Houston accomplishes its goals by attracting and retaining high-quality employees, directors and volunteers and by maintaining an ethical, innovative and financially stable organization.
PH staff members advocate for historic preservation on a personal level and provide professional advice and assistance to the owners and developers of historic properties and the residents of historic neighborhoods.
PH encourages community revitalization efforts by engaging in strategic partnerships and working relationships with neighborhood organizations, government agencies, elected officials, private firms and key individuals who share PH's vision of creating and sustaining diverse, vibrant historic neighborhoods.
PH promotes the cultural, social and economic value of historic preservation and the city's history through a variety of public programs focused on Houston's distinctive heritage and historic architecture.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Preservation Houston staff members hold advanced degrees in historic preservation, public administration and public history, and possess skills and experience that are rare in Houston. Preservation Houston is the only local nonprofit organization that provides preservation services to the public free of charge.
David Bush, Preservation Houston's executive director, has worked in historic preservation for more than 30 years and is one of only a handful of preservation professionals in Houston whose education and experience meet the Secretary of the Interior's Historic Preservation Professional Qualification Standards. Mr. Bush is actively involved in Preservation Houston's landmark designation and community outreach programs, and frequently advises local nonprofits that own or operate significant historic buildings.
PH Program Director Jim Parsons and Community Outreach Coordinator Saneea Sakhyani each hold master's degrees and bring valuable skills and specific talents to the organization. Mr. Parsons is a well-respected researcher, writer and a popular public speaker with an extensive knowledge of Houston history and architecture. Ms. Sakhyani's training in public history and her experience in community engagement are well-suited to her position.
Together, Mr. Bush and Mr. Parsons are the award-winning authors and photographers of four books on Art Deco architecture in Texas, including Houston Deco. As a result of their work, Preservation Houston is one of only two organizations in Texas designated as Key Contacts by the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies.
The members of Preservation Houston's Board of Directors bring a broad range of skills and experience to the organization. In addition to the staff's professional relationships, the board members' personal and professional contacts provide the organization give Preservation Houston exception reach in the community.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In historic preservation, the only real protections are local protections. Working at the request of the owners of significant historic houses, Preservation Houston has successfully nominated the first City of Houston protected landmarks in the Near Northside and Irvington Park, two predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods, and Riverside Terrace/Third Ward, a predominantly African-American neighborhood. Preservation Houston researches and writes the nominations as a public service at no charge to the property owners. Preservation Houston has established working relationships with such community organizations as Project Row Houses, Blue Triangle Multicultural Association, Emancipation Economic Development Council and Super Neighborhood 50 (Near Northside Historic Preservation Committee.)
Unlike federal historic preservation statutes, Texas preservation law allows nonprofit organizations to benefit by selling state historic preservation tax credits to private investors. With Preservation Houston's assistance, St. Paul's United Methodist Church is receiving approximately $2.5 million and Congregation Beth Yeshurun is receiving approximately $1.5 million toward the restoration of their landmark sanctuaries. Preservation Houston does not benefit financially from these efforts. Preservation Houston is also advising the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in that institution's efforts to secure funding for the ongoing rehabilitation of the historic Houston Light Guard Armory.
To increase understanding of state and federal preservation incentives, PH has partnered with MacRostie Historic Advisors to produce a public historic preservation tax credit workshop. MacRostie is one of the nation's leading specialists in historic tax credits.
To address the challenges of an aging membership, Preservation Houston established the Pier & Beam next-generation affinity group. In the past three years, Pier & Beam has grown to more than 300 members (one-quarter of Preservation Houston's total membership) and produces a year-round calendar of events. In addition to being a significant source of new members for Preservation Houston, Pier & Beam is also providing new leaders for the larger organizations; four of Preservation Houston's current board members have served or continue to serve on the Pier & Beam steering committee.
Preservation Houston successfully completed the Mid-America Arts Alliance's ENGAGE capacity building program and instituted significant changes to strengthen its internal governance, including updating and amending the organization's bylaws, developing a matrix for recruiting and evaluating potential board candidates and working to diversify the organization’s funding streams.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/27/2023
Ms. Julia Retta
Spencer Stuart
Term: 2021 - 2022
Laurence Burns
Kendall Heaton Associates
Kalinda Ilseha Campbell
Nordstrom
Dave Morris
Cheryl Joseph
Titan Homes
Sally Anne Schmidt
Nau Civil War Collection
Toug Plilar
BKD CPAs & Advisors
John Steven Cisneros
Educational Consultant
Elizabeth Husseini
Attorney
Frank Donnelly
Kensinger Donnelly
Gina Evans Armstrong
Physician
Walter Bratic
Attorney
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/11/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.