You know that big compound on Berry and 287 that looks like a haunted boarding school. Looks like the city will be teaming up with developers for a multi-million dollar overhaul of the old Masonic Home. Plans are to include 500,000 square feet of retail and restaraunt space. This looks like a very promising development in what has been called an “under-served” part of the city, and I imagine that it should come together very nicely. It certainly varies from the plans announced by Mallick Group in 2006 to develop single family residence there.
As a historical item within the city however, I am sad to see it go. It seems that it would have been a fairly neat opportunity for restoration. The 200 acre facility opened in 1899 to care for orphans and widows. After being functional for over 100 years the Grand Lodge of Texas closed the location when it became un-economic. In 2006 Mallick had announced that they would develop around the existing structures, but I doubt that that will be the case now.
February 27th, 2009 at
I clearly remembered the masonic home and the children there.
At one time I worked at the nearby movie theater and watched as elderly matrons
would come in with anywhere from 6 to 20 of these orphans. And these children
were not always orphans. Its my understanding that many of these had a parent which were not in a position to care for a child.
I never felt like the administrators made good use of the buildings and grounds.
Decades passed before someone got the initiative to teach some agricultural activities there so the children could benefit. I am also surprised no one has stuck a couple of nat. gas wells.
The area that is around the masonic grounds are modest homes and businesses so the idea of building a shopping center sounds ludicrous especially in these economic times. Its possible these buildings might house people as they lose their jobs
during the coming economic hard times.
Sherry
I am surprised that no one has stuck a couple of gas wells on the property.
February 27th, 2009 at
Funny that you mention the gas wells Sherry. On the current Google maps image of the property there appears to be a drilling rig and two frac tanks. You can see them here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=32.707668,-97.284472&spn=0.007014,0.009613&t=h&z=17
It appears that Dale Operating originally had the location and permitted about 6 wells there. Of course Dale’s stuff now belongs to Chesapeake. I think they have drilled about 4 wells out there.