About the Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood
Association (OSWNA)
The Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association (O.S.W.N.A.) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated in the State of Texas in 1991 with the mission of preserving the Old Sixth Ward. This IRS status allowed creation of a Revolving Loan Fund to help with preservation, offering small loans at low interest rates to property owners within the neighborhood. A portion of proceeds from the Home Tour fund this and other projects in the neighborhood. This fund was created long before the State of Texas granted permission to make loans based on home equity. As a result, while the mission is still preservation, it has evolved into efforts to stop teardowns and implementation of performance standards for retaining our historic character.
We have a long history of house moving. Additionally, we are working towards increasing the number of homes designated as a Protected Historic Landmark. Many of these homes are also award winning. We are working on adding more pictures to our website, you can email yours to old6wardhouston@yahoo.com
The following organizations have recently (2008) given awards to the Old Sixth Ward and/or the City of Houston Planning Department by for their efforts in creating Houston's only Protected Historic Neighborhood (No demolition of historic structures, new construction is to follow pattern book/design guidelines).
Thank YOU! To Mary Kay Ash, Inc. for their $20,000 gift for gateway signage in the Old Sixth Ward.
O.S.W.N.A. Meetings are held on the third Monday of most every month from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Dow Elementary School, 1900 Kane Street. Some months we break into committees and do not meet as a group. Please join us. Everyone is welcome. Please email Larissa ASAP with any item you would like to see on the agenda. Board terms are by calendar year. Board President is Larissa Lindsay
Certificate of Appropriateness: The neighborhood is a City of Houston designated Historic
District, and as
such, all new construction and alterations to existing homes go through the
Houston Archeological and Historic Commission to receive a Certificate of
Appropriateness (C of A). This does not apply to routine repairs that do
not change the architecture of the home. Exterior paint colors and
interior modifications of a
home are NOT affected by the ordinance. There are no deed restrictions in the
Old Sixth Ward, but it is a protected Historic District. To find out more about the C of A process,
contact OSWNA Historic Conservation Officer, Charles
Stava. It is very important that you talk to
Charles (Chuck) or Randy
Pace, City of Houston Historic Preservation officer about a Certificate of
Appropriateness before beginning your design plans.
Home Tour - The Neighborhood Association sponsors an Annual "Victorian Houston Home
Tour" each October. Held on the third Sunday in October - in 2008 the date is October
19th. There are usually about 6 homes on the tour - one "back by
popular demand" from years past, a home under renovation, and the remainder
are near-completed or completed homes. We say "near-completed"
because no one renovating a 100+ year old house is ever completed! A
portion of the proceeds are for the Revolving Loan Fund.
Loan Fund - A revolving loan fund is available for residents desiring to make repairs on their home. You can find guidelines posted here. An application can be emailed to you in an Adobe pdf format. The loan fund is funded in part through Victorian Houston home tour ticket sales. The treasurer of the OSWNA and administers the fund.
Crime Prevention - A "Citizen's on Patrol" participates as a neighborhood crime watch program. The OSWNA also has a neighborhood protection email list through Yahoo E-Groups.
Partnerships - The neighborhood has collaborative relationships with Houston Homeowners Association, Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, The Old West End, MECA, Avenue CDC, Historic Houston, Urban Harvest, the Washington Avenue Coalition/Corridor, and the Washington on Westcott Roundabout Initiative.
Business -Businesses in the neighborhood include Knapp Chevrolet, Harry Gendel Architects, Walgreens, MECA, FrameTek, Firestone, Beavers BBQ, Catalina Coffee, The Dark Horse, Pandora's, The Drake, Sam's Motorcycles and more.
Other -
Read a history of the neighborhood.
See old pictures of the neighborhood.
Names of houses in the neighborhood (here you
can see names of many early Sixth Ward settlers)
Meeting minutes are posted here:
April 2002,
May 2002, July 2002, August 2002,
September 2002, December 2002 (No meeting, Holiday
party)
January 2003, February 2003, March 2003, April 2003, May 2003