Old Braeswood

Old Braeswood is a neighborhood of single family homes in Houston, Texas, United States. It is generally bounded by South Main, North Braeswood, Kirby Drive, and Holcombe. The Texas Medical Center, Rice University, Rice Village, and the NRG Center complex are all within a one-mile radius. Nearby neighborhoods include Southgate, West University Place and Braeswood Place.

Established as “Braeswood” by Braeswood Corporation in 1928 and renamed “Old Braeswood” in 1982, the neighborhood exhibits architectural styles from two distinctively different periods. The neighborhood is composed of three sections. In Section 1 and the southernmost streets of Braeswood Addition, the houses were built primarily in the late 1920s and the 1930s. In Braeswood Extension, the houses were built primarily in the 1950s. The three northernmost streets in Braeswood Addition were also built in the 1950s. This diversity and quality of the architecture prompted the National Trust for Historic Preservation to select Old Braeswood for its annual Candlelight Tour organized in conjunction with Houston Mod during its 2016 national convention held in Houston, Texas.

Old Braeswood is distinguished not only by its architecture, but also by its prominent residents over the years.

In 2016, the median house cost was $1,255,000.

Old Braeswood was under way by 1927 with the sale of 456 acres to Braeswood Corporation by John J. Kirby. The intent of Braeswood Corporation was to create a garden suburb of country houses along South Main Street, with deed restrictions to protect the integrity of the neighborhood. The plan of the neighborhood was designed by Hare and Hare, the Kansas City landscape architects responsible for many garden suburbs across the country. Braeswood Corporation retained local architects to design houses, primarily in the English manorial style, selling the first house to Braeswood Corporation board member and former Texas Governor William Hobby in 1929.

Ensuing development continued the vision of Braeswood Corporation. The City of Houston annexed Braeswood in 1937 and the name changed to "Old Braeswood" in 1982 to differentiate the neighborhood from nearby neighborhoods that were also named after the Brays Bayou, and to affirm the regard the residents held for the history of the neighborhood.

...
Wikipedia