A great deal of misinformation is circulating about what the proposed amendments to Houston’s historic preservation ordinance will and will not do. Greater Houston Preservation Alliance is determined to clear up those misrepresentations:

The City of Houston Planning & Development Department has posted the proposed amendments to the historic preservation ordinance that were developed by the Mayor’s task force. If approved by City Council, the amendments will bring Houston’s ordinance in line with those of other major Texas cities. A series of public meetings has been scheduled from Tuesday, July 27 through Tuesday, August 10 to discuss the proposed amendments.

Knapp Chevrolet will remain in business in its historic streamlined showroom at 815 Houston Avenue. A year ago, General Motors notified the longtime Chevy dealer and about 1000 other dealerships nationwide that their franchise agreements were not being renewed.

A Houston architecture firm has confirmed that Weingarten Realty hired the company to plan the interior demolition of the historic Alabama Theater (1939). The Web site Culturemap Houston reports that an unnamed official at Heights Venture Architects told reporter Caroline Gallay that the firm submitted plans for a "near total interior demolition” of the Alabama at the request of Weingarten Realty, which owns the Art Deco movie theater.

Weingarten Realty is taking bids for the interior demolition of the former Alabama Theater, 2922 S. Shepherd. According to Swamplot.com, plans prepared by Heights Venture Architects show major alterations to the floor, ceiling and walls, including removal of the medallions, murals and Art Deco detailing.

The congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church voted March 7 to halt the demolition of its former sanctuary and to commit $150,000 toward renovating the historic Heights-area church. The Gothic Revival building on Cortlandt Street at East 15th Street will be used as flex space to accommodate church functions and Immanuel Lutheran School activities as well as community events.

Rutgers University has released a comprehensive new report analyzing the economic impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit. The findings confirm the value of preservation incentives in creating jobs and spurring investment.

The State Preservation Board has quietly shelved plans for a controversial addition to the Texas Governor’s Mansion. The Austin American-Statesman reports that John Sneed, executive director of the State Preservation Board, issued a brief written statement that the proposed addition “has been withdrawn from further consideration.”

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has added his voice to the growing chorus questioning the controversial addition to the Texas Governor’s Mansion. Straus, a member of the State Preservation Board overseeing the mansion, expressed his doubts about the board’s approval process and lack of openness.

TCU Press of Fort Worth is publishing Hill Country Deco: Modernistic Architecture of Central Texas, a new book written and photographed by GHPA staff members Jim Parsons and David Bush.