Carden, David A., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1918 at 718 West 17th Avenue in the Houston Heights, this 1 1/2-story frame bungalow was designed and built by its owner, David A. Carden. It has a rectangular plan, drop siding, a pier and beam foundation with split-faced concrete block piers, and a hipped roof with wide eaves and exposed rafters. Large hipped dormers with paired windows face all four roof slopes in a cross pattern. A full-width inset porch on the north side rests on tapered box columns set on stuccoed piers. Its turned-wood balustrade and spindled frieze borrow a detail from Victorian styles and set the house apart from typical bungalows. The nomination values it as a unique example of owner-built individuality in the neighborhood. The house remains a residence in excellent condition. A 1980s rear addition reused original windows and matching siding, and the front door was replaced in 1990.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent and unique example of an owner-built bungalow in the Houston Heights. Carden followed traditional bungalow patterns such as a hipped roof, dormers and wide eaves. He also borrowed a spindled frieze from Victorian styles, which together with turned-wood balusters makes the house a distinctive statement of owner-builder individuality.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001048, listed July 17, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 718 W. 17th Ave., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | July 17, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001048 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | David A. Carden |
| Architectural style | Bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as excellent and the house is still used as a residence. A sympathetic rear addition was made in the 1980s, and the front door was replaced in 1990. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.80039, -95.41081 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001048.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q60750197
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.