Heights State Bank Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1925 at 3620 Washington Street, this two-and-a-half-story building was constructed as a bank and is one of the Renaissance Revival commercial buildings recorded in the Houston Heights. Its walls are rusticated ashlar stone over a smooth stone base. An inset arched entrance with voussoirs and a projecting keystone is flanked by tall Corinthian columns. The side bays have pilasters and prominent pediments, and each floor has a sixteen-light window in each side bay. A parapet of stone balusters rises above a central cartouche and a large cornice, and the entablature carries the inscription Heights State Bank. The building is in excellent condition with only minor alterations, one front door having been changed to a window. It sits in a small commercial strip near Heights Boulevard, in the area once called Chaneyville. The form describes it as the only building of its type nearby and notes that the earlier Citizens' State Bank and the later Heights State Bank both took part in local affairs. It was recorded as a night club in 1980.
Significance in brief: The form calls it an impressive building and the only one of its type in the immediate area. It stands in the section of the Heights below the Bayou once known as Chaneyville. The original Citizens' State Bank and the later Heights State Bank were both active in local affairs. Its significance is local, in architecture and commerce.
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 83004439, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3620 Washington St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004439 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is described as excellent with minor alterations, including one front door changed to a window. It was recorded in 1980 as a night club, originally a bank. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.76858, -95.44841 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83004439.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19868015
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.