House at 1220 Harvard
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Why it's listed
This one-story frame cottage at 1220 Harvard in Houston Heights was built in 1910 by R. L. Whitehead, who was also its first owner and lived there until his death. It sits on brick piers and faces west. A hipped roof with an intersecting gable front creates an irregular L-shaped plan. The three-bay facade has 2-over-2 wood-sash windows, a paneled wooden door with a large glazed upper section and transom, and an open porch with three Doric columns under a shed roof. The gable carries a centered vent surrounded by fish-scale shingles. The property later passed to George Kostas, who lived there with his family until 1937. It is considered significant as a small worker's cottage typical of Heights housing in the early twentieth century, reflecting the simplicity and craftsmanship of its period. The house is in good condition, has no recorded alterations, and is surrounded by homes of similar age and design. A modern rear garage does not contribute.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a small worker's cottage typical of housing in the Heights in the early 20th century. It represents the simplicity and craftsmanship of its period and architecture. The reviewer accepted it under Criterion C as a worker's cottage type commonly found in Houston Heights.
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 87002250, listed January 15, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1220 Harvard, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | January 15, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002250 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 - |
| Architect / builder | R. L. Whitehead |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is described as good; original and present use is residence. The original site is retained, and the only noted alteration is a modern rear garage that does not contribute. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79326, -95.39616 (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 87002250.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001054
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.