House at 505 W. 18th Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1912, this two-story frame house on West 18th Street in the Houston Heights combines eclectic design with some Colonial Revival influence. Its most striking feature is a high-pitched gable roof with the gable end facing the street. A large side dormer holds a double window flanked by two smaller ones, and an inset porch wraps around one corner on simple round capped columns with square balusters. Walls are clapboard and the roof is composition. The original front door has decorative glass and a transom, and the windows are mostly one-over-one. Later changes include a second front door, a stained-glass window in the front gable and two small skylights. The house sits on a large corner lot in a mixed commercial and residential area. It was listed for its architecture at the local level because its design is unusual for the Heights and because so few houses in this part of the neighborhood remain this intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusual design for the Heights, especially because of its high gable roof. Despite alterations, its form is considered significant. It is also one of the few residences in this section of the Heights that remain intact.
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 84001791, listed May 14, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 505 W. 18th St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | May 14, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001791 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, Colonial Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; still used as a residence, with alterations including an added door, a stained-glass window and skylights. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.80153, -95.40297 (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 84001791.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000975
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.