Jensen, James L., House
Why it's listed
This 1 1/2-story frame house at 721 Arlington in Houston Heights, Houston, was built in 1914 by its owner-builder, James L. Jensen, a carpenter. It rests on pier and beam, has drop siding and an asphalt roof, and follows an L-plan under a hipped roof with a lateral gable. A three-bay porch with Tuscan-style columns runs across the east front. The gable end of the projecting bay has a pent roof and imbricated shingles, and the gable and dormer windows are flat-arched with Palladian-style fixed lights. A gabled dormer was added on the south side around 1920 to 1922, converting attic space to a workroom. The house is considered a good example of the working man's cottage with Queen Anne-style influences found across the Heights after 1900. Jensen helped the neighborhood grow, building eight more dwellings from 1915 to 1939, and he often reused parts from discarded railroad cars to improve his rental property. The house remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a good example of a working man's cottage with Queen Anne-style influences, a type common in the Houston Heights after the turn of the century. Its builder, James L. Jensen, a carpenter, contributed to the growth of the Heights by building this house and eight other dwellings between 1915 and 1939.
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 90001039, listed July 17, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 721 Arlington, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | July 17, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001039 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | James L. Jensen |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, with Queen Anne-style influences |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; physical condition is described as good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.78409, -95.39428 (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 90001039.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001085
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.