Macatee, Leonard W., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1915 at the corner of Southmore Boulevard and Caroline Avenue in Houston, this two-story stucco house shows the Mediterranean style through its deep-eaved red tile roof, wood brackets and a three-story belvedere above the main entrance. It was designed by the firm of Green & Finger for Leonard W. Macatee, a building supply merchant, and stands as the only Mediterranean style home in a neighborhood where Georgian Revival houses predominate. The design may have drawn on the nearby Rice Institute campus. A porte cochere was added in the 1930s and is considered compatible with the original. The house later served as a doctor's office as well as a residence. After a period of disrepair, it was restored in 1990, badly damaged by fire in 1991, and restored again by 1995 using replicated woodwork and windows. It was recognized for its architecture at the local level, and it retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent local example of early 20th century Mediterranean style architecture under Criterion C. It is the only Mediterranean style home in a subdivision dominated by Georgian and other revival styles, and its design may have been influenced by the nearby Rice Institute campus. It retains a high degree of integrity despite a 1991 fire and two restorations.
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 05000387, listed May 6, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1220 Southmore Blvd., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | May 6, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000387 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1915-c. 1935 |
| Architect / builder | Architect=Green & Finger |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals= Mediterranean Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; restored after a 1991 fire, with work finished in the mid-1990s. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 29.79271, -95.38684 (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 05000387.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.