Parker, John W., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1925-26 at 2 Courtlandt Place in Houston, this two-story brick-veneered house was designed by John F. Staub for John W. Parker, a prominent Houston lawyer. It reflects the Cotswold style, drawn from the rural building traditions of England. A tall chamfered chimney with two hexagonal flues dominates the south front, and a segmental-arched entrance is decorated with stepped, herringbone brickwork. The east side has a large two-story bay with pegged wood framing and brick infill that echoes medieval construction. The house was the 17th of 18 built on Courtlandt Place, a tree-lined, divided boulevard laid out in 1906 and protected by restrictive covenants. Staub had started his own firm in Houston in 1923, and this was among his first local projects. He went on to design many houses in Shadyside, Broadacres and River Oaks, including Bayou Bend. Parker lived here until his death in 1930, and the house later passed through other owners and remains a residence.
Significance in brief: It was the 17th of 18 houses built on Courtlandt Place, one of Houston's earliest and most exclusive subdivisions. It is a good example of the Cotswold style and one of John F. Staub's first projects after he opened his own firm. It is unique in design along the avenue.
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 79002966, listed June 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Courtlandt Pl., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002966 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-26 |
| Architect / builder | John F. Staub |
| Architectural style | Cotswold style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence, occupied; the form reports air conditioning, central heating and modernized kitchen and baths, but no alterations to the original design. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.74390, -95.38196 (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 79002966.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002197
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.