Sixth Ward, Houston

Hollingsworth filed a survey of the western environs of downtown Houston which included today's Old Sixth Ward which he divided into large, narrow tracts that ran northward from Buffalo Bayou.

By January 1839, several tracts within the Hollingsworth survey had been sold to several prominent Houstonians, including W.R. Baker, James S. Holman, Archibald Wynns, Nathan Kempton and Henry Allen.

In that same year Mr. Baker engaged the County Surveyor, Mr. Samuel West, to restructure his holdings by replatting them into a lot and block system that defines today's Old Sixth Ward.

Construction of homes on the lots began in 1860, but a building boom did not take off until approximately ten years later when Washington Avenue was re-graded.

The Houston City Council followed suit on June 25, 1998, designating Old Sixth Ward a Historic District.

[6] The Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association is working to save the historic housing stock for generations of Houstonians to come.

[8] On August 1, 2007, the city of Houston approved an ordinance protecting the Old Sixth Ward and thereby prevented the demolition of over 200 buildings.

[10] Before the development of the interstate system in the mid-20th century, there was an area at the eastern terminus of Washington Avenue named "Vinegar Hill."

As part of the agreement, MECA began enacting renovations so the building can meet current life safety and accessibility codes.

[21] Brock Elementary School served a portion of the Sixth Ward area until its closing in 2006 and repurposing as an early childhood center.

The community is within the Houston Police Department's Central Patrol Division,[23] headquartered at 61 Riesner in the Sixth Ward area.

The style represents an adaptation of Greek Revival architecture popular in the northeast to the gulf coast climate.

These houses represent a vernacular attempt to adapt Victorian style architecture to the gulf coast climate.

These houses are noted for their prominent gables, variety of shingle treatments, ornate factory-made millwork, abundance of stained-glass windows, and tall roof lines.

These houses are characterized by simple Greek columns, restrained exterior ornament, and wide roof overhangs.