Lee Benner
Historical Preservation Activist and Redeveloper

Minnette Boesel
Mayor’s Assistant for Cultural Affairs, City of Houston

Location:

Hearsay Gastro Lounge
218 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002

Time:

5:30 - 7:30 pm

Registration:

Members: $15
Member + Guest: $20
Non-Members: $25

For this special event, we encourage members to bring a guest for a special discounted rate. Non-ULI members not accompanied by a member, may attend for a fee. ULI Members will also be able to find out how to take their membership to the next level, by joining a leadership committee.

Two local experts will share the history and redevelopment story of the Market Square area, the original center of Houston at the city's founding in 1836. Lee Benner, a design artist and local preservation activist, will discuss his renovation of the historic Kennedy/Foley Building, which now houses the Hearsay Gastro Lounge.

Dating back to 1860 but gutted by fire in 1988, the Kennedy/Foley Building was scheduled for demolition before Mr. Benner bought the property in 1994. Today, the building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is a prime example of how redevelopment with historical context can be successful.

Minnette Boesel, the Mayor's Assistant for Cultural Affairs, was also highly involved in the Kennedy/Foley building and many other Houston historic properties, including neighboring buildings on Market Square. She will share her insider's perspective on the place of historic preservation in the Houston development landscape, and update us on proposed changes to the City of Houston historic preservation ordinance.

Our venue, Hearsay Gastro Lounge, will give us the opportunity to see the current renovation of Market Square Park - connecting key downtown attractions as an anchor and oasis for the developing downtown residential and retail community. Light Food and Beverages will be served.

There are three possible ways to register:

• Register online now by clicking here
• Register by clicking here for printable "fax-in" registration form and event flyer. ( .PDF format)
• Register by phone by calling 1-800-321-5011 and referencing Meeting Code 8113-1059