The Kirby Mansion, a 36-room Tudor Revival home at 2000 Smith St. in Midtown, has new owners. The house was built in 1894 for Houston businessman J.S. Price and was later owned by lumber businessman John Henry Kirby, who rebuilt it in 1926. The property was used as the American Red Cross headquarters from the late 1940s to the late 1970s and later as law offices. A buyer purchased it in 2018 and planned to replace it with a car dealership, but those plans did not happen, and the space was mainly used for storage.
The property was recently sold to OB Texas Properties LLC, a company known for developing convenience stores, sometimes with gas stations. Community members have raised concerns, and some protested over the weekend. Jim Parsons, program and communications director for Preservation Houston, said it is still unclear what the company plans to do. "I know there's a lot of speculation out there about the mansion being replaced by a gas station," Parsons said. "But we haven't seen any evidence either way."
Demolition plans have not been confirmed. Recent filings include a sewer disconnection permit and an asbestos abatement notification. The registered agent for OB Texas Properties LLC, Omair Bashir, did not respond to a request for comment. In an email exchange with Preservation Houston, the agent hinted that several law firms were interested in leasing the property for offices. Parsons said he hopes the mansion can be put to productive use while keeping its historic and architectural features, and he pointed to tax incentives for rehabilitation.