The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) denied Immanuel Lutheran Church’s request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish its historic church building on Cortlandt at East 15th Street in the Heights at its October 22 meeting. The 77-year-old Gothic Revival structure is a contributing building in the Houston Heights Historic District (East). The church was dedicated in 1932; the congregation built a new sanctuary in 1964. Church officials have no plans for the site beyond demolition.

GHPA has been advocating for the historic building’s preservation for several years, and encouraging Immanuel officials to retain the 1932 sanctuary as the cornerstone of their church campus. Instead of spending money on demolition and removal, GHPA proposes church leaders use the funds to secure and mothball the building for possible future use.

GHPA members are urged to contact Immanuel Lutheran Church and express their support for preserving this Houston landmark. Please remind church leaders of their responsibility to be good stewards not only of their congregation’s history, but the history of their community as well. If you know any members of the Immanuel congregation, please contact them and ask that they tell church leaders they are against the proposed demolition.

Immanuel Lutheran Church officials are:

• Ken Bakenhus, congregation president

• George Aschenbeck, chairman, Board of Elders

• Rev. Tom Brouwer, pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church
306 East 15th Street
Houston, Texas 77008-4291
713 864 2651

If you write the church, please address your letter to Mr. Bakenhus and Mr. Aschenbeck. If you phone the church, please leave your message for Mr. Bakenhus and Mr. Aschenbeck. E-mail may be sent to Rev. Brouwer at tom_brouwer@comcast.net.

Update: GHPA has offered to provide the services of building professionals for a professional assessment of historic Immanuel Lutheran Church at no cost to the congregation. GHPA Executive Director Ramona Davis presented the proposal at the Oct. 22 meeting of the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. At GHPA’s request, the national organization Partners for Sacred Places has also contacted Immanuel church leaders to discuss the future of the historic building.

During the October meeting, HAHC members voted to deny the certificate and recommended that the church delay demolition beyond the 90-day waiting period and explore additional options for the building’s preservation. Although Immanuel Lutheran Church is a contributing building in the Houston Heights (East) Historic District, Houston’s preservation ordinance would permit its demolition after a 90-day waiting period. The request for the Certificate of Appropriateness now goes to the Houston Planning Commission.

Photo: Immanuel Lutheran Church (photo by David Bush)