Former Houston Press building in downtown Houston to be demolished

PHOTOS: Houston's demolished buildings

This week a spokesperson from Chevron, which owns the former Houston Press building at 1621 Milam, told Chron.com the structure will be demolished. A Chevron spokesperson confirmed that it acquired the building in 2013. No date for the demolition has been announced.

>>>See more photos of some of Houston's long-lost buildings... less PHOTOS: Houston's demolished buildings

This week a spokesperson from Chevron, which owns the former Houston Press building at 1621 Milam, told Chron.com the structure will be demolished. A Chevron ... more Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 80 Caption Close Former Houston Press building in downtown Houston to be demolished 1 / 80 Back to Gallery

Time is running out for one of downtown Houston's oldest buildings.

This week a spokesperson from Chevron, which acquired the former Houston Press building at 1621 Milam in 2013, told Chron.com the structure will be demolished.

"Chevron regularly evaluates and prioritizes its portfolio. The 1621 Milam building has reached the end of its useful life. Chevron plans to demolish the building," the company said in a statement.

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Photo: Abrahán Garza Former Houston Press staffer Abrahán Garza chronicled the history...

For weeks now green fencing has surrounded the former home of one of Houston's remaining alt-weekly newspapers. A demolition permit from the city is being processed, according to the spokesperson.

Chevron has yet to share any additional plans for the property. The site was was recently appraised at just under $17 million.

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According to the Harris County Appraisal District, the building was constructed in 1923, although some conflicting reports put it at 1927. It was designed by Hedrick & Gottlieb, the team which also designed Farm Credit Banks Building and the South Main Baptist Church both of which are still standing.

Former Houston Press staffer Abrahán Garza chronicled the history of the building that was once Shelor Motor Company and later a Gillman Pontiac. Where the newsroom stood was once a showroom for cars. There is also a small parking garage inside.

In 1994 Houston artist Suzanne E. Sellers added a "trompe l'oeil" mural on two sides of the building consisting of a series of old building facades inspired by scenes from Boston to Fort Worth.

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The alt-weekly moved into 1621 Milam in 1998 and stayed there until Oct. 2013 when the operation moved to a spot blocks away off La Branch. It ended print publication in Nov. 2017 and now only exists online.

During its tenure downtown it saw heavy water damages from Hurricane Ike and the construction of the massive Tellepsen Family YMCA just a street over.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com