Two of downtown’s oldest buildings are no more. 517 Louisiana, in the Theater District, has been torn down and 509 Louisiana is next in line for the wrecking ball. The two century-old buildings are being flattened to expand the Lancaster Hotel’s parking facilities.
The owner of the demolished properties also owns the Lancaster Hotel next door. The hotel had been parking guest’s vehicles in a garage about a block away, according to the Houston Chronicle. The newly reclaimed 10k SF of land will be used to park about 50 guest vehicles.
In the future, the lot could be developed into a hotel expansion to make room for meetings, weddings and other events.
Houstonians may remember that 517 Louisiana once housed the fancy restaurant Charley’s 517, which catered to the after-theater coat-and-tie set. 509 Louisiana was the home of delicious Texas comfort food at the Longhorn Café and Saloon. [Chron]
