METRO Saves Historic Clock Tower

A 1930-era building with a distinctive clock tower was purchased by METRO about two years ago with plans to demolish the building, making way for the East End light-rail line.

Community representatives wanted to save the clock tower - and recently METRO found a way to do so.

The agency, along with the city of Houston and the East End community, found a new home for the façade of the old Sterling Laundry and Cleaning Co. at 4819 Harrisburg.

The laundry facility is located a few feet away from the construction now going on for the light-rail line.

After meetings with Council Members Sue Lovell, Melissa Noriega and Ed Gonzalez - along with county officials, METRO staff and East End community leaders - the perfect answer was reached.

‘We respected that the community felt this building was important, and we wanted to do our best to supports its efforts," said Kim Williams, associate vice president of corporate programs at METRO.

METRO offered conceptual designs, engineering and pricing for various options - and the community accepted a solution that would remove the clock tower and later resurrect it at Eastwood Park.

Last week, METRO staff removed the clock tower. Then with the aid of the Greater East End Management District, the façade was transported and stored to a facility offered by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. It will be stored there until it is later moved to the park.

METRO has made a financial commitment to help move the clock tower to the park, where it will be used to create a permanent monument or gateway to the park.