The Bayou City has "obviously not taken care of its historicstock," Pres Kabacoff, president of Historic Restorations Inc. inNew Orleans, told developers from the ranks of those with thefinances to make a difference. Kabacoff specializes incommunity-at-large preservation projects.

It's Houston's progressive attitude, says Kabacoff, that mostlikely is the reason adaptive re-use and restoration of historicbuildings haven't gathered steam in the same way as New Orleans.It's certainly not because Houston is void of population strength,opportunity or product.

Starting at the restored Union Station building at Enron Field,the tour wended through the East End and Warehouse District. Somebuildings stand as good examples of profitable restorations, butmany more stand as a testament to neglect. The potential is therein vacant properties such as the Savoy Flats at 1616 Main St. andPlaza Apartment Hotel at 5020 Montrose Blvd. or even the warehouseat 2321 Allen Parkway, which was built for Sears Roebuck & Co.All were built between 1905 and the late 1920s.