John S. Chase was much more than the first licensed Black architect in Texas. He was an innovative and incredible talent. And now, his stunning former personal residence is on the market.

Just like Chase himself, who was so much more than just an architect, the house is much more than just a house.

I recently read a wonderful piece in Texas Monthly about this Texas original and the significance of 3512 Oakdale Street to the history of Houston:

"From the sixties to the nineties, practically everyone who was anyone in the state’s Democratic politics or civil rights movement could be found, at some point, at the Houston home of architect John S. Chase. It was an exquisitely groovy house, a hub for parties and dealmaking, where people gathered—looking good, feeling good—to try and change the world," Texas Monthly wrote.

I was delightfully surprised to see it on the market because that meant I got to take a peek inside. This lovely house, rendered in a modern yet comfortable style, is a 4 bed, 3 bath house with 2 living areas. The house's defining feature is its "cantilevered staircase that spans the length of the in-ground fountain beneath it."

It is full of timelessly beautiful details, like the huge second-story windows that let all that natural light pour in. The home was lived in and loved by the Chase family for over 60 years, or as Click2Houston puts it:

"Famed architect John S. Chase designed the home as his personal residence. In June 1950, Chase became the first African American to enroll at a major university in the South and later became the first licensed African American architect in the state of Texas, according to the National Organization of Minority Architects -- an organization which Chase later co-founded. Chase was also the first African American to be admitted to the Texas Society of Architects and the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA)."

Ready to buy? The house is actually quite modestly priced at $875,000 considering its size, its beauty and historical significance. Check out more pictures of the home below:

John S. Chase's Historic Home in Houston, Texas

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