across the u.s.mid-century moderntexas
Memorial Bend, Houston
Memorial Bend is a west Houston subdivision begun in 1955 between Memorial Drive and Buffalo Bayou, known for its 1950s modern houses. Architect William Norman Floyd designed about 50 of its homes, and William R. Jenkins, Harwood Taylor, Lars Bang and Brooks & Brooks also designed houses there. Deed restrictions and civic association review, not historic district rules, govern changes, and Hurricane Harvey’s 2017 flooding sped up teardowns that had already begun.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- founded1955200-acre tract off Memorial Drive
- homesabout 3502018 count
- by Floydabout 50the principal architect
- historic statusnone founddeed restrictions instead
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Floyd’s neighborhoodWilliam Norman Floyd, one of the investors in the Memorial Bend Development Company, designed about 50 houses there, and Monroe Construction Company built most of them.
- A roster of modernistsHouston Mod names William R. Jenkins, Harwood Taylor, Lars Bang and Brooks & Brooks among the neighborhood’s architects; Jenkins and Taylor began as draftsmen for Floyd.
- Roofs and clerestoriesFlat, low-pitched and butterfly roofs and clerestory windows are common, with many traditional houses mixed in.
- Opera street namesStreets such as Figaro, Faust and Tosca take their names from operas.
- National pressEarly houses appeared in American Builder, House & Home, Practical Builder, Better Homes & Gardens and House Beautiful, and Floyd’s designs won recognition from the National Association of Home Builders.
- 1950s price pointsBy Floyd’s account, lots sold for about $2,000, and houses of about 2,000 square feet for $20,000 to $25,000.
protection
Designation and the rules
- No historic districtWe found no City of Houston historic district, landmark or National Register listing for Memorial Bend; a 2019 National Trust article named Glenbrook Valley as Houston’s only mid-century modern local historic district.
- Civic association reviewThe Memorial Bend Civic Association’s Architectural Compliance Committee checks new construction and other projects against the deed restrictions and architectural guidelines; fees run from $250 to $750, plus deposits on larger jobs.
- Deed restrictions, not zoningHouston isn’t zoned, so the City Legal Department helps enforce recorded deed restrictions; copies come from the Harris County Clerk’s Office.
- Floodplain building rulesUnder the City’s 2018 floodplain ordinance, new structures must sit at least 2 feet above the 500-year flood elevation, and work on a home in a flood zone may need a floodplain development permit.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask about HarveyHomes in Memorial Bend flooded in Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Harris County Flood Control District says some streets and homes along Buffalo Bayou flood when releases from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs top about 4,000 cubic feet per second.
- Flood maps and elevationThe City’s Floodplain Management Office points buyers to FEMA flood maps and the City’s GeoHub, and accepts only unexpired elevation certificates.
- Teardowns nearbyThe City issued at least 19 residential demolition permits in Memorial Bend in the months after Harvey, a trend that began earlier as land values rose.
- Repair or elevateOwners have often been unable to get repair permits without elevating; flood insurance’s Increased Cost of Compliance coverage pays up to $30,000 to elevate, demolish or move a substantially damaged house.
- Roofs and original detailsRoof replacement is on the civic association’s list of projects to submit, and Houston Mod’s house-by-house archive records the architect, year and later changes for many houses.
Sources disagree on the home count (about 350 or 364) and on the developer, and Houston Mod’s archive predates most of the demolitions after Harvey.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- Houston Mod: The architecture of Memorial BendLand purchase, developers, architects, roofs, street names, press.houstonmod.org/wp-content/memorialbend/bend.html
- Houston Mod: William N. FloydFloyd’s houses, builders, prices.houstonmod.org/wp-content/memorialbend/floyd.html
- Houston Chronicle (via AP): midcentury homes hit by Harvey floods (2018)Home count, flooding, demolition permits.www.miningjournal.net/life/2018/03/some-midcentury-homes-in-houston-decimated-by-harvey-floods/
- Memorial Bend Civic Association: Projects requiring approvalArchitectural review and fees.www.memorialbend.org/projects-requiring-approval
- City of Houston Legal Department: Deed restrictions FAQNo zoning; deed restriction enforcement.www.houstontx.gov/legal/dr-faq.html
- City of Houston: Floodplain Management OfficeElevation rule, flood maps, coverage.www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/office-city-engineer/floodplain-management-office
- Harris County Flood Control District: Flooding and the reservoirsReservoir releases along Buffalo Bayou.www.hcfcd.org/About/Harris-Countys-Flooding-History/Countywide-Impacts/Flooding-Impacts-in-Connection-with-the-Reservoirs
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: a Houston modern house after Harvey (2019)Houston’s only mid-century modern district; demolitions.savingplaces.org/stories/how-one-houston-midcentury-modern-house-fared-after-hurricane-harvey-and-the-uncertain-future-of-others
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
Is Memorial Bend a City of Houston historic district?
No. We found no city historic district or National Register listing; deed restrictions and the civic association’s architectural review govern changes instead.
Who designed the houses in Memorial Bend?
William Norman Floyd was the principal architect, with about 50 houses; William R. Jenkins, Harwood Taylor, Lars Bang and Brooks & Brooks also designed homes there, according to Houston Mod.
Did Memorial Bend flood during Hurricane Harvey?
Yes, homes there flooded in 2017, and the City issued at least 19 residential demolition permits in the neighborhood within months.
more to learn
Keep going
- Lortondale, TulsaDonald Honn’s 1950s modern houses in midtown Tulsa.
- Glenbrook ValleyHouston’s mid-century modern historic district.
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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