What’s Going On with the Blue House by Minute Maid Park?
The Cohn house sat at its original location of 1711 Rusk Avenue for 105 years before being moved.
Have you ever headed down to Minute Maid Park for an Astros game and done a double take at a sight that seems strangely out of place? Steps from the stadium, a bright blue Victorian house is nestled amid the modern architecture and large crowds. Every few years, this structure moves to a new spot around the park, going from corner to corner like it’s running bases. This architectural oddity is the Cohn House, and its story is as intriguing as its cerulean hue.
Originally built in 1905, the Cohn House wasn’t always a mobile spectacle. Named after Arthur B. Cohn, the personal accountant of Rice University founder William Marsh Rice, it stood on 1711 Rusk Avenue for over a century. However, Houston’s ever-evolving cityscape had other plans and the house was forced to pack its metaphorical bags in 2010 to make room for Avenida de las Americas renovations.
The house’s relocation to Texas Avenue near Minute Maid Park marked the beginning of its nomadic existence, where it has captured the curiosity of Astros fans and passersby alike. Its vibrant blue exterior, a stark contrast to the surrounding urban landscape, has made it a distinctive feature in the area. It was moved to the corner of Hamilton and Commerce streets in 2021, where it remains today.
The Cohn House used to be on Rusk Street (pictured), but was recently moved a block away.
Image: Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock.com
Since the City of Houston purchased the home in 2003, plans to find it a permanent plot have been in the works. According to a statement from the city, the decision to temporarily relocate the Cohn House in early 2021 was the start of a carefully orchestrated plan that is the first step in a two-phase process aimed at finding the house its final home in the East End.
The city plans to keep the house near Minute Maid Park until a crucial infrastructure project is completed: the removal of the elevated highway barrier looming nearby. This imposing structure, part of I-69/US 59, acts as a physical barrier preventing the house from reaching its final destination. Once the North Houston Highway Improvement Project tackles this obstacle, the Cohn House will head to its permanent home at Tony Marron Park.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee on when this highway project will be completed, leaving the Cohn House in a state of temporary residence for the foreseeable future.
So next time you’re cheering on the Astros, take a moment to appreciate this architectural nomad. Who knows, maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of it in a whole new location next time you visit Minute Maid Park.
