"Melrose" Makeover for Medical Building

Galveston County Daily News, June 21, 2007
by Laura Elder

GALVESTON — A California-based developer is transforming the island’s former medical professional building at 906 22nd St. into 11 mid-priced condominiums.

Stemmer Development is converting the 83-year-old building into what it refers to as a “California-style residential compound” called El Cortez Villas. Raymond Rapp designed the building in 1924, according to “Galveston Architecture Guidebook,” authored by Ellen Beasley and Stephen Fox. The Spanish Mediterranean-style stucco-faced building is crowned with scalloped Mission-style parapets.

Developers say that, during early construction on El Cortez Villas, crews unearthed medical invoices dating back to the 1940s, when inoculations for children cost 99 cents and office visits were $1.50.

Prices for the condominiums start at $148,000.

The developers say El Cortez Villas is a “dead-ringer” for the apartment complex featured in the 1990s hit TV show “Melrose Place.” El Cortez Villas includes security access, a swimming pool and one garage per unit. The complex will be ready for move-in by next month.