The Beatty-West Building, shown here in 1920, was designed by architect Henry C. Cooke. (Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library)

One of Houston's last historic blocks will be leveled for a 47-story office tower.

Local developer Hines, which erected another skyscraper in 2003, plans to start construction on the 900-square-foot building in March.

Three historic buildings will disappear early next year: the 1912 Beatty-West Building, the 1940 former Bond Clothes store, and the 1913 Montegu Hotel. The developer will save one historic building on the block, the Stowers Building, a recently restored structure built in 1913.

"The announcement is particularly disappointing because there had been moves toward preserving one of the last blocks in downtown Houston covered almost entirely with historic buildings," David Bush, director of the Houston Preservation Alliance, said in a statement. "Demolition of the Bond Clothes store will result in the loss of one of Houston's most significant surviving art deco interiors."

The alliance plans to ask Hines to incorporate the Bond interior into its design. Hines has applied for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the Beatty-West building, a city landmark since 2004.

Hines plans to open the new LEED-certified skyscraper in 2010.

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