Despite one of Houston's largest historic-preservation campaigns, demolition of the River Oaks Shopping Center began at yesterday. A bulldozer knocked in white brick walls at the back of the building at the northeast corner of Shepherd and West Gray — a well-preserved Art Deco building designated a City of Houston landmark and ruled eligible for the National Historic Register.

Preservationists, neighbors and a reporters gathered in the parking lot next to the demolition site. "It's like a funeral," said Sarah Gish, founder of Save Our Landmarks. "It's a tragedy that a city-designated landmark has to come down."

David Bush, a spokesperson for the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, noted that the shopping center is the first of three historic buildings that owner Weingarten Realty Investors is expected to demolish. "The Alabama and River Oaks Theatres are still on the block," Bush said. "The Alabama's next.

And if you think people cared about this building, just wait. Feelings about the theaters run ten times stronger."

Compared to other large cities, Houston's preservation laws are among the weakest in the U.S.

Weingarten Realty Investors is re-developing the site of the shopping-center building. The new building is expected to include a Barnes & Noble bookstore.