Restoring Roots:
The Journey to Revive an Alamo Heights Heritage Home for a New Generation
By Bruce X. Forey | Photography by David Teran
A 78209 family, open to new adventures, is embarking on a journey through a historic Alamo Heights home with both personal and community significance.
Lisa Martin-Bomnskie graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 2002 and went on to a successful public relations career after earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas State. She later completed a master’s in business from the University of the Incarnate Word. She shifted her career to teaching undergraduate public relations courses at Our Lady of the Lake University.
The Aggie Years
In 2014, Lisa met Chris Bomnskie, a Bryan/College Station native, just before he enrolled at Texas A&M University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Lisa, interested in advancing her career by obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), chose to pursue it at Texas A&M to be closer to Chris.
Chris was accepted into the prestigious Corps of Cadets and served as the Commanding Officer of his outfit in his senior year.
“As a member of the Corps, I attended all the home games,” Chris remembered. “Johnny Football (AKA: Johnny Manziel) was playing at the time, so it was a great experience to watch from the stands and stand with the 12th man.”
As Chris finished his studies, Lisa shifted her career focus from academia back to public relations.
“By the time Chris was graduating from A&M, I had enough credits to earn my second master’s degree in cognition and creativity,” Lisa said. “I was ready for the next adventure with him, so I chose not to stay for my PhD.”
The Great Northwest Calling
The year 2017 was a big one for Chris and Lisa. They graduated from college (receiving their diplomas on the same day), got married in March, and in September visited friends in Oregon to experience the solar eclipse. Inspired by the state’s natural beauty, they decided to move to Portland, Oregon, for their first adventure together, becoming Oregonians by the end of 2017.
“We lived in a beautiful townhome overlooking the Willamette River,” Lisa recalled. “I have vivid memories of watching the seasons change through our window.”
Though they enjoyed their time in Portland, when COVID hit in 2021, Chris and Lisa felt a strong pull to return home to Texas with their young son.
The Restoration Project
With family in Bryan/College Station and San Antonio, Chris and Lisa weighed their options. That’s when Lisa’s grandmother, Rose Trevino, offered them a special opportunity to acquire Lisa’s childhood home in Alamo Heights.
The Folk Victorian-style residence, filled with early 20th-century architectural charm, needed remodeling to accommodate their family of four and modern living.
“We could have leveled it and built something new, but we decided to restore it,” Chris said. “We wanted to honor the gift of the home, so we kept it intact while making sure the updates reflected its early 1900s origins through the materials and fixtures.”
While the remodeling took place, the family stayed in Oregon. During this time, Lisa researched the history of the home and discovered that it was one of the oldest houses in the neighborhood, qualifying for official recognition as an Alamo Heights centennial home.
“This house was built by relatives of the Scrivener’s hardware family,” Lisa explained. “They were carpenters and home builders. They built this house, lived in it, and then built the house next door.”
After 14 months, the family moved into their newly restored home, bringing both old memories and excitement for new ones.
“It’s sweet to have such a deep connection to this house,” Lisa said. “But it feels different now because we are a different family. There’s a new spirit here.”
78209 Work-Life Balance
For their careers, Chris is a Senior Sales Executive for Siemens, and Lisa is Director of Partnerships & Strategic Engagement for Grady Britton, the firm she worked for in Portland.
The couple’s sons, Seth, six years old, and Sonny, who just celebrated his first birthday, are becoming the newest generation of 09ers.
Seth is now a member of the Cub Scouts and takes martial arts classes down the street on Broadway. As a family, they enjoy visiting the San Antonio Botanical Garden, The DoSeum, The Witte, local parks, Pearl, and other restaurants in Alamo Heights, while spending time with their neighbors.
Chris and Lisa also serve their faith community as part of the hospitality team at Trinity Baptist Church.
“I know this ’09 bubble like the back of my hand,” Lisa said. “I couldn’t wait to get back to all my favorite spots, and I’m so excited that Chris and our sons get to experience them too.”
