A former special education facility for mentally disabled girls may soon be slated for demolition and redevelopment after the plans earned the Historic Landmark Commission’s seal of approval last Monday.
The seven-building campus that was once home to the Mary Lee School of Special Education – located at 400 W. Live Oak St., about 1.5 miles south of Lady Bird Lake – was green-lighted for demolition in a 6-2 vote, with commissioners JuanRaymon Rubio and Tara Dudley voting against. While the applicant has yet to reveal plans for redevelopment, the site’s proximity to the upcoming transit buildout on South First Street makes it a likely candidate for something higher-density.
The campus’s central building was originally built in 1951 for the congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church. In 1966, the church relocated farther south and sold the property to Charlene Crump, who swooped in to transform the site into a refuge for young girls with special needs.
Crump’s Mary Lee School taught a number of vocational and practical skills to teenage girls underserved by traditional public education, including sewing, crafts, cooking and navigating spaces like grocery stores and public transportation. Crump’s “rehabilitative” model was uniquely progressive for its time, distinguishing itself from mental institutions in its goal of teaching students the skills to live independently.
While commissioners found the property’s story significant, most agreed that it failed to rise to the threshold necessary for landmark designation.
“I was a bit conflicted on this one, because the history was really, really interesting … but I think on a property of this size, in this neighborhood, there are other things that can be done that would better serve the community,” said Commissioner Kevin Koch. “Although it’s most likely going to be expensive condos, but we don’t control that.”
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Historic Landmark Commission: The city’s Historic Landmark Commission promotes historic preservation of buildings and structures. The commission also reviews applications and permits for historic zoning and historic grants.
