Dallas-based real estate developer Eureka Holdings is once again ruffling feathers on 12th Street, with an application to demolish a century-old storefront at the Comal Street intersection meeting some resistance from the city’s Historic Landmark Commission.
The two-story building has lived many lives, from a German beer hall weathering Prohibition to Civil Rights-era meeting place of Black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. Now, Eureka Holdings, which purchased the property alongside 36 others in an infamous land grab, wants to wipe the slate clean, citing violations of National Electric Code as grounds for a teardown.
“The public power lines are well within the 15-foot safety setback required by code,” said engineer Nick Sandlin, speaking on behalf of the owner at the Historic Landmark Commission’s July 3 meeting. “In placing the lines, Austin Energy likely had the expectation that the vacant structure would be demolished.”
But others weren’t buying their story, including a number of irate commissioners and Tracy Witte, chair of the Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods, who cited the developer’s record of misdirection and negligence.
“This developer doesn’t build structures, they build fences and parking lots,” Witte said. “In my opinion, the real safety hazard to this community is the neglect of dozens of properties for over a decade, including the much-publicized debacle at Mount Carmel Apartments during Winter Storm Uri, and the callous disregard for neighborhood plans that favor historic preservation and urban renewal.”
It is not Eureka’s first time in the hot seat at the Comal Street intersection. In 2019, the city’s Historic Preservation Office was poised to bring forward a demolition-by-neglect case for the I.Q. Hurdle House located at 1416 E. 12th St., pressuring the developer to jump-start long-overdue maintenance on the historic home. Now, landmark commissioners suspect a similar scenario may be unfolding right next door.
“Recent photos on (Google) Street View (of 1500 E. 12th) dated March 2024 show that the building appears to have a white cladding, the windows have their bug screens, and are all closed. In the photos in the (case) packet, it seems in a short amount of time that the vinyl siding has been stripped from multiple facades, the windows are open and mosquito netting is damaged,” said Commissioner Jaime Alvarez. “I think this strengthens the case that this may be demolition by neglect, outside of normal deterioration that would happen over such a short period.”
A couple of neighbors showed up in support of the demolition, including local musician Danny Thompson, who claimed the site had little historic or cultural significance, and neighbor Elliott Dew, who called the building an “eyesore.”
“It smells bad, it’s derelict, and there’s stuff built up around the fences. It’s a nuisance to the local area,” said Dew. “I just think it could serve as a much better purpose.”
Unfortunately, Eureka’s potential to serve a better purpose is precisely what’s been called into question, with many of its lots sitting vacant and undeveloped since as early as 2013. In September 2022, the developer finally teased plans for a number of commercial and residential concepts along the East Austin corridor but have since released no updates.
Landmark commissioners unanimously voted to initiate historic zoning, citing the property’s historic and architectural significance. Commissioners also challenged the applicant’s claim of electric noncompliance, asking for direct coordination with Austin Energy to provide further evidence.
“I understand that you’re using Austin Energy criteria, but that’s not the same thing as the city of Austin saying that based on their own action, since they put the power lines in after this building was built, that somehow they require an owner to condemn a building,” said chair Ben Heimsath. “I doubt they would issue that kind of letter.”
Commissioners will soon revisit this case for a followup vote, where a supermajority will be needed to advance the historic zoning process against owner’s wishes. In the meantime, Commissioner Witt Featherston left the applicant team with some strong words.
“The owners that you represent are one of the main reasons we are trying to implement more severe consequences for actions like demolition by neglect,” Featherston said. “So please pass that along.”
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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.
historic preservation: Official actions of a municipality such as the City of Austin taken to preserve structures with their jurisdiction. Preservation is often accompanied by a property tax exemption.
