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Preservation
PARD publishes update on Montopolis Negro School preservation effort
For nearly three decades in the 20th century, the Montopolis Negro School gave Black children an education in an era when they were not welcome in Austin schools. The schoolhouse at 500 Montopolis Drive was not just a place of education,…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • May 13, 2021
It’s not easy to replace a venue where Janis Joplin sang
Will the treasured spirit of the old Threadgill’s live on in a proposed multifamily development slated to replace the iconic restaurant and live music venue? That would be the preferred outcome of the Historic Landmark Commission, which unanimously recommended that…
Preservation • By Amy Smith • May 6, 2021
New working group to study equity in preservation
Property demolitions in underserved areas of Austin have historically ranked among the most emotional cases to come before the Historic Landmark Commission – often the first stop in a succession of reviews of what’s proposed to be built in place…
Preservation • By Amy Smith • May 4, 2021
Landmark commission postpones demolition in West Line Historic District
The Historic Landmark Commission heard a proposal last month to demolish an old building and construct a new one on a property located in the West Line Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Apr 9, 2021
Landmark Commission votes against front-yard pool proposal
At last month’s meeting on March 22, the Historic Landmark Commission discussed a certificate of appropriateness application to modify the landscape, construct a terrace and build a swimming pool at the historic Jackson-Novy-Kelly-Hoey House at 2406 Harris Blvd. First recommended…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Apr 8, 2021
Landmark commission approves changes to historic Mary Street home
Last week, the Historic Landmark Commission gave the go-ahead for some repairs and upgrades to a home at 508 E. Mary St., a property in the Mary Street Historic District. Originally established in 1928, “the 500 block of E. Mary…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Apr 5, 2021
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Landmark Commission postpones decision to deliberate on historic designation
At last week’s meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, commissioners reviewed a rehabilitation case at 1601 Brackenridge St. The home, which was built in 1915, was first inhabited by William and Lettie Webster Davis, two teachers at the Texas School…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Mar 29, 2021
Travis County Parks looks to remove historic Manchaca Gardens structure
The Commissioners Court fielded discussion Tuesday on the planned removal of structures at Manchaca Gardens; specifically, a former fire hall adjacent to Ladybird Montessori School. Charles Bergh, director of Travis County Parks, gave an overview of the property’s history to…
Preservation • By Seth Smalley • Mar 25, 2021
Design Commission gives feedback on Fiesta Gardens vision
On Monday, the Design Commission reviewed plans for Fiesta Gardens, a city-owned events center in East Austin that is set to receive extensive renovations within the next two years. The venue, which is on the National Register of Historic Places,…
Preservation • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 25, 2021
Ellen Wyse house denied historic designation, after owners protest
A debate at the Jan. 26 meeting of the Planning Commission centered around the merits of historic preservation versus the potentially regressive effects of a historic landmark designation on cash-strapped property owners. The owners and developer of the Ellen Wyse…
Preservation • By Seth Smalley • Feb 9, 2021
Demolition proposal receives pushback from Tarrytown residents, commission delays decision
A demolition request for a 1938 home received a surprising amount of pushback from community members at the Jan. 25 meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission. The home at 2803 Bonnie Road was first constructed for Frank D. and Ollie…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Feb 8, 2021
Former Threadgill home on its way to historic designation
Commissioners at the Jan. 25 meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission voted to advance the historic designation process for 4310 Rosedale Ave., the former home of Kenneth and Mildred Threadgill. Kenneth Threadgill, an Austin-based country musician who collaborated with national…
