The building at 605 Barton Springs Road has been home to McPhail’s Florist, Austin’s most prominent florist, for decades. But the 92-year-old building may soon be demolished. The flower shop, which ceased operations in 2018, has become – at least unofficially – a historic part of Barton Springs Road. Longtime residents will recognize the iconic […]
Preservation
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Landmark commission denies Congress building owner’s request for mural
Last month, the Historic Landmark Commission discussed a proposal to install an eye-catching, soccer-themed mural at 506 Congress Ave. The mural, which would have been completed by the artist Ruben Sánchez, was noteworthy because it would be located near the Robinson-Rosner Building and the Scarbrough Building in the Congress Avenue Historic District. At the time, […]
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Historic designation recommended for Delta Kappa Gamma HQ, against owner’s wishes
The Delta Kappa Gamma building at 416 W. 12th St. could be on its way to a historic designation, which, given the home’s long history as headquarters of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, may come as no surprise. Founded on the University of Texas campus in 1929, DKG was created, according to the organization, […]
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Council grants historic zoning to Baker School and parking lots
City Council has granted historic zoning to the Baker School property – parking lots and all. No one debated approving the historic landmark designation for the school itself, but the request to include the surrounding parking lots in the variance proved controversial. “I don’t think we should be preserving parking lots,” Council Member Jimmy Flannigan said. […]
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Landmark commission ‘reluctantly’ recommends demolition of stone cottage
Members of the Bouldin Creek community are saying goodbye to a stone cottage some residents believed was emblematic of Austin culture. Citing its lack of historical significance, Historic Landmark commissioners reluctantly upheld a motion to demolish the 83-year-old house at 910 W. Elizabeth St. Three members of the community attended the meeting on Nov. 16 […]
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Planning Commission recommends rezoning part of Baker School property historic, in break with landmark commission
At its Nov. 24 meeting, the Planning Commission voted to zone part of the Baker School property historic, embracing a staff-supported recommendation to omit historic zoning for the surrounding parking lots. The vote represented a break with the position of the Historic Landmark Commission, which had previously voted to zone the entire property at 3908 […]
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Landmark commission denies historic zoning for second Radkey home
The city’s Historic Landmark Commission seemed content to abide by a rule of thumb that dictates “one historic home per person” at its most recent meeting. Oliver Radkey, a UT professor of Russian history known for his writings on Bolshevism and the Russian Revolution, lived at 1208 W. 22nd St. until at least 1959. He […]
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Landmark commission embraces common historic design standards for Austin
The Historic Landmark Commission has given its unanimous support to proposed design standards aimed at making it easier for neighborhoods to create historic districts in the city. If approved by City Council, the design standards will apply to existing historic landmarks, properties and National Register districts on an advisory basis. They will also apply to […]
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Air-Conditioned Village to lose two more houses
Two more houses in a development that once served as a test bed for bringing central air conditioning to the American middle class are scheduled for demolition. In a single vote, the Historic Landmark Commission approved demolition permits for 2505 and 2507 Park View Drive. Commissioners voted 8-2 in favor of the motion, with commissioners […]
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Landmark commission OKs historic zoning for Baker School and its parking lots
The Historic Landmark Commission voted to zone the entirety of the Baker School property historic at its recent meeting, despite a staff-supported alternative that would omit the surrounding parking lots. AISD sold the school, which was built in 1911, to the Alamo Drafthouse in 2018. At the time, the district explained it had accepted a […]
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Landmark commission postpones decision on Congress mural
A building at 506 Congress Ave., just a few blocks from the Texas Capitol, could soon be the site of a new mural – but not before additional review. A proposal to paint a mural with a soccer motif on the facade of the building was the topic of discussion at the Historic Landmark Commission’s […]
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Landmark commission moves to block demolition of Delta Kappa Gamma building downtown
The Historic Landmark Commission has voted unanimously to initiate historic zoning for the Delta Kappa Gamma International Headquarters Building, against the owner’s wishes. Currently, 416 W. 12th St. continues to serve as the office building for Delta Kappa Gamma, which owns the building. The group is seeking a demolition permit, which would enable it to […]