The proposed Bluebonnet Hills preservation district took its first step forward at City Council on Thursday. But will it be its last? After several hours of public testimony both for and against, Council voted to approve the district on first reading. The vote was 7-3, with Council members Ellen Troxclair, Don Zimmerman and Pio Renteria […]
Preservation
Posted inPreservation
Tricky East Austin case gets more complicated
The story of the Waller on Swede Hill project and why City Council won’t likely consider historic zoning for the Stasswender House until August is a complicated one. Early this year, in an attempt to stave off a proposed condo development in East Austin, the Swede Hill neighborhood asked the city to consider historic zoning […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic District wins Planning Commission support
The proposed Bluebonnet Hills preservation district was back at City Hall this week. This time, it won the support of the Planning Commissioners. On Tuesday, commission members voted 5-1 to recommend creation of the Bluebonnet Hills Historic District, with Commissioner Brian Roark voting against. Commissioners Jean Stevens, Alfonso Hernandez and Richard Hatfield were absent. The […]
Posted inPreservation
West Austin home demolition moves forward
In accordance with the owners’ wishes, the demolition of a West Austin home built in 1939 will be moving forward. “I think this is simply a case of a house that’s being demolished because it doesn’t fit somebody’s needs,” said Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky. “We’ve just seen so much of that happen in Austin […]
Posted inPreservation
Commission says Lightsey house should stay
The endless struggles of Lightsey 2 made their way through the Historic Landmark Commission on Monday. There, commissioners voted in favor of historic zoning for the main house at 1805 Lightsey Road unanimously, throwing a wrench into plans to demolish the residence to make way for the Lightsey 2 development. Commissioners Terri Myers and Dan […]
Posted inPreservation, Resources, Water
Downward oxygen trend a risk for salamanders
Barton Springs is the only known home to the endangered and federally protected Barton Springs and Austin Blind salamanders. Unfortunately, for these unique creatures, the level of life-sustaining dissolved oxygen in their ecosystem has dropped on average over the past 35 years. Watershed Protection Department engineer Abel Porras brought the issue to the Wednesday meeting […]
Posted inBicycles, Parks, Preservation
Urban Forestry Board critical of USA Cycling report
Members of the Urban Forestry Board are highly critical of the methods used in a report by USA Cycling that claims the city, not the cycling organization, caused most of the damage done to 57 trees in Zilker Park during a Cyclocross event in January. USA Cycling said in January it had budgeted funds to […]
Posted inPreservation
Proposed local historic district in jeopardy
The proposed Bluebonnet Hills Historic District hit another speed bump Tuesday, this time at the Planning Commission. At the end of a lengthy discussion, commissioners opted to postpone the case until May 26. This will give the applicants time to return to the Historic Landmark Commission for a third vote. Though the Historic Landmark Commission […]
Posted inHousing, Preservation, Zoning
Swede Hill residents ward off condo proposal
The Swede Hill Neighborhood Association scored a victory at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting when commissioners denied a developer’s zoning change request to allow him to build condominiums in the historic neighborhood. It was the second night in a row that the plan was a topic of discussion at City Hall. In February, after hearing about […]
Posted inPreservation
East Austin will lose home to demolition
The Historic Landmark Commission approved a proposal at its meeting Monday to demolish an East Austin home originally built in the 1920 early 1900s. The house at 1409 Canterbury St. will be demolished to make way for new construction, despite a neighborhood plea to place a moratorium on demolitions in the neighborhood. Commissioner Terri Myers […]
Posted inPreservation
Pine Street Station headed down the tracks
Though it is not what either side wanted, the Historic Landmark Commission voted Monday night in favor of a compromise at Pine Street Station. Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky explained that the owner of the land, the Capital Metro Transportation Authority, does not object to landmarking the building. It does object to landmarking the land. […]
Posted inPreservation
Proposed East Austin demo agitates neighbors
The Historic Landmark Commission will decide the fate of an East Austin home built in the early 1900s. The owner of the Canterbury Street home would like to demolish it, but neighbors have asked for a hold on demolitions in the area altogether. Last week, the commission voted unanimously to postpone the case. Commissioners Mary […]