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Preservation

Travis County commissioners approve preservation plan funding for Sweatt courthouse

The Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse on Guadalupe Street could undergo historic restoration in the coming years with state funding assistance. Earlier this week, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to allocate $100,000 toward hiring a historic preservation…

$2.7 million on the table as Heritage Preservation Grant opens for next round of applicants

As budget season stirs up City Hall, Austin’s Economic Development Department is preparing to share the wealth, with plans to allocate $2.7 million in grants for preservation efforts at historically designated sites. The Heritage Preservation Grant Program, which began accepting…

State Theatre slated for head-to-toe renovation project

The State Theatre, the smaller sibling space of the Paramount Theatre and one of Austin’s oldest operating venues, will soon undergo a 21st-century upgrade. Emily Little of Clayton Korte Architects stopped by last week’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting to share…

With missing link in place, Violet Crown now offers 11 miles of uninterrupted trail

A mile-long missing link in the Violet Crown Trail is now complete and open to the public. This new segment in Sunset Valley guides trailblazers from the end of Home Depot Boulevard, through a wooded area, under MoPac Expressway and…

Bouldin Creek residents discourage development plans for hotels peering over their homes

Hotels could be coming to the Bouldin Creek neighborhood after the Planning Commission approved an extension for a site plan at Mattie’s at Green Pastures restaurant.  The proposed development would bring two hotels with about 100 rooms and renovations to…

Landmark Commission debates historic exemption for new safe fence ordinance

The Historic Landmark Commission faced an unusual case last week, when a construction proposal at a landmarked home at 1412 W. Sixth 1/2 St. collided with pending City Council action to ban unsafe fence designs. The resolution, which would mandate…

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Council to vote on allowing taller buildings along Sixth Street

City Council is set to vote next week on allowing taller buildings along part of Sixth Street, in hopes of bringing more daytime uses to Austin’s most famous stretch of bars and clubs.  The plan is to allow buildings up…

Developers behind Fairmont Hotel revisit historic home relocation battle

With a $600 million development deal allegedly in the pipeline, Manchester Financial Group once again is eyeing a slice of prime real estate across the street from the Austin Convention Center. Since 2016, two historic homes on East Third Street…

East Austin demolition forces landmark commission to grapple with higher powers

Though their comments held no official weight, Historic Landmark Commission members had things to say about a state law that prohibits the city from intervening in the demolition or relocation of buildings owned by religious organizations. Kalan Contreras of the…

Landmark commission pushes for ‘partnership’ on Sixth Street redevelopment

Despite trepidation from developers, the Historic Landmark Commission has recommended a heftier review process for Sixth Street properties slated to be redeveloped under proposed regulations. The code amendments, which were initiated by City Council in June 2022, could raise height…

Demolitions get green light at historically brief Historic Landmark Commission meeting

An unusually brief meeting took place at City Hall last Wednesday, with the Historic Landmark Commission bidding adieu to a number of aging properties with little fanfare. The first of two properties approved for demolition was 1904 Raleigh Ave., a…

Planning Commission recommends historic zoning for Broken Spoke

The iconic Broken Spoke dance hall is headed for official historic status, ensuring the venue is preserved as the South Lamar corridor continues to develop.  The Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 8-0 to recommend approval of historic zoning for the…

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