The Historic Landmark Commission grappled with its own limitations this past Monday as it oversaw the outcome of two Clarksville demolition cases with palpable disappointment. The two homes, located at 1805 Waterston Ave. and 1104 Toyath St., are both contributing properties in the Clarksville National Register historic district whose owners seek to replace them with […]
Clarksville
Founded by freedman Charles Clark in 1871, Clarkville is the oldest freedomtown west of the Mississippi. It was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is part of the Old West Austin Historic District. Clarksville is located just west of downtown Austin, and just east of MoPac.
Posted inPreservation
Mary Baylor House receives recommendation for historic zoning
The house of civil rights activist Mary Freeman Baylor had been run-down for years until new owners bought the Clarksville property in 2014 and began fixing it up, on the heels of a thwarted attempt to demolish the house. The property owners then petitioned the city for a historic zoning designation for the home at 1607 W. […]
Posted inPreservation
Dissatisfied with lack of compromise, Historic Landmark Commission stalls
After its fourth public hearing, the Clarksville storybook house remains a point of contention between owner, commission and the Clarksville Community Development Corporation. Priscilla Glover, the owner of 1002 Charlotte St., told the commissioners at their Nov. 19 meeting, “I have heard your comments on the design of my house. I’m not changing it.” She […]
Posted inPreservation
A storybook-inspired home is not a fairy-tale ending for Clarksville neighbors
Sure, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes a desire for architectural continuity within a neighborhood trumps the desires of a homeowner. At 1002 Charlotte St. in the Clarksville neighborhood, there is a small one-story home built in the minimal traditional style of the mid-20th century whose future is uncertain. Those who […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Cool for cats?
It is in Austin!… During a discussion of the Aquatic Master Plan during a City Council work session last Tuesday, Council Member Delia Garza highlighted the dearth of public pools in her southeastern district, which includes parts of Del Valle. She noted that there are no existing pools in Del Valle and apparently no plans […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Clarksville meeting displays fear of CodeNEXT and density
On Wednesday night the pews at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Clarksville were packed with nearby residents who had come to hear about how their surroundings would be impacted by CodeNEXT, the proposed rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code. The meeting, which had been advertised for weeks by signs throughout the area alerting […]
Posted inPreservation
Clarksville demolition sails through city process
Last week, plans to demolish a contributing home in the Clarksville National Register Historic District moved forward after less than 15 minutes of discussion at the Historic Landmark Commission. Pecan Valley Homes can now move forward with the planned demolition of 1806 West 10th St., which will allow it to build a larger home. A […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Clarksville home gets its basement at the BoA
Though not everyone was thrilled by the news, plans for a new home in Clarksville are moving forward as proposed after a variance from the Board of Adjustment. Matt Fajkus, who is the architect for the project, spoke on behalf of Jennifer Parker, the owner of 806 Patterson Ave. He explained that they were requesting […]
Posted inPreservation
Clarksville addition distresses preservationists
Plans to expand a 1935 Clarksville cottage have rattled Austinites worried about preserving the history of a neighborhood that they fear is disappearing piece by piece. The house at 1704 West 10th St. is currently a contributing building to the Clarksville National Register Historic District, but neighbors and preservationists worry that, with the addition, this […]