Austin City Council was set to decide on the fate of a well-known east side grocery store at its most recent meeting, but instead endorsed a deal that had been struck before the meeting convened. The Tuke-Lyon grocery, at 220 Comal St., has been in operation since the early 1920s, when it was built by […]
historic preservation
Official actions of a municipality such as the City of Austin taken to preserve structures with their jurisdiction. Preservation is often accompanied by a property tax exemption.
Posted inPreservation
Planning Commission unmoved to recommend preservation for East Austin grocery store
After a unanimous recommendation from the Historic Landmark Commission to preserve the 1922-era corner grocery at 220 Comal St., the momentum behind preserving the East Austin structure slowed at the Planning Commission. “I’m getting the sense that the owner can preserve the building better without historic designation,” Commissioner Carmen Llanes-Pulido said at the Aug. 13 […]
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Historic zoning moves forward for ‘godfather’ of A-frame religious architecture in Austin
Midcentury A-frame churches may be a dime a dozen in Austin, but there is one in particular that caused the now-familiar style to proliferate. The Prince of Peace Church at 1711 E. Oltorf St. is the reason “that form became popular in Austin,” Jason Haskins, a local architect and historian, told the Historic Landmark Commission […]
Posted inPreservation
Code compliance citation inspires historic restoration
After years of languishing in disrepair, a circa-1922 grocery store at 220 Comal St. was cited for code compliance issues, prompting the owners to file for a partial demolition permit to make repairs. In order to preserve the neighborhood building and ensure the sensitivity of the repairs, the Historic Landmark Commission voted in May to […]
Posted inPreservation
City’s new historic preservation grants offer more eligibility, higher limits
Nearly a year after City Council directed staff to increase eligibility for sites in need of funding for preservation of historic structures, a new program will greatly increase funding to those properties. The Heritage Grant Program opened its application process Monday, operating as part of the Economic Development Department to take over grant-making duties that […]
Posted inPreservation
Faux Victorian windows prompt Historic Landmark Commission to reconsider historic zoning
After initiating a case for historic zoning for the home at 1903 New York Ave., investigations by the city’s Historic Preservation Office revealed at the June 24 meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission that significant alterations in the 1980s compromised the integrity of the historic structure. New windows, replaced siding and a remodeled porch, although […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Parting words
When Planning commissioners say adieu… The June 25 meeting marked the end of an era at the Planning Commission. Despite several years of rarely seeing eye to eye when it comes to development, Karen McGraw and James Schissler stepped down from their posts amicably, with an acknowledgment that each has served the city in a […]
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Planning Commission gives no recommendation on contentious historic zoning case
After the Historic Landmark Commission voted against the owner’s wishes and staff recommendation to recommend historic zoning for the property at 1603 Willow St., the case came to the June 11 meeting of the Planning Commission. The commissioners weighed the recommendation of the HLC and the testimony of two dozen neighbors against Historic Preservation Officer […]
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Travis County commissioners endorse preserving Palm School
Supporters of preserving the Palm School won a partial victory Tuesday when the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously in favor of restrictions that will prevent the historic building from being demolished by a future landowner. However, the issue of who will own the building, which for decades has been the home of the Travis […]
Posted inPreservation
West Austin home causes impasse at HLC
City code requires a structure to meet two out of five requirements in order to be designated historic. One of the most often-used requirements is that of historical association with an individual who “contributed significantly to the history of the city, state or nation.” The tricky part is that the individual must have been noteworthy […]
Posted inPreservation
East Austin home slated for historic zoning against owner’s wishes
It is rare in Austin that a home is preserved against an owner’s wishes. According to Preservation Austin, the city has disregarded an owner’s wishes in this manner exactly three times since 1974. Now there is a chance it will happen a fourth time. One hundred and seventeen years ago, German immigrants constructed what is […]
Posted inPreservation
City may initiate demolition-by-neglect case in effort to save I.Q. Hurdle House
For several years, one North Texas company has been stealthily purchasing properties along East 12th Street and now owns nearly four dozen properties between Interstate 35 and Walnut Avenue, according to Travis County property records. One of those properties happens to be the I.Q. Hurdle House at 1416 E. 12th St. Just over three years […]