Against the wishes of the homeowner, plans to designate a familiar Red River Street house a historic landmark are moving forward. However, the owner wants to demolish the familiar red and white house at 3805 Red River Street, Historic Landmark Commissioners this week voted unanimously to initiate historic zoning. That zoning change would prevent the […]
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 inDevelopment
Owner says Red River house is junk while neighbors say it’s historic
Though the owners say their house is a worn-out money pit, many of their neighbors see it as one of Austin’s Mid-20th Century landmarks. Following staff recommendation, the Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously Monday to initiate historic zoning for the house at 3805 Red River Street. “This is an obvious landmark. Everyone in Austin […]
Posted inDevelopment
Backers of Baylor House need one more vote to block demolition
Those hoping to save Clarksville’s Baylor House won a symbolic victory at City Council last week. But without an additional vote in favor of historic zoning, the victory could be a hollow one. Currently, the house at 1607 West 10th Street is slated for demolition in order for owner Sean Kubicek to construct a […]
Posted inDevelopment
Landmark Commission blocks two demolitions in Bryker Woods
Faced with increasingly large numbers of demolition permits for historic homes, and very few tools to stop them, the Historic Landmark Commission held out hope for compromise last week. Commissioners stalled two demolitions in the Bryker Woods neighborhood alone. Both houses were contributing structures in the Old West Austin National Register District, but that […]
Posted inDevelopment
High taxes force Travis Heights resident to find new home for cottages
Saying that he can no longer bear the cost of rising property taxes, one long-term Travis Heights resident is looking for a new home for his historic cottages, much to the heartbreak of some neighbors. Charles Flores explained that he has lived next door to the cottages since 1996, and owned the property at […]
Posted inDevelopment
City plan to replace Barton Springs Bridge runs into complications
The process is barely underway, but the city’s plan to replace the historic Barton Springs Bridge is already generating pushback from the historic preservation community. Last week’s Public Works Request for Qualifications for a design consultant to replace the 1925 bridge at the entrance to Zilker Park, as well as the Redbud Trail Bridge […]
Posted inDevelopment
Landmark Commission postpones action on West Austin demolition
Developers itching to demolish a 1933 cottage in West Austin’s Heritage neighborhood will have to wait a month longer, after a ruling by the city’s Historic Landmark Commission last week. Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky allowed that the 1933 House at 902 West 30th Street did “have some architectural interest.” He also revealed that […]
Posted inDevelopment
Landmark Commission backs historic status for Clarksville house
The house that once belong to a beloved Clarksville activist may be preserved against its owner’s wishes if the Historic Landmark Commission and the neighborhood have their way. Commission members remained steadfast in their conviction that the Baylor house at 1607 West Tenth Street should have historic zoning, voting 5-0 to move forward with […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council efforts to block plan to move historic house could fall short
City Council members did what they could last week to thwart plans to move the historic Dabney-Horne House, but only time will tell whether it will be enough to keep the structure in place. The University Co-op has owned the property at 507 West 23rd Street since the mid-1970s, and the 1883 house was […]
Posted inDevelopment
Appeal allows Co-op to move Dabney-Horne House
There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way, but it looks like plans to move the historic Dabney-Horne House 12 feet are fairly unstoppable, due to a scheduling problem. The case has been in and out of the city’s boards and commissions for some time now. Most recently, the University Co-op […]
Posted inDevelopment
Commission votes to initiate historic zoning on Clarksville house
A band of Clarksville residents won their first victory at the Historic Landmark Commission last week. They found unanimous support for historic zoning on a house that they say is integral to their community’s history. The commission voted 5-0 to initiate historic zoning at 1607 West 10th Street, despite protests from the new owner, who […]
Posted inDevelopment
Landmark Commission endorses housing project for National Register
The Historic Landmark Commission has given its full blessing to an east-side housing project’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination is for the Rosewood Courts, located at Chicon Street and Rosewood Avenue. The Texas Historic Commission will take up the issue at its Jan. 18 meeting. Fred McGhee, who […]