Republic Square is one of the original squares in the city of Austin, but it has long been an underutilized spot in the city center. In an effort to activate the space, the city has worked for the past few years to revitalize the park, and this year, there will be another addition to 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 inPreservation
Rendon house denied historic preservation zoning
The East Austin home of the late Edward Rendon Sr. will not be getting the historic zoning designation desired by some members of the Rendon family. If granted, the designation would have halted the plans of Rose Rubio, a majority owner of the 1705 Haskell St. property and one of Rendon’s daughters, to sell the […]
Posted inPreservation
Planning Commission recommends Rendon house for historic zoning over owner’s wishes
The Planning Commission took another step Jan. 14 to pave the way for historic zoning for the home of the late Edward Rendon Sr. despite continued opposition from one of Rendon’s 16 heirs. With a vote in favor of historic zoning, the case for 1705 Haskell St. will go before Council with supermajority recommendations from […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: Historic Preservation
On this week’s edition of Austin Monitor Radio, we check in on the current state of historic preservation with Cara Bertron, the city’s deputy historic preservation officer. Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns and editor Elizabeth Pagano sit down with Bertron to talk about new historic districts, strides in historic preservation, and of course, how preservation will […]
Posted inPreservation
Parks department staff occupy and transform a historic home in South Austin
A rare and intact example of a mid-1860s rural Travis County residence sits at 10140 Old San Antonio Road. After years of neglect, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department has taken over stewardship of the property and installed an administrative office in the building. Commissioner Terri Myers noted at the Dec. 16 meeting of the […]
Posted inPreservation
West Campus home fails to receive required votes for historic designation
The Historic Landmark Commission recently recommended historic zoning for a 19th-century West Campus home at 704 W. 22nd St. against the owner’s wishes. Planning commissioners have now voted to deny the recommendation for historic zoning, preventing the case from moving forward. “I think we need to hold ourselves to a higher caliber,” said Commissioner James […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Historic Landmark Commission expresses displeasure at preservation efforts in LDC draft
As Council’s first vote on the new Land Development Code draft inches ever closer, the Historic Landmark Commission publicly weighed in at its Nov. 18 meeting – and its reaction was not a positive one. Of particular concern was the “preservation incentive,” which received an icy blast of the commissioners’ ire. The preservation incentive that […]
Posted inPreservation
In the midst of preservation push, city permits demolition of church
After the Historic Landmark Commission initiated historic zoning for the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 1711 E. Oltorf St. last July, the status of the midcentury, A-frame church became tenuous as its integrity continued to degrade month after month. Finally, last week, the city administratively issued the property owners a demolition permit – even […]
Posted inPreservation
Texas’ oldest psychiatric facility faces demolition but is eligible to be a historic landmark
This past legislative session, lawmakers identified the Austin State Hospital as a top health care funding priority and set aside $165 million for its refurbishment. Texas Health and Human Services and the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School are overseeing the modernization of the state hospital campus and moving forward with plans to […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Herrera homestead heads to Council with Planning Commission approval
It’s rare that a structure is zoned historic against an owner’s wishes. According to Preservation Austin, it has happened only three times since 1974; however, that number may be about to grow to four. Following in the footsteps of the Historic Landmark Commission, which unanimously recommended the Herrera house at 1805 E. Third St. for […]
Posted inPreservation
Council questions, and approves, new Old West Austin historic landmark
The last item on City Council’s most recent agenda passed without much notice, but for some Council members it spoke to ongoing issues of disparity in Austin’s preservation program. Council members voted 8-3 to designate the 1928 Italian Renaissance Revival home at 2412 Harris Blvd. a historic landmark. The bright yellow home’s historic significance was […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission contemplates bending rules for influential Mexican American activist
Sometimes a house is more than a home. In the case of Edward Rendon Sr., his home served as a community center that some say is as meaningful to the neighborhood today as it was 40 years ago. Rendon was an activist who fought for the East Austin Latino community and helped, among other things, […]