While towering, multi-floor designs with little relationship to historic facades have been a thorn in the side of the Historic Landmark Commission in recent months, a proposal for an affordable housing tower behind the historic home at 809 E. Ninth St. received a green light to proceed. The East Austin project intends to convert the […]
Historic Landmark Commission
The city’s Historic Landmark Commission promotes historic preservation of buildings and structures. The commission also reviews applications and permits for historic zoning and historic grants.
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission vetoes skyscraper design for historic building
In recent months, there have been several cases of developers proposing multi-story buildings as a way to preserve the facades of historic structures while balancing the economics of Austin real estate. On Aug. 24, the Historic Landmark Commission firmly put its foot down on the practice of constructing skyscrapers above historic buildings when it denied […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission initiates historic zoning for ‘Air Temp’ home
In an effort to avoid the loss of one of the first homes in Austin to feature air conditioning, the Historic Landmark Commission voted at its July 27 meeting to initiate the historic zoning process for the “Air Temp” home at 2502 Park View Drive. The vote in favor was based on research from Historic […]
Posted inPreservation
East Austin historic district application receives support from Historic Landmark Commission
Austin is well on its way to getting its second historic district on the east side. The Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross neighborhood, which is roughly bounded by East 21st Street and East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Cedar and Chestnut avenues, submitted an application to the city for consideration as a historic district. In the application’s […]
Posted inPreservation
HLC wants further scrutiny of home in the ‘Air-Conditioned Village’
Seventy years ago, 22 homes in Northwest Austin served as the test case for bringing central air conditioning to the middle classes. Today only 15 of those homes remain standing, with one more proposed for demolition. The midcentury modern home at 2502 Park View Drive was originally known as the “Air Temp” house, as it […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission once again denies development proposal for Parker House
The family-owned Parker House sits on a 0.32-acre tract of land in West Campus that is worth $1.7 million. In an effort to preserve the historic home at 2404 Rio Grande St. and also develop the back portion of the lot, the property owners applied for removal of the historic zoning from the rear of […]
Posted inDevelopment
Landmark Commission approves demolition of former West Campus grocery store
A two-story brick building at 601 W. 26th St. that has been around since 1890 may soon be replaced by high-rise student housing. Since the original building was altered in the 1950s in a way that has compromised its historical integrity, the Historic Landmark Commission determined it did not meet the criteria for designation as […]
Posted inPreservation
Scarbrough Building narrowly avoids losing tax relief status
The historic Scarbrough Building had a close call with its tax abatement status when the Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously at its April 27 meeting to remove its eligibility status. When the Velvet Taco restaurant opened a new outdoor seating area, workers removed three panes of glass from the bottom floor of the historic Scarbrough […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission looks to save Rainey Street’s Bungalow
For years, 90-92 Rainey St. has been home to the Bungalow and the Container Bar, but those two nightlife fixtures could soon be replaced with a 53-floor high rise. However, the Historic Landmark Commission did not greet the project with approval at its meeting on April 27 and instead postponed the case until next month. […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission denies request to remove historic zoning
For over a year now, the owners of the historic Majors-Butler-Thomas House at 1119 E. 11th St. have been asking the city to remove historic zoning from the property. Despite repeated attempts, their requests have been met with denial. The first blow to the case came last April when the Planning Commission voted unanimously not […]
Posted inPreservation
HLC debates ‘original character’ in Smoot-Terrace Park
In the city of Austin, a home is considered historic if it meets several criteria, among them being at least 50 years old. Thanks to the timeline associated with its remodeling choices, the home at 607 Oakland Ave. qualified twice over. The home is part of the Smoot-Terrace Park Historic District located off West Sixth […]
Posted inDevelopment
HLC discusses when historic zoning should be removed from a property
The Reuter House, a National Register historic home, has perched atop a hill overlooking a substantial lot in Travis Heights since 1934. Seven years ago, the back portion of the lot was subdivided and three lots were sold to new owners to eventually become the Mariposa Development. Yet while the lots no longer belong to […]