A modified plan for five homes in the West Line Historic District moved forward at the Historic Landmark Commission on Monday night, but it required a leap of faith on the part of commissioners. Originally, five demolitions were part of a single development proposal in the Old West Austin neighborhood. Since then, the developers have agreed […]
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
Is a historic district on the way for Travis Heights?
If at first, second or third you don’t succeed, try something smaller. That might prove the key to a Travis Heights historic district. A local historic district has long been in the works for the South Central Austin neighborhood. For more than a decade, residents have attempted to tackle a designation for the whole neighborhood, […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Which side?
More news from the Amazon (bid)… Austin has landed on the bad side of an LGBT rights group’s effort to influence online retail giant Amazon’s decision on where to build its next headquarters. The “No Gay? No Way!” campaign issued a statement last week that singled out nine of the 20 finalist sites for being located […]
Posted inPreservation
Proposed demolitions rattle Old West Austin
At the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, neighbors showed up in force to protest the prospect of demolishing a swath of homes in the heart of Old West Austin. The five demolitions are all part of a single development proposal. Four of the properties – located at 905 Maufrais St. and 1404, […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission pushes for full preservation of Rosewood Courts
This year, a plan to preserve and redevelop Rosewood Courts will be making its way through City Hall. After more than two years of work, advocates for the plan hope that they have struck a compromise between modernizing the property and preserving its history. The Dec. 18 meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission revealed that […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Historic commission rejects CodeNEXT draft
“CodeNEXT continues to enable the demolition and replacement of existing housing stock with new construction. Consequently, the Commission cannot recommend the adoption of CodeNEXT as written.” That’s the consensus of the Historic Landmark Commission, according to a resolution about the second draft of CodeNEXT. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the resolution, which was drafted […]
Posted inPreservation
Could a new historic district save this home?
There’s another push to create a local historic district in Travis Heights. The fate of 501 E. Mary St. became entwined with the proposed district at the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, where the home’s demolition was put on hold for the time being. The case had previously been postponed by the […]
Posted inPreservation
New plan for Old Negro Women’s Home gets OK
After striking out once, a new plan to save a piece of East Austin’s history won the support of Historic Landmark Commissioners at their most recent meeting. In July, commissioners recommended historic zoning for the Old Negro Women’s Home (also known as the King’s Daughters Home), which is located at 1210 Rosewood Ave. Since then, […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Free the trees
What it all boils down to… Will Congress Avenue be getting a new pocket park? Members of the Historic Landmark Commission hope not. The pocket park in question would be established in the right of way at 823 Congress Ave., on the street. In addition to landscaping and installation of a wall and public seating, […]
Posted inPreservation
Hyde Park loses another historic home
At their most recent meeting, Historic Landmark Commissioners were dismayed to find a Hyde Park project that they had approved had taken a turn for the extreme. “This a virtual demolition,” declared Commissioner Terri Myers. The house at 4207 Ave. H was once a contributing structure in the Hyde Park Historic District. It will no […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic naming procedures enshrined
Following up on a request from one historic home owner, the Historic Landmark Commission has filled a gap in their rules and officially established naming conventions for historic buildings. Up until this point, according to Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky, historic buildings were named by him at the time of application for historic designation using […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Vows, complaints and questions
Not half bad… The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors has been challenged to walk its talk. At last Tuesday’s work session, activist Zenobia Joseph took aim at the agency’s proposed bus network redesign and the claims that it will put hundreds of thousands of residents within a half-mile walk from a transit route. […]