It may be easier for properties in Austin to be zoned historic now. Until a few weeks ago, if a property owner filed written opposition to the designation, the city’s Historic Landmark Commission needed a two-thirds vote to override those wishes and recommend the site for historic zoning. An ordinance passed by City Council last […]
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
Commission considers a house by other name
Much like Tara and Wuthering Heights, historic homes in Austin have names of their own. But a recent bid for immortality on Judges Hill at the Historic Landmark Commission revealed the naming process might stand to have a few established parameters. At the Sept. 25 meeting of the commission, Mo Olian requested to have his […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Animal protection
Pine Forest still driving up Bastrop’s legal bills… During the past year, the city of Bastrop has paid an additional $106,308 to the lawyer representing the city and Bastrop County in their continuing legal battle with the Pine Forest Investment Group, according to Tracy Waldron, Bastrop’s chief financial officer. Last September, the Austin Monitor reported […]
Posted inPreservation
Botched demo agitates Preservation Office
A pile of rubble on the east side could spark changes in how the city handles demolitions. At the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky presented “unfortunate news” about the demolition of 1401 East Third Street. Instead of the careful demolition that he had anticipated, the lot had […]
Posted inPreservation
Demolition ahead for Pressler Street bungalow
The West Line Historic District will be losing a Pressler Street bungalow to demolition. A bid for historic preservation against the wishes of the owner fell flat at the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission. Commissioners voted 8-0 to allow the demolition of the 1930 home at 802 Pressler St., taking a moment […]
Posted inPreservation
Plan to move Old Negro Women’s Home out of town stalls at City Hall
Despite palpable compassion for its owner, the Historic Landmark Commission threw its full weight behind keeping the building that was once the Old Negro Women’s Home in East Austin at its last meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of individual historic landmark status for the home at 1210 Rosewood Ave. over the objections of the […]
Posted inPreservation
Tarrytown home officially a ‘tear-down’ now
Austin will say goodbye to another Fehr and Granger home after a short-handed Historic Landmark Commission failed to move forward with a recommendation for historic zoning at its most recent meeting. Unlike most cases where the Historic Preservation Office weighs in on one side or the other, in this case staff was “neutral” about the […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Recent study reveals benefits of Austin’s historic neighborhoods
Longtime Austin residents and historic preservation advocates have new data to back up their defense of neighborhood character thanks to a report that has made its way into local CodeNEXT discussions. Last week, Council Member Leslie Pool shared a link to the Atlas of ReUrbanism, published late last year, on the City Council Message Board […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Good vibes
Worth getting up for… Sometimes in the course of covering events for the Austin Monitor there are moments when it seems like things are going to go off the rails. It happens pretty frequently during the public comment portion of a meeting – we still love you heavy metal egg lady! – when a citizen […]
Posted inPreservation
Bouldin demolition raises odd questions, provides no answers at Historic Landmark Commission
There was a great deal of confusion on the dais at the Historic Landmark Commission meeting Monday night following a plea from a homeowner opposed to the proposed demolition of her own home. “I really don’t understand how it works. I’m really not even sure who it is that wants it demolished,” said homeowner Joanne […]
Posted inThe Code
Historic Landmark Commission reforms hit a bump
Despite an agreement across sides that the current process is “Kafkaesque,” the Planning Commission did not vote to support an amendment that would change the number of Historic Landmark commissioners it takes to recommend historic zoning over the objections of property owners. Currently, the Historic Landmark Commission must recommend historic zoning in such cases with […]
Posted inPreservation
West Line home plans unsettle landmark commission
Despite some strong indications that it might be fruitless, Historic Landmark commissioners voted May 22 to postpone a recommendation for a new Old West Austin home in the hopes that something different might be built. Last year, the Historic Landmark Commission took several months and about six hearings to contemplate the demolition of the 1915 […]