The former home of one of Austin’s most famous African-American baseball players may soon be restored, but that restoration will take place without the benefit of a city tax abatement this year. Historic Landmark commissioners voted 7-2 to deny the tax abatement for the Willie Wells house at 1705 Newton St. after the home failed […]
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
Why would two homes cross the street? Preservation.
Though there were some initial reservations about the plan, Historic Landmark commissioners unanimously approved the relocation of two downtown homes at their last meeting. Commissioners approved the release of relocation permits for 606 and 608 E. Third St. on the condition that the developer, Manchester Financial Group, complete a state-required archaeological study and follow through […]
Posted inPreservation
Panel pushes for preservation, despite house deficiencies
Despite concerns that the physical structure lacks historic integrity, the Historic Landmark Commission has voted to move forward with historic zoning for the home of one of East Austin’s most prominent African-Americans. Commissioners voted 6-4 to initiate historic zoning on the home at 1308 E. 12th St., which was originally constructed sometime prior to 1933. […]
Posted inPreservation
Not enough historic value in getting plastered, says commission
Despite a last-minute push to preserve its unique exterior, the fate of a Central Austin home was sealed by the Historic Landmark Commission at its last meeting. The home at 3108 Grandview St. was originally brick before being covered with plaster. It was inhabited by “prominent plasterer” Ben Leifeste, who worked his trade of “palm […]
Posted inPreservation
Pemberton bid for historic zoning raises questions about Austin’s racist past, historic future and policy on tax abatement
Is historic preservation honoring Austin’s racist past? That’s the question that came up at the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission during a sprawling conversation that ultimately landed on how the city manages its historic tax exemptions. In the end, commissioners recommended historic designation for the 1930 William F. and Eleanor Warren House […]
Posted inPreservation
Corrected: Homes could thwart convention center project
On Monday, the Historic Landmark Commission heard a proposal that could move three of downtown Austin’s oldest homes to make way for development surrounding its largest hotel. Doug Manchester from the Manchester Texas Financial Group presented his plan to move two, possibly three, homes across the street from their current location at 604, 606 and […]
Posted inPreservation
Rosewood Courts preservation fight finds new life
Anyone who thought the bid to save Austin’s Rosewood Courts was over just lost a bet. This Thursday, City Council will consider initiating historic zoning on the East Austin housing project. Council Member Ora Houston has sponsored a resolution supporting both the zoning change and the nomination of Rosewood Courts to the National Register of […]
Posted inPreservation
City buys time on emotional West Lynn demolition
There’s trouble in Old West Austin, where the expense and maintenance of one of the city’s older homes is once again threatening its existence. The Slaughter-Dildy House at 611 West Lynn St. is a contributing structure in the West Line National Register Historic District, and it is slated for demolition. The home, which was built […]
Posted inDevelopment
Big changes at Green Pastures get HLC blessing
Plans to develop beloved institutions in Austin rarely go smoothly. But at the most recent Historic Landmark Commission meeting, South Austin’s Green Pastures proved the exception to the rule, when proposed development was embraced. The new owners of Green Pastures are proposing to construct two three-story hotel buildings, a greenhouse, a laundry room/office and a […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Late nights and postponements
Late meeting, again… Early in its tenure, the new City Council took pains to promise the public that the era of late Council meetings was over. A year later, that promise has not come to fruition, and Thursday some Council members took a minute to air their frustration with the current state of things. During […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics panel dismisses complaints against Historic Landmark Commission
For the second time in recent months, the Ethics Review Commission waded into the affairs of the Historic Landmark Commission in response to a complaint from an activist. But unlike the previous instance, the commission quickly dismissed the complaints, ruling that it did not have the jurisdiction to judge the merits of the allegations, which […]
Posted inPreservation
Seeking more info, HLC stalls demolition for now
For the first time under the 10-1 City Council system, all of the members of the Historic Landmark Commission were appointed and present at the commission’s final meeting of 2015. And, with everyone accounted for, it looks like some of the ideological questions the new commission has been struggling with since summer persist. Some of […]