Balancing affordable housing and preservation in East Austin resulted in a dead-even split at the Historic Landmark Commission on Monday night, when a divided commission of six failed to recommend initiation of historic zoning for Rosewood Courts, one of the country’s first public housing projects. Commissioners voted 3-3, with Chair Mary Jo Galindo and Commissioners […]
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 inCity Hall
Ethics complaint filed against HLC commissioner
Less than one month after the first meeting of the new Historic Landmark Commission, ethics question are flying and a formal complaint has already been lodged. Kent Anschutz filed a complaint against Commissioner Arif Panju earlier this month, alleging conflict of interest in the Bluebonnet Hills Local Historic District case. Panju told the Austin Monitor that […]
Posted inPreservation
Stone cottage demolition leaves confusion behind
Over the weekend, James Retherford was arrested for criminal trespass while trying to stop the demolition of a stone cottage in Bouldin Creek. He was unsuccessful, and the house at 901 Dawson Road is no longer one of the nine intact stone cottages in the neighborhood. The news of the cottage’s demise is especially crushing […]
Posted inPreservation
Council denies landmark designation for Lightsey-Russell House
The yellow-clad neighbors who came out to urge preservation of the Lightsey-Russell House struck a chord with City Council, but not one strong enough to save the 83-year-old home at 1805 Lightsey Road from demolition. With a seemingly heavy heart, Mayor Steve Adler and four other Council members cast votes denying a petition by neighbors […]
Posted inPreservation
Austin to soon have one less A.D. Stenger home
When the Historic Landmark Commission meets later this month, it will not consider whether to grant historic zoning on a Barton Hills home designed by A.D. Stenger. That ship sailed last month, when a bare-bones commission did not have the unanimous votes needed for a postponement. With three commissioners absent and two positions vacant, any […]
Posted inPreservation
In East Austin, another demolition
East Austin will soon say goodbye to yet another home built in the early 1900s. At last week’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting, commissioners voted to release a demolition permit for the house at 1613 Canterbury St. Commissioners Terri Myers, Grace McKenzie and Michelle Trevino were absent. Mike Chibib, who is one of the owners of […]
Posted inPreservation
Pine Street Station may not be stationary for long
East Austin’s Pine Street Station may soon be on the move, with the unanimous approval of the Historic Landmark Commission. In what Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky called “an extremely unusual situation,” historic zoning was extended to the building earlier this year but not to the land that it sits on. The Capital Metropolitan Transit […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark Commission’s first case reveals deeper concerns
An ideological split and a skeleton crew of a commission have left the landmark status of an East Austin home in limbo for now. Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky “wholeheartedly recommended” historic zoning for the residence at 2005 Hamilton Ave., which was once home to one of Austin’s first African-American doctors and his wife, who […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic district will get new homes with commission blessing
A plan to build four new units in the Hyde Park Local Historic District sailed through the Historic Landmark Commission at its most recent meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the project, despite some worry from a neighbor that it could be better. Chair Laurie Limbacher explained their vote. “We are charged with being a […]
Posted inPreservation
Clarksville addition distresses preservationists
Plans to expand a 1935 Clarksville cottage have rattled Austinites worried about preserving the history of a neighborhood that they fear is disappearing piece by piece. The house at 1704 West 10th St. is currently a contributing building to the Clarksville National Register Historic District, but neighbors and preservationists worry that, with the addition, this […]
Posted inPreservation
Stone cottage raises passions at landmark commission
The new owners of one of the stone houses of the Bouldin Creek neighborhood would like to see it demolished to make way for their dream home. But at its last meeting, the Historic Landmark Commission bought a month’s time to see if there might be a way to save the house. Justin and Lauren […]
Posted inPreservation
Cemetery chapel plans delight and irritate
Plans to restore a 100-year-old city-owned chapel in Oakwood Cemetery sailed through the Historic Landmark Commission at its last meeting. But future plans for the East Austin chapel have some people worried. The Parks and Recreation Department was seeking a certificate of appropriateness for the renovation of the 1914 chapel, which is located at 1601 […]