City staff are stepping in to put the remains of a former Texas Historic Landmark in South Austin out of its misery, after decades of neglect have left the 173 year old ruins a threat to public safety. The structure at 6706 Bluff Springs Road, which was once home to prominent political figures at the […]
Preservation
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Trestle bridge advocates remain hopeful for future rehabilitation
With ownership of the historic trestle bridge on Third Street still unresolved, the city of Austin has hired engineering firm HDR to explore possible options for rehabilitating the century-old structure. The debate over whether the city or Union Pacific controls the bridge has dragged on for years but, by most accounts, the city and its […]
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Judges Hill home poised for property tax break in exchange for landmark zoning
Another 20th century home just north of downtown is poised to join Austin’s ranks of landmarked residences, with Historic Landmark Commissioners voting last week to initiate the site’s historic zoning. The San Gabriel Street home was built in 1927 by the prolific Edwin Kreisle, whose architectural legacy remains on display at sites like Fulmore Middle […]
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City’s Heritage Preservation Grant program to be retooled for upcoming fiscal year
The city’s Heritage Preservation Grant program will look a little different this year, with plans to undergo a “creative reset” under the leadership of Austin’s brand new Office of Arts, Music, Culture, and Entertainment. Last year, the program awarded $3,590,765 in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to 22 select projects at historic sites that ranged in […]
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Convention Center redevelopment explores options for two Downtown landmarks in its path
As Austin moves full steam ahead with plans to nearly double the size of its Convention Center, city staff are scrambling to keep two historic structures off its list of potential casualties. Located just across Red River from the existing Center, the buildings known as the Trask and Castleman-Bull Houses are no strangers to the […]
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Downtown Historic Resource Survey eyes seven new districts eligible for designation
The city’s Historic Preservation Office is putting the finishing touches on its long-awaited Downtown Austin Historic Resource Survey, with plans to present the final draft to Historic Landmark Commissioners this week. En route, staff stopped by City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee for a preliminary briefing on their findings, which mark the first attempt at […]
Posted inHousing
City eyes fund to preserve affordable housing, capitalize on overbuilt apartment market
In talking about the possibility of establishing a city fund specifically for preserving existing affordable housing stock, Council Member Marc Duchen said part of the motivation is to give the city more tools to step in before property owners decide to rebuild aging multifamily properties at higher price points. Using the recent, controversial redevelopment of […]
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Survey says Austin could benefit from promoting historic structures
The city, interested members of the public and HHM & Associates, Inc. have been working on a survey of historic downtown and near downtown buildings, trails and bridges to identify what landmarks might attract history-minded tourists to Austin. The survey includes neighborhoods that are bordered by MoPac on the west, I-35 on the east between […]
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Preservationists praise developer for giving Sixth Street historic buildings ‘some love’
As Dallas-based Stream Realty moves forward with efforts to revitalize more than 30 properties it owns along East Sixth Street, the company is evincing a notable shift in strategy: preserving historic buildings instead of replacing most of them with new construction. “We just really feel good about the retail story in Austin,” said Paul Bodenman, […]
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Historic survey of downtown Austin nears completion
Austin’s Preservation Office is poised to complete its Historic Resources Survey of the downtown area by the end of the year, wrapping up years of work documenting sites of cultural interest. Preservation Office Planner Sofia Wagner met with Historic Landmark Commission members earlier this month for a progress update on the project, which to date […]
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Plans to demolish Highland Park home with links to Commodore Perry faces backlash from neighbors
The owners of a West Austin property formerly home to the grandson of Edgar Howard “Commodore” Perry may find their plans to make way for new construction prove more challenging than expected. Last week, the Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously to postpone the request to demolish the midcentury modern residence, which owners claim would take […]
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Council decides against historic zoning for Running Rope Ranch
Despite strong statements of support for historic zoning from two of the newest members of City Council at last week’s meeting, fewer than half of the Council members voted in favor of designating a portion of the property known as Running Rope Ranch at 7304 Knox Lane in Northwest Austin as historic. As the Austin […]