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Preservation

Council OKs historic zoning for apartment house

City Council approved historic zoning on Thursday for the 1930s-era Tucker-Winfield Apartment House at 1105 Nueces St. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan voted against the designation and Council Member Ellen Troxclair abstained. Flannigan objected to the designation, at least in part,…

After demolition plans are scrapped, segregation-era school could become museum

After much debate over redevelopment, Austin is considering buying the Montopolis Negro School to preserve the segregation-era property. At the height of segregation, there were 42 schools for black children throughout Travis County; the Montopolis school is one of the…

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…

Penick Place historic bid goes 'a bridge too far'

Will Penick Place be Austin’s next local historic district? It’s possible, but a rough start at the Historic Landmark Commission means that neighbors hoping to enshrine their neighborhood will have to rethink their priorities, and most likely scrap a dogged…

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…

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…

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Another Montopolis Negro School clash at Travis County

Opponents of a plan to redevelop a chunk of land in Southeast Austin upon which sits a former segregation-era school for African-Americans were handed a pair of setbacks on Tuesday. After a heated discussion, the Travis County Commissioners Court declined…

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…

Commission facing limited options, West Line demolition postponed

The Historic Landmark Commission once again exercised one of the few options it has and postponed a demolition in the West Line Historic District at its most recent meeting. Commissioner Kevin Koch pointed out that the commission’s options were “quite limited”…

Push to landmark 1960s dairy homestead gets new life, and death, at City Hall

For a second time, the Historic Landmark Commission has denied historic zoning for a home that was once the site of the Schieffer Dairy. Though the house at 3901 Brookview Road is now headed for demolition, it has spurred the…

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.…

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…

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