Driskill Hotel, at long last, historic

As of Thursday, Austin’s Driskill Hotel is officially considered “historic” by the city. City Council approved historic zoning for the hotel without much discussion Thursday, but the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission featured a brief discussion about the designation for the 1885 hotel, which is located at 604 Brazos St. “This has been a long time coming,” noted Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky, who explained that a recent change in ownership had paved the way for the zoning change application. “This is an iconic Austin landmark,” he continued. Ironically, the 1930s-era tower that is attached to the hotel was designated as a landmark several years ago, though the original hotel never was. Sadowsky explained that in 1969 the hotel, which had fallen into decline, was almost demolished before it was restored to its current state. “I know when I have people visiting from out of town, I always take them to look at it. It really is the showpiece of downtown Austin,” he said.