23 Staff briefing regarding the Downtown Austin Historic Resource Survey - Staff Presentation — original pdf

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Downtown Austin Historic Resource Survey Presentation to Planning Commission Austin Planning | Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Austin Planning Historic Preservation Office Project Sponsor HHM & Associates Preservation Consulting Firm Agenda • What are Historic Resource Surveys? • Survey Background & Methodology • Survey Recommendations • Frequently Asked Questions • Project Timeline • Future Survey Projects Historic Resource Surveys • Document buildings, structures, and objects that are at least 50 years old • Evaluate architectural character and historic associations • Recommend eligibility for historic designations, including: -Local landmark zoning (H) -Local historic district zoning (HD) -Individual National Register listing -National Register historic district listing • Are a foundational tool for historic preservation and should be updated every ten years Historic Resource Surveys • • • • Support City HPO staff evaluating permit and designation applications Support property owners seeking historic designation Survey data integrated into GIS planning tools Identify heritage tourist sites/districts and areas of importance to underrepresented communities Survey Background & Methodology • Downtown Austin was last surveyed in 1984 • 1,964 resources in 1,553 parcels surveyed • Boundaries: -Enfield Rd/MLK Jr. Blvd (north) -IH-35 (east) -Lady Bird Lake (south) -MoPac (west) 7 Step 1: Fieldwork Preparation • Data integrated into geospatial database as basemap: -Travis County Appraisal District -City of Austin historic zoning -National Register of Historic Places -Historic maps Step 2: Field Survey • Documented all resources constructed by 1975 • Both primary and auxiliary resources documented • Two photographs taken of each resource • Architectural character and physical integrity recorded Step 3: Post-Survey Processing 1. 2. Integrate historic research findings, including occupancy history Identify associated historic contextual trends and themes 3. Evaluate eligibility for both local and National Register designation 4. Assess potential historic district boundaries Survey Recommendations Historic Districts Historic Landmarks 14% 50% 50% 86% Surveyed resources within an eligible or listed district Other resources Surveyed resources eligible for landmark designation 11 Sample of Resources Eligible for Historic Designation 12 Recommended Historic District Boundaries 13 Frequently Asked Questions  Will this survey result in automatic zoning or tax changes?  Answer: No. The survey makes only advisory recommendations for historic resource eligibility.  Will voluntary owner-initiated historic designation result in zoning or tax changes?  Answer: It depends. Designation at the local level adds H or HD to the base zoning and can unlock property tax reduction incentives. Alterations must follow City design standards.  Designation at the federal level does not involve a zoning change and makes some properties eligible for rehabilitation tax credits. City provide advisory review of alterations. 14 Project Timeline October 28, 2025 October 28, 2025 Briefing to Briefing to Planning Commission Planning Commission Future Survey Projects  Continual and consistent historic resource surveys lay essential groundwork for historic preservation and are an invaluable part of all major cities’ preservation programs  Update and expansion of 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey  Prioritization of areas with high development pressure  Determination of funding 16 Thank You