This is a summary of formal motions, votes and official outcomes from the City of Austin Historic Landmarks Commission meeting on Jan. 8, 2025.

Key outcomes

- Consent agenda approved (unanimous). Items approved on consent included minutes for Dec. 4, 2024, and certificates of appropriateness or related cases noted as consent in the staff report (items 6, 7, 9, 11, 13 and others listed on the agenda). The consent agenda passed with all commissioners present raising hands in favor.

- Historic zoning approved for 610 Baylor Street (Elton and Lucy Perry House). Motion: “Move to approve historic zoning based on architecture and historic associations.” Mover: Commissioner Kevin Cook. Second: Commissioner Harmony Grogan. Vote: unanimous in favor; Commissioner Carl LaRoche was off the dais and recorded absent for this vote. Outcome: approved (historic zoning established).

- Demolition permit release for 1606 Garden Street (single-story home, c.1912). Motion: “Move to release the application.” Mover: Commissioner Jaime Alvarez. Second: Commissioner Trey McWhorter. Vote: 7 yes, 1 no (Commissioner Tara Dudley opposed). Outcome: demolition permit released upon completion of the City of Austin documentation package per staff recommendation.

- Postponement — 810 West 11th Street (demolition of a contributing property in West Downtown). Motion to postpone to February: Mover: Commissioner Carl LaRoche. Second: Commissioner Harmony Grogan. Vote: unanimous among commissioners present. Outcome: application postponed to February meeting.

- Postponement — 26100 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (Capital Area Research and Radiation Center). Motion to postpone to February (to allow additional neighborhood engagement): Mover: Vice Chair Roxanne Evans. Second: Commissioner Tara Dudley. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: application postponed to February meeting for further community discussion and follow up.

- Retain West 12th Street parking (1113–1115 West Lynn Street). The commission voted to issue a letter of support to retain the existing West 12th Street parking associated with the reconstruction and facade perpetuation at 1113–1115 West Lynn. Motion read and passed unanimously; basis cited was long historic use of the parking and neighborhood support. Outcome: formal HLC letter of support for retaining West 12th Street parking was approved.

Other procedural postponements and notes

- The commission approved multiple applicant‑ and staff‑requested postponements for items scheduled on the agenda (items 3, 5, 8, 10 (discussion postponement), 12, 14, etc.). These postponements were approved by voice vote or hand raise, generally unanimously. Commissioner LaRoche recorded an abstention on item 14 due to a potential conflict of interest (noted on the record).

Context and next steps

- Several demolition or modernization items tied to Austin ISD’s bond program were previewed in a separate briefing; staff warned that AISD‑related campus items that may meet historic criteria are expected to appear before the commission beginning in February. Commissioners expressed interest in further community engagement and preservation‑sensitivity coordination with AISD staff and design teams.

- For the permit releases that were approved, staff retained standard conditions (documentation package requirements) and noted legal or procedural limits (e.g., the HLC does not have direct regulatory jurisdiction over environmental remediation on sites such as the radiation center; those issues are handled by other agencies). For postponed items, staff and applicants were directed to continue community outreach and to return with updates at the February meeting.

Ending: The commission closed the meeting after committee reports and adjourned; staff will post follow‑up items and the Feb. agenda will include the postponed items described above.