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City unveils expanded East Austin historic-resources survey; will document ~9,000 resources through 1983
Summary
UT-affiliated consultants and city staff briefed the commission on an East Austin Historic Resources Survey update that will expand the geographic boundary, document resources built through 1983 (about 9,000 resources on 7,000+ parcels) and run through 2028 with public workshops and targeted outreach.
University of Texas consultants and city preservation staff presented an update to the East Austin Historic Resources Survey during the Historic Landmark Commission meeting on June 3, describing the project’s scope, methods and public-engagement timeline.
Dr. Tara Dudley, representing the HHM team and the University of Texas School of Architecture, said the update expands the 2016 survey area eastward to Airport Boulevard and will document resources built through 1983. "We're going to maintain Manor Road to Lady Bird Lake as north-south boundaries and extend east to Airport Boulevard to capture resources up to 1983," she said, adding the team expects to survey roughly 9,000 resources across more than 7,000 parcels.
Dudley described three main survey components — field work (photographs and physical documentation), archival research (historic contexts and occupancy histories) and community input (oral histories and a community questionnaire). She emphasized the survey is an informational and planning document: it can recommend properties eligible for designation but does not change zoning or taxes. "These recommendations are informational; it is up to property owners or other stakeholders to pursue designation," she said.
Cara Bertrand of the Historic Preservation Office said the project will include targeted outreach to property owners identified as eligible, and that the draft report will be open for public feedback in early 2028 with a final report and targeted follow-up later that year. The first public event will be Sept. 15 at the French Legation and the team anticipates two or three mini grants and volunteer opportunities to help the fieldwork and outreach.
Commissioners thanked the team and encouraged early targeted outreach, noting the updated historical contexts and oral histories will help surface under-documented sites and stories. The commission requested continued briefings as the team moves toward the draft report and public workshops.
