District 7 - Mike Siegel
What is your favorite historic place in your district and why?
The Moore-Hancock Cabin on Sinclair Avenue. My friends Karen and Michael Collins have been working on protecting and restoring the location for years, and have turned it into a place that includes beautiful wildflower gardens (including plants that support Monarch butterflies) as well as a venue for community gatherings and celebrations.
The City of Austin will soon adopt a new Equity-Based Historic Preservation Plan to replace Austin’s 1981 historic preservation plan with an inclusive, community-oriented process and outcome. Its proposed policies, programs, and tools will help the City Council, Historic Landmark Commission, City departments, and partners address challenges and support thriving communities. The plan is set to be adopted by Council later this year, and its future success will rely on buy-in from Council to execute its recommendations.
If elected, would you support the plan’s recommended policy changes and budget allocations to ensure that the future of preservation in Austin is proactive, collaborative, and accessible to all? Please explain.
YES
One of the things I love about the Equity-Based Historic Preservation Plan is how intentionally it relates to and connects with other strategic plans in Austin, including those focused on climate resilience and affordable housing. We are more likely to build a strong coalition in support of preservation goals when those goals intersect with popular demands for housing and climate action.
Research shows that older, smaller homes are more naturally affordable for renters and owners than new construction. Last year, Preservation Austin, Austin Infill Coalition, and AIA Austin partnered on a new Preservation Bonus that was adopted as a part of HOME Phase 1. The bonus exchanges increased development entitlements for preserving single-family homes built before 1961. Research conducted by Cedar shows that expanding entitlements for Preservation Bonus projects to include increased impervious cover and an additional developable unit can generate 10x as many housing units as the current bonus allows (see report HERE).
If elected, would you support increasing entitlements for Preservation Bonus projects to maximize the effectiveness of the bonus, preserve existing housing, and support sustainability and affordability goals? Why or why not?
YES
We cannot rely on the housing market to respect our preservation goals or ensure equitable housing outcomes. I support interventions by the City government that helps us achieve our policy objectives, including increasing entitlements and providing other public support that allows us to preserve affordable housing and promote sustainability and equity.
Historic resource surveys inventory historic neighborhoods and make recommendations for buildings and districts that are eligible for historic designation. Accurate and up-to-date surveys enable City staff, elected officials, and citizens alike to make decisions about which properties and neighborhoods ought to be protected. For example, in 2020 the Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross neighborhood successfully became Austin's first local historic district dedicated exclusively to Black heritage. This effort relied on data gathered in the 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey to define the district's boundaries and identify contributing structures. Without the 2016 survey, this historic district may not have been possible.
If elected, will you support continued funding for surveys and the City’s preservation office? Will you honor the findings of these surveys by supporting historic zoning for individual landmarks and districts? Please explain your answer.
YES
As Austin urbanizes with population growth, it's critical that we protect our links to the City's origins, including sites of cultural and historical value.
We know based on our research that between 2010 and the end of 2021, finalized residential demolitions per year rose from 271 to 622, an increase of 130%. These older buildings are often constructed with more sustainable materials than new buildings and provide more affordable housing than new construction. Rehabilitation rather than demolition of existing structures also reduces waste and is more sustainable. In 2020, construction and demolition debris accounted for approximately 25% of all waste produced in Travis County's three municipal solid waste landfills. Cities such as San Antonio and Portland have adopted deconstruction ordinances to slow demolitions and divert landfill waste.
If elected, would you support policy solutions that encourage sustainable building practices via preservation? How do you think our community can embrace this as part of our efforts to create a more sustainable and equitable Austin?
YES
Our City, and District 7 in particular, is very environmentally conscious. And even those members of our community who want to support increased density—as a way to provide more housing and decrease car trips—also want to make sure we are as environmentally responsible as possible. Linking preservation with environmental impacts helps illustrate that this is not just about "protecting old buildings" but more broadly, about responsibly conserving our existing resources and minimizing our negative environmental impacts.
Many Texas cities establish historic districts to protect their heritage by preventing demolitions and ensuring new construction is compatible with surrounding historic buildings. Dallas has 21 districts, Houston has 19, and San Antonio has 27, while Austin has only 8. The creation of new historic districts was made more difficult following the adoption of HB1474 by the Texas State Legislature in 2021, which requires a supermajority of Council to vote in favor of a local historic district if even one owner in the district objects.
Do you support the establishment of more Local Historic Districts to protect Austin’s historic neighborhoods? Why or why not?
YES
I would love to learn more about which additional districts we should create in Austin. I see this tactic as a powerful way to protect our historical and cultural legacy.
In 2023 City Council officially proclaimed October as Legacy Business Month in honor of Preservation Austin’s inaugural Legacy Business Month passport program, which encourages Austinites to support participating businesses and broadly promotes their heritage. The city’s explosive growth has made protections and financial support for legacy businesses more important than ever. City governments in San Francisco and San Antonio have adopted ground-breaking legacy business programs to protect and support their cities’ legacy businesses through designation, education, and directly supporting businesses with financial resources.
If elected, would you support creating a similar program for the City of Austin? Why or why not?
YES
This seems like a great way to support local businesses and help Austinites learn about hidden gems in our community.
Underrepresented Heritage is one of Preservation Austin’s Advocacy Priorities. East Austin continues to experience increased rates of displacement and demolition of historic places significant to its Black and Brown neighborhoods. Recently, we’ve advocated for historic zoning for properties in East Austin such as the Sinnigson House and 1500 E. 12th Street. Often, the designation of these properties is supported by our Historic Preservation Office, the Historic Landmark Commission, and Planning Commission, but fail at City Council due to a lack of supermajority votes needed to designate over an owner’s objections.
If elected, would you support designating properties over an owner’s objections? What is your threshold for determining if a property merits designation? Please explain.
YES
I would work closely with preservation advocates and community members to understand the importance of an historic zoning designation. My threshold would be based on the merits of an application as well as the strength of community support.
As a member of Austin City Council, what is one policy or initiative you would enact to ensure the preservation of our city’s historic and cultural heritage?
Supporting energy efficiency improvements for older and historic properties. Our electric utility already has a "weatherization" program for multifamily properties that subsidizes upgrades for energy efficiency. This is an important program that puts money back in the pockets of working people through lower utility bills while reduces energy consumption. I would support efforts to extend these programs to historic and cultural sites, so that existing residents can comfortable reside in these properties and reduce their climate impact.