Call to Action! Support Landmark Designation for Broken Spoke
At next week's May 18 meeting, City Council will vote to designate the Broken Spoke as a City of Austin Landmark. Write to Council by Wednesday, May 17 at noon and let them know that you support designating this Austin institution, protecting it for generations to come.
Read on for more information, including copy/paste language and contact information for your council member.
Why?
We know that landmark designation is one of the most important tools available to protect what remains of Austin’s historic and cultural heritage. In Austin, only a handful of legacy businesses are designated as City of Austin landmarks, including Cisco’s and Continental Club. While many legacy businesses often do not meet the criteria for designation, the Broken Spoke’s historic significance to Austin and the state of Texas is undeniable and must be recognized. The permanent protections offered by landmark designation are imperative to secure the future of this vital institution.
Preservation Austin’s support for the designation of the Broken Spoke is in alignment with our organization’s Legacy Business Advocacy Priority. Over the last several years, many of Austin’s most iconic businesses have shuttered due to economic and development pressures, with others expected to follow in the near future. Recognizing the urgent need to protect these important cultural landmarks, we adopted this priority to identify, uplift, and create new tools to preserve and sustain legacy businesses citywide.
City Council voted to initiate historic zoning for the Broken Spoke last fall. Since then, the Historic Landmark Commission and Planning Commission have voted unanimously to recommend the Broken Spoke as a City of Austin Historic Landmark.
When?
Item 74, Austin City Council, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm
How can you help?
Use the copy/paste language below to write to City Council to let them know you SUPPORT historic designation for the Broken Spoke by Wednesday, May 17 at noon.
Dear Members of Austin City Council,
I write to today to express my support for Item 74 on the May 18 Council agenda to designate the Broken Spoke as a City of Austin Historic Landmark. The Broken Spoke is an Austin institution whose existence is essential to the identity of our city and must be protected. Landmark designation is one of the best and only tools available to safeguard the future of the Broken Spoke. To date, only a handful of legacy businesses are designated as City of Austin landmarks, including Cisco’s and Continental Club. As we continue to lose many of the places and spaces that have defined the culture of Austin, Council must act to protect those that remain.
[Insert personal connection to the Broken Spoke]
The Broken Spoke’s historic significance to Austin and the state of Texas is undeniable and must be recognized––please take action to ensure it will be around for generations of Austinites to come and vote in favor of Item 74.
Thank you for your service to the City of Austin,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
Contact Information
Click here to write to all members of the Council. To write directly to your Council Member or the Mayor, copy their email below.
Mayor: Kirk Watson | mayor.watson@austintexas.gov
District 1: Natasha Harper-Madison | Natasha.Madison@austintexas.gov
District 2: Vanessa Fuentes | vanessa.fuentes@austintexas.gov
District 3: Jose Velasquez | jose.velasquez@austintexas.gov
District 4: Chito Vela | Chito.Vela@austintexas.gov
District 5: Ryan Alter | ryan.alter@austintexas.gov
District 6: Mackenzie Kelly | mackenzie.kelly@austintexas.gov
District 7: Leslie Pool | Leslie.Pool@austintexas.gov
District 8: Paige Ellis | paige.ellis@austintexas.gov
District 9: Zo Qadri | zo.qadri@austintexas.gov
District 10: Alison Alter | alison.alter@austintexas.gov