In Austin’s West Campus area — characterized today by towering apartment buildings, huge window panes, bright signs, and a boisterous population of 15,000 students — a medium-sized house known as Whitehall Cooperative sits as a haven of affordable housing for its residents.

SB 2639 threatens the future of historic preservation in Texas by rewriting the rules for how cities protect significant historic sites. The bill will be heard in the House Committee on Land and Resource Management on Thursday, May 22 at 8 AM. Please reach out to the members of the Committee members and urge them to vote NO on SB 2639. Read on for more. 

Preservation Austin and our partners secured Council's vote to SAVE 1500 East 12th Street from demolition by Eureka Holdings. We needed a supermajority vote of 9 of 11 members to designate and against all odds we GOT EM!

On Thursday, December 12, Austin City Council will vote to designate 1500 East 12th Street as a City of Austin Landmark and protect it from demolition. This century’s old building, which is owned by Dallas-based developer Eureka Holdings, is currently threatened with demolition. Click to learn more and help us #SaveEast12th

On Thursday, November 21, Austin City Council will vote to adopt a new Equity-Based Preservation Plan. Let Council know that you SUPPORT the adoption of a visionary future for protecting Austin’s historic, architectural, and cultural heritage. Click for more information on how you can help.

Preservation Austin sent a historic preservation-focused questionnaire to the candidates running for seats in the Austin City Council. The decisions made by City Council impact a range of preservation activities in our city. Click to read what the candidates had to say.

The building was formerly home to the historically significant University Junior High, which played a pivotal role in the desegregation of Texas public schools by voluntarily integrating in 1957 and contains murals by celebrated Austin muralist Raul Valdez.

May is National Preservation Month, and it’s worth taking a pulse on preservation efforts across Austin. Historic preservation has evolved from its origins as a predominantly white, “elite,” effort focused on saving “pretty” buildings. Today, preservation is shifting to a more inclusive and equitable conversation around cultural heritage, sustainability, and affordable housing – including right here in our city.