Preservation Austinis thrilled to announce that Austin City Council designated the Hill-Thompson House as a City of Austin Landmark at their May 28 meeting. The residence, located at 1906 Maple Avenue, was designed by pioneering Black architect John S. Chase, FAIA, for civic leader Irene Hill-Thompson, widow of Oscar Thompson, the first Black student to graduate from The University of Texas at Austin.

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

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.

The City of Austin’s Historic Preservation Office and consultants The Projecto and Open Chair have wrapped up the final portion of the three-year long Translating Community History project, which focuses on engaging with community members about the buildings and stories that make places special.

Since its inception, Rosewood Park has served an indispensable role in the lives of East Austin’s Black community and continues to provide the neighborhood with a grand public space for recreation.

On September 3rd, 2020, Austin City Council voted to designate the Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross District. It is the first historic district in Austin to recognize the history of a primarily African American neighborhood.