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.

Preservation Austin is thrilled to share that East Austin’s Green & White Grocery was officially designated a City of Austin Landmark. From the store’s founding during segregation to its endurance in the face of gentrification and increased displacement, the story of Green & White Grocery is a testament to the resilience of Austin’s Mexican American community.

Preservation Austin is proud to be able to provide the following worthy projects with grant funding: Lydia Street window restoration, Zeta Phi Beta window restoration, Palm Park Shelter House engineering, and the I-35 Capital Express Expansion documentation project.

Join our intern Matthew Medina on a tour of the sites associated with the advocacy and organizing of the Austin Chicano Huelga Movement.

In anticipation of Green & White Grocery becoming a City of Austin Historic Landmark this year, we are thrilled to share the work of Fowler Family Underrepresented Heritage Intern, Matthew Medina, and Preservation Austin Board Member, JuanRaymon Rubio, who assisted in the preparation of this landmark application.

In the early 1970s, East Austin was the setting of a two-and-a-half-year-long labor strike by the overwhelming majority Mexican American workforce of the Economy Furniture Industries plant.

The recent rehabilitation of East Austin’s Frias Grocery Store by an Austin resident is a great example of how to sensitively meld business, residential, and cultural goals while honoring the surrounding community.

A letter to our community on the recent passage of the HOME Ordinance, our work on the Preservation and Sustainability Bonuses, and the future of our advocacy for older and historic neighborhoods.