Historic Zoning Remains in the Balance: Commission Ponders on East Side Building’s Complex Past in Austin

Historic Zoning Remains in the Balance: Commission Ponders on East Side Building’s Complex Past in Austin

The fate of a century-old edifice located at the intersection of East 12th and Comal streets in Austin hangs in the balance as debates about preservation worthiness escalate at the city’s Historic Landmark Commission. The building, located at 1500 E. 12th St., surfaced on the commission’s radar last month when a demolition application submitted by the real estate developer and owner, Eureka Holdings, stimulated polarizing neighborhood responses and accusations of duplicitous negotiation tactics.

A Fight for Preservation

Despite the city’s Preservation Office recommending the initiation of historic zoning, commission members have chosen to extend their scrutiny of the evidence, voting 9-1 to defer the case to the subsequent month’s meeting.

The argument for conservation largely hinges on the site’s historical functions as a German grocery and beer hall, and subsequently, a Black barbershop and music venue. According to staffers, these transformations illustrate the locality’s shifting demographic patterns throughout the 20th century. The East Austin Historic Resources Survey of 2016 also singled out the site as a potential landmark, citing its close proximity to the I.Q. Hurdle House and Southgate-Lewis House as a reason to maintain the historic corner intact.

Dissenting Voices from the Neighborhood

However, not everyone agreed with the staff’s conclusions. Some residents countered by arguing that their personal memories of the site, largely abandoned since the 1970s, tell a different story.

“This was a house of ill repute, where many illegal activities happened late into the night…this house does not represent the best of East Austin community, but the worst,” voiced Freddie Dixon, a former minister and native of East Austin.

Another resident, the proprietor of a local computer repair service, expressed his views more bluntly: “To be honest, most of us know this site as a whorehouse, or a crack den. Sadly, these are the unfortunate fates of many urban structures that exist past their intended lifespan. Preserving this building seems like a waste of city resources.”

Scrutiny from Eureka Holdings

Eureka Holdings, the contentious property owner, has made a name for itself with its stewardship of East 12th Street, agitating both City Hall and Austin’s Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods with its neglect of old buildings and the non-development of its extensive portfolio along the corridor.

Accumulating numerous citations for code violations, including failure to clean up trash and debris, disregard for basic maintenance, and unpermitted construction, the state of 1500 E. 12th has languished under Eureka Holdings’ management.

A Persistent Struggle for Preservation

In a July 2024 correspondent to the Historic Landmark Commission, Nate Jones, the president of the Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods, further chastised Eureka Holdings for its negligence, stressing the need for buildings that both testify to the area’s past and foster a sense of vitality and community.

“We need your courage, commitment and sustained attention to prevail in the face of indifferent actors who mock our legacy with LPs referencing South Park songs about gentrification and likening historic structures to toxic flora.”

A Community Fighting for Legitimate Recognition

As the debates rage on, the determination of whether historic zoning should be initiated for the 1500 E. 12th St. property remains unresolved. Yet, this ongoing dispute emblematically underscores the broader struggles faced by communities in preserving their cultural heritage and defining their identity amidst the ever-encroaching tide of urban development.