Historic zoning remains in limbo as commission continues to ponder east side building’s complicated past

Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission Deliberates Over East Side Building

The fate of a century-old storefront at the corner of East 12th and Comal streets in Austin continues to hang in the balance as debates over its historical significance gain momentum within the city’s Historic Landmark Commission. Last month, 1500 E. 12th St. came under scrutiny following an application from real estate firm Eureka Holdings for the building’s demolition. This triggered polarized neighborhood views and allegations of insincere negotiations.

Albeit the city’s Preservation Office has endorsed the initiation of historic zoning, the commissioners decided to further evaluate evidence, voting 9-1 to postpone the case to next month’s meeting. The case for preservation revolves around the building’s former identities both as a German grocery and beer hall and subsequently a Black barbershop and music venue. These variations in use signify the neighborhood’s demographic transitions throughout the 20th century.

Voices of Dissent Against Designating the Site as a Historic Landmark

Despite the 2016 East Austin Historic Resources Survey flagging the building as a potential landmark due to its close proximity to the I.Q. Hurdle House and Southgate-Lewis House, a section of the local residents have voiced their disagreement with the findings. According to these residents, their memories of the site paint a different picture, especially since the building has sat idle since the 1970s.

“This was a house of ill repute, where many illegal activities unfolded deep into the night … It does not constitute the best, but instead the worst representation of the East Austin community,” argued former reverend Freddie Dixon. Elliot Dew, a neighboring resident, was even more direct, referring to the building as a “whorehouse, or a crack den,” and termed the preservation effort as a waste of city resources.

Allegations Against Eureka Holdings

Property owner Eureka Holdings has been equally controversial for purportedly neglecting older buildings and failing to re-develop its sizeable portfolio along the corridor, thereby distressing local residents and City Hall. At 1500 E. 12th, Eureka Holdings has received several citations for code violations, including failure to perform basic maintenance, failure to clean up trash and unpermitted construction.

“East 12th Street needs buildings that bear testimony to its past and facilitate new vitality and community,” argued OCEAN President Nate Jones. Given numerous instances of neglect and transitory uses, Jones calls for courage, commitment, and persistent attention to stand firm against indifferent actors, likening them to “toxic flora.”

The historic designation question for the East Austin building complexifies further the ongoing examination into how the urban landscape of the city intersects with legacies of racial and economic segregation. While the city awaits the Historic Landmark Commission’s final decision, residents and stakeholders continue to grapple with what local narratives ought to be memorialized and how to appropriately do so.