City May Designate First Local Historic District

heh heh heh. stupid rich people.

YES!!! I like, just bought over there. Sweet, now I am slightly richer.

Austinist: please start minting a platinum edition, so I no longer have to read the some bloggy news as people who live elsewhere or rent anywhere. Or at least 'go green' to help assuage my sublimated self-hatred.

The central-city ANC types are using this as a test case for much larger historic districts which WILL have an effect on housing prices. Hyde Park, NUNA, and the rest of OWANA are licking their chops if this one goes through.

I think it is interesting that this little-known group of houses might become Austin's first "Local Historic District" and I think historic preservation generally is interesting. I just don't think it is a big deal from a housing market perspective.

Um Shilli, it looks like you've got a post talking about how this is a big deal, and then two comments saying that this won't change anything. Maybe I'm misunderstanding? I'm almost done with this bottle of wine so maybe that is the problem...

This "district" consists of nine houses. Whether or not it is designated a Local Historic District, those houses aren't going anywhere (each probably qualifies for historic designation by itself), so the designation in no way restricts development. The surrounding area is already one of the most popular in Austin - I don't think this designation will have any effect on the desirability of nearby houses or condos. Your argument might hold water if all of Clarksville was being designated, but Harthan Street by itself isn't going to move the housing market.

Designating the neighborhood an historic district will absolutely make it and the area around it more expensive. For two reasons: 1) increased prices are the obvious impact of restricting development and 2) an historic neighborhood designation in an already popular area only makes it more attractive to developers and home buyers and that will drive up the price.

I guess it's not that big of a deal. It's not like that neighborhood is or ever will again be a bastion for diversity.

Heyzeus, it is a nice street. Plus, I would guess that the fact that the vice chair of OWANA lives in one of those houses has something to do with it.

Guest 2 - no.

Guest 3 - no potential for condos there.

Guest 4 - you are several blocks off. I would guess that the demographics of these particular houses has not changed much since they were built.

Guest 5 - I assure you that we are linking to Microsoft purely in a post post-ironic hipster sort of a way. If you don't understand it is only because we >> you in coolness. Plus, I am lazy and this is easy.

hey Austinist, WTF is up with all the Microsoft Live Maps images? Didn't you get the "Microsoft > Cool" memo?

Because a long long long time ago (like 60 years ago) that land belonged to black people who couldn't keep it in the familiy because the city wanted them out of there and now white people don't want to make that same mistake. Only they actually have the power to do so.

So maybe it's not Clarksville, but it's close enough.

That's crap. Do you realize the potential that area has for condo development. Think of the views!

Won't this continue to make central Austin even more expensive than it already is?

That street? Why?