Austin's efforts to reshape and redefine historic preservation have earned the city's Historic Landmark Commission significant accolades. The commission recently received the Commission Excellence Award in Best Practices: Public Outreach/Advocacy from the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC). This national nod of approval recognizes the city's first comprehensive preservation plan in decades, focusing on equity and inclusion.
With over a century of history, Austin's landscape is rich with stories, yet not all have been shared or preserved with the same vigor, "So much has changed in Austin and the historic preservation field since our last preservation plan in 1981. The Equity-Based Preservation Plan responds to those changes and proposes exciting steps for an even more effective program and a better shared future," Ben Heimsath, Chair of the Historic Landmark Commission, acknowledged.
The plan carves out 107 recommendations supporting 14 goals that include stabilizing communities and enhancing the stewardship of heritage assets. These suggestions are laid with a clear aim: promoting an equitable share of preservation's benefits across Austin's diverse populations.
However, instead of bringing in external consultants, a different path was charted - the creation of the Preservation Plan Working Group. The selection process saw entries from 150 applicants, with half opting into compensation, “This has been a community-centered process from the beginning,” Austin Planning Department's Director, Lauren Middleton-Pratt said. With a roster reflecting the city's socio-ethnic diversity, the group was tasked to engage with the wider community actively. They managed to clock in 1,100 hours, engaging an additional 2,600 people in the spring of 2024, to refine the draft Equity-Based Preservation Plan.
Feedback for this groundbreaking initiative didn’t just emerge from community members but spanned across stakeholders, including business owners, developers, and cultural heritage-keepers. The strategy found resonance with the NAPC, leading to the prestigious award. "We hope that this award encourages more cities to follow Austin’s lead in centering equity in historic preservation planning and policies,” expressed NAPC’s Executive Director, Stephanie Paul, highlighting the innovative character of Austin's initiative.
For more information on the plan and to follow its progress towards formal adoption by the City Council, Austin’s citizens are encouraged to visit SpeakUpAustin.org/ATXpresplan.
