(Community Matters) Austin’s historical landmark designation program is in trouble – AAS article here.
Fortunately, city staff now appears to be exercising higher levels of qualification in their recommendations. This program can work, should work but there has got to be reins on its scope and size – we can’t afford unlimited tax concessions. Just like our family budgets, the amount of outstanding tax abatements should be set and held. These abatements may have to expire over time to allow more properties to qualify. And, our standards for what qualifies as historical should be raised and judiciously enforced.
This program’s trouble stems in part because over zealous preservationists gaming the system – using bogus designation of historic to prevent property owners from remodeling, even completely rebuilding on their property sites. Also in part because sophisticated property owners have abused the system for tax breaks without any real judiciousness by the city staff and city commissions overseeing the program. In these austere times, it’s not inappropriate that we have to modify terms of this program in order to preserve it and continue preserving historical structures.
Community Matters 