Office of Historic Preservation Events & Announcements

              

Historic District Design Guidelines Coming Soon

Our office recently kicked off a project to create citywide historic district design guidelines.  The citywide historic district design guidelines will have a profound effect on the future development and preservation of our historic districts and resources.  The establishment of more substantial, detailed city-wide Historic District Design Guidelines for San Antonio will provide predictability in the interpretation and implementation of design standards, consistency of information during the design review process, incentive for investment, and possible economic stability for property values.

It has been noted that guidelines can help to:        

1.  Explain and expand upon the general design regulations of a local ordinance.

2.  Reinforce and preserve the character of a historic district.

3.  Protect investment values, which can be threatened by unmanaged growth or development.

4.  Provide developers a view to the type of design a community encourages or dislikes.

5.  Serve as a reference for design issues and architectural details specific to a community.

We need your input for the design guideline process!  Take a moment to complete a survey about the proposed historic district guidelines.  We appreciate your interest and participation in this important project.

                                               First Public Meeting Presentation - November 30th

Our consultants for the historic district design guidelines are:   Clarion Associates and Hardy Heck Moore

 

Preservation Newslink - OHP Monthly Newsletter

Keep up to date on preservation activities and events with our Office of Historic Preservation monthly newsletter: Preservation Newslink.  If you have a preservation story or announcement you would like to have included in our newsletter, please contact Nicholas Fuqua at 207-0066.

January 2012 Newsletter                                                                          

Past Editions

 

 

S.T.A.R. - Students Together Achieving Revitalization - Service Learning Project

S.T.A.R. (Students Together Achieving Revitalization) is a partnership between the Office of Historic Preservation, the UTSA College of Architecture and San Antonio College, and local contractors to provide minor exterior home repairs and maintenance to homeowners within local historic districts.  Graduate and undergraduate architecture students assist property owners with repairs to windows and screens, siding, and porches, as well as provide general yard maintenance and exterior painting. Several contractors have generously volunteered their time to work with students, and other sponsors have donated food, supplies, and funding.

Past S.T.A.R. projects have assisted numerous homeowners in the Dignowity Hill and Tobin Hill Historic Districts. Check out our Past Events page for more information and photos of past S.T.A.R. projects.

If you are a contractor or other volunteer interested in assisting with this program or if you would like to provide sponsorship for a future S.T.A.R. project, please contact the Office of Historic Preservation at 215-9274.

 

Five Points Potential Historic District

A public meeting was held on November 15th at the request of property owners within the Five Points neighborhood for a potential Five Points Historic District.   See the map below for the proposed district boundary.  Property owners within the boundary area have a minimum of 90 days from the date of the public meeting to return signature forms either in favor or opposition to the proposed district designation.  For further information about the potential Five Points Historic District, see the public meeting presentation at the link below or contact Elizabeth Porterfield at 207-3327.

Proposed Five Points Historic District Map

Proposed Five Points Historic District Public Presentation

 

Oak Hills Potential Historic District

A public meeting was held on February 7th for a potential Oak Hills Historic District.  See the map below for the proposed district boundary. Oak Hills is a mid-20th century neighborhood of ranch houses and contemporary homes with winding streets and vistas of downtown.  This is the first mid-century neighborhood in San Antonio to seek potential historic designation.  A second public meeting will be held soon (date and time to be determined).  Property owners within the proposed boundary will be notified by mail when the second meeting date has been set.  For further information about the potential Oak Hills Historic District, see the public meeting presentation at the link below or contact Elizabeth Porterfield at 207-3327.

Proposed Oak Hills Historic District Map

Proposed Oak Hills Historic District Public Presentation

For more information about the increased interest in mid-20th century resources and how our more recent past is evolving within historic preservation, check out the mid-century links at Dwell Magazine and the links below from the San Antonio Express News.  Additional information is also available through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

               "San Antonio Historic Homes Get Modern"                 "Design Style Hooks Local Buyers"

 

Westside Cultural Resource Survey

The Office of Historic Preservation has partnered with  the Westside Historic Preservation Group, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, the Westside Development Corporation (WDC), the San Antonio Conservation Society, the National Trust for Historic Preservation Partners in the Field Program, and other members of the Westside community to launch a Westside Cultural Resource Survey.  A Kick-Off Event was held in February 2011 to initiate the project. The Paseo por el Westside took place in May 2011 during National Preservation Month and featured neighborhood walking tours, Westside presentations, food, music, and more.  

The Westside Cultural Resource Survey initiative is an ongoing project to identify, document, and protect places of cultural, historical, and architectural significance on the Westside of San Antonio.  Working with our community partners, we have identified numerous historic properties that are potentially eligible as historic landmarks (see Potential Landmark link below).  Stay tuned for more information about this exciting initiative!  If you are interested in participating in a Westside survey, please contact Elizabeth Porterfield at 207-3327 or elizabeth.porterfield@sanantonio.gov or the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center at 228-0201.

                            Westside Potential Landmarks                         Westside Matters Poster                         

 

"A Moment in History" - African American Heritage Month  at SAPL - February 11th

Celebrate African American Heritage Month at the San Antonio Public Library with "A Moment in History" honoring the early contributions of African Americans in the fight for freedom.  Local author, researcher, educator and community activist, Jerelyne Williams, will discuss histories of the Underground Railroad and the Road to Freedom.  Nina Fennell, history quilter, genealogist, and community activist, will display her family picture quilts showcasing her artistry and family history. Free and open to the public.

                                                     Saturday, Feb. 11th
                                                          1:30-3:00 pm
                                               Central Library Auditorium
                                                           600 Soledad

 

O'Neil Ford and the Future of Trinity Symposium - February 18th

Trinity University will sponsor a daylong symposium of scholars and architects from across the United States exploring the legacy of Trinity's primary architect O'Neil Ford. Titled O'Neil Ford and the Future of Trinity, the seminar will include discussions of O'Neil Ford's work at the Trinity campus, his influence on other educational institutions, and new approaches to landscape architecture, campus planning, and the reuse of mid-century buildings.  The symposium will be held on February 18th at 8:30 am with a continental breakfast in the foyer of the Chapman Center on the Trinity campus.  Registration fee is $20.  Click the link below for additional information. 

O'Neil Ford and the Future of Trinity Symposium      

 

Casa Navarro State Historical Site Grand Reopening - February 25th

Save the date for the grand reopening event of Casa Navarro and the Navarro Birthday Celebration! Come see the extensive renovations and new exhibits on Saturday February 25, 2012, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public! Delicious food will be available for purchase from KHill BBQ, Bistro Six, and Chela’s Tacos. For more information visit the Casa Navarro website or call 210.226.4801. The Casa Navarro complex includes the limestone house and outbuildings of Texas patriot Jose Antonio Navarro (1795-1871) and is located in the heart of downtown at  228 S. Laredo Street.

 

Texas Preservation Summit - March 22nd & 23rd

Join Preservation Texas for the Texas Preservation Summit on March 22nd and 23rd at the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin.  The Summit is an educational event for Texans to discover and develop strategic approaches and solutions to pressing preservation issues and to cultivate partnerships across the state.  The Summit will commence with the announcement of 2012 Texas' Most Endangered Places on the South Steps of the Capitol Building.  See the Preservation Texas website for additional information.

Preservation Texas promotes local preservation efforts and provides a network of resources to individuals and organizations across the state.

Texas Preservation Summit flyer

 

Preservation Texas - Call for Nominations for 2012 Preservation Honor Awards

For more than 20 years, Preservation Texas has highlighted successful preservation projects through its Preservation Honor Awards. The annual Honor Awards program recognizes outstanding and inspiring accomplishments in historic preservation across the state.  Preservation Texas invites you to participate by submitting nominations for exemplary projects, programs, and achievements by individuals or organizations.   All projects, activities or individual service must have been completed between January 2009 and December 2011.  Visit the Preservation Texas website for nomination procedures, guidelines and application.

Nominations must be postmarked or delivered to the PT office by 5:00 pm on February 29, 2012. 

Preservation Texas is the advocate for preserving the historic resources of Texas.

 

Check out some of our past events and programs!

Open the page below for information on some of our past events.

Office of Historic Preservation Past Events

 

 

 

OHP in the News

Open the page below for links to relevant news stories involving the Office of Historic Preservation and other preservation issues in San Antonio.   

Office of Historic Preservation News Stories

 

               

San Antonio Conservation Society Recipients of 2011 Community Grants Program

Using the proceeds from its 2011 presentation of “A Night In Old San Antonio^®” (NIOSA^®), the San Antonio Conservation Society has awarded $85,000 this year in grants to 13 historic preservation and educational projects that fulfill its purpose to “preserve and to encourage the preservation of historic buildings, objects, places and customs relating to the history of Texas, its natural beauty and all that is admirably distinctive to our State.” 

Since 1990, the Society has provided grants in the San Antonio area for the restoration or rehabilitation of residential and commercial historic structures that are at least 50 years old. Since 2000 alone, the Society’s grants program has awarded nearly two million dollars to individuals and organizations.  For a list of this year's recipients, click on the link below.

Conservation Society 2011 Community Grants Program Recipients

 

King William Neighborhood Designated a Cultural Arts District

The King William neighborhood has been designated a “Cultural Arts District” by the Texas Commission of the Arts.  The King William Historic District, the oldest in Texas, features numerous artist galleries and venues including Blue Star and Say Si just to name a few.  Check out the website at the link below for more information about the artistic and cultural attractions of the neighborhood.

King William Cultural Arts District

                                        

Historic Conservation Series on Texas Public Radio News

Texas Public Radio (TPR) News presents a special series of news reports highlighting historic conservation initiatives in and around San Antonio. The unique cultural heritage of South Central Texas is imprinted in the decades and even centuries-old architecture that still stands amidst our modern metropolitan landscape. Special guest reporter Michelle Koidin Jaffee recounts the rich history of San Antonio by sharing stories about preservation efforts around our community. This special series is made possible by a grant from the San Antonio Conservation Society.  Click on the link below for stories on the O. Henry House, the Borglum Studio in Brackenridge Park, Fort Sam Houston, and San Pedro Springs Park.

Texas Public Radio News Historic Conservation Series

 

Get Lost in the River Walk! - Smartphone Tour of Original Hugman Features

The San Antonio River Walk is a nationally recognized tourist attraction and one of the country’s most unique urban linear parks.  An initial concept for beautification and commercial development of the San Antonio River was conceived in 1929 by a visionary young architect named Robert H. H. Hugman. Work began on the River Walk project in 1939 under partial funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Hugman’s River Walk included the construction of numerous walkways, staircases, bridges, lush plantings, and the Arnesan River Theater. Although Hugman was dismissed from the project by the city in 1940, he was honored in the 1970s for his significant contribution to San Antonio. 

In recognition of R. H. H. Hugman’s important role in the development of the River Walk, the City has installed commemorative plaques at original Hugman features. The bronze plaques replicate the architectural seal used on Hugman’s original drawings.

A new Hugman Riverwalk Smartphone Tour has recently been unveiled highlighting 12 key Hugman features.  We invite you to explore our River Walk using this Historic Hugman River Walk Tour complete with text by renowned San Antonio historian Lewis Fisher and historic photos.  Get lost in the history of Hugman’s River Walk…enjoy your discovery!

The City of San Antonio was recently recognized with the International Downtown Association’s (IDA) Downtown Merit Award for its work on the Historic Hugman River Walk Tour.

 

Texas Star Trail Downtown Walking Tour Brochure

The San Antonio Conservation Society has unveiled the newly revised brochure for the self-guided Texas Star Trail Downtown Walking Tour of San Antonio’s historic sites. The Texas Star Trail Tour was initially produced by the Conservation Society in 1986 to celebrate Texas’ Sesquicentennial. With the help of the Office of Historic Preservation, the City’s Downtown Operations Department, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the walking tour has been updated to reflect the changes to our city’s core over the past 25 years.  

Historic sites are identified with a Texas Star medallion in the sidewalk in front of each structure. Smaller medallion markers in the sidewalk connect the sites along the 2.6 mile length. The revised Texas Star Trail brochure is available at the San Antonio Conservation Society’s headquarters at 107 King William Street, at the San Antonio Visitor Center at 317 Alamo Plaza, at the Office of Historic Preservation, and at the link below. Take a tour through downtown on the Texas Star Trail to discover our city's rich history!

Texas Star Trail Downtown Walking Tour Brochure

 

Houston Street Interpretive Kiosks

Explore downtown Houston Street and learn about the architecture and history of this significant commercial corridor through a series of interpretive kiosks. Former public telephone kiosks have been adaptively reused by the City's Downtown Operations Department and the Office of Historic Preservation, in partnership with the General Services Administration Good Neighbor Program. The eight kiosks between N. Alamo and N. Santa Rosa Streets feature interpretive panels highlighting many of the historic structures along Houston Street. 

Downtown Houston Street contains many examples of San Antonio’s spectacular commercial architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  As San Antonio developed into the largest city in Texas by 1900, Houston Street was transformed from a muddy lane into the city’s major business corridor.  In the period roughly between 1880 and World War II, Houston Street experienced an unprecedented building boom which produced some of San Antonio’s most beautiful commercial structures.

Houston Street Kiosk Brochure and Map

 

 

Strategic Historic Preservation Plan

The City Council, with a recommendation from the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC), adopted the citywide Strategic Historic Preservation Plan on Thursday, August 20th, 2009.  The plan includes recommendations in six major categories:  planning, zoning, economic development, historic resources, incentives and education/advocacy. The purpose of this initiative was to create broad-based community consensus about historic preservation issues so that we are better equipped to make sound decisions about the preservation of our historic buildings, sites, and districts. The Strategic Preservation Plan provides concrete strategies to enhance the preservation program and capitalize on our unique historic resources that have a proven positive impact on economic development, heritage tourism, and quality of life.

Now that the plan is adopted, the real work of implementation begins!  The implementation reports below highlight year one and year two achievements.

Strategic Historic Preservation Plan

2011 Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Implementation Report

2010 Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Implementation Report