May is Preservation Month, the perfect time to get involved with the City’s Equity-Based Preservation Plan! The draft plan is open for public feedback until Friday, May 31.

Two FREE special events are happening soon in East and South Austin. The public is invited to attend to learn more:

• Block Party on Saturday, May 18, 12-4 p.m. on Givens Avenue in East Austin’s Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross Historic District. Co-sponsored by Preservation Austin, the Block Party will feature kids’ activities, tours of the historic neighborhood by Black Austin Tours, free food from local businesses, and DJ Lauren Light.
• Community Open House on Thursday, May 23, 4-7 p.m. at the landmark Broken Spoke. Dig into the draft plan, share feedback, and enjoy light refreshments and live music.

“We’re excited to connect with community members about the draft plan in two unique historic places,” said Cara Bertron, Program Manager with the City’s Planning Department. “With two weeks left to give feedback, we hope more people will join the many Austinites who have contributed to this important community-based effort.”

The draft Equity-Based Preservation Plan was created by a diverse community working group appointed by the Historic Landmark Commission. The group met over a year and heard input from a range of community members and stakeholders. In total, more than 300 people helped to shape the draft plan. When adopted by City Council, the plan will replace Austin’s existing historic preservation plan from 1981.

The draft plan envisions engaging communities to protect and share important places and stories. It proposes using the past to create a shared sense of belonging and to shape an equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and economically viable future for all. Fourteen goals and more than 100 draft recommendations support that vision, and the City is seeking community feedback on all of them by May 31.

The draft plan was released for community review in February. Outreach to date has included events at Huston-Tillotson University and the Baker School in Hyde Park, tabling at about 25 community events, deep dives with professional organizations, nearly 30 presentations to community groups and City commissions, and a social media campaign. Ten community ambassadors and five local organizations are being funded to help engage historically marginalized communities around the draft plan.

Public comments for the plan close on May 31. Don’t miss out on this important opportunity to help us learn from our past to shape a future for everyone. For more information on the plan and upcoming events, visit PublicInput.com/ATXpresplan.