City of Austin Chronicling East Austin's Rich History

The City of Austin has launched a major new effort to document the rich heritage of communities east of Interstate 35. Through the East Austin Historic Resource Survey, Austin Planning’s Historic Preservation Office is using fieldwork, archival research, and community input to create a record of places, traditions, and stories that are at risk of being forgotten as the area continues to experience rapid growth and transformation. 

The project area is bounded by Manor Road to the north, Lady Bird Lake to the south, Airport Boulevard on the east, and I-35 on the west. Residents may notice teams from the City and its consultant, Austin-based HHM & Associates, taking photos of commercial buildings, homes, parks, and other longstanding resources. All survey work will be done from within the public right-of-way. 

Current and former East Austin residents and other community members from across the city are invited to share stories about people, groups, buildings, and neighborhoods in the area between now and spring 2027. 

“East Austin contains so many significant places for local communities and Austin as a whole,” said Historic Preservation Division Manager Kim McKnight. “We hope community members get involved to share stories that haven’t been formally documented.” 

Historic resource surveys are crucial planning tools to identify properties that may be eligible for local designation as historic landmarks or historic districts, or inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.  

The East Austin Historic Resource Survey is a major update and expansion of a 10-year-old survey of Central East Austin. It is a planning tool only and does not include zoning changes, land use changes, or property tax adjustments. It focuses on properties built before 1983 because they are approaching a 50-year eligibility standard set by City Code and will be able to begin the process to earn historic designation. 

To spread awareness, Austin Planning has produced a short video about the project that can be found on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the survey at SpeakUpAustin.org/EastAustinSurvey.