AUSTIN -- More than a half-dozen historically significant places in Texas are in danger of disappearing -- two are in Austin.
As downtown Austin grows up, some are worried that that too much history has been torn down.
"Austin can lose its soul; Austin can lose the things that make it special,” said Mark Holleran, Heritage Society of Austin.
Preservation Texas presented its list of the most endangered historic places in Texas on Thursday at the State Capitol. The list is usually limited to specific buildings, such as the Austin Woman's Club near downtown Austin.
This year, the organization also included all of downtown Austin.
They believe any historic buildings between Lady Bird Lake and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and from Lamar Boulevard to Interstate 35 are endangered by development.
Historic preservationists concede that the 2- and 3-story buildings which cover a lot of downtown Austin just may not offer the same profit potential as, say, a new building, built several stories into the sky.
“Getting the word out about historical preservation is the first job, and it’s really a grassroots effort, “said Mark Wolff, who leads the state agency in charge of historic preservation efforts in Texas.
The state just doesn't have the cash to make major investments in preserving historic buildings, even those right outside its front-door; he said that’s why it’s up to the public in many instances to preserve the past.
Historic preservationists and Austin visitors believe high-rises have a place, but so does history.
“If you walk around a city and every city looks the same, all high-rise buildings, you might as well just stay in your own city. I don’t want to go look at 25 different Las Vegases,” said Will Hanna who was visiting Austin from the Houston area.
The following five locations around Texas also made the most-endangered list:
- Old Llano County Jail, Llano
- Herff Farm, Boerne
- Brazos Drive-In Theatre, Granbury
- San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, Harris County
- Swenson Swimming Pool and Bathhouse, Dickens County
