A 60-year-old white mid-century modern house has been saved from the demolition ball, and has now been designated a historic structure.
Though this news may interest followers of culture and history in the city, it was less welcome to the building’s owner, who wanted to see the building torn down.
Gwyn Shive, 96, is not interested in the property tax breaks her newly designated historic structure qualifies for, preferring to see the 1,900-square-foot house demolished. The International-style house has fallen into disrepair and Shive does not have the more than $475,000 to make the needed repairs.
Shive, owning the house under the name Delta H Corp., has used the Red River Street house as a rental since 1963. Matt Williams, Shive’s attorney, argues that the city has crossed the line. It appears that there is an ongoing battle between preservationists and private property rights advocates. Each side of this debate will want to generate public opinion to its side and a flyer printing service can play an important role in doing so.
Generally, owners welcome the historic designation due to the property tax breaks it generates. This is only the third time since Austin enacted the historic zoning designation program, which began in the 1970s, that a house was declared historic against the wishes of its owner.
