Rainey Street demolition denied

A tear-down attempt of one of the last remaining bungalows on Austin’s historic Rainey Street is fueling tension between the property owners and the city. 

The 1,100-square-foot, single-story building at 96 Rainey Street, currently housing the Placeholder Tiki Bar, was slated for demolition to make way for a two-story, flat-roofed brick building. However, the Austin Historic Landmark Commission declined to vote on the owner’s request for demolition during its Nov. 1 meeting, the Austin Business Journal reported. 

The commission’s decision allows the clock to run out on the request and forces the property owner, Pinnacle Lending LLC, to reconsider its plans, marking a potential shift in the fate of the historic structure. While the property was not deemed historical, it still represents the district’s history. 

The 0.1-acre site is valued at $1.9 million, according to Travis Central Appraisal District records. 

Ben Heimsath, chair of the commission, emphasized the importance of preserving the district’s historical context and urged the property owner to reevaluate its plans. This marks the third time the demolition request was taken up by the commission, and its decision aligns with the city staff’s recommendation that the redevelopment proposal did not meet historic guidelines for the neighborhood.

“I would still encourage the owner to examine that building. It will be here for a very long time,” Heimsath told the outlet. “Hopefully a very successful building with a successful string of businesses. But it will also be on a street with National Historic District Houses and other structures. If there is a way the owner could accommodate that, we would encourage it.”

The decision follows Placeholder Tiki Bar’s announcement of its impending closure to make room for the development. The closure comes as the Rainey Street district undergoes an influx of new restaurants and businesses amidst a backdrop of residential high-rises.

With a 75-day consideration period set to conclude in mid-November, the fate of 96 Rainey Street remains uncertain, leaving stakeholders, preservationists and the property owner at odds over its future.

—Quinn Donoghue 

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