The Old West Austin Historic District encompasses three suburbs (one of which is the Bryker Woods neighborhood) platted in more than forty subdivisions that wind between Shoal Creek and the Mo-Pac Expressway from 13th to 35th Streets, northwest of downtown Austin, Texas. The district features 1574 contributing properties. Recognized for their architectural and historical significance, as a well-preserved collection of early- to mid-twentieth-century residences, the historic district evokes the measured spread of suburban development that paralleled the city’s steady growth. Houses in the district, many of which were designed by prominent architects, reflect architectural styles popular from the mid-19th through mid-20th centuries.
The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. The National Register includes over 2,000 listings in Texas. Listing affords properties a measure of protection from the possible impact of federally funded projects, as well as access to technical expertise and grant funds to facilitate their restoration and preservation. Income-producing properties are also eligible for federal tax benefits for sympathetic rehabilitation work.
Note: that the status of a National Register Historic District (NRHD) does not protect neighborhoods from insensitive redevelopment. NRHD guidelines are merely advisory and NOT binding. A listing in the National Register does not prevent insensitive: remodels, new construction or demolitions. Only the city classification of a Local Historic District allows the protection of distinctive and significant neighborhood characteristics such as homes, buildings, bridges, streetscapes, and special landmarks from insensitive alterations and new construction, as well as outright demolition. It encourages changes and new designs that are compatible with the area’s historic distinctiveness. Learn more about Local Historic Districts.