April Newsletter
APRIL 4, 2025
PT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Legislative Advocacy
The 89th Texas Legislature’s regular session is underway, and proposed legislation and budgets will have an impact on historic preservation. As a unifying voice for the preservation community, Preservation Texas provides state legislative testimony, advocacy, and public policy leadership.
Bills That Empower & Support Preservation:
HB 2723 / SB 1920 – Requiring county tax assessors to grant property tax exemptions for cemeteries that are known to exist or that they should know to exist after a reasonable inspection, even if the owner does not apply or the owner is unknown.
HB 4450 – Requiring a public hearing for contested demolition requests for State Antiquities Landmarks submitted to the Texas Historical Commission.
HB 4809 / SB 2553 – Requiring county tax assessors to take into account restrictions placed on a property owner's ability to alter, improve, or repair property due to its historic designation as a historic or archaeological site, along with the land necessary to access the site.
SB 2606 – Increasing the state historic tax credit from 25% to 35% in economically distressed census tracts.
Bills That Impede Preservation:
HB 3114 / SB 2076 – Eliminating/altering certain State Capitol view corridors in Austin (a former 2007 PT Most Endangered Places listing).
SB 2639 – Requiring payment of damages for the designation of certain historic landmarks in cities with a population of 950,000 or above.
For updates, visit preservationtexas.org/public-policy.
Adobe at the Pass Exhibit Now Open in El Paso
Adobe at the Pass: Documenting the Mission Valley in 1936 is now open at 201 East San Antonio Avenue in downtown El Paso! This bilingual exhibit features large-format black and white photographs of iconic adobe structures in El Paso County taken by architect Marvin Eickenroht in 1936 as part of the New Deal-era Historic American Buildings Survey program. It also explores the history, significance, and future of adobe construction in West Texas.
This exhibit marks the beginning of many exciting initiatives at our new West Texas Heritage Center. Made possible in part by a grant from El Paso County, the Center will allow us to welcome heritage tourists, provide preservation resources, sell local history and preservation-related books and merchandise, and host educational programs and exhibits in historic downtown El Paso.
PT hosted an opening reception for the exhibit on March 26th which was attended by local preservationists, advocates, and community leaders.
The formal opening of the West Texas Heritage Center will take place at noon on Thursday, May 8th with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. In the meantime, Preservation Texas welcomes the public to stop by and visit the exhibit! Tentative hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
New Benefits for PT Members
Sherwin-Williams Paint Discounts
Our members now have access to a 40% discount off at Sherwin-Williams paint stores nationwide with proof of current membership at in-person checkout. Your membership will pay for itself in savings on home improvement projects!
Historic Hotels of America and Worldwide Discounts
Preservation Texas has partnered with Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide to offer our members discounts on some of the most iconic historic hotels in the world. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels. Historic Hotels Worldwide promotes heritage and cultural travel by featuring a prestigious collection of properties spanning 12 centuries. PT members can save up to 30% off best available rates at participating hotels on HistoricHotels.org and HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com.
The 1860 Stagecoach Inn in Salado in one of 11 Historic Hotels of America in Texas.
Preservation Texas members also get access to our members-only webinars and field trips, 20% off ticketed PT event registration, our monthly e-newsletter, and our “I break for old buildings” bumper sticker!
Member support truly helps make our work possible. If you are not a current member, we invite you to join our community and help further our mission to protect the built and cultural heritage of Texas.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April Lunch & Learn Member Webinar
The Architecture of Charles Dilbeck
With Willis Winters, FAIA
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Quirky. Eclectic. Whimsical. Delightful. All of these words have been used to describe the man and the work of architect Charles Dilbeck who designed some of the Dallas region's most interesting and important homes from the mid 1920s until the late 1960s. Join President of the board of Preservation Texas and founder of the Dilbeck Conservancy, architect Willis Winters, for a presentation on the life and work of a Dallas icon!
Current members can register now in their online Preservation Texas account portal, or email us directly for the registration link.
Charles Stevens Dilbeck (1907-1990) was the most prodigious and admired residential architect to ever practice in Dallas.
Creative Spaces Summit: Revitalizing Old Buildings through Art and Culture
SAVE THE DATE: JULY 25, 2025 IN FORT WORTH
Join Preservation Texas and MINDPOP at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on Friday, July 25th for the Creative Spaces Summit! This event will bring together preservationists, artists, and community leaders to explore how historic structures can be revitalized to serve as hubs for creativity and community engagement, such as art galleries, performance spaces, maker spaces, residency programs, and more. Sessions will also include discussions of funding models, incentive programs, and other critical issues facing historic preservation and the arts, as well as opportunities for collaborative partnerships. An opening keynote and reception will be held on Thursday evening, July 24th at Artspace 111 Gallery and Gardens.
We invite proposals for illustrated case study presentations at the Summit. We seek engaging 50-minute presentations (including time for Q&A) that showcase successful projects and innovative strategies at the intersection of historic preservation, art, and culture. A list of suggested presentation topics and submission guidelines can be found at preservationtexas.org/creativespaces.
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth courtesy of themodern.org
2025 Central Texas Regional Preservation Summit: The Future of Historic and Cultural Districts
SAVE THE DATE: JUNE, 24, 2025 IN SAN MARCOS
Historic and cultural districts have long been a cornerstone of local preservation efforts, shaping how communities protect and celebrate their heritage. The 2025 Central Texas Regional Preservation Summit will take a broad look at the state of these districts, examining their origins, evolution, and effectiveness as a preservation strategy. This program will focus on often-overlooked neighborhood types, including post-World War II working-class communities. Sessions will address the impact of recent legislation and incentives, highlight innovative approaches to district designation and management, and discuss proposed policy changes that could shape the future of preservation in Texas.
We invite proposals for presentations at the Summit, focused on the future of historic and cultural districts in the rapidly-growing Central Texas region. We seek engaging 45-minute presentations (including time for Q&A). A list of suggested topics and submission guidelines can be found at preservationtexas.org/ctxsummit25.
Right: Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in the post-WWII Victory Gardens neighborhood of San Marcos.
MONTHLY SPOTLIGHTS
Most Endangered Places Spotlight
The Concord High School Alumni Association (CHSAA) has reached a major milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation of the historic Concord Rosenwald School near Mt. Enterprise in Rusk County. Thanks in part to a $75,000 grant from Preservation Texas through our Texas Rural African American Heritage Grants Program, this significant piece of history is now stabilized and weatherproofed for future generations.
The project included extensive roof repairs, addressing severely deteriorated rafters, reinforcing the rafter-ceiling joist framing, installing new decking, and completing the work with a durable galvanized sheet metal roof. New siding was also installed on a portion of the building and all new exterior wood was primed and painted. Additionally, Preservation Texas worked with a graduate student from Stephen F. Austin State University's Public History Program to develop a National Register of Historic Places nomination.
Social Media Spotlight
Adobe officer’s quarters at Fort Davis, photographed by our West Texas Program Officer Victor Hurtado on a recent visit. Fort Davis was established in 1854 to protect travelers along the San Antonio-El Paso Road. Following the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, federal troops withdrew, but in 1867, the fort was reoccupied by Buffalo Soldiers. It was later decommissioned by the U.S. Army in 1891.
GENERAL NEWS
THF Accepting Submissions for Summer 2025 Quarterly Micro Grants
Texas Historical Foundation's Quarterly Micro Grants Program is an open-submission process that seeks to augment or seed historic preservation efforts at the community level. THF considers applications from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits for funding up to $8,000. LOIs for the Summer 2025 grant cycle are due on April 22nd. Learn more here.
THC Historical Marker Applications Open Now
The Texas Historical Commission's 2025 application window for historical markers is open now through May 15th! The THC website offers helpful guides and resources to make the process easier. Learn more here.
