Austin is advancing with plans to nearly double its Convention Center's size while aiming to preserve two historic structures, the Castleman-Bull Houses. These homes, already relocated before, will need to be moved again for a $1.6 billion project. Historic Preservation Division Manager Kim McKnight mentioned efforts to work around their historic status. A potential relocation plan involves placing the homes at Pioneer Farms, while an ambitious new concept suggests a temporary relocation with eventual reintegration into the project area, including interpretive signage for educational purposes.
"There have been a lot of ups and downs and twists and turns in trying to figure out how to keep these buildings intact," said Historic Preservation Division Manager Kim McKnight. "We do have very clear direction from Council to do whatever is necessary to get this dealt with in terms of removing historic designation as an obstacle."
Originally, the best-case scenario involved relocation to Pioneer Farms, an educational facility where the homes would serve as artifacts of 19th century life in Downtown Austin.
If all goes as planned, the new vision would see the Castleman-Bull House return to its present spot along Waller Creek, reoriented slightly to face the Waterloo Greenway Trailhead.
Once relocated, the team hopes to install interpretive signage to illustrate the landmarks' historic context.
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