Written by Jordan Ghawi on behalf of T1NC SC. We strongly encourage other neighborhoods and coalitions to send letters. Please feel free to use this letter as a template to send to the legislative members listed at bottom (with links).
April 3, 2019 Update: The bill has made it out of Committee and will be scheduled by the Calendar Committee next.
March 29, 2019 Update: There is a second version of HB 2496 that basically mirror’s San Antonio’s process. CoSA’s process is that in order for a case to pass HDRC and Zoning, it needs a majority vote (51%) and requires a supermajority vote (3/4) from City Council. The revised HB 2496 bill requires a super majority vote by both commissions and CC. That isn’t as impactful for SA because HDRC and Zoning’s decisions are not quasi- judicial (they are recommendations only, unlike Board of Adjustment decisions that stand and do not go on to Council), but it is in other cities and would render them powerless against developers and could be devastating. There is still an attempt to craft a third version of HB 2496 that would mirror San Antonio’s process exactly. Because it has enough committee members who have signed on, the bill will probably be put on the calendar for a vote.
March 25, 2019 Update: Neighborhoods have been sending letters and it has made a difference, but last night, (Eastside neighborhoods’) Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (District 120) signed on as a co-author. Barbara.gervin-hawkins@house.texas.gov
March 22, 2019 Update: HB2496 has been scheduled for Public Hearing for Tuesday, March 26th before the Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee.C We will need people to testify in opposition of the bill or at least register their opposition to it via one of the kiosks in the House. Here’s how to testify.
Note: HB 2496 and SB 1488: Relating to the designation of a property as a historic landmark by a municipality requiring landowner consent.
Dear Members of the Legislature,
We write to you as a coalition of 57 San Antonio neighborhoods and 16 partner organizations to express our opposition to HB2496 and SB1488.
We are deeply concerned that these bills, if passed, would dramatically alter the fabric of our neighborhoods. We wish to preserve the eclectic mix of residential and commercial architecture unique to our communities. At the end of the day, we want our neighborhoods to continue to tell the story of our history to future generations of Texans.
Our cities and towns have been shaped by our unique histories and legacies, and our built environment helps to tell those stories. Many important buildings and sites in our communities still exist and thrive today because local advocates nominated them for local designation when they were threatened with demolition. Requiring owner consent for designation substantially hinders the ability of local ordinances to serve as effective preservation tools. Most critically, it also prevents concerned citizens from being able to safeguard cultural heritage in their communities. Far too many buildings and site have been lost because community members simply could not save them from the wrecking ball.
If this bill becomes law, our communities’ voices will be silenced. The bill will also significantly impede local municipalities’ abilities to effectively administer their preservation ordinances, which are uniquely tailored to each city. Our local government programs are specifically written to support the community and give our neighborhoods the tools to identify and protect the buildings and places that are most meaningful to us. Without this toolbox, the unique character of Texan cities and towns will be eroded in exchange for often short-sighted, wasteful, and uninspired development that simply aims for maximum profit.
We ask that you please consider the effects of this bill and the subsequent damage that it would do to local communities and our collective history.
Respectfully,
Tier One Neighborhood Coalition Steering Committee
Cosima Colvin, Christine Drennon, Tony Garcia, Homer “Butch” Hayes, Cullen Jones, Ricki Kushner, Velma Pena, Cynthia Spielman, Amelia Valdez, and Theresa Ybanez
This letter was sent to the following legislature members.
Co-author: sheryl.cole@house.texas.gov
Rep. Cole’s legislative director: Andre.treiber@house.tx.gov
Sen. Buckingham (author of the Senate companion bill)
dawn.buckingham@senate.texas.gov
Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee Members
Rep. Cyrier’s Office (author of the bill)
MeLissa.Nemecek@house.texas.gov
Jacob.Reagan@house.texas.gov
Alonzo.Wood@house.texas.gov
Rep. Martinez’s Office
Mando.martinez@house.texas.gov
scott.jenkines@house.texas.gov
Rep. Bucy’s Office
Allison.heinrich@house.texas.gov
Rep. Gervin-Hawkin’s Office
Barbara.gervin-hawkins@house.texas.gov
Rep. Holland’s Office
justin.holland@house.texas.gov
Rep. Johnson’s Office
jarvis.johnson@house.texas.gov
Rep. Kacal’s Office
Dade.pritchett@house.texas.gov
Rep. Morrison’s Office
Beanie.morrison@house.texas.gov
Rep. Toth’s Office
Local Reps:
Rep. Bernal’s Office
Julia.grizzard@house.texas.gov
Sen. Menendez’s Office
Jose.menendez@senate.texas.gov
Emily.galdeano@senate.texas.gov
If neighborhood s as a whole are concerned about preservation then they should go through the process of obtaining historic designation for the entire neighborhood. I vote in favor of this bill because it provents a single or small group of neighbors from having more rights then the individual property owner. Using the OHP as a tool to prevent unpopular development by a relatively small group of people is something that should be halted. Property owners right must be protected.
Maintaining community oversite helps protect us from outside “inversors” devastating the character and historic advantages of of our neighborhoods.