Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback from property owners and tenants of older and historic buildings along with historic preservation and tourism stakeholders in Austin.

Hotel Occupancy Tax is a tax on lodging such as hotels, motels, and short-term rentals and may be used by cities to support the tourism and convention industries. In Austin, 15% of the City’s 7 cent per dollar convention center expansion HOT is allocated to the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). A portion of the HPF is designated to to support acquisition of historic buildings that promote tourism and the convention and hotel industries.

Austin City Council has requested a program framework for how the HPF could support the retention and use of a historic building(s) to benefit, at least in part, tourists and convention delegates (Resolution No. 20240926‐069). The City of Austin is seeking to understand what assistance would be most helpful for older and historic building owners and tenants. Feedback will be used to design the program framework and future program guidelines. Please note, this is not an application for funding. Results of the survey will provide information to shape the program.

This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Please let us know what kinds of support are most important to you by August 8, 2025.

* ATTESTATION: Please note that as a public agency, all submissions are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. If a Public Information Request (PIR) is received, we will endeavor to maintain confidentiality of material submitted such as any proprietary business information and will notify you of any such request. By signing and submitting this form you are agreeing to allow us to use the data as we intend and as stated above.

I understand

Closed to responses

Please provide your contact information (optional)

Find your Council District:

Map of Austin separated by council districts, each district is shaded in different colors and enumerated

Not sure? Use the link below to find your District: https://maps.austintexas.gov/GIS/CouncilDistrictMap/

Select your council district.

Don't know

22%

District 3

17%

District 4

17%

District 1

11%

District 2

11%

District 5

District 7

District 10

Outside city limits

District 6

District 8

District 9

Closed to responses | 18 Responses

Respondent Category (Who are you?):

I represent a nonprofit that LEASES a historic building

I represent a nonprofit that OWNS a historic building

I represent a nonprofit seeking space in a historic building

I represent a commercial business that LEASES a historic building

I represent a commercial business that OWNS a historic building

I represent a commercial business seeking space in a historic building

I am a Neighbor or Community Member

Other

Closed to responses

Please describe yourself, your organization, or business:

Closed for Comments

Based on your experience overall, please select the five most pressing needs for saving historic buildings and putting them into productive use.

Please select a maximum of five options.

Cultural/community use planning

Gap financing or support assembling the funds to purchase a property

Help navigating public incentives like tax abatements or historic tax credits

Historic preservation consulting support

Legal or Real Estate expertise for acquisition negotiations or site option agreements

Securing a long-term affordable lease

Maintaining the property

Pre-development planning, appraisals and building condition assessments

Project management during acquisition and development phases

Rehabilitate the property

Reinvest in the property

Relocation of a historic property

Zoning, permitting and land use consulting

Property taxes

Other

Closed to responses

Please share any additional information that you feel would be helpful to us as we guide the program framework.

THANK YOU!

If you have a specific property that you believe might be a good project type for inclusion in the future potential acquisition framework, please proceed with the following questions. Submit a separate survey entry for each property you wish to suggest.

No property in mind? Feel free to skip to the end and submit the survey.

Closed for Comments

Property Address:

Closed to responses

Brief Description: Describe any connection you may have to this historic building or site that serves or has the potential to serve a tourism-related purpose.

Closed for Comments

Is the property designated as historic?

City of Austin Historic Landmark

City of Austin Historic District (contributing historic property)

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark

National Register of Historic District (property individually listed)

National Register of Historic District (contributing historic property)

Property has been determined eligible for historic designation

Not Sure

None

Closed to responses

Brief Description: Describe the property including its current use and any future plans for the property.

Closed for Comments

Is the historic building currently under threat of any of the following:

(select all that apply)

Demolition

Damage

Destruction

Neglect

Potential Redevelopment

Other

Closed to responses

Brief Description: If the building is threatened, please briefly describe the urgency and how quickly action is needed

Closed for Comments

What is the current status of site control? Select all that apply.

(Site control generally refers to the authority, management, or ownership over a specific location through a formal agreement, lease or deed.)

As a community member, I am aware that the property may be put up for sale.

As the owner, I intend to sell the building while preserving its structure.

As the owner, I plan to make capital improvements

As the tenant, I have an option to purchase

As the tenant, I am currently under an active lease

Site control has not been established

Not Sure

Other

Closed to responses

How would you describe the property's current operations?

Fully utilized, with operations that bring in sufficient revenue

Underutilized, with operations providing revenue, but not sufficient to cover expenses

Underutilized now, with plans for full utilization and improved revenue

Vacant

Not sure, do not have information on the operations.

Other

Closed to responses

What type of due diligence has been done on the property in the past 10 years? Please select all that apply.

(Due diligence includes technical evaluation of a property describing specific work required to preserve the building)

Appraisal

Business plan for the current / ongoing / future operations of the building

Design professional services for renovation or future use

Environmental Review

Historic Designation Nomination Information

Historic Structures Report

Preservation Plan

Structural Assessment

Title Commitment

Not sure

Other

Closed to responses

Please identify the most pressing need for preserving the historic building that you listed in this section.

Cultural/community use planning

Gap financing or support assembling the funds to purchase a property

Help navigating public incentives like tax abatements or historic tax credits

Historic preservation consulting support

Legal or Real Estate expertise for acquisition negotiations or site option agreements

Securing a long-term affordable lease

Maintaining the property

Pre-development planning, appraisals and building condition assessments

Project management during acquisition and development phases

Rehabilitate the property

Reinvest in the property

Relocation of a historic property

Zoning, permitting and land use consulting

Property taxes

Other

Closed to responses

Please rate the 'urgency' of need from the following scale of 1 to 5.

Loading question...

Please provide additional details related to the historic building, if any.

Closed for Comments

Where did you hear about this survey?

direct email

social media

heard about it from a colleague/friend

saw it in a newsletter

Other

Closed to responses

September 2024: Austin City Council passes Resolution No. 20240926‐069

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Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

Question title

Question title

Please provide your contact information (optional)

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Select your council district.

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Respondent Category (Who are you?):

Question title

Please describe yourself, your organization, or business:

Question title

Based on your experience overall, please select the five most pressing needs for saving historic buildings and putting them into productive use.

Question title

Please share any additional information that you feel would be helpful to us as we guide the program framework.

Question title

Property Address:

Question title

Brief Description: Describe any connection you may have to this historic building or site that serves or has the potential to serve a tourism-related purpose.

Question title

Is the property designated as historic?

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Brief Description: Describe the property including its current use and any future plans for the property.

Question title

Is the historic building currently under threat of any of the following:

Question title

Brief Description: If the building is threatened, please briefly describe the urgency and how quickly action is needed

Question title

What is the current status of site control? Select all that apply.

Question title

How would you describe the property's current operations?

Question title

What type of due diligence has been done on the property in the past 10 years? Please select all that apply.

Question title

Please identify the most pressing need for preserving the historic building that you listed in this section.

Question title

Please rate the 'urgency' of need from the following scale of 1 to 5.

Question title

Please provide additional details related to the historic building, if any.

Question title

Where did you hear about this survey?