HPC To Discuss Demolition Process Of Historic Buildings On TXST Campus

Staff Reports

Tonight, the San Marcos Historic Preservation Commission will discuss the process of demolition of historic buildings on Texas State University property.

The discussion will include the possible means of enabling the city’s involvement in the process to facilitate the preservation of historic buildings when feasible.

In August, Texas State University demolished the Ivey-Moore House, located at the corner of Academy Street and Holland Street.

According to staff, the city was not notified of the demolition and no city permits were required due to the house being located on university property.

However, as a State institution, any structure that is more than 50 years old proposed for alteration, renovation, or demolition must go through a historic review process.

The review is handled at the State level through the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The particular review for the Ivey-Moore House was handled under the State Antiquities Code, and there was no federal funding associated with this project.

According to the city staff’s report, the Texas State Center for Archaeological Studies notified the Texas Historic Commission in April 2020 and received a response in May.

After additional information was submitted to THC and reviewed in July, the university was given permission to proceed with the demolition.

“The State found that there was no indication that there was any federal undertaking involved in this project that would trigger Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act,” staff said.

In related news, commissioners will receive information on the Section 106 review in a later item.

The San Marcos Historic Preservation Commission will convene virtually at 5:45 PM and can be viewed here.