Houston City Council earlier today passed changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance that will provide applicants with a streamlined process for project approvals and refine the list of projects eligible to receive City of Houston preservation tax incentives. Other revisions include improved remedies for enforcing violations of the preservation ordinance, including Houston's first legal provision to prevent demolition by neglect. Read the revised ordinance as presented at the Council meeting here.
Mayor Annise Parker strongly supported the ordinance revisions, the first time the law has been changed since 2010. Preservation Houston Acting Executive Director David Bush and Director Emeritus Bart Truxillo spoke in favor of the new provisions before City Council's vote.