Welcome to the Office of Historic Preservation

The Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) protects the historical, cultural, architectural, and archaeological resources that make San Antonio unique.  Our office promotes preservation through the creation of local historic districts and local individual landmarks.  Along with the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC), the OHP oversees a design review process for exterior alterations to historic landmarks and districts, properties within the RIO districts (spanning the San Antonio River), public properties, and public art to ensure that modifications and changes are appropriate for historic resources.  We coordinate with other City departments to comply with required environmental review processes to protect historic resources. 

The OHP is also committed to historic preservation outreach and education.  We have established a Preservation Academy to host lectures, workshops, and events promoting historic preservation to the community.  We have offered Window Restoration Workshops, a Homeowner’s Fair, and many other activities to share information about caring for historic resources. 

Our offices are located at the Development and Business Services Center at 1901 S. Alamo.  Explore our website to find out more about who we are and what we do! 

Historic District Design Guidelines Coming Soon

Our office recently kicked off a project to create citywide historic district design guidelines.  The citywide historic district design guidelines will have a profound effect on the future development and preservation of our historic districts and resources.  The establishment of more substantial, detailed city-wide Historic District Design Guidelines for San Antonio will provide predictability in the interpretation and implementation of design standards, consistency of information during the design review process, incentive for investment, and possible economic stability for property values.

It has been noted that guidelines can help to:        

1.  Explain and expand upon the general design regulations of a local ordinance.

2.  Reinforce and preserve the character of a historic district.

3.  Protect investment values, which can be threatened by unmanaged growth or development.

4.  Provide developers a view to the type of design a community encourages or dislikes.

5.  Serve as a reference for design issues and architectural details specific to a community.

We need your input for the design guideline process!  Take a moment to complete a survey about the proposed historic district guidelines.  We appreciate your interest and participation in this important project.

                                            First Public Meeting Presentation - November 30th

Our consultants for the historic district design guidelines are:   Clarion Associates and Hardy Heck Moore

Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Implementation Report 2011

In 2009, the City of San Antonio initiated a public planning process to develop a Strategic Historic Preservation Plan (SHPP).  The purpose of the SHPP is to create a long-term vision and a set of practical and achievable strategies for improving the City’s historic preservation program while building a more broad-based historic preservation ethic within the San Antonio community.  The Plan also seeks to build on past successes by acknowledging the role historic preservation plays in shaping the city’s urban form and character, in contributing to the city’s overall economic development, and in sustaining a high quality of life for all San Antonio residents, businesses, and visitors. 

The 2011 Implementation Report available below highlights year two achievements made in the following six categories: planning, zoning, economic development, historic resources, incentives and education/advocacy. The attached matrix sets priorities for the coming year. 

                                Implementation Report 2011                           Implementation Matrix  

Historic Plaque Program

The Office of Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the Historic Plaque Program! Historic plaques are available for individual local landmarks and contributing properties within local historic districts.  The plaques will visually identify those properties and districts that have been officially recognized by the City of San Antonio for their architectural and historical significance. San Antonio currently has 27 local historic districts and more than 2,000 individual local landmarks.

The plaques, available for purchase for $95, are of cast aluminum with raised silver letters on a dark grey background.  The plaque is approximately 7½ inches in diameter and ¼ inch thick.

On May 5th, at the State of Preservation Address, we presented Marty Kushner with the first Historic Structure plaque. Others who ordered plaques were also in attendance to witness this commemorative moment and to receive their plaques.  If you ordered a plaque and still need to pick it up, you may do so at our offices located at 1901 S. Alamo between 7:45am-4:30pm Monday-Friday.

For those interested in ordering a plaque, we have a few remaining from this first round and we will sell these on a first come-first serve basis. We will continue to order future plaques as need merits. Please fill out an application at the link below. If you have questions regarding the Historic Plaque Program, please contact Rashad Jackson by phone at 207-0166 or by email at rashad.jackson@sanantonio.gov.

Historic Plaque Application Form

New Rehabilitation Programs for Historic Preservation

The Office of Historic Preservation is pleased to announce two exciting new programs for historic properties.  The first is an Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Program, which is offered in partnership with the City's Housing and Neighborhood Services Department, to help low to moderate-income historic property owners. The purpose of this program is to promote and encourage the retention, preservation and restoration of locally-designated historic homes. The program will assist property owners with their restoration and rehabilitation projects through a combination of loans and grants. Some requirements include:

• Property must be located within the City limits;
• Structure must be an owner-occupied, residential building;
• Property must be located within a local historic district, designated as a local landmark, or eligible for historic designation; and
• Program income limits apply.

The second program is an Acquisition and Rehabilitation Revolving Fund. The Office of Historic Preservation will be seeking a nonprofit partner to assist with this program.  The purpose of the program is to purchase and rehabilitate locally-designated historic homes in order to combat the deterioration of historic housing stock and the erosion of neighborhood fabric that occurs when properties are demolished. 

The application and brochure for the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Program, along with the complete list of eligibility requirements, are available at the links below or may be picked up in person at our office at 1901 S. Alamo. For additional information, please contact the Office of Historic Preservation at 215-9274.

               Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Application                  Owner-Occupied Loan Brochure

HPTV:  Historic Preservation Show Launches on Channel 21

The Office of Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the introduction of HPTV: Historic Preservation Television, that airs on the City’s TVSA Channel 21.  Join us each month for a 30-minute segment on a variety of preservation topics.  Topics will vary monthly, so catch us at one of the air times or at the links below.  If you have a suggestion for a topic you would like to see addressed, please contact us at 215-9274 or OHP@sanantonio.gov.

Historic Preservation Show (HPTV) – TVSA Channel 21 airs at the following times each month:

Tuesdays @ 9:00am

Wednesdays @ 1:00pm

Fridays @ 7:00pm

January HPTV Episode:  Historic Farms and Ranches

Previous HPTV Episodes

River Improvement Overlay (RIO) and other UDC Amendments Adopted

The Office of Historic Preservation, at the request of City Council, assessed the need for amendments to the River Improvement Overlay (RIO) standards adopted in 2002. RIO standards affect commercial properties and multi-unit residential properties of eight or more units. Single-family properties are not affected by the RIO overlay.  The OHP assembled the RIO Task Force to work with local business leaders, preservationists, public officials, and other interested parties to prepare recommended amendments to the RIO sections of the Unified Development Code (UDC) for City Council.  The proposed RIO changes were approved by City Council on March 31st.

Other amendments to Chapter 35 of the UDC were unanimously approved by City Council on June 24, 2010 in order to implement the City's Strategic Historic Preservation Plan (SHPP).  These amendments include but are not limited to enhancements to the existing historic preservation tax incentive; increasing the types and number of Certificate of Appropriateness applications that can be approved administratively by staff; changes to the River Improvement Overlay District made necessary by the opening of the Museum Reach of the River Extension and the future opening of the Mission Reach; the creation of a demolition permit fee for historic landmarks; changes to the process for the creation of a local historic district; and consolidation of the two current landmark designations into one Historic Landmark (HL) designation.  UDC amendments to signage were approved by City Council on November 18, 2010 and went into effect January 1, 2011.  For full information on all of the approved amendments see the link below. For a complete copy of all recent amendments to Chapter 35 of the UDC click here:  COMPLETE UDC AMENDMENTS - 2011

               RIO Amendments                           UDC Amendments                           UDC Signage Amendments       

National Preservation Month May 2011 - Celebrating San Antonio's Treasures

The Office of Historic Preservation once again participated in National Preservation Month in May 2011. Across the United States communities celebrated historic preservation through outreach programs. The National Trust for Historic Preservation chose the theme, “Celebrating America’s Treasures” for 2011. America’s treasures are more than landmark properties. They are individual houses and historic neighborhoods that create an inviting place to call home. They are commercial corridors that remind us of life before the shopping mall.  San Antonio is full of wonderful, unique places.  National Preservation Month gave us the opportunity to celebrate those places and educate the public on why they matter.

Check out all of our Preservation Month activities and see snapshots of our events at the links below.  Thank you to everyone who participated and a very big thank you to our Preservation Month Sponsors for making it all possible!

        Preservation Month Activities            Preservation Month Photos             Preservation Month Sponsors   

OHP - Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

The Office of Historic Preservation maintains a Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube Channel.  Follow us using social media to keep up with all of our events and activities!

Friend us on Facebook: "City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation"

Follow us on Twitter at SA_Preservation.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: SApreservation.

Neighborhood Tours Neighborhood discovery tours are available online! The tours feature Downtown North River, the Westside, and the Eastside. Each tour includes restaurants, arts and culture, people, historic sites and landmarks, and local shops in the neighborhood. This is a great opportunity to explore San Antonio’s rich cultural heritage throughout the city. The tours are free of charge and available to download or view online at www.saculturaltours.com.

Historic House Rescue List The Office of Historic Preservation maintains a list of people interested in acquiring or selling historic properties. Many of these properties are in need of significant rehabilitation. The list may include properties in need of relocation to prevent demolition or properties for sale that an owner is unable to maintain.  If you are interested in more details or would like to be added to the list to be notified about potential properties that require assistance, please contact Larry Gutierrez at 207-7902 or by email at larry.gutierrez@sanantonio.gov.