Rainey Street Historic District

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Rainey Street Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location:	Austin, Texas, USA
Coordinates:	30°15′34″N 97°44′18″W / 30.25944, -97.73833Coordinates: 30°15′34″N 97°44′18″W / 30.25944, -97.73833
Built/Founded:	1875-1945^[1]
Added to NRHP:	1985

The Rainey Street Historic District is a street of historic homes, many of the bungalow style, in downtown Austin, Texas. Rainey Street is positioned near Lady Bird Lake and Interstate 35 in the southeast corner of downtown. Though 21 buildings are specifically identified as a part of the historic district, the stretch of Rainey between Red River and Driskill includes 31 buildings built before 1934^[2], giving the neighborhood a historic character relative to other areas of the city.

[edit] Redevelopment controversy

Rainey Street remains dominated by single-family homes. Its National Register status has become controversial as land values surrounding the district have skyrocketed, leaving most of the homes worth significantly less than the land they sit on. New developments nearby, including multiple high-rise condominium buildings and Austin's new Mexican-American Cultural Center, have contributed greatly to this crisis.

Deliberations are underway within the city government to develop a long-term plan for the area that allows redevelopment while preserving the street's historic and residential character. Since none of the individual buildings within the district have been designated as historic structures, they are eligible for demolition, though each building destroyed must be approved by the city's historic landmark commission.

[edit] Trivia

The street may be referenced in the Texas-themed TV series "King of the Hill," including the episode "The Redneck on Rainey Street." Show creator Mike Judge is an Austin resident.

The district includes 120 acres from 70 to 97 Rainey Street. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.