PRESENTER: Presenter
Katie Totman, Historic Preservation Officer
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution in support of obtaining National Register of Historic Places designation for the Central New Braunfels Downtown, roughly bounded by South Gilbert Avenue to the northeast, Butcher Street to the southeast, the southwest property lines along North Academy Avenue to the southwest, the former International and Great Northern Railroad tracks to the west, and West Zink Street to the northwest.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1 & 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As a Certified Local Government (CLG), the City of New Braunfels is required to provide a recommendation on any National Register nominations within City limits. A letter was received from the Texas Historical Commission in March 2025 stating that the Downtown area has been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination includes the area roughly bounded by South Gilbert Avenue to the northeast, Butcher Street to the southeast, the southwest property lines along North Academy Avenue to the southwest, the former International and Great Northern Railroad tracks to the west, and West Zink Street to the northwest. This includes a large part of the local Downtown Historic District, two properties in the Mill Street Historic District, several local landmarks, and other non-designated properties. Unlike local historic designations, inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places carries no regulatory restrictions. However, as mentioned above, many of the properties in the proposed boundaries are already locally designated as historic.
The Central New Braunfels Historic District represents a vital part of the city's cultural and architectural heritage, encompassing approximately 100 acres of the original 1845 town plan. The district’s layout follows a distinctive skewed grid pattern, branching out from Main Plaza, which remains the city’s historic and civic centerpiece. Main Plaza serves as an open public space, anchored by the Comal County Courthouse at its northwest corner, and is surrounded by a variety of historic commercial, governmental, residential, educational, and religious buildings.
Reflecting the city’s evolution from a mid-nineteenth-century German settlement to a thriving commercial, industrial, and tourism hub, the district showcases a diverse range of building styles and materials. Historic development patterns have resulted in a natural clustering of property types-county government buildings and commercial blocks dominate the core near Main Plaza, while residential areas extend toward the district’s southwest and northeast edges. These residences range from modest early single-family homes to larger bungalows and center-passage houses. Educational and religious buildings are interspersed throughout the area. The proposed district contains a total of 197 resources, of which 152 (77%) are considered contributing structures that uphold the historic character of the area. Additionally, 19 resources are already listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This high percentage of contributing properties underscores the district’s significance and its potential for continued preservation and enhancement as a key cultural and economic asset for New Braunfels.
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
The Historic Landmark Commission held a public hearing on April 8, 2025, and voted unanimously to recommend support of the resolution (7-0-0).
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REFERENCE
• Action 2.2: Prioritize areas that are best suited for conservation and preservation.
• Action 2.5: Encourage diversification of commercial activity Downtown to build on and sustain existing historic resources and maximize structure utilization for economic expansion.
• Action 2.6: Consistently evaluate the areas designated historic for strategic expansion or new designations.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☒Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☐Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places may qualify for State and Federal Tax Credits for substantial rehabilitation and restoration scopes of work.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff concurs with the recommendation in support of the resolution.