by Taylor Thomason
November 7, 2023
Research by Sarah Gamble, an Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture, prompted the city of Austin, Texas, to begin developing policies to promote relocating existing houses as an alternative to demolition. On November 2, the Austin City Council unanimously adopted a resolution that starts the process of supporting communities and homeowners interested in moving homes to new sites. This important work supports the conservation of cultural heritage and the preservation of affordable housing.
Gamble’s work on conservation and housing is documented in House Relocation: A Practical Guide for Austin, Texas, an educational guide serving the design and development communities, yet written for a public audience. The guide synthesizes recent research completed in collaboration with ReUse People Austin’s Kathy Robinson, who facilitates and manages house relocation on a day-to-day basis, and with funding support from Preservation Austin, the city’s leading preservation non-profit organization. Jumpstarted by the completion of a house relocation project in Gamble’s professional practice, the mixed-methods research included stakeholder interviews, permit records analysis, and land development code analysis. The guide was released to the public in June 2023 at an educational event hosted by Preservation Austin and American Institute of Architects, Austin Chapter.
Over Summer/Fall 2023, Gamble joined a work group spearheaded by Austin City Council staff to study the recommendations outlined in the guide and changes that could be made to local policy, processes, and land development code to support house relocation in the city. The result is a resolution, initiated by Council Member Ryan Alter with co-sponsorship from Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, Council Member Leslie Pool, and Council Member José Velásquez, “directing the City Manager to explore opportunities and develop a strategy to build awareness and minimize barriers for house relocation and deconstruction.” The guide was provided as backup material and highlighted within the resolution.
The resolution was adopted unanimously on November 2 and Council Members’ comments highlighted the effectiveness and impact of the guide in raising awareness and educating council members, council member staff, and development staff. Council Member Leslie Pool argued, “Existing Homes have value, and relocating a house either on site or elsewhere should be easier than getting a demolition permit.” Council Member Ryan Alter added, “House relocation provides an opportunity to preserve existing housing. Homes can be relocated within a lot or to a separate lot to provide affordable home ownership options. Equally important, as Council Member Pool mentioned, relocation helps divert waste to our landfills […] we need to do everything we can to not only address our affordability crisis, but our climate crisis, and that’s why this item is a true win-win.”