The African American Quality of Life Initiative (AAQOL) was developed as a community process for addressing identified disparities experienced by Austin’s African American community. In June 2005, 51 recommendations were presented to city council representing a comprehensive plan developed by the community to address these disparities. The Arts, Culture and Entertainment committee was charged with implementing the community driven recommendation: to work with community groups and city government in effort to create the African American Cultural Heritage District (AACHD).

Background Information

The central east Austin story is steeped in both tragedy and triumph. Its story continues to unfold as rapid growth and changing demographics make the area a dynamic contributor to Austin’s diverse culture. The concept of a “district” and its recognized boundaries are a significant part of this vital story and holds historical significance for all of Austin. In 1928 the civil engineering firm Koch and Fowler developed A City Plan for the City of Austin, Texas. The plan was adopted and implemented by the City of Austin. “It is our recommendation that the nearest approach to the solution of the race segregation problem will be the recommendation of this district as a negro district and that all facilities and conveniences be provided to the negroes in this district as an incentive to draw the negro population to this area.” Recently ProArts Collective on behalf of its community partners submitted to the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) an application that contained well over 1000 pages documenting the cultural significance of central east Austin, for their cultural district pilot program. On September 3, 2009 the African American Cultural Heritage District was selected (as one of seven sites throughout Texas) by the TCA to receive designation as an official state of Texas arts and culture district.

Accomplishments to Date

• -November 2006: $1.5 million in city of Austin bond funds towards the building of a heritage facility to house the visitor center and the office of the managing non-profit organization.
• -December 2007: Resolution by Austin City Council creating the district- and its boundaries (North: Manor Road; South Huston Tillotson University; East Airport Blvd.; West IH-35)
• -August 2009: An additional $520,703 from federal stimulus funds for construction of Heritage facility
• -September 2009: African American Cultural Heritage District receives designation from the State of Texas.

Sample of Historic Sites

• Bertram-Huppertz House—Rosewood Park’s Recreation building. It was the first house in Austin to have sash weights in a two-story stone structure. House built in about 1872 by Rudolf Huppertz. The home and the 40 acres were sold to the City of Austin in the early 1930s to create a park for African Americans. This park came about as a result of the 1928 City Plan for Austin in the execution of the part of the Plan that suggested that the City should create a “Negro District” in this area.
• Blackshear Elementary School—1712 E. 11th St.; opened in 1891 to provide free education to African American children. It is located in a part of East Austin that was known as Gregory Town, a freedmen’s community. It is named for educator Edward L. Blackshear (1862-1919) who left Austin to become principal of Prairie View A&M University in 1895.
• Evergreen Cemetery—established in 1926 as an African American cemetery by the City of Austin. Judge Pickle sold this land to the City with the stipulation that it be used for a cemetery for African Americans.
• Heritage House—E. 13th St. It is the last extant building connected with the history of Samuel Huston College.
• Hofheinz houses—12th St. and Chestnut Ave. A realtor named Hofheinz, who during the latter part of the 19th century made loans to African Americans to build houses, built these modest-framed, houses from standardized plans. These houses are readily distinguishable by their hipped roofs and partial-width inset porches.
• John Chase Buildings—John Chase was the first African American to graduate with a degree from the University Of Texas School Of Architecture. He constructed several buildings in east Austin including the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas building (today the House of Elegance) on 1191 Navasota; David Chapel on Martin Luther King Blvd and Chestnut Ave.; the house at MLK and Maple; Irene Thompson’s house on Maple St.; Willie Kirks’ house on Maple St.

Sample Objects

The row of steps at E. 11th and San Marcos St. on Robertson Hill are all that’s left of the houses that were owned by some of the first Black educators, business, and professionals in Austin. This was the location of the Robertson Hill School (later Anderson High) the first public school for African Americans. It was the location of YWCA for Colored; the dining Hall for Huston-Tillotson College; the home of Everett Givens for whom Givens Park is named.

• -Bus tour of historic sites
• -Walking tour of historic homes
• -Annual heritage festival
• -Monthly “Fourth Friday” entertainment events
• -“Dillo” buses to and from theaters, art studios and restaurants
• -Cultural District Visitors’ Center
• -Business development initiatives to bring new synergetic business into the district
• -Coordinated programs with area institutions