Read the article, this sounds like corruption to me. The building's occupants include not just individuals or couples, but also special interest groups and lobbying firms. And now they could stand to get a tax break.
While the building is historic in the sense that it was Austin's first building over 200 feet tall (not counting the Capitol and UT Tower), it's architectural merits and historical ones mostly end there.
Besides, the threat of the building ever being torn down will never be there. With the building gone, it would create the possibility of a new capitol view corridor (CVC) to protect the views of the Capitol dome, a state and local law that was put in place after the building was built in 1966. Nothing could be built in its place that would reach the same height or square feet as the Westgate Tower without likely causing opposition or the specter of a rush to create a new CVC over that lot. Also the only thing that would require/cause the building's removal would be declining living conditions or structural failure leading to it being condemned.
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...landmar/nScGH/
Quote:
Updated: 6:04 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 | Posted: 9:44 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012
Westgate Tower may become Austin’s youngest landmark building, with the most tax breaks
By Brenda Bell
American-Statesman Staff
When he was in the Legislature, Babe Schwartz of Galveston fought long and hard against plans to build the Westgate Tower at West 12th and Colorado streets because the 26-story building — Austin’s first high-rise — would block views of the state Capitol from the west.
But in 1966 the Westgate got built anyway. Fifteen years later, after losing his race for re-election to the Texas Senate, Schwartz and his wife moved there themselves.
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