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New additions to APL Board of Trustees
We look forward to welcoming some additional Trustees in the near future. Click here to visit our Preservation City blog and see who they are.

Thanks to Heritage Stewardship Awards Sponsors!
The second Heritage Stewardship Awards Luncheon was a wonderful event, honoring the Tittle Luther Partnership architectural firm. We are grateful to the following supporters for their help in hosting this event:

Heritage Underwriters: Abilene Christian University, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, Dodge Jones Foundation, Jeff Luther Construction, Mr and Mrs Harwell Barber and Mr and Mrs Fred Lee Hughes.

Sponsors: David and Sindy Durham, First Financial Bank and Hendrick Medical Center.

Table Sponsors: Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, Barr Roofing & Senter Realtors, Batjer & Associates, Amber and Bill Cree, City of Abilene, Condley & Company LLP, Development Corporation of Abilene, Inc., Long Electric, Philpott Florists and Greenhouse, Shelton Family Foundation, Hubert Welch, Architect, Bill Allison & Marinda Robertson.

Storefront Histories Project kicked off Before After 1920 view The front of the Hall Music-Optical Clinic building at 258 Pine St. has a new look from APL, the Abilene Downtown Association and Browning Eyssen & Logan, P.C. A photo mural was placed in the front window showing the interior of Hall Music Company in 1920, deteriorated plywood was covered and painted and informational graphics were placed in the window panels. If you have a building and would like to participate in the next Storefront Histories project, we'd like to hear from you, please email us

Take a tour of this 86 year old recently renovated school in Dallas Old Schools make Great New Schools. Booker T. Washington school in Dallas, the first Black high school, recently reopened as a Magnet School. The project includes significant new construction while preserving the historic building. Click on the photo at left to view a short video tour.
Historic WTU Power and Ice Plant The industrial plant that "put Abilene on the map" as a town serious about growth and business is up for sale, and a public discussion of ideas for its reuse is beginning. Here's the article from the Abilene Reporter-News site. Have a comment for us or an idea for the plant? Click to let us know. Here's an in-depth photo tour of the power plant.

Story of an Austin Home's Journey Toward Renewal
A home in Austin that had fallen on hard times gets a redo. Like many historic projects, not everyone agrees about every aspect of the restoration, but the home is saved. From the Austin American Statesman.

Is Vinyl Siding really all that great?
With all the marketing, you need an objective view of the plusses and minuses of putting vinyl siding on your house. Here's a link to a good article that goes into detail about the issue and has a good list of further resources. (Click on the Related Links link at the bottom for the PDF file.)

Historic Districts: around Texas
In San Antonio, "nearly all real estate professionals agree historic neighborhoods look better over time in comparison to nearby subdivisions that don't have historic designation," says Virginia Nicholas, board president of the San Antonio Conservation Society.
Download PDF file of article

An old neighborhood's new momentum is building
A historic neighborhood district in McKinney has been drawing newcomers to the city, increasing the tax base and attracting young people. Check out the article in the Dallas Morning News about the success McKinney's historic district has generated.
Download PDF file of article 

And Finally...(!)
University of Utah researchers found that people who live in older, more walkable neighborhoods are at lower risk for overweight and obesity. Newer neighborhoods, which are mostly designed for automobiles, are more likely to have residents who have a little trouble meeting their exercise goals, according to the study.