A demolition permit for two downtown Austin buildings, located at 422 Congress Avenue and 101 West Fifth Street, will be reviewed by the city’s Historic Landmark Commission on Wednesday. The properties are owned by Karlin Real Estate, based in Los Angeles. City staff have recommended approval of the demolition.
Shiner’s Saloon, a bar that has operated on the ground floor of 422 Congress Avenue since 2008, would be directly impacted if the demolition moves forward. Co-owner and manager David Jalufka said the bar’s lease runs through April but noted that recent renewals have been short-term. He stated he would like Shiner’s to remain but admitted uncertainty about its future.
The buildings together are over a century old: 101 West Fifth Street was built in 1914 and 422 Congress Avenue in 1940. However, neither is considered a contributing property to the Congress Avenue National Register District according to commission documents, which lessens preservation arguments.
City staff have set conditions for the demolition: any original materials found during work should be salvaged, and care must be taken not to damage an adjacent historic structure at 416 Congress Avenue from the 1890s.
Karlin Real Estate declined to comment on future plans for the site. A site plan application has been submitted but is listed as “not started,” leaving redevelopment details unclear.
The combined properties cover just 0.17 acres at a key intersection—Congress Avenue and West Fifth Street—where city regulations could allow for dense development through programs such as Austin’s Downtown Density Bonus Program. This program allows projects to reach higher floor-to-area ratios with City Council approval.
Height restrictions due to a Capitol View Corridor affect part of the site but do not preclude taller construction elsewhere on the property. Most of the area falls outside this corridor, allowing options like staggered tower designs that step down near Congress Avenue while rising higher toward other edges of the lot.
Currently, downtown building heights are capped at 350 feet after an October decision by City Council imposed temporary limits. However, developers who participate in density bonus programs may still pursue greater height allowances with appropriate payments and approvals.
