Monte Vista Historical Association

Chairperson – Paul Kinnison

The Architecture Review Committee advises Monte Vista residents on home renovation issues related to historic codes. Licensed architects advise residents and assist them with approvals with the city historic review process.

The city of San Antonio preserves its unique cultural heritage by setting aside certain areas as historic districts. By ordinance, every resident or business within an historic district must have approval from the San Antonio Historic & Design Review Commission before any permit for building or renovation of a property, including painting, landscaping, fences and signs, can be issued. Historic Preservation Resources have been added to the site which include useful information and links to brochures and forms to assist residents in understanding the requirements prior to beginning work on any exterior repair, maintenance, construction, or restoration project. The Historic Preservation Resources include:

Before starting a Project
Historic Preservation Guidelines
Useful Forms

The Monte Vista Historical Association recommends all residents and businesses within its boundaries come before this Committee prior to submitting a plan to the San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission. This is not legally required, but can greatly facilitate approval of your plan by the HDRC. The Committee meets the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM at the Landa Library Annex (the small building just west of the main Library building, 233 Bushnell). The Committee will make a recommendation to the San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission and to date has had a very high rate of concurrence by the Office of Historic Preservation. The Committee may oppose or ask for a continuance for any plans it has not had a chance to review.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If a regularly scheduled meeting of the Architecture Review Committee falls on a Holiday, the meeting will take place on the following Monday.

The Architecture Review Committee works with the San Antonio Historic & Design Review Commission and other local historic districts to enforce guidelines for historic preservation in all of San Antonio’s historic districts and specifically within the Monte Vista Historic District. Certain historic guidelines may be found at Historic Preservation Guidelines.