Historic Cenote house demolished on East Cesar Chavez

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A 140-year-old Victorian house on East Cesar Chavez Street in East Austin, formerly home to the popular Cenote cafe, has been largely demolished. The demolition work appears to have gone beyond what was approved during the city's review process, prompting officials to issue a stop-work order as the project is evaluated.

Why it matters

The house was a longtime landmark in the neighborhood and had served various roles over its 140-year history before becoming the home of the beloved Cenote cafe. Its demolition raises concerns among locals about the loss of historic buildings and the pace of redevelopment in East Austin.

The details

The roughly 140-year-old Victorian house at 1010 E. Cesar Chavez St. was recently demolished, leaving only the historic facade behind. The building had dated back to the late 1800s and had served several roles over its lifetime before Cenote opened there in 2012. The cafe became a neighborhood gathering spot for over a decade before relocating to East Seventh Street last year.

• The house dated back to the late 1800s.
• Cenote cafe opened at the location in 2012.
• Cenote cafe relocated to East Seventh Street last year.

What’s next

Officials have issued a stop-work order on the demolition project as they evaluate whether the work exceeded what was approved during the city's review process.