Hello Neighbors,

When I wrote in March that we were a neighborhood without a name, I laid out the case that this neighborhood has an identity problem. When a community has no shared identity, it has no shared standing or authority.

In April, I explained why that’s a problem: “Our neighborhood is often treated as an extension of somewhere else. Sometimes, it’s considered part of Downtown. Other times, especially among City policies, it’s lumped into a broader ‘East Austin’ that’s inclusive of the entire city east of I-35. This ambiguity has real consequences.”

The more I researched, however, the clearer it became that the absence of a shared identity is not the beginning of the story. It’s the end of one.

Continue reading below to learn about what I’ve discovered.

Note: today’s meeting will take place at the RBJ Center, 1320 Art Dilly Dr.

For over 100 years, much of the area we now know as East Cesar Chavez, Holly, Rainey, the Palm School district, and the central Eastside was referred to as the Tenth Ward.

The Tenth Ward began as an official political district in the 19th century, and lasted only about 30 years. That could easily have been the end of one short chapter of Austin civic history. But long after the City eliminated its wards, the Tenth Ward remained tied to the identity of this neighborhood in a way the others did not.

If you’ve never heard this name before, you’re not alone. I was shocked to learn this myself.

Political boundaries come and go, and that was the case for Wards One through Nine, which did not become part of the identity for those areas. So that led me to two questions that I’ve been obsessed with:

The answer to these questions, I believe, are more than just interesting history. It’s the story of how a community that once possessed an incredibly strong civic identity gradually lost it through the decisions and demands of a rapidly expanding City.

The records are hard to find and are not well documented, but what I did find was convincing evidence of shared identity.

From its incorporation in 1839 until 1909, Austin was governed by a ward system with aldermen elected by residents to represent specific parts of town. A charter amendment in 1873 formally drew ten of them, and the Tenth Ward was the Eastside.

Initially, the city’s official border ended at East Avenue, which is the road I-35 was later built on top of. But the “East End” boomed in the 1870s around the Fifth Street freight depot, and the Tenth Ward reached east across that line into the working-class neighborhoods that became our neighborhood. By the 1890s it was one of the most vibrant residential sectors in the city.

During this period, the 10th Ward was politically influential and remarkably diverse. Three Black aldermen represented the 10th Ward in the 1870s and 1880s, advocating directly for the Eastside families during a period of pivotal growth.

Ward systems were dismantled across American cities in the early 20th century in favor of at-large government and Jim Crow laws, and Austin followed suit in 1909.

Yet, while the other Wards dissolved, the Tenth Ward refused to fade. The community retained its name for decades: in the Tenth Ward Fire House, in social clubs, parades, fundraisers, and civic associations. City Council minutes from 1947 record residents of the “Old Tenth Ward” petitioning for street lights; minutes from 1970 show a “10th Ward” library being proposed.

There were even Tenth Ward neighborhood reunions as recently as 2016.

Today, little remains of the Tenth Ward. The only official artifact appears to be Census Tract 10, which still covers much of the neighborhood.

So why did the Tenth Ward identity eventually die? Looking back at municipal history, it seems three major events systematically eroded this neighborhood’s shared identity and standing:

When Austin moved to an at-large council system in 1909, neighborhood-level seats were abolished. Without a dedicated Tenth Ward alderman accountable directly to Eastside residents, decision-making authority consolidated downtown. Citywide majorities made choices for East Austin without direct neighborhood input for 103 years until voters approved the “10-1” council districts and restored dedicated geographic representation in 2012.

In 1962, the construction of I-35 replaced tree-lined East Avenue with a massive concrete barrier. It didn't just divide East from West; it sliced directly through the heart of the Tenth Ward, severing street networks, family ties, and commercial connections. What was once a contiguous, fluid community stretching east from downtown was suddenly walled off, isolating the Eastside literally and in the eyes of city planners.

Austin’s notorious 1928 Master Plan officially designated East Austin as the city’s industrial and segregated district. Even so, the Tenth Ward remained economically and racially diverse. But by the 1950s, heavy industrial zoning was placed directly adjacent to residential homes. Tank farms, metal recyclers, and eventually the Holly Power Plant all came to define the neighborhood’s industrial edge. The weight of these municipal policies continually degraded quality of life, decreased property values, and wore down the neighborhood's public standing. White flight and economic flight took hold.

The Tenth Ward and all of its history and stories could end as it is as another chapter of Austin history. There’s little left of it today, except for some artifacts and the memories of the elders in our neighborhood.

Or perhaps it’s the beginning of its next chapter.

Next month, I plan to meet with 94-year old Lela Castro, who still remembers the Tenth Ward.

Why? Rediscovering the Tenth Ward matters. Its history is worth celebrating because it reminds us what made this neighborhood exceptional in the first place.

From the very beginning, Original East Austin attracted builders, merchants, civic leaders, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, churches, small businesses, and families who invested in this place to create a better future. Mexican, African American, Chinese, German, Swedish, Irish, and many other immigrant communities all helped shape the neighborhood we inherited.

The Tenth Ward had shared political, civic and community power. They were proud of their neighborhood. The name stuck because they wanted that spirit of shared community and identity to continue, as it did for more than 100 years.

And that spirit can continue, if we choose.

For more than a century, this community had a name. I propose that we reclaim it. The Tenth Ward Alliance would be a coalition of neighbors, businesses, nonprofits, churches, and community organizations working together across East Cesar Chavez, Holly, and the original Eastside.

Strong neighborhoods are built by people who share more than geography. They share a story, an identity, and a belief that they can shape what comes next. By reclaiming our historical identity, we can establish a shared authority and a single voice to advocate for our community whether we are pushing for better transit investments, preserving historic places, or ensuring city planners respect our streets as a community, not just a highway corridor.

What are it’s exact boundaries? Who will be included? Frankly, I have no idea right now. There’s a lot still to discover about this history, and it will take the work of this community to determine the future.

This is only the beginning of the research. There are undoubtedly countless stories, artifacts, and memories that haven’t yet been uncovered. If you have family connections, historical records, or simply remember hearing about the Tenth Ward growing up, I’d love to hear from you.

And if you have an opinion about this direction, for or against, please share your perspective. Now is the time to contribute.

Join us at the RBJ Center tonight at 6:00 PM to discuss this proposal, share your thoughts, and help us write the next chapter together. I’ll also share a proposed governance structure and timelines.

Good news to lead with: Mayor Watson withdrew his proposal that would have stripped out funding for the foundational cap infrastructure along the downtown segments of I-35. As I wrote in May, that proposal would have permanently sealed off the possibility of a continuous cap connecting East Austin to Downtown.

It’s off the table because neighbors made themselves heard. Everyone who filled out the advocacy form, wrote to Council, or showed up: thank you!

We’ll stay watchful and share updates as they come.

This one reverses what I reported in May, so please read carefully. Back in February, TxDOT surveyed benefitted property owners about a proposed noise wall along the top of the northbound I-35 retaining wall between East Cesar Chavez and Holly Streets. The first two voting rounds that both fell short of the 25% response rate that TxDOT’s noise policy requires.

After reviewing the outreach, TxDOT determined a third and final vote was warranted to ensure fuller community engagement. That vote has now closed, and it reached the required response, coming back “For” the noise wall. TxDOT will build it.

Construction will be folded into the phasing of the overall Downtown segment, anticipated to begin in early 2027. We’ll track how the wall is incorporated into construction and share what we learn.

A new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon is now active at Cesar Chavez Street and Chalmers Avenue. It’s a signal that stops traffic so people can cross a fast, busy road safely. Council Member José Velásquez was on hand for the ribbon-cutting. The intersection also gained eight ADA-compliant curb ramps on all four corners.

A small, concrete win for pedestrian safety in the heart of the neighborhood and a reminder that this stuff happens when people ask for it. Coverage here.

Neighborhood leader Lori Renteria is gathering community feedback on the potential future re-opening of the Martin School campus. The committee will collect responses through August before presenting to the School Board. School closures were one of the losses I listed in March, so this one is worth a few minutes of your time.

Complete the questionnaire here

Lori is also collecting donations for the annual student backpack drive: contribute here.

The City of Austin’s Historic Preservation Office has launched a major expansion of its survey documenting East Austin’s architecture, history, and culture. They are seeking community input on properties built in or before 1983, and they explicitly want stories and meaningful places, not just buildings.

If you have a Tenth Ward story, this is a second place to put it — one that goes into the official city record. I’d encourage neighbors to submit to both.

Share a place or story via the online portal (or visit SpeakUpAustin.org/EastAustin).

Sofia Wagner from the city team will present a 10-minute overview at our August 19 neighborhood meeting.

From Council Member José Velásquez’s community update:

Dates for the budget forum and the Know Your Rights webinar are in Save the Date below.

Lonny Stern from Lime is gathering feedback from Austin riders on how shared bikes and scooters can better support everyday commuting — particularly for lower-income residents and those who rely on income-qualified services like SNAP or Medicaid. Anyone who has ridden a Lime bike or scooter in Austin is encouraged to participate, and riders who complete the survey receive 20 free minutes as a thank-you.

Take the survey here

Long-time neighbors and contributors Kit & Debra are moving on from their forever home due to a career change. If you or someone you know is in the market to put down roots here, their place is listed: 303 Navasota. We’ll miss them, and we’d love to see it land with someone who’ll love our neighborhood the way they have.

Sofia Wagner of the City’s Historic Preservation Office will give a 10-minute overview of the East Austin Historic Resource Survey. Given everything above, I’d like a strong turnout for this one.

Eric Pace, Chair
ECCNA/NPCT