PROTECTED VIEW

My project for Cracks in the Pavement marks the endpoint of 6 of 26 “Capitol View Corridors” in Austin, Texas. The corridor is a line of view from a site to the Texas State Capitol. The purpose of the view corridors is “to protect the visual and symbolic significance of the Texas State Capitol by preventing other buildings from blocking” the views. The Department of Watershed Protection and Development Assessment is responsible for maintaining these lines as they evaluate proposed buildings and other structures that could block the view of the capitol. These protected views are officially sanctioned--I would even describe them as monuments. But interestingly are totally unmarked and not promoted as touristic destinations. I got the info from the zoning department. Some of these protected views are from places that are marked with other historic markers such as the French Legation or Wooldridge Park. Others are views from other seemingly non important spots across the river such as the corner of Lamar and La Casa, a minor street which after growing up in Austin nearby I had never heard of before. Despite the zoning restrictions, I noticed that billboards block the view corridor in a few places.