A familiar landmark on East Cesar Chavez Street in East Austin has largely disappeared, leaving only its historic facade behind.
The roughly 140-year-old Victorian house at 1010 E. Cesar Chavez St., best known in recent years as the home of the Cenote cafe, was recently demolished. Neighbors and preservation advocates say the work appears to have gone beyond what had been approved during the city’s review process, prompting officials to issue a stop-work order while the project is evaluated.
The building dated to the late 1800s and had served several roles over its lifetime before Cenote opened there in 2012. The café became a neighborhood gathering spot for more than a decade before relocating to East Seventh Street last year.