Historic Downtown

Most of the buildings are good examples of the Late Victorian Italianate style of the 1890s, and the early 20th century Commercial Style, applied to one-part and two-part commercial blocks. The buildings are constructed of brick with commercial storefronts composed of wood, glass and brick, and most retain a high degree of integrity. Of the twelve buildings, ten are contributing resources and two are non-contributing. The district constitutes the entirety of the historic central business core of the once-small town, which has experienced meteoric population growth of over 1000% in the decade since 2000.



Location
The city of Hutto in south central Williamson County is at the intersection of U.S. Highway 79 and Farm Road 1660, midway between Round Rock and Taylor, and approximately 25 miles northeast of downtown Austin. Old Town refers to Hutto's historic district, bound loosely by Park Street to the east, Orgain Street to the south, the Co-Op site to the west, and north just past the intersection of Church Street and FM 1660. The Old Town boundaries are the original 1911 city boundaries. 

Click here for a map of the Historic District Zoning Map.
Click here for a Google map on how to get to Historic Old Town

Features
With charming structures dating back to the 1800's, Old Town truly is the heart of Hutto. Old Town is home to a number of local businesses, shops, and restaurants that attract Hutto residents and visitors alike. 




Parked cars line the recently-improved Farley Street on any given day, as the lunchtime crowd packs nearby restaurants. The City of Hutto was awarded a 2013 Texas Downtown Association Award for Best Public Improvement for the Farley Street Reconstruction Project. 

Prior to reconstruction, Farley Street was a two-lane street with no curb, no sidewalks, limited parking, and an aging wastewater line. In November of 2009, the Hutto citizens passed 3 of the 4 propositions that were presented in the City’s first General Obligation bond election. The Farley Street project was part of Proposition 1 for the issuance of $8,500,000 in General Obligation bonds for street improvements and includes installation of underground drainage, sidewalks, and streetscaping to several downtown streets. 

By 2012, Farley Street had been completely transformed into a true downtown street, designed for visitors traveling on foot or by car. The street now boasts twelve-foot sidewalks lined with Shumard Oak trees, on-street angled parking, and generous native landscaping. Stamped, colored asphalt in each intersection resembles brick pavers without the high cost or long-term maintenance requirements. LED light fixtures provide additional safety for those walking at night, while also contributing to Old Town’s historic character. Bike racks, benches and trash receptacles further enhance the comfort of residents and visitors using the sidewalk. 

In addition to making prominent streetscape improvements, the Farley Street Reconstruction project also included water, wastewater and drainage improvements, as well as the underground placement of dry utilities. The utility improvements ensure adequate capacity for both current users and future downtown development.

The Co-Op property, an iconic reminder of the city's agriculturally-focused past, stands as the future site of a new City Hall. The Gin at the Hutto Co-Op District won Best Public Improvement Award from the Texas Downtown Association in 2016.