By Robert Taylor
May is Historic Preservation Month, which celebrates the preservation of historic places across the country.
Since 2012, the City of Boerne has helped property owners in the downtown Historic District with the cost of building improvements through the Historic District Improvement Program (HDIP).
The program provides grant money for proposed improvement projects located within the Historic District, which can include updates to exterior façades, roof repairs/replacements, foundation repairs/replacements, interior ADA improvements, building/fire code improvements, and complementary building additions.
The City-funded program offers matching funds on a sliding scale with a maximum reimbursement of up to $14,500 per project depending on the project’s budget. In total, the City earmarks up to $35,000 per year for the Historic District Improvement Program. All grant projects must meet program criteria and be approved by the Historic Landmark Commission before work can begin.
A recent project at the Dienger Building, built in 1884, to repair and replace rotting wood on the exterior pillars and balcony decking qualified for the HDIP grant program.
Tony Dacy, a sixth-generation Boerne resident, and his wife, Lesli, bought the building about two years ago with the goal of preserving its history for generations to come. The issues with the rotting wood were identified during routine checks of the 140-year-old building.
Working with the Planning Department and Sara Varvarigos, a City planner who oversees the HDIP grant requests, Dacy submitted the Dienger Building project. It was approved by the Historic Landmark Commission April 2, 2024.
“We knew if we didn’t get on this it would be hard to catch up on down the road,” Tony Dacy said. “Sara was awesome and paved the way for us.”
Dacy operated his dental practice next door to the Dienger Building for 16 years. During that time, he got to know the previous owner and learned more about the building.
The Dienger Building, just across from Main Plaza, has been a staple in Boerne for well over a century. It was constructed with native limestone and rock and was operated as a general store by several generations of the Dienger family.
“It was Joseph Dienger who had this place,” Dacy said. “He knew my relatives. They probably shopped here. If I saw him today, I could say, ‘Do you remember my great, great, great grandfather?’”
The Dienger family sold the building in the 1960s. Since then, it has been a restaurant, grocery store, office space, and the public library. It is currently home to the Dienger Trading Company.
“It’s important to recognize and support the folks in our community who are preserving these historic buildings and acting as stewards of their history,” Varvarigos said. “These projects go a long way to preserve the local charm, culture, and architecture here in Boerne.”
The Dienger Building is one of many within Boerne’s Historic District that are central to the town’s character. The Historic District Improvement Program has partnered with dozens of building owners over the last 12 years to keep our history alive. The program assists with three to six projects each year and aligns with the City’s vision to promote historic stewardship and maintain our unique community charm.
Learn more about the Historic District Improvement Program.
