The Vision Plan is a comprehensive, community‑informed framework that will guide the long‑term restoration, interpretation, management, and development of the historic Montopolis Negro School at 500 Montopolis Drive. The City of Austin’s Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) Department, in partnership with the Capital Delivery Services team, is leading the development of this plan. The school is historically significant as one of the last surviving rural schools for African American children in Travis County during the Jim Crow era—a period marked by racial segregation, disenfranchisement, and systemic discrimination. Its later use as the Montopolis Church of Christ also contributes to its cultural and historical importance.

The Vision Plan is being prepared in response to City Council direction under Resolution No. 20170928‑056, which called for a strategy to restore, manage, operate, and fund the site as a historic asset and museum capable of attracting both tourists and convention visitors.

Purpose and Scope

The primary goal of the Vision Plan is to create a forward‑looking, actionable roadmap outlining how the site will be preserved and activated as a sustainable museum and cultural facility. To accomplish this, the project will include:

• Historic preservation analysis to determine appropriate restoration, treatment, and rehabilitation approaches.
• Interpretive planning to identify key themes, stories, and educational narratives that honor the school’s legacy and the Montopolis community’s history.
• Architectural and design considerations for future improvements, accessibility, and cultural landscape stewardship.
• Community‑based facilitation to ensure the voices of Montopolis residents, former students, and broader community stakeholders meaningfully guide the plan's development.
• Programming and operational planning to define how the museum or cultural facility will function, serve visitors, generate revenue, and remain financially sustainable.
• Implementation recommendations to support phased development, funding strategies, and long‑term maintenance

Together, these elements ensure that the Vision Plan not only preserves the physical structure of the Montopolis Negro School but also elevates its cultural legacy through thoughtful interpretation, robust community engagement, and long‑term stewardship.