[00:00:06]
[CALL TO ORDER]
THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.IN CASE YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE TO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OR SOMETHING, I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER CALLED THE ROLE.
TERRY MYERS CHAIRMAN I'M HERE.
AND IT'S THE CASTEEL YEAH, THANK YOU.
THERE WILL BE, UM, THERE'S ALREADY AN APPOINTMENT FOR HER POSITION, BUT SHE'S STILL GOING THROUGH TRAINING.
SHE'LL BE HERE NEXT TIME TREATMENT QUARTER BLAKE TILL IT BETH ON SUELA.
I WANT TO JUST STATE, UH, JUST UPFRONT THAT BECAUSE WE ARE MISSING, UM, A SEAT ON THE COMMISSION.
OUR SUPER MAJORITY IS BASED ON A COMMISSION OF 10.
WE NEED EIGHT VOTES TO BE A SUPER MAJORITY IN ANY CASE, UM, IN ANY ACTION THAT WE TAKE TONIGHT, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT? ANYONE.
UM, NUMBER ONE, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE AGENDA AND OF CERTAIN ITEMS WILL BE PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.
THERE'LL BE CONSENT ITEMS. THAT MEANS IF NO ONE ON THE COMMISSION OR FROM THE PUBLIC HAS ASKED TO ONCE TO SPEAK TO THESE, THEY WILL BE PASSED ON CONSENT.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN TO AN ITEM THAT IS LISTED FOR CONSENT, PLEASE GET MY ATTENTION.
UH, RAISE YOUR HAND, UM, SHOUT NICELY, AND WE CAN PULL THAT ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSION ITEMS ALREADY ON OUR AGENDA, UM, BUT WE WILL TAKE ANYTHING.
UM, ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT POLLED THAT IS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, SEVERAL POSTPONEMENTS THAT ARE APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENTS AND WE WILL VOTE ON, UM, ON THEM AS WELL.
THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM MAY 4TH, 2022.
WE HAVE NO BRIEFINGS TONIGHT UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS, A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR HISTORIC ZONING OR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONING AND REQUEST TO CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST ITEMS NUMBER A 1 16 17 NEW YORK AVENUE.
THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, EIGHT TO 1403 EASTER EASTER EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET WILL BE DISCUSSION A 3 9 0 2 EAST SEVENTH STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
A 4, 3 10 TO THREE 12 COLORADO STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, A 5,000 316, 3 8 TO THREE 18 COLORADO AND TWO, A ONE TO 2 0 9 WEST FOURTH STREET WILL BE DISCUSSION ITEM A SIX TO 11 WAS FOURTH STREET WILL BE DISCUSSION AND A SEVEN TO 13 WEST FOURTH STREET DISCUSSION BECAUSE THESE LAST FOUR ITEMS, UM, ARE ASSOCIATED UNDER ONE DEVELOPMENT, UM, INITIATIVE.
WE WILL DISCUSS THESE TOGETHER UNDER BEAD DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS B 1 44 0 2 SPEEDWAY.
THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT B 2 5 0 4 EAST FIFTH STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
IT'S ON OUR AGENDA AS CONSENT, BUT THE APPLICANT HAS ASKED, UM, UH, TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM FOR CLARIFICATION ITEM B3 1100 EAST
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EIGHTH STREET WILL ALSO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM IT'S LISTED FOR CONSENT.BUT STAFF HAS ASKED TO PULL THIS UNDER, SEE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
SEE 1 14, 11 ETHERIDGE AVENUE WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
C2 8 0 4, RATHER FOR THIRD PLACE, WE'VE RECEIVED REVISED PLANS FOR THIS BUILDING THAT WE'RE IN YOUR BACK UP.
THIS WILL BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ITEMS. C3 FIVE 12 EAST MONROE STREET.
THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT ITEM, C 4 18 0 3, KENWOOD AD AVENUE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE HAVE SPEAKERS REGISTERED IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM C FOR, OKAY.
WE WILL PULL THAT FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS, C5 13, 15 AND 1317 NOONAN AVENUE.
THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT ITEM, C 6, 12 0 5.
ALTA VISTA AVENUE IS LISTED, UM, AS FOR CONSENT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SPEAKER ON THIS AS WELL.
SO THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
MALLORY STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ITEM C 8 14 0 6.
ALTA VISTA AVENUE IS ON OUR AGENDA AS A CONSENT ITEM.
THIS REMAINS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
HARRIS BOULEVARD IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT UNDER SEAT 10 18, 10 MOLAY DRIVE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SEE, 11 14 0 7 HARTFORD ROAD IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ITEM C 12 19 0 9.
KENWOOD AVENUE IS LISTED AS A CONSENT ITEM.
WILL THIS ONE BE POLLED? OKAY.
THIS WILL NOW BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
UNDER D DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR DEMOLITION OR RELOCATION ITEM D ONE, 2002.
SCENIC DRIVE WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE ON OUR AGENDA.
IT HAS THE, UM, PROPERTY BEING DEVELOPED OR BEING BUILT IN 1929.
I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE 1923.
DID WE SKIP C 12 DEADLINE? NO, THAT'S BEING PULLED FOR DISCUSSION AS THERE AS A SPEAKER AND OPPOSITION 1909 KENWOOD.
YES, THAT'S ALL THAT WAS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, BUT IT HAS BEEN PULLED BY A SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION.
SO D ONE IS DISCUSSION D TO 1100 EAST FIFTH STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
D 3 7 0 7 WEST SLAUGHTER LANE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT D FOR EIGHT 14 EAST 45TH STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT AND D FIVE 17 OH NEWTON STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT UNDER ITEM E DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON DEMOLITION.
WE HAVE NO ITEMS. WE HAVE NO ITEMS UNDER F DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPLICANT ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR TAX ABATEMENT UNDER FOR COMMISSION AND STAFF ITEMS. UH, WE HAVE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COMMITTEE REPORTS, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OPERATIONS COMMITTEE GRANTS COMMITTEE, AND THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE ITEM B AS THE DISCUSSION OF OUR COMMISSIONER SUMMER TRAINING AND SEE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, AND ADJOURNMENT.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ARE THERE ANY, UM, ARE THERE ANY CASES THAT WERE OFFERED FOR THE CONSENT APPROVAL THAT WOULD LIKE ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY.MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
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DO I HEAR A SECOND? NO SECOND.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL CASES FOR CONSENT POSTPONEMENT.
DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THAT ON THEM? WAS THAT YOU COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
UH, AGAIN, UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOK, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT POSTPONEMENT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE'LL GO BACK TO THE FRONT OF OUR ITEM.
THOSE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR ITEMS PASSED ON CONSENT, YOU MAY LEAVE THE ROOM UNLESS YOU'D LIKE TO STAY AND LISTEN TO OUR MANY DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION OR WERE ALREADY ON FOR DISCUSSION, WE WILL GO FORWARD WITH THOSE AT THIS TIME, GOING BACK TO THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THIS IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR HISTORIC ZONING DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR A HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONING AND REQUEST TO CONSIDER ZONING.
[3.A.1. PR-2021-195456 – 1617 New York Ave. – Discussion (postponed May 4, 2022) Council District 1]
ITEM A 1 16 17 NEW YORK AVENUE.THIS IS A COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING CASE.
RIGHT? GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, UH, ITEM A ONE IS AN APPLICATION TO ADD A CHIMNEY TO A TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY BUILDING.
UM, AND THE COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING AS TARA MEYER SAID BACK IN JANUARY AS WELL.
UM, ON THIS CASE, STAFF CAN RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING, UH, BASED ON THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN SURVEY FINDINGS.
UM, BUT SHOULD THE COMMISSION CHOOSE NOT TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING AGAINST THE OWNERS WISHES STAFF RECOMMENDS ENCOURAGING THE APPLICANT TO IMP IMPLEMENT COMMITTEE FEEDBACK ON THE CHIMNEY DESIGN AND THEN RELEASING THE PERMIT.
THE 2016 SURVEY RECOMMENDS THE PROPERTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FOLK VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE.
IT'S A ONE-STORY HOUSE WITH A PARTIAL WITH PORCH SUPPORTED BY CLASSICAL COLUMNS, ONE OVER ONE SCREENED WINDOWS, CROSS GABLED ROOF CAPPED WITH REPLACEMENT STANDING SEAM METAL DECORATIVE SHINGLES AT THE GABLE END OR ZANTEL WOOD SIDING AND AN ENTRANCE WITH A TRANSOM INSIDE LIGHT.
THE 2016 SURVEY DETERMINED THAT THE BUILDING IS ASSOCIATED WITH HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN AUSTIN.
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND THAT'S IN THE APPLICANT PRESENTATION IS TO ADD A BRICK CHIMNEY TO THE WEST ELEVATION, UM, FOLLOWING SOME DISCUSSION FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF FOR THIS CASE? OUR DISCUSSION AT THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, CENTERED ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CHIMNEY AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS THIS, UM, INITIATION, THE RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE OWNER'S WISHES.
UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THIS CASE? I'M HEARING THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
IS THE APPLICANT PLEASE COME DOWN.
WE KEPT THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN FOR THAT VERY REASON.
I'M SORRY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR SEEING US TO DISCUSS THIS.
UM, AND THANK YOU CULLEN FOR YOUR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, SO AS YOU KNOW, WE CAME TO YOU, UH, IN JANUARY DISCUSSING THE OVERALL PROJECT, UM, HOUSE RENOVATION AND ADDITION, AND TOGETHER, WE DECIDED THAT THE CHIMNEY NEEDED FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SO WE TABLED IT AND WENT BEFORE THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS REVIEW COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY, DURING THAT MEETING, THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE CLIENT AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO PURSUE LANDMARK STATUS.
THE CLIENT, AS YOU MENTIONED, TERRY HAS STATED THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE PLANS TO DO SO.
WE THEN SPOKE ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE CHIMNEY AND ITS LOCATION.
UH, THE, THE DESIGN DISCUSSION SPECIFICALLY LED TO US, UM,
[00:15:01]
TO KEEP AN AESTHETIC OF, UH, OF THE CHIMNEY THAT LENDED OR TENDED MORE TOWARDS THE FOLK VICTORIAN, AS OPPOSED TO A MODERN ADDITION, UH, THE LOCATION OF THE CHIMNEY.YOU CAN SCROLL THROUGH THE SLIDES, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, HAS BEEN, UH, LOCATED SUCH THAT IT IS NOT ON THE PRIMARY FACADE.
AND, UM, JUST TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS A CORNER LOT.
UM, WE ALSO DID NOT PUT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO WE HAVE STEPPED IT BACK 15 FEET FROM THE PRIMARY FACADE.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMITTEE, UH, ASKING IF THE CLIENT WOULD BE WILLING TO SAVE THE WINDOW THAT WE ARE REMOVING FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
AND THE CLIENTS HAVE AGREED THAT THEY WOULD KEEP THE WINDOW.
UM, IF, YOU KNOW, FOR FUTURE PURPOSES OF RETURNING IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION.
UM, SO AS, AS YOU'VE STATED BEFORE, UM, THIS, UH, THIS, THIS HOUSE IS UP FOR, UM, A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN A POTENTIAL FUTURE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND WE DO FEEL THAT THE LOCATION AND DESIGN IS RESPECTING THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE PREVIOUSLY HAD WITH THE COMMITTEE AND YOU COMMISSIONERS AND THE HISTORIC GUIDELINES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, COMMISSIONERS VIRTUAL COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER HIMSELF? YES.
THE, THE OWNER OBVIOUSLY, UM, IS DOING A LOT TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL, UH, WITH THIS HOUSE HEADS.
HAS THERE BEEN FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES WHERE THEY TO, UH, ACCEPT THIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION IF WE RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING TO ACCEPT THAT AND, UH, GO AHEAD AND ADD THIS PROGRAM, UH, ADD THEIR STRUCTURE TO THIS PROGRAM.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION DURING THE REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND AGAIN, UH, AT THIS TIME THEY'RE JUST NOT INTERESTED IN REVIEW OR, UM, GETTING AN, A LANDMARK STATUS.
ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
I NOTICED ON THE LAST SHEET THERE, UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE BRICK BEING USED TO CLAD THE NEW CHIMNEY, THE EXISTING MATERIALS THAT'S THERE'S ENOUGH BRICK THERE TO DO THAT? NO, SIR.
WE WOULD DO OUR BEST TO FIND A BRICK TO, UH, COME CLOSE TO MATCHING.
AND IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME BRICK YARDS AROUND TOWN AND WE THINK WE'VE COME CLOSE TO ONE THAT IS SIMILAR, NOT THE SAME, BUT VERY SIMILAR.
IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE CASE? THANK YOU.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SECOND? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
CAUSE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THE CASE, BUT QUICK QUESTION OF STAFF, MADAM CHAIR MEYER, QUESTION STAMP.
THIS, THIS CAME TO US ORIGINALLY BECAUSE OF A APPLICATION FOR A PARTIAL DEMOLITION.
IS THAT HOW THIS GOT TRIGGERED? YEAH, SHE'S COMING.
COMMISSIONER HAIM SAID THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, THE APPLICANT CAME TO US WITH AN ADDITION AND, UM, THIS, UH, REAR ADDITION, AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE CHIMNEY EDITION THAT'S HERE BEFORE US TODAY.
BUT WE'RE NOT IN ANY DISTRICT OF ANY KIND.
SO WE REALLY, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
UH, THERE WAS REVIEW ABOUT THE CHIMNEY AND, UH, WE THEN PICKED THIS UP AND SAID, IT WAS AT LEAST EXPLORING, EXPLORING IS A AS A POTENTIAL LANDMARKS DESIGNATION.
AND THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE 2016 SURVEY.
UM, IT'S IN A POTENTIAL DISTRICT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER HOUSES SIMILAR TO IT AND THE AREA, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST, UM, MOST INTACT.
UM, I MANAGED SHARE A CHAIR MYERS, I'M READY FOR EMOTION, IF
[00:20:01]
YOU WILL.UH, I WILL, UH, MY MOTION WILL BE TO APPROVE THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION REQUEST OF HIS, UH, APPLICANTS AND TO, UM, WITHDRAW THE, UH, HISTORIC DESIGNATION, UH, THE HISTORIC PROCEEDINGS FOR, FOR REZONING AS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK.
AND THAT WOULD, UH, WELL, UH, APPROVING THE DEMOLITION REQUEST WOULD THEN APPROVE THE CHIMNEY.
UH, IN IT'S IN THE LOCATION THAT IT DOES.
I WOULD SAY IT INCUMBENT UPON, THIS IS THE OWNER'S WILLINGNESS TO, UH, FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE REVISED CHIMNEY, UH, AND THE WAY IT'S BEEN, UH, PRESENTED THE, IT IS ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION? I WOULD SUPPORT AND SECOND THAT MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION REQUEST.
I'M ASSUMING THIS, THIS INCLUDES THE, UH, THE ADDITION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY AND THE CHIMNEY.
UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, LET ME JUST QUICKLY SPEAK TO MY MOTION.
I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY AWARE THAT WE HAVE LIMITED TOOLS AND, UM, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THIS OWNER WERE, UH, ACCEPTING THIS, UH, DESIGNATION, BUT SINCE THEY'RE NOT, I THINK WE COULD, WE COULD QUIBBLE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, THAT CHIMNEY, IT MAY NOT BE PERFECT.
UH, IF WE ACCEPT THE CHIMNEY, UH, THIS, THIS STRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE INTEGRATED INTO WHAT IS PRETTY MUCH INAPPROPRIATE TYPE OF ADDITION AND WILL BE PRESERVED.
SO IT MAY NOT BE IN OUR PROGRAM, BUT AT LEAST OUR OBJECTIVES WILL HAVE BEEN MET.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A, A WORTHY, UH, UH, OUTCOME.
I FILLED THAT THE, I FEEL THAT THE OWNERS ARE RETAINING, UM, THE PRIMARY FACADE AND, UH, UH, THE SIDE TO, UH, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WITH THIS ADDITION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED FAVORABLY.
AND THE, THE MAIN, UM, POINT OF CONTENTION WAS THE CHIMNEY COMMISSIONER VALANZUELA SAW YOUR HAND UP.
I, UM, WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD ADD A CITY OF BOSTON DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE TO THE MOTION AS WELL TO DOCUMENT, ESPECIALLY THAT GABLE END WE'RE WE'RE LOSING A WINDOW.
LET ME HAVE THAT ATTITUDE MOTION PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, WOULD YOU, UM, SECOND THAT, UM, AMENDMENT, GREAT SUGGESTION.
THE, UH, THE CITY OF DOCUMENTATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE INCLUDES, UM, EIGHT BY 10, UH, PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL FACADES, UM, IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT WOULD BE, UM, I, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DO ALL FACADES, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S MINIMAL, MINIMAL CHANGE TO THE PRIMARY, UH, THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, BUT WE HAVE AN ADDITION, A SMALL PORCH ON ONE SIDE NOW, THE CHIMNEY ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOSE A PART OF THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
SO WE NEED PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL FACADES AND, UM, WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED? THEY SHOULD BE PRINTED ON PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER.
AND I THINK THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE HOUSE AT THIS POINT, SINCE IT'S NOT BEING DEMOLISHED IS PROBABLY SUFFICIENT FOR ARCHIVING AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
DOES STAFF HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THAT? OKAY.
THE, SO THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE, NOT INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, BUT APPROVE, UM, THE PLANS AS PRESENTED TONIGHT AND GET THAT DOCUMENTATION OF THE FACADES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[3.A.2. PR-2022-014784 – 1403 E. Cesar Chavez St. – Discussion (postponed May 4, 2022) Council District 3]
ITEM EIGHT TO 1403 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ.UM, I'LL HAVE TO ASK THE COMMISSION THAT THEY BEAR WITH ME FOR SOME OF THESE CASES, UH, AS THEY ARE RELATIVELY NEW TO MEET.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR OTHER CASE MANAGER, UH, KIM COLLINS COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, ADAM H TWO IS THE TOFI AND BIRTH OF BELLAGIO HOUSE AT 1403 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ.
UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM
[00:25:01]
M U C O H N P A, THE LANDMARK COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING BACK IN FEBRUARY AND THE 2016 AUSTIN EAST AUSTIN SURVEY REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THIS PROPERTY IS ELIGIBLE AS A LOCAL LANDMARK, AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO A POTENTIAL LOCAL DISTRICT.THIS HOUSE EMBODIES THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS AND IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF CRAFTSMAN STYLE ARCHITECTURE.
IT IS A SINGLE-STORY RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WITH A CROSS GABLED ROOF LINE, AND IT WAS BUILT IN 1925 THROUGH A PAST ONE TRIANGULAR KNEE, KNEE BRACE, AND THE APEX OF EACH CABLE OR SUPPORTS ARE COMPOSED OF BRICK, MASONRY PIERS WITH SLOPING SIDES.
A TOP APPEARS RUSS THE DECORATIVE WOODEN SUPPORT COLUMNS THAT APPEAR TO TAKE CUES FROM ORIENTALIST DESIGN PRINCIPLES.
THE WOODEN PORCH RAILING IS CONSTRUCTED WITH A WESTERN STICK INFLUENCES AND THE STRUCTURE HAS HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING.
ITS FACADE, UH, COMPRISES A SINGLE ENTRY DOOR AND TWO MATCHING WINDOW ASSEMBLIES, EACH COMPOSED OF TWO SINGLE HUNG, VERTICAL WOOD WINDOWS.
THE HOUSE RETAINS A HIGH DEGREE OF INTEGRITY WITH FEW ALTERATIONS.
THE PROPERTY HAS LONG STANDING SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE FAMILY BEHIND BELLAGIO PRODUCE, WHICH CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO COMMERCE IN AUSTIN FROM 1925 TO 1959.
THIS HOME WAS OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY MEMBERS OF THE BELLAGIO FAMILY, CHARLES AND TOFI BELLAGIO OWNED THE PRODUCE COMPANY CO-OWNER TOFI AND HIS WIFE BERTHA PURCHASED THIS HOUSE IN 1927 WITH THEIR FAMILY HOME, OR THEY CONTINUED TO LIVE AT THIS HOUSE IN INTO 1959.
THE PRODUCE COMPANY WAS ALREADY ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE AUSTIN AREA BY 1939, UH, THIS A BUSINESS WHERE MANY WOULD GO TO ORDER THEIR HOLIDAY TURKEYS AND MEATS.
AND I HELD THE STATE CONTRACT FOR PROVIDING ME TO INSTITUTIONS FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS AS ONE OF THE LARGEST SUPPLIERS OF MEAT AND PRODUCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY.
UM, IS THE APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, PLEASE COME DOWN.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WITH YOU, UM, THEY SHOULD PREPARE THEMSELVES TO, UH, COME DOWN AND QUICKLY, UH, GOOD EVENING.
UH, MY NAME IS MICHAEL ANTA, NORA.
I'M A ARCHITECT WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER.
UH, BRADLEY WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S ON A TARMAC, STUCK ON AN AIRPLANE RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M USING HIS TIME TO READ A LETTER THAT HE HAD PREPARED AND WAS GOING TO, UH, PRESENT TO YOU.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, AND, AND, AND, UH, IN LIEU OF A BRADLEY.
AND THERE'S ANOTHER PRESENTATION NOW I'M NOT GIVING A PRESENTATION.
SO VICTORIA, UH, FROM THROWER DESIGN IS ALSO HERE TO SPEAK.
UH, AFTERWARDS I AM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS IS THE, UH, ENGINEER JERRY GARCIA AS WELL.
SO THIS LETTER IS FROM MR. HARRISON, DEAR HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS BRADLEY C HARRISON.
I'M A GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT AND MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT.
I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AS AN AIRBORNE RANGER, AND I'M A 100% SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN.
I'M APPEALING TO THE COMMISSION TODAY TO RECOMMEND AGAINST HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY AT 1403, CESAR CHAVEZ.
I OWN SCOUT VENTURES, A SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS THAT INVESTS IN MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER, SAFER PLACE BY CULTIVATING FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES BUILT BY VETERANS OR THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL LABS.
MY BUSINESS MADE THE DECISION TO RELOCATE TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE PROPERTY AT 1403 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ WAS PURCHASED AS A FUTURE LOCATION FOR OUR NEW OFFICES.
THE PURCHASE WAS MADE KNOWING THAT THE PROPERTY WAS NOT AT THAT TIME, A HISTORICAL LANDMARK AND WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT COULD HAVE ANY POTENTIAL FOR BEING DESIGNATED AS SUCH EVEN.
SO OUR ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE FIRST FLOOR AND BUILD A NEW SECOND FLOOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PLAN WAS NOT FEASIBLE.
THE PROPERTY DID NOT APPRAISE THAT THE PURCHASE PRICE, THIS REQUIRED ME TO INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY TO COMPETE, TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE, WHICH REDUCED OUR ABILITY TO REUSE THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.
SECOND THREE INSURANCE CARRIERS, INCLUDING USA, A AN INSTITUTION THAT SPECIFICALLY SERVES THE FINANCIAL INSURANCE NEEDS OF MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES REFUSE TO INSURE THE PROPERTY BASED UPON THE CONDITION.
ONLY ONE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED A POLICY WHICH WAS CANCELED UPON INSPECTION OF THE STRUCTURE.
I WAS THERE FOR A REQUIRED TO GET A SPECIAL POLICY THAT WOULD ONLY ENSURE UNTIL THE DEMOLITION HAS TAKEN PLACE.
THIRD AFTER A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENTS LEARNED THAT THE HOUSE HAD IRREPARABLE FOUNDATION DAMAGE, SIGNIFICANT TERMITE DAMAGE, ROOF, DAMAGE, UNSAFE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SIGNIFICANT WATER DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE.
THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE HAS MADE REUSE OF THE STRUCTURE COST PROHIBITIVE AND UNREALISTIC.
PREVIOUS CONSULTATIONS WITH THE, HIS HISTORIC
[00:30:01]
PRESERVATION OFFICE INDICATED THE PROPERTY WOULD RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR DEMOLITION.HOWEVER, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT STAFF MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR DESIGNATION AND THAT THE COMMISSION VOTED TO INITIATE THE INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATION BASED UPON ONE, THE CRAFTSMAN DESIGN OF THE HOUSE, AND TWO THAT THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN THE HOME OF THE BELLAGIO FAMILY WHO OWNED BELLAGIO PRODUCE.
WE ENGAGED IN HISTORIC EXTENSIVE HISTORIC RESEARCH OF THE PROPERTY, THE BELLAGIO PRODUCE COMPANY AND THE BELLAGIO FAMILY TO FIND THE FOLLOWING ONE, THE SANBORN MAPS SHOW, THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS MUCH SMALLER.
THEREFORE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS NOT ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURAL EXPLORATION AND STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENTS RULE.
THE HOUSE HAS MANY MODIFICATIONS, EVEN WITH ALMOST NO PICTORIAL EVIDENCE.
THAT'S THE STRUCTURE IS THE ORIGINAL CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOUSE.
RATHER THE HOUSE HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO APPEAR LIKE A CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOUSE OVER THE DECADES.
AND WITH MOST RECENT RENOVATION IN 1983 TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD NO CONCERN OR PAUSE FOR CONSIDERATION OR SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BELLAGIO PRODUCE COMPANY.
WHEN THEY DEMOLISHED THE MOST HISTORICALLY RELEVANT PROPERTY.
I E THE STORE BUILDING ITSELF WHERE THE PRODUCE COMPANY EXISTED FOR SEVERAL DECADES IN ORDER TO BUILD THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL, FURTHER OTHER HOMES OF THE BELLAGIO FAMILY MEMBERS WERE GRANTED DEMOLITION PERMITS IN THE RECENT PAST ALL THINGS IN COMMON.
IT IS AN EQUITABLE TO APPLY A DIFFERENT STANDARD TO THIS PROPERTY AT 1403 EASTERS EAST CESAR CHAVEZ.
THIRD JACK MALACIA WAS AN AVIATOR IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.
HE AND I SHARE AN UNSPOKEN CAMARADERIE OF BROTHERHOOD THROUGH SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WOULD AGREE THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE TO SUPPORT A DISABLED VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS, THEN EMPLOYEES, VETERANS IS OF GREATER SIGNIFICANCE THAN THE INDIRECTS ASSOCIATION WITH MANY OF THE EARLY GROCERY PRODUCE STORES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I BELIEVE HE WOULD SUPPORT OUR DECISION, DEMOLISH THE HOUSE AND BUILD A NEW FACILITY TO SERVE THE MISSION OF MY BUSINESS.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COMMISSION, NOT TAKE ACTION ON RECOMMENDING HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF THIS PROPERTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE RESPECTFULLY BRADLEY C HARRISON.
IS THAT YOUR PRESENTATION? OH, YEAH, VICTORIA.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY.
HASI WITH THROWER DESIGN, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNER.
SO WE, WE GAVE OUR PRESENTATION AT THE LAST HEARING AND IT IS AVAILABLE TO Y'ALL.
WE HAVE MADE THAT AVAILABLE TO Y'ALL AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN TODAY.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO TOUCH ON THE LAST FEW POINTS OF THE PRESENTATION, JUST TO SAY THAT THE BELLAGIO PRODUCE COMPANY WAS ONE OF MANY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT PROVIDED EARLY AUSTIN RESIDENTS WITH PRODUCE GOODS.
UM, THEY WERE ALSO ONE OF MANY TO SERVE THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, IN THEIR, THEIR PRODUCE GOODS AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THEY'RE NOT THE FIRST AND THEY'RE NOT THE LAST, UM, THIS RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE DOES NOT EMBODY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRODUCE COMPANY LIKE THE STORE WOULD HAVE.
AND AS YOU HEARD IN THE LETTER, THE STORE WAS DEMOLISHED BACK IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS WITHOUT ANY CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT THERE WAS ANY SIGNIFICANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUSINESS THAT, THAT OCCUPIED THAT SPACE FOR SEVERAL DECADES.
UM, THIRD, IT IS AN EXTREMELY POOR CONDITION.
UH, I KNOW Y'ALL HEAR THAT A LOT, BUT THIS, THIS HOUSE IS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE.
UM, AND TO UNDERTAKE A PROJECT AND TRY TO RESTORE THE STRUCTURE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE BUILDING A NEW, A NEW HOUSE TO LOOK LIKE IT ONCE DID.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL WOULD WANT.
UM, AND THEN FOURTH RESTORATION WOULD ABOUT TO BECOME WELL, LIKE I SAID, WHAT AMOUNT TO COMPLETE REBUILD, IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE AND VERY CHALLENGING TO DO WITHOUT FINANCING TO DO SO, AS YOU HEARD, MR. HARRISON HAS HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THE FINANCING AND INSURANCE POLICIES TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE THIS STRUCTURE.
SO WITH THAT, WE DO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT Y'ALL RECONSIDER DESIGNATING THE STRUCTURE AS A INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARK.
AND AS, UM, MICHAEL SAID, HE, THE ARC HE'S THE ARCHITECT HE'S HERE AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE DURING THE DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION OF THIS CASE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. SASSY? THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA.
UH, I'M NOT REALLY SCHEDULED TO SPEAK.
I AM HERE THOUGH, AS THEY MENTIONED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY RELATE TO THE STRUCTURAL OR LACK OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS
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THEM.UM, UH, AND IF YOU CARE FOR ME JUST TO EXPAND ON THE, UM, NATURE OF THE HOME, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD AN OVERVIEW.
UH, DOES DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR MR. GARCIA? OKAY.
IF IN OUR DELIBERATIONS, IF YOU'RE STILL IN THE, IN THE AUDITORIUM HERE, WE MAY CALL ON YOU.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? I BELIEVE THE, ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WERE IN OPPOSITION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, THEY'RE IN OPPOSITION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC ZONING? OKAY.
UH, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE COMMISSIONERS? SHOULD WE LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN OR CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? DO I HEAR A MOTION? I THINK AT THIS POINT WE SHOULD CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF NEEDED WE'LL WE CAN OPEN IT.
UM, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COOK SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THE CASE TO START THE DISCUSSION SAKE? GOOD DISCUSSION.
I WILL MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
UM, AS FAR AS I WANT TO JUST SAY ONE THING, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PRESENTATION, UH, THAT WE HAD IN OUR BACKUP, I HAD TO LOOK AT IT SIDEWAYS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FLIP HIM OVER, UH, HOW TO TATE, THE SCREEN.
AND, UM, BUT IN ANY EVENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THAT THE APPLICANT IS SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
IT PROBABLY ISN'T THE ORIGINAL HOUSE ON THIS SITE.
THE IN 19, IN 1900, THERE WAS A SMALLER HOUSE WITH THE FULL FRONT FACADE PORCH ON IT.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO BUILD THE CURRENT HOUSE IN SOME PART, BUT THE CURRENT HOUSE IS, UH, FULLY DESIGNED WITH THAT, UH, SLIGHT WRAPAROUND PORCH.
UM, THAT IS THE HOUSE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 1900 HOUSE HERE, WE'RE TALKING.
I, I WOULD DATE THIS HOUSE TO ABOUT 19 16, 19 18, BUT, UM, IT'S, IT'S AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF A CRAFTSMAN STYLE BUNGALOW IN AUSTIN.
AND WHILE I I'M SYMPATHETIC, SHE, THE, UM, UM, TO THE CAUSE THAT THE APPLICANT SERVES, UM, THIS IS THE, I COULD UNDERSTAND, UM, A COMMERCIAL BUILDING OR, OR SOMETHING ELSE PERHAPS USED FOR THAT, UH, FOR HIS PURPOSES.
BUT THIS IS A RESIDENCE IN, IN AUSTIN.
IT WAS OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR, UM, BOTH CRITERIA TO BE AT THE EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL.
SO IT DOESN'T, IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE LARGEST PRODUCE COMPANY OR THE MOST IMPORTANT, OR THE EARLIEST OR THE LAST, BUT ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE BELLAGIO FAMILY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, UM, DECADES, UH, ON THIS SITE, UM, IS SUFFICIENT TO ADD THE CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
MADAM CHAIR MAY PRESENT A FEW COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION I GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE DETERIORATION AND THE, AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.
I DON'T THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WOULD BE A RESTORATION IN, IN THE SPIRIT OF PRESERVATION.
I BELIEVE BY THE TIME ALL THESE DEFICIENCIES ARE CORRECTED, YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE A NEW BUILDING.
I DO HOWEVER, WANT TO STATE TO THE APPLICANT THAT I CERTAINLY, AS I SIT ON THE DIOCESE, I'M NOT BOUND BY THE CITY'S PAST POSITIONS.
I DON'T PERCEIVE THAT AS PROGRESS.
SO I WANT, I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
[00:40:01]
TAKE EXCEPTION TO A SIDING CURRENT CODE STANDARDS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO HISTORIC STRUCTURES.SO ALL THAT SAID, IT'S JUST MY OPINION THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S TOO MUCH DAMAGE FOR A SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION, IN MY OPINION.
I WANNA SAY I WASN'T SO MOVED BY THE STRUCTURAL REPORT THAT THE DAMAGE IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU'LL FIND IN MANY HISTORIC STRUCTURES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
UM, THERE IS SOME DAMAGE, THERE IS SOME WORK TO BE DONE.
I AGREE APPLYING MODERN CODE TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS OPENS UP ANY HISTORIC BUILDING TO, UH, BEING SUBJECT TO BEING DEMOLISHED.
UM, I WASN'T MOVED BY THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, ALL THE CHANGES, THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND THE CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES WERE ALL MADE IN THE PERIOD OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.
UH, SO THAT SEEMED TO BE THE LARGEST PORTION, UM, OF THE ARGUMENT.
UM, USUALLY I'M MOVED BY PHOTOS OF THE EXISTING CONDITION RATHER THAN, UH, A, UH, DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING CONDITION, WHICH AGAIN, WOULD DESCRIBE MOST HISTORIC, UH, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN AUSTIN.
UH, BUT PRIMARILY I WANT TO SUPPORT THE 2016 AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY, WHICH IS A TOOL THAT REALTORS AND BUYERS CAN USE TO IDENTIFY PROPERTIES, WHICH HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED, UM, IN AN OFFICIAL SURVEY, HAS A RANKING, UH, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR LANDMARK STATUS.
AND I THINK IF WE DID NOT, UH, SUPPORT THAT SURVEY, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE DOING OUR JOB HERE SHORT OF SOME PRETTY, UH, SOME STRONGER EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY OF ITS ABILITY TO BE SAFE.
UM, I THINK THE, UH, THE FIRM THAT DID THE SURVEY, THE EAST AUSTIN SURVEY, DID A VERY THOROUGH AND, AND CONSCIENTIOUS JOB, AND THEY IDENTIFIED THIS AS A HIGH PRIORITY, UM, FOR PRESERVATION.
UM, I AGREE WHEN I, WHEN I BOUGHT MY HISTORIC BUNGALOW 32 YEARS AGO, THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO, UM, PUT IN A NEW FOUNDATION AND I'M STILL LIVING WITH IT, UM, 32 YEARS LATER.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
THE PEOPLE THAT THE GROUND SHIFTS ONE WAY AND THEN IT SHIFTS BACK AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE THAT IT NEEDS NEW PEERS OR WHATEVER, BUT THAT'S NOT SUFFICIENT TO, UH, TO CONDEMN A HISTORIC RESOURCE, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS SO, UM, DETAILED AS THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF ANY OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE DETAIL ON WHAT MADE IT UNINSURABLE? I THINK THAT WAS A, THAT'S AN ARGUMENT THAT WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR, BUT AS A, AS A VETERAN WHO USES USAA, THEY DENIED THAT THE INSURANCE ON MY OWN HOUSE, BECAUSE IT HAD 70 AMP SERVICE AND THEY WERE, I MEAN, THEY'RE A GOOD INSURANCE COMPANY.
THEY HAVE THE MOST, THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS.
SO I JUST WENT TO A DIFFERENT INSURANCE COMPANY, I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER WRIGHT HAS HER HAND UP AND SHE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING PERTINENT TO SAY ABOUT IT.
UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN IN THE PRESERVATION FIELD IN GENERAL, A NUMBER OF INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT HAVE CEASED TO ENSURE DESIGNATED HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
AND I SPECIFICALLY SAY DESIGNATED BECAUSE THAT'S OFTEN WHERE THIS CONVERSATION COMES OUT WITH, ONCE IT HOUSES DESIGNATED, UM, INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL OFTEN SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO INSURE IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE, UM, THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE A FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE, UM, OR PRESUMABLY, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PROVIDE A FULL X-MEN VALUE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN A LOT.
UM, TO THAT END, I WAS GOING TO REFERENCE FOR THIS CURRENT OWNER OR FOR ANY OTHER PROPERTY OWNER, IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH INSURANCE, THE COMMON RECOMMENDATION THESE DAYS IS TO SPEAK WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH IS A SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE AND, AND ADVICE THERE ALSO, UM, IF A PROPERTY IS, UH, UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATIONS, YOU CAN ALSO GET AN INSURANCE, UM, AS LIKE A CON LIKE INSURANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES.
UM, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD COVER THE BUILDING WHILE RENOVATIONS ARE, ARE ONGOING.
UM, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER COOK.
THAT'S ONE OF THE TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT, THAT FURTHER INFORM MY DECISION IS THE, THE PROMINENT LOCATION ON CESAR CHAVEZ HAS ABILITY TO TELL THE STORY OF, OF THIS, UH, UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ALONG A MAJOR STREET AND ITS ADJACENCY TO SEVERAL OTHER HIGH INTEGRITY HISTORIC PROPERTIES,
[00:45:01]
UH, WHICH WOULD MAKE FOR A VERY HIGH INTEGRITY, HIGH QUALITY WELL-PLACED HISTORIC DISTRICT.SO THAT ALSO INFORMS MY DECISION.
I THINK IT'S LOST WOULD BE, UM, WOULD REALLY BE A SHAME.
UM, COMMISSIONER VALANZUELA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? OKAY.
IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO THE HOUSE FALL WITHIN THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE, THEY'RE ALL.
UM, EXCEPT FOR, THERE'S A MENTION OF A ROOF IN 1983 IN THE MATERIAL.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING HERE LAST MONTH, IF THIS IS A RETREAD, BUT WHAT WAS THE, WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE ROOF IN 1983? IT WAS CALLAN.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE ROOF IN 1983, IT'S ON IT, MIGHT'VE NEEDED TO BE RE ROOFED.
I THINK, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE SORT OF THE AIR, THE AREA THAT'S THAT'S BEING OF CONCERN, I GUESS, IS THAT THE APPLICANT, UM, IS VIEWING THE CHANGES THAT HAVE, THAT THEY SEE HAVE OCCURRED TO A 1900 HOUSE.
THIS IS NOT THAT HOUSE, THIS, THE, THE WRAPAROUND PORCH, THE EXTENDED, THE RAFTER ENDS, THE CAR, UM, RAFTER ENDS THE PORCH, THE BRICK PIERS, ALL OF THAT IS ORIGINAL TO THIS HOUSE.
UH, IF YOU WOULD PERMIT IT, MAYBE MR. GARCIA CAN HELP PINE ON THE EXTENT OF TERMITE DAMAGE AND DRY ROT.
UH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE, UH, THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IS STILL THERE.
IT'S JUST BEEN RENOVATED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND AMENDED ADDED ONTO ET CETERA.
UH, AS FAR AS THE BUILDING, AS A WHOLE, THERE ARE A GREAT AMOUNT OF SHORTCOMINGS FOUNDATION.
PRIMARILY IT'S SITTING FAR TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND.
THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO CRAWL SPACE.
IT'S APPEARANCE BEAM HOME IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL CEDAR POSTS.
THAT THERE'S NO WAY OF TELLING THE CONDITION OF THOSE POSTS AND HOW DEEP THEY ARE, HOW DEEP THEY AREN'T, IF THEY'RE PENCIL POINTS OR THEY'RE EVEN DOING ANYTHING.
UM, THE PORCH HAS CONCRETE PORCH, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A SUBSEQUENT ADDITION TO THE BUILDING, UH, APPROPRIATELY THE BUILDING SHOULD BE LIFTED TO AN APPROPRIATE ELEVATION TO ALLOW FOR, FOR VENTILATION UNDER THE HOUSE.
UH, IF THAT'S DONE, YOU HAVE TO LIFT THE CONCRETE PORCH, WHICH YOU CAN'T DO CAUSE IT'S CONCRETE.
YOU'D NEED TO DEMOLISH IT AND REBUILD IT.
UM, AS COMMISSIONER ROCHE SAID, AT SOME POINT THERE'S A DIMINISHING RETURN ON WHAT YOU'RE REALLY KEEPING, UH, AND YOU'LL END UP REBUILDING THE ENTIRE HOUSE.
RAFTERS ARE OVERSPEND UNDERSIZED.
YES, THEY ARE OLDER MATERIALS AND A LOT OF MATERIALS CAN BE REUSED WITHIN ANY PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION.
BUT, UM, THERE'LL BE, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF AMENDMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING TO GET THIS TO A LEVEL OF APPROPRIATE PERFORMANCE.
UM, AND THE BIGGEST ONE, AGAIN, IS THE FOUNDATION.
THE BUILDING SHOULD BE LIFTED APPROPRIATELY.
IT'S FAR TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND.
THERE'S NO WAY TO EVEN GET A DEAD ROAD AND OUT OF THERE FOR THAT MATTER.
UM, AND NO TELLING HOW BAD OFF THE JOISTS ARE.
CAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T SEE THEM.
MR. GARCIA, MY, MY QUESTION WAS MORE POINTED TOWARDS THE DETERIORATION AND TERMITE DAMAGE PRESENT.
AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU COULD CHARACTERIZE THAT IN TERMS OF PERCENT OF LOSS, IS IT 2%, 3%, 30% THAT DREW MY ATTENTION IN THE TWO REPORTS? SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO DETERMINE EXACTLY TO WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DAMAGE THERE IS.
IT IS EXTENSIVE, UH, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SHIPLAP ON THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING IS STILL IN PLACE.
SO WITHOUT REMOVING IT, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW ANY EXPOSED AREAS, DO SHOW A GREAT DEAL OF TERMITE DAMAGE AND A COMPROMISE TO THE BUILDING AS A WHOLE.
UM, I THINK ONCE WE START TO PULL AWAY SOME OF THE SKIN OF THIS BUILDING, IT'S GOING TO, UH, REVEAL EVEN WORSE CONDITIONS.
AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S JUST BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED, UNFORTUNATELY FOR FAR TOO LONG.
I MEAN, I'M PRESERVATION AS PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR OLDER, OLDER BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, BUT AT SOME POINT THERE IS
[00:50:01]
A POINT WHERE YOU KIND OF HAVE TO CUT BAIT ON A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS.UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW ORIGINAL THIS ARCHITECTURE IS.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT LOOKS VERY NICE FROM THE STREET, BUT AS THEY SAY, IT'S A GOOD FROM FAR, BUT IT'S FAR FROM GOOD.
ANYTHING ELSE? I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
UM, THIS IS ONE THAT I'M REALLY TORN OVER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE IMPORTANCE ARCHITECTURALLY OF THIS PARTICULAR GIRA AND THIS HOUSE REPRESENTING IT IN THIS LOCATION, I THINK HAS BEEN STATED VERY WELL.
UM, EVEN THAT, UH, PORCH COLUMN DETAIL, UH, I WAS SO TAKEN BY THAT THAT, UM, I'VE REBUILT AN OLD HOUSE, UH, FOR MY OWN HOUSE AND I'VE RECREATED THAT VERY DETAIL FROM MY PORCH COLUMNS.
SO I REALLY LIKED THEM, BUT, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE EVEN A VERY EAGER OWNER WOULD HAVE A BIG JOB ON THEIR HANDS IN TRYING TO MAKE THIS HOLE.
AND I'M ALSO WONDERING IS THIS, YOU KNOW, MINDFUL OF WHAT IT TAKES AND WE'LL HAVE A SERIES OF THESE, UH, TO HAVE PROPERTIES THAT WILL GO TO THE HIGHER AUTHORITIES OVER, UH, AN OVER SUBJECTIONS.
UH, IT WILL THIS IN THIS CONDITION WITH THIS KIND OF PROPERTY WAS PAINT THE PICTURE THAT WILL BE OBVIOUS ENOUGH TO, UH, THE NON-EXPERT THAT WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD BE, UH, USING OUR, OUR FULL EXTENT OF OUR, UH, HISTORIC ZONING, UH, POTENTIAL TO COMPEL AN OWNER TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.
SO I, UM, AS I SAY, I'M TORN, I DON'T HAVE AN EASY ANSWER HERE.
IF JUST REAL QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT, THE OWNER IS NOW ON THE LINE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE OWNER HE IS NOW AVAILABLE.
I, UH, UNLESS HE HAS SOMETHING, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE OWNER, UH, YES.
I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION TO THE HONOR, BUT, BUT I, I DO HAVE A RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER COOK, WHICH IS THAT KEVIN AND ACTUALITY, YOU KNOW, THAT THE DETERIORATION AND TERMITE DAMAGES HAS, MAYBE YOU CAN TELL FROM MY QUESTIONS IS, IS FAR MORE CONCERNING THAN THE ELEVATION OF THE HOUSE, WHICH I THINK IS A FAIRLY EASY REMEDY.
AND SO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I GOT THERE EITHER WAY, SO I DIDN'T, I DON'T HAVE A REAL GOOD FEEL OTHER THAN THE TEXT ON THE PAGE AS TO THE, THE AMOUNT OF DETERIORATION.
SO, BUT I, I MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY CHARACTERIZED IN MY PREVIOUS REMARKS AND THAT I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOUNDATION THAN I AM THE ACTUAL INTEGRITY AND DEER DEER ROTATION AND TERMITE DAMAGE.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, I'M JUST, UM, AS YOU KNOW, INSPECTIONS OF HISTORIC HOMES ARE VISUAL AND TACTILE AND YOU SEE, AND YOU FEEL, AND YOU CAN MEASURE DEGRADATION AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PORTRAY IT AND JUST SAYING THERE'S TERMITE DAMAGE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MUCH THAT DAMAGE.
THERE IS A SAYING THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS SHOT WITHOUT SAYING HOW MUCH OUT OF SQUARE APPLY THEM, WHERE THEIR SEPARATION SHOWING PHOTOGRAPHS, UH, ALL THE PHOTOS.
I SEE, EVERYTHING SEEMS SQUARE AND TRUE.
AND, UH, YEAH, THE, THE PORCH LOOKS A LITTLE ROTTEN PORCHES LOOK A LITTLE ROTTEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF OVER 10 OR 15 YEARS.
UM, IT'S NOT A LOAD BEARING SOLID CONCRETE PORCH.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SKIMMED MAYBE WITH A DECK ON TOP THAT COULD BE REPLACED, BUT, UM, GIVEN THE QUALITY OF THE FINER WOODWORK ON THE PORCH AND GIVEN THE INTEGRITY TO FIND HER WHAT WOULD WORK ON THE PORCH, IF YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TO GO WITH THE HOUSE, WE'RE REALLY FALLING TO PIECES.
AND I'M JUST NOT ADEQUATELY CONVINCED THAT IT'S, THIS COULDN'T BE SAVED WHEREVER A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY BY SOMEONE WHO, WHO WANTED TO SAVE IT, NOT TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD A NEW, UH, TWO-STORY OFFICE BUILDING ON CESAR CHAVEZ IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SINCE THE OWNER IS AND HAS GONE TO THE EFFORT OF, OF, UM, CONVEY A CONNECTING ONLINE, I DO HAVE A QUESTION OF HIM AND I LIKE HIM TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT, UH, ON WHAT HE TOLD US IN HIS LETTER, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE HIS ORIGINAL APPROACH WAS IN FACT TO TRY TO USE THIS HOUSE OR
[00:55:01]
ADAPTED TO HIS, UH, PROGRAM.AND HE DOCUMENTED AT LEAST A FEW REASONS WHY THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT, BUT MAYBE HE COULD GO INTO SOME MORE DETAIL ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS DONE ALREADY TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF RESTORING THE HOUSE.
AND, UH, IF THE, IF THE OWNER IS ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW, UM, I WANTED TO LET HIM KNOW, UH, WHAT COMMISSIONER WRIGHT SAID ABOUT, UH, CONTACTING THE NEST NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ABOUT GETTING INSURANCE FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
ALL RIGHT, BRAD HARRIS, YOU MAY SPEAK, UH, TO COMMISSIONER HIMSELF THE QUESTIONS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
UM, AS I MENTIONED IN OUR LETTER, OUR ORIGINAL INTENT AFTER DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S SOME ORIGINAL BUILDINGS WHERE THEY BUILT UP ON A SECOND STORY.
I HAVE BEEN RENOVATING PROPERTIES WITH MY FAMILY SINCE I WAS A KID.
AND SO OUR INITIAL THOUGHT WHEN WE WENT INTO THAT HOUSE WAS WE WOULD GO UP A SECOND STORY STORY.
WHEN WE THEN STARTED TO HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS COME IN AND SPEC, THERE WAS ASBESTOS THERE.
TERMITE DAMAGE IS EXTREMELY SEVERE.
ALL OF THE WOOD HAS WATER DAMAGE.
THE FOUNDATION IS CRUMBLING, EVERY SINGLE ASPECT AND AT A MINIMUM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE KERN ACTOR ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IS, UM, IS, UM, COST PROHIBITED.
WE DIDN'T GET ANY DEED TO JUST SAVE THE STRUCTURE FOR UNDER $3 MILLION, WHICH IS COST PROHIBITED.
LIKE THAT'S JUST TO LIKE TRY TO SAVE THIS BUILDING.
ALL OF THE ELECTRICITY IS OUT OF CODE.
ALL OF THE ASBESTOS HAD TO BE REMOVED.
ALL OF THE SHEET ROCK HAD TO BE REMOVED.
IF YOU WERE TO GO TO THE HOUSE TODAY, YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE FLOOR, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE MOLDS, YOU CAN FEEL ALL OF THE DAMAGE.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS.
IF YOU HEARD MY LETTER ON THE SHOULDERS DISABLED, GET YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
I HAVE, I HAVE, I HAVE FAMILY IN AUSTIN.
SO ANYWAY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT IS JUST COST PROHIBITED.
I'VE BROUGHT IN THREE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS.
I BROUGHT IN TWO SHEPHERD ARCHITECT.
I'VE PAID FOR A TERMITE INSPECTION ON A PROPERTY THAT I'M TRYING TO DEMO.
I'VE TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT AND EXPLORED EVERY OPTION.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER FURTHER QUESTION AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE BACKGROUND NOISE.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION COMMISSIONER? I'M SETH.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER RYAN, GO AHEAD.
AT ONE POINT, UM, WHICH I, I KIND OF THINK OF A LOT IN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND I'LL BRING THIS UP LATER TONIGHT.
UM, IF THE BUILDING IS THAT DETERIORATED, WHY DON'T BE HOUSE PHOTOS SHOWING THAT? I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S ON THAT.
I'M JUST A FACT OF THE OWNER TO SUBMIT THAT, BUT I THINK IF THEY, IF THEY WANT TO REALLY PROVE TO US THAT THE BUILDING IS DETERIORATED TO THAT EXTENT, UM, ADDITIONAL PHOTOS WOULD BE USEFUL RATHER THAN SORT OF RECAPPING THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, MADE TO THE HOUSE OVER TIME.
IT'S IT'S UM, IS IT GETTING, IT'S JUST MUCH MORE INFLUENTIAL THAN THAT, UM, UNDERSTANDING THE, THE CONCERNS OF THE CORNER MOVING FORWARD? UM, IT'S DEFINITELY A QUESTION.
KIND OF A MS. CONTRAREZ CALLEN, UH, KAELIN.
CAN WE, DO WE, ARE WE STILL IN A TIMEFRAME WHERE WE
[01:00:01]
CAN POSTPONE AGAIN TO GET SUCH PHOTOGRAPHS OR TO HAVE A SITE INSPECTION BY COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.I COMMISSIONERS I'M ASKING, UH, IF WE CAN POSTPONE THIS YET AGAIN, SO THAT WE CAN DO A SITE VISIT, UM, AND OBTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS, I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY.
I'M GOING TO LOOK UP THE, UH, THE TIMEFRAME TO SEE WHERE WE ARE.
UM, THE APPLICANT'S, UH, TEAM SAID THAT THE PHOTOS WERE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION, UH, I THINK FROM LAST MONTH.
UM, SO THEY SHOULD BE ONLINE IN THE BACKUP.
UM, BUT FOR NOW I'M GONNA SEE WHERE WE ARE ON TIME.
WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PORCH, SAME PORCH, UH, BROKEN PORCH THEME DOES NOT REPRESENT THE LEVEL OF DETERIORATION THAT'S BEING DESCRIBED OTHER ONES.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT I JUST BELIEVE ANYONE'S DESCRIPTION.
I'M JUST DEFINITELY THIS TYPE OF WORK.
AS, AS, AS COMMISSIONER COOK SAID, YOU KNOW, WE EAT TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, YES, I'VE, I'VE DEALT WITH SERIOUS TERMITE INFESTATION BEFORE IN HISTORIC RENOVATIONS OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT DEGREES TO WHICH, UH, DAMAGE CAN BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.
UM, AND I'D MAKE A COMMENT FOR ANYONE LISTENING, FUTURE APPLICANTS.
IF, IF YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF TRYING TO EXPLORE RENOVATION AND GONE SO FAR AS TO GET QUOTES FOR RENOVATION, THOSE WILL BE REALLY USEFUL TO SEE, TO PROVE THE, THE, UM, THE HARDSHIP OF THE COST OF RENT OF A RENOVATION.
UM, IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION, MAY MS. HASSEY ADDRESS THE, THE COMMISSION.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE MORE EXTENSIVE PHOTO PACKAGE WAS EMAILED DIRECTLY TO COMMISSIONERS PRIOR TO THE MAY HEARING.
UM, THAT WAS A PRESENTATION THAT PROBABLY HAD SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF 50 SLIDES.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS EMAILED DIRECTLY TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, SO I DON'T BELIEVE, I DON'T RECALL IF STAFF WAS INCLUDED IN THAT, BUT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE ALL THAT FULL PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT FIVE MINUTES WASN'T SUFFICIENT TO GO THROUGH, UM, ALL OF THE PHOTOS THAT WE WERE PROVIDING.
I, I DID NOT SEE SUCH AN EMAIL.
YOU HAVE COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE'VE DONE THE MATH AND THE CLOCK TIMES OUT ON THIS ONE ON JUNE 20TH.
SO THIS WAS THE LAST MEETING IT WILL BE HEARD.
AND I, I DO HAVE THE PHOTOS PULLED UP HERE IN THAT ATTACHMENT TO THE EMAIL.
AND, UH, IT SEEMS TO BE FOCUSING ON ORIGINAL VERSES 9, 19 35, MORE SO THAN ANY, ANY OPENINGS OR OUT OF SQUARE OUT OF PLUMB.
THERE IS SHIPLAP ON THE WALLS AND ON THE CEILING, UH, I MEAN, I'VE, I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER PROPERTIES WHERE THE WALLS ARE TEARING APART AND YOU CAN SEE OUTSIDE.
I'M NOT GONNA DENY THAT THE FLOORBOARD TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE, THEY ARE WATER WARPED.
UM, IT'S WOULD NOT BE AN EASY RENOVATION.
IT WOULD NOT BE, IT'S NOT MOVING READY FOR SURE.
UM, SO, BUT I SEE PHOTOS OF SCENES BETWEEN NEW AND OLD, WHERE EVERYTHING SEEMS ALIGNED.
I SEE APRONS AT THE FOUNDATION THAT ARE IN DECENT SHAPE.
UM, SO IT'S SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
BUT I, IF I WERE TO SEE THIS, I WOULD SEE QUITE A PROJECT IN RENOVATION TO BRING IT TO A QUALITY STATE, BUT, BUT NOT A TEAR DOWN.
[01:05:05]
IT'S AN INTERESTING PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACED WITH ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE THESE VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA OF, YOU KNOW, DOES THIS PROPERTY MEET HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS OR NOT? AND THEN WE OFTEN GET OFF ON THIS OTHER SUBJECT OF LIKE, IS IT SALVAGEABLE? UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST SPENT A LOT OF TIME NOT DISCUSSING THE ARCHITECTURAL MERITS OR THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PROPERTY.UH, I FELT, I FELT THE STAFF HAD PRESENTED A PRETTY GOOD CASE.
AND IN, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS WHAT I DO.
I'M AN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN.
I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR 34 YEARS.
AND TO ME, THIS IS, THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW THAT, UM, HAS DETAILS, UH, AN ORNAMENT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE BEYOND JUST YOUR STANDARD BASIC, UM, FRONT GABLED BUNGALOW WITH A FRONT GABLED PORCH.
SO IN MY OPINION, IT DOES MEET THE, UM, THE CRITERIA FOR ARCHITECTURE AND FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, WITH THE BELLAGIO FAMILY, FOR, FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, I FELT THAT THAT WAS SUFFICIENT TO MEET CRITERIA AND, UH, A FOR ALL THE CRITERIA AND FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE ALWAYS GET TO, UH, TO THE STRUCTURAL REPORT AND, AND, AND TALKING ABOUT THIS, THIS ISN'T, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONSIDER, BUT IT'S NOT OUR PRIMARY CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE, DOES IT MEET THE CRITERIA? UM, AND WE HAVE A YES.
COMMISSIONER, RIGHT? I WOULD SAY I WOULD, I WOULD ARGUE THOUGH, AND WE MAKE THIS DECISION IN THE PAST THAT IF WE SEE A BUILDING THAT WE REALLY DO RECOGNIZE CANNOT BE RE UH, WITHOUT, UM, EXTENSIVE, EXTENSIVE WORK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OPTED TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, INITIATING AND LANDMARKING OR RECOMMENDING LANDMARKING SIMPLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE WORKING UP A HILL.
THAT CAN'T BE THAT CAN'T BE WORKED OUT, IT'D BE PUSHING A ROPE.
I I'M NOT ARGUING WHAT WERE THE OTHER, I JUST THINK THAT, UH, YEAH.
ARE WE JUST TRYING TO DECIDE ON WHICH LINE THIS FALLS ON SALVAGEABILITY DO WE, AS A COMMISSION, ARE WE RESOLVED ON ITS MERITS FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATION? I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, I CAN WEIGH IN ON THAT ONE, UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, BECAUSE I, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH, UH, CHAIR MYERS.
UM, THIS IS A VERY HIGH QUALITY DESIGN FOR THAT ERA, FOR THAT LOCATION.
AND IT HAS A HIGH LEVEL OF ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'VE BEEN SOME MODIFICATIONS AROUND SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE WINDOWS, UH, BUT OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE HERE IS VERY LIKELY CLOSE TO, OR SIGNIFICANTLY THE SAME AS WHEN IT WAS A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE WHEN IT WAS PUT TOGETHER IN THE TWENTIES.
EVEN IF THAT MEANT INCORPORATING AN OLDER STRUCTURE, IT WAS CREATING THIS, THIS VERY FINE STRUCTURE.
SO YEAH, IT, IT, IT MAKES IT FOR ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY.
AND THEN THEREFORE THE SECOND CRITERIA, WHICH IS INTEGRITY, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING IF IT'S A HIGH ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY, BUT MUCH OF IT'S GONE, IT DOESN'T MATTER VERY MUCH, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT CHECKS ON BOTH OF THOSE.
AND THEN THE BELLAGIO ASSOCIATION I THINK, IS, IS STRONG.
IT COULD BE STRONGER, BUT, UM, I THINK THEN THAT'S THE REASON WHY, UH, MY DILEMMA IS HAVING BUILT AND REPAIRED AND PUT BACK A NUMBER OF THESE BUILDINGS OF THIS ERA.
I KNOW WHAT'S INVOLVED AND NOT SO MUCH THE STRUCTURAL REPORT TELLING ME IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT PARTICULARLY WITH THIS OWNER'S, UM, CRITERIA AND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF HIS EFFORT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IS, IS IT A REASONABLE EXPECTATION, UH, THAT THIS CAN BE DONE AND THAT, THAT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT AND OWNER OBJECTING, UH, ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE, WHAT IS THE ASK THAT WE THEN ARE PUTTING ON THEM? SO THAT'S WHY IT GETS TO THAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WE'VE ALREADY, IN MY MIND, WE'VE ALREADY GONE PAST THEM TO THE FIRST CRITERIA.
AND WE REALLY STRICTLY ARE AT THIS POINT OF, IS IT PRACTICAL? WELL, THEY HAVE A, I'M GOING TO SHARE, THIS IS THE OWNER.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT SEEMS TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CORRECT, ARE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
WE HAVE THE, UM, THE OWNER ON TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, I WOULD
[01:10:01]
INVITE THE OWNER TO CLARIFY ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID THAT, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.I THINK THE TWO THINGS THAT REQUIRE WERE THE THREE THINGS THAT REQUIRED CLARIFICATION IS NUMBER ONE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHEN EVERYTHING WAS BUILT, RIGHT? THE SANBORN MAPS ARE ALL DIFFERENT MATERIALS IN THE PROPERTY ARE DIFFERENT.
MY TEAM TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT MATERIALS IN THIS STUFF BEING MIXED TOGETHER.
SO THERE'S OTHER THAN THE ARTICLE IN 1983, THAT SHOWS THE RENOVATION WITH THE NEW PORCH.
THERE'S NO OTHER DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWS THAT ANY OF THAT WAS EITHER THERE BEFORE OTHERWISE.
SO THERE'S NO CERTAINTY OF, OF WHEN ANYTHING WAS BUILT FOR, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO, IN TERMS OF THE BELLAGIO FAMILY ASSOCIATION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROCEEDED WITH DEMOLISHING THE VELOCITY OF FAMILY FRODO SCORE, UM, THAT THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN HAS PAST, OKAY, BUT IT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAN WOULD BE HELD FOR THE ACTUAL CITY REGARDING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
IF CLEAR ME THE ENTIRE OR ANY OF THE PRESS IN ANYTHING SUBMITTED BY THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT REFER TO THIS ADDRESS AND DOES NOT REFER TO THE FAMILY'S HOME.
IT ONLY REFERS TO THE PRODUCE MARKET, WHICH WAS APPROVED FOR DEVOLUTION BY THE CITY OF BOSTON.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STANDARD AND THE THIRD THING.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE AT LEAST UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THIS JUNCTURE, THE REPAIR, AND IF YOU NEED TO GO SEE THE PROPERTY, YOU CAN GO SEE THIS.
WE ARE TALKING IN ACCESS OF THREE OR $4 MILLION TO JUST GET THE STRUCTURE TO WHERE IT'S IN HABIT.
THAT IS A FUNCTION OF THEIR TERMITE DAMAGE, THE FOUNDATION, THE DRY ROT, THE ROOF, THE WINDOWS, EVERY MAJOR COMPONENT OF THAT STRUCTURE IS STRUCTURE ME ON THE SOUND.
SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS THERE'S ALSO THE CONSIDERATION AT I CAN'T GET A BANK TO FINANCE IT.
AND I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $4 MILLION TO TRY TO DO THIS.
EVEN IF I, EVEN IF I WANTED TO RESTORE THE BUILDING, IT IS NOT, SIR.
UM, I NEED TO, I NEED TO CUT THIS SHORT.
I THINK WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
UM, I HAVE SPENT, UH, EXCESS OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO JUST TRY TO LIKE, ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT IN THE FINANCIAL BURDEN.
I'VE TRIED TO GET TO A VOTE COMMISSIONER.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS MR. FEATHERSTONE'S COMMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S MY DILEMMA, RIGHT.
IS AT SOME POINT, IF THE, IF THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION IS SO FAR BEYOND THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE PRICING OURSELVES OUT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, YOU HAVE TO QUESTION THAT, RIGHT.
AND NOW I, I LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION.
I WENT BACK TO THE EMAIL AND I'M MORE ALIGNED WITH COMMISSIONER COOK THAN I WAS WHEN I STARTED IN THAT.
YES, IT'S A, IT IS A ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES TYPE OF A PROJECT.
AND NO DOUBT IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE.
THE QUESTION IS HOW I, I, I WOULD ALSO, I DON'T MEAN TO BE, UM, SNARKY, BUT I THINK THAT HE NEEDS TO GET SOME OTHER BEDS.
UM, I THINK THAT, UH, PROBABLY MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS, UH, ON THIS COMMISSION, NO CONTRACTORS WHO COULD UNDERTAKE THE WORK FOR MUCH LESS THAN THREE OR $4 MILLION.
UM, JUST JUST SAYING THIS POSITION IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE OWNER PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND HAS DECIDED WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
AND NOW WE'RE WEIGHING IN ON WHETHER IT'S COST-EFFECTIVE FOR THE OWNER AND, UH, THAT'S A DIFFICULT
[01:15:01]
POSITION FOR US TO BE IN.UM, I WISH IT HAD BEEN BETTER KNOWN THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A HISTORIC RESOURCE IN THE, IN THE SURVEY SO THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED AND MAYBE NOT SO MUCH OF A SURPRISE.
UH, I DON'T DOUBT THAT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO ALLOW THE DEMOLITION, UH, JUST BASED ON THE EVIDENCE WE'VE HEARD.
UM, BUT I I'M, I STILL DON'T THINK THAT IT'S UNSALVAGEABLE AT A RE AT A ECONOMICALLY RECOVERABLE COSTS, UH, FOR A USE IN THAT LOCATION.
AND I WOULD STILL VOTE TO SUPPORT THESE, THE SURVEY FINDING.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT? OKAY.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY I OKAY.
UM, IT'S NINE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ARE YOU ABSTAINING COMMISSIONER LAROCHE? OH, YOU VOTED FOR I'M SORRY, THEN IT'S UNANIMOUS.
UM, WE WILL RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING ONTO
[3.A.3. PR-2022-033331 – 902 E. 7th St. – Discussion Council District 1]
THE NEXT CASE.A 3 9 0 2 EAST SEVENTH STREET.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UH, ITEM 8 3 9 0 2 EAST SEVENTH STREET.
IS THAT BETTER? THAT'S BETTER.
9 0 2 EAST SEVENTH STREET, UH, IS A ANOTHER, A HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION INITIATED A ZONING CHANGE.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROPOSED ZONING FROM TOD N P TO T O D H N P A.
THIS IS ANOTHER PROPERTY RECOMMENDED BY THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC SURVEY, AS ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION AS A LOCAL LANDMARK FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, THE SURVEY ALSO RECOMMENDS IT INDIVIDUALLY, UH, FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND AS CONTRIBUTING TO A POTENTIAL LOCAL AND NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A MORE RECENT SURVEY, UH, FROM TECHSTARS THAT ALSO RECOMMENDS, UH, THAT THIS PROPERTY IS ELIGIBLE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER FOR ARCHITECTURE.
UM, ACCORDING TO THE EAST AUSTIN SURVEY FROM 2016, THE BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FOLK VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE 9 0 2 EAST SEVENTH STREET IS A ONE-STORY EL PLAN FOLK, VICTORIAN CLOUD AND HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING WITH A METAL CROSS GABLED ROOF AND BRICK CHIMNEY IT'S WOOD WINDOWS ARE TWO OVER TWO AND TRANSOM WITH OPERABLE SHUTTERS IT'S DOORS.
ALSO BENEATH THE TRANSOM LIGHT.
THE PARTIAL WITH INSET PORCH IS SUPPORTED BY TURN POSTS TO TOP SQUARE BALLISTERS AND INCLUDES A JIG SUN AND SPINDLE WORK FREEZE AND MATCHING JIGS ON BRACKETS.
THE LOT IS TERRORIST WITH A STONE STAIRCASE MATCHING THE FOUNDATION SKIRTING, WHICH LEADS TO A SET OF CONCRETE STEPS, UH, TO THE STREET FROM A TOP OF THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALL, THE ORIGINAL TWO OVER TWO WINDOWS AT THE MAIN ASSAULT MAIN FACADE WERE REPLACED WITH UNDIVIDED AND ONE OVER ONE WINDOWS OF 2020, AND HISTORIC AGE SCREENS APPEAR MISSING.
THOSE SHUTTERS ARE INTACT EXISTING WINDOW OPENINGS DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED.
THE PROPERTY IS ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN THE AREA.
THE HOUSE WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1983 AND 19.65, VICTOR AND CARL CARLSON, UH, SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS AND CONTRACTORS.
WE IN 1906 AND 1909, THE PROPERTY WAS RENTED TO RAILWAY MOTORMAN, AUG LINDELL ALSO OF SWEDISH DESCENT.
IT WAS VACANT IN 1912, BUT BY 1914, THE SHIP FAMILY HAD OCCUPIED THE HOME JASPER SHIP WORKED AS A CONTRACTOR.
DO WE SHIP WORKED AS A FOREMAN, NELLY SHIP AS A BOOKKEEPER AND MADISON SHIP AS AN INSURANCE SALESMAN, UH, THEIR YOUNGEST SISTER NINA WAS A STUDENT AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE.
OUR VARIETY OF SHORT-TERM RENTERS.
MOST WITH MIDDLE AND WORKING CLASS OCCUPATIONS LIVED AT 9 0 2 EAST SEVENTH IN THE EARLY THIRTIES.
LIBRATO RAY COALINGA BEGAN RENTING THE HOUSE WITH HER FAMILY, HER DAUGHTERS, NOEMI, COLOMBIA, AND GENOVIVA COALINGA LIVED THERE UNTIL AT LEAST 1970.
COLUMBIA WORKED AS A LAUNDRESS MADE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL JANITOR IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
THE COLUMBIA IS ALSO HOSTED YOUNGER RELATIVES, ALICIA AND BERTA WHILE THEY ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN 1943, NOEMI COLUMBIA FILED A PETITION FOR US CITIZENSHIP.
SHE AND HER MOTHER WERE RICH, WERE ORIGINALLY MEXICAN CITIZENS.
THEY BROUGHT A RAY AS COLUMBIA DIED SHORTLY AFTER IN 1949.
GENOVIVA PASSED IN 1970, FOLLOWED BY NOEMI IN 1977.
[01:20:05]
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? THANK YOU.
UM, IS THE APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS CASE? YES, PLEASE.
WELL, I GUESS WE'RE THE APPLICANT, BUT, UM, COME ON DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME ONE AT A TIME.
YOU CAN COME UP AFTER I ASSUME THAT YOU'LL BE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION AND OPPOSITION.
WE MUST CALL FOR SPEAKERS IN FAVOR FIRST.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS IN FAVOR? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
UM, I AM THE ORIGINAL APPLICANT, UH, FOR THE OWNER, UH, REPRESENTING THE OWNER.
I DO HAVE NIKA STELLA HERE WITH ME AS WELL.
UH, HE'LL BE SPEAKING IN REGARDS AND I'LL BE HERE WITH HIM.
ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION OR NO, WE DID NOT PREPARE A PRESENTATION.
AND THE PRESENTATION WAS SHOWN LAST MEETING.
WE'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF, I THINK, COME ON DOWN IN STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND, UH, I ACTUALLY GREW UP HERE IN AUSTIN AND THE FIRST TIME HERE, SOME, UH, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AROUND HERE DOING SOME GREAT WORK.
UM, BUT, UM, SO FIRST WHEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, UM, WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE SURVEY INVOLVED.
UM, WHEN DID YOU PURCHASE A 2019? OKAY.
BECAUSE THE SURVEY WAS PUT OUT IN 2016, RIGHT.
UM, SO JUST WALKING INTO THIS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING BACK TO 2016, WE'RE NOW IN 2022 AND SOME TIME HAS PASSED SINCE THEN.
UM, BUT, UM, ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW WHENEVER WE LOOKED UP THE TAX RECORDS, IT SAYS 1970.
SO OBVIOUSLY LIKE MANY PEOPLE HERE THEY'VE SAID THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, CHANGED SINCE THEN.
OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW IT WASN'T BUILT IN 1970, BUT, UM, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE SLAB ON GRADE, UM, WAS, WAS MADE, WHICH IS CONCRETE.
SO INITIALLY WHEN WE CAME TO YOU ALL, WE WERE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY RELOCATE THE HOUSE, UM, SOMEWHERE IN, UH, IN THE SOUTH SOUTH PART OF, UH, KYLE ACTUALLY.
UM, AND, UH, FOR US, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO OUR, UH, SITE, UM, IS BOARDED UP AND, UH, AND ABANDONED AS WELL AS YOU CAN SEE.
SO THERE ARE VERY FEW ARCHITECTURAL STYLE THAT IS INTACT AND NOTICEABLE AS FUNCTIONAL RESIDENTS, UM, IN THE AREA CAUSE, UH, THAT ARE WORKING IN SOME COMMERCIAL CAPACITY.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, ARE ABANDONED AND BOARDED UP.
UM, AND THERE ARE ADJACENT DEVELOPMENTS GOING UP ON THE SAME BLOCK, UH, AS WELL.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF THE FABRIC OF THIS AREA STILL INTACT.
YOU KNOW, BIG DEVELOPMENTS STARTED OCCURRING 10 YEARS AGO AND HAVE ALREADY KIND OF CHANGED THE AREA, THE EAST SIDE OF AUSTIN, UH, WITH THAT PRECEDENT THAT WAS SET SOMETIME AGO.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, POINT TO BE MADE CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE WANTING TO RESTORE IT AND, OR, OR, UM, SORRY, UH, RELOCATE IT.
UH, THERE WAS A HISTORIC BUNGALOW MOVED FROM 3, 8 0 7 AV B AND HYDE PARK, UH, TO A DEVELOPMENT IN ROUND ROCK.
AND IT WAS UTILIZED AS A CENTERPIECE, UM, AND A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE, UH, FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT MOVED BY RCS, WHICH IS SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES WE LOOK AT, UM, THEY ONLY HAVE SO MUCH LIFE LEFT IN THEM, RIGHT.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THEM IN MANY WAYS AND WHATEVER ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN DONE AND WHERE THEY ARE W HOW, HOW THEY MOVE THROUGHOUT, UM, THEIR LIFESPAN.
AND SO OUR IDEA WAS, UM, TO, IF IT CAN BE MOVED TO, TO KEEP IT AS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT, IF IT WAS BUILT IN 1970, IT IS AN EXISTING ASSET THAT POSSIBLY CAN BE RELOCATED.
HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T BREAK ON THE BACK OF A SEMI, UH, YOU KNOW, EH, BUT IF IT DOES MAKE IT TO, TO KYLE, IT WOULD BE USED IN A DEVELOPMENT SITE THAT THEN PEOPLE, UM, THERE.
SO WE HAVE A, A LOCAL AUSTIN BUSINESS CALLED LEWIS AND LEROY THAT, UM, WILL BE, UH, MOVING OUT THAT WAY.
UM, AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO UTILIZE THIS ASSET IF IT IS STILL IS INTACT WHEN IT GETS THERE.
[01:25:01]
PROPERTY SITS, THERE'S NO USE IN FUNCTIONALITY REALLY.UM, AND, UH, IT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT THIS ASSET AS ANY SORT OF INVESTMENT, UM, AND, UH, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE OF WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.
UH, SO OUR IDEA IS TO HOPEFULLY PUT IT IN A PLACE THAT THEN IT CAN BE APPRECIATED AND IT DOESN'T SIT NEXT TO ABANDONED PLACES AND IT END UP TURNING INTO THAT SAME, UH, SORT OF, UH, FUTURE, UH, IF, IF THERE'S NO INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN IT.
WELL, SIR, WHY DID YOU BUY IT NOW? W UH, WHERE IT IS, RIGHT.
SO YOU BOUGHT IT WITH THE INTENTION OF, UM, TAKING IT OFF THE SITE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY, UH, WE WERE ACTUALLY THE EAST EIGHTH STREET LOCATION AS WELL.
SO OUR INVESTMENTS WERE MORE FOR THAT VACANT LOT THAT'S FACING
SO THAT'S WHY WE PURCHASED THAT ALONG WITH THE PARKING LOT.
THAT'S, UM, TWO, UM, TWO ROWS AWAY.
SO IT'S USED AS A PARKING LOT NOW WE'RE USING IT AS OUR, UH, STATION FOR CONSTRUCTION TO THAT EAST EIGHTH STREET PROJECT.
UM, WELL, SO WE'VE HAD A STAFF PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE NO CITIZENS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RECOMMENDING HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, AND WE HAVE THE OPPOSITION TO HISTORIC ZONING.
SHOULD WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED SECOND, SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE SAY, AYE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'M KIND OF, I LIKE TO KEEP OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES IN AUSTIN, UH, PERSONALLY, BUT, UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE CASE ALL MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON HIS ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, AGAIN, THE CITY, UM, HIRED A PREMIER CONSULTING TEAM TO DO THIS 2016 SURVEY AND RECOMMENDED, UM, SEVERAL DESIGNATIONS FOR IT.
UM, ANY, ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I BELIEVE BETH.
BETH IS THE SECOND THAT FELONS WE LIVES THE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION I GRANT IT'S IN AN ODD LOCATION.
IT WAS JUST KIND OF APPARENTLY A BONUS PROPERTY FOR A LARGER DEVELOPMENT.
UH, BUT THERE ARE FIVE REMAINING, UH, HOMES ON THIS HILL.
UM, THERE IS, UH, A RESTAURANT NEXT DOOR, UM, DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STREET IS KIND OF SCATTERSHOT.
UH, THIS IS ADJACENT TO NEAR THE, UH, ROBERTSON STUART MIRROR, UH, DISTRICT.
IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH PART OF THAT STORY.
UM, PRIMARILY IT WAS LISTED AS ELIGIBLE FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
IT'S REMARKABLY INTACT FOR THE STYLE OF HOME THAT IT IS, UM, IT'S IN A HIGH PROFILE LOCATION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE DONE WITH THE PROPERTY IF THE HOUSE WERE RELOCATED, I GUESS THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER HOUSE PUT ON IT INSTEAD OF BEING ADDED ONTO OR A BUSINESS PUT ON IT.
INSTEAD OF USING THIS AS A FRONT, AN INTERESTING FRONT FOR A BUSINESS, UH, I DON'T SEE THIS STRUCTURE ON THIS PROPERTY BEING A DETRIMENT TO DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMENTS.
THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, A VERY INTACT, UM, AND FAIRLY ORNATE VICTORIAN HOUSE, UM, THAT I THINK IS DESERVING.
I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
YES, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
UM, I THINK THE ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS HOUSES IS PHENOMENAL.
IT SEEMS TO BE A I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COMMISSION HAS A STRONG FEELING ABOUT THAT, THAT THEY COULD SPEAK TO.
I GRANT THAT THE INTEGRITY AND THE ARCHITECTURE ARE STRONGER,
[01:30:01]
UM, AND ASSOCIATIONS TELL THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY WITH THE, UH, THE SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS THAT, THAT LIVED THERE.AND SOMETIMES WHEN I'M FORMULATING MY OWN OPINIONS, I THINK OF COMMUNITY VALUE, SOMEWHAT OF A WILD CARD THAT CAN BE MANIPULATED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BASED ON WHAT COULD BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE NET POSITIVE IN, IN HOUSING, FOR INSTANCE, CAN THE, CAN THE OWNERS SPEAK TO, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE? IF, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO BRIEFLY, OH, WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, SOMEBODY, UH, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANTED TO KIND OF ASK YOUR FIRST SHORT, MY FIRST NAME IS PROMO LAST NAME, AMEEN, AND THE, AND TO BE, WE, WE WENT PRETTY LONG ON THE LAST ONE.
JUST, IS IT COMMERCIAL? IS IT HOUSING? HOW MUCH HOUSING, HOW MUCH COMMERCIAL WHAT'S THE INTENT OF AND KEN WOULD BE INITIALLY? UH, WELL, IF WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE TWO PROPERTIES NEXT TO IT, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE RESTAURANT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO A RESIDENTIAL, POSSIBLY A MULTI-FAMILY IF POSSIBLE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE RESTAURANT ARE NOT WILLING TO SELL TO US RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S KIND OF PIE IN THE SKY.
I, I WOULD JUST MENTION, UM, THAT NATIONAL REGISTER ONLY REQUIRES WHEN, WHEN CRITERIA, UM, AND WE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS VERY STRONG IN ARCHITECTURE.
UM, AUSTIN IS, IS SORT OF AN ANOMALY IN THAT WAY.
UH, WE REQUIRED TO EVEN WHEN, UH, WHEN IT MIGHT SEEM A STRETCH, BUT IT ONLY HAS TO, UM, BE SUFFICIENT IN ANOTHER.
I THINK THE ARCHITECTURE IN THIS, IN THIS HOUSE IS VERY STRONG, UH, ANY, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, WHICH IS TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING, PLEASE SAY, AYE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
[Items 3.A.4 - 3.A.7]
COMMISSIONERS FOR THESE CASES.
UM, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PREAMBLE, UM, THAT I HAVE INHERITED FROM, UH, STEVE TEDESCHI AND, UH, ELIZABETH FROM IT ON THESE KAELYN.
COULD YOU MOVE THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE MASK.
IS THAT BETTER? BETTER? I CAN'T HEAR MYSELF.
SO CASES A FOUR TO EIGHT, SEVEN ENCOMPASS, TWO PARCELS, WHICH WITH WHAT WE'RE HISTORICALLY MULTIPLE SEPARATE BUILDINGS.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO NOTE THAT THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRETY, UM, WHICH AS OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN AMENDED TO INCLUDE PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND FACADE RETENTION, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A HIGH RISE TOWER INSTEAD OF TOTAL DEMO AND RECONSTRUCTION FROM 7 0 1 TO SEVEN OR FROM OH ONE TO TWO 13 WEST FOURTH.
UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT.
UM, SINCE I'M THE THIRD CASE MANAGER THAT YOU'LL HAVE SEEN PRESENT ON THIS ONE, UM, THE APPLICANT TEAM MET WITH, UH, LATEST WORK PRESERVATION OFFICER STEVE STATSKY FOR A YEAR BEFORE BRINGING THIS CASE FORWARD.
UM, AND, UH, CAME LAST TIME WITH, UH, FORMER PRESERVATION OFFICER NOW, DEPUTY STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, OFFICER ELIZABETH BRUMMETT, UH, THOUGH MR. SEDOWSKY FOUND CLEAR POTENTIAL FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION IN THIS AREA AND A 2009 DRAFT SURVEY.
HE DID NOT FIND THAT ANY BUILDINGS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA MET THE CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, UM, AND FELT THAT THE PROJECT IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO, TO PRESERVE THE BLOCK STREETSCAPE APPEARANCE, UH, INCLUDING THE BUILDING, WHICH NOW HOUSES, RAIN, UM, AND THAT WHEN HE DID, UH, DEEM ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATION.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I WILL QUICKLY GO OVER, UM, EACH OF THESE CASES, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL NEED TO TAKE A MOTION TO TAKE THEM AS A WHOLE NOW, OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOTE ON THEM TOGETHER AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, WOULD IT BE, WOULD IT BE CLEANER IF WE, UH, IF WE MADE A MOTION, IF WE AGREED TO TAKE THEM ALL TOGETHER, UM, AT THIS POINT, THEN I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONSIDER.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION THAT WE HEAR A CASE, A FOUR, A FIVE, A SIX IN A SEVEN CONCURRENTLY, AND, UH, ALLOW THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON THEM, UH, TOGETHER.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING THESE FOUR TOGETHER,
[01:35:01]
IT'S RAISE YOUR HAND FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH IT.THESE, UH, THIS IS ONE BLOCK AND AROUND THE CORNER, UM, ON, UH, WEST FOURTH STREET AND COLORADO.
I WAS HOPING ON THAT QUESTION.
OH, YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND DOWN NOW.
SO, UM, EVEN THOUGH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR, UM, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM JUST TO EXPLAIN HOW THE DESIGNATION CRITERIA APPLY TO EACH BUILDING BECAUSE THEY ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
UM, SO FOR ITEM A FOUR, WE HAVE THREE, 10 TO THREE 12 COLORADO STREET.
UM, THESE ARE MODEST EXAMPLES OF MODIFIED SINGLE-STORY BRICK WAREHOUSES WITH STEPPED PARAPETS MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE ESSENTIAL TILED SECTION WITH A RAISED PARAPET THAT INTERRUPTS THE HISTORIC DESIGN, SOME CHANGES TO FENESTRATION PATTERNS, NON-ORIGINAL AWNINGS, AND SOME ROOFTOP ADDITIONS, INCLUDING RAILINGS, A SHED ROOF PAVILION, AND A TENT.
UM, STAFF CANNOT RECOMMEND THE ZONING CHANGE THAT WAS INITIATED, UM, BACK IN MAY, UM, AND THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT SURVEY FROM MR. SADECKI LISTED PROPERTY AS MEDIUM PRIORITY FOR INCLUSION IN A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, NOTING MODIFICATIONS, UH, HISTORICALLY, UH, THIS BUILDING WAS THE BURKHART BURKHALTER GARAGE BUILDING, UM, AT THREE 10 TO THREE 12 COLORADO, UH, BUILT IN STAGES BETWEEN 1930 AND 19 33, 3 10 WAS OCCUPIED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORIC PERIOD BY BURKHALTER SPRING AND BUMPER SERVICE.
UM, AND THIS COMPANY WAS FOUNDED AND OWNED BY EARL
THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED TO RESTAURANT USE.
ARE THERE SLIDES TO GO WITH THIS OR WE'RE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE FLOOR PLAN.
THERE ARE SOME IMAGES, UM, BUT THIS IS THE, UH, THE NEW PROPOSAL THAT DOES NOT APPEAR IN THIS STAFF REPORT FORMAT FOR THE ZONING CHANGE.
UM, THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE INDIVIDUALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS AS ITS HISTORIC USE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE AND REPAIR IS TYPICAL OF BUILDINGS WITHIN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT WHILE THE PROPERTY DOES POSSESS UNIQUE LOCATION.
AS PART OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, THIS ASSOCIATION IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE BUILDING TO INDIVIDUALLY QUALIFY FOR LANDMARK ASSOCIATES OR FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, AND AS A BUILDING WITHIN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, WHICH IS AN AREA HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AUSTIN'S LGBTQ PLUS BUSINESSES, GATHERING SPACES AND COMMUNITY NEXUS, UM, THAT CURRENTLY HOUSES AND LGBTQ, UH, CENTRIC BUSINESS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND EXAMINE ANY POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS WITH THE HISTORIC PERIOD UNDER THE COMMUNITY VALUE CRITERIA AND AS WELL.
UM, HOWEVER, THIS PROPERTY IS DOCUMENTED ASSOCIATION WITH THAT COMMUNITY DOES NOT APPEAR WITHIN THE HISTORIC PERIOD.
IF WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS ON A FOUR, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO A FIVE, UH, THREE 16 TO THREE 18 COLORADO, UH, IN 2 0 1 TO 2 0 9 WEST FOURTH STREET, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE SAME AS THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND FACADE RETENTION AT 2 0 9 WEST FOURTH IN A PORTION OF 2 0 1 WEST FOURTH TO BETTER COMPLY WITH THE CITYWIDE DESIGN STANDARDS AND IMPLEMENT COMMISSION FEEDBACK.
UH, THAT 2009 WAREHOUSE DISTRICT SURVEY WAS THE PROPERTY AS A MEDIUM PRIORITY FOR INCLUSION IN A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, NOTING MODIFICATIONS.
THIS BUILDING IS A MODEST SINGLE STORY, BRICK WAREHOUSE, UH, THAT RETAINS MODERATE INTEGRITY.
IT HAS THREE BAYS OF STOREFRONT, WINDOWS AND DOORS BETWEEN BRICK PIERS ON THE COLORADO STREET ELEVATION AND FIVE BAYS ON THE WEST FOURTH STREET ELEVATION.
SOME OF THE PIERS ALONG WEST FOURTH ARE TILED AND MAY NOT BE AT ORIGINAL LOCATIONS.
WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE INCONSISTENT IN THEIR DESIGN AND APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
WRAPPING THE BUILDING IS THE ROLLOUT COURSE OF BRICKS AT THE WINDOW HEADERS ABOVE WHICH THE BRICK WORK IS PUNCTUATED BY REGULARLY SPACED VERTICAL BANDS, ROOFTOP ADDITIONS INCLUDE A BARREL VAULTED STRUCTURE AND DETENT THE JIM'S CAFE BUILDING AND THE RAINBOW BREAD WAREHOUSE.
UM, IT WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1936.
UM, JIM PATELLA IS THE GREEK AMERICAN RESTAURANT TOUR HAD JIM'S CAFE IN THE CORNER SPACE AT THE PRESENT BUILDING FROM 1936 THROUGH THE MID FORTIES.
IT WAS REPLACED BY PAPES GRILL IN THE LATE FORTIES AND THE J AND J CAFE IN THE LATE 1950S.
[01:40:01]
CAFE OPENED IN THE SPACE IN THE LATE SEVENTIES, AND THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED INTO A SALON IN THE MID 1980S.THE PORTION AT THREE 16 COLORADO WAS INITIALLY SAMUEL ROBINSON'S AUTO REPAIR SHOP FAIR BANKING BAKING COMPANY, A SAN ANTONIO BASED BREAD MANUFACTURER USE THIS SPACE AS A WAREHOUSE BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1940S.
THE COMPANY LATER BECAME PART OF THE RAINBOW BAKING COMPANY BY THE MID 1960S.
THE BUILDING BECAME A WAREHOUSE FOR THE ADJACENT AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE BUSINESS.
AND IN 1984, IT WAS CONVERTED TO OFFICE USE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HOUSED ANTIQUE AND FOLK ART SHOPS.
THE PORTION ADDRESSED AT 2 0 9 WEST FOURTH.
HOW'S A VARIETY OF OCCUPANTS, INCLUDING A GOVERNMENT PROPERTY STOREROOM FOR THE U S BUREAU OF MINES, THE HOMES, SERVICE DELIVERY COMPANY, DEAN SIGNS, AND ADDITIONAL STORAGE FOR FARE AND RAINBOW BAKING COMPANIES.
UH, THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE INDIVIDUALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS WHILE IT DOES POSSESS UNIQUE LOCATION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC.
AS PART OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
THIS ASSOCIATION IN ITSELF IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE BUILDING TO INDIVIDUALLY QUALIFY FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
HI, TO MAY SIX, A TWO 11 WEST FOURTH STREET.
UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE SAME.
UM, THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THE ORIGINAL POSTPONE PROPOSAL OF RECONSTRUCTION AND TOTAL DEMO.
UM, TWO PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND, UH, FACADE RETENTION, THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT SURVEY LIST HIS PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR INCLUSION IN A POTENTIAL DISTRICT.
THE BUILDING AT TWO 11 WEST FOURTH IS A PARTICULARLY INTACT EXAMPLE OF UTILITARIAN WAREHOUSE WITH A MODEST MISSION REVIVAL, STYLISTIC INFLUENCES.
IT IS A SINGLE STORY BRICK WAREHOUSE WITH A CURVE.
LINEAR STEPPED PARAPET, DECORATIVE ELEMENTS INCLUDE DIAGONAL TILES AT THE RES CENTRAL PORTION.
AND THE ENDS OF THE PARAPET AND A ROLL-OFF COURSE IS COPING.
THE BUILDING RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL WINDOW AND DOOR OPENINGS, BUT SOLDIER COURSE HEADERS AT THE LEFT END OF THE FACADE IS AN ORIGINAL MULTILINE STEEL WINDOW WITH A CENTRAL AWNING STASH.
THE ADJACENT DOOR OPENING HAS BEEN INFILLED WITH A FLAT PANEL AT THE RIGHT OF THE FACADE PAIR OF DOORS, FLANKED BY WINDOWS, FILL AN OVERHEAD DOOR OPENING.
THE BRICK HAS BEEN PAINTED AND A BLACK TILE WAYNE SCOTT ADDED THIS BUILDING HOUSE, THE LIGHTSEY CAROL FIRESTONE BUILDING, UM, WHICH WE NOW KNOW AS OIL CAN HARRY'S.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1936 AS THE HOME OF LEGGETT, W CAROL'S LIGHTSEY CARROLL COMPANY, LOCAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR MAGNOLIA BEER.
THE LCRA HAD AN OFFICE IN THIS BUILDING IN THE EARLY FORTIES, AND THEY EXPANDED INTO THE ADJACENT BUILDING AT TWO 13 WEST FOURTH BY 1942.
THE FIRESTONE RETREAD SHOP OPENED HERE AROUND 1946, AND IT SERVED AS A TIRE RETREAD SHOP UNTIL THE EARLY SIXTIES TO HAVE BUSINESSES SERVICING TRANSMISSIONS WERE LOCATED HERE IN THE SEVENTIES.
UM, AND THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED TO A NIGHTCLUB USE IN THE LATE EIGHTIES OIL CAN, HARRY'S EXPANDED INTO THIS SPACE FORMERLY KNOWN AS 2 0 9 WEST FOURTH WHEN IT OPENED AT THIS LOCATION IN 1990, THE HISTORIC USES OF THE BUILDING ARE TYPICAL OF BUILDINGS WITHIN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
SO THE PROPERTY DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE INDIVIDUALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS, UH, WITHIN THE HISTORIC PERIOD.
AND THIS ONE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, UM, OIL CAN HEAR FORM THE NUCLEUS OF AUSTIN'S LGBTQ PLUS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMAGE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY OF A PARTICULAR GROUP.
GAY BARS ARE BROADLY ACKNOWLEDGED AS A PLACE FOR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION AND SAFE SPACE FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
WITH OVER 30 YEARS IN OPERATION OIL CAN HARRY'S IS AUSTIN'S OLDEST GAY BAR WHILE IT IS NOT 50 YEARS OF AGE IT'S STATUS IS AUSTIN'S OLDEST OPERATIONAL GAY BAR MAY MEET THE THRESHOLD TO DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE UNDER CRITERIA CONSIDERATION T FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
UH, ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? ITEM A SEVEN TO 13 WEST FOURTH STREET.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE SAME, UM, THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT SURVEY LIST.
THIS PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY ALSO FOR INCLUSION IN A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT TWO 13 WEST FOURTH IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SMALL SCALE COMMERCIAL BUILDING WITH DISTINCTIVE BRICK WORK.
IT IS ONE STORY WITH A SYMMETRICAL FACADE SURMOUNTED BY A STEPPED PARAPET BRICK COLUMNS, DIVIDE THIS BUILDING INTO FIVE BAYS FOR A PURE ORIGINAL WITH A NARROWER A SECOND DAY FROM THE LEFT IS THE BUILDING ENTRANCE SECONDARY ENTRANCE AT THE RIGHTMOST BAY APPEARS TO BE A MODIFICATION.
HOWEVER, STOREFRONT WINDOWS AND DOOR OPENINGS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED, INCLUDING TWO RECESS BAYS TO CREATE OUTDOOR SEASON SEATING, TRANSOM WINDOWS APPEAR ORIGINAL, AND THE DECORATIVE BRICK WORK INCLUDES A SOLDIER COURSE ABOVE THE TRANSOMS RAISE FREEZES AND CRUMBLING AT THE PAIR OF THAT, THE BUILDING HAS A GLASS ENCLOSED ROOFTOP STRUCTURE.
THE PATENT I CAN BOND BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1928 AS THE SOUTH WIND RED BALL, MOTOR BUS COMPANY, OFFICES AND GARAGE, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY OPERATIONS DIVISION
[01:45:01]
USED THE BUILDING IN THE EARLY FORTIES STILLS, A MANUFACTURER OF A NATION BLINDS AND WINDOW SHADES MOVED HERE FROM FOUR, FOUR COLORADO.BY THE END OF 1944, HAROLD, I CAN BOMB YOU CRAFTED WINDOW DISPLAYS HAD HIS BUSINESS HERE FROM THE LATE FORTIES THROUGH THE EARLY 1980S, HAROLD, I CAN BOMBS DISPLAYS THE LARGEST DECORATIONS MANUFACTURING FIRM OF ITS KIND IN TEXAS.
IT WAS KNOWN FOR ITS FLOCKED, CHRISTMAS TREES AND OTHER HOLIDAY DESIGNS.
I CAN FOAMS ALSO LAUDED AS A PARADE FLOAT ARTIST AND WAS HIRED TO DECORATE THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION FOR SEVERAL HOLIDAY EVENTS.
BEFORE MOVING TO FOURTH STREET, I CAN FIND BEGAN HIS CAREER IN THE 1930S IS THAT THEATER DESIGNER FOR THE PARAMOUNT AND OTHER MOVIE HOUSES ASSOCIATED WITH INTERSTATE THEATERS, WHICH WAS THEN OWNED BY THE INFLUENTIAL NOVI FAMILY.
I CAN BOMB WAS ENCOURAGED BY HIS MOTHER AND HIS WIFE TO AGE JEWISH REFUGEES, FLEEING NAZI GERMANY.
SO HE ENLISTED THE HELP OF LOUIS NOVI WHO SPONSORED ALFRED ROSENTHAL AND HIS ESCAPE FROM
HE WAS A VERY GOOD MAN RECOUNTS ROSENTHAL IN A 2010 INTERVIEW.
THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED TO LOUNGE USES BEGINNING IN THE EARLY NINETIES WITH THE OPENING OF KANSAS, A GAY BAR.
IT SUBSEQUENTLY HAS VOICED SELLER BEGINNING IN THE LATE NINETIES QUAD BEGINNING IN 2007 AND SELLERS BEGINNING IN 2017.
UM, THIS PROPERTY IS HISTORIC USES ARE AGAIN TYPICAL OF BUILDINGS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE INDIVIDUALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION MAY CONSIDER HELD.
I CAN BOMBS CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL THEATER AND EVENT DESIGN AS WELL AS SEASONAL COMMERCE IN AUSTIN.
TWO HOUSES OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY THE I CAN BUMP FAMILY OR EXTANT AND INTACT.
UM, AND THESE ALSO INCLUDE TRESSA.
I CAN BECOME A LEADER IN AUSTIN, JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THEIR ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, THIS PROPERTY HAS DOCUMENTED ASSOCIATION WITH AUSTIN'S LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY DOES NOT APPEAR WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, THOUGH IT POSSESSES A UNIQUE LOCATION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS PART OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, UM, THAT ASSOCIATION IN ITSELF IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE BUILDING TO INDIVIDUALLY QUALIFY FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR PRESENTATION FOR A 4, 2 87.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WOULD YOU PLEASE DISCUSS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION? SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THESE IS TO NOT RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING AT THIS TIME, AND TO POTENTIALLY INDEFINITELY POSTPONE, UM, TO ALLOW THIS CASE TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION, IS THAT, UM, DOES THAT HELP COMMISSIONER, UM, I CAN OFFER A SAMPLE MOTION OR I CAN OFFER SOME MORE DISCUSSION ON THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT PROCESS.
UM, IF THAT IS ALL FOR SOME FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT PROCESS AND CITY ILLEGALS TAKE ON IT, IF YOU WOULD.
UM, SO PRIOR TO MS BERMAN'S DEPARTURE, UM, SHE CONFERRED WITH A LOT DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS THE COMMISSION'S OPTIONS, UM, AND THEY DECIDED TOGETHER THAT, UM, IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO ACCEPT THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION, UM, WHICH IS THIS NEW PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, UM, AND A DEFINITE POSTPONEMENT WITH CONDITIONS WOULD ALLOW THESE CASES TO RETURN TO THE HLC, IF AN APPLICATION WERE EVER FILED THAT DID NOT INDICATE FACADE RETENTION AS WE SEE TODAY.
UM, SO THIS BASICALLY AVOIDS AN UPTOWN VOTE ON THE RECORD, UM, WHILE PERMIT RELEASE, UM, OR ESCALATION TO COUNCIL WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT, UM, IF THIS IS OF INTEREST, I CAN OFFER A SAMPLE MOTION WHEN THE TIME COMES.
UM, BUT, UM, THE, THIS MECHANISM FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO NOT HAVE AN UP DOWN VOTE, UM, TO SKIRT THE ISSUE IN CASE SOMETHING COMES BACK, THAT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE A TOTAL DEMOLITION, UM, SO THAT THE OPTION TO REINITIATE AND RECOMMEND IS STILL THERE.
AND I HAD A QUESTION, WHEN WOULD THAT COME BACK TO US OR WOULD THAT BE ADMINISTRATIVELY REVIEWED? UM, THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND SITE PLAN APPLICATION WOULD COME TO US FIRST.
WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MET, UM, Y'ALL'S CONDITIONS TODAY, UM, THAT WOULD IDEALLY BE MADE AS PART OF THE MOTION.
UM, AND IF THOSE DID NOT, UH, FULFILL THOSE CONDITIONS, IT WOULD RETURN, UH, TO Y'ALL TO THE COMMISSION, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF, UM, INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT BEING AN OPTION FOR CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I CAN ASK LEGAL IF YOU'RE CURIOUS.
UM, I THINK THE ANSWER MIGHT BE NO, BUT I CAN ASK THAT WE HOLD OFF ON.
LET'S WE MAY COME BACK TO YOU FOR, UM, FOR SOME WORDING ON A, ON AN APPROPRIATE MOTION AND, UH, IF WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS,
[01:50:01]
BUT, UM, AT THIS POINT, OUR, THIS WAS A COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.SO WE WOULD ASK THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING TO SPEAK FIRST.
AND I DO HAVE A LIST HERE THAT IS IN A SPECIFIC ORDER.
SO IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO CALL THE SPEAKERS, THE FIRST SPEAKER TITUS PARKS HAS ALSO, UM, UH, GIVEN SOME HANDOUTS, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING THEM ONLINE FOR THOSE, UH, COMMISSIONERS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
UH, BUT IF THE COMMISSION THAT IS HERE WOULD LIKE THESE HANDOUTS, I CAN PASS THEM OUT.
UM, AS HE IS SPEAKING, PLEASE DO.
AND IS HE THE PRIMARY SPEAKER THEN FOR THE, FOR THOSE, OKAY.
YES, HE WILL HAVE A FULL FIVE MINUTES.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE MAIN SPEAKER, THE PRIMARY SPEAKER, PLEASE BE READY TO COME ON DOWN AND YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING.
THE FIRST SPEAKER HAS FIVE MINUTES.
SUBSEQUENT SPEAKERS HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I'M A SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR DELOITTE DIGITAL.
UM, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN.
UM, I PREPARED SOME MATERIALS FOR YOU, UH, TO GLANCE AT WHILE I MAKE THIS SHORT PRESENTATION AND I'M GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT I MADE IN MY OWN BEHAVIORS.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON WHAT YOUR POWER IS AND WHAT YOU, UH, WHAT YOUR PURVIEW IS.
AND SO I DUG DEEP AND SAID, WELL, OKAY, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AT HAND WITH, UM, WITH THIS DISTRICT.
UM, YOU HAVE FIVE CRITERIA AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
YOU HAVE, UM, YOU CAN JUDGE ON ARCHITECTURE, YOU CAN JUDGE ON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
YOU CAN JUDGE ON ARCHEOLOGY, YOU CAN JUDGE ON COMMUNITY VALUE AND YOU CAN JUDGE ON LANDSCAPE FEATURE.
UM, SO FOR LANDSCAPE FEATURES, I CAN SAY THAT, UM, HALCYON HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GROW A LIFE PLAN MANY YEARS.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, AS FOR ARCHEOLOGY, I KNOW IF YOU DIG INTO THE FLOORS OF ANY OF THESE DANCE CLUBS, YOU WILL FIND THE WELL-PRESERVED SKELETONS OF MANY DRAG QUEENS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF ON THAT, SO I WON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT WHAT I HAVE PROVIDED AS A LITTLE FLIP BOOK FOR YOU WHILE I TALK, UM, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GLARE AT ME IS A PHOTO BOOK OF OUR FOURTH STREET HISTORY OF THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY ON THIS HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, UM, MAP.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO GO IN TOO MUCH INTO THE COMMUNITY VALUE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN BY AUSTIN PRESERVATION.
UM, AND CLEARLY THE LAST HEARING, WE HAD A LOT OF SPEAKERS THAT TOLD YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, BUT JOEL, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THAT PHOTO BOOK IS THE THING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU GUYS AREN'T DOWN THERE AT NIGHT AND YOU AREN'T DOWN THERE DURING THE DAY.
AND YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PATINA THAT THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY HAS CREATED WITH THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AS OUR HOME OVER THE LAST DECADES.
UM, SO, UH, AS YOU GLANCE THROUGH THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE OTHER CRITERIA.
UM, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS INCLUDED IN YOUR HANDOUTS IS THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED.
UM, I BELIEVE IN 2011, 2012, UM, IT WAS ACTUALLY A CERTIFIED INTENT ORDINANCE BY CITY COUNCIL.
IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE FOLLOWED AS I UNDERSTAND IT AND WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THERE, SOME HIGHLIGHTED TIDBITS, UM, THAT POINT TO THE EARNEST, UH, UH, ARGUMENTS THAT I'M MAKING IN TERMS OF QUALIFYING THIS FOR A HISTORIC CONSIDERATION.
AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE A MAP OF WHERE VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER MAP OF WHAT THEY THOUGHT SHOULD BE SAVED.
AND IN IT HIGHLIGHTED IS THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY AND ALL OF THE
UM, IN ADDITION TO THIS, UH, DOCUMENT, UM, I ALSO HAVE THIS LITTLE QUICK VISUAL, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE US VERSUS THEM PRESERVATION VERSUS PROFIT, UM, TO PUT THIS DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN TOGETHER, IT TOOK THREE YEARS OF WORK.
IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT TOOK SIX TOWN HALLS AND NINE MONTHS OF PREPARATORY INVESTIGATION TO ARRIVE AT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WERE ACCEPTED BY CITY COUNCIL AND TURNED INTO AN ORDINANCE, UM, THAT PLUS OUR CURRENT ONLINE PETITION MEANS THAT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES HAVE SPOKEN AND SAID THAT THIS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT NEEDS TO GET HISTORICALLY PRESERVED.
IT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN STATUS AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
IT'S BEEN SAID, IT'S BEEN INVESTIGATED, IT'S BEEN RESEARCHED.
SO TO HAVE THIS WEIRD ARGUMENT ABOUT, WELL THERE'S TILE IN THE FRONT, OR MAYBE THERE'S A WINDOW THAT'S BEEN CHANGED.
THERE'S I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE HERE.
AND THERE'S ME STANDING HERE TRYING TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO SAVE OUR HOME.
AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE COME BEFORE AND SAID, LOOK, IT'S JUSTIFIABLY HISTORIC.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE THIS AGAINST, BASED ON SKETCHY OWNERS
[01:55:01]
AND ONE DEVELOPER WHO WORKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR ONE UNDISCLOSED SNEAKY BUSINESS DEAL THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE IN WRITING.SO SNEAKY THAT THEY CAME BACK WITH A NEW PLAN WITH NO PHOTOS AND NO RENDERINGS, BECAUSE FOR WHATEVER REASON, WITH ALL THEIR MONEY, THEY COULDN'T GET SOME DESIGNERS TO REDESIGN IT FOR YOU TONIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A FLOOR PLAN, RIGHT UNDER 50, MOSTLY NON AUSTINITES PROBABLY WORKED ON THAT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PITTING TONIGHT, THIS DECISION IS BASICALLY THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES OVER MANY DECADES.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE WHO CAME TO TOWN FROM NOT FROM AUSTIN, MADE A DEAL WITH THE OWNERS OF OIL CANS, AND NOW WANTS YOU TO LET THEM TEAR DOWN HALF THE DISTRICT.
UM, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT IT'S HISTORIC.
UM, I'M A DESIGNER BY CHAIN AND I BUILT MANY HOUSES, BUT LIKE, I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU.
UM, AND WE'VE GOT OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WILL HELP THAT.
BUT IF YOU, IF WE CAN GO ON TO ARCHITECTURE, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU GO TO MASTERCLASS AND YOU LOOK UP, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE, THEY'LL GIVE THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS AND EVERYTHING IN THESE BUILDINGS IS LIKE TEXTBOOK INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE FROM THIS PERIOD.
UM, IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO LOOK ONLINE AND FIND ONE-TO-ONE PHOTOS.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU ASKED FOR THE PHOTO AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY, BUT THE PRESENTATION FROM STAFF BASICALLY LISTS ALL OF THE BUILDING, ALL OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE THERE.
AND IN THAT DOCUMENT THAT I GAVE YOU THAT PHOTO BOOK, YOU'LL SEE, I ALSO PAID A PHOTOGRAPHER TO GO AROUND AND TAKE PICTURES OF THESE WAREHOUSES FROM THE BACKSIDES BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS ARE INCREDIBLE.
UM, I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT LOTS OF TIME IN THOSE ALLEYS.
SO I, UH, ACTUALLY LIKED THEM FROM THE BACK.
YOU'LL SEE A POTENT PHOTO IN THERE WHERE IT WAS CALLED THE AUSTIN'S MERCHANTS TRANSFER.
UM, THESE BUILDINGS ARE STILL THERE TODAY.
IF THE GHOST OF THESE BUSINESS OWNERS CAME, THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE THEM.
THESE ARE THE VESSELS OF A THOUSAND STRUGGLES OF A THOUSAND PEOPLE AND A THOUSAND BUSINESSES.
AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE STRUGGLES OF THE GALAS GET TREATED.
I KEEP HEARING THAT THESE ARE NOT, THESE ARE NOT ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT ON THEIR OWN, BUT LET'S JUST BE HONEST.
YOU TEAR DOWN ONE, YOU TEAR DOWN THE ENTIRE FAMILY OF BUILDINGS.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO SAVE WHAT IS LEFT THIS PLAN FROM THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, LEAGUE OR THE DOWNTOWN.
WAS IT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN? UM, CLEARLY SAID THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE PROTECTED.
IF YOU SEE THIS MAP THAT'S INCLUDED, YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN LOST AND WHAT WE WANT TO BE SAVED TODAY.
THE LAST PAGE IN THE PACKET IS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR POWER TO DO TONIGHT.
I'M A FAN OF POST-MOMENT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IN YOUR POWER TO DENY THIS, BUT THIS PERMIT FOR DEMOLITION AND TO CLASSIFY THIS AS AN HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, WE'VE ONLY GOT ONE.
IF WE CAN'T PRESERVE, WHAT'S LEFT ONE BLOCK LAVACA TO COLORADO ALLEY TO ALLEY.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YEAH, WE HAVE, UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, DAVID BYERS AND THEN TELL US THE NEXT SPEAKER AFTER HIM.
SO THAT SPEAKER CAN BE VERY BROWN.
I'VE BEEN, UH, COMING TO THE DOWNTOWN, UH, STREET DISTRICT, A WAREHOUSE DISTRICT SINCE 1991.
I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE UNIQUE PLACES LIKE THE BUILDINGS ON SIXTH STREET, THE RED RIVER DISTRICT AND THESE FOURTH, UH, STREET WAREHOUSE BUILDINGS THAT ARE WORTH PRESERVING.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MY NUMBER ONE FOCUS IS TO PROTECT THE BUSINESS.
I'M SORRY, THE BUILDINGS, IDEALLY, WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTING BUSINESSES.
UM, THESE BUILDINGS ARE REFLECTIONS OF THEIR ORIGINAL TIME AND PLACE.
THERE ARE ASPECTS OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INTEGRITY THAT ARE TIED TO THE BUILD PORTION OF THESE SPACES.
UM, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LANDMARK THESE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY STARTED OUT AS CAR REPAIR GARAGES OR BEER DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES WE ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY BARS WHOSE OWNERS AND PATRONS HAVE SCRAPED AND CLAWED THEIR WAY THROUGH FINANCIAL CRISIS.
THESE LEGISLATIVE FAILURES AND TRIUMPHS AND A PANDEMIC.
UM, THESE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE UNIQUE TO THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE RELEVANT AND SIGNIFICANT TO THE GAY COMMUNITY THAT HAS THRIVED AND BROUGHT LIFE COLOR AND THEIR MONEY TO THIS BLOCK FOR DECADES.
UM, THOSE WHO WISH TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDINGS WILL ARGUE THAT THESE BUILDINGS DON'T HAVE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN WAYS THAT THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR PROTECTION UNDER THE ARCHITECTURAL CRITERIA.
THEY ALSO ARGUE THAT ANY HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS ARE INSIGNIFICANT AND THAT THE ARCHITECTURAL CONNECTIONS MIGHT BE MODEST.
UM, ARCHITECTURALLY WAREHOUSES ARE MODEST BUILDINGS, UM, THEN MODIFICATIONS TO THESE BUILDINGS.
DON'T COMPROMISE YOUR INTEGRITY AS WAREHOUSES.
UM, ADDITIONALLY PER THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN THAT, UH, TIED US FOR OUR FRIENDS.
WE AS A CITY SHOULD BE QUOTE, UH, PRESERVING A BELOVED FABRIC OF HISTORIC PLACES, BUILDINGS, AND LANDSCAPES THAT CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE JOURNEY.
[02:00:01]
THE PAST 200 YEARS.UM, JUST BECAUSE A SPACE HAS A HUMBLE BEGINNING, SUCH AS A WAREHOUSE, UM, DOESN'T MAKE IT INSIGNIFICANT.
UM, NOT EVERY BUILDING CAN START OUT AS A FORTY-THREE STORY CONDUCT BUILDING.
UM, ANOTHER CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED IF DEMOLITION IS APPROVED, WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE TWO OR MORE YEARS THAT THE FOURTH STREET WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT'S THE NEW WALK-IN HARRY'S GOING TO BE.
WILL RAIN BE ABLE TO OPERATE WHILE NEW WATER AND POWER LINES ARE RUN ON THEIR STREETS, WHERE ALL THE GAY COMMUNITY SAFE SPACES BE? UM, I'LL AGAIN, EMPHASIZE MY GOAL TO PRESERVE THE BUILDINGS ON FOURTH STREET.
THESE BUILDINGS ARE THE VESSELS IN WHICH THE AUSTIN GAY COMMUNITY HAS CELEBRATED ITS PAST 40 PLUS YEARS, RETAINING AN EXTERIOR FACADE AND STICKING A PLAQUE ON IT.
DOESN'T TELL THE FULL STORY OF A SPACE AND IT COMPROMISES THE SENSE OF PLACE OF THESE BUILDINGS.
UM, IS THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, THE ONLY PLACE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE A 43 STORY HIGH RISE, THERE ARE AT LEAST 20 ADDITIONAL TOWERS CURRENTLY SLATED TO GO UP ALL AROUND AUSTIN.
IF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAS LEFT TO BE DEVELOPED, CAN WE LOOK AT A SOLUTION THAT BETTER PRESERVES THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS? I KNOW A NUMBER OF CONCESSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED BY THE DEVELOPER JUST IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
UM, AND TO QUOTE AN AUSTIN PRESERVATIONIST.
IT IS A SAD DAY WHEN AUSTIN HAS LOST ITS SOUL AND WE NO LONGER HAVE THE SENSE OF PLACE.
UM, I HAD HAD TWO ASKS TO, TO ADD IF I CAN HAVE OKAY.
UM, SO I'M ASKING FOR TWO THINGS FROM Y'ALL, UM, THAT YOU RECOMMEND AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CODE RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UM, PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO PROACTIVELY PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND ALSO DIDN'T ARE THE PERMITS FOR THE DEVELOPERS, FEWER LOOKING TO DESTROY THESE BASIS.
AND NEXT WE HAVE GARY BROWN AND THEN AFTER THEM IS MIRIAM CONNOR.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.
I'M GARY BROWN, GARY WITH TWO RS, UM, THE BOAT HOUSE HAULS ALL CAN HARRY'S KANSAS BOYS SELLER THE 4 0 4 HIGHLAND RAIN, ALL OF THESE AND MORE HAVE BEEN LOCATED AT FOURTH AND COLORADO.
IT'S A LITTLE HAZY NOW BECAUSE OF THAT HARD LIVING DURING THE EIGHTIES, BUT MANY OF US OF A CERTAIN AGE, REMEMBER COMING TO GAY TOWN, A CENTRALIZED AREA TO BE WITH OUR LGBTQ TWO S COMMUNITY DURING THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES FOURTH AND COLORADO HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE CENTER OF GAY LIFE IN AUSTIN FOR 40 YEARS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER CENTRAL LOCATION OF GAY LIFE HERE AS THE 10TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THIS WOULD BE A TRAVESTY EVERY CITY FROM NEW YORK TO LA, TO CHICAGO, TO PHILLY, PHOENIX, SAN DIEGO AND SAN ANTONIO HAVE GAY AREAS OR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WONDER HOW FAR DOWN THE LIST OF LARGEST METROPOLITAN AREAS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO FIND A CITY THAT DIDN'T HAVE A GAY AREA.
EVEN SAN FRANCISCO, PROBABLY THE GAYEST CITY IN AMERICA, IF NOT THE WORLD HAS THE CASTRO.
FOURTH AND COLORADO IS SO IMPORTANT THAT EVEN THE CITY OF BOSTON DESIGNATED FOURTH STREET BETWEEN CONGRESS AVENUE AND RIO GRANDE AS BETTY NAYLOR STREET, FOR MY WAY, YOUNGER SISTERS AND BROTHERS WHO DON'T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.
I ASKED THAT YOU LOOK HER UP AND GET TO KNOW WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON SHE WAS.
BUT BASICALLY BETTY NAYLOR IS THE MOTHER OF THE GAY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IF I REALLY WANT YOU TO DESIGNATE THIS AREA AS HISTORIC, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE TO DECIMATE FOURTH IN COLORADO, MAYBE THAT'S TOO STRONG OF A WORD I'M GAY.
I COULD BE PRONE TO EXAGGERATION.
I IMPLORE YOU TO PETITION THE STATE HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO PUT UP A HISTORICAL MARKER.
THAT EXPLAINS THE WONDERFUL HISTORY OF FOURTH AND COLORADO.
AND I'M WILLING TO HELP WITH THAT AND WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE LAST MONTH AND TONIGHT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US.
WE HAVE MIRIAM CONNOR AND THEN DANIEL ROWAN.
Y'ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS MIRIAM CONNOR AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR 30 YEARS.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF PRESERVATION, AUSTIN, FORMERLY HERITAGE SOCIETY OF AUSTIN.
THIS IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH AND WE ARE STILL FIGHTING AND THE ANCESTRY OF FIGHT TO STAY VISIBLE TODAY.
YOU ARE NOT ONLY MAKING CHOICES BASED ON OUR HISTORY, BUT YOU'RE MAKING CHOICES, LASTING CHOICES FOR OUR HISTORIES FUTURE TODAY, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO ALL OTHER CITIES.
WE DON'T HAVE LGBTQ LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS IN 1947.
[02:05:01]
WAS CREATED AT 1, 2, 3 WEST SIXTH STREET.IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GAY OWNED CAFES AND BARS IN AUSTIN.
ONLY A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
THIS SPACE IS NOW AN ADVERTISING AGENCY.
THIS AREA HISTORICALLY HAS, HAS HISTORICALLY SUPPORTED LEGACY, SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE THRIVING CULTURE OF AUSTIN.
THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN WAS ADOPTED BY THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BY AN ORDINANCE IN 2011, WHICH THEN CAME THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMISSION TO STUART THAT PLAN, THIS PLAN STATES, THE CITY SHOULD DEVELOP SPECIFIC.
UH, THE CITY SHOULD DEVELOP SPECIFIC STANDARDS TO PROTECT THE WAREHOUSE.
DISTRICT CITY STAFF SHOULD EXPLORE ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO PRESERVING AND FOR PRESERVING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, WHICH IS NOT JUST FACADES.
THIS CITY SHOULD SUPPORT EFFORTS BY THE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF AUSTIN AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO ESTABLISH THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT AS A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT AND AS A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND GETTING ONE PROPERTY OR BUSINESS OWNERS BLESSING BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BENEFIT IS NOT EVERYBODY'S BLESSING THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WEBSITE STATES THAT AUSTINITES SHARE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE, BUT THE LITERAL PLACE OF PRIDE IS BEING THREATENED, SHOWS THAT THE TRUE VALUE OF COMMUNITY IT'S MONETARY AND THAT THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THE COUNTRY IS ONLY A SLOGAN AND Y'ALL CAN HELP CHANGE THAT.
AND I ASKED YOU TO ABIDE BY THE CITY ORDINANCE OF 2011, 12 0 8 93.
AND ALSO SINCE I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, THERE ARE MULTIPLE INITIATIVES AND PLANS THAT ARE BEING MADE RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE EQUITY-BASED HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN, THE CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM PLAN, AND THE DISTRICT FRAMEWORK THAT CAN ALL HELP US PRESERVE PLACES IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE DANIEL ROWAN AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A SPEAKER BY TELEPHONE AFTERWARD.
HELLO, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS DANIEL RONAN FOR THE RECORD.
I MOVED HERE IN DECEMBER FROM CHICAGO.
UM, I'M STILL WORKING ON THE ACCENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE A TEXAN JUST YET, BUT, UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS COMMISSIONERS OF THIS BODY.
UH, I'M UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, ACTUALLY OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION.
SO I'M MOVING QUICKLY HERE IN MY NEW TOWN.
UM, I'M ALSO THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FLOWER HILL, WHICH IS A HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUM AT PRESSLER AND SIXTH STREET.
IT'S JUST STRESS THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS BLOCK.
ON FOURTH STREET, I CAME HERE ORIGINALLY AS A TOURIST IN 2019.
I'M REALLY STRUCK BY THIS AREA OF DOWNTOWN, WHICH I THOUGHT BROUGHT THE MOST VITALITY, FRANKLY, THAT I SAW ANYWHERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK REALLY SPEAKS TO THIS IDEA OF HAVING A GAY QUEER NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT, UH, SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
IT REALLY IS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOMED AND I REALLY WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS ISN'T SO MUCH A COMMUNITY, UH, BENEFIT FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY, BUT FOR ALL COMMUNITIES AND EVERYONE THAT COMES TO AUSTIN.
SO IN THINKING ABOUT THE DESIGNATION, UH, OF CREATING THIS DISTRICT AND REALLY STICKING TO ITS PRESERVATION, I WOULD REALLY ASK YOU TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO COME HERE.
AND FOR ME, IT CERTAINLY WAS THIS, THIS STRETCH OF FOREST STREET.
UM, I THINK ADDITIONALLY, TO THE MORE THAT WE SEE OUR HISTORIC PLACES AS NEXUS, AS NODES OF, UH, TOURISM, THE MORE THAT WE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S REALLY ALL OF THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT COME TOGETHER.
THESE, THESE BUILDINGS THAT MAKE THE SMILE, ALL THE TEETH IN THE SMILE TOGETHER, SMILING TOGETHER THAT MAKES DOWNTOWN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
AND THE MORE WE LOSE THIS FABRIC, THE LITTLE THERE IS LEFT TO SEE AS A TOURIST AND AS SOMEONE THAT NOW LIVES HERE, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO WHAT LITTLE IS LEFT IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
JOINING US BY PHONE IS MEGAN KING FROM PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
I'M THE POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
I DIDN'T SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION, OFTEN IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC ZONING OF THE GIVEN PROPERTIES AT WORK IN COLORADO, I'M LOCATED IN HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THE GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ACTIVISM AROUND THIS CASE TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S LGBTQ SPACES, INCLUDING EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE TONIGHT.
AND AT THE LAST MEETING WE KNOW BASED ON OUR RESEARCH THAT THERE ARE NO LANDMARKS OR HISTORIC MARKERS
[02:10:01]
IN THE CITY DEDICATED TO LGBTQ HERITAGE.THE FRAGILITY OF QUEER SPACES MEANS THAT VANISHINGLY FEW EVER SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE THRESHOLD FOR TRADITIONAL PRESERVATION.
AS WE SEE HAPPENING TODAY, AS OTHER SECRETS HAVE SAID, THESE PROPERTIES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE 2011 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN AS CONTRIBUTORS TO THE POTENTIAL WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
SINCE THEN THE CITY HAS DONE NOTHING TO ENACT ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED IN THAT PLAN TO PROTECT THESE BUILDINGS.
AND THE VIBRANT WAREHOUSE DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRIPPED AWAY UP UNTIL NOTHING REMAINS.
WE UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS THAT RESULTED IN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AGAINST LANDMARKING, THESE BUILDINGS INDIVIDUALLY, THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY VALUE OF THESE LGBTQ SPACES AND OTHERS NOW GONE HAVE NOT REACHED THE AGE THRESHOLD FOR DESIGNATION IS A FAILURE OF POLICIES THAT SHOULD NOT BE PERPETUATED PRESERVATION WITHOUT PEOPLE IS A HOLLOW ENDEAVOR.
WE ASKED WITH COMMISSION AND THE CITY TO THINK EXPANSIVELY ABOUT HOW THE PRESERVATION MOVEMENT CAN ADDRESS ITS OWN FAILINGS AND PROTECT THE SPACES OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT WE URGE THE COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND STORAGE ZONING FOR THE GIVEN PROPERTIES AT FOURTH AND COLORADO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME.
THOSE ARE ALL OF THE, UH, SIGNED UP SPEAKERS I HAD FOR IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC ZONING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, HISTORIC ZONING IN FAVOR SPEAKERS? COME ON DOWN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
MY NAME IS DANIELA SILVA, R S AUSTIN'S HEART AND SOUL.
THE COLORFUL, DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE MADE THE CITY.
WHAT IT IS, WHAT HAS DRAWN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO WANT TO LIVE HERE, HAVE SLOWLY BEEN SANITIZED WITH LUXURY HOUSING AND HIGH END MULTINATIONAL BUSINESSES.
WE CAN SEE IT ACROSS THE EAST SIDE WITH OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
AND NOW THE QUEER COMMUNITY IS NEXT TO ILLUSTRATE A COMPARISON.
FOURTH STREET FEELS LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM WEST SIXTH AND A LUXURY HIGH RISE.
WE'LL TURN FOURTH STREET INTO EXACTLY THAT UNTIL EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE ALPHABET MAFIA CAN MOVE THROUGH AUSTIN WITH AS MUCH A SENSE OF SAFETY AND BELONGING.
AS NON-QUEER PEOPLE, WE DESERVE TIME TO WORK ON DESIGNATING FOURTH STREET, COLORADO HISTORIC AND OR CULTURAL DISTRICT, WHICH CAN ALLEVIATE THE TAX BURDENS THAT THREATENED THE EXISTING QUEER FRIENDLY BUSINESSES VOTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT ON THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH WOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO AUSTIN'S ENTIRE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
PLEASE VOTE TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT TOOLS, TO PRESERVE THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORY OF THE SPECIAL AREA IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.
HE HIM PRONOUNS, UH, TECHNICALLY A SON OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.
SO, AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR AWHILE.
UM, I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT ANYTHING THAT EVERYBODY'S ALREADY SAID, BUT I DO.
AND THIS IS, THESE ARE ACTUALLY QUESTIONS FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE PUSHING FOR THIS, WHY OUR BLOCK, WHY OUR COMMUNITY, THERE'S ALREADY A GLUT OF LUXURY HOUSING DOWNTOWN AND MORE COMING.
UH, SECONDLY, THERE'S SEVERAL ABANDONED BANKS AND PARKING LOTS.
SO WHY FOURTH STREET, WHICH IS VIBRANT MAKING MONEY AND ACTUALLY BRINGING PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN AND ADDING TO THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND THE COMMUNITY OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
UM, AND THEN HONESTLY, THIS IS A LITTLE EDGY.
HOW MANY OF HANOVER'S EXECUTIVE TEAM ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER.
HOW MANY ARE THERE? HOW MANY OF THEM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR? HOW MANY ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY? AND SO THEREFORE, HOW DO THEY UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITY AND OVERALL THE PRESERVATION OF OUR COMMUNITY? AND THEN ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID LAST TIME IS THAT THERE, THIS PLAN IS COMPASSIONATE.
IF THIS IS COMPASSIONATE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ONE BAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE DOWN THE ENTIRE BLOCK AND THEY'RE NOT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE OF COLOR HOW THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT.
SO, UM, FORT STREET IS NOT JUST ONE BAR, IT'S A COMMUNITY, IT'S MULTIPLE BARS.
WE GO THERE BECAUSE OF COCONUT CLUB AND OIL CAN HARRY'S AND SELLERS AND ALL THE OTHER PLACES.
AND THEN, UM, AS I MENTIONED, OR LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IF THIS IS A COMPASSIONATE PLAN, HOW MUCH HAVE THEY DONE TO MARCH IN PRIDE, PARADES AND HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, BY THE WAY, HOW MUCH HAVE THEY DONATED TO LGBTQ CHARITIES OR PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZATIONS? SO THIS IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE IT INTO LUXURY HIGH RISE, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO SET RIGHT WITH MAINTAINING OUR COMMUNITY OR COMPASSIONATE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE EPITOME OF PRIVILEGE.
[02:15:01]
ELSE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? COME ON DOWN.HI, I'M GOING TO MAKE AN ECONOMIC ARGUMENT.
YOUR NAME FOR MY NAME IS PAULA COOKMAN.
AND I WANT TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR KEEPING THIS DISTRICT AS HISTORIC AND DESIGNATED AS A GAY DISTRICT.
UM, A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME THAT HIS DAD OWNED A GANG GAY CLUB IN SAN ANTONIO, AND IT WAS THE BEST INVESTMENT THAT HE EVER MADE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE BRAWLS.
THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T BEAT EACH OTHER UP.
AND IN LIGHT OF ALL THIS VIOLENCE, THAT'S GOING ON IN THE SHOOTINGS, THE GAY CLUBS ARE SHOT BY OTHER PEOPLE, NOT BY EACH OTHER.
AND WE NEED THESE KINDS OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT AS VIOLENT.
PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO COME TO AUSTIN AND I'M INVOLVED IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
AND THEN AS A SINGLE WOMAN THAT A STRAIGHT WOMAN, THAT WHEN I TRAVEL THE WORLD, I LIKE TO GO TO THESE KINDS OF NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE I FEEL SAFE THERE.
SO WHAT'S A SINGLE WOMAN FROM DENMARK GOING TO COME TO AUSTIN, WANDER AROUND DOWNTOWN BY HERSELF AND LOOK AT A BUNCH OF HIGH RISES.
WHAT KIND OF FUN IS THAT? YOU KNOW, SHE WANTS TO GO IN AND MEET PEOPLE.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF CLUBS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY MEET PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO SAY VERY MUCH HOW I RESPECTED LARRY DAVIS, WHO WAS LONGTIME OWNER OF OIL, KENNY CARIES, AND THE THINGS THAT HE DID FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY, FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS AND FOR PEOPLE WITH SO MANY OTHER, UM, DISABILITIES OR HAD TROUBLE, UM, GETTING HEALTH INSURANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO LET'S HONOR THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THAT COMMUNITY AND KEEP IT AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT, PLEASE.
UH, FIRST SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION IS THE APP PART OF THE APP CLINT TEAM.
UM, STATE YOUR NAME DAVID OD WITH HANOVER COMPANY.
AND THANKS FOR STARTING ON SLIDE SIX THERE.
UM, SO THIS SLIDE WILL LOOK FAMILIAR TO LAST TIME AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME, UM, THE BIG DIFFERENCE THOUGH HERE THAT WE ARE, AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK MORE BRIEFLY ABOUT JUST THE ARCHITECTURE, ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION ASPECT OF THIS, AND SPEND MORE TIME ON JUST THE SOCIAL IMPACT, WHICH IS CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT, WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HERE.
AND WE ARE TOO, UM, SINCERELY, AND NOW I WANT TO GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, WHAT, WHAT, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, HERE IS, IS NOT DEMOLISHING WHAT YOU SEE THERE IN THE MASONRY ON THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THIS SLIDE.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS THAT WE WILL BRACE IN PLACE AND RETAIN IN PLACE THE EXISTING FACADES.
UM, AND THEN RECESS BACK THE NEW BUILDING, APPROXIMATELY SIX, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN SIX FEET, UM, RECESSED BACK FROM THERE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER I'M SOUTH.
I REMEMBER YOU, YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SCALE OF, OF THE KIND OF GASKET IN BETWEEN THE, THE FACADES AND THE GARAGE ABOVE PERHAPS BEING TOO LARGE.
AND WE WOULD, UM, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT AND WE HAVE STUDIED THAT SENSE SINCE LAST MONTH, BUT MOST OF MY, MY TIME OVER THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN SPENT, UM, REACHING OUT TO SOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVING SIT DOWN CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU'RE UP HERE WITH A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK FROM BOTH SIDES.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VERY POLARIZING AND WHAT I'VE FOUND OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS IN MEETING WITH GROUPS LIKE THE, UM, THE AIA LGBTQ ALLIANCE MEMBERS, SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM, FROM, FROM THAT ORGANIZATION, UM, CONTINUED CONVERSE CONVERSATIONS WITH LGBT, UH, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UM, AND TINA CANNON AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, JESSICA COHEN AND OTHERS.
UM, AND ALSO THE OWNERS OF COCONUT CLUB AND THE YOUNG GROTTO SIT DOWN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN DO MORE TO HELP PRESERVE THE COMMUNITY HERE, THE SAFE SPACE.
IT IS TRULY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT WE ARE THE BEST BET AND HOPE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SURVIVE HERE.
LONG-TERM WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY TRANSFER, UH, YOU KNOW, A FOR-PROFIT MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT, THAT ALSO, WE SHOULDN'T LOSE FACT OF THE, UH, OF THE, UH, OF THE FACT THAT, THAT, THAT IS CREATING 400 RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT IS,
[02:20:01]
IS HELPING TO, UH, RESOLVE A HOUSING CRISIS DOWNTOWN.UM, AND WE NEED TO BE PROVIDING MORE HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN TO, TO, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY HELP WITH THE AFFORDABILITY OF LIVING IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
YES, THESE ARE GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE RENTAL UNITS RELATIVE TO OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MORE SUPPLY WE CAN CREATE IT WILL EQUALIZE OVER TIME.
UM, BUT WE, WE ARE ABLE HERE TO, TO, TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR OIL.
CAN HARRY'S, COULD YOU PLEASE, UH, ADVANCED THE SLIDE? UM, UH, THIS IS HOW WE, HOW WE WILL PRESERVE, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY, WE DIDN'T SAN FRANCISCO ON THE BOTTOM BOTTOM LEFT THERE, UH, WITH BRACING OF THE FACADES IN PLACE.
AND WHAT WE WOULD OFFER HERE IS, UH, TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS WITH OUR PRESERVATION PLAN, WITH DETAILED DRAWINGS, UH, SECTIONS STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS TO SHOW HOW THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE DONE SUCCESSFULLY.
UM, ONE, ONE GOOD COMMENT THAT CAME OUT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH AIA IS CREATING SMALLER SCALE SPACES HERE THAT, UH, CONFORM TO THE EXISTING STOREFRONT FACADES THAT WE ARE PRESERVING IN PLACE AND NOT DEMOLISHING.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE WE'VE CREATED A SMALLER 1500 FOOT SPACE THERE.
AND I WAS IN CONVERSATIONS AS RECENTLY AS TODAY WITH THE OWNERS OF NEON GROTTO AND COCONUT CLUB TO TALK ABOUT HOW CAN WE BRING THEM IN TO THIS 1500 FOOT SPACE TO CREATE A CONCEPT THAT EITHER COULD BE COCONUT CLUB OR SOME OTHER ITERATION, UM, AND SORRY.
UM, UM, AND, UH, AND, AND, AND HAVE THAT EXIST NEXT TO THE NEW OIL CANT AREAS WHAT'S SHOWN IS OIL CAN HARRY'S.
AND THIS PLAN IS CURRENTLY VACANT UNOCCUPIED SPACE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE VACANT AND UNOCCUPIED AS LONG AS THERE'S NO DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING ON THIS SITE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS EXISTING RAIN TO THE WEST, WHICH WILL REMAIN THERE'S A SHARED OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE BETWEEN THAT BUSINESS AND OIL CAN HARRY'S.
AND SO BY CLOSING THE VOID AND THE GAP IN BETWEEN THE EXISTING OIL CAN HARRY'S AND EXISTING RAIN, WE ARE CREATING SOME SYNERGIES THERE THAT I BELIEVE WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO GOING OUT AND TRYING TO GET EITHER THE OWNERS OF NEO GROTON, YOUNG GROTTO AND OLGUIN, AND A COCONUT CLUB TO COME CREATE A NEW SPACE WITHIN, UH, THIS IN-BETWEEN BETWEEN THE NEW OLD KEN HARRY'S AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS A LOCALLY OWNED LGBTQ OWNED AND OPERATED RESTAURANT THERE.
UM, I THINK THAT WE ARE THE BEST BET TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE COMMUNITY.
ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF FOURTH STREET, HERE WE BUY BY BEING PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT ABOVE.
WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER THAT DOWN TO THE GROUND FLOOR.
SOME OF THOSE PROFITS, IN ORDER TO CREATE A SUBSIDIZED RENT STRUCTURE FOR THESE BUSINESSES, WITH ALL KEN HERE, WE WERE GIVING THEM MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PUT UP A TEMPORARY LOCATION, RIGHT NEAR HERE.
ALSO COME BACK INTO THE, TO COME BACK INTO THE SPACE AT A SUBSIDIZED RENT STRUCTURE THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR SURVIVABILITY IN THIS LOCATION, WHICH WITH THIS SITE IS TAXED AS A HIGH-RISE SITE.
THIS SITE IS TAXED AS A HIGH RISE SITE.
CURRENTLY THESE BUSINESSES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE WHEN THE INSURANCE AND TAX BURDEN THAT IS ON THIS SITE GETS TRANSFERRED TO THOSE BUSINESSES.
SO IN TERMS OF YOUR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL, ECONOMIC SURVIVABILITY, THESE BUSINESSES, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE THE BEST BET FOR THIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY.
UM, IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER? WE HAVE MICHELLE LYNCH.
MICHELLE, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I THINK YOU HEARD, UH, MR. ART SPEAK PRETTY.
I THINK HE WAS SPEAKING VERY SLOWLY BECAUSE HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND HE'S VERY CONCERNED AND HE'S BEEN SPENDING THE LAST 30 DAYS DOING EVERYTHING HE SAID HE WOULD DO AND LISTENING TO EVERYBODY'S INPUT.
SO I HOPE THAT PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE DO YOU RESPECT THAT? UM, YOU KNOW, WE DID WORK A YEAR WITH MR. SEDOWSKY.
UM, HE FELT LIKE HE DID ALL THE RESEARCH HERE AND HE FELT COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
THE CURRENT STAFF HAS DONE ALL OF THEIR RESEARCH AND THEY HAVE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT.
I NOTICED WHERE THE ONLY ITEM THAT THEY'RE NOT RECOMMENDING HISTORIC ZONING ON.
I THINK THAT MEANS THEY TOOK THEIR TIME.
WE ARE SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR A VERY HIGH BAR THAT OTHERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE NOT DONE.
THEY HAVE NOT DONE ONE THING NEAR WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO HERE.
A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING LOST IN, I THINK IS THAT HISTORIC ZONING IS YOUR ONLY TOOL TO SAVE THIS COMMUNITY, THIS BLOCK, THESE BUSINESSES.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THOSE BUSINESSES COULD GO AWAY TOMORROW OR NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW, REGARDLESS OF IF THIS IS OWNED HISTORIC OR NOT SAD TO SAY THOSE ARE THE OWNER'S WISHES.
[02:25:01]
A, HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.BUT WHEN WE CAME ON BOARD WITH THIS AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES, I TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I TRY TO HAVE MY CLIENTS DO THE RIGHT THING.
HANOVER MAY BE FROM HOUSTON OR WORK ACROSS THE NATION, BUT THEY DO THE RIGHT THING AND ALL OF THEIR PROJECTS.
AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT IF YOU STUDY THEM MORE CLOSELY, SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE TONIGHT, IF YOU WOULD NOT USE THE ONLY TOOL YOU THINK YOU HAVE FOR HISTORIC ZONING OF HIS PROPERTY AND WORK WITH US TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT INTEGRATES HISTORY AND PRESERVATION AND PROGRESS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY VIABLE AND TO KEEP THESE BUSINESSES HERE, ALL THREE OF THEM, WE WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN WE HAVE A SHORT LIST OF, UM, MORE, UH, IN OPPOSITION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
WE HAVE DANIEL CAVEMEN AND THEN WHO'S COMING AFTER THAT.
UH, THE NEXT IS JESSICA COHEN.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
TODAY'S THE FIRST MONTH OF STATE YOUR NAME? I AM DANIEL CAPPLEMAN.
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH.
A VERY EXCITING DAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND A SOLEMN REMINDER OF THE FIGHTS THAT WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH FOR RIGHTS, ACCEPTANCE AND SECURITY.
TODAY IS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND CHOOSE TO NOT CREATE MORE BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT OF HOMES FOR US AND OTHERS LIVE IN THE CITY THAT WE LOVE.
I AM HERE TO OPPOSE THIS HISTORIC ZONING AND TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF MORE HOUSING.
I'M A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I LOVE THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE A SAFE SPACE.
I AM ALSO A PRO HOUSING ADVOCATE.
IN FACT, DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS WAS THE NUMBER TWO RECOMMENDATION FROM THE LGBT COMMISSIONS, A QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT FROM 2021, AN INCREASE IN THE HOUSING SUPPLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN LIKE THIS THAT WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, WITH THE FACADE AND THE OPERATION OF THESE BARS ARE PRESERVED IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF AUSTIN NEEDS.
I SPOKEN WITH MY OTHER GAY FRIENDS WITH ONE OF THE OWNERS AND WITH OTHER HOUSING ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY, I DECIDED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK AND POTENTIALLY PUT MYSELF IN CONFLICTS WITH MEMBERS OF MY OWN COMMUNITY TO SHOW YOU THAT THERE ARE SOME OF US THAT DO WANT MORE HOUSING AND WANT TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSING CRISIS.
I AM, AND ALWAYS WILL BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY IN FAVOR OF MORE HOUSING OF EVERY TYPE AND IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IF WE ARE TOO AFRAID TO CHANGE, TO LET MORE HOUSING GET BUILT, LGBTQ PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED OUT OF THE CITY.
ALONG WITH OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE ALREADY GETTING PUSHED OUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF THE SUPPLY DUE TO AN OVERLY RESTRICTED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT OFTEN INCLUDES OVERLY ZEALOUS.
HISTORIC ZONING CHANGE IS HARD AND IT IS SCARY, BUT THE STATUS QUO IS EVEN SCARIER.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, ESPECIALLY FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS.
IF WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THE POSITIVE OF POSITIVE CHANGE, IT IS AN INCUMBENT UPON US TO WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS EVEN, AND ESPECIALLY INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AMIDST THIS HOUSING CRISIS.
THE GAY COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO SAY NOT IN OUR BACKYARD.
SO I'M HERE TO SAY, THANK YOU.
YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT NEEDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IS THERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT? THIS IS NOT BIG A AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS A OVERALL GOAL TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY TO GET TO THE OUTCOME OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NEXT, WE HAVE JESSICA COHEN AND THEN ALEX STEDMAN, AFTER THAT, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT THOUGH.
I AM NOT SPEAKING MY OFFICIAL CAPACITY TONIGHT.
I'M SURE YOU'RE A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE ME ON THIS SIDE OF THINGS, BUT LET ME START BY SAYING FIRST THAT I'M EXTREMELY, STILL DISCONCERTED BY THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES I KEEP SEEING COMING BEFORE THE LAND USE SPORTS FOR WEED DEVELOPMENT.
IT FEELS LIKE AN ORCHESTRATED ATTACK ON THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, IN OUR SAFE SPACES, UH, TO MANY OF US, UH, FOOD SERVED ON LAND USE SPORTS.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE.
IT'S MORE, THAT PROGRESS IS KIND OF CALLOUSLY BLIND.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THAT EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING WHERE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS BEING RUN OVER BY PROGRESS.
I'M HOPING THAT NOW THAT COUNCIL HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT THAT MAYBE THEY'LL DO SOMETHING TO IMPLEMENT AN LGBTQ DISTRICT OVER IN THE PORT STREET, EVER AREA.
HAVING SAID THAT, UM, I'M HERE TO RETRACT MY PREVIOUS
[02:30:01]
APPROVAL OF A HISTORIC ZONING RECOMMENDATION, UH, RESEARCHING THIS DEVELOPMENT, UM, LED TO SOME REALLY INTERESTING SURPRISES.UH, THOSE OF US WHO'VE SERVED ON LAND NEW SPORTS KNOW THAT DEVELOPERS WILL OFTEN TELL YOU ANYTHING TO GET WHAT THEY WANT WHILE DOING NOTHING.
I'VE BEEN LIKE SERIOUSLY IMPRESSED AND SURPRISED BY THE LEVEL OF OUTREACH FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE BUILDERS TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
I, IF I COULD GET THIS EXAMPLE TO BE SET AND ADOPTED BY EVERY DEVELOPER WHO COMES BEFORE THE LAND USE BOARDS, I THINK AUSTIN WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER CITY BECAUSE OF IT.
YOU INVOLVE THE MINORITIES, YOU INVOLVE THOSE OF US WHO ARE OFTEN MARGINALIZED BRINGING THEM INTO THE CONVERSATION.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE REAL GROWTH, NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE WITH MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS, BUT FOR EVERYONE.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
HOPEFULLY THIS WAY WE KEEP THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE AND THAT THEY'VE NEGOTIATED WITH THERE.
AND DON'T TAKE THE RISK OF HAVING THIS BEING OVERTURNED BY PCR OUR COUNCIL AND ENDING UP WITH A DEVELOPER WHO COULDN'T CARE LESS, WHO LEASES FROM THEM, PLEASE DON'T INITIATE A STORAGE STARTING.
IT'S BEEN INITIATED WITH A W IT'S DONE FOR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, AT FIRST I WAS OPPOSED TO THE BUILDING AND THEN ON SECOND THOUGHT I WAS, UM, KIND OF IN FAVOR OF IT.
AND, UM, AFTER HEARING ALL THESE SPEAKERS, I WAS KIND OF THINKING WELL, UM, I'M NOT QUITE SO SURE I'M BEING THROWN TO THE WOLVES, BUT, UM, ON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, UM, I HOPE THESE DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I REALLY DO BECAUSE, UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE FOR THEM IS WHERE IS THERE GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY LOCATION FOR OIL CANS WHEN THIS BAR IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED? BECAUSE I READ AN ARTICLE EARLY ON WHEN THIS EARLY IN THIS PROCESS THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY LOCATION.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT UNTIL TONIGHT UNTIL JUST NOW.
AND WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE? I GUESS AN IDEAL LOCATION WOULD BE ACROSS, UH, FROM HIGHLAND 4 0 4 COLORADO, THE OLD, UM, FRANK HOTDOG PLACE.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE EMPTY FOR YEARS.
UM, ALSO, IS THERE GOING TO BE A PATIO FOR THE NEW, UM, OIL CAN HARRY'S I JUST HEARD THAT ONE OF THE DESIGNS.
ALSO AT THE END OF, UH, THIS NEW BUILDING, UM, DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER HIP COOL CHEF INSPIRED RESTAURANT WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE PLENTY OF THOSE, WHY NOT BRING BACK SULLIVAN'S THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK.
WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT? WHY DON'T BRING, WHY DON'T WE BRING THAT, THAT BACK OR PUT A LGBTQ FRIENDLY BUSINESS BACK IN THERE.
LET'S BRING MORE GAY-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES BACK TO THIS AREA, INCLUDING THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO GO.
SO ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID, I JUST KIND OF OFF THE CUFF.
SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION OF HISTORIC ZONING? OKAY.
THEN, UH, TITUS PARKS, YOU GET THREE MINUTES TO REBUT IT FOR IN FAVOR IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TIME HAS PASSED SINCE WE LAST SAW YOU.
AND WHEN I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT JOINING YOUR COMMISSION, WHEN I LOSE MY ANGER OVER THIS, THIS POSSIBILITY OF MY HOME BEING TORN DOWN, UM, LOOK, I DIDN'T PLAN A REBUTTAL, BUT I'LL SAY THIS.
I IDENTIFY WITH THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY HERE.
I WAS THERE WHEN NOBODY ELSE WAS THERE, IT WAS JUST THE GAZE.
AND IT WAS A HARD THING TO WALK DOWN THERE IN THE DARK, NOTHING HAPPENING.
AND YOU HEARD THIS BASS BEAT BEHIND THE DOORS OF THE ORIGINAL OIL CANS AND YOU WALK IN, YOU HAD TO BE OUT, YOU HAD TO BE PROUD.
THAT'S HOW YOU JOINED YOUR COMMUNITY DOWN THERE INSIDE THESE BUILDINGS.
SO I'M HERE FOR THE BUILDINGS.
I'M A STRONG PROPONENT OF HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE.
I LOVE INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE.
I LOVE OUR CITY AND I LOVE OUR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS.
[02:35:01]
YES, I'M GAY.AND YES, I'M PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THEIR BACK.
MAYBE NOT OIL CANS, BUT I'LL HAVE THEIR BACK.
WE HAVE ONLY ONE BLOCK LEFT OF HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE THAT THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES HAVE SAID IS HISTORIC.
ONE BLOCK PROBABLY SHOULD BE TURNED INTO A PEDESTRIAN BLACK.
I SHOULD SAY I HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS FOR REDEVELOPMENT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO YOUR JOB, TO PROTECT HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE.
YOUR JOB IS NOT TO PROVIDE FODDER FOR HANOVER COMPANY.
THEY CAN MAKE THEIR MONEY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
WE DON'T NEED THEM TO SAVE US.
THE GAY COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE STOCKHOLM'S SYNDROME.
OUR BUSINESSES ARE NOT GOING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
OIL CANS HAS NEEDED TO UP THEIR GAME A LONG TIME, AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER GAY BUSINESS THAT WILL GO IN THERE.
BUT IF YOU TEAR DOWN THESE BUILDINGS, IF YOU ALLOW THEM TO DEMOLISH THEM, WE WILL NEVER HAVE BUILDINGS LIKE THIS.
I JUST CAME BACK FROM MARRAKESH ROCCO A DAY AGO.
THAT'S WHY ALL MY STUFF IS IN PAPER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET IT INTO EMAIL.
AND I WATCHED IN THE MEDINA, HOW PEOPLE WITH NO MONEY HAD MANAGED TO FOLLOW THEIR ELDERS AND FOLLOW THE HISTORICAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO GET UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE STATUS FOR THE MEDINA.
THE MOST IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE I'VE EVER SEEN WERE PLASTERING WALLS BY HAND RECREATING HISTORICAL WOODEN DOORS AT THE ENTRANCES OF THEIR INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE VESTIGES OF THESE WALLS, THESE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE WAS INEXTRICABLY CONNECTED TO THEIR BEING AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE THE GHOSTS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THEM.
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT FACADES.
I WANT YOU TO JUST GO TO ANOTHER BLOCK.
YOU KNOW WHAT? GO DOWN TO THE HOBBY BUILDING, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? I LOVE ALL OF THIS INTENT TO HELP THE GAY COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU BUILD YOUR BUILDING TWO BLOCKS AWAY WHERE IT'S NOT HISTORIC.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ALL THE GAY BUSINESSES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HELP JUST MAKE IT HISTORIC.
IT'S BEEN, IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN FOR DECADES AND THE CITY COUNCIL MADE IT AN ORDINANCE.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OR SHALL WE LEAVE IT OPEN? DON'T EVERYBODY SPEAK AT ONCE.
NOW THE QUESTION IS DOWN YOUR MEYERS.
SO THIS, THIS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT IDEA, DOES THAT REQUIRE US TO KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AS WELL? OR HAS THAT BEEN DETERMINED QUESTION? THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE KEPT OPEN.
IF THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE ACTION TONIGHT, UM, IF IT'S NOT A ONE AND DONE MOTION, THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN, UM, FOR POSTPONEMENTS INITIATIONS, ET CETERA.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE KEPT UP IN, BUT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE CASE.
WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT JEREMIAH IS THE ONLY RELEVANT MOTION FOR DISCUSSION.
THE VERY LEAST IS TO PUT THE DEAFNESS POSTPONEMENT MOTION IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION, WHICH I'LL DO AT THIS TIME BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER ONES WOULD REQUIRE US TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? OH, SORRY.
WAS THAT COMMISSIONER LAROCHE? IT IS OKAY.
AND I'M, I'M JUST, MY COMMENTS WILL BE BRIEF.
AND REALLY, I THINK ALL OF US WILL HAVE TO THINK THROUGH WHAT BRINGS THE MOST LIKELY RESOLUTION TO THIS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT SOMETHING, SOMETHING WILL COME OUT OF THIS, THAT WE WANT.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A TOUGH CALL FOR EACH ONE OF US.
UH, COULD I ASK THE, UH, COMMISSIONER BEHIND STAFF TO CLARIFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDEFINITE
[02:40:01]
POSTPONEMENT? WHAT ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE TO BE ADHERED TO IN ORDER TO CONSIDER THE PARTIAL DUMP APPROVAL OF THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION? THE TIME COMES, UH, PRETENSION OF THE FACADES, UM, SETBACKS AND ANY PARTICULAR OFFERS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS.UH, ACTUALLY AGAIN, I, I MOSTLY DID THIS JUST SO WE COULD GET IT ON THE TABLE SINCE THIS IS THE WAY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROCEED.
BUT, UM, THIS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT DOES COME WITH THE PROVISIONS THAT MUST BE MET THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO US BY THIS DEVELOPER, UH, FOR THE, UM, PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND, AND FACADE RETENTION, AS WELL AS THE, UH, AGREEMENTS TO, UH, MEET THE, UH, SUSTAINABILITY OF THE, UH, VARIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS DURING THE TRANSITION OF DURING CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS, UH, THEIR PERMANENT RELOCATION TO THE COMPLETED BUILDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT THIS DECISION IS.
UM, I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF HOW I'M GOING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT WHEN I MAKE THIS DECISION, BECAUSE AUSTIN IS CHANGING AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT WE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, YOU SEE, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH, WE HAVE TO LET BUILDINGS THAT WE LOVE GO BECAUSE THEY DON'T FIT THE STANDARDS THAT WE'RE AT.
WE'RE ASKED TO APPLY EASY ANSWER FOR ME TO GET TO SLEEP.
I READ THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY VALUE.
I COULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE A RECOMMENDATION FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGNATION, BUT I CAN'T GO HOME AND SLEEP ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WE WILL SEND IT UP AND I'VE ASKED MYSELF, IS THERE A 0.001% CHANCE THAT A SUPER MAJORITY OF CITY COUNCIL WOULD AGREE TO PRESERVE THESE BUILDINGS IN THEIR TOTALITY? AND I HAVE CONVINCED MYSELF AND TOLD MYSELF, THERE IS NOT A CHANCE THAT THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE, NOT A CHANCE.
AND IF THEY DON'T, THESE PROPERTIES ARE FOREVER STAMPED, NON HISTORIC FOR ANY FUTURE DEVELOPER, IF THE SIX MONTH DELAY OR TO CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE FUNDING OF THIS PROJECT, THINGS ARE CHANGING.
NUMBER OF PROJECTS HAVE LOST FUNDING AND GONE ON TO OTHER BUILDERS.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO AT LEAST TIE TO THIS PROPOSAL.
AND BEFORE US, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL.
ALL WE CAN DO IS RECOMMEND AFTER THAT IT'S, IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS.
UM, I AM WORKING ON A RESOLUTION TO BRING THIS ENTIRE SITUATION OF LACK OF PROTECTION OF OUR HISTORIC SPACES.
AS MENTIONED IN THE 2011 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN BY CITY COUNCIL, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME LEADERSHIP TO TAKE SOME ACTION.
WE JUST CAN'T SAY, WE NEED MORE HOUSING, HOUSING, MORE HOUSING WILL BE CHEAPER HOUSING.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE REAL ESTATE IS NOT A PERFECT MARKET.
AND THERE CAN BE AN ARGUMENT MADE THAT MORE HOUSING WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TOWARDS CHEAPER HOUSING, BUT IT'S, THAT'S AN EASY ANSWER TO GIVE BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND IT'S EASY TO SAY YES TO MORE HOUSING, BUT IT'S ALSO PART OF A BIGGER FACTOR.
THERE'S THE STATE IN THE STATE MANDATED REVENUE CAP ON INCOME SO THAT THE STATE ONLY GETS MORE REVENUE.
IF THERE IS NEW DEVELOPMENT, THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT THERE'S A LOT ON THEIR PLATE.
THE CASES WE SENT UP EARLIER TONIGHT THAT WE RECOMMENDED AFTER A LONG DISCUSSION, I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL NOT BE APPROVED FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
I HAVE NO DOUBT I CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT BY SENDING THOSE UP BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO BE TORN DOWN IN THEIR TOTALITY.
AND I'M GIVING THEM THEIR LAST CHANCE.
IN THIS CASE, WE'RE RETAINING THE FACADES.
I WISH WE COULD HAVE 15 FOOT SETBACK.
IF YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE 2011 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS NO HEIGHT LIMIT ON ADDITIONS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR CITY COUNCIL TO BUILD ON THE PLAN.
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEM WERE NOT TO FREEZE THESE BUILDINGS IN THEIR CURRENT STATE.
IT ALLOWED FOR INDEFINITE HEIGHT WITH A 15 FOOT SETBACK, WHICH I WISH WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN.
[02:45:03]
I COULD SAY, LET'S RECOMMEND SEND IT UP.AND THEN THESE PROPERTIES ARE AT RISK OF COMPLETE DEMOLITION AND COMPLETE REPLACEMENT WITH WHO KNOWS WHAT VERSUS THE OFFER ON THE TABLE.
NOW, I DON'T LIKE BEING PUT IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO COMPROMISE MY OPINIONS AND MY PRINCIPLES IN, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITHIN A SYSTEM AND WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS TO MITIGATE IT'S DAMAGE CONTROL IT'S MITIGATION.
AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE PROPERTIES AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, UNLESS I CAN BE CONVINCED OTHERWISE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT TYING IT TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY PROTECT THESE PROPERTIES FROM COMPLETE DEMOLITION.
I'D ADDING TO THAT IN THE 33 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN AND BEEN INVOLVED IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I'VE ONLY KNOWN OF TWO PROPERTIES THAT PASSED CITY COUNCIL FOR DESIGNATION AS AUSTIN LANDMARKS OVER THE OBJECTION OF THE OWNERS.
ONE OF WHICH WAS, UH, THE SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS A FIGHT TO THE FINISH ON THE SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE.
UM, THE HOUSE THAT AT RED RIVER IN 38TH AND A HALF STREET, THE, THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE HOUSE THAT WAS SAVED, UH, SEVERAL YEARS BACK, THAT WAS A FIGHT TO THE FINISH, THE ENTIRE, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE PRESERVATION MINDED PEOPLE IN AUSTIN BASICALLY HAD TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THOSE.
AND, UH, BUT MORE RECENTLY WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY FAIL AT PLANNING COMMISSION AND FAIL AT CITY COUNCIL WITH HARDLY A DISCUSSION, UM, UNTIL THE CITY DEVELOPS THE WILL TO SUPPORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
UM, AND, AND WE HAVE SOME LEADERSHIP IN THAT DIRECTION.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FACED WITH THE SAME THING, SOMETIMES AS MANY AS 40, UH, DEMOLITION REQUESTS FOR ACTUAL HISTORIC PROPERTIES EVERY MONTH.
AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT COME TO THE COMMISSION.
UH, HUNDREDS ARE GOING BY THE WAYSIDE.
UM, YOU SEE THIS IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.
WE SEE IT ACROSS THE CITY AND, UH, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS INDEFINITELY TO KIND OF KEEP THE DEVELOPERS FEET TO THE FIRE BECAUSE I, I FEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS AND GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THEN UNDER CITY COUNCIL, WE DON'T HAVE THE WILL.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE LEADERSHIP TO PRESERVE THESE BUILDINGS AND DESIGNATE THEM HISTORIC LANDMARKS, FURTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER MIKE SOUTH.
UH, COMMISSIONER BALANCED WAYLON WAS WANTING TO SPEAK COMMISSIONER.
UH, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD, I KNOW THE EQUITY BASE AND OUR PRESERVATION AND WAS MENTIONED, UM, IN PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
I DO FEEL LIKE THAT PLAN IS COMING PROBABLY 10 NEIGHBORS TOO LATE, UM, TO SEE A LOT OF THE SPACES THAT WE, UM, HAVE A CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AND I DO THINK THAT'S A SHAME AND IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO, YOU KNOW, BE PART OF THIS MISSION TO SEE, UM, THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE FACED WITH.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE FOR ALL OF US.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM,
AND JUST THAT WE HAVE WORKED FOR THE COMMISSION, UM, ON THE STATUS OF, OF THE DESIGN.
DID YOU ENTER, DID YOU UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A KIND OF BAD CONNECTION WITH YOU, BETH? UM, NO, LET
[02:50:01]
ME, LET ME RESTATE WHAT I THINK COMMISSIONERDOES THAT, DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? UH, COMMISSIONER.
THEN I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT TO MY MOTION, BUT OKAY.
COMMISSIONER LLERAS ACCEPTS THAT SOME THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE TABLE.
AND LET ME JUST ADD ONE MORE COMMENT AND I'LL BE VERY BRIEF, BUT, UH, I HAVE, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM, UH, I'VE BEEN REFERRING TO THIS ECONOMIC TSUNAMI, UH, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S ACROSS THE CITY AT ONE LEVEL THREATENING OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, BUT IN PARTICULAR, IN THE CENTER CITY, IN SOME OF OUR MORE DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THE L INTENTION EVEN VERY, UH, DETERMINED OWNER OF A HISTORIC PROPERTY, UH, INCREASINGLY THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THEM ARE LESS AND LESS EFFECTIVE.
IN FACT, ULTIMATELY MEANINGLESS WHEN THE ECONOMICS OF THESE PROPERTIES START COMING TO BEAR.
SO, UH, IN, IN LIGHT OF THAT TSUNAMI, I GUESS THE SHORT VERSION OF MY EMOTION IS THIS IS AN OWNER WHO HAS THROWN US A LIFEBOAT AND, UH, IT MAY NOT BE WHAT WE WANT, BUT, UH, KIND OF REINFORCING COMMISSIONER COOK'S COMMENTS.
I THINK IT IS THE SAFEST HARBOR FOR A, UH, PERPETUATION OR CONTINUATION OF THE LEGACY IN THIS AREA.
UH, SO THAT'S, THAT'S AGAIN, MY LAST COMMENT ON THE MOTION COMMISSIONERS, I STILL DON'T THINK I'LL SLEEP WELL BECAUSE THERE'S NO GOOD ANSWER, BUT I THINK THIS IS IN THE BALANCE THE BEST FOR THESE PROPERTIES AND THE BEST FOR THE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK, I THINK THERE IS, UM, JUST A VERY FEW VERY SPECIFIC COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE THAT ARE, UH, THEY ARE A PART OF THE GREATER, UM, ISSUE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
BUT AGAIN, I'M ASSUMING IN, UM, ON JUST THE HOUSING AND THE NEED FOR HOUSING.
AND I THINK, UH, MR.
UM, MADE A GREAT ARGUMENT FOR THAT.
AND, UH, I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR LAST NAME.
I'M SORRY, MR. TITUS, I WASN'T HERE ARCS, UM, THAT YOU JUST VERY OFF THE CUFF JUST MENTIONED LIKE, GOSH, IT SHOULD BE A PEDESTRIAN, UM, YOU KNOW, BLOCK AND THAT DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT MORE HOUSING.
AND AGAIN, JUST VERY ZOOMING IN ON THIS VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT AS A MACRO LEVEL ACROSS THE GREATER AUSTIN METROPOLITAN REGION.
THAT'S CRUSHING SO MANY OF OUR RESOURCES JUST HAVING UNDER HOUSING FOR SO LONG AND IT'S SHOWING UP HERE IN THIS WAY.
SO, UM, BUT HOUSING FOR WHOM, UM, IF WE COULD MAKE THIS, THE LGBTQ A PLUS PLUS, UM, OTHER ALPHABETS, UH, OTHER LETTERS, HOUSING, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD, A GOOD WAY TO GO.
I FEEL, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT, UM, THAT OUR INDIGENOUS POPULATION HERE, UM, OUR, OUR ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES ARE OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OF THE GAY AND LESBIAN QUEER COMMUNITIES THAT OLD TIMERS, UM, ARE BEING PUSHED OUT IF NOT BY THE LACK OF HOUSING OR AFFORDABILITY, FOR THOSE OF US WHO OWN OUR PROPERTIES AT PROPERTY TAXES, UM, AND TO WHERE, UH, WE'RE CONSIDERING SELLING OUT, UH, TAKING THE MONEY AND RUNNING.
UM, I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS A SAD, A SAD OCCURRENCE HERE, BUT WE WILL DISCUSS THIS FURTHER.
SO SHALL WE TAKE A VOTE? THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE IT INDEFINITELY, UM, WITH THE APPLICANTS TO COME BACK TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM,
[02:55:01]
WHEN THE SITE PLAN PLANS, UM, ARE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE, CAROLYN, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US SOME BETTER WORDING.UM, I JUST WOULD, UH, WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, UM, THAT THE DIRECTION IS TO, UM, ASK THAT, UM, UH, PROJECT COMING BACK TO AID A PROJECT THAT DOES NOT, UM, INDICATE THAT THE APPLICANT WILL RETAIN THE FACADES AS STATED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UH, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE HLC.
UM, AS PART OF THIS, LET ME, LET ME SPEAK TO THAT.
THAT, THAT IS CERTAINLY BEEN WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THE POINT OF THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT WAS.
SO FOR THE RECORD, THAT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE PART OF THE MOTION.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE AND RAISING YOUR HAND.
I'VE BEEN NOTE THE, UH, NINE O'CLOCK HOUR.
UH, WE HAVE AN HOUR LEFT ON OUR POSTED MEETING AND NINE CASES.
SO THAT'S SIX MINUTES OR SO FOR CASE.
SO PERHAPS WE CAN AN EXPEDITED PRESENTATIONS.
OH, DID WE EX NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND OR NOT YET? NOT YET.
WE MIGHT MAKE THIS SIX MINUTES A PIECE TO KEEP MYSELF FROM THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, STAFF, UH, COMMISSIONER WRIGHT IS RECUSING HERSELF FROM, JUST FROM THIS ITEM.
[3.B.2. HR-2022-065858 – 504 E. 5th St. – Consent Old Depot Hotel Council District 9]
5 0 4 EAST FIFTH STREET.UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO REMOVE NON HISTORIC ADDITIONS AND TO STABILIZE A HISTORIC LANDMARK, UH, RESTORE THE MASONRY OR REPLACE THE WINDOWS INSTALLED TEMPORARY POWER AND LIGHTING.
UM, AND TO CONSTRUCT A MULTI-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING IN AN ADJACENT LOT, WHICH IS NOT ZONED HISTORIC.
UM, BUT WHICH WILL ENCROACH SLIGHTLY OVER THE, UM, THE LOT.
UM, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THE PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
UM, BUT THIS PROJECT CAME BEFORE THE, UM, CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, AND THE APPLICANT HAS PROVIDED MORE, UH, IMAGES AS REQUESTED.
UM, SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONCUR WITH COMMITTEE FEEDBACK AND REQUEST THAT THE APPLICANT CONFIRMED THE MORTAR COMPOSITION WITH LABORATORY TESTING, UM, PRIOR TO, UH, RE BEGINNING REPAIR.
UM, AND I BELIEVE FOR THIS, THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE ENCROACHMENT, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY TO THE FULL COMMISSION.
UM, SO THE, SO THAT THERE ARE NO SURPRISES IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UH, TERRY O'CONNELL IS SPEAKING FOR THE APPLICANT.
TERRY, IS THERE A SPECIFIC SLIDE YOU'D LIKE ME TO GO TO OR ANY PRESENTATION? THE BEGINNING OF OUR PRESENTATION, ZOOM THROUGH IT REAL QUICK.
CAN I, CAN I FORWARD HERE? CAN I FAST FORWARD THROUGH HERE? OKAY.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M TERRY O'CONNELL WITH O'CONNELL ARCHITECTURE.
UM, I WON'T, UH, GO THROUGH THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS AUSTIN LANDMARK BUILDING IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
WE CAN ZOOM THROUGH THESE THINGS, UM, WHERE WE ARE PROPOSING A REHABILITATION OF THE, THE THREE HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDINGS.
AND, UH, THIS FIRST PHASE OF WORK WE'LL REMOVE THE NON HISTORIC ADDITIONS FROM THE BUILDING.
YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THE FENCE, THE, UH, THE, UH, ENCLOSURE, THE KITCHEN IN THE BACK, THE DINING ROOM ON THE SIDE, ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE REMOVED.
BUT THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO ASK FOR THIS TO COME TO THE COMMISSION IS THAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPING THE EMPTY PARKING LOT, ADJACENT TO THIS.
AND WE'LL BE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING.
THIS IS THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WE WANT TO SEE AS PRESERVATIONISTS LET'S DEVELOP ON AN EMPTY LOT.
SO, UM, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT, THAT THIS IS WHAT THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT.
AND THIS PROJECT IS ALSO SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT WAS PRE APPROVED OR CONSIDERED FIVE YEARS AGO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ATTACHING TO THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN ANY WAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE REMOVING THE HISTORIC CONDITIONS.
AND WE'RE STORING THE BUILDING ON ENVELOPES AND THEN BUILDING A NEW BUILDING IN THE EMPTY PARKING LOT AREA.
YOU CAN GO FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, AMBER.
UM, I JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE REMOVING THE NON HISTORIC,
[03:00:01]
CORRECT.WE ARE REMOVING ONLY THE NON HISTORIC ADDITIONS.
SO ALL OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WILL REMAIN INTACT.
THE NON HISTORIC ADDITIONS WERE ADDED IN MULTIPLE PHASES STARTING IN 1965 FOR ME, CASA SU CASA RESTAURANT.
AND THEN CARMELO'S RESTAURANT.
YOU CAN GO FORWARD AGAIN, PLEASE.
SO THAT THIS, THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE ALL OF THE AREAS IN ORANGE ARE THE NON HISTORIC ADDITIONS TO THE OFF THE LANDMARKED PROPERTY.
AND WE WANT TO REMOVE ALL OF THOSE.
I THINK ALL OF YOU ENDORSE THAT, THE DIFFERENCE THAT I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THAT THE HISTORIC, THE TOWER, THE NEW BUILDING ENCROACHES INTO THE DEFINITION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HISTORIC ZONING BY EIGHT FOOT, 10 INCHES AT THE BACK HALF OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THIS IS GOING FORWARD TO THE DESIGN COMMISSION.
LATER THIS MONTH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING DENSITY, BONUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEY WANT TO, UH, DEMONSTRATE THEIR SUPPORT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS PART OF THE MIX.
I'M EXCITED THAT THIS IS A SUCH A BETTER PROPOSAL, BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED AS A TEAM ON DEVELOPING THE INTERSTITIAL SPACES BETWEEN THE HISTORIC BUILDING AND THE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THEY WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY WILL NOT BE PRIVATE EVENT SPACES.
IT'LL BE A PUBLIC AREA THAT'S OUTDOORS, AND WE'LL REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS OF HUMAN SCALE AND PROPORTION IN THESE SPACES.
AND WE WILL PRESERVE A HERITAGE TREE AS PART OF THE WORK AS WELL.
SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROJECT AND I, WE HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
MAY I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, TERRY.
CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING? I'M SORRY.
WE PRESENTED A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS AND, UH, THE OWNER WAS PRESENT AT THAT MEETING.
UM, THE COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK AND FELONS SUELA AND CHAIRMAN MYERS WILL REMEMBER HE PRESENTED, HE JUST HAD, HE AND HIS WIFE JUST HAD TWINS, SO THEY ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT.
I DO HAVE ED METH WITH ME HERE FROM, UH, GENSLER ARCHITECTURE WHO DESIGNED THE NEW BUILDING, WHO WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE THAT THIS IS ENCROACHING EIGHT FEET INTO THE, UM, INTO THE PROPERTY BOUNDARY OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK.
AND, UM, BUT IT'S AT THE BACK END DOES NOT IN ANY WAY, UH, PHYSICALLY, UH, ATTACHED TO THE HISTORIC RESOURCES.
COULD WE GO ONE MORE SLIDE IN YOUR PRESENTATION? CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUILDING THROUGH A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY.
UH, W WE HAD, THERE WAS ONE IN THE PACKET.
SO YOU CAN SEE IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ONE, UM, WITH, IN THE COURTYARD AREA.
SO THE NEW BUILDING IS ON THE LEFT AND THE, AND THE HISTORIC BUILDING ON THE RIGHT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UM, SEATING AREAS AND LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING AND LANDS.
AND, UH, THERE'LL BE AN ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY SPACE.
UH, ONCE YOU GO TO THE ONE PRIOR.
THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE AGAINST THE ARCHITECT HERE, BUT I DO THINK BECAUSE THE OPEN PLATFORM THAT THIS NEW BUILDING SITTING ON, UH, IS TALLER QUITE A BIT THAN THESE ONE STORY, UH, EXTENSION OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A, THERE THERE'S SOME SORT OF RELATIONSHIP ELEMENT MISSING THERE.
I JUST, IF THERE'S SOME WAY THEY COULD WORK ON THAT SCALE JUMP, UH, I THINK OTHERWISE I I'M QUITE HAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT, UM, THIS REALLY LEAVES THE OLD BUILDING ALONE AND YET DOES SOMETHING VERY NICE, UH, TO RELATE TO IT.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
SO O'CONNELL WOULD THE, WOULD THE DEVELOPER CONSIDER, UH, STRUCTURAL MONITORING OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS DURING CONSTRUCTION? WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THAT IS PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. MCCONNELL? DO WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS, UH, IN SOME WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE CLARIFICATION
[03:05:02]
THAT THIS WILL ENCROACH EIGHT FEET INTO THE, OKAY.I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.
WELL, I WILL MOVE THAT WE WERE PRESENTED TONIGHT, UH, WITH THIS PROJECT UNDERSTOOD THAT WITHIN THE HISTORIC ZONING BOUNDARY OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, WE UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE AN APPROXIMATE EIGHT FOOT ENCROACHMENT OF THE NEW STRUCTURE TO BE PROPOSED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN ANY DISCUSSION, SAY NO, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[3.B.3. HR-2022-062618 – 1100 E. 8th St. – Consent Lindemann House]
B3, YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT MOTION.UM, CODED, INCLUDE, UH, SUPPORT FOR THE PHASE ONE PORTION.
UM, THE REHAB OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING, UM, AS PRESENTED TO, UH, TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND AS IN OUR BACKUP PACKETS.
UH, WE MIGHT HAVE TO, UM, I'LL ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON A SECOND.
CAN WE GO AHEAD, UH, THEN WITH THAT, WITH THAT CLARIFICATION, UH, APPROVING, UM, IN THE PHASE ONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
OH, WE HAVE B3 1100 EAST EIGHTH STREET LINDEMANN HOUSE.
THIS IS AN APPLICATION, UH, TO REPLACE WINDOWS THROUGHOUT, UM, AND TO CONVERT A REAR WINDOW INTO A DOOR.
UH, THE EXISTING BUILDING HAS TWO OVER TWO DOUBLE HUNG WOOD WINDOWS WITH WOOD SCREENS, AND THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REPLACE THE EXISTING WINDOWS IN KIND.
WE HAVE TWO OVER TWO WOOD WINDOWS, UM, AND TO REPLACE A REAR WINDOW WITH A WOOD DOOR TO OPEN OUT ONTO THE SWIMMING POOL.
UM, THIS IS AN 1887 FOLK VICTORIAN HOUSE.
UM, SO IT'S AN, A CONSIDERABLE RISE ABOVE EAST EIGHTH AND WALLER STREETS.
UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION, UM, ENCOURAGING THE APPLICANT TO REPAIR RATHER THAN REPLACE ANY ORIGINAL WINDOWS AT THE FRONT AND SIDES OF THE HOUSE, WHERE THEY'RE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
UM, IF THEY ARE NOT DETERIORATED, UH, BEYOND REPAIR, UM, AND SHOULD THE COMMISSION ALLOW REPLACEMENT, ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO KEEP AND STORE THE EXISTING WINDOW, UH, SO THAT THE ALTERATION MAY BE REVERSED IN THE FUTURE, UH, WITH THE, UH, EXISTING HISTORIC MATERIAL INTACT.
AND THE, THE WINDOW, THEY WANT TO TAKE A WINDOW AND MAKE IT A DOOR ON THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THIS IS A DESIGNATED LANDMARK.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? YES.
YES, COMMISSIONER, RIGHT? YES.
UM, I GUESS MS. CONTRACTORS, THAT YOU CANNOT ANSWER THIS SINCE YOU DID NOT COMPLETE THIS REVIEW, THE STAFF REPORT ONLY REFERS TO ONE SECTION OF THE CITY'S DESIGN GUIDELINES, UM, RELATED TO THE BASICALLY ENLARGING MOVING OR ENCLOSING ANY HISTORIC WINDOWS OR DOORS.
IT MAKES NO REFERENCE TO ANY OF THE OTHER STANDARDS IN THE WINDOWS SECTION THAT CLEARLY SAVED ENOUGH PLACES, DARK WINDOWS, UNLESS THAT'S YOUR VARIABLE BEYOND REPAIR.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THAT DECISION WAS MADE THAT WAY? UH, NO COMMISSIONER, RIGHT.
UM, I CAN NOT REALLY SPEAK TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT.
UM, THIS WAS AN INHERITED CASE AS WELL.
UM, YEAH, BUT THE, UM, BUT THE DESIGN STANDARDS CLEARLY STATE RE UH, RETAIN HISTORIC WINDOWS DO NOT REPLACE.
UM, IS THE APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS APPLICATION? UH, RENEE.
GET IN IS, UH, JOINING US BY PHONE.
I THINK COMMISSIONER WRIGHT HAD A HAND UP.
I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, RIGHT.
RENEE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
[03:10:02]
THANKS.THIS IS RENEE AND SUPPORTIVE 1100 EAST EIGHTH STREET.
THE HOMEOWNERS COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, SO I'M JUST HERE TO REITERATE WHAT I KNOW.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE ARE PROPOSING A REMODEL, UM, MOSTLY INTERIOR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EXTERIOR DOORS OR THE WINDOWS AND THE DOOR.
UM, THE REASON FOR WANTING TO REPLACE RATHER THAN REPAIR IS A FEW REASONS, UH, SUCH AS ROTTEN DAMAGE BROKEN PANES, THAT WILL BE REPAIRED, UM, GAPS IN THE WINDOW FRAMES THAT ARE BIG ENOUGH TO FIT, YOU KNOW, A MALE THUMP.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTS BY PREVIOUS OWNERS.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS WITH NON ORIGINAL WINDOW PIECES.
SO, UM, THAT'S A LITTLE ALTERED ALREADY AS WELL.
UM, THE HOMEOWNER DOES PLAN TO YOU REUSE THE EXISTING WOOD SCREENS ON ALL THE WINDOWS, UM, AND THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO PRESERVE WHATEVER THEY CAN FROM THE EXISTING WINDOWS.
UM, THE MAJOR ALTERATION IS REPLACING THE WINDOW AND USING A DOOR INSTEAD.
UM, AS YOU GUYS SAID, THE DOOR IS IN THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, NOT VERY WELL SEEN BY THE STREET VIEW.
UM, THE GATE DOES, UM, PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC EYE FROM SEEING THE DOOR, IF YOU'RE STANDING ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET, CLOSEST TO THE GATE.
SO THE DOOR WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE EXISTING WINDOW.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN REUSE PARTS OF THE WINDOW FOR THE DOOR AS WELL.
UM, OVERALL OUR CONCLUSION IS THAT THE WINDOWS ARE INEFFICIENT AND UNSAFE AND WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE RATHER THAN REPAIR.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
HAVE YOU DONE AN INVENTORY OF THE WINDOWS TO SHOW, UH, THE DAMAGE AND WHAT WILL BE REPAIRED AND WHAT WILL BE REPLACED? UM, I DON'T HAVE THE INVENTORY OF HOW MANY WINDOWS ARE EXISTING.
I KNOW THAT WE, THE INTENT IS TO REPLACE FIVE WINDOWS, INCLUDING THE ONE TO REPLACE WITH THE DOOR.
UM, THAT'S ABOUT IT ALL I KNOW THOUGH.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT? UM, THE APPLICATION MATERIALS LIST, EXCHAN WINDOWS, UM, SO IT WHOLESALE REPLACEMENT OF ALL THE WINDOWS, OR IS IT REPLACEMENT IN FIVE WINDOWS? I BELIEVE IT'S ONLY A PLACEMENT OF FIVE WINDOWS.
DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS THAT SHOW THAT AND YOU KIND OF DOCUMENTATION THAT FOR INSTANCE, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THE PLAN BRIEFLY.
I'M SURE THAT I COULD TELL HOW MANY WINDOWS ARE TRULY BEING PROPOSED ON THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN.
WE MAY NEED PLEASE SAY REPLACE ALL EXISTING WINDOWS WITH YOU, BUT TO MATCH EXISTING WINDOWS IN TYPE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO THE APPLICATION, IF YOUR BILLS THAT WE HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR REPLACEMENT AND ALL OF THE RANGERS AT ROOT PLACEMENT OF ALL WINDOWS, YES.
DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? UH, IF WE WERE TO REPLACE WOW, OUR DESIGN STANDARDS OF STATE, THAT WE SHOULD RETAIN HISTORIC WINDOWS UNLESS, AND REPAIR THEM, UH, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, UH, WE WOULD ONLY WHAT TO REPLACE IF THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
UM, I THINK THIS, UH, WE ARE NOT INCLINED TO ALLOW THE, UH, WHOLESALE REPLACEMENT OF HISTORIC WINDOWS, ANY YES.
UM, MADAM CHAIR EARLIER THIS EVENING, WE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSED ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF DAMAGE AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND MATERIAL TO JUSTIFY.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT APPEARS WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE TH THIS IS AN ACTUAL DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARK, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WINDOWS W UH,
[03:15:01]
APPARENTLY THE BACKUP MATERIALS SAY ON ALL WINDOWS WILL BE REPLACED.THE, UM, THE SPEAKERS SAID, UH, PERHAPS FIVE, I THINK WE NEED, THIS IS MY POINT.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE AN INVENTORY OF ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND, UH, AND, AND ASSESSMENT OF, OF WHERE THEY ARE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR REPAIR.
OTHERWISE WE WOULD WANT THEM TO BE, UM, RETAINED COMMISSIONER.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
UM, I WAS GOING TO ASK AMBER, SHE COULD PULL UP THE PACKAGE, NOT THE ONE.
WHAT DID THEY CALL HERE? PLANS IN FAIRNESS, AND GO TO PAGE 16 AND BURKE, AND YOU GO TO PAGE 16 ON PLANS AND PHOTOS.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE THE PHOTOS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO US TO DOCUMENT THE CONDITION OR WINDOWS.
UH, THESE, THESE THREE PHOTOS.
AND I WANT TO KNOW, UM, THE TWO BOTTOMS ARE THOSE.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THOSE ARE PANICKED MORTISE AND TENON WINDOW.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHY I PULLED THIS.
CAN EVERYONE SEE, THESE ARE PEGGED, MORTISE AND TENON WINDOWS AND THEY'RE, AND, AND THE APPLICATION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH MANUFACTURED, MANUFACTURED WINDOWS.
I SEE A LITTLE DAMAGE IN THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS, REALLY? NOT THAT THOSE ARE THE TWO PHOTOS, BUT THESE ARE, THESE ARE THE INTERIOR PHOTOS.
SO I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF COMMENTS WITH THE CLOTHES, THE BUMPER, I THINK, UM, WE NEED, UM, ARE, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ON THIS IN FAVOR? IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? OKAY.
I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE, UM, WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
SECOND BY, UM, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
I WOULD, UH, COMMISSIONER, RIGHT.
I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON, UH, THE CLOSING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, SAY AYE.
UM, SO I WAS PREVIOUSLY CIM FEDERATION OF MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, INSTALLATION OF THE TOUR AND NOT A REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDOWS.
UM, NOW INSTEAD GIVEN THE DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS AND ASK THE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE A BETTER DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE WINDOWS, THE NUMBER THAT THEY INTEND TO REPLACE, UM, AND, AND OTHER INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US IN MAKING YOUR DECISION.
UH, WOULD THIS BE LIKE A FULL INVENTORY OF WINDOWS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE? YEAH.
IN THIS CASE, UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO, UH, COMMISSIONER WRITES MOTION.
THERE'S A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE MAKER OR SECONDER, SECONDER, ANYTHING HERE.
DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF, I WROTE A WHOLE DOCUMENT HERE.
I'LL READ OUT A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK, OKAY.
A LITTLE BIT OF BASIC INTERNET SEARCHING.
UM, THIS HOUSE WE HAD AT THE 1980S BY A LOCAL PRESERVATION ARCHITECT, UH, HE IS NOTICING HE SAVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FROM THE BUILDING.
IF YOU SEE SOME OLDER INTERIOR PHOTOS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, CROWN BUILDING, EVERYTHING IS ALL THERE, IT WAS WONDERFUL CONDITION.
UM, YOU FELT THAT THE WINDOWS ARE TINTED WINDOWS.
UM, THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE DETERIORATED BEYOND REPAIR, WHICH IS REQUIRED.
I HAVE YOUR 5.1 AND 5.15, UM, FOR THE APPLICANTS.
I WILL SAY SPECIFICALLY THAT 5.1 STATES RETAINED WINDOWS IF 50% OR MORE OF THE WOOD OR METAL FASH MEMBERS
[03:20:01]
ARE INTACT.AND BASED ON THE COMMENTARY, WE JUST HEARD I'LL NOTE THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE TO REPAIR HISTORIC WOOD WINDOWS BY REPLACING INDIVIDUAL DETERIORATED PIECES.
SO IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, IF THE BOTTOM MEMBER OF YOUR STASH IS DETERIORATED, YOU CAN REPLACE THAT PIECE WITHOUT PLACING THE ENTIRE WINDOW.
RIGHT? THESE ARE POSSIBLY 130 YEAR OLD WINDOWS.
MODERN WINDOWS ARE REALLY INTENDED TO LAST 15 TO 30 YEARS.
THEY COME WITH VERY LIMITED WARRANTIES.
UM, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WINDOWS THAT EXIST HERE ARE NOT REPLACEABLE, FRANKLY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD RECOMMEND RATHER THAN, UM, IF THEY ARE LOOKING AT FULL CELL REPLACEMENT, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO DOCUMENT FIRST, WHETHER IT IS THE WINDOWS ARE DETERIORATED.
UM, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE DONE BY SOMEBODY WITH EXPERTISE IN WINDOW CARPENTRY.
UM, WE HAVE, SOME OF THOSE GUYS ARE MOUNTAINS HERE.
AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, IF THE CONCERN IS ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO INTERIOR STORM WINDOWS.
BUT I WANT TO ADD ONE MORE POINT ABOUT THE ADOPT THE STAFF BEFORE.
AND I, I'M SORRY, I DON'T WANT TO BE CRITICAL IF IT'S STAFF, BUT I THINK THE STAFF REPORT WAS REALLY MISSING A CHUNK OF INFORMATION, UM, TO, TO ONLY FOCUS ON ONE ELEMENT OF THE DESIGN GUIDELINES.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF US FROM THE COMMISSION WERE ON THE DESIGN GUIDELINES WORKING GROUP, AND WE MADE CLEAR IN OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, THAT LANDMARKS ARE TO BE TREATED MORE STRUCTURE ON THEIR PROPERTIES.
WOULD YOU SHARE THE INFORMATION, THE DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU HAVE, OR THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THE APPLICANT SHARE WITH STAFF STAFF CAN SHARE IT WITH, TO THE APPLICANT IT'S TO FOLLOW THE ADVICE AND, UM, THE RESERVATION, IF I'M GOODMAN.
UM, BUT I CAN WRITE UP SOME NOTES.
UM, SO IS EVERYBODY CLEAR ABOUT THE MOTION? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE, THIS IS POSTPONING THIS TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE APPLICANT.
[3.C.1. HR-2021-154877 – 1411 Ethridge Ave. – Discussion (postponed May 4, 2022) Old West Austin National Register District Council District 10]
14, 11 ETHERIDGE AVENUE.ITEM C ONE, UM, IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1939, UH, CONTRIBUTING BUILDING AND ITS ASSOCIATED OUTBUILDINGS.
UM, THIS IS AN APPLICATION THAT, UM, CAME BEFORE Y'ALL BACK IN OCTOBER, UM, WAS POSTPONED.
UM, AND NOW, UH, HAS THE 180 DAY TIMELINE HAS ELAPSED.
UM, SO HERE WE ARE, UH, THIS IS A TWO STORY SYMMETRICAL PLAN, ROSS GABLED CLASSICAL REVIVAL HOUSE WITH SIX OVER SIX AND NINE, OVER NINE WOOD WINDOWS, HORIZONTAL SIDING, AND A FULL WIDTH PORCH SUPPORTED BY BOX COLUMNS.
UM, THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1939 FOR CLAUDE CLARA WILLIAMS, CLAUDE WILLIAM SERVED AS TEXAS'S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE TIME OF THE HOME'S CONSTRUCTION.
AND HE WENT ON TO HEAD THE TEXAS UNEMPLOYMENT COMMISSION BY 1949, DR.
SAM AND MARGARET ANS RANJAN HAD PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
SWEARINGEN SERVED AS A CHIEF OF STAFF, CHIEF OF SURGERY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL.
HE LATER BECAME CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL, UM, AND THE DENTON STATE SCHOOL, UM, AS WELL AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE SAN ANGELO STATE CENTER.
SO, OR THE END OF THE HISTORIC PERIOD IN THE LATE SIXTIES, THE ABUSE IN YOUR FAMILY MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, UH, LOIS VIA SINEW, ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND, CHARLES HAD OPENED MISSION FUNERAL HOME ON EAST CESAR CHAVEZ, WHICH WAS THE FIRST FUNERAL PARLOR THAT CATERED TO LATINOS INSTEAD OF CORRUGATED AUSTIN.
IN THE 1950S, SHE WAS THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE ON THE TEXAS FUNERAL SERVICE COMMISSION AS A 1989 APPOINTEE OF GOVERNOR, BILL CLEMENTS.
AND SHE ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LATINO POLITICAL GROUPS, UM, AND THAT, UH, INCLUDED A STINT AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL LULAC COUNCIL STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA.
UM, THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED IN THE CLASSICAL REVIVAL STYLE AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOIS AND CHARLES V'S AND YOUR CLAUDE WILLIAMS AND DR.
UM, THUS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING, UM, PER THOSE CRITERIA.
HOWEVER, SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION OVER OWNER? OBJECTION.
UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, REQUIRING COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE PRIOR TO PERMIT RELEASE.
DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE?
[03:25:01]
YES, WE HAVE MELISSA MELISSA IN YOUR DIET.UH, CHAIRMAN WIRES AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS MELISSA VSN AND YOUR DYE AND THAT'S D AS IN DAVID, Y E.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY.
ON, ON TODAY, ON THE AGENDA C1 RELATING TO 1411 AT THE RIDGE AVENUE, A PROPERTY LOCATED IN PEMBERTON HEIGHTS.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAD CALLED TO HAVE THIS POST-MOMENT IN MAY 4TH TO COME AND DISCUSS IT AT THIS MEETING JUNE 1ST, MY SISTER, REBECCA L BURLESQUE AND I ARE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY UNDER REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.
THIS EVENING, SHE'S ENABLED TO BE HERE DUE TO A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED COMMITMENT PLANNED OVER A MONTH AGO, BUT, BUT, UH, COINCIDE THAT COINCIDES WITH TODAY'S SCHEDULED HEARING, UH, SHE'S ALSO AN AGREEMENT ON MY PRESENTATION IN MY REMARKS MADE TO YOU TODAY.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR CONSIDERATION AND THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATION ON THE APPROVAL OF OUR REQUEST FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
THE ISSUANCE OF THE DEMOLITION PERMITTING IS OF PARAMOUNT NEED.
WE'VE HAD FOUR OFFERS AND THREE CONTRACTS DURING AND DURING THE OPTION PERIOD WERE TERMINATED BASED ON THE ESTIMATED EXPENSES TO REPAIR MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE, OF THE HOUSE THAT HAVE FAILED.
I BELIEVE THE OFFICIAL REPORT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO YOU THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEFORE.
YOU CLEARLY DENOTES THE CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURAL IMPEDIMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPERTY.
THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOUSE IS COMPROMISED, AND THIS GOES BEYOND THE STUDS.
I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR MY LACK OF STRUCTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, DESCRIPTIVE TERMINOLOGY.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT A COMMON SENSE LAYMAN'S APPROACH.
I CAN EXPRESS AN AFFIRM ASIDE FROM ALL THE PROFESSIONAL COMMENTARY IN THE REPORT, THE INTEGRITY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE FOUNDATION IS OF CONCERN.
AND THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT HAS CHANGED SINCE 1939, WHEN IS MOST CONCERNING TO US, AS WELL AS THAT, THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLUMBING IS NOT UP TO CODE AND IT'S BECOME A SAFETY MATTER.
THE FOUNDATION IS BASED ON CONCRETE PIER AND BEAM AND HAVE CRACKED AND ARE COMPROMISED.
AND IT REALLY, TRULY COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE.
MAR OUR PARENTS, CHARLES ELVIA, SENIOR SENIOR IN LAS BANG, IVS IN YARD HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED THEIR INTENT IN THE PAST THAT THE HOME THEY'RE VERY CONSIDERED THE HOME BEING REGISTERED OR CONSIDERED FOR HISTORICAL DESIGNATION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND FURTHER HOPE TO RECEIVE YOUR APPROVAL.
GRANTING THE DEMOLITION PERMITTING FOR 14, 11 ETHERIDGE AVENUE.
I BELIEVE YOU'LL HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AND THE CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE EXPERT, UM, FOR MR. JERRY GARCIA, THAT WAS HERE PREVIOUSLY AND FOR MR. TIM KAPUTT AND THEN WE HAD THE ARCHITECTURAL, I BELIEVE IT'S, UM, ELIZABETH DANCE, WHO IS A PRINCIPAL? UH, SHE'S A PROFESSOR, IT'S THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURAL ARCHITECTURE AT UT AUSTIN.
YES, MA'AM YOU DO HAVE THOSE ITEMS IN OUR BACKUP.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE IN OPPOSITE OPPOSITION? OKAY.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE SAY, AYE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE CASE? FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION, I WILL MOVE TO RELEASE A DEMOLITION PERMIT PENDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, THE STAFF HAD ASKED US TO CONSIDER INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY.
UH, IT'S COME BEFORE US IN THE PAST AND THEY DID TRY TO SEEK, UM, SEEK A BUYER.
I THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S LARGE, IT MEETS THE
[03:30:01]
UNSTATED, UM, UNDEFINED BULK CRITERIA.UM, THE, THE BUILDING IS KIND OF, UM, ODDLY PROPORTIONED AND IS NOT IN MY CONSIDERATION IS, UM, IS NOT VERY SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURALLY.
UM, I'M NOT SAYING THAT VERY ASTUTELY, BUT, UM, MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE CAN, CAN ADDRESS THAT.
IT SEEMS THAT THE COLUMNS ARE, UM, THE COLUMNS ALMOST LOOKED LIKE THEY, THEY CAN'T SUPPORT THE ROOF OF THEY'RE NOT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE ROOF.
IT, AND IT MAKES ME, I THINK THE DOOR WITH THE TRANSOM AND SIDELIGHTS IS VERY NICE, BUT THE HOUSE ITSELF IS SORT OF ILL, UM, ILL PROPORTIONED.
UM, IT DOESN'T STRIKE ME AS BEING, UM, BEING SIGNIFICANT FOR ARCHITECTURE.
UM, DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS? YEAH.
I THINK, UM, ELIZABETH DANZY AND HER LETTER SAID IT BEST.
UM, I THINK THOUGH IT IS REPRESENTATIONAL OF COLUMBIA ARCHITECTURE.
IT REALLY, ISN'T A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE.
IT'S A LATE ADDITION AND I THINK YOU WERE ALLUDING TO SOME OF THE AWKWARD PROPORTIONS, SO IT BECOMES MORE OF A, UH, UH, A PASTICHE OR, OR A THIN VENEER AS OPPOSED TO A TRUE CLASSICAL, UH, EXPRESSION.
SO AGAIN FOR, FOR ITS ARCHITECTURAL MERIT, I THINK THIS, UH, THIS, THIS JUST DOESN'T STACK UP.
IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S VERY LARGE, BUT IT'S VERY LARGE, BUT, UH, BUT MAYBE NOT EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN.
WELL, I'M CERTAINLY, I'M NOT GOING TO OPINE ON THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT I'M MORE THAN DISAPPOINTED IN THE, UH, THE BACKUP, PARTICULARLY THE STRUCTURAL ASPECT OF LACK OF SUBSTANCE IN REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSCORE THAT THE HOUSE IS WELL BEYOND REPAIR IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT AND I'M SURE STAFF IS AWARE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SATISFY CURRENT CODE PROVISIONS IN RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION.
SO LET THOSE THINGS DISAPPOINT ME IN THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER'S REPORT.
WELL TAKEN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, IF NOT, LET'S VOTE ON THE MOTION.
THE MOTION IS TO, UM, RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UM, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE WOULD BE REQUIRED.
UM, THAT'S EIGHT BY 10 PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL FACADES ON PRINTED ON PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER AND A NARRATIVE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY, UM, SUBMITTED TO THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER FOR ARCHIVING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
[3.C.4. HR-2022-016431 – 1803 Kenwood Ave. – Consent (postponed May 4, 2022) Travis Heights – Fairview Park National Register District Council District 9]
4 18 0 3 KENWOOD.HOW ARE WE DOING ON TIME? IT'S NINE 40.
UM, ITEM C FOUR 18 OR THREE, KEN WOOD AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1937 SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE AND REPLACE IT WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UM, THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION INCLUDES SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, AN IN GROUND POOL AT THE REAR, A GARAGE AND A CARPORT.
THEY PROPOSE PRIMARY BUILDING FEATURES, A COMPOUND ROOF LINE, FIXED PANE AND CASEMENT, FULL LIGHT FENESTRATION, AND AN IRREGULAR PATTERN BRICK AT THE FIRST STORY AND LIGHT COLORED EXTERIOR STUCCO CLADDING ON THE SECOND, UH, WHICH ALSO IS SLIGHTLY OVERHANGING.
INITIAL DESIGNS INDICATED A SIDE ENTRY GARAGE, UM, AND CARPORT LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE WITH THE HORIZONTAL WOOD FENCE, SHIELDING, BOTH CARPORT AND GARAGE FROM THE STREET.
THE ROOF LINE WAS CHANGED TO A FRONT GABLED FORM AFTER MEETING WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE ON MARCH 18TH, THE WINDOWS WERE CHANGED TO A REGULAR FENESTRATION PATTERN ON THE FRONT FACADE AND A SMALL COVERED FRONT PORCH AND ADDITIONAL BRICK WERE ALSO ADDED.
THE WOOD FENCE AND GARAGE WERE REMOVED AND THE CARPET WAS TURNED TO
[03:35:01]
FACE THE STREET DIRECTLY.THE EXISTING HOUSE IS A WOOD-FRAME SINGLE-STORY RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ON PIER AND BEAM FOUNDATION.
IT'S, UH, BUILT IN THE MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE, UH, WITH THE CROSS GABLE DESIGN, UH, IT'S CLOUD AND HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING.
AND IT HAS TWO SETS OF SYMMETRICAL MULTI PANE, SIX OVER SIX WOOD WINDOWS FLANKED BY SIMPLE SHUTTERS.
THERE IS A SMALL ROUND VENT IN THE FRONT-FACING GABLE AND THE SINGLE DOOR ENTRY HAS, UH, IS COVERED WITH A WOODEN AWNING SUPPORTED BY DECORATIVE BRACKETS.
THERE IS A THIN, SLIGHTLY TURNED METAL BELL STREET AND RAILING ON THE FRONT CONCRETE STEPS AND LANDING.
THE HOUSE WAS LIKELY BUILT BY DENTISTS AND CIVIC ACTIVISTS, DR.
UM, BUT HE AND HIS WIFE LILLIAN PART, MR. HALL HAD MOVED TO 1805 KENWOOD BY 1942, UH, IN 1941, IT WAS OWNED BY RAYMOND AND MARJORIE RAMSEY.
UH, RAYMOND WAS EMPLOYED AT THE RNR SERVICE STATION AND THEY LIVED IN THE HOME UNTIL 1944.
THE HOUSE CONTINUED TO BE OCCUPIED BY SHORT-TERM RESIDENTS UNTIL IT WAS PURCHASED BY DONALD B AND LCA EASEL WHO LIVED IN THE HOME UNTIL MR. EAGLE'S DEATH IN 1961, THEY OWNED AND OPERATED THE CHICKEN HOUSE CAFE RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 42 0 1 ALICE AVENUE AND ELSIE EASEL WAS ALSO A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.
ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MODIFICATIONS TO IMPROVE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION DESIGN.
THE PROJECT STILL DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTIONS, MASS SCALE ORIENTATION AND MATERIAL CHOICE.
UM, STAFF EVALUATED THE PROPERTY, HOWEVER, AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS THAT ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE, REUSE, AND RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO RELEASE THE PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE? COME ON DOWN, STATE YOUR NAME.
UH, MY NAME IS BEN GOWDY AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF.
UH, I'M HERE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE SMALL AUSTIN HOME BUILDER.
AND, UH, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE HAD 14 EMPLOYEES, BUT, UH, NOW WE HAVE 12, UM, THE COST OF, AND ALL THE DELAYS, UH, THAT WE, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH TO GET BUILDING PERMITS.
UM, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE WORK TO OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAD HOPED TO HAVE, UH, WHEN WE STARTED THIS YEAR.
UM, UH, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE, I'VE TRIED TO BE REALLY RESPECTFUL OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, I, AT THE FIRST MEETING, I CAME TO AGREED TO POSTPONE OUR PROJECT A MONTH, UM, AND ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, AS STAFF MENTIONED, UM, WE MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE PLANS, UM, AND I'VE APPEARED HERE EVERY MONTH IN PERSON TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
UM, AND, AND NOW WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY STAFF IS THAT THAT MONTH THAT I AGREED TO POSTPONE IS GOING TO BE ADDING TO THE TIME BEFORE OUR PERMITS ARE AUTOMATICALLY DELAYED.
SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT BY ENGAGING IN THIS PROCESS, I, I'M NOT, I'M NOW BEING PUNISHED FOR THAT.
UH, AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, I'M, I, I THINK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IMPORTANT WORK HERE.
UM, AND I, I, I CAME INTO THIS PROCESS THINKING, UH, JUST, JUST WITH A LOT OF RESPECT FOR WHAT YOU DO, BUT I, I WORRY NOW.
UM, I JUST WONDER NOW, YOU KNOW, IS IT REALLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDINGS IN AUSTIN, BUT IT'S, IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO THE PEOPLE HERE AT TIMES.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT.
I MEAN, WHEN, WHEN DO YOU PUT BUILDINGS, WHEN YOU PUT PEOPLE BEFORE BUILDINGS, LIKE I HEARD ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERS SAY THAT IT'S HARD TO SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE YOU MADE A, YOU CAST A VOTE TO ALLOW, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY ALLOW THE GAY BARS TO STAY WHERE THEY'RE AT.
TO ME, IT WOULD BE HARD TO SLEEP AT NIGHT IF I VOTED THE OTHER WAY ON THAT PROJECT.
YOU, UM, THAT'S ALL, I GUESS, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, IT'S NOT OUR INTENTION TO PUNISH YOU IN, IN ANY WAY, AND THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THAT WAS.
WE, WE TRY, THIS IS A RECENT HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND TO, JUST TO ADDRESS YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHEN DO PEOPLE COUNT, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO,
[03:40:01]
WHO WORKED ON THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT WORKED ON IT FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS TO GET IT IN PLACE.AND SO THOSE PEOPLE COUNT TOO.
THEY LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, THIS MAY SOUND PITHY, BUT WHEN IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE FOREVER.
AND, AND WHAT, WHAT YOU'VE PROPOSED TO TAKE ITS PLACE DOES NOT APPEAR TO US TO FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
AND SO I JUST APOLOGIZE THAT WE WERE NOT INTENDING THE PROCESS TO BE PUNISHMENT.
WE HOPE TO ENGAGE WITH APPLICANTS AND CONVINCE THEM TO EITHER SAVE THE BUILDING OR INCLUDE IT IN THERE.
UM, AND THEY'RE DESIGNED BY, BY MAKING AN ADDITION OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
AND AT THE VERY LEAST, UM, BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT IS, UH, MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RESPOND TO THAT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN A WHITE, WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE REALITY IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECADES, THEY RESTRICT MINORITIES FROM LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FORTUNATELY THOUGH THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE ILLEGAL, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE, KEEP THE ATTITUDE OF KEEPING PEOPLE OUT AND KEEPING THINGS JUST THE WAY THEY ARE IS, IS OUTWEIGHING, YOU KNOW, COMMON SENSE PRACTICALITY AND, AND THE NEED THAT WE HAVE FOR HOUSING IN THE CITY.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK, UH, AND SUPPORTED THE APPLICATION? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, UH, IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION, ONE JOINING US BY PHONE AND ONE IN PERSON, MELANIE MARTINEZ IS HERE WITH US.
AND I'M HERE AGAIN TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO A DEMOLITION OF 1803.
UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY AND, UM, THE CHARACTER, THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOUSE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ITS NEIGHBORS.
UM, ONE THING I DIDN'T GET TO SAY LAST TIME, I HEARD THE BUILDER TALKING ABOUT THE CREW AND THE JOBS, AND I HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR THAT.
AND ACTUALLY I WOULD WELCOME DEVELOPERS THAT WOULD COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CREATE A BUSINESS MODEL WHERE THEY COULD PUT THESE ADDITIONS ON.
THEY COULD CREATE DUPLEXES, MAKE, WE COULD HAVE MORE MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS IF THEY COULD LEARN HOW TO WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND BUILD ON THAT THERE, THAT LOT HAS ROOM, BUT THEY SAID THEY WANTED A POOL.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY CAN'T DO A DUPLEX.
I MEAN, IT'S A SPEC HOUSE AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S A POOL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE IN BIG STACEY PARK.
UM, I FEEL BAD FOR THOSE PEOPLE, BUT IF A DEVELOPER COULD CREATE A MODEL, IT COULD BE VERY SUSTAINABLE.
THEY COULD BE THE ONLY PERSON IN OUR WHOLE DISTRICT TAKING ALL THAT BUSINESS.
SO I REALLY HOPE SOME DEVELOPERS ARE LISTENING AND KNOW THAT IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN AND YOU'RE TAKING AWAY MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND MULTI-FAMILY SO I'M SORRY, I'M EMOTIONAL, BUT THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT.
AND THEN WE HAVE SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER JOINING BY PHONE.
I HAD INTENDED TO BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT DUE TO THE LATE HOUR AND A FIVE-YEAR-OLD AT HOME, I HOPE MY COMMENTS CAN BE TAKEN JUST AS SERIOUSLY AS IF I WERE THERE IN PERSON.
UM, I AM A RESIDENT OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK, NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AS WELL.
AND I OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION OF 1803.
AND I DRIVE PAST WALK PAST AND BYPASS THIS HOUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I FIND IT SOMEWHAT OFFENSIVE OF THE DEVELOPER TO SAY THAT IT'S, UH, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND THEN FORGET THE 5,000 HOMES THAT SURROUND THIS HOME.
AND AS COMMISSIONER MEYER SAID, THE 15 YEARS THAT WENT INTO THE WORK OF, OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M GOING TO REPEAT THE NUMBERS THAT I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING.
AND I WANT YOU TO ENVISION 27 SQUARE BOXES IN A ROW THAT REPRESENTS THE CONTRIBUTING HOMES ON KENWOOD
[03:45:01]
WITH ONLY THREE NON-CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES ON THAT ENTIRE FOUR BLOCK, LONG LINE OF HOME.THIS HOUSE WOULD CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE ENTIRE STREET BY TAKING EVEN THAT ONE AWAY.
AND IN FACT COULD VERY WELL BE THE LONGEST IN THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHILE I, I HOPE YOU TAKE MY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S WORDS FROM THE PAST THREE MEETINGS, SERIOUSLY, THAT WE HAVE SHOWN UP JUST AS PREVALENTLY AS A DEVELOPER.
AND WE DON'T RECOMMEND DEMOLITION OF THIS HOUSE.
I DO ASK AND LET'S CONSIDER THE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT.
THE DEVELOPER IS NOT TAKING THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION SERIOUSLY BECAUSE STAFF COMMENTS FOR THE PAST THREE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN A BROKEN RECORD.
THE CURRENT DESIGN IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT'S A TWO-STORY HIKE AND A LONG ROW OF ONE STORIES, ITS CHARACTER AND ITS MASSING AND ITS MATERIALS AND ITS SCALE HAVE ALL BEEN SAID TO NOT BE COMPATIBLE, BUT YET THE DEVELOPER APPEARS TO NOT HAVE CHANGED ONE SINGLE ASPECT OF HIS PROPOSAL TO INCORPORATE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND HE'S NOT LISTENING TO THE COMMISSION, AKA CITY STAFF.
HE'S NOT LISTENING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE'S NOT LISTENING TO THE NEIGHBORS.
AND I FIND THAT OFFENSIVE IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT 8 0 4 REFERRED, WHICH IS ITEM C2 ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND WENT WITHOUT A SINGLE CONTEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DEVELOPER WHO IS LISTENING TO THE COMMISSION AND TO THE NEIGHBORS WHO IS TRYING TO INCORPORATE THE HISTORICAL STRUCTURE.
SO WE INVITE, I MEAN, BEG AND WE PLEAD THE DEVELOPER TO REACH OUT TO US AS NEIGHBORS OR THE COMMISSION STAFF SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A WIN-WIN SITUATION TO MEET HISTORIC DISTRICT STANDARD BEST CASE IS TO SAVE THE HOUSE, BUT WORST CASE LET'S AT LEAST MAKE IT FIT IN.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS OF PRESIDENT WHO WANT TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO DO SOME WE KEEP HEARING THIS OVER AND OVER.
UM, I LIVE ON KENWOOD AND WE KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER THAT TRAVIS HEIGHTS WANTS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT.
YOU'VE SEEN AS HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK, TRYING TO SAVE THESE DUPLEXES TRIPLEXES, THE ONLY BASTION OF AFFORDABILITY AND CENTRAL AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS, A LOT OF THEM BOUGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY COULD AFFORD.
IT'S A LOT OF ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, POSTMAN, UM, TEACHERS, AIDS, PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THAT ARE LIVING THERE AND THEY BOUGHT WHERE THEY COULD AFFORD.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GET A HOME BY WHERE YOU CAN AFFORD, IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THERE, THEN DON'T TRY TO PUSH THE PEOPLE OUT THAT ARE THERE TO PUT SOMETHING THERE SAYING THAT THERE ARE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
MY GOODNESS, THERE ARE DEED RESTRICTIONS ALL OVER TEXAS.
IT BECAME WHAT ILLEGAL, WHAT DID THE SIXTIES? SO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE NOW.
AND SO WE WANT TO SAVE THE DUMPY DUPLEXES.
WE WANT TO SAVE THE OLD CONDOS BECAUSE THAT IS A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR AND TO HOME OWNERSHIP.
AUSTIN IS NOT LETTING PEOPLE BUY THEIR FIRST HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING ALL OF THE OLD BUILDINGS GO AWAY.
AND ONCE YOU START BUILDING SOMETHING NEW, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT BUILDER'S DEBT SERVICE.
ANY FURTHER, ANY OTHER JEREMIAH? I INTERRUPT, BUT A POINT OF ORDER, WE'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF OUR TIME AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION SINCE IT'S, UH, APPROACHING 10 O'CLOCK THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING TO 10 30.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE, 10 30.
UM, MR. GOUDY YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REBUT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO THE NEIGHBORS OF THE PROPERTY, THE ADJACENT, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE NORTH 1801 KENWOOD.
UM, HE DIDN'T HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THE DEMOLITION.
HE SAID THAT HE WISHED SOMEONE WAS THERE TO MOW THE LAWN.
UH, SO I'LL BE OUT THERE TOMORROW OR FRIDAY
[03:50:01]
WITH MY MOWER.UM, IF ANY OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORS WANT TO TALK TO ME, I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH.
UM, HE WAS ADAMANT THAT OUR DEMO PERMIT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD PAST CONSTRUCTION.
ISN'T IT TO THE SOUTH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT IT'S.
UH, AND IT'S ALSO A ONE AND A HALF STORY BUILDING, EVEN THOUGH THE STAFF REPORT INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NO LARGER BUILDINGS.
THE BUILDING DIRECTLY TO THE SOUTH IS ONE AND A HALF STORIES.
I GUESS THERE'S A SECOND FLOOR HABITABLE ATTIC.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, I, THE NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH ADAM ONLY SUPPORTED THE DEMO PERMIT.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE SENT ANYTHING INTO STAFF, PROBABLY NOT, BUT, UM, I'VE REACHED OUT TO OTHER, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS IN DIRECT PROXIMITY, UH, AND, UH, I HAVE EITHER RECEIVED A SHRUG OR, UH, UH, SOME SUPPORT.
AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET SOME PEOPLE INTO THIS VACANT PROPERTY, UM, AND BUILD A HOUSE THERE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PLANS ARE GOING TO BE CERTIFIED FOR APPROPRIATENESS, WHICH I'M THINK IS I PROBABLY FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THAT, THAT YOU DO.
UM, AND IN ABOUT 10 DAYS, UH, AND INEVITABLY I'M SURE DEMO PERMITS ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED AS WELL.
AND I JUST GOT TO ASK, SPARE ME FROM COMING BACK HERE ANOTHER MONTH.
WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU SO WELL THOUGH.
I, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE THAT DEVELOPER, THE ONE WHO WORKS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ANYWAY, THAT'S, UH, UP TO YOU.
UH, WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM THAT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, IS, IS TIMING OUT ON JUNE 11TH AND THEN THE DEMOLITION PERMIT TIMES OUT ON JULY 31ST.
SO THE DEMO CAN ONLY BE POSTPONED IF THAT IS THE WAY THAT YOU GO.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SECOND SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER MCWHORTER, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THE CASE? I'M GOING TO MOVE TO RELEASE A DEMOLITION PERMIT PENDING A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
AND THIS IS BASED ON THE APPLICANT'S WILLINGNESS TO POSTPONE THE FIRST MONTH OUT OF FAIRNESS, UH, GIVING HIM THE SIX MONTHS WITHOUT PENALIZING THEM FOR THEIR, THEIR COOPERATION THE FIRST MONTH.
WELL, I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UM, THERE'S NO PURPOSE IN DELAYING IT FURTHER.
WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY MOVEMENT.
CAN I GET A CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION? IS THIS JUST TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION OR IS THIS ALSO TO APPROVE NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND APPROVE NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS? JUST BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? YEAH.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ACTUALLY, I'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE APPROVAL OUT OF.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THE, THE NEW CONSTRUCTION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE COMPATIBLE.
SO THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT AND LET THE APPROVAL OF NEW, NEW CONSTRUCTION TIME OUT BECAUSE, UM, WE DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND RECORD AS APPROVING IT ON THE RECORD IS APPROVING IT.
AND WE PUSHED EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN IN, IN GOOD FAITH ON THE, ON THE DEMOLITION ITSELF.
MISSIONERS, THIS IS A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT PROPERTY.
UM, SO YOU CAN REALLY ONLY COMMENT ON THE PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, UM, AND NOT APPROVE.
UM, SO, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA EVEN SAY WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY THAT WE APPROVED THEM.
I THINK WE'RE UNDERSTOOD ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE.
THE MOTION PASSES, WE GO ON TO ANOTHER TRAVIS HEIGHTS CASE
[3.C.6. HR-2022-026102 – 1205 Alta Vista Ave. – Consent (postponed May 4, 2022) Travis Heights – Fairview Park National Register District Council District 9]
C6 1205 ALTA VISTA.ALTAVISTA IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A TWO-STORY DUPLEX AND A SECONDARY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCT A NEW THREE STORY, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE.
UM, SO THE, THIS DUPLEX, DOES IT HAVE A, DOES IT NOT HAVE AN OUTBUILDING THAT IS ALSO RENTED? I, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WHEN I DID DEED RESEARCH ON THIS, THAT WAS ACTUALLY A THREE FAMILY OPERATION ON THIS PROPERTY.
IT DOES THE, UH, THERE'S A REAR GARAGE APARTMENT THAT IS ALSO INCLUDED.
UM, SO THE FRONT IS THE DUPLEX AND THEN THE SECONDARY BUILDING IN THE BACK, UH, SERVES AS RESIDENTIAL SPACE.
[03:55:01]
PROJECT INCLUDES DEMOLITION OF THAT HOUSE AND REAR GARAGE APARTMENT DESTRUCTION OF A NEW HOUSE.UH, THE PROPOSED BUILDING IS FLAT ROOF TO CLOUD IN STUCCO BOARD AND BATTEN TONGUE AND GROOVE SIDING, AND CEDAR SLATS ADMINISTRATION INCLUDES FIXED UNDIVIDED WINDOWS AND CASEMENT WINDOWS WITH IRREGULAR SPACING, UH, PROPORTIONS AND ORIENTATION THROUGHOUT A FRONT FACING GARAGE AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS.
UM, THE PRIMARY BUILDING AT 1205 ALSO VISTA AVENUE IS A TWO-STORY CROSS GABLE DUPLEX WITH HORIZONTAL SIDING, SIX OVER SIX WOOD WINDOWS, ARCHED, SIX LIGHT ACCENT WINDOWS AND A COMPOSITION SHINGLE ROOF.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1939 FOR MARY J. SANDERS.
ALONG WITH THE GARAGE APARTMENT THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, A REAR DWELLING UNIT WAS CONSTRUCTED LATER, UM, ABOVE THAT GARAGE.
UH, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED AS A DUPLEX AND MOSTLY HOUSE DO FAMILIES IN THE MAIN BUILDING.
AND ONE IN THE REAR UNIT RENTERS WERE LARGELY SHORT TERM AND INCLUDED A CATTLE BUYER, A MEAT INSPECTOR, A BOOKKEEPER STUDENTS AND OIL COMPANY EMPLOYEES, UH, WHILE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LARGELY DOES NOT MEET MOST APPLICABLE DESIGN STANDARDS.
UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE AND TO COMMENT ON AND RELEASE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT PRESENT? NO, NO ONE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS APPLICATION.
WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION, ONE JOINING US BY PHONE AND ONE IN-PERSON MELANIE MARTINEZ.
UM, CAN YOU PUT THE PICTURE OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PLEASE? YEAH, I'LL HAVE TO PULL IT FROM THE, OKAY.
UM, IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS IT'S A GIANT SKETCHUP THREE STORY MONOLITHIC THING THAT, UM, IT'S OWNED BY, UH, ANONYMOUS TYPE LLC WITH A GIANT INVESTMENT FIRM BEHIND IT AND MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DOLLAR, WHATEVER.
ANYWAY, THERE'S REALLY NO HOPE SAY THIS, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING US.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO, I MEAN, IF THEY COULD HAVE PUT IT THE IMAGE IN CONTEXT WITH THE OTHER PROPERTIES, MAYBE YOU COULD SEE HOW GIANT AND HORRIBLE IT IS.
UM, I'M JUST HAVE TO GO ON RECORD JUST TO, UH, POST THIS AND SAY THAT THIS, IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN FROM
IT'S LIKE, SO THAT'S JUST MY SIGNAL.
WELL, NOW THIS, I HAVE A FEELING IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT IS POPPING UP OVER THE TREE LINE AS YOU COME INTO OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO SEE THIS, AND IF ANY NEIGHBORS ARE LISTENING, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
I'M EXCEPT CREATE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT CREATED THE NATIONAL DISTRICT.
NOW YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN STREET AND WHAT YOU HAVE AROUND YOU.
AND IF YOU WANT TO LOCAL DISTRICT, YOU NEED TO GET ACTIVATED NOW, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD FULL OF THINGS LIKE THIS.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND WE HAVE SUSAN ARMED FISHER.
HI, AGAIN, UM, I'M NOT APPROXIMATE NEIGHBOR TO THIS PROPERTY, BUT I DO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS MENTIONED BEFORE.
AND, UM, MY OPPOSITION IS LARGELY TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION, MORE SO THAN ANYTHING.
UM, I NEED TO KNOW, LIKE MELANIE SAID THAT THIS PROPERTY IS ONLY FOUR HOUSES FROM THE ENTRANCE, THE TRAVIS HEIGHT, ONLY FOUR HOUSES FROM RIVERSIDE.
SO IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST PROPERTIES THAT PEOPLE SEE WHEN DRIVING INTO TRAVIS HEIGHTS, NOT TO MENTION OVER THE TREES LIKE MELANIE MENTIONED, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT WELCOMING SIGN, HIGHLIGHTING OUR NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
BUT YET, IF THIS IS WHAT THEY SEE WHEN THEY ENTER IT, IT ALMOST MAKES OUR NATIONAL DISTRICT LAUGHABLE.
SO, UM, I'M COMING HERE TO OPPOSE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ASK THE COMMISSION TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURE IN PLACE OF WHAT IS PROPOSED.
ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION?
[04:00:02]
OKAY.DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OH, SECOND, SECOND BIKE COMMISSIONER COSTUME.
NO, I ACTUALLY, I HAVE A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH MORE TIME WOULD WE HAVE ON THIS ONE? SINCE IT'S BEEN BROKEN, I WAS GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE ON THIS ONE? NO, I MEAN, IN DAYS, MONTHS TO ADD AND SUBTRACT.
SO I HAVE THAT THE NEW PLANS ARE GOING TO TIME OUT ON JUNE 11TH.
UM, AND THAT THE 180 DAY MAXIMUM FOR THE DEMOLITION WILL TIME OUT ON SEPTEMBER 24TH.
UM, THIS PROPERTY CAME BEFORE US FIRST, UM, ON MARCH 28TH.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE 180 DAYS THAT WE CAN POSTPONE.
I WOULD ENTER THAT REQUIRES TO KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.
UH, LET'S, LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE.
UM, CLEARLY THIS IS A, AN OWNER THAT IS NOT TAKING THIS PROCESS, UH, AT ALL.
SERIOUSLY, THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING IN MIND.
UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE READ THEM IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, POSTPONE THIS, UH, TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, POSTPONED TO OUR NEXT MEETING IS SECOND.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'LL SAY WHENEVER THE TIME COMES THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT ON OUR CLOCK, I WOULD, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON COMMUNITY VALUE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS BASED ON THE LITANY OF WORKING CLASS PEOPLE WHO'VE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE AND WE DON'T NEED A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT TO HAVE A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT HAS A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS REQUIRED ON UNITS.
LIKE, UM, PROPERTIES LIKE THAT.
I THINK WE, UH, NOW GO ON TO WET C 12, 19 0 9 KENWOOD C ALONE, C 11, C 11, C 11 WAS CONSENT.
UNLESS YOU WANT TO WANT TO DEPLOY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD THAT WRONG.
[3C.12. PR-2022-065334 – 1909 Kenwood Ave. – Consent Travis Heights – Fairview Park National Register District Council District 9]
SEE 12.KENWOOD IS OUR FINAL NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT PERMIT FOR THE EVENING.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT A NEW HOUSE AND AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, BOTH FACING KENWOOD AVENUE AND ORIENTED AROUND A REAR COURTYARD.
UM, THE PROJECT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TWO-STORY HOUSE WITH A COMPOUND FLAT ROOF LINE AND A BASEMENT GARAGE.
EXTERIOR MATERIALS INCLUDE METAL PANELING, BRICK AND STUCCO.
THE PROPOSED NEW HOUSE IS SET BACK APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET FROM THE STREET AND A PERFORATED CMU WALL SHIELDS STRUCTURES.
FRONT FIRST FLOOR FENESTRATION INCLUDES FIXED SINGLE PAINFUL HEIGHT WINDOWS WITH TRANSOMS SINGLE PANE SLIDERS WITH TRANSOMS CASEMENTS AND FIXED CLERESTORY WINDOWS BALCONIES WITH METAL GUARDRAILS ACCENT.
THE SECONDARY ELEVATIONS, THE PROPOSED GARAGE IS ORIENTED TOWARD THE ALLEY AT THE BACK OF THE LOT.
THEY PROPOSED ADU IS CLAD IN BRICK AND STUCCO WITH A GABLED ROOF AND SECOND FLOOR BALCONY AT THE GABLE END, A SOLID CMU WALL WITH WOOD ENTRY GATE SHIELDS, THE BUILDING'S FIRST FLOOR AND A PARTIAL WITH AWNING SHELTERS.
THE ENTRANCE FENESTRATION INCLUDES ONE OVER ONE SASH WINDOWS, SINGLE PANE, CASEMENT WINDOWS, FULLY GLAZED FRONT DOOR AND FULL HEIGHT SASH WINDOWS.
THE PROPERTY NEEDS SOME OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
UM, AND THE, UH, JUST TO NOTE THE EXISTING HOUSE THAT'S ON THIS LOT WAS APPROVED FOR DEMOLITION PRIOR TO NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT LISTING.
UM, BACK IN 2021 STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON AND RELEASE THE PLANS.
QUESTIONS IS THE APPLICANT HERE, PLEASE COME DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME, CHRIS CREGGER WITH KR DB AND THE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER AFTER THE PROJECT.
UM, I DON'T THINK HE HAD THE RIGHT DRAWINGS FOR THE PROJECT, BUT I, WHAT IT WAS SENT TO US.
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS APPROACHED BY MY GOOD FRIEND
[04:05:01]
AND LONG TIME TRAVIS HEIGHTS, A RESIDENT, UM, ELIZABETH P CORP ABOUT WORKING WITH HER TO REDEVELOP HER PROPERTY, UM, AT 1909, KEN WOOD WITH BOTH OF HER CHILDREN OFF TO COLLEGE, SHE'S LOOKING TO DESIGN AND BUILD A NEW SMALL HOME FOR HERSELF, UM, AND LEVERAGE THE EQUITY IN HER OVERSIZE 10,700 SQUARE FOOT LOT IN ORDER FOR HER TO AFFORD TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SEEMED LIKE A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR US.OUR DESIGN BUILD FIRM COULD DESIGN A MARQUEE HOME, AND ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN AND ELIZABETH COULD STAY IN HER BELOVED COMMUNITY PRIOR TO COMMENCING WORK WITH ELIZABETH, UH, ON DETAILED DESIGN, WE INFORMED HER, WE NEED TO DO, UH, PROCURE A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UM, AND THIS WAS, WE PROCURED THIS LAST SUMMER.
UM, ELIZABETH PREFERENCE WAS FOR HER HOUSE TO BE DIFFERENT KENWOOD.
SO THE UNITS HAD SIT SIDE BY SIDE, HIS NEIGHBORS, AS OPPOSED TO THE TYPICAL FRONT REAR SITUATION, UM, IN TERMS OF THE, AND THE EXTRA WIDE LOT ALLOWS FOR THIS.
HER, UH, UNIT IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE TWO-STORY GABLE ROOF HOME WITH A COMPACT FOOTPRINT, UH, REFERRING TO SECTION FIVE, THE DESIGN AND STYLE GUIDELINES, UH, OR THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, UM, TO PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF A HISTORIC LANDMARK HISTORIC DISTRICT AND NEW BUILDING SHOULD TAKE ITS DESIGN CUES FROM NEARBY HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND BE VISUALLY DISTINGUISHABLE AS NEW CONSTRUCTION.
NEW BUILDINGS DO NOT NEED TO MIMIC THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES OF LANDMARK DISTRICT, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE SO DISSIMILAR AS TO DISTRACT FROM OR DIMINISH THIS STORE CHARACTER.
WELL, MUCH OF THE BUILDING STOCK IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS A RANGE OF CRAFTSMAN AND BUNGALOW STYLES, BOTH THE EXISTING HOUSE IN 1909 KENWOOD AND THE HOUSE IN 1907 KENWOOD ARE OF A MODEST, MODEST, MODERN STYLE.
TYPICAL THE MID 20TH CENTURY 1909 HAS A LOW HIP ROOF IN 1907, HAS A FLAT OR LOW SLOPE ROOF.
THEY BOTH HAVE RELATIVELY GENEROUS GLAZING WITH LOW-PROFILE STEEL CASEMENT WINDOWS AND ARE CLAD IN LEDGE STONE, A CLEAN RECTAL LINEAR VERSION OF LIMESTONE VENEER, THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW DISTRICT.
ALSO AT LEAST INITIALLY IDENTIFIED INTERNATIONAL STYLES.
ONE OF THE EXTENT STYLES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FOR US THE MAIN FOR THE MAIN HOUSE, THE CHALLENGE WAS TO CONFORM TO THE SLOPING TERRAIN, BUT STILL ADDRESS THE STREET AS WELL AS PROVIDE A SERIES OF OUTDOOR SPACES.
SO A COURTYARD SCHEME WAS EMPLOYED WITH AN ENTRY FOR COURT, UH, AND TERRACES DOWN THE HILL WITH A GARAGE ENTERING OFF THE ALLEY, UH, STUCCO IN BRICK CLADDING, OR UTILIZING THE BUILDING AS WELL AS, UH, ON THE FORECOURT THAT ENCLOSES THE GARDEN WALL, UH, PERFORATED METAL BREEZILY, UH, SCREEN COVERS THE SECOND FLOOR, UH, WINDOWS THAT OPEN ONTO THE PRIMARY BEDROOM.
AND THIS PROTECTS THOSE WINDOWS FROM A WESTERN SUN.
WE HAD INCLUDED SOME RENDERINGS, UM, UH, THERE WAS A MISAPPREHENSION OF THOSE RENDERINGS IF THAT WAS SOLID.
AND IT ACTUALLY ISN'T, I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY WEREN'T, UM, DIDN'T APPEAR IN THAT PACKET.
UM, SO THIS ACTS AS A BRISTLE, A PROTECTING FROM THE WESTERN SUN, BUT ALLOWING A BUTTON NATURAL LIGHT INTO THE VENTILATION.
SO, UM, IN GENERAL, WE FEEL LIKE THE, THE, UM, THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION COMPORTS WITH SECTION FIVE OF THE DESIGN AND STYLE, UH, GUIDELINES, THE CITY'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS GUIDELINES, UM, IN TERMS OF MASSING SCALE PROPORTION, UM, AND MATERIALS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE GUIDELINES ALSO SAY BUILDINGS, UH, SHOULD NOT USE A REPLICA STYLE TO CREATE A FALSE SENSE OF HISTORY ALSO THAT, UM, NO PARTICULAR ARCHITECTURAL STYLES WERE REQUIRED DESIGNS IN BOTH TRADITIONAL AND MODERN STYLES CAN SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVE COMBATED COMPATIBILITY AND DIFFERENTIATION DIFFERENTIATION WITH HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
SO, UM, THAT'S ALL, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'M SORRY TO LOSE THE HOUSE.
UM, I STARTED THAT HOUSE AND I LIKED IT.
UH, IT WAS A DEPARTURE FROM, UH, THE EARLIER, UM, CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I THOUGHT A REALLY GOOD, UM, EXAMPLE OF A MID-CENTURY MODERN KIND OF INTERNATIONAL STYLE, UH, COTTAGE ALMOST.
ANYWAY, WE ENTERTAIN, UM, VERSIONS OF KEEPING THE HOUSE, BUT JUST TO THE LAYOUT OF THE BUILDING, BECAUSE IT SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOUBLE WIDE LOT, ET CETERA, AND JUST REALLY WOULDN'T WORK.
SO ANY OTHER, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY.
ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? I WILL SAY WE HAVE EIGHT REGISTERED SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION OF CAFFEINE.
ALLOW ME TO CALL THE SPEAKERS.
[04:10:01]
OUR FIRST IS, UH, FRANCISCO PESSIMISM PASOLINI, AND, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE WILL BE DAVID PRADO.PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS FRANCESCA
I'M A RETIRED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR.
I TAUGHT THE HISTORY OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE.
UH, THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO DEMOLISH A HOUSE BUILT IN 1948 AND REPLACE IT WITH TWO NEW HOUSES SIDE BY SIDE.
HERE, I WILL FOCUS NOT ON THE LOSS OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE, BUT ON THE DESIGN OF THE NEW ONES.
ARE YOU OPPOSE IT? BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT DAMAGES THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT? MAY I INTERRUPT YOU JUST A SECOND? WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS APPLICATION.
THAT IS THE IMAGE TO THE LEFT.
THAT'S THE RENDERING THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING ON THE LEFT IS THE ORIGINAL HOUSE ON THE RIGHT IS THE PROPOSAL.
UM, I'LL HAVE THREE PARTS OF MY TALK FIRST.
LET'S LOOK AT THE SITE PLAN AND AT THE STREET FROM IN PLAN INSTEAD OF A TYPICAL TRAVIS' SIDE SLOT, YOU HAVE TO NARROW SLIVERS OF LAND EACH FULLY OCCUPIED BY BUILDING LEGALLY.
THIS ARRANGEMENT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO SOME CONDOMINIUM LAW BECAUSE THE, THE TWO STRIPS WOULD BE TOO NARROW, BUT VISUALLY IT KILLS THE SENSE OF AMPLITUDE THAT WE EXPECT.
NOW LET'S TURN TO THE STREET FRONT.
THERE'S SEDUCTIVE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT SUGGESTS TWO HOUSES IN A PARK, BUT THAT IS MISLEADING.
IN FACT, MOST VEGETATION THAT YOU SEE RIGHT, AND LEFT BELONGS TO THE NEIGHBORS AND THE TWO NEW HOUSES GO RIGHT UP TO FIVE FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE, OF THE LOT, A MORE REALISTIC VIEW WOULD BE THE NEXT ONE, FRAMING IT LIKE THAT.
ALONG THE STREET, THE NEW FACADES HAVE TWO STORIES INSTEAD OF ONE, AND TAKEN TOGETHER ARE WIDER WALKING ON THE STREET.
YOU WILL SEE MUCH MORE WORLD THAN NOW, TWO AND A HALF TIMES AS MUCH TO SUMMARIZE BOTH IN PLAN AND SEEN FROM THE STREET JAMMING TWO HOUSES SIDE BY SIDE.
ONE SEES TOO MUCH BUILDING AND TOO LITTLE NATURE.
THE UNIQUE MIX OF CITY AND COUNTRY THAT MAKES THROMBOCYTES OR SPECIAL IS LOST.
BUILDING REGULATION MAY PERMITTED, BUT WITHIN THE RULES THAT ARE CHOICES.
AND IN THIS CASE, I THINK THAT THE WRONG CHOICE WAS MADE NOW TO MY SECOND POINT, AS LONG AS SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN ONE IN 20 PROPERTIES, THE OVERALL CHARACTER OF THE STREETS SURVIVES.
BUT IF IT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY, YOU GRADUALLY DESTROYED OVERSIGHTS.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE TONIGHT, WE ARE JUST TALKING OF ONE PROPERTY, BUT THE ONE NEXT TO IT ON THE LEFT IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW.
AND THE THREE ACROSS THE STREET MINE.
AND MY TWO NEIGHBORS COULD BE FOR SALE SOON BECAUSE MANY OF US ARE IN OUR SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
SO IMAGINE THESE PROPERTIES REDEVELOPED USING THE SAME APPROACH OF 1909 AND ALL OF THEM WITH TWO HOUSES THAT GO RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE OF THE LAW.
SUDDENLY YOU WOULD HAVE FOUR CROWDED HOUSES STARING AT SIX CROWD HOUSES NEXT.
YEAH, THIS IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE LOOK FOR ON KENWOOD AVENUE AND WHO WOULD WANT TO PAY THROMBOCYTES PRICES TO STARE AT THE ROW HOUSES, BOTH THE PLEASURE AND THE MONETARY VALUE OF OWNING PROPERTY ON KENWOOD AVENUE WOULD BE DIMINISHED.
OF COURSE, THE PICTURE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS NOT WHAT THE ARCHITECT
[04:15:01]
OF 1909 KENWOOD IS AIMING FOR.I'M SURE HE IS HORRIFIED BY IT, BUT ACCEPTING PROPOSAL FOR 1909 STARTS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
IF HE CAN DO IT, THEN EVERYBODY CAN.
AND WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS MY VISUALIZATION OF WHERE THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE COULD LEAD.
AND NOW MY FINAL POINT, THE ORIGINAL HOUSE IS RATHER SMALL AND I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY WELL THE WISH TO, FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION, BUT FOOTAGE CAN BE ADDED WITHOUT CHANGING THE CHARACTERS.
THE STREETS ARE MUCH SIMPLY BY KEEPING THE ORIGINAL HOUSE AND ADDING THE NEW CONSTRUCTION BEHIND IT, RATHER THAN IN PLACE OF IT.
CAN YOU WRAP UP PLEASE? YOU'RE TIME IS UP.
KEEPING YOUR ORIGINAL HOUSE WOULD PROVIDE AN AUTOMATIC INTEGRATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BOTH THROUGH THE HISTORIC, BOTH THROUGH THE HISTORY THEY SHARE AND THROUGH THE NORMAL FOR KENWOOD SCALE OF THE STREET FOR SOUTH.
UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL 10 45.
MY NAME IS DAVID PRADO AND THANK YOU.
HISTORICAL LANDMARK COMMISSION.
UH, MY WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED ON 1905 KENWOOD, UH, TWO HOUSES NORTH OF 1909.
UH, SINCE 1998, WE LIVE IN THAT LONG ROW OF COTTAGES.
UH, KEN, WHAT IS KNOWN FOR, UH, I'VE LIVED IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
TRAVIS HEIGHTS WAS A COMMUNITY OF TEACHERS, BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, POLICEMEN, FIREMEN, AND STUDENTS.
MANY OF THEM LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.
WE PURCHASED OUR HOME BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND ALSO BECAUSE OF OUR LOVE OF OLD HOMES, SINCE MOVING TO OUR HOME, THE DEMOLITION OF BOLDER HOMES HAS INCREASED, REPLACED BY NEW AND MUCH LARGER HOMES GRADUAL AT FIRST, BUT NOW HAPPENING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE.
THIS REBUILDING IS CHANGING THE FIELD OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
MOST OF US SURROUNDING 1909, KEN WOULD FEEL THAT THIS PROPERTY COULD BE SAVED AND A SITE PLAN THAT FITS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BE DONE.
WE HAVE SAGE WHITE AND THEN AFTER THEM IS NICK CASTILLO.
I LIVE AT 1904 KINGWOOD, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET AND TWO HOUSES NORTH OF 1909.
AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
UM, I OPPOSED THE PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION.
IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE STREETSCAPE.
UM, OTHER SPEAKERS, MELANIE MARTINEZ AND TRAINING TESCO SPEAK TO MORE THE DETAILS, BUT THE OVERALL EFFECT WOULD BE TO REALLY CHANGE THE WAY THAT BLOCK OF KENWOOD LOOKS CHANGE THE WAY THAT HOUSE LOOKS.
AND, UH, IT REALLY BEGINS TO ERODE THE, THE KIND OF NATURAL SETTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, WE HAVE BIG STAKES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE COYOTES AND, UM, WE HAVE FOXES WHO LIVE ON OUR STREET.
THE ANIMALS MAY NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU, BUT IT'S THE, IT'S THE NATURAL ATMOSPHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT FIRST ATTRACTED ME AND I THINK TRACKS OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, THERE CAN BE, YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'S GREAT LATITUDE FOR WHAT CAN BE BUILT
[04:20:01]
AND IT JUST NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE ARCHITECT REALLY HASN'T TAKEN THAT ENOUGH INTO ACCOUNT.
AND I ASKED YOU TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HOLD HIM TO BEING MORE ACCOUNTABLE.
NEXT, WE HAVE NICK CASTILLO AND THEN PROMO A MEAN, IS NICK CASTILLO PRESENT OR ON THE PHONE? NICK CASTILLO.
AND THEN WE HAVE RICHARD L KILMER COME ON DOWN, COME ON DOWN.
I LIVE AT 1908 KENWOOD DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM 1909.
I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE JANUARY OF 95 AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET A HOUSE THERE AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT WHEN IT WAS AFFORDABLE.
I THINK, UM, I WAS LIVING FURTHER SOUTH FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT AND USED TO DRIVE THROUGH TRAVIS HEIGHTS AND ALWAYS THOUGHT, OH, IF ONLY I COULD LIVE HERE, CAUSE THIS IS MY KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND FINALLY IT BECAME POSSIBLE.
I'VE LIVED, UM, AM I'M A MUSICIAN AND I'VE LIVED MANY PLACES IN THE WORLD AND TAKEN NOTICE THAT IN A LOT OF PLACES, PEOPLE ARE VERY SENSITIVE OR GOVERNMENTS ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO, UM, AND THIS THEORETIC A PARTICULAR PERIOD OF ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY AND A CERTAIN IF NOT UNIFORMITY, UH, COMPLIMENTARY ARCHITECTURE.
AND I THINK FERVENTLY, I BELIEVE FERVENTLY THAT THAT ASPECT OF NOT HAVING SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT ARCHITECTURE IS COZY, IS COMFORTING, IS MENTALLY HEALTHY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS, WE'VE HAD ALREADY A LOT OF OUT OF PLACE BUILDINGS IN KENWOOD STREET, JUST DOWN THE STREET.
THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE MONSTROSITY THAT GOT IN.
THERE IS ONE NOW BRAND NEW ONE THAT MR. GOWDY APPARENTLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH AT THE END OF KENWOOD, WHERE IT T'S INTO LIVE OAK STREET.
UM, THESE ARE NOT APPROPRIATE AT ALL.
I'M ALSO OPPOSED TO THE DENSITY, WHICH THIS NEW STRUCTURE THAT PROPOSED STRUCTURE AT 1,909, UH, IS FILLING UP THE LOT COMPLETELY WITH TWO KIND OF RAILROAD BOXCAR BUILDINGS THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE STREET.
I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF MARY POSA AND KENWOOD AND ACROSS MARIE POSA WAS A NICE COTTAGE HOME ON A DOUBLE LOT.
AND THEY SOLD THAT AND THE DEVELOPERS PUT TWO HOUSES THERE.
AND THE ONE THAT FACES ME LOOKS LIKE A MILITARY BARRACKS, ALSO NOT APPROPRIATE TO THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DENSITY WILL CAUSE MORE CARS TO BE PARKED ON THE STREET BECAUSE VERY FEW PLACES THERE HAVE GARAGES.
AND NOW DRIVING THROUGH TRAVIS HIVES IS PRACTICALLY AN OBSTACLE COURSE OF PARKED CARS AND DOUBLE PARKED, UH, CON CONTRACTORS, VEHICLES AND PLUMBERS, CARS, AND TRUCKS, AND SO FORTH.
I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DRIVE OF ARCHITECTS TO BUILD MODERN HOUSES IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY SHOULD BUILD THEM IN MODERN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THERE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTION.
THERE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTION IN TRAVIS HIVES, ENLARGING, FORMER COTTAGES, FAIRLY TASTEFULLY.
[04:25:01]
UH, FROM THE STREET SIDE, YOU DON'T NOTICE SO MUCH.AND WHEN YOU DO YOU THINK, WELL, THAT WAS PRETTY CLEVER, BUT, UH, THIS PROPOSAL AT 1909 IS COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE AND I OPPOSE IT ENORMOUSLY.
WE DO HAVE SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER JOINING US BY PHONE.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME BEFORE I OPPOSED THIS.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S A BIG F-YOU TO THE NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WASN'T A HISTORIC DISTRICT WHEN THE DEMOLITION WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, BUT IT IS NOW.
SO WE'RE ASKING THE DEVELOPER AND THE COMMISSION TO HELP US TO GET A DEVELOPMENT, A REPLACEMENT PROPERTY THAT FITS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DESIGN FRAMEWORK.
IS THAT OUR LAST IN OPPOSITION? OKAY, SIR, YOU HAVE, UH, TWO MINUTES TO REBUT.
SO VERY QUICKLY TO THE POINT OF THE FIRST PRESENTATION WITH THE SIX VERSIONS OF THE OR THREE VERSION SIX HOUSES.
UM, THIS IS A, ALMOST A DOUBLE LOT.
IT'S A LOT IN HALF IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO YOU COULDN'T ACTUALLY DO THIS ON MOST OF THE LOTS ON KENWOOD OR IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SECONDLY, UM, TWO MAIN POINTS I WANNA MAKE IS THAT THE PROJECT THAT IS PROPOSED COMPORTS WITH ALL OF THE SF THREE ZONING GUIDELINES.
SO BY DEFINITION, AND AUSTIN'S RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES ARE STRICT, WHETHER IT BE JUST THE BASE SF THREE GUIDELINES, MCMANSION ORDINANCE, ET CETERA.
UM, THIS IS NOT OVERDEVELOPED AND COMPORTS WITH ALL OF THE THREE ZONING GUIDELINES.
UM, THE PROJECT ALSO CONFORMS TO THE SECTION FIVE DESIGN AND STYLE GUIDELINES BY THE KIND OF, UH, THE SPIRIT OF THOSE GUIDELINES, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE AND VERY EXPLICITLY STATES.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO MIM MIMIC HISTORIC CHARACTER THAT MODERN HOUSES, AS LONG AS THE SCALE AND MATERIALITY OF THE HOUSES ARE, UH, REASONABLE ARE, ARE OKAY.
UM, AND THEN I W THE LAST POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE WITH REGARD TO WHY DON'T ARCHITECTS BUILD MODERN HOUSES IN MODERN NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE THERE AREN'T MODERN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IF, WHEN I STARTED THIS PRACTICE 20 YEARS AGO, IF I HAD LISTENED TO EVERYONE WHO TOLD ME TO BUILD IN THE CONTEXT WHERE WE DO THE KIND OF HOUSES WE DESIGN WERE TO BE BUILT, I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LEFT AUSTIN.
UM, BUT THERE'S CLEARLY A DEMAND FOR MODERN ARCHITECTURE.
IT'S NOT THE PREPONDERANCE OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE CITY, BUT THERE'S CLEARLY A DEMAND FOR IT.
AND SO, UM, WE'VE HAD A 20 YEAR HISTORY OF BUILDING, UH, AWARD-WINNING, UH, BOTH LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, UH, RECOGNIZED BUILDINGS, I MEAN, AUSTIN AND ELSEWHERE.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES, SIR.
UM, I THINK IN THIS CASE, UH, I'M THINKING THAT WE'RE MAYBE NOT VERY FAR OFF, I DO LIKE THE WAY THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME INNOVATIVE, UH, APPROACH TO THIS DESIGN.
UH, IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT WAY BECAUSE OF A SCALE ISSUE.
AND SO I'M GOING TO PROPOSE A POSTPONEMENT.
SO THIS, UH, THIS ARCHITECT CAN MEET WITH A, UH, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE THE SCALE FIT A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO YOU'RE PROPOSING LEAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AND POSTPONING THIS, UH, TO THE NEXT MEETING, INVITING THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
DO I HEAR A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? OKAY.
SECOND BITE COMMISSIONER MCWHORTER.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION DO WE, SO THE DEMOLITION HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, UH, WE HAD BEEN, GOUDY SPEAK A FEW MOMENTS AGO AND HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE TIMELINE WAS CHANGING CAUSE HE WAS AGREEING TO MEET WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, THAT WAS A CONCERN, UH, APPLICANT REQUESTED CONSENT POSTPONEMENT, THE POSTPONEMENT, UH, VOTED BY THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING BILL ON THIS IS THE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
DO WE HAVE THE, WE HAVE THE TIME ON THIS ONE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THIS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY SAY THAT I WON'T BE AT THAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE I'M NOT ON IT, BUT, UM, THIS AS AN ARCHITECT, I THINK THAT THEY GET, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE TOO FAR OFF IT'S.
I COULD WORK SOMETHING WITH A LOWER SCALE THAT APPROACHES THE STREET AND MORE OF A STEP BACK AS SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE SUGGESTED.
UH, I THINK AS STAFF HAS INDICATED SOME
[04:30:01]
OF THE ELEMENTS ACTUALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND CLEARLY THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN A DESIGNER WHO HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE GUIDELINES AND HAS MADE SOME EFFORTS.I THINK WE CAN JUST TAKE IT A LITTLE FURTHER AND PROBABLY COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WORKS WELL.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE DESIGN AS PROPOSED.
I THINK THAT YOU'RE, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU HAD, UH, COME UP NEXT TO THE ALTA VISTA PROJECT, WHICH WAS JUST ABSURD LOOKING.
I THINK THAT THE, THE COMMENT ABOUT MODERN NEIGHBORHOODS REALLY RUBS ME THE WRONG WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST LIVED THROUGH THE HOTTEST MAY EVER LIKE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD OR AS SOME OF US WHO WERE YOUNGER IN HERE WOULD REFER TO AS THE COLDEST MAE WE'RE EVER GOING TO HAVE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
UM, THE FACT THAT THIS IS, UH, THIS LOT THERE'S THERE'S COYOTES AND TRAVEL HEIGHTS, GREAT.
THE HOUSES THAT ARE BUILT THERE ARE BEING BUILT WHERE COYOTES, NO SHIT DO LIVE AND THERE'S NO HOUSES, NOTHING THAT, THAT HABITATS BEING DESTROYED BECAUSE OF AN INABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
IT'S JUST, WELL, THE, WE CAN GO INTO THE, THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT FOR JAVA SITES WAS NATURAL, NATURAL SETTING, BUT, UM, IN ANY EVENT, THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS TO POSTPONE TO THE NEXT MEETING, UM, IN JULY AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND SAYING AYE.
WE HAVE ONE OPPOSED COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, TWO OPPOSED.
UH, I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT WE HAVE TWO CASES LEFT.
SHALL WE EXTEND TO 1100? IT'S GOOD AT 11 O'CLOCK PLEASE.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO CASES LEFT SECOND, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, WE HAVE FOUR OPPOSED WE POSTPONED SCENIC DRIVE LAST TIME AND THE, UM, QUONSET HUT LAST TIME.
CAN WE GET THESE DONE? AND WHAT, W W DID WE HAVE SEVEN MINUTES? YOU HAVE 22 MINUTES? NO.
UH, DID IT GET MAJORITY? OKAY.
[3.D.1. PR-2022-032448 – 2002 Scenic Dr. – Discussion (postponed May 4, 2022) Council District 10]
SCENIC DRIVE, D ONE, 2002 SCENIC DRIVE, OBVIOUSLY HISTORIC.I WILL TRY TO DO JUSTICE TO KIM'S VERY THOROUGH REPORT, UH, IN AS SHORT, A TIME AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THIS IS TOTAL DEMOLITION OF A 1923 RESIDENTS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURE.
DRIVE, WHICH WAS KNOWN HISTORICALLY AS RIVER STREET OR RIVER AVENUE IS A TWO-STORY SPANISH ECLECTIC RESIDENCE WITH MODERN AND ECLECTIC ADDITIONS CONSTRUCTED DURING THE HISTORIC PERIOD.
UM, IT'S CLAD AND STUCCO AND MASONRY AND CAPTURE THE COMPOUND HIP ROOF WITH DEEP EAVES FENESTRATION INCLUDES MULTI LIGHT WOOD CASEMENT WINDOWS IRREGULARLY PLACED A CHURCH WITH CRENELATED PARAPET AND ARCHED WINDOWS, SOME PHOTOGRAPHS, PLEASE, SOME IMAGES.
I APOLOGIZE, UH, CYLINDRICAL TURRET WITH A CRENELATED PARAPET AND ARCHED WINDOWS FLANKS, AND OPEN MASONRY PORTS THAT LEADS TO AN EXPANSIVE DESIGNED LANDSCAPE.
THE SECONDARY BUILDING IS AN ECLECTIC GOTHIC REVIVAL COTTAGE, TWO STORIES IN HEIGHT WITH AN ARCHED PALISADE CEDAR SHAKE ROOF AND MASONRY CLADDING.
TWO STORY TURRET WITH CHECKER WORK TRIM DOMINATES THE PRINCIPLE ELEVATION EACH ROUND ARCH INCLUDES A LIMESTONE KEYSTONE CARVED BY FAME, LOCAL STONE WORKER.
PETER MANS BENTALL RENOVATION WAS DESIGNED CIRCA 1946, A FOUR CH AND MILDRED SLATER BY AUSTIN ARCHITECTS, FARE GRANGER, UM, WHO WERE ONE OF THE FIRST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL MID CENTURY MODERN ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE HOME WAS CONSTRUCTED BY RAYMOND'S MAURICE DELISLE, UM, AND HIS WIFE.
HE WAS THE SON OF A HOUSTON ARCHITECT, AND HE, UH, AS A HOBBYIST BUILT 16 OTHER HOUSES IN THE RIVER STREET AREA, UH, WHILE ALSO WORKING AS AN OPTICIAN IN AUSTIN, UM, HE OWNED AND OPERATED THE AUSTIN OPTICAL COMPANY FROM THE EARLY TWENTIES UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT AROUND 1940.
HE WAS ONE OF THE 1927 INCORPORATORS OF THE EARNHARDT MANUFACTURING COMPANY AS WELL, UM, OR WAS A SYNTHETIC STONE MATERIAL.
AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN USED IN SEVERAL LANDSCAPE FEATURES AROUND THE PROPERTY LATER.
OCCUPANTS INCLUDE WILLIAM FOSTER.
[04:35:01]
UM, AND THEN MR AND MRS. KATIE SHOUTY, WHO LOST YOUNG SON WHILE LIVING AT THE PROPERTY IN 1945.UM, SO AFTER THAT THEY SOLD THE HOUSE TO SEE H AND MILDRED'S LATER, UH, IT STAYED IN THE SLATER FAMILY UNTIL 2021, ACCORDING TO T CAD RECORDS, C H SLATER WAS THE SON OF A PROMINENT LLANO RANCHER.
UM, AND HE WAS A LOCAL ATTORNEY AND A CO-OWNER OF THE TAVERN STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MEETS TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THE PRIMARY BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SPANISH ECLECTIC ARCHITECTURE WITH MODERN INFLUENCES IN THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE IS A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF ECLECTIC MID-CENTURY AND GOTHIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE.
IT APPEARS TO CONVEY ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AS A ONE OF A KIND STRUCTURE IN AUSTIN.
THE PROPERTY ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH BUILDER, ENTREPRENEUR AND OPTICIAN, RAYMOND DELISLE, AS WELL AS CH SLATER, A CO-OWNER OF THE TAVERN AND A PROMINENT AUSTIN ATTORNEY, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION, THEREFORE IS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, BUT SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION APPROVE THE APPLICATION UPON RECEIPT OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE? THANK YOU.
DID, UH, DID STUFF CONSIDER LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE? OH, YES.
UM, PARDON ME? THANKS FOR CATCHING THAT CHAIR MYERS, THE PROPERTY DOES APPEAR TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NATURAL OR DESIGN LANDSCAPE WITH ARTISTIC AESTHETIC CULTURAL, UH, AND OR HISTORIC VALUE TO THE CITY.
UM, LANDSCAPE FEATURES, INCLUDING THE ARCHED BRIDGE AND BENCH APPEAR TO INCORPORATE DELILAH OR NIGHT MATERIAL.
UM, WE DO HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
I ALSO HAVE IT ON A FLASH DRIVE IF THAT WORKS BETTER FOR THOSE THAT ARE APPEARING REMOTELY, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, JUST HAVE THEM, LET'S JUST PASS THEM DOWN AND GO BACK AND START THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE.
UM, YOU CANNOT SET DIGITAL PRESENTATIONS HAVE, OKAY, SO THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE.
UH, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, I'M ASKING YOU TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR 2002 SCENIC.
STAFF RELEASED THE REPORT ON THIS PROPERTY, FOCUSING ON COTTON USE LATER AS THE CORE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, AFTER MORE INFORMATION CAME TO LIGHT ABOUT SLATER'S HISTORY, WHICH I WILL COVER IN A MOMENT, THE STAFF REPORT WAS REVISED TO TRY TO DEEMPHASIZE SLATER AND INSTEAD INTRODUCE AN ENTIRELY NEW HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, RM DEL IDOL, WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT AS WELL.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THAT SLATER HAS THE STRONGEST CONNECTION TO THIS PROPERTY, UH, AND WAS STAFF'S, UH, ORIGINAL, UH, THE BASIS OF STAFF'S ORIGINAL DETERMINATION.
UH, MY PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON HIM.
I'M GONNA LET OTHERS FIGURE, UH, TALK ABOUT SLATER.
SO, UH, LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, IN A PRECEDENTIAL CASE, STAFF DETERMINED THE EXACT OPPOSITE THAT SLATER DID NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
FURTHERMORE, THE RATIONALE FOR DEEMING SLATER, HISTORIC RAISES IMPORTANT POLICY CONSIDERATIONS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THE PROPERTY IN THE SLIDE PRESENTATION.
IT ORIGINALLY INCLUDED THE SERVANTS QUARTERS THAT, UH, YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE RIGHT ON, UH, AT 2000 SCENIC, WHICH WERE LATER CARVED OFF AND SOLD AS A SEPARATE HOME.
THAT NEIGHBOR AT 2000 SCENIC SUPPORTS OUR DEMOLITION REQUESTS AND HIS LETTER, UH, IS IN YOUR BACKUP AS NOTED.
THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION HERE IS FOR COTTENHAM HUGHES SLATER, THE SLATERS, AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF THEM WERE KNOWN AS A LANDO FLANK FAMILY, NOT IN AUSTIN FAMILY, JEFFERSON DAVIS SLATER, SENIOR COTTON, HIS FATHER OWNED A LARGE LANDO RANCH AND THEN GAVE IT TO HIS SONS, WHICH INCLUDED COTTON, HIM AND HIS BROTHER, JEFFERSON DAVIS SLATER, JR.
AND ERIC SLATER LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO.
THIS COMMISSION ALSO CONSIDERED ANOTHER HOME WHERE COTTON M LIVED AT 14, 14 ALAMEDA.
BUT IN THAT PRECEDENTIAL CASE, STAFF DID NOT CONSIDER COTTON THEM TO RISE TO THE LEVEL OF HISTORIC IN THIS CASE.
HOWEVER, STAFF HAS FOCUSED THE RATIONALE FOR COTTON AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATION ON HIS PROFESSION AND BUSINESS INTERESTS WITH NO MENTION OF ANY SPECIFIC, MEANINGFUL HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
INSTEAD, THESE INDICATORS MAINLY SERVE AS PROXIES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL'S WEALTH AND STATUS IN 1950S.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE SLIDES, I'VE SHOWN YOU THE EQUITY AND PRESERVATION BRIEFING DOCUMENT USED BY THE PRESERVATION PLAN.
WORKING GROUP MAKES THE SAME POINT WRITING THAT THESE TYPES OF THRESHOLDS ARE QUOTE MORE LIKELY TO BE REACHED BY ARCHITECTURALLY GRAND BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH WEALTHIER, TYPICALLY WHITE PEOPLE AND QUOTE THESE STRUCTURAL EQUITY
[04:40:01]
QUESTIONS ARE THEN COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT HISTORICALLY ZONED PROPERTIES THEN RECEIVE TAX EXEMPTIONS AND BENEFITS TO ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF SYSTEMATIC QUESTIONS.WE NEED TO TAKE A RIGOROUS LOOK AT WHETHER THINGS LIKE PROFESSION AND FAMILY WEALTH IN ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS RISES TO THE LEVEL OF HISTORIC IN THIS CONTEXT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE PROPOSED HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
IN THIS CASE, COTTON IS OWNERSHIP OF THE TAVERN AFTER IT HAD BEGUN IN 1953, AS YOU KNOW, VIRTUALLY ALL FOOD, AUSTIN FOOD AND DRINK ESTABLISHMENTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SEGREGATED.
IN THE 1950S, THEY STARTED TO CHANGE IN THE 1960S, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS BY MANY LEADERS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND WITH THE HELP OF THEIR ALLIES.
IN 1963, MAYOR HARRIER CAN HELP WITH A LARGE EFFORT TO PUSH FOR FULL INTEGRATION AND REACHED OUT TO MANY ESTABLISHMENTS AS POSSIBLE TO DOCUMENT WHICH ONES WERE WILLING TO PUBLICLY COMMIT TO INTEGRATION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT VERY DOCUMENT THAT WE GOT FROM THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ON, UH, IN YOUR PACKAGE BY JULY 29TH, 1963, 105 ESTABLISHMENTS HAD PUBLICLY COMMITTED INTEGRATE, INCLUDING NOTABLES LIKE ARCHIES THE DRISCOLL SCHULTZ'S BEER GARDEN HILLS CAFE AND VICTORY GRILL.
THE TAVERN DOES NOT APPEAR ON THAT LIST ALMOST EXACTLY.
ONE YEAR LATER ON JULY 2ND, 1964, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, OUTLAW OUTLAWING SEGREGATION IN ANY PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS THAT HAD NOT BEEN INTEGRATED.
I BELIEVE THIS CASE RAISES THREE KEY POLICY QUESTIONS.
FIRST DOES COTTON HIMS PROFESSION AND FAMILY WEALTH TRULY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
SECOND DOES COTTON AND CONSTITUTED HISTORIC ASSOCIATION IN THIS CASE, BUT NOT IN A PRIOR CASE FROM LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO.
AND THIRD, DO THE FACTS OF THIS HISTORY SUPPORT ELEVATING COTTON AS A HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND DESIGNATING THIS ISOLATED LAKE AUSTIN PROPERTY WITH HISTORIC STATUS, AS WELL AS WITH THE ASSOCIATED TAC TAX EXEMPTIONS AND BENEFITS.
I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT AT THE LAST MEETING WE INFORMED STAFF THAT THE TAVERN DID NOT APPEAR ON THE INTEGRATED BUSINESS LIST THOUGH.
I DID NOT SEE THAT INFORMATION, YOUR BACKUP TODAY, AND AFTER THAT COTTON ASSOCIATION WAS DE EMPHASIZED IN THE RECOMMENDATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND OBVIOUSLY I'LL RESERVE MY RIGHTS FOR REBUTTAL.
OKAY, MR. WAYLON, EXCUSE ME, SIR.
WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR THIS SITE.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? WELL, ORGANIZE YOURSELVES AND COME ON DOWN.
NO, THE DEMOLITION I'M LOOKING FOR IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOLITION, WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, APPLICANT TEAM MEMBER, AND THERE'S SOME MATERIALS THAT ALL INDICATES THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG AS WELL.
UH, MICHAEL GAVINO ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO AS WAYLON JUST MENTIONED LAST MONTH, UH, THE STAFF REPORT FOCUSED ON COTTON AND HUGHES.
SLATERS THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION THAT WAS LATER REVISED TO FOCUS ON RAYMOND, UH, DELL, A MAN WHO HAD NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS STAFF REPORT, EVEN.
SO OUR RESEARCH RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER DEL HOUR TRULY RAISES TO THE LEVEL OF HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
THE STAFF REPORT ALSO DISCUSSES A MATERIAL KNOWN AS OR NIGHT AS SUPPORT FOR ITS HISTORIC RATIONALE.
HOWEVER, DELL AL'S CONNECTION TO UNITE IS RELATIVELY WEAK AND NIGHT ITSELF WAS SHORT-LIVED AND NOT HISTORIC, UH, ON THE ONE OF YOUR SLIDES ON THERE.
UH, THE FIFTH PAGE, YOU CAN SEE A SUMMARY OF THE NEW RATIONALE FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATION THAT DELL ISLES AND HISTORIC FIGURE THAT EARN-OUT IS A NOTABLE MATERIAL.
AND THAT DELL IS CONNECTED TO OUR NIGHT.
UM, EARLIER WAYLON ALSO MENTIONED THAT COTTENHAM HUGHES'S HISTORIC ASSOCIATION WAS BASED OFF OF HIS WEALTH AND AFFLUENCE RATHER THAN ANY, ANY SPECIFIC, MEANINGFUL HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
THIS RATIONALE BASES ITS CASE ON HIS JOB AS AN AFFLUENT OPTICIAN AND HIS SIDE VENTURES IN REAL ESTATE AND MANUFACTURING INVESTMENTS PROXIES FOR WEALTH AND STATUS AND EARLY 19 HUNDREDS, AUSTIN, RATHER THAN ON SPECIFIC HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND AS MENTIONED, THE CITY'S OWN BRIEFING ON EQUITY AND PRESERVATION CALLS OUT THESE TYPES OF THRESHOLDS AS WAILIN HAD QUOTED EARLIER, A LOT IS MADE OF THE FACT THAT DELLA WAS THE DEVELOPER FOR THIS HOUSE, BUT AS ONE WRITE-UP OF DELL AND YOUR BACKUP NOTES, THE KEY INGREDIENT THERE IS QUOTE, IF, OF COURSE YOU HAD THE MONEY UNQUOTE AND DEL ISLE DID SIMILARLY THE STAFF REPORT PRESENTS OR NIGHT AS IN A NOTABLE CONNECTION TO DELL, BUT NEWSPAPER REPORTS FROM THE PERIOD DESCRIBED LL MAINLY AS ONE OF QUOTE, THE
[04:45:01]
MEN WHO OWN STOCK IN THE COMPANY, UNQUOTE IN HIS OBITUARY, HE FAILED TO MENTION OR NIGHT AT ALL.THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR NIGHT APPEALS TO HAVE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SHORT-LIVED.
UM, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THERE, I REVIEWED EVERY NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE REFERENCE I COULD POSSIBLY FIND THE OVERNIGHT.
UH, THERE WEREN'T MANY, MOST WERE EITHER ADVERTISEMENTS OR WAYFINDING REFERENCES OF THE ACTUAL ARTICLES FEATURED ON EARN.
I LOCATED FOUR UNIQUE ARTICLES IN 19 27, 1 IN 1928 AND TWO IN 1929.
AND THAT WAS THE SUM TOTAL OF URBANITES EXISTENCE.
AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, UH, IT WASN'T AN HISTORIC INNOVATION.
IT WAS A SHORT-LIVED BUSINESS VENTURE.
I'LL JUST CONCLUDE BY STRESSING THAT SLATER NADELLA IS THE FIGURE MOST STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROPERTY.
UM, BUT EVEN IF WE WERE TO DOWNPLAY SLATER AND INTRODUCE DELL ISLE AS THE NEW CORE TO THIS CASE, EVEN THEN DELL DOES NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
UM, AND INSTEAD RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF PROXIES WE USE TO MAKE POLICY DETERMINATIONS REGARDING HISTORIC STATUS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE A QUESTION I'VE LISTENED TO YOU AND MR. WAYLON, AND YOU BOTH ARE ONLY TALKING TO ONE ELEMENT HERE.
ONE OF Y'ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE THAT'S THERE ABOUT THE, THE TREMENDOUS HISTORICAL ASSET THAT THIS IS, YOU'VE NOT, NONE OF Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT OR IS THAT, IS THAT YOUR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON THE ASSOCIATION.
IS THAT, IS THAT ALL YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT? SO, UH, WE DO HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE STRUCTURE.
I'LL JUST, I'M SORRY, BUT, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S AN APPROPRIATE POINT TO, TO, IT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE QUESTION TO ASK.
AND I GUESS I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, WE TAKE THE CRITERIA THAT ARE LISTED FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN OFTEN WHEN FOLKS LOOK AT HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND THEY'RE WONDERING ABOUT WHAT THE HISTORY OF THAT STRUCTURE IS, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH IT, ENLISTED IN THE STAFF BACKUP AS HAVE, AS OFFERING HISTORIC VALUE TO THAT STRUCTURE.
IT IS APPROPRIATE TO EXAMINE WHO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE AND WHAT LEGACY WERE ACTUALLY PRESERVING BY ELEVATING THEIR NAMES IN ASSOCIATION WITH THAT ASSET.
WELL, I, THE WAY I READ THIS IS THAT, UM, THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS ARE SECONDARY TO THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.
UM, SO WE MAY NOT EVEN HAVE TO CONSIDER THOSE THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S A DECISION FOR THE COMMISSION TO MAKE.
DID YOU HAVE FURTHER, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE POINT? WELL TAKEN? OKAY.
IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION, JEREMIAH, WHERE I RUN OUT OF TIME AGAIN, AND PAINTINGS MADE TO DO THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO PROPOSE A MOTION TO 1115.
KEVIN COULD COME COMMISSIONER COOK.
I'M TRYING TO GO AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
START IS JUST ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION.
CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M RYAN PER STACK IN ARCHITECT WITH RYAN STREET, ARCHITECTS SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
AND ISN'T A MEMBER OF THE APPLICANT'S TEAM.
BY THIS POINT, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PICTURES OF 2002 SCENIC AND YOUR BACKUP AND FROM OTHER MATERIALS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY TIME TO SHOW SOME PICTURES THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YET.
THE PACKET PAGE TWO, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
MANY OF THE IMAGES YOU'VE SEEN TODAY FOCUSED ON THE CARVINGS AND OTHER SUCH FEATURES, BUT THE REALITY OF THE BUILDING IS MORE THAN THAT.
THE FIRST MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE RETAINING WALL THERE FOR THE FRONT UNIT.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS PROPERTY IS ORIENTED TO THE LAKE.
SO THE PUBLIC WON'T ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS OR SEE MOST OF THE STRUCTURE OR THE CARVINGS.
THIS IMAGE IS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT UNIT, WHICH IS THE UNIT SOMEONE COULD ACTUALLY SEE FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY.
IN BOTH OF THESE PHOTOS, YOU'LL SEE SIGNIFICANT WATER INFILTRATION.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE THIS STRUCTURE WAS BUILT DIRECTLY INTO THE HILL.
NORMALLY A BUILDING LOCATED AT A PROPERTY LINE IN A HILLSIDE WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY TWO WALLS, A RETAINING WALL WATERPROOFING, AND THEN THE WALL OF THE UNIT ITSELF IN THIS CASE, THE RETAINING WALL IS THE WALL OF THE UNIT ITSELF AND IS BUILT DIRECTLY INTO THE HILL CAUSING MAJOR, MAJOR WATER ISSUES.
THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THE ROCK CONSTRUCTION ACTS AS A SPONGE SOAKING WATER UP RATHER THAN KEEPING IT OUT.
THIS WATER BY THE WAY IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED.
THIS WALL, BY THE WAY, IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE ROOFTOP.
SO STRUCTURALLY IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE WATERPROOFING
[04:50:01]
HERE, YOU WOULD NEED TO FULLY RECONSTRUCT THIS WALL ENTIRELY, WHICH BECAUSE IT IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE ROOF WOULD MEAN YOU WOULD BASICALLY NEED TO DECONSTRUCT AND THEN RECONSTRUCT THE WHOLE UNIT, WHICH WOULD DEFEAT THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THE HISTORIC ZONING IN THE FIRST PLACE.THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, AND THERE REALLY ARE ONLY TWO OPTIONS.
EITHER YOU FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH REQUIRES TAKING MOST OR ALL OF THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE DOWN, OR YOU DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH MEANS CONTINUED WATER, DAMAGE, MOLD RISK, AND OTHER ONGOING ISSUES.
NEXT PAGE, PLEASE, MORE WATER DAMAGE.
THE APPLICANT PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY RECENTLY, BUT FROM WHAT WE COULD TELL THE HOUSE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED FOR SEVERAL YEARS HERE.
YOU CAN SEE AN ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF THE WATER DAMAGE THAT IS PREVALENT THROUGHOUT THE STRUCTURE.
THERE'S ALSO MEANINGFUL DAMAGE TO THE CEILING.
TO THE EXTENT THAT A FULL CEILING REPLACEMENT WOULD BE LIKELY NECESSARY, UH, AND ROOF AND STRUCTURE ABOVE.
ADDITIONALLY, THESE TYPES OF HOLES HAVE LEFT THE STRUCTURE OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING ADDITIONAL ISSUES.
I JUST, I WOULD JUST CLOSE BY STRESSING THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS BUILT.
THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS HERE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX WITHOUT DECONSTRUCTING THE UNIT AND THEN RE CONSTRUCTING IT, WHICH AGAIN, WOULD DEFEAT THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THIS SMART PRESERVATION.
MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE WAY TO FISK FIX THIS PROBLEM.
ALSO PRESERVING THE STRUCTURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND I ASK THAT YOU RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK? EXCUSE ME.
I'M WITH RYAN STREET ARCHITECTS.
I'M WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT ON THIS CASE.
UM, AS AN ARCHITECT, I HAVE, UH, NO SMALL APPRECIATION FOR, UH, OLD BUILDINGS.
THIS IS CERTAINLY A FUNKY OLD BUILDING, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, CHARM IS NOT A QUALIFICATION FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
IF YOU, UH, TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK COMPREHENSIVELY AT THE RATIONALE FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION, YOU BEGIN TO SEE GAPS AND INCONSISTENCIES.
I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE STAFF REPORT USES FARON GRAINGER'S WORK AS A RATIONALE FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECT IS UNKNOWN.
SO THE WORK OF THE KNOWN ARCHITECTS IS DESIGNED, UM, WHO DESIGNED THE ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS IS EMPHASIZED REGARDLESS OF HOW POORLY, UH, IT REPRESENTS THEIR WORK.
UM, SO WHAT ARE FAIR AND GRANGER'S ACTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS WORK.
IF YOU, UH, LOOK AT THE PICTURES, PUT TOGETHER BY STAFF, UM, THESE ARE THE, UH, WHAT PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATE IN THESE PICTURES, UH, REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FAIR AND GRAINGER'S WORK.
UM, THEIR WORK, THEIR, UH, CONTRIBUTION, UH, CONSISTS OF A SINGLE ROOM ADDITION ON THE SECOND FLOOR THAT TRIES TO BLEND IN WITH THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, UH, AT GROUND LEVEL, A VAULT FOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, UH, PLACED AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND A DINING ROOM WITH MODERN WINDOWS AT THE REAR, NOT VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
UM, THE IRONY HERE IS THAT 2002 SCENIC IS PROBABLY LESS HISTORIC BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT FARREN GRANGER DID, WHICH CHANGED THE WAY THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS EXPERIENCE THAN NOT IN A POSITIVE WAY.
I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON THE NORTH ELEVATION OF THE HOUSE.
UM, THAT IS NOT THEIR PROUDEST MOMENT.
IF I WAS FAIR IN GRANGER, I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT, UH, SEEK PRESERVATION OF THIS EXAMPLE OF, OF WORK.
UM, AT THE VERY LEAST SEEMS ODD TO BASE HISTORIC DESIGNATION RATIONALE ON RENOVATION AND ADDITION WORK THAT OCCURRED MORE THAN 20 YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURES WERE BUILT.
UH, I THINK I'D LIKE TO FINISH MY REMARKS THERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION, UH, AND RELEASING THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
[04:55:02]
QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER.ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN FAVOR? OKAY.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION? WE, OKAY.
SO WE HAVE MEGAN KING FROM PRESERVATION, AUSTIN, UH, JOINING US BY PHONE FOR OPPOSITION.
AND THEN, UH, HI FINISHERS, UM, MEGAN KING POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNING FROM PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
I WILL BE VERY BRIEF AND JUST, UM, REITERATE THAT THE ARCHITECTURAL LANDSCAPE FEATURES OF THIS PROPERTY ARE OBVIOUSLY SUBSTANTIAL IN, UM, OUR MERIT PRESERVATION AND, UM, WE SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOODS EFFORTS TO RESEARCH HIS PROPERTY, UM, AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF IT.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE ZONED HISTORIC.
OTHER SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEMOLITION.
UH, YOUR NAME DAVID BROWN, UH, AND, UH, UH, HAVE, UH, UH, 60 YEARS BORN, 60 YEARS IN AUSTIN.
UH, AND, UH, 40 OF THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS AN ARCHEOLOGIST AND A PRESERVATION SPECIALIST.
SO, SO I'VE DEALT WITH MANY, MANY HISTORIC HOUSES OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WORKED WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER MYERS BEFORE SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, I HAVE LIVED IN WEST AUSTIN OFF AND ON MUCH OF THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE AND, UH, UH, UH, ACTUALLY LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOUSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS CENTURY.
AND, UM, UM, MY WIFE ACTUALLY HAD LIVED THERE FOR 30 YEARS, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOUSE AND STARED AT IT AND KNOWING THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE.
AND AS WE BOTH DID, WHEN I LATER WE MOVED DOWN THE STREET A LITTLE BIT ON, UH, SYDNEY DRIVE, BUT WE STILL DRIVE BY IT QUITE FREQUENTLY.
IT IS, UH, W W WHOEVER BUILT IT.
AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT, UH, WHOEVER WORKED ON IT, WHOEVER LIVED IN IT W WHETHER THEY WERE HISTORIC OR NOT, I I'VE RECORDED HUNDREDS OF HOUSES THAT WERE INCREDIBLE HOUSES THAT WERE, UH, THEY WERE BUILT AND LIVED IN BY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT MAKE THE HISTORY BOOKS.
AND YET THEY'RE STILL STANDING TODAY.
AND I'M PROUD OF SAVING THOSE HOUSES THAT WERE NOT, UH, UH, JUST, UH, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH RICH WHITE PEOPLE AS WE, AS WE MIGHT THINK.
UM, THIS IS, UM, MY, MY TAKE ON THE PRESERVATION AND I WON'T TAKE MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
MY TAKE ON THE PRESERVATION IS THIS IS A, ONE OF A KIND HOUSE, A UNIQUE, ECLECTIC, AND SPECIAL HOUSE.
IT HAS A LOT OF, UH, OF ELEMENTS IN IT THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTING.
IT ACTUALLY INCORPORATES ODDLY ENOUGH, UH, ALTHOUGH FAIR MAY NOT HAVE DONE MUCH TO ITS LATER STUFF.
IT IS IN AN ODD WAY, REFLECTIVE OF ALL AFFAIRS EARLY WORK, HIS EARLY WORK WAS OF COURSE, BASS DROP STATE BARK.
HE MADE THOSE LEVEL OF FUNNY LOOKING ROCKY BUILDINGS LIKE THIS.
IT'S UNIQUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT TOTALLY UNIQUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S A WHOLE CLUSTER OF BUILDINGS THAT DELEGAL HAD HAD, UH, UH, ON LOTS OF DELAY ALL HAD IN SOLD.
THERE WERE LIKE A DOZEN OF THESE STONE HOUSES THAT FORMED A LITTLE COMMUNITY GOING BACK WELL BEFORE DELOITTE BACK TO 1906 IS THE EARLIEST ONE.
THAT'S ON THE CORNER, ACROSS STEVENSON FROM WHERE WE USED TO LIVE.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE AND AN ODD, UH, CLUSTER OF THESE KIND OF, UH, STONE HOBBIT HOUSES, REALLY STRANGE LOOKING HOUSES THAT, THAT ARE AN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL.
THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T FIT INTO THE VICTORIAN STYLE.
THEY DON'T FIT INTO THE, UH, TO THE, UH, UH, THE CRAFTSMAN STYLE.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, UH, THERE AS FAR AS FAR AS YOU CAN BE, BUT, BUT THE FACT IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN RESPECT, MO OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE LATE, NEAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOVED THOSE BUILDINGS.
IT, IT REPRESENTS AN ODD AND UNIQUE CONSTRUCTION IN AUSTIN, AND WE SHOULDN'T LOSE IT.
IT IT'S GOT LANDSCAPE FEATURES AND ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO DO A REBUILD IT, YOU COULDN'T REBUILD IT TODAY FOR ANY COST, AND IF YOU TEAR IT DOWN, IT'S GONE FOREVER AND WE'VE ALREADY LOST SEVERAL OF THE BEAUTIFUL STONE HOUSES THAT STOOD UP AND DOWN THAT AND REPLACED BY A BUNCH OF SADLY, A SOULLESS MODERN HOUSES.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID, AROUND HERE.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEMOLITION? OKAY.
[05:00:01]
OKAY.UM, YOU MAY REBUT, THANK YOU CHAIR, UH, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
AND I FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE APPLICANT DOES OBJECT TO THIS, AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE THAT IN WRITING, UH, PRIOR TO ANY OTHER HEARING THAT MIGHT OCCUR, BUT THERE WILL BE AN OBJECTION, UM, TO ANY SORT OF, UH, DESIGNATION IS HISTORIC.
UM, I, I DO HEAR THAT IT'S ECLECTIC THAT IT'S FUN, FUNKY.
UM, I, I THINK WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT HISTORIC.
UM, AND, UH, I APPRECIATE MR. BROWN'S CANDOR WHEN HE SAID IT'S QUOTE NOT TOTALLY UNIQUE AND QUOTE, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER SIMILAR HOMES IN THE AREA.
UH, YOU HEARD FROM THE ARCHITECT IN TERMS OF THE WATER DAMAGE, UH, AND THE INABILITY TO FIX A SITUATION WHERE YOU, YOUR RETAINING WALL IS SERVING AS YOUR WALL.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS LITERALLY DECONSTRUCT AND RECONSTRUCT, WHICH IS NOT HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
UM, SO I, I WOULD JUST, UH, URGE YOU GIVEN, UH, NOT JUST THE CONDITION, BUT THE LACK OF HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, UH, YOUR OWN EQUITY, UH, ANALYSIS THAT YOU'VE DONE PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY, UH, AND, UH, THE OWNER'S OBJECTION, UH, WHICH WILL BE FORTHCOMING, UH, IN WHICH I'M STATING ON THE RECORD EXISTS, UH, AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, TIMEKEEPER COMMISSIONER HAIM, SETH, WHERE ARE WHEN WE'RE AT 1107.
UH, WE CAN GET DONE WITH THIS AND ANOTHER CASE BY 1115, OTHERWISE.
UH LET'S UM, ALRIGHT, I'LL HAVE, UH, THIS IS IT.
UH, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO 1130.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY HAS TO KEEP THEIR TESTIMONY TO A MINUTE.
UM, DO I HEAR, UM, A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE IT OPEN? I'D LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER TO LET COMMISSIONER MCWHORTER ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THE CASE? I SHOULD INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IT, WHAT CRITERIA? AND, UH, UNDER WHAT CRITERIA WOULD YOU INITIATE? HISTORIC ZONING? I WOULD SAY UNDER THE ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE.
AND ALSO, I THINK THERE'S A COMMUNITY VALUE HERE.
UH, YOU'VE GOT I'VE, I'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMISSION SINCE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.
UH, I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OUTPOURING LIKE THIS OF PEOPLE.
WE HAVE LIKE 26 WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN.
WE'VE HAD ONE, WE'VE HAD ONE IN FAVOR OF THAT, OF THE DEMOLITION, ONE NEIGHBOR, EVERYBODY ELSE, A NEIGHBOR.
I'LL ALSO POINT OUT I LIVED THERE.
I WALKED BY THAT HOUSE ABOUT, ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO.
SO WITH THOSE ARCHES, YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM THE STREET.
TRUE THAT THE REGULAR PUBLIC'S NOT GOING TO BE IN THERE, BUT I'VE BEEN IN THAT HOUSE.
THERE'S CARVINGS IN THE HOUSE.
THERE'S IRON WORK IN THE HOUSE, UH, THAT IS, UH, THERE'S THERE'S MURALS IN THAT HOUSE.
IT'S AND THERE'S THE NOBODY'S TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT THEIR PARENTS.
THERE ARE STEPS, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, THERE ARE STEPS THAT GO FROM THE HOUSE DOWN TO THE LAKE.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU USED TO, YOU CAME TO THIS HOUSE, YOU CAME UP BY BOAT ON THE LAKE OR THE RIVER AT ONE TIME, AND YOU KIND OF CLIMBED UP THE STEPS.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS, THIS WAS OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND THERE ARE, THERE'S A TON OF PR.
THERE'S A TON OF BICYCLISTS THAT GO BY THIS.
EVERY TIME I WALKED BY THERE, AND THIS IS TALKING ABOUT IN THE MORNINGS, WALKING MY DOGS, MY HANDS, YOU KNOW, TINS, BICYCLES COME RIGHT BY ME.
I MEAN, THIS IS A LANDMARK OF THE CITY.
UH, IT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU BUY THIS PROPERTY AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU PAID A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR IT.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE HERE TO ME.
AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE, THIS ISN'T ABOUT, AND I, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW MR. SLATER IS NOT PARTICULARLY, I MEAN THAT I KIND OF OBJECT TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID, BUT THAT'S YOUR, EVERYBODY'S GOT AN OPINION AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ADVOCACY.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS.
[05:05:01]
BUT WE CAN PUT EVEN PUT ASIDE SOME OF THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH PEOPLE, I THINK, BUT THE ARCHITECTURE, THE LANDSCAPE COMMUNITY VALUE THAT'S BEEN EXPRESSED, UH, I THINK THAT WE'D BE REMISS AND YES, IT'S GOING TO BE A FIGHT.IT'S GOING TO BE OVER THE, GET OVER THE OWNER'S OBJECTION, BUT I, YOU KNOW, IT IT'S ASTOUNDING.
WHAT ONE THING IS MAJORLY ASTOUNDING TO ME IS YOU SEE ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS SAY, PLEASE JUST TRY TO SAVE THIS, TRY TO WORK WITH WHAT THE PROPERTY YOU'VE GOT.
I MEAN, IF YOU'VE INTEND TO LIVE THERE, I MEAN, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION HOW UPSET THAT YOU'VE MADE YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PERSONALLY LIVE IN.
ANYWAY, THAT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN Y'ALL WANTED TO HEAR.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT IT'S, I'M VERY, I'M ADAMANT THAT THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS WORTH SAVING AND THIS IS WORTH IS THE GOOD FIGHT.
I THINK FOR, UH, JUST FOR THE, FOR THE RECORD, UM, COMMISSIONER
AND I THINK, I THINK YOUR POINT IS VERY WELL TAKEN THAT COMMUNITY VALUE ARCHITECTURE, UM, THE ARCHITECTURE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SAID IT'S ECLECTIC, IT'S FUNKY, IT'S WHATEVER, IT'S SOMEWHAT WHIMSICAL, BUT IT CERTAINLY FOLLOWS IN THE TRADITION OF THE CITY.
BEAUTIFUL OR GARDEN SUBURB IS VERY ROMANTIC, UM, ECLECTICISM.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER, UH, RESOURCE THAT WE'VE HAD ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT AND MANY IN THE PAST, UM, YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION, THIS IS TRULY A TREASURE, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED.
UM, THEN WE ALSO NEED TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
AND THEN WE STILL NEED A SECOND.
UM, DO WE FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ARE YOU ABSTAINING? OKAY, COMMISSIONER.
UM, WHETHER, WHETHER THERE'S BEEN HIM, HE OPPOSES IT PASSES.
ITS HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS IS INITIATED
[3.D.2. SP-2020-0297C – 1100 E. 5th St. – Discussion (postponed May 4, 2022) Council District 3]
OUR LAST ITEM D TO 1100 EAST FIFTH, 16 MINUTES AND 60 MINUTES.THANK YOU ALL FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH ME.
UM, THIS IS A PRESENTATION THAT YOU ALL SAW LAST TIME.
SO I AM NOT GOING TO, UM, REHASH THE ENTIRE STAFF REPORT.
UM, THIS IS THE DEMOLITION PROPOSAL, UM, FOR 1100 EAST FIFTH STREET, WHICH IS A COMPOUND QUONSET HUT WAREHOUSE, UM, ERECTED ON OR MOVED TO THE LOT IN 1940 AND RARE MULTIPLE BAY QUONSET HUT COMPOSED OF FIVE CONNECTED BARREL ARCH UNITS OF CORRUGATED STEEL PANELING WITH ROLL-UP METAL BAY DOORS AT THE VAULT ENDS.
UM, QUONSET HUTS ARE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING TYPOLOGY WITHIN PRESERVATION INDUSTRY STANDARDS.
UM, AND IN 2015 PRESERVATION, AUSTIN HONORED THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, UH, FAIR MARKET WITH A MERIT AWARD OR OUTSTANDING REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, UM, STATING AUSTIN'S MOST ICONIC QUONSET HUT ON EAST FIFTH MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED FOR PARKING OR AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, UH, HAD NOT A DEVELOPMENT TEAM STEPPED IN TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A STUNNING EVENT SPACE.
UM, IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1948 BY BEN POWELL JR.
WHO PURCHASED THE LAND FROM THE NEARBY RAILWAY.
UM, AND THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY USED A LOT FOR STORAGE, UH, POWELL RENTED IT OUT TO THE STACK COMPANY.
UM, SO POWELL WAS, UH, THE SON OF AN AUSTIN JUDGE WHO WORKED IN MILITARY DEFENSE IN WASHINGTON BEFORE RETURNING TO AUSTIN IN 1945 TO PRACTICE LAW.
UM, AND WE CAN CONCLUDE THAT PAL'S BACKGROUND IN THE ARMED SERVICES, UH, LIKELY LED HIM TO CONSIDER THE, UH, ECONOMICS WARTIME SURPLUS FROM CENTRAL TEXAS MILITARY BASES, UM, OR FROM THE AUSTIN BASED TEX BUILDING EQUIPMENT COMPANY OR FROM THE HOUSTON BASED NATIONAL STEEL PRODUCTS.
WHEN CONSIDERING WAREHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, THE BUILDING
[05:10:01]
ORIGINALLY HOW'S THE STACK COMPANY'S WAREHOUSE, NUMBER ONE, UH, IT REMAINED IN USE UNTIL THE COMPANY'S PURCHASE AND DISSOLUTION IN THE MID 1960S STICKS BUSINESS SOARED AFTER WORLD WAR II AND BECAME A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN AUSTIN AS GIS RETURNED HOME STECK WAS AUSTIN'S FIRST CITY MANAGER WHO INCORPORATED THE COMPANY IN 1932.UM, HE SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT AND I UNTIL 1947, UM, AND BUILT THE COMPANY INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLISHING CONCERNS IN THE SOUTHWEST IN 1928 STACK COMPANY HEADQUARTERS AT NIGHT, THEN LAVACA ARE STILL EXTANT, ALTHOUGH MODIFIED, UM, THOUGH OTHER KNOWN MID-CENTURY PRODUCTION AND WAREHOUSE FACILITIES ON STICK AVENUE AND SHE'LL CREEK BOULEVARD HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
UH, THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN RESOURCE SURVEY LIST OF PROPERTY IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL DESIGNATION, AS IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE CONCEPT HUT AS A DISTINCT BUILDING STYLE, THE 2005 LTO DISTRICT SURVEY LIST, THE PROPERTY AS A MEDIUM PRIORITY STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY IN FACT, MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A MULTI-TIERED QUONSET HUT.
THAT MAY BE THE LAST REMAINING FIVE BAY SPECIMEN IN AUSTIN THOUGH.
THE QUONSET HUT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE A TEMPORARY BUILDING TYPE.
UM, THIS BUILDING HAS WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME, UM, AND GAINED RECOGNITION OVER THE YEARS, UM, NAMED PRESERVATION OR PRESERVATION AUSTIN NAMED IT THE MOST ICONIC QUONSET HUT IN 2015, IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL BEN POWELL, JR.
AND WITH THE STACK COMPANY, UH, WHO WAS A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON AUSTIN'S ECONOMY DURING TIME OF ITS CONSTRUCTION.
AND THERE, THE PROPERTY DOES NOT APPEAR TO POSSESS A UNIQUE LOCATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OR SIGNIFICANT FEATURE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO, UM, AUSTIN'S CULTURAL IDENTITY.
UH, THE COMMISSION MAY CONSIDER THE BUILDING'S ROLES, AN EXAMPLE OF AUSTIN'S CHANGING IDENTITY AS DEVELOPMENT BRIDGE, THE GAP BETWEEN WORLD WAR II AND THE POST-WAR COMMERCIAL BOOM.
SO STEPH RECOMMENDATION, UM, IF THE COMMISSION FEELS THAT THE WAREHOUSES ASSOCIATIONS ARE INDIVIDUALLY SIGNIFICANT ALONG WITH ITS CLEAR ARCHITECTURAL MERIT CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING, SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL UPON RECEIPT OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
SO I UNDERSTAND IF YOU'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.
I JUST WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN 2015 WHEN IT RECEIVED PRESERVATION AUSTIN MERIT AWARD.
AND NOW I HAVE THE APPLICANT IS HERE AND MAYBE I'LL SPEAK TO THAT.
I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
MR. RICHARD CURTIS IS ALSO HERE.
HE'S THE ONE THAT RECEIVED THE AWARD AND CAN SPEAK TO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THAT.
BUT LET ME GO REALLY FAST BEFORE BEN GOES TO SLEEP ON ME.
THANKS FOR HEARING US LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE, WE SAT OUT HERE FOR FIVE HOURS AGAIN AND GOT TO THE END AND WE WERE TOLD GOODNIGHT, WE'RE HERE AGAIN TONIGHT, FIVE HOURS LATER.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS SEVERAL POINTS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T BELIEVE THE STAFF IS ACTUALLY RECOMMENDING HISTORIC ZONING ON THIS.
THEY, THEIR, THEIR QUOTE IS IF YOU DETERMINE THAT IT'S IT'S HISTORIC BECAUSE OF ITS ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH IS AN UNUSUAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION, NOT SAYING ZONE THIS HISTORIC QUONSET HUTS, WHERE THEY'RE BY THEIR VERY NATURE, TEMPORARY, A TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL FORM THAT CAME OUT OF THE MILITARY BACKGROUND AFTER WORLD WAR II.
AND THEY WERE SOLD BY THE THOUSANDS AS VERY INEXPENSIVE TEMPORARY STRUCTURES.
UH, THEY'RE NOT UNIQUE OR HISTORIC.
UH, SOME IN THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER, BUT THEY'RE MORE IN CONTEXT OF THEIR LOCATION OF MILITARY BACKGROUNDS IN NEAL MILITARY, UH, FACILITIES.
THIS DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA IN THE CODE.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AND NO EXCEPTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE TO A QUONSET HUT.
FINALLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A COYOTE OUT HERE IN OVER A DECADE, SO WE DON'T MEET THAT CRITERIA THAT WHEN WILL WE ASK THAT YOU RELEASE THE DEMO PERMIT ON THIS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND MR. KERSEE IS HERE, BUT I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TIGHT ON TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER SPEAKER IN FAVOR.
UM, SO WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SECOND MOVED AND SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
DO WE HEAR A MOTION ON, HAVE A MOTION ON THE CASE? I'M GOING TO MOVE TO RELEASE A DEMOLITION PERMIT PENDING A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
AND I'M GOING TO USE THE SAME JUSTIFICATION I DID FOR THE CESAR CHAVEZ HOUSE.
IS THAT IT WASN'T ON THE SURVEY.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN EXPECTED.
UM, THIS WOULD BE A BIG SURPRISE ON A BIG PROPERTY.
THAT'S WELL-SUITED FOR A LOCATION FOR, FOR DENSE HOUSING.
[05:15:01]
THINK THESE TORQUE ASSOCIATIONS ARE THERE.UM, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, THE CITY IS GOING TO BE SERVED BY SAVING THIS IT'S IT'S WHEN HE BIG GATHERING SPACES, BUT, UM, THAT'S NOT A REASON TO SAVE IT.
MY TWO COMMENTS ARE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS HOUSING HOUSING, THIS PROPOSED.
IS THAT CORRECT? IS IT COMMERCIAL? I MEAN, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE PLACES, DO YOU HAVE TO WORK PLACES ALSO? UM, I THINK YOU'RE MISSING A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE PART OF THE STRUCTURE AND INTEGRATED INTO THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT, UH, I SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I WROTE THE NATIONAL HISTORIC CONTEXT FOR QUONSET HUTS, UH, FOR THE NAVY, UH, SOME YEARS AGO.
AND I KNOW THAT THESE WERE INTENDED TO BE THREE TO FIVE-YEAR TEMPORARY, UM, RESOURCES, AND IT'S AMAZING.
THEY'VE COME DOWN AND LASTED THIS LONG.
THEY ARE, THEY ARE INTERESTING AND DOT THE LANDSCAPE.
UH, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THEM.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE MULTIPLE BAY EFFECT.
I THINK THEY JUST KIND OF JAM SOME QUONSETS TOGETHER, BUT, UM, ALL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
YEAH, I WAS, I WAS IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SUCH A UNIQUE BUILDING.
I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THIS OWNER WERE TO COME FORWARD AND, AND WANT DESIGNATION, WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE IT.
THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, I ALSO AM AWARE IT IS A TEMPORARY BUILDING, ADAPTING IT TO CURRENT USERS WILL BE VERY CHALLENGING.
AND I JUST DON'T SEE GOING TO THE MAP, UH, ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS, UH, OVER AND OVER AS OBJECTIONS, I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I THINK THE I'M, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE MOTION IMPLIES THAT, UH, OR ASSUMES THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE WOULD BE, UH, INCLUDED, WHICH IS ELEVATIONS OF ALL ELEVATIONS OFFICE SIDES AND, UH, HISTORIC NARRATIVE AGREES.
UH, AND I, I KIND OF ECHO COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE'S COMMENTS.
UH, I THINK IT IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
WE COULDN'T INCORPORATE SOME OF THAT INTO, IT SEEMS VERY AUSTIN, DOESN'T IT? IT DOES.
UM, LET'S TAKE A VOTE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
UH, COMMISSIONER VALANZUELA AS OPPOSED I THINK, OR DELAYED, I WOULD STILL EAT.
UM, CAN WE, CAN WE DISPENSE WITH THE COMMITTEE REPORTS AND GO TO THE ONE ITEM HERE? I THINK YOU WANTED TO MENTION, UH, UNDER
[4.B. Commissioner Summer Training]
AND STAFF ITEMS BE COMMISSIONER SUMMER TRAINING, COMMISSIONER, SUMMER TRAINING.SO, UH, IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD AN, A TRAINING.
WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD TRAINING WITH OUR STAFF.
AND THEN, UH, I BELIEVE WE'LL BE ALSO TRAINING A NEW COMMISSIONER.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
I WILL SEND OUT KIND OF LIKE A GOOGLE FORUM, UH, WITH A FEW DATES FOR YOU ALL TO SELECT FROM, UH, IT WILL BE AN ALL DAY AFFAIR, UH, WITH PROBABLY PRESENTATIONS FROM LAW, OUR STAFF, UM, AND PROBABLY CARE ABOUT WHAT THE PRESERVATION PLAN AND A FEW OTHER THINGS I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO, UH, BE BRIEFED ON OR ANY TRAIN THAT, ANY SPECIFIC TRAINING THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE.
UM, HOPEFULLY BY THEN WE WILL ALSO HAVE A NEW, UH, PRINCIPAL PLANNER OR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER WHO CAN ALSO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THAT, UM, TRAINING.
BUT ANYWAY, YEAH, LOOK OUT FOR AN EMAIL FROM ME, UM, WITH THAT KIND OF, THAT POLL OR THAT FORUM TO FILL OUT, UH, FOR AUGUST IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND YOU'RE SAYING I DID THIS TWO YEARS AGO.
NO RECOLLECTION YOU WERE ABSENT.
YOU MUST'VE BEEN, YEAH, THERE WAS A TRAINING THE SUMMER BEFORE COVID AND THEN THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE SINCE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THEM EVERY YEAR.
SO THAT'S A FUTURE, A NEW MOVIE THE SUMMER BEFORE COVID YEAH.
WE'LL HAVE SNACKS AND WE'LL BE FUN ANYWAY.
UM, BUT YEAH, LOOK OUT FOR THAT EMAIL.
UH, I'D LIKE TO GET AS MANY, UH, COMMISSIONERS THERE AS POSSIBLE.
SO I'LL TRY TO OUTLINE AS MANY AVAILABLE DATES AS OUR STAFF HAS AS POSSIBLE.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, UM, YEAH,
[05:20:01]
TRAINING WILL BE FUN AND THAT'S ALL.DO WE HAVE ANY MINUTES LEFT TO GO BACK TO THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE? COMMISSIONER VALANZUELA, COULD YOU, I WASN'T THERE SURE.
IT, IF, UH, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I, UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN.
WE WENT OVER THE BULK OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE WORKING GROUP HAS DECIDED ON FOR THE FIRST PHASE.
AND WE WILL BE STARTING TO MOVE INTO PHASE TWO, WHICH IS MORE OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT VERSION OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN.
WE CAN EXPECT A BRIEFING FROM CITY STAFF SOON, UM, ON THE PROGRESS OF PHASE ONE.
AND, UH, JUST EXCITED ABOUT MOVING INTO PHASE TWO.
UM, DO I HEAR MOTION TO ADJOURN? MADAM CHAIR? UH, ONE POINT OF ORDER FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE I'VE BEEN BIT BY THIS LATE NIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA MORE TIMES THAN THE, IN MY EARLY TENURE AS A COMMISSIONER.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO START ANY EARLIER AND MAYBE AVOID THAT DILEMMA EARLIER THAN SIX O'CLOCK? YES.
IT'S THE, IT'S THE LATE NIGHT NEWNESS THAT BOTHERS YOU OR THE LENGTH OF THE MEETING.
I'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE USED TO MEET UNTIL ONE AND TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING REGULARLY.
UM, CAN YOU JUST START AT SEVEN? WE USED TO START AT SEVEN AND WE MOVED TO SIX.
UM, I THINK, UH, MY EXPERIENCE IN MOVING EARLIER TO, AND I REALLY NOTICED THIS GOING TO SIX O'CLOCK AND IT'S GOING TO BE JUST THE SAME, GOING TO FIVE O'CLOCK IS THE TRAFFIC I'M GETTING HERE AND SPENDING AN HOUR IN TRAFFIC.
I ONLY LIVED 32 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE AND IT TAKES ME AN HOUR TO GET HERE SOMETIMES.
SO, UM, I WOULD RATHER JUST WAIT AND BE HERE AT SIX, BUT IF SOMEBODY, IF OTHER PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE AT FIVE, MANY PEOPLE WORK UNTIL FIVE, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT, UM, AVAILABILITY OF THIS.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT IT OR FEATURE AT PERHAPS AT THE SUMMER TRAINING SESSION? I MEAN, I JUST, 1130 IS LATE.
I HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING A MOTION TO ADJOURN.