[00:00:07]
[CALL TO ORDER ]
TO OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.I'M BEN HEIM, SETH, I'M CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION.
THIS IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023.
UH, I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:05 PM LET'S PROCEED WITH A, UH, A ROLL CALL.
AND, UH, I'LL DEFER TO YOU, MS. ALLEN, OF COURSE.
AND JUST TO A REMINDER TO THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE JOINING US, UH, VIRTUALLY, UM, IN ORDER TO CLAIM ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON.
SO, PROFESSOR, UH, PER, SORRY.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, WOULD YOU MIND TURNING YOUR CAMERA ON FOR US? OTHERWISE, I'LL HAVE TO COUNT YOU ABSENT.
YOU'RE GONNA CATCH A MEETING DINNER,
I GUESS I'LL GO THROUGH ATTENDANCE.
UM, COMMISSION CHAIR, BEN HEIM, SETH PRESENT, UM, COMMISSION VICE CHAIR, WHITT FEATHERSTON PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER KEVIN COOK, PRESENT COMMISSIONER CARL LAROCHE.
UM, I'LL HAVE TO MARK YOU OFF THE DAAS UNTIL YOU CAN GET YOUR CAMERA ON.
UM, COMMISSIONER TREY MCWHORTER.
COMMISSIONER HARMONY GROGAN PRESENT.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAYMOND CASTILLO.
AND THEN I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO WILL BE JOINING US LATE.
AND THEN, UM, COMMISSIONER TARA DUDLEY IS ABSENT.
WELL, WE'RE, SINCE WE'VE GOT, UH, A NUMBER AT HOME AND COMMISSIONER LAROCHE HAS HIS CAMERA ON, SO LET'S MARK HIM PRESENT.
UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SCOOT OVER TOO.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
WITH, UM, ACTUALLY, WHY DON'T WE, UH, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN LISTED? THIS IS FOR, UH, ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION ON ANY ITEM THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE AGENDA.ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN AGENDA ITEM? UH, YES.
WE DO HAVE, UH, TWO SIGNED UP.
ALRIGHT, MS. KING, IS THIS ON? UH, WHAT IS THAT? MIC ON? GOOD.
HEY, MEGAN KING WITH PRESERVATION AUSTIN, WITH MY MONTHLY UPDATE FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, WE HAVE OUR PRESERVATION MERIT AWARD CELEBRATION COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON NOVEMBER 14TH.
WE ARE CELEBRATING AN HONORING 12TH PROJECTS, PRESERVATION PROJECTS, UM, ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM THIS PAST YEAR.
UM, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN US.
IT'S NOT ON A NIGHT WHERE THERE'S A COMMISSION MEETING
UM, ANYWAY, UH, IF YOU WANNA BUY TICKETS, YOU CAN DO SO@PRESERVATIONAUSTIN.ORG.
UM, WE ALSO JUST ANNOUNCED THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING ON A HISTORIC TAX CREDIT WORKSHOP IN DECEMBER, ON DECEMBER 7TH.
UM, WE'LL BE HOSTING THAT AT ANTON'S NIGHTCLUB IN THEIR UPSTAIRS EVENT SPACE.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'LL HAVE A BUNCH OF PROFESSIONALS THERE TO SPEAK.
UM, IT'S LIKE A FOUR HOUR LONG WORKSHOP, SO IT'D BE PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY, UM, EDUCATIONAL.
AND THE TICKETS FOR THAT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT PRESERVATION AUSTIN.ORG.
AND MS. KING, I THINK IT ALSO PRESERVATION AUSTIN, UH, HAVING A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL MONTH IN CELEBRATING, UH, LEGACY BUSINESSES.
YEAH, WE JUST WRAPPED UP LEGACY BUSINESS MONTH, UM, TWO DAYS AGO, AND WE HAD A BIG PARTY AT THE YEAH, WE HAVE GOT, I'VE GOT SO MUCH NEWS FOR YOU GUYS.
I COULD KEEP TALKING ALL NIGHT.
BUT YEAH, WE HAD A BIG PARTY AT THE VICTORY GRILL ON MONDAY NIGHT, WHICH WAS GREAT.
WE GAVE AWAY PRIZES AND IT WAS REALLY, IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO BE IN THAT SPACE WITH EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THANK YOU.
REPORTING ON A LOT OF WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES.
AND WE HAVE ONE OTHER, UM, SPEAKERS.
GREETINGS, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE BEEN LEARNING, UH, LATELY LOOKING AT, UH, ROBERT'S RULES AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW, UM, THIS INTERACTION WORKS AND AS A CITIZEN.
UH, AND I THINK WHAT I NEED TO DO IS TO APPROACH SOMEONE AND GET A SPONSOR, UH, FOR A RESOLUTION, UM, TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO, UH, REVIEW THE SECTION 1 0 6 PROCESS THAT OCCURRED FOR, UM, UH, UM, A SECTION SIX F PROPERTY.
UH, SO TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT HAS, UH, UH, MANAGES GRANTS FOR LAND
[00:05:01]
AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, UM, FROM 19, FROM 1964.UM, I FOUND THIS GRANITE MARKER, UH, LEMME BACK UP.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS, UH, ORGANIZATION CALLED FESTIVAL BEACH, FOOD FOREST, UH, FOR BASICALLY SINCE CONCEPTION, OVER A DECADE, PUT IN HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WITH THE ORGANIZATION, UM, JUST SOUTH OF THIS PLOT OF LAND, WHICH IS, UH, ON CITY PARK LAND.
UM, AND WE'RE EXPANDING FROM TWO THIRDS OF ACRE TO THREE ACRES, UM, AND PROTECTING EXISTING PECAN TREES, WILDLIFE, UH, MINI COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING ONE THIS WEEKEND, IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME OUT AND CHECK IT OUT.
UM, DISCOVERED THIS, UH, TXDOT WAS GOING TO IMPACT.
THEY RELEASED THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND ARE ATTEMPTING TO, UH, CONDEMN PEACE OF PROPERTY FOR A TEMPORARY NON-CONFORMING USE, UM, LAND LOOKING FOR A CONVERSION SITE ON, UH, THE EAST SIDE EDWARD RENDON PARK.
UM, 0.7 ACRES ARE GOING TO BE CONDEMNED AND THERE'S THIS HISTORICAL GRANITE MARKER THERE FROM 1964 THAT DECLARES THIS PECAN GROVE, UH, THERE, UM, DEDICATED TO THE CITY.
AND FROM 1940 AERIAL PHOTOS, UM, THERE'S A SERIES OF PECAN TREES ALONG TOWN LAKE THAT, UH, ARE EXISTING, UM, AND VERY MATURE.
UM, SO I'D LIKE THESE, THE, A RECOMMENDATION FOR PAR TO DO A INTENSIVE SURVEY OF THE SITE TO RECON RE TO, UH, ASCERTAIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS GROVE, UM, TO, UM, ESTABLISH, UH, I BELIEVE THAT THE EIS WAS MISREPRESENTING, UH, THE IMPACT ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
UM, AND THE RECREATIONAL VALUE IS GONNA BE DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM, UH, MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT.
AND I WOULD LIKE, UH, THIS COMMISSION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PAR TO EVALUATE, UH, THE SIGNIFICANCE, UM, AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL, UH, AS A RESOURCE CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL HISTORIC NRHB ELIGIBILITY OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
AND, UM, YEAH, UH, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
I THINK YOU RAISE A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT OBVIOUSLY WILL TAKE MORE, UM, INVESTIGATION TO BE AWARE OF, UH, WHERE OUR JURISDICTION MIGHT FALL, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A, AS A SIMPLE OVERSIGHT OR MISTAKE WHERE SOMEONE WASN'T CLEAR ABOUT THE RECORD AND WE CAN CORRECT THAT.
UH, SO I, I'VE BROUGHT IT UP TO STAFF, UH, BOTH TO, UH, TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION WHO DID THE SECTION ONE SIX REVIEW AS WELL AS A PART REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, AND I, AND I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE RE-REVIEWED.
IT WAS 160 PAGE DOCUMENT AND THERE'S LIKE TWO SENTENCES ON THIS MARKER.
AND, UH, I THINK IT'S BEING OBFUSCATED SIGNIFICANTLY.
WELL, WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS IT, AT LEAST LOOK AT THAT, THAT YOU BRING IT UP.
I SAY THAT PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING FOR YOU AT THIS POINT, UH, SINCE IT'S MUCH MORE DETAILED THAN WE WOULD DO, UH, FROM THE DAIS RIGHT NOW, WOULD BE TO APPROACH STAFF AND, UH, IF YOU WOULD PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE, UH, ABSOLUTELY ASCERTAINED SO FAR.
AND THEN, UH, YOU BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE CAN AT LEAST TAKE IT LEAST, UH, UH, A CHANCE TO LOOK AT, UH, WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN.
I DUNNO IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
I THINK YOU, YOU SORT OF, I DON'T DUNNO IF IT WAS OFF THE CUFF OR IF YOU HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN, BUT YOU THINK THAT DRAFT RESOLUTION WOULD, WHAT THE VERBIAGE OF IT WOULD BE.
YOU CAN EMAIL THAT TO ME DIRECTLY ALSO, AND I'LL GET IN FRONT OF STAFF AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAID IT OUT LOUD EXPLICITLY.
I MEAN, I, I THINK WE ALL KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE I 35 EXPANSION.
YOU SAID TDOT AND YOU SAID KIND OF WHERE IT IS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE I 35 EXPANSION.
AND I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, UH, THE PRESENTATION THAT'S ON, UH, THE AGENDA TODAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE INFORMATION AND I'LL SEND THAT OVER TO YOU.
AND WHAT, WHAT PART OF THE I 35 EXPANSION IS THIS SPECIFIC AREA, DO YOU KNOW, OR IS IT, THIS IS THE NORTH SHORE OF, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE WATER.
IT'S, IT'S THE NORTH SHORE, BUT ACCORDING TO THEIR PHASING AND THEY'VE ALREADY BROKEN GROUND ON THE SOUTH, UH, STRETCH FROM BEN WHITE TO HOLLY SHORES, WHICH INCLUDES THE BRIDGE IN SIX YEARS, DEMOLITION THERE, AND MULTIPLE IMPACTS ON THE LAKE.
I'M GONNA CAUTION THE COMMISSION MEMBERS.
UH, WE ARE NOW BUMPING INTO WHAT IS A POSTED AGENDA ITEM AND THAT WE WILL BE GETTING A BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM.
CERTAINLY WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AT THAT POINT, BUT APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THAT AS A SPECIFIC ITEM FOR, UH, MORE INQUIRY.
ALRIGHT, MS. ALLEN, ARE THERE OTHER COMMUNICATIONS? UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE? NO.
ALRIGHT, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE READING OF THE AGENDA.
ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WITH STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS FIRST, THANK YOU CHAIR.
YEAH, WE DO HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN.
UM, I WANNA GET THESE OUT OF THE WAY, UM, 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FULL AGENDA TODAY.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, AND WE WILL REPEAT THIS AT THE END OF OUR MEETING TODAY.
UH, PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR NEXT MEETING, UM, IS SHIFTED TO DECEMBER 13TH, UH, BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS.
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU
[00:10:01]
ARE GOING TO BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING, UM, AHEAD OF TIME.IT WILL BE AT THE PDC AND NOT CITY HALL IF YOU ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON.
UM, WOULD YOU REMIND US JUST FOR, FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE PDC, THE FACILITY AND ITS LOCATION, UH, IT IS LOCATED ON WILLAMINA DELCO DRIVE.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT ADDRESS, BUT, UM, AMBER WILL PROBABLY SEND OUT SEVERAL EMAILS.
I'M REMINDING EVERYBODY BEFOREHAND AND WE'RE GONNA REMIND Y'ALL AT THE END OF THE MEETING TOO.
SO, UM, JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THAT NOBODY FORGETS.
UM, IT'S IN THE HIGHLAND MALL AREA.
BUT YEAH,
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE COMMISSION TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE CITY COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD IF YOU DON'T ALREADY.
UM, SEVERAL COUNCIL OFFICES HAVE EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST IN EXPLORING, UH, POTENTIAL HOME PRESERVATION OFFICE OPTIONS AS PART OF THE, UH, UPCOMING HOME AMENDMENTS THERE.
UM, AND WHEN OFFICE HAS MADE INQUIRIES TO STAFF ABOUT EXPLORING THESE OPTIONS, UM, WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE REGARDING THIS AMENDMENT AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
BUT IF YOU DON'T ALREADY FOLLOW THE, UH, THE MESSAGE BOARD, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO CHECK IN OCCASIONALLY.
UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE RELEVANT ITEMS, UM, TO THIS COMMISSION.
I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK AGAIN.
SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW AND THOSE OF US WHO AREN'T CHECKING REGULARLY, IS THAT A LINK THAT YOU'VE SENT US OR IS THERE A, WHAT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO GET US TO THAT MESSAGE BOARD? AS, AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION? I CAN SEND YOU A LINK.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A LINK ON THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, MAIN INFORMATION PAGE FOR MEETING INFORMATION.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY, ANY QUESTION ABOUT THAT, IS THAT EASY ENOUGH? OKAY.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE MAYBE LESS TECH INCLINED,
AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO, UH, FIRST WELCOME UT'S PRESERVATION LAW CLASS, UM, WHO WILL BE JOINING US TONIGHT.
UM, AND TO, UM, LET THEM KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, AFTER THE MEETING, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER.
UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME SAM, WHO IS OUR NEW LIAISON, UM, TO HIS FIRST HLC MEETING.
UM, AND WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HIM ON OUR TEAM AND PLEASE GIVE HIM A WARM WELCOME AS HE TRANSITIONS INTO THE LIAISON ROLE.
AND THAT IS ALL Y'ALL HAVE FROM ME.
WE, YOU, YOU ALREADY SUFFERED THROUGH A COUPLE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND YOU HAVEN'T GONE YET, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU STILL HERE.
OKAY, MS. ALLEN, I DO THINK WE ARE READY
[Consent Agenda]
FOR THE REVIEW OF THE, OF THE, UH, AGENDA.AND, UH, I HAVE TO NOTE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO, UH, DOWNLOAD OUR MATERIALS, UH, THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT IN THE FORMATTING AND WE ARE NO LONGER, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ALLOWED TO PUT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTION, UH, WHETHER CONSENT OR POSTPONEMENT OR DISCUSSION.
AND SO THAT IS A LIST THAT IS POSTED NOW SEPARATELY.
UH, BUT UH, IF YOU CROSS-REFERENCE THOSE, YOU CAN BE CAUGHT UP RATHER QUICKLY.
AND OF COURSE, I'LL MAKE REFERENCE TO EACH OF THOSE AS I GO THROUGH THE AGENDA SEQUENTIALLY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE A ITEM THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, UH, THAT IS NOTED AS A RECOMMENDED CONSENT ITEM.
UH, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO THE CONSENT, EITHER FROM COMMISSIONERS OR FROM SOMEONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE IT POLLED, THEN AT THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA OUR VOTE, WE'LL PASS THAT ITEM.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU DO WANT TO DISCUSS SOMETHING OR DO WANT TO HAVE A, UH, ITEM THAT IS NOTED AS CONSENT TO BE BROUGHT UP, YOU'LL HAVE TO GET OUR ATTENTION AS WE GO THROUGH THE AGENDA.
OF COURSE, THE OTHER SIDE IS IF YOUR ITEM IS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF IT'S PASSED, THEN THAT WOULD'VE BEEN APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED.
UH, AND WHATEVER ACTION IS REQUIRED AFTER THAT WOULD, WOULD FOLLOW.
ALRIGHT, WELL, LET ME JUST START.
UH, WE HAVE TWO BRIEFINGS ON THE, NO, I'M SORRY.
THE FIRST IS GOING TO BE OUR OCTOBER 4TH MINUTES, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT APPROVAL.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, WE'LL HAVE, UH, TDOT WITH A PROJECT UPDATE.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTER HERE FROM TXDOT ON THAT.
ITEM THREE, WE HAVE RECENT PRESERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
UH, SOME DISCUSSION OF A COUPLE OF, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE GOING ON, UH, FROM OUR STAFF.
UH, WHEN WE NOW GO TO THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS, UH, HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 4 7 19 CONGRESS AVENUE, THE STATE THEATER, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT, UH, AT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THAT IS 1100 EAST SECOND STREET.
UH, THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 6 11 93 SAN BERNARD STREET.
THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THE NEXT SET OF ITEMS ARE, UH, REQUESTS THAT WERE, ARE WITHIN THE HISTORIC, EITHER ON A HISTORIC LANDMARK OR WITHIN A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THESE APPLICATIONS REQUIRE CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS.
[00:15:02]
WEST 12TH STREET.THAT IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT.
UH, AND THAT WILL BE A CONSENT POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 8 39 0 4 AVENUE G.
UH, THAT IS A CONSENT ITEM THAT IS, UH, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ADU, UH, BEHIND THE BUILDING.
ITEM NUMBER 9 11 0 7 EAST 10TH STREET.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER ADU CONSTRUCTION.
UH, WITHIN THAT, THAT PROPERTY THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, THE, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT APPLICATIONS, UH, THAT TRIGGERS REVIEW, UH, AND, AND COMMENT, UH, BY THE COMMISSION.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 10 14 0 9 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
UH, THERE IS A POSTPONEMENT AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT.
ITEM NUMBER 1196 RAINY STREET, UH, THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 12 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY.
THAT IS, UH, OFFERED, UH, AS CONSENT AND THAT IS FOR, UM, DEMOLITION OF A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, UH, AND FENCING.
BUT THAT, THAT ITEM, UH, HAS BEEN BEFORE US.
UH, YEAH, BUT IT'S OFFERED NOW FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 13 5 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET.
UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION OF A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
IT IS, UH, OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 14 11 0 2 MAL PHRASE STREET.
UH, THAT'S FOR AN ADDITION AND REMODEL, UH, REQUEST.
THAT IS A, UH, POSTPONE, UH, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AT THE, UH, APPLICANT'S REQUEST.
ITEM NUMBER 15, UH, YES, UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, I STILL, ITEM 13 IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
DID I HAVE THAT WRONG ON MY SHEET? UM, I WILL SAY THAT A, UH, SOMEONE DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION FOR ITEM NUMBER 13.
SO IT'LL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION EITHER WAY.
THANK NIKKI FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
YES, IT, IT WAS LISTED ON THE SHEET AND HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN OFFERED FOR, UH, HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, SO LET ME PROCEED WITH ITEM 15.
THAT'S 1303 AND A HALF HILLSIDE AVENUE.
UH, ONCE AGAIN AN ADU CONSTRUCTION, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 16 16 10 PRESTON AVENUE.
UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 12.
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS, UH, 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY.
AND SO THAT WILL BE CALLED, I'M SORRY I COULDN'T HEAR THERE FOR A SECOND, BUT HAS NUMBER 13 BEEN PULLED? YES, UH, NUMBER 13 HAS BEEN PULLED.
AND AGAIN, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO PULL ANY ITEM WHEN I OFFER, WHEN I MENTION CONSENT THAT THIS IS THE PROCEDURE, UH, WE WERE AT 15 AND THAT, UH, WAS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UH, NUMBER 16 WAS 1610 PRESTON AVENUE ALSO OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 17, UH, THAT IS 1621 WEST 14TH STREET.
UH, IT WAS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I'D LIKE THAT ONE TO BE DISCUSSED.
UH, THAT'S 32 0 9 OAKMONT BOULEVARD.
THIS IS A NEW CONSTRUCTION OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UH, THE REMAINING ITEMS, DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 19 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
UH, THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OCTOBER 4TH.
THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 20 11 0 1 GARNER AVENUE.
UH, THIS ALSO WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR PREVIOUS OCTOBER MEETING THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 21 46 0 4 CREST WAY DRIVE, UH, ONCE AGAIN, A POSTPONEMENT FROM OCTOBER 4TH.
UH, THAT IS ALSO A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND ITEM NUMBER 22 8 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT IS ALSO OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME ITEMS TO, UM, WELL, BASICALLY FOR DISCUSSION, UH, THEY'RE NOTED AS COMMISSION ITEMS NUMBER 23 12 0 1 EAST SEVENTH STREET, THE GREEN AND WHITE GROCERY.
UH, ITEMS 24 THROUGH 27 ARE OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
AND AS WAS NOTED, UM, THEY REPORTED THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
WE WILL RESERVE TIME SO WE CAN DO AN UPDATE ON THE HOME AMENDMENTS AND SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS THAT, UH, THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT, UH, AS IT COMES TO PRESERVATION ISSUES.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE AGENDA,
[00:20:01]
UH, ONCE AGAIN, IF WE COULD.THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE ITEM ONE, THE MINUTES ITEM EIGHT, UH, 39 0 4 AVENUE G ITEM 9 11 0 7 EAST 10TH STREET, ITEM 15, 13 0 3 AND A HALF.
HILLSIDE AVENUE, 16 16 10 PRESTON AVENUE.
UH, I WILL COMMISSIONERS ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AS NOTED.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COOK, AND SECONDED BY, UM, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ALRIGHT, ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THAT, UH, THOSE CONSENT ITEMS HAVE PASSED AGAIN.
IF ONE OF YOUR ITEMS WAS, UH, NOTED THEN THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED, WE NOW HAVE THE POSTPONEMENT ITEMS. ALL OF THOSE ARE CONSENT POSTPONEMENTS.
AND, UH, LET'S SEE IN MY NOTES.
UH, THAT'S UH, SEVEN 19 CONGRESS AVENUE.
THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 10 14 0 9 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
THAT IS ITEM 14, UH, 1102 MAL RACE.
AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE POSTPONEMENTS, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
MOVE TO PASS THE POSTPONEMENT AGENDA.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, UH, MOTION TO PASS THE POSTPONEMENT ITEMS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, ONCE AGAIN, IT IS UNANIMOUS AND THAT HAS PASSED.
UH, WE ARE AT THIS POINT READY FOR OUR FIRST ITEM.
[2. TxDOT Project Updates]
PROJECT UPDATES, UH, IS, UH, MS. DESCO HERE.AND JUST A REMINDER TO OUR AUDIENCE, IF, UM, YEAH, YOU DO NEED TO HAVE A SIDE CONVERSATION, PLEASE TAKE IT OUT INTO THE LOBBY, UH, UH, IN RESPECT FOR OUR SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, ASKING ME TO COME AND, UH, DO THIS BRIEFING TO YOU THIS EVENING.
I AM THE CULTURAL RESOURCES SECTION DIRECTOR FOR, UM, TXDOT.
I WORK IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DIVISION AND ON THIS PROJECT I'M ASSISTING OUR TDOT AUSTIN DISTRICT, UM, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF DEVELOPING THE I 35 CAPITAL EXPRESS PROJECT.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMPONENT OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE CONCLUDED, UM, OUR PROCESS AND WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO GOING FORWARD.
I WILL NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH MR. SANTIAGO ABOUT HIS CONCERNS AND PROVIDED HIM WITH OUR STATEMENTS ON HIS CONCERNS.
SO BASICALLY JUST TO ORIENT US, UM, HERE AND, AND HAVE THIS INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET, IN CASE YOU WANT ANY MORE INFORMATION, THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE CAPITAL EXPRESS PROJECT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL.
UM, YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT WE ALSO HAVE CAPITAL EXPRESS NORTH AND CAPITAL EXPRESS SOUTH.
BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT THIS IS THE ONE WHERE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WAS JUST RELEASED THIS AUGUST.
UM, AND CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN MID 2024.
UM, AS PART OF OUR RECORD OF DECISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, UH, TEXT COMMITTED TO A NUMBER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ITEMS, BOTH AS PROTECTION FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES AS WE DO CONSTRUCTION WORK ALONG THIS CORRIDOR, AS WELL AS MITIGATION OR COMPENSATION FOR THE LOSS OF FOUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT WILL BE COMPLETELY REMOVED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
THESE ARE THE FOUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, UM, THAT, THAT WILL BE COMPLETELY REMOVED FOR THIS PROJECT.
SO ON THE UPPER LEFT WE HAVE THE DURA TUNE GAS STATION.
ONE OF THE GAS STATIONS, UM, THAT WAS OPEN SHORTLY AFTER I 35 WAS CONSTRUCTED.
UM, IT IS VERY DISTINCTIVE TO CANOPIES.
IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE THAT NOW.
BOTH THE CANOPIES ARE GONE AS WELL AS THE SIGN AND IT'S COVERED IN GRAFFITI.
SO, UM, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S LOST A LOT OF ITS HISTORIC CHARACTER, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DOCUMENT IT BEFORE THAT HAPPENED AS PART OF OUR PROJECT.
ON THE UPPER RIGHT, UM, IS THE ELGIN BUTLER BRICK COMPANY
[00:25:01]
MAIN OFFICE, WHICH YOU MAY KNOW MORE AS THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE OFFICES.UM, AND THE TWO HOUSES ON THE BOTTOM, UM, THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS THE HASTER HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT FOR THE HASTER FAMILY.
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS THE ROBERTS HOUSE.
THEY ARE THE TWO, UM, REMAINING RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC RESOURCES THAT USED TO BE ON THAT PART OF WHAT WAS EAST AVENUE, UM, BEFORE THE, UM, BEFORE THE INTERCONTINENTAL ROAD CAME THROUGH.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW THAT NOW THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY OF THAT EARLY 20TH CENTURY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY REMAINING ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.
OVERALL, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COURT OF THE PROJECT, THIS IS KIND OF THE SUMMARY OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, UM, UNDER THE SECTION 1 0 6 PROCESS OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT THAT WE'RE WORKING UNDER HISTORIC PROPERTIES ARE THOSE LISTED IN OR ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES? SO WE CERTAINLY WORKED, UM, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT CITY LANDMARKS WE'RE IN THE CORRIDOR AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ALL THE CITY LANDMARKS ROSE TO THE LEVEL OF NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBILITY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM IN THIS PROJECT ARE PART OF THIS.
SO THERE ARE 13 HISTORIC DISTRICTS ALONG THE PROJECT CORRIDOR WITH 53 INDIVIDUAL HISTORIC PROPERTIES OUTSIDE OF THOSE HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
SO AS YOU ALSO KNOW, THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS HAVE CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE, UM, INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE THERE ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
WE ALSO DID A SURVEY, UM, AND DOCUMENTED 480 ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES THAT WERE 45 YEARS OLD OR OLDER.
AND AGAIN, UM, ON THIS SLIDE IS ANY LINK IS A LINK TO ONLINE VERSIONS OF ALL OF THE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO TDOT'S GOING TO BE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION WORK IN SEGMENTS.
UM, AND PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK ON EACH SEGMENT OF THE PROJECT, UM, THE DESIGNERS AND THE CONTRACTORS ARE GOING TO DEVELOP A HISTORIC PROPERTY PROTECTION PLAN.
AND THAT CON THOSE CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS THAT ARE ON THIS SLIDE.
BASICALLY THE PLAN IS TO INDICATE TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS AND PUT ACTUALLY INTO THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING AND CREATING FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, WE ARE LOCATING ALL THE KNOWN HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE PROJECT AREA AND WE ARE INSTRUCTING THOSE CONTRACTORS TO AVOID ANY IMPACTS TO THOSE PROPERTIES BY FENCING THEM OFF OR OTHERWISE COMPLETELY AVOIDING ANY USE.
SO WE'VE DEFINED WHAT NO WORK ZONES ARE, WE'VE DEFINED THAT WE NEED TO PUT FENCING AND BARRICADES AROUND THESE AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.
IN ADDITION, UM, TXDOT WILL ALSO HOLD ITS CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT THEIR WORK CAUSES TO ANY OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
UM, CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT ARE GOING TO UNDERGO VERY SIGNIFICANT GROUND DISTURBANCE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ.
BASICALLY FROM I 45, I 35, SORRY, ALL THE WAY OUT TO 180 3 SOUTH.
THIS BRIDGE, THERE'S GONNA BE A STORMWATER DRAINAGE TUNNEL.
UM, THAT DRAINAGE TUNNEL WILL BE TWO STORIES HIGH IN DIAMETER.
IT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
UM, AND WE'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, TXDOT IS LOWERING THE I 35 MAIN LANES THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND THAT WILL REQUIRE A VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXCAVATION EARTH MOVING AND WE'LL NEED A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT MORE STORMWATER DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE THERE.
NOW BECAUSE OF THESE TWO COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT, TXDOT IS GOING TO BE CREATING A GROUND SETTLEMENT AND VIBRATION MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THOSE THAT PROPOSED WORK WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT ADJACENT HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
SO THOSE THAT ARE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORK, UM, THE PLAN WILL CONTAIN THE COMPONENTS THAT I'VE LISTED ONTO THE SLIDE.
AND BASICALLY WE'RE KIND OF AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS.
WE ARE STILL DOING OUR GEOTECHNICAL SURVEYS OF THE SOIL.
WE ARE ALSO PLANNING THE CONSTRUCTION METHODS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE TUNNEL.
UM, I HAVE NOT HEARD YET WHETHER OR NOT WE'VE DECIDED HOW WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT THIS.
YOU KNOW, IS BLASTING ON THE TABLE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GONNA BE YOU DOING A BORE, I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
[00:30:01]
CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, ARE GREATLY GOING TO IMPACT THE TYPE OF VIBRATION OR SETTLEMENT THAT MAY OCCUR.UM, WE DID MOVE THE TUNNEL ALONG EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ INTO THE BEDROCK, SO THAT SHOULD GREATLY REDUCE AND LIMIT ANY POTENTIAL FOR, UM, ANY CONSTRUCTION RELATED GROUND SETTLEMENT AND VIBRATION, UM, TO THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS ALONG THAT STREET.
'CAUSE BASICALLY ALL ALONG EAST CESAR CHAVEZ ALMOST TO, UM, PLEASANT VALLEY IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I WANTED TO TOUCH REALLY BRIEFLY ON THE MITIGATION THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, UM, FOR EACH HISTORIC PROPERTY PROPOSED FOR REMOVAL.
AFTER WE ACQUIRE, UM, THOSE PARCELS, UM, WE WILL CREATE A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE THAT WILL INCLUDE THESE MATERIALS.
WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED MOST OF THE HISTORIC RESEARCH FOR THESE PROPERTIES WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OR NOT.
SO WE'RE MOSTLY GONNA JUST BE ADDING ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE INTERIOR AND CREATING SITE AND FLOOR PLANS, THE MATERIAL BE PACKAGED TOGETHER, OFFERED TO THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
UM, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, KEEPS ALL OF THEIR STUFF AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHECK TWO BOXES WITH THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE DIGITAL COPIES OF THIS ONLINE.
SO IT'LL BE KIND OF VERY SIMILAR TO THE PACKAGES THAT ARE PREPARED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN PROPERTIES ARE PROPOSED FOR DEMOLITION INCOME IN FRONT OF YOU.
IN ADDITION TO JUST THAT DOCUMENTATION, WE'RE PLANNING TO SALVAGE BRICKS FROM THE ELGIN BUTLER BRICK COMPANY.
SO IN THAT BUILDING ON THE INTERIOR, THEY SHOWED OFF THE BRICK WORK THAT THEY COULD DO, UM, THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GLAZINGS, THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WAYS THEY COULD LAY BRICK.
UM, AND SO THEIR INTERIOR OF THAT OFFICE IS KIND OF LIKE A SHOWROOM FOR WHAT THE BRICK COMPANY, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU COULD PICK FROM IS LIKE THEIR IN YOU IN-PERSON CATALOG.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF REUSE, SALVAGE THOSE, DOCUMENT THEM SALVAGE STORE AND THEN REUSE THEM AGAIN ALONG THE I 35 CORRIDOR, THIS PART OF THE CORRIDOR AS CLOSE TO THE MAIN OFFICE AS WE COULD.
UM, WE ARE PLANNING A LOT OF ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE TRAILS AND ESPECIALLY IN THAT AIR AIRPORT, UM, AREA, INTERSECTION AREA, THERE'S GONNA BE A BIG WAY TO DO A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING LIKE LANDSCAPES AND AESTHETIC WORK.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO REALLY HAVE SOMETHING PRETTY COOL THERE WHERE WE REUSE THOSE BRICKS AND TELL THE STORY OF THE ELGIN BUTLER BRICK COMPANY AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO THE BUILDING OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME PLANNED MITIGATION THAT ISN'T SPECIFIC TO THOSE FOUR PROPERTIES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING A HISTORIC CONTEXT ABOUT MEXICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY REALLY QUICKLY, THE REASON FOR CHOOSING MEXICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IS, UM, IS TWOFOLD.
LIKE WHY WE, WHY WE FOCUSED ON THAT TYPE OF HISTORY.
ONE IS THAT IT'S A REQUEST THAT CAME OUT FROM THE CONSULTING PARTIES, THE PRESERVATION AND HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE TALKED TO ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
AND TWO, THE MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES WITHIN OUR PROJECT AREA THAT MAY BE IMPACTED BY OUR PROJECT ARE MEXICAN AMERICAN PROPERTIES.
SO IT'S LIKE PALM PARK, PALM SCHOOL, EMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, UM, ALL OF THE HOMES AND BUSINESSES ALONG EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ.
AND SO WE REALLY KIND OF HAVE A FOCUS ABOUT THAT IN OUR PROJECT AREA.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO, UM, DEVELOP AN INTERPRETIVE FRAMEWORK THAT TALKS ABOUT, UM, INTERPRETIVE PLANS, UM, AND UNITES A LOT OF THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES AND IDEAS AND ABOUT, UM, INTERPRETATION ALONG I 35.
SO THE IDEA IS TO ENCOMPASS PLANS BY LIKE WATERLOO GREENWAY, UM, PLANS FOR PALM PARK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND REC, UM, THE CORRIDOR PLANNING OFFICE, WHICH IS THE CITY OF OFFICES, CITY OF AUSTIN'S OFFICE IN CHARGE OF THAT CAP ANDIT PROJECT, RAISING THE MONEY FOR THAT.
UM, UH, THE INCORPORATION OF LIKE PALM DISTRICT PLANS, THE TEJANA WALKING TRAIL, YOU KNOW, EFFORTS BY TRAVIS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UM, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY LARGE EFFORT, BUT ONE THAT I HOPE CAN REALLY BRING A LOT OF THOSE VARIOUS THINGS TOGETHER AND HAVE LIKE AN OVERVIEW AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE I 35, WHAT I 35 DID AND WHAT IS THERE TODAY.
[00:35:03]
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME TIMELINES.UM, CURRENTLY WE ARE STILL WORKING TO PREPARE THE PROJECT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE NOT BROKEN GROUND ON THIS PROJECT YET.
UM, WE ARE STILL REFINING AND DEVELOPING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATES THAT ARE NEEDED, BUT WE ARE BEGINNING TO ACQUIRE THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT IS NECESSARY AND STARTING TO WORK WITH ANY UTILITIES THAT ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT NEED TO BE RELOCATED.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK YOU MIGHT SEE RELATED TO UTILITY RELOCATION THAT IS PART OF THE PROJECT, BUT NOT REALLY PART OF THE ACTUAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
WE ARE STILL ON TRACK TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN MID 2024 AND THE PROJECT IS PROJECTED TO TAKE 10 YEARS.
SO WE'LL SEE RIGHT
AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE GOES, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THOSE HISTORIC PROPERTY PROTECTION PLANS AND THE GROUND SETTLEMENT AND VIBRATION PLANS AS PART OF THE DESIGN PACKAGES.
UM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING OUR STUDIES AND OUR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS THAT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO WORK ON THIS.
THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE TUNNEL IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST SEGMENTS OF THE PROJECT THAT WE START.
'CAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE WE START ALL OF THAT EXCAVATION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF THAT TUNNELING WILL BE COMING OUT SOONER RATHER THAN SOME OF THIS OTHER STUFF.
SO AS WE ACQUIRE RIGHT OF WAY AND GET ACCESS TO THOSE FOUR PROPERTIES, WE'LL BE DOING DOCUMENTATION.
UM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIMELINES SET YET WHEN TO START THE HISTORIC CONTEXT OR THE INTERPRETIVE PLAN, UM, OR FRAMEWORK REALLY.
AND, UM, IT'S LIKELY THOSE WILL PROBABLY NOT BEGIN UNTIL 2025 OR LATER.
SO THE LAST SLIDE IS MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
UM, IF YOU WANNA REACH OUT TO ME, UH, SPECIFICALLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO AT TXDOT TO TALK ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, A BROKEN LIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
OR IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, I'M HAPPY TO, UM, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BRIEFINGS, UH, TO THIS COMMISSION.
UH, AS THE PROJECT MOVES ON, I WILL CERTAINLY BE KEEPING, UM, THE STAFF INFORMED ABOUT ALL OF THIS AS WELL, UM, AND HAVE THEM PARTICIPATE AS MUCH AS THEY'RE ABLE AS WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
THANK YOU MS. DE BRASCO, AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE, WE'VE BEEN VERY ANXIOUS TO HAVE YOU, UH, GIVE US AN UPDATE.
I KNOW THERE ARE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
UH, SO WE, WE, I'LL TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF, BUT I THINK, UH, AS YOU ARE WALKING US THROUGH THESE MORE COMPREHENSIVE STEPS AND GIVING US AN UPDATE, UH, IT OCCURS TO ME JUST HOW MASSIVE THIS PROJECT IS, THE LIKES OF WHICH I DON'T THINK AUSTIN IS SEEN CERTAINLY IN MORE THAN A GENERATION, RIGHT? WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING A GENERATIONAL PROJECTS.
SO YES, AND I NOW IN THE LONG RUN, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE COLOSSAL MESS THAT YOU'LL BE MAKING FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, UH, THIS WILL BE A MAJOR, MAJOR, UH, VICTORY FOR PRESERVATION AND PRESERVATION RELATED ITEMS OVERALL IN THAT WE REMOVE THAT, UH, JUST THE, THE, THE WALL THAT HAS BLOCKED OFF, UH, ONE PART OF THE CITY FROM THE OTHER, UH, AND, AND DESTROYED, YOU KNOW, THE, THE REMNANTS OF WHAT WAS LEFT OF EAST AUSTIN, MAYBE, UH, EAST AVENUE, EXCUSE ME, UH, MAYBE COMING BACK IN SOME FASHION, UH, WHERE WE CAN BRING THE, THE CITY AND SEW THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BACK TOGETHER.
UH, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE ARE MANY, MANY DETAILS AND THERE'S LOTS OF IMPLICATIONS FOR PRESERVATION.
UH, I WILL THROW ONE QUICK QUESTION.
I HAVE ALREADY HEARD THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES.
WE HEARD ONE TONIGHT, UH, THAT MAY STILL NEED TO BE ADDED TO YOUR LIST.
UH, IS THERE A PROCEDURE FOR RECHECKING OR GOING BACK AND REEVALUATING SPECIFIC PROJECTS? UH, WHAT, HOW, HOW HAVE YOU GOT THAT SET UP? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND YES, YES, THERE IS.
UM, SO TO, TO GET SUPER TECH, I'M NOT GONNA GET SUPER TECHNICAL, BUT WHAT WE DID, UM, TO KIND OF FINISH THIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROCESS IS THAT WE SIGNED WHAT'S CALLED A PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT.
AND THAT AGREEMENT DETAILS HOW WE REVIEW CHANGES.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS AS TO WHAT WAS STUDIED IN THAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
AND LIKE I SAID, NOW WE'RE STARTING TO REALLY GET INTO THE DESIGN AND A LOT OF TIME CHANGES ARE MADE.
SO WE HAVE A PROCESS ON HOW TO REVIEW CHANGES TO THE PROJECT, HOW TO LEARN AND GO OUT AND SEE IF THOSE CHANGES MIGHT IMPACT SOMETHING HISTORIC THAT WASN'T INCLUDED THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE PROCEDURES TO REANALYZE
[00:40:01]
THINGS THAT HAVE MAYBE CHANGED OVER TIME.UM, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT IS BROUGHT UP RIGHT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY, UM, OUR CONSULTING PARTIES.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING'S LANDMARKED SAY BY THIS COMMISSION THAT WASN'T BEFORE, YOU KNOW, AND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND BASICALLY IT'S REALLY JUST KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE PROJECT AND HOW WHAT IS PLANNED IN THAT PROJECT AREA IS GOING TO IMPACT THAT, THAT PROPERTY.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SORT OF YOUR FIRST WORK HAS BECOME YOUR BASELINE.
AND IF SOME, IF FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A PARTICULAR PROPERTY THAT WE REALLY DO BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED DIFFERENTLY, THEN THAT WOULD GO THROUGH A PROCEDURE OF EVALUATION AND WE COULD FOLLOW THAT WITH YOU.
UH, AND ASSUMING THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING WE COULD INCORPORATE IN THE PLAN, THEN WE WOULD KNOW WHEN THAT WAS THE CASE.
COMMISSIONERS FURTHER QUESTIONS? YES, I I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, SO IT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF THE, THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE EAST SIDE OF 35.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE EAST SIDE OF 35 IS THE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS EXPANSION? AND UM, YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
WHEN YOU SAY THE FOCUS, THE FOCUS OF WHAT EXACTLY, UM, OF YOUR, THE PLAN THAT YOU WERE JUST OUTLINING, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WHAT WAS DONE WAS EAST OF 35 AND NOT ON THE WEST SIDE OF 35.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THE EAST SIDE OF 35 IS GONNA BE IMPACTED THE MOST BY THIS EXPANSION.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO KIND OF TWO ANSWERS TO THAT.
NUMBER ONE FOR THE ACTUAL PORTION OF I 35, THAT IS THROUGH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, WE WORKED REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD TO STAY WITHIN OUR FOOTPRINT, KIND OF LIKE FROM MLK SOUTH TO THE, TO THE LAKE, BUT WE HAVE THAT TUNNEL THAT IS GOING DOWN EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ ALL THE WAY OUT TO I 35 SOUTH THAT HAS THAT POTENTIAL TO IMPACT ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES ALONG THERE.
SO YES, THERE WAS A BIG FOCUS ON THAT SIDE, BUT WE WERE ALSO, WE AVOIDING IMPACTS TO PALM PARK.
WE ARE AVOIDING IMPACTS TO PALM SCHOOL ON THE WEST SIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE AVOIDING IMPACTS TO EMANUEL UMC CHURCH ON THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE EAST SIDE WE'RE KIND OF THREADING THAT WE'RE AVOIDING IMPACTS TO MOUNT CALVARY CEMETERY, WHICH IS ON THE EAST SIDE AND AND TUN GAS STATION.
NOW THIS IS GETTING FURTHER NORTH THAN WHAT WE TYPICALLY CONSIDER EAST AUSTIN, BUT YOU KNOW, UM, TUN GAS STATION AND THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE ELGIN BUTLER BRICK COMPANY ARE ALSO ON WEST AUSTIN AND WE'RE TAKING THOSE PROPERTIES TO AVOID ACQUIRING FIESTA GROCERY STORE.
SO THERE'S KIND OF LIKE, THERE'S THIS HUGE LIKE BALANCE AND THREADING THE NEEDLE DOWN THERE, BUT THAT TUNNEL THAT GOES, THAT'S PLANNED TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE OUTFALL IN, IN, IN COLORADO IN THE COLORADO RIVER THERE IS REALLY KIND OF WHAT, WHAT, WHAT GAVE THAT EMPHASIS TO THE EAST AUSTIN.
MORE QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER COOK A QUESTION, UH, FIRST, SORRY IF I MISSED IT, BUT WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL TRIGGER FOR RECONSIDERATION OF PROPERTIES TO ACTUALLY GET THEM, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ABOUT PROPERTIES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
HOW DOES IT MEET YOUR THRESHOLD OF WHEN YOU WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO RECONSIDER AND RESPOND TO? SO IT WILL EITHER BE TRIGGERED THROUGH A CHANGE TO THE, THE PROJECT AREA THAT WE'VE ALREADY REVIEWED OR IT WILL BE TRIGGERED THROUGH SOMEONE BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
SO JUST AN EMAIL TO YOU WOULD BE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER? IT COULD BE YES.
THERE'S NO OTHER OFFICIAL PROCESS OR RULES OR MAGIC WORDS YOU HAVE TO KNOW TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL? NOT USUALLY, NO.
I MEAN, MISS LIKE MR. SANTIAGO DID SEND, SEND AN EMAIL TO US, YOU KNOW, AND WE LOOKED INTO HIS CONCERNS AND PROVIDED HIM WITH OUR THOUGHTS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD EASILY DO THE SAME THING IF THERE WAS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT ONCE THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED OR YOU FELT WAS MISSED OR WAS MISCHARACTERIZED, YOU KNOW, AN EMAIL IS FINE.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A CITY RESOLUTION OR A LETTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU AS A MEMBER OF JUST A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, IT CERTAINLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING UP A CONCERN.
AND, AND IF I MAY INDULGE ON ONE OF THOSE POINTS, THE HAS HOUSE IN PARTICULAR IS A LITTLE PAINFUL BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY'S GONNA BE AN EMPTY LOT WHEN THE PROJECT'S DONE.
SO HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION RELOCATING THAT ONE IN THE HOUSE NEXT TO IT, WHICH I ASSUME DIDN'T HAVE ANY HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND POSSIBLY PLACING THEM BACK IN THE VERY LARGE EMPTY GREEN SPACE THAT'S GONNA REPLACE AN AREA THAT HISTORICALLY HAD A LOT OF INTERESTING BUSINESSES BECAUSE AS JANE JACOBS NOTED, HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND OLDER PROPERTIES IN PARTICULAR ONES THAT WERE IN LESS PLEASANT ENVIRONMENTS, LIKE ALONG I 35 RIGHT NOW HAD LOW RENTS AND THE LOW RENTS INVITED INTERESTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND SO WE'RE LOSING TAQUERIA, LOS ALTOS AND GLASS COFFIN AND STAR SEEDS
[00:45:01]
AND UH, YOU KNOW, NUMEROUS BUSINESSES.HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION PUTTING THOSE BACK IN THAT BIG EMPTY SPACE WITH A FEW PARKING SPACES AND MAYBE GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOCAL BUSINESS TO REOPEN THERE RATHER THAN HAVING WHAT WILL AND EVENTUALLY BE A, YOU KNOW, LITTER STREWN EMPTY FIELD NEXT TO A HIGHWAY? SURE, YES.
WE DID LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF RELOCATING BOTH OF THOSE HOUSES, UM, AND KIND OF RAN INTO THE PROBLEM OF WHAT WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO WITH REAL ESTATE BY THE STATE OF TEXAS WHEN WE ACQUIRE IT FOR RIGHT OF WAY PURPOSES.
UM, AND THAT BECAME A, A PRETTY SUR INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM FOR US LEGALLY AS THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, SHARE AND REALLY SELL THAT PROPERTY OR GIVE IT AWAY IF WE PURCHASE IT AT FAIR MARKET VALUE.
WE DID DO A LITTLE BIT OF INVESTIGATION WITH SOME VARIOUS, UM, UM, DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HOPING THAT MAYBE, MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE, BUT AGAIN, THEY WERE VERY RELUCTANT BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NO FUNDING REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO THEN PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY AT FAIR MARKET VALUE AND UM, AND POTENTIALLY MOVE IT AND, AND THEY JUST WERE NOT INTERESTED BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET REASONS.
SO THAT'S A GOOD RESPONSE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP TRYING BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S GONNA BE USED AS A STAGING AREA.
AND SO I'M UNAWARE OF THE USE OF IT.
SO, SO I'D HAVE TO, WELL I'M EXPECTING BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIDENING INTO THAT AREA.
AND, UM, IT'S A SHAME TO, TO BANISH THAT WHOLE ZONE TO NOTHINGNESS FOR ALL ETERNITY WHEN, YOU KNOW, IF IT COULD BE SOLD BACK TO SOMEONE, IT COULD HAVE RIGHT.
REVENUE IN THE FUTURE, IT COULD GET BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
JUST SEEING THAT AESTHETIC OPPORTUNITY BEING A BIG EMPTY FIELD AND A HOUSE THAT WAS SITTING ON IT GONE.
I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, UM, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, EXPLORING THE CITY OF AUSTIN PURCHASING THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT GOES OR HOW FAR WHAT DEPARTMENT, BUT, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE CITY FUNDS FOR THAT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW WE WERE INVOLVED OR NOT INVOLVED, BUT WE AREN'T USING MONEY TO PURCHASE PALM SCHOOL IS, I THINK IT WAS A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS WHAT WE SAVED FOR, UM, WE'RE NOT PURCHASING ANY HISTORIC BUILDING IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, YEAR PROBABLY.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY APPETITE THERE OR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO OR IF WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR STAFF AND, AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DESIRED TO, TO BRING IT TO PALM SCHOOL OR, AND IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT AND THERE'S ALREADY HISTORIC HOUSES THERE.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, THAT'S ONE THING.
AND THE SECOND THING I HAD A QUESTION ON IS THE, UM, IS THE ELGIN BUTLER BRICK BUILDING MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU GUYS ARE WORKING WITH THE THC ON THAT ELIGIBILITY? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS DID TDOT INDIVIDUALLY? WE, UH, THE WAY THAT IT WORKS, UM, UNDER SECTION 1 0 6 IS THAT TDOT WHO IS WORKS STANDING IN IS QUOTE THE FEDERAL AGENCY.
WE'RE STANDING IN FOR A FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
WE MAKE A FINDING AND WE GET CONCURRENCE FROM THE THC ON OUR FINDING.
SO WE KIND OF, IT'S CALLED WHAT'S A CONCURRENCE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO LIKE THE KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED FOR THIS, THAT PRO PROPERTY.
AND THE ROBERTS HOUSE IN THE DURA TUNE, WE GOT THAT CONCURRENCE FROM THE THC THAT IT WAS ELIGIBLE.
COMMISSIONER EVANS, I BELIEVE YOU, YOUR HANDS ARE UP AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE MUTED.
UH, MY QUESTION, UH, WHILE I'M PLEASED TO SEE, HEAR THAT THE BRICKS FROM THE BUTLER, UH, BRICK, UH, FACILITY WILL BE REPURPOSED, I WONDERED IF THERE IS ANYTHING CONSIDERED A VALUE IN EITHER OF THE TWO RESIDENTIAL HOMES THAT COULD BE SALVAGED OTHER THAN THE, THE PLANS GOING TO THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOTE THAT THAT HOUSE, THOSE TWO HOMES HAD BEEN THERE? THERE COULD BE.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN INSIDE THE ROBERTS HOUSE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN INSIDE, UM, THE GLASS COFFIN.
UM, A LOT OF MAYBE WHAT'S LEFT IS A MANTLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT HASN'T BEEN A HOME IN A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, BUT WE WERE ALSO UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE WILLING TO TAKE THOSE SALVAGED ITEMS SO WE DON'T HAVE A SALVAGE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO MUSEUM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BULLOCK MUSEUM DOESN'T COLLECT, UM, THERE WAS NO OTHER LIKE, KIND OF LOCAL MUSEUM THAT WE REACHED OUT TO AT LEAST THAT WAS INTERESTED IN ANY, ANYTHING SALVAGED FROM THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S NOT IN ANY PLANS.
[00:50:01]
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK'S COMMENT ABOUT CONSIDERING MAYBE RELOCATION OF SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES RATHER THAN TOTAL DEMOLITION AND REALLY HAVING THEM JUST BE A RECORD AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER AS, UH, FOR BOTH THE HOMES AND, UH, THE BUTLER BRICK BUILDING, WHICH I, I I THINK YOU KIND OF REALLY LOST ALL OF IT ONCE IT JUST BECOMES BRICKS ON A TRAIL.
WELL YOU CAN TELL THERE'S GREAT INTEREST HERE.
AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU ALSO FOR ALL YOUR INPUT.
UH, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS VERY CLOSELY AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMUNICATING WITH US.
UH, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE YOU BACK YES, I'VE GOT, YES.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS AS, AS BEST AS IT CAN BE
UM, AND THAT SAID, I ALSO, UH, CAN'T GO HOME AND LOOK MY SMALL CHILDREN IN THE, IN THE EYES IF I DON'T SAY EXPLICITLY HOW HORRIBLE THIS PROJECT IS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S TEARS IN THE RAIN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
IT'S TEARS IN A MUCH BIGGER REIGN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
UM, I, I HEAR COMMISSIONER HEIM SETH'S OPTIMISM ABOUT THE, THE REMOVAL OF THIS SCAR THAT HAS AFFLICTED AUSTIN FOR SO LONG.
AND I SEE IT AS, I MEAN, IT IS LITERALLY A DEEPENING AND A WIDENING OF, OF THAT, OF THAT DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO JUST THE EMOTIONAL ECOLOGY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST UNBEARABLY SAD.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU.
UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN NOTED, YOU CAN SAY THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF EMOTIONS, A LOT OF CONCERNS.
UH, I CAN, I MEAN, I'M A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN TOO, SO I I GET IT, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S NO EASY OR RIGHT ANSWER NECESSARILY, BUT I DO THINK THE MORE WE ARE SHARING OUR CONCERNS AND RESPECTFUL OF MANY MULTIPLE INTERESTS, UH, I WE REALLY DO, UH, WE TRUST THAT YOU'LL THREAD THE NEEDLE VERY CAREFULLY.
I WILL TRY VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO LIVE UP TO THAT.
UH, WELL THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE BRIEFING.
COMMISSIONER SETH, I'M SORRY, I JUST HAVE ONE, ONE LAST ITEM.
COMMISSIONER, SORRY,
I, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID, BUT I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, MR. UH, SANTIAGO HAS COME TWICE NOW TO OUR MEETINGS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY HAS A, A PASSION FOR WHAT HE'S SPEAKING FOR AND I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HE IS BEING HEARD AND, UM, THAT HE IS GETTING AN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTIONS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
UH, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, UH, MR. DE BRASCO, YOU CAN, UH, CLARIFY, UH, THAT YOU DID REVIEW THE REQUEST, YOU GAVE HIM AN ANSWER.
OBVIOUSLY HE'S BRINGING IT TO OUR CONCERN BECAUSE HE WASN'T SATISFIED WITH THAT ANSWER.
UM, YES, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROCEDURE TO GO THROUGH AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, CHANGE.
HOWEVER, UH, BECAUSE A CITIZEN IN AUSTIN ASKED US TO LOOK INTO IT, WE WILL.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTION WILL BE, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPEN RECENTLY THAT, UH, HAVE ADVANCED PRESERVATION AND, UH, COUPLE OF ANNOUNCE, UH, NOT ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT THINGS BEYOND THAT THAT, UH, WE SET ASIDE ITEM NUMBER THREE.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO USE THIS TIME TO, AS A REMINDER FOR ALL, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS OF CITY OF AUSTIN LANDMARK PROPERTIES.
UM, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR FOR INSPECTIONS.
UH, LETTERS SHOULD BE SENT OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK, KIND OF REMINDING THE INSPECTION, UH, PROCESS.
UH, THIS PAIRS UP, OF COURSE, WITH THE ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR HISTORIC TAX EXEMPTIONS IN 2020, UH, FOUR FOR THE 2023 YEAR.
UM, AGAIN, THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS ARE, UH, SEEN AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, THE CITY, AND THE, UM, LANDMARK OWNERS TO USE THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS, UH, AND CREDITS THAT THEY RECEIVE TO UPKEEP THEIR HISTORIC LANDMARK PROPERTIES.
UM, SO, UM, JUST KEEP AN EYE OUT THAT, UH, YOU'LL BE RECEIVING A LETTER IN THE MAIL, KIND OF DETAILING THAT PROCESS AND HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE TAX EXEMPTIONS ON THE TCAD WEBSITE, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, WHAT, UH, CRITERIA ARE REVIEWED FOR THE PROPERTY, UH, DURING INSPECTIONS.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL PRESERVATION@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV.
[00:55:02]
OR YOU CAN CALL ME DIRECTLY AT, UH, (512) 974-3393.MS. ALLEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THAT AS A FORMER, UH, OWNER OF A HISTORIC HOUSE, UH, OWNERS OF HISTORIC HOUSES, IT'S TIME TO, TO GET THINGS CLEANED UP,
SO, UH, GO FIX THOSE WINDOWS AND MAKE SURE THE PAINT'S NOT FEELING GOOD TIME TO GET IT TOGETHER.
ALRIGHT, UM, WE NOW HAVE THE, UH, ITEMS THAT WERE POSTED FOR DISCUSSION, AND WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATIONS.
[5. PR-2023-089094 – 1100 E 2nd St. ]
I THINK THE FIRST ITEM HERE IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AND THAT'S 1100 EAST SECOND STREET.UH, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT CAME BEFORE US AND THE, UH, COMMISSION, UH, RECOMMENDED THE, UH, FURTHER INVESTIGATION, UH, AS WE RECOMMEND, UH, UH, UH, WANT TO KNOW ABOUT INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, THIS ITEM WAS INITIATED ON OCTOBER 4TH, 2023.
IT HAS COME BEFORE US SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, SO I, I'LL BE PRETTY BRIEF.
UM, THIS IS A ONE STORY FOLK VICTORIAN HOUSE OF THE PARTIAL WIDTH L PLAN.
UH, IT FEATURES INTACT DETAILS OF THE AREA, INCLUDING STICK STYLE BRACKETS AT THE PORCH, FOUR OVER FOUR SCREENED WINDOWS, TRADITIONAL CORNERS RETURNS AND DOUBLE ENTRY DOORS.
UH, THE BUILDING AT THE REAR IS A ONE STORY SHOTGUN STYLE HOUSE WITH A PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH, DECORATIVE TRIM, AND A GABLED ROOF LINE.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS BOTH BUILDINGS AS ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
UM, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTIES AND CONCURRED THAT THEY MEET THE TWO CRITERIA, UM, OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
UH, THEREFORE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING, UH, PER THE SURVEY FOR THE OLDER BUILDING, UM, WHICH IS THE BUILDING IN FRONT UNIT A.
AND SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST HISTORIC ZONING, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ADAPTIVE REUSE AND REHABILITATION, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION.
UH, BUT STAFF RECOMMENDS RELEASE OF THE PERMIT UPON RECEIPT ONLY OF A, UPON RECEIPT OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, UM, FOR THE REAR PROPERTY, UH, THAT SHOTGUN HOUSE, UM, IT WAS MOVED ONTO THE LOT.
SO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION APPLICATION FOR THE REAR BUILDING, UM, UPON COMPLETION OF A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, DO WE HAVE AN OWNER HERE WHO CAN, UM, THE APPLICANT, JOSHUA BRUNSON IS UNABLE TO MAKE IT THIS EVENING, BUT, UM, HE DID SEND A LETTER, UH, ACTING AS AN AGENT OF THE OWNER EXPRESSING, UM, THE OPPOSITION TO THE OPTION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
IT WILL BE PART OF YOUR BACKUP TOMORROW.
IT WAS SENT TO LATE IN, IN THE DAY TODAY TO SEND OUT TO YOU ALL.
AND THIS CAME TO US, UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS A APPLICATION FOR, FOR TOTAL DEMOLITION OF THE DEMOLITION ENTIRE LOT, TOTAL DEMOTION.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE TOOK AN ACTION IN THAT WE INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, REMIND US AGAIN, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE TIMING CLOCK? YES.
SO IF YOU ALL DO NOT RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING AT THIS MEETING, IT WILL EXPIRE ON NOVEMBER, UH, 20TH, AND STAFF WILL RELEASE IT WITHOUT A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
AND IF WE HAVE A LETTER FROM AN OWNER WHO CAN'T MAKE THE MEETING.
BUT THAT LETTER DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ASK US TO POSTPONE IT TO A FUTURE MEETING.
NO, IT WAS NOT AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
IT WAS A, UM, STATE OF OPPOSITION TO THE HISTORIC ZONING, WHICH AT THIS LEVEL, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION IS JUST VIEWED AS A PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, THE LETTER OF OPPOSITION DOES NOT GAIN MORE POWER UNTIL IT GETS TO CITY COUNCIL, AND WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T SEE IT EITHER SINCE IT CAME TOO LATE FOR US TO MAKE IT INTO OUR BACKUP MATERIAL.
IT, IT WAS JUST A TWO SENTENCE STATEMENT.
UM, JUST EXPRESSING OPPOSITION.
NO, NOT ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT.
UM, THIS WILL REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY SINCE WE HAVE OWNER OPPOSITION TO, UH, HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT BEFORE.
OBVIOUSLY WITH AN OWNER'S OPPOSITION DUE TO STATE LAW.
THREE FOURTHS, WHICH IS NINE OF 11.
SO, AND THERE ARE 10, UM, IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
SO WITH NINE VOTES, IF THE, IF THAT IS THE CASE, OR I SHOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE THE THRESHOLD FOR IT TO THEN ADVANCE WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD ALSO NEED THREE QUARTERS AND EITHER IS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES THE THREE QUARTER AS WELL.
UM, THERE WAS A, UH, AN UPDATE TO THAT STATE
[01:00:01]
LAW, UM, THAT SAYS THAT THE HLC REQUIRES, THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR SUPER MAJORITY.UM, PLANNING COMMISSION DOES NOT REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY.
IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE, A COUPLE YEARS.
BUT I CAN RESEND THE MEMO TO THAT, CLARIFIES THAT AS WELL.
BASICALLY, IF YOU ALL APPROVE IT OR, UH, RECOMMEND, UH, HISTORIC ZONING WITH A SUPER MAJORITY, IF IT GOES TO PLANNING COUNCIL AND THEY DON'T RECOMMEND IT, IT STILL GOES TO CITY COUNCIL AND IT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NEED A SUPER MAJORITY.
AND UH, I'LL REMIND COMMISSIONERS THAT SINCE THAT STATE LAW HAS PASSED, NONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE GONE FORWARD OVER OWNER OB UH, OBJECTIONS HAVE GONE THE FULL ROUTE.
UH, THAT, THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT THRESHOLD ONCE IT LEFT HERE.
UH, WE HAVE ONCE, UH, WITH THE BROKEN SPOKE.
SO TECHNICALLY THAT WAS A, AN OWNER OPPOSITION, BUT IT WASN'T A VOCIFEROUS ONE, I GUESS.
IT WAS THE FIRST IN A VERY LONG TIME.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK, UH, ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
I'LL MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WEATHERSTON.
UH, WE ARE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED.
UH, WE ARE READY FOR A, UH, MOTION SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
UH, I WILL MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE A UNIT AND NOT FOR THE B UNIT TO ALLOW DEMOLITION OF THE B UNIT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE ALL PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YES.
I WENT TO THE PROPERTY AND AS EXPECTED, THE ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY HOUSE IS STRONG AND TRUE.
LATER, ADDITIONS ARE FALLING OFF OF IT.
UH, THERE IS A BIT OF AREA IN THE CENTER AROUND THE KITCHEN THAT HAS SOME FLOOR ISSUES THAT THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED, BUT, UH, NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED.
IT WAS LISTED AS POTENTIAL LANDMARK IN THE 2016 HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY, WHICH IS THERE TO PROVIDE SOME RELIABILITY.
UH, THE SECOND PROPERTY WITH ITS TWO AND A HALF INCH TEAR DROP, THOSE ARE ALWAYS A REALLY DIFFICULT TO, TO RESTORE.
AND OTHER THAN THE INTERESTING BOX HEAD WINDOWS WHERE THE WINDOW ACTUALLY RECESSED INTO THE WALLS, SO YOU COULD OPEN THEM UP COMPLETELY.
UM, I, I THINK IT LACKED THE IMPORT OF THE PRIMARY HOUSE AND THE SIZE OF THE LOT, PLACEMENT OF THE LOT, UH, PLACEMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
THE STRUCTURE ON THE LOT LENDS ITSELF TO BE WIDE OPEN.
ANY NUMBER OF ADDITIONS THAT COULD BE OF GREAT SIZE.
AND I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT IT IS CURRENTLY THREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, ONE OF WHICH WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME THAT I VISITED.
AND WHILE THAT'S NOT MATERIAL TO THE CASE, IT IS SOMETHING WORTH NOTING.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO, YOU WANNA SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? UM, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COOK.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS WAS LISTED IN OUR EAST AUSTIN RESOURCE SURVEY, AND THIS IS ON RECORD FOR THE CITY.
IF WE CAN'T FOLLOW THIS, THEN WE, WE, WE HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING AMONGST OURSELVES.
UH, BOTH BUILDINGS WERE LISTED AS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK AND INDI INDIVIDUAL LISTING ON NATIONAL REGISTER ACCORDING TO OUR STAFF REPORT.
SO I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT, WHAT THIS SAYS, BUT ALSO IT'S VERY CLEAR THESE ARE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE FRONT HOUSE ONLY, UH, AS PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE, UH, APPROVAL OF DEMOLITION FROM THE REAR, UH, ITEM, UH, THE REAR STRUCTURE, THOUGH WITH A, UH, UH, DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, UH, IF THAT IS, IF THAT'S THE WAY THEY PROCEED, UH, AS PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO IT'S, UH, THIS POINT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE'LL NEED A, A TALLY ON THIS ONE SINCE WE HAVE TO GET, UH, A, WAS IT NINE YOU SAID? YEAH.
SO I HAVE ANY OPPOSED? JUST COUNT THE NAS
SO THE TALLY THEN, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER DUDLEY, UH, ABSENT, UH, WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY HAD ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, IN ATTENDANCE, AND SO THAT IS A 10 TO ZERO VOTE.
[01:05:01]
WELL THAT WILL PROCEED.[6. C14H-2023-0115 – 1193 San Bernard St.Mitchell House]
SIX.THAT'S 1193 SAN BERNARD STREET, UH, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE MITCHELL HOUSE.
UH, THIS IS AN OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING, AND, UH, WE HEAR THE PRESENTATION MR. CONFERS.
ITEM C 14 H 2 23 0 115 IS AN APPLICA, IS AN APPLICATION BROUGHT TO US BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, FOR THE MITCHELL HOUSE AT 1193.
SAN BERNARD, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM, UH, SSF THREE NP TO SSF THREE HMNP, UM, AND ON THE BASIS OF HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY VALUE AND ARCHITECTURE.
UM, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL HOUSE.
UM, IT'S A RARE SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF A TWO STORY T PLAN, UH, THAT WAS UNCOMMON IN AUSTIN, EVEN AT THE TIME OF ITS 1895 CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S GOT A FRONT PORCH AND A COMBINATION OF HIP ROOFS, UH, REFLECTING A VERNACULAR ADAPTATION OF QUEEN AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES.
IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH NUMEROUS LEADERS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY DURING THE 20TH CENTURY, AND ITS RESIDENTS STOOD AT THE CENTER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES.
THE MITCHELL FAMILY NOTED EDUCATORS, PHILANTHROPISTS, AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN SEGREGATION ERA AUSTIN WERE ALSO CLOSE FRIENDS AND STAUNCH SUPPORTERS OF FUTURE US SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL, WHO RESIDED IN THIS HOME DURING THE LANDMARK SWEAT VERSUS PAINTER CASE.
MARSHALL ARGUED AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RACIST ADMITTANCE POLICIES AS THE CHIEF COUNSEL FOR THE NAACP, AND WENT A LONG AWAITED VICTORY FOR RACIAL EQUALITY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THE APPLICATION DESCRIBES THE HOME'S CONNECTION TO THE MITCHELL'S AND MARSHALL AS FOLLOWS, THE MITCHELL'S HOME AT 1193, SAN BERNARD WAS THE CENTRAL LOCATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAINTIFF'S CASE IN SWEAT VERSUS PAINTER.
THIS LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS CASE LED TO THE END OF SEGREGATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND CONSTITUTED A CRITICAL STEP TOWARD THE EVENTUAL INVALIDATION OF THE SEPARATE BUT EQUAL DOCTRINE IN AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE.
IN 1946, HAMAN SWEAT'S APPLICATION TO THE ALL WHITE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW SCHOOL WAS REJECTED BASED ON HIS RACE, REPRESENTED BY THE NAACP COUNCIL, UH, SWEATSUIT, THOUGH JIM CROW LAWS OF THE TIME FORCED HIS TEAM OF LAWYERS, UH, INCLUDING FUTURE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL TO RESIDE IN THE HOMES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE MITCHELL'S WELCOME TO MARSHALL AND HIS TEAM INTO THEIR HOME ON SAN BERNARD, WHERE THEY HELD MOCK TRIALS PLAN STRATEGY, INTERVIEWED THEIR WITNESSES AND PREPARED SWEAT FOR HIS TESTIMONY.
UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALSO GATHERED AT THE H AT THE HOUSE, UM, EACH EVENING TO DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES AND TO INTERACT WITH THE WELL-KNOWN MARSHAL, UM, WHO WAS NAACP CHIEF COUNSEL.
THE CASE WAS ULTIMATELY DECIDED IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, UH, WHICH HELD THAT, UH, THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT REQUIRED THE UNIVERSITY, UH, TO ADMIT HUMAN SWEAT, EXCUSE ME, THE APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, ALSO NOTES THE BUILDING'S DISTINCT COMMUNITY VALUE AS A NEXUS OF THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS ITS CONTINUED IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
TODAY, IT IS REGARDED AS A LANDMARK IN THE AREA AND ITS OCCUPANTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVESTED IN.
AND PART OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC AND PRESERVATION OF THE ROBERTSON HILL COMMUNITY.
UH, THE BUILDING RETAINS HIGH TO MODERATE INTEGRITY.
UH, PORSCHE MODIFICATIONS TOOK PLACE DURING THE HISTORIC PERIOD, UH, AND LIKELY DURING THE MITCHELL'S TENURE AT THE HOUSE, THEREBY GAINING SIGNIFICANCE IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.
THOUGH A MODERN REAR ADDITION AND NEW WINDOWS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE HOUSE, NEITHER SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS THE BUILDING'S OVERALL INTEGRITY OF FORM AS A TEA PLAN HOUSE, NOR DO THEY DIMINISH ITS ABILITY TO CONVEY ITS EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY AS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, DECORATIVE DETAILS AND ORIGINAL EXTERIOR MATERIALS HAVE BEEN RESTORED.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS APPLICATION? YES, WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE.
TRACE TANKERSLEY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND, AND GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE SURE.
HI, I'M, UH, I'M TRACE TANKERSLEY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON, UH, THE HOUSE AND THE HISTORY AND HOW ALL THIS CAME ABOUT.
UH, WHEN I MOVED IN A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I, UH, I, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE.
AND THEN, UH, ONE DAY I SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE A TOUR JUST STANDING IN MY FRONT YARD.
THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, TENS OF PEOPLE AND AN APPARENT TOUR GUIDE TAKING A WHILE AND TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSE.
I I'D NEVER ENCOUNTERED THAT SITUATION BEFORE, BUT I RESOLVED TO I TO GO OUT AND SAY HI THE NEXT TIME THEY CAME BY, IF I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE THEM AGAIN.
UH, SO THE NEXT TIME THEY CAME BY, I, I WENT OUT AND SAID HI.
AND RIGHT THEN IT STARTED RAINING.
SO I INVITED THE TOUR UP ON THE PORCH AND, AND GOT TO LEARN ALL
[01:10:01]
ABOUT IT AND, AND ENJOY THE, THE TOUR STOP ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.SO, UH, THAT'S HOW WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, THE HISTORY OF THIS HOUSE IS, IS REALLY COMPELLING STUFF.
IT'S GOT A SPECIAL MEANING FOR ME.
I WENT TO SCHOOL FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IN AUSTIN.
I EVEN WENT TO JUNIOR HIGH A BLOCK FROM THIS SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO AN ATTORNEY, AND I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN, UH, FASCINATED WITH CIVIL RIGHTS, UH, THE HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY FROM, FROM A LEGAL AND HISTORICAL STANDPOINT.
AND I ACTUALLY KNEW ABOUT THIS CASE.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN, YOU KNOW, I WAS, I, I WAS RESEARCHING, UH, THE HOUSE AND, AND READING ABOUT IT.
AND I COME ACROSS, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECT ROLE OF THIS CASE, OF THIS HOUSE IN THE CASE.
I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY AMAZING STUFF.
SO, UM, BUT, BUT ALSO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT HISTORY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I, UM, I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF PRESERVE AND RECOGNIZE THAT IN SOME FORMAL AND SUBSTANTIAL WAY.
SO, UH, WITH ALL OF THAT, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, MR. TANKERSLEY.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS.
I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION.
DID THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY PLAY A ROLE AT ALL IN YOUR DECISION OR YOUR RESEARCH, OR, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW IT, HOW IT WORKED AS A TOOL IN YOUR DECISION I AND APPLICATION.
YOU KNOW, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 2000 SURVEY, SO I WAS, I MUST HAVE BEEN, UH, OUTDATED ON MY MATERIALS, BUT I, I DID, UH, UTILIZE THE 2000 SURVEY.
ALSO, JUST GETTING CAUGHT UP ON THE, THE, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE SURROUNDING AREA AS A WHOLE.
SO, UH, I SHOULD, I SHOULD TAKE A PEEK AT THAT.
I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION.
DID YOU HAVE A LOT OF HELP IN, IN COMPLETING THIS? 'CAUSE IT, THIS IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU, YOU KNOW, FOUND IT BURDENSOME OR NOT? UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A PRETTY BIG UNDERTAKING AND I, I OWE, UM, IT, IT WAS, IT WAS ME AND, AND MY PARTNER, THE WHOLE THING.
SO, UH, UH, SHE'S, SHE'S A RESEARCH EXTRAORDINAIRE AND, UH, BUT, BUT YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS THE TWO OF US.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THE THOROUGHNESS.
I LEARNED A LOT FROM READING, FROM READING THIS APPLICATION.
I MEAN, I, I HOPE, I HOPE WE CAN, CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I THINK, AGAIN, IT'S ONE WORD THAT WE ALWAYS SAY IS STEWARDSHIP.
SO EVEN BEING JUST A HOMEOWNER AND SEEING IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND, AND SAYING, THIS IS THE HISTORY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND YES, A HOUSE LIKE THIS IS KIND OF A NO-BRAINER IN A SENSE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF HOUSES WHERE THERE WAS NO FAMOUS NAME THERE, BUT THEY WERE STILL PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.
AND, AND I THINK THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE, THEY COULD ATTEST TO, TO THAT COMMUNITY OF VALUE.
AND SO, JUST THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
I, I THINK THAT, UH, WE WENT TO THE SAME JUNIOR HIGH JUST AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO JUST, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE KEELING HORNETS IN THE AUDIENCE OR WATCHING FROM HOME.
THAT'S MY SON COMMISSIONERS AT HOME.
ANY COMMENTS FOR, OR QUESTIONS I SHOULD SAY OF THE APPLICANT? ALRIGHT, WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OH, I DID WANNA ALSO ADD A, A, A SHOUT OUT IF I WILL, UH, TO THE WAY YOU PUT THIS TOGETHER.
AND SO OFTEN WE SEE THE HISTORY AND THEN WE SEE WHAT YOU'VE DONE NOW.
AND I, I WANT TO POINT THE ITEM EXHIBIT B 16 THAT YOU INCLUDED, AND I ASSUME THAT'S THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHERE YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE HANDICAP RAMP IS STILL IN PLACE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT, UH, UH, SOME THINGS BOARDED UP THE 2017 IT NOTES AS WHAT THE HOUSE LOOKED LIKE AT THAT POINT.
WELL, SO, UH, WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY RIGHT.
IT WAS, IT WAS ACTUALLY TECHNICALLY SPEAKING MY PREDECESSOR'S AND TITLE.
UH, SO THOSE WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, MY, MY PARENTS REALLY, BUT, UH, GOT IT.
SO, BUT YES, I MEAN, YES, THAT'S SO, SO, BUT THE, THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT AND, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF CAN, CAN PUT THAT IMAGE UP AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS, UH, IN THE, UH, BACKUP APPLICATION, UH, IF YOU'LL LOOK THE, LET'S SEE THE NUMBER, PAGE NUMBER 34, EXHIBIT B 16, 11 93 SAN BERNARD STREET IN 2017.
UH, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE APPLICANTS COME TO US WITH DEMOLITION REQUESTS AND PICTURES THAT AREN'T EVEN THAT DISTRESSED? UH, AND TELL US IT'S BEYOND HOPE AND THERE'S NO VALUE HERE, AND THE ONLY OPTION IS FOR US TO GET RID OF THIS THING.
UH, SO SOMEBODY HAD SOME VISION,
[01:15:01]
SOMEBODY HAD A CHANCE TO SEE PAST THAT, AND LONG BEFORE THEY KNEW THE OTHER ASSOCIATIONS THEY SAW, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THEY COULD DEFINITELY, UH, CONTRIBUTE AND, AND ALLOW A FAMILY THEN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, UH, RESTORED HOUSE FOR THIS CURRENT GENERATION.UH, HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED, WE WOULD NEVER HAVE STUMBLED ON, OR YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE STUMBLED ON THAT OTHER RATHER SIGNIFICANT HISTORY.
SO, UH, THAT I, I APPLAUD THE VISION FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND SAY, YES, THIS IS WORTH KEEPING.
AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THAT IN THE PACKET.
UH, SO THAT, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF ITS HISTORY AS WELL.
COMMISSIONERS AND NO OTHER QUESTION TO THE APPLICANT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, CASE? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER, WE, UH, FEATHER.
WE
COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS IS A OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT, YOU HAVE FAMILIARIZED YOURSELF WITH THE BACKUP.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION I MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING.
JUST TO CLARIFY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AS ALLOW WHO I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING? OKAY.
GOOD THING NOBODY SECONDED THAT BEFORE WE GOT THAT FIXED.
I'LL SECOND AND ASK FOR A CLARIFICATION ON THE CRITERIA.
BUT, UH, FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY VALUE, I SECOND.
AND COMMISSIONER COOK SECONDS.
UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION? I MEAN, THIS, THIS FEELS LIKE A SLAM DUNK.
I APPRECIATE THE OWNER'S, UM, DOING THE HARD WORK AND, AND PUTTING TOGETHER THIS GREAT PACKAGE AND PUTTING IT BEFORE US.
UM, I REALIZED AFTER COMMISSIONER COOK ASKED ME TO STATE THE CRITERIA, AND I, I GAVE THE FIRST OBVIOUS TWO THAT WE OFTEN DO FIRST.
UM, AND THEN HAD A MOMENT'S PAUSE.
AND YOU JUST CAN'T DENY THE COMMUNITY VALUE OF A HOUSE LIKE THIS AND THE STORY THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF TELLING.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE OWNERS.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING ADDING THAT AS A THIRD CRITERIA? OH, I DID.
AND THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE SECOND OR THE MOTION? MM-HMM.
COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION OR YOUR SECOND? UH, NO, I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER.
UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT HISTORY TO AUSTIN AND IT'S IN AN AREA THAT'S UNDERREPRESENTED AND, UH, VERY GLAD TO HAVE POSITIVE MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS AT HOME? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
UH, AGAIN, I I THINK IT'S A VERY WONDERFUL, UH, SERENDIPITOUS MOMENT THAT, UH, IN THE COURSE OF WONDERING WHO THE, WHO THOSE INTERLOPERS WERE, UH, WANDERING IN FRONT OF THIS OWNER'S FRONT HOUSE, INSTEAD OF CHASING THEM OFF WITH A BROOM, UH, HE WELCOMED ON HIS PORCH AND FOUND OUT, UH, A MISSING PIECE OF HISTORY THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN LOST FOREVER.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL STORY.
I REALLY ALSO, AS WE ENTRUST THIS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, THEN WOULD HOPEFULLY PASS THAT ON TO THE COUNCIL.
UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM AND HOW DIVERSE AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS, UH, ARE WORTHY OF PRESERVATION.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL A QUESTION, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO APPROVE THE HISTORIC ZONING, UH, AS PER, UH, THE ITEM OF ARCHITECTURE, UH, ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND, PLEASE.
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT IT'S REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOT CLOSE.
DO WE NEED TO REOPEN IT SINCE WE'RE MOVING IT ON TO YES.
BECAUSE IT'S MOVING IT TO ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, AND I SAW, UH, ONCE AGAIN 10 HANDS RAISED.
UH, IS THERE NO ONE OPPOSED? IS THAT CORRECT? ALRIGHT.
UH, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE MR. TANKERSLEY THE WORK YOU AND YOUR PARTNER HAVE DONE.
UM, LET US GO TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
NO, I'M SORRY, THAT WAS A NO, NO, NO.
[11. PR-2023-076607 – 96 Rainey St. Rainey Street National Register District (noncontributing)]
UH, 96 RAINY STREET.CHAIR 96 RAINY STREET, UH, IS AN APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCT A NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
[01:20:01]
UH, FOR THIS BUILDING, UH, THAT EXISTS THERE NOW WAS RELEASED AFTER OUR LAST PUBLIC HEARING.UM, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN BEFORE US SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, SO I WON'T GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE, UH, STAFF REPORT.
UM, BUT, UH, JUST NOTE THAT THIS IS, UH, NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
UM, TWO STORIES IN HEIGHT, CLAD AND MASONRY VENEER, METAL PANELS AND WOOD SIDING WITH BREEZE BLOCK ACCENTS.
IT HAS A COMPOUND FLAT ROOF AND, UH, SOUTH AND WEST ELEVATIONS ARE WINDOWLESS FENESTRATION AT THE NORTH AND EAST ELEVATIONS IS A REGULAR, UH, CONSISTING OF FULLY GLAZED DOORS BENEATH MASONRY ARCHES, DIVIDED LIGHT RECTANGULAR AND ARCHED FIXED WINDOWS AND FRENCH DOORS.
AT THE SECOND FLOOR BALCONY, UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, WHICH ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION, UM, AND DETERMINE THAT THE PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
UM, THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UM, IS TO, UH, COMMENT ON THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
AND THIS IS THE, UH, LAST PUBLIC HEARING AT WHICH THIS, UH, SET OF DRAWINGS CAN BE COMMENTED ON BY THE COMMISSION.
AND, UH, MS. CONTRERAS, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE OWNERS, UH, ARE AWARE OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE PAST, BUT THEY HAVE NOT SUBMITTED ANY NEW, UH, VARIANCE OR CHANGES TO THEIR PLAN.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE STILL ARE REVIEWING THE SAME PLANS AS WE HAD BEFORE.
UH, YES, COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED NEW PLANS FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, WELL THIS IS, UH, AN INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS THE REVIEW WE HAVE FOR, UH, PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND, UM, IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO, UM, IS THE, UH, APPLICANT HERE AND ARE THEY, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? NO.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? 96 RAINY STREET.
UM, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
FOR MR. UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
IS THERE A SECOND? UH, FROM COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, AS IT PASSES, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS WE, UH, ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE ANY ACTION.
UH, I BELIEVE WE COULD DISCUSS THIS ONE LAST TIME, IF WE'D LIKE.
THAT MATERIAL WILL BE, UH, RECORDED IN OUR MINUTES.
UH, I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR WHAT THE INTENTION OF THIS OWNER IS, AND IF WE TAKE NO ACTION, THEN WE WILL STRICTLY, UH, TIME OUT ESSENTIALLY.
JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THE 75 DAYS TIME'S OUT ON NOVEMBER 20TH.
SO YEAH, IF IT YOU ALL TAKE NO ACTION, THEN STAFF WILL RELEASE THAT DAY IS OBLIGATED TO RELEASE THAT DAY.
SO WE COULD INVITE THEM TO THE ARC.
UH, WE COULD, THEY'VE BEEN INVITED IN THE PAST, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO INVITE THEM WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THERE IS A CASE TO DISCUSS AT THAT MEETING IS UP TO THE APPLICANT.
YEAH, I, I WILL SAY WE PUT TOGETHER THE, UH, GUIDELINES, UH, IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS FOR A REASON.
AND THERE IS CONTEXT AND THERE IS HISTORY AND THERE IS ASSOCIATION, UH, AND EVEN IN RAINY STREET WITH MUCH OF THE FABRIC GONE AND COMPROMISED, IT'S NOT ALL GONE AND IT'S NOT ALL COMPROMISED.
AND IT'S PAINFUL THAT THIS REPLACES, UH, A BUILDING THAT, UM, WE EVALUATED.
AND THOUGH IT WASN'T UP TO THE LEVEL OF LANDMARKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, IT CERTAINLY DID TELL THE STORY OF THE SCALE AND, UH, THE ACTIVITIES ON RAINY STREET.
UH, THIS NEW BUILDING DOES NOT, UH, THIS BUILDING INTRODUCES ELEMENTS THAT WERE NEVER THERE.
AND, UH, WHEN IT PRESENTS AT LEAST SOME ARCHITECTURE TO THE STREET, UH, THE OTHER TWO ELEVATIONS, IT PRESENTS A TWO OR THREE STORY BLANK WALL.
UH, THIS ISN'T THE BEST WE CAN DO.
THIS, I DON'T BELIEVE IS THE BEST THE OWNER CAN DO.
AND WE CERTAINLY ARE HERE TO REVIEW THIS CASE AND OFFER OUR COMMENTS FOR RECOMMENDATION.
THAT'S WHY, UH, WE GET THIS REVIEW.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I WOULD STILL ENCOURAGE THE OWNER TO EXAMINE THAT BUILDING.
IT'LL BE HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, HOPEFULLY VERY SUCCESSFUL BUILDING, UH, WITH A SUCCESSFUL STRING OF BUSINESSES.
UH, BUT IT WILL ALSO BE ON A STREET WITH NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT HOUSES, UH, AND OTHER STRUCTURES.
AND IF THERE IS A WAY THAT THIS OWNER COULD ACCOMMODATE THAT, UH, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE IT.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST, BEST I CAN OFFER AT THIS POINT.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS, I, I DID WANNA NOTE THAT THE REASON GIVEN FOR NEEDING TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING IS 'CAUSE OF THE SOUND ORDINANCE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS EXACTLY MENTIONED TO BE IN FURTHERANCE OF LIVE MUSIC, BUT THERE IS NO STAGE IN THE
[01:25:01]
DESIGN, JUST A DJ BOOTH.SO, UH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS ABOUT LIVE MUSIC IF ANYONE WANTS TO HANG THEIR HAT ON THAT.
UM, ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, ANY MORE COMMENTS? THIS IS OUR LAST TIME TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS THIS PRESENTED CHAIR.
I'LL SAY I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
I, I, I WOULD'VE TRIED TO HAVE ARTICULATED IT THAT WELL, BUT, BUT YOU DID, SO THANK YOU.
I THINK THE MOMENT CAUGHT ME HERE.
UM, AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE ENOUGH ON OUR AGENDA.
I THINK, UH, CERTAINLY WE WANT THE RECORD TO STATE, UH, THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPEFULLY THOSE WILL BE, UH, TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AT SOME POINT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE ACTION.
UH, SHALL WE MOVE TO THE NEXT CASE? OR DO WE NEED TO HAVE A VOTE TO TAKE NO ACTION.
YOU DON'T NEED A VOTE, SO, OKAY.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT'S, UH, UNLESS I HEAR AN OBJECTION THAT IS FOR THE RECORD, WHAT WE WILL DO.
THEN WE'RE ON TO THE NEXT CASE.
AND THE NEXT ITEM IS, ITEM 12 WAS
[12. PR-2023-103994 – 4210 Wilshire Pkwy. Wilshire National Register District ]
PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.THAT'S 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY.
THAT IS IN THE WILSHIRE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
AND THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
UM, AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO, UH, A FENCE.
AND THIS WAS POSTPONED AFTER WE, UH, SAW AN INITIAL PRESENTATION THAT HAS, I BELIEVE, IS THAT CORRECT? HAS IT HAS BEEN TO THE ARC IN BETWEEN? NO.
UH, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, NO.
SO THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OCTOBER 4TH, MS. CONTRERAS, UH, THANK YOU.
THIS IS, UH, A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1947 HOUSE.
UH, NO NEW CONSTRUCTION IS PROPOSED FOR THIS LOT.
UH, IT'S A ONE STORY MASONRY VENEER HOUSE WITH MULTI LIGHT METAL CASEMENT WINDOWS AND AN ATTACHED CARPORT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE WILSHIRE WOOD NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
UM, ITS FIRST OCCUPANTS, UH, LIVED IN THE HOME UNTIL AROUND 1953.
UM, REGINALD SHIN, UH, WAS ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS AND HE WAS IN THE AIR FORCE, ITS NEXT RESIDENCE.
THE WILSONS ONLY LIVED IN THE HOME FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE SELLING IT TO THE MCGUIRES.
ANOTHER AIR FORCE FAMILY STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, THEREFORE THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE ADAPTIVE REUSE AND REHABILITATION, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO ULTIMATELY RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, THIS WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BROGAN.
UH, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF AT THIS POINT? UM, NO.
I THINK, AND MAYBE WE NEED A MOTION BEFORE I CAN DISCUSS THIS, BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, WE PULLED THIS LAST, UM, TIME AND YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE IT DOESN'T RISE TO PERHAPS MEETING, UM, THE LANDMARK STATUS, BUT IT IS IN A, UM, IN A DISTRICT NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
AND THIS IS SOMEONE ASKING TO TEAR DOWN A DWELLING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, NO PLANS TO BUILD ANYTHING NEW.
AND I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK OTHERWISE.
SO WE WE'RE NOT TAKING ACTION AT THIS POINT 'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, STAFF IS, UM, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.
IS THE, IS THE OWNER HERE, CAN WE HEAR FROM THE, UH, APPLICANT? OKAY.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ITEM 12 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CASTILLO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE TABLE? UH, WE NEED A MOTION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION.
I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING BASED OFF OF OUR WELL TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR ARCHITECTURE AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
I, I FEEL STRONGLY THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE TO A NATIONAL RE REGISTERED DISTRICT.
UM, AND THAT IT'S, IT'S CLEAR FOR ONE OF OUR CRITERIA THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC AND SIGNIFICANT FEATURE TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS A LOCAL, AS A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT IF THAT WASN'T THE CASE.
I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF UP FOR AIR, BUT I THINK IT'S AT LEAST THERE ON THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION.
I WAS ABOUT TO ASK, I WAS LIKE, BEFORE WE START DISCUSSION, WE NEED A SECOND.
WELL, WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER RUBIO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION
[01:30:01]
IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL? I MEAN, I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP.YOU KNOW, THIS, AGAIN, IT'S NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
IT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY VALUE.
NOW, I KNOW AS FAR AS THE NEXT STEP IS IT'S GOING TO BE AGAINST OWNERS' WISHES.
NOW, I WOULD ARGUE, YOU KNOW, THAT OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL ALWAYS ASK WHAT'S THE COMMUNITY, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO HISTORIC ZONING? AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE IT'S NOT IN OUR PURVIEW TO LOOK AT DENSITY.
HOWEVER, THE, THE, THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IS THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER HOUSEHOLD HERE INSTEAD OF THIS LOT, RIGHT.
AS WELL AS KEEPING OUR NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT INTACT AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO RAINY STREET AND A LOT OF THESE OTHER NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICTS.
SO, I, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF ENOUGH TO SAY.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE, I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH, UH, THE, THE LIST ALMOST IN ORDER OF THE THINGS THAT ARE VERY MUCH WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION TO THE, TO THE, TOWARDS THE BOTTOM WHERE IT, IT REACHES BEYOND MAYBE THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION.
BUT, UM, WE, WE TALKED LAST MONTH WHEN WE ORIGINALLY POSTPONED THIS ONE ABOUT, OR, OR AT LEAST I DID, ABOUT IT, SAYS IN THE APPLICATION THAT THIS IS TO BE USED AS A YARD, UH, EXTENSION FOR THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY.
UM, IT DOESN'T APPEAR FROM ME LOOKING INTO IT THAT THERE'S ANY CONTINUITY OF OWNERSHIP, UH, WITH THIS LOT, WITH, WITH THE TWO ADJACENT LOTS.
UM, I, I GUESS WE TAKE THAT AT FACE VALUE EITHER WAY.
UH, WE ARE LOSING HOUSING, UM, MERE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE I 35 UNDERPASS NEXT TO THE HANCOCK CENTER, WHERE PEOPLE REGULARLY SLEEP OUTDOORS EVERY NIGHT.
BUT, UH, YEAH, I, I SECOND THE INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
I, I WILL NOTE THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UH, IS, IS THAT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCUSS IT, IT'S IN THE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, UH, THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT PART OF WHAT THE ISSUE IS HERE IS THAT THAT'S LITERALLY OUR ONLY TOOL.
I MEAN, IF IT'S A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, WE GET REVIEW, WE HAVE COMMENT, AND IF WE THINK THERE'S A BIG CONCERN, THEN THERE IS ONE THING WE CAN DO.
AND THAT'S TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
AND THAT OTHERWISE WE REALLY ARE HELPLESS.
WE CAN MAKE OUR COMMENTS, AS YOU SAW IN THE PREVIOUS CASE, AND DELAY SOME ACTION.
BUT THAT IS THE ONLY TOOL THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I THINK, AGAIN, KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TOOL, UH, I WOULD, I, I THINK WE HAVE TO EVALUATE IS IT, IS IT ACTUALLY APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE? AND I, I'M, I'M, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I APPRECIATE, UH, THE, THE INITIATION OF THE MOTION SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
DO WE, WHAT IS OUR TIMEFRAME ON THIS? WOULD WE HAVE TIME TO, OR ARE WE ABLE TO POSTPONE THIS AGAIN, AGAIN, MAYBE IN HOPES THAT OUR DISCUSSION TODAY MIGHT CHANGE THE OWNER'S MIND? UM, SO, UM, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE ARE LOOKING AT A DEMOLITION, UH, WHICH IS 180 DAY HOLD.
UM, SINCE THERE IS NO NEW CONSTRUCTION, THAT 75 DAY CLOCK DOES NOT, IS NOT HERE.
SO 180 DAYS FROM THE LAST MONTH'S MEETING IS, UH, APRIL 1ST.
SO YOU HAVE MANY MEETINGS TO POSTPONE IF YOU WISH.
SO THAT 180 DAY HOLD IS AN OPTION, UH, AS WELL.
UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, WERE THEY TO COME BACK WITH NEW PLANS, WHICH CLEARLY THEY WON'T, IF THEY REALLY DO WANNA JUST KEEP US AS A YARD? YEAH.
WOULD THAT RETROACTIVELY TRIGGER OR FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, WOULD THE 75 DAYS COME IN? YEAH, SO, UM, THEN IF THEY WERE TO BRING, UM, NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS WITH A NEW HISTORIC REVIEW APPLICATION, UM, THOSE 70 DI FIVE DAYS WOULD BEGIN THE FIRST MEETING THAT WE HAVE.
THOSE, UM, MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR YOU IN THE BACKUP AND HAVE REVIEWED, BEEN REVIEWED BY STAFF.
SO ON THE DEMOLITION PERMIT, THE 75 DAYS WILL BEGIN AT THE FIRST MEETING THAT THAT APPLICATION APPEARS ON.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE THE DEMOLITION, WHICH IS 180 DAYS, SO WE GET THE 180.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER COOK? YES.
I JUST WANNA NOTE, UM, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT BEHIND IT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH OUR FINDINGS OF FACT, UH, THAT COME WITH THESE CASES.
AND THE COMMUNITY VALUE CALLS FOR A PROPERTY WITH A UNIQUE LOCATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC, OR CITY FROM FEATURE.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SAY THAT THE LOCATION IN THE DISTRICT IS UNIQUE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY HOUSES IN THE DISTRICT.
UM, AND TO TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING ASPECT IS, IS AN ISSUE, BUT IT, IT CAN'T BE MATERIAL TO OUR DECISION HERE.
SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO CONFLATE THOSE TWO.
[01:35:03]
I APPRECIATE, I'VE SAT HERE LONG ENOUGH TO BE FRUSTRATED WITH HAVING THIS TOOL JUST BEFORE US AND SEEING BUILDING AFTER BUILDING AFTER BUILDING GO.AND WE HAD THIS TOOL IN OUR HAND AND, AND WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I WAS MUCH MORE INCLINED TO USE IT.
UM, BUT I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF CASES KIND OF GET WATERED DOWN AS THEY GO UP.
SO I THINK WE HAD TO BE KIND OF SELECTIVE SO THAT STAFF HAS TIME TO FOCUS ON THE CASES THAT ARE IMPORTANT, AND SO THAT THE EARS THAT WE'RE SENDING THEM UP TO DON'T TURN DEAF TO THE CASES THAT WE SEND UP.
SO, UH, I, I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT, BUT I WILL OFFER AN ALTERNATE MOTION TO POSTPONE ANOTHER MONTH TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING IN FURTHERANCE OF 180 DAY DEMOLITION DELAY.
UM, UNLESS THE MAKERS OF THAT MOTION WISH TO CHANGE, I THINK WE NEED TO COMPLETE, UH, ACTION ON THE MOTION AS IT HAS BEEN MADE.
UH, AND ONCE THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE CAN HAVE A ALTERNATE MOTION.
SO IF, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A VOTE ON THAT MOTION, THAT'S NOT GONNA END THE CASE, THERE WOULD STILL BE A DOOR OPEN FOR POSTPONEMENT? THAT IS CORRECT.
FOR POSTPONEMENT, THAT IS, YEAH.
AND AGAIN, UNLESS MAKE OF THE MOTION AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE, BUT, UH, WE HAVE MORE CONVERSATION.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE? NO, I, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COOK AND I THINK THAT IT'S THE CORRECT PATH FORWARD TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE OWNER.
AND SINCE THE OWNER IS NOT IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT, UH, I'M IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT AS WELL, SO THAT HE CAN AT LEAST HEAR OUR SENTIMENT AND UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERNS.
SO I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT.
WELL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPEAKING, UH, AGAINST THE MOTION, BUT IF THERE WAS, IF THAT FAILS, THEN YOU ARE EXPRESSING YOUR, UH, INTEREST IN THE POSTPONEMENT.
I, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, I MEAN, OUR ONE TOOL DOES COME WITH TWO STEPS OF INITIATION AND THEN RECOMMENDATION AND, UH, I MEAN, A TRUE STORY FROM WORK TODAY, SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF SOMEBODY AND THEY SAY, WELL, WE LEFT 'EM A VOICEMAIL.
AND SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, WE DON'T DO, WE KNOW IF THEIR VOICEMAIL WORKS.
WELL, THAT'S SORT OF UNKNOWABLE.
I I I ALMOST TOLD THAT STORY IN THE LAST ONE WHEN YOU ASKED QUESTION OF STAFF, IF THE HOMEOWNER WAS AWARE OF THE COMMENTS WE'D MADE, I, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, DO THEY CHECK THEIR VOICEMAIL? LIKE
I JUST DON'T, I MEAN, LIKE, HOW DO YOU LIKE, SEND MORE VOICEMAILS OR LIKE LOUDER VOICEMAILS? I JUST, I'M, I'M OPEN TO ALL OF THOSE.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY MORE COMMENTS ON THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US? YEAH, I, I WOULD NOTE THAT A MOTION TO INITIATE WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW TIMELINE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE 180 DAY DEMOLITION DELAY.
IT WOULD PUT THE 75 DAY TIMELINE ON IT, UM, WHICH THEN WOULD THEN GO ON TO PLANNING AND THEN GO ON TO, TO COUNSEL, WHICH MAY END UP BEING SIX MONTHS.
SO IT MIGHT BE ABOUT THE SAME.
I SUSPECT IF THE INTENTION PER WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT THE, UH, OWNER WANTS AN EMPTY YARD, UH, THEY'RE PROBABLY WILLING TO WAIT THE SIX MONTHS EITHER WAY.
UM, SO IT'S A MATTER OF THE IMPACTS OF USING OUR TOOLS ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER TO KEEP THIS HOUSE STANDING FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, ONCE AGAIN, WE, UM, UH, DO WE CLEARLY HAVE AN OWNER OBJECTION REGISTERED ON THIS? SO HAVE WE TRIGGERED THE THREE QUARTER RULE? UH, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT OR OWNER ON THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SAFE TO SAY THAT IF THE OWNER IS ASKING FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT, UM, WITHOUT THIS COMMUNICATION, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SAFEST TO ASSUME WE NEED A SUPER MAJORITY, UH, TO, UH, PUSH THIS CASE FORWARD.
UM, HOWEVER, INITIATION DOES NOT REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY, UM, RECOMMENDATION AT A SECOND MEETING WILL.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND SEE, UH, WHAT THE VOTE TELLS US, BUT UM, OBVIOUSLY IF WE'RE ANYTHING SHORT OF A SUPER MAJORITY, THEN WE, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PREVAIL AND UH, IT MAY BE WORTH CONSIDERING.
BUT, UH, AT THIS POINT, THE MOTION THAT IS IN FRONT OF US IS TO INITIATE, UM, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER CLARIFICATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MENTION THAT, UH, WE DO TECHNICALLY HAVE A SECOND TOOL, WHICH IS THE, UH, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, ZONING, HD ZONING, UM, THAT IS, UH, A LITTLE BIT BETTER SUITED.
IT SEEMS FOR, UM, THESE PROPERTIES THAT MAY NOT BE INDIVIDUALLY SIGNIFICANT, UM, BUT STILL CONTRIBUTE TO, UM, THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF A DISTRICT.
UM, IN THIS CASE IT'S ALREADY A NATIONAL REGISTER
[01:40:01]
DISTRICT, BUT A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, WOULD OFFER MORE PROTECTION FOR THESE, UM, PROPERTIES THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE, UH, OUTSTANDING SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE, UH, THE LANDMARK BAR REQUIRES THESE KINDS OF PROPERTIES.OBVIOUSLY WE, BETWEEN, BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT THREE MEETINGS, WE'RE NOT GETTING A NEW
BUT YES, THAT'S THE VALUE OF HAVING A LOCAL DISTRICT, NOT JUST A NATIONAL DISTRICT FOR REVIEW.
IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO FORGET THAT THAT IS STILL AN OPTION.
UM, IT IS A COMMUNITY, UH, LED PROCESS, BUT, UM, HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE STILL, UM, SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND PROMOTE.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK YOU MENTIONED YEAH, THIS'S COMMUNITY LED, HOW THAT'S, HOW IS THAT A TOOL FOR, FOR THIS COMMISSION? NOT NECESSARILY FOR Y'ALL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WORTH MENTIONING.
UM, C ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE THESE PROPERTIES MM-HMM.
IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
YEAH, IF IT'S IN THAT CATEGORY, WE GET A, A SLIGHT IMPROVED TOOLS.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, ALL THOSE, UH, AND I'M GONNA CALL THE QUESTION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY UNDER THE CRITERIA OF, UH, ARCHITECTURE AND ASSOCIATION, UH, INDICATE, WELL, ACTUALLY, WE'RE JUST INITIATING SO WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO INDICATE THE, UH, YOU'RE GONNA DO MORE RESEARCH AND WE DON'T HAVE TO INDICATE THE, UH, CATEGORY, UH, INDICATE BY SAYING, UH, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO TALLY, UH, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
UH, I'M SEEING THREE, FOUR, AND SEVEN OPPOSED.
AND SO THAT MOTION FAILS, UH, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING, UH, WITH THE INTENTION OF THIS BEING A MOTION TOWARD 180 DAY DEMOLITION DELAY.
IS THERE A SECOND? JUST WANNA ADD, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, I SAW YOUR HAND UP BEFORE COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE SECOND, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE? IT'S, IT'S NOT A RACE.
I, I DO APPRECIATE WANTING TO USE ALL THE TOOLS AT, AT OUR DISPOSAL AND IT, IT TOOK ME A LITTLE AROUND TO COME TIME TO COME AROUND TO SEEING THESE CASES GO UP TO PLANNING AND GO UP TO CITY COUNCIL AND, AND SEE THE IMPACTS THEY HAVE THAT THIS IS OUR, OUR VOICE BEING HEARD.
I I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO BE SELECTIVE, UM, ABOUT WHAT WE SEND UP AND THAT, THAT WAS NOT MY FEELING FIVE YEARS AGO.
UM, COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? UH, YEAH, I, I, I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF WE CAN'T CONVICT, CONVINCE THE OWNERS TO COME VISIT WITH US.
UH, I'M SURE STAFF HEARD, UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE'S CONCERNS, HOPING THAT THE 180 DAY CLOCK WILL ENCOURAGE A CONVERSATION AND, UH, CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE STAFF TO, TO CONVEY THAT.
AND COMMISSIONER GROGAN, I I BYPASSED YOU FOR THE SECOND, BUT, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD YOUR COMMENTS? YOU'RE FINE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
[13. HR-2023-118825 – 514 E. Live Oak St. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register District]
13, UH, FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET.UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR DEMOLITION OF A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UH, UH, MS. CONTRERAS THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET.
UH, ITEM 13 IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A HOUSE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1917 AND 1930 AND CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING.
UH, THIS CAME BEFORE Y'ALL LAST MONTH.
UH, THIS IS A ONE STORY BUNGALOW WITH A PARAMETAL HIP ROOF, UH, AND AN INTERSECTING PORCH GABLE.
IT HAS A PARTIAL WIDTH INSET PORCH AND HORIZONTAL SIDING.
DETAILS INCLUDE EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS AND REMNANTS OF JIGSAW BRACKETS.
UH, THIS HOUSE WAS ADDRESSED AS BOTH 400 EAST LIVE OAK AND 2119 BROOKLYN AND ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS, AND IS IDENTIFIED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER INVENTORY AS A 1917 STRUCTURE.
UM, THOUGH IT DOES NOT APPEAR IN CITY DIRECTORIES UNTIL THE 1930S, UM, IT'S MODIFIED FORM IN DETAIL SUGGEST AN EARLIER BILL THAN THE 1930 WATER TAP PERMIT FOUND IN YOUR BACKUP.
UH, THE PLUMLEY FAMILY ARE THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED RESIDENTS, UH, AND THEY APPEAR TO HAVE SOLD THE HOUSE IN THE EARLY 1930S, UH, AFTER BEING CAUGHT STORING LIQUOR ILLEGALLY THERE.
[01:45:01]
1930S INTO THE 1940S, IT WAS OCCUPIED BY JAY BUFORD SMITH, WHO IS A BOOKKEEPER AT THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT AND HIS WIFE CATHERINE.IN THE 1950S, THE HOUSE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY A RENTAL PROPERTY WITH RESIDENTS, INCLUDING A MILL OPERATOR AND A DRY CLEANER.
UM, CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHAB AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL DISTRICTS.
UM, THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED, DOES NOT MEET MOST MOST OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, HOWEVER, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS, ENCOURAGE AND REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, UM, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, IS THE APPLICANT HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MM-HMM,
OH, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, DID, DID WE ASK, UH, RECOMMEND THAT THIS, UH, APPLICANT ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE? THIS ONE, YES.
WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, COME TO THE MICROPHONE, IDENTIFY YOURSELF? YES.
I'M, UH, THE ARCHITECT AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OWNER.
UH, THE OWNER IS ALSO HERE TO SPEAK AS WELL.
UH, SO I'LL SPEAK TO THE ARCHITECTURE.
WE DID, UH, MEET WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, SINCE LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
UH, AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT MEETING, WE DID UPDATE THE, UH, MATERIALS AND WINDOWS OF THE HOME TO BE, UH, A PAINTED CLADDING, UH, WITH DIVIDED LIGHT WINDOWS.
IT IS MORE CHARACTERISTIC TO THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD THAN THE PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED DESIGN.
UH, WE DID, UH, EXPLORE THE ABILITY TO EITHER MOVE OR ROTATE THE GARAGE TO BE ABLE TO FACE THE OTHER FACADE.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, UH, WITH THAT, UH, IN TERMS OF THE GRADING AND THE LOCATION WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ON BROOKLYN STREET, ON THE, THE LONGER FACADE.
UM, BUT ALSO WHAT THAT DID, AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT IS IT TAKES AWAY THAT ENTIRE FRONT PORCH THAT WE FEEL LIKE IS A, A REALLY CRITICAL ELEMENT TO, UH, THAT FACADE AS WELL.
UH, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SIDE OF A GARAGE THAT WOULD BE FACING THE PRIMARY ELEMENT.
AND SO, UH, JUST ONE, THE FEASIBILITY OF DOING THAT WAS, UH, VERY CHALLENGING.
UH, BUT THE AESTHETIC RESULT WE FELT MADE FOR A, A LESS DESIRABLE, UH, FRONT FACADE AESTHETIC.
UM, SO, UH, THIS IS THE UPDATED DESIGN WITH THE PAINTED CLADDING AND THE DIVIDED LIGHT WINDOWS.
UM, AND, UH, IN OUR RESPONSE TO TRY TO, UH, APPEASE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND, AND THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, I WILL KEEP IT CONCISE AND, AND LEAVE IT WITH THAT, UH, SO TO GIVE THE OWNER, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK AS WELL.
UM, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF THE ARCHITECT? UH, MR. LUHAN? OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
IF THE OWNER WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
UH, AND JUST AS STAFF WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY, UH, THE IMAGES YOU'RE SEEING NOW, WERE NOT RECEIVED IN TIME TO BE IMPLEMENTED INTO THE STAFF REPORTS.
UH, SO STAFF HAS NOT REVIEWED THEM.
UH, THEY'RE JUST ADDITIONAL BACKUP, UM, LATE, UH, PROVIDED BY THE ARCHITECT AND THE OWNER.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
I'M THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.
OBVIOUSLY HE LIVES THERE WITH ME.
UM, MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN, UH, 2021.
UM, WE SENSED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE HEIGHT OF THE MARKET.
WE SENSED THAT THE A WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE LIKELY WOULD BE TO REDEVELOP IT, BUT, UH, WE ARE BOTH, AND PARTICULARLY MY WIFE IS VERY INTERESTED IN REGENERATIVE REAL ESTATE SUSTAINABILITY.
IT WAS ALWAYS OUR PLAN TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE THIS HOUSE TO, UH, ANOTHER LOCATION.
UM, AND, UM, WE EXPLORE THAT OPTION WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT, UH, CONTRACTORS THAT DO HOUSE RELOCATIONS.
AND WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE HOUSE WOULD NOT SURVIVE THE RELOCATION.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTO THAT STAFF PROVIDED, THE FRONT GABLE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY BENT.
THE, UH, THE STRUCTURE IS NOT DOING SO WELL.
THE FOUNDATION IS, IS, IS BUBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UM, THE HOUSE FLOODS IN MODERATE RAINS, UH, DOORS DON'T CLOSE.
THE, THE, THE, THE STRUCTURE, THE FOUNDATION INTEGRITY IS JUST NOT REALLY SALVAGEABLE.
AND WE REALLY CAN'T EVEN PRESERVE ANY OF THE FACADES BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF THE FOUNDATION AND THE STRUCTURE IN GENERAL.
AND SO WE GAVE IT OUR BEST TRY, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION BUT TO DEMOLISH THE PROPERTY.
AND SO, UM, I THINK WE WENT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
WE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED PLANS THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UH, PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.
UM, AS, UH, MICHAEL HAN DESCRIBED TO YOU GUYS, SOME OF THEM THAT WERE REQUESTED ARE JUST NOT FEASIBLE.
[01:50:01]
IS, IS KEY.I MEAN, THERE'S A PROTECTED TREE IN THE BACK, THERE'S A DRAINAGE INLET, AND THE ONLY OTHER PLACE FOR A CURB CUT ALONG BROOKLYN STREET WOULD BE WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION FOR ATD TO ALLOW.
SO WE'RE REALLY STUCK WITH BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE GOT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, TRIED TO, TRIED REUSE, WE TRIED RELOCATION, UM, AND ALL OF THAT IS INFEASIBLE.
AND SO THIS IS, UH, WHAT WE'VE GOT LEFT TO DO.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS FOR THE, UH, OWNER? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN FAVOR OF THIS REQUEST? ALL RIGHT, UH, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION.
AND IS THERE SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION? UH, SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER.
MY NAME'S SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER AND I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION.
UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE SRCC HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, I DON'T REPRESENT THE COMMITTEE, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY CONCERNED, AS YOU KNOW, ABOUT EVERY SINGLE HOUSE.
AND I DO HEAR THE OWNER'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY.
UM, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE CONSIDER THE REQUEST OF POSTPONING SO WE CAN EXPLORE THAT FURTHER.
THERE'S STILL SO MANY BUNGALOWS ON LIVE OAK.
I DRIVE PAST THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO ANYWHERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A GATEWAY ENTRANCE INTO TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
AND, UM, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS BECOMING, UH, UNRECOGNIZABLE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF DEMOLITIONS.
AND EVEN IF WE DON'T DEMOLISH THIS, OR I'M SORRY, EVEN IF WE DO DEMOLISH THIS HOUSE, I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MANY WAYS WE COULD MAKE THE NEW DESIGN STANDARDS TO FIT IN SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOLDS THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS DISAPPEARING WITH EVERY SINGLE HOUSE THAT WE HAVE TO TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT.
UM, WITH THAT, I JUST ASK IF THERE COULD BE A POSTPONEMENT SO WE CAN CONTINUE DISCUSSING WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, SO THAT WE CAN JUST CONTINUE AND FIND A BETTER SOLUTION.
ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. ARM? TURN, FISHER, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? COMMISSIONERS? UH, I WILL MOVE, UH, TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, SECOND COMMISSIONER, UH, MC HORTER.
UH, ALL, UH, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS GONE TO THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A LATE, UH, ADDITION, UH, THEY HAVE CERTAINLY MADE CHANGES.
UH, I THINK MANY OF THOSE SEEM TO, AGAIN, STAFF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM AGAINST THE CRITERIA, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS AND ARE MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE CRITERIA.
I I DO THINK WE SORT OF HIT, HIT A BIT OF A BLOCK, UH, WITH THE QUESTION OF THE FRONT FACING GARAGE, WHICH HAS NO HISTORIC PRECEDENT IN THIS, IN THIS, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT AT ALL.
UM, BUT THAT IS CLEARLY A CHOICE OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, UH, UH, ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE BOTH A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND THE REVIEW OF WHICH WE REVIEW AND THE REVIEW OF THE NEW PLANS, UH, IN THIS CASE FOR THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THE OTHER TOOL WE HAVE, OF COURSE, IS TO INITIATE A STORAGE ZONING, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED.
SO, UH, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, UH, EITHER TO, UH, POSTPONE BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE OTHER TOOL WE HAVE OR, AND OR IF THAT'S THE CASE, UH, POSSIBLE MORE CONVERSATIONS THAT MIGHT ADD MORE IMPROVEMENTS IF WE THINK THAT THAT'S NECESSARY, OR WE COULD EITHER SAY THAT'S GONNA BE AS MUCH AS IS, IS, IS REASONABLE TO ASK.
UH, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S GONNA COME DOWN TO.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED? STAFF WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE COMMISSION AS WELL THE, UH, CLOCKS RUNNING ON THIS PROJECT.
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, UM, CAN BE POSTPONED ONE MORE TIME.
UH, AND THEN IT EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 18TH AND WILL BE, UH, RELEASED BY STAFF.
AND THEN THE DEMOLITION, UM, IS, WILL EXPIRE ON APRIL 1ST.
SO, UM, ONLY ONE MORE MEETING AFTER THIS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION REVIEW.
UM, UNLESS THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO
[01:55:01]
RELEASE TODAY.COMMISSIONERS, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK THAT THEY ATTEND THE ARC ONE MORE TIME.
WITH A POSTPONEMENT INTENTION YES.
SO COMMISSIONER GROGAN HAS, UH, MADE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE DECEMBER MEETING WITH THE REQUEST OF ANOTHER, UH, PASS AT THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING.
AND THAT'S BEEN SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION? YEAH, UM, I APPRECIATE THE CHANGES.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S, UM, PROBABLY REALLY HARD TO REORIENT THAT GARAGE, BUT I, I'M STILL HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THAT VERY FLAT FACADE AND, UM, WHERE THE GARAGE SITS AND, AND THE GARAGE JUST KIND OF BEING THE HIGHLIGHT FEATURE OF THAT ARCHITECTURE ALONG THAT FACADE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE THING WE HAD ASKED WAS IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THE GARAGE DOOR COULD BE SET BACK SLIGHTLY.
UM, AND I, I GUESS I JUST DON'T JUST WANNA EXPLORE THAT IDEA A LITTLE FURTHER.
UM, AND, AND PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, A POSTPONEMENT I GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO, TO SPEAK TO 'EM AS WELL.
UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE? YEAH.
UM, I THINK THAT THE, I I'M IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, ON THE BASIS THAT WE RECEIVED THAT SUBMISSION LATE AND STAFF HASN'T HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT THEMSELVES YET.
UM, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TO ME, UH, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT A LOT OF IT IS JUST MATERIALITY THAT MAKES IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER.
AND I WONDER, UH, TO WHAT DEGREE DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE TO STICK WITH THOSE MATERIALS AS, UM, PROVIDED TO US HERE AS THEY, AS THEY MOVE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION? UH, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THERE'S A, A STORM SEWER INLET ON THE BROOKLYN SIDE THAT COULD BE IN THE WAY OF THE, THE SIDE FACING, UM, GARAGE.
BUT, UH, SO, SO I DO HEAR THAT.
UH, BUT, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WITH THE, THE LATE, THE LATE SUBMISSION, IT DESERVES TO BE LOOKED AT ONE MORE TIME AND GIVE STAFF A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT AS WELL AS THE ARC.
UM, DOES THIS MOTION ALSO REQUIRE THAT, I'M SORRY, DID YOU SAY REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL? YEAH, WE GOT IT.
UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS? UH, I, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION.
UM, I JUST KEEP LOOKING AT THAT SINGLE STORY MASSING ON LIVE OAK AND THE FACT THAT THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER GARAGES THAT THE GARAGES JUST AREN'T TYPICAL.
THEY AREN'T, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THERE COULD BE COVERED PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY THAT'S THERE.
UM, IF THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INFEASIBILITY INFEASIBILITY FEASIBILITY OF THE, THE HOUSE AND THE CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURE, I'LL, I'LL NEED MORE EVIDENCE OF THAT.
I'M CURIOUS HOW ALL THE HOUSE FLOODS WHEN IT'S THREE STEPS UP AND THE NEW HOUSE IS GONNA BE LESS THAN HALF A STEP ABOVE GRADE.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THERE'S, UM, SOME GRADING GOING ON THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE, UH, THE DRAINAGE PLAN, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE THE INLET MAY IMPACT THAT.
I, I JUST SEE THIS HOUSE BEING WHERE IT IS WITH COVERED PARKING, OPEN AIR TO THE SIDE WITH VERY LITTLE LOSS OF USE OF ENJOYMENT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THERE JUST SEEMS LIKE A WIN-WIN SOLUTION HERE.
I JUST WANT TO, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COOK, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
THIS IS A HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE DESIGN IN THIS, UM, IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE, WE CAN'T FOCUS ON THESE DESIGN STANDARDS.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OUT THERE IN THAT ARE SUPER APPROPRIATE FOR THESE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IF WE COULD WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT AS WELL, TO HAVE AN APPROPRIATE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I MEAN, WE JUST PASSED 32 0 9 OAKMONT BOULEVARD, BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE.
SO YES, WE NEED TO DISCUSS THESE, UM, TO MAKE IT COMPLY WITH THE DESIGN STANDARDS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE UH, WITH THE REF REFERRAL TO, UH, ANOTHER DISCUSSION IF THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, UNTIL THE DECEMBER, UH, AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND, AGAIN, TO THE OWNER, I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DELAYING YOUR PROJECT AND IS REQUIRING MORE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR ARCHITECT.
UH, BUT THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING, UH, BUILDING.
[02:00:01]
IN A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, AND I THINK, UH, AS COMMISSIONER COOK SAYS, TAKING THE TIME FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S GOT AN INTEREST IN THIS, UH, TO WEIGH IN AND GET IT RIGHT.UH, WE DO HOPE WE MAKE MAXIMAL USE OF THE TIME.
UH, THIS IS, UH, 1303 AND A HALF.
THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A CONSENT.
UH, WE'RE UP TO 17, WHICH WAS PULLED.
THIS IS, UH, 1621 WEST 14TH STREET.
UH, THIS IS IN THE OLD WEST COMMISSIONER.
UH, UH, CHAIR, COULD YOU CLARIFY, UH, THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS REOPENED ON THE LAST MOTION TO POSTPONE? THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE DID IN THAT MOTION REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, IF THAT IS MISSING, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE ABLE TO FIX THAT.
BUT, UH, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AND I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
YES, THAT WAS PART OF THE MOTION.
THE APPLICANT, UM, WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL, SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE ABSOLUTELY.
THE, UH, THE NEXT MEETING, UH, AND CERTAINLY THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING AS WELL.
[17. HR-2023-122515 – 1621 W 14th St. Old West Austin National Register District]
UH, THAT IS, UH, 1621 WEST 14TH STREET.THAT'S, UH, THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
AND WE, UH, IN THIS CASE ARE REVIEWING A, UH, PLANS WITH A, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE, IN THE, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO REMODEL AN EXISTING HOUSE, UM, WHICH CONSISTS OF CONSTRUCTING AN ADDITION AND RECONFIGURING THE ROOF LINE, CHANGING THE FENESTRATION AND CLADDING, AND ADDING A SECOND FLOOR PATIO ACCESSED BY A SPIRAL STAIR.
THE EXISTING HOUSE IS A ONE STORY RANCH WITH HORIZONTAL SIDING, STONEWATER, TABLE CLADDING, AND ATTACHED CARPORT AND A SIDE GABLED ROOF.
UH, THIS HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1952, UM, BY GUY E AND FANNIE HUDDLESTON.
GUY HUDDLESTON WAS AN ARMY VETERAN AND HE MAJOR, AND HE WAS A MAJOR IN THE ARMY RESERVES.
UM, HE ALSO WORKED AS THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION'S MOTOR TRANSPORT DIVISION.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, WERE USED TO EVALUATE, UH, THIS PROJECT AS A CONTRIBUTING BUILDING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
UM, AND STAFF FOUND THAT THE PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, STAFF ALSO EVALUATED THE PROPERTY FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND FOUND THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA, UH, FOR INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO, UH, COMMENT ON THE PLANS, UM, AND TO POTENTIALLY INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UH, I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, MS. CONTRERAS, SO AS PRESENTED, I, I GUESS THE EXISTING BUILDING'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT IS IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ELEVATION IS WRAPPED AROUND THE EXISTING BUILDING? I GUESS I, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STUDY THE PLANS, BUT YOU'VE, YOU'VE HAD MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THEM.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION PERMIT, UH, THAT CAME TO US AND NOT A TOTAL DEMOLITION.
SO, UM, THE EXISTING HOUSE IS, IS IN THERE.
'CAUSE YEAH, WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE PLANS INITIALLY I THOUGHT THIS WAS NEW CONSTRUCTION, SO, OKAY.
UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTION, MS. CONTRERAS? UH, WE, UH, I PULLED THIS ONE 'CAUSE I WANTED THAT CLARIFICATION.
IS THE OWNER HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO, UH, DISCUSS THEIR, UH, REQUEST? YES.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
I'M GONNA READ BECAUSE I'M NOT GOOD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING
SO, UM, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RESIDED IN AUSTIN FOR MANY YEARS AND WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY 12 YEARS AGO.
WE'VE VERY MUCH ENJOYED LIVING IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PLAN TO STAY FOR YEARS TO COME.
UH, THE BUILDER WAS JACK ANDREW, WHO BUILT MANY SIMPLE MODEST TRACKED HOMES IN THE 1950S AND SIXTIES IN AUSTIN.
UM, OUR HOUSE CONSISTS OF A SQUARE THREE BEDROOM, ONE BATHROOM, SINGLE STORY STRUCTURE WITH A CARPORT ON THE FRONT WESTERN SIDE OF THE HOUSE IN A LOW, LOW-PITCHED ROOF.
FORGIVE ME IF I'M NOT USING THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY.
UM, IN THE TIME WE SPENT IN OUR HOME, WE'VE COME ACROSS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR LIVES A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE AND FUNCTIONAL.
WE ARE IN NEED OF A SECOND BATHROOM, AN ADDITIONAL AVERAGE SIZE BEDROOM, AND WE ALSO HAVE VERY LITTLE NATURAL LIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
IT'S VERY DARK AND WE CAN'T EVEN KEEP INDOOR PLANTS ALIVE.
UM, I THINK THIS IS PARTLY DUE TO THE OVERHANG OF THE ROOF ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE HOUSE, AND THEN PARTLY DUE TO THE TWO, TO TWO AND A HALF STORY STRUCTURES ON ALL THREE SIDES OF THE HOUSE.
UM, WE HAVE THE HOUSE TO THE EAST SIDE OF US.
THE FOUNDATION IS ABOUT THREE TO FIVE FEET ABOVE OUR FOUNDATION.
AND THEN THEY HAVE A TWO STORY STRUCTURE IN THE BACK AND VAULT IN CEILINGS IN THE FRONT.
UM, TO THE WEST SIDE, THERE ARE TWO, UM,
[02:05:01]
HOMES ON THE LOT, AND THE BACK ONE IS A TWO STORY BUILDING.AND THEN IN THE BACK OF OUR HOME IS A MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEX.
SO WE'RE KIND OF SMALL, SURROUNDED BY BIG HOUSES.
SO WHEN WE'RE IN THE BACKYARD, IT'S KIND OF, WE FEEL LIKE EVERYONE'S KIND OF JUST LOOKING DOWN ON US.
THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME HAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL, SO WE'D LIKE TO ENCLOSE THE CARPORT AND ADD ANOTHER BEDROOM AND BATHROOM EXTENDING TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
SO BASICALLY WE'RE KEEPING THE HOUSE AS IT IS.
WE'RE GONNA ENCLOSE THE CARPORT AND THEN ADD TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE ON THAT SIDE, ON THE WEST FACING SIDE.
AND THEN, UM, WE WANTED TO PUT LARGER WINDOWS TO GET SOME LIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
IT'S VERY, VERY DARK IN THERE.
AND THEN WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE A ROOFTOP DECK, WE THOUGHT WOULD BE ON THE ADDITION PART.
WE'D PUT A ROOFTOP DECK ON THE TOP EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE JUST TO HAVE A PLACE TO ENJOY OUTSIDE.
WE WOULD, THE ROOF EXTENDS TO COVER THE ROOFTOP DECK, IF YOU COULD SEE OVER THERE.
UM, AND THEN WE'D HAVE A FAN BECAUSE WE HAVE A HORRIBLE MOSQUITO PROBLEM AND WE REALLY CAN'T BE OUTSIDE.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DOOR TO THE BACK, UH, AS IT IS.
AND WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD HELP GIVE US A SPACE TO KIND OF ENJOY THE OUTSIDE WITHOUT HAVING TO SPRAY CHEMICALS ALL OVER THE YARD.
WE HOPE TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT OUR FAMILY NEEDS ARE AND WHY HAVE WE HAVE CHOSEN THIS DESIGN.
UM, APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT.
AND IS THERE ANY QUESTION, UM, FROM COMMISSIONERS? I, I GUESS THE QUESTION, UH, AND PART OF THE REASON I PULLED THIS IS THAT THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING ELEMENT WITHIN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THERE'S A CERTAIN SCALE AND CERTAIN LOOK THAT YOUR HOUSE PROVIDES.
UH, DID YOU CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING WHERE YOU WOULD DO LESS TO ALTER THAT FRONT? UH, AND WE HAVE EXAMPLES WHERE THAT FRONT HAS BEEN PRESERVED AND SOME OF THE DENSITY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN SOME OF THOSE EXTRA MATERIALS, UH, MIGHT BE POSSIBLE, UH, FURTHER BACK SO THAT YOU WOULD NOT CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THAT FRONT FACADE.
TO BE HONEST, WE DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT THAT OUR HOUSE WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UM,
BUT, UM, WE, THIS IS DESIGN THE BEST ONE WE COULD COME UP WITH IN OUR BUDGET.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO KEEP A SMALL FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND THEN BUILD A GIANT BACK, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING, WHICH IS FINE, BUT, UM, WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT IN OUR BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO WE ARE USING THE CARPORT SLAB AREA TO, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR MORE SLAB FOUNDATION.
AND, UM, SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF TRIED TO COME UP WITH THE BEST, UH, DESIGN THAT WE COULD, THAT WE LIKED TO.
UM, AND THAT'S AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT YOU PROBABLY WILL NEED SOME CONVERSATION, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE ARCHITECT.
UH, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, IS IT MS. AMMAN? IS THAT IT? YES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR MY HUSBAND'S HEARING PRESENTATION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS REQUEST? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST IT? OKAY, COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I WOULD MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE AND, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SAY, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.
UH, ANY OPPOSED? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
I THINK THIS IS, UH, ONE WHERE I WAS CONCERNED THAT REALLY, UH, IT'S, IT'S PROPOSED AS AN ADDITION, UH, BUT IN EVERY WAY IT IS BASICALLY LOSING A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
UM, IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE OWNER AND THEIR ARCHITECT.
UH, IF, UH, THIS MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO PERHAPS HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UH, BUT AGAIN, I WILL DEFER TO, UH, COMMISSIONERS WHAT YOU'RE IN, WHAT, WHAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING.
I WOULD MOVE TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND THAT WOULD, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THAT UNTIL, UH, THE DECEMBER MEETING IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT.
AND TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING OR POSTPONE IT AND POSTPONE IT.
I SECOND, AND THAT'S SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? NO, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CANDIDATE.
[02:10:01]
UH, YOU KNOW, FROM THE, FROM THE OWNER'S COMMENTS, I THINK THEY COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW GROUP AND THAT MEETING.UM, COMMISSIONER RUBIO? YEAH, I TRULY HOPE WE CAN WORK WITH YOU TO COME UP WITH, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS SENSITIVE TO THIS DISTRICT.
I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THERE'S NO COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE BECAUSE THIS, UH, IS JUST, AGAIN, HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE.
I THINK AS DESIGNERS, WE ALSO OWE OUR CLIENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO OUR, OUR RESEARCH AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE AND THE CONTEXT.
AND SO, I'M SORRY THAT YOU, YOU MAY NOT HAVE HAD THAT INFORMATION.
UH, I'M NOT REALLY FULLY UNDERSTANDING HOW AFTER 10 OR SO YEARS THAT WE CAN'T FULLY SEE WHERE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUT, UM, YEAH.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S WORK ON THIS HOUSE.
UM, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
SAYING NONE, UH, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT TO, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING POSTPONEMENT TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING AND, UH, REFERRAL TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE OR RAISING YOUR HAND.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE OWNER COMING AND BE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON THIS.
[19. PR-2023-087312 – 701 Sparks Ave. ]
IS THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM.UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR TOTAL DEMOLITION AND, UH, AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS.
WE HEARD EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THIS AND WE, UH, POSTPONED THIS FROM OUR OCTOBER, OCTOBER 4TH MEETING.
UH, UH, STAFF, UH, MS. CONTRERAS, GO AHEAD.
UH, ITEM 19 AT 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCA 1925 HOUSE AND CIRCA 1937 SECONDARY STRUCTURE.
UH, AS A REFRESHER FROM THE LAST MEETING.
THIS IS A ONE STORY SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL HOUSE WITH A STUCCO EXTERIOR, A FLAT ROOF WITH A CRENELATED PARAPET, AND A HIP ROOF WITH TERRACOTTA TILE.
UH, IT HAS A PARTIALLY GLAZED ENTRY DOOR FLANKED BY SIMPLE SIDELIGHTS, A CURVED ENTRY PORCH PORCH SUPPORTED BY CLASSICAL COLUMNS AND ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS WITH SIX OVER ONE SCREENS.
THE SECONDARY APARTMENT IS TWO STORIES, ALSO STUCCO, UH, WITH DOUBLE WOOD GARAGE DOORS AND ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS 7 0 1 SPARKS, UH, ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED AS 1 0 1 SPARKS WAS BUILT IN 1925 FOR KNOX THOMAS AND SALLY ROGERS JOHNSON BY CONTRACTOR MARVIN GORDON MCGOUGH.
UM, THE JOHNSON HOUSE WAS THE ONLY RESIDENCE MCGOUGH BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR A CLIENT OUT OF A COLLECTION OF FIVE TOTAL HOMES, THE RISE OF SPANISH ECLECTIC AND MISSION REVIVAL BUILDINGS IN THIS AREA ALIGNS WITH HARRIS PARK'S DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE.
NEXT JOHNSON BEGAN HIS CAREER IN AUSTIN AS A FARMER, UM, BUT MOVED INTO CEMENT AND PAVEMENT CONSTRUCTION.
HE COMPLETED MULTIPLE LARGE MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS DURING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY AS AUSTIN'S BOOMING ECONOMY DROVE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
SALLY ROGERS JOHNSON WAS THE DAUGHTER OF TRAVIS COUNTY PIONEER ED ROGERS AND AUNT TO ST.
LOUIS CARDINALS MANAGER ROGERS HORNSBY.
UM, AFTER SALLY JOHNSON'S DEATH IN 1942, THE FAMILY MOVED AWAY IN THE HOUSE AT 7 0 1 SPARK SPENT SEVERAL YEARS AS A RENTAL PROPERTY BY THE FIFTIES, VIRGINIA HARRIS, WHO WORKED AS SECRETARY TO THE TEXAS STATE BOARD OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS, HAD PURCHASED THE HOME AND SHE LIVED THERE FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS.
THE 2020 NORTH LOOP HANCOCK BUGGY CREEK SURVEY LISTS THE PRIMARY BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY AND INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AS WELL AS RETAINING SUFFICIENT INTEGRITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A POTENTIAL LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE SURVEY LISTS THE SECONDARY BUILDING AS A MEDIUM PRIORITY.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION AS WELL.
UM, AS IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE WITH ECLECTIC DETAILING AND IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE BUILT BY CONTRACTOR MARVIN BOFF IN THE HARRIS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THE PROPERTY IS ASSOCIATED WITH KNOX THOMAS AND SALLY JOHNSON, AND IT IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT D WOODS PARK, AND REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT GROUPING OF SPANISH ECLECTIC AND MISSION REVIVAL HOMES IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
OKAY, MR. CONTRERAS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, JUST A REMINDER TO OUR AUDIENCE, IF YOU HAVE ANY SIDE CONVERSATIONS, PLEASE TAKE THEM OUT TO LOBBY, UH, IN RESPECT FOR OUR COMMISSION, OUR STAFF, AND OUR SPEAKERS.
AND, UM, ALSO COMMISSIONERS, I'LL REMIND YOU THAT, UH, WE HAD A INSPECTION REPORT THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TOO LATE TO BE PART OF THE BACKUP, BUT THAT HAS BEEN PART OF YOUR BACKUP NOW, UH, AND THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
SO, UM, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE, UM, IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE, IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
CAN YOU BRING IN MY PACKAGE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION? MY NAME IS MIKE MCCONE.
I'M REPRESENTING THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
[02:15:01]
POSTPONEMENT LAST TIME AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A VERY LARGE, UH, INSPECTION REPORT.UH, THE UH, INSPECTION REPORT WAS, UH, SOMEWHAT REDUCED BY REMOVING SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT SHOWED THE COMPLETE AND THE ELABORATE, UH, DISINTEGRATION OF THE HOUSE.
BUT, UH, WE GOT IT UNDER, UNDER THE SIZE LIMITATION.
AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, UH, GO THROUGH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE CONCERNING THE PROPERTY, UH, AND START WITH THE EXHIBITS THAT WERE DE DELIVERED IN YOUR BACKUP.
THE, UH, PROPERTY IS ZONED SSF THREE.
THE MAIN HOUSE ON 7 0 1 SPARK HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO AHA DUPLEX USE WITH THE GARAGE APARTMENT.
SO IT ACTUALLY HAS THREE UNITS ON IT.
UH, THE ESTIMATE THAT WE GOT, UH, AND WHICH IS IN YOUR BACKUP FROM THE DISTINCTIVE REMODELING LLC, UH, SHOWS THAT THE COST TO RECONSTRUCT THIS HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE, HE TOOK THE INSPECTION REPORT AND SAID THERE'S NOTHING HERE.
WE HAVE GOT TO START ALL OVER IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS HOUSE LOOK LIKE IT USED TO BE.
AND IT WOULD BE A HOUSE THAT WOULD, UH, BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT, IT WOULD COST OVER $740,000 TO REHAB.
UH, THE PLAN IS THAT, UH, IS AN ESTIMATE, UH, IN HIS FINAL LETTER COVER LETTER OF DECEMBER 27TH TO MR. RAHIM JAM MARTY.
IT SAYS, AFTER INSPECTING YOUR PROPERTY, WE FOUND EVIDENCE OF FOUNDATION FAILURE IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE MAIN HOME.
THE GARAGE APARTMENT ALSO HAS SEVERE CRACKING AND MOISTURE PENETRATION FRAMING OF THE MALLING HOUSE AND GARAGE APARTMENT WAS FOUND TO HAVE WOODEN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND ALSO EVIDENCE OF WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS AFTER WAS PRESENT.
AT THIS POINT, RECOMMEND THAT THE HOME IS NOT IN GOOD CONDITION TO BE REMODELED.
WE RECOMMEND DEMOLITION AND REBUILD.
THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR THIS PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE INSPECTION REPORT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU HAD THE TIME TO GO THROUGH IT, IT IS QUITE LARGE, BUT IT WAS VERY THOROUGH AND THE HOUSE IS JUST UNFORTUNATELY FALLING DOWN.
SO IT'S DOESN'T MEAN IT MAY HAVE SOME APPEARANCE OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY INSTRUCTIONAL AND BEING A STUCCO HOUSE TO GET IT BACK, YOU HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN.
THE UH, ORIGINAL PLAN THAT, UH, MR. JAHAR HAD WAS TO, UH, BUILD A DUPLEX HERE AND HE DID FILE A PLAN.
YOU DID ASK ABOUT THAT AND I CAN GIVE THAT TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT PLAN.
WERE THEY SUBMITTED WITH YOUR, UH, REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION? THEY WERE NOT SUBMITTED WITH THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
YEAH, IT'S NOT IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
BUT YOU HAVE, BUT YOU HAVE NOT, YOU HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THEM UP TO THIS POINT? UH, NO.
I WAS TOLD TONIGHT, TONIGHT THAT THE CUTOFF WAS, UH, 12 HOURS AGO.
UH, I THINK IT'D BE HARD FOR US TO DIGEST THEM HERE, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO ARE, UH, REMOTE.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE AND THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT, WE CERTAINLY WOULD ALLOW, UH, SURE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE WAY THIS STARTED, MR. JOB, WHO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN MAY OF THAT SHE YEAR, UM, BASED UPON A SURVEY THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET, WHICH WAS DATED IN APRIL, UH, SHOWING THAT THERE ARE TWO LOTS.
HE PLANS TO BUILD A DUPLEX AT 7 0 1 AND AT 7 0 2 WOULD BE A HOUSE WITH A DETACHED DWELLING AS WELL AND ACCESSORY DWELLING.
SO THAT WOULD GET HIM TO A SITUATION WHERE HE IS HAVING FOUR NEW PROPERTIES ON THIS AND IT WOULD NOT, UH, BE THE SAME HOUSE, BUT IT WOULD BE A HOUSE THAT WOULD BE OF THE SAME, UH, DECI, SAME, UH, SIZE OF THE EXISTING HOUSE.
AND IT WOULD BE OF THE SAME, IT WOULD NOT BE AN INTRUSION ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ANYTHING HERE TO REBUILD OR TO REHAB.
IT'S JUST IN SUCH POOR CONDITION BASED UPON THESE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE PAID AND LICENSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO COME UP WITH THE ACTUAL SITUATION OF THE HOUSE.
I'VE NEVER WORKED WITH THEM BEFORE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
JUST SOMETHING THE OWNER WANTED TO GET AND EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY HE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH
[02:20:01]
BEING, UH, HAVING A ZONED HISTORIC.UH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UM, YOU'VE SUBMITTED A NUMBER OF MATERIALS INCLUDING, UM, A BID APPLICATION AS YOU MENTIONED.
I, IS THAT ONLY FOR THE HOUSE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE GARAGE APARTMENT, IS THAT CORRECT? AND THE, WE HAD TO CUT THE HOUSE, WE HAD TO CUT THE GARAGE OUT PRETTY MUCH TO GET TO THE SIZE OF THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE, UH, COMMISSION.
SO THE, THE 10 MEGABIT IS THERE LIMIT? IT CAME IN AT 9.8 AFTER IT'S, IT'S ORIGINALLY A 14.3, SO WE HAD TO CUT.
THE HOUSE IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.
THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE GARAGE APARTMENT IS IT'S WORSE.
I, I THINK IN THE FUTURE YOU COULD, I I THINK WE, THERE ARE WAYS YOU COULD DO A SUPPLEMENT, BUT, UH, OBVIOUSLY YES, WE WILL PROBABLY DO THAT NOW.
BUT WE, AT THE POINT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT INFORMATION TO YOU THAT SHOWED THE ACTUAL DIFFICULTY, UH, THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURE BASED UPON PROFESSIONAL, UH, EVALUATION.
SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT ASK ABOUT THE, UH, THE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
IF, IF I READ THIS CORRECTLY FROM THE BID, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HOUSE, THEN IS 2,554 SQUARE FEET.
'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT.
THE SQUARE FOOTAGE TAKE OFF, THAT'S JUST FOR THE HOUSE.
THAT, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
UH, AND DO YOU HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, BY THE WAY, OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT YOU'RE INTENDING? UH, YES, IT IS.
UH, IT'S 1550 AND A AND 1545 AND B SO IT'S ALLOWED 3000 SQUARE FEET PER UNIT OR 30 FOR TWO UNITS ON 7 0 1.
YEAH, THAT'S ONLY, THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE, OF THE, THAT'S ONLY TWO OF THE FOUR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE OTHER ONE I HAVE THAT AS WELL.
AND WE'VE ONLY DONE SITE PLANS.
THERE'S NO ARCHITECTURAL AT THIS POINT IN TIME DUE TO THE, UH, WENT TO GET A DEMOLITION PERMIT WORKING ON ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AND BRANDON TO, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT THE HISTORIC, SO TAKING IT POINT AT A TIME.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. MCCONE? OKAY, THANK YOU.
IF YOU COULD, UH, THEN WILL THE OWNER PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND, UH, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS RAHEEM JAVAN MARDI.
AND, UH, I OWN THE PROPERTY AT SEVEN OH SPARK AVENUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE REALITY.
THIS BUILDING IS THE FIRST STEP WHEN THEY BUILD IT IS AS A DUPLEX AND GARAGE APARTMENT IN THE BACK.
THEY DIDN'T SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY, I'M SORRY, THAT MUCH MONEY TOO, TO BUILD UP THE GOOD BUILDING.
I TRY TO KEEP THE PROPERTY AS MUCH I CAN, BUT I BRING TO MANY PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IT, TO REMODEL IT AND SAY IT DOESN'T WORK IT TO FIX IT UP THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THE THEM OF THE BUILDING AND THEN TO DEVELOP THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT'S GOOD, IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY, EVEN THE, THE NEIGHBOR, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THAT.
SO, UM, SO PLEASE, UH, I DON'T HAVE FURTHER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, PLEASE, I'M READY TO ANSWER.
WELL, MR. VARNEY, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, AND YOU'RE WELCOME.
YOU'RE VERY AWARE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S INTEREST IN THIS.
YOU HAVE MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT IT IS THE FINANCIAL BURDEN, UH, BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THIS BUILDING.
IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? YES, SIR.
THERE, THE, THE BUILDING REALLY NEED TOO MUCH MONEY TO, TO REMODEL IT.
AND WHEN THE, WHEN THE THEY MODEL THE BUILDING, IT DOESN'T COME THAT MUCH INCOME TO PAY LOAN TO PAY PROPER TAXES, TO PAY INSURANCES.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE LOOKING
[02:25:01]
AT THE, LOOKING AT THE COST FOR RENOVATION THAT YOU PROVIDED AND KNOWING, UH, IF YOU'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, WELL, I AM TOO.SO I KNOW WHAT IT COSTS ME TO BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT ON A SQUARE FOOT BASIS DO YOU TYPICALLY BUDGET FOR YOUR NEW CONSTRUCTION? IT'S IT'S 300.
SO WHEN WE DO THE NUMBERS, BASED ON THE ESTIMATE YOU GAVE US, YOUR RENOVATION IS LESS THAN 300 A SQUARE FOOT THAT THE REVENUE, THE, OKAY, THE, THE REVENUE RENOVATION REMODELING IS, IS NOT INCLUDED MECHANICAL, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU NEED THREE AC UNIT, RIGHT? IT'S IN THE BID.
YOU GAVE US A BID THAT HAD MECHANICAL IN IT.
IT IS NOT INCLUDED LANDSCAPING, IT'S NOT INCLUDED.
YOU DIDN'T GIVE US LANDSCAPING, BUT YOU GIVE US MECHANICAL.
SO YOUR LANDSCAPING WOULD BE IN EITHER BID.
I, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WANT TO TEAR THIS BUILDING DOWN, BUT YOU COME TO US MAKING AN ECONOMIC ARGUMENT AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I, I JUST WANNA GET RIGHT TO THE HEART OF IT.
I DON'T SEE THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT.
SO YOU CAN MAKE OTHER ARGUMENTS, BUT I DO WANT TO CALL YOU, UH, UNLESS YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THAT ONE IMMEDIATELY.
'CAUSE I I, YOUR NUMBERS DON'T, DON'T SHOW WHAT I WOULD NEED TO SEE FOR, FOR ME TO BE CONVINCED ME PERSONALLY, TO BE CONVINCED.
AND AGAIN, I'M JUST PULLING FROM MY OWN EXPERTISE.
I THINK IT'S COME EQUAL, YOU KNOW, TO, TO PUT THE NEW BUILDING AND TO REMODEL IT IS REALLY THE, THE AMOUNT OF THE MONEY TO HAVE SPENDING IT IS COME EQUAL.
THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S, I THINK I AGREE WITH YOU.
WHEN, IF YOU FINISHED SPENDING THIS, YOU WOULD HAVE 25 OR SO HUNDRED SQUARE FEET OF THE RENOVATED BUILDING PRESERVED.
IF YOU BUILT THE WAY YOUR PROPOSAL IS AT SAME COST PER SQUARE FOOT, YOU WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE, BE ONLY SLIGHTLY LARGER, BUT IT WOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME COST PER SQUARE.
THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW, IF YOU REMODEL IT, IT HAS A LOW BUILDING AND THE, EVEN THE ONE ROOM IN THE BACK, IT USED TO BE, I THINK IT'S, IT IS CARPORTS GOT CARPORT THEY ADDED TO THE BUILDING.
THEY HAVE A LOW CEILING AND THE THE FELLOW IS VERY SLOPPY.
IT, IT DOES, IT, IT DOESN'T COME THAT MUCH INCOME.
BUT MEANING YOU PUT NEW BUILDING AND THEN OF COURSE IT MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
WELL, AGAIN, YOU'RE, WE'RE ONLY WORKING WITH AN, I'M ONLY LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS YOU SUBMITTED TO US, BUT, UH, I, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE RELEVANT TO OUR CONVERSATION.
SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UH, IS IF COMMISSIONERS, UH, I KNOW COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE, UM, ENGINEER'S REPORT.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO PUT HIM ON THE SPOT, BUT COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS BASED ON THE INSPECTION REPORT? HE HE'S MUTED RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, IT'S NOT AN ENGINEER'S REPORT, IT'S AN INSPECTION REPORT.
YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE SOME ALLEGATIONS IN THE INSPECTION REPORT THAT I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH, BUT I THINK OVERALL THE INSPECTION REPORT DOES SHOW THAT IT'S, IT HAS A LOT OF DISTRESS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE OVERCOME IN A RESTORATION EFFORT.
I I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT'S GONNA FALL DOWN 'CAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTRESSED ELEMENTS THAT WOULD RE REQUIRE FAIRLY EXTENSIVE INNOVATION TO RESTORE IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS TO, OR QUESTION? QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? ALRIGHT, UH, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND, AND WILLING TO TALK WITH US MR. AVARI.
ARE THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? OKAY.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION.
WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION.
UM, FIRST I'M GOING TO CALL NANCY KINSLER.
AND HAS EACH OF YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE? UH, GIVE US YOUR FULL NAME.
UM, MY NAME'S NANCY CARLIN KINSLER.
UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, I AM THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CROCKETT FAMILY WHO OWNS 7 0 5 SPARKS AVENUE ADJACENT TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY OF 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE OUR STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE AT 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
THE CROCKETT FAMILY ORIGINALLY OWNED AND SUBDIVIDED THE LAND CREATING THE HARRIS PARK EDITION SUBDIVISION IN 1924.
SINCE THAT TIME, THE FAMILY HAS HAD A PRESENCE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON THIS STREET AS MOTON, WHO'S HERE TODAY.
[02:30:01]
FAMILY HOME AT 7 0 7 SPARKS AVENUE.AND MORTON'S FATHER LATER BUILT HIS FAMILY'S HOME AT 7 0 5 SPARKS AVENUE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
THIS HOUSE HAS HAD A LONGSTANDING PRESENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND STANDS OUT WITH UNIQUE AND ECLECTIC DESIGNS THAT MAINTAINS A GREAT DEAL OF ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY AT A PROMINENT CORNER.
THE ASSOCIATIONS WITH VERY INTERESTING AND HISTORICALLY ACCOMPLISHED PEOPLE IN AUSTIN MAKE A STRONGER CASE FOR WHY THIS PROPERTY SHOULD BE PRESERVED.
WE VERY MUCH SUPPORT THIS PROPERTY BEING PRESERVED.
ON A SEPARATE NOTE, WE HAVE HAD REAL CONCERN WITH THIS, FOR THIS STRUCTURE AS THIS PROCESS MOVES ALONG IN DETERMINING THE ELIGIBILITY FOR PRESERVATION BECAUSE THE LANDOWNER HAS SHOWN A DISREGARD FOR RULES WHEN THEY CLEARED THE PROPERTY OF TREES AND IN THE PROCESS CUT DOWN A PROTECTED AND LIKELY HERITAGE PECAN TREE THAT WAS VERY CLEARLY ON OUR, THE CROCKETT FAMILY'S PROPERTY AT 7 0 5 SPARKS.
WHAT IS LEFT OF THE TREE MEASURES 24 INCHES AT THE BASE.
THE TREE WAS SURELY OF A SIZE AND SPECIES THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED A PERMIT TO REMOVE.
AND I QUESTION HOW MANY MORE TREES WERE REMOVED THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD A PERMIT.
THE AERIAL I IMAGES THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN PACKETS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED THE COMMISSION ALONG WITH SHARED BY TO ALL THE COMMISSION MEMBERS BY EMAIL, UM, SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TREE CANOPY BEFORE AND AFTER THEY CLEARED THE SITE.
UH, I AM GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU TO FOCUS ON THE PRESERVATION ASPECTS AND, UH, JUST BECAUSE WE WERE, WE WE'RE BOUND BY SOME VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA, UH, IT, WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP IS AN ALLEGATION OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TREES.
THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WE REALLY, I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO STAY WITH PRESERVATION ISSUES, PLEASE.
WE, WE UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE TREES.
MORE SO WE JUST ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ACTIONS OF THIS LANDOWNER AND SPEAKS TO THE LEVEL OF IDENTITY.
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT AN OWNER HAS DONE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, THAT'S ADDRESSED BY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, IF THAT'S, THAT CAN'T BE NECESSARILY PART OF OUR RECORD.
AND WE'RE NOT HERE TO LITIGATE THAT OR TO MAKE A JUDGMENT ON THAT.
SO WE DO ASK YOU TO STICK TO ISSUES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO PRESERVATION ACTIONS.
UM, YEAH, IT'S JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CROCKETT FAMILY HAS HAD A LONG HISTORY HERE AND, UM, THEY'VE HAD THREE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE.
AND SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT KEYSTONE PROPERTY, UM, UH, AS, AS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO WE ARE IN STRONG OPPOSITION OF DEMOLISHING THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
SO ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE, UH, SPEAKER? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, WE HAVE MOTEN CROCKETT THIRD.
AGAIN, PLEASE COME AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE, FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS MOTON CROCKETT III, AND I BASICALLY LIVED, UH, AT 7 0 5 SPARKS AVENUE ALL MY LIFE.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION.
DOES THE, THE OWNER OF 7 0 1 ALSO OWN 7 0 3? HE DOES.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO SOME CONSTRUCTION OR SOMETHING ON 7 0 2.
UH, WE ARE, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER DEMOLITION FOR 7 0 1.
THAT IS THE, THAT IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED OR THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING HERE TONIGHT.
BUT THEY HAVE NO PLANS ON, ON BUILDING ANYTHING ON 7 0 3.
UH, THEY DISCUSSED PLANS AS YOU HEARD, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY PLANS.
AND THAT'S NOT REQUIRED OF THEM FOR THIS DEMOLITION APPLICATION? NO.
WELL, UH, WE, WE OPPOSED THE, UH, TEARING DOWN OF THIS, UH, STRUCTURE AND IT TO THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S IN GOOD CONDITION.
THERE WAS, UH, THEY PUT IN A NEW ROOF, I THINK, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
UH, DID EXTENSIVE WORK ON IT AND MAYBE SOME, UH, INSIDE.
AND ALSO, UH, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE HE PLANS ON HAVING THERE, BUT, UH, THERE'S PARKING ON ONLY ONE HALF OF SPARKS AVENUE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS GONNA PUT THE PARKING IF HE HAS, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE PARKING THERE.
THE, THE CURRENT, UH, HOUSE HAS A KIND OF A CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY ON
[02:35:01]
HARRIS PARK AVENUE, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY PARK AND THAT, UH, APARTMENT HOUSE IN BACK THE, THE GARAGE APARTMENT HAS TWO PARKING SPACES UNDERNEATH.AND SO, UH, IF HE CHANGES THAT UP SOMEWHERE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GONNA PARK.
UH, MAYBE HE'S GONNA PARK 'EM ON 7 0 3.
UH, BUT MR. CROCKETT, YOU'VE, YOU'VE, UM, ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE BUILDING ITSELF AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO YOU? THE, THE, THE 7 0 1 STRUCTURE? CORRECT.
UH, IT'S JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME IT'S IN GOOD CONDITION.
MAYBE IT NEEDS A LITTLE PAINT ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT I GUESS THE ROOF IS IN GREAT CONDITION.
'CAUSE IT WAS REDONE I THINK ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM.
UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTION OF MR. CROCKETT? OKAY.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YEP.
AND IS, IF SPEAKERS ARE GETTING READY TO SPEAK, IF YOU'LL JUST, UH, COME DOWN TO THE MICROPHONE AND AGAIN, IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
I'M, I CALL MYSELF THE PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF EASTWOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BECAUSE I WAS UNTIL JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, UH, FOR SOME TIME THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE A, A, A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED A LETTER TO YOU ASKING YOU PLEASE TO PROTECT THIS HOUSE FROM DEMOLITION.
UH, SOMEONE CALLED IT A KEYSTONE PROPERTY.
AND IT TRULY IS ON THAT CORNER GOING DOWN INTO SPARKS.
SPARKS AVENUE IS ONE SHORT BLOCK LONG ENDING IN THE CREEK, ALONG THAT HOU THAT, THAT STREET, THERE ARE WONDERFUL HISTORIC HOUSES ASSOCIATED WITH ALL KINDS OF PROMINENT PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
AND IT'S AMAZING THIS, THIS DENSE, UM, AMOUNT OF HISTORY AND ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE HOPED TO HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT THERE.
IT WOULD BE A SMALL ONE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE STREET, BUT IF WE, IF WE LOST THIS HOUSE, WE WOULD, IF WE WOULD BE NO POINT IN TRYING TO DO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, WOULD BE MEMORIALIZED BY THAT WOULD BE LOST.
SO, UH, WE VERY MUCH WANT TO SAVE THE HOUSE.
I'M AN OWNER OF A HISTORIC LANDMARK HOUSE MYSELF, AND I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO, TO KEEP ONE UP.
WE, WE RESTORED OURS FROM, FROM A MESS TO A WONDERFUL HOUSE.
AND IT'S A STEWARDSHIP OF LOVE THAT WE EXERCISE IN THE LIVING THERE.
I BELIEVE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
I BELIEVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A LOT OF HISTORIC CHARACTER AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
UM, NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE TERRY MEYERS MEYERS, OUR FORMER CHAIR.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE, UH, INSPECTION REPORT.
AS INSPECTION REPORTS DO, THEY NOTE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THIS IS PEPPERED WITH A LOT OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
THINGS LIKE DEBRIS IN THE GUTTERS, TWO BROKEN WINDOWS, A FEW BROKEN CLAY TILES, SOME TORN SCREENS.
UM, LEANING PIERS AND SLANTED FLOORS ABSOLUTELY DESCRIBES MY HOUSE.
UH, I NEED TO FIX SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT IT'S A PROCESS.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SAY IS THAT THIS PROPERTY IN THE, UM, IN THE SURVEY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS RECOMMENDED INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
IF IT WERE LISTED, IT WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LANDMARK, UH, STATUS HERE.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE CRITERIA, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO, UM, TO DO THAT WITHOUT
[02:40:01]
THAT LISTING.I WOULD SAY THAT THIS PROPERTY HAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY VALUE.
IT SITS AT THE ENTRANCE TO EASTWOODS PARK AND THAT, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WAS, IS THE LAST REMNANT OF WHEELERS GROVE.
THE SCENE OF, UM, EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATIONS, NOW BETTER KNOWN AS JUNETEENTH FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
UM, WHEN THAT PROPERTY, UH, WAS BUILT, THERE WAS A KIND OF INFLUX OF SPANISH REVIVAL DESIGNS AND HUGO CUNY WHO RECOMMENDED THIS PARK FOR DESIGNATION AS A CITY PARK, UM, BUILT THE, UH, DESIGNED AND BUILT THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE THERE, THE STONE WALLS AND THE STONE, UH, PARK HOUSE.
AND THEN THIS BUILDING WITH ITS, UH, SPANISH REVIVAL DESIGN, UH, WAS SORT OF INSTIGATED BY CUNY IN THAT AREA.
THIS IS A MORE MODEST EXAMPLE THAN CUNY'S OWN HOME, BUT EACH OF THE HOUSES IS UNIQUE AND I THINK THAT THIS ONE MERITS, UM, MERITS RECOGNITION BOTH FOR ITS ARCHITECTURE AND FOR ITS COMMUNITY VALUE.
UM, THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS IF THE OWNER RENOVATED THE HOUSE, WHICH IS THE DUPLEX, A TWO, TWO FAMILY USE AND THE GARAGE APARTMENT, AND BUILT A DUPLEX ON THE SECOND LOT, 7 0 3, WHICH IS A VACANT LOT, HE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST FIVE UNITS, UH, HERE AVAILABLE FOR, UH, RESIDENCES.
AND I JUST REALLY FEEL THIS IS PROMINENT SITE, UNIQUE SITE.
MS. MYERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTION FOR MS. MEYERS? OKAY.
AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU WILLIE, TO BE COMING BACK AND SPEND TIME WITH US.
I TRIED TO GET OUT AND THEY KEEP
YOU CAN, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF US
IS THERE OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, PLEASE? WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER JOINING US BY PHONE.
UH, BARBARA, YOU'LL NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF BY, UH, PRESSING STAR SIX.
OKAY, MS. EPSTEIN, AGAIN, UM, IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AS YOU OKAY.
UH, AND GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS BARBARA EPSTEIN AND I I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL AGAIN.
I LEARNED A LOT WATCHING YOUR LAST PROCEEDING LOOKING AT THE HOUSES YOU WERE VOTING ON, HOW YOU EVALUATE NOT ONLY THE AGE OF A HOUSE AND WHO MIGHT HAVE LIVED THERE, BUT ALSO ITS CHARACTER IN ITS PLACE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE MEETS YOUR CRITERIA.
AND FROM MY LAY PERSPECTIVE, HAS MORE VISIBLE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER THAN MANY HOUSES THAT ARE ALREADY HISTORICALLY ZONED.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME SIX BLOCK AREA FOR 49 YEARS AND SERVED AS THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT OR LEGAL COMMITTEE IN EASTWOOD FOR 20.
I THINK THAT SOMEONE PURCHASING THIS HOUSE ON THIS PARTICULAR STREET INTENDING TO LIVE ON SITE OR RENT IT OUT, SHOULD CLEARLY HAVE KNOWN THE CHARACTER OF THE STREET AND THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT NEEDING A REPORT.
BUT I SUPPOSE ANYONE CAN CONVENIENTLY CLAIM A HOUSE AS A TEAR DOWN.
IN FACT, A NEIGHBOR WHO, WHO RECENTLY STAYED INSIDE THE HOUSE VERIFIED THAT 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE IS HABITABLE.
ABSENTEE OWNERS MAY ONLY THINK OF PROPERTIES IN TERMS OF PROFIT MARGINS, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE CHOSE TO LIVE IN A QUIETER PART OF THE CITY WITH HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND MATURE TREE CANOPY.
WHEN A HOUSE IS HISTORIC, A BUYER SHOULD RESPECT IT AS WELL AS ITS NEIGHBORS.
AND SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE ALLOW THIS HOUSE TO REMAIN AS AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AUSTIN'S ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY.
UM, ANY COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, ARE THERE FURTHER SPEAKERS? ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO.
BY OUR, UH, RULES, WE ALSO ALLOW, UH, THE OWNER OR THE, UH, PRIMARY SPEAKER TO REBUT.
I FORGOT TO DO THAT ON A PROJECT EARLIER.
MIKE MCCONE, YOU DO HAVE A TWO MINUTE REBUTTAL.
AND LIKE TO THANK THE NEIGHBORS FOR COMING OUT AND LETTING US KNOW THEIR OPINIONS.
WE UNDERSTAND THEM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE REALITY THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
IT WAS PURCHASED IN, UM, ON MAY 12TH, UH, FOR A SURVEY THAT'S IN YOUR PACK BACKUP
[02:45:01]
DATED 4 26.THE HOUSE ITSELF IS, UH, IN, UH, NON-COMPLIANCE WITHIN, UH, ALL THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THERE'S NOT, SO THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO IF EVEN IF WE WANTED TO, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
I TOO, UNFORTUNATELY, AM IN THIS, UH, RESTORATION BUSINESS.
AND UH, I WISH I COULD DO IT FOR $300 A FOOT.
SO THAT'S THE, THE REALITY THAT I'VE LIVED WITH IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE'VE GOT AN ESTIMATE FROM A GUY WHO I DON'T THINK WAS
I JUST FINISHED UP A REMODEL AND IT, UH, WAS THAT KIND OF PRICE AND I DIDN'T DO THAT MUCH TO IT.
UH, FOR FORTUNATELY, UH, MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, STILL WAITING ON THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR.
THIS IS JUST A SITUATION WHERE WE WANNA BRING A HOUSE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES, A SITE WITH, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HOUSE CAN BE, ONCE WE DO ANYTHING TO IT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE HISTORIC HOUSE.
IT'S A REPRODUCTION OF A HISTORIC HOUSE THAT ONCE WAS THERE.
AND I'VE BEEN LECTURED MANY TIMES ABOUT FROM THIS COMMISSION THROUGH THE YEARS ABOUT REPRODUCTIONS.
UH, YOU DON'T WANT 'EM, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANYTHING LEFT OF THIS.
WE GOTTA TEAR, WE GOTTA REBUILD THE FOUNDATION.
SO ONCE YOU START THE FOUNDATION, IT'S ALL OVER.
OF A STECCO HOUSE, ESPECIALLY MR. MCCOMB.
IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS AT ALL? COMMISSIONERS? UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I OR RAISING YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED? UH, THE HEARING IS CLOSED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
STAFF WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE YOU ALL ON THE TIMELINE.
UM, SO YOU HAVE THIS MEETING AND THE NEXT OKAY.
IT'S BEEN POSTPONED SINCE, UH, ONCE SO FAR.
I'LL MOVE TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
WOULD YOU ALSO LIKE TO AND, AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I THINK ALL THE DISCUSSION HERE HAS BEEN GREAT AND PRETTY MUCH BROUGHT TO LIGHT ALL, ALL THE REASONS.
UH, THE EXTENSION, THE INSPECTION REPORT WAS EXTENSIVE.
A LOT OF IT WAS THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, DEBRIS ON ROOF, WE'LL CLEAN THE DEBRIS OFF THE ROOF.
UM, THE PHOTOS DID NOT COMPEL ME TO THINK THAT THERE'S ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE STUCCO, BUT THERE WASN'T DIFFERENTIAL MOVEMENT.
THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION, BUT THERE WASN'T MOVEMENT.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE WORST CONDITIONS WERE PROBABLY IN THE REAR UNIT, WHICH WAS A LEAN TWO PORCH, WHICH LIKELY WOULD HAVE MANY PROBLEMS AND ISN'T NECESSARILY CONTRIBUTING AND ESSENTIAL TO THE HISTORIC VALUE OF THE HOUSE.
UM, IT'S IN A UNIQUE LOCATION IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY VALUE, HAS A UNIQUE APPEARANCE.
IT'S AT THE DEAD END OF WHAT IS 31ST STREET WEATHERVIEW.
IT'S AT THE, THE THRESHOLD OF EASTWOOD PARK.
IT'S AT THE THRESHOLD OF A VERY RICH STREET.
UM, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS PROBABLY AREN'T THE STRONGEST WE'VE SEEN, BUT THE COMMUNITY VALUE ALONE, UH, AND THE, AND THE UNIQUENESS OF THE ARCHITECTURE, UH, MAKE IT A SOUND ENOUGH CASE.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? NOPE, HE SAID IT ALL.
THANK YOU COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT.
ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION? UM, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.
YEAH, I, I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION AND I WANTED TO JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS THIS ESTIMATE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
UH, I, I WOULD EXPECT IT REALLY TO BE HEAVIER ON SAGE, JUST THE FOUNDATION REPAIR, BUT SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS, SAILING DEMOLISH I'LL INTERIOR WALLS AND PARTITIONS DEMO, ALL OF THE STUCCO FULLY REPLACE, UH, I, I JUST DON'T MAKE, DON'T THINK THAT IT MAKES A STRONG CASE THAT, UH, IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO JUST, YOU KNOW, BRING THIS BUILDING UP TO STANDARD.
[02:50:02]
OKAY.UH, MR. FEATHERSTONE? YEAH, I THINK I, I MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
DOES, DOES ANYTHING WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING OR THIS MOTION HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE OWNER'S RIGHTS TO 7 0 3 SPARKS AVENUE? THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION IS ONLY FOR 7 0 1.
UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, COMMISSIONER, THE, UH, THE BACK UNIT IS ON THE SAME LOT AS THIS, UH, PROPERTY? YEAH, THE SURVEY PROVIDED, I THINK SHOWS BOTH ADDRESSES IN ONE.
I I MEAN, AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS FOR YOU GUYS AS STAFF AS MUCH AS MAYBE DSD PEOPLE, BUT, UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS A, A CONCERN THAT WAS EXPRESSED BY, UH, THE OWNER OF 7 0 5.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WITHIN OUR PURVIEW TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT, BUT I YEAH, I APPRECIATE IT.
ANY MORE CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION ITEM, UH, ON THIS ITEM? ALRIGHT, THE MOTION IS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE I BELIEVE THERE IS MERIT ON LOTS OF LEVELS AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT AN OWNER IS LOOKING AT THIS AS AN INVESTMENT AND, UH, ULTIMATELY THE NUMBERS HAVE TO WORK.
UM, BUT I DON'T SEE A, A VAST CHASM BETWEEN A PROJECT THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS, AT LEAST THE FRONT HOUSE TO STILL EXIST AND SOME OF HIS OTHER IDEAS, UH, FOR THE PROPERTIES TO POSSIBLY BE COMPATIBLE.
SO, UH, I, I HOPE THAT, UH, EVEN THOUGH AT THIS POINT WE CAN ASSUME THIS IS A INITIATION OVER AN OBJECTIVE OBJECTION OF THE OWNER, THAT, UH, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO PERSUADE THIS OWNER TO SEE THIS OPPOR AS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT'S, UH, MAYBE A BIT DIFFERENT.
UH, HAVING THE COMMISSION INITIATE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH, UH, MAY HAVE SOME OP UH, AGAIN, IF THE, THE OWNER RECONSIDERS, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES THERE THAT I, I WOULD HOPE AND WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPLORE.
UH, I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH THEM MYSELF A LITTLE BIT MORE AND, UH, OFFLINE IF THAT WOULD HELP.
UH, AND I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
C CAN I CLARIFY THAT THE MOTION IS EXCLUSIVE TO 7 0 1 AND DOES NOT? IT IS 7 0 1, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE ENTIRE 7 0 1 AT THIS POINT WOULD BE THE INITIATION.
OBVIOUSLY STAFF WILL DO MORE RESEARCH AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAN, BUT IT WOULD EXCLUDE 7 0 3, THE VACANT LOT NEXT DOOR? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE WOULD NOT TYPICALLY, UH, MIX, MIX THEM TO BEGIN WITH.
AGAIN, THE SURVEY THAT WAS SUBMITTED HAS, IT'S ALL, ALL TOGETHER, BUT IT'S A SEPARATE ADDRESS.
I WILL ENTERTAIN, UH, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, WE REOPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND PLEASE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 1, 2, 3, UH, NINE NINE.
AND IS THERE ANYBODY WHO'S ABSTAINING? ALRIGHT.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE IS ABSTAINING, SO THAT DOES MEET THE THRESHOLD.
IT'S NOT NEEDED, BUT, UH, NOT NEEDED JUST TO INITIATE, BUT, UH, THAT WOULD BE PERHAPS INDICATIVE OF WHERE THAT MIGHT BE.
OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE MORE RESEARCH AND WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO, UH, LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE IT WILL COME BACK TO US AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
AND THAT BRINGS US ONTO THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM.
[20. PR-2023-095572 – 1101 Garner Ave.]
UH, 1101 GARNER AVENUE.UH, THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST.
UH, AND, UH, UM, MS. CONTRERAS, PLEASE, UH, MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.
ITEM 20 AT 1101 GARNER AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1938 HOUSE.
THIS IS A ONE STORY TWO REVIVAL WITH A TWO STORY REAR ADDITION CLAIN RUSTIC STONE.
UM, IT'S CROSS GABLED ROOF LINE FEATURES INTERSECTING GABLE ENDS WITH TRADITIONAL CORNERS, RETURNS LEFT HAND GABLE CAPS AND ARCHED ENTRY DOOR, AND IT BUTTS A PROMINENT FIREPLACE.
AND THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY HAS INDICATED SINCE THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN THAT THE FENCE, UH, IN THE FRONT IS NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1938 FOR SISTERS PEARL MAUDE AND SOPHIA CUMMINS.
PEARL CUMMINS HAD BEEN A WICHITA FALLS JEWELRY SHOP OWNER PRIOR TO MOVING TO AUSTIN WITH HER SISTERS IN 1937.
AFTER 13 YEARS OF SUCCESS, SHE THEN GREW HER BUSINESS TO INCLUDE MILLIARY AS WELL AS JEWELRY.
AND WITH THE HELP OF HER SISTERS BROUGHT THE DESIGNS OF OTHER TEXAS MILERS TO AUSTIN THROUGH THE 1930S AND FORTIES.
THE CUMMINS SISTERS REMAINED IN THEIR HOME ON GARNER AVENUE FOR AROUND 10 YEARS.
THE BUILDING APPEARS TO RETAIN HIGH TO MODERATE INTEGRITY.
SIDE ADDITION WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1986, BUT IS MINIMALLY VISIBLE FROM THE MAIN STREET SCAPE STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO
[02:55:01]
CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION, UH, AS IT IS CONSTRUCTED IN THE TUDOR REVIVAL STYLE STYLE AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CUMMINS FAMILY, LOCAL MILERS AND BUSINESSWOMEN.THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BUILDING RETAINS SUFFICIENT INTEGRITY TO CONVEY ITS SIGNIFICANCE.
UH, IF SO, RECOMMEND, UH, INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING AND OR, UH, CONSIDER INVITING THE APPLICANT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES TO DEMOLITION.
SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION, STAFF RECOMMENDS REQUIRING A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE PRIOR TO DEMOLITION PERMIT RELEASE.
INTEGRITY WOULD BE RELATED TO THE ADDITION COMING UP OUT OF THE ROOF OR WHAT EXACTLY IS IN QUESTION IN TERMS OF THE INTEGRITY, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE SIDE ELEVATION, THIS BUILDING'S ON A CORNER, UM, AND AS A LANDMARK, UM, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FULL, UH, SCOPE, BUT IT'S THE, THE SECOND STORY ADDITION RIGHT FROM THE ROOF THAT'S CORRECT.
FROM THIS IS THAT 1986, UM, ADD-ON.
THOUGH YOU DO SAY IT'S FROM THE MAIN ELEVATION FROM THE MAIN STREET, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE FLAT ON SINCE IT IS ON A CORNER.
AS SOON AS YOU JUST BEGIN MOVING AROUND THE CORNER, YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE SCALE OF THE ADDITION.
UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UH, DO WE WANT, CAN WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? YEP, WE HAVE JEFF HOWARD HERE.
AGAIN, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THE OWNER IS ALSO HERE AND, AND MAY SPEAK IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, BUT IF, IF I DON'T COVER EVERYTHING, UM, I'M AN ATTORNEY.
I'M NOT AN ARCHITECT, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I, UM, UH, GET INTO AREAS OF ARCHITECTURAL EXPERTISE THAT, UM, MAYBE OTHERS ARE MORE QUALIFIED.
BUT I DO WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THIS, UH, UH, PROJECT IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT IN OPPOSITION TO INITIATING.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION, IF WE CAN CALL THAT UP.
UH, AS BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE CURRENT OWNER ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN DECEMBER, 2021, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, IS THE HEIGHT OF THE MARKET, UH, WHERE THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, COMPETITIVE BIDDING, UH, BIDDING WARS, UH, SHORT INSPECTION PERIODS, ET CETERA.
UH, THE OWNER ONLY HAD FIVE DAYS OF DUE DILIGENCE.
THEY OBTAINED AN INSPECTION REPORT, WHICH IN INTERESTINGLY INDICATED THAT THE HOME WAS BUILT IN 1974.
AND THAT THERE'S A SNIPPET IN THE PRESENTATION THAT SHOWS THAT INSPECTION REPORT.
THE DID INSPECTION DID REVEAL SIGNIFICANT WORK REQUIRED ON THE ROOF FOUNDATION, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. UM, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT TIME AND MONEY INVESTED TO MAKE THE HOUSE HABITABLE.
UM, BUT IT WAS NOT, THOSE, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG TERM.
THERE WAS A TENANT, THE TENANT, UH, DID NOT RENEW BECAUSE OF, UH, PROBLEMS, ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.
UH, AND, UH, AND SINCE THAT TIME, THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED, UH, THAT NEED RENOVATION.
IT IS HABITABLE, IT IS HABIT INHABITED WITH THE TENANT, NOT PROFITABLY.
UM, AND, AND SO WE'RE NOT HERE MAKING THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT, BUT DEMOLITION IS BEING SOUGHT BECAUSE OF THE COST REQUIRED TO RENOVATE IT TO MARKET STANDARDS.
UM, THE ORIGINAL, I GUESS YOU NEED TO DO, I NEED TO ADVANCE.
THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY IS ON FOUR LOTS SMALLER, LOTS INTENDED FOR SMALLER HOMES.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS THAT, UH, DEMOLITION IS BEING SOUGHT AS OPPOSED TO ALTERNATIVE PLANS IS BECAUSE IF DEMOLITION IS PERMISSIBLE, THAT OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE STRUCTURE ON THESE, UH, AND MORE THAN ONE HOME ON THESE LOTS.
UM, UH, IT HAD A ONE STORY, UH, HOME WITH A GARAGE AND THERE'S BEEN SUBSTANTIAL.
THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS AFTER 1984, INCLUDING A SECOND STORY WITH DIFFERENT DESIGN AND MATERIALS ADDED IN 1986 WITH CARPORT AND GARAGE ADDED ROCK WALL AND FENCES ADDED IN 2016.
IN FACT, THERE WAS ABOA VARIANCE IN 2016 FOR, UH, THE GARAGE ADDITION.
YOU CAN SEE IN PINK THERE, ALL OF THE ADDITIONS.
UM, STAFF HAS NOT INDICATED THAT THERE'S ANY COMMUNITY VALUE ARCHEOLOGICAL OR LANDSCAPE FEATURE CRITERIA BEING MET.
UH, I THINK THE ONLY QUESTION HERE IS WHETHER THERE'S A HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
UM, I HAVE REVIEWED THOSE CRITERIA.
UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, THE COMMISSION HAS RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT WHERE AN OWNER OPPOSES, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SELECTIVITY ON CASES THAT ARE, UH, INITIATED FOR ZONE FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, AND I REVIEWED RECENT CASES, INCLUDING THE CACTUS PRIOR CASE THAT CAME BEFORE YOU A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
UH, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THERE'S ANY LONGSTANDING SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH THIS PROPERTY.
UM, THE CUMMINS SISTERS WHO ORIGINALLY HAILED FROM DALLAS AND WICHITA FALLS, UH, LIVED THERE FOR LESS THAN 10 YEARS.
UM, UH, AND, AND WHILE CERTAINLY IT'S ADMIRABLE AND WE'RE NOT, I'M HERE TO MINIMIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF, OF A WOMEN BUSINESS OWNED, UH, ENTERPRISE IN THE FORTIES.
[03:00:01]
NO INDICATION IN THE RECORD THAT THEIR WORK WAS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE THAT CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CITY, STATE, OR NATION.UM, AND IN FACT, THE REPORT INDICATES THAT A BETTER ASSOCIATION WITH THE CUMMINS SISTERS BUSINESS WOULD BE NINE 12 CONGRESS AVENUE, WHICH IS WHERE THEIR SHOP WAS LOCATED.
AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, CON NINE 12 CONGRESS IS HISTORIC LANDMARK ZONED CBDH, AND I THINK, UM, CAN COMMEMORATE, UH, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS.
UH, I, I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT THE PROPERTY, UH, UM, HAS BEEN, THE INTEGRITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY THE ADDITIONS AND THE ALTERATIONS.
THE 1986 SECOND STORY EDITION IS LESS THAN 15 FEET FROM THE FACADE.
IT ACTUALLY ATTACHES TO THE GABLE.
AND FROM MY REVIEW OF YOUR HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
THE FRONT FACADE IS 30 FEET, UH, MORE THAN 30 FEET, UH, WIDE.
AND I THINK YOUR STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT THOSE TYPES OF ADDITIONS TO BE COMPATIBLE HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 15 FEET BACK.
THIS ONE APPEARS TO BE LESS THAN 10.
AND, UM, IT ALSO, UM, YOUR STANDARDS ALSO, UH, DISCOURAGED OR, OR FIND AS INCOMPATIBLE, UH, NEW ADDITIONS THAT OBSTRUCT THE FRONT FACADE AND THE ROCK WALL, WHICH WAS, WHICH WAS, UH, CONSTRUCTED IN 2016.
IT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW.
AND I THINK THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH, WITH 2.2 A OF YOUR HISTORICAL STANDARDS.
UM, THESE, UH, AND THERE WERE BETTER PICTURES IN THE STAFF REPORT, BUT HERE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE FRONT WALL, UH, ROCK WALL, WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN 2016, UM, OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW.
AND, AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHERE THE, UH, UM, UH, ADDITION ON THE CONNECTS TO THE GABLE.
AND NEXT SLIDE WOULD BE THE LAST PICTURE.
JUST SHOWING YOU THAT THE WALLS, MR. HOWARD, JUST GO AHEAD AND, AND DO YOUR FINAL COMMENTS HERE.
IN SUMMARY, I DON'T THINK IT MEETS THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS TEST.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH YOUR HISTORICAL DESIGN STANDARDS, IT DOES, IT'S ALSO HAD ITS, UH, INTEGRITY COMPROMISE.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, THIS, THE OWNER WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS.
WITH NO SPEAKERS? UH, I WILL MOVE TO, UH, TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOVED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.
UM, I WILL ENTERTAIN COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THIS? UH, LET ME JUST SAY THAT I THINK, UM, I, I SORT OF HAD SOME BACK AND FORTH ON THIS.
UH, THERE ARE SOME COMPELLING PHOTOGRAPHS, BUT I, AS SOON AS I GOT ON GOOGLE EARTH AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THIS CORNER CONDITION, UM, I MEAN, IF THIS PROJECT HAD COME TO US AS A LANDMARK BUILDING AND AN OWNER HAD DONE THAT, WE'D PROBABLY BE TALKING ABOUT REMOVING THEM FROM THE PROGRAM.
SO, I, I JUST, AGAIN, JUST THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF ITS PERSPECTIVE.
ONE ELEVATION LOOKS GOOD, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S REALLY THE FULL CONDITION THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE EVALUATE THIS, THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S JUST MY IMPRESSION.
UH, ANY OTHER, BUT WE DO, WE DO NEED A MOTION IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS WILL, UH, IN THIS CASE, SINCE IT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST, IT IS NOT IN ANY, UH, DISTRICT.
UH, THE MOTION IS EITHER TO APPROVE, UH, TO POSTPONE OR TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
THAT'S KIND OF OUR CHOICES HERE.
AND JUST TO, UM, UPDATE YOU ALL ON THE TIMELINE, THE 75 DAYS, UH, CLOCK DOES BEGIN TODAY BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS TWO POSTPONEMENTS HAVE BEEN APPLICANT REQUESTED.
SO YOU HAVE UNTIL MID-JANUARY.
I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION, UM, COMMISSIONER GR TO, UM, OPEN THE, UM, PUBLIC HEARING.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE, UM, TILL THE NEXT MEETING, UM, AND ASK THE, UM, THE OWNER TO PLEASE ATTEND A A AN ARC MEETING.
UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN, UH, THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE WITH THE REFERRAL TO THE DECEMBER MEETING WITH A REFERRAL TO THE ARC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, AND IS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
UH, COMMISSIONER GROVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I ACTUALLY LIVE JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM THIS
[03:05:01]
HOUSE.AND, UM, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA SAY IT'S EXTREMELY STRIKING FROM THE, THE STREET, THE FRONT FACADE.
THE, THE ADDITION IS, IS IT'S A SHAME.
IT'S SAD IT HAPPENED, BUT, UM, IT, IT REALLY COMMANDS THE CORNER THERE.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STONE BUNGALOW.
UM, I THINK THE LOT, THE LOT IS, IS A GOOD SIZE.
THERE'S SO MUCH ROOM TO DEVELOP IT AND KEEP THAT, UM, FRONT OF THE HOUSE IN PLACE.
I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS OF LOSING ANOTHER HISTORIC BUNGALOW IN THE AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS IT GONNA BE REPLACED WITH? AND I FEEL LIKE PROBABLY WHAT IT'S GONNA BE REPLACED WITH IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT IS MUCH MORE, UM, WELL, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL COMPARED TO THE ADDITION THAT'S THERE THAT, UH, THAT WE, WE DON'T LIKE.
SO, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POSTPONE IT TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE THOUGHT.
I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, THIS WAS POSTPONED PREVIOUSLY AND SO WE'RE MISSING A LOT OF BACKUP FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOLK WROTE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS.
SO I'M, I'M KIND OF DOING IT FOR THEM AS WELL.
UM, COMMISSIONER RUBIO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? UH, YEAH.
THANKS, THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR THAT DETAILED, UH, PRESENTATION.
UH, I THINK, I THINK THAT WAS GREAT, EVEN FOR OUR STUDENTS IN, IN ATTENDANCE.
UH, I THINK ONE IMPORTANT THING I WISH PRESERVATION WAS AS CLEAR CUT AS THE LAW.
UNFORTUNATELY, PRESERVATION IS A SPECTRUM WHICH YOU SEE UP HERE ON THIS DAIS.
AND, UH, A LOT OF THOSE POINTS I DO NOT AGREE WITH.
A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITHIN THE, THE PRESERVATION WORLD, WE DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, IS THAT APPROPRIATE? HOW INAPPROPRIATE IS THAT? AND SO VERY VALID POINTS ON INTEGRITY AND, AND OTHER THINGS.
BUT YEAH, I THINK THIS, THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY GO TO ARC.
UH, ALL I SEE IS OPPORTUNITY ON A GIANT LOT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER COOK? I JUST WANTED TO NOTE I WAS A LITTLE TORN ON THIS.
UH, I DO APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT SPEAKING TO THE ELEMENTS THAT WE CONSIDER SPECIFICALLY, UH, AND I THINK DID A VERY, A VERY GOOD JOB.
I WILL NOTE THAT THE EXAMPLE SHOWN FROM THE STANDARDS SHOWING AN ADDITION, UH, BEHIND THE PEAK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AT THE PEAK, BUT SLOPE TO MINIMIZE APPEARANCE FROM THE FRONT.
THE EXAMPLE SHOWN ACTUALLY ROSE UP FROM THE PEAK.
SO, UH, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MUCH MORE VISIBLE AND THAT'S WHY THAT WAS INCLUDED.
AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, THIS ADDITION COMES OUT OF THE ROOF AND DOESN'T IMPACT ANY OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC.
SO IT COULD EASILY BE REVERSED, UH, IN A RESTORATION OR ADDITION TOWARDS THE BACK, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO, TO ENCOURAGE HERE.
I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT PROPERTY.
UH, WE HAVE EARLY FEMALE BUSINESSWOMEN.
THE, THE POINT THAT THE PROPERTY WHERE THEIR BUSINESS EXISTED IS A LANDMARK WAS, IS WELL TAKEN.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO HERE TO TRY TO SEE THE FULL HISTORY OF THE CITY BEING TOLD.
AND SO, UH, WE DEFINITELY WILL TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS? ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
UH, THE MOTION IS TO, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING POSTPONE TILL DECEMBER IN ORDER THAT THIS, UH, CAN BE DISCUSSED AT THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING.
IN BETWEEN, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, ANY OPPOSED? AND THERE'S NO OPPOSED, SO THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THE OWNER WILLING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
UM, THAT BRINGS US TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 21 46 0 4 QUEST WAY DRIVE.
UH, THAT IS, AGAIN, A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND WE'VE POSTED THAT FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1957 HOUSE.
UM, AND THIS HAS COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION BEFORE, UM, IT WAS BUILT IN 1957 FOR RICHARD DEL SR.
HYDELL WAS THE SON OF A FORT WORTH HARDWARE COMPANY FOUNDER WHO OPENED HYDELL BUILDER SUPPLY IN AUSTIN IN THE LATE 1940S.
UM, THE COMPANY IS STILL AROUND TODAY AND SUPPLIES MATERIALS TO CONTRACTORS AROUND THE STATE.
UH, THROUGH COMMISSIONER MC QUARTER'S, UH, RESEARCH, UH, WE DISCOVERED THAT 46 0 4 QUEST CREST WAY WAS BUILT BY DEL'S BROTHER, UM, WHO WAS A WELL-KNOWN MID-CENTURY MODERN ARCHITECT WHO STUDIED UNDER DALLAS LUMINARY GEORGE DAHL.
AFTER A BRIEF MENTORSHIP UNDER FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AND WHO PURPORTEDLY USED A RIGHT DESIGN AS INSPIRATION FOR HIS FATHER'S AUSTIN RE, OR FOR HIS BROTHER'S AUSTIN RESIDENCE.
WILLIAM HYDELL BEGAN HIS FIRM WITH PETE DECKER AS HYDELL AND DECKER ARCHITECTS IN 1948, AND HE THEN PRACTICED SOLO UNDER WILLIAM H DEL ARCHITECTS IN 1952.
THE FIRM WAS INCORPORATED IN 1979 AND OPERATES
[03:10:01]
TODAY UNDER DEL AND ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS WITH WILLIAM DEL III.AS THE FIRM'S PRINCIPLE AND PUBLIC LIBRARY DESIGN AS ITS FOCUS, UM, PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, AND THE PROPERTY, UH, MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA.
UH, THE BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MID-CENTURY MODERN DESIGN USING NATURAL MATERIALS AND EMPLOYING A DESIGN THAT RESPONDS TO THE SITE'S TOPOGRAPHY.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY, UH, NOTED MODERNIST AND DALLAS ARCHITECT WILLIAM H DEL THE COMMISSION MAY ALSO WISH TO CONSIDER THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, UM, DEL BUILDER SUPPLY AND THE DEL FAMILY.
UM, THEY APPEAR TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT TIES TO THE BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURE, ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRIES IN TEXAS.
UM, VAN LEO PROPERTY MAY BE A SIGNIFICANT, UH, LANDSCAPE GIVEN THE DELIBERATE PLANTING AND TOPAL TOPOGRAPHICAL MODIFICATIONS USED BY THE DELS WHEN SCULPTING THE HOUSE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
HOWEVER, SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, TO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF MATERIALS, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? NO, BUT I'LL MAKE ONE CLARIFICATION.
SO HE DID NOT EVER WORK OR STUDY UNDER, UH, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.
RIGHT? SO HE WAS, UH, HE DID WORK, I BELIEVE FOR GEORGE DAHL.
FOR GEORGE DAHL, BUT NOT FOR FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, I THINK, DISTINCTION FOR ME.
UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE? YEAH.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT STAMP NUMBER IS? BECAUSE I, IT'S NOT LEGIBLE IN MY EDF.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT? JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY.
I'M SORRY, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURALS REGISTRATION NUMBER? THE, THE REGISTRATION NUMBER? IT'S A LITTLE MORE LEGIBLE ON YOURS.
THIS IS MUCH LESS CLEAR THAN THAT
IT'S A, IT'S A SMALLER NUMBER THAN THEY ISSUE TODAY.
ALRIGHT, ARE THERE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS TO STAFF? NO.
IS THERE A, UH, DOES THE APPLICANT IS THE APPLICANT HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS? YES, I'M THE HOMEOWNER.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO SIGN IN.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
AND, UM, IT RELATES TO THIS, I NEED TO DEFEND A FEW INACCURACIES.
CAN I, WILL THAT NOT COUNT AS MY TIME TO MAKE SOME CLARIFICATIONS? AM I ALLOWED? YEAH, IT HAS TO GO.
IT'S ALL INCLUDED IN YOUR FIVE MINUTES.
HELLO, COMMISSIONER JAMES GREENWAY AUSTIN RESIDENT, BORN AND RAISED HERE.
UM, FIRST, UM, MR. DEL'S BROTHER ARCHITECTED THE BUILDING, BUT DIDN'T, UH, ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT IT FROM MY, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MARY ABEL, MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR.
ANYONE HERE IN OPPOSITION? YES OR NO? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OH, NO, SORRY.
I'VE ALSO HAD THE, THE, YOU CAN LIFT UP THE MICROPHONE.
SCOOCH IGNORANT HOMEOWNER, MAN.
FIRST TIME DOING THIS KIND OF STUFF.
YOU'RE DOING, I'VE YOU'RE DOING FINE.
I'VE HAD THE BLESSING OF TALKING, MEETING WITH THE HOMEOWNER NEXT DOOR TO ME THAT, UH, IS, WAS WITH NEIGHBORS WITH THE LIDLS AND KNEW 'EM VERY WELL AND LIVED THERE FOR 50 YEARS.
AND I SHARED MY PLANS WITH HER.
I CAN'T HAVE A MORE SUPPORTIVE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THE SUBMITTED TO MODERN PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE, THE FULL PLANS THAT WE'VE DRAWN UP WITH HER CONSIDERATION AND INPUT IS GONNA BE A MAGNIFICENT PIECE TO REPLACE WHAT'S THERE TODAY.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO, TO MAKE SURE IS THE LIDDELL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS.
UH, I LOOKED IT UP, THERE WAS NO INTERNET PAGE, AND I TRIED A PHONE NUMBER THAT WAS ON REGISTER AND IT, IT, IT WAS, UH, DISCONNECTED.
SO THE LIDDELL'S, WHILE, YOU KNOW, CON CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT UNDER THAT CONSIDERATION, MY FATHER WAS AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON.
PHILANTHROPY, WE HAVE PROBABLY A HUNDRED NEWS CLIPS WE COULD SHOW WOULD MAKE ME, UM, MY CHILDHOOD HOME.
I GUESS A, UH, A HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
BUT THAT JUST SEEMS KIND OF A LITTLE, UH, ABSURD TO ME.
LAST OCTOBER, WHEN THIS WAS ON THE DOCKET, IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INITIATION.
MS. CONTRERAS, WHAT, WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN, UH, LAST MONTH AND THIS MONTH? IT WENT FROM NO CONSIDERATION, MR. TO CONSIDER MR. GREENWAY, YOU, YOU'RE ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR IF YOU WANT TO, MY APOLOGIES.
BUT YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AND THEN YOU CAN CERTAINLY COMMISSION.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CHANGED FROM THE RECOMMENDATION FROM LAST MONTH TO THIS MONTH FOR THE, UH, THAT FROM NO INITIATION TO INITIATION.
UH, THAT'S A RELEVANT QUESTION AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE STAFF ADDRESS THAT, SO WE'LL NOTE THAT.
UH, OTHER THING, QUALIFICATION QUESTIONS.
[03:15:01]
I'M NOT IN A, A HISTORIC ZONE.UH, HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IN MY PARTICULAR STREET ON QUEST RAY DRIVE, UM, EVERY SINGLE HOUSE THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED FOR DEMO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S NO THINGS THAT SETS US APART.
OH, THE HOME, WHILE INSPIRED BY FRANK LLOYD LIGHT WAS A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT COPY, BUT IS MY FRIEND HERE, UH, SAID HE WAS NOT ANYWHERE INVOLVED OR NONE OF THE ARCHITECTS, UH, WORKED UNDERNEATH HIM.
WE PAID A FORTUNE FOR THIS HOME.
I COULDN'T EVEN GET A CONVENTIONAL LOAN.
AND IF THIS WAS TO GO TO A REMODEL AND I HAD TO, IT'S ONLY TWO BEDROOMS AND WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING FIVE BEDROOMS IN TO ACCOMMODATE THE SIZE OF OUR FAMILY, WE WOULD BE IN PHYSICAL TROUBLE BECAUSE I'LL BE IN IT FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS A FOOT.
IF I DID A HALF MILLION DOLLAR REMODEL FOR THE 1.5, I PAID FOR IT.
THAT'S 2 MILLION BUCKS FOR TWO BEDROOM, 21 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE.
I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SELL IT FOR THAT.
UM, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THIS DEMO PERMIT GETTING APPROVED.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
I HAVE PLANS IF YOU'D LIKE TO SET ASIDE AFTER THE HEARINGS, UH, FINISHES TO SEE WHAT, HOW WE'RE GONNA BE USING, UM, YOU KNOW, PAINTED BRICK, YOU KNOW, UH, ROMAN MAXIS BRICK BREEZEWAY BLOCKS, UH, TERRA ROZO STONE FOR FLOORS.
WE WERE BUILDING A 60 SEVENTIES INSPIRED MIDWAY, UH, MODERN HOUSE TO FIT IN WITH THE COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DID ON MY HOUSE ON SPRING LANE IN 2005.
WE BUILT A NANTUCKET STYLE HOUSE.
IT BLENDS INTO TARRYTOWN VERY WELL.
WE'VE HAD TV SERIES FILMED AT IT.
WE'VE HAD COMMERCIALS FILMED IT.
I HAD TWO COMMERCIALS FILMED IT LAST YEAR.
THIS IS A VERY WARM AND WELCOMING HOUSE.
AND AS I SAID, MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN CONSULTING IN THE PROCESS.
THEY'RE AWESOME PEOPLE WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BECOME THEIR NEIGHBORS.
UH, LASTLY, UH, AS I TOLD YOU, WE'RE KIND OF HEMORRHAGING MONEY RIGHT NOW, HENCE PROBABLY WHY I'M TALKING SO FAST,
AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO GET STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THE PROJECT.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE MY ASSURANCES THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A BEAUTIFUL HOME THAT HOPEFULLY THE NEIGHBORS WILL, YOU KNOW, CHERISH AND SAY PROBABLY AN ICON AS OPPOSED TO THE HOUSE.
AND OH, THE LAST THING ABOUT THE CURRENT HOUSE, IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR THREE YEARS.
UH, IT'S GOT BROKEN WINDOWS, WATER DAMAGE.
AND I HAVE PICTURES HERE AS EVIDENCE SHOULD ANYONE THINK I'M, I'M PULLING YOUR, YOUR CHAIN.
AND SO IT, THE DEEDS EXTENSIVE REMODEL, IT'S STILL STANDING, BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE MOLD REMEDIATION.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S UNINHABITABLE.
IT HASN'T HAD A HOMEOWNER IN THREE YEARS.
AND I THINK AT SOME POINT, OH, SORRY.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A, SHE MENTIONED IT, A DEMO PERMIT MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AND APPROVED PREVIOUSLY.
SO THAT WAS ALSO BECAUSE THE HOUSE LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN DEMOED.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO YOU, BUT ALL THE BATHROOMS ARE GUTTED.
THE, THE FLOOR'S BEEN RIPPED UP.
THERE'S NO, THE AIR CONDITIONERS WERE STOLEN.
THE FURNACE, THE FURNACE AND BLOWERS STOLEN.
I MEAN, IT'S A DISASTER OF A HOUSE INSIDE HENSON.
WHEN DOUG ROBERTS, MY REALTOR BROUGHT ME TO IT, HE DIDN'T ASSURE ME.
BUT WE WERE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS WOULD QUALIFY AS A TEAR, TEAR DOWN TYPE STYLE HOUSE, THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S VALUE AND ADD TO THE TAX ROLL.
OKAY, MR. GREENWAY, THANK YOU.
YES, YOU'VE, SORRY I WAS FAST SEATED.
BUT BEFORE YOU RUN OFF, WE CERTAINLY MAY HAVE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF, UH, THE OWNER? ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM FOR OR AGAINST? OKAY, THEN I WILL MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, SAY AYE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, I KNOW COMMISSIONER MCM MORTER, YOU'VE HAD A STRONG INTEREST IN THIS.
UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INITIATE, UH, TO START WITH SOME SORT OF MOTION? UM, I THINK BASED ON THE ADDITIONAL RESEARCH I'VE DONE, UM, I HAVE A HARD TIME.
IT'S, IT'S NOT ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS THAT WAS PREVALENT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT'S NOT A ROWAN RESNER OR A FAREN GRANGER OR LUNDGREN AND MAR AND THOSE BARTON RILEY.
THOSE ARE, UH, FOLKS THAT DID QUITE A FEW PROJECTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, SO IT IS KIND OF A, A ONE-OFF, AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO, TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, I GUESS I'M NOT PREPARED TO SAY THIS SHOULD BE LANDMARKED.
SO, UM, I AM, I'M NOT THE ONLY MID-CENTURY MODERN ENTHUSIAST ON THE COMMISSION, SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY ELSE WHAT THEY THINK.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE GONNA GET A SUPER MAJORITY
[03:20:01]
TO SUPPORT THAT ANYWAY.I MEAN, IT'S UNFORTUNATE TO LOSE IT.
UH, IT IS A VERY COOL PROPERTY, BUT, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT, THAT, I COULD ARGUE THAT IT'S, IT'S LANDMARK, LANDMARK WORTHY.
SO, SO YOU, UH, BUT YOU, YOU EITHER COULD MAKE A MOTION.
WE, SO THAT WE COULD FURTHER DISCUSSION, OR I'LL MAKE IT IF YOU DON'T WANT OR SOME DO IT FOR YOU.
UH, I'LL MOVE TO RELEASE DEMOLITION PERMIT, UH, PENDING CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
SO COMMISSIONER COOK, THERE'S A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE DEMOLITION AND RELEASE, UH, WITH THE RELEASE OF THE DOCUMENTATION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER.
UH, WHY AM I DOING THIS?
AND I'LL, I'LL JUST NOTE, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO PULL, BE THE ONE TO PULL THE TRIGGER
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE, I, I HOPE I'M NOT MIXING THIS UP WITH A DIFFERENT, UH, PROPERTY THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
BUT YOU MENTIONED THIS HAS COME BEFORE US PREVIOUSLY.
AND SO WHAT WAS THE RESULT LAST TIME? THIS DID COME BEFORE US.
UH, IT CAME BEFORE Y'ALL LAST MONTH AND WAS POSTPONED.
OH, I THEN I'M DEFINITELY CONFUSING.
NO, WE, WE DID HAVE, UH, OBVIOUSLY IT'S, IT'S, WE HAVE A MOTION, BUT, UH, IT MAY BE RELEVANT.
UH, WE DO HAVE THE OWNER WHO SAID THAT, UH, AT ONE POINT IT LOOKED LIKE DEMOLITION HAD STARTED.
HAS THIS BEEN IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT OR HAS THE, OR CHECKING, OR HAS THE CITY ISSUED A DEMOLITION PERMIT PRIOR? AMBER'S GOING TO CHECK THE MORE RECENT, UH, PERMITS.
I DIDN'T FIND ANY IN THE HISTORICAL RESEARCH.
UM, BUT WE CAN CONFIRM THAT AS WELL.
I THINK I'M GETTING IT MIXED UP AESTHETICALLY WITH A, UH, A DIFFERENT PROPERTY THAT CAME BEFORE US THAT HAD A LOT OF, UH, DOCUMENTATION OF THE INTERIOR AND IT WAS REALLY BAD SHAPE.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HELPS MY BRAIN OUT.
UM, THIS BUILDING IS VERY SIMILAR, UM, IN STYLE TO A RESNER PROPERTY ON VALCON, UM, THAT CAME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION A FEW YEARS AGO.
THAT MIGHT BE WHAT YOU'RE THINKING OF.
UM, BECAUSE THE SIMILARITIES LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS INITIALLY A, UH, ARREST IN OUR PROPERTY.
UM, AND JUST TO ANSWER THE APPLICANT'S QUESTION SINCE I'M UP HERE, UM, WHEN WE FIRST FOUND THIS PROPERTY, UM, ON THE DEMOLITION PERMIT LIST, UM, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUILDER.
UM, AND IN BETWEEN THE POSTING OF THE OCTOBER AGENDA AND NOW, UM, COMMISSIONER RICK QUARTER, UH, DID AN AMAZING JOB OF HELPING ME, UM, KIND OF DIG UP SOME RESEARCH.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE ORIGINAL PLANS BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
UM, SO THAT, UH, THAT IS, UM, A BIG PART OF WHY, UH, THE REP, THE RECOMMENDATION HAS CHANGED FOR, FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN TO ADD ON, UM, THIS IS THE FIRST DEMOLITION PERMIT THAT HAS EVER BEEN APPLIED FOR THIS PROPERTY SINCE IT'S BEEN BUILT.
SO IT MAY VERY WELL BE THAT DEMOLITION HAS TAKEN PLACE, THOUGH THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SANCTIONED OR PERMITTED.
THERE'S NO PERMIT RECORD OF IT.
SO ANY WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO, UH, RESEMBLE DEMOLITION WAS DONE WITHOUT A PERMIT.
WELL, I'LL, I'LL STAND BY MY SECOND AND I'LL, UH, LET COMMISSIONER LAROCHE KNOW THAT IT'S NUMBER 8 6 9.
I DID A LOOKUP ON THE TBAE WEBSITE.
SO
UH, I, I THINK ONCE AGAIN, UH, IF AN OWNER IS, UH, MINDFUL OF WHAT IT, THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE IT RESTORED, IT'S ALSO AN OWNER THAT HAS TO BE ABLE TO, AS A GOOD STEWARD, USE THE BUILDING.
AND WE CLEARLY HAVE AN OWNER THAT IS WELL UNDERWAY WITH OTHER NEEDS.
AND, UH, I'M ALSO, AS I'VE MENTIONED TO THE COMMISSION ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE NUMBERS DON'T FAVOR US.
UH, AND THE RESTORATION OF A TWO BEDROOM, JUST KNOWING THE ECONOMICS OF THAT AREA, UM, IF THIS WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SITE AND IT WAS MORE ADAPTABLE TO SOME TYPE OF ADDITION OR EXPANSION, BUT AS SOON AS YOU DO THAT, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS DESIGN, WHICH IS SO PARTICULAR TO THAT SITE, UH, THEN YOU'D COMPROMISE ITS INTEGRITY AND THEN THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING THAT BUILDING WOULD BE GONE TO BEGIN WITH.
SO I THINK IT IS SORT OF ALMOST AS THIS CATCH 22, UM, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE IT, THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, TO SEE WHAT KIND OF, UH, HOW LITTLE CHANGE, UH, HAS TAKEN PLACE.
BUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.
AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN TRYING TO HOLD, UH, AN, AN OWNER TO.
UM, AND, UM, ALSO NOTE THAT I'M FURTHER COMFORTABLE MAKING THAT MOTION BECAUSE THE HOUSE ISN'T VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PRETTY REMARKABLE HOUSE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE
[03:25:01]
SAVED AS A THING IN ITSELF FOR FUTURE STUDY OR BE A ONE OF A KIND THING THAT'S EXTRA SPECIAL.UH, OTHERWISE YOU DON'T REALLY GET THE COMMUNITY VALUE OR THE APPRECIATION BY THE PUBLIC THAT COMES WITH THOSE, UH, WITH THOSE TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT WOULD, UH, THAT WOULD APPLY.
SO THE FACT THAT IT CAN'T BE SEEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW KIND OF WEIGHS INTO MY MOTION AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER RUBIO, UH, YOU MAKE REALLY GOOD POINTS THERE ABOUT THE VIS VISIBILITY AND COMMUNITY VALUE, NOT, NOT REALLY BEING EXPRESSED.
I I CLEARLY SEE A NATIONAL REGISTER BUILDING.
UM, BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN SAYING HERE.
I THINK THE ARCHITECT IN AND OF ITSELF AND ARCHITECTURE IS ENOUGH.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WISH WE HAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT HERE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE GOT ANYBODY HERE AND, UM, CAN'T REALLY FIGHT TOO HARD FOR THAT ONE, SO.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? COMMISSIONERS? ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO, UH, RELEASE, UH, THE DEMOLITION REQUEST WITH A, UH, DOCUMENTATION PACKET.
UH, PLEASE INDICATE BY, UH, RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, SO HAVE NINE VOTES.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO IN OPPOSITION.
UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WAS THERE A QUESTION? UH, NO, IT'S JUST, I JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU THAT I'M, I'M STARTING TO FADE PRETTY QUICK.
WE'VE GOT ONE, ONE MORE CASE COMMISSIONER WITH OR WITHOUT ME.
AND SO, NO, WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU, UH, YOU, YOU MADE IT, UH, UH, FROM, FROM, FROM YOUR SICK, UH, BED TO, UH, BE PART OF THIS.
AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE THERE AND NOT HERE.
AS, AS, UH, UH, WE HAVE ONE CASE LEFT FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, WE HAVE SOME COMMISSION ITEMS FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO, IF WE HAVE TO SIGN OFF, WE'LL STILL HAVE A MA WE'LL STILL HAVE A QUORUM.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER OVERALL FOR ALL COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU'RE HERE FOR A MAJORITY OF THE MEETING, BUT YOU DO NEED TO LOG OFF FOR SOME REASON, UM, I WILL SAY WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE SUPER MAJORITIES FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING, UH, FOR ANYTHING THAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
SO IF YOU DO NEED TO LOG OFF AND FALL OFF THE DAIS, THAT'S FINE.
I'LL JUST NOTE IT IN THE MINUTES.
[22. PR-2023-115579 – 812 W. Elizabeth St. ]
WEST ELIZABETH STREET.UH, THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST.
UH, THIS IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION, UH, MS. CONTRERAS.
SO LAST, UH, DEMOLITION PERMIT CASE AT EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
UH, ITEM 22 IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1890 HOUSE.
UM, THIS IS A ONE STORY FOLK VICTORIAN WITH AS BEST AS SHINGLE SIDING, ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS AND A PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH SUPPORTED BY CLASSICAL COLUMNS, AS WELL AS A FRONT FACING BAY WINDOW.
UM, DETAILS INCLUDE A JIGSAW FREEZE BOARD AND CEDAR SHINGLES AT THE GABLE END.
UM, THE HOUSE AT EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND 1890 BY THE 2016 BOLDEN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY.
IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PART OF A HOMESTEAD OWNED BY THE CLICK FAMILY, UH, WHO MOVED BACK AND FORTH FROM THEIR SOUTH AUSTIN PROPERTY, UH, TO THEIR RANCH IN DRIPPING SPRINGS UNTIL THE 1920S.
WHEN THEY MOVED PERMANENTLY TO AUSTIN.
GEORGE HARVEY AND SARAH JOSEPHINE KLIK WERE BOTH CHILDREN AT TEXAS PIONEERS.
THEY LIVED ON THEIR FAMILY'S SOUTH AUSTIN PROPERTY SURROUNDED BY THEIR CHILDREN AND IN-LAWS FOR MUCH OF THEIR LIVES.
THE HOUSE AT EIGHT 12 OCCUPIED BY BOTH THE ELDER CLIQUES AND LATER RENTED BY THEIR PASTOR, APPEARS TO BE THE OLDEST ON THE BLOCK DURING THE 1950S.
THE HOME WAS OWNED BY INEZ PARKER HYPER AND HER HUSBAND, UM, WHO DIVORCED IN 1960 AND LATER THAT YEAR, SALES CLERK CONSUELO SANCHEZ AND AIR FORCE SERVICEMAN ROBERT MARTINEZ, MARRIED AND MOVED INTO EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
THE 26TH GOLDEN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY LISTS THIS PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY.
IT RETAINS HIGH TO MODERATE INTEGRITY.
AND THE SURVEY NOTES THAT MODIFICATIONS TOOK PLACE IN 1930 DURING THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
UH, THOUGH IT APPEARS THAT THE ASBESTOS SIDING AND THE SCREENS, UM, APPEARED TO HAVE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN ADDED LATER IN THE 20TH CENTURY.
UH, NON-ORIGINAL WINDOW AWNINGS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
UM, AS FOUND IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN YOUR BACKUP, THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED IN THE FOLK VICTORIAN STYLE AND APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLICK FAMILY, UH, RANCHERS AND EARLY SOUTH AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
AND SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BUILDING'S INTEGRITY IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET IN THE MERITS OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
IF SO, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, BUT IF NOT, UH, ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF?
[03:30:01]
ALRIGHT.UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT WE, UH, DO WE HAVE THE OWNER HERE TO SPEAK? NO, BUT WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE.
PLEASE, UH, COME AND, UH, AGAIN, READ YOUR NAME AND FOR THE RECORD.
I'M REPRESENTING THE OWNER TONIGHT.
UM, THE OWNER HAS REQUESTED DEMOLITION OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT HAS FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR.
IT'S BEEN A RENTAL PROPERTY FOR OVER 10 YEARS, BUT IN THE LAST, UM, COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S, UH, REALLY FALLEN DOWN.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE CONCERNED WITH.
UM, BUT MOST RECENTLY THERE IS A, A RENTER IN IT WHOSE LEASE IS UP IN DECEMBER.
AND, UM, WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT, UM, WE CANNOT GET THE HOUSE INSURED, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED TO HAVE RENTERS ANYMORE.
ALSO, WE THINK THAT IT'S UNSAFE.
UH, THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS YOU KNOW, UH, OVER THE YEARS.
SO ALTHOUGH THIS REALLY IS AN OLD HOUSE, WE KNOW THAT, BUT WE DISAGREE WITH THE 1890.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEAR IT REALLY WAS BUILT.
WE'RE THINKING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1907 OR 1912.
UM, SO IT DOES MEET YOUR 50 YEAR.
SO, BUT AS FAR AS ARCHITECTURAL, UM, INTEGRITY, UM, IT IS VICTORIAN, BUT WE ALSO THINK THAT IT'S A BUILDER'S SET THAT WAS USED BACK IN THE DAY, LIKE OVER THOUSANDS OF HOUSES IN AUSTIN.
IT'S NOT A CUSTOM DESIGN VICTORIAN HOUSE.
IT'S ALSO AS FAR AS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, THE, UH, CLICK FAMILY.
AND WE FIND, UM, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THEM LIVING THERE, BUT WE DON'T FIND IT, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE TEXAS STATE HISTORY ASSOCIATION BOOK THAT THEIR CLICK FAMILY WAS, UH, AN AUSTIN REALLY SIGNIFICANT FAMILY.
THEY ARE FROM LANO AND LAMAR COUNTY, AND THAT'S WHERE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE LIES.
AND WE, WE DISAGREE THAT MAYBE, UH, THAT CRITERIA IS MET AGAIN JUST BECAUSE OF, UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA RENT IT.
AND ALL THE HOUSES AROUND US HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN.
AND, UM, RIGHT NEXT DOOR IS A MODERN, UH, TWO STORY HOUSE WITH A SWIMMING POOL RIGHT IN THE FRONT YARD.
UM, IT'S JUST, UM, WE DON'T THINK IT'S FEASIBLE TO RESTORE.
AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPOKESPERSON? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
HOW LONG, UH, HAS THE OWNER OWNED THIS PROPERTY? I THINK ABOUT, UH, 2016 IT WAS PURCHASED, SO I'D SAY SEVEN YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S LONG ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
SO I'M, I'M NOT BUYING THAT ARGUMENT.
I'M NOT ALSO BUYING THE BUILDER SET.
I MEAN, SEARS CATALOG HOUSES IS JUST AS HISTORIC, SO, OKAY.
I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE POINTS TO MAKE.
THE ASBESTOS SHINGLES, UM, WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE REALLY RESTORED, THAT THOSE WOULD NEED TO COME OFF.
WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE WOOD BEHIND THE ASBESTOS IF IT'S ROTTEN OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT OUR CALL.
BUT AS I UNDERSTAND, THE HOUSE WAS PRETTY MUCH IN THIS CONDITION WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED, IS THAT CORRECT? PRETTY MUCH SO, YES.
THERE REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN ANY MAJOR, MAJOR CHANGES JUST DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU HAD.
UH, THEY'VE HAD RENTERS PROBABLY ABOUT THE SAME.
CAN I ASK, DO YOU, UH, DOES THE OWNER OWN THE PROPERTIES, UH, ADJACENT TO EITHER SIDE OF THIS HOME AS WELL? ADJACENT ON ONE SIDE? AND SO ARE THERE PLANS TO REDEVELOP BOTH AT THE SAME TIME OR IS IT, IS IT ONLY THIS LOT? UH, THERE ARE NO PLANS TO DEVELOP THE LOTS.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS OF THE, UH, APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE? MS. LOT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WE DID HAVE SOME CORRESPONDENCE, IS THAT CORRECT? ON THIS? NO, I'M MIS I'M MISTAKING IT FOR ANOTHER CASE.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING I RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, WE HAVE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THIS? UM, I, I WILL SAY ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT IN THE REGISTERED DISTRICT OF ANY KIND.
SO THIS IS STRICTLY A STANDALONE PROPERTY.
UH, IF IT IS GOING TO BE EITHER DELAYED, UH, IF WE WANT TO POSTPONE, UH, WE CAN APPROVE THE PERMIT OR WE CAN INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
SO THOSE ARE REALLY OUR TOOLS AT HAND.
CAN I ASK STAFF FOR A TIMELINE UPDATE SINCE THE COMMUNITY DID SEND CORRESPONDENCE ASKING US FOR A POSTPONEMENT? YEAH.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS APPEARED ON THE HLC AGENDA.
SO THAT 75 DAY CLOCK JUST START TODAY, AND IT ENDS, UH, JANUARY 15TH.
[03:35:03]
UM, CAN YOU CLARIFY, IN ORDER TO POSTPONE, DO WE HAVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC? YES.I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THIS IN NEXT MONTH'S, UH, MEETING.
LET'S, LET'S HEAR THE COMMUNITY.
LET'S SEE WHAT OTHER, I KNOW WE WON'T BE DOING ANY INITIATION FOR HISTORIC RESEARCH, WHICH THE, THE LETTER SPECIFICALLY ASKED US FOR MORE THOROUGH RESEARCH, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE DOING THAT, UM, UNTIL WE ACTUALLY INITIATE IF THAT WAS AN IDEA.
BUT HOPEFULLY MAYBE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME OUT, SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.
MAYBE THEY'LL DO SOME DIGGING.
UM, I THINK THAT'S, OR AT LEAST OWE IT TO, TO HEAR THESE VOICES.
UH, SO THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, TILL THE DECEMBER MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.
UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS, UH, ANY MORE ABOUT YOUR MOTION? NO.
UM, I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SPEAK.
SO I, THAT'S, UH, UH, I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE.
UH, I, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE, UH, AND I'VE, I'VE MENTIONED THIS ON PREVIOUS CASES WHERE THE SHELL IS THERE, THERE CLEARLY IS SOME LEVEL OF, UH, REMAINING VALUE TO A BUILDING OF THIS ERA.
UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INTERIOR CONDITION IS.
WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT SPECIFIC STRUCTURAL ISSUES, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE ASBESTOS SIDING AND THE WINDOWS AND THE TRIM, THE PORCH, UH, NONE OF THOSE APPEAR TO BE ORIGINAL.
SO, UH, THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE A LABOR OF LOVE.
UH, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY IF AN OWNER WERE SO INCLINED, UH, DOES THAT MEAN IT RISES TO THE HIGHER LEVEL? UH, I, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
WE CAN DELAY AND ALLOW FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAYBE FIND BETTER, BETTER WAYS THAN DEMOLITION.
BUT, UH, I, I DON'T HOLD HIGH, UH, HIGH HOPES FOR THE, UH, OUTRIGHT HISTORIC ZONING, JUST FOR THAT REASON.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION? I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW THE CONDITION OF THE WOOD UNDER THE SIDING, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
IF POSSIBLE, YEAH, IF ALSO POSSIBLE.
THE SECONDARY, SECONDARY STRUCTURE IN THE BACK, UM, KINDA LOOKS LIKE AN OLD BARN.
I MEAN, I'D HAVE TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH, PULL SOME SANDBAR MAPS AND DO ALL THAT.
BUT ANY INFORMATION THE OWNER MAY HAVE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE DECEMBER MEETING.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.
AND ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND SO, UH, WE WILL SEE THIS IN DECEMBER AND OR THE TIME CLOCK IS TICKING.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO OUR 10 O'CLOCK HOUR.
WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, 18 MINUTES.
I DO THINK WE CAN COMPLETE OUR AGENDA, BUT IF WE GET CLOSE, UH, WE MAY NEED TO EXTEND THE MEETING.
[23. 1201 E 7th Street Green and White Grocery ]
FROM COMMISSIONERS, UH, AND, UH, SOME INFORMATION ON THE GREEN AND WHITE GROCERY.SO THIS IS COMING TO THE AGENDA BY THE COMMISSIONERS.
SO THE COMMISSIONERS ARE WELCOME TO, YEAH.
SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA HANDLE ALL THIS
UH, WELL HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY READ THEIR, THEIR PACKETS.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO WASTE TIME.
UM, YEAH, GREEN AND WHITE GROCERY, UM, LANDMARK BUILDING.
IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDED FOR HISTORIC RESOURCE IN EAST AUSTIN.
I'M GETTING, I'M LOSING MY SPEECH.
UM, BUT THIS, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE THIRD PROPERTIES, THE THIRD PROPERTY I THINK IN EAST AUSTIN THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK OR BROWN HISTORY.
SO THIS IS POSTED, AS I UNDERSTAND, FOR INITIATION, FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
WE'VE HAD TWO COMMISSIONERS WHO BROUGHT THAT FORWARD, SO THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS AGAIN, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES WHERE, UH, AS WE SAID, THE THRESHOLD FOR US INITIATING HAS TO BE PRETTY HIGH.
UH, BUT TO HAVE AN OWNER'S, UH, BUT, BUT TO HAVE AN OWNER'S SUPPORT, UH, AND IN THIS CASE, TO HAVE A PROPERTY.
AND, AND THIS KIND OF BECOMES MY BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN SOMETHING COMES FORWARD LIKE THIS, SHOULD WE BE THE INITIATOR? UH, IF IT'S A PROPERTY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON OUR, ON OUR LIST, AND I'M WONDERING WHY IT'S NOT
AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONER RUBIO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, TAKING THE INITIATIVE.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS POSTED FOR, UH, A MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
I GUESS BECAUSE IT'S FROM COMMISSIONERS, DO WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING NOTIFICATION WASN'T SENT OUT FOR IT, SO NO, NO.
[03:40:01]
WOULD BEGIN ONCE, UH, LETTERS WENT OUT FOR NEXT MONTH.UM, WHEN Y'ALL ARE DEBATING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING.
SO THE, THE MOTION TO INITIATE DOES NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, IN THAT CASE, UH, WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO, I MOTION TO OP NOT OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
NOPE, JUST INITIATE NOT LISTENING.
I MOVED TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON A MOTION OTHER THAN A BIG PAT ON THE BACK TO EVERYBODY? ALRIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IT IS UNANIMOUS.
THIS WILL BE A, A, A WONDERFUL ADDITION.
[24. Architectural Review Committee]
A REPORT FROM THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.UH, IT'S LATE, SO I'LL MAKE IT QUICK.
THE, THE ONE CASE WE SAW THAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WAS SANTA RITA COURTS.
UH, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING UP THE ROSEWOOD COURTS, I THINK EVERYONE'S FAMILIAR WITH THAT HISTORY FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
CHALMERS APPARENTLY WAS RENOVATED WITHOUT ANY HISTORIC, UH, ISSUES, BUT SANTA RITA WAS FIRST.
UM, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS LOOKING AT, UH, RESTORATION TO SOME DEGREE.
WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING MORE STREET SIDE RESTORATION AND THE DEGREE OF RESTORATION OF SOME OF THE ELEMENTS AFTER THEIR EXPERIENCE AT ROSEWOOD WAS UNDER DISCUSSION.
BUT, BUT THEY'RE OPEN TO IT AND WE'RE, WE'RE PUSHING AS HARD AS WE CAN FOR MAXIMUM PRESERVATION.
JUST TO, UM, ADD ON FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, WE DID HAVE TO RESCHEDULE THIS MONTH'S MEETING, UH, TO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH AT 4:00 PM AT THE PER PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
I WILL SAY, UH, THERE IS AN EVENT BEFORE AND AFTER US IN THAT ROOM.
SO WE ONLY HAVE TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO REVIEW.
NOW, UM, AFTER YOUR REFERRALS, 11 CASES IN TWO AND A HALF HOURS, I BELIEVE, UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN WILL BE OUT OF TOWN.
SO COMMISSIONER COOK AND COMMISSIONER RUBIO, I ASK THAT AHEAD OF THIS MEETING, YOU, UM, KEEP TIME MANAGEMENT IN MIND.
I'LL KEEP, UH, TIMER ON MY PHONE FOR UNDER 12 TO 15 MINUTES PER CASE.
UM, ALSO, PLEASE, UH, COMMISSIONERS GROGAN COOK AND RUBIO, WE WILL BE CALLING A SPECIAL CALLED ARC LATER IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR A LARGER SIXTH STREET PROPERTY, UH, PROJECT THAT CLAYTON KORDY WILL BE BRINGING.
UM, IT IS ENOUGH PROPERTIES TO, UH, ALLOW FOR A SINGLE SPECIAL CALLED ARC JUST TO FOCUS ON THAT ONE PROJECT.
SO PLEASE BE CHECKING YOUR EMAIL, UM, LATER THIS WEEK AS I LOOK AT ROOM RESERVATION AVAILABILITIES.
AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW, UM, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE OUT OF TOWN FOR, UM, ANY PART OF NOVEMBER.
ALRIGHT, AND COMMISSIONERS, UH, ON THE COMMITTEE, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR EXTRA WORK.
UH, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A HEAVY LOAD RECENTLY, UH, THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MET AND
[25. Operations Committee]
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CRITICAL INFORMATION TO SHARE.WE HAD, UH, THREE POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. I'LL TALK THROUGH THE FIRST TWO VERY QUICKLY.
UH, HISTORIC SIGN GUIDE, HISTORIC SIGN GUIDELINES.
WE REVISITED THAT FROM A PREVIOUS, UM, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING AND, AND MADE GOOD PROGRESS.
HOPE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO, UH, THE FULL COMMISSION SOON.
UM, HOW WE'D LIKE TO UPDATE THOSE GUIDELINES.
UH, IN SHORT, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, UM, SIGNAGE THAT IT IS GOT SIGNIFICANT HEIGHT ON, ON A VERY TALL, NEW, NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILDING AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE EXPERIENCE WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT OR NOT.
AND WE'D LIKE TO CLEAN THAT UP TO MAKE IT MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.
UM, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO IS HISTORIC TAX EXEMPTIONS AND TAX ABATEMENTS.
AMBER TOUCHED ON THAT BRIEFLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING TODAY, BUT I THINK JUST A BRIEFING TO ALL OF US ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EXEMPTIONS AND ABATEMENTS AND, AND HOW THEY FUNCTION WOULD BE A GREAT REFRESHER BOTH TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND ALSO JUST TO PUT IT ON THE PUBLIC RECORD.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, WE DISCUSSED THE UPCOMING CODE AMENDMENTS REFERRED TO AS HOME, UM, AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR PRESERVATION.
AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AT THE MOMENT.
UM, WE, WE DISCUSSED A, A STATEMENT THAT WE'D LIKE TO VOTE ON AND PUT FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION THAT THE COMMISSION COULD VOTE ON AND, AND, UH, SEND UP THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL.
SO WE HAVE A DRAFT OUT ON THAT.
SHOULD I, SHOULD I JUST READ THAT OUT LOUD? THE DRAFT OR COMMISSIONER? YOU'RE YOU'RE WELCOME.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE SOME PRINTED COPIES, UM, FOR THOSE, UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ IT.
COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE IN THE ROOM.
[03:45:01]
OKAY.FOR THOSE OF US IN THE ROOM, WE DO HAVE COPIES, UH, BECAUSE OF THE VERY QUICK TIMEFRAME, UH, THIS IS STRICTLY A LETTER, BUT IT, IT COMES FROM THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.
SO I, I MEAN, I TOOK THE WORDS AND, AND, UM, IDEAS OF A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND TRIED TO FORM COMPLETE SENTENCES OUT OF THEM.
UM, SO BEING THE ONE WHO TYPED IT, I'LL READ IT, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE ANYONE'S COMMENTS ON HOW THEY'D LIKE THIS CHANGED AND MODIFIED.
UH, WE, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ARE GENERALLY, GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF BADLY NEEDED REFORMS TO THE EXISTING CODE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED FOR THE POTENTIAL SERIOUS AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT THE AMENDMENTS AS PROPOSED WILL HAVE ON LIKELY FUTURE HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND THE EXISTING FABRIC OF OUR CITY.
WE FEEL THAT A MEANINGFUL PRESERVATION INCENTIVE WITHIN THE HOME AMENDMENTS WOULD NOT ONLY ALIGN WITH THEIR STATED GOALS, BUT WOULD FURTHER THEM EXISTING HOUSING IS MORE AFFORDABLE THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THEIR SEQUESTERED CARBON IS MUCH MORE USEFUL AS HOUSING THAN IS LANDFILL.
AND THE STRUCTURES THAT MADE AUSTIN WHAT IT IS TODAY DESERVE A PLACE WITHIN THE INCREASED DENSITY NEEDED TO FACILITATE A MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
WELL, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE, UH, RATTLED AROUND THIS TYPE OF, UH, UH, WRITING MORE FREQUENTLY.
'CAUSE
ANY, ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, WE CAN PUT THIS, UH, OUT AS THE STATEMENT OF THE, UH, COMMISSION.
IF WE CAN GET THE VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS OR IF WE WANNA DO SOME WORDSMITHING HERE, WE CAN ADD TO IT.
I THINK COMMISSIONER ROCHE SAID, UH, STRIKE THE WORDS GENERALLY AND LIKELY, UM, YEAH, THEY'RE NOT AS NEEDED.
I JUST HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION.
UM, I'D HAVE TO DIG INTO THIS PRESERVATION INCENTIVE AND I, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED FUTURE HISTORIC LANDMARKS, BUT IS, ARE WE REQUESTING ANYTHING OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THIS PROPOSED CHANGE IN CODE THAT WILL FOR MORE DENSE HOUSING, ANY TYPE OF EXEMPTION THAT IN A HISTORIC LOCAL DISTRICT, YOU CAN'T DO THAT? IS THAT IS JUST, UH, THERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT PRESERVATION AUSTIN IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN PURSUING.
UH, ALSO THE INFILL COALITION, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WE'RE, I WON'T SAY LATE TO THE TABLE, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD A STRONG PRESENCE UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
BUT, UH, THIS GIVES US A CHANCE, BASICALLY TO BE ON THE RECORD, UH, SAYING THAT THE TYPES OF INITIATIVES WHEN, WHEN WE WERE REFERENCING, UH, THE IDEA THAT WE WERE, UH, KICKING AROUND, UH, REFERENCING, UH, SOME WAYS TO MITIGATE THE, THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS, UH, THERE ARE SOME POSSIBILITIES THERE, UH, BUT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN FLESHED OUT ENOUGH WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PUT THOSE IN THE RESOLUTION AT THIS POINT.
I THINK WE HAVE TWO, TWO TASKS ON HAND AT THE MOMENT.
ONE IS TO COMMENT AND WORDSMITH ON THIS VERY GENERAL STATEMENT, AND THEN WE CAN ALSO JUST SPEAK OUT LOUD ABOUT WHAT WE THINK THAT PRESERVATION INCENTIVE COULD OR SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, SO I, I KNOW THAT, UH, CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE BEING HAD WITH PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND THE INFILL COALITION AND CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS INCLUDE, UH, HAVING EXISTING HOUSING STOCK NOT COUNT TOWARDS A FAR A FLOOR AREA RATIO CALCULATION AND MAYBE MODIFYING THE FLOOR AREA RATIO CALCULATION SO THAT THE NOT COUNTING OF EXISTING STOCK REALLY, REALLY DOES MATTER AND IS A INCENTIVE.
UM, A PERSONAL IDEA THAT I HAD THAT I THINK COULD BE THAT REALLY JUST MEANINGFUL ACROSS THE BOARD IS THAT THIS AMENDMENT SHOULD COME WITH AN INCREASE IN STAFFING TO OUR PRESERVATION OFFICE, UM, AS THE HOME AMENDMENTS, UH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, FACILITATE, UH, MORE DEMOLITIONS.
THIS, OUR STAFF SHOULD BE EQUIPPED TO REVIEW THOSE DEMOLITION PERMITS AND MAKE SURE THAT LIKELY HISTORIC LANDMARKS DO NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
AND THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE SAFETY NET THAT WE PUT IN PLACE ALONG WITH THESE CODE REFORMS. UM, YEAH, UH, LET ME ADD A, A THIRD AREA OF EXPLORATION THAT I'VE KICKED AROUND AND, UH, I KNOW HAS BEEN PART OF THIS.
UH, RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE DISINCENTIVES WITHIN THE PERMIT PROCESS, THE FEES, THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHEN A RENOVATION OR, OR WORKING WITH AN EXISTING BUILDING IS, IS, UH, APPLIED FOR, UH, WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO A NEW LOT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
AND WHETHER IT'S, UH, A BREAK IN THE FEES OR WHETHER THERE'S A STREAMLINING OF THE REVIEWS OR THE PERMITTING, I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD SAY IS WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE, IT SHOULD BE EASIER TO KEEP YOUR BUILDING THAN TO TEAR IT DOWN.
NOW, IF ALL WE DO IS INCENTIVIZE MORE REASONS TO TEAR A
[03:50:01]
BUILDING DOWN, THAT WILL GET WORSE.SO I'D, I'D LIKE TO SEE US WEIGHING IN THOSE KINDS OF INCENTIVES.
I THOUGHT TO SAY OUR REMOTE COMMISSIONERS, HOW DO YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? WE NEED TO PUT AGWP CALCULATION IN THAT.
DO YOU WANNA ELABORATE ON THAT? I'M SORRY.
WHAT, WHAT IS GWB? GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL.
WELL, IT'S, IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO CAPTURE CAR.
YOU KEEP AN EXISTING BUILDING VERSUS REPLACE IT.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EVEN COMPARABLE.
SO I, I THINK THAT THE CITY IN AN EFFORT TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE SHOULD CERTAINLY ENTER THAT INTO THEIR CALCULUS.
UH, LET ME DO ONE QUICK THING.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE AT 9 56, 10 15.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES OR 15 MINUTES, SO MOVED.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING TILL 10 15.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
I PROMISE WE'LL BE OUT BY 10 15.
LET'S KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING.
UH, COMMISSIONER UH, ALVAREZ IS, UH, YEAH, I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT, UH, UH, I MADE MY, MY OWN PERSONAL STATEMENT AT, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING LAST WEEK REGARDING THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL ALLOW THREE UNITS ON A, UH, SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
UH, NOTING THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING AND, UH, ALS, BUT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME NOTING THE NEED FOR, FOR PRESERVATION AND REALLY NOT INCENTIVIZING JUST MASS DEMOLITION.
I'M ALSO INVOLVED WITH A, UH, AA AFFILIATED WORKING GROUP WITH, UH, OTHER ARCHITECTS WHO ARE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEIR WORK IS MORE NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, SINGLE AND MAYBE SMALLER MULTIFAMILY.
AND THEY'VE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS VERY GRANULARLY, UM, PRE PREPARING DIAGRAMS OF WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND I THINK THEY, UH, WHEN, WHEN THIS RESOLUTION FIRST CAME OUT, IT BASICALLY SPOKE ESSENTIALLY AGAINST PRESERVATION.
BUT SINCE THEN, I THINK THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED.
AND, UH, NOW THERE'S REALLY AN INTEREST IN DEFINING A PRESERVATION INCENTIVE.
AND, UH, THAT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS ON WHAT YOU THINK THE INCENTIVE SHOULD BE.
THE PRIMARY THINGS I HEAR ARE, UH, UH, ALLOWING AN ADDITIONAL UNIT OR, UH, FAR INCENTIVE.
SOME OF THIS STUFF IS BASED OFF, UH, LANGUAGE THAT PRESERVATION AUSTIN HAS, INIT HAS PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED, BUT NONE OF THIS IS SET.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN, UH, FULLY DETERMINED WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT FROM, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BRAIN TRUST THAT WE HAVE HERE.
UH, AS SOMEONE SOMEWHAT NEW, I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS COMMUNICATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REQUIRED OR EXPECTED TO DO, OR ARE WE BASICALLY JUST WEIGHING IN ON WHAT OUR RESERVATIONS ARE, SHOULD IT GO FORWARD? UH, I THINK THE LATTER.
UM, NO ONE HAS REFERRED THIS TO US, UH, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN PAST INITIATIVES FOR RATHER SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT HAD IMPLICATIONS TO PRESERVATION.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE AS A COMMISSION WERE SILENT.
UH, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, I THINK, AGAIN, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT IN AND OF ITSELF OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN DOING THAT.
UH, BUT THIS IS, I THINK, BACKING THOSE EFFORTS AND SAYING IT IS, IT IS THE SENSE OF THE WHOLE COMMISSION, UH, AS WE GO FORWARD, UH, AND TRY, UH, TO CONTRIBUTE OUR EXPERTISE.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A DRAFT RESOLUTION WITH A COUPLE OF CHANGES.
UH, DOES THAT MEET YOUR APPROVAL? WE'LL NEED A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONER, UH, FEATHERSTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT AS YOUR MOTION? UM, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE, TO THE VERBIAGE OR, OR SUGGESTED ALTERATIONS? I, I MOVED TO, UH, SEND THE MESSAGE AS WRITTEN, STRIKING THE WORDS GENERALLY AND LIKELY FROM THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, UM, TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND, AND COUNSEL.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, AND I'M LOOKING FOR MORE, MORE GOOD, GOOD ACTIONS.
[26. Grants Committee]
POSTED NEXT.UH, I BELIEVE THERE'S A FUTURE MEETING.
IS THAT SCHEDULED AT THIS POINT? YES.
[03:55:01]
BE EMAILING, UH, GRANTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, LATER THIS WEEK.I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS SOONER, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF, UM, CHANGES AND WORK
UM, BUT YEAH, I'LL BE EMAILING THE ARC FOR A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AND THEN THE GRANTS COMMITTEE FOR, UM, A MEETING, UH, HOPEFULLY BEFORE OUR NEXT HLC.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR ROOM RESERVATIONS ARE VERY HARD TO COME BY, SO, UM, I WILL NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSES ONCE I DO SEND OUT SOME POSSIBLE DATES AND TIMES.
AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT THAT'S, THAT'S ABOUT TO START.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE GRANTS COMMITTEE.
UH, STARTING TO GET ACTIVE, THE PRESERVATION
[27. Preservation Plan Committee]
PLAN COMMITTEE.WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
AND, UH, COMM, UH, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, UH, WAS, WAS, UH, AGREED TO BE THE CHAIR.
SO
UH, I'LL BE REACHING OUT FOR SOME, UH, GUIDANCE AND A LITTLE HELP HERE AND THERE, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
SO, BUT THIS, IT WAS MORE OF A RECALIBRATION OF, OF THE COMMITTEE.
SO YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'RE GOING TO BE SOME ACTIVITIES COMING FORWARD.
WE ARE ASSEMBLING, UH, BOTH THE, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE ACTIVE COMMITTEE, UH, WHAT DO WE CALL IT? I KEEP FORGETTING THE VOLUNTEERS, BUT WE'VE GOT, UH, A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO'VE BEEN ADVISING US ALONG THE WAY.
THEY'RE REPROGRAMMING, UH, THAT GROUP.
AND WE HAVE STAFF THAT IS JUST NOW GETTING, UH, ONBOARD THAT WE'LL BEGIN THE OUTREACH PROGRAM.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW IS COMING TO FRUITION AND THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT COMING UP.
SO AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT WITH YOU.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE'VE MADE IT TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO STUCK AROUND.
I THINK, UH, MAYBE YOU DID IT FOR CLASS CREDIT, BUT YEAH.
UH, IF, IF YOU WANNA BUTTONHOLE US, UH, ON THE WAY AS WE ALL RACE OUTTA HERE, WE'RE WELCOME TO, UH, UH, TRY TO EXPLAIN IF WE CAN, WHAT, WHAT THE WORLD'S GOING ON AFTERWARDS.
AS I ALSO WANTED TO, AS, AS WE SAT HERE AND, UM, I, YOU KNOW, IMAGINED SEEING US THROUGH THESE ACADEMICS EYES, I WONDERED WHAT THEY'D BE TAKING AWAY FROM IT.
I, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HOW MUCH WE RELY ON QUALITY STAFF TO KEEP US MOVING AND WITHIN OUR BOUNDS THE ENTIRE TIME.
SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, UH, MOTION TO ADJOURN.
COMMISSIONER COOK, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.