[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