[00:00:01]
AND MS. CONTRERAS, ARE WE READY? I'M READY IF FEEL MORE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, UM, JOINED REMOTELY, SO WE ARE READY TO GO.
AND COMMISSIONERS, JUST A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING SINCE WE'RE IN A NEW VENUE.
UH, AS YOU PROBABLY SAW, YOU HAVE TO CLICK THE MIC ON AND OFF, AND THERE'S THIS LITTLE RED BAR RIGHT BY THIS MICROPHONE THAT'LL TELL YOU IF YOU'VE GOT IT ON OR NOT.
UH, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO LOOK FOR, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT THAN OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER VENUES.
SO JUST BE AWARE, WE MAY HAVE A LOT OF HOT MICS OPEN
[CALL TO ORDER]
UH, I MAY CALL TO ORDER THE, UH, DECEMBER 13TH MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMITTEE, UH, COMMISSION.UH, I'M BEN HEIM, THE CHAIR, AND WE WILL BEGIN BY CALLING ROLL.
MS. CONTRERAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US WITH THAT? SURE.
UM, UH, CHAIR, SETH, YOU CAN START US OFF.
I'M PRESENT VICE CHAIR FEATHERSTON BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH.
COMMISSIONER CASTILLO PRESENT.
AND COMMISSIONER DUDLEY IS ABSENT.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
COMMUNICATION, UH, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK TO US ON A NON, UH, AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING? HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP? OKAY.OH, WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE, YES.
WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD, MS. KING? YOU'LL HAVE TO, TO TURN THE MIC ON.
HEY, MEGAN KING WITH PRESERVATION AUSTIN, UM, POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER.
SO, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT OUR PROVO PROPOSED PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY BONUSES WERE INCLUDED IN THE HOME ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNCIL LAST WEEK.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND OUR PARTNERS AT AUSTIN INFILL COALITION HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING THESE POLICIES FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, FOR PROPERTIES WITH HOMES BUILT BEFORE 1960.
THE PRESERVATION BONUS WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN EXCHANGE FOR SUBSTANTIAL PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING HOUSE.
THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR PRESERVATION AS A, AS A NEW TOOL TO OUR VERY SPARSE TOOLKIT, ALTHOUGH I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR ABOUT THAT.
UM, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS PRESERVATION, AUSTIN FOUGHT FOR PRESERVATION BEST PRACTICES TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS ORDINANCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO DURING PHASE TWO OF HOME.
UM, TOMORROW, COUNSEL WILL BE HEARING A RESOLUTION TO LOOK INTO A MEASURE THAT WILL MITIGATE POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF VULNERABLE AUSTINITES AS HOME ROLLS OUT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY LAST YEAR ON A REPORT LOOKING INTO HOW PRESERVATION CAN SUPPORT OUR CITY'S URGENT AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT CRISES.
THIS REPORT HAS SPECIFIC PROGRAMMATIC AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY GLAND TRUST AND EXPANDING THE CITY'S HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS TO MITIGATE FINANCIAL BURDENS ON HOMEOWNERS WANTING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
UM, WE WANTED TO PUT THIS RESOLUTION ON YOUR RADAR AND ASK THE COMMISSION TO CHAMPION THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT AS THE CITY MOVES FORWARD WITH HOME, AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO DO THE SAME.
UM, AND LASTLY, IF YOU'VE RECENTLY PASSED, UM, THE MCFARLAND HOUSE ON RED RIVER, YOU'LL SEE THAT, UM, WORK IS UNDERWAY TO REPAIR THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THE EAVES THAT HAVE PREVENTED US FROM OCCUPYING THE BUILDING THAT IS OUR FUTURE HOME.
UM, AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO REHABILITATE THE MCFARLAND HOUSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND THIS MARKS THE FINAL PUSH IN OUR WORK TO REVIVE THIS ICONIC LANDMARK.
AND WE JUST WANNA REITERATE OUR TREMENDOUS THANKS TO THE CITY'S, UM, HERITAGE GRANT FUND, WHICH IS SUPPORTING, UM, THIS FINAL PHASE OF WORK.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE UPDATES ONCE THAT WORK IS FINISHED.
AND, AND AGAIN, FANTASTIC WORK ON LOTS OF FRONTS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO, TO MANY.
UH, BUT PRESERVATION AUSTIN IN PARTICULAR.
UH, ANYONE ELSE, UH, FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION? UH, I WILL, UH, JUST AS A MATTER OF THE PRIVILEGE OF THE CHAIR, UH, CALL UPON ONE OF OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE, UH, COMMISSIONER EVANS, I THINK YOU HAVE ALSO SOME GOOD INFORMATION AND NEWS TO SHARE WITH US.
UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ASSOCIATION EVENT AT A JOHN CHASE HOME, UH, THAT'S OWNED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS.
AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE BOOKLET ON JOHN CHASE, WHICH
[00:05:01]
I'M GOING TO SHARE.AND IN ADDITION, UH, OUR, ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, UH, DR.
TARA DUDLEY, GAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ABOUT THE HOME AND ABOUT JOHN CHASE'S LIFE.
SO IT WAS VERY, UH, EDUCATIONAL EVENT.
AND IT IS, IS THIS A WONDERFUL, UH, SYNOPSIS OF, UH, THE ARCHITECT'S, UH, WORK IN AUSTIN IN PARTICULAR? IS THIS AVAILABLE IN OTHER FORMAT YET? IT IS NOT YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
UM, AT THIS POINT, WHAT I'LL DO IS REVIEW THE AGENDA.
OH, IS THERE ANY, ANY OTHER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION? LEMME MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THAT.
[ Consent Agenda]
STAGE IS I WILL REVIEW ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.I WILL, UH, INDICATE WHETHER THEY ARE POSTED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTION.
UH, AND ONCE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE AGENDA REVIEW, THEN WE WILL TAKE ITEMS UP THAT, UH, WILL BE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AND THEN OUR POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS.
AND AT THAT POINT THEN WE WILL BEGIN THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, PLEASE BEAR WITH US.
UH, THIS IS A NEW VENUE FOR US, SO WE'RE ALL KIND OF, UH, FEELING OUR WAY.
UH, WE HOPE TO BE BACK AT CITY HALL SHORTLY, BUT THERE WERE CONFLICT WITH THE VARIOUS END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES GOING ON.
AND WE ALSO, UH, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER REQUESTS OF YOU ALL.
UH, CERTAINLY IF YOUR ITEM IS A CONSENT ITEM AND IT IS PASSED IN THAT, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, UH, WE HAVE COMPLETED ACTION.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT GO WITH THOSE, UH, POSTED ITEMS. UH, MANY OF YOU WILL HAVE, UH, A REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION IF THERE ARE PERMITS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
SO PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THAT.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS, BECAUSE OF THE LAYOUT OF THIS ROOM, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA, WE DO ASK THAT IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE SPEAKERS, PLEASE WORK IT OUT SO THAT YOU ARE CLOSE BY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIT AT THAT, UH, BASICALLY THE, UH, UH, THE BENCH BESIDE THE PODIUM, UH, AS YOU GET READY TO SPEAK, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR EVERYBODY TO WALK BACK AND FORTH THE ENTIRE ROOM, WE'LL BE HERE VERY LATE FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE DEALING WITH.
WE'LL, UH, WORK WITH ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL VERY, UH, EXCITING, BUT ALSO SOMEWHAT SAD NEWS.
UH, OUR LONGTIME ADMINISTRATOR, AMBER ALLEN, UH, HAS, UH, TAKEN A JOB OUTTA STATE, OR ACTUALLY HER HUSBAND TOOK A JOB OUTTA STATE, AND SO SHE IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN AND WE MISS HER DEARLY.
SO,
UH, WE'LL MAKE DO, WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT, BUT IF WE MISS SOMETHING, PLEASE CALL IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WE'LL TRY TO FIX IT AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
ALRIGHT, SO UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, LET'S GET ONTO THE AGENDA REVIEW.
I'LL START WITH AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
UH, THAT IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES THAT WILL BE OFFERED AS A CONSENT ITEM.
WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO ON OUR HERITAGE GRANTS PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES NO ACTION FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON, UH, HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 3 7 19 CONGRESS AVENUE, UH, THE STATE THEATER THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 4 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM NUMBER 5 12 0 1 EAST SEVENTH STREET, THE GREEN AND WHITE GROCERY, UH, THAT HAS A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, 2315 LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD, THE DEEP EDDIE CABARET.
THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE, UH, ITEMS CONCERNING THE HERITAGE GRANT APPLICATION PROGRAM.
THAT'S ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AND EIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS 39 0 8 AVENUE B, THE BAKER SCHOOL.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS 2300 ROSEWOOD AVENUE, THE MADISON LOG CABIN.
UH, BOTH OF THOSE ACTION ITEMS ARE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UH, THE NEXT ITEMS WILL HAVE TO DO WITH HISTORIC LANDMARK PROPERTIES OR PROPERTIES IN THE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT APPLICATIONS.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 9 4 0 2 WEST 12TH STREET, UH, THE O WATSON, UH, A O WATSON HOUSE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 10 1300 EAST FOURTH STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 11 4 0 4, UH, EXCUSE ME, 40 0 4 AVENUE H UH, THAT IS IN THE HYDE PARK LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
[00:10:01]
UH, THAT IS ALSO IN THE HYDE PARK LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.UH, THAT IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER 13 14 15 LAVACCA STREET, BAROLO ROBINSON BUILDING.
UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM NUMBER 14 12 0 9 ROSEWOOD AVENUE.
UH, THAT IS THE HAYNES DELOS HOUSE.
UH, THAT IS A, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 15, UH, 1108 WEST NINTH STREET, THE BRASS GODARD HOUSE, UH, GODDARD HOUSE THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 16 7 0 9 BOLD AVENUE, THE WOODY HOUSE THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 17, UH, 1407 WEST NINTH STREET, THE WILLIAM PILLOW HOUSE THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 18, UH, THAT IS 1109 WEST NINTH STREET.
UH, THE A W AND IDA BRILL HOUSE, UH, THAT REQUIRES NO ACTION.
ACTUALLY, THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY STAFF.
SO WE CAN REMOVE THAT FROM OUR AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER 19 8 0 9 BAYLOR STREET.
UH, THAT'S IN THE CASTLE HILL LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THE NEXT ITEMS ARE REQUESTS WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTER.
UH, DISTRICTS, UH, THESE PERMIT REQUESTS, UH, REQUIRE US TO BE RE UH, WE ARE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE REVIEW OF THESE.
AND ITEM NUMBER 20 14 0 9 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
UH, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL REMODEL, ADDITION AND REMODEL.
IT WAS POSTPONED FROM NOVEMBER 1ST MEETING, AND THAT IS OFFERED NOW FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 21 11 0 2 MAL PHRASE STREET.
AND THAT'S IN THE WESTLINE NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, AN ADDITION REMODEL THAT WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.
UH, THAT IS OFFERED NOW FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY IN THE WILSHIRE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THAT IS A, UH, REQUEST FOR A DEMOLITION OF A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE STRUCTURE.
ITEM NUMBER 23, UH, FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW, UH, NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, UH, THAT WE UNDERSTAND HAS, UH, A REQUEST FOR, UH, DISCUSSION.
AND SO THAT WILL BE POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM NUMBER 24 16 21 WEST 14TH STREET IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THERE IS AN ADDITION REMODEL.
UH, IT WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER MEETING THAT IS NOW OFFERED FOR CONSENT CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 24 OAK.
DO SO THAT WILL NOW BE A DISCUSSION ITEM ITEM NUMBER 24.
ALL RIGHT, AND ITEM NUMBER 25 10 10 HARWOOD PLACE, THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THAT IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND BUILD NEW THAT HAS, UH, ALSO BEEN, UH, REQUESTED FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 26 11 0 4 EASTON STREET IN THE WEST LINE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 1610 PRESTON AVENUE.
UH, THAT'S IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I'D LIKE TO PULL THAT, PLEASE.
AND COMMISSIONER MCW WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ONE IS NOW A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THAT IS 27 16 WOOLDRIDGE DRIVE.
THAT'S IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THAT IS, UH, A DISCUSSION ITEM.
UH, THE NEXT SET SET OF ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA ARE DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
UH, THESE HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BASED ON MOST OFTEN BECAUSE OF THEIR, THEIR AGE OR THE POTENTIAL FOR, UH, REVIEW BY THIS COMMISSION.
THE FIRST IS ITEM NUMBER 29 11 0 1 GARNER AVENUE.
UH, THAT IS A TOTAL DEMOLITION REQUEST.
IT WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER 1ST MEETING, AND THAT IS NOW OFFERED FOR CONSENT CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THAT FOR DISCUSSION.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER GROGAN, THAT WILL NOW BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND THE OTHER, THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM NUMBER 38 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
THAT IS ALSO A DEMOLITION REQUEST, UH, THAT HAS BEEN, UH, PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM NUMBER 31 4 0 2 LOCKHART DRIVE.
THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 32, THAT IS 68 0 4 MESA DRIVE.
UM, IF I COULD, UH, BOTHER YOU TO BACK UP.
UH, ITEM 31 IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO JANUARY 10TH.
[00:15:02]
LOCKHART DRIVE.THAT IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY APPLICANT.
OKAY, UH, LET US NOW GO NUMBER 32 AS I WAS ON 68 0 4 MESA DRIVE.
UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND THAT IS A DISCUSSION.
I HAVE IT, UH, THAT'S ALSO A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AS WELL.
OKAY, THAT IS OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT.
UH, THAT REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 33 17 16 BOLDEN AVENUE.
UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 34 18 0 4 EAST 22ND STREET, THERE'S A DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 43 16, EXCUSE ME, ITEM NUMBER 35 43 16 AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 36 27 0 5 STRATFORD DRIVE, UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 37 17 0 7 SINGLETON AVENUE.
ITEM NUMBER 38 20 0 4 MEADOWBROOK DRIVE.
UH, THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 39 2200 FOREST TRAIL, UH, THAT IS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 40 14 0 6 JULIET STREET.
THAT IS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 41 97 SAN SABA STREET.
THAT IS A RELOCATION REQUEST AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 42 4700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE, NUMBER 10.
THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 43 47 0 2 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE.
UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, UH, FOR TWO DEMOLITION REQUESTS.
AND THE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 44 47 0 2 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE, UH, 20, NUMBER 20.
THAT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSION AND, UH, THESE CASES, WE WILL ALSO HAVE, UH, ITEMS 45 THROUGH 48, WHICH WILL BE, UH, REPORTS FROM OUR, UH, VARIOUS COMMITTEES.
OKAY, SO WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE, UH, READING OF THE AGENDA AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM PULLED.
BUT LET ME REVIEW ONE LAST TIME, THE CONSENT ITEMS AND MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THESE CORRECT.
FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, ITEM THAT'S AT THE 39 0 8 AVENUE B, ITEM NUMBER 8 2300 ROSEWOOD AVENUE.
THESE ARE ALL CONSENT ITEMS. 10 1300 EAST FOURTH STREET, 11 40 0 4 AVENUE H NUMBER 15, 11 0 8 WEST NINTH STREET, 16 7 0 9 BOLD AVENUE.
17 14 0 7, WEST NINTH, 19 8 0 9 BAYLOR STREET, 20 14 0 9 ALTA VISTA, 21 11 0 2.
MAL PHRASE 22 14 42 10 WILSHIRE PARKWAY, 26 11 0 4 EAST STREET.
THE NEXT ONE, I BELIEVE IS NUMBER 33.
NUMBER 34 18 0 4 EAST 22ND STREET, 35 43 16 AIRPORT BOULEVARD, 36 27 0 5 STRATFORD DRIVE, 37 17 0 7 SINGLETON 38 20 0 4 MEADOWBROOK 39, 2200 FOREST TRAIL, 40 14 0 6 JULIET, 41 97 SAN SABA, 42.
4,700 SOUTH CONGRESS, 43 47 0 2 SOUTH CONGRESS, AND 44 47 0 2 SOUTH CONGRESS.
UH, THIS FIRST ONE WAS, UH, UH, NUMBER 43 WAS NUMBER 18 AND 19.
OKAY, SO THAT IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER SETH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD THE MINUTES, UH, TO CONSENT AGENDA, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND ADD THE MINUTES SO WE DON'T LET THAT ONE LAPSE.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IN FAVOR? SO MOVED.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, SO ONCE AGAIN, IF YOUR CASE WAS ON THE CONSENT,
[00:20:01]
IT HAS PASSED.PLEASE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, UH, AS THAT MAY WILL, THAT WILL BE NOTED ON THE, UH, ON THE AGENDA BACKUP.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE'LL GO TO THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS AND THOSE ITEMS. I'LL GO QUICKLY.
UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THAT WILL BE, UH, THE GREEN AND WHITE GROCERY AT 1201 EAST SEVENTH STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 9 4 0 2 WEST 12TH STREET.
THIS WILL BE A POSTPONEMENT TO OUR JANUARY MEETING.
UH, THE NEXT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST IS ITEM NUMBER OH, I MAY HAVE MISSED.
THAT WASN'T A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
ITEM 23 WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM NUMBER 31.
ITEM NUMBER 32 68 0 4 MESA DRIVE.
AND I BELIEVE I'VE GOT THEM ALL.
OKAY, SO THERE'S THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO OUR JANUARY MEETING.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION COMMISSIONER COOK IF THERE A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, UH, FEATHERSTON.
AND, UH, THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, THOSE ITEMS ARE POSTPONED TILL OUR NEXT MEETING.
WE WILL SEE IF YOU ARE HERE FOR THOSE ITEMS. WE WILL SEE YOU IN JANUARY.
UH, WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN BEGIN OUR, UH, AGENDA WITH THE BRIEFING.
[2. Heritage Grants]
ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE HERITAGE GRANTS.OUR PRESENTER, UH, UH, MELISSA ALVARADO.
IS SHE HERE? MS. ALVARADO? I HOPE SHE'S NOT OVER AT, UH, CITY HALL WAITING FOR US.
I DON'T THINK SO, BUT I CAN, UH, I CAN CONFIRM.
UH, OTHERWISE WE CAN DELAY THIS TILL OUR NEXT, UH, MEETING.
UH, SINCE IT IS A BRIEFING AND REQUIRES NO ACTION, I DON'T THINK WE NEED AN ACTION TO, UH, CHANGE ITS TIMING.
SO THAT BRINGS UP OUR FIRST CASE, ITEM NUMBER 3 7 19
[3. C14H-2023-0105 – 719 Congress Ave.]
CONGRESS AVENUE, THE STATE THEATER.AND WE'LL TURN THIS OVER TO YOU, MS. CONTRERAS.
UH, 0 1 0 5 IS A HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION INITIATED, UH, HISTORIC ZONING REQUEST FOR THE STATE THEATER AT SEVEN 19 CONGRESS AVENUE STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM CBD TO CBDH, COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING UNDER THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
UH, THE COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, AND WE NOW BRING IT FOR, UH, RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
THE STATE THEATER WAS THE FIRST THEATER IN AUSTIN, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SCREEN MOVIES.
WHILE OTHER THEATERS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED PRIMARILY FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES, THE STATE CINEMA WAS PURPOSE-BUILT IN 1935 AS PART OF A CONVERSION OF, OF AN EXISTING BUILDING, THE OLD AVENUE HOTEL, TO THE PLANS OF ARCHITECT W SCOTT DUNN AND THE FOURTH OF THE INTERSTATE CIRCUITS.
AUSTIN THEATERS, THE STATE IS THE ONLY SCOTT DUNN DESIGN THEATER STILL OPEN IN AUSTIN.
THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THEATER WAS PROMOTED IN A LETTER TO LIVE OAK DIRECTOR DON TONER FROM SINCLAIR BLACK'S ARCHITECTURE FIRM IN 1998.
AS QUOTED FROM THE APPLICATION, THE STATE THEATER IS ONE OF THE REMAINING EXAMPLES OF THE AMERICAN ART DECO PERIOD IN THE CONGRESS AVENUE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THAT PERIOD OF AMERICAN DESIGN IS NOT WELL REPRESENTED IN AUSTIN AS A WHOLE, BUT THAT ABSENT BEING MOST PRONOUNCED ALONG CONGRESS AVENUE, SINCLAIR BLACK IS EXTREMELY PLEASED TO ASSIST THE THEATER IN ITS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE ITS FEATURES.
AND WITH OUR COMBINED EFFORTS, THE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WITHOUT OUR COMBINED EFFORTS, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WILL SUFFER AN IRRE IRREVOCABLE BREACH IN THE CONTINUITY OF ITS COLLECTION OF PERIOD FACADES.
IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, CONGRESS AVENUE WAS HOME TO 12 THEATERS EARNING THE NICKNAME SHOW ROW.
THE PARAMOUNT AND STATE THEATERS, THE ONLY TWO STILL OPERATING IN THEIR ORIGINAL FUNCTION, AND ALMOST ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED WITH ITS ROOTS AS AN ENTERTAINMENT CORRIDOR.
THIS SECTION OF CONGRESS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN AUSTIN.
BEYOND THAT, THE STATE IS TRULY SIGNIFICANT TO THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN'S RENOWNED CULTURAL ARTS AND I IDENTITY AND A FUNDAMENTAL STARTING POINT OF THE FILM.
SEMEN BE SEEN IN AUSTIN AS THE FIRST THEATER IN TOWN EXPLICITLY BUILT AS A MOVIE HOUSE DURING THE DECADES FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF URBAN DECAY.
THE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS OF THE CITY'S
[00:25:01]
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR WERE HEAVILY RELIANT ON PERFORMING ART SPACES, NOTABLY THE STATE TO BRING BACK THE ONES THRIVING DISTRICT.THE THEATER WAS FOUNDED WITH COMMUNITY IN MIND, AND THIS FOCUS HAS STAYED TRUE THROUGHOUT THE THEATER'S HISTORY.
IS THERE, UH, COMMISSIONERS? ANY QUESTION OF STAFF? OKAY.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UM, IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, APPLICATION, THOUGH, ACTUALLY IT IS A COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, PLEASE, UH, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
AND IF THERE IS NO ONE HERE EITHER FOR OR AGAINST, THEN, UH, WHICH STANDS TO REASON SINCE WE INITIATED IT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UH, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO, UH, ACTION, UH, STARTING WITH ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER, HORT, HORTER, UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
IF THAT'S NOW THE CASE, WE, UH, ARE OPEN TO A MOTION AND DISCUSSION.
I MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON AND COMMISSIONER HORTER.
UH, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT ALREADY ZONED HISTORIC
WHEN, WHEN THIS CAME TO US A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, IT, IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK.
UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT THAT HAPPENED AND, AND THAT WE GET TO TAKE THIS VOTE NOW TODAY.
COMMISSIONER, UH, MC DITO
IF THE MOTION MAKER ACCEPTS THAT I DO ACCEPT IN THE SECOND AND THE SECONDARY.
YEAH, AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
UM, I THINK WE HAD THIS AS A PREVIOUSLY, UH, HAD QUITE A LONGER AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ITS VALUE.
UH, I THINK WE, IT'S A HIGH BAR TO HAVE A COMMISSION INITIATED, UH, CASE AS THIS IS.
UH, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE IT'S A BIG SURPRISE THAT IT'S NOT ALREADY IN OUR REGISTER AND, AND IT REALLY HAS TO BE.
SO, UH, IF ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? ALRIGHT, WELL, AGAIN, SOME GOOD WORK ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S PARTS AND, UH, I WILL NOW CALL THE QUESTION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, HISTORIC ZONING FOR SEVEN 19 CONGRESS AVENUE, THE STATE THEATER, BASED ON THE CRITERIA OF ARCHITECTURE, UH, ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VALUE, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND, PLEASE.
AND ANYBODY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
[4. PR-2023-087312 – 701 Sparks Ave. (Part 1 of 2)]
ITEM NUMBER 4 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.AND, UH, THIS ALSO IS A COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
AND, UH, I WILL TURN THAT OVER TO YOU, MS. CONTRERAS.
CHAIR 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE, UH, CAME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.
UH, SO I WILL BE BRIEF IN THE STAFF REPORT.
UH, THIS IS A ONE STORY SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL WITH A STUCCO EXTERIOR, A FLAT ROOF WITH ATED PARAPET AND HIP ROOFS, UH, WITH TERRACOTTA TILE, A PARTIALLY GLAZED ENTRY FRONT DOOR, FLANKED BY SIMPLE SIDELIGHTS, A CURVED ENTRY PORCH SUPPORTED BY CLASSICAL COLUMNS, AND ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS WITH SIX OVER ONE SCREENS.
THE SECONDARY APARTMENT IS TWO STORIES, ALSO STUCCO WITH DOUBLE WOOD GARAGE DOORS AND ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS.
THE 2020 NORTH LOOP HANCOCK BUGGY CREEK SURVEY LISTS THE PRIMARY BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY AND INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER, UH, AS WELL AS RETAINING HISTORIC, UH, SUFFICIENT INTEGRITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A POTENTIAL LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE SURVEY LISTS A SECONDARY BUILDING AS A MEDIUM PRIORITY.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, INCLUDING ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY VALUE.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING AS THE BUILDING IS ARCHITECTURALLY UNIQUE IN STYLE AND APPEARS TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE WE HAVE ANY QUESTION OF STAFF? UM, I HAVE ONE.
AND THAT IS, UM, IN THE BACKUP.
WE DID GET, UH, A REPORT FROM ONE OF OUR MEMBERS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER LAROCHE CAN'T BE HERE DUE TO, UH, UH, MEDICAL
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ISSUES, UH, I, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO JUST CALL ATTENTION COMMISSIONERS TO HIS REPORT.UH, HE DID HAVE SOME CONCERNS WHEN THE ISSUE OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY WAS RAISED BY THE APPLICANT AND WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE SITE ON HIS OWN AND MAKE SOME DETERMINATIONS BASED ON HIS OBSERVATION.
AND IF, UH, COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT REPORT, IF HE WERE HERE TODAY, UH, HE WOULD BE PRESENTING IT MOST LIKELY.
AND, UH, AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, IN HIS, UH, WHEN, WHEN HE'S NOT VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME AS A COMMISSIONER, HE HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE, UH, MOST RESPECTED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, UH, IN THIS REGION.
SO, UH, I, I HAVE TO TAKE HIS WORDS RATHER SERIOUSLY.
HIS ANALYSIS EXPRESSED SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THE STRUCTURE, UH, AS IT'S, AS IT IS IN ITS CURRENT STATE.
SO I'LL JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALSO PART OF, UH, UH, THE RECORD, IF YOU WILL, OR CALL ATTENTION TO IT AS BEING PART OF THE RECORD SINCE I HAVE TO SPEAK FOR COMMISSIONER, UH, LAROCHE.
UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTION OF STAFF? IF NOT, UH, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL CALL, UH, ANYBODY IN UH, FAVOR OF THE MOTION FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
AND, UH, THAT IS, UH, AT 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING? AND IF YOU, IF, IF PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
AND AGAIN, IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE SPEAKERS, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GETTING AS CLOSE TO THE AREAS WE CAN SO WE CAN, WE CAN GET YOU AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WELL, WE'RE GLAD YOU FOUND US.
SO PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN LET US KNOW, UH, AS YOU'RE SPEAKING.
OH, WE NEED THE MICROPHONE ON.
YEAH, LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S ON.
WASN'T ON THE MICROPHONE TO TURN IT ON.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EASTWOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH I SERVED AS PRESIDENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
NOW I'M CALLED THE PRESIDENT EMERITUS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS LITTLE HOUSE.
THE LOCATION OF IT IS, WELL, THE CHARACTER OF IT, YOU CAN SEE AND OTHERS HAVE TESTIFIED TO THAT.
THE LOCATION IS SUCH A CRUCIAL PLACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE, UH, THAT CORNER LEADS INTO SPARKS AVENUE AND WHICH IS JUST A BLOCK LONG AND IS FULL OF INTERESTING OLD HOUSES.
AND MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVED IN THOSE HOUSES HAVE PASSED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS SHRINKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD POPULATION.
BUT WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS, WE HAD THE LARGEST TURNOUT THAT WE'VE HAD IN YEARS FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING.
AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN FAVOR OF SAVING THIS PLACE.
THAT CORNER PROPERTY HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE TWENTIES, AND I HAVE LIVED IN A HISTORIC LANDMARK HOUSE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS ON MY STREET ON BELLEVUE PLACE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THE CHARACTER THEY HAVE ON SPARKS AVENUE.
AND IF WE LOSE THAT HOUSE, WE LOSE THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WHOLE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT, IT'S THE ENTRANCE TO SPARKS AND IT'S THE ENTRANCE TO EASTWOODS PARK.
AND WE AS NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN READING, TRYING TO REDISCOVER THE HISTORY OF EASTWOODS PARK WHEN IT WAS, UH, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT POST, UH, PRE 19TH CENTURY.
WELL, I CAN'T GET, UM, ANYWAY, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON HISTORY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT, AND THIS LITTLE HOUSE IS A FINE SYMBOL OF WHAT WE WANT TO PROTECT, SO I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT DESIGNATION FOR IT.
ANY QUESTION OF THE SPEAKER? ALRIGHT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS? OKAY.
UH, MS. CONTRERAS, DID WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? UH, ONLINE? UH, SAM, WE DO MS. BARBARA EPSTEIN.
MS. EPSTEIN, SHE'S DRINKING ON ONLINE.
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DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE ONLINE? NO.SO IF THAT'S IT FOR THOSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR, UH, LET ME CALL UPON THOSE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.
AND I KNOW THE, UH, OWNER IS, IS OPPOSED TO THIS APPLICATION, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
I'M HERE HELPING MR. RASHEEM JAVA.
MARTY, UH, THE OWNER OF 7 0 1 SPARKS AND HIS REQUEST FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THE STRUCTURES ON THE LOT AT SEVEN OH ONES SPARKS AVENUE.
MR. JAVADI PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN MAY OF 2 20 23.
IT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR OVER A YEAR.
AND IN JULY HE APPLIED FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UH, THE RESULT OF THAT WAS A REVIEW BY STAFF, UH, WHICH THEY HAVE PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS, OUR, UH, DISAGREEMENT WITH THE STAFF AND A WHOLE THING THAT, UH, CHAIRMAN, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THE STRUCTURAL SITUATION IS THE PROPERTY INTEGRITY.
THERE ARE TWO, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR A DESIGNATION OF HISTORIC.
UH, THE STAFF HAS SAID THAT THE, UH, THE CRITERIA, THE BUILDING MORE THAN 50 YEARS OLD, WE AGREE WITH THAT.
AND THE STAFF SAID THE BUILDING APPEARS TO RETAIN HIGH STRUCTURAL AND HIGH INTEGRITY.
THE ORDINANCE ACTUALLY SAYS THE PROPERTY MUST HAVE, OR A HIGH DEGREE OF INTEGRITY.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OF HEARINGS, WE HAVE TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT UNFORTUNATELY, IN SPITE OF THE FACTS REPRESENTING IN THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING, IT DOES NOT HAVE HIGH STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.
UH, WE SUBMITTED AT THE VERY BEGINNING, A 93 PAGE COMPLETE PROPERTY INSPECTION REPORT, DE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE PROPERTY.
UH, IT IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE, AND THEY TALK ABOUT NONE OF THE SYSTEMS WORKING, ALL OF THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS, THE ROOF, THE FOUNDATION, UH, THE BASEMENT.
AND SO YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR BACKUP.
THEN WE WENT AND WE GOT MORE INFORMATION.
AND THIS IS FROM A REMODELING COMPANY, DISTINCTIVE REMODELING COMPANY.
AND AFTER THEY STATE, AND I'M QUOTING PIECES OF THIS, AFTER INSPECTING YOUR PROPERTY, WE FOUND EVIDENCE OF FOUNDATION FAILURE.
UH, THE GARAGE APARTMENTS, THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
THE FRAMING THE MAIN HOUSE AND THE WOOD WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED EVIDENCE OF WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS.
THEIR CONCLUSION, AT THIS POINT, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE HOUSE IS NOT IN GOOD CONDITION TO BE REMODELED AND RECOMMEND DEMOLITION AND A REBUILD, WHICH WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROPERTY.
AGAIN, WE CAME BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU.
THIS IS FROM ALL NATION RESTORATION, LLC, THESE PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES OPERATING IN AUSTIN, AND UPON INSPECT, THEY'RE QUOTING THEM UPON INSPECTION OF THE HOUSE.
OUR PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS THAT THE WATER DAMAGE, MOLD DAMAGE, AND RODENT DAMAGE TO THE HOME IS VERY EXTENSIVE AND AFFECTS EVERY SQUARE FOOT OF THE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE ROOF LEAKS, SIDING DAMAGE, FOUNDATION DAMAGE, IMPROPER DRAINAGE AROUND THE CRAWL SPACE AND THE BASEMENT IS FLOODING.
AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD, THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE ONLY, IN OUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, DEMOLITION IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR THIS STRUCTURE AND SHOULD BE REBUILT.
FINALLY, WE WENT AND GOT A ADDITIONAL FULL INSPECTION REPORT FOR A RESTORATION, WHICH WOULD BE A REPRODUCTION BY MOVADO COMPANY.
THEIR ESTIMATE OF REBUILDING ON THE SAME FOOTPRINT, A NEW STRUCTURE THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR, BUT NOT THEY WOULD SALVAGE WHAT THEY COULD.
PRIMARILY, HE INDICATED HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SALVAGE SOME OF THE, UH, FRAME DOORS AND SOME OF THE, UH, OTHER ELEMENTS SUCH AS THE BRICKS FROM THE FIREPLACES.
BUT EVERYTHING, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AND THIS REPRODUCTION WOULD COST OH $2.1 MILLION.
FINALLY, WE HAVE GONE TO THE BANKS SAYING, GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE PROVIDING, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS BUILDING WITH THIS PROPERTY? THE KLEBERG NATIONAL BANK INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT LOAN ANY MONEY FOR THE RESTORATION OR REMODELING OR
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REPRODUCTION OF THE STRUCTURE AS IT IS NOT A POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT WORK.IT WOULD COST MORE THAN IT COULD EVER RETURN.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT, MR. JOHN MARTY WANTS TO BUILD A NICE NEW DUPLEX THERE TO HOUSE PEOPLE IN A MODERN DESIGN, MODERN ELEMENTS IN KEEPING WITH THE SAME, UH, SCALE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT, UH, THAT IS WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU AS THE CHAIR HAS THAT, UH, WE HAVE FILED A VALID PETITION AGAINST THE DESIGNATION AS OF HISTORIC.
BE ANSWERED, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTION OF MR. MCCOMB? YES, COMMISSIONER COOK.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THE REPRODUCTION RECONSTRUCTION BID OF 2.1 MILLION.
IS THAT 2.1 OR 1.2 MILLION? 2.1.
'CAUSE THE BID I JUST LOOKED AT SAID 1.2, BUT, UH, WE CAN DISCUSS THAT LATER.
AND IN THAT BID IT HAD WOOD FLOORING.
WAS THAT FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF ALL THE WOOD FLOORING OR REFINISHING? UH,
SO FULL STUCCO, FULL WOOD, ALL CERAMIC TILE.
IT'S JUST A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION.
DESPITE WE HAVE PHOTOS OF WOOD FLOORING IN GOOD CONDITION AND CERAMIC TILE AND GOOD CONDITION AND STUCCO THAT COULD BE PATCHED RATHER THAN FULLY REPLACED.
UH, THEY, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS POSSIBLE.
UH, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU ESTIMATE THAT A NEW HIGH-END CONSTRUCTION HOUSED WITH WOOD FLOORS, STUCCO, EXTERIOR PLASTER, INTERIOR TILE, SEA TILE CEILINGS, AND THIS MUCH CHARACTER AND DETAIL WOULD COST TO BUILD FROM THE GROUND UP IN THIS ERA? PROBABLY IN THE RANGE OF 300 TO $350 A SQUARE FOOT PER SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS THE SAME BREAKDOWN AS THE $1.2 MILLION BID I SAW FOR THIS HOUSE.
AND, UH, THE 2.1 MILLION IS OVER $500 A SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS WHAT I SUSPECT WOULD BE BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS PROFESSIONAL WHO'S DONE IT ALL OVER TOWN.
YEAH, WE, WE SAW A 739,000 BID LAST MONTH.
RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT A BID OF 9 54, 7 63 WITH MARKUPS WITH INCLUDING CONTINGENCY AND $8,000 A MONTH FOR A BOOKKEEPER AT 1.3 MILLION.
YEAH, THE MAIN 1.1 0.28 MILLION.
SO, UH, ROUGHLY THE SAME COST WITH A BID THAT'S ENTICED TO ENCOURAGE FULL RECONSTRUCTION, REPLACEMENT OF PERFECTLY GOOD WOOD FLOORS, REPLACEMENT OF STUCCO THAT COULD BE TOUCHED.
BUT THAT'S, I I THINK I'VE, THANKS, THANKS FOR THE ANSWERS.
WERE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS? ANY MORE QUESTIONS THAT MR. MCCALL? OKAY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKER SPEAKING AGAINST THIS, UH, REQUEST FOR HISTORIC ZONING? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE, IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
HI, I AM RAHI JAVAN MARDI, OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT 7 0 1 SPARK AVENUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL AND COMMUNITY CHANGING WORK THAT YOU DO TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL FOR US, THE RESIDENT.
I AM SENDING YOU AN EMAIL TO YOU CONCERNING THE PROPERTY BECAUSE I FEEL AS I THOUGHT I DID NOT PROPERLY EXPLAIN THE SITUATION DURING THE PREVIOUS HEARING.
AFTER I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN, UH, IN THE LAST MAY, I HAD MY CONTRACT FILE FOR THE DEMOTION PERMIT.
DURING THE REVIEW, WE LEARNED THAT CITY HISTORIC STAFF REQUIRE THE BUILDING BE SENT TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, BE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
I HAD NO, THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY.
TO ME, THIS RECOMMENDATION IS LY AS HOUSE IS IN A TROUBLED CONDITION.
I HAVE GONE TO ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A EXPERT REPORT VERIFYING THE CONDITION.
THIS PROFESSIONAL HOUSE RE INSPECTION WAS VERY TRUE.
ONE FOUNDATION FELLER FELL DESTROYED BY A LEAKING ROOF, EXTERIOR WALL CRACK SYSTEM, NOT FUNCTIONAL LIKE PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL TREE, THE HOUSE FULL OF THE MOUTH AND THE BASEMENT WITH THE FOOD OF WATER.
THROUGHOUT THIS CONTRACTOR REPORT, WHICH I
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HAVE PROVIDE TO A STAFF, ARE ONE IN INSPECT PROPERTY AND INSPECTION REPORT, DETAILED IN 14 MB REPORT.SECOND, ALL NATION REGISTRATION LLC MOLD RESTORATION BUILDING IN THE TWO BATH CONDITION, RECOMMENDATION OR RESTORATION WILL NOT POSSIBLE.
NUMBER THREE, TIVE REMODELING LLCA LOW ESTIMATE FOR VERY BASIC WORK.
THIS CONTRACTOR DID NOT DEAL WITH THE MOLD OR GIVE ANY WARRANTY THAT THIS WORK WOULD BE RESOLVED IN A REVIVAL HOUSE.
NUMBER FOUR, I SEND THE INSPECTION REPORT TO MY BANKER AND HIS LETTER SAID THAT THE BANK WILL NOT PROVIDE A LOAN FOR THE RESTORATION TO THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
I HAVE GONE TO THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO GET AN ADDITIONAL BID TAKE INTO THE ACCOUNT.
ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED, THIS CONTRACTOR HAS, I AM SORRY.
I THINK THAT'S EITHER YOUR TIME UP OR SOMEBODY'S PHONE IS RINGING.
IT'S, IT'S THE TIMER THAT IS A LOUD TIMER.
SO IF WE HAVE THREE MINUTES, UH, MR. TAMARI, WOULD YOU PLEASE WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS? YOU CAN'T FINISH IT.
I DUNNO ABOUT OUR VOICE ANYWAY.
JUST YOU, YOU'RE CONCLUDING REMARKS PLEASE.
THIS HOUSE IS IN SUCH A ABLE CONDITION THAT NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT.
I CANNOT GET A LOAN FOR THE, MY BANK FOR A FOOD RESTORATION.
WILL CONTRACTUAL TAKE ON SUCH A PROJECT.
SO YOUR TIME, SIR, YOUR TIME IS NOW FINISHED.
SO PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION YOU CAN ASK, THIS CASE IS VERY BAD SITUATION.
ONE WAY THE BANK DOESN'T GIVE YOU ANY DOUBT.
UH, WOULD YOU STAY JUST A MOMENT IN CASE THERE IS A QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONERS? ANY QUESTION OF THE A OF THE OWNER? I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
CAN YOU, COMMISSIONER COOK, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THE SECOND BID THAT YOU GOT FOR BASICALLY COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION WAS FROM MOVADO GROUP? IS IS, UH, IS WAS OVER A MILLION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKER HERE AGAINST THE HISTORIC ZONING? JUST THE TWO SPEAKERS.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? COPY? FOUR SECOND EVERY TIME REBUTTAL.
UH, I GUESS BY COURTESY WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE A REBUTTAL IF, UH, THAT IS DESIRED.
UM, SO THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION ARE, UH, ALLOWED OR AFFORDED A REBUTTAL IF, IF THAT'S REQUIRED.
MS. TEAM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REBUTTAL, UH, YOU ARE OFFERED THAT AS A COURTESY.
'CAUSE YOU'RE THE SPEAKER IN FAVOR.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
FOR 20 YEARS I TAUGHT A CLASS FOR REALTORS ON MARKETING AND SELLING HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
WE HAD ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, EXPERTS OF ALL KINDS WHO DEALT WITH RESTORATION OF OLD HOUSES, SPEAKING OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO THE VALUE OF AN OLD HOUSE OVER AGAINST A NEW ONE.
WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, IT WAS IN VERY BAD SHAPE, BUT NOW IT'S SET TO LAST ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS BECAUSE OF THE CON THE, THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE IN IT.
A WOMAN WHO'S PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HER GRANDSON LIVED IN THE 7 0 1 OH A YEAR AGO, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO.
AND SHE WENT DOWN THERE WITH AN INSPECTOR TO CHECK IT OUT BEFORE HE MOVED IN BECAUSE SHE KNEW IT WAS OLD.
AND SHE'S A NEIGHBOR, BY THE WAY.
SHE LIVES DOWN THE ROAD ON SPARKS.
AND HE SAID, THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO WRITE A REPORT.
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NOW HE, HE, HE WASN'T DOING A MICROSCOPIC INSPECTION, BUT HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTOR AND HE ASSURED HER THAT THE, THAT THE BUILDING WAS IN GOOD SHAPE.IT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A WHILE.
THE OWNER DIED AND THE HEIRS AS USUAL, HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FIGURING IT OUT.
IF WE HAD KNOWN THAT IT WAS ON THE MARKET, I'M SURE WE COULD HAVE FOUND A BUYER WHO WANTED TO SAVE IT.
BUT IT WASN'T PUBLICLY, IT WASN'T IN THE MLS, IT WASN'T, UM, KNOWN THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
SO, UH, I THINK WE COULD HELP FIND A BUYER THAT WOULD BE THRILLED TO HAVE IT, TO DO WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO RESTORE IT.
BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT DOESN'T NEED A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK.
ALRIGHT, UM, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR ACTION AT THIS POINT WHERE WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
I'LL MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING.
MR. COOK AND COMMISSIONER GROGAN A SECOND.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UH, I THINK THE QUESTIONS I ASKED KIND OF LED TO THE POINT I WAS MAKING.
WE, UH, THESE CASES, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE ANY OF US HAVE A DEAF EAR TOWARD THE COST OF RESTORING A HISTORIC BUILDING.
UH, COST AND SCOPE CAN BE WIDELY VARYING AND SUBJECTIVE.
I THINK THE FIRST ONE WE SAW, 7 39, IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
THE SECOND WE SAW, WHICH REPLACED EVERY SQUARE INCH OF STUCCO, EVERY SQUARE INCH OF WOOD FLOORING, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOS, IS IN FINE CONDITION.
EVERY SQUARE INCH OF INTERIOR DRYWALL, WHICH YOU CAN WITH PLASTER, WITH DRYWALL, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IS IN FINE CONDITION, IS EXCESSIVE.
IT ROUGHLY EQUALS THE COST OF NEW CONSTRUCTION AND LIKE, KIND.
SO I DON'T THINK AN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP WAS PROVEN.
IN FACT, I THINK THE ATTEMPTS WHICH ARE TYPICALLY EXAGGERATED, AND I CAN'T BLAME ANYONE FOR DOING THAT, EXAGGERATED WITHIN REASON AND PLAUSIBILITY, EVEN THE EXAGGERATED WITHIN REASON AND PLAUSIBILITY CASES THAT WERE MADE, I THINK SUPPORT THE CASE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
THERE IS A LOT ADJACENT THAT COULD BE BUILT ON THIS HOUSE COULD BE RESTORED AND HAVE A HISTORIC HOUSE OF HIGH QUALITY FOR ROUGHLY THE SAME COST OF REPLICATING THE HOUSE FROM SCRATCH.
I, I JUST DON'T SEE THAT IT'S THERE.
I I DID TAKE COMMISSIONER ROCHE'S INPUT, UH, AT HIGH VALUE BECAUSE HE IS VALUED, BUT THE EXTENT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION WITH FRAMING REPAIR, WITH ALL STUCCO REPAIR, WITH ALL PLASTER REPAIR, AN ENTIRELY NEW HOUSE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE FEW POTENTIALLY WATER DAMAGE MEMBERS BEHIND THE STUCCO WALL, WHICH COULD BE DEALT WITH IN A MUCH LIGHTER FASHION AND APPROPRIATE FASHION.
SO, I, I JUST DON'T SEE THE CASE WAS, WAS MADE HERE.
UH, THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE ON THIS PROPERTY BY BUILDING NEXT TO IT AND RESTORING THIS ONE.
WE'RE NOT IMPOSING AN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP BY DOING THIS.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SPOKEN LY AND CLEARLY IT'S KEYSTONE PROPERTY IN A, IN A GOOD LOCATION.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I THINK I DO NEED TO CLARIFY THAT.
UH, MY RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND ARCHITECTURE.
AND I WOULD ADD COMMUNITY VALUE FOR THIS CASE DUE TO THE, THE LOCATION WORK AND THE STRONG PUBLIC COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT'S BEEN VOICE HERE.
COMMISSIONER GROGAN, UM, I THINK COMMISSIONER COOK PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID, BUT I, I DO WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THIS ONE.
I THINK THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO SEE.
UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THE TIME AND, AND FIGHTING FOR THIS ONE.
I THINK IT'S A, A VIABLE STRUCTURE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE OTHERS WHO, UM, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I'M, I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS ONE.
I, I, I SEE COMMISSIONER ROCHE'S REPORT AND I SEE A LOT OF INDICATIONS THAT THE INTEGRITY IS JUST NOT THERE.
NOT JUST THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY HAS DETERIORATED, UM, TO A POINT BEYOND REPAIR, BUT THAT COMPONENTS JUST AREN'T ORIGINAL.
UM, AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I, I, I HATE TO BE THAT GUY IF, IF WE'RE TIGHT ON THE NUMBERS.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY I'M, I'M SEEING THIS ONE BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED.
I DO THINK THE NUMBERS ARE INFLATED, BUT I, IT'S, IT, IT REALLY LOOKS PRETTY BAD.
UM, AND I THINK THAT ONCE YOU GET INTO THE DETAIL WORK, UH, TO PICK IT APART AND, AND SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, THE, THE COSTS
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DO, UM, DO RUN ON YOU EXTENSIVELY.UM, REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS VOTE TURNS OUT, I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE OWNER THAT YOU ARE THE STEWARD OF A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR JUST THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
UH, IT, AGAIN, INDEPENDENT OF HOW THE VOTE TURNS OUT, IF THIS GETS ZONED HISTORIC, YOU ARE THE STEWARD OF A HISTORICALLY ZONED PROPERTY.
IF THIS STRUCTURE DOES NOT GET ZONED HISTORIC, YOU ARE THE STEWARD OF THAT PLOT OF LAND THAT IS A GATEWAY TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND DESERVES A LEVEL OF ARCHITECTURE.
IT, AND IT IS NOT A COMPETING INTEREST TO SAY THAT THIS PROPERTY ALSO DESERVES TO BE AS MUCH HOUSING AS CAN POSSIBLY FIT THERE BASED ON THE WALKABILITY OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, YOU, YOU OWN IT INDEPENDENT OF THIS VOTE AND THIS, AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT PLACE AND YOU NEED TO TREAT IT RIGHT.
AGAIN, THAT'S A, A STATEMENT INDEPENDENT OF HOW THIS VOTE GOES.
ANY OTHER COM COMM, OTHER COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS ON THIS? UM, I'LL JUST NOTE THAT I, I, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THAT BRINGS UP ANY STAFF OR OTHER COMMISSION OR ISSUES ON INTEGRITY.
UM, I I, I AGREE WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, UH, ISSUES, BUT YOU KNOW, MOST OF US HERE PROBABLY WORKED ON OR SEEN BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FALLEN DOWN, BURNED DOWN, YOU KNOW, HALF TORN DOWN AND THEY CAN STILL COME BACK.
SO, UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES, BUT I DO THINK WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY THE COMMUNITY, UM, HAS AGREED THERE'S A WILL.
UH, OUR STAFF HAS REMINDED US THAT THIS IS A GOOD CANDIDATE AND, UM, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM EARLIER TODAY ON THE MCFARLAND HOUSE.
ALSO AN INITIALLY AGAINST OWNER WISHES, STRUCTURAL ISSUES, BUT THERE'S A WILL.
AND SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, UM, TO TRY TO SUPPORT THIS COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE, I AM ALSO TORN ON THIS ONE, AND I HAVE WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER LAROCHE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, LONG BEFORE I WAS BACK ON THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION, AND HE HAS EXPRESSED TO ME SOME OF HIS CONCERN.
AND I, I HAVE TO MAKE, I CERTAINLY AM IN AGREEMENT THAT THE LOCATION OF THIS PROPERTY, THE QUALITY OF THE ARCHITECTURE, OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND ITS IMPORTANCE, UH, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE LARGE TURNOUT OF SUPPORT FROM THE NEIGHBORS, BOTH THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND THIS ONE, UH, UM, IF THIS WAS A WILLING PROPERTY OWNER, THIS COULD BE A JEWEL AND A BIG, BIG VICTORY FOR A LOT OF PRESERVATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE THAT THE BUILDING IS IN.
AND GIVEN AT LEAST FOR NOW THAT WE HAVE AN UNCOOPERATIVE OWNER, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL.
UH, AND AS CHAIR, I'M REMINDED PERIODICALLY THAT THE WAY THE STATE LAW IS WRITTEN IS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE NEED A, UH, SUPER MAJORITY TO ZONE OVER AT OWNER'S OBJECTIONS, UH, AT THIS COMMISSION, BUT WE ALSO NEED EITHER THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE COUNCIL, OR BOTH.
SO THE, THE PATH IS NOT FAVORABLE.
AND AS I WILL REMIND COMMISSIONERS SO FAR, EVERY TIME WE'VE SENT ONE OVER AN OWNER'S OBJECTION, UM, IF THAT HASN'T CHANGED, WE HAVE LOST, AND THAT IS, UH, PROVEN TO BE A FRAUGHT EXERCISE.
SO I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF, WHAT IS THE BEST OUTCOME AND MAYBE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION WITH THIS OWNER TO CONVINCE HIM THAT IF HE'S NOT THE ONE TO RESTORE IT, THAT HE COULD PUT IT BACK ON THE MARKET AND FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD.
UH, BUT IT WOULD BE A LABOR OF LOVE.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY ONE OR AN OBVIOUS ONE.
UH, PLASTER HOUSES ON EXPANSIVE SOIL BY THEIR VERY NATURE REQUIRE A LOT OF TLC.
SO I'M, I AM GONNA HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST THIS MOTION.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT WILL MEAN THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE THE SUPER MAJORITY REQUIRED.
SO IT MAY, IF THAT'S THE CASE, UH, REQUIRE US TO GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER AN ALTERNATE MOTION, EVEN IF THIS ONE DOES PASS.
IF IT DOESN'T PASS BY A SUPER MAJORITY, THEN IN ESSENCE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD WITH THE INITIATED ZONING.
AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THE VOTE YET, SO I'M, I'M SPECULATING, BUT I'M JUST LAYING THAT OUT THERE FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.
[01:00:01]
COMMISSIONER KOCH? YEAH.UM, I WAS ALSO TORN COMING INTO THIS MEETING UNTIL, FRANKLY, I SAW THAT SECOND PROPOSAL.
UM, YES, IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.
THERE IS STILL THE OPTION TO SUBDIVIDE THIS PROPERTY ON THE EMPTY LOT AND SELL THIS TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
UM, I, I JUST, THE, THE BID I THOUGHT WAS TOO HIGH, IT FOLLOWED THINGS THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE DONE.
IF, EVEN IF THAT BID WERE FOLLOWED, EVERY ISSUE THAT COMMISSIONER LAROSE BROUGHT UP COULD BE HANDLED IN SPADES AND STILL FOR THE SAME COST OF REBUILDING THIS FROM SCRATCH.
I, I JUST DIDN'T SEE THAT ARGUMENT MADE.
UM, YES, MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT OWNER FOR THIS PROPERTY.
IS THAT THE REASON TO LET THE PROPERTY GO? I DON'T KNOW, SENDING THINGS UP.
I AM VERY SENSITIVE TO SENDING THINGS UP THAT AREN'T CLEAN AND THE ISSUES THAT PRESENT, ESPECIALLY TO NON-PROFESSIONALS.
I AM VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT, UH, THAT THAT IS STILL IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, BUT I THINK THAT'S FOR IT TO FAIL AT A HIGHER LEVEL, UH, AND NOT HERE WHEN, WHEN FRANKLY, I THINK THE EVIDENCE PROVIDED TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE AGAINST IT FOR ME, MADE THE CASE FOR IT.
BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST HOW I, HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO, UH, APPROVE THE, UH, COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING, UH, FROM COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 IN FAVOR.
UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONER CASTILLO AT HOME AND COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON AND MYSELF.
SO, UH, THOUGH THE MOTION PASSES WITH THE MAJORITY, IT IS NOT A SUPER MAJORITY.
MS. CONTRERAS, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE NEED ANOTHER MOTION? THAT ACTION IS, THAT'S CORRECT.
AN ALTERNATE MOTION IS NEEDED.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IF IT IS APPROPRIATE TO POSTPONE THIS TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
IS THAT AVAILABLE AS AN OPTION TO US COMMISSIONER? I BELIEVE THE TIMELINE, UH, HAS RUN OUT.
UM, BUT I CAN CONFIRM WITH SAM.
IF YOU WOULD CONFIRM, UH, I THINK WE CAN LEAVE THIS ITEM, UH, AND TAKE UP ANOTHER OUT OF ORDER IF WE NEED MORE TIME TO CLARIFY AND THEN COME BACK AND THEN STILL HAVE A, UH, UH, TAKE A MOTION LATER.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE'LL NEED TO CALCULATE, UM, THE POSTPONEMENTS AND THE, UH, THE TIME THAT THE ITEM IS SPENT ON THE AGENDA.
AND IF, IF BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING, THE, THE TIMELINE EXPIRES, THEN ARE WE TECHNICALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION? WE COULD TAKE NO ACTION.
WELL, BUT BY DEFAULT BECAUSE IT IS A REQUEST FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT, THEN BY DEFAULT, THAT REQUEST WOULD BE, WOULD BE HONORED.
SO THAT'S, THAT IS THE TIMELINE, BUT WE WOULDN'T LOSE THE REQUEST FOR A, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, UH, IF WE HAVE MADE A REQUEST AND ULTIMATELY FOR ZONING AND ULTIMATELY IT FAILS.
THERE IS NO OBLIGATION FOR A, UH, DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE THAT'S JUST INHERENT IN THE WAY THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW WORKS.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT IS ONE OF THE OTHER CONSEQUENCES IF WE, UH, ARE, ARE UNSUCCESSFUL IN THESE ZONING SITUATIONS.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, UH, I WILL, UH, I THINK WE JUST, I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, AND TABLE THIS FOR THE MOMENT AND, AND PICK IT BACK UP AT LATER TIME DURING THIS MEETING.
AS A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM WITH THE REOPENING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL LATER, THIS, UH, MEETING, UH, IF I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER MCWHORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
SO, UH, MS. CONTRERAS, THANK YOU.
JUST GIVE US A HEADS UP WHEN YOU HAVE THAT DETERMINATION.
UH, SAM'S CALCULATING RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THE, UH, THE NEXT HISTORIC ZONING ITEM.
THE NEXT CASE IS ITEM NUMBER 20, UH, EXCUSE ME.
[6. C14H-2023-0143 – 2315 Lake Austin Blvd. Deep Eddy Cabaret]
LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD 0 1 4 3 IS A REQUEST FOR HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE DEEP BETTY GROCERY AND DEEP BETTY CABARET AT 2315 LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD.STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM, UH,
[01:05:01]
LR AND P TO LRH AND P, COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING ON THE QUALIFICATIONS OF HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY VALUE AND ARCHITECTURE.THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED IN A VERNACULAR COMMERCIAL STYLE AND IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING PROPERTY TYPE IN AUSTIN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY, ITS HISTORIC AGE BUILDING ELEMENTS, ALTERATIONS AND SIGNAGE TELL THE STORY OF THE BUILDING'S USE FROM 1915 TO THE END OF THE HISTORIC PERIOD, IT REMAINS ADJACENT TO ITS ORIGINAL OWNER'S, FORMER RESIDENTS EXEMPLIFYING THE TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL BUILDINGS IN EARLY AUSTIN.
IT HAS A LONG STANDING AND SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION WITH THE JOHNSON FAMILY, AUSTIN PIONEERS, AS WELL AS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUED SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEARBY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT DEEP EDDIE POOL.
AS A BUSINESS, THE SUBJECT BUILDING SERVED AS A GROCERY STORE AND A BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
AND THEN AS A TAVERN AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE FOR 70 YEARS, CREATING AN ENDURING HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BROADER AUSTIN AREA.
THE APPLICATION FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION DESCRIBES THE BUILDING'S HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS AS FOLLOWS.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF A LARGER 39 AND A QUARTER ACRE ACRE PARCEL PURCHASED BY AUSTIN SETTLER CHARLES JOHNSON.
THROUGHOUT THE EARLY DECADES OF THE 19 HUNDREDS, JOHNSON'S DESCENDANTS DEVELOPED THE FAMILY ACREAGE ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER.
SEVERAL ESTABLISHED THE DEEP, DEEP ED BATHING BEACH AND CONSTRUCTED CAMPSITES, CABINS, AND PICNIC AREAS.
THE SITE LATER BECAME THE DEEP EDDIE POOL, ONE OF THE OLDEST SWIMMING POOLS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WEL WOOTEN JOHNSON, ANOTHER ONE OF CHARLES JOHNSON'S SONS BUILT HIS HOME ON ONE OF THE SMALLER FAMILY LOTS, AND IN THE 1920S, ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A CARPENTER AT DEEP BETTY RESORT.
WITH THE ONSET OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, WALTER JOHNSON TOOK OVER OPERATION OF DEEP BETTY GROCERY, AND THE ADJACENT DEEP BETTY POOL WAS SOLD TO THE CITY AS A MUNICIPAL PARK WHEN JOHNSON RETIRED IN THE FORTIES TIL ITS C HENDRICKS AND HIS WIFE PATSY, TOOK OVER THE GROCERY CONTINUING TO SERVE BOTH THE PATRONS OF DEEP BETTY POOL ALONG WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN 1951, RAYMOND R. HICKMAN PURCHASED DEEP BETTY GROCERY, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY OPERATED THE BUSINESS FOR ANOTHER HALF CENTURY.
THE HICKMAN'S CONVERTED THE GROCERY TO A BAR IN TAVERN, BECOMING A POPULAR HANGOUT FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE.
THE APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION ALSO DESCRIBES THE BUILDING'S COMMUNITY VALUE AS A DEEP EDDIE GATHERING SPACE FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS FROM A BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP TO A LOCAL TAVERN.
DEEP EDDIE GROCERY AND DEEP EDDIE CABARET HAVE BEEN A PROMINENT LOCATION FROM ITS INIT INITIAL CONSTRUCTION IN 1915 THROUGH THE PRESENT DAY.
ITS STATUS IS THE GATHERING PLACE FOR LOCAL AUSTINITE AND MEMBER OF THE CI AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY GENERALLY HAS GIVEN IT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VALUE WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY.
IT HAS APPEARED IN NUMEROUS NEW NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES, INCLUDING THE STATESMAN CHRONICLE AND BON APPETIT, AND IN SEVERAL BOOKS INCLUDING BUCKET LIST BARS.
LOCAL RESIDENT THOMAS EDGAR NOTED THE SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE CABARET HAD AROUND ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
HE RECALLED HIS MEMORIES OF VISITING THE ESTABLISHMENT IN THE 1950S AND SIXTIES, STATING THAT THE DEEP EDDIE CABARET WAS A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN THEIR CHURCHES OR IN PRIVATE CLUBS OR WHATEVER, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT IMBIBED AND SOME THAT DIDN'T CAME TO THE DEEP EDDIE CABARET IN 2019, BON APPETIT CALLED DEEP BETTY CABARET DIVE BAR ROYALTY, CLAIMING THAT ALL THOSE HIPS OR BEER IN A SHOT JOINTS WANNA BE THIS WHEN THEY GROW UP.
A 2023 ARTICLE IN THE CHRONICLES STATED THAT DEEP BETTY CABARET REMAINS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST BELOVED BARS IN THE CITY.
IS THERE ANY, UH, QUESTION OF STAFF? ALRIGHT, THIS IS, UH, OWNER INITIATED, UH, CASE.
SO WE'LL CALL UPON THE, UH, APPLICANT TO, UH, COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND MAKE A PRESENTATION OR MAKE A DISCUSSION IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS? APPARENTLY NOT.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE, UH, APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE DEEP EDDIE CABARET? OKAY.
I, MY GUESS IS, IS THEY'RE ALL AROUND THE POOL TABLE SOMEWHERE WATCHING THIS.
SO,
I HOPE THEY'RE THERE AND NOT, UH, CITY HALL.
OH, WELL, THAT'D BE, YEAH, THAT'D BE WORSE.
THEY WOULD HAVE A MUCH WORSE TIME THERE.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE OBVIOUSLY HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE WAS NOBODY WHO NEEDED TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT, UM, YOU'VE HEARD THE PRESENTATION AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCIL COMMISSIONER MARK MORDER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
AND COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE ON THIS? I'LL MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
UH, THERE'S THE MOTION IN FAVOR FOR COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YES.
[01:10:01]
ITSELF, THIS IS JUST SUCH AN ICONIC AUSTIN ESTABLISHMENT UNIQUE TO AUSTIN.UH, THE CHARACTER IS SO SPECIFIC TO HERE THAT IT'S, UH, DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER AND IMAGE OF THE CITY.
UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE AN, AN OWNER POSITIVE, UM, FEELING ABOUT AN, AN OWNER, UH, APPLICATION HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS ONE, WE HAVE, UM, CISCO'S, WE HAVE CONTINENTAL CLUB, WE HAVE BROKEN SPOKE.
I THINK WE COULD ADD ONTO THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THESE PLACES THAT REALLY MAKE AUSTIN SPECIAL.
AND I THINK THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEM, EXPERIENCE THEM AS GENERATIONS BEFORE HAVE, AND THIS IS JUST REALLY ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL ONES AND I'M HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
UM, COMMISSIONER RUBER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND, UH, JUST A THANK YOU TO THE OWNER WILL BRIDGES AND HIS TEAM, UH, FOR REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR A LONG TIME AUSTIN INSTITUTIONS, SO THAT, UH, NOT JUST EXISTING AUSTINITES CAN ENJOY THEM, BUT THE FUTURE ONES THAT ARE NOT YET HERE TODAY.
COMMISSIONERS, ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION? I THINK FROM AN ARCHITECTURE POINT OF VIEW, IT IS DEFINITELY A, UH, BIT OF AN UGLY DUCKLING, BUT, UH, I THINK IT IS, IT IS WORN WELL OVER THE YEARS AND, UH, CERTAINLY HAS, HAS BECOME ICONIC STATUS.
UH, EVEN IF SOME OF THE LATER ADDITIONS PROBABLY ARE MAYBE 50 YEARS OLD BY NOW OR CLOSE, BUT, UH, I THINK IN EVERY WAY IT, IT EXHIBITS, UH, ARCHITECTURALLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT, AS THEY MENTIONED OF A, A HISTORIC DIVE BAR,
SO I THINK IT'S LIVING UP TO, ITS, ITS, UH, IT'S, IT'S IT'S PURPOSE.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOT I'LL, UH, CALL THE QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC ZONING OF THE DEEP EDDIE CABARET, UH, ON THE BASIS OF THE ARCHITECTURE ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VALUE, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE INDICATE BY THE SAME SIGN.
UH, ALL PRESENT OR VOTING IN FAVOR.
AND, UH, AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER WE MAY, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE A ROUND OF THOSE HISTORIC PROPERTIES YOU MENTIONED AND, UH, UH, SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT AN OFFICIAL ACT OF THE HISTORIC COMMISSION.
ALRIGHT, UH, THAT BRINGS US UP TO, UH, THE GRANT APPLICATIONS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AND 8 39 0 8 AVENUE B.
SETH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RETURN
[4. PR-2023-087312 – 701 Sparks Ave. (Part 2 of 2)]
TO THE SPARKS AVENUE CASE? UH, YES.IS THAT, UH, YOU HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US? UH, YES.
UH, 75 DAYS WILL TIME OUT AFTER THIS MEETING, UM, ON THE 18TH OF DECEMBER.
UM, SO THE COMMISSION MUST MAKE, UH, MUST TAKE ACTION AT THIS MEETING, UM, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ACTION.
SO WE TABLED THE MOTION IN ORDER THAT WE HAD THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
WE NOW HAVE THAT, UH, IN THE MOTION TO TABLE.
AND SO, UH, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT ASKING ON ANYBODY WHO HAS NOT ALREADY SPOKEN TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE, BUT WE CERTAINLY WOULD ENTERTAIN ANYBODY WHO HAS NOT SPOKEN IF THEY WISH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM IS NOW REOPENED ON ITEM FOUR.
UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS, THEN WE CAN, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW TO CLOSE THE, OH, YES, SIR.
SIR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND INDICATE, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST? I'M SPEAKING FOR SPEAKING FOR, OKAY.
YOU'LL HAVE TO TURN ON THE MIC AND WE ALSO NEED YOU TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
UH, MY NAME IS MOTON H CROCKETT II.
AND, UH, I BASICALLY KIND OF LIVE NEXT DOOR AT 7 0 5.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS Y'ALL KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT A VACANT LOT NEXT DOOR TO IT.
IT'D BE 7 0 3, I GUESS I DON'T EXACTLY CONSIDER IT A VACANT LOT.
AND OTHER THAN THAT, THEN 7 0 1 WOULDN'T HAVE ANY YARD.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS ABOUT THE ROOF.
IT SEEMED LIKE, UH, IN 2022 OR 2021, I'VE FORGOTTEN.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF ALL THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN OR I WOULD'VE TAKEN NOTES.
THERE WERE WORKMEN UP ON THAT ROOF FOR, UH, A MONTH, MAYBE TWO MONTHS, I THINK.
AND I ASSUME THAT THEY WERE MAKING REPAIRS
[01:15:01]
OR REPLACING THE ROOF.SO IF THEY WERE THAT THE ROOF OUGHTA BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AND THEN THEY WERE INSIDE DOING THINGS, I THINK IT SEEMED LIKE, AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID.
SO REPAIRS WERE MADE, I GUESS, UH, A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
AND I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAD TO ADD TO, TO THIS.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONERS, WE DID HAVE A VOTE.
UH, THE VOTE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY.
UH, WE HAVE GOTTEN A CLARIFICATION THAT A POSTPONEMENT ESSENTIALLY WOULD TIME THIS OUT AND WOULD ALLOW FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT TO BE ISSUED.
IF WE, WE TOOK AN ACTION, WE, WE CAN ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION OR WE CAN LET THE PREVIOUS ONE STAND.
IF WE'VE ALREADY REOPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE MAY HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.
I THINK FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, LET'S START OVER.
SO, UH, LET'S, LET'S JUST SAY THAT, UM, I GUESS WHAT WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE DONE IS RESCINDED THE MOTION IN ORDER TO DO WHAT WE JUST DID.
SO, TO HELP WITH THE HOUSEKEEPING, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE PREVAILING SIDE TO RESCIND THE PREVIOUS MOTION, AND THEN WE CAN START WITH A NEW MOTION.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ALRIGHT.
SO, UH, SOMEBODY WHO IS ON THE PREVAILING SIDE, WOULD YOU, UH, BE ABLE TO INDICATE THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR RESCINDING THAT MOTION OR THAT, THAT THAT VOTE.
WHO'S THE PREVAILING SIDE? THE SIX.
SO COMMISSIONERS, IF WE COULD RESCIND THAT VOTE, THEN WE CAN START AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE JUST GONNA BE ON THE RECORD PROBABLY WITH THE SAME VOTE.
SORRY TO MAKE IT SO COMPLICATED.
IS IT NECESSARY FOR US TO RESCIND A VOTE THAT FAILED? I, WELL, I GUESS WE WERE THE MAJORITY.
DO WE CONSIDER THAT A FAILED? DO WE CONSIDER THAT A FAILED VOTE? LET ME CLARIFY WITH LEGAL, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN THE, UH, LEAST ROUNDABOUT WAY POSSIBLE.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO RESEND, BUT LET ME, LET ME CLARIFY.
UH, YES, THEY HAVE ASKED THAT WE PLEASE START OVER.
AND I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THAT THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING I WAS PREPARED FOR.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT.
UH, SO THOSE WHO HAD THE MAJORITY, IF ONE OF YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO RESCIND THAT VOTE, I MOVE TO RESCIND THE MOTION.
AND YOU VOTED ON THE PREVAILING SIDE.
DID SOMEONE SECOND FROM THE PREVAILING SIDE.
UH, SO COMMISSIONER COOK AND COMMISSIONER MC MORDER THOSE IN FAVOR OF RESCINDING THE PREVIOUS VOTE.
UH, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING, AYE.
I BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS VOTED AND, UH, ANY OPPOSED? SEE NONE.
OKAY, SO NOW COMMISSIONERS WE ARE OH, YOU WANTED TO OPPOSE? SURE.
OKAY, WE GOT ONE, ONE OPPOSED TO RESCINDING IT, BUT THE MAJORITY SAID IT WAS OKAY.
UH, SO THAT WAS, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO, UH, WOULD OTHERWISE BE OPPOSED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE THIS ITEM FOR REQUEST FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
WE RESCINDED THE PREVIOUS VOTE.
WE HAVE CLARIFICATION ABOUT TIMING OUT, UH, BASED ON STATE LAW.
UH, WHAT IS YOUR MOTION, BECAUSE I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
CAN WE DO THE VOTE AGAIN AND SEE IF ANYONE'S CHANGED THEIR MIND?
I MEAN, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT IT, IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT, BUT I, I, I MOVE TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE AND A REQUEST TO THE OWNER TO EVEN THOUGH IT, IT WOULD HAVE NO JURISDICTION AT ALL, UM, TO BRING THE PLANS TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY DO THE REBUILD, AND ALSO THAT THEY LOOK INTO THE, UH, RECENTLY PASSED PRESERVATION INCENTIVES AS PART OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, YOU WERE, UH, BASICALLY IN THAT DIRECTION.
CAN WE COUNT ON YOU FOR A SECOND? YEAH, I'M, I'M COMPLETELY TORN ON THIS
[01:20:01]
QUESTION.JUST GO AHEAD AND LET ME PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
WHY NOT? OKAY, SO WE DO HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CASTILLO.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IF WE NEED IT? I, I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN AND LOSE, UH, IN A, IN THE, IN THE TIME OF A SUPER MAJORITY.
AND, UH, SO IT'S, THIS IS NOT A MOTION THAT I'M HAPPY TO MAKE.
IT'S, IT'S JUST ONE THAT I FEEL LIKE IS THE, OF THE, OF THE BAD OPTIONS WE'VE GOT.
IT'S THE ONE TO, TO BE, TO DO.
UM, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, ACCEPT THE DEMOLITION PERMIT, BUT, UH, WITH A REQUIREMENT FOR A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, ALL THOSE, UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS? OKAY, IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE THREE IN FAVOR, CASTILLO, UH, WITH, UH, FEATHERSTON AND AFF.
SO IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, NOW THAT MOTION FAILS AS WELL.
SO CAN WE JUST SAY THAT THE COMMISSION IS TAKING NO ACTION? WE, WE DON'T HAVE A, WE DON'T HAVE A A A A VOTE THAT PASSES WITH EITHER A SUPER MAJORITY AS REQUIRED OR A MAJORITY AS REQUIRED.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT AGAIN, LET ME CLARIFY JUST TO BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, JUST MAKE IT, MAKE SURE I DECLARE THAT RIGHT.
BUT I BELIEVE WE TAKE NO ACTION.
I MEAN, HARMONY SAID IT MAY BE JOKINGLY, BUT DO WE NEED TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION WITH, TRY TO GET TWO MORE OF YOU ALL TO, YOU KNOW, SEE IF WE CAN HUNT THIS AS TO INITIATE AND THEN NEXT MONTH WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO COME BACK FOR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, COMMISSIONER, THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION PERIOD.
THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION AT THIS MEETING.
UNFORTUNATELY, IF THAT'S A QUICK RESPONSE, MS. CONTRERAS, OTHERWISE WE WILL GO ON.
I, I MOVE TO REQUEST THE COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
THAT IS A REQUEST THAT COULD BE MADE OF THIS OWNER, BUT THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A MOTION.
ARE WE GETTING A RESPONSE RIGHT NOW? IT LOOKS LIKE NO ACTION IS AN OPTION.
I'M JUST MAKING ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, UM, THAT, UH, WE DON'T NEED AN ALTERNATE MOTION FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
IF SOMEBODY IS WILLING, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG, UH, BETWEEN THE, UH, VIDEO AND OUR LIVE SINCE THE PREVAILING SIDE, UH, DID RESEND THEIR PREVIOUS VOTE, THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE A NEW MOTION.
I'LL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION.
IF THE PREVAILING SIDE SO DESIRES OTHERWISE THE END RESULT WOULD BE NO ACTION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE COULD EITHER THAT OR LEAVE IT, LEAVE IT AS IS OR WE COULD ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION COMMISSIONERS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DECLARE NO ACTION AND I WILL SUGGEST WE GO ON TO THE NEXT CASE.
UM, WE ARE NOW AT THE, UM, LET'S SEE, WE GOTTEN TO NUMBER SEVEN.
THE HERITAGE GRANT APPLICATIONS 39 0 8 AVENUE B BAKER SCHOOL.
AND, UH, DO THEY TAKE THESE TOGETHER? 30, UH, 2300 ROSEWOOD AVENUE, NUMBER EIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER, THOSE WERE PASSED ON CONSENT.
AH, HOW DID I GET THERE? OKAY, EVERYTHING'S, EVERYTHING FEELS GARBLED AFTER ALL OF THAT.
THE NEXT DISCUSSION CASE? YES, THE NEXT DISCUSSION CASE IS NUMBER 12.
[12. HR-2023-147510 – 4306 Duval St. Hyde Park Local Historic District]
43 0 6 DUVAL STREET, 43 0 6 DUVAL STREET.UH, ITEM 12 IS A PROPOSAL TO ADD A SECOND STORY TO THE EXISTING HOUSE.
THE PROPOSED SECOND FLOOR EDITION IS CLOUD AND HORIZONTAL SIDING TO MATCH THE HISTORIC PORTION OF THE HOUSE.
IT HAS A GABLE ROOF THAT APPEARS TO MATCH THE EXISTING GABLES AND PITCH AND IS SETBACK GREATER THAN 15 FEET FROM THE FRONT WALL OF THE HOUSE.
FENESTRATION IS IRREGULAR, INCLUDING FIXED AND DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS THROUGHOUT.
THE EXISTING HOUSE IS A ONE STORY CRAFTSMAN WITH ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS, HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING AND A PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH SUPPORTED BY TAPERED COLUMNS ATOP BRICK PIERS.
THE HYDE PARK DESIGN STANDARDS ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECT PROJECTS WITHIN THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THE STAFF, UH, EVALUATION FOUND THAT THE PROJECT MEETS MOST, BUT NOT ALL THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY IN THE HYDE PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION
[01:25:01]
IS TO POSTPONE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, TO ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 20TH, UH, TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE WINDOW PLACEMENT.UM, DOES THE APPLICANT, UH, WISH TO MAKE A PRESENTATION OR SPEAK FOR THEIR PROPOSAL? THE APPLICANT NOT HERE.
IS ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST? OKAY.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, WE, UH, I'M SORRY.
WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT ONLINE.
UH, SHE JUST NEEDS TO UNMUTE HERSELF.
UH, HAT TRUMAN, COULD YOU PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF? THANK YOU.
OKAY, WE'RE WAITING ON MS. SHERMAN.
SORRY, I JUST GOT MY INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO UNMUTE.
I'M THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, THE OWNER'S ONLINE AS WELL.
UM, SO THE LOCATION OF THIS WINDOW, UM, WE ACTUALLY PLACED IT, UH, BASED ON OTHER HOMES WE SAW THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, BUT I TALKED TO MY CLIENT AND HE'S WILLING TO REMOVE IT ALTOGETHER IF THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN AVOID, UM, PUSHING TO NEXT MONTH.
UM, SO IT SEEMS THAT THAT WAS THE, UH, MAJOR CONCERN OF STAFF, UM, BUT YOU'RE WILLING TO JUST LEAVE, LEAVE THAT, UH, OFF.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELEVATION, THEN THAT WOULD, WOULD JUST BE AS DRAWN, BUT WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE WINDOW FACING THE FRONT, UH, FACADE, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT? IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD, UM, DEPUTIZE THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO TAKE THAT UP AND IF, AND IF THEY APPROVE OF THE ALTERNATE LOCATION THAT THAT COULD THEN BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED? AND IF, IF THAT'S, IF THAT IS POSSIBLE, WOULD THE OWNER BE OPEN TO THAT? BASICALLY PUTTING IT OFF ONE WEEK SO THEY COULD GO IN FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE? UH, MS. CONTRERAS, THE MECHANISM FOR, UH, SAYING BASICALLY AN APPROVAL CONTINGENT UPON THE, UH, PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE AT THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE? UH, YES, YOU CAN DO THAT AS LONG AS IT IS BUILT INTO THE MOTION.
I WOULD ONLY DO THAT IF THAT WAS AMENABLE TO THE OWNER OR IF THE OWNER WOULD RATHER JUST REMOVE THE WINDOW ALTOGETHER.
I I THINK I MAY HAVE AN ALTERNATE MOTION THAT MAY RESOLVE IT WITHOUT REQUIRING MORE TIME.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'RE STILL HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. SHERMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO, UH, THE QUESTION? UM, HE SAYS YES, HE'S OKAY WAITING A WEEK, SO THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IF THAT BE THE ALTERNATE.
BUT, BUT IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY.
SO, UH, THANK YOU MS. SHERMAN.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? WE HAVE CANAN DAVIS ONLINE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, MR. DAVIS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX ON YOUR PHONE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
UM, ANON HERE, OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
UM, I AM DEFINITELY WILLING TO PARK WITH THE WINDOW HERE, UH, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE, UH, THE SUGGESTION BY THE COMMISSIONER.
UM, COMMISSIONER COOK, MAYBE NOT AS A, UM, MOTION, BUT MAYBE AS A QUESTION TO THE OWNER, UH, YOU COULD ASK THEM, UH, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT.
UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THE FRIENDS OF HYDE PARK.
DID YOU SPEAK TO THE NEIGHBORS AND, UH, HOW, HOW DID YOU ELICIT THAT SUPPORT, UH, MR. DAVIS? THIS IS ADDRESSED TO YOU.
SO, UM, WE, WHERE WE'RE SITUATED, UH, WE ARE A ROW OF THREE HOUSES.
THE HOUSE NEXT TO ME IS A DUPLEX THAT'S RENTED OUT, AND THE HOUSE NEXT TO ME, UH, IS AN OWNER WHO I'M, UH, PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS WITH.
UH, HE'S ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A REMODEL.
HE KIND OF GOT THE WHEELS TURNING FOR US.
SO I DO BELIEVE WE'VE GOT SUPPORT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ADDITIONALLY, I JUST WANT TO LIKE, KIND OF DOUBLE DOWN ON ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IS, UH, FINDING A WAY
[01:30:01]
TO CONTINUE TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE HOUSE.THAT'S WHAT KIND OF ATTRACTED US TO HYDE PARK.
MY WIFE ACTUALLY GREW UP ON AVENUE D UH, ATTENDED UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
SO, UM, THIS, THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UH, MAINTAIN THE, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC NATURE OF, AND THAT'S REALLY INFLUENCED A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT WE MADE.
UH, AS FAR AS THE PARTICULAR WINDOW PLACEMENT THAT WAS IN QUESTION HERE, UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF PROPERTIES WE FOUND IN HYDE PARK THAT WE THOUGHT, UH, HAD A WINDOW PLACEMENT IN A SIMILAR AREA, AND THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE PLANS.
BUT AGAIN, UH, IT'S NOT A MAKE OR BREAK DEAL FOR US.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. DAVIS? OKAY, MR. DAVIS.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? ALL RIGHT.
IF WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS, UH, IN, FOR OR AGAINST, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN, UH, CLOSING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER, UH, HORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? UM, I THOUGHT I HAD A MOTION THAT WOULD DO IT, BUT NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, UH, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION TO APPROVE THE DESIGN AS PRESENTED AS AS PRESENTED.
UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER, UH, FEATHERSTON, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, UH, UH, JUST THAT WINDOW PLACEMENT DOES NOT SEEM SO EGREGIOUS TO ME.
IT'S IN THAT LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE MASSING OF THE ADDITION AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I'M SURE THEY WANT AS MUCH LIGHT IN THAT BEDROOM AS POSSIBLE AND POSSIBLY A VIEW TO THE STREET WITH EVERYTHING ELSE AS, AS SENSITIVELY AS THIS EDITION HAS BEEN DONE.
OTHERWISE, I, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE A BAD NAME TO PRESERVATION OVER THE NAME OF A WINDOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS OF HYDE PARK.
SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE, UH, REFERENCE TO THE ARCHITECTURAL VIEW COMMITTEE.
I JUST DON'T SEE ANY OF OTHER OPTIONS TO GET MORE LIGHT INTO THAT BEDROOM THAN THE WAY THEY DID IT.
AND IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM SO EGREGIOUS TO ME.
UM, I WAS GOING TO LEAVE IT TO THE DEFERENCE OF, UM, STAFF FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OR NOT, BUT I GUESS WE CAN'T PUMP THIS BACK TO THEM COMPLETELY.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND PUT THIS OUT THERE IN THAT FORM.
STAFF IS AMENABLE TO THE MOTION FOR THE RECORD.
I, I SECONDED FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK SAID IT WAS FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION AND I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, BUT, UH, HE, HE CONVINCED ME, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE SAID.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION? UH, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE WINDOW, SO I WON'T SUPPORT IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND.
ANYBODY ELSE? COMMISSIONER GROGAN? UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, UM, AS AN ARCHITECT TO, UM, KEEP THE PROPORTIONS OF THE WINDOW, BUT MAKE IT A LITTLE SMALLER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? UH, AND I'M, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION AS WELL.
I DO THINK, UH, THE ARCHITECT, INCLUDING THE 3D AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THEIR SET, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'LL LOOK BETTER.
A LITTLE SMALLER, BUT IT'S NOTHING THAT CONCERNS ME OVERLY WHEN YOU SEE IT IN, UH, MORE OF A, OF A A THREE DIMENSION.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL CALL A QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE, UH, THE MATERIALS AS PRESENTED INDICATE BY SAYING, AYE UH, RAISING YOUR HAND? OF COURSE.
UH, ANY OPPOSED? AND COMMISSIONER RUBIO IS OPPOSED.
UH, THE REST PRESENT HAVE ALL VOTED IN FAVOR.
ALRIGHT, SO THE MOTION PASSES.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER
[13. HR-2023-149027 – 1415 Lavaca St. Bartholomew-Robinson Building – Landmark]
13, AGAIN, THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.UH, THIS IS, UH, FOR 1415 LAVACCA STREET.
I AM TURNING THE, UH, CHAIR OVER TO OUR VICE CHAIR, AND I WILL BE LEAVING THE ROOM AS I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
YOU'LL PASS THE CEREMONIAL SAVER.
THANK YOU FOR THAT RECUSAL AND, UH, VICE CHAIR.
UH, WE WILL START WITH ITEM 13 AT 1415 LAVACCA STREET.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO RESTORE THE FRONT HALF OF THIS LANDMARK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCT AN ADDITION AT THE REAR.
[01:35:01]
UM, THE PROPOSAL SPECIFIES A REHABILITATION OF THE EXISTING HISTORIC BUILDING, UM, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF NON HISTORIC ELEMENTS IN ADDITIONS, INCLUDING THE SURFACE PARKING LOT AT THE REAR.UM, THIS INCLUDES REMOVAL OF THE FIBERGLASS TOWER REPLICAS AND RECONSTRUCTION WITH MATERIALS MATCHING THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS, REFINISHING THE EXISTING MASONRY AT THE FRONT PORTION OF THE BUILDING, RESTORING THE ORIGINAL ENTRY LOCATION, AND INSTALLING A NEW ALUMINUM DOOR SYSTEM TO MATCH THE ORIGINAL OPENINGS AND REPLACING NON-ORIGINAL WINDOWS AT DOORS AT THE FRONT HALF OF THE BUILDING USING DIVIDED LIGHT GLAZING AND THE EXISTING OPENINGS, UM, AND REFINISHING THE INFILLED ARCH AT THE NORTH ELEVATION WITH STUCCO.
UM, THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUR STORY REAR EDITION IN PLACE OF THE CURRENT PARKING AREA AND THE RECONSTRUCTED PORTION OF THE BUILDING.
THE PROPOSED EDITION IS COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF GLASS CURTAIN WALLS WITH STUCCO LIMESTONE AND ALUMINUM RAINSCREEN PANEL ACCENTS.
UH, AND FINALLY, UM, THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS SITE ACCESSIBILITY.
THE 1996 ZONING CHANGE REPORT DESCRIBES THIS BUILDING AS A ONE STORY LIMESTONE OFFICE BUILDING WITH THREE DISTINCTIVE TOWERS.
THE TOWERS IN CORNICE WERE REMOVED BETWEEN NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETEEN THIRTY FIVE AND STUCCO SOMETIME IN THE MID 20TH CENTURY WITH FENESTRATION ALTERED IN THE REAR PORTION OF THE BUILDING OPEN TO SERVE AS PARKING AFTER ITS COLLAPSE.
THE BUILDING WAS FIRST REHABILITATED IN 1997 WITH THE TOWERS REPLACED WITH FIBERGLASS REPLICAS COLLAPSED PORTIONS OF THE BUILDINGS RE THE BUILDING RECONSTRUCTED, SOME STUCCO REMOVED AND FENESTRATION REPLACED.
NEW WINDOWS AT THE LAVACCA STREET ELEVATION WERE INSTALLED IN 2010.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS AT THE, AT HISTORIC LANDMARKS.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE APPLICATION AND DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT MOSTLY MEETS THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
UM, THE PROJECT WENT BEFORE THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, WHO DETERMINED THAT, UH, FEEDBACK SHOULD INCLUDE AN INCREASE OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE NEW STRUCTURE AND REDUCTION IN ITS VISUAL COMPLEXITY, AS WELL AS STEPPING NEW MATERIALS BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IN LIGHT OF THAT IS TO REQUEST THAT THE APPLICANT USE TRANSPARENT BALCONY RAILINGS IF POSSIBLE, UM, BUT TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION AS PROPOSED AS THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THE DESIGN TO RESPOND TO STAFFING COMMITTEE FEEDBACK ON INCREASING THE ADDITION'S COMPATIBILITY.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS IN FAVOR? GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU, UH, THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS PROJECT AT 1415 LAVACCA STREET AT THE BARTHOLOMAY ROBINSON BUILDING.
MY NAME IS LUMA JAFFAR WITH THE LAWRENCE GROUP, AND I'M THE DESIGN ARCHITECT FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE ARE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL OF A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
THE DESIGN HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CURATED, PRESERVING AND HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING WHILE PROVIDING THE STATE BAR WITH A SPACE THEY NEED.
OUR DESIGN TEAM INCLUDES HISTORIC PRESERVATION EXPERT HEIM SETH WITH SETH ARCHITECTS AND CHUCK LAROCHE WITH WJE, WHO HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY INVOLVED IN ANALYZING THE CONDITIONS OF THIS BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
IN ADDITION, THE OWNER SELECTED ROGERS O'BRIEN FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THIS PROJECT, WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION EFFORT BY RETAINING ROB ROY PARNELL AS AN ADDITIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION EXPERT.
WE HAVE STUDIED THE BUILDING HISTORY FROM THE 18 HUNDREDS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON SLIDE TWO TO EXAMINE WHICH PART.
UH, UH, OUR ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL EUGENE C BARMY, UH, HOME WAS BUILT IN 1882.
THE HOME IS, UH, DEFINED BY THE INTERIOR STONEWALLS, WHICH ARE THE TRUE HISTORIC GEM AND CURRENTLY HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW.
IN 1887, THE HOME WAS EXPANDED INTO A GENERAL STORE WITH THE ADDITION OF THE BRICK WALLS AND THE TURRETS.
OVER THE DECADES, MANY MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF THE ORIGINAL TURRETS IN THE 19 NINE 1970S.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS THIS ONE IN 1995, AS A RESULT OF THE STORM, THE SOUTH AND WEST PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING, WHICH HAS FUNCTIONED AS A PARKING LOT FOR MANY YEARS, COLLAPSED AS SHOWN ON SLIDE FOUR.
ON THIS PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE COLLAPSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WITH THE RED TRUCK AND THE WEST SIDE ON LAVACCA STREET WITH THE WHITE TRUCK.
THE FIBERGLASS TURRETS REPRODUCTION WERE ADDED IN 1997.
WE PROVIDED A VISUAL REPRESENTATION ON SLIDE FIVE THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED IN 136 YEARS.
NOTABLE CHANGES INCLUDE WINDOW SHAPES, TURRET PROPORTIONS, AND THE WALLS SOUTH OF THE TURRETS ALONG LAVACCA
[01:40:01]
SIZE SIX, SHOWS THE WALLS THAT RETAIN HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE AND WHERE THE FOUR STORY EDITION ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SITE WILL BE LOCATED NEXT TO.AND NOT ATOP THE HISTORIC PORTION CONFINING CONSTRUCTION TO THIS, UH, SPACE OUTLINED IN THE RED HASH MARK ON THE SCREEN, UH, LEAVES US WITH ONLY A SPACE OF 52 FEET BY 72 FEET.
TO WORK WITH THE PROJECT WILL BE DE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING MEETING SPACES AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO THE TEXAS LEGAL COMMITTEE, UH, COMMUNITY WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC USE.
ON SEPTEMBER 13, WE MET WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND RECEIVED VALUABLE FEEDBACK WHERE POSSIBLE WE INCORPORATED THEIR SUGGESTIONS INTO THE DESIGN.
BEFORE YOU TODAY ON THE FINAL SLIDE, THE STATE BAR IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING ONE OF ONE, UH, ONE OF THE ONLY EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIAL FRENCH SECOND EMPIRE ARCHITECTURE IN AUSTIN.
AND THE OVERALL VALUE THIS HISTORIC RELIC OFFERS THE COMMUNITY WE HAD HAVE ACHIEVED THIS BY FIRST MAKING MINIMUM CHANGES TO THE HISTORIC PART OF THE BUILDING THAT ARE MEANT TO REPAIR AND ENHANCE THE DETERIORATED HISTORIC FEATURES.
SECOND, REMOVING THE WALL OF THE CURRENT PARKING LOT THAT HAVE NO HISTORIC, UH, HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
THIRD, REPLACING THE CURRENT FIBERGLASS TURRETS WITH A NEW ONE THAT ALIGNS WITH THE MATERIALS OF THE ORIGINAL TURRETS.
FOURTH, PROVIDING A BREAK BETWEEN THE HISTORIC SIDE AND THE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
USING GLASS AS A CONTRASTING YET LIGHT, TRANSPARENT CON UH, CONNECTING MATERIAL, THE GLASS WILL BRING THE HISTORIC STONEWALLS OF THE HOUSE INTO VIEW FROM THE STREETS.
AND FIFTH, LIMITING THE ADDITION TO ONLY FIVE STORIES AND MAKING GREAT CONSIDERATIONS TO THE PROPORTION OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION IN RELATION TO THE EXISTING BUILDING.
BY BREAKING THE MASS INTO EVEN SMALLER PARTS, ENC CLOSING THE DESIGN EMPHASIZES THE HISTORIC FEATURES OF THE BUILDING WHILE BRINGING IT TO LIFE AS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER, CREATING A NEW CHAPTER IN THIS BUILDING'S HISTORY.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
UH, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO MAINTAIN THE, ALBEIT NOT ORIGINAL, BUT RECONSTRUCTED TO HISTORIC APPEARANCE FACADE AT THE RIGHT, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED AT THE VERY LEAST, INTO THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING AS PRESENTED? YEAH, THERE ARE TWO, TWO MAIN REASONS.
UH, THE FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT A, A TRUE REPLICATION OF THE, THE, THE, THE WALL THAT WAS THERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT PROBABLY WHEN, UH, WE HAVE A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SLIDE FOUR, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH HAS BEEN CHANGED.
UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, LET'S SEE, IT'S, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THE WALLS HAVE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, UH, DEMOLISHED, YOU KNOW, UH, COLLAPSED.
UM, AND EVEN THE NEW WALL THAT WAS VERY QUICKLY PUT UP AGAIN, UH, DURING THE 1990S, UM, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR, UH, INVESTIGATION OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY AND THE WALL, UM, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURALLY STABLE AS WELL, SO IT'S HARD TO BUILD NEXT TO IT OR, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE AROUND IT.
AND THE OTHER REASON IS THERE IS REALLY VERY LIMITED SPACE LEFT ON THE SITE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE CHOSE TO ADD INSTEAD OF ADDING ABOVE OR, YOU KNOW, UH, AROUND THE BUILDING, WE, WE CHOSE TO BUILD NEXT TO IT.
SINCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WALL DOESN'T REALLY GIVE ANY HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAVE A REALLY HISTORIC VALUE BY ITSELF.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OLD AND THE, AND THE NEW, AND AFTER THAT, UH, SOUTH TURRET, UH, ALONG LAVACCA, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE WALL HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY.
SO THAT RECONSTRUCTION WASN'T HISTORICALLY ACCURATE, IT WAS JUST NOT AT ALL AREA.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN SUPPORT? GOOD EVENING, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
I SPEAK BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, BUT ALSO AS AN HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST.
I'VE SERVED AS CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION AS VICE PRESIDENT OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF PRESERVATION TEXAS, AND AS AN OWNER OF AN HISTORIC AUSTIN HISTORIC LANDMARK, THE TADLOCK BROWNLEY HARRIS HOUSE.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, AND I UNDERSTAND AND GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME.
TONIGHT, I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE BAROLO ME
[01:45:01]
ROBINSON BUILDING PROJECT.AS SUBMITTED, I'M ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED THAT WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AS YOU KNOW, PRESERVATION OF AN HISTORIC LANDMARK IS CHALLENGING AND CAN BE COSTLY.
WE HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT THAT EARLIER TONIGHT.
THIS DESIGN MAXIMIZES THIS VERY SMALL SITE WHILE PRESERVING NOT JUST THE PUBLIC FACING FACADES OF THE SECOND EMPIRE COMMERCIAL BUILDING, BUT THE INTERIOR WALLS AND FIREPLACE THAT PREDATE.
IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW STRUCTURES IN ALL OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAS HAD SUCH AN ENDURING PRESENCE.
I'VE BEEN ADAMANT THAT IT'D BE PRESERVED AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT WITH ITS ADAPTIVE REUSE, AIDED GREATLY BY THE NEW EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE CENTER.
NOT ONLY WILL IT HAVE AN ONGOING PURPOSEFUL USE, BUT THE PROJECT WILL GENERATE REVENUE TO ENSURE THAT THE BARTHOLOMEW ROBINSON BUILDING IS WELL CARED FOR IN PERPETUITY.
THE STATE BAR'S ARCHITECTS HAVE DESIGNED THE ADJACENT EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE CENTER TO BE SENSITIVE TO, TO RESPECT AND TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE BARTHOLOMEW ROBINSON BUILDING.
AGAIN, GIVEN ITS GIVEN ITS VERY CONSTRAINED SITE RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE, THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE AND ITS HISTORICAL INTEGRITY HAVE REMAINED PARAMOUNT THROUGHOUT THE DISCOVERY AND DESIGN PROCESS.
IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT AVOIDS THE SPECTER OF FACADE, THE LATEST IN CHALLENGES FACED BY WHAT LITTLE REMAINS OF OUR DOWNTOWN'S HISTORIC FABRIC.
THE NEW CENTER SCALE AT ONLY FOUR STORIES IS FAR MORE PROPORTIONATE TO THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO ENABLE THE EAST FACADE, WHICH HAS BEEN OBSCURED FOR 50 YEARS AT LASTED RETURN TO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AS IT IS INTEGRATED WITH THE STATE BAR CAMPUS ADJACENT.
THIS THOUGHTFUL DESIGN ALLOWS THE BAROLO ME ROBINSON BUILDING TO CONTINUE ITS SIGNIFICANCE, RELEVANCE, AND STATUS AT THE CORNER OF 15TH AND LAVACCA AS IT HAS FOR 140 YEARS.
PERHAPS THIS PROJECT CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER HISTORIC PROPERTIES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR DESIGNATION AND ASSUME, ASSURE THEIR PLACE IN AUSTIN'S HISTORIC BUILT ENVIRONMENT, OR TO EXPIRE EX INSPIRE EXISTING LANDMARK OWNERS TO EXPLORE APPROPRIATE AVENUES FOR SUSTAINABILITY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR HISTORIC LANDMARKS SURVIVE AS AN HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, AND I URGE YOUR APPROVAL.
MY NAME'S TREY FEL AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN, UH, SUPPORT OF OUR PROJECT.
THE STATE BAR HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A VENUE TO HELP LAWYERS BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC, WHILE PRESERVING A KEY PIECE OF AUSTIN HISTORY AND AS NEIGHBORS TO THE SITE FOR SEVERAL DECADES, WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO MEET THOSE OBJECTIVES.
WE PURCHASED THE HISTORIC BAROLO ROBINSON BUILDING IN APRIL OF 2021.
THE PROPERTY SITS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO OUR STATE BAR HEADQUARTERS, FOLLOWING A PREVIOUS DEVELOPER'S PLANS TO BUILD A 12 STORY HOTEL DIRECTLY ATOP OF THE BARTOLO ROBINSON BUILDING DIMINISHING THE PRESERVATION OF A BUILDING THAT PREDATES CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL.
WE SAW OURSELVES AS THE MOST APPROPRIATE CARETAKERS TO BOTH PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THIS BUILDING.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, I APPEARED BEFORE THIS COMMISSION IN 2020 TO OPPOSE THE PLANNED HIGH-RISE HOTEL TOWER.
I DID SO AND SPOKE AT THAT TIME OF THE STATE BAR'S INTEREST IN MAINTAINING THE HISTORICAL INTEGRITY OF THIS BUILDING.
BY CONTRAST, WE COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THE PLAN BEFORE YOU, UH, FROM THE LAWRENCE GROUP, A PLAN WHICH REIMAGINES THE SITE WHILE PRESERVING ITS HISTORY.
THE TRULY HISTORIC PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE WALLS OF THE STONE HOUSE BUILT IN 19, EXCUSE ME, IN 1882, ARE PRESERVED IN A WAY THAT EVEN PASSERSBY CAN APPRECIATE THE HISTORY HIDDEN BEYOND THE OUTER WALLS.
AS MS. JAFFER MENTIONED, OUR PLAN IS TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE CENTER.
THESE FUNCTIONS WILL BRING PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS TO THIS HISTORIC PLACE AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO BETTER APPRECIATE NOT ONLY OUR CITY'S RICH HISTORY, BUT ALSO THE HISTORY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN TEXAS.
EUGENE CARLOS BARTHOLOMEW, WHO BUILT THE ORIGINAL HOME ON THIS SITE FIRST CAME TO AUSTIN WITH THE TASK OF ESTABLISHING SCHOOLS.
IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT THIS BUILDING NOW BECOMES THE EPICENTER OF
[01:50:01]
WHAT WE CALL CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION WITH THE GOAL OF SERVING AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.AND WE SHARE THIS COMMISSION'S VISION TO MAKE THIS SITE USABLE AND TO SEE ITS HISTORY RESTORED AND HONORED.
WE BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL DOES THAT WHILE GIVING THE PROPERTY LIFE AND MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROPOSAL.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN SUPPORT? ANY IN OPPOSITION? COMMISSIONERS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? I HAVE A, UH, MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMISSIONER MCC QUARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, SAY AYE, OR RAISE YOUR HAND.
AYE, THAT APPEARS TO BE UNANIMOUS.
UH, DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THE CASE? I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCCARTER.
UM, COMMISSIONER COOK, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, IT'S, UH, I AM, I WAS HOPING SOMEONE ELSE WOULD MAKE THE MOTION SO I COULD NOTE THAT I'M NOT 100% ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.
IT STILL SEEMS LIKE THAT BACK PARAPET IS A LITTLE BIT CROWDED AND, UH, IF FACADE IS, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF, BUT WHEN THE FACADE IS ALL THAT REMAINS, THAT'S THE BEST, UH, TIME TO INCORPORATE FACADE INTO A BUILDING.
BUT KNOWING THAT THAT WASN'T A REPLICA OF WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE AND ALL THAT, THE 1890S PHOTO IS FAIRLY DETAILED.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH, I DON'T THINK TO ENSURE A 100% A ACCURATE HISTORICALLY CORRECT REP REPLICA.
I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T REQUIRE IT OF THEM.
AND THE EFFORTS TO RESTORE MATERIALS IN WITH ORIGINAL MATERIALS AND TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BY SHOWING OFF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE AND ALL THE LAYERS OF HISTORY IS, IS, IS APPRECIATED, UH, ENOUGH TO, UM, FOR ME TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
COMMISSIONER MAYOR CARTER, ANYTHING FOR YOUR SECOND? WELL, I REMEMBER THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL AND, AND THIS IS, I THINK, FAR SUPERIOR AND PREFERABLE TO THAT.
AND, UH, IT IS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS A DIFFICULT SITE.
SO, UM, SO I I'M GOOD WITH THIS.
YEAH, I'LL SAY PERSONALLY, I I MIGHT'VE MADE THAT MOTION MYSELF EXCEPT FOR I WAS, UH, ACTING AS THE CHAIR AT THE TIME.
SO, UM, I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH YOUR SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE, THE SOUTHERN TURRET BEING A LITTLE CROWDED, UH, AND AS WELL YOURS, COMMISSIONER MCCARTER ABOUT, UM, THE QUALITY OF THIS PRESENTATION RELATIVE TO THE ONE WE RECEIVED A FEW YEARS AGO.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONERS? YEAH, UM, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IN 2020 OR WHENEVER, YEAH, 2020 CAME FROM THE STATE BAR AND SAID THAT THEY HAVE A SINCERE INTEREST IN MAINTAINING THE HISTORICAL INTEGRITY OF THIS BUILDING.
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT WAS HONORED.
UM, I THINK WE WERE NOT REALLY PROTECTING THIS CITY OF AUSTIN LANDMARK BY HAVING THIS TALL STRUCTURE BUILT NEXT DOOR TO IT.
UM, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE HOTEL DESIGN WAS GREAT, BUT AT LEAST IT PRESERVED A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THOSE WALLS AND, UH, AT LEAST IT HAD A SOMEWHAT GLASS SECOND STORY ABOVE IT.
BUT I HONESTLY WOULD RATHER PREFER THAT.
UH, I, I DON'T THINK THAT A LOT OF THIS, UH, ADHERES TO STANDARDS.
UM, I I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR MODIFYING ANY CITY OF AUSTIN LANDMARKS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL CALL THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE THE PRESENTATION AS PREVENTED OR APPROVE THE CERTIFICATE OF APP APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE PRESENTATION AS PRESENTED.
ALL OPPOSED? I BELIEVE WE HAVE A VOTE OF SEVEN IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED WITH COMMISSIONER SETH.
DO WE NEED TO SHOUT OR WHISTLE FOR COMMISSIONER SAFF? LET'S SEE IF HE COMES BACK WHEN HE SEES PEOPLE COMING UP.
[01:55:02]
IT WAS AMAZING, MAN.OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[14. HR-2023-148863 – 1209 Rosewood Ave. Haynes-Delashwah House – Landmark]
ITEM NUMBER 14.THIS IS, UH, 1209 ROSEWOOD AVENUE.
UH, THIS IS, UM, THE HANES DELLA WASH HOUSE.
THANK YOU VICE CHAIR AND, UH, WELCOME BACK CHAIR.
UM, ITEM 14 IS A PROPOSAL TO INSTALL LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS FENCING AND PAVEMENT TO A LANDMARK SITE, ALSO INDIVIDUALLY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
UM, THE PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS INCLUDE A REMODEL OF A DA PATHWAYS AND INSTALLATION OF HARDSCAPE AT NORTH ENTRY, UH, THE NORTH TO SOUTH CONNECTION, EAST TO WEST CONNECTION, AND THE WEST FACING PATIO.
UH, PROPOSED MATERIALS INCLUDE AUSTIN COMMON BRICK ARE EQUIVALENT TO MATCH THE EXISTING HOUSE.
UM, IT INCLUDES THE INSTALLATION OF BRICK WALLS, RETAINING WALLS AND SEAT WALLS AT THE NEW PATIOS.
INSTALLATION OF SIGNAGE ON THE GARDEN WALL, INSTALLATION OF THE BUILT-IN BANQUETTE AT THE SOUTHWEST OF THE PROPERTY, UH, BUILT OF AUSTIN COMMON BRICK, AS WELL AS KE AND INSTALLATION OF A VINE SCREEN, UH, AS A FENCE AT THE PROPERTY PERIMETER WITH LOWER SCREENING AT THE FRONT AND TALLER SCREENING AT THE NEW PATIO.
AND FINALLY PLANTING IMPROVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE SITE, INCLUDING NATIVE PLANTING AREAS AND SHADE TREES.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS AT HISTORIC LANDMARKS.
UH, THE PROJECT DOES NOT MEET ALL THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS, THOUGH FURTHER REVIEW OF THE ACCESSORY RESTRUCTURE AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING IS RECOMMENDED.
THEREFORE, UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO POSTPONE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JANUARY 10TH IN ORDER TO INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, WHICH IS NEXT WEDNESDAY, UH, DECEMBER 20TH.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY.
UM, DO WE HAVE A, THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK TO THIS? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
I'M ON THE DESIGN TEAM, UM, WITH CAMPBELL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, THIS, THIS PROPERTY HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THROUGH ARCHITECTURE REVIEW WHERE THE ARCHITECTS ARE PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING WITH MINIMAL EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURE CHANGES.
UH, THIS DESIGN WHERE WE'RE HOPING TO PULL, LIKE SHE MENTIONED, UH, THE COVERED PERGOLA OFF THE WEST FACADE TO PROVIDE BETTER VIEWS OF THE BUILDING WITHIN THE GARDEN SPACE.
UM, WITH SOUTHERN AND WESTERN SUN HITTING THE PRIMARY OUTDOOR SPACE WE'RE ADDING TO THE URBAN FOREST, WE PROVIDING SHADE TO MAKE THE SITE MORE COMFORTABLE DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS.
UM, THE PLANT PALETTE IS ALL NATIVE AND ADAPTIVE SPECIES.
UM, ADDING SHADE TO THIS OUTDOOR SPACE WILL ACTIVATE THE GATHERING SPACE AND HOPE.
WE'RE HOPING TO, PEOPLE WILL WALK BY, DRIVE BY, AND WANT TO SIT DOWN AND ENJOY, ENJOY THIS OUTDOOR SPACE.
UM, LIKE ALSO MENTIONED, THE HARDSCAPE DESIGN PROPOSES BRICK FLAT WORK.
FLAT WORK THAT MATCHES THE FOUNDATION IN THE CHIMNEY AND PROVIDES A DA ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS THE SITE.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THE PROPOSED DESIGN CELEBRATES AND ACTIVATES THE SPACE.
WE'RE HOPING IT INTRIGUES THOSE, UH, TO COME ON IN AND STOP BY FOR BEER.
UM, THE OWNERS ARE VERY PASSIONATE PEOPLE AND REALLY WANT TO BRING LIFE BACK TO THIS LANDMARK AND DO THIS, DO THIS PROPERTY SOME JUSTICE.
LEMME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN SOME SUGGESTION ABOUT MEETING WITH THE, UH, ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.
WOULD THAT BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE OWNERS WOULD BE, UH, IN FAVOR OF, OR WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, AS A, MAYBE A REFINEMENT OF THIS DESIGN? YES.
UM, IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY.
NEITHER FOR NOR AGAINST THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE.
UH, I'LL ENTER MO OBTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SHOULD I WAIT? UM, WE CAN QUICK QUESTION THAT, THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
UM, CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY THIS, CLARIFY THE REAR, I GUESS, PORTION OF THE, THE DESIGN THAT YOU'RE KIND OF FLAGGING.
MAYBE I'M JUST HAVING A HARD TIME READING OR SEEING THINGS.
UH, COULD YOU CLARIFY, COMMISSIONER? SO YOU SAID EARLIER THAT THIS WAS UP FOR DISCUSSION.
WHY, BECAUSE OF THE, THE SHADE STRUCTURES OR? THAT'S CORRECT.
THE SHADE STRUCTURE AND THE, UH, THE HARDSCAPE IN PLACE OF LAWN HARDSCAPE.
[02:00:02]
UM, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.SO HEARING IS CLOSED TO COMMISSIONERS ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO POSTPONE TO OUR JANUARY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING IN JANUARY.
IS THERE A SECOND? UH, COMMISSIONER EVANS, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I AGREE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE, THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE THERE.
UM, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SITE AND STREETSCAPES, UH, PORTION OF THE CITYWIDE DESIGN STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT LANDSCAPE FEATURES AND RETAINING OPEN LANDSCAPES WHERE THEY EXISTED BEFORE.
UH, IN PARTICULAR, UM, THE RELATIONSHIP OF THIS BUILDING TO HILLSIDE PHARMACY AND THE VICTORY GRILL.
UH, AND THERE IS AN ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT WE ATTEMPTED TO LANDMARK 6, 5, 6 YEARS AGO THAT ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNIQUE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I THINK RETAINING SIGHT LINES AMONG ALL THOSE IS GONNA BE IMPORTANT.
UH, BUT SIMPLY APPLYING THE, UH, THE STANDARDS TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN FIELD TO THE, TO THE GROUNDS WHEN THEY ONCE EXISTED, I THINK WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT.
SO I JUST THINK IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION.
JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK YOU WANT TO INVITE THEM TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK IN DECEMBER YOU SAID? OH, IT'S NEXT WEEK.
COMMISSIONER EVANS HOLIDAY'S GOT ME SECONDER.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE A RETURN TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, BECAUSE I'D LIKE THERE TO BE SOME CREATIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LANDSCAPING AND MAYBE SOME, UH, CHANGES OR ALTERATIONS THAT WOULD NOT OBSCURE THE GRANDEUR OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, IT'S ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY PROUD PROPERTY AND IT'S ONE THAT HAS, UH, NOT ONLY HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, BUT IT HAS A SIGNIFICANCE, UH, IN TERMS OF ITS PLACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO, UH, HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION ON LANDSCAPING FEATURES, MAY BE MET THE, THE NEEDS OF THE APPLICANT, BUT YET, UH, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T CHANGE THE, THE CHARACTER OF THE PROPERTY, UH, SIGHTLINES IN SUCH A DRAMATIC WAY.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AND I HAVE TO PICK UP ON THAT? I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE.
UH, I THINK WE CERTAINLY CAN APPLAUD THE USE OF SOME OF THESE GROUNDS FOR, UH, ADDITIONAL GATHERING SPACES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
AND, AND YET THERE'S A BALANCE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH, UH, A WHOLE CONTEXT OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF THESE PROPERTIES HISTORICALLY TO EACH OTHER.
UH, I, I THINK THERE'S A LOT HERE TO APPLAUD.
SO I, I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S SOME FINE TUNING THAT CAN TAKE PLACE.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TILL JANUARY AND, UH, INVITE, UH, THIS APPLICANT TO THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE NEXT DISCUSSION CASE AND THAT ON MY AGENDA OH, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 23.
[23. HR-2023-118825 – 514 E Live Oak St. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register District ]
IS THAT RIGHT? YEP.THAT'S, UH, FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET.
THIS IS IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS AN APPLICATION TO DEMOLISH THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT WE POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
ITEM 23 IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1917 AND 1930 AND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING.
UM, THE EXISTING HOUSE IS A ONE STORY BUNGALOW WITH A PARAMETAL HIP ROOF, UH, AN INTERSECTING PORCH GABLE, A PARTIAL WIDTH INSET PORCH, AND HORIZONTAL SIDING.
DECORATIVE DETAILS INCLUDE EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS AND REMNANTS OF JIGS ON BRACKETS.
UH, THIS HOUSE IS IDENTIFIED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER INVENTORY AS A 1917 STRUCTURE, THOUGH THE BUILDINGS DO NOT APPEAR IN CITY DIRECTORIES UNTIL THE 1930S, IT'S A MODIFIED FORM IN DETAIL.
SUGGEST AN EARLIER BUILD THAN THE 1930 WATER TAP PERMIT.
THE PLUMLEY FAMILY, OR THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED RESIDENCE, THEY APPEARED TO HAVE SOLD THE HOUSE IN THE EARLY THIRTIES AFTER BEING CAUGHT STORING LIQUOR LEGALLY AT THE HOUSE IN THE LATE 1930S INTO THE 1940S.
THE HOME WAS OCCUPIED BY JAY BEAUFORT SMITH, A BOOKKEEPER AT THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, AND HIS WIFE CATHERINE.
IN THE 1950S, THE HOUSE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY A REAL, A RENTAL PROPERTY WITH RESIDENTS, INCLUDING A MILL OPERATOR AND A DRY CLEANER.
THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, THEREFORE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON PLANS ENCOURAGING REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
[02:05:01]
UM, AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN AMENDED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, HOWEVER THE UPDATE WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE POSTING DEADLINE FOR OUR STAFF REPORT.UH, THEREFORE THAT NEW UPDATE IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE STAFF REPORT, BUT IT IS IN YOUR BACKUP.
UM, IS THERE ANY, UH, COMMENT OR QUESTION OF STAFF? ALRIGHT, UM, WE CAN HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT IF THEY'RE HERE.
IF, UH, THERE'S ANYBODY HERE OPPOSED? SO, ONLINE WE HAVE, UH, HEMA, UH,
LOOKS LIKE WE STILL NEED TO GET YOU UNMUTED.
ARE YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, MY NAME IS HAMMA
UH, WE ATTENDED THE SECOND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING IN NOVEMBER, UH, FOR THIS APPLICATION AND HAVE INCORPORATED DESIGN CHANGES ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE STAFF.
UH, THE REVISED DESIGN PACKAGE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED TO STAFF BEFORE THE DEADLINE ON 4TH OF DECEMBER, UH, TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE STAFF REPORT.
FOR TODAY'S MEETING, UH, WE SIMPLIFIED THE ROOF FORM, EXTENDED THE ROOF OVER FRONT DOOR, CHANGED ALL SIDING TO PAINTED SHIP LAP CLADDING, UPDATED THE WINDOW TILE, UH, TO DIVIDED LIGHT WINDOWS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
I BELIEVE WE DID ALL, ALL THE CHANGES POSSIBLE FROM OUR SIDE TO ADDRESS STAFF COMMENTS.
UM, I ALSO HEARD FROM STAFF THAT, UH, THE UPDATED PACKAGE ONE NEVER RECEIVED, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS SUBMITTED ON 4TH OF DECEMBER.
UH, MR. ACKI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY.
UH, IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK EITHER HERE IN THE AUDIENCE OR ONLINE? ONLINE WE HAVE CLIFTON LADD.
UH, MR. LADD, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PRESS SIX ON YOUR PHONE FOR YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS CLIFTON LADD AND I OPPOSE THE ISSUANCE OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK.
I SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE AND WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THE HOME THAT THE APPLICANT WISHES TO DESTROY IS A CRAFTSMAN STYLE BUNGALOW BUILT IN 1917 TO 1930.
IT'S A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTERED HISTORIC DISTRICT.
CURRENT HOME IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND IS IN A HIGHLY VISIBLE LOCATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE CORNER OF EAST LA OAK IN BROOKLYN STREET.
AS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL BY THE STAFF'S REPORT LINE THAT THE ONE THAT I COULD SEE TODAY, UH, THE PROPOSED HOUSE DOES NOT MEET MOST OF THE APPLICABLE DESIGN STANDARDS.
THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION, UM, SHOWS A HOME THAT WOULD BE TWO AND A HALF STORIES TALL.
THE EXTERIOR WOULD INCLUDE A MIX OF STUCCO, HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING, VERTICAL WOOD SIDING, AND BRICK VENEER.
THE SCALE MASSING AND HEIGHT ARE ALL INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST GENERALLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I NOTE THAT EVEN AFTER TWO PRIOR REVIEWS AND POSTPONED BY THE COMMISSION, THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS STILL DO NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE DESIGN STANDARDS.
ACCORDING TO THE PLANS ON THE COMMISSION WEBSITE TODAY, IT STILL HAS A FRONT FACING GARAGE.
IT'S STILL MUCH LARGER THAN SING HOMES AND FAILS TO MEET OTHER DESIGN STANDARDS.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE DEMOLITION PERMIT SHOULD BE DENIED AND THE APPLICANT ENCOURAGED TO REEXAMINE HOW TO REMODEL THE EXISTING HOME.
IT APPEARS THERE IS SUFFICIENT SPACE ON THE LOT FOR A COMPATIBLE ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HOME.
WE URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS APPLICATION FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS REQUEST.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. LADD? OKAY, UH, ARE THERE FURTHER, UH, SPEAKERS, UH, SIGNED UP? THERE ARE NO VOICE SPEAKERS ON THE LINE.
WELL, COMMISSIONERS, WE'VE, UH, HEARD FROM, UH, THE APPLICANT.
[02:10:01]
MS. DEKE AT REBUTTAL IF SHE WOULD BE INCLINED BUT NOT REQUIRED.MS. STANA, ARE YOU STILL ONLINE? YES, I AM.
UH, YOU'RE OFFERED, UH, I BELIEVE TWO MINUTES IF YOU WISH TO TAKE IT TO, UH, OFFER ANY REBUTTAL CLARIFICATION.
JUST, JUST TO CORRECT IT IS THREE MINUTES.
SO, UM, IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING BACK IN NOVEMBER, THE OWNER DID DISCUSS THAT THEY EXPLORED THE LOCATION OPTION, UM, AND PRESERVE THE FACADE.
BUT DUE TO THE CONCERN ABOUT THE HOUSE, LACK OF SOLID FOUNDATION INTEGRITY, DEMOLITION IS THE ONLY VISIBLE OPTION FOR THIS, UH, PROPERTY BECAUSE THE HOUSE WILL NOT SURVIVE THE RELOCATION AND ALSO THE GARAGE.
IT WAS EXPRESSED BY THE OWNER TO INCLUDE THE GARAGE.
AND AS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS, UM, MEETING, UM, DUE TO THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF THIS PROPERTY, THE FRONT FACING GARAGE IS THE ONLY FEASIBLE OPTION FOR THIS PROJECT.
VERY QUESTION FOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE A QUESTION? YES, GO AHEAD, MS. COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ? YES, I'M REVIEWING THE DRAWINGS THAT I THINK ARE THE MOST RECENT, THE ONES WITH THE RENDERINGS.
AND I WANTED TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON MATERIALS PROPOSED GRAPHICALLY.
THE ROOF SEEMS TO BE REPRESENTED AS A SHINGLE ROOF.
THE CALL OUTS, THE NOTES SAY IT'S METAL STANDING SEAM.
UH, WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE LIGHT GRAY HORIZONTAL SIDING MATERIAL IS IN SOME CASES LABELED AS WOOD PLANK SIDING AND OTHER CASES MAY BE LIGHT GRAY STUCCO.
SO, UH, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME EXACTLY WHAT WHAT IS INTENDED WHERE.
UM, UH, YOU MAY ANSWER THAT PLEASE, MS. UH, DKI? YEAH.
UH, I'M NOT ABLE, I'M LOOKING AT THE LIVE MEETING, BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO SEE WHAT DRAWINGS YOU ARE FOLLOWING.
SO, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I THINK THERE'S JUST A QUESTION ABOUT CLARIFICATION OF MATERIALS, UH, THE ROOFING MATERIAL, UH, IN PARTICULAR, AND THEN SOME OF THE SIDING MATERIALS SINCE THERE'S CONFLICTING NOTES ON YOUR DRAWINGS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, I'M SORRY.
UM, I GUESS THAT'S, WE, WE WON'T, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT.
UH, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ COMPLETELY.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT COMMISSIONERS? IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER EVANS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
UH, THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A DEMOLITION REQUEST AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED PLANS.
UH, IS THERE A TIMING THAT WE CAN BE UPDATED ON? WE CAN CHECK ON THAT CHAIR.
I THINK MY GUESS IS, IS THAT WE'VE GOT ONE MORE MEETING IF THIS WERE TO BE POSTPONED, BUT WE CAN CONFIRM THAT IN THE MEANTIME, WOULD ANY COMMISSIONERS EITHER WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OR ARE THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT WOULD LEAD TO FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THE CASE TO OUR JANUARY MEETING.
UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE SECONDS.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION? YES.
I ONLY HESITATE TO MAKE THAT MOTION BECAUSE THE APPLICANT HAS HAD A PRESENCE AT ALL OF OUR MEETINGS AND OUR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS SHOWING UP IN PERSON, RESPONDING TO A FEW OF OUR COMMENTS ABOUT MATERIALITY AND PARTIALLY TO OUR COMMENTS ABOUT FENESTRATION, BUT IT'S A HARD, IT'S TRYING TO FIT A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE, AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY THAT'S GOING TO WORK.
AND WHEN WE HAVE THE 180 DAY DEMOLITION DELAY AVAILABLE TO US, UM, IT'S HARD FOR ME
[02:15:01]
NOT TO USE IT WHEN THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION AND SCALE.IF YOU WANT A TWO CAR GARAGE DRIVEWAY OR A LARGE ONE CAR GARAGE DRIVEWAY FACING THE STREET, IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO MOVE INTO A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT BECAUSE NOTHING INTERRUPTS THE FLOW OF THE HISTORIC STREET SKATE MORE THAN WALKING BY AN ENORMOUS GARAGE DOOR.
UH, IT'S JUST NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM DOESN'T FIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT PUTS US IN THE POSITION OF EITHER ACCEPTING IT OR USING THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO TRY TO PREVENT IT.
UH, AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE HAD GOOD PARTICIPATION AND PRESENCE, UH, I'M INCLINED IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, IT JUST, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE MASSING OF THE BUILDING, THE MASSING OF THE GARAGE MATCHES THE MATCHING OF THE MASSING OF THE HOUSE.
AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN ADDITION WITH THE EXACT SAME MASSING AND THE EXACT SAME FUNCTION, IF NOT FOR PARKING A CAR IN A CARPORT RATHER THAN IN A GARAGE.
UM, THAT SEEMS LIKE THE ASK THAT IF THAT HAD HAPPENED, I'D BE WILLING TO, TO GO WITH IT, BUT I I, I WAITED FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO MAKE A MOTION.
THAT'S THE MOTION THAT I WOULD MAKE.
I I SECONDED IT BECAUSE, WELL, I, I DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION FIRST THIS TIME BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF WE NEEDED TO HEAR BACK FURTHER ABOUT THE, THE TIMELINES BEFORE WE MADE A MOTION TO POSTPONE, BUT I CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE A POSTPONEMENT IS APPROPRIATE.
UM, GIVEN THE, THE LACK OF A EASY ANSWER TO COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ'S QUESTION.
UH, THIS FEELS LIKE EXACTLY WHY WE ARE ALLOWED 180 DAY DELAY IS SO THAT WE CAN SORT THROUGH THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, THE, THE GARAGE IS THE, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
BUT LET'S SET THAT ASIDE FOR A SECOND.
I RECALL FROM THE LAST TIME THIS STUFF WAS PRESENTED, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT MATERIALITIES AND ONE STRUCK ME AS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THE OTHER.
AND FOR US NOT TO HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT IS EXACTLY BEING PROPOSED.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU THROW THAT OUT THE WINDOW.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS SETTING ASIDE THE GARAGE, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
BUT, UH, I WILL, I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION THAT I SECOND IT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MS. CONTRERAS? DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER? UH, 75 DAYS FOR THE, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, IS GOING TO BE UP ON DECEMBER 18TH.
UM, HOWEVER, Y'ALL STILL DO HAVE 180 DAYS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
AND SO THAT, THAT DEMOLITION REQUEST HAS ONLY JUST STARTED WITH THIS, UH, THIS CURRENT, OH, NO, IT, UH, CAME BEFORE US IN OCTOBER.
SO WE, WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL MORE MEETINGS, UH, IF THIS MOTION PASSES.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UM, LISTEN, THERE'S ANY MORE DISCUSSION, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DELAY, UH, POSTPONEMENT TO THE JANUARY MEETING, UH, INDICATE BY, UH, RAISING YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[24. HR-2023-122515 – 1621 W 14th St. Old West Austin National Register District ]
IS ITEM NUMBER 24.THAT'S 1621 WEST 14TH STREET IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT, ITEM 24 16 21 WEST 14TH STREET.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO REMODEL THE EXISTING HOUSE, CONSTRUCTING AN ADDITION AND RECONFIGURING THE ROOF LINE, CHANGING THE FENESTRATION AND CLADDING AND ADDING A SECOND FLOOR PATIO ACCESS BY A SPIRAL STAIR.
THIS IS A ONE STORY RANCH HOUSE WITH HORIZONTAL SIDING, STONEWATER, TABLE CLADDING AND ATTACHED CARPORT AND A SIDE GABLED ROOF.
UH, THE HOUSE AT 1621 WEST 14TH WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1952.
ITS OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE FIFTIES WERE GUY E AND FANNIE HUDDLESTON.
GUY HUDDLESTON, AN ARMY VETERAN VETERAN, AND MAJOR IN THE ARMY RESERVES WORKED AS THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION'S MOTOR TRANSPORT DIVISION.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS, UM, ARE USED TO EVALUATE PRO PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
UM, AND THE EVALUATION HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE EXISTING PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, HOWEVER.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
AND ON THIS ONE AGAIN, WE HAVE BOTH A, UM, NOW HAS THE DEMOLITION REQUEST ALREADY BEEN APPROVED ON THIS ONE? UH, CHAIR? THIS IS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND ADDITION.
PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND ADDITION.
SO THAT WOULD BE, UH, IN ONE ACTION.
[02:20:01]
DO WE HAVE A, UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALRIGHT, UH, DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM? UH, ITEM NUMBER 24.UH, HAVING NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UH, SIGNED UP FOR THIS, UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS ONE? THIS WAS, BY THE WAY, POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER 1ST MEETING.
AND, UH, I GUESS THE SAME STANDARDS APPLY IN THIS CASE IF IT'S AN ADDITION REMODEL.
IS IT, UM, THE 75 DAYS REVIEW OF PLANS? UH, MS. CONTRERAS? YES, COMMISSIONER.
DO I PULLED THIS ONE? UM, I WILL NOT MAKE A MOTION FOR HISTORIC ZONING, BUT I'D DEFINITELY LIKE SOME HELP ON WHAT OUR TOOLS ARE IF IT'S NO ACTION OR, OR WHAT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK, DON'T THINK WE CAN APPROVE, UH, AN INAPPROPRIATE DESIGN STAFF.
UH, DIDN'T WE RECOMMEND THIS? GO TO THE A RC? THEY CAME.
AND SIMILAR TO THE LAST HOUSE, I MEAN, I, I DON'T, YEAH, WE GOT NO, NO, NO PUSH ON THESE HOUSES OR THESE OWNERS AND THESE DESIGNERS.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF THEY'RE ARCHITECTS, BUT THESE HOUSES THAT ARE CONTINUALLY GETTING APPROVED, WHICH MAYBE 30 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY'LL BE DEMOLISHED ANYWAYS.
YEAH, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A ODDBALL IN THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR A FULL DEMOLITION, BUT THE PLANS AS THEY'RE PROPOSED WOULD VIRTUALLY RENDER THIS.
A, UH, WHAT WAS A, UH, OBVIOUSLY A CONTRIBUTING, UH, PART OF THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT TO ONE THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
UH, THE ONLY TOOL WE REALLY DO HAVE IS, UH, THE REVIEW AND WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR, UH, A POSTPONEMENT AND THEN MAXIMIZING WHATEVER THE DELAY TIME IS WITH THE HOPE THAT ANOTHER INVITATION TO THE A RC OR SOME OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE MIGHT, UH, ALLOW FOR A BETTER OUTCOME.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, WE DO HAVE A POSTPONEMENT AVAILABLE, I BELIEVE.
ONE MORE? IS THAT RIGHT? MS. CONTRERAS? UH, COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE 180 DAYS BECAUSE THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
SO WE'VE ONLY GOTTEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO FAR ON THAT ONE.
SO, UM, IN A POSTPONEMENT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE IF WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OTHER ALTERNATIVES DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME RATHER THAN APPROVE THESE PLANS.
MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, TO NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.
I DON'T THINK I NEED TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO THAT.
SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO ADD LANGUAGE, MOVE TO POSTPONE AND ASK APPLICANT TO RECONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE, UH, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE? WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE THOSE ENCOURAGEMENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT AS A YEAH.
UH, MOVE TO POSTPONE AND, UH, ONCE AGAIN, ASK THE APPLICANT TO RECONSIDER, UH, THE COMMENTS MADE AT THE, UH, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND, UH, HOPEFULLY COME SEE US AGAIN AND WITH, UH, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS MORE MINIMAL TO, TO THE DISTRICT.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ANY MORE TO YOUR MOTION? UH, I, I THINK THAT'S IT.
I, I THINK THE, UH, CURRENT DESIGN, UH, IS NOT FITTING TO THE DISTRICT AND I, I THINK THERE'S A LOT, UH, OF IMPROVEMENT THAT COULD HAPPEN.
DO WE RECALL WHY THE, WHY IS THIS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION? LIKE WHAT ARE THEY SAVING? WHAT WAS THEIR LOGIC? MAYBE THIS IS BESIDE THE POINT, BUT ANYWAY.
WHAT'S POSTPONED SO I CAN GET ANOTHER CRACK OF THE APPLE TO ASK HIM THAT.
ON PAGE FIVE OF THE PDF, THEY'RE SAVING ALL THE INTERIOR WALLS, UM, EXCEPT FOR AROUND THE KITCHEN AND THE BACK.
AND THEN GENERALLY THEY'RE SAVING ALMOST FOUR WALLS OF THE BUILDING.
I THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD IT, THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THEY NEEDED TO PRESERVE THE FOUNDATION FOR WHATEVER REASON.
[02:25:01]
IF, ANYWAY.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE JANUARY MEETING INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IT'S UNANIMOUS, SO THERE ARE NONE OPPOSED.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM
[25. HR-2023-122500 – 1010 Harwood Pl. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register District]
IS ITEM NUMBER, UH, ITEM 10 10 HARWOOD PLACE, UH, THAT IS IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND ONCE AGAIN, BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UH, MS. CONTRERAS, ITEM 25 IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCA 1935 HOUSE AND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENCE, A DU AND POOL.
UH, THE ORIGINAL PORTION OF THE HOUSE AT 10 10 HARWOOD PLACE IS A ONE, IS ONE STORY WITH A SYMMETRICAL PLAN AND A SIDE GABLE ROOF.
ITS CENTRAL STOOP IS SHELTERED BY A GABLE PORTICO WITH CLASSICAL REVIVAL COLUMNS AND TRADITIONAL CORNERS RETURNS.
THE HOUSE HAS A TWO STORY REAR EDITION AND GABLE SIDE EDITION WITH FIREPLACE MOSTLY CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
10 10 HARWOOD PLACE WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1935.
EARLY RESIDENCE INCLUDED HOYT AND JESSE HENDERSON WHO RENTED THE PROPERTY.
HOYT HENDERSON WAS THE CHIEF OPERATOR AT THE WESTERN UNION TELEPHONE COMPANY.
THE HOUSE WAS SOLD TO SEE MORLEY AND FRANCIS BARTHOLOMEW, WHO LIVED THERE THROUGHOUT THE 1940S.
MORLEY BARTHOLOMEW WORKED AS A SALESMAN AND AN ENGINEER.
RAYMOND WILLIAMS, WHO WORKED FOR THE WESTERN REPUBLIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, PURCHASED THE HOME.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT DOES NOT MEET MOST OF THE STANDARDS, THOUGH IT DOES MEET SOME.
THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO RELEASE THE PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE AND TO COMMENT ON PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, IS THE APPLICANT AVAILABLE? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
I, UH, MICKEY LER ARCHITECT AND APPLICANT FOR THE PROJECT.
UH, WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE OWNER ALMOST A YEAR AGO, UM, AFTER, UH, ANOTHER HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING.
UM, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD THIS PLAN.
UH, THE SUBMISSION WAS ACTUALLY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
THERE WAS A SNAFU WITH, UH, THE, UM, PUBLIC NOTICE, UH, A MONTH OR TWO AGO.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT AFFECTS THE, THE CLOCK, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE SYSTEM FOR, I DON'T KNOW, THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ON THE HLC AGENDA.
UM, THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED AS PROBABLY 50% OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE HIRED TO WORK ON, UH, WITH THE INTENT OF REMOVING THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE AND BUILDING THIS NEW, UH, MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORIC, UH, DISTRICT STANDARDS, BUT IT IS, UH, COMPLIANT WITH THE ADJACENT STRUCTURES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING UP STREET VIEW, BUT THE PROPERTY TO THE, UH, EAST IS A VERY SIMILARLY STYLED, UH, CONTEMPORARY MULTI-DWELLING UNIT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY.
I THINK WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S ADJACENT IMAGES, UH, AVAILABLE.
UH, IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER HERE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? OKAY.
IS ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST? WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER ONLINE OPPOSITION.
AND THAT IS AGAIN, UH, MR. CLIFTON LAD.
UH, MR. LAD, YOU PLEASE PRESS SIX AGAIN TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
[02:30:11]
MR. LAN, IF YOU COULD HEAR ME, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX ON YOUR PHONE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.MY NAME IS CLIFTON LADD AND I OPPOSE THE ISSUANCE OF DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR 10 10 HARWOOD.
I SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, AND WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THIS HOME IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE DEMOLISHED.
THE HOME THAT THE APPLICANT WISHES TO DESTROY IS A COLONIAL REVIVAL HOME BUILT IN 1935.
IT'S A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
ACCORDING TO THE APPROVED NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT NOMINATION, OUR DISTRICT COVERS 353 ACRES AND HAS 1,387 HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
MOST OF THE PROPERTIES 1,098 DATE TO THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE TO 1877 TO 1971.
THIS HOME FITS WELL WITHIN THE PARAMETERS ESTABLISHED FOR THE DISTRICT.
THE SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE IS STRUGGLING TO PROTECT THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA AND PREVENT THESE UNNECESSARY DEMOLITIONS AS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL BY THE STAFF REPORT.
THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE DESIGN STANDARDS.
THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION INCLUDES A BIG MAIN HOUSE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, A DU, AND GARAGE, ALL OF WHICH ARE LARGER IN SCALE AND TALLER IN HEIGHT THAN THE SURROUNDING CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS.
THEIR MASSING AND SCALE DOES NOT FIT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE PROPOSED BUILDINGS PROPORTIONS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS PROPORTIONS.
IT WOULD BE TWO AND A HALF STORIES TALL IN THE MAIN HOUSE, AND THE DESIGN STYLE ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT SPACE ON THE LOT FOR A COMPATIBLE ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HOME.
WE URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS APPLICATION FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS REQUEST, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY DIFFICULTY,
UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTION OF THE, UH, SPEAKER? OKAY.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, CHAIR.
BEFORE THAT, COULD I ASK THE APPLICANT TO RETURN THE, TO THE PODIUM FOR A QUESTION? SURE.
WE HAVE A, A QUESTION OF THE, UH, APPLICANT.
THE APPLICANT WILL BE GIVEN A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL AS WELL IF THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE IT.
BUT IF YOU WOULD FIRST, UH, BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION FOR, OKAY.
AND CAN YOU TELL ME THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE EXISTING PRIMARY RESIDENCE TO BE DEMOLISHED AND THE NEW ONE TO BE BUILT? UM, CERTAINLY SOMEWHERE IN MY PLANS HERE, IT TELLS ME THE PROPOSED SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT NO, I DO NOT KNOW THE EXISTING, UM, UH, PROPOSED SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE PRIMARY WOULD BE PLUS OR MINUS 1900 PROPOSED SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE ACCESSORY DWELLING IS PLUS OR MINUS IS ALMOST EXACTLY A THOUSAND.
AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE ATTACHED GARAGE, THAT'S JUST THE DWELLING UNITS.
UH, AND IF THERE'S A FURTHER QUESTION, UH, YOU'RE PERMITTED ANOTHER REBUTTAL IF YOU'D LIKE.
UH, THE ONLY REBUTTAL I WOULD MAKE IS THE POINT THAT THE, THE, THE, THE STRUCTURE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT IS, IS VIRTUALLY, IT'S NOT IDENTICAL.
THERE, THERE ARE UNIQUE STRUCTURES DESIGNED BY, FOR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT IS A MODERN MULTI-STORY.
VERY LARGE MULTI-DWELLING UNIT STRUCTURE.
SO, CONCEIVABLY, NO, ADMITTEDLY, THE PROPOSAL IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORIC, UH, UH, UNITS IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY CONSISTENT WITH, UH, ITS NEIGHBORS, UH, BOTH IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AND ACROSS THE STREET.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DID HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ON, UH, TRAVIS CAD.
IT SHOWS THAT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, BOTH STORIES IS 2,152 SQUARE FEET.
DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT TO YOU? YEAH, I'D, I'D BUY THAT.
YEAH, IT, IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY
[02:35:01]
BECAUSE THE, UH, THE EYE JUDGE'S, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE IN ONE WAY WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PARTICULAR RIGHT.WITH EXACTLY RECTAL LINEAR SPACES.
AND THE SECOND FLOOR IS A COMBINATION OF, OF TRADITIONAL NORMAL CEILING HEIGHT SPACES AND INTO THE GABLE, YOU KNOW, BUILT INTO THE ROOF TYPE THINGS.
UH, JUST TO CONFIRM, GENERALLY YOU, YOU WOULD AGREE THAT THE NEW STRUCTURE REPLACING THE EXISTING WOULD BE SMALLER? YES.
IF TCAS IS SAYING 2000, THEN THE PROPOSED S PRIMARY WOULD BE SMALLER.
AND YOUR APPLICANT'S AWARE OF THE NEW HOME HOME INITIATIVE, UH, STANDARDS THAT ALLOW MORE FAR IF HE RETAINED THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, THAT MAY ALLOW MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE ON A SECONDARY STRUCTURE? UH, WELL, I'M AWARE THAT COUNSEL HAS PASSED, UH, NEW PROPOSALS, BUT I'M NOT AWARE THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN CODIFIED INTO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE YET.
ALRIGHT, UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE APPRECIATE IT.
UH, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THOSE OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE ON THIS ONE? I AM GOING TO MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO OUR JANUARY HEARING.
UH, MOTION TO POSTPONE THE JANUARY MEETING, UH, FROM COMMISSIONER COOK.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
I DIDN'T ADD THE INVITATION TO THE ARCHITECTURAL RECONVENE SINCE IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT THERE WASN'T ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION, BUT I JUST HAVE A HARD TIME LETTING A HISTORIC CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY GO FOR ONE THAT'S SMALLER WHEN THERE ARE INITIATIVES IN PLACE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO ADVISE ON THE STATUS OF CODIFICATION OF THE, UM, PRESERVATION INCENTIVE AS PART OF THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IMMEDIATELY APPLICABLE, BUT, UH, NOT ONLY WOULD IT NOT BE A HINDRANCE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING THIS LOT, UM, IT WOULD COULD ALSO BE A BENEFIT TO RETAIN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE COMMISSIONER.
I BELIEVE, UH, CODIFICATION TAKES EFFECT 14 DAYS AFTER THE VOTE BY CITY COUNCIL.
UM, NOT POSITIVE ON THAT, BUT, UH, IT SHOULD BE COMING UP HERE SHORTLY.
UM, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION? UH, NO.
NOTHING MORE THAN, THAN WHAT I, WHAT I JUST SAID.
IT'S, UH, AGAIN, IN THESE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS, WE HAVE THIS TOOL AVAILABLE TO US.
IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO USE IT AND WHY WE NOT, WHY WE DON'T USE IT, AND OUR FINDINGS A FACT ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING IT IN A FAIR, A FAIR WAY.
I THINK THE QUALITY OF THE HOME COULD BE A CONDITION.
I DO AGREE THAT NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES COULD BE, UH, A FACTOR, BUT IF ONE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY ON THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OTHERWISE LARGELY INTACT DISTRICT DOES NOT JUSTIFY, UH, CONTINUED EROSION, I THINK THE PROPERTY IS OF HIGH QUALITY.
I THINK IT PROVIDES MORE THAN ENOUGH SQUARE FOOTAGE AND WOULD NOT HINDER IN RETAINING THAT MUCH SQUARE FOOTAGE.
THE NEW UNIT IN THE BACK COULD BE BUILT, ASSUMING THE RECONSTRUCTION IS DUE TO LIMITATIONS OF, UH, FLORIDA AREA RATIO, UH, IN ANOTHER, UH, ONE DAY.
UM, IT WON'T BE, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO? YEAH, I AGREED.
I THINK HE SAID MOST EVERYTHING.
I WISH, UH, WE COULD TAKE THIS TO A RC AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT.
UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S NEXT DOOR? DOESN'T REALLY MATTER TO ME.
UM, YES, IT MAY NOT BE CONTRIBUTING, BUT THESE ROOF LINES, THIS MASSING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, EVERYTHING IS JUST INAPPROPRIATE AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
IS THE HOME INITIATIVE, UM, ALSO HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR MCMANSION, CORRECT? I THINK SOME OF THE FUSSINESS OF THESE ROOF LINES I SEE AS A PRODUCT OF OUR MCMANSION ORDINANCE.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF HOME, UM, DID THINGS TO, TO EASE THOSE, PARTICULARLY IN THE A DU THAT'S PROPOSED.
THIS IS SORT OF CONVERSATION THAT'S GETTING BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF THE HLC.
BUT, UM, I LOOKED AT THAT AND I THOUGHT THAT'S CLEARLY WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IN THE AGE OF MCMANSION RULES.
AND MAYBE THOSE, UH, CAN BE ADDRESSED DIFFERENTLY NOW THAT A HOME IS IN PLACE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THE ORDINANCE BECOMES LAW 11 DAYS AFTER THE COUNCIL APPROVAL.
UM, BUT, UH, LEGAL IS CHECKING ON,
[02:40:01]
UH, WHEN THE CODE CHANGES ACTUALLY GO INTO EFFECT.UM, SO WE SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT SHORTLY.
WELL, INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
BUT WE DO HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TILL THE JANUARY MEETING ON THE TABLE.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND ANYBODY OPPOSED? SO I NOTED ALL HANDS, UH, IN FAVOR AND THERE ARE NO OPPOSED.
[27. HR-2023-147071 – 1610 Preston Ave. Old West Austin National Register District]
UH, FOR DISCUSSION IS ITEM NUMBER 27.UH, AND THAT IS IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
GIMME JUST A SECOND, UM, WHILE I, UH, GET THAT FROM LAW.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE MCMANSION RULES AS WELL.
UM, SO, UH, WE WILL HAVE THAT, UH, TO Y'ALL.
AND IF IT'S NOT AT THIS MEETING, I CAN, UH, SEND OUT, UM, AN INFORMATIONAL EMAIL, UH, AFTERWARDS TO Y'ALL'S, UH, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS EMAIL ADDRESS.
ITEM 27 AT, UH, 1610 PRESTON AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENCE DETACHED GARAGE AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
UH, THE EXISTING BUILDING WAS APPROVED FOR DEMOLITION BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.
UH, THE PROPOSED NEW BUILDING IS A ONE STORY TWO REVIVAL HOUSE CLAD AND PAINTED BRICK WITH A COMPOUND ROOF LINE AND DIVIDED LIGHT WINDOWS.
UM, THE PROPOSED PROJECT MEETS MOST OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS, UH, THEREFORE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON PLANS ENCOURAGING SIMPLER MASSING THAN SHOWN IN THE RENDERING.
IS THERE A QUESTION OF STAFF COMMISSIONER HORTER? UH, I BELIEVE THERE WAS A DUPLICATION OF, UM, FILES, AND SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THAT IS FORTHCOMING.
UM, COMMISSIONER, COULD YOU, UH, EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS PULLED? YEAH, SO THIS WAS PULLED BECAUSE, UH, I BELIEVE THE, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED, I MEAN, WHAT WE HAVE IS NOT A RENDERING OF WHAT IS PLANNED, BUT SIMPLY A, UH, CONCEPTUAL, UH, IMAGE OF WHAT THEY HOPE TO DESIGN BUILD THERE.
AND, UH, IT'S, I THINK THE COMMENT BEING IT'S AN INSPIRATIONAL REFERENCE.
IT'S NOT THE SAME THING AS, UH, ELEVATIONS.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME FAIRLY DEVELOPED PLANS THERE.
SO I THINK, THINK THERE WAS SOME QUESTION, DO WE HAVE AN INCOMPLETE PACKAGE IF I, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
BUT WERE THERE, WERE THERE WERE ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS PRESENTED? NO.
CHAIR, UH, THE, WHAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDED IS WHAT WE REVIEWED AGAINST THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
UH, SO THIS HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION AND, UH, WE CAN OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THE APPLICANT AVAILABLE? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
MY NAME'S MEGAN FOSTER AND I AM THE BUILDER OF THE PROPERTY.
OVERVIEW OF THE PROPERTY IS A FOUR BEDROOM, THREE AND A HALF BATH.
IT'S NOT A ONE STORY DESIGN, AESTHETICS AND KEEPING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER IN BOTH DETAIL AND SCALE WITH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITH A, YOU KNOW, TUDOR INSPIRED ELEVATION, PORT RICOCHET, TRADITIONAL BRICK ROOF, LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE ROOF AND OR SEAMLESS METAL ROOF WINDOWS, UH, SINGLE HUNG, DOUBLE HUNG AND FIXED.
UH, SO I THINK THERE'S A PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE DIDN'T, WEREN'T AWARE OF, OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
SO I THINK THAT THEY, WE NEED TO PROBABLY BACK A STEP UP AND GO THROUGH THE, THE PROCESS THE CORRECT WAY.
UH, YOU DO HAVE, UH, ELEVATIONS ON YOUR PLANS, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
THE, THE, THE, IT'S INSPIRATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SO I APOLOGIZE.
AND THERE'S NO REASON THAT THE INSPIRATION IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT HELPFUL.
BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE THE PLACE OF FULL DOCUMENTATION.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE I, MY MY THOUGHT IS I'M
[02:45:01]
ANSWERING MY OWN QUESTIONS AS YOU MIGHT HAVE, IS, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY NEED TO BE A COMPLETE MATCH TO THE FLOOR PLANT, FIRST OF ALL.BUT, UH, I GUESS I'M ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS.
I'VE ALREADY GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME COMMENTS FROM STAFF ABOUT THE MASSING THE ROOF SIZE, UH, WHICH THAT COULD BE A CONSIDERATION OF REDUCTION.
UM, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT, UH, COMMISSIONERS YOU'D LIKE TO POSE TO THIS APPLICANT? UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THE MORE IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT, UH, WE ARE SET UP WITH THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE TO HAVE A MORE INFORMAL CONVERSATION.
AND, UH, PROVIDE MORE EXPERTISE AND DIALOGUE IN THAT REGARD.
UH, BUT, UH, PERHAPS, UH, AS PART OF OUR CONVERSATION, WE MAY ALSO, UH, JUST ELICIT SOME INITIAL RESPONSE IN TERMS OF DIRECTION AND, UH, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT THEY MAY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE.
UNLESS THERE'S FOR CLARITY, HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG BY NOT GOING TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW TODAY FIRST.
UM, BUT THE PACKAGE DOES PRESENT AS MISSING SOME KEY PIECES, AND SO WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT REFERRING YOU TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT.
UM, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
DID I, DID I EXPLAIN THAT RIGHT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, IT'S A, IT'S A RESOURCE, BUT IT'S ALSO A RESOURCE THAT WE ASK PEOPLE TO MAKE USE OF.
BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, MAYBE THEY WEREN'T DOING IT RIGHT.
UH, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S IN YOUR CASE.
UH, UH, THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
UM, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN WE, THANK YOU HAVE ONE.
IT DID LOOK LIKE THE FLOOR PLAN VERY CLOSELY FOLLOWED.
THE INSPIRATION WAS THAT, DID A PICTURE TAKEN OF THIS AND THE FLOOR PLAN KIND OF MODELED AFTER THAT OR VICE VERSA? YES.
AND, UM, THERE, BUT THERE AREN'T ANY ELEVATIONS OF THE ACTUAL WORK NO, SIR.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE IN DEVELOPMENT IN ANY CASE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER PEOPLE, UH, SPEAKERS HERE ON THIS ITEM? AWESOME.
ALRIGHT, UM, THEN COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, APPLICANT WHO'S WILLING TO, UH, DISCUSS MORE DETAIL WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, BUT IS ALSO ASKED FOR SOME INITIAL RESPONSE.
UH, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND PERHAPS SOME OF OUR DISCUSSION CAN, UH, HELP ILLUMINATE THAT ISSUE.
I'LL MOVE TO POSTPONE THE CASE TO OUR JANUARY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND, UH, OUR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT WEEK.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
I WOULD NOTE WITH, UM, THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING PROPERTY STRUCTURE ALREADY APPROVED.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UH, I PERSONALLY DON'T MIND THE RELATIVELY COMPLEX MASSING HERE.
UH, THERE'S SOME MODERN ELEMENTS LIKE THE CORNER WINDOW, WHICH I'M NOT AFRAID OF WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
TO DEFINITELY DIFFERENTIATE IT.
WE, I'LL HAVE DETAILS BY AND LARGE, I REALLY LIKE IT, UH, AND WOULD TEND TO GO TO ENCOURAGE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, BUT SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE ELEVATIONS DRAWN YET ANYWAY, MAYBE THIS WILL BE A GOOD TOOL IN THAT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
YEAH, I, I THINK IT, IT'S A TOUGH, UH, NEEDLE TO THREAD SOMETIMES.
UH, TO BUILD NEW IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, YOUR NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL NEVER BE A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
IT WAS NEVER THERE HISTORICALLY.
BUT SCALE MATERIALS PROPORTION AND DESIGN ELEMENTS ALL WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL LOOK AND FEEL OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL EITHER BE IN SYM, IT'D BE SYMPATHETIC TO, OR, OR, UH, BLEND IN WELL, UH, WITHOUT BEING HISTORICIST, UH, OR, OR IT'LL STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.
AND I'M AFRAID WE'VE HAD WAY TOO MANY OF THE LATTER AND NOT ENOUGH OF THE FORMER.
I THINK THIS IS IN A, IN A GOOD DIRECTION.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT FLUSHED OUT.
AND, AND I'LL NOTE THAT, UM, THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THESE THREE COMMISSIONERS HERE, AND I'VE ALREADY SIGNALED I THINK YOU SHOULD CONTINUE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER INPUT TO GIVE YOU SOME CONFIDENCE IN THAT.
UM, I REALLY LIKE THIS DIRECTION.
I KNOW THIS IS A HARD ASK, BUT IF YOU HAD SOME ACTUAL DRAWING ELEVATIONS BEFORE YOU COME TO A RC, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU MENTIONED BRICK.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT THIS WHITE SURFACE IS.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE BRICK, BUT MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE
[02:50:01]
PHOTO THAT I CAN'T TELL.UM, SO I THINK THAT WOULD KIND OF HELP US, YOU KNOW, UH, UNDERSTAND MATERIALITY, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT YEAH, I DO REALLY LIKE THE DIRECTION THIS IS GOING IN.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? PERHAPS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR OTHER COMMISSIONERS MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IS IS TUDOR REVIVAL? THE, WHAT, WHAT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? I, I'M JUST LOOKING AROUND AND THERE, THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH REFERENCES THAT IT WOULD NOT, IT WOULD NOT BE INAPPROPRIATE.
UH, IT, IT WOULDN'T BE AN EXACT MATCH NECESSARILY, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE TIMEFRAME AND WOULD BE, UH, OF THAT ERA.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE JANUARY MEETING.
REFER TO THE A RC UH, COMMISSIONERS.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I SEE EVERYONE'S HANDS UP, SO THERE ARE NONE OPPOSED.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN JANUARY.
[28. HR-2023-149931 – 2716 Wooldridge Dr. Old West Austin National Register District]
IS ITEM NUMBER 28 27 16 WILDRIDGE DRIVE.THIS IS ALSO IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A REQUEST TO DEMOLISH A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE WITH, UH, BUILDING NEW CONSTRUCTION.
ITEM 28 27 16 WOOLDRIDGE DRIVE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCA 1940 HOUSE AND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENCE AND A POOL.
UM, THE EXISTING BUILDING IS A ONE STORY HOUSE WITH A CROSS GABLED ROOF, A PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH BEHIND A SIMPLE LOGIA AND ATTACHED CARDBOARD AND BRICK CLADDING.
UH, THE PROPOSED NEW RESIDENCE IS ECLECTIC AND STYLE WITH ELEMENTS OF DUTCH COLONIAL REVIVAL, TUTOR, REVIVAL, AND GOTHIC REVIVAL STYLES.
THE EXISTING HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1940.
HARRY JOSEPH, WHOSE FAMILY OWNED SEVERAL PROMINENT BUSINESSES DURING THE 20TH CENTURY OPERATED HARRY'S LIQUOR STORE AND S SCHOONER A BEER STORE.
EVENTUALLY, JOSEPH AND HIS FATHER OPENED CENTENNIAL LIQUOR AS WELL AS AUSTIN'S FIRST IMPORT BUSINESS.
THE JOSEPHS REMAINED IN THE, THE HOME UNTIL AT LEAST 1972.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
UH, EVALUATION SHOWED THAT THIS PROJECT DOES NOT MEET MOST OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
SO IT DOES MEET SOME, THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER 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 ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, POSTPONEMENT TO JANUARY 10TH IN ORDER TO INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALRIGHT, UH, IF NOT, THEN WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND IS THE APPLICANT AVAILABLE? WOULD THEY LIKE TO COME AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND, UH, PRESENT YOUR CASE? THANK YOU.
UM, YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME GOING UP AND DOWN SO I CAN SEE APPROPRIATELY.
UM, I AM THE OWNER AND PRINCIPAL DESIGNER FOR JAMISON DESIGN GROUP AND PRIMARY APPLICANT FOR THE DEMO PERMIT AT 27 16 WOOLRIDGE DRIVE.
UH, WE ARE REQUESTING, UH, A DEMOLITION PERMIT ON BEHALF OF THE NEW OWNERS AND WITH WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE DIRECT DESCENDANTS AND FORMER OWNERS OF THE OR FOR THE ORIGINAL BUILDER AND OWNER, HARRY, HARRY JOSEPH.
WE BELIEVE THE EXISTING BUNGALOW, IN ADDITION TO ITS CURRENT STATE, DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES.
THE DESIGN WE ARE PROPOSING, ALTHOUGH NEW WILL INCORPORATE APPROPRIATE MASSING PERIOD, DETAILS, AND MATERIALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT PRESENT.
OUR HOPE IS THAT UPON COMPLETION, IT WILL HAVE BE, IT WILL APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UH, OUR CLIENTS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN CREATING A HOME THAT WILL ENHANCE NOT ONLY THE STYLE AND HISTORICAL INTEGRITY OF THE PEMBERTON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO BE A CONTRIBUTING FEATURE TO FUTURE AUSTIN GENERATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF OUR APPLICATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? I HAVE A QUESTION.
HAVE YOU APPEARED BEFORE US BEFORE? I HAVE NOT.
AND NOW RIGHT ON THE, ON THE, UH, PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE PLANS, BUT, UH, THOSE, THEY, THEY'RE THERE.
ARE THEY BEING ADVANCED? IT'S ON THE NEXT PAGES OF THE, UH, BUT WE, WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER? UH, YES.
S THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR CASE.
AND I'M WITH THE JAMESON DESIGN
[02:55:01]
GROUP.AND, UM, JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION HERE.
WE KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS GROWING RAPIDLY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITH RAPID GROWTH OFTEN COMES UNDESIRABLE DESIGN CHANGES.
AS AMY MENTIONED IN THIS SITUATION, THE HOMEOWNERS LOVE HISTORIC, UH, LIKE FEATURES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE HOME, THE EXISTING HOME, WE FEEL DOES NOT PROVIDE THOSE FEATURES.
SO THE DESIGN, UH, INTENT OF WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING INCLUDES APPEALING ROOF LINES, MATERIAL MATERIALS SUCH AS STUCCO, COPPER, ROOFING, SLATE, POTENTIALLY CHICAGO STYLE, BRICK STAINED GLASS, UH, STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, ET CETERA.
SO THIS IS A TWO STYLE HOME, AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE ELEVATIONS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE, ON THE DESIGN.
SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS.
UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTION OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY.
I GUESS, UM, YOU ARE MAKING REFERENCE TO HISTORICAL ELEMENTS, BUT I YOU, YOU AREN'T, YOU DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC REFERENCE OR HISTORIC BUILDING THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO.
IS THAT CORRECT? YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE A, A SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY MUCH, UH, FROM THAT PERIOD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT, IS THAT CORRECT? UM, THAT'S CORRECT.
IN A WAY, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING UNIQUE, BUT, BUT DEFINITELY THAT CAN GO ALONG WITH WHAT'S AROUND.
WE DON'T WANNA COME WITH A BOX, YOU KNOW, GLASS AND ALL THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE MEANT BY HISTORIC, LIKE FEATURES, THE MATERIALS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE.
WE'RE HOPING IT'S NOT GONNA BE CLASHING.
IT JUST, JUST PEOPLE, PEOPLE IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATELY THINKING, THIS IS JUST NEW AND IT'S OUT OF PLACE.
AND WOULD YOU BE, YOU'RE AT THE POINT OF THE DESIGN, WHERE WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO, UH, MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS DESIGN, UH, AT THE HISTORIC, AT THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE WHERE WE HAVE A, A CHANCE FOR A COMMITTEE TO SPEAK MORE INFORMALLY AND, UH, IN MORE DEPTH ABOUT SOME OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS? WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO? I THINK WE DEFINITELY ARE.
WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE OWNERS IN PROVIDING SOMETHING UNIQUE AND, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO GET FEEDBACK.
ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, HEARING NONE, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE HERE? I WILL MOVE TO POSTPONE THE MEETING TO OUR, UH, THE CASE TO OUR JANUARY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND OUR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS GETTING LONGER BY THE CASE.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I'M, I'M A LITTLE SKEPTICAL INTO HOW MUCH WE CAN ADJUST SUCH A, A STRONG DESIGN.
UH, I LIKE REALLY STRONG, INTERESTING DESIGNS.
THERE'S GONNA BE ALL SORTS OF ISSUES OF HISTORICISM AND DETAIL AMASSING AND COMPLEXITY.
UH, IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA BE A UNIQUE STRUCTURE.
UM, THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WE'RE HAVE TO BE CON, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER DEMOLITION OF THAT AND WHAT IT CONTRIBUTES VERSUS WHAT THIS ONE IS GONNA CONTRIBUTE.
BUT SINCE THE APPLICANT IS WILLING TO ENTER THAT DISCUSSION, I DEFINITELY THINK WE, WE SHOULD HAVE IT.
COMMISSIONER RIVIAN, UH, YEAH, I, THIS I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL CAN TALK TO YOUR OWNER, UM, AND WORK WITH US ON SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE CONTRIBUTING, UM, NOT CONTRIBUTING, I'M SORRY, COMPATIBLE, BECAUSE, UH, THEY DO HAVE A CONTRIBUTING HISTORIC BUILDING.
SO, UM, REMIND THEM OF THAT AND OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW THAT'S COMPATIBLE.
UH, THIS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THAT DISTRICT.
AND I, I REALLY HOPE, UH, YOU CAN CONVEY THAT TO THEM THAT WE NEED SOME STRONG CHANGES, UM, AND PERHAPS EVEN INVITE THEM ALONG WITH YOU TO THE A RC, UH, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN, UH, I CHECKED, YOU KNOW, CHECKED THE WEBSITE.
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE HOUSES YOU ALL HAVE WORKED ON THAT ARE HISTORIC BUNGALOWS.
SO I THINK YOU ALL ALSO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN IN THIS DISTRICT.
SO, UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TRY TO WORK WITH US ON THAT.
UH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AS WELL.
[03:00:01]
WILL SAY, UH, AGAIN, AS A ARCHITECT, IT WORKS WITH A LOT OF, UH, HISTORIC STYLES.I, I, I APPLAUD THE INTEREST IN USING SOME OF THAT AS INSPIRATION AND WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH ELEMENTS.
UH, PART OF THE REASON I MENTIONED PRECEDENT IS THAT IF YOU ARE WORKING WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD, THERE IS A CONSISTENCY IN TERMS OF PROPORTION.
UM, AND, UM, IN, IN THIS CASE, I'M GONNA CALL IT BALANCE.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AS A BEGINNING, I THINK YOU'RE INDICATING SOMETHING THAT COULD BE VERY EXCITING.
BUT IN ITS CURRENT STATE, I, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT COULD BE DONE TO, UH, AND OF COURSE WE CAN'T DESIGN FOR YOU, THAT'S NOT OUR JOB, BUT THE DESIGN, HOW TO GIVE YOU THE TOOLS AND WORK SO THAT IT IS MORE IN KEEPING WITH A HISTORIC DESIGN DISTRICT, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GETTING OUT OF THAT PERIOD OF TIME, UH, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND LOOKING TO SOME OF THE PRECEDENTS IN THE EARLY, IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.
UH, AND, AND, AND THEY ARE THERE.
UH, BUT THEY COULD BE, I BELIEVE, HANDLED IN A WAY THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THAT TIME PERIOD, UH, AND STILL EXPRESS, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IN, IN, IN MAKING A MODERN EDITION.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I THINK, UH, THIS IS A CONVERSATION I HOPE YOU'LL HAVE WITH THE A RC.
OH, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU THEN.
YES, YOU CAN ADDRESS MY QUESTION, BUT MAKE IT VERY QUICK.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD? NO, NO, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.
UM, I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND TOO, THAT WE TRY TO FIND A BALANCE.
WE WISH, UH, THE HISTORIC PART WAS THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT HOME.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S GONNA MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HOME HOMEOWNER.
SO WE TRY TO AGAIN, BALANCE ALL THESE THINGS, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HOME AND ALL THE RULES THAT EXIST.
AND AT THE END, WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA WORK FOR THEM.
NOT JUST IN APPEARANCE, BUT ALSO SPACE.
AND, AND I, I, I'M ADDRESSING MY COMMENT SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR NEW DESIGN.
I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE MOST OF THE INTEREST WILL BE.
UH, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING TO THE A RC NEXT WEEK.
CAN I JUST ADD, UH, MAYBE SOMEWHERE TO START, IS THAT 28 0 3 WOOLRIDGE WOOLDRIDGE DRIVE? UM, I THINK 28 0 3 IS A GOOD MASSING THAT YOU CAN TAKE AND INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE, UH, FEATURES INTO THAT, JUST TO GIVE YOU A STARTING POINT.
UM, UM, BECAUSE YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD, IT COULD WORK, YOU KNOW.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, AND REFER TO THE A RC.
UH, I WILL NOW CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED? I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
[29. PR-2023-095572 – 1101 Garner Ave.(Part 1 of 2)]
ITEM NUMBER 29.THIS IS, UH, 1101 GARNER AVENUE.
UH, THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER MEETING, AND WE ARE NOW IN THE DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMIT APPLICATION.
SO, UH, THIS IS A STANDALONE ITEM.
ITEM 29 AT 1101 GARNER AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCA 1938 HOUSE.
UM, THIS IS A ONE STORY TWO TO REVIVAL WITH A TWO STORY REAR ADDITION.
UH, THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS CLAD IN RUSTIC STONE.
UH, IT HAS A CROSS GABLED ROOF LINE, UH, WITH AN INTERSECTING GABLE, WITH INTERSECTING GABLE ENDS, UH, THAT HAVE TRADITIONAL CORNISH RETURNS, THE LEFT HAND GABLE CAPS AND ARCH ENTRY DOOR, AND A BUTT'S A PROMINENT FIREPLACE.
UM, THE STONE WALL SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY IS OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1938 FOR SISTER 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 SOPHIA, UM, WHO WORKED AS THE SHOP'S BUYER, BOUGHT THE DESIGNS OF OTHER TEXAS MILERS TO AUSTIN THROUGHOUT THE THIRTIES AND FORTIES.
FAYE CUMMINS WAS FEATURED IN A 1940S STATESMAN ARTICLE HONORING OUTSTANDING BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN OF AUSTIN FOR HER ASSOCIATION WITH THE BUSINESS.
THE SHOP EXPANDED FROM A SMALL SHOP ON CONGRESS TO A LARGER ONE ON EAST EIGHTH IN THE EARLY 1940S.
AND THE COMMON SENSES REMAINED IN THEIR HOME ON GARNER AVENUE FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, BUT UPON, UH, A DRIVE AROUND OF THE HOUSE, UM, AND A SITE VISIT, UM, IT'S APPARENT THAT THE SIDES AND BACK OF THE PROPERTY, UM, ARE, UH, VISUALLY WEIGHTY.
UM, THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BUILDING RETAINS SUFFICIENT INTEGRITY TO CONVEY ITS SIGNIFICANCE, UM, AND IF NOT, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
[03:05:01]
THANK YOU.ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY, HAVING NONE THEN WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, CALL TO THE PODIUM, UH, THE APPLICANT.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'M REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.
UH, MR. BILL MCCLAIN, WHO IS THE, UH, PRINCIPAL WITH THE OWNER IS ALSO HERE.
UM, IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, COULD WE PULL UP ITEM 29.1, WHICH WAS THE PRESENTATION FOR THIS, AND MOVE TO SLIDE THREE.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, REACQUAINT YOU WITH THE PROPERTY.
UH, IT IS A, UM, AN EXISTING SINGLE STORY WOOD FRAME BUILDING THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION THAT IN, IN THE, UH, MID EIGHTIES, THERE WAS AN ADDITION OF A SECOND STORY.
IT'S ON FOUR SMALL LOTS THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 3,300 TO 3,400 SQUARE FEET.
THERE IS CONSTRUCTION GOING ACROSS ALL THREE LOTS OR, OR THREE OF THE FOUR LOTS.
AND I THINK UNDER CURRENT CODE DISAGGREGATION OF THOSE LOTS IS NOT ALLOWED.
UM, UH, AND THERE'S ALSO, BY THE WAY, SOME HIS, UH, HERITAGE TREES ON 31 AND 30 THAT ALSO, UH, INHIBIT, UM, UH, DEVELOPMENT THERE.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THE EXTENT OF THE ALTERATIONS.
WE DISCUSSED THIS, UH, UH, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE ROCK WALL WAS ADDED IN 2016, THE CARPORT GARAGE IN 96.
UH, THE ONLY, UM, POTENTIAL, UM, SECOND, UM, CRITERIA THAT MIGHT BE MET WOULD BE ONE OF HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
THE CUMMIN SISTERS, UH, WERE THERE, UH, LESS THAN 10 YEARS.
UH, THERE'S NO LONGSTANDING ASSOCIATION.
I BELIEVE 10 YEARS IS WHAT YOU TYPICALLY ASSOCIATE.
AND WHILE CERTAINLY A WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS, WHICH IS ADMIRABLE AND BOTH, AND, AND VERY NOTEWORTHY, UM, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SORT OF, UM, THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THEIR WORK HAD ANY SORT OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE THAT CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CITY, STATE, OR NATION.
AND OF COURSE, THEY HAD THEIR BUSINESS AT NINE 12 CONGRESS, WHICH WE THINK IS A BETTER, UH, ASSOCIATION, AND THAT IS A HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
REGARDING, UH, COMPROMISED, UH, OR, OR, OR INTEGRITY.
THE CODE STATES SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE HAS TO BE A HIGH DEGREE OF INTEGRITY.
UH, AND I THINK THE STAFF REPORT INDICATES THAT THERE IS MODERATE INTEGRITY.
UM, AND, AND WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE, UH, THE, THE, THE, BOTH THE STREET VIEW ON GARNER AND THE INTERSECTION OF GARNER AND DEXTER, AND CERTAINLY ON DEXTER, IT'S CLEAR THAT THAT, UM, UH, UH, UM, INTEGRITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
UM, AND THE, UH, THE ADDITION OF THE, UM, UH, SECOND STORY DOES NOT MEET THE HISTORICAL DESIGN STANDARDS.
AND I THINK THEREFORE YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT TO NOT, UH, TO HAVE COMPROMISE.
I, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK MENTIONED LAST TIME THAT THE CIRCLED DOCUMENT OR THE CIRCLED, UH, UM, EXAMPLE THERE IS NOT QUITE ACCURATE, BUT CERTAINLY NONE OF THE BLUE BLUE EXAMPLES AS BEING ACCEPTABLE, UH, IS, IS NOT INDICATED HERE TOO.
THAT THAT NEW GABLE ON THE SECOND STORY IS VISIBLE FROM, FROM GARNER.
UH, AND CLEARLY IT DOES NOT MEET THE, UH, 15 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT OF THE, OF THE STANDARDS.
UM, AND, AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.
WE DID GO TO A RC ON NOVEMBER 13TH.
MR. MCLEAN WENT THERE AND, AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT WITH, UH, WITH AN ARCHITECT.
UH, HE CONSULTED WITH HIS ARCHITECT, UM, HUGH JEFFERSON RANDOLPH.
AND, UM, AND MR. RANDOLPH HAS GIVEN, UH, A LETTER AND WE'VE, I PASSED THAT OUT.
I, I'LL JUST READ IT BRIEFLY FOR MR. CASTILLO'S BENEFIT, UM, TO WHOM IT CAN MAKE CONCERN.
I'M WRITING ON BEHALF OF WILLIAM MCCLAIN IN SUPPORT OF THE GRANTING OF A DEMOLITION PERMIT OF THE STRUCTURES AT 1101 GARDNER AVENUE, A HOUSE AND AN EXPANDED GARAGE.
AS AN ARCHITECT AND OWNER OF A DESIGN FOCUSED RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE FIRM, WE HAVE COMPLETED NUMEROUS PROJECTS, BOTH NEW BUILD AND RENOVATIONS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
MANY OF THESE RENOVATIONS HAVE BEEN TO HISTORIC STRUCTURES, AND SEVERAL HAVE IN FACT WON PRESERVATION AUSTIN AWARDS FOR THEIR REHABILITATION.
IN SHORT, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN ANALYZING EVERY HOME AS TO WHAT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION, INCLUDING WHETHER TO RENOVATE AN ADD-ON OR TO BUILD NEW.
AFTER REVIEW OF THE STRUCTURES AT 1101 GARNER AVENUE, WE FEEL THAT A DEMOLITION PERMIT SHOULD BE GRANTED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
THE MANY ALTERATIONS, THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURES THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISED ITS INTEGRITY.
THE SECOND STORY EDITION, CARPORT, GARAGE EDITION, STONEWALL, ET CETERA.
TWO, THE HOME IS NOT LOCATED IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, NOR IS IT IN A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
THREE ON A, ON A MORE MINOR NOTE, THE FACT THAT THE LOT WAS HISTORICALLY PLATTED AS A SMALL LOT SUBDIVISION WITH SMALLER HOMES ON FOUR LOTS.
ADDITIONALLY, AS PART OF OUR REVIEW, WE DID NOT EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF UTILIZING EXISTING STRUCTURES AS A PORTION OF A NEW BUILD, BUT FELT THAT THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY ALREADY COMPROMISED WITH PAST ADDITIONS WOULD BE FURTHER COMPROMISED AND THEREFORE NOT A GOOD OPTION.
OUR OFFICE IS HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COMMISSION MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS CASE.
SINCERELY, HUGH RANDOLPH, UH, THE, THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK HAS HAPPENED IS WE'VE MENTIONED THE HOME INITIATIVE
[03:10:01]
DOES HAVE A PRESERVATION BONUS THAT WAS PASSED.UH, I BELIEVE IT'S GONNA TAKE EFFECT IN 11 DAYS AFTER PASSAGE, BUT THEN IT HAS ANOTHER 60 DAY DELAY BEFORE APPLICATIONS CAN BE FILED.
THERE IS CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY ABOUT LAWSUITS.
UM, OPPONENTS OF THE HOME INITIATIVE HAVE THREATENED, UH, LAWSUITS.
SO I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTION, BUT SHOULD THE PRESERVATION BONUS BE SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT, AT A, AT A FUTURE DATE.
NEVERTHELESS, WE ARE OPEN THAT THE, UH, DEMOLITION PERMIT WILL BE GRANTED.
WITH THAT, MR, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. HOWARD.
UH, IS THERE SOMEONE HERE ALSO TO SPEAK? UH, ALRIGHT, ARE THERE NO OTHER SPEAKERS? THEN? I WILL, UH, FOR OR AGAINST, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
BUT MOVED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
AND ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, WE'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? SO, I, I PULLED THIS, UM, FOR DISCUSSION AND I GUESS I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION IN ORDER TO DISCUSS PLEASE.
UM, SO I, I AM SURE THIS IS, UM, NOT GONNA PASS, BUT I, FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, UM, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THIS TILL, UM, OUR NEXT MEETING.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE TO THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, I'LL SECOND AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SPEAKING TODAY.
AND, UM, I'M SORRY I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND LAST MONTH'S A RC AND TALK TO YOU THERE, BUT, UM, I LIVE A BLOCK AWAY FROM THIS HOUSE, SO, UM, I FEEL LIKE I'M IN UNIQUE POSITION TO SPEAK TO THIS, UM, REALLY LOVELY HOME AND, AND I, I TOTALLY RECOGNIZE THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HOUSE DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA WE NEED FOR A LANDMARK DESIGNATION, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH OWNER OPPOSITION.
BUT, UM, I JUST REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK THIS THROUGH AND, AND RECOGNIZE THIS IS A STONE TUTOR REVIVAL HOUSE, WHICH WE HAVE SO FEW ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES OF IN AUSTIN.
AND ONCE THIS HOUSE IS GONE, IT IS GONE.
UM, I'VE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS NEIGHBORS WHO I'M, I'M SAD, UH, DID NOT SHOW UP TONIGHT OR CALL IN, BUT NUMEROUS NEIGHBORS WERE VERY UPSET OVER LOSING THE STRUCTURE.
IT SITS SO PROMINENTLY ON THE CORNER OF A LOT, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS DEMOLITION, IT'S, IT'S JUST ANOTHER HOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ONCE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCALE AND FABRIC OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE UNIQUE STREETS IN ZILKER.
UM, I, WITH COMPLETE RESPECT TO HUGH RANDOLPH, UM, I ALSO WORK IN A LOT OF OLD HOMES.
I, I THINK THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN THIS LOT WITH REMOVING, YOU KNOW, THE POOR SAD ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TACKED ONTO THIS HOUSE.
UM, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH ROOM REMAINING AND I WOULD, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE THE FRONT PORTION OF THAT HOME, UM, RETAINED AND SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND HOPEFULLY THE PRESERVATION BONUS I THINK WOULD BE AN AWESOME TOOL.
BUT EVEN WITHOUT THAT, I THINK, UM, THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY THERE TO STICK WITH THAT GREAT, UM, STONE HOUSE IN THE FRONT AND EXPAND AT THE REAR.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
AND SO MY ONE TOOL IS TO TALK TO YOU DIRECTLY.
YEAH, I THINK I AM SURE I SAID MOST OF MY PIECE AT A RC.
UM, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE WE HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PRESERVATION BONUS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES.
AGAIN, OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS HOUSE AND SEE, UH, A TEAR DOWN AND, YOU KNOW, COMPROMISE INTEGRITY.
I MEAN THAT THIS, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT JUST TAKES A CREATIVE MIND AND A VISION.
AND SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO YEAH, UH, THINK ABOUT THAT AND CONSIDER IT AT THE VERY MINIMUM, YOU KNOW, HIRE THE RIGHT PERSON.
YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE DESIGNS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH.
UM, BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A, A DISTRICT ANYWAYS, UH, IF I RECALL.
SO, UM, UH, AGAIN, CHOOSE WISELY BECAUSE THEN, YOU KNOW, YOUR NEIGHBORS WOULD PROBABLY JUST HAVE THAT
BUT, UM, YOU'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE INAPPROPRIATE DESIGN.
SO THAT'S JUST MY ONLY ENCOURAGEMENT.
[03:15:01]
UM, I AM, AM, UH, UNFORTUNATELY NOT GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION, UH, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAID WAS ALMOST VERBATIMDEFINITELY IF IT WAS OUR PROPERTY, THERE'S SO MUCH PROMISE FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY, THE INTENT, OTHER, OTHER PROPERTIES ON IT, IT SEEMS SUITED FOR THE, ALTHOUGH POSSIBLY 60 DAYS AWAY, IMMINENT, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO USE THIS EXISTING STRUCTURE, NOT ONLY TO ENHANCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LEVER AND ENHANCE THE PROPERTY AS A WHOLE, BUT TO LEVERAGE FOR ADDITIONAL DENSITY.
UH, IT'S JUST REALLY, UM, UNFORTUNATE AND DISAPPOINTING PERSONALLY.
BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE YOU COMMENT, HEAR THE SAME THING FOR A THIRD TIME IF YOU'VE ALREADY MADE YOUR DECISION.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS NOT ON THE DISTRICT.
THE TOOL AVAILABLE US TO US OR LANDMARK AND NOT, UH, STAFF HAS ALREADY SAID THAT INTEGRITY'S QUESTIONABLE.
UH, THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS THE ACTUAL PRO BUSINESS THAT WAS RUN BY THE WOMEN THAT LIVED HERE FOR LESS THAN 10 YEARS IS LANDMARKED, IS A STRONG ONE THAT I THINK WOULD DEFINITELY HOLD UP AT HIGHER LEVELS.
SO, UH, I REGRETFULLY WOULD HAVE TO NOT SUPPORT THE MOTION.
COMMISSIONER TO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UM, THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO A JANUARY MEETING.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE THE LAST TIMEOUT FOR THIS.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THAT'S CORRECT.
THIS WILL TIME OUT ON JANUARY 15TH.
OR RELEASE, UH, AND ALLOW THIS TO PROCEED, UH, AT THIS MEETING, UH, IF THE MOTION FAILS.
SO, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, INDICATE BY, UH, RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND WE HAVE TWO, UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN AND RUBIO.
I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO.
OH, FOUR WAS THEIR HANDS RAISED.
AND, UM, ALL THOSE OPPOSED? 2, 3, 4.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER MWATER, DID YOU VOTE? I VOTED, I RAISED MY HAND LEFT.
SO THAT, THAT'S A MAJORITY OF THOSE HERE, BUT THAT'S NOT A QUORUM.
DOES THAT GIVE US AN INDICATION OF WHERE WE ARE ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? YOU DON'T NEED A SUPER MAJORITY FOR THIS.
SO THEN THE MOTION TO POSTPONE HAS PREVAILED.
AND SO WE WILL DO, WE NEED SIX VOTES FOR, I MISSED THE FIRST, UM, HAND RAISING.
THOSE, THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.
AND THAT'S IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT.
IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT CASTILLO.
COMMISSIONER GROGAN, COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
COMMISSIONER HORTER AND COMMISSIONER EVANS.
SO THERE'S FIVE IN FAVOR AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR OPPOSED.
SO THAT WAS A MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESENT, IF THAT'S ALL THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THE MOTION HAS PASSED AND, UH, WE WILL DEFINITELY, UH, ALLOW YOU BACK HERE IN JANUARY.
[30. PR-2023-115579 – 812 W Elizabeth St]
WE HAVE ONE FINAL DISCUSSION, UH, POSTED.AND THAT IS FOR, UM, EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
AND THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A TOTAL DEMOLITION.
AND THIS ALSO WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
THIS IS OUR, UH, FINAL DISCUSSION CASE OF THE EVENING ITEM 22 8 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CI 1890 HOUSE.
UM, THIS IS A ONE STORY T PLAN FOR VICTORIAN WITH ASBESTOS SHINGLE SIDING, ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS, A PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH SUPPORTED BY CLASSICAL COLUMNS IN A FRONT FACING BAY WINDOW.
DETAILS INCLUDE JIGS ON FREEZE BOARD AND CEDAR SHINGLES AT THE G BLENDS.
THE HOUSE AT EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND 1890 BY THE 2016 BOULDER CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY.
IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PART OF A HOMESTEAD OWNED BY THE CLICK FAMILY, WHO APPEARED TO HAVE MOVED, UH, BACK AND FORTH FROM THEIR SOUTH AUSTIN PROPERTY TO THEIR RANCH AND DRIPPING SPRINGS UNTIL THE 1920S.
UH, WHEN THEY MOVED PERMANENTLY TO AUSTIN.
GEORGE HARVEY AND SARAH JOSEPHINE
[03:20:01]
CLICK WERE BOTH CHILDREN OF TEXAS PIONEERS.UH, AND THEY LIVED ON THEIR FAMILY, SOUTH AUSTIN, 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 CLICKS AND LATER RENTED BY THEIR PASTOR, APPEARS TO BE THE OLDEST ON THE BLOCK NEWSPAPER RESEARCH SHOWING THAT MYRA CLICK CLAYTON PURCHASED AND DEVELOPED THE SURROUNDING LOTS DURING THE LATE 1930S AS THE PROPERTY WAS NOT WITHIN THE CITY PROPERTY FOR, UH, MUCH OF ITS EARLY LIFE.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH DID NOT REVEAL NEW INFORMATION ON THE CLICK FAMILY IN AUSTIN DURING THE 1950S.
THE HOME OWNED BY INEZ PIPER AND HER HUSBAND CLIFFORD, A PAINTER.
THE COUPLE DIVORCED IN 1960, UM, AND LATER THAT YEAR, SALES CLERK CONSUELA SANCHEZ AND AIR FORCE SERVICEMAN ROBERT MARTINEZ, MARRIED AND MOVED INTO EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
THE 2016 BOLD CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY LISTS THIS PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR PRESERVATION.
UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA.
UM, IT IS CONSTRUCTED IN THE FOLK VICTORIAN STYLE AND APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLICK FAMILY.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BUILDING'S INTEGRITY IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE MERITS LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
IF SO, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, AND IF NOT, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO RELEASE THE PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, THE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? YEAH.
CAN YOU GIVE US A TIMING UPDATE ON THIS ONE? WHAT, HOW MANY DAYS DO WE HAVE? I BELIEVE THIS ONE FIRST APPEARED, UH, ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
UH, SO 75 DAYS WOULD BE JANUARY 15TH FOR THIS PROPERTY.
SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO TAKE ACTION BEFORE JANUARY, OR COULD WE POSTPONE TO JANUARY? IF MY QUESTION YOU COULD POSTPONE TO JANUARY 10TH, AND THAT'S THE LAST MEETING THAT THIS, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO BE HEARD AT.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS, UH, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, ASK THEM TO PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
MY NAME'S CATHERINE LOT AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE OWNER OF A 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNER'S OUT OF TOWN UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT WE ARE REQUESTING A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH.
THE REASON IS THAT THE HOUSE IS A RENTAL PROPERTY AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
THE OWNER CAN NO LONGER SECURE INSURANCE ON THE PROPERTY DUE TO ITS CURRENT CONDITION.
THE CURRENT TENANT'S LEASE IS UP DECEMBER 31ST.
AND, UM, WE WISH TO DEMOLISH THE HOUSE AFTER THAT BECAUSE WE THINK LEAVING IT UNINHABITED IS A LIABILITY.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO THREE POORLY CONSTRUCTED OUTBUILDINGS AT THE REAR ALLEY SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, AND THESE STRUCTURES ARE IN SUCH DISREPAIR THAT THEY'RE ALMOST FALLING DOWN ON THEIR OWN.
SO TONIGHT THE COMMISSION SHOULD DETERMINE WHETHER THE BUILDING'S INTEGRITY IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE MERITS OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPERTY MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
FIRST CRITERIA BEING CONSIDERED IS ARCHITECTURE.
AND YES, THE HOUSE WHEN IT WAS ASSEMBLED WAS CONSIDERED FOLK VICTORIAN STYLE.
HOWEVER, WE FEAR THAT IT HAS LOST ITS INTEGRITY OVER THE YEARS, NOT LIMITED TO THE REASONS OF THE ADDITION OF THE ASBESTOS SHINGLES AND A CONCRETE FRONT PORCH.
SO FOR OVER HALF OF THE LIFE OF THE HOUSE, IT'S INTEGRITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THE HOUSE IS REALLY A SIGNIFICANT, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ATTRACTION.
THE SECOND CONSIDERATION IS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE CLICK FAMILY HAS BEEN MENTIONED.
THEY RESIDED IN THE HOUSE AS WELL AS A PASTOR, A PAINTER, AND AN AIR FORCE SERVICEMAN.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION RESEARCH WE'VE DONE, THE CLICK FAMILY IS NOT CONSIDERED A SIGNIFICANT AUSTIN FAMILY.
THE CLIQUES WERE SIGNIFICANT PIONEERS IN LAMAR COUNTY, NEAR HOUSTON AREA, AND IN ANO COUNTY.
THEY WERE NOT PIONEERS OF THIS, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND THEY'RE NOT MENTIONED AS SIGNIFICANT RESIDENCE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, WE FOUND HIS OCCUPATION OF MR. CLICK TO BE A TEAMSTER AND A TRUCK CALLING OWNER.
THE OTHER CRITERIA FOR HISTORICAL DESIGNATION WERE NOT CONSIDERED AS POSSIBILITIES BY THE STAFFER MEETING THE CRITERIA OF HISTORICAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
WE ASK FOR PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR DEMOLITION PERMIT OF EIGHT 12 ELIZABETH STREET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE, UH, SPEAKER? NO, THANK YOU.
ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS WHO WISH TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM? UH, UH, UH, ANYBODY IN FAVOR? AND ALRIGHT.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE,
[03:25:03]
BUT NOT PLEASE.UH, I HAVE LIVED IN THE BOULDER CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1976.
I LIVE AT SEVEN 10 WEST GIBSON STREET, UH, WITHIN A 400 FOOT RADIUS OF THE PROPERTY BEING CONSIDERED FOR FULL DEMOLITION.
I OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION REQUEST OF EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH.
AND I ASK THAT YOU SERIOUSLY CONSIDER INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT TOUCHSTONE TO TOUCHSTONE TO OUR PATH, A RARE TOUCHSTONE TO OUR PAST AND TO SOUTH AUSTIN HISTORY.
THE STRUCTURE WAS RECOGNIZED AS A HIGH PRIORITY LANDMARK STRUCTURE BY OUR HISTORICAL SURVEY THAT WAS DONE IN 20 15, 20 16.
OF PARTICULAR NOTE, EIGHT 12 WEST L BUT IS NOT A RECENTLY TRANSFERRED OR RELOCATED HOUSE.
IT EXISTS ON ITS ORIGINAL BUILDING SITE.
IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE FEW WOOD FRAMED ORIGINAL OAK VICTORIAN HOMES IN BOLDEN CREEK.
VERY, VERY FEW OF THEM EXIST AT ALL, AND IT WAS BUILT BEFORE THE BUNGALOW CRAZE THAT OCCURRED AFTER WORLD WAR I.
THE CLICK FAMILY HAD ROOTS NOT ONLY IN OLD SOUTH AUSTIN, BUT AMONG THE VERY FIRST COLONISTS IN TEXAS.
I DISCOVERED THAT THE CLICK FAMILY NAMES WERE PART OF AN ORIGINAL ROBINSON SETTLEMENT THAT WAS CALLED THE NASHVILLE ON THE BRAES.
A SETTLEMENT NOT TOO FAR FROM WASHINGTON ON THE BRAES, SPEAKING TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF IT AS THE CLICK FAMILY, AT LEAST TWO GENERATIONS WERE INVOLVED AT DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH AUSTIN.
FROM A DEEP DIVE INTO HISTORIC PERIODICALS, I FOUND THAT MEYER CLICK CLAYTON WAS INVOLVED WITH SUPPORTING PHILMORE JUNIOR HIGH AND THE JUNIOR RED CROSS.
THERE SHE WAS A BUSINESSWOMAN LIKE MARY AND NANNY DAWSON, WHO HAD PARKS AND STREETS NAMED AFTER AND SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER THEM AND DEVELOPED AND SOLD THEM, BOUGHT MULTIPLE BOLDEN PROPERTIES ON ELIZABETH STREET, GIBSON STREET, BOLDEN AVENUE SOUTH, UH, SOUTH THIRD STREET.
SHE BOUGHT REAL ESTATE PROPERTY FROM HERMAN BECKER, UH, ON WEST MONROE STREET AND POSSIBLY OTHERS.
IF WE DID MORE HISTORICAL RESEARCH INTO IT.
IN CLOSING, I BELIEVE THAT OTHER NEIGHBORS IN THE HOOD WOULD'VE COME HERE IF IT WASN'T SO LATE AND IT WASN'T SO DIFFICULT.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY JUST HARD TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A CIVIC ACT LIKE THIS.
BUT I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO DO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS A MEMBER OF THE BOULDERING CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE TALKED, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE THIS PLACE PRESERVED AS OUR LAST LINK TO THE PAST.
SO MANY HOUSES HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE BOLDEN NEIGHBORHOOD.
MANY OF THEM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GO, THEY'RE OLD, THEY'RE FUNKY.
THIS IS A HOUSE THAT IS CONNECTED TO A FAMILY THAT HAS PIONEER CONNECTIONS TO TEXAS.
THIS IS A PLACE WHICH NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY GUARDED AND PRESERVED.
UM, I BELIEVE YOU'LL FIND IT'S A REALLY OLD HOUSE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FROM COMMISSIONERS? UH, I, I HAVE A, A COMMENT, NOT REAL NECESSARILY A, A A QUESTION, BUT, UM, I, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHO DECIDES WHO IS SIGNIFICANT AS FAR AS THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY AND, AND, UM, AND TEXAS ARE TO SAY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT TO THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE CITY AND THIS REGION IS SIGNIFICANT NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST STOOD OUT TO ME.
UM, PROBABLY GETTING PERSONAL, BUT I MEAN, I SHOULDN'T AS A COMMISSIONER, BUT THAT'S A STATEMENT THAT STOOD OUT THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY, WHEN THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS, WE'RE NOT ANYONE TO CONSIDER SIGNIFICANT WHO'S NOT.
AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, THE HISTORY OF THE STATE, THE, UH, UH, THE, UH, THE ACTIONS OF, OF WHO OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND, AND YOU KNOW, US AS COMMISSIONERS, REPRESENTATIVES, WHAT WE ADVOCATE FOR.
SO I THINK THAT IN CONSIDERATION LANGUAGE THAT IS, UM, IS DISCUSSED IN THESE TYPES OF MEETINGS.
COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, THAT, UH, WOULD, WELL AT THIS POINT, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
AND SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THE APPLICANT IS, UH, AFFORDED TIME FOR A REBUTTAL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER RECORDER, AND PLEASE, EXCUSE ME, BUT COME BACK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT.
WELL, I'M NOT MEANING TO SAY THAT THE CLIQUES ARE NOT IMPORTANT TEXANS, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST GOING OFF OF, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE AND ITS HISTORICAL
[03:30:01]
ASSOCIATION.UM, ANYWAY, SO NO, NOTHING, NOTHING INTENDED TO BE INCORRECT.
UH, IF YOU DEEM IT AS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK, I FEAR THAT IT WILL JUST BE BOARDED UP AND IT WILL BE SITTING AS A EYESORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I, I'M JUST FEARFUL OF, UH, BECAUSE OF THE DISREPAIR THAT IT'S IN.
AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
I KNOW, I DON'T AGREE THAT IT WAS 1890.
I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING EARLIER THAN LIKE, POSSIBLY 1907 TO 12, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S JUST SPLITTING HAIRS.
WE KNOW IT'S USED TO BE A TREASURE AND I'M SORRY, IT'S IN, IT'S LIVED ITS LIFE.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION OF YOUR OWNER.
BECAUSE SHE HAS HELD, HELD IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, OBVIOUSLY HAS HAD RENTERS, UH, IT HAS SERVED A PURPOSE FOR THIS OWNER.
AND YOU'D SAY THAT THE TRIGGER WAS THAT THERE WAS AN INSURANCE ISSUE.
UM, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS OR FROM WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED.
AND THIS HAS LESS TO DO WITH WHETHER THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE WOULD WARRANT, UH, SUFFICIENT HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
BUT WE'VE SEEN SOME HOUSES AND HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US HOUSES FOR DEMOLITION THAT, UH, ARE, YOU KNOW, QUITE OBVIOUS WHERE THEY, IT IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME SERIOUS CREATIVITY TO KEEP THIS THING UP.
HE, I LIKE PREVIOUS CLIENTS HERE TONIGHT, PROBABLY REALIZED WHAT IT WAS GONNA TAKE TO BRING IT UP TO THE REPAIRS.
I MEAN, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE INSIDE OF IT AND STUFF, AND IT'S NOT INSURABLE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SAFE.
SO I DON'T THINK THE OWNER, IT'S NOT UP TO ME TO SAY HOW TO SPEND HIS MONEY, WANTS TO DO THAT.
SO HE, THIS TENANT IS UP THE END OF DECEMBER AND IT'S BARELY SAFE FOR HIM NOW.
AND THAT'S THE OWNER'S WISHES FOR IT TO CONTINUE ON NEXT YEAR.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE APPLICANT? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
UH, LOOKING AT THE MAP, IT LOOKS LIKE THE, UH, THE HOME HAS AN ACCESS TO AN ALLEY.
THERE WAS MENTION OF, UH, SECONDARY STRUCTURES.
I THINK THESE TWO SHEDS ARE GARAGES IN THE BACK, WHICH YOU CAN YEAH.
THEY'RE SHOWN IN ANOTHER PICTURE.
WHICH I, I GUESS I WOULDN'T OBJECT TO THOSE, BUT, UH, THERE SEEMS TO BE, IF THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN NEW CONSTRUCTION, MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD TOWARDS THE BACK AND STILL HAVE ACCESS FOR SOMEBODY AND STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN, UH, THE, THE HISTORIC BUILDING.
SO PERHAPS SOMETHING TO PONDER.
I, I GOT, I GOT, I CAN'T HOLD IT.
I WAS GONNA HOLD IT TILL WE HAD A MOTION ON THE TABLE, BUT, UH, OKAY.
WELL THIS WILL BE, UH, AT THIS POINT YOU CAN ADDRESS THIS, ADDRESS THIS AS A QUESTION TO I'LL ADDRESS TO THE ADDRESS.
WELL, I WISH I WAS ADDRESSING THE OWNER DIRECTLY, BUT, UM, AND I HOPE I'M NOT ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING AFOUL OF, UH, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, BUT I KNOW PEOPLE WHO, UH, AREN'T SIGNIFICANT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACTUALLY HERE.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S A WEIRD SITUATION TO BE IN WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY SAW THIS EVENING, PEOPLE TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A PROPERTY AND THEY, THEY PUT UP THEIR HANDS, THEY, OH MY GOSH, I GOT SOMETHING THAT IT'S, IT'S SO, IT'S IN SUCH HORRIBLE SHAPE.
I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE HISTORIC HERE UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PERSON YOU'RE REPRESENTING.
THIS THING WENT, THIS THING FELL APART.
IT, HE DIDN'T LIKE PURCHASE IT AND BE LIKE, OH MY GOD, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I HAD.
HE'S HAD IT SINCE 2016 AND IT RECENTLY BECAME UNINSURABLE BECAUSE OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
I'LL SAVE THE REST FOR WHEN WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
I'M NOT, WELL, I WON'T GET INTO FINDING.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE THE SPEAKER TO ADDRESS THAT, OR WOULD DO, DO YOU SAY ANYTHING? WOULD YOU PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR, UH, THE, YOUR CLIENT THAT WE'D LOVE TO TALK TO HIM IN PERSON ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY THEY OWN.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS WAS POSTPONED.
UH, WELL FIRST I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, JUST A REMINDER, THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR NOVEMBER, UH, MEETING, AND I BELIEVE ONCE AGAIN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TIME CLOCK.
WOULD THIS BE IN THE SAME, UH, TIMEFRAME AS THE, SO A POSTPONEMENT TO THE JANUARY MEETING, BUT AFTER THAT, THE 75 DAYS WOULD RUN ITS COURSE? IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
[03:35:01]
THIS WILL TIME OUT ON JANUARY 15TH.UM, SO THE JANUARY 10TH MEETING IS THE LAST TIME, UH, THAT THIS COULD BE HEARD.
BUT ON JANUARY 10TH, COULD WE INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING AND HAVE ONE MORE, OR NO? NO.
I MOVE TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER, UH, FEATHERSTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, I THINK, UM, THE CLIQUES ASSOCIATION, UH, THE SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION, UH, PROVIDED A LOT OF GREAT BACKUP.
I THINK THE MOST COMPELLING PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT I HEARD WAS THAT THIS HOUSE IS ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE.
UM, THAT SEEMS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DEALT WITH THE ONES DOWNTOWN THAT HAD BEEN MOVED AROUND AND OR WERE GONNA BE MOVED AROUND AND, AND, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
AND, UH, JUST THE FACT THAT THE CLIQUES HAD THIS AS THEIR HOME ON THAT SITE, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT'S MEANINGFUL TO ME.
UM, I, I DID WANT TO ASK STAFF AND YOU, YOU BROUGHT IT UP BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION FOR DEMOLITION.
IS IT THOSE BACK BUILDINGS AS WELL? UM, OR ARE THOSE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM OUR REVIEW HERE? IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE LAST MONTH, I DON'T RECALL THOSE BEING BROUGHT UP.
SO IT IS, IT IS CURIOUS AND, AND THAT IF THOSE ARE A LEGITIMATE SAFETY HAZARD AND THEY'RE NOT WITH, UH, WITHIN THE PER, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED HISTORIC BY ANY MEANS, AND THEY'RE A SAFETY HAZARD, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A NO-BRAINER.
SO YOU HAVE THE OPTION, UM, IF THE PROPERTY WERE TO BE INITIATED TO INITIATE ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY ONLY, I THINK FOR NOW, I'LL, I'LL KEEP MY MOTION AS THE, THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
UM, THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION.
UM, I WASN'T PREPARED TO DO THIS THIS MONTH, BUT THE, THE CLOCK IS TICKING, I GUESS.
UH, I THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT ANY HARDSHIPS ON STRUCTURAL ISSUES OR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.
UM, I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE BUILDING THAT WE PASSED OVER.
WHAT'S THE, UM, OBJECTIONS? YES.
UM, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THAT ONE WE PASSED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THAT PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED.
SO, UH, I, I DON'T THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THAT FAR OFF.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, DEFINITELY CON CONSIDER THAT.
UM, I'M, I'M NOT, YEAH, I'VE HAD, I'VE BEEN RENTING HERE IN TOWN AND OTHER CITIES FOR, FOR YEARS AND I THINK COMMISSIONER, UH, FON MADE SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS ABOUT PROPERTY OWNER STEWARDSHIP.
AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STRUCTURE AND WE WILL, I'M SURE AUSTIN HAS NO SHORTAGE OF PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WANT TO FIND, UH, THIS AND BE A GOOD STEWARD AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INCENTIVES THAT WE CAN OFFER FOR HISTORIC ZONING AS WELL AS A FUTURE PRESERVATION BONUS.
COMMISSIONERS, WOULD OTHERS LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION? I WOULD LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER, I WOULD NOTE IN TERMS OF INTEGRITY, I MEAN, YOU STILL, YOU LOOK BACK IN STREET VIEW, YOU SEE IT STILL HAD THE AWNINGS THAT ARE TYPICAL TURN OF THE CENTURY AWNINGS AS RECENTLY AS 2008.
YOU STILL HAVE THE FISH SCALE IMPLICATION IN THE, IN THE GABLE IN THERE.
I MEAN, THAT'S DELICATE, DELICATE WOOD.
THE ADDITION OF ASBESTOS SHINGLE IS NOT LOSS OF INTEGRITY, IT'S COVERING UP INTEGRITY THAT COULD EASILY BE REMOVED.
I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO CONFIRM WHAT'S UNDER THERE AND THE CONDITION OF IT.
I THINK THE ARGUMENT STANDS TO BE MADE WHAT'S UNDER THERE THAT LACKS INTEGRITY.
OTHERWISE, I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT THE WOOD UNDER THERE ISN'T AS GOOD OR BETTER CONDITION DUE TO ITS PROTECTION THAN THE VERY DELICATE DETAILS UP, UP IN THE GABLE END.
UM, THE, THE CONCRETE PORCH IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE, BUT IT STILL HAS THE SAME FORM.
PORCHES ARE REPLACED ANYWAY, LIKE ROOFS.
AND SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO, TO EXIST FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS.
UM, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAD THE ORIGINAL TRIM.
UH, THIS TO ME JUST SEEMS TO BE, TO HAVE ONE OF SOME OF THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY WE'VE EVER SEEN.
SO I, UM, I THINK THERE'S SOME WORK TO BE DONE ON YOUR ARGUMENT IN THAT, IN THAT COURT.
I FORGOT TO ADD, UH, THAT WE ALL RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT, UM, AND HOPEFULLY GETTING SOME OF THOSE VOICES BACK HERE NEXT MONTH, UH, TO SUPPORT THAT AND KEEP DIGGING, FIND SOME PHOTOS, UH, HISTORIC RESEARCH, ANYTHING YOU ALL CAN DO TO BACK THAT UP.
SO, AND IF YOU, I SAY IT'S, IT'S BEEN PAINFUL TO SEE ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER IN THE BOLDEN NEIGHBORHOOD, AND NO, AND NO ONE SPEAKING.
SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOMEONE HERE.
I'VE HEARD REFERENCE TO THE BOLDEN SURVEY A
[03:40:01]
NUMBER OF TIMES, HAVEN'T SEEN IT.IF YOU HAVE IT DIGITALLY AND COULD EMAIL IT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE IN HAND.
UM, AND THE, THE ARGUMENT MADE BASED OFF OF THAT, THE, THE RANKING OF IMPORTANCE ON THE SURVEY THAT WAS DONE, UH, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO HAVE.
AND COMMISSIONER COOK, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THAT REFERENCE BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF RESOURCE AND RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND FOR THIS TO COME TO US AS ALREADY HAVING BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A STRUCTURE OF HIGH PRIORITY, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE HISTORY.
UH, AND ALSO TO, UM, COME AT A TIME PERHAPS WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL TOOLS THAT IF THIS OWNER WHO HAS BEEN HOLDING THIS POTENTIALLY AS AN INVESTMENT WERE TO EVALUATE THEM, THEY, UH, MAYBE, MAYBE WE COULD, WE COULD PERSUADE HIM, UH, TO BE A, UM, APPRECIATIVE OF ADDITIONAL VALUE THAT THIS HOUSE HAS.
UH, BECAUSE, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, I WANT TO AGREE THE SHEDS IN THE BACK, UH, WHERE WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS, I CERTAINLY WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE FRONT STRUCTURE ONLY HAVING THAT DESIGNATION WITH THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, UH, WHICH, UH, IF THEY WOULD EMBRACE, WOULD ALLOW FOR, UH, POSSIBLE, UH, ADVANTAGEOUS, UH, ARRANGEMENTS ONCE THE HOUSE IS RESTORED, UH, WITH TAX ABATEMENTS AND OTHER, UH, ELEMENTS THAT WOULD BE FAVORABLE TO THIS, UH, PROGRAM.
BUT, UM, THAT WOULD ALSO STILL FACTOR IN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO A HOUSE THAT'S OVER THAT'S OLDER THAN 1960.
SO THEY COULD TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE ON THE REST OF THE SITE FOR THE PRESERVATION BONUS THAT'S BEING NEWLY ENACTED.
SO IT COULD BE THE BEST OF BOTH, AND THIS MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS OWNER TO REALLY LOOK THROUGH WHAT THE NEW INVESTMENT POTENTIALS HAVE BECOME AND HOW THIS MIGHT IN FACT BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO BE A BENEFIT TO THIS OWNER IN A WAY THEY HADN'T CONSIDERED BEFORE.
UM, UH, I HAVE TO ALSO AGREE THOUGH IT IS COVERED UP.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THE ASBESTOS SIDING, UH, BUT VIRTUALLY ALL THE OTHER DETAILS ARE VERY, VERY, UH, GOOD SHAPE FOR A BUILDING OF THIS AGE.
AND EVEN THE CONCRETE PORCH FROM A QUICK GLANCE, MAY VERY WELL BE, UH, WITHIN THE, UH, PERIOD OF, UH, HISTORIC, UH, IMPORTANCE BECAUSE, UM, IT, IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THOSE WOOD PORTRAITS TO BE REPLACED BY CONCRETE IN THE TWENTIES OR THIRTIES.
SO, UH, IT MAY VERY WELL BE AN OLDER, UH, PART OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF THIS BUILDING.
SO WITH THAT, UH, OBVIOUSLY I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION AS WELL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A, UH, MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, WE HAVE 10 MEMBERS, NINE MEMBERS PRESENT.
UH, SO THAT WOULD MEET THE, UH, THRESHOLD.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE DISCUSSION CASES AND WE NOW CAN GO TO OUR REPORTS FROM OUR COMMITTEES.
UM, AND WE ARE GETTING TOWARDS THE LATE HOUR, BUT WE STILL HAVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ADJOURN.
BUT MAYBE VERY QUICKLY WE CAN CALL ON THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR YOUR REPORT.
COMMISSIONER, UM, LET ME BRING UP NUMBER 29.
AGAIN, THERE'S SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THERE WAS A QUORUM REACHED FOR THE VOTE.
UM, I'M CHECKING WITH LEGAL RIGHT NOW.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN ANSWER YET, BUT, UM, WE, UH, MIGHT NEED TO CALL THIS ONE BACK.
REQUIRE SIX VOTES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
WE WILL DEFINITELY DEFER TO THE LEGAL ON THAT.
UM, IN THE MEANTIME, LET US PROCEED WITH THE, UH, ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
[45. Architectural Review Committee ]
YES.UM, WE HAD IN THE PAST ON OUR AGENDA, WE WOULD NOTE IT WAS NOTED WHEN THEY CAME TO US OFF AND BEFORE IT WAS IF THEY CAME TO US AND WITH OUR COMMENTS, WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT NOT INCLUDING THAT I WOULD ASK STAFF TO RECONSIDER AT LEAST NOTING IF THEY, IF THEY CAME AND VISITED US.
BUT BY AND LARGE, THE ONES THAT RESPOND, I THINK PASS ON CONSENT BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE, THE ONES THAT DIDN'T, WE WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH Y'ALL.
SO IT'S BEEN WORKING REALLY WELL.
BUT THE MOST INTERESTING WAS THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WITH, UM, THE CLAYTON CORTE AND THE DEVELOPERS AT STREAM
[03:45:01]
ON SIXTH STREET WHO, UH, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER RECENTLY COVERING THIS THAT, UH, THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY PLANNING TO USE AT 120 FOOT, UM, HEIGHT THAT THEY GOT ON THE BLOCK AND A HALF.AND, BUT THEY ARE, THEY CAME TO US WITH EVERY ONE OF THEIR 30 PROPERTIES, I THINK, AND ARE DOING A VERY THOUGHTFUL RESTORATION ON THEM.
ANY DISCUSSION WE HAD WAS VERY MINOR ABOUT LIGHT FIXTURES AND MAYBE A, A COUPLE OF TRANSOM WINDOWS.
BUT, UH, THEY, THEY DEFINITELY ARE INTERESTED IN A FULL PROPER RESTORATION OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND PROPER CARE FOR THESE PROPERTIES.
SO THAT WAS REALLY HEARTENING TO SEE.
ONE, ONE MAJOR CHANGE THEY'RE ADDING IS, IS SOME, UH, CANOPIES ON QUITE A BIT OF THESE BUILDINGS, WHICH, UM, MAY BE OF INTEREST TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS, BUT THERE ARE PICTURES FROM THE 19TH CENTURY OF SIXTH STREET THAT IS GALLERY TO GALLERY FULL LENGTH.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S KIND, IT'S INTERPRETED IN A NON HISTORIC WAY, BUT AS A REPRESENTATION OF KIND OF A FEATURE THAT WAS THERE.
SO I PERSONALLY WAS VERY EXCITED TO, TO SEE THAT COME OUR WAY.
AND, UH, ONCE AGAIN, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE HEAVY LIFTING THAT THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS DO AND THE DEPTH THAT YOU WILL GO TO IN YOUR, UM, YOUR DISCUSSION WITH, WITH THE, UM, WITH THE APPLICANT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
[46. Operations Committee]
YEAH, I THINK WITH, UM, AMS DEPARTURE, WE DIDN'T END UP WITH A SCHEDULED MEETING.UH, I DO WANT TO BRING UP, UM, THE LAST COUPLE MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD, UH, A GENTLEMAN NAMED SANTIAGO, WHO I'VE KNOWN SINCE ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL, COME AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT, UH, THIS GROVE OF TREES THAT IS AT RISK DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF I 35.
AND HE HAD PUT TO ME, AND IT WAS TASKED WITH ME TO PUT TOWARDS THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TO, TO DRAFT THIS INTO SOMETHING THAT WE COULD VOTE ON AS, AS A GROUP AND, UM, AND SEND UP TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO COUNCIL.
UH, WE DIDN'T GET THERE 'CAUSE OF, UH, LOGISTICS, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST, UM, BRING THAT TO LIGHT AND, UH, SORT OF PARAPHRASE WHAT HE HAD, UH, PASSED ON TO ME SO THAT IT COULD GET INTO THE RECORD AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL HERE COULD, UM, SEND THE LETTER TO PLANNING COMMISSION OR TO COUNCIL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T BE FROM THE ENTIRE COMMISSION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T VOTE ON IT, BUT IT WOULD BE PASSING THE WORD.
UM, SO YEAH, THERE, THERE'S SIX, UH, PECANS.
THERE'S A, A MARKER THERE DESIGNATING THEIR, UM, WHAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR, THEIR DEDICATION IN 1964.
SO OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS, UM, THAT'S WITHIN A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANCE.
IT'S WITHIN THE EDWARD RONE SENIOR PARK.
UH, IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT STATE RIGHT OF WAY, FOUR I 35, BUT, UM, IS NONETHELESS SLATED FOR DEMOLITION AS PART OF THE EXPANSION.
UM, SO IT'S A VERY, IT'S A VERY SMALL THING TO GRAB ONTO AS PART OF A HUGE PROJECT THAT'S GONNA AFFECT SO MUCH, BUT IT'S THE PIECE THAT MY FRIEND SANTIAGO HAS GRABBED ONTO AND IS PUT BEFORE US.
AND, AND WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ADDITIONAL HEAVY LIFTING FOR THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
IS THERE MORE DISCUSSIONS ON THE HOME ORDINANCES AND THEIR IMPACT? SO, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, YEAH, ON A, ON A MAYBE AN UP NOTE THAT, THAT IS EXCITING.
I THINK THAT, THAT, UM, JUST, IT, IT'S ALMOST DISHEARTENING THAT TONIGHT WE HAD SOME COME BEFORE US THAT WE THOUGHT, HOLY COW, THIS IS ONE THAT WE COULD HAVE USED THIS NEW TOOL ON.
BUT THE NEW TOOL IS NOT, UM, FULLY FORMED IN THE, THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC YET, OR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SCARED OF LEGAL CHALLENGES.
UM, BUT IT'S EXCITING AND I LOOK FORWARD IN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TO DIGGING INTO HOW THAT'LL IMPACT THE STUFF THAT COMES BEFORE US.
[47. Grants Committee]
BELIEVE, UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE MEETINGS SCHEDULED, UH, AND PERHAPS WE CAN POSTPONE THE BRIEFING AS WELL, UH, ON OUR CURRENT GRANTS.AND, UH, THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE, AGAIN, WITH THE CHRISTMAS, UH, AND HOLIDAYS UPON US, UH, WE, WE'VE GONE AHEAD AND, AND POSTPONED THAT UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, SO WE DID NOT HAVE A MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS? HAVE WE RESOLVED THIS QUESTION OF THE, UH, THE, THE VOTE SOMEWHAT? UM, WELL, UM, ACTUALLY WE, I HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THE LAST PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED UPON YOU.
[48. Preservation Plan Committee]
SORRY.UM, SO LIKE, UM, THE, THE DRAFT, UH, PLAN IS GONNA BE RE IS GONNA BE RELEASED FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, FOR FEEDBACK, UH, IN FEBRUARY.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, A CONSULTANT C UH, C, D AND P.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY LEADING THE, THE, THE
[03:50:01]
OUTREACH AND, UH, ENGAGEMENT, UH, UH, FOCUS.AND SO THEY, THEY PRESENTED US WITH, UH, A DRAFT, UH, PLAN LAST, LAST MONTH AT OUR MEETING AND, UH, LIKE THINK IT WAS LATE NOVEMBER.
UM, AND SO LIKE, UH, THE, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, ACTUALLY UNTIL NEXT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE SEVERAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, THAT THEY'RE GONNA, UM, HOST WITH THE CITY OR, OR, OR I GUESS TAG ONTO THE CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, OMMUNITY EVENTS AND OUTREACH EVENTS, UH, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND THEN NEXT WEEK WE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, TARA, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE, THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS FOR INPUT FOR THE, THE PRESERVATION, UH, PLAN.
UM, SO THE LAST MEETING WE, WE ACTUALLY REVIEWED DRAFT ENGAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, WE'RE PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND, UM, YEAH, JUST LOOKING TO, TO SEE WHAT, WHAT OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, UH, THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO, UM, JUST CASTING A WIDE NET TO, TO GET MORE INPUT.
SO, UM, THERE'LL, THERE'LL BE, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE I THINK, UH, JANUARY.
BUT YEAH, SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S THE UPDATE FOR THE PRESERVATION, UH, COMMITTEE COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, I, I WAS GLOSSING OVER AND, AND, UH, THERE REALLY ARE A LOT OF VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE COMING UP.
UH, WE HAD A FIRST, FIRST LOOK AT THEM AND, UH, JUST TO MAYBE AS A, TO WET EVERYONE'S APPETITE AND, YOU KNOW, GET YOUR CALENDARS READY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE END OF WINTER AND EARLY SPRING.
UH, THINGS ARE GONNA START ROLLING AND, UH, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMISSIONER'S INPUT AND PARTICIPATION, UH, AS A VERY, VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES THE PORTIONS OF OUR MEETING.
NOW, DO WE HAVE AN UPDATED RESOLUTION? WE, WE DO, WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION,
[29. PR-2023-095572 – 1101 Garner Ave. (Part 2 of 2)]
UM, ITEM 29, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CALL IT BACK.UM, WE NEED, UH, 11, SIX OF 11, UM, TOTAL MEMBERS TO VOTE IN ORDER FOR THAT MOTION TO PASS.
SO THE FIVE TO FOUR FAILED EARLIER.
BUT NOW IF THAT WAS, SORRY, I'M DOING A LOT UP HERE,
WELL, BUT IF THAT WAS THE FAILED VOTE AND WE'VE TRIED VARIOUS VERSIONS OF IT, UH, ONLY DIFFERENCE IS, IS THAT I DECLARED IT PASSED AND WE WOULD SAY A FIVE FOUR VOTE DIDN'T PASS.
SO THE QUESTION IS, UH, TO POSTPONE OR TO TAKE OTHER ACTION? UM, AND THE MOTION TO POSTPONE PA DID NOT PASS.
SO WHAT WE'RE UNDERSTANDING COMMISSIONERS, IS THAT THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILED IT IS 9 53.
SO WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES LEFT.
IF WE, WE CAN DO IT, ARE GOING TO RECONSIDER, UH, ITEM NUMBER, WHAT IS THE NUMBER AGAIN? ITEM NUMBER 29, ITEM NUMBER 29.
AND, UH, DO WE, IF THAT MOTION FAILED, THEN ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO SAY THAT IT IS STILL AVAILABLE TO US TO TAKE ACTION TONIGHT.
UH, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR TOTAL DEMOLITION.
IT WILL TIME OUT IF WE TAKE NO ACTION.
OR WOULD THAT REQUIRE, UH, WOULD, WOULD THAT AUTOMATICALLY ALLOW FOR A RELEASE? SAM, DO YOU HAVE THIS TO HAND? I BELIEVE IT WILL TIME OUT BECAUSE WE HAD ONE POSTPONEMENT, BUT LET'S SEE.
UH, IT FIRST APPEARED ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, UM, BUT WAS, UH, APPLICANT POSTPONED UNTIL LAST MONTH WHEN IT WAS COMMISSIONED, POSTPONED.
WE HAVE ONE COMMISSION POSTPONEMENT ON THE TABLE.
UM, AND THAT WILL PUT US AT JANUARY 15TH STILL.
BUT WE, THE, THE, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILED IF WE TAKE NO ACTION.
DOES THAT AUTOMATICALLY, UH, THERE NEEDS TO BE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOTION.
I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER WE'RE GOING WHAT? OKAY.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, YOU'VE HEARD THIS, WE AGAIN, HAVE MINUTES TO SPARE.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO RELEASE A DEMOLITION PACKAGE PENDING A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENT, DEMOLITION PERMITS PENDING A CITY, CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
[03:55:04]
I, I, I'LL SECOND FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION.UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK'S MOTION? YEAH, I, I DON'T LIKE DOING IT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTH DEMOLITION DELAY IS NOT ONE OF OUR TOOLS.
UH, AS PART OF THE PROCESS IS TO INVITE THEM IN COURAGE.
WE CAME, WE'VE SAID EVERYTHING TWICE NOW.
I JUST DON'T SEE ANY, ANY FUTURE IN THIS OTHER THAN, UM, THAN UNNECESSARY DELAY.
IT WAS MORE IN LINE WITH MY FEELINGS TO JUST VOTE AGAINST INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, I, I GUESS I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT IT, UH, IF IT FAILS, WE CAN TAKE ANOTHER RUN IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
UH, ANY MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS? ALRIGHT, UH, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, RELEASING, UH, DEMOLITION PERMIT WITH A FULL DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND THERE IS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 IN FAVOR AND ALL THOSE OPPOSED 1, 2, 3, 4 OPPOSED? OKAY, SO WE NEED SIX FOR IT TO WIN, IS THAT CORRECT? SO ONCE AGAIN, WE DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT, UH, TO PASSAGE.
I'LL EXPLAIN WHY I'VE SWITCHED IS IS THAT I DID HAVE A THOUGHT THAT IF WE BID SOME TIME, MAYBE WE COULD GET BETTER CLARITY ON HOW THE HOME RESOLUTION, UM, COULD BE UTILIZED HERE.
I, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE OWNER A BIT MORE TIME.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE AND WE'RE IN A WEIRD TRANSITIONAL TIME.
MY COMMENT IS THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE IN AUSTIN VOTE FOR EFFECT ANYWAYS.
SO WHY ARE WE WAITING TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THIS HOME THING? IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH THE AUSTIN VOTERS HAVE VOTED FOR IT.
I MEAN, I, I KNOW I'M SOUNDING EXTREMELY CYNICAL, BUT THAT'S JUST SEEMS TO BE THE, THE MO BUT I DON'T KNOW.
COMMISSIONERS, WE NEED A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
HOWEVER, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES TO 10 0 5.
I WAS HOPING WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT ALRIGHT.
WE HAVE A NEED FOR A MOTION IF WE CAN GET ONE THAT WILL PASS.
WE DO HAVE THE OPTION TO POSTPONE THAT POSTPONEMENT WOULD BE TILL THE JANUARY MEETING AND THEN AFTER THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD TIME OUT MR. CHAIRMAN.
I THINK BECAUSE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILED, YOU'D HAVE TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION TO POSTPONE IT.
SO, AND, AND SOMEONE IN THE OPPOSING SIDE WOULD HAVE TO THE, THE ONE OF THE FOUR WHO
THAT'S 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH WITH THIS.
I'LL MOVE TO POSTPONE TO THE JANUARY 10TH MEETING.
WELL, YOU MEAN TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE? WELL, I'M MAKING A NEW MOTION, RIGHT? I'M, WELL, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS BASICALLY UNDOING THAT ACTION.
I MOVE TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE THAT WE HAD ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE JANUARY 10TH MEETING.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON THE WINNING SIDE AND YOU, YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE WINNING SIDE.
I'M SORRY ON THE OPPONENTS BECAUSE IT FAILED.
SO THE OPPOSING SIDE WHERE THE, I HAD AND YOU SEE YOU WERE, UH, YOU WERE SORRY OPPOSED TO THE POSTPONE? WELL, NO, MY CONFUSION EARLIER WAS CORRECT.
I'M CONFUSED TOO NOW
OKAY, SO, UH, I QUESTION CAN COMM, CAN COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON BE THE ONE TO PROPOSE RECONSIDERATION TO VOTE TECHNICALLY IF IT DIDN'T GET APPROVED BECAUSE YOU DID VOTE MORE THAN ONE.
SO IT'S JUST A NEW MOTION, RIGHT?
UM, SO I WAS IN THE PREVAILING PORTION OF COMMISSIONERS.
SO I THINK THEN YOU CAN, YOU CAN BE RECONSIDERING THE VOTE.
CAN WE ALL JUST AGREE TO RECONSIDER IT? CAN WE HAVE LIKE, I MEAN I'M ON ONE SIDE.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO, YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE? YES.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S JUST SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ON THE I WILL, I WILL RECOGNIZE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ON THE FLOOR.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND OF RECONSIDERING OF RECONSIDERING.
[04:00:01]
VOIDS THE PREVIOUS VOTE AND WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO START WITH A NEW MOTION.I, I MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS TO THE JANUARY 10TH HISTORICAL LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, UH, AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY MORE CONVERSATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
NO, NO, I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE UH, ALL UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED COMMISSIONER COOK
SO ON THE RECORD, BUT IT DOES STILL PASS.
UM, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WE DID IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING LATE.