[00:00:04]
[CALL TO ORDER ]
TO THE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10TH MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN.UH, LET ME, UH, REMIND EVERYONE THAT TONIGHT WE'RE MEETING AT THE 63 10 WILLAMINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN PERMIT CENTER, WHICH IS NOT OUR NORMAL PLACE TO MEET.
UH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS AND MOVING THE SCHEDULE AROUND, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ALTERNATE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THESE PAST TWO MEETINGS.
BUT IN FUTURE MEETINGS ON REGULAR WEDNESDAYS, WE WILL BE BACK AT CITY HALL.
SO IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING AND IS WONDERING WHY WE'RE NOT AT CITY HALL, OR IF YOU WERE TRYING TO GET HERE, YOU STILL HAVE TIME.
BUT, UH, WE ARE AT THE AUSTIN PERMIT CENTER THIS EVENING.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER QUICK ITEMS. UM, YOU MAY, SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOW OUR AGENDA HAVE RECOGNIZED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT WE ARE NO LONGER POSTING THE RECOMMENDED CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THIS IS A CHANGE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, REQUIRED OF US FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, AND SO WE ARE ADHERING TO THEIR POLICY.
UH, WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT MAY CAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT, UH, AND YOU MAY BE HERE FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE YOUR ITEM WILL BE TAKEN ON CONSENT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, THE CONSENT AGENDA WE GO THROUGH, UH, RATHER QUICKLY, THE ENTIRE AGENDA AND ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE NO OBJECTION, THAT CAN BE PASSED ON CONSENT.
UH, WHEN THAT VOTE IS TAKEN, THOSE ITEMS ARE APPROVED, AND IF YOU'RE HERE FOR ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, YOU'RE FINISHED AND YOU CAN GO HOME.
UH, ANY OF THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON CONSENT, WE WILL EITHER HAVE FOR DISCUSSION OR PRIOR TO THAT.
WE ALSO WILL INDICATE IF THERE ARE ANY THAT ARE POSTED FOR POSTPONEMENT, BUT AGAIN, WE AREN'T MAKING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
SO IT WILL MEAN THAT SOME OF YOU AGAIN, UH, WILL HAVE TO BE HERE FOR A VERY SHORT TIME.
BUT WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU COMING TONIGHT AND MAKING THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS.
UH, I WILL START BY, UH, A QUICK REVIEW OF THE AGENDA.
I'M GONNA START BY SEEING, UH, CALLEN, DO WE HAVE A, UH, ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANYONE ASKING TO SPEAK? UM, ACTUALLY SAM HAS THE BOOK, UM, SO SAM CAN LET US KNOW.
SAM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY REQUESTING TO SPEAK UNDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? WE DO NOT.
ALRIGHT, SO THEN I WILL GO THROUGH, READ THROUGH THE, UH, EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA AS I READ THROUGH.
I ALSO WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT ACTION IS RECOMMENDED, WHETHER IT IS A CONSENT ITEM, A POSTPONEMENT ITEM, OR A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND, UM, BEFORE WE DO THAT, UH, I KNEW THERE WAS SOMEWHAT LAST THING WE HAD TO DO.
AND YEAH, IF WITT, IF YOU HADN'T COME, I WOULD'VE NOT REMEMBERED THAT I HADN'T CALLED ROLL.
BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE, UH, SHOULD WE HAVE, UH, MS. CONTRERAS, UH, OR, OR SAM, WOULD YOU EITHER OF YOU WISH TO CALL THE ROLL? I CAN CALL ROLL IF YOU DON'T MIND.
COMMISSIONER HEIM PRESENT, COMMISSIONER WHITT FEATHERSTON PRESENT, COMMISSIONER KEVIN COOK, PRESENT COMMISSIONER CHUCK LAROCHE.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER HARMONY GROGAN PRESENT, COMMISSIONER JAIME ALVAREZ.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER ROXANNE EVANS.
COMMISSIONER RAYMOND CASTILLO IS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER TARA DUDLEY IS ALSO ABSENT.
[Consent Agenda]
THE DECEMBER 13 MINUTES.UH, THOSE, AS IT TURNS OUT, WERE NOT POSTED IN TIME FOR, UH, REVIEW, AND SO WE WILL NOT BE TAKING ACTION ON THOSE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO WILL BE A BRIEFING ON THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT.
UH, FY 24 RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS AND DISCUSSIONS FOR HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATIONS.
THIS IS 1201 EAST SEVENTH STREET, THE GREEN AND WHITE GROCERY.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FOR THAT TO BE POSTPONED.
UH, AND SO WE WILL TAKE THAT, UH, UP AS A POSTPONED TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER 4 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
UH, THAT IS POSTED FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 5 3 0 9 PARK LANE.
THIS IS AN OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
THAT WILL ALSO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
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ITEM NUMBER 6 13 11 EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ STREET, UH, THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON BUILDING.UH, THAT IS AN OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
WE HAVE A HERITAGE GRANT APPLICATION, UH, PROJECT THAT'S ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
THAT'S AT 1311 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET, THE JOHNSON JOHNSON BUILDING, IN THIS CASE, THE JOHNSON HOUSE.
AND THAT IS, UH, OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 8 7 0 4 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SMOOT TERRACE, UH, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THIS PROPERTY IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THAT'S A PARTIAL DEMOLITION ADDITION ITEM NUMBER 9 43 12 AVENUE B.
UH, THERE'S A NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR AN A DU, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER TEN TWO OH ONE EAST SIXTH STREET.
UH, THIS IS A, UH, REMODEL REPAIR, UH, THE NICHOLAS GELMAN HOUSE THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 11 2 0 9 EAST SIXTH STREET, THE MORLEY BROTHERS DRUGSTORE.
THAT IS A REMODEL REPAIR PROPOSAL THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 12, THIS IS FIVE 20 AND THROUGH 5 22 EAST SIXTH STREET, THE CARRINGTON STORE.
UH, THIS ITEM IS A REHABILITATION AND REPOINTING A BRICK, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THESE NEXT ITEMS ARE PERMITS THAT ARE WITHIN NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICTS.
UH, THE FIRST ONE, ITEM NUMBER 13, IS 10 10 HARWOOD PLACE IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER.
THIS IS A PROPOSED DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 14, 4 0 2 LOCKHART DRIVE.
ONCE AGAIN IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THAT IS A, UM, PROPOSAL FOR DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE FOR DISCUSSION ITEM 15 14 0 9 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
AGAIN, HIGH TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THIS IS, UM, AN ADDITION AND REMODEL.
AND THAT IS, UH, RECOMMENDED FOR POSTPONEMENT FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET.
AGAIN, TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THERE'S A PROPOSED DEMOLITION NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER 17 16 21 WEST 14TH STREET, OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS POSTED AS A DISCUSSION ITEM FOR AN ADDITION REMODEL.
ITEM 18 27 16 WOOLDRIDGE DRIVE IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THIS IS A PROPOSED DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
AND THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM 19 41 0 6 ELLWOOD ROAD IN THE WILSHIRE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THAT IS AN ADDITION AND REMODEL.
UH, IT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 20 1100 LORRAINE STREET, WEST LINE NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THIS IS A PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW A DU ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 21 3, UH, 3001 FUNSTON STREET.
IT'S THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT THAT IS NEW CONSTRUCTION IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 22 5 19 EAST MARY STREET, TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 23 2 18 EAST SIXTH STREET.
THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT IS REMODELED REPAIR WINDOW REPLACEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 5 0 5 THROUGH 5 0 7 EAST SIXTH STREET.
THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT PROPOSAL IS FOR RENOVATION OR REMODEL OR REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 25 6 0 6 EAST SIXTH STREET.
THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT RENOVATION, REMODEL, REPAIR IN THIS CASE OF LIMESTONE.
ADDITION OF AN AWNING THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 26 6 10 EAST SIXTH STREET, THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THE PROPOSAL IS FOR THE RENOVATION AND REMODEL AND REPAINT A FACADE THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 27 6 16 EAST SIXTH STREET.
AGAIN, THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THAT IS PROPOSED RENOVATION, REMODEL, AND AN ENLARGEMENT OF OPENINGS THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 28 6 18 EAST SIXTH STREET IN THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THAT IS A PROPOSAL TO MOVE THE ENTRY.
NEW AWNING, REPAINT REPAIR BRICK THAT'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT 29 7 19 THROUGH 7 21 EAST SIXTH STREET.
AGAIN, THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
THAT PROPOSAL IS FOR RENOVATION, REMODELS, AND REPAIR AND REPLACE AN ENTRY DOOR
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THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.ITEM 37 23 THROUGH 7 25 EAST SIXTH STREET.
AGAIN, THE SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT RENOVATION, REMODELS, DEMOLITION EDITION, ADDING WINDOWS AND AWNING.
AGAIN, THESE ARE NON HISTORIC SPECIFIC BUILDINGS, BUT THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING AND THEY'RE WITHIN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
SO THEY DO NEED OUR REVIEW FOR, UH, CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATENESS.
AND THOSE WOULD BE GRANTED IF, UH, THE, UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THESE REMAINING ITEMS ARE DEMOLITION OR RELOCATION PERMITS IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY, UH, A REGISTERED DISTRICT OR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
LOCAL ITEM NUMBER 31 68 0 4 MESA DRIVE.
UH, THIS IS A TOTAL DEMOLITION.
UH, THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING.
THIS IS POSTED FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM 32 11 0 1 GARNER AVENUE.
UH, THIS AGAIN IS A DEMOLITION AND, UH, WE HAVE HAD, UH, NEIGHBORS ASK ABOUT THIS.
SO WE WILL HAVE THAT FOR A DISCUSSION.
ITEM NUMBER 33 8 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AS WELL.
THIS IS ALSO A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 35 23 0 7 QUARRY ROAD, TOTAL DEMOLITION REQUEST.
ITEM 36 37 0 5 BALCONES DRIVE, TOTAL DEMOLITION.
ITEM NUMBER 37 28 0 2 PIERCE ROAD.
UH, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 38 17 11 NEWTON STREET.
THIS IS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THE REMAINING ITEMS WILL BE, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, REVIEWS ITEM 39 THROUGH 42.
SO, UH, AT THIS POINT I WILL REVIEW ONCE AGAIN THE SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT ARE POSTED FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SO THE FIRST ITEM, COMMISSIONER HEIM, SETH? YES.
BEFORE YOU GET TOO FAR, I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS AN ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA.
1610 PRESTON IS NUMBER IS ALSO NUMBER 19.
WE MAY NEED TO TAKE THOSE AS THEY COME ON THE SUMMARY SHEET.
UH, FIRST 41 0 6 LOWELL WOOD, THEN 1610 PRESTON.
WHAT NUMBER IS THAT? NUMBER 19 ON THE SUMMARY SHEET NUMBER 19, UH, 41 0 6 LOWELL WOOD ROAD.
PRESTON AND PRESTON IS THE, UH, UH, ADDENDUM LATER ADDED.
SO THAT, THAT, AND THAT WOULD STILL BE ON THE CONSENT.
IT WOULD JUST BE A CLARIFICATION OF THAT ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, UPDATE.
YES, I, I KNOW I HAD IT PRINTED SOMEWHERE, BUT
SO ONCE AGAIN, I'LL GO THROUGH THE, UH, ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE FIRST ITEM IS NUMBER SEVEN.
UH, THAT IS A HERITAGE GRANT APPLICATION AT 1311 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET NUMBER 8 7 0 4 HIGHLAND AVENUE, NUMBER 9 43 12 AVENUE, B NUMBER TEN TWO OH ONE EAST SIXTH STREET, NUMBER 11 2 0 9 EAST SIXTH STREET NUMBER 12 5 20 THROUGH 5 22 EAST SIXTH STREET NUMBER 19 41 0 6, LOWELL WOOD ROAD, WHICH IS ALSO 1610 PRESTON ITEM 20 1100 LORRAINE STREET, 21 30 0 1 FUNSTON STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 22 5 19 EAST MARY STREET.
ITEM 23 2 18 EAST SIXTH STREET, 24 5 0 5 THROUGH 5 0 7 EAST SIXTH STREET, 25 6 0 6 EAST SIXTH STREET, 26 6 10 EAST SIXTH STREET, 27 6 6 16 EAST SIXTH STREET, 28 6 18 EAST SIXTH STREET, 29 7 19 THROUGH 7 21 EAST SIXTH STREET, 37 23 THROUGH 7 25 EAST SIXTH STREET.
AND LET'S SEE, NUMBER 34 11 19 TILLERY STREET NUMBER 35 23 0 7 QUARRY ROAD, 36 37 0 5 BALCONES DRIVE.
AND THOSE ARE THE ITEMS. CHAIR HUNT RECOMMENDED.
WE ALSO HAVE AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT FOR NUMBER 37 AS WELL FOR ITEM 37.
[00:15:01]
AND RIGHT NOW, THAT IS, UH, I, I ANNOUNCED THAT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.UH, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE JUST LISTED THE CONSENT ITEMS. IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS TO THE POINT WHERE YOU NEED US TO PULL THEM, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
OTHERWISE, THE ONES I JUST LISTED, IF WE, WHEN WE GET THIS MOTION, IF IT'S APPROVED, THEN THAT APPROVAL WILL TAKE PLACE AND, UH, THE ACTION WILL BE FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE.
SO IS THERE ANY LAST DISCUSSION REQUIRED? OKAY, HEARING NONE THEN, I, YES, YES, SIR.
THERE'S A QUESTION REGARDING ITEM 22, AND THAT IS AT FIVE 19 EAST MARY STREET.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO PULL FOR A FULL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION? UH, IF THAT IS THE REASON FOR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR REQUEST? WELL, I'M NOT SURE.
AND ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OF THIS OR AGAINST? UH, I, I SIGNED UP AS BEING AGAINST, BUT, UH, I, I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION AND, AND CONCERN ABOUT THE EARLY SETBACK.
UM, I THINK THAT WARRANT'S BEING PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
THAT, THAT'S, UH, ITEM 22 THEN, UH, FIVE 19 EAST MARY STREET.
THAT WILL, UH, NOW BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THOUGH IT MAY BE THAT, UH, IF, IF YOU, UH, POSSIBLY COULD TALK WITH STAFF AND WITH THE APPLICANT AND RESOLVE THAT, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PUT BACK ON AT A LATER TIME PRIOR TO, UH, THAT COMING UP ON THE AGENDA.
I HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION VERY QUICKLY.
UH, WE, YOU'LL WORK ON THAT OFFLINE.
SO CAN, UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A, UH, LIST OF CONSENT ITEMS. UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SECOND COMMISSIONER, UH, FEATHERSTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT ITEMS, AS, AS NOTED, INDICATE BY SAYING AYE OR RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE ON ANY ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, THE UH, MOTION HAS PASSED.
IF THERE IS A DEMOLITION INVOLVED, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, AS IS NOTED IN THE, UH, BACKUP MATERIAL.
AND PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, UH, CONTACT STAFF, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT, UH, FOR THE DEMOLITION REQUEST.
THESE NEXT ITEMS WILL BE POSTPONEMENT ITEMS. AND ONCE AGAIN, I'LL READ THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND THEN WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
THE FIRST ITEM IS THE MINUTES, AS I MENTIONED.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, UH, IT'S A NOTIFICATION ISSUE.
THOSE WILL BE POSTPONED TO ANY OF THESE WILL BE POSTPONED TO OUR NEXT MEETING IN, UH, FEBRUARY.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, UH, THIS IS THE 1201 EAST SEVENTH STREET.
WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
THE NEXT ITEM REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT IS 1409 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
UH, THE OTHER ONE AFTER THAT, IT IS ITEM NUMBER 37, AND THAT IS, UH, 28 0 2 PIERCE ROAD.
SO THOSE ITEMS ARE REQUESTING POSTPONEMENT FOR THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION I MOVE TO POSTPONE THOSE LISTED ITEMS. SECOND.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, THOSE HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.
WELL, LET'S GET INTO THE AGENDA AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH A
[2. Briefing on Heritage Preservation Grant FY24 Recommendations ]
BRIEFING ON THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT.I'M THE HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION MANAGER WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT,
[00:20:03]
IF WE COULD TEE UP THE SLIDES PLEASE.ARE, IS THE CORRECT SLIDES? YES.
UH, COULD WE PUT IT ON PRESENTATION MODE, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY.
AS YOU KNOW, AFTER EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REIMAGINED ITS CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR ARTS, MUSIC, AND FOR HERITAGE TOURISM TO LEAD WITH AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
WHILE MORE EFFECTIVELY PROMOTING TOURISM IN AUSTIN, UH, AS A DIVISION, THE HERITAGE TOURISM, UM, DIVISION REMAINS COMMITTED TO HELPING EVOLVE A PEOPLE-CENTERED MOVEMENT PRESERVATION MOVEMENT WITH AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK.
UM, AND AS SUCH, OUR HERITAGE PRESERVATION GUIDELINES WERE REVISED TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO NEW GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AS STEWARDS OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE REVISIONS FIT SQUARELY WITH THE EDDS MISSION TO PROMOTE A COMPETITIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY FOR ALL.
AS AN OVERVIEW, THE PURPOSE OF THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT IS TO PROMOTE TOURISM THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS OR THROUGH PLANNING, EDUCATIONAL OR MARKETING PROJECTS THAT ARE ROOTED IN HISTORY AND HERITAGE.
THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THE FUNDING TO BE USED TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND THE CONVENTION AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES, EITHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE CONVENTION CENTER OR IN AREAS LIKELY REASONABLY TO BE VISITED BY TOURISTS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER SOME PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS, UH, RATHER QUICKLY.
UH, THE PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE HERITAGE TOURISM IN AUSTIN.
APPLICANTS MAY BE EITHER NON-PROFIT OR FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES THAT EITHER LEASE OR OWN THEIR HISTORIC PLACE.
GRANTS SUPPORT PRESERVATION PROJECT COSTS WITH NO MATCH REQUIRED.
APPLICANTS ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO INCLUDE OPTIONAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH PRESERVATION PROJECTS SUCH AS INSURANCE FEES, UH, 10% PROJECT MANAGEMENT FEES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS ONLY.
UM, ALSO IF APPROVED AWARDEES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO TOURISM MARKETING TRAINING.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE OFFERED FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR, OR OFFERED LAST YEAR AS A PILOT.
UH, WE'VE RECEIVED INCREDIBLY POSITIVE, UH, FEEDBACK ON THE SKILLS GATHERED AS A RESULT OF THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH MILES PARTNERSHIP.
THEY ARE A VISIT AUSTIN PARTNER.
UM, THEY HELP TO DEVELOP THAT TRAINING.
THEY LAUNCHED IT ONLINE AND THEY OFFER IT BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY OFFER AWARDEES ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION IF THEY'D LIKE TO, UM, AUGMENT WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING TOURISTS AND WOULD LIKE A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE ON THAT.
ALL PROJECTS CONTINUE TO REQUIRE A HISTORIC DESIGNATION OR BE ELIGIBLE FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
THE DESIGNATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE END TERM OF THE CONTRACT.
ALL PROJECTS MUST PROMOTE TOURISM, BE ACCESSIBLE AND OCCUR IN A COUNCIL DISTRICT.
ONE CHANGE THAT WE MADE LAST YEAR TO OUR GUIDELINES IS THAT APPLICANTS MAY RESIDE WITHIN, UM, THE AUSTIN MSA AREA AS LONG AS THE PROJECT OCCURS WITHIN A COUNCIL DISTRICT.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, OUR PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO BE TO REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO, UM, TO FIRST TIME APPLICANTS.
UM, WE PRIORITIZED TOURISM SERVING PROPERTIES THAT WERE LISTED IN THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC SURVEY, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE.
UM, WE ALSO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT SHARE AUSTIN'S HISTORY IN AFRESH AND COMPELLING WAY.
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS OR
[00:25:01]
INDIVIDUALS WHO, UM, MANAGE A HISTORIC PLACE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT RESULTED IN A CREATIVE COLLABORATION WERE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.PROJECTS THAT USED INNOVATIVE AND INCLUSIVE METHODS TO ATTRACT NEW AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND TOURISTS WERE ALSO PRIORITIZED.
AND AS A RESULT OF THE FEEDBACK OF THIS BODY, WE DID, UM, PRIORITIZE MARKETING THE LOCAL HISTORIC ZONING AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD WI TO CONTINUING, UH, WITH THAT SUCCESS.
AS AN OVERVIEW, UM, THE DESIGNATION IS REQUIRED REGARDLESS OF THE PROJECT TYPE.
ALL PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT BIDS, ALTHOUGH NO MATCH IS REQUIRED.
THE SELECTION PROCESS CONTINUES TO REQUIRE BOTH AN EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL REVIEW, UH, EXCEPT FOR THE CAPITAL PROCESS, WHICH NOW ALSO INCLUDES A REVIEW BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
UM, AWARDS VARY FROM 15,000 TO 250,000 DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT TYPE.
AND HERE ARE SOME STATISTICS RELATED TO OUR RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 24 AWARDEES.
WE HAVE 2 22 PRESERVATION PROJECTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
50% RECOMMEND, UH, REPRESENT NEW APPLICANTS.
77%, UH, REPRESENT NONPROFIT ENTITIES.
73% HAD AN EXISTING LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION IN PLACE.
14% AS A RESULT OF THE GRANT WILL BE PURSUING A NEW, UH, LOCAL HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATION.
23% REPRESENT PROPERTIES LISTED IN THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC SURVEY.
AND AS A WHOLE, UM, THE 22 PROJECTS LEVERAGED FUNDING OF OVER $500,000 FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR THEIR PRESERVATION PROJECTS.
AS A BREAKDOWN, 12 WERE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND 10 ARE PLANNING, EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING, WHICH IS, UM, I'M PRETTY MUCH SEEING A TREND YEAR AFTER YEAR THAT IT'S 50% WILL RECOMMEND, UH, WILL REPRESENT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND, UM, ALSO THE, THE PRESERVATION GRANT SERVES TO PROTECT, RESTORE, AND PROMOTE, UH, DIVERSE COLLECTION OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR NOT ONLY THEIR ARCHITECTURE, BUT ALSO THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PEOPLE AND STORIES AND HERITAGE.
AND THE RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 24 HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT PROJECTS INCLUDE 5%.
UM, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, 14%, UM, ARE CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
27% REPRESENT CREATIVE SPACES, 27% REPRESENT HISTORIC AND HERITAGE SITES, AND 27% REPRESENT PARKLAND GREEN SPACE CEMETERY, OR CEMETERIES OR TRAILS.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, AND I'LL LET YOU JUST KIND OF FLOAT THROUGH THEM, ARE THE RECOMMENDED HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANTS.
UM, THE DISTRICT'S REPRESENTED, REPRESENTED IN THESE GRANT, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DISTRICTS 1, 3, 5, 9, AND 10.
UM, THE SMALLEST GRANT AWARD EQUALED $30,000 FOR PLANNING AND OR MARKETING.
AND THE, UH, LARGEST AWARDS EQUAL $250,000.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE 22 THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED, AND YOU CAN FLOAT THROUGH THAT SCREEN.
I ALWAYS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF THE GRANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE LIKE THIS.
UH, SO WHILE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 GRANT PROGRAM WILL LAUNCH, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US.
AND IF YOU COULD ADVANCE THE SLIDE JUST A BIT, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US.
UH, WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS FOR ONSITE VISITS.
UM, WE ARE HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH THE PRESERVATION GRANT GUIDELINES WITH YOU TO SEE IF THERE IS A MATCH IN TERMS OF YOUR PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND THE PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE MANAGE.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS, NOT A QUESTION.
[00:30:01]
JUST WANNA, UH, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, UH, UM, ESPECIALLY OUR COMMENTS ON LOCAL HISTORIC ZONING FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO.UM, I APPRECIATE YOU INCORPORATING, UH, JUST THAT CONVERSATION IN THERE.
I KNOW THIS IS A BIG PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE OPERATING AND I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STAFF, SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR WORKING WITH US AND INCLUDING THAT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE SOME OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS APPLY FOR A NEW LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
IT'S, IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
IT PROTECTS, UM, REALLY WHERE OUR PUBLIC TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE GOING.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, I THANK YOU AGAIN.
UM, WE ARE JUST THRILLED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF SUPPORT FOR MANY ASPECTS OF PRESERVATION, UH, PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE PLANNING AND GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON SOME OF THOSE.
AND, UH, AND YOU AND I TALKED OFFLINE, BUT BEING ABLE TO THEN PICK UP THE GRANT COMMITTEE OF THIS, UH, BOARD AND BEING ABLE TO DO MORE WORK, UH, WITH, WITH OUR EFFORTS AS WELL.
[4. PR-2023-087312 – 701 Sparks Ave. ]
WELL COMMISSIONERS, WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR FIRST CASE.AND BEFORE WE JUMP INTO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, IT'S 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
LET ME JUST EXPLAIN, UH, FOR THE RECORD, THIS WAS POSTED.
I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THIS IS BACK ON OUR AGENDA AS A, I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE, THE, THE EASIEST WAY TO REFER TO IT IS AS A REDO.
UH, WE WERE ALERTED BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT THE POSTING FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, THERE WERE SOME DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE OF SOME STAFFING, UH, AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUES WHERE NOT EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
AND SO, UH, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS, IN DEFERENCE TO THE TOMA, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS, UH, ACT HAS ESSENTIALLY SAID WE GET A, UH, A COMPLETE NEW REPOSTING OF THIS AS A NEW ITEM.
SO PRETEND THAT EVERYTHING WE SAID LAST MEETING DIDN'T EXIST AND WE START FROM SCRATCH.
SO, HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME ALSO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS FALLS UNDER A HISTORIC ZONING CASE WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY A, ON THE RECORD OPPOSITION FROM AN OWNER.
THERE IS STATE LAW THAT THEN TRIGGERS REQUIREMENTS FOR A SUPER MAJORITY.
IN ORDER FOR THIS TO GO FORWARD, A SUPER MAJORITY OF THIS BODY, A THREE QUARTER SUPER MAJORITY IS NINE VOTES.
SO THAT'S NINE VOTES OF THE ENTIRE 11 MEMBER BODY THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS TO BE ADVANCED.
IF WE DO NOT HAVE NINE VOTES, THEN THIS WOULD BE A FAILED MOTION AND IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CLARIFIED.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION HERE? BECAUSE WE HAD SEVERAL VOTES LAST TIME, AND I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS NOT CLEAR IN MY MIND EXACTLY HOW TO INDICATE WHAT THE END RESULT WAS.
SO IF THERE ARE NINE VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, THAT WILL BE A REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT MOTION PASS.
IF THERE ARE LESS THAN NINE, THEN THAT MOTION WOULD NOT PASS.
THIS IS A COMMISSION INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
AND SO, UM, WE WILL HAVE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING.
MAKE THE PRESENTATION FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE PRESENTATION FROM THE OWNER OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IN RESPONSE.
AND THEN, AS IS CUSTOMARY A REBUTTAL.
BUT BEFORE WE DO ANY OF THAT, I WILL CALL UPON OUR STAFF.
MS. CONTRERAS, WOULD YOU BEGIN WITH A NEW PRESENTATION? THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND, UH, AS YOU'VE NOTICED, UH, I AM NOT FEELING OR SOUNDING MY BEST THIS EVENING, SO I'M GOING TO KEEP, UM, OUR PRESENTATIONS SHORT FROM STAFF.
UH, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSION CASES TO GET THROUGH.
UM, THIS, UH, ITEM INITIALLY CAME BEFORE US AS A DEMOLITION REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT, UH, IN NOVEMBER.
THE HLC INITIATED A SO ZONING ON THE PARCEL.
UM, AND AS CHAIR SETH MENTIONED, THE HLC MAY VOTE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING OR DENY HISTORIC ZONING AND RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UM, UH, IN OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, UM, A VOTE OF NO ACTION WILL CAUSE THE CASE TO TIME OUT ON JANUARY 15TH.
UM, SO IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN, OR THE DEMO PERMIT IS APPROVED, UM, BY THIS COMMISSION, UM, FIVE DAYS, UM, FROM NOW IS THE, IS THE CUTOFF.
[00:35:01]
SO AS CHAIR SETH MENTIONED, THIS ITEM IS A REHEARING OF A CASE THAT APPEARED AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING.UM, DUE A BREACH OF TOOMA, UH, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
WE'VE BEEN ADVISED BY A LOT OF PLACES ASIDE AND BACK ON THE AGENDA.
UH, IT CAME BEFORE US AS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH 8 19 25 HOUSE AND 1937 SECONDARY STRUCTURE, UH, THAT WAS THEN INITIATED LAST MONTH, UM, WAS BUILT IN 1925 FOR KNOX THOMAS AND SALLY ROGERS JOHNSON BY CONTRACTOR MARVIN MCGOUGH.
UH, THE 2020 NORTH LOOP HANCOCK BUGGY CREEK SURVEY LISTS THE PRIMARY BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY AS HIGH PRIORITY AND INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
UM, AND THE BUILDING, UH, MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC ZONING AS A, UH, AN EXAMPLE OF THE SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL STYLE, UM, AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH KNOX.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE OPEN UP HEARING? OKAY, HEARING NONE THEN, UH, LET ME ASK THOSE IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC ZONING TO PLEASE ORGANIZE YOURSELF IN THE INTEREST OF TIME IF WE COULD HAVE SPEAKERS CLOSE TO OR LINED UP TO MAKE USE OF THE PODIUM.
AND I'LL CALL UPON OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
NOW, UH, THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL HAVE UP TO FIVE MINUTES.
ALL SUBSEQUENT SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES, BUT I DO ASK EACH OF YOU WHO, WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE SPEAKERS, TO USE YOUR TIME EFFECTIVELY.
IF YOU CAN SUMMARIZE QUICKLY, UH, IT'S A FULL AGENDA AND, UH, WE DO APPRECIATE, UH, BREVITY.
UH, BUT WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU'VE DEVOTED TO THIS.
SO, UH, I WILL CALL UPON OUR FIRST SPEAKER AND, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, OUR FORMER CHAIR, UH, TERRY MYERS.
UM, I WAS PLANNING TO GO TO THE DECEMBER MEETING AND I DID SHOW UP.
I THINK THERE'S A, THERE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BUTTON THAT SAYS PUSHED BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM.
UM, I WAS AT THE DECEMBER MEETING, BUT I WAS AT CITY HALL AND, UH, I KNEW I COULDN'T GET HERE IN TIME.
I RUSHED TO HIM IN TIME TO SEE YOU ALL, UH, TAKE UP THIS ITEM.
AND IT WAS, UM, SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING TO ME BECAUSE, UH, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AND A, A VOTE DENYING, UM, HISTORIC, A RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON CONDITION.
AND I THINK THAT CONDITION CAN BE CONSIDERED IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE THE PRIMARY, UH, ELEMENT THAT THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS.
I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR ARCHITECTURE, UH, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, UH, ARCHEOLOGY, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
UM, I HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL PRESERVATION CONSULTANT FOR 38 YEARS, AND I'VE LISTED MORE THAN 7,000 PROPERTIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
I DID THE FIRST FOUR LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND A NUMBER OF LOCAL LANDMARKS HERE IN, IN AUSTIN.
AND I'M SAYING THIS, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M THAT OLD.
BUT, UM, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN DOING ASSESSMENTS AND DOING NOMINATIONS, I FEEL THAT THIS HOUSE AT 7 0 1 SPARKS THE KNOX T AND SALLY ROGERS JOHNSON HOUSE MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR ARCHITECTURE, FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND FOR COMMUNITY VALUE.
UM, IT, THE INTEGRITY ISSUES DO NOT CONSIDER CONDITION AS THE PRIMARY, AS AS ONE OF THE, UH, ELEMENTS FOR NATIONAL REGISTER, WHICH IS WHAT OUR CITY FOLLOWS AS A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, IN 2020, THE CITY HIRED CONSULTANTS, COTS MCCLAIN, TO DO AN ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY OF THE NORTH CENTRAL AREA.
AND IN THAT SURVEY, THERE WERE VERY STINGY WITH MANY OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THEY RECOMMENDED THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE FOR INDIVIDUAL LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
THAT ME MEANS THAT IT IS AN EX AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF ITS TYPE AND THAT IT MEETS ALL SEVEN I INTEGRITY ISSUES FOR NATIONAL REGISTER.
UM, I WON'T GO INTO IT FURTHER, BUT IT'S, IT IS A RARE, POSSIBLY UNIQUE EXAMPLE
[00:40:01]
WITH THE ROUNDED PORTICO SUPPORTED BY, UM, CLASSICAL COLUMNS AND THEN THE SPANISH REVIVAL ELEMENTS OF THE RED CLAY TILE, THE FLAT ROOF PARAPET WALL.UM, IT HAS MODERATE HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE ROGERS AND HORNSBY FAMILY WHO WERE PIONEERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT ALSO WITH CONTRACTOR, UH, KNOX T JOHNSON.
NEXT TIME YOU'RE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK IN THE CENTRAL CITY, LOOK TO DOWN TO SEE IF HIS NAME ISN'T INSCRIBED ON THE SIDEWALK.
HE DID, HE WAS A MAJOR CEMENT CONTRACTOR, DID SIDEWALKS ALL THROUGH THE CITY, CURBING SEWER LINES, WATER LINES.
IF YOU LIVE IN, IN DISTRICT NINE, YOU PROBABLY HAD, UH, ONE OF THESE JOHNSON SIDEWALKS.
ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO EVER LIVED IN THIS HOUSE THROUGH THE LAST OWNER WERE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF KNOX T AND SALLY ROGERS JOHNSON.
FINALLY, I THINK THIS PROPERTY HAS EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR COMMUNITY VALUE.
IT IS PART OF THE HISTORIC WHEELERS GROVE SITE, WHICH WAS THE SITE OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATIONS IN AUSTIN, LATER KNOWN AS JUNETEENTH FROM 1874.
THAT'S AS FAR BACK AS I WAS ABLE TO TRACE IT TO ABOUT 1909 WHEN THE LAND WAS SOLD TO A PRIVATE COLLEGE AND THEN SORT OF WENT UNDER ITS LOCATION ON A LITTLE TRIBUTARY OF WALLER CREEK.
AND AT THE ENTRANCE TO EASTWOODS PARK, UM, IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY THAT GREW UP AROUND THE HOUSE.
AND THEN THE PARK WAS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED AFTER THE HOUSE AND THE LANDSCAPING THAT THE DEVELOPER PUT INTO THIS HOUSE, INTO THE YARD BACKS UP TO EASTWOODS PARK AND WAS SORT OF A BACKDROP OR MODEL FOR THE NATURALISTIC LANDSCAPE THAT JACOB, UM, GOEBBELS, THE CITY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, UM, FOLLOWED DEVELOPING EASTWOOD PARK.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND READ YOUR NAME AND TO THE RECORD.
THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE CROCKETT FAMILY.
UM, MOTON CROCKETT SENIOR WAS QUITE INVOLVED IN THE REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT MATTERS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS, UM, HE OWNED AND SUBDIVIDED THE LAND THAT IS NOW THE HARRIS PARK EDITION SUBDIVISION AND SOLD A PORTION TO THE CITY FOR EASTWOODS PARK TO THE SOUTH.
THE FAMILY STILL OWNS THE HOUSES AT 7 0 5 AND 7 0 7 SPARKS, WHICH ARE ADJACENT TO 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
WE ARE VERY MUCH INVESTED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WOULD BE OUR GREATEST DESIRE TO SEE THE HOUSE REMAIN.
WE BELIEVE THIS HOUSE IS A PILLAR OF CHARACTER FOR THE ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS BUILT MANY DECADES AGO.
WE SUPPORT KEEPING THE HOUSE FROM BEING DEMOLISHED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MS. GENSLER.
LET'S COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND READ YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND I CHAIR THEIR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TONIGHT.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
WE HAVE NOT FORMALLY VOTED ON A STANCE FOR THIS CASE, HOWEVER, WE DID WANNA USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE THAT WE SEE OFTEN AT THIS COMMISSION REGARDING CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
TIME AND AGAIN, WE SEE CASES COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION THAT ARE CLEARLY WORTHY OF PRESERVATION LIKE THE SPARKS HOUSE, BUT DUE TO THE HIGH THRESHOLD SET BY OUR CRITERIA, THEY OFTEN FAIL TO MEET THE THRESHOLD OUTLINED IN CODE TO MERIT DESIGNATION.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS FIVE CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, WHICH Y'ALL WELL KNOW OF, WHICH A PROPERTY MUST MEET TO ARCHITECTURE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, WHICH, UM, TERRY MEYERS SPOKE ON SO ELOQUENTLY.
COMMUNITY VALUE, ARCHEOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPE.
THIS MEANS THAT A PROPERTY MUST MEET A MINIMUM OF 40% OF THE POSSIBLE CRITERIA TO ACHIEVE LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
COMPARE THIS TO SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS 16 CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION AND REQUIRES A PROPERTY TO MEET THREE.
THAT'S LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT WE REQUIRE HERE.
FURTHERMORE, SAN ANTONIO'S CRITERIA CREATE A MORE NUANCED FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING A PROPERTY, RECOGNIZING THAT HISTORIC
[00:45:01]
SIF SIGNIFICANCE CANNOT BE CAPTURED BY BROADLY DEFINED CRITERIA.CRITERIA LIKE OURS, 7 0 1 SPARKS WAS EVALUATED AS HIGH PRIORITY FOR PRESERVATION IN THE 2020 NORTH LOOP HANCOCK BOGGY CREEK SURVEY.
IF EVALUATED BY SAN ANTONIO'S CRITERIA 7 0 1 SPARKS WOULD QUALIFY FOR LANDMARK STATUS WITHOUT QUESTION.
AS THE CITY MOVES FORWARD WITH A NEW EQUITY BASE PRESERVATION PLAN, WE ASK THE COMMISSION TO BEGIN CONSIDERING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO EXPAND THE CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION SO THAT OUR PROGRAM CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR CITY'S HERITAGE.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND READ YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SORRY, I DON'T SEE WELL, SO
CAN YOU
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LANDMARK COMMISSION EXISTS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT LOSE TANGIBLE LINKS TO LOCAL HISTORIC, LOCAL HISTORY, INCLUDING NOTABLE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE.
YOUR STAFF EVALUATED 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE AND FOUND THAT IT MET THE ARCHITECTURAL CRITERIA FOR PRESERVATION AS AN EXAMPLE OF SPANISH REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE.
AND THERE ARE PRECEDENTS OF THE LANDMARK COMMISSION GRANTING HISTORIC STATUS TO FAR MORE UNDISTINGUISHED AND DILAPIDATED HOUSES THAN 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE.
OVER THE OBJECTION OF THEIR OWNERS ONLINE PHOTOS FROM THE LISTING AND RECENT ACQUISITION IN MAY, 2023 SHOW INDICATE THAT THIS HOUSE IS STILL HABITABLE AS HABITABLE AS OTHER PROPERTIES.
THE FACT IS, WE VALUE THE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE OF THIS QUIET CORNER OF CENTRAL AUSTIN.
HOUSES LIKE 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE ENHANCE OTHER VISIBLE HISTORIC ELEMENTS.
THE 1920S HOUSE THAT REPLACED THE HOME OF SUSANNA DICKINSON, WHO SURVIVED THE SIEGE OF THE ALAMO, THE REMAINING NINE HOLES OF THE OLDEST GOLF COURSE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, PART OF THE COM, THE COUNTRY CLUB FOUNDED IN 1899 BY FORMER MAYOR LOUIS HANCOCK AND THE COMMODORE PERRY ESTATE.
SPARKS AVENUE ITSELF IS ADJACENT TO EASTWOOD PARK, THE LAST REMNANT OF WHEELERS GROVE, WHERE AUSTIN'S BLACK COMMUNITY WAS FIRST ALLOWED TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH, THEN KNOWN AS EMAN EMANCIPATION DAY.
I HAVE FOUND LITERATURE THAT SAYS IT WAS AS FAR BACK AS THE 1860S, AND OF COURSE, IN 1964, DIOR'S BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS FIRST CELEBRATED IN EAST WOODS PARK.
IF YOU VOTE TO ALLOW THE DEMOLITION OF 7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE, YOU WON'T BE CONDEMNING JUST ONE HISTORIC HOUSE.
YOUR VOTE WILL UNEQUIVOCALLY SIGNAL THAT ANY HOUSE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE IS EXPENDABLE.
AND WE WILL ALL BE THE POOR FOR THAT.
WE CAN'T GET BACK HISTORY ONCE IT IS BULLDOZED.
2024 MARKS, 50 YEARS THAT I HAVE LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS A PAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND LEGAL COMMITTEE OF EASTWOOD FOR 20 YEARS, AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY AND ITS ARCHITECTURE, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION.
7 0 1 SPARKS AVENUE IS MEANINGFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PRESERVE IT FOR US AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF OS OSTEO HEIGHTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK STEIN.
I'M A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE EASTWOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND, UM, VERY MUCH INVESTED PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN AUSTIN.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO YOU TWICE, I DON'T REALLY NEED TO GO BACK OVER WHAT I'VE SAID.
I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER EVERY WORD, BUT WE, WE'LL KEEP AN AT IT BECAUSE WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SAVE THIS HOUSE.
IT'S SUCH A KEY PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADING AS IT DOES INTO EASTWOOD PARK AND BEING ON THIS
[00:50:01]
LITTLE TINY STREET THAT LEADS DEAD ENDS INTO THE CREEK.AND ON THAT STREET ARE A NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
AND WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT THERE.
BUT IF THIS HOUSE GOES DOWN, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE IT AND PLEASE DO IT.
IF THERE ARE MORE SPEAKERS THAT ARE PLANNING TO SPEAK, PLEASE PREPARE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE EFFICIENTLY.
MY NAME IS SUSAN PRYOR AND MY HUSBAND RICHARD, AND I OWN THAT PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS HOUSE.
AND, UH, WE BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE WE LOVE SPARKS AVENUE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL STREET AND UH, REALLY I THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE SPANISH STYLE ARCHITECTURE THAT WAS BUILT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S RETAINED CHARACTERISTICS THAT OTHERS HAVE LOST, LIKE THE DETAILING AROUND THE WINDOWS, THE ROOF LINE, AND THE ROOFING TILES, WHICH TERRY MEYERS SO WONDERFULLY POINTED OUT.
IT SHOWS NO MAJOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS, WHICH YOU CAN, NOW THAT I KNOW THAT IT WAS A CEMENT BUILDER THAT KNEW CEMENT.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PARTICULAR ST STYLE HOUSES THAT ARE STILL AROUND HAVE STAYED SO WELL.
IT'S THE FIRST PROPERTY ENTERING THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE PARK ALONG HARRIS PARK AVENUE, ALONG A TRANSITION THAT IS KEY TO THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WALKING DOWN THE STREET FROM THE PARK.
THIS IS THE FIRST PROPERTY YOU SEE AND GIVES AN INDICATION OF A STYLE THAT WAS PROMINENT AT THE TIME IT WAS BUILT.
IF YOU TURN RIGHT ONTO SPARKS, YOU'LL SEE THE ENTIRE STREET HAS RETAINED MOST OF THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER.
EVEN THE NEW STRUCTURE BEING BUILT ACROSS THE STREET WILL BE IN CHARACTER WITH THE REST OF THE STREET.
ALSO, SPARKS IS AN ENTRANCE TO THE PARK AS WELL AS HARRIS PARK AVENUE.
IF YOU CONTINUE ON HARRIS PARK AVENUE, YOU'LL NOTE ANOTHER SPANISH STYLE STRUCTURE.
QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THIS ONE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, RETAINED FOR ITS CHARACTER.
ON THE OTHER CORNER IS A HISTORIC STRUCTURE OF CRAFTSMAN STYLE DESIGN.
IF YOU TURN LEFT ON 32ND STREET, YOU ARE GREETED WITH THE HEIGHT OF SPANISH STYLE INFLUENCE OF THE AREA OF BEAUTIFUL ESTATES THAT HAVE RETAINED THEIR HISTORIC SPANISH CULTURE CHARACTER.
IT'S UNIQUE IN OUR AREA TO HAVE THESE EXAMPLES OF HOW ORIGINAL DEVELOPERS ADOPTED STYLES THAT WERE UNUSUAL AND SPECIFIC AND SPRINKLED THEM THROUGHOUT THIS SUBDIVISION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS MAXED OUT ON PARKING.
CURRENTLY, EVERY SPACE IS TAKEN WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION.
A DENSE STRUCTURE ON THIS PROPERTY WOULD ONLY MAKE THE STREET AND PARK ACCESS MORE UNSAFE.
A LARGE STRUCTURE ON THIS PROPERTY WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PARK.
THE FACT THAT A MAJOR TREE WAS CUT DOWN ON THE PROPERTY HAS ALSO MADE THE STRUCTURE MORE VISIBLE AND MORE INVASIVE TO THE PARK.
THE CURRENT STREET IS A VERY WALKABLE, EVEN WITH THE PARKING DEMANDS THAT EXCEED WHAT THE STREET CAN CURRENTLY HANDLE.
THE PARK HAS A WATER FEATURE FOR CHILDREN, PLAY SCAPES, PICNIC TABLES WITH GRILLS, TENNIS COURTS, BASKETBALL COURTS, AND MORE.
THIS PARK IS USED VIRTUALLY 24 7 AND A STRUCTURE THAT WOULD IMPEDE THE ENJOYMENT OF THIS PARK WOULD BE SAD TO SEE.
UH, WE JUST HEARD FROM TWO OF THE OTHER PRESIDENTS OF THE NIG NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF EASTWOOD AND I'M ALSO AN OWNER OF ONE OF THE JOHNSON HOMES, UH, ON 30TH STREET.
I DO HAVE A, NOT A CRACK IN THAT CONCRETE, BY THE WAY.
UM, AND A HAPPY OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY.
UH, YES, FOR THE RECORD, YOUR NAME, UM, OH, EXCUSE ME.
RUSSELL JONES, AND I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OR TREASURER FOR 30 YEARS.
OF THE 33 YEARS I'VE LIVED THERE.
I MOVED SPECIFICALLY FROM WESTLAKE HILLS TO BE CLOSER TO TO TOWN AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING IN.
AND I PICKED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFICALLY TO LIVE IN, VERY CLOSE TO THE CAMPUS.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND I BEG THAT YOU, UH, CONSIDER KEEPING THAT HOUSE, UH, AS A LANDMARK.
AND IF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WERE HERE, THEIR FIRST, UH, UH, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, UH, WHO HIRED DARRELL ROYAL IS AT THE END OF THAT STREET, UH, WOULD'VE BEEN AT THE END OF THAT STREET.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER KEEPING 7 0 1 SPARKS AS A, AS A WONDERFUL LANDMARK.
UH, ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? OKAY, WE'LL CALL UPON, UH, IN THIS CASE THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
UH, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
[00:55:01]
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.I REPRESENT THE OWNER AND I'M HERE TO, UH, GO THROUGH GROUNDHOG DAY AGAIN WITH YOU.
UH, THE OWNER HAS SPENT A LOT OF A TIME AND EFFORT TO HAVE PROFESSIONALS GO OUT AND EVALUATE THIS STRUCTURE.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A TOTAL OF FIVE DIFFERENT INSPECTIONS.
WE ARE BLESSED TONIGHT TO HAVE ONE OF THE FINAL GENTLEMEN HERE WHO HAS GOT EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
AFTER ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL NOT KNOWING WHAT THE OTHER INSPECTORS HAD SAID, CAME BACK WITH WAS THIS PROPERTY IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING RECON IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND HAS TO BE COME DOWN.
THE ONE THING THAT IS THE REAL KILLER HERE IS MOLD.
THE BASEMENT IS FULL OF WATER AND IT HAS MOLD.
AND IT WAS, WE TOOK THE, THE OWNER TOOK THIS REPORT TO HIS BANK AND SAID, HEY, UH, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND THEY SAID, WE WILL NOT LOAN YOU ANY MONEY FOR RESTORATION DE.
AND SO THAT'S, AND IN SPITE OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, THE ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY AND THE OTHER FIVE FOUR CONDITIONS ARE ONLY IN THE CRI PART OF THE CRITERIA.
THE FIRST CRITERIA UNDER THE ORDINANCE IS IT HAS TO BE AT LEAST 50 YEARS OLD.
AND THE SECOND IS THAT THE BUILDING RETAINS INTEGRITY.
AND THE ARGUMENT HERE IS THAT IT DOES NOT RETAIN INTEGRITY.
ANYTHING WE DO WOULD TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING WOULD BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FACT SIMILE.
AND SO I ASK YOU TO UPHOLD THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN THAT IT DOES NOT IN, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING ELSE, HAVE ITS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, THAT IT WILL ALLOW IT TO BE RE UH, TO REMAIN AS A HISTORIC BUILDING.
ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO IT WOULD BE CON TOTAL REPLACEMENT AND A FACSIMILE RECONSTRUCTION.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL LEAVE YOU, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE PUT INTO HERE, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE? OKAY, IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER WHO WILL BE SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE OWNER OF MDG CONSTRUCTION AND MO AUTO DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
UM, I'VE GOT, I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN SINCE 2005.
I'VE BUILT $500,000 WORTH OF PROJECTS IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER AT SPARKS, REVIEWED THE BUILDING INSIDE AND OUT.
UH, DID A LITTLE BIT OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING JUST TO SEE WHAT WAS IN THE BONES.
WHAT I COULD SEE FROM, WITHOUT TEARING IT UP, UM, THE BASEMENT CONDITION HAS TAKEN ON A LOT OF WATER.
THERE'S EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF MOLD IN THERE THAT'S GOTTA BE, UH, ABATED.
UM, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF IT ITSELF, NOT KNOWING, NOT HAVING PLANS, NOT KNOWING WHAT MATERIALS WERE USED, LOOKING AT THE CURRENT CONDITION MAKES IT A, MAKES IT A HIGH RISK PROJECT FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MITIGATE RISK ON.
UH, I WOULD NOT TOUCH THIS WITHOUT REBUILDING IT.
UM, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, UH, I THINK YOU'LL ALSO FIND THAT, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNDISCLOSED DAMAGE, LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE.
UM, MAYBE HAD IT BEEN INTENDED EARLY ON THAT IT WOULD END UP BEING A HISTORIC STRUCTURE.
MAYBE IT'D BE IN BETTER SHAPE.
BUT TODAY, BASED ON CURRENT CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND BASED ON THE CONDITION OF IT, UH, I BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT IF I REBUILT IT.
IT'S ONLY GONNA BE A FACSIMILE OF WHAT, WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT.
UM, WE'RE RUNNING PROBABLY $400 A SQUARE FOOT FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[01:00:02]
WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WOULD MATCH THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT IT MIGHT HAVE.UM, I THINK THE COST IS OVERWHELMING COMPARED TO WHAT IT SHOULD COST, ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY AND TIME WITH THE, UH, THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS AND THE, THE SKYROCKETING CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? I, I HAD A QUESTION.
UH, YOU MENTIONED CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE RUNNING ABOUT $400 A SQUARE FOOT IN AUSTIN, AND I BELIEVE YOU WERE THE AUTHOR OF A QUOTE FOR COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF THIS HOUSE AT 1.2 MILLION, WHICH COMES OUT TO $389 PER SQUARE FOOT.
SO THIS SEEMS TO ME IN A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION, THIS BUILDING WOULD BE LESS THAN THE AVERAGE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? IT'S NOT BY MUCH.
UM, WITHOUT DIGGING IN FURTHER, THAT'S LIKE THE BEST PRICE THAT I COULD COME UP WITH.
UM, I'VE PRICED SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS AND CONTINUE TO PRICE THEM THAT THIS FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITH EVERYTHING I PRICE.
AND DO YOU KNOW IF THE SUMP PIT WAS REPAIRED AT THE TIME THAT YOU HAD? IF THE, WHAT? THE SUMP PIT THAT WAS SHOWN FULL OF WATER WITH THE SUMP PUMP APPARENTLY NOT FUNCTIONAL.
WAS THAT REPAIRED AT THE TIME THAT YOU OBSERVED MOISTURE IN THE CRAWL SPACE? CORRECT.
'CAUSE IT'S FLOODED, IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PUMP, IT'S FLOODED.
THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S LEAKAGE INTO IT.
YOU CAN SEE WATER DRAINING DOWN THE WALLS, SO RIGHT.
AND THE SUMP PUMP IS SUPPOSED TO EJECT THAT WATER.
WAS THE SUMP PUMP FUNCTIONAL AT THE TIME THAT YOU DID THE INSPECTION AND NOTICE MOISTURE? I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, IT DIDN'T GET DOWN IN THERE.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS MR. STANLEY? THANK YOU.
AGAIN, YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HI, I AM RAHIM JAVAN MAR, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT 7 0 1 PARK 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 TAUGHT I DID NOT PROPERLY EXPLAIN THE SITUATION DURING THE PREVIOUS HEARING.
AFTER I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN THE LAST MAY, I HAD MY CONTRACTOR FILE FOR A DEMOTION PERMIT.
DURING THE REVIEW, WE LEARNED THAT CITY HISTORIC STAFF REQUIRE THE BUILDING BE SENT TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
HAD I NOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN, I WILL HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THE PROPERTY TO ME THIS COM THIS RECOMMENDATION IS PUZZLING AS A HOUSE IS IN A BAD IN TROUBLE CONDITION.
I HAVE GONE TO ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE EXPECT REPORT.
THE PROFESSIONAL HOUSE IN INSPECTION WAS VERY TRUE.
ONE FOUNDATION FELLER FELL DESTROYED BY LEAKING THE ROOF EXTERIOR WALL CRACK TWO SYSTEM OF FOUNDATION PROLONGING ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL TREE, THE HOUSE FULL OF THE MOLD AND THE BASEMENT WITH A FULL OF WATER.
AND THE MOLD THROUGHOUT THIS CONTRACTOR REPORT, WHICH I HAVE PROVIDE TO A STAFF, ARE ONE IN A INSPECT PROPERTY INSPECTION REPORT DETAIL IN A 14 MB REPORT TO ALL NATION RESTORATION, LLC, MOLD RESTORATION BUILDING IN THE TWO BAD CONDITION RE REMEDIATION OR RESTORATION WILL NOT POSSIBLE.
THIS DISCONNECT REMODELING L-L-S-C-A LOW ESTIMATE FOR THE VERY BASIC WORK.
THIS CONTRACTOR DID NOT DEAL WITH THE MOLD OR GIVE ANY WARRANTY THAT HIS JOB WOULD RESULT IN A REVIVAL HOUSE.
I SEND THE INSPECTION REPORT TO MY BANKER AND HIS LETTER SAID THAT THE BANK WILL NOT
[01:05:01]
PROVIDE A LOAN FOR THE RESTORATION TO EXISTING STRUCTURE.I HAVE GONE TO ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO GET AN ADDITIONAL BED TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED, THIS CONTRACTOR HAS ADVISED THAT THE ONLY ELEMENT OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE REUSED WOULD BE CONCRETE PRI PERIMETER BEAM CONDITION.
MR. AJA, THAT IS, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
AND SO WOULD YOU MAKE YOUR LAST, YOUR LAST COMMENT, WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO WRAP UP.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THIS OWNER? UH, YES.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THE AMOUNT THAT YOU WERE REQUESTING A LOAN FOR FROM KLEBERG BANK? 1,210,000.
OKAY, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ONE MORE QUESTION HERE.
UH, LOOKING AT THE REPORT, IT SAYS THAT THERE MAY BE ORGANIC GROWTH OR THERE MAY BE MOLD.
WAS THIS ERROR CONFIRMED BY A MALT INSPECTOR? UH, I, I'M SORRY, WOULD YOU REPEAT IT AGAIN? WAS THERE EVER CONFIRMATION OF MALT IN THE CRAWLSPACE BY A CERTIFIED MALT INSPECTOR? UH, I, I, YES, UHHUH
AND IS, IS THAT A DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US? YEAH, YOUR QUESTION, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE, THE INSPECTION SAYS THAT MOISTURE BUILDER SEND IT TO CAN LEAD TO MILDEW AND THEN IT SAYS THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY A CERTIFIED MOLD INSPECTOR.
SO ALL THE REPORT BE SENT IT TO YOU.
THAT'S DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE CLEAR IN THE INSPECT PROPERTY INSPECTION REPORT.
UNLESS THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL REPORT.
UM, THERE ARE, UH, SPECIFIC REPORTS TO IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF MOLDS AND WHAT KIND OF HAZARDS THEY MIGHT REPRESENT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.
WE JUST HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT MOLD DOES EXIST.
IS THAT CORRECT? NO, I THINK, I THINK THE MOLD IS IN THE BUILDING.
I BE SEND A REPORT TO YOU, I THINK.
BUT YOU HAVE NO OTHER, NO, NO REPORT SPECIFIC TO THE TYPE OF MOLD OR IT'S CONDITION OR IT, WHATEVER OTHER, UH, REMEDIES MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS IT.
THERE THERE'S NO, YEAH, THERE'S NO EXACTLY EXPLANATION, BUT THERE IS MOLD IN THE BUILDING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
UM, WE, AS THIS IS A INITIATION OF ZONING, UH, THOSE IN FAVOR, WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO REBUT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, AGAIN, THAT CONDITION IS ONE THING.
PROBABLY A LOT OF US SPEAKING HERE TODAY HAVE HAD SIMILAR CONDITION IN OUR HOUSES THAT WE HAVE REPAIRED OR MAINTAINED.
I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.
THIS HOUSE WAS OCCUPIED, UM, MAYBE AS, AS LITTLE AS 10 MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS AGO.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THIS MIGHT BE THE PURVIEW OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT I ASK YOU PLEASE TO CONSIDER LANDMARK STATUS BASED ON THE FIVE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE AND THE IN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTEGRITY IN THE ORDINANCE, IT'S THE SEVEN ASPECTS OF INTEGRITY AS ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL REGISTER, FOLLOWED BY THE CGS.
AND THAT'S INTEGRITY OF LOCATION, ASSOCIATION, DESIGN, WORKMANSHIP, MATERIALS, FEELING, AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF OFFHAND, BUT IT'S NOT REPAIR.
AND, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK YOU HAD 43 PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WRITE YOU ON THIS IN FAVOR OF, UH, HISTORIC ZONING.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE HERE WHO IS HERE IN FAVOR OF LANDMARK STATUS, WHETHER YOU'VE SPOKEN OR NOT TO PLEASE STAND.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.
THIS IS HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO US.
[01:10:01]
THE END OF THE, UH, FORMAL PROCESS.SO UNLESS THERE IS A RESPONSE TO A QUESTION SPECIFIC TO THIS INDIVIDUAL.
DO YOU HAVE A QUICK COMMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS COMMISSION? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I SPOKE TO, UM, MR. JAVADI, UH, PERSONALLY.
HE, HE CAME AND REQUESTED THAT I COME TAKE A LOOK AT THE, AT HIS PROPERTY.
UM, IF YOU HAVE A SUB PUMP, IF YOU HAVE A BASEMENT AND YOU HAVE A SUB PUMP, IF YOU DON'T KEEP THE ELECTRICITY ON AND RUN YOUR SUB PUMP, YOU'RE GONNA DESTROY YOUR OWN PROPERTY.
AND ONLY NINE MONTHS AGO SOMEONE WAS LIVING IN THAT HOUSE.
UH, YOU, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE QUESTION.
UM, IN FACT, I WILL ASK A QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT, UH, OF THE OWNER IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ALSO HAVE.
ONE LAST THING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY, JUST IN FAIRNESS, MS. MR. MCCOMB, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE AS A, AS AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION? UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY LAST ITEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADD? THE LAST THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE, UH, AT THE LAST MEETING THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR A, UH, DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
THE OWNER HAS PROVIDED THAT AND HIS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SOMEWHAT CONFUSED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS REQUIRED, AND SO HE'S TRYING TO, WE JUST REALLY NEED TO MOVE ON AND, UH, THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
HE'S TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING UNDER A NORMAL DEMOLITION SITUATION.
AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND REGRET THAT WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE OPEN FOR A MOTION.
I'M GONNA MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
AND IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THERE'S COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YES.
UM, I THINK WE DO NEED, I'LL JUST NOTE THAT, UH, PER THE ORDINANCE WE DO, WE SHALL CONSIDER THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY AND, UH, THE REASONABLENESS OF THE COST OF REPAIR AND THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
BUT, UM, I, THESE ARE SITUATIONS ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT WHEN WE HAVE LIMITED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY, WHEREAS THE APPLICANT PROVIDES QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION BECAUSE IT IS THEIR PROPERTY, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THEIR SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.
SO IT'S, IT TENDS TO BE A ONE-SIDED SITUATION.
BUT IN THIS CASE, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HAS ONLY REINFORCED MY BELIEF THAT THIS HOUSE COULD BE RESTORED AT A VALUE LESS THAN THE COST OF REPRODUCING THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE SAME QUALITY, UH, IN AUSTIN.
I, I THINK THAT TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN BY THE APPLICANT AND THEIR WITNESSES THEMSELVES.
UM, THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH FOR ME TO PUT ASIDE.
AND, AND THIS IS FOR WHAT I CONSIDER AN OVERBLOWN ESTIMATE OF COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARDWOOD FLOORS, WHICH THE ZILLOW LISTING SHOWS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION, UH, PLASTER, WHICH COULD BE REPAIRED INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH DRYWALL STUCCO, WHICH COULD BE REPAIRED INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY REMOVED AND REPLACED A ROOF, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WOULD BE FAIRLY NEW AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT ANY, AT ANY POINT.
E EVEN WITH A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION, WOULD BE LESS THAN THE COST OF NEW CONSTRUCTION HERE.
SO THE, TO ME, THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT DOESN'T HOLD UP.
UM, THE, WE MAY NEED TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS, BUT THE, UM, LETTER ABOUT THE FINANCING IS REFERENCED IN A LETTER FROM THE OWNER DATED DECEMBER 1ST, AND THE APPLICANT HAS STATED THAT THEY REQUESTED THE AMOUNT, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF THE ESTIMATE PROVIDED HERE, WHICH IS ALSO DATED DECEMBER 1ST.
SO THERE'S KIND OF SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
THERE'S NOT A DATE ON THE LETTER FROM THE LENDER TO CLARIFY WHAT THAT IS.
AND IT'S NOT CLARIFY CLEARER WHAT SCOPE OF WORK WAS BEING REQUESTED.
IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MUCH MONEY WAS BEING REQUESTED.
UM, THIS BUILDING WAS OCCUPIED RECENTLY.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON IT COULDN'T BE OCCUPIED.
NOW, I DO SEE INDICATIONS OF OLD MOLD GROWTH IN SOME OF THE PHOTOS ON THE WHITE INSULATION, WHICH COULD BE REMOVED AND REPLACED AND PROPERLY TREATED WITH AN ENVELOPE TREATMENT.
UM, THE STATEMENT WAS MADE THAT THE F THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALLS ARE THE, THE MAIN THING BY THE APPLICANT SAID THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALLS ARE THE MAIN THING THAT'S THERE.
AND TO ME, THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
THAT'S THE, THE SAVING GRACE OF THIS
[01:15:01]
HOUSE IS 'CAUSE IT STANDS ON CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALLS, WHICH ARE SOLID.EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE REPAIRED.
IT CAN BE VENTILATED, IT CAN HAVE A SUMP PUMP.
THE MOLD GROWS WHERE THERE'S MOISTURE.
THE MOISTURE COULD BE TREATED WITH PROPER VENTILATION AND A FUNCTIONING SUMP PUMP.
I, I JUST DON'T SEE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS UNINHABITABLE UNSALVAGEABLE FOR AN ECONOMIC VALUE.
AND I THINK THAT CASE WAS CLEARLY MADE BY THE PRESENTATION, BY THE PRESENTATION BY THE APPLICANT.
I WOULD LIKE COMMISSIONER LAROCHE TO SPEAK TO HIS CONCERNS.
I KNOW THAT IT WAS COMMUNICATED THAT, UH, HE SEES POTENTIAL WOOD DAMAGE BEHIND THE STUCCO AROUND AROUND THE PORCH, WHICH I WOULD EXPECT THAT, WHERE YOU HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES ON A PORCH SPLASHING BACK AND KEEPING STUCCO WET, AND YOU OPEN THE STUCCO AND YOU PATCH THE WOOD AND YOU PATCH THE STUCCO AND YOU FIX THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM.
IT'S EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITH ANY HOME OF HISTORIC AGE.
WE, WE JUST SEE THESE CASES AND THESE ARGUMENTS MADE, YOU KNOW, A RAT NIBBLED ON A CEDAR PIER, WE HAVE TO TEAR THE WHOLE THING DOWN.
AND THAT'S THE TRUTH IS VERY MUCH MORE NUANCED.
IT'S VERY MUCH DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAM OF THE OWNER.
IT DEPENDS ON THE SCOPE OF WORK.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CONTRACTOR, IT DEPENDS ON THE TIME.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK THE EVIDENCE THE APPLICANT PROVIDED TO TRY TO JUSTIFY ECONOMIC INFEASIBILITY TO ADJUST THE OPPOSITE.
UM, BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, I, LET ME CALL ON COMMISSIONER GROGAN, UH, AS THE SECONDER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? UM, I'M GONNA SECOND EVERYTHING THAT COMMISSIONER COOK SAID, BUT, UH, I JUST WANNA, I, I KNOW THIS IS, UM, I DID MY MATH.
I THINK EVERY COMMISSIONER HERE TONIGHT NEEDS TO VOTE IN FAVOR.
AND SO I JUST ASK EVERYONE TO, UM, REALLY CONSIDER THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S IN FRONT OF US AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE FOLKS HERE, UM, OVER THE PAST FEW PRESENTATIONS AND, AND PERHAPS NOT THINK AHEAD TO, UM, THE NEXT STEPS OF VOTES.
I, I'D LIKE US TO THINK, UM, MORE, UM, INDEPENDENTLY THAN THAT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US, UM, VERSUS FEAR OF PERHAPS BEING OVERTURNED BY, UM, NEXT VOTES.
OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER LAROCHE? UH, WE HAD A QUESTION ADDRESSED TO YOU.
WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE COMMENTS? IS, IS IT CHAIR HEIN SMITH? IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL UP THAT BRIEF PRESENTATION I PUT TOGETHER? I I DID VISIT THE PROPERTY AND SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME THERE, AND SO I, I DO THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, WORTH A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION TO, UH, ADDRESS SOME OF COMMISSIONER COOK'S COMMENTS.
UH, THAT I BELIEVE, UH, STAFF WAS 4.1, I THINK IS IN THE BACKUP.
IS THAT A PRESENTATION WE CAN BRING UP? I'LL BRING IT UP NOW.
SO THE, THE EYEBROWS, I DON'T, THE, IT HASN'T BEEN WELL PRESERVED COMMISSIONERS AND, AND SO THAT WAS APPARENT WHEN I VISITED THE PROPERTY.
UM, THERE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME VERY SOUND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS, BUT THE, NOW LET'S JUST STOP RIGHT THERE.
THE, THIS, YOU KNOW, THE UNDERLAY UNDERNEATH THE STUCCO IS FELT AND THAT THAT 15 POUND FELT IS LARGELY DETERIORATED AND THERE'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, DISTRESS IN THE, IN SOME OF THE, THE FRAMING THE FLOOR PLATE, THE ENDS OF SOME OF THE STUDS.
I KIND OF POKED MY FLASHLIGHT INTO A COUPLE OF THESE HOLES.
THE, I, THE STUCCO, WHEN IT'S IN THIS KIND OF CONDITION, IT, IT'S BEYOND A, WE CAN DO LOCALIZED REPAIRS, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO PRETTY MUCH START OVER BECAUSE OF ALL THE FLASHING TIE-INS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS.
CAN CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? IT, THIS, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WAS, WAS A LATER MODIFICATION AND IT'S NOT PART OF THE, THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION, SO I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER EXCEPT TO RECOGNIZE MY LOVELY AND TALENTED WIFE AND ASSISTANT RIGHT THERE ON THE PORCH.
SO, AGAIN, JUST KIND OF MAKING THE POINT, THIS, THIS WAS ALL AN ADD-ON THE, THE, THE PARAPET FLASHING.
WHAT WAS ALSO, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS THE ADDITION, BUT CLEARLY THE WINDOWS WERE SHOT.
[01:20:03]
THIS ONE, IT WAS, AGAIN, MORE MODIFICATIONS.YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL DECORATIVE POST.
IT, IT, SEVERAL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED AND ADDED THAT COPING ON TOP THAT YOU SEE, THAT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL COPING.
THE PARAPET WALLS ARE ORIGINAL, BUT THERE'S A, A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISTRESS WHEN YOU GET IN THOSE COPING TIE-INS WHERE THEY LIKE TIE INTO THE EYEBROWS.
THOSE CLAY MANED ROOFS, BECAUSE OF THE TIE-INS AND THE STUCCO AND THE FLASHING COMMISSIONER COOK, I, IT, IT, IT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MATCH THE CLAY TILE, RIGHT? I, THE FIELD IS FINE, BUT ANYWHERE THERE'S A TIE-IN TO EITHER THE PARAPET OR UNDERNEATH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL THOSE TILES TO APPROPRIATELY FLASH THE STUCCO TO, YOU KNOW, TO ACHIEVE IT, HOW IT SHOULD BE BUILT.
AND SO IN ESSENCE, WHEN, WHEN YOU DO THAT, I, I THINK IT'S, YES, YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY TO MAKE YOU THE REPLICATE CLAY TILE, BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO IT.
AND THAT, THIS IS KIND OF INDICATIVE OF THESE AREAS WHERE, SO THAT'S BEEN LEAKING FOR A LONG TIME AND WHEN YOU KIND OF PUT YOUR FINGER IN THERE, YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, THE TIMBER'S GONE, YOU SEE AT THE EVE RIGHT THERE THAT YOU SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT BIOLOGICAL GROWTH AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S COMPLETELY DETERIORATED IN SOME SPOTS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT.
AND I, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE EXTENT IS, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE CRACKING IN THE STUCCOS IS PRETTY PERS PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT NEXT.
AGAIN, JUST THOSE TIE-INS HAVE BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
THAT'S INDICATIVE OF THE FENESTRATIONS ARE IN A SIMILAR CONDITION.
I THINK THEY'D PROBABLY PUT THAT CAT FLASHING ON JUST, JUST BECAUSE THEY GOT SO MUCH WATER INFILTRATION.
I DO THINK THE, THE HARDWOOD FLOOR CAN, CAN BE PRESERVED, BUT IT'S TAKEN ON A LOT OF STANDING WATER AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THE WINDOWS.
AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY PRETTY MUCH COVERS ANYTHING.
AND COMMISSIONER COOK, IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I CAN, I MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM.
COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER CODE? YES, AND WE'RE, WE'LL SPEAK MORE GENERALLY.
THIS IS NOT A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SPECIFIC COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS MORE GENERALLY APPROACHING THESE POINTS, BUT, UH, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO, UH, ASK GENERAL QUESTIONS AND HAVE, UH, APPROPRIATE DIALOGUE TO ADDRESS THOSE.
UH, I DO APPRECIATE THE DETAILED INPUT AND THE THOUGHTFULNESS HERE.
UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE TILES COULD BE REMOVED AND REPLACED OR RELOCATED TO A PROMINENT FACADE IF THERE'S ANY BREAKAGE.
UM, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE STUCCO, THAT WOULD BE $75,000, UH, IN LIEU OF $1.3 MILLION, UH, AT $400 A SQUARE FOOT FOR, FOR A NEW STRUCTURE.
UM, THE NEW STUCCO WOULD ALLOW PROPER FLASHINGS AT THE WINDOWS PROPER FLASHINGS AT THE ROOF.
I'M, I'M NOT SAYING IT, THIS IS NOT IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND IT WOULDN'T TAKE SOME WORK, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FULL DEMOLITION, BUILDING A NEW HOUSE FROM SCRATCH, THAT TAKES SOME WORK TOO.
UM, AND THESE ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT CASES WHEN WE SEE ANY HOUSE OF ANY GIVEN AGE IS GONNA HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND YOU CAN'T EXPECT IT TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
THE POINT ABOUT THE ADDITION, I THINK WE WOULD AGREE THAT THE ADDITION WAS PROBABLY OF A DATE WHERE IT'S NOT RELEVANT TO THE, UH, NOT A CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURE OF THE HOUSE COULD BE REPLACED PO POSSIBLY WITH A NEW ADDITION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN DATED, IF THAT WAS IN THE ERA OF RELEVANCE OR NOT, UM, PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE OR NOT.
UM, BUT, UM, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR POINTS PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE FLASHING AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF STRUCTURES IN THE STUCCO.
BUT WE DO HAVE A QUOTE FOR 75,000 FOR COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE STUCCO AND, UH, STUCCO, MUCH LIKE A ROOF IS, UH, CAN BE CONSIDERED A SACRIFICIAL MAINTAINABLE MATERIAL.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT FULLY RES STUCCOED, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT THE FORMER MAINTAINED THAT THAT WOULD STILL BE AN OPTION.
YEAH, I GUESS THE, THE, THE QUESTION IN MY MIND IS, UM,
[01:25:01]
ONCE YOU DO ALL THOSE MODIFICATIONS, IS IT AS A RESTORATION OR A REPLICANT? AND I, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE ON THE DIOCESE THAN I DO, BUT THAT'S THE QUESTION IN MY MIND.OTHER COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, TO THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE MOTION AS IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.
I JUST WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT AND FOR SENDING ADDITIONAL LETTERS AND, UH, FOR ALL THOSE THAT CAME AND WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK, BUT FEEL, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, SENSE OF UNITY AND, AND STANDING UP FOR THIS BUILDING AND PROPERTY.
SO I, I DO THINK ALL THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT, I WASN'T ABLE TO READ ALL THESE LETTERS.
I ACTUALLY HAD A PROBLEM ON THESE ATTACHMENTS ON THREE DIFFERENT DEVICES, SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A DATABASE ISSUE.
UM, BUT I DID READ A COUPLE OF THOSE LETTERS, SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT.
UH, TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT, I THINK WHEN WE HAVE CLEAR QUALIFICATIONS, UM, ON THESE CRITERIA, NOT RECOMMENDING HISTORIC ZONING AND TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, THIS BODY HAS, HAS SEEN MANY DEMOLITIONS OVER TIME.
I THINK AT SOME POINT, EVEN LOSING THE TRUST AND FAITH OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, I HOPE THAT WE CAN TRY TO TURN THAT LEAVE TO NOT EMBOLDEN THESE DEVELOPERS THAT COME HERE AND CONTINUE TO PURCHASE THESE PROPERTIES KNOWING, UH, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL THERE.
AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, NO INTENTION OF RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY OR ITS HERITAGE.
UM, WE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A WILL TO GET THIS DONE.
UH, WE JUST NEED TO FIND THAT OWNER AND SAVE THIS PROPERTY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY MORE DISCUSSION ITEMS, UH, FOR ANY MORE COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? UH, I, I WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN.
UM, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE AN OWNER WHO IS NOT, WHO, WHO IS PREFERRING TO OBJECT TO HISTORIC ZONING AND NOT LOOKING AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT COULD BE DONE FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK WERE THE ELEMENTS THAT WE ARE SEEING ADDRESSED IN WILLING HANDS, THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.
UH, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IT'S VALUE PRESERVED WOULD BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY OF BOSTON.
SO I PERSONALLY AM WEIGHING, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NOT JUST THE CHAIR, BUT FOR ALL OF US TO WEIGH THE DICTATES OF THE STATE LAW THAT DOES SAY, IF AN OWNER OBJECTS YOU BETTER DARN WELL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THAT THAT THREE QUARTER THRESHOLD, THAT SUPER MAJORITY THRESHOLD IS SIGNIFICANT.
AND IF WE ARE ASKING, ESSENTIALLY DEMANDING THAT AN OWNER GO BACK ON WHAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE DOING AS AN OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY, UH, OR NOT WILLING TO, TO BE GO FORWARD AND PRESERVE THIS PROPERTY, UH, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THAT INTENT? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT'S THE OUTCOME THAT'S GOING TO BE ACTUALLY PRESERVING THIS BUILDING AND NOT JUST DRAGGING US INTO MORE DIFFICULTIES? SO THAT'S WHAT I, I, I HAVE TO WEIGH IN THINKING ABOUT THIS VOTE AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
UH, BEST CASE SCENARIO, A NEW OWNER WILL COME IN, WHO HAS THE ENERGY? WOULD THIS MEET THAT CRITERIA? IF THAT ENTER CAME FORWARD AND TOLD US THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ENGAGE IN A REPAIR PROGRAM, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A GOOD DEAL OF THE PLASTER? I BELIEVE WE'D BE PATTING THEM ON THE BACK.
I DON'T THINK THERE'D BE A QUESTION THAT THIS WOULD MEET ALL THOSE, THOSE CRITERIA.
SO FOR ME, IT VERY MUCH WEIGHS ON THE WILLINGNESS HERE.
NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE OTHER CRITERIA.
UH, THEY'RE IMPORTANT, BUT THE END RESULT IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
SO I'M, I'M STILL THINKING MYSELF, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WOULD WANNA WEIGH IN ON THAT OR OTHER ITEMS. WELL, I'LL, I'LL REPEAT WHAT I'VE SAID AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING SINCE THAT ONE DIDN'T COUNT.
THAT, UH, REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS VOTE GOES, THE, AND AGAIN, THE TWO, TWO SEPARATE PATHS, UM, BUT AT THE END OF BOTH OF THOSE, YOU, THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY ARE A STEWARD OF A, A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LAND IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.
AND YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT WITH ALL THE WEIGHT THAT COMES WITH IT, AGAIN, DOWN EITHER PATH.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVEMENT AND
[01:30:01]
I, I SUPPORT THE COMMENTS MADE BY MY COLLEAGUES WITH RESPECT TO THAT.I, I REGRET THAT IT HAS COME TO A BATTLE OVER ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND I WOULD HOPE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MOVES FORWARD WITH A BIT MORE VIGOR FOR, FOR THAT DESIGNATION.
AND, AND THAT BEEN THE CASE, UM, THIS OUTCOME MAY, MAY BE DIFFERENT.
AND SO WHILE, WHILE I APPLAUD THEM ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT SAME TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT MOVING FORWARD.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S WELL, WELL, UH, SPOKEN SINCE THIS DID NOT COME TO US AS PART OF A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, THAT IS A POTENTIAL FOR THIS AREA, AS WAS MENTIONED.
UH, HOWEVER IT WAS TRIGGERED BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND JUST AGAIN, THE FILL IN THE HISTORY.
UH, WE PREVIOUSLY BY MORE THAN A MAJORITY VOTE, UH, INITIATED ZONING, SO WE COULD AT LEAST GET THIS FAR.
UH, BUT NOW WE'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE, UH, JUST TO REMIND COMMISSIONERS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THIS IS A THREE QUARTER SUPER MAJORITY VOTE THAT IS REQUIRED BY OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR THIS TO BE ADVANCED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, ASSUMING THEIR VOTE THEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT SUPER MAJORITY AGAIN, WILL BE A REQUIREMENT OF ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE, UH, BODIES FOR US TONIGHT BECAUSE OF, UH, THE WAY WE ARE SET UP.
UH, THAT MEANS EVERY ONE OF US WILL HAVE TO VOTE IN FAVOR HERE WHO'S PRESENT FOR THIS TO BE ADVANCED.
SO I'LL JUST MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING.
COMMISSIONERS BEFORE, UH, I'LL ASK ONE MORE TIME IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL THE QUESTION.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS SITUATION IS ONE THAT WE'VE SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND IT COMES DOWN TO THE STRUCTURE OF HOW THIS PROCESS IS DONE.
THAT WE DON'T HEAR THE CASE UNTIL THERE IS A NEW OWNER OR AN OWNER THAT HAS PLANS THAT INVOLVED DEMOLITION AND HAVE PROBABLY INVESTED TIME AND MONEY TOWARD THAT END.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISION OF WHETHER IT'S HISTORIC OR NOT.
AND THAT USUALLY ENDS UP WITH AN UPSET APPLICANT AND IT USUALLY ENDS UP, ENDS UP WITH U UPSET ADVOCATES BECAUSE IT TAKES LONGER FOR THE APPLICANT.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, 99.9% OF THE TIME THE DEMOLITION HAPPENS ANYWAY.
AND SO THE ADVOCATES FEEL LOST.
AND SO THE SYSTEM IS, IS PRETTY, IS NOT THE BEST THAT IT COULD BE.
AND I WOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A PITCH IN FOR THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN BECAUSE HAVING BEEN PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP, I WILL NOTE THAT SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO FIX THE PROCESS, SUCH AS A MORE PROACTIVE DESIGNATION PROCESS WHERE WE DESIGNATE PROPERTIES BEFORE THEY'RE AT THE BRINK AND HAVE AN OWNER WHO IS INVESTED IN DEMOLITION COULD BE A WAY TO SAVE MORE PROPERTIES RATHER THAN KIND OF THIS BAD ENERGY PROCESS THAT THAT, THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW.
AND, UM, THERE'S A KICKOFF FOR THE OUTREACH EFFORT ON THAT PRESERVATION PLAN ENGAGEMENT, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED AND PROVIDE INPUT SO THAT WHEN WE PRESENT THAT TO CITY COUNCIL, IT HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ORDINANCE.
MAYBE WE WILL HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS WITH A FEW MORE HAPPY ENDINGS.
ANY MORE COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HISTORIC ZONING, UH, THAT WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN IN THIS CASE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
OKAY, THAT IS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 ARE IN FAVOR.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON ARE OPPOSED.
WE REQUIRED NINE FOR A SUPER MAJORITY THAT WAS NOT ACHIEVED.
AND SO THAT VOTE WAS, UH, MOTION WAS DENIED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, IF WE TAKE NO ACTION AND NO MORE IS REQUIRED, UH, THIS WOULD TIME OUT.
A DEMOLITION PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED ON JANUARY 15TH.
OKAY, WE'RE READY FOR THE NEXT CASE.
THAT IS 3 0 9 PARK LANE, YARRINGTON HOUSE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, AND THOSE FOR AND AGAINST.
WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 5 3 0 9 PARK LANE.
[01:35:01]
COMMISSIONER SETH? YES.BEFORE YOU GET TOO FAR, WE HAD, UH, NUMBER
[22. HR-2023-159503 – 519 E. Mary St. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic District ]
ITEM NUMBER 22 5 19 EAST MARY, UH, THAT HAS NO LONGER, THE APPLICANT NO LONGER WISHES TO SPEAK TO THAT, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.UH, THE COMMUNITY MEMBER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK TO IT, SO THAT'S CORRECT.
THEY'RE ALLOWING US TO TAKE THAT AS A CONSENT ITEM.
AND I BELIEVE WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THAT LATER.
COMMISSIONER SETH, I MOVE TO TAKE THAT ITEM OUT OF ORDER AND PASS IT AS, UH, PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
OH, YOU GOT THAT RIGHT? FANTASTIC.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? YOU GOT IT.
YOU JUST NEED A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING OUT OF ORDER AND THEN PASSING THE FIVE 19 EAST MARY STREET AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THAT IS, UH, RESOLVED AND PASSED.
ALRIGHT, SO LET US GO BACK NOW.
UH, WE WERE JUST CALLING UP ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[5. C14H-2023-0145 – 309 Park Ln. Yarrington House ]
THIS IS 3 0 9 PARK LANE, THE YARRINGTON HOUSE.THIS IS AN OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING CASE, UH, NUMBER C 14 H 20 23 0 1 45.
THIS IS THE YARRINGTON MOOREHOUSE AT 3 0 9 PARK LANE.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM SF THREE AND C-C-D-N-P TO SF THREE H AND C-C-D-N-P.
UM, THIS HOUSE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE FREE CLASSIC VARIANT OF QUEEN END ARCHITECTURE, AND IT'S LIKELY ONE OF A KIND IN AUSTIN.
IT'S ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN, ARTHUR YARRINGTON, UM, AS WELL AS RANCHER JB MOORE.
UH, THIS BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1889.
UH, IT HAS HIGH INTEGRITY, UM, AND IT WAS RESTORED TO ITS HISTORIC APPEARANCE BACK IN 2014, UH, IN, UH, IT ENTIRETY.
UM, IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE TO SPEAK, THEY MAY OFFER, UH, MORE INFORMATION ON THIS HOUSE.
UM, BUT STAFF CAN RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY.
UH, IS THE APPLICANT HERE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
HI, MY NAME IS LORI MARTIN AND I'M WITH O'CONNELL ARCHITECTURE.
AND WE, UH, ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, LET YOU KNOW HOW BEAUTIFUL THEIR HOUSE IS AND WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB THEY'VE DONE.
IT'S DEFINITELY A LANDMARK OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, UH, FAIR FAIRVIEW PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WE KNOW IS, UM, WROUGHT WITH DEMOLITIONS.
AND SO WE'RE, UM, GLAD TO, UH, FOCUS ON THIS HOUSE, WHICH WAS, UM, THE PROPERTY WAS BUILT FROM, WAS PURCHASED FROM, UM, CHARLES NEWING, WHO WAS THE DEVELOPER OF TRAVIS PARK, UH, TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK.
SO WE'RE GLAD TO, UM, BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND THIS FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
AND DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION TO I DON'T, NO.
UH, HAVE THERE SOME, UH, ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT, UH, I KNOW MS. CONTRERAS, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU WILL DEFER, REFER US TO THE PACKET FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS? I'M, I'M ASSUMING TONIGHT YES, PLEASE.
I CAN READ ALL THE, UM, STAFF REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY, BUT I'M TRYING TO SAY NOT REQUIRED, BUT YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
I'LL COMMISSIONER, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT OR OF THE STAFF? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE HOUSE WAS, UM, DIVIDED INTO FOUR APARTMENTS, PROBABLY IN THE LATE THIRTIES, EARLY FORTIES.
AND THE, UM, HOMEOWNERS PURCHASED THE HOUSE IN 1999 AND IT BROUGHT IT BACK TO A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, WHICH IS, AND THEY'VE, UH, REUSED A LOT OF MATERIALS THAT THEY FOUND, OF COURSE, IN THE, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA SEE THE, UM, PHOTOS FROM THE, UH, FROM THE STAFF REPORT.
SO I, WE CAN PULL THOSE UP IF YOU WOULD ASK THAT QUICKLY.
I MEAN, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO COMMENT ON A ANYTHING GOOD IDEA, LET'S LET, PLEASE, LET'S DO, SO CAN STAFF MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE? YES.
THIS IS FOR 3 0 9 PARK LANE, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, YES.
WOULD YOU LIKE THE PRESENTATION TO BE SHOWN? SURE.
AND IF YOU HAVE JUST A MOMENT, WOULD YOU WALK US THROUGH THE SURE.
[01:40:01]
THE NORTH, UH, ELEVATION, AND IT IS THE, THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, THE, WHEN THE HOUSE WAS, UH, FOUR DIFFERENT APARTMENTS, THE EL THE, THE DOOR AND, UM, CAME OUT TO, TO MEET THE, UM, PORTION OF THE HOUSE THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE DOOR.AND, UH, THE, THERE WAS OUTSIDE STAIRCASES THAT WENT UP THE, UM, UP THE, THE, UH, DOUBLE GALLEY GALLERY, UM, SIDE PORCH ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
AND THEN THE FOUR ENTRANCES WERE ON THE, THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE WHEN IT WAS THE APARTMENT, WHEN IT WAS, WHEN IT WAS A FOURPLEX.
AND SO THEY'VE, UM, THEY ORIENTED THE HOUSE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL, UM, ORIENTATION.
THE, I I HAD A REALLY HARD TIME GETTING A GREAT PHOTO OF THE TURT, WHICH HAS A LITTLE, UH, BETTE ON RIGHT BEHIND THAT TREE
AND, UM, THAT WAS ALL STILL ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE.
UH, ALL THE MATERIALS USED IN THAT BT WERE ORIGINAL AND THEY, UH, RESTORED THOSE AND THEY, UM, AS, AS THEY DID THE DOUBLE PORCH AS WELL.
AND THEN THE, UM, LITTLE BETTE ABOVE THE DOOR WAS, UM, REPRODUCED TO MATCH THE ORIGINAL, WHICH THEY HAD PHOTOS TO, UM, VERIFY THAT THAT WAS WHAT WAS DONE THE WAY IT LOOKED IN THE ORIGINAL BUILDING OF THE HOUSE.
AND THIS BRINGS UP A JUST A QUICK QUESTION, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE BACKUP, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING IT.
DO WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE, UH, TWO COMPONENTS WERE BUILT ALL AT ONCE OR WAS THAT DONE IN PHASES? BECAUSE THE, THE QUEEN ANURA IS SO DISTINCTIVE MM-HMM.
UH, WERE THEY, WERE THEY PLANNED THAT WAY OR DID IT HAPPEN SEQUENTIALLY? THE SANDBORN MAP SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THAT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSE.
SO THEY WANTED TO BE KIND OF, UH, THEY WANTED TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES, IF YOU WILL, RIGHT.
FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE FRONT.
BUT THEN THEY GOT FREEWHEELING WHEN THEY CAME TO THE TOUR? YEAH, EXACTLY.
BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT VERY UNUSUAL.
UM, THEY'VE, UH, ADDED AN ADDITION AT THE BACK, IF YOU'LL GO BACK ONE SLIDE PLEASE.
UM, AT THAT BACK CORNER, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADDITION, BUT, UH, THE, I'M SORRY, THE, ON THE RIGHT HAND OF YOUR SCREEN, A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADDITION, BUT THEY WERE, UM, MINDFUL OF SIMILAR WINDOWS AND, UH, SIMILAR BUT A LITTLE BIT WIDER, UH, SIDING TO THE HOUSE.
AND THAT'S ALMOST ENTIRELY SCREENED FROM THE STREET.
YES, IT IS ENTIRELY SCREENED FROM THE STREET, AND IT SITS ON THE CORNER OF MOONING AND PARK, UH, THE HOUSE, HOUSE OF COURSE, FACES PARK, AND THEN MOONING IS, UM, THE PERPENDICULAR STREET, BUT YOU STILL CAN'T SEE THAT FROM THAT STREET AS WELL.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, UM, DOUBLE GALLEY PORCH THAT, UH, HAD IN THE THIRTIES.
I THINK IT HAD, UM, STAIRS PUT UP THAT, AND THERE WERE FOUR DOORS TO THE, UM, FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE INSIDE THAT SERVICED THE FOUR APARTMENTS.
AND THE, UM, OUTSIDE STAIRS WERE TAKEN DOWN AND, UH, THE, UH, PORCHES WERE RE RESTORED, EXCUSE ME.
AND THE, UM, ALL THE COLUMNS ARE ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE.
JUST ANOTHER, UM, THAT'S A VIEW OF THE NORTH EAST, UM, SIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT, UH, OR THE, I GUESS THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THAT IS THE, UH, SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE BUILDING.
AND THEN THIS IS SOME OF THE INTERIOR NEXT SLIDE.
THEY'VE, UM, THEY HAVE, AND THAT'S THE, UM, INSIDE THE TURT AND THE, UH, THE COLUMN AND THE, THE, UH, CORINTHIAN COLUMN AND THE, UM,
[01:45:02]
WORK WOODWORK THAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE, THE SHINGLING THAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TOURETTE AND HOW THEY REINFORCED, UM, THE INSIDE OF THE TOURETTE ROOF IN THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER.AND THESE ARE SOME BEFORE PICTURES AND YOU CAN SEE THE, UM, STAIRS GOING UP IN THE PORCHES.
AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UM, THE BACK PORCH OR THE BACK WALL THAT, UM, JUST HAD A LITTLE PORCH THAT WENT STEP, STEP DOWN THAT WENT FROM THE HOUSE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE WHERE THE, UM, FRONT PORCH WAS FILLED IN, WHERE THE, UM, MAIN ENTRANCE IS NOW.
LOTS OF NEWS ABOUT FAIRVIEW PARK AND, UM, MR. YARRINGTON AND, UH, JB MOORE AS WELL.
I THINK THE PICTURES WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, BUT HERE'S SOME.
AND YOU PROVIDED THIS IN THE BACKUP, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY I WASN'T A LITTLE MORE PREPARED.
NO, I SHOULD HAVE, I JUST, UM, AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? UH, MS. MARTIN.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN FAVOR OF THIS OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING? ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST? OKAY, WELL, WE KIND OF MOVED OURSELVES INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE, UH, WE WENT STRAIGHT FROM A VERY BRIEF STAFF PRESENTATION.
SO SHOULD I OFFICIALLY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF IT THAT WAY? YES, COMMISSIONER, PLEASE DO.
UM, AND YOU CAN, UH, CLOSE IT RIGHT AFTER, I GUESS
LET'S TAKE A MOTION TO, UH, ALLOW, ALLOW FOR A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE JUST HAD.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, IT'S THE UNANIMOUS, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.
AND, UH, NOW COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
WELL, SHOULD WE START WITH A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALRIGHT, I'LL HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THOSE OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS.
SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE ARE, UH, HAVE IN FRONT OF US THE OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING AT 3 0 9 PARK LANE.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
SECOND, THAT IS, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UH, I THINK THE, THE PHOTOS AND THE PROPERTY SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
THIS IS AN ARCHE TYPICAL LANDMARK IN A AREA THAT IS HIGHLY UNDER THREAT.
SO, AND A VERY, UH, LARGE PROPERTY AND A PROMINENT PROPERTY.
ONE I'VE SEEN MANY TIMES AS I'VE WALKED BY.
AND VERY HAPPY TO SEE IT, UH, SEE IT PRESERVED.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION DID NOT INCLUDE COMMUNITY VALUE, IT WAS JUST HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND ARCHITECTURE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.
UM, BUT WE CAN ADD THAT, UH, TO THE MOTION IF YOU NEED.
UH, I THINK, WE'LL, WE'LL LEAVE IT AS, AS PROPOSED.
UM, GOOD TO HAVE THE HAPPY MOMENTS HERE.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO? UH, NO THANK YOU FOR THE APPLICATION AND, UM, THANKS TO THE OWNER.
I WAS ABLE TO TOUR THIS HOUSE WHEN IT WAS SHOWN ON THE PRESERVATION AUSTIN HOMES TOUR LAST YEAR, AND REALLY COOL SPACES.
THE COMMUNITY, I THINK REALLY ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO GET A, GET A CHANCE TO SEE THIS PROPERTY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF REPAIR THAT WAS REQUIRED, MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE IN EVIDENCE, ALL OF WHICH WERE VERY CAREFULLY AND VERY LOVINGLY REMEDIED.
UM, AND THE REAL BEAUTY OF THIS AND THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS BUILDING
[01:50:01]
WAS CAUGHT AND BROUGHT BACK, UH, REALLY QUITE BEAUTIFULLY.SO, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD MODEL AS RESOURCES FOR PRES PRESERVATION POLICY IN GENERAL AND WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH A MOTIVATED OWNER.
SO, UH, CERTAINLY I WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE MOTION.
IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER, NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THEN I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, TO, UH, ACCEPT, UH, HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON THE ARCHITECTURE AND, UH, HISTORIC ASSOCIATION INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IF THERE ARE ANY OPPOSED.
AND WE HAD, UH, LET'S SEE, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THIS RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE WAS ONLY GONNA BE ABLE TO BE WITH US FOR A LIMITED TIME, SO, UH, HE'S NOT VOTING WITH THIS, UH, AND WILL BE OFF THE DIOCESE FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.
BUT, UH, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE HAVE A MAJORITY, UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM MAJORITY IN THE, UM, EIGHT OF US, UH, WHO WERE PRESENT.
UM, CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE
[6. C14H-2023-0147 – 1311 E. Cesar Chavez St. Johnson & Johnson Building/House ]
NEXT ITEM.THIS IS OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING AT 1311 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET.
AND, UH, WE'LL CALL ON STAFF FOR THIS ITEM.
UH, ITEM SIX, UH, C 14 H 20 23 0 1 4 7.
UM, IS AN APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON GROCERY AND HOME AT 1311 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET.
AND 9 94 N MSO STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM C-S-M-U-C TO C-S-M-U-H.
THE PROPERTY IS DESIGNATED AS A RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK, UH, AND MEETS ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
BUILDINGS ON THIS PROPERTY ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF A LIVE WORK MODEL OF NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERIES CONSISTING OF A PRIMARY STORE BUILDING AND A SECONDARY DWELLING SPACE.
UH, USUALLY LOCATED AWAY FROM THE MORE PUBLIC FACING STREET FRONTAGE.
THEY'RE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL AUSTIN GROCERS, MOST NOTABLY FORMER CITY COUNCILMEN, ROYALTY JOHNSON.
UH, THE BUILDING, UH, IT HAS RETAINED HIGH INTEGRITY, UM, AND, UH, IT APPEARS THAT SOME OF THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, UH, BUT THE OPENINGS APPEAR UNALTERED.
UH, THEREFORE STAFF CAN RECOMMEND, UH, THIS PROPERTY, UM, FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK ZONING.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? THIS TIME? I'LL GET IT RIGHT.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
OR RAISING HAND, ALL THOSE OPPOSED IS UNANIMOUS.
SO WE WILL, UH, BEGIN WITH A, UH, ANYBODY SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING.
IF THE OWNER IS HERE, CAN THEY COME TO THE PODIUM OR DO WE SEE THAT MIGHT BE COMING IN FROM, UH, CALLING IN.
I BELIEVE THE OWNER IS REMOVED.
UM, PLEASE, UH, YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND, UH, YOU ARE HERE TO BE THE FIRST SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, UH, IN FAVOR OF THIS CASE.
MY NAME IS JORDAN NELSON AND I'M HERE WITH WOMEN AND THEIR WORK, AND I SUPPORT HISTORIC ZONING FOR 1311 EAST CEDAR CHAO STREET, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS JOHNSON AND JOHNSON GROCERY AND HOUSE.
WE ARE SEEKING HISTORIC ZONING DESIGNATION IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE OUR HISTORIC GALLERY AND EDUCATION SPACE IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND BECAUSE WE LOVE TELLING THE STORY OF 1311 EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ, WHICH, UM, FROM AS EARLY AS 1890, ALL THE WAY INTO THE 1960S, SERVED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE.
AND JUST BEHIND THE GROCERY WAS THE GROCERY HOME WITH A YARD CONNECTING THE TWO STRUCTURES.
AND IT'S REALLY MIRACULOUS THAT THESE PROPERTIES HAVE REMAINED TOGETHER AND INTACT TO THIS DAY, WHICH IS WHY WE REALLY BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
WOMEN IN THEIR WORK CAME TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING IN 2020, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THESE SPACES AND RETURNING THEM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HISTORIC ZONING DESIGNATION WILL ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN THE VENUES AS COMMUNITY HUBS WHERE WE INVITE AUDIENCES TO ENGAGE WITH SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS, AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, UM, I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME VISUALS ON THIS.
UH, IS THERE A PRESENTATION WHERE WE CAN JUST WALK THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE IMAGES OF THIS BUILDING, SHARE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC? SURE.
UM, I, WE ARE ALSO A HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT, UM, SO I HAD PREPARED SOME SLIDES FOR THAT, UM, WHICH I WAS VERY
[01:55:01]
GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ALREADY APPROVED FOR, BUT WE COULD LOOK AT THOSE IMAGES, UM, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.STAFF, DO WE HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE? YES, I'LL PULL THEM UP.
UH, MS. NELSON, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN WALK US THROUGH THESE.
CAN YOU SEE, UH, WHAT IS, WHAT IS BEING PROJECTED HERE? YOU KNOW, I AM WATCHING REMOTELY, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG ON THE VIDEO, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME THAT I, I CAN'T SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING LIVE, BUT I DO ALSO HAVE THE SLIDES IN FRONT OF ME SO I, I COULD KIND OF QUICKLY GO THROUGH THEM.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ON THE SAME PAGE.
SO THE, THE FIRST IMAGE, OKAY.
SO THE FIRST IMAGE IS, UH, OF THE FACADE OF OUR, OF OUR GALLERY SPACE, WHICH IS A 2,400 SQUARE FOOT SPACE, UH, WHICH FRONTS EITHER CHAVEZ.
UM, AND THEN BEHIND THAT IS THE HOUSE, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IMAGES OF IN A MOMENT.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS A CLOSEUP OF THE FACADE, UM, WHICH REALLY IS A UNIQUE FACADE FOR WHAT REMAINS IN THE VICINITY.
UM, SOME DETAILS HERE ABOUT, UH, RETAINING ITS HISTORIC APPEARANCE TO A VERY HIGH DEGREE.
ITS ORIGINAL FORM MAPPING SYMMETRICAL FACADES, FENESTRATION PATTERN TRANSOMS AND FILLS.
THE NAME AND DATE PANELS THAT YOU SEE HERE AND THE CHILD COPING ALONG THE ROOF FORM.
SO, UH, THIS IS THE BACK HOUSE, WHICH WAS THE GROCER'S HOME JUST BEHIND THE GALLERY SPACE THAT WE OCCUPY NOW, UM, WE OFFICE HERE AND ALSO USE IT AS EDUCATION SPACE.
WE CALL IT THE LEARNING LOUNGE.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S A STUCCO BUILDING WITH WING AND GABLE.
UM, HERE'S JUST SOME, SOME DETAILS.
I KIND OF COVERED, UH, SOME OF THE HISTORIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE, BUT I, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING AND HELPFUL TO SEE, UM, SOME OF THESE HISTORIC IMAGES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SOURCE FROM THE HISTORY CENTER.
UH, HERE YOU CAN SEE THE SITE PLAN JUST SO YOU CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROPERTY IS CONNECTED.
UH, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S THE GALLERY UP FRONT THAT IS RIGHT ON CEDAR CHAVEZ.
THERE'S THE COURTYARD THAT CONNECTS THE TWO SPACES.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S THE, THE CHER'S HOME, THE BACK HOUSE THERE AS WELL.
UH, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW, KIND OF JUST SHOWS HOW WE ACTIVATE THE SPACE AS, UH, AN ARTS NONPROFIT IN EAST AUSTIN.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE HOST IN THE SPACE AND HOW WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY IN.
UH, AND THIS WENT THROUGH, UM, SOME OF OUR PRESERVATION PRIORITIES FOR THE HERITAGE GRANT, WHICH I'M NOT SURE IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANNA DISCUSS.
UM, WE WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON THE LOCAL DESIGNATION, BUT, UH, CERTAINLY THESE DETAILS AS THEY PERTAIN TO THE VALUE OF THIS ARCHITECTURALLY ARE RELEVANT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT ROOF REPAIR IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING SUPPORT.
UM, WE NOTICED LEAKS IN THE GALLERY AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE DETAIL ON HOW WE WILL REPAIR THAT AND RESTORE THAT NEXT SLIDE.
UM, THIS IS, UH, SO THAT'S THE ONLY WORK IN THE, THE GALLERY SPACE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK IS NEEDED ON THE BACK HOUSE, WHICH HAS NOT HAD MUCH PRESERVATION WORK.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS IS LEVELING, UM, THE FOUNDATION.
WE WILL ALSO BE GETTING A GUTTER SYSTEM, WHICH WILL HELP WITH THE FOUNDATION, THIS KIND OF ALL RELATED TO, UM, ALSO HELP, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE WITH THE WINDOWS AND DOORS, SOME OF THE, UM, JUST THE WATER DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.
UH, SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT I'VE DOCUMENTED ON REPAIRING THE WINDOWS.
AND THEN, UH, NEXT SLIDE, THE DOORS AS WELL.
AND I'M HAPPY TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER SLIDES, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
ABOUT ANYTHING THAT I WENT OVER MS. NELSON.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UH, FOR THIS APPLICANT? OKAY.
NOW WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. NELSON.
UH, IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS APPLICATION? WE
[02:00:01]
HAVE CHRIS COWDEN WHO IS CURRENTLY ONLINE.UH, MR. COWDEN, IF YOU COULD PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
IS THE SPEAKER READY? I DON'T THINK CHRIS WAS PLANNING ON SPEAKING.
UM, I, WE JUST PUT HER DOWN AS AN ADDITIONAL SPEAKER IF, IF THERE WERE ANY OF QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, I WAS REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION.
NO, THAT'S, AND, AND WE APPRECIATE WE'RE ALL KIND OF STILL WORKING THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY, SO, UH, UM, SHE'S, CHRIS IS ON THE LINE, BUT IF, UH, DOES NOT NEED TO SPEAK, THAT'S FINE.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS IN FAVOR, THEN IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
SO, UH, AT THIS POINT, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
IT'S, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE I ADDED COMMUNITY VALUE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MAKE A POINT OF DOING THAT FOR ANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
SINCE THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, I THINK THEY HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SOMETHING WE DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL, UM, BUT IT'S WORTH NOTING, UH, IN THIS CASE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY VALUES IN FULL DISPLAY, UH, BY THIS IMPORTANT NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION IN THE ARTS.
AND THE ORGANIZATION IS ALMOST OF HISTORIC AGE ITSELF.
UH, THEY'RE DOING HIGH QUALITY RESTORATION WORK.
THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS AMAZING.
THIS IS JUST A WIN-WIN WIN ALL AROUND, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO MAKE THE MOTION.
UM, UH, WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO THE A RCA COUPLE, COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, UH, WE WERE SUPER EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THIS WOULD BE COMING, UH, TO THE FULL COMMISSION.
UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPERTIES ON THE EAST SIDE, ESPECIALLY ON, ON CAESAR CHAVEZ.
AND SO TO, TO SAVE NOT JUST ONE, BUT, UH, THESE TWO STRUCTURES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AN OWNER THAT CARESS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND, AND DOING THE WORK, THE HARD WORK.
THANK YOU FOR USING THE CITY OF AUSTIN GRANTS.
PLEASE TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS, TELL YOUR FRIENDS, TELL THE OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS WE WANT AS MANY PROPERTIES, UH, TO BE SAVED LOCALLY DESIGNATED, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MONEY THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO, THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONERS? I I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT, UH, AS, AS THIS, UH, OWNER, THE WOMEN IN THEIR WORK, UH, HAVING PURCHASED THIS IN 2020, PART OF THE REASON THEY WERE ABLE TO, UH, I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'VE HAD A SUCCESSION OF BUILDING OWNERS WHO WERE GOOD STEWARDS PRIOR TO THIS LAST PURCHASE.
THEY HADN'T NECESSARILY BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A FULL RESTORATION PROGRAM.
MAYBE NOT TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, BUT WE HAD, UH, OWNERS WHO UNDERSTOOD THE INTEGRITY, THE VALUE OF THIS BUILDING, AND USED IT APPROPRIATELY.
AND IF THEY COULDN'T DO THE WORK, THEY CERTAINLY WERE ABLE TO PASS IT ON TO OTHERS WHO COULD.
UH, SO THERE'S SEVERAL SUCCESSION OF OWNERS THAT, UH, UNDERSTOOD THE STEWARDSHIP OF THIS.
EVEN IF WE AREN'T RECOGNIZING THEIR GOOD EFFORT TONIGHT, I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT LINEAGE IS AN IMPORTANT REASON WHY WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE 11, UH, 1311 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ, UH, UNDER THE, UH, ITEM OF ARCHITECTURAL, UH, VALUE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
UH, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND ALL THOSE OPPOSED, OKAY, I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS AN EIGHT ZERO VOTE FOR ALL PRESENT, AND THAT DOES, UH, MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR QUORUM, UH, VOTE.
[13. HR-2023-122500 – 1010 Harwood Pl. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic District ]
IS ITEM, UH, FOR DISCUSSION WAS ITEM NUMBER 13, I BELIEVE.[02:05:01]
10 10 HARWOOD PLACE.UH, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING, AND, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE MATERIALS ON THAT.
UH, ITEM 13 IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1935 HOUSE AND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENCE, A DU AND POOL IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THE ORIGINAL PORTION OF THE HOUSE AT 10 10 HARWOOD PLACE IS ONE STORY WITH A SYMMETRICAL PLAN AND A SIDE GD ROOF.
IT'S CENTRAL STOOP IS SHELTERED BY A GABLE PORTICO WITH CLASSICAL REVIVAL COLUMNS AND TRADITIONAL CORNICE RETURNS.
THE HOUSE HAS A TWO STORY REAR ADDITION AND A GABLE SIDE ADDITION WITH A FIREPLACE, UH, WHICH APPEAR MOSTLY TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
UH, 10 10 HARWOOD 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.
UM, AND THE HOUSE WAS SOLD TO SEE MORLEY AND FRANCIS BARTHOLOMEW, UH, 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.
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 AND NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICTS.
THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS APPLY, UH, TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT, UH, UM, AND THOSE INCLUDE THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION DESIGN STANDARDS IN YOUR BACKUP.
UM, THE PROPOSED PROJECT DOES NOT MEET MOST OF THE STANDARDS, UH, LISTED THERE.
UM, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UH, THEREFORE THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, AND, UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, UH, LET ME OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
SO, UH, NO OPPOSED ALL, UH, WE'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER TO THE MICROPHONE, UH, TO SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
AND PLEASE READ YOUR NAME IN FOR THE RECORD.
I GO, THIS IS, IS THIS, THERE WE GO.
IT'S ON MICKEY LER, THE, UH, ARCHITECT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND ONE OF THE APPLICANTS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY NEW INFORMATION FROM THE LAST TIME WE MET.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW QUESTIONS? HAVE THERE, THERE BEEN NO ADJUSTMENTS TO THE NEW PLANS THAT WERE PROPOSED AS WELL? NO, NO ADJUSTMENTS.
AND STAFF, WE HAVE BOTH THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION AND THE NEW PLANS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH.
UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS, ANY, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? SO ONCE AGAIN, YOUR, YOUR PLANS DON'T REALLY ALLOW US TO KEEP THIS STRUCTURE IN ANY WAY? UH, NO.
AND THE OWNER IS AWARE OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, AS RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK YES.
AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS.
UH, STAFF, UH, THANK YOU, UH, MR. LER STAFF.
DO WE HAVE, UH, ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM FOR OR AGAINST? DID SHE HAVE A SUSAN FISHER HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? OKAY.
UH, WHILE SHE'S GETTING READY, JUST QUICKLY, UH, THE TIMING ON THIS.
THERE IS A TIME, UH, FACTOR IN THIS CASE.
IT'S A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE POSTPONED THIS ONCE.
WHAT IS THE, ULTIMATELY HOW, WHEN DOES THIS TIME OUT? UH, THE DEMOLITION, UM, SINCE THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING BUILDING, YOU HAVE 180 DAYS.
UM, AND FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU HAVE 75 DAYS.
UH, THE COMMISSION POSTPONED ON, UH, DECEMBER 13TH.
SO LET ME DO SOME MATH HERE QUICKLY.
SO WE'D HAVE TO KEEP GOING TO SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.
UH, AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE, POSSIBLY FOUR FOR THE 180 DAYS.
UH, YES, UH, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE THE FLOOR.
MY NAME IS SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER.
I'M THE RESIDENT OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
[02:10:03]
FAMILY THIS MORNING AND ASK ME TO STEP IN FOR HIM.UM, BUT AS WE KNOW, THE NEW PER NEW CONSTRUCTION DOES NOT MEET MOST OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
AND AS NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT, WE ARE INTERESTED IN PRESERVING OUR HISTORY AND THE DESIGN STANDARDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN WE BECAME A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS EVIDENCE TONIGHT AND FROM THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN WORKING WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND MAKING ANY CHANGES.
AND THOUGH IT IS A LIMITED TOOL, WE REQUEST THE COMMISSION POSTPONE THE DEMO PERMIT SO THE APPLICANT CAN BE INVITED AGAIN TO TRY TO FIT THE HOUSE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER.
UH, MS. ARMSTRONG, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY, UH, HEARING NONE, ARE THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE ELSE CHOOSE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, WE HAVE A REBUTTAL, UH, FROM THE APPLICANT.
MR. LER, I JUST WANNA MAKE, UH, CALL INTO QUESTION THAT THE TIMELINE ACTUALLY, WE APPLIED FOR THE DEMOLITION PERMIT AGES AGO.
WE APPLIED FOR THE, THE BUILDING PERMIT IN AUGUST.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE, THE, THE, THE CLOCK STARTS, BUT OUR APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED IN AUGUST, SO WE'VE GOTTA BE COMING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO 75 DAYS AT A MINIMUM.
WELL, WE, WE CAN GET CLARIFICATION.
OBVIOUSLY THE PERMIT FOR THE NEW BUILDING WON'T BE ABLE TO BE ISSUED WITHOUT THE DEMOL DEMOLITION OF THE OLD, BUT STILL THAT'S, UH, WELL, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THE, BUT THE APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED, EARL THE DEMOLITION PERMIT WAS SUBMITTED EARLY LAST YEAR.
BUT WE CAN HAVE STAFF ADDRESS THAT.
JUST TAKE, JUST TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING YOUR TIMELINE AVAILABLE TO YOU STAFF.
UH, SO LOOKING AT THIS, UH, SINGLE CASE REQUIRES TWO CALCULATIONS FOR THE TIMELINE.
UM, FIRST IS THE, UH, THE DEMOLITION PR UH, CAME IN ON AUGUST 30TH, 2023.
SO THE TIMELINE WILL START THERE FOR THE 180 DAYS, UM, WHICH IS FEBRUARY 26TH.
SO THIS CASE CAN BE HEARD AT ONE MORE HEARING FOR THE DEMOLITION AND THE HISTORIC REVIEW APPLICATION FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, UM, STARTS WHEN IT WAS FIRST PLACED ON THE AGENDA, WHICH WAS, UM, LAST MONTH.
SO WE'LL HAVE ONE MORE MONTH FOR THAT ONE AS WELL.
AND, UH, IF THERE IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY HAVE BOTH MEET BOTH THOSE CRITERIA FOR ONE MORE MEETING.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND, NO, NO MORE, UH, INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.
THEN I WILL MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THE CASE TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO RECONSIDER THE DESIGN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK FURTHER? I JUST NOTE IT, ITS LIKELY TO TIME OUT AFTER OUR NEXT MEETING.
UH, I THINK THE APPLICANT PROBABLY KNOWS THAT AND IS JUST WAITING IT OUT.
BUT, UM, IT'S JUST A, A SHAME BECAUSE GIVEN THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SITE AND, AND THE, THE FUNCTION THAT THAT'S BEING ACHIEVED, THAT THE STREET FACING FACADE COULD HAVE BEEN RETAINED.
AND INSTEAD IT'S BEING PRESENTED AS SOMETHING THAT IS IN NO WAY COMPLIANT WITH THE, UH, DESIGN STANDARDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE RULES TO WORK WITHIN.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY OPTIONS.
THIS IS ONE OPTION THAT SHOWS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DESIGN STANDARDS WERE NOT CONSIDERED IN THE LEAST.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE TIME TO RECONSIDER.
COMMISSIONER GROGAN, SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION? YES, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE.
I'M, I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT MATTERS.
PROBABLY HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT EITHER WAY, BUT I I THINK THAT THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF, UH, WHERE WE COULD HAVE USED THE PRESERVATION INCENTIVE THAT WAS PART OF THE HOME INITIATIVE MAYBE SOONER.
AND, UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE IF WE GIVEN JUST ONE MORE MONTH IF THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND, AND SEE IF THEY COULD WORK IT IN.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY'RE AMENABLE.
[02:15:01]
BUT I'LL PLUG THAT, I'LL PLUG THAT PRESERVATION INCENTIVE HERE.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT.
NOT, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THIS TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
IT'S 1 2 3 4, 5, 6, 7 IN FAVOR.
ANY OPPOSED? UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
OPPOSED? SO THAT IS A SEVEN ONE THAT IS STILL A MAJORITY AND THEREFORE THE MOTION PASSES.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UH, LET US GO ON
[14. HR-2023-001087 – 402 Lockhart Dr. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic District ]
TO THE NEXT ITEM.THAT IS 4 0 2 LOCKHART DRIVE, UH, AGAIN IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THIS IS A, UH, CASE THAT WAS, UH, ORIGINALLY A TOTAL DEMOLITION, I BELIEVE, IS THIS RIGHT? IT'S BEEN ADJUSTED TO A PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND, UH, STAFF.
WOULD YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE? THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, ITEM 14 AT 4 0 2 LOCKHART DRIVE IS A PROPOSAL TO PARTIALLY DEMOLISH AND REMODEL A CIRCA 1939 HOUSE.
THIS IS A ONE AND A HALF STORY CROSS GABLED HOUSE WITH A MODERN SHED ROOF.
TWO STORY ADDITION AT THE REAR.
UH, IT FEATURES HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING, A PARTIAL WOOD PORCH, AND ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS.
THE HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1939 BY TC STEINER.
ITS FIRST OWNER ELECTRICIAN WARD.
WAGONER LIVED HERE ONLY A YEAR BEFORE SELLING THE HOUSE TO ELLE AND JOHN T. WARREN.
JOHN WARREN WORKED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH INSTRUCTOR.
THE WARRENS LIVED IN THE HOME UNTIL THE END OF THE FIFTIES.
THE HOUSE THEN BECAME A RENTAL PROPERTY, HOUSING SHORT-TERM OCCUPANTS, INCLUDING A CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN AND A NATIONAL GUARDSMAN.
UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARD TO REHAB AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
THE PROJECT MEETS SOME OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS, SO IT DOES CHANGE THE CONTRIBUTING BUILDING SIGNIFICANTLY.
UH, THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, UH, FERRY PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT AND PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UH, TO BE, UH, ZONED HISTORIC STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS AND REQUEST A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, UM, FOR THOSE, UH, MODIFICATIONS.
AND, UH, ARE WE ABLE TO GET IMAGES, UH, ARE THEY BEING PROJECTED, UH, TO THE PUBLIC, UH, ON THESE CASES? DO WE HAVE A PICTURE OR IMAGE OF THESE BUILDINGS TYPICALLY THAT'S BEING BROUGHT UP? UH, AS SAM IS LEARNING THE ROPES, UM, WE'RE SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, SO, UH, PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, BE GRACIOUS.
AS HE, UH, AS HE TRIES TO MULTITASK.
SO, AND THIS, THIS NOW FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL, UM, IS A SIDE ELEVATION.
I THINK WE ALSO HAVE A FRONT ELEVATION OF THIS BUILDING.
AND THEN HERE ARE THE PROPOSED PLANS.
LET'S, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, AND I GUESS WE HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE NEED THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S, UH, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
THAT'S EIGHT THAT'S IN THE ISLAND.
I DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS FOR THIS PROPERTY, BUT I DO HAVE THE STAFF REPORT.
SO I, I MOVED TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
UM, IS THERE SOMEONE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? IS, UH, THE OWNER HERE? YES, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
I'M THE OWNER OF 4 0 2 LOCKHART.
MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS NOW.
UM, LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LOVE THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.
UM, WE HAVE PLANS TO DO A REMODEL ON THE HOME.
UM, I THINK PRIMARILY, UH, OUR FOCUS WITH THE REMODEL IS TO PRESERVE THE CRAFTSMAN STYLE IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
UM, AND OUR PLANS ARE INDICATIVE OF THAT.
UM, SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I GOT.
SO NOW YOU HAVE, HAVE, HAVE YOU REVISED THE PLAN OR YOU JUST REVISED THE APPLICATION? WE REVISED THE APPLICATION, YEAH.
'CAUSE IT, UH, OUR GUYS WHO ARE DOING THE PERMIT ACCIDENTALLY CHECKED TOTAL DEMO VERSUS PARTIAL DEMO WAS THE ONLY REASON FOR
[02:20:01]
THE DELAY.UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT? WERE THE PLANS A PART OF THE BACKUP? UM, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 14 ON LOCKHART DRIVE.
I DO SEE THE PLANS, BUT I, FOUR 14.6, IT'S 4 0 2 LOCKHART PLAN SET, I THINK.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN BRING UP, UH, IN THE PRESENTATION? APOLOGIES IF YOU'LL JUST BEAR WITH ME A MOMENT.
SO, UH, AS LONG AS THE APPLICANT'S HERE, AS I UNDERSTAND, YOU'VE GOT A STRUCTURE THAT IS ACTUALLY FACING LOCKHART DRIVE.
AND ACCORDING TO YOUR DEMO SITE PLAN, THAT IS THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE REMOVED.
SO THE PORTION THAT IS IN THE REAR IS WHAT IS ACTUALLY REMAINING AND THEN YOU'RE BUILDING IN FRONT OF THAT.
SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE RETAINING SOME OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING, IT REALLY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VISIBLE SO MUCH FROM THE FRONT, FROM THE, FROM THE STREET.
IS THAT, THAT'S WHAT'S IN OUR, WELL, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER MARKS ON IT THAT I DON'T BELIEVE ARE IN OUR BACKUP OR MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S OBJECTING.
OH, THOSE ARE NUMBER ITEMS. THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT SHOWING UP ON MINE.
I GUESS THAT THIS VIEWER'S HAVING TROUBLE WITH THAT.
COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT NOW? I JUST WANT BEING PROPOSED TO ASK IF YOU OR YOUR ARCHITECT IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CITYWIDE HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS THAT KIND OF PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO DESIGN WITHIN HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND ALTER HISTORIC HOMES.
IT'S, THEY'RE, THEY'RE OUT THERE.
UM, THIS ISN'T REALLY COMPLIANT WITH IT.
I MEAN, THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS TURNING INTO A TWO OR THREE CAR GARAGE INSTEAD OF THE PORCH IN FRONT, YOU KNOW, STREET LINE.
IT, IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT YOU SAID YOU ENJOY THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU ENJOY THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE, UM, AN OCCUPANT, A NEIGHBOR AND YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
ON, ON THE, UM, I THINK WHEN I WAS MAKING THE FIRST COMMENT THAT WAS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF PRESERVING THE CRAFTSMAN STYLE, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE THE PITCH ROOFS AND THEY'RE OFFSETTING.
UM, THE, UM, THERE IS ACTUALLY PER THE CITY, LIKE WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR VIEWER RIGHT NOW, AND PER CITY CODE, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A GARAGE THAT COMES OUT FURTHER THAN THE HOME ON THE FRONT DOOR.
SO THAT IS ONE UPDATE THAT WE'RE MAKING.
WE'RE MAKING A SINGLE CAR GARAGE AND THE HOME IS COMING OUT FURTHER.
AND SO YOU'LL HAVE MORE OF THE, I GUESS THE FACADE, IF YOU WILL, THAT'LL BE UPDATED.
WE JUST GOT THAT UPDATED, I THINK IT WAS LIKE A DAY AND A HALF AGO.
UM, SO THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO Y'ALL.
BUT I, WHEN I MADE THAT COMMENT, IT WAS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WE'RE NOT GONNA TO KNOCK THE THING DOWN AND BUILD SOME MODERN STRUCTURE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO FIT WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, PRESERVE OUR TREES, UM, DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KIND OF KEEP THE FACADE OF IT.
SO THE CRAFTSMAN DETAILS ARE, OR THE KIND OF ONE OVER ONE OPERABLE WINDOWS AND THE, THE FASCIA.
AND THE SLIDING AND THE GENERAL MASSING GLUE FORM.
AND IF WE, IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, WE'D LOVE TO PRESERVE OUR FLOORS IN THERE AS WELL.
I MEAN, THOSE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY TO 'EM TOO, SO.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY POSTPONED THIS ONCE.
UH, IF SOME OF THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, IF YOU WISH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE YOU MEET WITH THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THEY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME FEEDBACK.
UH, ALSO, UH, IN A MORE INFORMAL, UH, SETTING THE ABILITY TO DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT DIFFERENT IDEAS.
[02:25:01]
POTENTIALLY MAKES IT MUCH EASIER IF THIS IS DELAYED, UH, FOR US THEN TO, UM, BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THE BEST ACTION WOULD BE, UH, IN THE MEETING.SO, UM, IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT UPDATED PLANS THAT ARE NOT HERE, UH, WOULD YOU BE AGREEABLE TO A A ONE MONTH POSTPONEMENT INTO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING WITH A REFERRAL TO THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE? UM, WHAT'S THE OTHER OPTION? IS IT JUST TO SUBMIT, UM, IT'S MORE PROCEDURES, I GUESS ON YOUR GUYS' PART.
'CAUSE WE, WE HAVE THE UPDATES, BUT I GUESS THOSE WEREN'T PROVIDED PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
SO THAT, HOW DOES THAT REALLY, HOW DOES THAT WORK? WE JUST, SO I GO TO THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE.
GIVE THEM THOSE AND THEN MEET WITH THEM AND MEET WITH THEM.
AND THEN POSSIBLY, UH, WHATEVER ADJUSTMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS FIT BETTER WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, AND THEN GIVE US A, UH, BASICALLY A BETTER CHANCE TO POSSIBLY, I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR WHAT THE FINAL VOTE WOULD BE, BUT, UH, TYPICALLY THAT GIVES US A CHANCE TO DELVE IN MUCH MORE DETAIL BY THE TIME WE GET IT BACK TO THE FULL COMMITTEE.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN DECIDE TO TAKE, UM, WELL IF WE WERE DENY THIS AND NOT APPROVE IT, THEN YOU STILL WOULD HAVE A CLOCK TICKING AND WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE, UM, I, I GUESS THIS IS A, NOT A FULL DEMOLITION.
SO THIS WOULD BE, UH, TIMED BY 75 DAYS OR 180 DAYS.
UM, AND THIS IS A, UM, THERE'S NO TOTAL DEMO INVOLVED IN THIS EITHER.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, UH, WHETHER WE DECIDE, OR OF COURSE THIS COULD BE APPROVED AS IS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE ALREADY TELLING US THE PLANS WE'RE REVIEWING AREN'T THE PLANS THAT'S CURRENT.
YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S THE ONES SLIGHT CHANGE TO IT WITH, 'CAUSE WE'RE RUNNING THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY REVIEW PROCESS.
UM, BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THAT IT ADDRESSES THE STREET AND WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FROM THE STREET.
AND APPOINTED BORDER COMMISSIONER, UM, SORRY, CHAIR HEIN.
THIS IS A, UH, PROJECT INTERNATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
SO, UH, YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO, UH, EITHER INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY OR TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? ANYBODY TO SPEAK AGAINST OR ANY, ANY PROPOSE WE HAVE SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER.
SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER, UM, RESIDENT OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY REALLY AWKWARD FOR ME 'CAUSE I KNOW PATRICK AND I KNOW HIS FAMILY.
OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.
UM, THE REASON I'M UP HERE THOUGH IS BECAUSE, UM, ONE, BECAUSE CLIFF COULDN'T BE HERE, WHO WAS GONNA SPEAK, BUT ALSO BECAUSE, UM, WITH SCHOOL STARTING YESTERDAY AND THE BACKUP MATERIAL COMING OUT ON FRIDAY AS THE COMMITTEE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN WITH THIS PROPERTY.
THE PLAN SHOWED THAT THE EXISTING HOUSE IS TO BE REMOVED, WHICH RAISED SOME ALARM FOR US.
AND, UM, WE'D JUST LIKE MORE TIME TO, TO CHAT.
MAYBE WE CAN GO GET A BEER OVER SOUTH CONGRESS AND JUST LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE PROPERTY.
THE STREET IS MOSTLY IS ALL CONTRIBUTING HOMES AND IT'S A QUINTESSENTIAL PART OF WHAT WAS AT ONE TIME GONNA BE PROPOSED FOR THE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT OF BLUE BONNET HILLS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? MS. FISHER? THANK YOU.
UM, AGAIN, THE APPLICANT, YOU WILL HAVE, UH, A, A TIME TO REBUT IF YOU CHOOSE, IT'S UP TO YOU.
UM, SO I THINK KIND OF FIRST COMMENT ON THIS BEING, I GUESS THE STREET BEING OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
UM, I THINK THERE'S BEEN, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW REMODELS ON OUR STREET THAT HAVEN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOWED THE HISTORIC SPIRIT.
UM, HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF DO AS THEY PLEASE.
UM, AND I THINK OUR INTENTION WITH IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO KEEP, UM, WITHIN THE HISTORICAL, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANCE ON THE REMODEL THAT WE'RE DOING.
[02:30:01]
AND YOU KNOW, I I THINK OPEN TO VISIT WITH, IS IT THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE TO KIND OF GET SOME OF THEIR, UM, FEEDBACK ON THAT, HOW WE CAN BEST DO THAT.SO, UH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY MY ONLY, MY ONLY COMMENT ON IT.
BUT I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S, I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
YOU KIND OF LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THE HOUSE TOO.
AND IF, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BULLDOZE, I DID LOOK INTO RELOCATING IT.
UM, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE 'CAUSE OUR STREETS ARE ONLY 30 FEET WIDE.
THE HOUSE IS ONLY 20 OR THE HOUSE IS 29 FEET WIDE.
UM, SO THAT'S OFF THE TABLE TOO.
SO I THINK IN, JUST ON THE RECORD, WE'RE WILLING AND ABLE TO TRY TO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, TO MAKE IT WORK.
BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST NOT, I MEAN, THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT IS JUST TO REMODEL IT.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK MOTION? UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE, WHILE RAISING YOUR HAND ARROW.
UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION COMMISSIONERS, I'M GONNA MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND COMMISSIONER, I'LL GO WITH COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I THINK TECHNICALLY WE REALLY HAVE NO CHOICE, UM, SINCE THE PLANS HERE AREN'T THE FINAL PLANS ANYWAY, SO, UM, AND HOPEFULLY SINCE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE AN AMENABLE OWNER, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME ADJUSTMENTS, UH, TO KIND OF RESTORE SOME OF THAT SINGLE STORY FEELING AND PORCH AT THE FRONT AND GET THE, UH, GARAGE TO STEP BACK SINCE IT'S MORE PROMINENT THAN CITYWIDE CODE ALLOWS.
UH, SO, UM, LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES.
COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COOK.
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THE A RC TO GET THIS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER FIT AND MAYBE STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR, UH, NEXT TIME AROUND.
THERE ALMOST MAY BE ENOUGH ROOM TO HAVE SIDE ENTRY ON THIS GARAGE, WHICH CASE YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE GARAGE DOORS FACING STREET AT ALL.
UH, AT LEAST TO SOMETHING I THINK THE APPLICANT SHOULD EXPLORE.
I WILL, UH, ENTERTAIN ANY MORE CONVERS DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THIS TO, UH, OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 IN FAVOR? NO OPPOSED, UH, THIS MOTION PASSES.
UH, NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 16,
[16. HR-2023-118825 – 514 E. Live Oak St. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic District ]
AND THAT'S FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET, AGAIN, IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, STAFF.
DO YOU HAVE A QUICK PRESENTATION AND LET'S, UH, SEE IF WE CAN GET THE PHOTOGRAPH UP OF THIS ITEM AS WELL.
ITEM 20, OR SORRY, ITEM 16 IS, UH, A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A HOUSE AND CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING AT FIVE 14 EAST LIVE OAK STREET.
UM, THIS ITEM HAS COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE, SO I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, THIS IS A ONE STORY BUNGALOW WITH A PARAMETAL HIP DREW AND AN INTERSECTING PORCH GABLE.
UH, IT'S GOT A PARTIAL WIDTH INSET PORCH AND HORIZONTAL SIDING.
DECORATIVE DETAILS INCLUDE EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS AND REMNANTS OF THE JIGSAW BRACKETS.
UM, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS MADE CHANGES, UH, AFTER THE A RC.
THEY'RE NOT REFLECTED IN THE STAFF REPORT AS THEY CAME IN A LITTLE LATE, I BELIEVE, BELIEVE.
UM, BUT, UM, THEY ARE IN THE PRESENTATION.
THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT, EXCUSE ME.
UM, THE BUILDING APPEARS TO RETAIN MODERATE INTEGRITY, UM, BUT 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 DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, AND TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
WE DO HAVE, UH, WHAT IS NOTED AS REVISIONS IN OUR BACKUP.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL REVISIONS SINCE THEN? ARE, ARE WE SEEING THE LATEST HERE? AND WHILE WE'RE
[02:35:01]
DOING THAT, PERHAPS THE APPLICANT IS, UH, WOULD COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND BE READY TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM AND MAKE SURE WE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT SET IN FRONT OF US.UH, BUT PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
UH, UH, MY NAME IS MICHAEL HAN.
I'M THE ARCHITECT AND, UH, APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE LATEST PACKAGE IS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS HEARING.
UM, WE HAVE MET WITH THE A RCI BELIEVE THREE TIMES AT THIS POINT.
UH, WE HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS EACH TIME.
UH, TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE CHANGED ALL OF THE, UH, MATERIAL, EXTERIOR MATERIAL.
WE HAVE CHANGED ALL OF THE WINDOWS.
WE HAVE CHANGED THE ROOF, THE ROOF MATERIALS, THE ROOF LINE.
UH, WE HAVE HAVE CHANGED THESE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, THE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, WHICH HAS BEEN A, A CONSIDERABLE, UH, USE OF RESOURCES OF BOTH TIME AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE CLIENT.
UH, WE'VE REALLY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS, UH, WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND THE A RC COMMITTEE.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT EACH MEETING AND HAVE BEEN MAKING ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO MEET THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER WITH THE REQUEST OF A RC AND THIS COMMITTEE TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE OF THE PROJECT.
ONE OF THE REMAINING, UM, UH, DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, I GUESS I COULD SAY IS, UH, THE EXISTENCE OF THE GARAGE.
UH, WE HAVE REVIEWED MULTIPLE WAYS OF, UH, ADJUSTING THAT, BUT THE LOCATION IS REALLY THE ONLY FEASIBLE LOCATION ON SITE FOR ACCESS PURPOSES.
UM, AND, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REMOVE THE GARAGE, BUT, UH, IT IS A CRITICAL PROGRAM ELEMENT TO THIS.
UH, SO I WOULD JUST ASK THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THE, UH, UH, THE OWNER'S ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS AND PRESENCE AND ATTEMPT TO, UH, MAKE CONCESSIONS OR THE, HAS BEEN MAKING CONCESSIONS AND ATTEMPT TO, UH, MEET THE REQUESTS AND COMMENTS OF THIS COUNCIL AND, UH, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTENT.
UH, I DO ACTUALLY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET INTO THE REVIEW.
IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, IF I WOULD PASS THESE OUT, JUST IMAGES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UM, OTHER, UH, STREET FACING GARAGES WITHIN A TWO BLOCK RADIUS.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND ME, UH, GIVING THAT TO THE PATIENT, YOU CERTAINLY CAN PASS OUT MATERIALS.
UH, BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I, I IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN THOUGH, THIS IS THE, THE CURRENT VERSION? CORRECT.
SO THE ONLY, ONLY THIS IS JUST ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, WHICH YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE US.
THESE ARE JUST, UH, IMAGES TAKEN, UH, BY THE OWNER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF OTHER, UH, RESIDENCES THAT ARE, UH, MANY MORE CONTEMPORARY AND NOT FITTING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO WITH FRONT FACING GARAGES ABOVE, WHICH HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION IN THIS PROCESS.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL SEE THE REST OF MY TIME TO OWNERSHIP.
UH, IS OWNER HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS? OKAY.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
AS MICHAEL MENTIONED, HE'S BEEN HERE AT LEAST SIX TIMES.
UH, WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG THAT THE GARAGE IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE BREAK-INS HAPPEN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO TWICE, AND IT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION FOR ANY OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY TO HAVE A GARAGE.
WE'VE MADE FOUR DIFFERENT PLAN REVISIONS AT THIS POINT TO ACCOMMODATE CHANGES YOU'VE REQUESTED.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE'VE SPENT MORE THAN $50,000 ON INTEREST IN REDESIGN FEES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IN OUR BUDGET.
EACH TIME WE REDESIGNED THE HOUSE, YOU'VE PUNTED US TO THE NEXT MEETING AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE A BAD FAITH NEGOTIATION.
THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
SO AT THIS POINT, YOUR CHOICES ARE TORE THE DEMO PERMIT OR TO PUNT AS YET AGAIN, DOING SO WOULD ONLY BE MEAN-SPIRITED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF THIS REQUEST? IS THERE ANYBODY WHO'S OPPOSED? YEAH, MS. SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.
WE'LL, OR SORRY, YOUR HONOR, UM, FISHER, WE'LL WAIVE TO THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO I'M HEARING SINCE THAT'S NOT BEING PICKED UP BY THE MICROPHONE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU ARE NOT, YOU, YOU APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT'S, UH, EFFORTS AND ARE NOT OH, GO AHEAD.
UM, ON BEHALF OF SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CLIFF LADD, WHO DID REGISTER TO SPEAK, UM, WILL WAIVE OUR OBJECTIONS AND APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT'S WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THE CHANGES THEY HAVE.
UH, SO THERE ARE NO FURTHER, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS OR NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.
UH, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[02:40:01]
FEATHERSTON.ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO ONE IS OPPOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION HERE.
I'LL MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO, UH, FINALIZE THE COMMENTS AND THE PLANS.
ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION THAT TO BE USED AND RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR, FOR ALL THE MEETINGS.
UH, WE DO HAVE AT LEAST WHERE THE EXISTING HOUSE IS, THE, THE MASSING.
UH, WE HAVE THE SIDING, WE HAVE TO A DEGREE, THE WINDOWS CHANGING.
UM, THE OWNER HAS COOPERATED AND, AND ATTENDED AND IN GOOD FAITH.
AND, AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO DRAG THIS OUT ANY FURTHER.
UH, COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER.
UH, BUT I APPRECIATE THE ATTENDANCE AND, UH, THAT'S IT.
AND COMMISSIONER PREON? YEAH, I THOUGHT, UH, I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER COOK WAS GONNA ADD ON THERE.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE AT THE END JUST TO BALANCE IT ALL OUT.
I APPRECIATE THEM, UH, GOING THROUGH THE ROPES WITH US AND COMING OUT WITH SOMETHING BETTER ON THE END.
AND I JUST, UM, YES, A LOT OF EFFORT HAS GONE INTO WHAT IS CLEARLY A, UM, END RESULT THAT REPRESENTS COMPROMISE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALL HERE AS VOLUNTEERS.
WE'RE BRINGING OUR EXPERTISE WITH A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
BUT ULTIMATELY, EVERY OWNER IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, IS THE FINAL DETERMINATION OF WHAT GOES ON THEIR PROPERTY.
AND THE PUBLIC INTERESTS, I BELIEVE IN THIS CASE, HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN MET.
AND I REALLY DO HAVE TO APPLAUD BOTH THE, UH, ARCHITECT AND THE OWNER FOR ENGAGING AS THEY HAVE.
UH, I KNOW THERE WERE THINGS THAT YOU ALL CHANGED THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE.
UH, THE END RESULT IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER AND CERTAINLY MUCH MORE SYMPATHETIC.
UM, DOES THAT MEAN YOU MEET ALL THE CRITERIA AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PUT A GOLD STAR ON THIS ONE.
NO, BUT I THINK UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I'M VERY EXCITED BY THE END RESULT, I CAN SEE THE PROGRESS.
UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT PERHAPS OTHERS WHO SEE THE GARAGE FACING THE STREET IS THE ONLY OPTION.
UH, IF WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION, THIS IS PROBABLY AS GOOD AS IT'S GONNA GET.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, OWNER FOR STICKING WITH IT AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN AS WELL.
UM, THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, I ALWAYS PREFER THE GARAGE NOT FACING THE STREET IF IT'S POSSIBLE,
BUT I THINK, UH, UH, WHAT WE HAVE IS, IS DEFINITELY A, UH, UH, AN IMPROVEMENT DEFINITELY WORTH, I, I BELIEVE WORTH THE EFFORT.
SO I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED, AND OF COURSE, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY MORE CONVERSATION? ANY MORE DISCUSSION? YEAH, YOU KNOW, CALL ME, CALL ME AN NAYSAYER.
UM, I, I DO UNDERSTAND WE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS, CHANGE MATERIALS, WINDOWS ONE ROOF LINE ON THE WEST, THAT WEST SIDE OF THE IMAGE.
UM, BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL BIG ISSUES WITH MASSING AND SCALE AND, UH, UM, A LOT MORE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE.
SO I THINK WE WENT INTO THAT WITH THAT MINDSET AND, AND, AND, YES, UM, I THINK IT TAKES COMPROMISE ON BOTH END AND I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS PROPERTY.
SO I, I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, THE BEST COMPROMISE THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED, BUT YEAH.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON, ON THIS ITEM THEN? I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, DEMOLITION AND THE PLANS, UH, AS PRESENTED.
AND, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE, UH, BY SAYING, UH, RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, COMMISSIONER RUBIO? NO, I'M SORRY.
COMMISSIONER GROGAN AND COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE A VOTE OF SIX TO TWO AND SIX IS NOT A QUORUM MAJORITY.
IS THAT CORRECT? SIX IS, YOU NEED AT LEAST SIX.
I HAVE TO ALWAYS WORRY WHICH ONE WE'VE GOT.
SO SIX IN FAVOR THAT, UH, MEETS THE QUORUM MAJORITY REQUIREMENT AND THE MOTION PASSES.
ALRIGHT, THAT BRINGS US UP TO ITEM NUMBER
[17. HR-2023-122515 – 1621 W. 14th St. Old West Austin National Register Historic District ]
17 16 21[02:45:01]
WEST 14TH STREET.UH, THIS IS THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL REMODEL, AND THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 17 HAS, UH, APPEARED ACTUALLY AT TWO MEETINGS BEFORE.
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO, UH, REMODEL A HOUSE AT 1621 WEST 14TH STREET.
UM, THE EXISTING BUILDING IS A ONE STORY RANCH WITH HORIZONTAL SIDING, STONE WATER TABLE CLADDING, AND ATTACHED CARPORT, AND A SIDE GABLED ROOF.
UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHAB AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
THE PROJECT IS PROPOSED, DID NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
UM, THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT THE EXISTING BUILDING DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UH, THEREFORE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
UM, THE APPLICANT HAS APPEARED AT THE A RCI BELIEVE, THOUGH NOT ALL CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED, UM, ON ITEM 17.
UM, IS THE IMAGE AVAILABLE OF THE EXISTING, AND THEN DO WE ALSO HAVE THE PROPOSED PLANS? WHILE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT, LET ME, UH, ASK IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE THIS EVENING? THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 17, UH, 1621 WEST 14TH STREET.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS REQUEST? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? OKAY.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE SAW THIS PRIOR.
UH, HAS THERE BEEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE PLANS? UH, ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE? THEY WERE IN FRONT OF THE A RC? IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE.
UH, WELL, IF NO ONE'S HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS, THEN I'LL TAKE, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WARD.
THE MOTION IS, UH, HEARING IS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR MOTION FOR THIS? UM, EXCUSE ME, QUICK ONE.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, THIS HAS HAD MULTIPLE POSTPONEMENTS.
WHAT IS THE TIMING ON THIS? THIS IS THE LAST MEETING AT WHICH THIS ITEM CAN APPEAR.
SO IF WE TAKE NO ACTION, IT WILL BE TIMED OUT AND WE WILL REQUIRE A, UH, DEMOLITION PACKAGE PRIOR TO, UH, WHAT A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE PRIOR TO DEMOLITION.
UH, THIS IS NOT A TOTAL DEMOLITION APPLICATION, SO WE'LL HAVE 75 DAYS, BUT THAT WILL BE IT.
SO THIS IS THE LAST TIME? EXCEPT THIS IS THE LAST TIME, YEAH.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS IN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, OR WE CAN INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, OR WE CAN, I GUESS IF WE POSTPONE IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN ACTION AS WELL.
THIS IS, I SHOULDN'T GO OFF ON A RANT WITHOUT A MOTION ON THE TABLE, HUH? WELL, YOU SHOULD MAKE A MOTION AND THEN WE CAN HAVE YOU START RANTING.
UH, I MOVED, UH, UM, POSTPONE THIS TO TILL THE TIME RUNS OUT, WHICH WOULD BE TO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING, BUT THEN IT WOULD BE ALLOWING IT TO TIME OUT.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THIS? MOTION TO POSTPONE COMMISSIONER BROGAN.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, I MEAN, THIS IS A WEIRD ONE.
THIS IS, THIS ONE IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I GREW UP IN AND, UH, IT'S SO WEIRD THAT IT, IT QUALIFIES AS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION.
WHEN IN NO WAY DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHAT IT DOES TODAY.
UM, I MEAN, I RECALL WHEN THE APPLICANT CAME THE FIRST TIME, THEY WERE PRETTY BEFUDDLED
[02:50:01]
THAT THEY'D GOTTEN THEMSELVES INTO THIS PROCESS AT ALL.AND I DON'T THINK THEY'VE BEEN BACK SINCE, UM, AND CAME TO ONE.
THEY DID COME TO ONE A RCI THINK THAT THEY'RE CONSTRAINED BY CERTAIN THINGS ON THE SITE THAT, THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY RETAINING THE SLAB.
UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST SAYING OUT LOUD WHAT I CAN REMEMBER ABOUT THIS REALLY WEIRD PROJECT THAT'S COME BEFORE US, THAT, UH, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY GOOD OPTIONS ON.
UH, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO RETURN TO THE A RC.
UM, I'M ASSUMING WE STILL ACCEPT THAT THEY CAN ALWAYS, THEY CAN ALWAYS COME WHENEVER THEY WANT.
AND THE POSTPONEMENT WOULD KEEP THE, THE CASE ACTIVE UP UNTIL THE POINT WHERE IT TIMES OUT.
UM, JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THIS DESIGN FOLLOWS ANY OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, OR WHAT IS IT IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND, UM, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD SEE A DESIGN THAT FITS BETTER WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE STANDARDS.
AND I THINK THIS, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OWNER IS ATTEMPTING TO DO WITH THIS DESIGN.
UH, BUT THEY BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THESE TYPES OF CRITERIA, CERTAINLY APPARENT.
EVEN IF THEY HADN'T READ THE DESIGN STANDARDS AND THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT ALL THE DETAILS OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY APPARENT THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE.
UH, SO TO PUT THIS RATHER AGGRESSIVE STATEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT IN MANY PARTS OF AUSTIN, BUT TO INSIST THAT IT HAS TO GO HERE, I THINK IS WHAT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.
UM, I I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER WAY WE CAN STATE IT THAN, NO, THE ORIGINAL HOUSE IS NOT FULLY WORTHY OF HISTORIC ZONING, OTHERWISE WE WOULD'VE INITIATED.
BUT IT, IT IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND IT IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WORTH SOMETHING.
SO, UM, I, I THINK I'M GONNA CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE MOTION AS WELL.
I, THIS IS THE FIRST, THIS IS THE SECOND CASE WE'VE HEARD IN A ROW WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE INVITED THESE TWO OWNERS TO A RC.
WE'VE HAD THEM COME, UM, AS MUCH AS, AS THEY'D LIKE TO, UH, POINT A FINGER AT THIS COMMISSION IS NOT, UM, WALKING IN GOOD FAITH WITH COMPROMISE.
I THINK THESE OWNERS HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF WORKING WITH US TO THE FULL EXTENT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS.
THIS, THESE ARE, THIS IS A RIDICULOUS DESIGN.
UM, IT'S, UH, SHAME ON THE OWNER, SHAME ON THE ARCHITECTS, AND SHAME ON OUR CITY FOR NOT, UH, HAVING THE RULES IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT OUR NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND THESE RESOURCES.
SO, YEAH, NO, IT JUST, THESE ARE, THESE ARE WELL-INTENTIONED, UH, CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE SET OUT.
UH, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED TEETH AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE PUT ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO GETTING THE REGISTERED DISTRICTS IN PLACE.
UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION, UH, THE MOTION IS TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO POSTPONE, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WILL TIME OUT, THAT, UH, THAT STILL DOES GIVE THIS APPLICANT ONE LAST CHANCE TO, UH, COME BACK TO THE A RC, UH, IF THEY WERE SO INCLINED.
SO, UM, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER
[18. HR-2023-149931 – 2716 Wooldridge Dr. Old West Austin National Register Historic District ]
18, AND THAT IS 27 16 WILDRIDGE DRIVE.AGAIN, ONE POSTPONED FROM THE DECEMBER MEETING.
UH, THIS IS IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT AND, UH, DEMOLITION WITH A PLAN FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
AND IF WE COULD ALSO GET PHOTOGRAPHS OF THAT, UH, AS WE'RE PREPARING TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
DO YOU WANNA HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION QUICKLY? I'M SORRY.
ITEM 18 AT 27 16 RIDGE DRIVE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A SERGA 1940 HOUSE AND TO CONSTRUCT NEW RESIDENCE AND A POOL.
THE EXISTING BUILDING IS A ONE STORY HOUSE WITH A CROSS GD ROOF, PARTIAL WITH PORCH BEHIND APOLOGIA ATTACHED CARPORT AND BRICK CLADDING.
UH, THE HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1940, UH, AND ITS LONG-TERM RESIDENCE WHERE HELEN AND HARRY JOSEPH.
HARRY JOSEPH, WHOSE FAMILY OWNED, UH, SEVERAL PROMINENT BUSINESSES DURING THE 20TH CENTURY OPERATED HARRY'S LIQUOR STORE AND SCHOONER.
UM, THEY EVENTUALLY OPENED CENTENNIAL LIQUOR, UM, WHICH WAS AUSTIN'S, UH, AS WELL AS
[02:55:01]
AUSTIN'S FIRST IMPORT BUSINESS.THEY REMAINED IN THE HOME UNTIL AT LEAST 1972.
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.
UM, THIS APPLICANT HAS, UH, SUBMITTED NEW PLANS, UM, TO RESPOND TO THE ARC'S FEEDBACK.
UH, SO I WILL LEAVE THAT TO THEM.
UM, THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER.
DISTRICT STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, THEREFORE, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, SO, UH, AT THIS POINT WE CAN HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
UH, MY NAME IS AMY JAMESON, OWNER OF JAMESON DESIGN GROUP AND APPLICANT ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS A SEVENTH INNING STRETCH.
IF YOU WANNA IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT INTO YOUR FUTURE MEETINGS,
UH, WE DID MEET WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 20TH, 2023.
THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONERS HARMONY GROVE AND KEVIN COOK FOR YOUR TIME AND INPUT.
UM, WE HELP YOU AS WELL AS THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WILL APPRECIATE THE UPDATES WE'VE MADE TO THE DESIGN.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED ON JANUARY 5TH, 2024.
UPDATED DOCUMENTS IN THE FORM OF A PDF HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, UH, TO THE COMMISSION FOR THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC HEARING.
AND OUR PDF PRESENTATION BY MY COLLEAGUE, UH, WILL BE DIRECTLY ADDRESSING THE COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS REGARDING THE DESIGN STANDARDS FROM THE DECEMBER 13TH HISTORICAL LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HOPE THE VISUAL MEDIA WILL HELP GIVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECLECTIC NATURE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE PROVIDING AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT THE NEW DESIGN DOES IN FACT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION APPROPRIATE SCALE, MASSING PROPORTION, DESIGN STYLE, ROOF FORM, AND MATERIAL.
UH, ANY QUICK QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? ALRIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS MIGUEL AND I WAS HERE BEFORE.
AND I'M PART, PART OF THE JAMESON DESIGN GROUP TEAM.
UH, SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GO QUICKLY.
WE HAVE SOME IMAGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU.
UH, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT PAGE.
SO THIS IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED LAST MONTH.
GARAGE PLACEMENT OR IN ORIENTATION, SCALE, HEIGHT, MASSING DESIGN AND STYLE OF THE HOME, THE ROOFS, EXTERIOR WALLS, WINDOWS AND DOORS, CHIMNEY AND MATERIALS.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT PAGE.
SO THIS IS, UM, THE RED LINE THAT YOU SEE IN THE CENTER.
THAT'S A PROPERTY WHEN YOU'RE FACING THE PROPERTY ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
AND I THINK THE NEXT PICTURE IS GONNA, THE NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE GONNA SHOW THIS BETTER.
SORRY, WE CAN GO BACK TO THAT ONE.
THIS IS JUST TO SHOW THE MASSING THE ROOFS.
SOME OF THE STRUCTURES ARE, ARE THREE STORY HIGH.
AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THE HOMES ARE MASSIVE.
AND LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
ACROSS THE STREET, THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO HOMES THAT ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ONLY ONE OF THEM HAS FLAT ROOFS.
EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE.
AS YOU SEE THERE'S HIPS, THERE IS, UH, GABLES, INTERESTING ROOFS.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT IMAGE, PLEASE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE FACING THE PROPERTY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THERE IS A STRUCTURE THAT IS ABOUT 16,000 SQUARE FEET.
THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE PROPERTY.
AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIDDLE, ON THE LEFT SIDE, THERE IS THE GARAGE WHERE THE GARAGE IS.
THE GARAGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
AND HE'S GONNA BE SET FURTHER BACK FROM THE STREET THAT THIS EXISTING GARAGE AND THIS CONTRIBUTING HOME NEXT TO IT.
GOING ON NORTHWOOD, YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER BIG HOUSE, ALMOST 12,000 SQUARE FEET.
YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION OF THE GARAGE.
SORRY, IT, IT WAS THE LAST, UH, IMAGE.
WE CAN GO BACK JUST TO SHOW YOU QUICKLY THE LOCATION AGAIN AND HOW THE, THE ROOFS AND THE, THE, THE BUILDINGS CHANGE A LOT.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ON NORTHWOOD.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU CAN SEE A HOUSE THAT IT READS, KIND OF LIKE TUDOR, RIGHT BELOW.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ROOF.
OF COURSE, WE CAN NOW GET INTO THESE PROPERTIES.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CHANGES IN THE ROOF.
ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU SEE, UH, AN EYEBROW ROOF.
YOU CAN SEE THE PITCHES AND THE STYLE OF THE HOME.
AND WE'RE MARKING ALL THESE HOMES, AS YOU CAN SEE, AS EITHER CONTRIBUTING OR LANDMARKS.
[03:00:01]
NEXT TO THAT HOUSE, YOU CAN START, YOU CAN START SEEING, UM, ROOFS, UH, CURVED ROOFS.ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU SEE A SMALL TOWER.
YOU CAN SEE SHINGLES, YOU CAN SEE METAL ROOFS.
YOU CAN SEE THE MASSING OF THIS HOME.
THERE IS A ROOF COMING TOWARDS THE GROUND, NOT QUITE TOUCHING THE GROUND, BUT IT'S AN ELEMENT THAT EXISTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU SEE THE MASSING OF THIS HOME.
UH, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THERE'S A LANDMARK STUCCO CHIMNEY.
UH, ON THE LEFT SIDE YOU SEE THE MASSING, MASS MASSING OF THIS HOME AGAIN.
NOW WE'RE BACKING THE BLOCK OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
ON THE LEFT SIDE IS A LANDMARK THAT YOU SAW AT THE BEGINNING.
RIGHT NEXT TO IT, THERE IS A MUCH SMALLER HOME THAT IS A CONTRIBUTING HOME AS WELL.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW ECLECTIC IT REALLY IS.
IT'S BRICK, JUST LIKE THE BIG HOUSE NEXT TO IT.
BUT YOU SEE CURVES, YOU SEE A GABLE, YOU SEE IT CHANGES IN THE ROOF.
AND THERE'S A GARAGE IN THE BACK, MUCH TALLER THAN THE, THAN THE STRUCTURE.
MAIN STRUCTURE ON THE LEFT SIDE, 27 0 5 OAKHURST.
THIS IS RIGHT BEHIND THE PROPERTY.
YOU SEE METAL ROOFS, YOU SEE DECORATIVE BRACKETS.
SHINGLES, YOU SEE HALF TIMBER ELEMENTS.
THERE IS A HUGE HOUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THAT PICTURE.
THERE'S ANOTHER SMALL, KIND OF LIKE A BUNGALOW HOME, UH, HALF TIMBERS AS WELL.
YOU WILL GO TO THE NEXT IMAGE, ANOTHER BIG HOUSE.
THIS IS ON THE SAME BLOCK ON WOOLRIDGE.
YOU SEE THE DESIGN, UM, ON THE RIGHT SIDE WEST OVER.
YOU SEE THE GARAGE PLACEMENT IN THIS HOUSE.
UH, RIGHT BELOW YOU SEE THE GARAGE OF THE GARAGE STUCCO.
MIGUEL, I THINK YOU'RE, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
SO, UM, CAN YOU GO TO THE LAST SLIDE AND JUST, UH, OKAY.
UH, I THINK YOU'VE GOT ONE IMAGE OF THE ELEVATION THAT YOU, I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO END WITH YOUR, THERE YOU GO.
AND YOUR PREVIOUS SPEAKER DIDN'T USE ALL HER TIME, SO IF YOU WOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND USE THAT TO WRAP UP.
SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT WE ARE NOT INTRODUCING FOREIGN ELEMENTS.
UH, OF COURSE THIS IS NOT A COOKIE CUTTER HOME.
WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT THE CLIENTS LIKE.
IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE WERE, THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT A HOUSE THAT IS THERE AND THAT'S NOT THE STYLE THEY WOULD LIKE.
IT'S FLAT ROOFS, LOOKS INDUSTRIAL, UH, RICH INDUSTRIAL BRUTALLY.
SO THIS IS AGAIN, A HOUSE THAT WE BELIEVE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND COULD I, COULD I ACTUALLY CLOSE WITH ANOTHER IMAGE? WE COULD PLEASE GO BACK QUICKLY.
CAN YOU GO BACK AND WHOMEVER IT IS IS, UM, IS IN THE PHOTOS.
WHICH PHOTO ARE YOU LOOKING? YOU, YOU WOULD JUST GO BACK, UH, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
I, I DON'T KNOW THE PAGE NUMBER.
AND RIGHT THERE, RIGHT BELOW, THERE'S TWO CASTLES ON WOODRIDGE, UH, THE NEXT ONE OVER, SORRY.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE HOUSE AGAIN, YOU SEE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ROOFS AND, AND ALL THOSE ELEMENTS.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THIS APPLICANT? THE SPEAKER? I DO HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
THE RENDERING THAT YOU HAVE, UH, INDICATES THE DOOR, UH, THE, THE GARAGE DOORS, UH, OPEN.
IS THAT RIGHT? ARE THOSE, UH, THAT, THAT RENDERING JUST SHOWS, UH, THEM IN AN OPEN POSITION, BUT THEY, THERE WILL BE DOORS THERE
SO THAT'S JUST A, THAT'S JUST A RENDERING OF, OF THAT IN THE OPEN POSITION.
WE DON'T HAVE THE DOORS IN THE RENDERING, BUT, UM, WHEN WE MET WITH THE, UM, WITH THE ARCHITECTS, UH, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS WAS TO REDUCE THE MASSING OF THE GARAGE.
AND ALSO WE'RE RECESSING THE DOORS.
THERE'S ABOUT THREE FEET TO KIND OF CONCEAL THEM.
UH, COMMERS, ANY QUESTIONS AGAIN OF THIS APPLICANT? IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? ALRIGHT.
UH, SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSIONERS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
[03:05:01]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS ITEM? THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN, UH, POSTPONED AND WE'VE SEEN, UH, A CONSIDERABLE CHANGE BASED ON THE INPUT FROM THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS, UH, WHAT WAS SHOWN AS AN ANALYSIS OF SOME OF THE CONTEXT FROM WHICH THIS DESIGN IS NOW RESPONDING.
AND OUR, AND OUR JOB IS NOT TO DESIGN FROM THE DAIS FOR OWNERS, BUT TO RESPOND TO THE DESIGNS AS THEY'RE PRESENTED TO US.
I'M GONNA MOVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETING THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE AND TO FINALIZE OUR COMMENTS ON THE DESIGN.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, THIS IS A REALLY UNIQUE ONE.
I'M A FAN OF ECCENTRIC ARCHITECTURE, SO I TENDED TO WANT TO CHAMPION IT TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, THE PRESENTATION REALLY SHOWED ME THAT WOOLRIDGE IS A LOT AND ALL THE DETAILS WERE REFERENCED AND FROM CONTRIBUTING PROPERTIES, MAYBE NOT ALL ON THE SAME PROPERTY ALL AT ONCE, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TO SHOW THAT THIS REALLY IS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF, UH, REVIVALS DONE IN EXTREME STYLE, AND THIS IS RAMPING IT UP A BIT, BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER THIS THAN A BIG MIDDLE FINGER OF THE MODERNIST WALKS THAT WE HAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN LIEU OF IT, IT'S GOING KIND OF THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
BUT, UM, I THINK THEY REALLY MADE THE CASE AND THE ALTERATIONS THEY MADE TO THE TOWER, THEY REDUCED THE SIZE.
THEY REDUCED THE SIZE OF THE A DU.
THE ROOF LINE HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY.
UH, THIS READS AS MORE OF A, UH, DISPERSED SPRAWLING OF, UM, KIND OF LIKE A COTTAGE COURT RATHER THAN ONE GIGANTIC HOUSE.
UH, COMPLEX ROOF LINES, COMPLEX STRUCTURES OVER LARGE PROPERTIES ARE TYPICAL IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST FEEL LIKE, UH, MORE SO THAN MANY OTHERS, THEY HAVE RESPONDED.
IT IS STILL OVER THE TOP, BUT I THINK THE CASE WAS MADE IN A PRESENTATION THAT ANYONE WANTS TO LOOK AT AND REALLY CELEBRATE WHAT'S ON WOOLRIDGE AND THAT ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING PROPERTIES.
COMMISSIONER PATTERSON? UH, YEAH, NOTHING TO ADD.
I MEAN, I THINK, UH, ONE VERY LITTLE TINY WORD THAT COMMISSIONER COOK SAID THAT STUCK OUT THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IS, IS THE WAY THAT THE PRESENTATION IS THAT THE WAY THAT IT READS.
AND I DO THINK LIKE A LOT OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE FROM AFTER YOU GUYS WENT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, THAT IT CURRENTLY READS, LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE.
AND YOU ALSO DID A GREAT, UH, JOB MAKING THE CASE THAT, UH, OF WHAT IS AND ISN'T APPROPRIATE FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER, GRIN.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I, I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB, UM, CURATING THE DESIGN.
UM, IT, IT LOOKS, UM, MUCH MORE INTENTIONAL TO ME AND THOUGHTFUL.
AND SO THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO COME TO THE A RC AND THEN SPENDING SO MUCH ADDITIONAL TIME REWORKING THIS.
I KNOW, UM, THIS WASN'T EASY, SO THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE OVER YOUR INPUT.
UM, JUST AS ANOTHER MATTER OF RECORD, UH, WE HAVE A, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TO THE MIC.
SO, OR YOU CAN TURN ON THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU EITHER.
AND, AND WE HAVE, WE'LL, YOU'LL BE ANSWERING OUR QUESTION THEN.
UH, SO YOUR RESPONSE THEN TO THAT COMMENT.
OH, UM, WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE INPUT.
UM, AND WE DO, UH, STRIVE IN GENERAL TO CHAMPION NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR DESIGN AND INTENT AND, UH, TO BE DELIBERATE IN, IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, AND EVEN THOUGH THIS HOUSE APPEARS TO BE VERY MASSIVE, IT, IT DOES NOT EXCEED 4,800 SQUARE FEET, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
AND, UM, SO, UH, THE HOUSE NEXT TO IT IS, I THINK OVER 16,000.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SO I, I THINK IT'LL FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD VERY NICELY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, I CAN SEE COMPARED TO WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE THAT YOU STILL HAVE THAT VERY, UM, PLAYFUL SPIRIT, AND YET THE REFINEMENTS I, I THINK, HAVE ONLY MADE YOUR DESIGN BETTER.
I THINK THAT THE EFFORT HAS BEEN CERTAINLY WELL WORTH IT.
UH, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH THE ECLECTIC ARCHITECTURE AND, AND REFERENCE SOME OF THOSE HISTORIC, UH, ELEMENTS
[03:10:01]
THAT ARE IMPORTANT, UH, TO BE AS THOROUGH IN MAKING THEIR CASE.UH, BEING THAT I WORK A LOT WITH TRADITIONAL STYLES, UH, I CAN THINK OF A LOT OF OTHER WAYS THAT I WOULD DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT MY DESIGN.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.
UH, BUT I THINK WE CAN CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT YOU, IN BRINGING THIS NEW REFINED MORE, YES, IT'S EXUBERANT, BUT IT'S RESTRAINED.
IT, IT FITS IN A WAY THAT I, I CAN'T SAY WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH PREVIOUSLY.
SO, UH, WE DO APPRECIATE THE WORK.
UH, AND OBVIOUSLY I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
SO, UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UNLESS ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE NEW PLANS, UH, REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION, UH, AS PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WITH THE DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, AND, UH, THE MOTION BY, UM, COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND COMMISSIONER RUBIO OPPOSED? SO THAT IS SEVEN IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION PASSES.
I GUESS SORT QUESTION, COMMENT, UH, REGARDING THE GARAGE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING ANY CHANGES.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE SLIGHTLY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BRING IT TO THE FRONT, BUT THAT'S CONTINGENT TO SOME AUSTIN ENERGY LINES.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT, SHOW STAFF.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM, UH, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM ITEM 22.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE TOOK OUT OF ORDER.
THE SAME WE TOOK OUT OF ORDER.
WE GOT THAT ONE TAKEN CARE OF.
I THINK THE NEXT ONE IS 31 IS 31,
[31. PR-2023-138200 – 6804 Mesa Dr.]
AND THAT IS 68 0 4 MESA DRIVE.UH, THIS IS THE DEMOLITION REQUEST.
UH, NOW THESE ARE NOT IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
UH, THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES AND, UH, THIS WAS AGAIN, UH, A REQUEST THAT WAS PROPOSED POSTPONED FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING.
COMMISSIONERS ITEM, UH, 31 68 0 4 MESA DRIVE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCA 1962 HOUSE.
UH, THIS IS A MID-CENTURY MODERN HOUSE DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT DAVID BARROW, JR.
UH, THE AUSTIN AMERICAN NOTES, ITS U-SHAPED PLAN AROUND ESSENTIAL COURTYARD, EXPANSIVE, SET SLIDING GLASS DOORS AND WALLS IN A LONG COVERED PORCH.
THIS HOUSE IS CONSTRUCTED IN 1962 BY DAVID B BARROW, AND DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT DAVID BROW, JR.
HIS SON FOR THE 1962 PARADE OF HOMES.
BARROW AND HIS FATHER ARE DAVID BARROW SR.
UH, WHO WAS A LONGTIME DEVELOPER.
REALTOR AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE NORTHWEST HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROMOTING ITS PICTURESQUE HELD LANDSCAPED AS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR MID-CENTURY LUXURY HOMES.
DURING THE 1970S, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND BROKER, RAYMOND BROWN LIVED IN THE HOME.
BROWN APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AN ASSOCIATE OF PHS, UM, AND SERVED, UH, AS A DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHWEST SAVINGS ASSOCIATION.
ALONGSIDE DAVID BARROWS AND JUNIOR STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA, UH, FOR DESIGNATION AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTIN CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, HOWEVER, SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST HISTORIC ZONING, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS RELEASE OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
AND THEN, UM, STAFF, I'M GONNA NOTE THAT IN OUR BACKUP WE HAVE THE NUMBERS APPEAR TO BE SLIPPED.
SO 68 0 4 MESA, UH, IS SHOWING UP AS ITEM NUMBER 32.
HOW, HOWEVER, THE, UH, ADDRESS IS CORRECT.
SO ANYBODY LOOKING FOR IT WOULD FIND IT BY THE ADDRESS.
UM, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS VICTORIA HASSEY WITH ER DESIGN ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO QUEUE UP THE PRESENTATION.
SO THIS IS AN IMAGE, UM, AS THE HOUSE WAS ORIGINALLY CON, UH, DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED.
IT'S PULLED FROM CALLAN STAFF REPORT, UM, WHICH IS FROM THE, UH, 1962 AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMEN ADVERTISING THE PARADE OF HOMES.
UM, IN THIS PICTURE, THERE, UM, ARE TWO SIGNIFICANT FEATURES THAT, UH, THERE'S THE FRONT AREA, UM, THE U-SHAPE, THE COURTYARD, THANK YOU
AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO, AT ONE POINT IN TIME, AN OPEN AIR SITE ENTRY CARPORT.
THOSE ELEMENTS CAN BE SEEN IN THIS IMAGE, UM,
[03:15:01]
WHICH IS HOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED.THIS IS A COPY, A PICTURE OF THE SURVEY WITH THE YELLOW AREAS, IDENTIFYING CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO THE PROPERTY, UM, STARTING IN THE LATE SEVENTIES.
UM, THE ONLY TWO ORIGINAL PARTS, UM, THAT ARE STILL EXISTING ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE.
THOSE ARE THE TWO PORTIONS OF THE, THE TWO PORTIONS THAT STILL EXIST.
BUT THE MAIN POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THE COURTYARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UH, HOUSE HAS BEEN WALLED OFF.
IN ADDITION, ALL THE OTHER EL YELLOW ELEMENTS THAT YOU SEE ALONG THE ROADSIDE.
AND THEN, UM, I GUESS DIVIDING UP THE FRONT, FRONT, UH, YARD AREA ARE A BUNCH OF SIX FOOT ROCK WALLS.
SO IT'S BECOME A BIT OF A FORTRESS AS YOU DRIVE BY THE PROPERTY.
MOSTLY WHAT YOU SEE IS ROCK WALL.
YOU DON'T REALLY SEE ANY OF THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER THAT MADE THIS PROPERTY, UH, UNIQUE AND INTERESTING IN ITS TIME.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE PROPERTY AS YOU'RE FACING SOUTH ON MESA.
SO THIS WOULD BE THE NORTHEAST CORNER.
YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST ROCK WALLS THAT YOU ENCOUNTER AS YOU HEAD SOUTH.
AND THIS IS WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN IF YOU WERE STANDING AT THIS POINT, UM, AND LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL HOUSE AS IT WAS DESIGNED.
THIS IS THE, THIS VIEW WOULD GIVE YOU THE OPEN COURTYARD THAT FACES THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY OR FACES THE STREET FRONT.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST DRIVEWAY ALONG THE NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE WHERE, UM, YOU WOULD ENTER THE PROPERTY AND PULL INTO THE SIDE ENTRY, OPEN AIR CARPORT.
AND THIS IS A CLOSER IMAGE OF THAT CARPORT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A SEAM, RIGHT? UH, WHERE THAT LIGHT FIXTURE IS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE.
THAT'S A SEAM SHOWING WHERE THEY ADDED SOME LINE STACKED LIMESTONE TO THE EXTERIOR.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE CARPORT WAS FILLED IN WITH A SERIES OF FRENCH DOORS.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER VIEW OF THE CARPORT.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE, LOOKING AT THE GARAGE, PRIMARILY AT THE GARAGE THAT WAS BUILT, UH, IN, IN THE LATE SEVENTIES, AND THEN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE HOUSE.
UH, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREE, AGAIN, YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SIX FOOT LIMESTONE ROCK WALLS.
SO THIS IS COMPARING, COMPARING WHAT WAS ORIGINAL, UM, DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR THE PARADE OF HOMES TO WHAT YOU SEE NOW WHEN YOU STAND AT THE STREET FRONT.
UM, AGAIN, A LOT OF WHAT MADE THIS HOUSE INTERESTING AND WAS TOUTED IN THAT, UM, IN THAT ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE PARADE OF HOMES.
THOSE ARE ELEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.
UM, THEY NO LONGER EXIST FOR THIS PROPERTY.
AND, UM, FOR, FOR THOSE REASONS, I, I ASK IF REALLY, DOES THIS PROPERTY HAVE SUFFICIENT ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY THAT YOU WOULD LANDMARK, LANDMARK IT AS IT IS TODAY? UM, YOU KNOW, PART OF LANDMARKING IS ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY, AGE, AND MANY OTHER FACTORS.
BUT THE AGE AND THE ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY ARE TWO OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT.
AND I THINK THIS PROPERTY HAS LOST WHAT MADE IT SPECIAL.
UM, IT PUT ANOTHER WAY, IF THIS WERE A PROPERTY IN ITS ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION THAT WERE LANDMARKED, WOULD THIS COMMISSION APPROVE THESE CHANGES TO THIS PROPERTY ENCLOSING THE SIDE ENTRY, OPEN AIR CARPORT, AND THE FRONT, UM, UM, KEEP FORGETTING THE WORD, THE COURTYARD
I, I REALLY DOUBT Y'ALL WOULD APPROVE THOSE CHANGES TO THIS PROPERTY IF IT WERE A LANDMARK, UM, ALREADY TODAY OR PRIOR TO THOSE CHANGES BEING MADE.
SO I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT YOU DO HAVE A LETTER FROM THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IN YOUR BACKUP.
AND I ALSO EMAILED THAT LAST WEEK.
UM, THIS IS AN OWNER THAT HE'S NOT A, HE, HE'S OWNED THE PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, UM, HAS LIVED IN IT WITH HIS FAMILY AND, UM, HAD EVERY INTENTION OF REDESIGNING WORKING WITH THE STRUCTURE.
BUT AS HE'S ENTERING, UM, UM, LATER PARTS OF HIS LIFE, UH, THIS HOUSE IS REALLY NOT GOING TO WORK FOR HIM.
HE WANTED TO TRY TO WORK WITH IT, BUT, UM, IT, HE'S AT A, AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN HIS LIFE AND HE WOULD PREFER TO
[03:20:01]
BE ABLE TO BUILD A SMALLER SIZED HOME AT THIS LOCATION, UM, SO THAT HE CAN AGE IN PLACE, UH, AS HE, AS HE MOVES ALONG.SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION? YES, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I'VE FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1982 AND, UH, WAS SUPER EXCITED TO, UH, AND, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY.
SO IN 82 I MOVED HERE AND, UH, FROM FLORIDA, VERY FLAT.
AND I THOUGHT THAT AUSTIN WAS CACTUS AND TUMBLEWEEDS.
UH, CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, FELL IN LOVE WITH IMMEDIATELY.
AND THE THINGS I LOVE ARE THE WATER, THE GREENERY, THE GREEN BELTS AND THE HILLS, THE HILL COUNTRY.
AND I MOVED IN AN APARTMENT HERE IN, UH, NORTHWEST HILLS IN WOOD HOLLOW AND WORKED MY BUTT OFF TO BE ABLE TO BUY A HOME.
AND I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VIEW HOME, UH, IN NORTHWEST HILLS NOT FAR FROM THIS PROPERTY.
AND SO I HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OF PER PERSPECTIVE.
I'VE BEEN DRIVING BY THIS PROPERTY FOR 40 YEARS, AND HONESTLY, IT'S ONE OF THE UGLIEST THINGS AROUND.
IT DOESN'T FIT IN PLACE WITH THIS WALL, UH, UP IN FRONT.
AND IT'S JUST, UM, IT'S UNSIGHTLY.
AND SO, UM, MY HOPE I GOT EXCITED WHEN I HEARD THAT THIS WAS GETTING DEMOED BECAUSE, UH, MY HOPE IS THAT IT'S A DOUBLE LOT.
SO, AND IF THE OWNER'S NOT GONNA BUILD A BIGGER HOUSE, ALL GOES AWAY.
AND SO THERE'S COMMUNITY VALUE IN, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT GOOD HISTORICAL PROPERTIES, BUT THIS ONE YOU CAN'T SEE.
ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THE ROOF AND A LITTLE BIT OF SLICES OF SIDEWALLS.
BUT IF THIS IS REDEVELOPED, WE GET RID OF AN EYESORE, AN UGLY WALL, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE SOME SLICES OF, IT'S ABOUT A 10 MILE VIEW THAT, UH, IS BY THIS PROPERTY.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN REALIZE THAT VALUE.
ANY QUESTIONS, QUIRE? THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I, COMMISSIONER MC MORDER.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ALRIGHT, THE HEARING IS CLOSED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS ITEM? AGAIN, THIS IS NOT IN A REGISTERED DISTRICT, SO WE'RE NOT REVIEWING ANY NEW PLANS.
UH, THIS IS STRICTLY A MATTER OF DOES THIS RISE TO, UH, HISTORIC DESIGNATION, UH, OR ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS THAT WE MIGHT MAKE? UH, BUT WE ARE BEING ASKED, UH, TO REVIEW PRIOR TO, UH, THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
I WILL MOVE TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT PENDING THE CITY AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
I THINK THE CASE WAS MADE WELL, UM, ON INTEGRITY, NOT ONLY THE ADDED ELEMENTS THAT P POCKET IT, BUT THE LOSS OF ELEMENTS THAT WOULD REQUIRE RESTORATION.
UM, THIS CAME TO US WITH OWNER APPLICATION TO LANDMARK.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD, I THINK THAT WAS THE QUESTION TO ANSWER.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE? NOTHING TO ADD COMMISSIONERS.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO RELEASE THE PERMIT INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
OKAY, I SEE EIGHT HANDS RAISED.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NONE IN OPPOSITION.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 32
[32. PR-2023-095572 – 1101 Garner Ave. ]
IS 1101 GARNER AVENUE.UH, AGAIN, A DEMOLITION REQUEST.
AND THIS ONE ALSO POSTPONED FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING.
UH, STAFF, UH, YOU LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AND CAN WE SEE THAT ON THE, ON THE PROJECTOR? THANK YOU.
CHAIR 1101 GARNER AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1938 HOUSE.
UM, THIS ITEM HAS COME BEFORE US SEVERAL TIMES, AND THIS IS THE LAST MEETING AT WHICH THIS CASE, UH, CAN APPEAR AS IT WILL TIME OUT BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, JUST TO REFRESH, THIS IS A ONE STORY TWO TO REVIVAL HOUSE WITH A VERY LARGE TWO STORY REAR ADDITION, UH, CONSTRUCTED OUTSIDE THE HISTORIC PERIOD, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[03:25:01]
UM, GIVEN THE, UM, ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND THE, UM, ADDITIONAL VIEWS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE OF THIS PROPERTY, UM, STAFF NOW RECOMMENDS ENCOURAGING REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, BUT RELEASE OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON RECEIPT OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.UM, DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION APPLICANT? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
COULD WE PULL UP THE PRESENTATION AND GO TO THE SEVENTH SLIDE, PLEASE? UM, FIRST, JUST TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS NOT IN HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT BEEN PART OF ANY SURVEY.
IT, IT IS, UM, UM, UH, AN ATTRACTIVE HOME.
UH, AND WE WERE BEFORE YOU ON NOVEMBER 1ST AND, AND MADE OUR PRESENTATION AND, AND, AND WE, UH, SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS, UM, IT FAILS FOR LACK OF LONGSTANDING HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS TO, TO MEET THAT CRITERIA.
UM, UH, GIVEN THE, THE CUMIN CUMMINS SISTERS' LIMITED INVOLVEMENT.
AND, UM, AND, AND, AND I THINK THERE'S A, I THINK ALTHOUGH ADMIRABLE AS, AS WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS PERHAPS DIDN'T MEET THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS, UH, TEST, UH, AND THAT THERE WAS, UH, OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE IT, PARTICULARLY ON NINE 12 CONGRESS WHERE THEIR, WHERE THEIR, UH, SHOP WAS LOCATED THAT HAS BETTER ASSOCIATIONS.
WE ALSO MADE THE CASE THAT IT'S BEEN AS, AS, UH, STAFF HAD MENTIONED, SUBSTANTIALLY MODIFIED, UH, SO THAT ITS ARCHITECTURAL TALK INTEGRITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
UM, IN FACT, THE, UH, THE TWO STORY ADDITION DOES NOT MEET YOUR CRITERIA, YOUR GUIDELINES.
HER, HER COMMISSIONERS MENTION HOW IMPORTANT THE CRITERIA AND THE, AND THE STANDARDS ARE.
THIS WOULD NOT, UH, MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, UH, WE WERE ENCOURAGED AND POSTPONED TO GO TO A RC.
THERE, THERE, THERE ARE NOT ANY PLANS TO REVIEW.
I THINK THE, THE PURPOSE OF THAT MEETING WAS TO, YOU KNOW, LET THE APPLICANT KNOW OF THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
UH, THE APPLICANT OBVIOUSLY WANTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OPTION OF, OF DEMOLITION.
UH, WE CAME BACK ON, ON DECEMBER 13TH, WE PRESENTED SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM, UH, HUGH RANDOLPH, THE, UH, APPLICANT'S, UM, ARCHITECT WHO RECOMMENDED AGAINST, UH, TRYING TO, TO SAVE THE HOME.
UM, UM, AND, AND, BUT WE WERE AGAIN, ENCOURAGED TO COME BACK TO THE A RC AND TO DISCUSS THE, UM, UM, PRESERVATION BONUS AS AN OPTION.
UH, AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED.
SO WE'RE HERE OUR THIRD TIME, UM, AND WE DON'T THINK THIS MEETS THE CRITERIA.
UH, AND, UM, AND I DON'T THINK IN THE LAST, IN NOVEMBER AND, AND DECEMBER, IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS A WILL ON THE COMMISSION TO INITIATE, UH, HISTORIC ZONING.
AND I THINK PERHAPS AS WELL, IT'S TOO LATE, UH, AT THIS POINT.
UM, UH, ON THE 15TH, THE, UM, CASE WILL NO LONGER BE PENDING, UH, AND, UM, AND WE'RE NOT POSTED FOR A RECOMMENDATION ON ZONING.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I WILL SAY THAT THE OWNERS ARE LIFELONG AUSTINITES.
UM, THEY, UM, HAVE, UH, RENOVATED, UH, EXISTING HOMES BEFORE THEY WILL, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A, AN EXCELLENT PROJECT.
IN THE END, UH, WE JUST NEED THIS OPTION AS WE GO INTO OUR, UH, DESIGN PHASE.
I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? HEARING NONE.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN OPPOSITION? YES, PLEASE COME TO THE, UH, PODIUM AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS FROM THIS HOUSE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING COMMITTEE.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S JUST ICONIC, AND THERE'S SEVERAL STONE HOUSES IN THIS AREA HERE THAT, UH, REALLY DEFINE THE CHARACTER OF THIS VICINITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND REALLY UPSET THAT IT MIGHT BE TORN DOWN.
UM, SO IN THE, THE STAFF SAYS THERE'S, YOU KNOW, TWO OUT OF FIVE CRITERIA THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MET FOR THIS.
SO THERE'S AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, SOME SUPPORT.
THERE ARE SOME MAYBE AMBIGU AMBIGU AMBIGUITY.
UM, THE, UH, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE PREDOMINANT VIEW FROM GARNER STREET IS THE, IS THE ONE WHERE YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE TOO MUCH OF THE ADDITIONS TO THE HOUSE IS A LITTLE BIT STICKING UP, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT CARPORT STICKING OUT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE, THE VIEW OF THIS THING IS, IS PRETTY MUCH UNOBSTRUCTED.
THAT STONE WALL WAS REFERENCED
[03:30:01]
AS AN ADDITION, BUT I'M NOT SO SURE THAT CAN'T BE CONSIDERED A FENCE.IT'S, IT DOESN'T DISRUPT THE VIEW OF THE HOUSE.
UM, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS THAT SOME OTHER OPTIONS HERE, THIS IS A 13,000 GREATER THAN 13,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT THAT SOME OF THE OPTIONS WOULD BE TO EITHER, UM, TAKE OFF SOME OF THE NON HISTORICAL PARTS OF THIS AND GET CREATED WITH SOME ARCHITECTURE AND TRY TO PUT SOMETHING ON THERE IF THEY WANT JUST A LARGER HOUSE.
OR TAKE THE, THE NON-HISTORICAL PARTS OFF, KEEP THE SMALL INTEGRITY OF THE SMALL PLACE.
AND, UH, WITH THE HOME INITIATIVE PRESERVATION INITIATIVE, THAT COULD BUILD A COUPLE OF DWELLING UNITS IN THE BACK ON 13,000 SQUARE FEET.
I KNOW THERE'S TWO HERITAGE TREES IN, IN THE LOT HERE, BUT THAT, THAT MUCH LAND YOU, I THINK COULD BE WORKED AROUND.
UM, I ALSO THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR THE PC, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
THIS IS SUCH A, A GREAT PROPERTY, AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN THE THROES OF TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER, CRAFT THE ORDINANCE, CRAFT THE CODE, AND I THINK THIS HOUSE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THEM TO USE AS AN EXAMPLE, TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT MAKES STUFF LIKE THIS WORK.
UM, SO I ASK YOU ALL TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO SAVE THIS THING.
OKAY, MR. PIPER, THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTION OF THE SPEAKER? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? OKAY, UH, HEARING NONE, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS A MOMENT TO REBUT IF THEY CHOOSE.
UH, UH, JEFF HOWARD AGAIN FOR THE LANDOWNER.
UM, I APPRECIATE MR. PIPER COMING IN AND MAKING SOME COMMENTS.
UH, UM, THIS IS MY THIRD MEETING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN MR. PIPER HEARD FROM THE, FROM THE, FROM THE ZONING COMMITTEE ON THESE VIEWS.
UM, AND, UM, AND, AND I WISH WE'D HAD A CHANCE TO ENGAGE SOONER.
UM, AS FAR AS THE VIEWS GO, IF WE GO BACK TO THAT IMAGE THAT I HAD, UH, A COUPLE POINTS IS THIS IS A CORNER LOT AND IT'S VERY, VERY LONG ON THE DEXTER SIDE, AND THAT DEXTER SIDE IS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL VIEW, AND IT IS COMPLETELY COMPROMISED FROM THERE, UH, FROM GARNER.
UM, THAT PICTURE THAT I TOOK WAS ME STANDING IN THE STREET IF I WERE A PEDESTRIAN, WHAT YOU WOULD SEE, AND WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IS PREDOMINANTLY THAT STONE WALL.
AND NOW IT IS TRUE THAT IT IS ATTRACTIVE IN THE WAY IT'S EXECUTED, BUT THAT'S A 2016 WALL.
IF YOU GO TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, YOU COULD SEE, UM, AND I'M SORRY, THE FOLLOWING SLIDE, MY, MY MISTAKE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE, THE WALL WAS, IS, IS A NEW ADDITION.
UM, AND EVEN FROM THE CORNER, YOU CAN SEE THE EXTENT OF THE, UH, SECOND STORY EDITION.
SO I THINK IN TERMS OF THE VIEWS, UM, UH, FROM, FROM THE, A VERY LONG SIDE, UH, DEXTER, IT'S CLEAR THAT THAT IT'S BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED.
I THINK, I THINK REALLY THE OBJECTION HERE IS THAT THE HOME IS ATTRACTIVE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE HOME AND, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY A NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD WANT TO SEE AN, AN ATTRACTIVE HOME STAY, BUT I DON'T THINK IT MEETS THE HISTORIC CRITERIA, UH, EITHER FOR THE, UH, HISTORIC, LONGSTANDING HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS AND BECAUSE IT'S BEEN COMPROMISED.
AND FINALLY, I JUST AS, AS IT RELATES TO OTHER OPTIONS, UH, THE DEMO PERMIT GIVES US THE OPTION AND THAT TO, TO TOTALLY DEMOLISH THE, THE, THE HOME.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO THEN GO INTO A PLANNING STAGE.
AND, AND IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PRESERVATION BONUS IS WHAT I THINK WE HOPE IT COULD BE, THEN IT MIGHT BE A TOOL AND, AND THAT COULD BE AN OPTION THAT GETS CONSIDERED.
UH, I THINK THERE'S SOME, YOU KNOW, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE PRESERVATION BONUS.
BUT IF, IF IT'S A TOOL WHEN MY CLIENTS, UH, START EVALUATING, UH, AND START DOING THE PLANNING PROCESS WITH MR. RANDOLPH AND IT EMERGES AS SOMETHING THAT'S AN OPTION, UH, WE WOULD CERTAINLY CONSIDER IT.
BUT, UH, AT THIS POINT, I THINK, UH, GIVEN IT'S, IT'S NOT A HISTORIC HOME, UH, GIVEN THAT IT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED, UM, I THINK, UH, AND THAT WE ARE OUT OF TIME, UM, UH, ISSUING THE DEMO PERMITS APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HOWARD.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? NOT, I'LL MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER MCW GOT THERE FIRST.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THERE ARE NONE OPPOSED, THE HEARING IS CLOSED.
[03:35:01]
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCWHORTER.
UM, EXCUSE ME, BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, SO THE, THE COMMENTS ON INTEGRITY AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, I THINK THEY'RE BOTH ARGUABLE, BUT THEY BOTH OFFERED ENOUGH OF A DENT THAT I DIDN'T FEEL CONSIDERED A CLEAR ENOUGH CASE TO SEND UP AGAINST OWNER'S OBJECTIONS.
UH, IT SEEMS LIKE PROBABLY MANY OTHERS WOULD AGREE.
UH, A APPLICANT GAVE A SOLID PRESENTATION, GOOD RESPONSES, UH, CAME TO TWO A RC MEETINGS.
THEY ACTED VERY MUCH IN GOOD FAITH.
I DO APPRECIATE THE ADVOCATE ADVOCACY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WE HAD SOME THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER ABOUT JUST THOSE OPTIONS AND ISSUES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
AND, UM, I'M HOPING THAT IT MAY HAVE PLANTED A SEED AS DISCUSSED THAT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE IN A HUGE HURRY TO TEAR IT DOWN.
UM, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS PROCESS HAS GIVEN THEM FOOD FOR THOUGHT, UH, FOR WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES MAY BE, UH, FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I KNOW THERE WERE SOME COMPLICATIONS WITH THE STRUCTURE SPANNING TWO OF THE LOTS ON THIS MULTI LOT PROPERTY.
BUT, UH, WITH THE HOME INITIATIVE AND ALL THE, THE MANY, THE, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A WORLD OF OPTIONS THERE TO REALLY KEEP THIS ANCHOR PROPERTY AND BUILD AROUND IT.
HOPE, HOPEFULLY THEY DO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT, UH, JUSTIFIES SENT RECOMMENDATION FOR LANDMARK, AND I DON'T WANT TO BEGRUDGE THEM THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THIS PROCESS.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE, I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO BOTH THE SPEAKERS FOR AND AGAINST, UM, ON THIS ISSUE.
I, I THINK THIS PROJECT REALLY COULD BE A POSTER CHILD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE HOME PRESERVATION INCENTIVE.
I HEAR YOU SAYING THAT IT'S COULD BE UP IN THE AIR.
I, AT THIS MOMENT, I BELIEVE IT'S THE LETTER OF THE LAW, AND THERE THERE'S NOT A SUIT AGAINST IT.
UM, THEY WENT THROUGH EVERY BIT OF NOTIFICATION POSSIBLE AND, AND LEARNED FROM THEIR MISTAKES, REAL OR IMAGINED AND, AND FIXED 'EM.
SO I WOULD REALLY, I REALLY HOPE THIS COULD BE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT PRESERVATION INCENTIVE CAN KEEP WHAT'S WORKING AND AT THE SAME TIME ALLOW SOME REDEVELOPMENT.
UH, I, I'M, YEAH, VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE SPEAKER AND OPPOSITION.
UM, THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S GOOD BONES THERE TO BE SAVED.
BUT I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION COMMISSIONERS ANY MORE DISCUSSION.
I THINK WE'VE USED THE TOOL WE HAVE AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS, UM, IN THE DELAY, I THINK IT'S OPENED UP GOOD CONVERSATION.
UH, HOWEVER, WERE WE TO JUST CONTINUE DELAY, WE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE THE DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
SO BY APPROVING IT AT THIS POINT, THAT IS REQUIRED.
AND I THINK WE'VE DONE AS BEST WE CAN, UH, AS HELPING OUT THIS FOR THE FUTURE, UH, RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
THE OWNER CONSIDERED ALL OF THESE CRITERIA, BUT THERE ALSO WILL BE, UH, A RECORD OF THIS IN THE ARCHIVES.
SO, UH, ASSUMING THE MOTION PASSES, BUT I WILL SUPPORT IT.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION AND REQUIRE THE DEMOLITION DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? WE HAVE COMMISSIONER GROGAN AND COMMISSIONER RUBIO OPPOSED, BUT THAT IS A MAJORITY AND THE MOTION PASSES.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, I'M NOT GOING TO EXTEND THE TIME YET BECAUSE WE MAY STILL IN OUR LAST TWO DISCUSSION CASES STAY UNDER THE WIRE, BUT, UH, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO
[33. PR-2023-115579 – 812 W Elizabeth St. (Part 1 of 2)]
ON ITEM NUMBER 33.THIS IS EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
THIS IS A TOTAL DEMOLITION, AND, UH, THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH MEETING.
AND IF WE CAN ALSO GET THAT ON THE, UH, ON THE PROJECTOR, UH, WHILE WE ALSO, UH, WAIT, UH, STAFF FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.
UM, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS COME BEFORE Y'ALL TWICE.
UH, HISTORIC ZONING WAS INITIATED ON THE, UH, 13TH OF LAST MONTH.
IT'S A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1890 HOUSE.
UM, THE EXISTING HOUSE WAS A ONE STORY TEA PLAN FOR VICTORIAN WITH ASBESTOS SHINGLE SIDING, ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS, A PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH, AND A FRONT FACING BAY WINDOW.
THE 2016 BOLDEN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY LISTS THE PROPERTY AS A HIGH PRIORITY.
UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA.
UM, THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BUILDING'S INTEGRITY IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE MERITS OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
IF SO, RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST RECOMMENDATION, ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE THAT RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
[03:40:01]
THANK YOU.UM, DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS? IS THAT THIS IS, THIS IS STILL A APPLICATION FOR DEMOLITION, IS THAT CORRECT, COLIN? I THINK YOU SAID THAT.
DID WE SAY, DID WE INITIATE ALREADY? DID WE RECOMMEND, UH, INITIATING ZONING? UH, YES.
I, I HAVE THAT WE, UH, INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING EXAM.
IF YOU WANNA CONFIRM THAT FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.
I BELIEVE WE INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING AT THE LAST MEETING.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY, SO THIS IS, THIS IS DIFFERENT THEN.
UH, SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT A DEMOLITION REQUEST ANYMORE.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A, UH, POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, SO IS THE, IS THERE A SPEAKER IN FAVOR, UH, OF THE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
CAN I ASK THE QUESTION? DO WE, UM, HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, UH, THE AMOUNT OF, UM, VOTES TONIGHT? UH, IF THE OWNER IS, UH, OBJECTING, UH, THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE SINCE THERE ARE EIGHT OF US, AND IT WILL REQUIRE A VOTE OF NINE.
UH, IF THE OWNER IS OBJECTING, UH, WE CAN DETERMINE THAT, UH, BUT PERHAPS WE SHOULD, UH, DETERMINE THAT WITHIN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT, UH, YOUR POSITION.
UM, I LIVE IN BOLDEN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M LESS THAN 400 FEET FROM EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT A RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING AND TO OBJECT TO ISSUING A PERMIT FOR DEMOLITION.
I WAS HERE LAST, UH, MONTH AT DECEMBER THE 13TH OF WHEN YOU, UH, INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING WITH A SUPER MAJORITY.
UM, IT'S RATHER, I'M RATHER DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A FULL, UH, YOU KNOW, 12
11, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO IS LIFE, I GUESS.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, I'LL CONTINUE ON.
UH, COULD YOU, UH, COULD THE STAFF PLEASE PUT UP, UH, YOUR REPORT ON THE SCREEN NUMBER 34, I BELIEVE IS WHAT THE NUMBER IS? IT'S THE STAFF REPORT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE GET A PICTURE PLEASE OF, UH, EIGHT 12 WEST GIBSON.
UH, THAT IS FROM THE STAFF REPORT.
AND AS THEY'RE DOING THAT, I'D JUST LIKE TO GO AND, AND BEGIN WITH.
EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH IS THE LAST SENTINEL TO THE FULL ARC OF DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS THE LAST TOUCHSTONE TO OUR PAST, AND IT STANDS AS A LANDMARK TO HOW WE ARRIVED IN CONTEMPORARY BOLDEN.
THE DWELLING IS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR A STRUCTURE THAT IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
ITS ROOF LINE IS STRAIGHT AND RIGID.
THE WINDOWS, DOORS, EAVES, GABLES, AND FANCY CRAFTSMAN ORNAMENTATION IS COMPLETE AND PLEASING TO THE EYE.
RESEARCH SUBMITTED TO YOU FROM CITY STAFF PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND MYSELF INDICATES THIS RUGGED STRUCTURE SITS ON ITS ORIGINAL LOT, PLANTED PROBABLY BY THE DAWSON FAMILY IN 1893 AS THE SOUTH HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION.
SINCE THIS ORIGINAL BUILD DATE, TCAD SHOWS IT AS CIRCA 1910, IT HAS WITNESSED THE ORIGINAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW AS BOLDEN, IT HAS SURVIVED TWO WORLD WARS, THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE BUNGALOW CRAS, THE BABY BOOM, WHITE FLIGHT URBAN SPRAWL, AND CHANGES IN DEMOGRAPHICS THAT DEFINE WHAT SOUTH AUSTIN WAS AND IS TONIGHT.
THE STRUCTURE STANDS AT RISK OF BEING DEMOLISHED BY EITHER A BULLDOZER OR NEGLECT.
IT IS PART OF AND PARCEL OF THE CONTEMPORARY UPHEAVAL AND EVISCERATION OF ALL STRUCTURES.
IN THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM PRESERVATION AUSTIN, THEY CITE AND I QUOTE, OUR RESEARCH SHOWS THAT FROM 2010 TO 2021, 1,309 RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITIONS OCCURRED IN 7 8, 7 0 4 ZIP CODE WHERE BOLDEN CREEK IS LOCATED OVER THIS PERIOD, 7 8 7 0 4 EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST RATE OF RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITIONS OF ALL ZIP CODES CITYWIDE.
COULD ANYTHING BE MORE POIGNANT OF THE URGENCY AND NEED FOR US TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THIS STRUCTURE, THE LAST SENTINEL, THE LAST TOUCHSTONE TO AN ORIGINAL HOME IN A 19TH CENTURY SUBDIVISION.
IN CLOSING, I WISH TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS HOUSE HAS SEEN MANY RESIDENTS BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN AROUND SO LONG, AND THAT THAT IS THE COMMUNITY VALUE OF IT.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND HOW THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH TIME.
FAMILIES, OWNERS, RENTERS, HERE ARE A FEW OF THE NAMES.
THE CLICK FAMILY, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF PIONEER TEXAS FAMILY, JL HOLCOMB, PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH IN 1939.
MR. AND MRS. JUAN MALDONADO, RENTERS IN 1960.
ROBERT MARTINEZ AIRMAN THIRD CLASS BERGSTROM AIR FORCE
[03:45:01]
BASE.AND HIS WIFE, CONSUELO SANCHEZ, A SP HIS SPOUSE, MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN AND EMPLOYEE AT ACADEMY SURPLUS STORE, SES PIPER AND ANEZ PIPER.
HE WAS A PAINTING AND A CONTRACTOR AND A WORKING MAN.
AND THEN HIS WIFE, MYRTLE AND PIPER LIVED THERE, UH, FROM 1961 TO 2016.
CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER IS RICK WARREN OF THE WARREN AND WILDLIFE GALLERY, A BUSINESSMAN, A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR, AND THE CURRENT OWNER AND LANDLORD.
SO, AS ALL I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FROM PRESERVATION AUSTIN, BUT I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF BOLDEN THE LAST REMAINING FRAME HOUSE ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE, AND IT'S A GEM AND IT'S WORTH PRESERVING.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APP OF THE, UH, SPEAKER? UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE? AND CAN WE, UH, THERE ARE MULTIPLE SPEAKERS.
HAVE YOU ALL BE LINED UP, UH, TO GET TO THE MICROPHONE EFFICIENTLY? WE'RE RUNNING TIGHT FOR TIME HERE AS, UH, WE HAVE THE HOUR GETTING LATER, SO PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
I'M ALSO A BOLDEN RESIDENT, UH, FOR 32 YEARS, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
UM, I, UH, WAS WITH THE, UH, THE GROUP THAT, UM, UH, PENNED WITH CITY STAFF THE, UH, BOLDON CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, UH, WHICH BEFORE GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL, UH, WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY MR. HY AT THE TIME, UH, WHO MENTIONED IN THEIR RECOMMENDATION, UH, THAT HE HOPED, AND THIS IS WAY, WAY BACK IN 2002, THAT THIS PLAN, UH, WITH ITS, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMPONENT WOULD HELP TO PRESERVE SOME OF THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S GONNA BE IN THE RECORD FOR A WHILE, WON'T IT?
UM, I, I WANTED TO JUST THOUGH, UH, THIS EVENING, UH, ADDRESS THE, THE ISSUE OF, UH, OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY TO, UH, TO THIS, UM, BUILDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTH FROM THE, THE, THE FRONT AND IF YOU'VE GOT ANY SHOTS OF THE, UH, OF THE SIDE FACING BOLD AVENUE, UH, THE, THE LINES, UH, HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ARE JUST AS, UH, UH, AS STRAIGHT AS CAN BE.
UM, I THINK THAT, AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, WANDER THE GROUNDS OR ENTER, UH, THIS BUILDING, UM, BETWEEN OWNERSHIPS.
SO, UM, I CAN ONLY BASE THIS SORT OF ON MY 1932 BUNGALOW STRUCTURALLY, STRUCTURALLY.
BUT A LOT OF THE EARLY BOLDEN HOMES, AND I IMAGINE THIS ONE, UH, WAS, UH, SEATED ON, UH, CEDAR PIERS, UNLESS THEY WERE CONVERTED TO CONCRETE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.
BUT, UH, AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, UH, CEDAR PIERS, OR BESIDES DOING AN AMAZING JOB OF KEEPING THESE STRUCTURES UPRIGHT, ARE ALSO RESISTANT TO, UH, TERMITE DAMAGE.
SO I IMAGINE TOO THAT THE, UH, UH, THE PIERS, THE FLOOR PIERS THAT, UH, THAT THIS STRUCTURE SITS ON PROBABLY ARE FREE OF, UH, UH, OF, OF PEST DAMAGE.
UH, I WANTED TO ALSO NOTE THE, UH, ASBESTOS SIDING.
I, I WAS NOT AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE HE ALL DISCUSSED THIS, BUT I THINK, UH, CHAIR HY MENTIONED THAT THOSE ASBESTOS SHINGLES PROBABLY PUT ON IN THE, UH, SIXTIES ALSO DO A GREAT JOB OF PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL WOOD SIDE.
IS THAT
UH, DIDN'T, TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN.
SO JUST ALSO THE INTERIOR WALLS, UH, WITH SHIP THAT SIDING, THOSE ALL, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO KEEPING THE INTEGRITY STRUCTURALLY OF THIS BUILDING.
UM, MR. BOLTON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
SO WHAT, WHAT YEAR DID YOU MOVE TO BOLDON? I MOVED INTO BOLDON IN 1991, SO THE BUILDING
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MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE 101 YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME.IT WAS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, 30 YEARS AGO, SO, OKAY.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND THE CHAIR OF OUR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN TONIGHT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR HISTORIC ZONING OF EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
WHILE THE STAFF REPORT FOR THIS CASE CITES THE HOMES ASSOCIATION WITH THE PIONEERING CLICK FAMILY, IN ADDITION TO ITS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, THE CHAIN OF, OF RENTERS WHO LIVED HERE THROUGHOUT THE 20TH CENTURY REVEALS THAT THE PROPERTY LIKELY HAS DEEPER TIES WITH THE HISTORIC COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT SHOULD BE MORE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD, IN WHICH WITH THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN IS WORKING ON, UM, BOLD CREEK, A MODEST NEIGHBORHOOD OF SMALL COTTAGES AND BUNGALOWS, WEST OF SOUTH CONGRESS, WAS HOME TO SUBSTANTIAL BLACK AND MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR.
MANY PEOPLE FORMERLY ENSLAVED ON PLANTATIONS IN SOUTH AUSTIN, REMAINED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE THEY ESTABLISHED THE BRECKENRIDGE FREEDOMS COMMUNITY NAMED FOR THE SEGREGATED SCHOOL LOCATED ON WEST ELIZABETH STREET, TWO BLOCKS FROM THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FOLLOWING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION OF 1910 THROUGH 1920, MEXICAN IMMIGRATION TO AUSTIN INCREASED MARKEDLY.
AROUND THIS TIME, MEXICAN AMERICANS SETTLED.
WE WEST OF SOUTH FIRST, ANCHORED BY TWO SPANISH SPEAKING CATHOLIC CHURCHES, A 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREETS PAST OCCUPANTS TYPIFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S WORKING CLASS HISTORY.
A 1935 RED LINING MAP DECLARED THE ENTIRE AREA TO BE HAZARDOUS.
WHILE NEIGHBORHOODS EAST OF SOUTH CONGRESS WERE LA LABELED, STILL DESIRABLE AND BEST.
THESE DISCRIMINATORY REAL ESTATE PRACTICES KEPT PROPERTY VALUES ACCESSIBLE, MAKING RENTALS COMMON.
THIS DIVERSE WORKING CLASS HERITAGE IS RAPIDLY VANISHING OUR RESEARCH.
UM, I DID ALL THESE DEMOLITION STATISTICS, THAT'S SORT OF MY WHEELHOUSE, SHOWS THAT FROM 2010 THROUGH 2022, I'VE UPDATED IT.
1,533 RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITIONS OCCURRED IN THIS ZIP CODE 7 8 7 0 4, WHERE BOLD CREEK IS LOCATED.
OVER THIS PERIOD OH FOUR, EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST RATE OF RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITIONS OF ALL ZIP CODES, ACCOUNTING FOR 21% OF ALL DEMOLITIONS IN THE CITY.
WE AT PRESERVATION AUSTIN URGE Y'ALL TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS INCREDIBLE PROPERTY AND TO TAKE URGENT ACTION TO PROTECT WHAT REMAINS OF BOLD'S WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS HERITAGE, INCLUDING THAT OF SOUTH AUSTIN'S BLACK AND MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES MORE BROADLY.
YES, IF I MAY MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND OUR MEETING TO 10 30.
EXCUSE ME, SPEAKER, WE'LL NEED TO DO THIS TO, UH, MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL IN ORDER.
IT'S 9 56 AND I'LL ENTERTAIN THE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER COOK TO EXTEND UNTIL 10 30.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT LONG BY THE WAY, BUT AT LEAST IT GIVE US THAT LEEWAY.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER WARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING THE MEETING, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S A UNANIMOUS, UH, THEN WE WILL GO FORWARD.
YOU MAY IDENTIFY YOURSELF, SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS TRAVIS HALLER, AND I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOT FAR FROM EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET.
I'M HERE TO URGE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY AND TO STRONGLY OBJECT TO ISSUING A PERMIT FOR DE DEMOLITION, ESPECIALLY IN THIS INSTANCE OF QUOTE UNQUOTE DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
SINCE I MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIX YEARS AGO, I'VE BEEN DISMAYED AS TO HOW MANY HISTORIC BUNGALOW STYLE HOMES HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
MOST HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY MODERNISTS OR SO-CALLED MODERN FARMHOUSE STYLE HOMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS CHARACTER, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OTHER SOUTH AUSTIN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE ZILKER AND TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
AS MENTIONED IN THE RESEARCH AND BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, THIS HOME NOT ONLY HAS A DIRECT LINK TO TEXAS'S PIONEER PAST, BUT IT ALSO HAS A DIRECT LINK TO THE HISTORY OF THIS GREAT CITY AND IS ARTI ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT DESPITE THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.
AFTER WATCHING LAST MONTH'S MEETING, AND UPON SOME INITIAL RESEARCH INTO THIS HOME, I LEARNED THAT THE CURRENT OWNER CONVENIENTLY OWNS THE TWO ADJACENT LOTS AT EIGHT 14 AND EIGHT 16 WEST ELIZABETH STREET, WHICH HAVE UNTIL RECENTLY CONTAINED TWO ADDITIONAL BUNGALOW STYLE HOMES, WHICH HAVE ALSO SINCE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
I ALSO LEARNED VIA TRAVIS COUNTY'S APPRAISAL DISTRICT WEBSITE THAT ALMOST THE ENTIRE BLOCK DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED HOME IS OWNED BY THE SAME OWNER VIA PROXY THROUGH HIS QUOTE UNQUOTE WILDLIFE GALLERY, WHICH IT RECEIVED AFTER
[03:55:01]
THE OWNER DEED GIFTED IT TO HIS NONPROFIT.WITH A COMBINED SEVEN PROPERTIES MEASURING ALMOST TWO ACRES AT 85,858 SQUARE FEET.
TRAVIS COUNTY'S CURRENT APPRAISAL FOR THESE PROPERTIES IS EXCEEDS, UH, $15,539,423.
HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO TCAD, ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES ALSO PAY NO PROPERTY TAXES DUE TO THEIR OWNERSHIP BY A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE AT THIS COMMISSION'S PREVIOUS MEETING, THE REALTOR REPRESENTING THE OWNER CLAIMED THAT THE PROPERTY AT EIGHT 12 ELIZABETH NEEDED TO BE DEMOLISHED BECAUSE OF THE DETERIORATED CONDITION OF THE BUILDING AND THEIR INABILITY TO ENSURE THE PROPERTY.
IT'S MY OPINION, THOUGH, THAT DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT IS JUST A CONVENIENT OPTION FOR THIS OWNER INSTEAD OF PROPERLY MAINTAINING THIS HISTORIC HOME, EVEN AS IT WAS RENTED OUT AND GENERATING INCOME.
IT IS ALSO MY OPINION THAT THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WAS INTENTIONAL, AND IN MY OPINION, THE OWNER CLEARLY CANNOT, CAN AFFORD THE PROPER UPKEEP OF THIS HOME.
LASTLY, I ALSO WORRY ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THIS DECISION COULD LEAD TO IF WE WERE TO NOT STAND UP FOR OTHER HISTORIC STRUCTURES, NOT JUST IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO THE CHARACTER AND HISTORY OF THIS CITY.
THUS, I IMPLORE THE COMMISSION TO OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT AND FULLY SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY.
THIS PROPERTY NOT ONLY HAS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AS PREVIOUSLY RESEARCHED, PREVIOUS RESEARCH HAS PROVEN, BUT IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE LAST LINKS TO BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO FOUNDED THIS STATE AND CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE CITY THAT WE LOVE TODAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT CITY, MR. HOLLER.
SO, SO YOU GOT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIX YEARS AGO? YEAH.
SO WHEN YOU GOT THERE, THE, THE, SO WHEN YOU GOT THERE, THE HOUSE WAS 125 YEARS OLD? YEAH.
NEXT, UH, SPEAKER, PLEASE, UH, COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I CAME OVER HERE WITH MATT JUST KIND OF LAST MINUTE.
HE KINDA GUILTED ME INTO IT, BUT, UH, I'M ACTUALLY THE CLOSEST ONE LIVING THROUGH THIS HOUSE.
UM, IT'S ACROSS THE ALLEY AND OVER ONE FROM MY HOUSE, AND I'VE BEEN, UH, WELL DISAPPOINTED ABOUT, UM, ALL THE BUNGALOWS COMING DOWN.
ALSO, UH, NEW PEOPLE COMING IN SAYING THEY LIKE THE BUNGALOW, THE FEEL OF BOWLING CREEK, AND THEN THEY END UP MOVING INTO ONE OF THESE OTHER PLACES THAT THREE TIMES AS BIG.
UM, AND I, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL I GOTTA SAY.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPOUNDS KIND OF RIGHT AROUND MY HOUSE OVER THERE.
YEAH, THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.
UH, AND ANY OTHER SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ZONE? HISTORIC? ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? IS THE OWNER HERE NOW? WE KNOW WE POSTPONED THIS, UH, WELL, WE DIDN'T POSTPONE THIS.
WE ACTUALLY INITIATED THE HISTORIC ZONING.
DID WE REACH OUT TO THE OWNER? HAVE WE HEARD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHAT THEIR SENTIMENT IS REGARDING, UH, THAT ACT, THAT ACTION COMMISSIONER, GIVEN THAT THE OWNER HAS OPPOSED AT THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS? UM, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS ON THAT.
UH, IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT THE, UH, ISSUE HERE IS, UH, WE HAVE ONLY EIGHT AVAILABLE MEMBERS, UH, WHO'VE BEEN PART OF THIS HEARING UP TO THIS POINT.
AND IF A SUPER MAJORITY IS, UH, NECESSARY, IF THAT IS DETERMINED TO BE A REGISTERED, UH, OPPOSITION FOR AN, FOR AN OWNER, THEN UH, WE ARE NOT CAPABLE OF TAKING AN ACTION AT THIS MEETING.
SO WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? UH, SAM HAS, UH, LEFT VOICEMAILS WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE AND COMMISSIONER, UH, CASTILLO, I BELIEVE.
UM, SO WE CAN, UH, WAIT FOR RESULTS WHILE WE HEAR ANOTHER CASE.
UM, OTHERWISE, YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO, UM, TAKE NO ACTION OR VOTE SOLELY, UH, TO GET THE, UH, THE DOCUMENTATION OUT OF THIS.
UM, INSTEAD OF HAVING A MOTION FAIL TO PASS, WE, WE WHERE THIS TO COME UP AGAIN IN ONE MORE MEETING.
WOULD WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THE HISTORIC ZONING? THIS IS THE LAST MEETING AT WHICH THIS CASE MAY BE HEARD.
SO OUR ONLY OTHER OPTION MAY BE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING IF SUCH A THING AS POSSIBLE.
THIS CASE CAME FIRST ON, UH, 11 ONE, SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING BEFORE JANUARY 15TH.
I'M AVAILABLE AND IT'S THE 10TH, SO WE WON'T HAVE TIME FOR THE NOTICE 11 DAY APPLICATION, UH, MAIL OUT TIME.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY IF WE HAVE ALL COMMISSIONERS
[04:00:01]
VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE STILL CAN'T MAKE THE THREE QUARTER REQUIREMENT BECAUSE EVEN, EVEN WERE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO COME BACK QUICKLY, THEY WERE NOT HERE AS UNLESS THEY WERE HERE IN PRESENT.MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF YOU'RE A REMOTE, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PART OF THE, UH, THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BE, UH, PRESENT, UH, WHICH NEITHER OF THESE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN.
SO IT REALLY ISN'T, UH, A POSSIBILITY FOR US UNLESS THEY CAN PHYSICALLY GET HERE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
I CAN CLARIFY WITH LAW ON THE, UH, REMOTE SPEAKERS, UM, WHILE WE WAIT FOR MAYBE SOME OF THEM TO, UH, CALL US BACK.
BUT OTHERWISE, UH, WITHOUT A NINTH PERSON ON THE DAIS, UH, THE CASE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD.
WELL, IS IT THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL STILL OPEN.
SO CAN WE, DO WE LEAVE IT OPEN WHILE WE MOVE TO TAKE ITEM NUMBER 38 OUT OF ORDER? UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED.
WE'LL LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TAKE ITEM THE REMAINING ITEM, ITEM 38 OUT OF ORDER MOTION.
I'M SORRY, WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS ONE ON HOLD AND WAIT FOR, UH, ANOTHER COMMISSION MEMBER TO 37 WAS POSTPONED AT PIERCE ROAD.
THAT WAS POSTPONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
UH, BUT YES, THAT WAS, UH, A POSTPONEMENT 38 IS, UH, UH, NEWTON 1711 NEWTON STREET.
AND, UH, THE MOTION TO TAKE THIS OUT OF ORDER IS, UH, MADE BY COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN, ARE YOU IN FAVOR TAKING OUT OF ORDER? YES.
UH, SO WE WILL PROCEED WITH ITEM NUMBER 38 IN THE MEANTIME, BUT WE MUST WAIT FOR, UH, UH, WELL, WE'LL PROCEED AND THEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO STILL RETURN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THAT.
SO, DO WE HAVE A QUESTION? NO, I'M PRESENTING.
UH, WE'LL, LET, PLEASE BE READY.
WE'LL HAVE STAFF IF YOU CAN PULL IT UP.
WE'LL HAVE STAFF PRESENTATIONS START.
[38. PR-2023-151263 – 1711 Newton St. ]
UM, HOPEFULLY THIS IS A, A HAPPY ONE Y'ALL.UH, 1711 NEWTON STREET IS A PROPOSAL TO RENOVATE A CIRCA 1915 CHURCH TO CREATE A DUPLEX.
UM, THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING WINDOWS AND DOORS WITH ALUMINUM CLOUD WINDOWS, UH, WITHIN EXISTING OPENINGS, UM, ADDITION OF NEW HORIZONTAL BASEMENT WINDOWS, AND A PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND REMODEL OF THE BACK HOUSE.
THIS IS A GABLE CHURCH BUILDING WITH HORIZONTAL SIDING, A SQUARE STEEPLE TOWER WITH A HIP ROOF AND VERTICAL.
TWO LIGHT WINDOWS AT THE SECONDARY ELEVATIONS EXPOSED.
AFTERAFTER TAILS ARE VISIBLE BENEATH THE EAVES OF ITS SEAM METAL ROOF.
AND A DOUBLE CONCRETE STAIRWAY LEADS, LEADS TO ITS GABLE ENTRYWAY.
ANNIE'S AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WHICH WAS BUILT AROUND 1915 IN A 26 ARTICLE BY ALBERTA PHILLIPS.
THE AUTHOR NOTES THE CHURCH'S IMPORTANCE TO THE AREA AS A REMNANT OF A ONCE THRIVING BLACK COMMUNITY OF FREED SLAVES WHO LIVED IN THIS AREA FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR AND INTO THE 1950S.
TODAY, A HANDFUL OF STRUCTURES, INCLUDING TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES, ARE ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE SO-CALLED BRACKENRIDGE COMMUNITY.
UH, NOTABLY WILLIE WELLS OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE AND NATIONAL BASEBALL HALLS OF FAME WAS LAID TO REST AFTER SERVICES AT ST.
PHILLIPS NOTES THE 2016 SURVEY CONDUCTED BY HISTORIAN TERRY MEYERS OF PRESERVATION CENTRAL, EXPLAINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BRECKENRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE COMMUNITY DURING ITS APEX COMPRISED NEARLY HALF OF THE BOLD CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS ONE OF AUSTIN'S FIRST FRIEDMAN COMMUNITIES NAMED FOR THE FORMER ALL BLACK BRACKEN RIDGE SCHOOL ON ELIZABETH STREET NEAR THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, LIKE OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
BRECKENRIDGE WAS REDLINED IN THE 1930S TO PREVENT BANKS FROM MAKING HOME AND BUSINESS LOANS TO RESIDENTS.
UH, IN 2016, INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING WAS REQUESTED FOR THE CHURCH.
UH, THOUGH THE DESI DESIGNATION DID NOT TAKE PLACE AT THAT TIME.
THE 2016 BOLD SURVEY LIST, THE CHURCH BUILDING AS A HIGH PRIORITY IN CONTRIBUTING TO A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PASTOR'S HOUSE SEPARATELY, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY, DETERMINED THAT IT MEETS TWO CRITERIA.
UH, THE BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF 20TH CENTURY VERNACULAR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH ST.
RICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
THE PROPERTY MAY POSSESS A UNIQUE LOCATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OR SIGNIFICANT FEATURE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER, IMAGE OR CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE CITY, NEIGHBORHOOD, OR A PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP AS A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR PRIMARY, FOR A PRIMARILY AFRICAN AMERICAN CONGREGATION.
THEREFORE, UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING, UM, PARTICULARLY IF THE APPLICANT IS INTERESTED, UM, IN ORDER TO, UH, AVOID FEES, UM, FOR LATER HISTORIC ZONING.
HOWEVER, SHOULD THE COMMISSION CHOOSE NOT TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING AT THIS TIME, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE CHURCH BUILDING AS IT DOES NOT REMOVE HER OBSCURE CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES, UH, AND THUS DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF LATER DESIGNATION.
UM, STEPH RECOMMENDS ENCOURAGING A MORE SYMPATHETIC DESIGN FOR THE REAR BUILDING, UM, BUT TO RELEASE THE PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN
[04:05:01]
DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.UH, LET'S PROCEED WITH THE, UH, APPLICANT.
UH, IF YOU COULD PULL UP THE PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, AND FOR THE RECORD, YOU WERE CRAIG? UH, YEAH, CRAIG HOLMAN, UH, DIG A ARCHITECTURE.
UM, I JUST, BEFORE I GET INTO THIS, I JUST, AS SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN AUSTIN, UH, AND BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, UH, LEFT FOR COLLEGE, CAME BACK IN 2013 AND STARTED DESIGNING, UM, I CAME BACK AND THINKING THAT I WAS GONNA DESIGN MODERN HOUSES, BUT I FOUND MYSELF, UH, INTRIGUED BY THE PROBLEM OF THESE, UM, SMALLER BUNGALOWS.
AND THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY UNIQUE DESIGNS THAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE ALL THESE WE'VE DONE IN BOLDEN, PARTICULARLY A THOUSAND BOLDEN AVENUE 1705, WHICH IS A WILLY WELLS HOUSE.
UH, WE DID AND ACHIEVED HISTORIC DESIGNATION, UM, IN ZILKER 1804 RAV ROAD IN EAST AUSTIN, 67 MILDRED STREET.
ALL OF THESE ARE HOUSES THAT WENT BEFORE THIS HISTORICAL COMMISSION SET OF SIX 11 OAKLAND, UM, IN CLARKSVILLE.
UH, ALL OF THESE WENT BEFORE HISTORICAL COMMISSION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, UH, AND THEY HAVE EXTREME MODERN ELEMENTS TO THEM WHILE RETAINING THEIR HISTORICAL, UH, SIGNIFICANCE.
SO JUST FROM THE TONES OF THE DAY TODAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IT IS POSSIBLE, UH, WITH THE RIGHT CLIENT AND WITH THE RIGHT ARCHITECT TO DO BOTH, UH, UNIQUELY AND, UH, MAINTAIN SCALE AND, UH, UH, RESPECT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, 1711 NEWTON, UM, IS, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE 1705 AND 1707, BOTH RETAINING ELEMENTS OF THE, THE HOUSE.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, THIS IS AN ORIGINAL PICTURE.
THIS IS A PLANNED FRONT CHURCH EXISTING.
VERY FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE ADDING ON.
THERE'S TWO SMALL, THERE'S A STAIRCASE AND A, UH, KIND OF AN EXIT BALCONY.
UM, AND THEN THE EXISTING HOUSE IN THE BACK WERE, UM, UH, PREVIOUSLY WE HAD A FULL DEMO PERMIT FOR IT THAT WE WERE JUST GOING TO DEMO AND PLANT TREES.
BUT WE'VE, WE WITH WITHDREW THAT AND HAS HAVE INTEGRATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THESE TWO HOUSES.
UM, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PICTURE.
UH, CURRENTLY THAT WINDOW ON THE RIGHT DOESN'T EXIST.
UM, BUT WE'VE DONE THE EXPLORATORY DEMO ON THE INSIDE AND FOUND THE FRAME, FOUND PICTURES.
THERE'S SOME, UH, OTHER ORIGINAL WINDOWS THAT WE'RE GOING TO REPLY, PUT BACK.
UM, FRONT ELEVATION, NEXT SLIDE.
EXISTING FRONT ELEVATION, ALMOST ENTIRELY UNTOUCHED.
WE'RE ADDING THE SMALL BALCONY AND YOU CAN SEE THE STAIRCASE THERE.
THAT ROLLING FENCE WILL CLOSE AGAINST THE BALCONY.
UM, AS THESE, THERE'S 1709 AND 1711 ARE THE, IS THE SAME.
WE'RE NOT TOUCHING 17 OH, UH, OH NINE.
WE'RE GONNA PLANT MORE PECAN TREES AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
UH, REAR, UH, REAR ELEVATION THAT WE KEPT THE STAIRCASE, UM, TO THE BASEMENT.
LOW LEAN TO, UM, YOU MOST LIKELY WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THAT VERY WELL FROM THE, BECAUSE THERE'S A FENCE THERE BETWEEN THE TWO STRUCTURES.
NOW THOSE WINDOWS WERE ADDED, UH, WERE BLOCKED OFF, ADDED AND BLOCKED OFF IN THE EIGHTIES.
UH, IT'S MODERN TWO BY FOUR, SO WE'RE GETTING RID OF ALL THAT, REPLACING THAT OR GETTING RID OF THE FRAMES, INTEGRATING SIDING.
THE HEXAGONAL WINDOW IS STAYING, UM, MIMICKING THE WINDOWS ON THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH IN THE BACK DOOR.
THE DOOR AS WELL WILL MATCH KIND OF THE SAME LANGUAGE.
UM, THE GROSS FIBERGLASS METAL DOUBLE DOORS, WHICH WERE NOT ORIGINAL OR GONE.
AND WE'RE REPLACING THE REPEATED PATTERN OF THE WINDOWS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THE NEW BASEMENT WINDOWS, A LITTLE PORTICO THAT USED TO GO DOWN TO THE BASEMENT, UH, IS GOING TO REMAIN.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO SOME INTERACTIVE ART THING, UH, RECORDABLE PHONE BOOTH TYPE THING THERE, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER FOR YOU GUYS.
UH, RETURNING IT TO KIND OF, ITS ORIGINAL.
JUST ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE SIDE.
UH, THIS IS FROM THE 17 TO NINE SIDE.
UH, THAT SMALL WINDOW IN THE FRONT IS ORIGINAL.
IT WASN'T, IT WAS BLOCKED OFF.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA REPLACE THAT TO MATCH THE DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW IN THE FRONT.
[04:10:01]
YOU CAN SEE THE BLOCK, YOU CAN SEE THE FRAME OF IT OVER THERE TO YOUR RIGHT.I THINK YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE MORE EMPHASIS ON, MORE ON THE, THIS IS MY LAST COMMENT ON THE CHURCH.
WE'RE CLIPPING THE ROOF THE OTHER SIDE SO THAT THE LOW PROFILE OF THE BACK HOUSE IS AGAINST THE TALLER PROFILE OF THE CHURCH.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, CAN JUST SEE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
UM, OKAY, MR. HEMAN, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? FEEL FREE.
ANY QUESTIONS? AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WAS THE HOUSE HISTORICALLY RELATED TO THE CHURCH OR, OR WAS IT A RECTORY OR, IT'S A SEVENTIES AND I THINK ORIGINALLY IT WAS DEMOED WITHOUT QUESTION.
UH, WE JUST PULLED IT BACK UP.
SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S IN HORRIBLE SHAPE.
IT WAS USED FOR THE PASTOR'S OFFICE IN A DAYCARE.
UM, AND JUST ONE MORE KIND OF RESPONSE TO THAT ALSO, LIKE WE ARE, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE PERMIT, UH, TO PROCEED.
UM, WE ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO IF, IF WE WANNA DO HISTORICAL LATER ON, WE ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO PAY TO DO THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY DONE IT ON 1705 NEWTON FOR THE WILLY WELLS HOUSE.
IF YOU WANNA ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BRACKRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD, I ALMOST KNOW AS MUCH AS TERRY MEYERS.
SO, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THAT.
THAT YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW AS MUCH AS TERRY NAS
SHE AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER, SO, UH, WE THANK YOU.
AND WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN US INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING, UH, ACCEPTING THESE CHANGES AS BEEN, I THINK THAT THERE'S NO, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY KNOWN WITH WILLY WELLS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY, I DON'T THINK, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GONNA FIX IT AND WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT FOREVER.
UH, AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A NECESSARY THING AND THERE'S NO INTEREST IN THE TAX BREAK OR THE HISTORICAL, UM, UH, PRESERVATION MONEY SO WE CAN GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S MORE DESERVING.
YEAH, WE, WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE'RE ENJOYING IT AND WE CAN, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A, UH, WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT.
THANK I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
UM, WAS THERE EVER ANY DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC, UM, STAINED GLASS WINDOWS OR ANY THERE'S ONE, UH, THERE'S ONE HISTORICAL STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THAT, WELL, WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE IF IT'S HISTORICAL, BUT THE CHURCH TOOK IT WITH 'EM.
AND WE PLAN ON PUTTING SOME HIS, SOME STAINED GLASS BACK IN, BUT OF A DESIGN THAT IS, UM, NOT, NOT THE ANVIL OF A ME, BUT JUST A, OF A HISTORICAL THING.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM FOR OR AGAINST? OKAY, HEARING NONE.
UH, WE WILL CLOSE TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ? NO, I'M SORRY.
COMMISSIONER MC QUARTER SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY SAYING, AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, UH, PASSES THE HEARING'S CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, WHAT SHOULD WE, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE ON THIS? UH, BE AWARE THAT IF WE INITIATE NOW STAFF, IS THAT GOING TO COMPLICATE THE APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST FOR A BUILDING PERMIT BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING IN WITH A SELECTIVE DEMOLITION REQUEST IN ORDER TO GO FORWARD WITH A BUILDING PERMIT.
UH, YES, COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE THAT WILL, UH, INVOKE THE PENDENCY OF DESIGNATION, UH, PORTION OF THE CODE.
UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD HOLD THEM UP.
SO IT WOULD HOLD THEM UP IS YOU SAID THAT WOULD HOLD THEM UP, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE DESIGN AND NOT INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
COMMISSIONER COOK? YEAH, I'D, I'D BE INCLINED TO, TO INITIATE, BUT, UH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY IN GOOD HANDS AND THE ARGUMENT WAS, WAS WELL MADE.
UM, IF ANY CHANGES ARE MADE TO IT IN THE FUTURE AND COME BACK TO US AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND I THINK THE STATEMENT, GIVE IT TO SOMEONE MORE DESERVING, UH, USE THAT TAX EXEMPTION IN A BETTER, MORE STRATEGIC LOCATION, UH, MAKES SENSE TO ME.
UH, I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE A LITTLE MORE SYMPATHETIC TREATMENT OF THE REAR BUILDING, UH, MAYBE IN, IN COLOR, BUT, UH, IT NOT BEING HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHURCH, UH, IT'S KIND OF A SEPARATE STRUCTURE.
IT'S NOT OUTSTANDING IN OF ITSELF.
UH, I THINK SETTING IT BACK TO SET THE CHURCH OFF MAKES, MAKES SENSE.
UH, KEEPING IT SIMPLE MAKES SENSE.
LIKE THE LINES OF THE CHURCH, UM, MAYBE SOMETHING THE COLOR A LITTLE LESS DARK SO IT DOESN'T WOOD.
[04:15:01]
UM, TO COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON? UH, NO, I APPRECIATE IT.UH, AND I'LL SAY, I KNOW THIS CHURCH VERY, VERY WELL.
UH, I KNEW PASTOR GIBSON, I TALKED WITH THEM AT LENGTH, THE CONGREGATION, ABOUT POSSIBLE OPTIONS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS.
NONE OF WHICH THEY WERE ABLE TO INITIATE IN OUR WILDEST DREAMS. THIS WAS THE BEST OUTCOME I COULD EVER IMAGINE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
I DO BELIEVE THIS BUILDING FOR ALL OF ITS VALUE DOES BELONG IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S, UH, REGISTER.
SO PLEASE MOVE YOUR PROJECT ALONG.
AND THEN LET'S START TALKING ABOUT THE INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING, BECAUSE FOR LOTS OF REASONS, BOTH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT ALSO THAT INCREDIBLE HISTORY FOR MANY, MANY REASONS, UH, NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED AND NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR, OUR LEGACY.
SO, UH, LET'S KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING, BUT I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
YOU WANNA COME UP TO A MICROPHONE? YOU CAN COME TO THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.
UH, PASTOR GIBSON AND I ARE GOOD FRIENDS AND I, I'M ACTUALLY SEEING HIM TOMORROW.
WE'LL SEND HIM MY VERY BEST TRO.
AND I, I THINK WE'RE DOING SOME, UM, UH, VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF HIM INTERVIEWING AND, UH, THEIR HISTORIAN TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH AS WELL.
SO JUST KIND OF IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GONNA CUT YOU OFF AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH AT THE SAME TIME.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UNLESS THERE'S MORE DISCUSSION, I'M GONNA CALL THE QUESTION THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED, UH, UH, THE RECOMMENDED RENOVATIONS, UH, INDICATE BY SAYING AYE OR RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL EIGHT HANDS, SO THERE IS NO OPPOSITION.
AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UH, DO WE HAVE A CLARIFICATION, UH, SINCE WE HAVE 10 MORE MINUTES BEFORE WE HAVE TO ADJOURN? YES.
UH, WE DO, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONERS MUST HAVE BEEN PRESENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING IN ORDER TO VOTE.
UM, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM SAM ABOUT ANYBODY CALLING US BACK.
IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE NINE VOTES.
AND SO IF WE HAVE A VOTE THAT DOES NOT RECEIVE NINE VOTES THROUGH NO FAULT OF ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE ARE AT THIS STAGE, THEN UM, WE'LL EITHER TIME OUT AND LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WITH THE HISTORIC ZONING, OR WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME OTHER DRAMATIC ACTION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
BECAUSE THE STATE LAW REQUIRES A THREE-FOUR MAJORITY, UH, WHICH IS CALCULATED AT NINE VOTES.
UH, GIVEN THE, UH, NUMBER OF SEATS ON THE COMMISSION THAT ARE, UH, NOT VACANT OR RECUSED, UM, Y'ALL CAN EITHER, UM, VOTE AND RECEIVE A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, UM, OR TAKE NO ACTION AND LET THE, UH, THE ITEM TIME OUT WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION.
I THINK WE SHOULD REFER THIS TO LEGAL THAT, I MEAN, YOU, YOU SAID THAT, BUT WE NEED, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION YET.
NO, I WAS JUST GONNA GO OFF ON A RANT.
BUT LET'S, LET'S HAVE A MOTION AND THEN LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
UM, SO WE CAN NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, IF, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.
UH, THOSE IN FAVOR CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATED BY SAYING AYE A.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS I THINK IS ONE OF THESE WHERE IT'S SOMEHOW, UH, GOT, UH, LOST IN THE SHUFFLE PERHAPS.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAVE A OVERWORKED STAFF, SO WE REALLY CAN'T FAULT ANYBODY HERE.
BUT, UH, WERE THIS TO HAVE BEEN WITH THE OTHER INITIATED ITEMS. PERHAPS WE WOULD'VE HAD IT EARLIER IN THE, UH, AGENDA, BUT SINCE THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, WHAT WE HAVE TONIGHT IS, UH, ONLY EIGHT VOTES.
BUT, UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND I THINK WE'LL JUST TAKE THIS AS FAR AS WE CAN.
COMMISSIONER, I WILL, I WILL SIT HERE UNTIL ANOTHER COMMISSIONER SHOWS UP.
IF YOU'RE A WHILE, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ON THIS? WE INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE HISTORIC ZONING, WHICH WOULD AT LEAST LET US TO HAVE A VOTE.
I'LL MOVE TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS
[04:20:01]
AND ARCHITECTURE.UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
UH, THE INTEREST OF TIME, IF WE HAVE A FEW COMMENTS? YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO REFER IT TO LEGAL TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OPTIONS PERHAPS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE SEPARATE ACTION TO INITIATE WHILE THERE'S STILL A PENDENCY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN INITIATE SECONDARILY, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD TAKE SUPER MAJORITY OF TWO BODIES, BUT I KNOW THEY INITIATED BROKEN SPOKE AND IT CAME TO US.
IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBLE WAY TO INTERVENE BEFORE THE PERMIT IS RELEASED.
ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY.
I THINK WITH, UM, WE COMMISSIONER RUBIO SECOND.
UM, NO, JUST THAT AND MAYBE CLARIFICATION ON WHAT IF, IF THERE'S EVEN SOME POSSIBILITY TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING IN TWO, THREE DAYS.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOTICE AND STUFF, BUT JUST VERIFICATION.
ALONG THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT, WITH UTMOST RESPECT FOR THE HARD WORK THAT STAFF PUTS IN, I, I WONDER IF THERE'S A CASE TO BE MADE THAT THIS THING WAS IMPROPERLY NOTIFIED IS NOT IN THE CORRECT SECTION OF THE AGENDA.
AND THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T ADDRESS IT.
WHEN WE HAD NINE MEMBERS PRESENT, WE HAD A NINTH MEMBER PRESENT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE VOTES THAT REQUIRED NINE.
AND, AND THIS WAS LISTED UNDER DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS.
UM, IF, IF SOMEHOW THE, WE CAN CREATE TIME MACHINES FOR 7 0 1 SPARKS BECAUSE SOME LADY DIDN'T GET THE RIGHT LINK TO LOG IN AND, UH, SAY HER PIECE, UM, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME HERE.
WHAT IS THE POSTING REQUIREMENT? HOW MANY DAYS FOR THE AGENDA OF 72 HOURS? BUT IF THE 15TH, IF WE COULD HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON THE 15TH, UM, WE WOULD NEED TO NOTIFY FOR THAT, BUT, UH, NOTIFICATION REQUIRES, UH, 11 DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING TO BE ALLOWABLE FOR THE MAIL OUT.
AND I'M CHECKING ON, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT MATTERS, BUT THE 15TH IS A HOLIDAY AS WELL.
AND YOU SAID YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN CLARIFICATION THAT THE, THE OWNER IS OFFICIALLY OBJECTED.
THEY'RE NOT HERE, THE OWNER HAS NOT RESCINDED THEIR OBJECTION FROM THE PAST MEETINGS AT WHICH THEY ARE PRESENT.
I I CAN ASK LEGAL ABOUT THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO, UH, TO GET MAYBE A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE SUGGESTING THAT, UH, WITHOUT THEIR OPPOSITION, THE HISTORIC RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE GOING FORWARD IF THIS VOTE, IF THIS VOTE PASSES.
SO THAT MAY AT LEAST MEAN SOMETHING TO THEM.
THEY COULD HAVE OBJECTED TO THE INITIATION BUT NOT THE RECOMMENDATION.
ARE THEY OBJECTING TO THE ACTION OR ARE THEY OBJECTING TO THE ULTIMATE RESULT? I'VE CERTAINLY CHANGED MY VOTES BETWEEN INITIATION AND RECOMMENDATION A FEW TIMES.
COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF TIME.
SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION.
[33. PR-2023-115579 – 812 W Elizabeth St.(Part 2 of 2)]
UH, APPROVE HISTORIC ZONING ON EIGHT 12 WEST ELIZABETH STREET WITH THE, UH, ARCHITECTURE AND ASSOCIATION AS THE TWO CRITERIA.UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL EIGHT HANDS RAISED.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.
AND I SEE ALSO A COUPLE OF FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TRYING TO HELP OUT.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT
BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THE OWNER IS OPPOSED AND WE CAN GET THAT CLARIFIED, THEN THAT MOTION WOULD NOT BE, UH, PREVAILING.
UH, AS OF AS OF THIS MOMENT, I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO PURSUE THE, THAT IT WAS POSTED IMPROPERLY.
UH, THAT'S GOING TO BE A REQUEST OF STAFF IF WE COULD SEND THAT TO LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
UH, YES, WE ARE CHECKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
SEE IF WE CAN GET A RESET ON THAT.
UH, MEANWHILE, IS THERE ANY OTHER ACTION WE NEED TO TAKE ON THIS ITEM? IF I CAN MAKE ONE OTHER RECOMMENDATION.
I KNOW IT WAS TWO OF THE THREE BODIES AND I WAS SAID THAT WE HAD TO HAVE SUPER MAJORITY BEFORE IT COULD GO TO PLANNING.
I NEVER QUITE UNDERSTOOD HOW PLANNING AND CITY COUNCIL COULD POSSIBLY BOTH HAVE SUPER MAJORITY SINCE IT'S TWO OUT OF THREE IF IT HAD TO BE SUPER MAJORITY COMING FROM US.
BUT IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT LEGAL FINDING THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY TO SEND IT TO PLANNING TO GIVE THE POTENTIAL FOR TWO OTHER SUPER MAJORITIES.
UM, I HAVE ASKED LEGAL, I'VE GOT, UH, KIND OF AN ANSWER ON THAT.
UM, GIVEN THE TIME LEFT AND THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
[04:25:01]
FOR COUNSEL AS WELL, UM, IT DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO REINITIATE A REMINDER TO ASK YOUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO, UH, PLEASE ATTEND.UH, WHEN POSSIBLE DID THEY PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE IMPROPER LOCATION ON THE AGENDA NOT YET.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES, SO I'M GONNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION SO THAT WE'RE NOT OUT OF ORDER TO, UH, ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
OKAY? IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCWHORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO BE ADJOURNED.
THERE ARE SIX OF US WHO WANT OUTTA HERE.