[00:00:04]
[CALL TO ORDER]
HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION, AND TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2024.AND WE ARE, UH, DOWNTOWN AT THE, UH, CITY HALL.
UH, WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING IN OUR NORMAL CHAMBERS, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERY MA, EVERYBODY IN TIGHTER QUARTERS TONIGHT.
UH, EVIDENTLY THE REUPHOLSTERING CHAIRS NEXT DOOR.
SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING DUE.
UH, WHAT WE'LL BE DOING, WHAT I'LL DO TONIGHT IS, UH, DO A QUICK REVIEW OF THE AGENDA AND, UH, I WILL, AS I GO THROUGH THE AGENDA, INDICATE, UH, WHICH OF THESE ARE CONSENT, POSTPONEMENT, OR DISCUSSION ITEMS. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, REVIEW EACH OF THOSE AGENDAS, THE POSTPONEMENT AND THE CONSENT.
IF AT ANY TIME THERE IS AN ITEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, PLEASE GET MY ATTENTION.
UH, THESE ARE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THESE ARE COME TO US RECOMMENDED.
AND, UH, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION, WE'LL DO SO AT THAT TIME.
UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, HOWEVER, UH, LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UH, CALL ON STAFF TO, UH, GO AHEAD AND CALL ROLL.
SETH PRESENT, COMMISSIONER WHIT FEATHERSTON PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER KEVIN COOK IS NOT HERE YET.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER TREY MCCARTER.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER HARMONY GROGAN.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER JAIME ALVAREZ.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER ROXANNE EVANS, PRESENT, COMMISSIONER RAYMOND CASTILLO.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO.
COMMISSIONER TARA DUDLEY IS ABSENT TONIGHT.
UM, THE FIRST ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ARE BRIEFINGS.
UH, THE FIRST ONE, ITEM NUMBER TWO, WILL BE A PRESENTATION FROM THE CODE DEPARTMENT, UH, REGARDING THEIR BUILDING AND STANDARDS, UH, PROCEDURES.
UH, THE SECOND ONE WILL BE, UM, THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. AND THE NEXT STEP FOR THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
JUST TO HOP IN REAL QUICK, THE, UH, KARA'S BRIEFING HAS BEEN POSTPONED, THE PRESERVATION PLAN BRIEFING.
AND THAT WILL BE TILL NEXT, NEXT MONTH.
SO WE'LL HAVE ONE LESS BRIEFING, AND THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ACTION, AS THAT IS NOT POSTED FOR ACTION.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
UH, THIS IS A, UH, ITEMS IN THE HISTORIC, OR EITHER HISTORIC LANDMARKS OR WITHIN THE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.THESE APPLICATIONS ARE FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS, UH, OR OTHERS.
AND ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS 1000 BLANCO STREET.
UH, THAT ACTUALLY IS A WITHDRAWN APPLICATION AND NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.
ITEM NUMBER 5 8 0 1 LYDIA STREET.
UH, THAT IS A PROPERTY IN THE ROBERTSON, STEWART AND MAYOR, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 6 18 0 7 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ IN THE BURNER, CLARK MERCADO, UH, I'M SORRY, THE BURNER CLARK MERCADO HOUSE, UH, THAT IS, UH, POSTED FOR POSTPONEMENT BASED ON STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, 1 0 0 3 EAST NINTH STREET IN THE ROBERTSON, STEWART AND MAYOR, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THAT ALSO IS A POSTPONEMENT, UH, FROM THE STAFF.
ITEM NUMBER 8 11 0 7 EAST 10TH STREET IN THE ROBERTSON, STEWART AND MAYOR, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS AN ITEM POSTED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 9 7 0 3 OAKLAND AVENUE, THE SMOOT TERRACE PARK, UH, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, THAT ITEM IS POSTED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER TEN NINE HUNDRED SPENCE STREET, UH, THAT IS IN THE WILLOW SPENCE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
BY THE WAY, THESE ARE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
UH, IN THE NEXT, UH, PART OF OUR AGENDA, UH, THAT WILLOW SPENCE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 10 IS, IS A DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 11 14 0 9 ALTA VISTA AVENUE IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 12 18 0 6, UH, EXCUSE ME, EIGHT 16 CONGRESS AVENUE IN THE CONGRESS AVENUE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 13, 6 11 EAST SIXTH STREET.
UH, THERE IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT.
ITEM NUMBER 14 15 19 ALAMEDA DRIVE, THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL RE REGISTER DISTRICT, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 15 21 0 3 NEWFIELD LANE IN THE OLD WA UH, UH, WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THAT IS A CONSENT, UH, ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 16 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD ON THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 16.
[00:05:01]
LET'S TAKE THAT OFF.AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ALRIGHT, UH, ITEM ITEMS IN THE REMAINING PART OF OUR AGENDA, THE DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 17 AT 73 0 4 KNOX LANE.
THAT IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AT THE APPLICANT'S, UH, REQUEST.
ITEM NUMBER 18 AT 5 0 1 TEXAS AVENUE, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 19 12 0 5 COTTON STREET, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR, UH, DISCUSSION.
UH, COMMISSIONER, THERE IS A QUESTION APPLICANT MAY POSTPONED BY APPLICANT.
SO THAT IS ACTUALLY A, UH, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT.
ITEM NUMBER 20 4700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE, NUMBER 10.
AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SURE, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 20.
OKAY, THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER 20 IS DISCUSSION ITEM ITEM 21, UH, 3 0 0 1 SOUTH CONGRESS, UH, AVENUE NUMBER FIVE, UH, THAT IS ALL POSTED, UH, AS A DISCUSSION ITEM 22 17 0 2 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, JUNIOR BOULEVARD.
UH, THAT IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION 23, UH, 1704 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.
THAT ALSO IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
AND IT'S LIKELY THAT THOSE TWO WILL TAKE TOGETHER, UH, IF WE, IF, IF THE COMMISSION SO CHOOSES.
ITEM NUMBER 24, UH, 1915 ROBINS PLACE, UH, THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 25, UH, LET'S SEE, 1 0 4 1 3 SOUTH IH 35 SERVICE MB UH, THAT IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY STAFF.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 26 25 0 7 EXPOSITION BOULEVARD.
UH, THAT IS A CONSENT ITEM 27 CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 26.
OKAY, THAT IS PULLED AND THAT IS NOW A DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 27 29 0 6 BRIDAL PATH.
AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UH, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 28, UH, A LETTER TO COUNSEL REGARDING THE FANNIE DAVIS, UH, TOWN LAKE GAZEBO.
AND THAT IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY STAFF.
AND ACTUALLY IT MAY COME BACK AS A RESOLUTION.
THERE'S, UH, IN OUR NEXT, NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA, UH, AFTERWARDS WE'LL HAVE, UH, UPDATES FROM OUR COMMITTEES.
SO, UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES TO, UH, OR REQUESTS FOR, UH, CHANGES? OTHERWISE, I WILL READ THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, IF THERE'S SOME INTEREST IN PULLING IT OFF THE AGENDA, LET ME KNOW.
UH, ONCE THE CONSENT AGENDA IS PASSED, THEN THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN FULLY ACTED UPON, UH, PENDING STAFF'S, INCLUDING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION CHAIR.
WE HAVE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION FOR NUMBER EIGHT 11 AND 14.
SO WE WILL THEN PULL THAT FOR DISCUSSION ITEM 11.
AND THEN SAM WILL HAVE THE, UH, THE SPEAKER LIST HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
AND I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? 18, 14, UH, NUMBER EIGHT, 11 AND 14.
SO IN ORDER TO HAVE DISCUSSION, WE WILL PULL THOSE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SAM, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION FROM THE BOOK, YOUR HONOR, AND OF ANY OF THE, THOSE THAT I'VE CALLED OUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST OR WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT PULLED? YES, MA'AM.
UH, AND WE DID HAVE AN OBJECTION BY EMAIL AS WELL.
SO LET US, UH, THAT'S ALREADY A CONSENT, UH, THAT, I'M SORRY, THAT'S ALREADY A DISCUSSION ITEM, BUT WE'RE ALL READY FOR DISCUSSION ON THAT, RIGHT? IS THAT EVERYTHING? I'LL REVIEW THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FIRST.
SO, UH, THE CURRENT CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF THE MINUTES OF MINUTES, THANK YOU,
CONSENT ITEM NUMBER ONE, MINUTES FROM MAY 24TH, 2024.
UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE, UH, 7 0 3 OAKLAND AVENUE, UH, IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 12 8 16 CONGRESS AVENUE.
ITEM NUMBER 15, UH, 2103 NEWFIELD LANE.
ITEM NUMBER 18 5 0 1 TEXAS AVENUE.
[00:10:02]
ROBIN'S PLACE.AND ITEM NUMBER 27 29 0 6 BRIDAL PATH, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA CHAIR.
I MOVE TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
UH, SECOND, UH, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND ANY OPPOSED? AND I SEE NONE.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, LET'S SEE, COMMISSIONER COOK ON THE, UH, DIOCESE WITH US AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO I'LL NOW GO TO THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS.
AND THE, UH, FIRST POSTPONEMENT REQUEST IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
UH, THAT IS AT 8 0 1 LYDIA STREET, ITEM NUMBER 6 18 0 7 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ.
ITEM NUMBER 7 10 0 3 EAST NINTH STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 13 6 11 EAST SIXTH STREET.
ITEM NUMBER 17 73 0 4 KNOX LANE.
ITEM NUMBER 19 12 0 5 COTTON STREET.
UH, THAT'S TEN FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN SOUTH IH 35 AND ITEM.
ALRIGHT, THAT IS A, A, A LETTER, UH, RESOLUTION.
ALRIGHT, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT CHAIR.
I MOVE TO PASS THE CONSENT POSTPONEMENT AGENDA.
SECOND, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, PASSED BY, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, THAT IS, THAT IS PASSED.
UM, AT THIS POINT THEN WE CAN PROCEED TO OUR FIRST PRESENTATION.
UH, THIS IS A PRESENTATION BY, IS IT ROBERT MOORE IS HERE, UH, FROM THE, UH, CODE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION PROCESSES CHAIR.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
COMMUNICATION.EXCUSE ME, MR. MOORE, WHICH YOU KIDDING? YES, WE, WE'LL, WE'LL HOLD ON THAT.
AND, UH, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, THIS IS FOR ANY ITEM IN FRONT OF, UH, THAT YOU CAN BRING ATTENTION TO THE COMMISSION THAT IS NOT SPECIFIC TO AGENT.
SO PLEASE, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND, UH, PROCEED.
MY NAME IS ERIC STANDRIDGE AND I HAVE SPENT OVER HALF MY LIFE AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET, AKA, THE FORMER EYES ADVISOR GROCERY STORE, CAFE EAST END SALOON CLUB, 1500 BEAUTY AND BARBERSHOP.
PALLADIUM CLUB, CAROL'S RECORD SHOP, THE MINISTRY OF CHALLENGE, AKA, THE RAREST OF RARE BUILDING TYPOLOGIES IN EAST AUSTIN.
A CENTURY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE HYBRID HOUSE CORNER STORE AT THE INTERSECTION THAT INCLUDES TWO OTHER LANDMARK PROPERTIES.
THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE AND THE IQ HURDLE HOUSE RECOMMENDED ELIGIBLE FOR HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VALUE IN MULTIPLE HISTORIC SURVEYS AND CITED AS A PRESERVATION PRIORITY BY THE D ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT'S IN ROUGH SHAPE, NO DOUBT.
YOU WOULD BE TWO IF YOU WERE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND SUBJECT TO A DECADE OF NEGLECT FOLLOWING ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS BEING TORN DOWN AND VACANT LOTS BECOMING THE NORM.
AND YET, EVEN TODAY, THIS BUILDING IS BARELY STILL THERE.
THE OWNER OF THIS OBVIOUS HISTORIC ASSET HAS CHOSEN TO BEGIN DEMOLITION WITHOUT AN APPROVED PERMIT.
SURELY THEY AND THEIR CONSULTANTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS, HAVING OWNED THE PROPERTY FOR OVER A DECADE AND SUBJECT TO NUMEROUS CODE COMPLIANCE CASES.
AND BEING THE OWNERS OF NUMEROUS OTHER PROPERTIES ON 12TH STREET, INCLUDING THE BOARDED UP IN VACANT LANDMARK IQ HURDLE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, THERE HAVE BEEN MISSING WINDOWS, DANGLING FASCIA AND SIDING AND GENERAL DESPAIR AT THIS PROPERTY.
FOR ALL OF MY RECENT MEMORY, THIS IS A CASE STUDY FOR DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
HOW IS THAT NORMAL? ONLY IN EAST AUSTIN CAN WE AGREE.
APPLYING FOR THE PERMIT IS NOT THE SAME AS GETTING A PERMIT.
PRESERVATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE ARE HARD.
[00:15:01]
SO IS DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY.AND YET STILL IT HAPPENS ALL OVER THIS TOWN.
THIS ITEM HAS NOW BEEN POSTED FOR YOUR JULY MEETING, BUT FRANKLY I HOPE THERE IS STILL A BUILDING LEFT TO DISCUSS.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS BODY CAN'T CONTROL LAND SPECULATION, BUT PLEASE DON'T EXCUSE THIS LATEST AFFRONT TO THE HISTORY OF EAST 12TH STREET.
UM, APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND IS THERE ANY OTHER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION? YES.
NEXT UP WE HAVE MS. CATHERINE ERDLE.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
IS THE SPEAKER PRESENT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION? IT MIGHT BE IN THE LOBBY.
I'LL GO SEE IF SHE'S IN THE LOBBY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION OR IS THAT THE ONLY ONE? YES, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW SIGNED UP TODAY.
WHY DON'T WE PROCEED WITH THE NEXT ON THE LIST AND IF, UH, THERE'S OTHER SPEAKERS AVAILABLE, THEY CAN PROCEED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TOMMY SARA BUSA.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? TOMMY? COME TO THE MICROPHONE, IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
UH, MY NAME IS TOMMY SARA GUA.
UM,
WE HAVE, UH, LIVED IN, UM, AUSTIN 28 YEARS.
UH, WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOME 25 YEARS AGO.
UM, 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
UM, VIOLET EAST STEP WAS THE FIRST OWNER.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND ROY, BUILT IT IN THE MID FIFTIES.
UM, WE'RE ONLY THE SECOND OWNERS AND WE BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE HAVE THAT HOUSE BECAUSE SHE WANTED US TO HAVE IT.
SO I THINK IF SHE WERE SITTING HERE, SHE WOULD TELL YOU THAT SHE AND ROY, THEY BOUGHT, THEY BUILT THAT HOUSE WHEN THEY WERE IN THEIR FIFTIES.
UH, AT AGE NINE WHEN WE MOVED INTO THAT HOUSE, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT IT IN MAY OF 99, WE HAD A 9-YEAR-OLD, UH, DAUGHTER.
UM, AND WE BELIEVED THAT VIOLET WANTED US THERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, IT WASN'T A VERY EXTRAORDINARY HOUSE, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE ENERGY THAT WE FELL IN LOVE WITH.
UM, WE'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY IN THAT HOME, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME HOME THAT WE BOUGHT 25 YEARS AGO.
IN FACT, MY WIFE IS ALMOST 60.
I DON'T LOOK, I DON'T LOOK IT I GUESS.
BUT THE NUMBERS CHECK OUT THIS HOME IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TWO ONE, IT'S NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED MORE SPACE NOW THAT WE HAVE A GRANDCHILD AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE THERE, UH, THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
AND THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO DO.
THINGS THAT VIOLET WOULD'VE DONE HAD SHE HAD THE MONEY TO DO IT.
THE WINDOWS THAT ARE ON THIS HOUSE ARE NOT ENERGY EFFICIENT.
THEY WERE PROBABLY THE CHEAPEST THINGS YOU COULD BUY IN THE MID FIFTIES.
UM, WE DID AN ENERGY AUDIT IN MAY OF 99 SO THAT WE COULD GET A REBATE, UH, BASICALLY A DISCOUNT ON OUR HVAC SYSTEM THAT WE INSTALLED.
THERE WAS NO HVAC SYSTEM AT THE TIME.
AND AS PART OF THAT ENERGY AUDIT, THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PASS YOU NOW.
WE DID SOME INSULATION, WE CHANGED SOME SCREENS TO, TO BE TO CODE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY MENTIONED WAS, YOU'VE GOTTA REPLACE THESE WINDOWS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS OR IT'S NEVER TRULY GONNA BE ENERGY EFFICIENT 'CAUSE THEY JUST LEAK LIKE A SIEVE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS HOUSE TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE TO LIVE OUT OUR DAYS.
WE COULD HAVE, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT IS NOW AFFORDED TO US, GIVEN THE DENSITY, UH, PLAN, UM, WE KNOW WE DON'T WANNA CLIMB STAIRS IN OUR SENIOR CITIZENSHIP.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE TO HAVE ANOTHER BATHROOM.
UM, AND REALLY NOT CHANGE THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF THIS HOME.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT A RANCH HOME, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S HOW IT IS LOOKED AT.
IT'S, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY, UH, SOMEWHERE IN, IN BETWEEN A RANCH HOME AND MID-CENTURY MODERN.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO REALLY IS, IS DIAL UP THE MID-CENTURY MODERN ASPECT OF IT AND KEEP CONTINUITY BETWEEN, IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT IT WHEN WE'RE DONE, I WANT THEM TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE BUILT AN ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT, WE DID THE SAME THING.
UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE ADDRESS ON THIS PROPERTY, AGAIN, 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHT BOULEVARD, 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHT BOULEVARD.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUTURE CASE.
IS THAT THE REASON WHY YOU ARE BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION? SURE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ON OUR AGENDA.
THAT'S THEN THAT WAS NOT A CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
ALRIGHT, WE MAY, WE IT'S OUR MISTAKE.
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL HAVE IT COME BACK UP AGAIN.
[00:20:01]
SOUNDED MORE LIKE A, A PRESENTATION THAN A A GENERAL.I'M NOT MUCH OF A SPEECH WRITER.
I JUST SPEAK FROM THE HEART, SO WE APPRECIATE IT.
UH, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE OUT OF ORDER UNFORTUNATELY.
ARE THERE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION MEMBERS WHO ARE TALKING ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT AGENDA ITEMS? YES, I BELIEVE SO.
WE HAVE NEXT WE HAVE EDUARDO PONTE.
I'M SORRY IF I'M BUTCHERED YOUR LAST NAME BY THE WAY.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, THIS AGAIN IS PERTAINING TO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT AN AGENDA ITEM.
IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL PICK IT UP AT THAT TIME.
ANYBODY ELSE EXCEPT WE HAVE ANDREA HILL AND ANDREA, UH, THIS IS ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT A POSTED AGENDA ITEM.
IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WHICH AGENDA ITEM IS IT? NUMBER 10.
IF YOU WOULD SPEAK MORE GENERALLY THEN? YEAH, VERY GENERALLY.
YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HISTORIC.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS ABOUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN.
MY HOUSE IS MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
IN GENERAL, IF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION PEOPLE RECOGNIZE IT AS AN IMPORTANT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU SHOULD TOO.
SO THIS ANGERS ME AND ANNOYS ME.
THE LAST TIME YOU DID A DEMOLITION PERMIT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
THE PEOPLE HAD JUST BOUGHT THE HOUSE A YEAR BEFORE ENTIRELY FOR SPECULATIVE REASONS.
YOU GRANTED THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
FIRST, THEY GOT CITED AND HAD A STOP WORK ORDER 'CAUSE THEY WERE VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THEIR DEMOLITION PERMIT.
NOW THEY'VE HALF BUILT SOMETHING UP THERE.
COULD YOU, UH, COULD CALL UP GOOGLE EARTH 82, UH, SAN MARCO STREET SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S THERE.
SO WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE THAT DEMOLITION PERMIT WAS GRANTED WERE TWO NICE LITTLE BUNGALOW STYLE HOUSES THAT WERE ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, EVEN THOUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROTESTED, YOU GRANTED THAT PETITION.
AND WHAT WE TOLD YOU WAS THAT IT WOULD RUIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WOULD START A CHAIN REACTION.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED.
SO WHAT'S UP THERE NOW? IS THIS A CURRENT PICTURE? YES MA'AM.
WHAT'S UP THERE NOW HAS BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS WITH NO CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S NOT REALLY CURRENT 'CAUSE I HAVE A MORE CURRENT PICTURE, BUT IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA.
IT'S A HALF-BUILT, FOUR LITTLE THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GONNA BE FOUR LITTLE CONDOS.
THEY HAVE NOT BUILT ANYTHING ON IT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
I GUESS THEY'VE RUN OUTTA MONEY.
THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COME AND SLEEP THERE.
SO Y'ALL GRANTED THAT DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR TWO VERY NICE HISTORIC OLD BUNGALOWS.
AND THE REPLACEMENT IS THIS CRAP RUINS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY RAN OUTTA MONEY, THEY VIOLATED THE PERMIT.
THIS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM 900 SP STREET, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALL OF US DO NOT WANT ANY MORE DEMOLITION PERMITS.
900 SPIN STREET IS A CUTE LITTLE BUNGALOW.
I KNOW IT'S IN BAD SHAPE, BUT IT'S A UNIQUE STYLE IN OUR WISH THAT YOU GUYS WOULD PLEASE DO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
PLEASE KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTACT.
DON'T DECIDE YOU CAN DO ONE PERMIT.
'CAUSE IT, IT SETS IN MOTION A WHOLE NETWORK OF MORE PEOPLE WHO BUY HOUSES SO THEY CAN DE DEMOLISH THEM AND, AND MODERNIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER.
PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T, DON'T DEMOLISH 900 SMITH STREET.
I KNOW IT'S NOT IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT SOMEONE BOUGHT THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO JUST WITH AN EYE TO DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND I ASKED YOU TO QUIT DOING IT.
BEFORE YOU GO, UM, I REMEMBER HEARING, HEARING YOU SPEAK A COUPLE MONTHS AGO OR A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
JUST A REMINDER THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE PROPERTIES THAT ARE GOING AGAINST AN OWNER WISHES, THAT ULTIMATELY MAKES IT UP TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND WE DO HAVE A CASE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, 1100 EAST SECOND STREET, WHICH I MENTIONED THAT IS GOING TO CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 18TH.
UM, THEY NEED, THEY NEED TO HEAR THIS TESTIMONY, RIGHT? YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
SO I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CIRCLE THAT DATE AND TRY TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK.
WELL, I NOTICED ON ITEM 10 YOU'VE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO GET 'EM TO DO SOMETHING BESIDES DEMOLISH IT, BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT'S NOT WHAT REALLY HAPPENS.
SO, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
[00:25:01]
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS AND THIS NOW WE REALLY DO HAVE TO BE WITHOUT BEING AN AGENDA ITEM.NEXT UP WE HAVE MEGAN KING, AH, MS. KING.
MEGAN KING, POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION.
I'VE GOT MY MONTHLY UPDATE FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, ON JUNE 15TH, OUR SUMMER GRANT DEADLINE IS CLOSING.
UM, WE OFFER MATCHED GRANTS OF UP TO $10,000 FOR PRESERVATION PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, IN THE CATEGORIES OF BRICK AND MORTAR EDUCATION AND PLANNING AND HISTORIC SURVEYS.
UM, SO ANYBODY, WE HAVE A WHOLE LITANY OF TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO APPLY NEIGHBORHOODS, NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, ET CETERA, HOMEOWNERS.
SO IF ANYBODY HERE IS, UM, LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR THEIR PRESERVATION PROJECT, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY BY JUNE FIFTEENTH@PRESERVATIONAUSTIN.ORG.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP.
UM, THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE AN EAST AUSTIN WALKING TOUR.
UM, UH, IT'S CALLED THE ECONOMY FURNITURE STRIKE.
URBAN HIKE OF SITES AND PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUSTIN CHICANO WAGA, UM, WAS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LABOR MOVEMENTS BY MEXICAN AMERICANS IN THE CITY.
AND OUR INTERN IS PUTTING THAT ON.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN ON JUNE 15TH, WE ARE HAVING A DIY WOOD WINDOW WORKSHOP, UM, IN HYDE PARK SO PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND LEARN HOW TO RESTORE THEIR OWN HISTORIC WINDOWS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, SO TICKETS FOR THAT ARE AVAILABLE ALSO@PRESERVATIONAUSTIN.ORG.
VERY EXCITED TO HEAR SOME OF THE PROGRESS THERE.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THAT IS ALL, AH, THANK YOU.
[2. Presentation on Code Department and Building Standards Commission processes]
TO OUR, UH, PRESENTATION ON CODE DEPART FROM THE CODE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION AND THE PROCESSES.UH, WE'VE HAD COMMISSIONERS, MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FOLKS ALERT US.
AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE CASES ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING, UH, PERTAIN TO, UH, THE NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS, UH, COMMISSION AND THE STAFF REGARDING DERELICT PROPERTIES.
UH, HOWEVER THEY WERE, UM, ALSO INCLUDING A DEMAND FOR DEMOLITION, UH, IF THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THESE ISSUES, UH, WITHOUT MENTIONING THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE PROPERTIES.
AND WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM IN A DISTANT PAST.
AND BY AND LARGE, I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE WORKED OUT, UH, MANY OF THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE PERTAINING, WHO, WHO KIND OF KNEW WHAT WERE GOING ON, ARE NO LONGER WITH US.
AND OBVIOUSLY NOW THIS IS A, A NEW GROUP AND I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE PULL ON THE SAME, SAME DIRECTION.
SO THESE KINDS OF MISCOMMUNICATIONS OR, UH, NOTICES FROM THE CITY THAT ARE LITERALLY IN CONTRADICTION TO EACH OTHER, UH, THAT WE CAN NIP THIS IN THE BUD RIGHT QUICK.
SO, UH, AND THEN MORE GENERALLY, YOU'VE GOT AN ONGOING QUESTION ABOUT DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
SO, UH, UH, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD NEEDLESS TO SAY TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
APPRECIATE, CAN, UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD.
TALK REAL LOUD SO I DON'T WANNA GET TOO CLOSE.
UM, APPRECIATE YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I THINK WE SHOULD COLLABORATE AND, UM, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE GOT QUESTIONS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE, UH, HURDLES OF THE HISTORICAL, UM, THINGS THAT ARE SET.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND KICK IT OFF.
I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR THE CASE REVIEW AND ESCALATION DIVISION.
UH, WHAT THAT IS IS A DIVISION INSIDE, UH, NOW ABSORBED BY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WE ARE, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING ALL ESCALATED CASES, UH, THAT GO TO OUR THREE MAIN ENFORCEMENT AVENUES, WHICH ARE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, MUNICIPAL COURT, AND BUILDING A STANDARDS COMMISSION.
AND WHAT MY TEAM DOES IS WE, UH, TAKE ALL THE, THE CASES THAT ARE SET FOR ESCALATION, WE REVIEW 'EM, MAKE SURE ALL THE, THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS ARE THERE OF THE CASE.
AND THEN WE SCHEDULE, COORDINATE, AND FACILITATE ALL THESE HEARINGS.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT, WHAT WE KIND OF DO.
BUT, UH, I GO AHEAD AND, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
I HAVE BAS BASIC, UH, FLOW CHART OF, OF KIND OF THIS, THIS IS NOT, DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHAT YOU WERE WANTING TO HEAR RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW WHERE THE CASES COME FROM, KIND OF.
SO THIS IS KIND OF HOW WE, HOW WE GET THE CASE, HOW WE WORK IT, AND THEN SEND IT TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION.
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE MORE.
UH, AND I'VE LEFT PLENTY OF TIME FOR QUESTIONS 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT Y'ALL ARE MORE, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO, WANTING TO HEAR.
SO, SO FIRST OF ALL, THE CALLS COME IN THROUGH 3 1 1, OUR APP SYSTEM OR ONLINE.
UM, I'D SAY 90, 95% OF THE CALLS THEY CAN COME.
UH, WE CAN CREATE A, A CASE ON OUR OWN, BUT WE TYPICALLY DON'T.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING DANGEROUS OR IF WE SEE SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO WRITE UP, WE WILL, UH, WE ALSO GET REFERRALS FROM AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THERE'S A FIRE OR WHATNOT.
SO IT COMES IN, UH, THEN IT, IT IS
[00:30:01]
ASSIGNED TO AN INSPECTOR, UH, AND, AND BY A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.UH, AND THEN IT'S ALSO, THEY USE A C TERM, UM, APPLICATION TO ASSIGN PRIORITY, UH, TO THE INSPECTOR.
AND C TERM IS CODE TIERED, ENFORCEMENT MATRIX OR TERM, HOLD ON.
UH, ANYWAY, CODE TIERED, ENFORCEMENT MATRIX.
AND, UM, THAT IS, I'VE GOT A, A SLIDE AT THE END THAT KIND OF SHOWS YOU THE CRITERIA FOR HOW EVERYTHING'S SET UP, UM, AND HOW IT'S, IT'S ASSIGNED A NUMBER FROM ONE TO FIVE DAYS TO GET OUT THERE, BASICALLY.
UH, THEN IT COMES IN, IT'S PRIORITIZED, THEN THEY GO OUT AND DO AN INITIAL RESPECT INSPECTION.
UH, IF THERE'S NO VIOLATION FOUND, UH, THEY CLOSE THE CASE.
IF THERE IS A VIOLATION, OBVIOUSLY WE START TO PURSUE IT.
WE TURN IT INTO A CODE VIOLATION CASE.
UM, WE TYPICALLY GO LOOK FOR WHAT'S, UH, REPORTED AGAINST, BUT ALSO WE DON'T HAVE BLINDERS ON.
SO IF WE'RE, THERE'S SOMETHING, A SAFETY ISSUE OR VIOL, UH, HAZARD VIOLATION WHILE WE'RE GOING TO, UH, OR LOOKING AT WHAT, WHATEVER WAS CALLED IN, WE WILL ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
UH, THEN WE, UH, START COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
IF IT'S A, UM, A, OH MY GOSH, UH,
UH, IF NOT, THEN THAT'S WHEN, UM, THE SUPERVISORS AND THE INSPECTORS GET TOGETHER AND THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT AVENUE THEY FEEL IS GONNA BE MOST SUCCESSFUL TO BRING IN THAT PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE.
UH, FOR BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT Y'ALL CARE ABOUT THE MOST.
IT'S TYPICALLY, WELL, IT'S ALWAYS, USUALLY, UM, UM, STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE ISSUES, RIGHT? UH, SO IF IT'S ON THE OTHER SPECTRUM OF STUFF, WE, WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES, BUT, BUT MAINLY, UH, THE STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE STUFF GOES TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
NOW WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST A BROKEN WINDOW OR A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE TRY NOT TO TAKE THE LITTLE STUFF UNLESS WE JUST REALLY CAN'T GET ANY TRACTION USING ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OR MUNICIPAL COURT.
UH, BUT TYPICALLY OUR MORE EGREGIOUS PROPERTIES ARE GOING TO THE BUILDING STANDARD COMMISSION.
AND SO, ONCE IT'S AT THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION, UH, THEIR AUTHORITY BASICALLY IS TO DECLARE THE STRUCTURE OF SUBSTANDARD OR DANGEROUS, AND THEN ORDER, UH, WITHIN A FIXED PERIOD ACTION NECESSARY TO SECURE THE STRUCTURE, REPAIR THE STRUCTURE, VACATE A STRUCTURE, RELOCATE TENANTS, REMOVE PERSONS OR PROPERTY, AND DEMOLISH OR REMOVE ANY SUBSTANDARD BUILDING CONDITION OR STRUCTURE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
ALSO, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HEARING APPEALS, UH, RELATED TO OUR EMERGENCY BOARD AND SECURES UH, NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL LICENSE SUSPENSIONS AND DENIALS, AND THEN THE REPEAT OFFENDER PROGRAM SUSPENSIONS.
SO THAT IS KIND OF THEIR PURVIEW AND WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR.
AND THEN, YEAH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HIT THE LAST ONE.
THE LAST ONE'S THE C TERM, UH, RESPON, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
CODE TIERED ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE MATRIX.
ANYWAY, THERE IS ALL THE CRITERIA THAT WE USE OR THAT ACTUALLY 3 1 1 USES TO ROUTE THE CASE TO US.
SO IT ALREADY COMES IN WITH A PRIORITY AND WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY DAYS OR THE INSPECTORS KNOW HOW MANY DAYS TO GET OUT, UH, AND SEE THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT IS THE BASIC GIST OF, AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE BSC.
BUT I WANTED TO LEAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR QUESTIONS 'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL PROBABLY HAVE SOME, WELL, WHY DON'T WE JUST START RIGHT AWAY WITH YOUR NOTICE THAT, UH, GOES OUT.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY AT WHAT POINT IT'S TRIGGERED, BUT, UH, WHEN AN A PROPERTY OWNER IS NON-RESPONSIVE OR IS CONFIRMED TO HAVE VIOLATIONS, UH, YOUR TEXT INCLUDES, UH, YOU'LL FIX THIS OR YOU'LL DEMOLISH THIS.
AND IN NO WAY IS IT REFERENCING THE POTENTIAL OF A HISTORIC, UH, PROPERTY OR ANY OTHER OKAY.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ORDER ITSELF.
SO WHEN WE GO TO THE BUILDING AND STANDS, OR WE GET AN ORDER FOR REPAIR OR DEMO, UM, YES, IT SAYS REPAIR OR DEMO, OR I GUESS TO BACK UP YOU, IF WE GET A REPAIR ORDER, DEMOLITION IS, UH, A SATISFACTORY OUTCOME FOR US, OR VICE VERSA, IF WE HAVE A DEMO ORDER AND THEY WANNA REPAIR IT, THAT IS SATISFACTORY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THE ORDER SAYS.
RIGHT? UM, BUT WHERE IT DOES RECEIVE A HISTORICAL REVIEW IS IF WE'RE GONNA DEMOLISH IT, THE CITY, OR IF THE OWNER'S GONNA DEMOLISH IT, IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH HISTORICAL REVIEW.
BUT YOUR DOCUMENT DOESN'T, DOESN'T ALERT AN OWNER THAT, AND MORE THAN ONCE IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD OWNERS WHO SAID, HEY, I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO DEMOLISH MY BUILDING.
RIGHT? I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
I'M PROBABLY PULLING THE PERMIT.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE THIS WHOLE OTHER COMMISSION SAYING, YOU CAN'T DEMOLISH IT.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THAT TO BE CONTINUING.
UH, ANYWAY, I, AGAIN, YOUR DOCUMENTS DON'T INDICATE THAT AT THIS EARLY, AT LEAST IN THE INITIAL STEPS.
UM, COMMISSIONER, YOU, YOU SPOKE TO THE, UM, ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.
YOU KNOW, REPAIR COULD BE RECTIFIED VIA DEMO.
DEMO COULD BE RECTIFIED, BE REPAIRED.
[00:35:01]
DEMO? WELL, WE RECOMMEND DEMO IF THERE'S A SAFETY ISSUE, LIKE IF IT'S IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO ALSO JUST BE A STRUCTURAL LIABILITY.IT CAN ALSO BE A NUISANCE LIABILITY, RIGHT? LIKE IF WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF TRANSIENT ACTIVITY, IF IT'S CLOSE TO A SCHOOL, IF IT'S OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE, THOSE ARE THINGS WE CARE ABOUT.
AND IF IT'S A CONCERN, THEN WE'RE GONNA RECOMMEND DEMO SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.
I'M ALSO, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW TO LIKE, CLARIFY THE OPTIONS TO THE LANDOWNER AND MAYBE STEER THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU ONLY EVER SAID REPAIR, THEN WE MIGHT NOT, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE A PROBLEM HERE ON THIS COMMISSION.
'CAUSE THEN IT'D BE LIKE, YEAH.
UM, OR IS THE LANGUAGE USED? DO YOU, ARE YOU SAYING LIKE, YOU NEED TO DEMO THIS BUILDING? OR DO YOU NEED TO ENGAGE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO SEE IF YOU CAN DEMO THIS BUILDING? JUST TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE PEOPLE COME TO US AND THEY SAY THE CITY SAYS WE NEED TO DEMO THIS.
AND YOU'D BE LIKE, NO, WE DIDN'T.
WE SAID YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO YOUR OPTIONS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
I MEAN, THE DEMOLITION ORDER IS YES, DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE, BUT OBTAIN ALL REQUIRED PERMITS.
AND THE PERMITTING PROCESS GOES THROUGH HIS HISTORIC, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THEY RUN INTO THAT ISSUE.
BUT THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH.
I MEAN, WE, WE ARE COMING FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK AT THE CASE AND THAT'S WHEN, WHERE WE ESCALATE IT AND WE HAVE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THIS OWNER TO DO SOMETHING.
AND WE UNDERSTAND, AND SOME OF THE PROCEDURES DO REQUIRE SOME FINESSE, AND IT'S NOT AN EASY, OH, YOU KNOW, JUST NO DOUBT.
EVERY CASE WE HAVE IS DIFFICULT
I MEAN IT'S, WE, WE HAVE A CASE HERE AND IN OUR BACKUP, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 22, WHICH WE'LL BE DISCUSSING LATER, MM-HMM.
AND IT IN NO WAY INDICATES THAT PRESERVATION IS A FACTOR.
SO THE FACT THAT THIS THEN BECOMES, UH, ESSENTIALLY ANOTHER PARALLEL BUT INVISIBLE PROCEDURE FROM THE CITY, UH, IS THE CONCERN MM-HMM.
UH, THE FACT THAT YOUR FORMS DON'T DO THAT NOW, I THINK WE WE'RE GONNA URGE YOU TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT ONE ADDRESSED IF NOTHING ELSE.
HAVING SAID THAT, THE OTHER END OF IT.
SO THAT'S JUST THE NOTIFICATION ISSUE.
THE OTHER END OF IT, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL CASES AS WELL, UH, THIS, UH, ONGOING PROBLEM, AND AUSTIN BY NO MEANS IS UNIQUE, BUT THE TERM WE USE DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT, UH, A PROPERTY OWNER FULLY, UH, AWARE, PERHAPS IN SOME CASES, IN OTHER CASES, JUST OUT OF, UH, NEGLECT, LITERALLY, UH, NOT NOT CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING WITH THE BUILDING, UH, ALLOWS A BUILDING TO THE, UH, TO DEGRADE TO THE POINT WHERE IN ESSENCE IT IS ALREADY DEMOLISHED.
IT'S A VERY SAD AND OBVIOUSLY FOR THE NEIGHBORS, UH, A VERY AGONIZING ISSUE.
AND THE CITY DOES HAVE SOME ABILITIES TO ENFORCE AND REQUIRE, UH, EITHER THAT THAT IS REMEDIED OR IN SOME EXTREME CASES, OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THOSE PROPERTIES, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE AN OWNER THAT IS COMPLETELY NEGLECTING THEIR PROPERTY.
UM, SO TH THOSE, I DON'T THINK IN ANY RECENT MEMORY, UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH YOU ALL ON, BUT THAT CERTAINLY, UH, IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE PROPERTIES WE'RE SEEING AND SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEING, UH, NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO ARE VERY CLEAR ABOUT AND CAN BASICALLY ALLOW SOMETHING NOT TO FESTER AND, AND GET PAST THE POINT OF, UH, NO RETURN.
UM, IN THE ORDINANCE THAT ACTUALLY SAYS THE HISTORICAL PRE PRESERVATION OFFICE KIND OF ENFORCES THAT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT TOOLS.
SO WE ARE WORKING, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH CALLAN AND, AND JOY AND, AND, AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD OF RECEIVERSHIP, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THAT? I'M A BIG FAN OF IT.
I, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME TRACTION ON IT, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE I CAN.
UM, BUT I WOULD LOVE THAT TO BE PART OF, OF OUR, UH, ARSENAL OR, YOU KNOW, AN ARROW IN OUR QUIVER THAT THAT, THAT I'M LOOKING TO, TO INITIATE.
BUT I JUST, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET, IF YOU CAN, WE, WE, WE, WE WILL WORK TO SEE IF WE CAN GET YOUR, I KNOW WHAT I THINK RECEIVERSHIP MEANS.
YOU COULD, YOU FLESH THAT A RECEIVERSHIP IS BASICALLY A THIRD PARTY COMES IN, TAKES OVER THE PROPERTY, LITERALLY FIXES IT UP, UM, AND, AND THEN SELLS IT.
OR IF IT'S LIKE A, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, THEY COLLECT THE RENTS WHILE THEY'RE, THEY'RE MAKING THE REPAIRS AND WHATNOT.
AND THEN, UH, THEY EITHER SELL IT OR IF THE OWNER CAN SOMEHOW BUY IT BACK, UH, WHILE THAT'S GOING ON, BUT THEY, THEY BASICALLY TAKE CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY.
I MEAN, I'D BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I THINK OFTENTIMES THIS COMMISSION, WE, WE WRITE LETTERS AND WE, UH, VOTE ON THEM TO SEND UP UP THE CHAIN TO PLANNING COMMISSION COUNCIL.
AND WE DON'T GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THOSE.
[00:40:01]
IT MIGHT BE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WORTH PUTTING IN WRITING THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.WELL, AND MAYBE A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THIS MEETING THAT WE THINK ARE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE CODIFIED.
I HAVE A COUPLE, COUPLE QUESTIONS.
THE, LIKE ALL THE INSPECTORS, BUT AS FAR AS THAT COME FROM THE CODE SIDE OF THINGS, UM, I THINK IT'S LIKE 70 NOW.
UH, BUT, BUT THEN THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL, I THINK THEY HAVE 10.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER INSPECTORS THAT DO, UM, PRE-CONSTRUCTION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION AND, AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
NOT LIKE THE MAINTENANCE STUFF THAT, THAT WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT OR, UM, DO ANY OF THOSE 70, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY KIND OF TRAINING, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OUR PROCESSES AND ALL THAT? UM, I KNOW, DID YOU COME TO THE RETREAT? I, OKAY.
SO, OH, WELL THAT WOULD BE FOR THE COMMISSION, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INSPECTORS? UM, NO, I DON'T THINK, UH, HISTORICAL IS IN THAT, BUT WE, WE HAVE A, UM, A CODE ACADEMY IS WHAT IT'S CALLED, UH, AND I THINK IT'S TWICE A YEAR.
AND, UH, YEAH, THAT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO, TO GET HISTORIC TO COME TO COME TALK DURING THE TRAINING.
WE JUST FINISHED UP ON, ON THE ONE WE JUST HAD, OUR PRESERVATION PLAN RECOMMENDS THAT WE, WE WORK A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH AUSTIN CODE TO CREATE SOME KIND OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIALISTS WITHIN ONE OF THOSE 70.
UM, THERE'S SO MANY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO INTO A PROPERTY THAT IS OBVIOUSLY YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING A CALL FROM FOR CODE INSPECTION, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON IN 2024 IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN AMERICA, WHEN WE HAVE GIS DATA TO NOT IMMEDIATELY BE NOTIFIED, THAT'S A HISTORIC PROPERTY, RIGHT? WE HAVE THAT DATA, WE HAVE HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEYS THAT ARE USING THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO I, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO IMPROVE TO WORK IN-HOUSE AS A, AS A CITY, BUT THEN ALSO TRAINING THOSE INSPECTORS, YOU KNOW, ON A YEARLY BASIS AS WELL.
SO I, I THINK A LOT OF THESE CAN BE LUMPED INTO SOME KIND OF LETTER LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WIT.
AND I THINK IT MIGHT WARRANT MAYBE ANOTHER VISIT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH YOU OR INDEPENDENTLY WITH SOME, MAYBE SOME GROUP OR COMMITTEE AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, WHERE ON THE C TERM RESPONSE WOULD DEMOLITION WITHOUT A PERMIT FALL IF THAT WAS REPORTED BY 3 1 1, FOR EXAMPLE, AT 15 30 12.
UH, SO WORK WITHOUT PERMIT, OH, LEMME LOOK AT THIS THING.
I THINK IT'S PRIORITY THREE, FIVE CLAIM VIOLATIONS.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE THREE.
AND THAT WOULD ALSO PROBABLY LIKE, WOULD DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, LIKE SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS ALSO FALL INTO THAT? YES.
THE PROBLEM IS THERE, LIKE IF IT'S HISTORIC, WE DEFINITELY WANT, I MEAN, IT CAN DEFINITELY HIT TWO OR ONE, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THE SEVERITY OF THE, THE STRUCTURE, LIKE IF IT'S ABOUT TO FALL OVER, IT'S ONE.
UH, IF IT'S BROKEN WINDOWS AND SIDINGS, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT, IT'S PROBABLY THREE.
ANOTHER REASON WHY THIS THESE PRIORITIES MATTER IS BECAUSE YES, IT MAY NOT BE THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURAL THAT YOU'RE SEEING, BUT THE MINUTE SOMEONE BREAKS INTO THIS WOOD FRAME BUILDING, WE HAVE A FIRE.
LOOK AT THAT GIANT LITIGATION NOW THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY AND THE ARCHITECT NEARBY.
AND SO IF WE CAN GET SOME KIND OF PRIOR PRIORITY FOR THESE HISTORIC RESOURCES, IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE LONG TO SET UP A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ONE OR TWO OF THESE BUILDINGS AND WE LOSE THOSE RESOURCES.
WHY? BECAUSE THE OWNER IS IN CALIFORNIA OR THE OWNER DOESN'T CARE AND THEN THEY'RE NEGLECTING THE WHOLE PROPERTY.
I MEAN, BUT EVEN IF WE WERE THERE ON DAY ONE, WE BOARD AND SECURE IT ALWAYS.
IF IT'S, IF IT'S REAL DANGEROUS AND OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE, THEY RIP OFF THE BOARDS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN THERE DOING FIRES AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I, I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT I'D BENEFIT FROM IS WHAT ARE THESE LIST OF INFRACTIONS? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME TO US AND TELL US, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BUSTED WINDOWS, WATER'S LEAKING INTO THIS HISTORIC PROPERTY.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED TO CODE, WE CALLED THEM.
THEY SAID, THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
THE OWNER'S GONNA LEAVE THESE, THESE WINDOWS OPEN, THEY'RE BUSTED.
SO I'M GETTING CONTRADICTIONS HERE OF WHAT INFRACTIONS ARE VERSUS LOOKING AT OUR DATA THAT WE GOT TODAY.
THERE'S DEBRIS ON THE, ON THE LAWN, YOU KNOW, CLEAN THAT UP.
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THESE INFRACTIONS? I NEED YOU TO EDUCATE US, YOU KNOW, ON ALL THESE LISTS OF INFRACTIONS SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, LATER DOWN THE LINE AS WELL, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
I MEAN, OUR, OUR CODES ARE CLEARLY DEFINED.
I MEAN, JUST, AND USING A SIM SIMPLISTIC EXAMPLE IS WHEAT AND GRASS OVER 12 INCHES.
I MEAN, IF IT'S OVER 12 INCHES, IT'S A VIOLATION, RIGHT? THERE'S NO, OH, IT'S 10, IT LOOKS BAD, WE'RE GONNA GO AFTER IT.
BUT IF IT'S 12 OR 13, DEFINITELY WE GOTTA BE GOING AFTER IT.
[00:45:01]
AFTER SOMETHING THAT'S CLEARLY DEFINED, THEN THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PROBLEM.AND WE NEED TO, TO, TO SEE WHAT, WHO, WHO, WHAT DIVISION, WHAT SUPERVISOR, WHY THE, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE AN EX EXPLANATION FOR SOME REASON THAT, OF WHY THEY'RE NOT PURSUING IT.
BUT I, YOU'D HAVE TO GIMME A SPECIFIC, I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND ALL THAT.
BUT YEAH, NO, I MEAN, IF IT'S A A A CODE VIOLATION, IT'S A CODE VIOLATION.
WELL, LEMME JUST JUMP IN AND SAY, I THINK WE'RE TOUCHING ON A VERY CRITICAL ISSUE.
UH, I'M GONNA ASK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVEN'T SPOKEN.
AND THEN, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE HAS HAD A KEEN INTEREST IN.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ALREADY IN SOME EARLIER MEETINGS, AND I'M GONNA RECOMMEND THAT THIS THE, UH, PRIORITY FOR THE, FOR THAT COMMITTEE.
BUT, UM, IS ANYBODY ELSE QUICK QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
YEAH, COMMISSIONER, UM, FOR PRIORITY NUMBER TWO, WHAT TYPE OF ACTION WOULD CONS, WOULD A, A RESPONSE BE THERE? UH, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? SO IT'S SAYING OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE, DANGEROUS BUILDING.
SO WE WOULD, IF WE HAVE TO GET OUT THERE WITHIN 24 HOURS, THEN WE WOULD BOARD AND SECURE IT.
NOW WE TRY TO GET THE OWNER TO DO IT, LIKE WE'LL GIVE HIM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CALL HIM IMMEDIATELY.
IF WE CAN GET AHOLD OF HIM OR HER AND THEY CAN DO IT, THEN WE WILL ALLOW THAT.
BUT IF, IF, IF NOT, IF WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING, THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR CONTRACTORS.
AND WITHIN 24 HOURS IT'S BOARD AND SECURED, UM, OCCUPIED SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS WITH REPORTED GAS.
SO THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD CALL THE GAS COMPANY.
WE, WE'VE CALLED THEM MANY TIMES, ESPECIALLY WITH CONGRESS AS WELL.
IT'S JUST A, AGAIN, IT'S A TIERED MATRIX TO GET US OUT THERE.
THE SOONER, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, IF IT'S A, IF IT'S AN IMMEDIATE DANGER.
AND THEN SECOND QUESTION, MAYBE GOING ALONG WITH, UH, WHAT COMMISSIONER RUBIO MENTIONED THAT JUST USING THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, ONE OF THE, UH, SIMPLER CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY BEING 50 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
SO MAYBE WHEN SOMEBODY STARTS TO GET SOME SORT OF DEMOLITION NOTICE MM-HMM.
WELL, WHEN WE, WHEN THE INSPECTOR IS PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR CASE PACKET TO SUBMIT TO MY TEAM, UM, WE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE HBO TO SEE IF IT HAS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AND SOMETIMES THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE'RE, IF WE WANNA DO DEMO OR REPAIR.
UM, BUT THE FIRST AND FOREMOST THING WE LOOK AT IS SAFETY, RIGHT? SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR ORDER RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, I'M, I'M JUST GOING TO ADD ONE EXTRA COMMENT AND I THINK AN URGENCY THAT PERHAPS WASN'T THERE WHEN THIS WAS VISITED IN THE PAST GENERATION, UH, I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN OF A PROPERTY OWNER AND THEIR RIGHTS, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THOSE COMPARED TO THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY? UH, BUT I THINK OVER THESE YEARS, IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE EMPTY HOUSES, THEY'RE NOT ONLY A SAFETY, UH, THERE'S NOT ONLY THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE PRESERVATION ISSUES WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VACANT HOUSING STOCK.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHERE WE'RE DESPERATE TO GET MORE HOUSING.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, UH, ADJUST THE RULES, UH, WORK WITH HISTORIC PROPERTIES MORE CREATIVELY, AND THEN TO HAVE A BUNCH OF THESE NEGLECTED HOUSES WHERE SOMEBODY COULD BE LIVING MM-HMM,
BUT FOR THE FACT THAT WE LITERALLY HAVE A NEGLECTFUL OWNER, I, I THINK THAT THAT ESCALATES THIS DISCUSSION TO A MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY.
AND I DO THINK THAT, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE, JUST THE GENERAL SENTIMENT OF NOT CERTAINLY WHAT THE COUNCIL'S INTERESTS WOULD BE, UH, IS PERHAPS A, A MUCH MORE ROBUST PROGRAM THAN PERHAPS WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND HELP, UH, ON THE PRESERVATION ASPECTS, UH, AS YOU'RE LOOKING TO, UM, DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND REINFORCE THAT KIND OF, UH, ACTION.
WE IMMEDIATELY WILL SEND AN EMAIL TO STAFF AND SEE IF IT'S HISTORIC.
I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S TERRIBLE.
WE HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WE'RE SO SHORT STAFFED THAT EVERY SINGLE EMAIL IS GOING TO THESE TWO PEOPLE.
AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO, AGAIN TO USE OUR TECHNOLOGY, AUTOMATE THINGS, WHATEVER CALENDAR STAFF IS SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE IT'S OVERWHELMING US.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT, IT'S A NO BRAINER, RIGHT? YEAH.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S TOO MUCH FOR STAFF
UM, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT DEMO WITHOUT A PERMIT CAN BE ESCALATED TO ONE, TO MULTIPLE CALLS HELP? BECAUSE THIS IS APROPOS TO THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WE HAD ABOUT 1500 EAST 12TH, AND PEOPLE COME TO US AND THEY SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, LOOK TO YOU TO KIND OF TELL US WHAT THE ANSWER, IF WE HAD 10 PEOPLE CALL 3 1 1, MIGHT THAT BE ESCALATED? 'CAUSE ONCE DEMO STARTS, IT ONLY TAKES A DAY AND HISTORIC RESOURCE IS GONE.
I THINK THAT'S MORE URGENT EVEN THAN,
[00:50:01]
YOU KNOW, AN ACCESSIBLE BUILDING.I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH INPUT ON THIS MATRIX.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S KINDA ON THE FIELD SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, I MEAN, I CAN ASK THEM AND, AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, UH, YEAH.
I MEAN, IF SOMEONE'S GONNA DEMO UP WITHOUT A FIRM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT US SHOWING UP IS GONNA DO.
BUT, UH, YEAH, I GET YOUR POINT.
I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU, BECAUSE I THINK PROBABLY IN YOUR WORLD, DEMOLITION GETS RID OF THE PROBLEM.
AND YOU MAY, YOU MAY BE TEND TO LIKE NOT DISCOURAGE IT, ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I MEAN, SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, RIGHT? LIKE, I MEAN, WE HAVE A, A PIECE OF RUBBLE RIGHT NOW, A PROPERTY THAT'S RUBBLE AND LIKE, UM, A ROCK WALL AND THAT'S IT, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE A REPAIR ORDER ON IT.
AND IT'S LIKE, HOW, THERE'S NO WAY FEASIBLY WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WE'RE GONNA ASK THIS PERSON TO TAKE ROCKS ON THE GROUND AND A WALL AND MAKE IT A WHOLE BRAND NEW HISTORICAL HOUSE, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE JUST HAVE DEATHS, MURDERS OVER THERE WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE AND STUFF.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, WE JUST WANT TO CLEAN THAT AREA UP, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE HOLDING OFF, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, I'M, I'M ALL FOR, FOR HISTORIC PRE PRESERVATION.
Y'ALL ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE CITY.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
IT'S, I MEAN, I, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I MIGHT BE BIASED, I WANT IT GONE, WHATEVER, BUT IT'S NOT TRUE.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT REALLY HOW WE THINK.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THINGS SAFE.
THAT, I DON'T WANNA ACCUSE YOU OF THAT, BUT YEAH.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A CASE HERE WHERE THERE'S A HISTORIC RESOURCE IDENTIFIED AS A POTENTIAL LANDMARK.
SOMEONE SAID, SOMEONE'S IN THE PROCESS OF TEARING IT DOWN.
AND WE SAY CALL 3 1 1, IT'LL BE CATEGORY THREE.
SOMEONE'LL BE OUT THERE IN THREE DAYS.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AFTER THE FACT AND PENALTIES, AND THAT USUALLY ENDS UP GOING NOWHERE.
SO WE'RE END UP, YOU KNOW, YOUR HANDS ARE TIED PROBABLY 'CAUSE YOU HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.
OUR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE WE HAVE NO DIRECTION, WE AREN'T IN CONTROL OF IT.
IT'S JUST THAT TO ME IS THE MOST URGENT ISSUE AT THE MOMENT.
I THINK WHAT WOULD MAYBE EVEN HELP THAT OUT TOO IS ISN'T THERE SOMETHING WHERE IF SOMEONE DOES TEAR SOMETHING DOWN THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THREE YEARS.
THEY CAN'T, UM, IMPROVE THE PROPERTY FOR THREE YEARS OR SOMETHING AND THEY'RE LIKE SOME KIND OF, UM RIGHT.
THERE IS THAT, BUT NOT FOR, UH, NON-DESIGNATED, I DON'T THINK.
WELL, BUT IF, I MEAN THE ONE THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHERE IF THEY CALLED IT IN AND IT'S A, IT TRULY IS A HISTORIC, WELL THIS ONE ISN'T DESIGNATED, IT'S LISTED ON OUR SURVEYS AS WOULD QUALIFY AS, OH, OKAY.
IF SOMEONE WERE TO GET A DEMOLITION PERMIT, WE WOULDN'T LET THEM.
SO INSTEAD THEY DEMOLISH IT AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THREE DAY ENFORCEMENT THAT'S GONE IN TWO DAYS.
WELL, SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A, UH, A DEEPER DIVE.
UM, WE'D CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU, UM, AND THE EFFORT THAT YOU'RE MAKING, UH, AS YOU'RE NOW MORE CLOSELY PERHAPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, PERMIT PART, PART OF THIS, THIS MAKES IT, I THINK, EASIER FOR US TO ALL HAVE THESE CONNECTIONS.
AND, UH, WE'LL APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THE, THE MEETING WITH THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND, AND ABSOLUTELY STAFF WILL, UM, WILL BE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN FACILITATING.
AND I THINK, I MEAN, LOW HANGING FRUIT, I CAN DEFINITELY PUT SOMETHING ON THE, THE NOTICES OF ORDER WE SEND OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND THEN HAVING THEM COME SPEAK AT OUR CODE ACADEMY.
SO CON CONSULT WITH STAFF, BUT I THINK SOMETHING AS COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ SAYS IS AS SIMPLE AS SAYING IF YOUR PROPERTY IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD, THERE MAY BE, UH, REVIEW, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND IT BASICALLY MAY BE A HISTORIC PROPERTY THAT MM-HMM.
I'LL PROBABLY GET WITH YOU FOR THE WORDING.
JUST A, JUST A THOUGHT BEFORE I LOSE IT, IS THAT IF WE, WE'VE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAD A PROPERTY THAT WAS DEMOED WITHOUT A PERMIT.
WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HISTORIC.
I, I WONDER IF WE COULD, WE COULD ZONE THAT PROPERTY HISTORIC, EVEN THOUGH THE, THE STRUCTURE'S NO LONGER THERE.
AND IN ARREARS INSTITUTE THAT THREE YEAR HOLD.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT GETS US UP TO OUR FIRST CASE.
UM, LET'S SEE, FOUR WAS WITHDRAWN AND SO THAT IS ITEM NUMBER NINE.
[8. HR-2024-047998 – 1107 E 10th St. ]
OH NO, THAT'S CORRECT.UH, EIGHT ITEM NUMBER 8 11 0 7 EAST 10TH STREET.
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT IN THE ROBERTSON STEWART MAYOR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE PROPOSED A DU IS THREE STORIES IN HEIGHT WITH COMPOUND GABLE AND SHED ROOFS.
AND IT'S ORIENTED WITH THE ENTRANCE AND GARAGE TOWARD THE REAR ALLEYWAY.
IT'S CAUGHT IN HORIZONTAL FIBER, CEMENT SIDING WITH A METAL ROOF FIXED AND DIVIDED WINDOWS AND DIVIDED CASEMENT AND ASH WINDOWS ARRANGEMENT.
IRREGULAR PATTERN, UH, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE
[00:55:01]
PROPERTY AGAINST THE ROBERTSON STEWART AND MIRROR DESIGN STANDARDS THAT ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.UH, THIS APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THE DESIGN IN RESPONSE TO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FEEDBACK, UH, TO SIMPLIFY THE ROOF LINES AT THE SECONDARY ELEVATION IF POSSIBLE.
AND THE PROJECT MEETS MOST OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONCUR WITH COMMITTEE FEEDBACK AND APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
AND I AM LOOKING IN OUR BACKUP.
DID WE NOT GET A COPY OF THE PLANS? YEAH, I DON'T SEE 'EM ON THERE EITHER.
AT THIS POINT, UNLESS, UNLESS THOSE ARE AVAILABLE, UH, WE CERTAINLY CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, UH, I KNOW WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP, UH, ABOUT THIS.
IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, THEY'RE ON THE A RC MEETING, I BELIEVE FROM MAY 15TH AND STAFF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD FIND THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
WE'LL, UM, BUT FIRST OFF, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CASE? IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES, WE HAVE YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE FIRST? YES, I'M SORRY.
THE, THE APPLICANT IS, UH, UH, AND, AND SPEAK IN FAVOR IS IS FIRST AND AGAIN, WELCOME AND PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME'S MATT JORDAN.
I'M THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY.
UM, I, UH, PREVIOUSLY GOT APPROVAL ON THIS, UM, A DU BACK IN NOVEMBER.
UM, AND AFTER THE HOME ORDINANCE, I DECIDED TO INCREASE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE A LITTLE BIT.
SO THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED COMING BACK THROUGH HLC AGAIN TO GET RE-APPROVAL OF THIS.
UM, SO THIS IS, SO I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE IS, YOU KNOW, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, UNDERSTANDING THE DESIGN CRITERIA OF THE HISTORIC, UM, LAND COMMISSION, UM, WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD QUITE A BIT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENT, UM, HOUSES LOOKED LIKE FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT.
I'VE BEEN TO A RC PROBABLY FIVE TIMES,
AND SO I REALLY TRY TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT FIT WITHIN THE STANDARDS, UM, BUT ALSO MAXIMIZED, UH, THE USABILITY OF THIS.
UM, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT I THINK I, YOU'RE PROBABLY HERE, UM, SHORTLY FROM SOMEBODY WHO IS OPPOSED, IS MAYBE THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD A RC THAT I HAD NEIGHBORS THAT WERE ON BOARD WITH THIS.
UM, AND I TRIED TO DESIGN A BUILDING THAT WAS, UH, LIMITED THE WINDOWS ON THAT SIDE OF THE PROPERTY WHERE, WHERE HER, UH, HOUSE SITS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE HER STILL FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I THINK WE'VE WORKED PRETTY CLOSELY ON THIS, UM, TOGETHER.
SHE'S BEEN AWARE OF THIS FOR, UM, FOR QUITE A WHILE.
AND I RECENTLY, A COUPLE DAYS AGO, GOT GOT, UM, SHE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS, SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT SHE'S GOING TO SAY, BUT, UM, I'VE TRIED TO DESIGN THIS IN A WAY THAT, THAT PROTECTS HER AND, AND PROTECTS HER SIDE OF THE, OF THE FENCE.
UM, AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A HAPPY, UM, NEIGHBORLY RELATIONSHIP I THINK SINCE I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
I'LL ALSO SAY THAT I BOUGHT THIS PRO, UH, THE, THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE BACK IN, WHICH IS THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE BACK IN 2022 AND SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY RENOVATING IT, UM, AND KEPT ALL THE, UH, HISTORICAL INTEGRITY OF THE PROPERTY AND REALLY IMPROVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I'LL ALSO SAY THAT THIS HOUSE, UH, THAT GARAGE IS GONNA BE A STUDIO, SO IT IS A DUPLEX, UM, TO SOME EXTENT, UM, WHICH I THINK JUST ADDS TO WHAT HOME ORDINANCES GOAL IS, WHICH IS CREATING AFFORDABILITY AND MORE HOUSING STOCK IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IT.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? HEARING NONE, UH, WE, WE WILL HEAR WHO, UH, THE, THE OPPOSING SPEAKER.
HELLO, I AM THE OPPOSING SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS SUE GA AND I AM THE HOMEOWNER OF 1109 EAST 10TH STREET, WHICH IS NEXT DOOR TO, UM, MATT'S PROPERTY.
AND I DO STRONGLY OBJECT TO THIS CASE.
UH, MATT DID MAKE ME AWARE THAT HE WAS BILLING AN A DU, BUT I HAD NO SENSE OF THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THIS.
UM, SO I'VE SUBMITTED MY, MY OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND I JUST WAS PLANNING TO GO OVER THEM HERE.
FIRSTLY, THIS IS A THREE STORY, 35 FOOT TALL STRUCTURE THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE, UM, IN SIZE AND SCALE
[01:00:01]
FROM THE CONTRIBUTING HOMES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.AND CONTRIBUTING, I THINK IS THE REALLY KEY, UM, CONCEPT HERE.
THE DESIGN STANDARD STATE THAT ROOF HEIGHTS THAT ARE, THAT ROOF HEIGHTS SHOULD BE THE SAME OR SIMILAR TO THOSE ON CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
AND I'M AWARE THAT IN THE PACKET THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN, THAT'S INCLUDED A LOT OF PICTURES OF EXISTING ADUS AND OTHER HOMES.
NONE OF THESE HOMES PICTURED ARE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.
UM, AND SO I, I FEEL LIKE THIS PACKET IS MISLEADING IN WHAT IT'S SAYING.
THE BILL IS GOING TO MIMIC, UM, ALL OF THESE STRUCTURES THAT ARE NON-CONTRIBUTING WERE BUILT BEFORE OUR LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION IN 2019.
AND IT'S THESE TYPES OF LARGE INAPPROPRIATE STRUCTURES THAT ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION WAS MEANT TO PREVENT.
SO I, I DO OBJECT TO THE SIZE OF IT.
I THINK IT IS OUTTA CHARACTER, UM, BY THE, BY THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
SECONDLY, UH, THE SECOND UNIT OF THE FOUR BEDROOM 2 2128 SQUARE FOOT UNIT C DOES NOT FURTHER AFFORDABILITY GOALS.
UM, THAT AGAIN, THE DESIGN STANDARDS AND THE PURPOSE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADUS IN INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE SEEING A RAPID RISE IN PROPERTY VALUES.
UM, THIS 2,128 SQUARE FOOT UNIT IS SIGNIFICANTLY BIGGER THAN EVEN ANY OF THE NON-CONFORMING ADUS IN THE PACKET.
UM, I'VE GOT SOME PROPERTY SIZES HERE FROM THE TCAD SITE.
UM, AND LASTLY, I JUST, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO WORK WITH GAME TO DESIGN A MORE COMPATIBLE STRUCTURE.
THAT RECOMME RECOMMENDATION, AGAIN IS RIGHT IN THE, UM, DESIGN STANDARDS, 1.4 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION TO CONSULT WITH GAIN THE GUADALUPE ASSOCIATION FOR AN IMPROVED NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE AT THE OUTSET OF THE DESIGN OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE MY OBJECTIONS.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM ME? SURE, I HAD A QUESTION.
UM, IN THE STANDARDS WHERE YOU REFER TO ROOF HEIGHTS MM-HMM,
THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXACT QUOTE FROM THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
ANYTHING ELSE I CAN ANSWER? UM, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION THOUGH? UH, I MEAN, A LOT OF THE CASES THAT WE SEE IN THESE HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE COMPROMISING THE EXISTING HOUSE, THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, AND YOU HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSALS AS IT PERTAINS TO THAT STRUCTURE.
THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE EXTERIOR.
UM, IT'S JUST THE SCALE OF THIS A DU IS AND IS SO FAR OUT OF RANGE AND THAT'S ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE ALLEYWAY IN THE BACK.
SO I A A AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THERE'LL BE SOME DISCUSSIONS, UH MM-HMM.
BECAUSE IT'S A DILEMMA FOR US.
SO WHAT THE TRADE OFF IS TO MAINTAIN THE RESOURCE, UH, I THINK IS GONNA BE AN OPEN QUESTION.
SO I I'M UNCLEAR YOU'RE MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE, RIGHT? YOU'RE JUST BUILDING THIS IS A PLAN TO BUILD A NEW STRUCTURE THAT WE DID NOT GRANT STANDARDS FOR IN THE LOCAL HISTORIC I UNDERSTAND DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR CASES WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE IT'S PROPOSED 3,800 SQUARE FEET TOTAL.
UH, AND THE CASE ACTUALLY COMES AS A TOTAL DEMOLITION AND A NEW HOUSE AT 3,800 SQUARE FEET OR BY RIGHT.
THAT COULD BE WHAT THIS OWNER IS SUBMITTING AND IS NOT.
UM, WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE MAINTAINING THE FRONT, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE, AND THEN IN DOING SO, IS MAXIMIZING WHAT OBVIOUSLY THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE IN THE BACK.
AND THAT'S JUST A JUDGMENT CALL.
WELL, WHAT THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE GOES AGAINST THE STATED STANDARDS.
APPRECIATE YOU, YOU CALLING THOSE TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST? ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WHAT'S THAT REBUTTAL? OH, I'M SORRY.
YES, THE, UH, UH, PROPOSER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUT IF YOU CHOOSE.
UH, I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, A BIG PART OF WHY THIS WAS APPROVED AS THE SAME HEIGHT
[01:05:01]
BEFORE WAS THAT IT'S NEXT TO A CHURCH THAT IS ALSO, I BELIEVE IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, UM, THAT IS ALSO QUITE LARGE.UM, AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF THE HEIGHT.
UM, THIS SAME MASS WAS, WAS ALREADY GENERALLY APPROVED.
WE'RE REALLY JUST NOW FILLING IN KIND OF THE PORCH AREA.
UM, BUT I KIND OF FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS WITHIN, UH, WITHIN REASON.
AND ACTUALLY I, AND IT IS ACTUALLY, I'M NOT EVEN, I COULD BUILD TECHNICALLY MORE ACCORDING TO THE NEW HOME ORDINANCE AND I'M, I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT SOMETHING THAT IS GENERALLY REASONABLE, BUT THAT'S ALL I WOULD SAY.
SO AFTER HOME TWO, I THINK YOU WENT FROM MAYBE ADDING ONE UNIT, JUST A SINGLE A DU TO HAVING, BEING ABLE TO BUILD UP AN ADDITIONAL UNIT.
IS THAT CORRECT? OR, UH, YOU, YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? YOU WENT FROM, UH, ADDING ONE UNIT TO ADDING TWO UNITS.
SO THE GARAGE IS TECHNICALLY MORE OF A FLEX SPACE, UM, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENT IT OUT AS A STUDIO, BUT IT, IT REALLY IS KIND OF PART OF THE HOUSE, WHICH IS THE OPPORT TO TRY TO MAKE IT FLEXIBLE, BUT IT COULD QUALIFY AS A SEPARATE BUILDING.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF IT COULD QUALIFY, BUT, BUT I GUESS ACCORDING TO THE PLANS THAT WE SUBMITTED, YES.
YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I READ.
IT SAID I THINK UNIT B, UNIT C, SO YEAH.
JUST TRYING TO, WANTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
HOW MANY OF THE, THE LARGER BUILDINGS THAT YOU SUBMITTED AS EXAMPLES WERE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES BESIDES THE CHURCH? UH, BESIDES THE CHURCH? UM, THAT I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY THERE ARE A FEW BUILDINGS THAT ARE PRIMARY STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE THREE STORIES.
NOW I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'M GONNA MOVE IF POSSIBLE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO OUR JULY MEETING.
THE ONE THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE AT
I MAY BE THERE VIRTUALLY IN AN AIRPORT.
UH, GO AHEAD AND, UH, INDICATE THE REASON BEHIND AT THIS MOMENT.
SO IN THE MULTIPLE A RC VISITS, I THINK I COULD SAY THAT WE DID NOT GIVE OUR WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT TO THIS.
WE SAID IT APPEARED TO MEET THE LETTER OF THE STANDARDS, AND WE DEFINITELY GO BY THE STANDARDS.
AND I GAVE CLEAR WARNING THAT IF YOU DON'T TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU'RE LIKELY TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE IS GONNA COME AND SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
UH, BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY THE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY MORE THAN IT IS ON THE STREET.
OUR GOAL IS PRIMARILY IMPACT FROM THE STREET, FROM THE PUBLIC VENUE BEING A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND, UH, THE APPLICANT MADE A VERY GOOD CASE IN TERMS OF EXISTING STRUCTURES SHOWING THAT IT WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET DUE TO THE DISTANCE AND, AND THE TOPOGRAPHY.
UM, THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DIFFERENTIATE THE MASSING IF THE STYLE IS SIMILAR, UH, THE SCALE AND MASSING, AND THAT CLEARLY WAS DONE.
UH, UM, BUT I THINK WE DID NOTE THIS WAS ON THE BUBBLE TO BEGIN WITH AND ONLY MEETING THE LETTER OF THE STANDARDS.
AND, UM, THE ONE ITEM THAT ESCAPED MY ATTENTION WAS THE USE THE ROOF HEIGHTS OF EXISTING CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES AND STRUCTURES WERE PRESENTED OF SIMILAR HEIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER THOSE WERE CONTRIBUTING.
SO I THINK IF YOU COULD REFOCUS YOUR PRESENTATION TO SHOW THAT YOU DO MEET THAT ONE STANDARD FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION TO MATCH THE ROOF HEIGHTS FOR CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA NEED.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? NO, I, I AGREE WITH THE ROOF HEIGHT ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT HAS TO BE REVISITED AND CONFIRMED.
UM, I'M, I'M A BIT CONCERNED, UH, PERHAPS FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS ACTUALLY BEEN DISCUSSED OR POSTED AT THE A RCI BELIEVE TWICE.
THERE WAS ONE FOR A PREVIOUS VERSION, AND THEN THERE WAS ONE FOR THIS VERSION.
SO THIS PARTICULAR VERSION, WELL, YOU, YOU COME TWICE FOR THIS VERSION.
I DID FOUR TIMES BOTH AND TWICE FOR THE FIRST VERSION.
SO ONE VISIT AND THEN TWEAK FOR THE FIRST VERSION, AND THEN ANOTHER VERSION AND A TWEAK FOR THE OTHER VERSION.
WELL, I, I THINK EVERY TIME WE KIND OF SAID, EH, IT'S PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES.
IT'S AWFULLY BIG, BUT YOU CAN'T SEE IT FROM THE STREET.
AND THE ONE STANDARD THAT ESCAPED MY ATTENTION WAS THE ROOF HEIGHTS AND, UH, THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU SHOWED THAT, THAT WERE TALLER.
UH, AND THE CHURCH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT ARGUMENT, BUT I THINK THE POINT THAT WHAT'S CONTRIBUTING AND WHAT'S NOT CONTRIBUTING IS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY IN TERMS OF MAKING THAT CASE, THIS HEIGHT WAS APPROVED THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROVED AT,
[01:10:01]
UH, WAS APPROVED WITH THE HLC THE FIRST TIME BACK IN NOVEMBER.SO YOUR FIRST ONE WAS FULLY APPROVED, YOUR FIRST DESIGN WAS FULLY APPROVED.
NOW BENDING IN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF HOME TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE SQUARE.
AND DOES THAT HEIGHT, IS IT BROADER? IS IT, UH, IS THAT HEIGHT OF A LARGER SCALE, LARGER AREA? IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LARGER AREA, BUT THE HEIGHT WAS APPROVED.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE OPPOSITION, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY MY THOUGHT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHY NOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE OWNER.
UM, I'M, I'M ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT, UM, THE FACT THAT WE GOT THIS FAR AND THAT THE OWNER WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON THREE DIFFERENT ITERATIONS.
I MEAN, I HAVE THE BEFORE MIDDLE AND AFTER, AND YES, IT WAS HARD.
UM, BUT WE'RE SAVING THE HISTORIC HOUSE.
WE HAVE NOT THAT UGLY, YOU KNOW, NOT AN UGLY BOX
I, I JUST DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD POSTPONE THIS CASE.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
YEAH, I, I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WHEN SOMEBODY'S DOING WHAT'S RIGHT, AND I GUESS THE, THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE REALLY AN EXPECTATION THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY MASSIVE CHANGE? AND AS I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEIGHBORS, UH, THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS DO HAVE MEANING, UH, OUR TOOLS ARE VERY LIMITED, AND AT ANY POINT THIS OWNER COULD COME BACK WITH A THREE STORY BUILDING AND EVEN MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND IT WOULD BE THIS BIG AND MAYBE NOT EVEN APPROPRIATE IN ITS DESIGN.
AND WE WOULD EASILY LOSE THE FRONT, UH, CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AS WE ARE WAY TOO OFTEN HAVING, UH, THOSE CASES IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, I, I THINK WE'VE, IN, IN THE INTEREST OF, OF MAKING GOOD THINGS WORK, UH, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT IDEAL, UH, I ALSO, UH, DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE TIME TO POSTPONE, SO I'LL VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION.
COULD I ASK ONE QUESTION TO CLARIFY THAT THE NEIGHBORING CHURCH IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE? IT'S OKAY, BUT IT'S NOT A RESIDENCE, IT'S A CHURCH, OF COURSE.
BUILDING NEXT DOOR IS THE CHURCH OFFICE, WHICH IS ALSO A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
BUT THE NEIGHBORING STRUCTURE IS, IS OF EQUAL HEIGHT AND A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
I, I WILL MOVE TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
IS THAT OKAY WITH A SECONDER INTEREST TO MOVE THIS ALONG? SURE.
OTHERWISE WE'D HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
AND THE SECOND IS WITHDRAWN, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PLAN AS SUBMITTED.
UM, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, UH, MOVES TO APPROVE, UH, AS SUBMITTED, UH, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND FEE.
ANY OPPOSED? WITH ONE? OPPOSED.
AND SO THE MOTION DOES PASS AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM.
[10. PR-2024-026690 – 900 Spence St. ]
UH, RIGHT INTO THE 900 SPENCE STREET.HELLO, MY NAME IS CAPTAIN WARREN AND I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FULL DEMO DEMOLITION OF, UH, PROJECT AT 900 SP STREET.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU.
AND, UH, UH, WE'LL HAVE STAFF'S PRESENTATION FIRST, AND THEN, UH, IF YOU ARE THE, UH, FIRST SPEAKER IN FAVOR, THEN WE'LL, UH, GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE AT THAT TIME.
ITEM NUMBER 10 AT 900 SPENCE STREET IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1915 CONTRIBUTING BUILDING, THE 1985 WILLOW SPENCE NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT NOMINATION DESCRIBES THE PROPERTY AS ONE STORY WOOD FRAME HOUSE WITH A HIP ROOF.
A PORCH SUPPORTED BY WOODEN COLUMNS IS LOCATED ACROSS THE EASTERN THREE FIFTH TO THE FRONT FACADE.
THE HISTORIC RESOURCES OF EAST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION DESCRIBES THE BUILDING AS AN EXEMPLAR OF THE PARAMETAL COTTAGE STYLE.
THIS HOUSE ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED AS EIGHT 10.
SPENCE WAS BUILT IN 1915 BY ALFRED CAROLINE, OH, ALFRED AND CAROLINE JOHNSON.
ALFRED JOHNSON WORKED AS AN ENGINEER AT THE SOUTHLAND ICE COMPANY.
THE JOHNSONS LIVED IN THE HOME FOR 20 YEARS, AFTER WHICH TIME IT BECAME A RENTAL.
MARTHA ANN SPEAR PURCHASED THE HOUSE AFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, NACE IN 1943.
SHE TOOK IN RENTERS FOR EXTRA INCOME AND LIVED IN THE HOME UNTIL HER DEATH.
IN 1957, BASTROP NATIVES, BERNARDINO, CASAR, ROMO, AND SANTOS S ROMO PURCHASED THE HOUSE IN 1957.
[01:15:01]
1945, THE ROMO FAMILY HAD EIGHT CHILDREN.BERNARD BERNARDINO SERVED ON THE PALM SCHOOL PTA BOARD.
HE ALSO WORKED AS AN UPHOLSTER.
WHEN THE FAMILY MOVED INTO 900 SPENCE AROUND 1959, THE ROMOS RETAINED OWNERSHIP TOGETHER UNTIL BERNARDINO ROMO'S DEATH AT AGE 97 IN 2017.
AND SANTOS ROMO KEPT THE HOME UNTIL HER OWN DEATH IN 2021.
THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE WILLOW SPENCE NATIONAL REGISTER.
DISTRICT AND STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE NATIONAL FOLK STYLE.
WHILE IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, THE COMMISSION MAY WISH TO CONSIDER FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE ROMO FAMILY.
THE HOUSE'S OCCUPANCY HISTORY IS ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE SETTLEMENT PATENT OF THE DISTRICT.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, UH, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
DEMOLITION PERMITS IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT MAY NOT BE PULLED UNTIL THE PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE HLC.
ALTERNATIVELY, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS POSTPONEMENT TO THE PUBLIC POSTPONEMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JULY 5TH TO INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES TO TOTAL DEMOLITION.
UM, AT THIS POINT WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, THE APPLICANT MAY, UH, HAVE MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION.
UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CAPTAIN WARREN, AND I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FULL DEMOLITION PROJECT AT 900 SPENCE STREET.
AS MENTIONED, THE CURRENT HO HOUSE IS BUILT IN 1960 AND IS ON A P IN BEAN FOUNDATION, MOVING ON A WOOD FRAME STRUCTURE.
THE HOUSE HAS BEEN VACANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IS, AND IS UNHA INHABITABLE BEING AN, BEING AN INHABITABLE HOME IS DRAWN IN THE HOMELESS AND IS AN, AND IS AN EYESORE AND NUISANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE PROVIDED A LETTER FROM OUR ENGINEER THAT HAS OUTLINED THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.
WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED PHOTOS THAT WILL SHOW THE DETERIORATION, THE DETERIORATING CONDITIONS.
THE HOMEOWNER HAS LOOKED AT OPTIONS TO RESTORE THE EXISTING HOME.
HOWEVER, THE COST TO REPAIR OR RESTORE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WOULD BE COSTLY AND WOULD ALSO CAUSE A FINANCIAL BURDEN.
WE RESPECT, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST OUR APPLICATION FOR FULL DEMOTION DEMOLITION PERMIT TO BE APPROVED.
UH, MS. WARREN, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UH, ARE YOU THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY OR DO YOU REPRESENT THE OWNER? I AM REPRESENTING THE OWNER.
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THEY'VE OWNED THIS PROPERTY? THEY BOUGHT IT IN 2021, SO SHORTLY AFTER I, I THINK THE, UH, ORIGINAL HOMEOWNER PASSED.
AND, UM, SO IT'S CURRENT CONDITION, UH, THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE BEEN THE OWNERS, UH, THROUGH ITS CURRENT CONDITION, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOLITION? OH, IS THERE ANOTHER QUESTION? YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, IT'S MS. WARREN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ENGINEER'S LETTER IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH WHERE HE, MR. DUFFY BEGINS BY SAYING THE FOUNDATION APPEARS MUST BE REPLACED WITH PIERCE BUILT TO CURRENT STANDARDS, THAT IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT.
AND SO FOR FUTURE CORRESPONDENCE TO THIS BODY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE ENGINEER TO HAVE HIS FACTS CORRECT BEFORE HE PRESENTS IT.
AND YOUR, YOUR, MAYBE TO CONTINUE THE LINE OF THINKING, COMMISSIONER, UH, SINCE YOU ARE ALSO A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, UH, WHAT WOULD BE THE, UH, MORE APPROPRIATE TERMINOLOGY IN THIS CASE? WELL, I MEAN THE, THE BUILDING CAN BE RESTORED, LIKE, AND KIND AS A HISTORIC STRUCTURE.
IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BUILT TO CURRENT STANDARDS, WHICH THAT'S JUST A FACT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S PER CODE? PER CODE, CORRECT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT?
UH, HAS THE OWNER CONSIDERED MAYBE DEVELOPING THE BACKSIDE OF THE LOT INSTEAD OF THE FRONT? MAYBE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST SAW, WHERE THE FRONT PROPERTY IS LEFT INTACT.
THIS HOME SEEMS TO HAVE ALLEY ACCESS, UH, VERY, PRETTY MUCH OFF OF A FRONTAGE ROAD TIED 35.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING QUITE FEASIBLE.
OTHER PROPERTIES DIRECTLY BEHIND IT SEEM TO ALREADY DO THIS.
SO AGAIN, A QUESTION TO THE APPLICANT, ONLY CONSIDERATION THE QUESTION IS, UM, CONSIDERING THAT THEY'RE ALREADY ON SPENCE, INCLUDING
[01:20:01]
YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, UH, RESTORED HOUSES WITH DEVELOPED, UH, REAR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, IS THAT A OPTION THAT THIS OWNER HAS OR WOULD BE CONSIDERING AT THIS TIME? NO, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY, WE CAN DEFINITELY DISCUSS.ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AND ARE THERE ANY, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK, UH, ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? IF NOT, THEN WE'LL HAVE ANYBODY SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
NOTE THAT WE ALREADY HAD ONE SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WE DID, UH, HAVE TO TAKE HER TESTIMONY EARLIER.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THERE'S ALSO, UM, A DOMINIQUE LAVESQUE WHO SIGNED IT UP.
I THINK SHE'S ONLINE CURRENTLY.
AND IS THAT, UH, IN OPPOSITION? IN FAVOR.
AND HE, AND HE WAS POSTPONED LAST MINUTE.
SO IF HE'S NOT AVAILABLE, THEN WE WILL NOT TAKE HIS TESTIMONY.
UH, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE DID HEAR OPPOSITION, UH, I WILL, UH, ALLOW THE APPLICANT, UH, IF SHE, UH, UH, WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TIME TO REBUTTAL, I WILL, UH, AFFORD YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UH, AND OTHER THAN JUST THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HOMEOWNER HAS LOOKED AT OPTIONS TO RESTORE.
UM, AND, AND WE DO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, IT, IT IS A SMALL HOME.
IT IS A TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH AND, AND, AND ANYTHING NOWADAYS JUST NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.
UM, SO THE HOMEOWNERS REALLY TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE TODAY'S FAMILY TO GROW IN TODAY'S FAMILY.
AND, AND, AND I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK WITH, UM, THIS COMMITTEE AND TRY TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH OF, MUCH OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME UPDATED TO TODAY'S LIVING STANDARDS.
UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FURTHER TO POSTPONE SINCE THE APPLICANT SEEMS INTERESTED IN PRESENTING AN ALTERNATIVE.
UH, SO I THINK THEN WE WOULD, WE HAVE TO DO THE FIRST AND THEN I WOULD NOT MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU MOVE TO LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AND POSTPONED TO OUR JULY MEETING? CORRECT, BECAUSE I WOULD SECOND THAT.
I'LL ACCEPT THAT MOTION, UH, TO POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING, UH, AND MAINTAIN THE PUB OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
UH, WOULD YOU CARE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION? NO, I THINK IT'S PRETTY APPARENT THAT, UH, TO YOUR QUESTION, THE APPLICANT SEEMED INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT IT.
WE SHOULD GIVE THE APPLICANT OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT.
I ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO LOOK AT THE, UH, EXAMPLE THAT WE JUST PASSED AT, UH, 1 1 0 7 EAST 10TH.
HOW, HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO KEEP THAT STRUCTURE THERE IN THE FRONT.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS ONE IS, OH THIS ONE, WOULD THIS ONE BE CONTRIBUTING? AND THAT WASN'T DISCUSSED EXPLICITLY, BUT WELL, THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN THE FRONT.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN, KEEPING THAT IN PLACE AND ALLOWING FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE BACK IS PREFERRED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH,
SO, UM, THIS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE ON THE EAST AUSTIN RESOURCE SURVEY INDIVIDUALLY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO FOR MENTIONING THAT, UH, I'LL PASS THAT ON.
IF YOU WOULD, UH, MS. WARREN TO YOUR OWNERS THAT, UM, IF THEY STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OR A HOUSE THAT THEY PURCHASED IN A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT WAS KNOWN TO THEM WHEN THEY PURCHASED THIS HOUSE.
THIS, THIS BUILDING WAS ALREADY IN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANTAGES AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE DESIGNATED PROPERTIES AS A, NOT JUST A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, BUT POTENTIALLY A LANDMARK STRUCTURE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD, UH, CERTAINLY WE ARE GONNA TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT ON ANY PROPOSAL THAT THIS OWNER BRINGS IN FRONT OF US.
UH, I THINK IT SORT OF STANDS TO REASON THAT THE PREFERENCE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MAINTAINS THE HOUSE, RESTORES IT, AND THEN, UH, BUT IN THE PROCESS, AS THERE ARE OTHER GOOD EXAMPLES, UH, HAVE APPROPRIATE WAYS OF, UH, ALLOWING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REAR OF THE HOUSE.
UH, THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE BY THE ALLEY, AND THAT WOULD BE A WAY
[01:25:01]
OF, UH, UH, IF YOU WILL, HAVING, UH, ALL THE GOALS MET.AND SO, UH, WE ARE GONNA BE, I, I WILL SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT I VERY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THIS OWNER TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FULL RESOURCES OF THIS COMMISSION.
UH, WE HAVE AN ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH MEETS, UH, IN BETWEEN THESE TWO MEETINGS.
AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER GOOD WAY TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
CHAIR COMMISSIONER CASTILLO HAS THIS HAND RAISED AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, THANK YOU.
JUST, UH, REAL QUICK, I THINK IF THERE'S A QUESTION OR IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENGINEER'S REPORT, UM, MAYBE WE COULD PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON WHAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE IN THAT REPORT, UH, MOVING FORWARD THAT WAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S, WHAT'S PROVIDED.
UH, COMMISSIONER ROCHE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOME TO THAT? WELL, I JUST THINK THAT WITH HISTORIC STRUCTURES, RESTORATION AND LIKING KIND IS PERMITTED PER CODE THAT'S PERMITTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE.
IT'S PERMITTED IN THE CITY STANDARDS.
AND, AND SO I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE UPGRADED TO CURRENT STANDARDS.
THAT IMPLIES AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN THAT I DON'T THINK IS REALIZED.
AND HAVING RESTORED A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES OF THAT TYPE AND BRINGING THOSE FOUNDATIONS UP TO CODE AS WELL, IN AND OF ITSELF, THAT'S NOT A BURDEN NECESSARILY.
THAT'S JUST GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF AN OWNER IS MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTY.
UH, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THOUGH OF HISTORIC NATURE, UH, THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE UNDONE MAY BE BENEFICIAL.
SO, BUT I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION IN THE REPORT AT LEAST.
UM, IT DOES MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THERE'S A LOT MORE PROBLEMS PERHAPS THAN WHEN YOU REALLY READ AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
YOU GOTTA FIX YOUR FOUNDATION, RIGHT?
SO, UH, UH, THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING AND WE'VE HEARD DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, CHAIR, CHAIR AND STAFF.
CAN I GET A POINT OF ORDER THAT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 18 5 0 1 TEXAS AVENUE DID PASS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I JUST HAPPEN TO RECOGNIZE THE OWNER FROM LAST MONTH AND REALIZE THEY MIGHT BE STILL HANGING OUT, WAITING FOR THEIR AGENDA ITEM, SO, OH, OKAY.
WE MOVE FAST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AGENDA, SO YOU GOTTA KEEP UP WITH US.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WAITING, BUT YES, YOUR MOTION HAS PASSED.
QUESTION, UH, CHAIR SETH, UH, MICHELLE ROSE OR THE APPLICANT'S REMINDED THAT IF THEY WERE ON CONSENT AND PASSED, THAT THEY ARE FREE TO GO? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, I SHOULD SAY THAT MORE, ENFORCE MORE EMPHATICALLY.
UH, WHEN WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOUR ITEM WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT HAS PASSED AND YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE, UH, AND FOLLOWING OBVIOUSLY THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE MOTION OR STAY AND LISTEN AND YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO STAY
WE HAVE SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS COMING UP FOR SURE.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM,
[11. PR-2024-033568 – 1409 Alta Vista Ave.]
UH, LET'S SEE, THIS WAS NUMBER 10.THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 11, AND THIS IS AT 1409 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
THIS IS A PROPERTY IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, AND IT IS, UH, POSTPONED FROM OUR MAY MEETING.
UH, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS A TOTAL DEMOLITION, UH, STAFF.
THANK YOU, CHAIR 1409 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
UM, THIS CASE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1926 HOUSE.
THIS IS A ONE STORY CRAFTSMAN WITH HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING, SCREENED WOOD WINDOWS, DECORATIVE SHUTTERS, A HOODED ENTRYWAY WITH DECORATIVE BRACKETS AND ECLIPSED GD ROOF.
THE HOUSE AT 1409 ALTA VISTA WAS BUILT AROUND 1926 UNTIL 1947.
ITS OCCUPANTS WERE MOSTLY SHORT-TERM OWNERS AND RENTERS, INCLUDING AN ENGINEER, A STATE HIGHWAY INSPECTOR, AN OFFICE MANAGER, AND A MECHANIC.
THE HOME WAS THEN PURCHASED BY FRANK AND LAURA CONNOLLY.
FRANK CONNOLLY WAS THE EDITOR, OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF THE TEXAS TAX JOURNAL.
WHILE LAURA WORKED BOTH AT THE JOURNAL AND AS A RED CROSS NURSE.
THE CONNOLLY SOLD THE HOME IN THE LATE 1950S TO ANNA AND WILLIAM DUNCAN.
WILLIAM DUNCAN WORKED AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS NATIONAL TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT WITH STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ADAPTIVE REUSE AND REHABILITATION, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION
[01:30:01]
MUST REVIEW PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS BEFORE THE PERMIT IS RELEASED.UM, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE, UM, APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEIR MOTION FOR THEIR A GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I REPRESENT THE OWNER WHO PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY ABOUT, UH, 18 MONTHS AGO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BEEN, UH, BEFORE THIS COMMISSION, BEFORE I HAVE SUBMITTED A LETTER, OR BASED UPON THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE, UH, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
AND I'M SORRY TO, UH, BE HERE TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT THE NEW OWNER DOES NOT SHARE THE, UH, PREVIOUS OWNER'S, UH, ENTHUSIASM FOR, UH, TRYING TO REHABILITATE THE BUILDING BASED ON THE EVALUATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE, UM, SITUATION THAT EXISTS NOW WITH THE NEW ORDINANCES THAT ARE BEING PASSED.
AND THEN IT WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEMOLITION, UM, NOTING THAT IT IS A STRUCTURE THAT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC AND, UM, IT IS IN FAIRLY POOR CONDITION.
UH, BUT THAT IS TYPICAL OF BUILDINGS THAT, OF THIS AGE.
AND IT HAS, UH, STRUCTURAL, UH, PROBLEMS BEING BUILT INTO THE HILL BACK OF IT.
IT IS ON A, UH, RATHER, UH, IT'S IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS WHERE YOU EXPECT IT'S ON A, A VERY CHALLENGING SITE.
AND, UM, THE AREA BEHIND THE BUILDING IS NOT, UH, QUITE LARGE ENOUGH FOR AN A DU OR A EVEN ANOTHER HOME TWO, UH, WHERE IT WOULD BE TWO ADDITIONAL UNITS.
SO THIS OWNER WANTS TO REDEVELOP THIS INTO A THREE UNIT PROJECT AND, UH, HE'LL OF COURSE WORK WITH THE COMMISSION ON ANY PLANS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS ANY CONFUSION.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THAT'S THE OB PROPOSAL THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
UH, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER LAROCHE? WELL, YOU KNEW YOU'RE GONNA GET MY ATTENTION WHEN YOU SAID YOU HAD STRUCTURAL CONCERNS AT THE REAR OF THE HOUSE, SO MAYBE YOU CAN EXPAND ON WHAT THOSE ARE.
WELL, THE, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES, THE HOUSE, UH, IS BUILT INTO THE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE WOOD SIDING BUILT INTO THE, INTO THE, INTO THE HILL THERE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S TO THE CONCERN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BACK ADDITION, THERE'VE BEEN MANY ADDITIONS TO THIS HOUSE IS THROUGH THE YEARS.
AND THIS BACK EDITION IS, UH, LET'S SAY SUSPECT.
WE HAVEN'T DONE IT, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EXPERTISE, SIR.
WE HAVE NOT GONE TO THAT EXTENT BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THE HOUSE IS A NON-CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND IS, UH, UH, DOES NOT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL HISTORIC, UH, WE, UH, REQUIRE UNDERSTOOD, UNDERSTOOD.
UH, BASED ON THE PHOTOGRAPH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I WOULD GIVE RISE TO A STRUCTURAL CONCERN, BUT THAT'S ALL, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I, I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY EXPERIENCES
I DO WANNA CLARIFY, YOU SAID A NON-CONTRIBUTING? IT IS ACTUALLY LISTED AS A CONTRIBUTING, IS IT LISTED AS AS CONTRIBUTING.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY, HEARING NONE, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? NO, IT'S IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOLITION AREA.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEMOLITION WHO IS AGAINST DEMOLITION? ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP ONLINE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? THIS IS 1409 ALTA VISTA AVENUE.
ITEM NUMBER 11? YES, WE SHOULD HAVE MR. CLIFTON LAD.
HE WAS SIGNED UP, BUT HE HAS NOT POP POPPED UP IN THE QUEUE, SO I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S PRESENT.
CAN WE JUST CALL HIS NAME ONE MORE TIME, MR. LAD IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE.
IT APPEARS THAT HE IS NOT, UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UM, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, BE AWARE THIS WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR MAY 1ST MEETING.
THIS IS IN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
SO ONE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE A CONTINUING POSTPONEMENT, UH, STAFF.
WOULD YOU REMIND US AGAIN ON THE
[01:35:01]
TIMING ON THIS ONE CHAIR? WE CAN CHECK ON THE TIMING, BUT SAM IS GONNA TRY AND GET IN TOUCH WITH MR. LAD.UM, IF WE DON'T GET, UH, HIM ON IN THE NEXT MINUTE, A COUPLE OF SECONDS, WE'RE GOING TO, UM, OBTAIN MOTIONS.
ONE OF THEM WOULD BE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOVE.
AND IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
COMMISSIONER ROCHE, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO COMMISSIONERS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A, UH, MOTION AND STAFF.
DO YOU HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE A QUICK CLARIFICATION ON FILING DATES AND THE EXTENT OF OUR TIMING WOULD BE IF THIS WERE, IF POSTPONEMENT WERE THE OPTION.
IT CAN BE POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER 28TH.
UH, UH, WOULD REQUIRE US TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH THAT MOTION IF THAT IS, UH, COMMISSION'S DESIRE, OR WE COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
OTHERWISE, I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THIS UNTIL OUR JULY MEETING.
UH, UH, A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
I, AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WHAT THE PATH OF THIS ONE IS NECESSARILY, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE ONE RUNWAY IN FRONT OF US, AND I THINK THAT THIS WHOLE HOUSE DESERVES IT.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO? YEAH, I AGREE.
I AM, I REALLY THINK THAT THE OWNER SHOULD TRY TO COME TO THE A RC MEETING AS WELL.
UH, JUST SO WE CAN LOOK AT THEIR OPTIONS.
I SEE THIS GIANT TREE IN FRONT.
I DON'T KNOW IT'S DIAMETER, IF IT'S A HERITAGE TREE OR NOT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR SETBACKS, BUT A LOT OF, A BIG PART OF THIS SITE SAYS MAYBE THIS IS, BESIDES BUILDING UP AND ADDING AN ADDITION, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH.
PERHAPS THE BACK PART OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS IN THE, HAVING THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE SLOPE, UH, COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO SOME TYPE OF ADDITION, WHEREAS THE STRUCTURE IN THE FRONT, UH, CERTAINLY THE, THE CHARACTER, UH, DEFINING FACADE, UH, BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT IN SOME CREATIVE WAY, UH, LOOKS LIKE THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION.
WE COULD ENCOURAGE THE OWNER TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THAT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO HOP IN AND MAKE THAT AMENDMENT TO THE DATE.
IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE SEPTEMBER 14TH.
SO AS FAR AS THE APPLICATION, BASED ON THE, THE FILING, IT'LL BE SEPTEMBER? THAT'S CORRECT.
WELL, WE, WE DON'T REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, DRAWINGS TO COME AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THEY WILL BE REVIEWED LATER.
RIGHT? THE NATIONAL PROCESS, THE NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT WE'RE GONNA APPROVE A DEMOLITION AND NOT SEE WHAT'S, WHAT'S GOING THERE.
SO I, YEAH, IT'S ENCOURAGED THAT, UH, OWNERS BRING BOTH AND OFTENTIMES THERE'S A GOOD CASE TO BE MADE WHEN THEY BOTH ARE AVAILABLE, BUT, UH, A STAFF CAN CLARIFY.
THEY CAN'T PULL THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
SO THE DEMOLITION PERMIT, UM, CAN BE ACTED UPON BY THE APPLICANT, BUT IT CAN BE, UH, RELEASED BY THE COMMISSION.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING, UH, WITH AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO, UH, HAVE THE OWNER CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED, SO IT IS UNANIMOUS.
ALRIGHT, UH, THAT IS POSTPONED.
AND, UH, THE NEXT DISCUSSION CASE IS ITEM NUMBER,
[14. HR-2024-048021 – 1519 Alameda Dr.]
NUMBER 14.THAT IS 1519 ALAMEDA DRIVE, AND THAT'S AGAIN IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, 1519 ALAMEDA DRIVE.
ITEM 14, IT'S A PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT
[01:40:01]
A NEW HOUSE AND A POOL.UH, THE PROPOSED NEW HOUSE IS THREE STORIES, INCLUDING A HABITABLE BASEMENT AND GARAGE BENEATH THE TWO MAIN FLOORS.
MATERIALS INCLUDE CONCRETE AND STUCCO WITH VERTICAL WOOD ACCENTS.
ALTERNATELY, VERTICAL SEAMED, METAL AND STONE ARE PROPOSED AS ACCENTS AS WELL.
THE ROSE BUILDING COMPRISES THREE RECTANGULAR MASSES WITH FLAT ROOFS, VARYING HEIGHTS.
FENESTRATION INCLUDES UNDIVIDED CORNER AND VERTICAL WINDOWS, A FRONT FACING GARAGE AND AN OBSCURED FRONT DOOR TOP ATOP A WALLED STAIRCASE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT MEETS SOME, BUT NOT ALL OF THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UH, HEARING NONE, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, UH, IS THE APPLICANT AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS THE, UH, REQUEST? YES.
WE'RE ACTING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE OWNER AND THE ARCHITECT, UH, JOHN BOSSON OUT OF LONDON.
UM, AND OUR ROLE IN THIS IS LOCAL REPRESENTATION AS WELL AS, UH, THE BUILDER FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS.
UM, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S STILL A COUPLE OPTIONS WE'RE WEIGHING.
WE'VE NARROWED THAT DOWN TO A WOODEN AND STUCCO PALLET AS WELL, AND POTENTIAL REMOVAL OF THE POOL IN THE REAR.
UM, KIND OF SOME OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES WITH THIS SITE, UM, IS AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, SOME STEEP TOPOGRAPHY TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE LOT.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THOSE LIMITATIONS AS WELL AS THE PROTECTED SIZE TREES UP FRONT.
UM, AND SOME CONSIDERATION, OF COURSE TO THE STREET FRONTAGE.
SO PRIMARILY MASSING HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO THE REAR OF THE LOT, THUS INCREASING THE OVERALL MASS, RIGHT? SO WE'RE DIGGING INTO THERE PUTTING OUR GARAGE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR.
UM, THERE IS PRECEDENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR TALLER STRUCTURES, SPECIFICALLY ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET DUE TO THE, THE TOPOGRAPHY, JUST KIND OF THE NATURE OF BUILDING IN THAT NATURALLY IT'S GONNA, UH, COME UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE SURROUNDING STRUCTURES.
UM, BYPRODUCT OF THAT IS WE ARE EFFECTIVELY, UH, GIVING OURSELVES A 50 FOOT, ALMOST 50 FOOT SETBACK ON THAT.
SO OUR 25 FOOT SETBACK PLUS THE MAIN BUILDING FACADE REALLY DOESN'T START UNTIL FURTHER BACK ANOTHER ALMOST ADDITIONAL 25 FEET.
UM, LET'S SEE, UH, AGAIN, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PRECEDENTS FOR FLAT ROU ALONG THAT STREET AS WELL.
UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS ON ALMEDA STREET, MOST NOTABLY 14 12, 14 14 EDA.
UM, A COUPLE OTHER ENTRAPS HEIGHTS, SOME OF THOSE IMPLEMENTING FLAT ROOFS.
UM, THE STYLE, UH, ADMITTEDLY NOT EXACTLY IN TUNE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MATCH SOME OF THE MATERIALITY BY STICKING WITH WOOD SIDING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH IT.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS IN YOUR PRESENTATION PACKET, YOU SHOW SEVERAL, UH, HOUSES THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, BUT NONE OF THOSE ARE HISTORIC HOUSES.
NONE OF THOSE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT YOU'RE BUILDING IN, IS THAT CORRECT? I, I'M NOT SURE THE ARCHITECTS PROVIDED THOSE FOR US.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOT AND O OTHER NON CONTRIBUTING, NON APPROPRIATE BUILDINGS, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE DOES NOT MAKE THEM CONTRIBUTING, DOES NOT GIVE US PRECEDENT.
SO, UH, I JUST, MAYBE THERE'S SOME CLARIFICATION THAT COULD BE MADE IN THAT IF THEY'RE GONNA BE USING THAT AS A REFERENCE.
I THINK THE INTENT IS THE REFERENCE JUST FOR MATERIAL, WELL, MATERIALITY AND OVERALL MASSING AS FAR AS WASN'T LIMITATIONS OF BUILDING ON A HILLSIDE.
UM, IT, THIS, IS THIS REPLACING LIKE A TWO STORY WITH THE GARAGE BELOW IT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DEMOLISHED STRUCTURE? LIKE WHAT? THIS, WHEN I PULL UP THE SITE ON GOOGLE MAP, THE SITE'S CURRENTLY VACANT.
IT WAS DEMOED, I BELIEVE IN 2011.
AND DID YOU SAY THE POOL IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR REMOVAL FROM THE PLAN? THAT IS CORRECT.
[01:45:02]
NO, THAT WOULD BE, YEAH.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMISSIONERS? NO, I THINK I, I WANNA JUST MAKE A COMMENT THAT, UM, YOU, I, I INFERRED BY YOUR TONE THAT YOU WERE GIVING US A A, THAT IT WAS A POSITIVE THAT, UM, YOU'RE INCURRING A DEEPER SETBACK THAN IS TECHNICALLY REQUIRED.
AND I JUST, AGAIN, I'M, I WAS READING INTO YOUR TONE A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DO WANNA PUSH BACK ON THAT, THAT I THINK A, A CLOSER PRESENTING THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, THE ACCESS TO THE HOUSE IS CLOSER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE STREET, IS ACTUALLY A POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE FOR, FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
UM, SO I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE A, A FURTHER SETBACK AS A INTRINSICALLY GOOD THING COMMENT.
I'M, I'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL, UH, SURE.
AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I, I THINK AT, AT THE VERY LEAST, UH, HAS THERE BEEN A CONSIDERATION, UH, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HAIR IN THE WAY THAT THAT DESIGN HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER.
ARCHITECT, I CAN APPRECIATE THE INTEGRITY OF THAT DESIGN ITSELF.
LOOKING AT THE STREET, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT BELONGS ANYWHERE CLOSE.
AND HAS THERE BEEN ANY ATTEMPT OR WOULD YOU IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS BE WILLING TO ACTUALLY SHOW US A STREET PROFILE AS MANY OF OUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS DO SHOW, OR YOU CAN INDICATE WHAT THIS WOULD ACTUALLY DO IN CONTEXT, UH, IN THAT ACTUAL STREET FRONTAGE.
THERE ARE SOME NONCONFORMING PROPERTIES ALONG THE STREET, AS I CAN TELL, BUT IN ITS IMMEDIATE VICINITY, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S NEXT DOOR.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS BEING PRESERVED AS CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES AND WHAT THIS WOULD DO IN THAT PATTERN.
IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, BUT I ALSO WOULD SAY IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS, I REALLY WANNA SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY TO KNOW WHETHER CHANGING MATERIALS PROBABLY IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE.
IT HAS TO DO WHETHER THIS TYPE OF BUILDING IN THE WAY IT'S BEING PROPOSED CAN AND, AND, AND POTENTIALLY COULD BE IN HARMONY WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, A HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND IT EITHER IS OR ISN'T AND WILL KNOW, I THINK REALLY BETTER BY SEEING IT IN THAT CONTEXT.
SURE, YOU'VE GOT BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATIONS EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT NOWHERE DO I SEE THOSE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS AND THE WAY THAT THIS RELATES IS DESIGNED TO RELATE TO THEM.
UH, WE, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT IF NEED BE.
UM, IT'S PRETTY EVIDENT, OF COURSE, ON EITHER SIDE IMMEDIATELY LEFT AND RIGHT OF THAT PROPERTY THAT NO, THOSE STRUCTURES DO NOT SHARE ANY SIMILARITIES WITH THIS.
BUT MOVING NORTH ON ELA DRIVE, THERE'S, LIKE, JUST ON GOOGLE STREET, RIGHT, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS.
SOME HAVE FLAT ROOFS, LARGER OPENINGS TO PREVIOUS POINT, YES, THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES, BUT THEY DO SHARE SIMILARITIES TO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTION TO THE APPLICANT? JUST ONE BY COMMENT.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGING THE, UH, AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS DESIGN, IT LOOKS VERY NICE, BUT BEING THAT THIS IS AN ARCHITECT THAT APPARENTLY IS IN LONDON, UH, I'M, I'M JUST WONDERING IF THEY'RE AWARE OF THE HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS, IF THEY'VE BEEN INFORMED AND, UH, WHAT THAT ENTAILS.
YES, AND THAT'S BEEN PART OF OUR ROLE, RIGHT? TRYING TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH, UH, CITY OF BOSTON CODE AS IT PERTAINS TO HISTORICAL AS WELL AS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
UM, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, UM, GENERALLY THE STYLE THAT THIS ARCHITECT WORKS IN IS VERY CONTEMPORARY.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE HOMEOWNER'S VERY INTERESTED IN PURSUING.
AND I, I, I CAN'T THINK OF A PLACE WHERE WE'VE SAID A CONTEMPORARY DESIGN IS APPROPRIATE, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, I DON'T THINK THAT JUST STYLE ALONE IS HOW YOU RELATE TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AND I THINK THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF CONTEXT IN TERMS OF SCALE, UH, PROPORTION AND, UH, EVEN SOME OF THE, UH, PLACEMENT OF SOME OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THIS ARCHITECT IS, IS, IS AT THAT POINT IN HIS CAREER AND WILLING TO BE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY PUSH THEMSELVES.
I, I WOULD WANNA SEE WHAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE OR THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERED AND IT, AND IT SOMEHOW ESCAPES ME IN, IN TRYING TO PLACE THAT, UH, STRUCTURE WE'RE SEEING HERE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ITS, OF ITS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD, PART OF THE SETBACK.
[01:50:01]
THE EXTENDED SETBACK ON THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR EXISTING CURB CUT, CURB CUTS AND THE PROTECTED SIZE TREES ON THE FRONT.SO THAT REALLY LIMITS WHERE WE CAN PUT THAT TO.
UM, TO YOUR POINT, MAYBE FURTHER ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST OPTION, BUT WE ARE LIMITED WE WHERE WE CAN BE.
AND THEN BEING A VACANT LOT, THERE ISN'T AN EXISTING FOOTPRINT THAT WE CAN GET GRANDFATHERED IN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, UH, OF THE APPLICATION? THANK YOU.
IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP, UH, VIRTUALLY IN OPPOSITION? YES.
HELLO COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
UM, THIS IS SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS HEIGHT, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL HISTOR, REGISTERED HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THE NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT I AM OPPOSED TO THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION AS A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY MADE AND SO I WON'T ELABORATE TOO MUCH ON ANY OF THOSE, BUT FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, WE ARE CONCERNED.
AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS MADE A NUMBER OF CHANGES, UM, AND HAS ALLUDED TO SOME OTHER HOMES THAT MIGHT APPEAR SIMILAR, THE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT IS APPROACHING ITS THIRD BIRTHDAY, FIFTH DECEMBER, AND MOST OF THOSE HOMES WERE BUILT PRIOR TO THAT.
NOW THAT WE ARE, UM, IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MAINTAIN THE CONTRIBUTING HOMES THAT WE CAN.
AND SO ASK THE APPLICANT TO DO THEIR PART TO FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT IT IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT AND TO HELP MAINTAIN OUR, UH, OUR INTEGRITY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE IN OPPOSITION? ANYBODY ELSE ONLINE? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, UH, WE, UH, CAN AFFORD THE APPLICANT A CHANCE FOR REBUTTAL IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO ADD IS, UM, JUST BEING WELL AWARE WHAT THE PROCESS IS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DID REACH OUT, UH, SPECIFICALLY TO MS. ARMSTRONG BACK ON OCTOBER 23RD.
UM, NOT ME PERSONALLY, BUT ONE OF THE COLLEAGUES IN MY OFFICE AND WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN PRESENTED, UH, TO US.
UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS, BUT, UH, I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU ALL TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE PERHAPS ENHANCED DISCUSSION AT THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UH, A POSTPONEMENT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT IF, UM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE APPLICANT WOULD BE WILLING OR INTERESTED IN BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
I WILL MOVE TO LEAVE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING.
AND WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT, WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT ATTEND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, THAT MOTION NEEDS A SECOND.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK HAS MOTION TO POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING, UH, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON.
ANY DISCUSSION? I I DON'T SEE MUCH HOPE FOR THIS.
UH, IT'S SUCH A CLEAR AND STRONG STYLE PICKED BY AN ARCHITECT WHO OBVIOUSLY HANDPICKED BECAUSE OF THE PROVIDE THIS STYLE.
UM, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE VERY STRONG STATEMENTS IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUCH, SUCH EXTREMES.
UM, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST GIVE IT A CHANCE, MR. PATTERSON.
UH, YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S EASY TO JUST SAY IT'S MODERN, THEREFORE IT DOESN'T BELONG IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT A DESIGN CAN REFLECT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS.
UH, IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO MAKE CARBON COPIES ANYWAY.
THAT'S NOT PART OF WHAT WE AS PRESERVATIONISTS WANT.
[01:55:01]
OPPOSITE WOULD BE A A, A FALSE HISTORIC CONSTRUCTION THERE.UM, SO I, I THINK LOOKING AT THE LEVEL OF CREATIVITY THAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT, UH, AND MAYBE, MAYBE THE LONDON ARCHITECT DOES NEED TO SEE A STREET FACADE, UH, AND BE ABLE TO JUST, UH, SEE WHAT THAT, SEE WHAT THAT DOES AND SEE IF WE CAN OFFER A CHALLENGE.
UH, BUT I, I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT ITERATION THAT, UH, WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, CAN BE DEVELOPED AND CAN BE FINESSED IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE IT A BETTER NEIGHBOR IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANTED TO NOTE TO GIVE SOME, SOMETHING TO CHEW ON.
UH, I THINK THE ORIENTATION OF THIS BUILDING IS SETBACK OF THIS BUILDING BECAUSE OF THE TREES IS GONNA BE DIFFICULT TO BRING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE REST OF THE STREET ANYWAY.
THAT ONE APPROACH MAY BE TO MAKE IT DISAPPEAR ALTOGETHER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO AT LEAST NOT EXTRUDE, UH, INTO THE STREET.
IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BE ADAPTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BLENDS WITH THE REST OF THE STREET, AT LEAST MAYBE IT CAN BE SET BACK AND SCALED DOWN SO THAT IT'S NOT NOTICEABLE FROM THE STREET.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION, UH, THE MOTION IS TO MAINTAIN THE OPEN THE PUBLIC, KEEP OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND TO POSTPONE TO THE JULY MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED AND COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, DID YOU VOTE? IS IS THAT A, WHICH, WHICH ONE?
AND, UH, WE ARE IN FAVOR, GUYS.
I GOTCHA
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, UH, WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS ONE.
UH, THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM, UH, THAT WAS, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14.
[16. HR-2024-056413 – 2100 Travis Heights Blvd. ]
NUMBER 16, 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.UH, AGAIN, THIS IS THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS A PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND ADDITION THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
UH, AND, UH, THIS WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION STAFF.
THANK YOU CHAIR, UH, 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
THE PROPOSAL IS TO ENCLOSE THE FRONT PORCH AND REPLACE THE WINDOWS AT A CIRCA 1958 HOUSE.
UM, THE PROJECT ENCLOSES THE PORCH USING BRICK AND SIDING TO MATCH THE EXISTING EXTERIOR, UM, AND REPLACES THE WINDOWS TO MATCH THE NEW WINDOWS AT THE PORCH.
ENCLOSURE, THIS IS A ONE STORY BRICK BRICK CLA RANCH HOUSE WITH AN INTEGRAL PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH ALUMINUM, TWO OVER TWO WINDOWS AND A LOW SLOPED CROSS GABLE ROOF WITH DEEP EAVES.
THE HOUSE IS CONSTRUCTED IN 1958.
ITS EARLIEST RESIDENCE WERE ROY B ESTE AND HIS FAMILY WHO MOVED TO AUSTIN FROM BURNETT IN 1925, ESTE, A RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE, LIVED AT 2100 TRAVIS HEIGHTS WITH HIS WIFE UNTIL AT LEAST 1972.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS.
THE PROJECT MEETS SOME, BUT NOT ALL OF THE, THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UH, AND STAFF IS EVALUATED AT THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA, UM, TO BE DESIGNATED AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO COMMENT ON THE PLANS.
IS THE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? IS THE APPLICANT HERE? UM, PLEASE COME AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU REMEMBER, SO I'LL GO THROUGH WHAT I CAN.
UH, TOMMY RAGUSA, UH, THAT'S MY WIFE, ANGIE.
WE ARE THE OWNERS OF 2100 TRIBE SITES BOULEVARD AND HAVE BEEN THE OWNER SINCE 1999.
UH, THIS IS VIOLE STEP, BY THE WAY.
IF YOU WANNA SEE A PHOTO, WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE.
UM, WE, UH, WE BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN MAY 99, AND WE HAVE DONE A FEW THINGS TO IT.
LIKE I SAID, WE ADDED AC, WHICH WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE ENERGY AUDIT AT THAT TIME.
THEY DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE WINDOWS.
THESE WINDOWS ARE NOT ENERGY EFFICIENT AT ALL.
AND, UM, BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
WE DO TECHNICALLY HAVE A COVERED FRONT PORCH, SO THERE'S STILL AN EAVE, THERE'S STILL A CONCRETE PAD UNDERNEATH THAT EAVE.
UM, RANCH STYLE DESIGN DOES NOT REQUIRE A COVERED FRONT PORCH, AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SPECIFY ANY PARTICULAR SQUARE FOOTAGE OF WHAT THE FRONT PORCH SHOULD BE.
UH, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A FRONT PORCH THERE WITH A COVERED
[02:00:01]
EVE.UM, THAT WILL REMAIN THE WINDOWS.
AGAIN, WE HAVE TO USE THE MATERIALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY.
THEY'RE CERTAINLY BETTER THAN THEY WERE, UM, AT LEAST BETTER THAN THE CHOICES THAT VIOLET AND ROY COULD AFFORD AT THE TIME THEY BUILT THE HOME.
UH, WE'RE, WE ARE TRYING TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF IMPERVIOUS COVER, SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO KNOCK DOWN BRICK WALLS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 1958.
THAT IS JUST NOT SOMETHING WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT DOING.
WE'VE ASKED OUR BUILDER TO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN THERE WHERE HE DOES NOT HAVE TO TOUCH IT.
THIS IS SIMPLY TO REGAIN SOME SQUARE FOOTAGE, UM, OR GAIN MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE OUT OUR DAYS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SENIOR CITIZENS,
WE JUST NEED MORE SPACE TO HOST MORE PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST HARD TO LIVE IN A TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATHROOM HOME.
SO WE'RE ADDING BATHROOM AS WELL.
UM, MATERIALLY NOT CHANGING THE DESIGN OF THIS HOME.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY PHOTOS OF IT.
I KNOW WE SUBMITTED PHOTOS AND PLANS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, OUR, OUR, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.
WE MOVED INTO TRAVIS HEIGHTS FOR A REASON.
WE CAME FROM HOUSTON, WHERE WE'D LIVED IN A PLACE CALLED THE HEIGHTS, WAS A VERY SIMILAR TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THIS HOUSE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THE HISTORIC NATURE OF IT MEANS A LOT TO US.
SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE.
IN FACT, WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE CONTINUITY BETWEEN EVERYTHING WE DID, INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT WE BUILT IN 2015.
WE USED THE SAME RED BRICK, WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND.
UM, AND WE TRIED TO MATCH, YOU KNOW, DESIGN AND CONTINUITY AS BEST WE COULD.
SO WE'RE REALLY JUST DIALING UP, HONESTLY, WHAT I BELIEVE ROY AND VIOLET WOULD'VE WANTED HAD THEY HAD THE MONEY TO DO IT.
AND JUST MAKE THIS HOME A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND A LITTLE MORE SOUND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LIVE IN IT THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
IT'S REALLY NOT MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, APPLICANT? YEAH.
I, I THINK WITH SIMILAR CASE CAME TO A RCA COUPLE MONTHS AGO, UM, WHERE WE WORKED WITH THE OWNER TO GET THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
JUST A COUPLE TWEAKS HERE AND THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME OF US MAY BE OPPOSED TO INFO OF THESE PORCHES, BUT IT'S, IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AT A RC MM-HMM.
SO, UM, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO, TO COMING TO OUR NEXT A RC MEETING FOR THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, I KINDA FEEL LIKE THAT MOCKUP DESIGN DOES NOT REALLY REFLECT THE OTHER ONE.
UM, HOW BIG THAT, THAT EVE AND THAT FRONT PAD IS.
IT'S A LITTLE DECEIVING THERE, BUT ANYWAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY REMOVING A SECTION OF THAT FRONT PORCH AND, AND IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO ANGIE TO MATCH THE BRICK THAT WE'RE ASKING THE BUILDER TO REUSE THE BRICK HE'S TAKING OUTTA THOSE SECTIONS.
THAT'S HOW DEEPLY WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE CONTINUITY OF DESIGN HERE.
THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO THIS DESIGN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO.
AND IF WE REALLY DO ANYTHING BEYOND THOSE BRICK WALLS, WE'RE GONNA GET INTO AN IMPERVIOUS COVER ISSUE, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID AS WELL.
SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN SAY OR DESIGN THAT'S REALLY GONNA, UM, BE MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, HONESTLY.
YOU KNOW, I'M, I I, LET ME JUST JUMP IN 'CAUSE I, I CAN SEE IF, IF CONSIDERING THE CARE THAT YOU'RE TAKING WITH THE HOUSE AND I CAN SEE EXACTLY THE PLAN, UH, WHAT IT'S DOING TO HELP MAKE IT MORE LIVABLE FOR YOU.
UH, I, I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS, AT A GLANCE AS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, IS THERE A WAY, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE ENCLOSED THE FRONT PORCH MM-HMM.
IS THERE A WAY WITH THE WAY YOUR WINDOWS ARE PLACED OR EVEN POSSIBLY SOME ELEMENTS WHERE YOU DON'T USE THE BRICK, UH, SO THAT YOU KEEP THAT, THAT SAME FEEL OF THE MASSING EVEN THOUGH IT'S GLASS IN, UM, YEAH.
SO THAT PLANTER ON THE BOTTOM AS AN EXAMPLE.
AND I GOT, I MET WITH TWO OTHER STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS 'CAUSE I FLATLY DENIED THAT THAT WAS THE CASE.
AND I WAS LIKE, IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1958 SUPPORTING THE HOUSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, HE WAS LOOKING TO REMOVE THAT SECTION AND I FOUGHT TO KEEP IT, OR IF HE HAD, IF HE, IF YOU NEEDED TO FOR STRUCTURAL REASONS, EVEN REBUILD IT SO THAT YOU STILL HAD THAT CHARACTER AND THEN IT, IT'S GONNA REMAIN EXPANDED.
EXPANDED THE AMOUNT OF OPENING EVEN, UH, YEAH.
TO, TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS ONCE WAS A PORCH YEAH.
SO I, I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT THE A RC, OUR ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE IS WELL, UH, SET UP TO DO.
[02:05:01]
I MEAN, I, I'M LOVE, I LOVE GOOD IDEAS.
UM, I, YEAH, I, I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE HAD SOME TALKS, WE'RE DOING THIS, BY THE WAY, WITH CASH, SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE JUST GO BACK TO THE BANK FOR MORE MONEY.
WE'RE THIS, WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE.
SO, UM, THE, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GOING TO, AGAIN, I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COMMITTEE, BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE BUILDING.
IT MAY HAS MUCH MORE TO DO WITH THE COMPATIBILITY OF HOW IT'S DETAILED.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE AS PART OF A PHASE TWO.
YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT THIS HOUSE IS THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WERE SOME THINGS ABOUT IT THAT ARE PRETTY, UM, ANTIQUATED.
YOU KNOW, AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU PULL A, A FORERUNNER INTO THAT, INTO THAT GARAGE, YOU CAN'T EVEN OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT.
SO THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THIS HOME THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, IF IT WERE, IF WE WERE TRULY TO STAYING TO CONTINUITY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A AC WE WOULD STILL HAVE RUSTED UP METAL AWNINGS OVER ALL THE WINDOWS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A LOT, UM, THAT WE'VE HAD TO DO TO KIND OF UPDATE IT AND TO MAINTAIN IT.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THAT, BUT HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANYTHING.
IT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN THE HOME BY THE HOLIDAYS AND THIS IS REALLY NOT A COMPLICATED, UM, REMODEL.
AND IT MIGHT BE A BY DEFINITION OF DE PARTIAL DEMO, BUT I WOULD ARGUE TO SAY WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT LIKE A FIVE FOOT SECTION OF A WALL.
I I THINK THE HOPEFULLY ALL WILL BE, UH, UH, ADVANCED IN A MEETING OF THIS KIND AND IT WILL BE TIME WELL SPENT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION? YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING
IT'S, UH, TOMMY MENTIONED, UM, I THINK THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS, UM, THE HOUSE IS ABOUT 1100 SQUARE FEET.
WE'VE NEVER HAD A, A PROPER DINING ROOM OR A LIVING ROOM.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE IMPETUS REALLY FOR US TO, UH, ENCLOSE THE PORCH AGAIN WAS TO KEEP THE PLANTER BRICK, YOU KNOW, KEEP AS MUCH OF THAT BRICK AS WE CAN, BOTH FROM THE INSIDE OUTTA THE HOUSE.
SO IT LOOKS THE SAME, BUT IT'S SO WE CAN HAVE A REAL LIVING, LIVING ROOM.
I APPRECIATE WE TOOK ONE GLANCE AT THE PLANS.
I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANTED.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IF THIS IS TO BE POSTPONED, THEN WE'LL WANNA MAINTAIN, UH, KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.
I MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS TO THE JULY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO A RC MEETING.
UM, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.
JUST PLEASE BRING PHOTOS OF THE WORK IN THE FRONT AND OF THIS PLANTER.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WAS A PLANTER.
SO AS BRING LOTS OF PHOTOS SO WE CAN KIND OF WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A PLANTER.
SO BRING AS MUCH PHOTOS OF THE, OF THAT PORCH IN THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE ENCLOSING SO WE CAN KIND OF WALK THROUGH WITH THEM.
YOU HAVE SOME PHOTOS OF THE BACK OF THE HOUSE THAT WE DON'T REALLY, UH, WE NEED MORE IN THE FRONT.
COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ, ANY, UH, NOT MUCH.
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MAINTAIN THE FLOOR PLAN THAT THE OWNER WANTS AND, UH, INCREASE, UH, COMPATIBILITY OF, UH, OF THE STRUCTURE.
SINCE I'M NOT ON THE, UM, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN WITH MY THOUGHTS, BUT I THINK ON THE ORIGINAL, UH, I DON'T WANNA SAY DESIGN, BUT THE, THE BUILDING AS IS, THERE'S A REAL BEAUTIFUL LIGHTNESS TO THAT CORNER WITH JUST THE SPINDLY METAL HOLDING IT UP.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU REUSING THAT BRICK TO, TO CREATE THAT NEW CORNER.
BUT WE ARE LOSING SOMETHING WITH THAT LIGHTNESS THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LOST EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ENCLOSING THE FRONT PORCH.
UM, THAT'S JUST MY 2 CENTS AND I'LL LET YOU GUYS DO THE HARD WORK IN THE A RC
ANY MORE COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? HEARING NONE, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, WE WILL HOPEFULLY SEE YOU WITH THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND, UH, THEN YOU'LL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH.
ALRIGHT, UH, THIS GETS US UP TO THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM,
[20. PR-2024-022957 – 4700 S Congress Ave. #10]
WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 20, UH, 4,700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE NUMBER 10.AND, UH, THAT WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, THIS IS A APPLICANT FOR, UH, APPLICATION FOR A TOTAL DEMOLITION
[02:10:02]
THANK YOU CHAIR.ITEM 20 AT 4,700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE BUILDING 10, UH, IS A PROPOSAL NO WORRIES.
IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1930 BUILDING COMPRISING TWO CAL KASU COTTAGES.
MOVING ONTO THE LOT BETWEEN 1940 AND 1958.
UM, THIS STRUCTURE IS TWO ONE, STORY TWO TO REVIVAL CAL KASU COTTAGES CONNECTED TO FORM ONE BUILDING.
UM, APPARENTLY, UH, THESE COTTAGES WERE DESIGNED AND BUILT BY THE CAL CCHU LUMBER COMPANY OF AUSTIN IN THE LATE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES.
ONE STORY RECTANGULAR PLAN FRAME STRUCTURES WITH SIGNATURE STEEPLY PITCH TIPPED ROOFS AND AN ORNAMENTAL FLARED FRONT GABLE SECTION AT THE DOORWAY WITH FALSE HALF TEMPERING IN THE TEUM MERL GOODNIGHT OPENED THE GOODNIGHT TOURIST COURTS IN 1941 TO CAPITALIZE ON THE INCREASING TOURIST TRAFFIC IN THE CORRIDOR FROM AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO.
A SECTION OF PRE INTERSTATE ROAD KNOWN AS THE MERIDIAN HIGHWAY IN THE WINTER 2017 EDITION OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN'S QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER TEXT ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN REBECCA DE BRASCO WRITES, ALTHOUGH NO REMNANTS OF THE ORIGINAL ROAD ITSELF REMAINED IN AUSTIN, THERE ARE SMALL POCKETS OF ROADSIDE BUSINESSES THAT STILL TELL THE STORY OF THE MERIDIAN HIGHWAY THROUGH OUR CITY.
SOME MOTELS ALONG THE MERIDIAN HIGHWAY INCLUDE THE AUSTIN MOTEL TOURIST COURT AND HILLS CAFE AT 4,700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE.
BUILDING 10 IS A ROUGHLY L PLAN STRUCTURE LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE FORMER HILLS CAFE BUILDING.
THE COTTAGES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MOVED ONTO THE LOT SHORTLY AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF HILLS, ACCORDING TO AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, AND APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN USED TO SUPPORT STRUCTURES AND STORAGE FOR THE POPULAR DINING SPOT.
UM, THOUGH THE BUILDINGS RETAIN THEIR ORIGINAL CALCO SHOE COTTAGE DETAILING THE CONNECTION OF THE TWO COTTAGES REDUCES THEIR INTEGRITY OF FORM.
HOWEVER, THIS MODIFICATION APPEARS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING THE HISTORIC PERIOD.
UH, WE DO NOT HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REVIEWED, UH, THIS AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER BUILDINGS ON THE SITE, UM, AND REQUESTED THAT THE APPLICANT CONSIDER RELOCATING MULTIPLE BUILDINGS TO OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE SITE, INCLUDING, UM, SOME OTHER CALGAS SHOE COTTAGES THAT I BELIEVE, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO RELOCATE.
UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONCUR WITH COMMITTEE FEEDBACK, ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND THE DEPTH OF REUSE, THEN OFFSITE LOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY, UM, THE APPLICANT, UH, HERE TO PRESENT.
MICHELLE LYNCH WITH METCALF WOLF, STEWART AND WILLIAMS ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICATION TONIGHT.
UM, AS STAFF INDICATED, WE DID COME TO THE A RC COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND TALKED ABOUT THE, THE ENTIRE SITE AS A WHOLE, WHICH IS ABOUT 14 ACRES.
AND, UM, IN THAT MEETING WE DID GET SOME FEEDBACK, UH, TO TRY TO PRESERVE A COUPLE OF THE BUILDINGS AND RELOCATE THEM ON SITE TO BETTER FIT WITH THE, UH, PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE.
AND SO WE ARE COMING, UM, NOW BECAUSE IN DECEMBER WE CAME WITH THREE OF THE BUILDINGS, ONE OF THE MAIN STRUCTURES WHERE THE ACTUAL HILLS CAFE STRUCTURE WAS, UM, LOCATED AS WELL.
YEAH, IF YOU COULD MOVE TO THE, THAT'S FINE.
UM, SO IT'S A LARGE SITE AND TONIGHT WE ARE HERE FOR, UH, BUILDING 10 SPECIFICALLY.
SO I'LL SHOW YOU A GRAPHIC IN A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE NOTED EACH BUILDING AND NUMBERED THEM FOR REFERENCE BECAUSE WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU OVER TIME.
UM, YOU SEE HERE, UH, IT IS 14.8 ACRES.
IT IS, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED AND SOME OF THE PROJECT HAS MANY, MANY BUILDINGS YOU SAW AT THE COMMITTEE THAT ARE A LOT LESS THAN 50 YEARS OLD AND OR ARE, ARE JUST SHACKS QUITE FRANKLY.
UM, WE FOCUSED ON THE TWO STORY MOTEL BUILDING WITH STAFF.
THIS GOES WAY BACK TO 2020 WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH STEVE SADOWSKI AS WELL.
AND WE STARTED THINKING HOW COULD WE BUILD AROUND THAT, THAT MAIN BUILDING, UM, WITH A GOOD SENSE OF THAT ARCHITECTURE.
SO WE TOOK AND ADAPT ADAPTIVELY REUSED AND RELOCATED THE TWO COTTAGES IN THE ACTUAL LIKE MOTOR COURT AREA, WHICH IS WHAT STEVE AND CALLEN BOTH AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE KIND OF FOCAL POINTED ON.
AND WE HAVE WORKED AROUND THOSE YOU'LL SEE IN OUR DESIGNS TO HOPEFULLY DO LIKE A COFFEE SHOP OR SOME KIND OF GIFT SHOP AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE ALSO RELOCATING TO OTHER STRUCTURES YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR JULY AGENDA AND I'LL POINT THOSE OUT TO YOU AS WELL.
AND THOSE ARE GOING BACK TO, UM, A PROPERTY OF ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FAMILY MEMBERS.
UH, WE WERE ALSO ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO ADAPTIVELY REUSE THE SIGNAGE EVEN THOUGH IT ISN'T THE TRUE HISTORICAL SIGNAGE.
AND SO WE ARE DOING THAT AS WELL.
SO HERE IF YOU CAN SEE IN THIS EXHIBIT, THE GREEN IS, UM, UPFRONT THE HILLS CAFE BUILDING THAT'S, UM, ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AT YOUR DECEMBER AGENDA.
THE YELLOW IS WHAT IS ABOVE, UH, BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
[02:15:01]
AND THE PURPLE IS, UH, WHAT IS COMING TO YOU IN JULY, WHICH IS ON THE ADJACENT SITE.UM, AGAIN, THESE, THIS IS THE, UH, ACTUAL MOTOR COURT, WHICH YOU'LL SEE SOME PICTURES OF IN A MINUTE.
AND THESE ITEMS CAME TO YOU IN DECEMBER AND WERE APPROVED.
SO TO THE LEFT ARE THE STONE COTTAGES OR CALIE COTTAGES THAT STAFF MENTIONED.
AND TWO OF THOSE ARE WHAT WE ARE MOVING TO THE COURTYARD.
THIS IS THE MAIN OFFICE STRUCTURE, UM, WHICH YOU CAN SEE DIRECTLY FROM CONGRESS AVENUE WITH THE SIGNAGE THERE.
AND THAT BUILDING WILL REMAIN, UM, IN PLACE.
NEXT SLIDE HERE IS A LAYOUT OF THE PROPERTY, UH, WHICH IS UNDER REVIEW AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
NOW, UM, IT IS ABOUT 450 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS AND ABOUT 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF, I'M SORRY, 400,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE, UM, RETAIL RESTAURANTS, MUSIC VENUE, TRYING TO BRING THAT SAME VIBE BACK.
SO HERE YOU CAN SEE AGAIN THE MAIN, UM, HOTEL AREA, UM, THAT WE'RE PRESERVING.
YOU CAN SEE THE COTTAGES AROUND THE, SOME NICE HISTORIC TREES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE SIGNAGE.
AND BY THE WAY, THESE MATERIALS WERE IN YOUR DECEMBER, UM, PACKET AS WELL.
SO HERE YOU CAN SEE IT DRIVING, EXCUSE ME, SOUTH ON CONGRESS AVENUE.
AND YOU CAN START TO SEE THE MOTEL COTTAGES THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURTYARD WITH THE SIGN AND THE MAIN BUILDING TO THE RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE AGAIN, JUST A LITTLE CURL CLOSER.
THIS IS, UM, I THINK IT'S NUMBER 15 THAT'S COMING TO YOU IN JULY.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES WE'LL BE RELOCATING TO THE GOODNIGHT RANCH.
SO OVERALL WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, AGAIN FOR, UH, AN INTEGRATIVE REUSE AND DESIGN AROUND THE TWO STORY MOTEL STRUCTURE.
UH, WE TOOK THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT AND ARE ADAPTABLY REUSING THOSE TWO COTTAGES THAT I MENTIONED FOR A COMMERCIAL USE AND INCORPORATING THE CONTEXTUAL SIGNAGE.
AND WE ARE RELOCATING THOSE OTHER TWO COTTAGES OFFSITE.
SO WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT, BUT I THINK WE ARE FOLLOWING WITH THE COMMITTEE AND STAFF HAVE DRIVEN US TO DO TO DATE AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, JUST QUICKLY, THE PRESENTATION YOU'VE SHOWN DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY REFERENCE THE, UH, STRUCTURE THAT NUMBER 10, THAT'S BEING, UH, PROPOSED FOR DEMOLITION.
THAT IS IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS.
I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER, WHICH WE DO APPRECIATE.
UM, BEGS THE QUESTION THOUGH, IF THERE ARE OTHER TWO THAT ARE BEING RELOCATED OFFSITE, WHY NOT PENN AS WELL? UH, THAT WAS UP TO THE OWNER.
I MEAN, THEY COULD LOOK AT RELOCATING IT POTENTIALLY.
UH, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR IT ON SITE, AS YOU SAW WITH THE SITE PLAN.
'CAUSE WE DID TAKE THE INPUT WE RECEIVED TO TAKE, I BELIEVE THE VERBIAGE WAS TWO TO THREE OF THE STRUCTURES TOTALLY ON SITE AND KEEP THEM.
THE NATURE OF THOSE BUILDINGS, WHICH WERE SPRINKLED ALL OVER AUSTIN AT ONE PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THEM TO HAVE HAD SEVERAL LOCATIONS BY THE TIME THEY WOUND UP, UH, IN, IN CURRENT TIMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THEM HAVE FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE.
AND THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TWO, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE TOGETHER, MAYBE WHETHER THEY THEY SHOULD STAY TOGETHER OR WHETHER THEY COULD BE SEPARATED, BUT JUST TO, TO LOSE TWO MORE OF THOSE CAL SCHU STRUCTURES WHEN POTENTIALLY THEY COULD BE BROUGHT INTO USE.
UH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
I COULD TALK TO THE OWNER ABOUT RELOCATION.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, EVEN WITH THE LAST APPROVAL YOU DID IN DECEMBER WAS TECHNICALLY A DEMOLITION.
UM, BUT WE ARE RELOCATING THOSE ON SITE, SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
BUT WE JUST FRANKLY DON'T HAVE ROOM ON THIS.
I, I APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT SITES BEING DEVELOPED, THAT YOU HAD FEATURED THE AREA FOR THE TWO IN THE STONE AND THE MOTELS WERE, AGAIN, THE MOTEL COTTAGES ARE WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE MOST SIGNIFICANT FOR PEOPLE THAT REMEMBER THIS SITE.
AND YOU'RE DRIVING BY QUITE, YOU DON'T SEE THIS BUILDING.
SAM, CAN YOU PULL UP THE SIDE PLAN PLEASE? AND WHILE SAM DOES THAT CHAIR, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, JUST TO CLARIFY IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, IS YOU'RE NOT COMPARING THIS, UH, BUILDING NUMBER 10 TO THE ONES THAT ARE BEING RELOCATED ON SITE, RATHER THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE BEING SAVED BUT MOVED OFFSITE.
BUILDING IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE PURPLE BUILDING 10 SHOULD GET, UM, TREATED SO UNFAIRLY COMPARED TO THOSE TWO THAT GET THEIR REPRIEVE AND ALLOWED TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I I MEAN I, I'LL SECOND THE CHAIR'S, UH, COMMENT THAT I APPRECIATE THE OVERALL SITE PLAN AND REALIZE THAT THERE'S NOT ROOM TO KEEP IT HERE, BUT IT IT, THERE'S, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM ALL ALL OTHER PLACES.
UM, SO LOOKING AT THE SITE PLAN, THIS IS ALL THE PROPERTY THAT YOU ALL OWN, RIGHT? UH, YES SIR.
[02:20:01]
ACTUALLY SOME THAT'S OFF TO THE WEST THAT IS GONNA BE DEDICATED PARKLAND.AND WELL THAT'S AN INTERESTING NOTE.
UM, THIS IS OUR PARKING LOT THAT I'M LOOKING AT IN THE BACK, THE WEST SIDE.
UM, THAT'S A STRUCTURED PARKING GARAGE.
THOSE ARE STRUCTURED, STRUCTURED PARKING GARAGE.
IT'S MORE OF AN URBAN, UM, INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
ALL THIS WHITE SPACE TO THE LEFT.
'CAUSE I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, THE THE, THERE IS NO SURFACE PARKING.
I'M ASSUMING EVERYTHING IN GRAY IS A BUILDING.
EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT IN GRAY TO THE, TO THE WEST IS PARKING LOT.
IS THAT THE AMENITIES THERE, THERE ARE NO SURFACE PARKING LOTS.
THIS IS AN URBAN DESIGN THAT'S GOING TO BE USING THE DB 90 ZONING.
UM, JUST SOUTH OF THAT BUILDING TO THE WEST GRAVE, THERE'S UH, TWO OVAL SHAPES.
WHAT'S THAT AREA? I BELIEVE THAT'S THE AMENITY AREA.
I, I GET, I PULLED THIS, UM, I'M, I'M, I THINK WE LOST A LOT WITH THE CAFE.
WE LOST A LOT WITH THIS MOTEL.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH FROM THIS MERIDIAN HIGHWAY.
AND SO IT WAS ALREADY A LOSS LOSING, UM, HALF IF NOT ALL OF THOSE STRUCTURES.
YOU'RE SAVING TWO, THE CONTEXT IS REALLY DESTROYED.
YOU KNOW, IF THIS HAD COME AS A WE'RE GONNA RELOCATE OFFSITE, IT PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN ON CONSENT.
BUT KNOWING THAT THERE'S HOWEVER MANY ACRES YOU ALL HAVE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S MORE LAND NOT ON HERE THAT'S PARKLAND.
IT'S SO EASY TO RELOCATE THESE TWO STRUCTURES ANYWHERE ELSE ON THIS SITE.
SO I'M, I'M JUST NOT BUYING THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WE PULLED IT, WELL THE PARKLAND IS, HAS A LOT OF TOPOGRAPHY ISSUES AS WELL.
SO I DON'T THINK THE PARK FARM IS GONNA BE REALLY TO ACCEPT THOSE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT RELOCATING THE, THE HOUSE.
SO SORRY FOR THE MISCOMMUNICATION WITH THAT.
I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT WITH ACRES OF LAND, UH, THAT WE CAN'T FIND A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE FOR THESE TWO LITTLE COTTAGES.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UH, FOR THE APPLICANT? MAYBE JUST A NOTE OF CLARIFICATION.
I'M SEEING THE PARKING LOT THERE, KIND OF, UH, SOUTHWEST, WELL MORE DIRECTLY WEST.
IS THAT WRAPPED IN, I GUESS, MULTIPLE STORIES OF RESIDENTIAL THAT UH, YES.
IF YOU COULD GO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WENT, BUT THERE IS NO SURFACE PARKING.
THESE ARE ALL TALLER BUILDINGS WITH STRUCTURED PARKING.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, OTHER RENDERING.
MR. COOK, IN TERMS OF THE CALIE COLLEGES, IF YOU CAN CONFIRM, THERE IS CURRENTLY SIX, TWO ARE BEING REUSED, TWO BEING RELOCATED, AND THESE TWO ARE BEING DEMOLISHED.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, GOSH, CALLEN, I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER IF THERE WERE, WERE THERE OTHER STRUCTURES THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU? SO I NEED TO GO BACK AND REVISIT THAT.
THE, THERE'S TWO, THERE ARE TWO THAT I'M BRINGING TO YOU IN JULY THAT WE'RE RELOCATING.
UM, 10 WAS CONSIDERED CAL SCHU.
I DON'T REMEMBER IF 13 WAS, AND SOME WERE CLAD IN STONE RIGHT AFTER THE FACT.
THE ONES, UM, FOR THE ACTUAL MOTEL UNITS.
SO YOU HAD THE STONE ONES AND THEN YOU HAD SIX FREESTANDING CALIE COTTAGES, TWO BEING DEMOLISHED.
AND THEN TWO BEING REUSED AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHER STRUCTURES.
YES, THIS WAS A HODGE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE AN OVERALL CONTEXT OF RIGHT.
AND THEY WERE GIVING DEFERENCE TO THE OWNER, THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR WHICH, WHICH STRUCTURES HE WANTED TO TAKE AND RELOCATE TO OTHER PROPERTIES THAT HE HAS.
SO IF HE DOESN'T WANT NUMBER 10, WHICH MAYBE HE DOESN'T AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, UM, WE CAN LOOK FOR SOME OTHER LOCATION.
ANY OTHER COMMENT? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? UH, YES, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
DID YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF? YOU CAN SPEAK THERE, YOU CAN SPEAK FROM THERE IS FINE.
UH, I'M ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE OLDHAM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMMEDIATELY.
WE'RE HERE IN NORTH BASICALLY, SO, UM, WE FOUNDED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, UM, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, WE VERY QUICKLY ESTABLISHED A VERY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEVELOPER, THE, THE SUTTON COMPANY.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE.
UH, WE'VE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON A NUMBER OF, UM, SORT OF CONCERNS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD, WHICH ARE NOT RELATED TO THE TOPIC TONIGHT, SO I WON'T GO INTO THEM.
BUT LONG STORY SHORT, WE'RE, UH, VERY PLEASED WITH HOW RESPONSIVE THEY'VE BEEN AND I THINK IT'S A FAIR,
[02:25:01]
YOU KNOW, I AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE ON OUR STEERING COMMITTEE ACTUALLY TALK TO MAC PIKE AND WALLY SCOTT, MAYBE QUARTERLY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING.AND UH, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF PRESERVING A COUPLE OF THE BUNGALOWS AND THE TWO STORY OFFICE FROM THE MOTEL AND WE SHARED THIS WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE RESPONSE ON THAT WAS QUITE POSITIVE.
PEOPLE WERE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT THE SCALE OF THE BUILDINGS AND SO FORTH, BUT I WOULD SAY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, UH, GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE AND ON BOARD WHERE THE PLAN IS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, STAFF? WE, THIS AREA IS NOT SURVEYED, CORRECT? UM, WE DO NOT HAVE A CITY OF AUSTIN SURVEYS.
MY UNDERSTANDING, NO, COMMISSIONER, THIS AREA I BELIEVE WAS ALSO ANNEXED QUITE WEIGHT.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY CURRENT CITY SURVEYS THAT REACHED THIS PART.
UM, I JUST IN GENERAL, I GUARANTEE YOU IF WE HAD A SURVEY THAT THAT MOTEL WOULD'VE BEEN INDIVIDUAL LANDMARK LISTING IN NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE, UM, AND POSSIBLY EVEN HILL CAFE.
SO I HEAR YOU OUT, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THE FACT THAT OUR CITY IS SLOW TO ACT AND REACTIVE TO THIS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE A SURVEY.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF DON'T HAVE, UH, A LOT OF SKIN IN THE GAME EITHER.
AND SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO YES, LOSE SOME OF THOSE STRUCTURES, SAVE A COUPLE COTTAGES, AND HOPEFULLY SAVE A COUPLE WOOD FRAME BUILDINGS, I THINK AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE MINIMUM AND COMPROMISE BECAUSE IF WE HAD A SURVEY, THIS COULD HAVE GONE A LOT DIFFERENTLY AND LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENTLY.
AND TO BE SPECIFIC, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY, WHICH IS DONE PERIODICALLY OVER AN ENTIRE DISTRICT WHERE, UH, EXPERTISE IS BROUGHT IN.
UH, FOLKS TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND START REALIZING JUST INVENTORY OF WHAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
UH, AND HAS BY ITS NATURE, THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING HISTORIC VALUE AGAIN BECOMES A, A GUIDEPOST FOR, UH, DECISION MAKERS IN THE FUTURE.
BUT, UH, SO NOTED, THIS AREA DOES NOT HAPPEN.
UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR, UH, DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM? ANYBODY FOR OR AGAINST THERE? ANYBODY ONLINE? OKAY.
WE THANK THE SPEAKERS AND, UH, AT THIS POINT I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM THE, UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS MOVE CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL NOTE, EXCUSE ME, I WILL NOTE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE TWO OF THESE ITEMS COMING, UH, TO US IN JULY.
AND, UH, IT MAY BE VERY APPROPRIATE TO SEE IF THE OWNER IS RESPONSIVE AND WE MIGHT HAVE MORE RELOCATIONS IF, UM, THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA MAKE A MOTION YET TO POSTPONE, BUT I'LL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALRIGHT, WELL IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MOTION, MOTION TO SUSPEND, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO WELL, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.
SO IT'LL BE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THERE'S SECOND.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, UH, LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD.
COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE'S MOTION WITH SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
AND GO AHEAD AND SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION.
THIS IS JUST A CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING CLOSE.
JUST TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY ALL IN? I'M JUST JUMPING WAY AHEAD.
ALRIGHT, THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ARE YOU, YOU JUST LOOKING FOR US TO COMMIT TO RELOCATING AND I CAN DO THAT TONIGHT? WELL, YOU'RE ASKING FOR A DEMO PERMIT AND IF THE MOTION IS TO ACCEPT AND, UH, THE DEMO PERMIT IS GRANTED, UH, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
BUT, UH, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT PROCESS, DIFFERENT APPLICATION THAT RIGHT.
THE RELOCATION WOULD REQUIRE A DIFFERENT APPLICATION OR COULD WE STAFF SUPPORT? WE CONVERT IT EITHER RELOCATION.
SO HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS NOW IS THAT, UH, THE DEMO WOULD HAVE TO BE WITHDRAWN AND THEN REPLACED WITH A NEW APPLICATION FOR RELOCATION.
UM, WITH DSD, UH, CAN I TRY A MOTION'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS
I, I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IF A, IF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT IN THAT TIME IS RESCINDED AND A RELOCATION PERMIT IS APPLIED FOR, WE WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE THAT.
STAFF? IS THAT POSSIBLE? I THINK SO.
LET ME THINK ON, AND I'LL CHECK WITH LEGAL.
I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN DO THAT.
THE FALLBACK WOULD BE, THEY'D WIND UP IN
[02:30:01]
OUR JULY AGENDA.MAYBE IF WE COULD STATE THAT IN THE MOTION.
I THINK IT WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE CLEARER.
I MOVED TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE THIS TWO HOUR JULY MEETING, UM, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IF LEGAL APPROVES, IN THE INTERIM, IF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT IS WITHDRAWN AND A RELOCATION PERMIT IS APPLIED FOR, WE WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO APPROVE THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY.
UH, I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON AND, UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR SECOND? YEAH, MY, MY ONLY CONCERN IN ALL OF THIS IS I THINK THAT WE ON THE DA NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T UNDERMINE STAFF'S EFFORTS.
THEY'VE BEEN INTEGRAL IN THIS NEGOTIATION, AND I, I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT WE'RE GOING OFF, NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE RELOCATION, BUT OTHER COMMENTS MADE ON THE DAIS THAT WERE NOT IN UNISON WITH STAFF.
AND SO I, I CAUTION US TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO UNDERMINE THEIR EFFORTS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, WE HAVE THE OKAY FROM LEGAL FOR, UH, VICE CHAIR FEATHERSTONE'S MOTION.
AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT FILED, IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE APPROVED BEFORE JULY 3RD.
UM, THE DEMOLITION PERMIT NEEDS TO SHOW AS WITHDRAWN IN OUR SYSTEM, AND THEN WE NEED TO HAVE AN ACTIVE RELOCATION PERMIT, UH, ON THE DECK.
BUT THE, THE ABILITY FOR THE STAFF TO, TO APPROVE THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY CUTS OUT ANY FURTHER AID FOR, UH, HEARINGS.
IT JUST OUTTA THE NIGHTMARE YOU MIGHT IMAGINE A PERMITTING OF I NEED TO C SITE A PLANNED EXEMPTION AND DAH, DAH, DAH.
I WOULD NOTE I WOULD WAS NOT INCLINED TO SUPPORT A POSTPONEMENT, BUT GIVING THE APPLICANT'S WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER RELOCATION THESE CAL CALC STREET COTTAGES OR REALLY PRECIOUS THINGS, AND WITH ALL THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WE HAD, THEY WOULD MAKE GREAT ADUS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM SAVED.
I DO THINK THE APPLICANT, THE PROPERTY WAS A BIT, UH, HODGEPODGE WITH A VERY COMPLEX HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE HILLS CAFE ITSELF STRUCTURE WOULD'VE QUALIFIED AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
I THINK THE MOR MOTOR COURT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER MOTOR COURTS IN AUSTIN THAT ARE PROBABLY MORE WORTH SAVING, A LITTLE MORE CHARACTER.
UM, BUT I, I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TAKEN TO SAVE THE MAIN BUILDING, THE SIGN AND THE, UH, TWO OF THE COTTAGES AND CELEBRATE THOSE, UH, PER A RC RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND 'CAUSE OF THAT, I WASN'T INCLINED TO POSTPONE, BUT IF WE CAN GET IT INTO A RELOCATION AND SAVE THE BUILDINGS AND WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH THAT, THEN I, I WOULD SUPPORT THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION THAT IS TO, UH, POSTPONE TO THE JULY MEETING, UH, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT IS ACTUALLY WITHDRAWN AND A REPLACEMENT RELOCATION PERMIT IS APPLIED FOR, FOR STRUCTURE 10 THAT WE ARE INSTRUCTING STAFF OR ALLOWING STAFF TO ADMINISTRATE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND ANYBODY OPPOSED? C FAVOR? UH, ONE OPPOSED? UH, SO THAT'S, UH, THAT DOES PASS.
SO COMMISSIONER RUBIO IS, UH, IN OPPOSITION.
ALRIGHT, THAT BRINGS US TO THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM.
[21. PR-2024-044125 – 3001 S Congress Ave. #5]
SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE NUMBER FIVE.THIS IS A PERMIT FOR A DEMOLITION CHAIR.
I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF, UH, FROM THIS AS THE COMPANY I WORK FOR ARCHITECTS IS, IS HERE REPRESENTING THE, WITH THE OWNER AS WELL.
OH, YOU'RE CHECKING THE SCORE OF THE SOFTBALL GAME.
AND WE, WE WILL SEE YOU AT, UH, AFTER THIS CASE IS OVER.
ALRIGHT, UH, STAFF, UH, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? ALRIGHT, ITEM 21 AT 3001 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE BUILDING FIVE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1961 DORMITORY BUILDING OFFICE AND CHAPEL ON THE ST.
THIS IS A TWO STORY MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENT BUILDING WITH ATTACHED CARPORT, CHAPEL AND OFFICE SPACE.
THE BUILDING HAS AN IRREGULAR PLAN WITH TWO MAIN WINGS AND A FLAT ROOF OF VARYING HEIGHTS.
IT'S CLOUD AND BRICK WITH BREEZE BLOCK ACCENTS, AS WELL AS PROJECTING VERTICAL STUCCO ELEMENTS PLACED IN RHYTHMIC INTERVALS WITH PATTERNS VARYING AT EACH BAY.
FENESTRATION INCLUDES VERTICAL STAINED
[02:35:01]
GLASS WINDOWS AT THE CHAPEL AND HORIZONTALLY ORIENTED DIVIDED ALUMINUM CASEMENTS AT THE RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING.JOSEPH HALL WAS CONSTRUCTED A TOP OF FORMER QUARRY BETWEEN 1961 AND 1963.
IT SERVED AS A FACULTY RESIDENCE CHAPEL, LIBRARY OFFICE, AND BOMB SHELTER FOR THE BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS AT ST.
THE UNIVERSITY CONTRACTED SAN ANTONIO, FIRM JULIAN AND WHITE TO COMPLETE THE DORMITORY.
TODAY IS ONE OF SIX REMAINING JULIAN AND WHITE STRUCTURES ON CAMPUS.
THE FIRM PRIMARILY PRODUCED CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
THE CHAPEL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS PURCHASED FROM SAN ANTONIO COMPANY ORCO INCORPORATED, WERE INSTALLED IN A, IN A FEW YEARS AFTER ITS CONSTRUCTION.
EDWARDS ORIGINALLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY CROSS, RELIED ON THE BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND OVERSEE THE UNIVERSITIES OPERATIONS.
FROM 1885 TO 1967, THE BROTHERS LIVED ON CAMPUS AND WERE PROVIDED WITH ROOM AND BOARD IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR SERVICES.
FACULTY DURING THE 20TH CENTURY LAY TEACHERS SLOWLY BEGAN TO OUTNUMBER RELIGIOUS BROTHERS ON THE SEU FACULTY AND THE BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS TRANSFERRED OWNERSHIP OF THE UNIVERSITY TO ST.
EDWARDS UNIVERSITY INCORPORATED.
JOSEPH'S HALL HOUSED RELIGIOUS FACULTY UNTIL 2019.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE ST.
EDWARDS CAMPUS, WHICH CONTAINS TWO OF CITY OF TWO CITY OF AUSTIN LANDMARKS.
AND AS A NOTE, THE UNIVERSITY'S BYLAWS NOTE THAT IT IS NOT A RELIGIOUS NONPROFIT AS, AS DEFINED IN TEXAS TEXT CODE 11.20 AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON LANDMARK DESIGNATION OR REVIEW.
IMPOSED BY HOUSE BILL 24 96 STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
IT'S A, IT'S A MID-CENTURY MODERN BUILDING BY SAN ANTONIO, FIRM, JULIAN AND WHITE, AND IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BUILDING'S TORICAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE SUFFICIENT TO RENDERED ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION.
AND IF SO, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
OTHERWISE, RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, UH, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LET US HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
I'M PRINCIPAL WITH ARCHITECT ARCHITECTS THAT ARE ASSISTING, UH, THE UNIVERSITY IN THEIR PLANS FOR DEMOLITION OF ST.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, ST.
JOSEPH HALLS TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE CAMPUS.
NEXT, UM, ON THERE, ON THE CAMPUS, THERE IS A NATIONAL REGISTER BOUNDARY, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOTTOM THERE.
UM, IT'S A MULTIPLE BUILDINGS ON A SINGLE LISTING, AND THE BUILDINGS WITHIN THAT ARE THE CARRIAGE HOUSE, HOLY CROSS HALL, AND THE MAIN BUILDING NEXT.
UM, SO IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED AS STAFF SET IN 1962, UM, ARCHITECT JULIAN WHITE.
UM, AND IT'S A TWO STORY MASONRY STRUCTURE NEXT.
UM, THE UNIVERSITY VACATED THE PROPERTY IN 2019.
IT HASN'T BEEN IN USE SINCE THEN.
UM, MOST OF THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME THAT EXIST.
UM, THE PRIMARY ONES ARE THE EXTERIOR COLUMNS AND ROOFING UNDERLAYMENT ON THE BUILDING.
AND THE UNIVERSITY HAS LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO POTENTIALLY ADAPT ADAPTIVELY REUSE THE BUILDING.
UM, THE COST RANGE FROM 8 MILLION TO 40 MILLION DEPENDING ON SCHEMES THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING.
UM, THEY FOUND THAT THE STRUCTURE, UM, IS INCOMPATIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMMED USES THAT THEY'RE, UM, CONSIDERING SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT EXIST AT THE BUILDING.
UM, NEXT SLIDE ARE, UM, SOME OF THE TYPICAL BREEZEWAY BLOCKS THAT YOU KNOW, ARE DAMAGED, YOU KNOW, HERE AND THERE THROUGHOUT, UM, INTERIOR, UM, THE CHAPEL HAS BEEN PARTIALLY DECONSTRUCTED.
UM, THE ALTAR HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ALREADY DONATED TO, UM, ST.
UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HERE TOO THE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT LITTLE UNITS THAT THE BROTHERS LIVED IN.
UM, THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY TYPICAL ONE, THE RESTROOMS THAT ARE IN REAL DISREPAIR, UM, INSIDE THE BUILDING.
SO UNIVERSITY PLANS TO SALVAGE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL ITEMS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THIS BUILDING.
UH, ONE OF 'EM IS, UM, LIKE STAFF MENTIONED, THE ORCO STAINED GLASS WINDOWS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN A COUPLE YEARS AFTER CONSTRUCTION, UM, ALONG WITH THE CROSS.
[02:40:04]
UM, THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE ALTAR TWO THAT WAS GIVEN TO ST.UM, THEY PLAN TO ALSO, UM, PREPARE A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
AND THEN THEY DO HAVE DRAWINGS OF THE BUILDING, ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, SO THOSE WILL BE COPIED ALSO AND GIVEN TO THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
NEXT, I DID WANNA MENTION TOO, THERE ARE, UM, UM, MY STAFF MENTIONED SOME OTHER JULIAN AND WHITE BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS.
UM, SEVERAL OF THEM, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE DONE ADDITIONS TO WHERE THEY COULD AND THEN ALSO, UM, ADAPT THEM.
UM, WHEN YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE IS THE SCIENCE BUILDING, WHICH THEY CALL FLEX HALL.
UM, IT WAS RENOVATED, UM, IN 2007.
IT WAS ALSO DOYLE HALL BUILT IN 1960 THAT HAD AN ADDITION DONE IN 2009 NEXT, AND DOYLE HALL BUILT IN 1960 THAT HAD AN ADDITION DONE IN 2009 NEXT.
UM, AND THE LAST ONE HERE, PRIMA HALL, THAT WAS BUILT IN 1964 THAT WAS ALSO RENOVATED BY THE UNIVERSITY IN 2006.
NEXT, AND I WAS, WE HAVE YOU HERE ALSO TODAY.
UH, JIM MORRIS AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND THEN FATHER RICK TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ST.
EDWARDS UNIVERSITY, UM, BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS GARDEN, AND THEN ALSO THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH, UH, BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS.
UM, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY OPERATIONS FOR ST.
UM, I'M JOINED BY SHERRY KIAN, WHO'S A, UM, REGISTRAR ARCHITECT IN THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR SINGER EDWARDS UNIVERSITY.
UM, ELIZABETH JOHNSON, WHO'S OUR SENIOR, UH, DIRECTOR FOR OUR, UH, FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
AND FATHER RICK WILKINSON, WHO IS OUR, UM, DIRECTOR FOR CAMPUS MINISTRY.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, FIRST THING I WANNA SAY IS, UH, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE SLIDES HERE, UH, WE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT OPTIONS AS TO WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THE REUSE OF THIS BUILDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE EVEN LOOKED AT IT AS INSTRUCTIONAL SPACE AND IT JUST COULD NOT, WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR THAT.
UM, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE CAN TO TRY TO, TO, UM, PRESERVE THAT LEGACY OF THE BROTHERS AND THE MISSION, UM, AND THE HOLY CROSS MISSION FOR THE UNIVERSITY.
UM, RIGHT THERE, WHICH I HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS, UM, A SLIDE FROM, UH, A, A PICTURE OF THE STATUE FROM IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
UM, THAT'S PART OF THE BROTHERS GARDEN, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS, UM, DEDICATED WITH MEMBERS OF, WITH SOME OF THE BROTHERS IN ATTENDANCE.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY UNDERSTOOD THE, UM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN A PLACE THAT'S PROBABLY MORE SUITABLE FOR THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
MANY OF THE BROTHERS ARE ELDERLY AND THIS BUILDING WAS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR, UM, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR THEM.
THEY, UM, AND I, THEY APPRECIATED THAT.
CAN WE GO TO THE SLIDE BEFORE? UM, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY THE FULL PICTURE OF THE BROTHER'S GARDEN.
UM, AND THERE'S A PLAQUE THERE COMMEMORATING, UM, COMMEMORATING THEIR SERVICE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID DO IN THIS PROCESS WAS WE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE, UH, AREA BUSINESSES.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOME LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THAT.
UM, WE ALSO HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH THE, UH, SRCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THERE WAS VERY SMOOTH MEETING.
NO, NO ISSUES WERE RAISED IN THAT.
UM, I WILL SAY, I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A, UM, THERE WAS SOME CORRESPONDENCE TO YOU REGARDING, UM, THE, THE USE OF MOTEL HOTEL, UM, TAX FUNDS AND OBLIGATIONS FROM THERE, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR CHIEF, UH, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THIS AFTERNOON.
HE CONFIRMED THAT WE ARE NOT RECEIVING IN THOSE FUNDS.
UM, SO THAT'S AN INACCURATE STATEMENT.
UM, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME FOR RENOVATIONS PREVIOUSLY WITH HISTORIC, WITH, WITH HISTORIC BUILDINGS, BUT THAT DID NOT OBLIGATE ANY MAINTENANCE AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING.
UM, THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT'S WORTH MENTIONING IN THIS TOO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE TAKEN THESE, UM, ART ITEMS OF RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND WE'VE, WE'VE DISTRIBUTED THEM AROUND THE PEWS.
WE'RE DISTRIBUTED TO A NUNNERY HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE ALTAR WAS, UH, AS, AS, UH, LARRY MENTIONED WAS, UM, PROVIDED TO ST.
UM, THERE WAS A STATUE OF, UH, OF MARY THAT WAS ACTUALLY MOVED TO OUR MAIN CHAPEL, UM, NEXT DOOR.
SO WE'VE, WE AGAIN, WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.
AND, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, THERE WAS ALSO A COMMENT IN THOSE, UM, IN, IN THAT, UH, IN THAT LETTER THAT INDICATED THAT, UH, THE CHAPEL SHOULD BE, UH, UH, DE DECONSECRATED.
[02:45:01]
THAT CON THE CHAPEL ITSELF WAS NEVER CONSECRATED.IT WAS BLESSED, AND THAT IS NOT, UM, A MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN WITH THAT CHAPEL.
AND I'M, I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON THAT, FATHER RICK, AS THE EXPERT.
SO, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PART OF IT, HE'S A MEMBER OF THE, OF THE CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS AND CAN PROBABLY ADDRESS THOSE BETTER THAN I CAN.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, WILL ANYBODY HERE ELSE HERE BE SPEAKING, UH, ON THIS ITEM? FATHER? YEAH.
UH, MY NAME IS FATHER RICK WILKINSON.
I'M A PRIEST OF THE CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS.
UH, THE FOUNDING CONGREGATION OF ST.
EDWARDS WAS FOUNDED A FEW YEARS AFTER, UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AND THE FOUNDER OF FATHER SOREN SAID IT WAS HIS LITTLE BENJAMIN, WHICH MEANS HIS FAVORITE.
UH, I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1998 AND LIVED AT ST.
JOE HALL, UH, WITH PROBABLY ABOUT 20 BROTHERS LIVING IN RESIDENCE.
UH, I NOW LIVE WITH SOME OF THOSE SAME BROTHERS IN THEIR RETIREMENT HOME OF WHICH I AM THE YOUNGEST MEMBER.
UM, IT IS MUCH MORE SUITED FOR ELDERLY.
THE AVERAGE AGE IS PROBABLY IN THE LOW EIGHTIES RIGHT NOW, AND THEIR NUMBERS ARE DIMINISHING.
EDWARDS HALL, UM, AT ITS TIME, I THINK SUITED THE BROTHERS WELL BECAUSE THEY WERE LIVING ON CAMPUS AND IT WAS EASILY, EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO CLASSROOMS, SPORTS EVENTS, ET CETERA.
UH, WITH TIME THOUGH, THE NUMBERS IN THAT HOUSE DIMINISHED, AND IT IS NOT A DA, UH, COMPLIANT.
UH, THE ROOMS ACTUALLY, IT SAID BATHROOMS. UH, MANY OF THE BATHROOMS ARE COMMON BATHROOMS, UM, WHICH DOES NOT SUIT WELL BE FOR OUR ELDERLY MEMBERS RELIGIOUSLY.
THE, UM, SAINT JOE HALL AND PARTICULARLY THE CHAPEL, UH, NO LONGER HAS ANY RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE EXCEPT FOR THE WINDOWS.
UM, THE ALTAR, AS WAS MENTIONED, WAS GIVEN TO OUR HOLY CROSS PARISH, DOWN THE STREET, ST.
AND, UH, SOME OF THE STATUARY IN THERE WAS MOVED TO THE CAMPUS, PRESENT CAMPUS CHAPEL, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
UM, I'VE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF THE BROTHERS AND, UM, SOME OF THEM WHO LIVED THERE WHEN I DID.
AND, UM, GIVEN THE PHYSICAL CONDITION, WHICH THESE GUYS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN I AM, UM, BUT THE BUILDING REALLY IS NOT USABLE.
UM, AND, UH, I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANY HISTORICAL VALUE EXCEPT FOR THE MEN THAT LIVE THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSION, WE APPRECIATE YOUR OKAY.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? IS THERE ANYBODY ONLINE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? OKAY.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
FEATHERSTON SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROCHE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE ON THIS ONE? GAIN A MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO RELEASE A DEMOLITION PERMIT PENDING A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE BOOK IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE.
I THINK THE, UH, BROTHERS OF THE HOLY CROSS ARE WELL REPRESENTED IN OTHER STRUCTURES, UM, AS ARE THE ARCHITECTS, AS IS THE STYLE.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE ADDITIONS DONE TO MAINTAIN THAT INTEGRITY.
IT'S BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A SINGULAR, UH, PROPERTY THAT WOULD, UM, DENIGRATE THE, UH, CAMPUS AS A WHOLE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY TRYING TO LAND MARKET COMMISSIONER RO.
AND, AND I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, LIKE COMMISSIONER COOK, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, UM, THERE, THERE ARE OTHER APPROPRIATE WAYS WHERE THE BROTHER'S PRESENCE IS BEING HONORED AND MAINTAINED.
UM, I ALSO JUST THINK THE BUILDING ITSELF, UH, I APPRECIATE THE ARCHITECTS AND THE OWNERS, THE, THE, THE UNIVERSITY, UH, HAVING GONE AND
[02:50:01]
MADE A SERIOUS EFFORT TO TRY SOME ADAPTIVE REUSE, UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF THAT TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION IN THAT ERA AND RESIDENTIAL, UH, GROUP LIVING THAT THEY WERE BUILDING FOR.UH, I, I, I BUY THAT
SO IT HELPS THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY IN OTHER BUILDINGS ON THEIR CAMPUS.
YOU KNOW THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY TRY TO DO IT.
THIS WASN'T, UH, YEAH, THIS WASN'T CAPRICIOUS.
SO, UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, UH, GO FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL, UH, WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND WITH, UH, DOCUMENTATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND THE OPPOSED.
ALRIGHT, THAT IS UNANIMOUS THOUGH.
UH, WE NOTE THAT COMMISSIONER RUBIO IS, UH, OFF THE S ALRIGHT, UH, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
UM, THAT BRINGS US UP TO OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND THAT IS CAN YOU SEND THEM BACK IN LARRY? YEAH.
[Items 22 & 23]
AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY TWO PROPERTIES, UH, SIDE BY SIDE.THEY ARE OWNED BY THE SAME OWNER AND THE SAME ISSUE, UH, OF, UM, THIS REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION, BUT ALSO CITATIONS FROM THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
SO, UH, WITH THE COMMISSIONS, UH, OKAY, I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT THE STAFF PRESENT BOTH 22 AND 23 SIMULTANEOUSLY.
WOULD THEY PRESENT THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE TO CONSIDER THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY? OR SHOULD WE MAKE A MOTION? WE COULD HAVE A SINGLE MOTION FOR BOTH OR WE COULD HAVE TWO MOTIONS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTION? NO, SIR.
NO, JUST DO YOU GUYS NEED FURTHER DIRECTION FROM US TO SAY YES? JUST DO THEM BOTH TOGETHER.
UH, WE NEED A MOTION TO TAKE THEM BOTH TOGETHER.
UM, I MOVE TO TAKE, UH, AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER 22 AND 23 TOGETHER, MOVE BY VICE CHAIR FEATHERSTONE AND SECONDED BY, UH, GREAT.
UH, THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
UM, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1916 HOUSE AND A 1942 A DU.
THIS FIRST BUILDING IS A ONE STORY NATIONAL FOLK HOUSE WITH A PARAMETAL HIP ROOF BOARD AND MOUNTAIN SIDING, AN INSET PARTIAL WIDTH PORCH SUPPORTED BY TURNED POSTS.
THE FENESTRATION INCLUDES ONE OVER ONE AND FOUR OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS.
ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ENTRY DOORS HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A WINDOW AS WELL.
TWO DECORATIVE JIGS ON BRACKETS REMAIN AND TWO CHIMNEYS ARE PRESENT.
THE BACK HOUSE IS A GABLE ONE STORY BUILDING WITH HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING AND A PARTIAL WIDTH SET PORCH.
THE FRONT HOUSE AT 1702 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1916 AS A RENTAL PROPERTY.
ITS ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS DEFINE IT AS A HOFFINS HOUSE.
DISTINCTIVE NATIONAL FOLK HOUSES RENTED TO WORKING CLASS EAST AUSTIN FAMILIES DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 20TH CENTURY BY EDMOND AND OSCAR HOFFINS.
ACCORDING TO A 2019 HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE REPORT, 11 KNOWN AND 13 POSSIBLE HOFFINS HOUSES REMAIN WITHIN THE EAST AUSTIN SURVEY AREA.
THOSE SEVERAL HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED SINCE THEN.
THE EAST AUSTIN CONTEXT STATE STATEMENT AND EXPLAINS THEIR IMPORTANCE.
THE FIRST TWO DECADES OF THE 19 HUNDREDS WERE RAMPANT WITH DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT EAST AUSTIN.
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS REFLECTED EVOLVING TRENDS IN DOMESTIC DESIGNS.
AS THE ECLECTIC TASTE OF THE VICTORIAN ERA WANED AND SIMPLER STYLES BECAME MORE WIDESPREAD.
NEW WORKING CLASS HOUSE TYPES BEGAN TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL FORMS. THE LINEAR ONE ROOM DEEP PLANS THAT FEATURED GABLE ROOFS GAVE WAY TO DEEPER MORE BOX-LIKE PLANS AND OFTEN ADD HIP TO PARAMETAL ROOFS WITH INSET PORCHES.
THIS EFFECT CREATED A MORE VERTICAL EMPHASIS.
THE RENTAL HOUSES OF BROTHERS EDMUND HOFFE AND OSCAR HOFFE EXEMPLIFIED THIS TREND.
EJ HOFFE WAS A REAL ESTATE DEALER AND ACCOUNTANT.
WHILE OG HOFFE WAS AN INSURANCE SALESMAN AND DEVELOPER.
TOGETHER THE BROTHERS SUBDIVIDED LAND AND BUILT HOUSES IN EAST AUSTIN AND CLARKSVILLE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION ARTICLES IN THE AUSTIN STATESMEN INDICATE THAT THE HOFFE BROTHERS BOTH SPECULATIVELY SOLD THE HOUSES THAT THEY BUILT AND RETAINED THEM FOR RENTAL INCOME.
THE HOME'S FIRST RESIDENT LISTED IN CITY DIRECTORIES WAS OLIVER DE KAVANAUGH.
A HAYES COUNTY NATIVE KAVANAUGH GREW UP IN THE ANTIOCH FREEDOM COLONY.
ACCORDING TO AMBER LEE HOLM IN A PUBLICATION BY TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR TEXAS PUBLIC HISTORY HOLM NOTES THE PHYSICAL REMAINS OF ANTIOCH HAVE DISAPPEARED OVER THE YEARS, AND ITS MEMORY HAS VIRTUALLY FADED FROM THE LOCAL VERNACULAR.
YET ANTIOCH WAS ONCE A COMMUNITY FULL OF HARDWORKING AND INDEPENDENT AFRICAN AMERICANS FREED FROM THE BONDS OF SLAVERY.
THE 1870 AGRICULTURAL SCHEDULE SUGGESTS THE SETTLEMENT
[02:55:01]
OF ANTIOCH PREDATES OFFICIAL RECORD AND WAS MOST LIKELY ESTABLISHED BY FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE.AFTER EMANCIPATION, MOST BLACK FAMILIES IN THE AREA TOOK THE LAST NAME OF THEIR PREVIOUS ENSLAVERS SMITH BEARD, KAVANAUGH CHAMP AND BUTTON.
THESE FAMILIES BECAME THE FIRST UNOFFICIAL SETTLERS.
BY THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS, OLIVER KAVANAUGH HAD A MULE POWERED MILL FOR BRANDON CORN ANTIOCH SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE'S FIRST TRUSTEES WERE GEORGE KAVANAUGH ELIAS BUTTON AND CYPRUS M CARPENTER.
BY 1880, NEARLY EVERY CHILD BETWEEN THE AGES OF SEVEN AND 18 COULD READ AND WRITE.
ACCORDING TO OLIVER D KAVANAUGH'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, GEORGE KAVANAUGH WAS HIS FATHER.
IT'S LIKELY THAT KAVANAUGH USED HIS EDUCATION TO HELP FORM A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AS A CONTRACTOR.
KAVANAUGH'S OCCUPATION AS A CARPENTER ALSO LIKELY EXPLAINS THE HOUSE AT 17 OH TWO'S LEVEL OF DETAIL.
OLIVER KAVANAUGH, HIS FAMILY LEFT THE HOUSE BEFORE 1922.
SHORT TERM RENTERS OCCUPIED IT UNTIL THE END OF THE 1930S.
BRISTER AND MARY WORLDS AND THEIR FAMILY MOVED IN AROUND 1939 AND THE BACK HOUSE WAS ADDED BY EJ HOFFINS IN 1942.
BRISTER WORLDS WORKED AS YARDMAN AND WAS AN ACTIVE MASON AT THE GRAND LODGE ON EAST 11TH STREET, ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT BLACK MASONIC CONGREGATIONS.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS THE PROPERTY AS CONTRIBUTING TO A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION AS THE FRONT BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A HOFFINS HOUSE EMBODYING THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE BUILDINGS.
MODEST INTERPRETATION OF THE NATIONAL FOLK STYLE.
BOTH HOUSES WERE CONSTRUCTED BY HOFFINS FOR USE IS RENTALS AND WERE OCCUPIED BY A SERIES OF WORKING CLASS AFRICAN-AMERICAN RENTERS.
UH, THIS IS THE EXEMPLIFYING THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF THE TIME, BUT THE HOFF HEINZ BROTHERS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF, OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND THE FRONT HOUSE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH CONTRACTOR OLIVER D KAVANAUGH.
THEREFORE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS, UH, 1702 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING, UM, IS IF THE COMMISSION FEELS THAT THE BUILDING RETAINS SUFFICIENT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS TO MEET THAT CRITERION.
INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE FRONT HOUSE AND IF NOT STRONGLY ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE FOR BOTH HOUSES ON THE 1702 LOT.
AND, UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE IMAGE THAT WE HAVE UP HERE CURRENTLY ON THE SCREEN, THAT ONE IS THE 1702, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
MOVING OVER TO 1704 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
UM, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1916 HOUSE AS WELL AS A BACK HOUSE.
UM, IT'S A ONE STORY L PLAN NATIONAL FOLK HOUSE WITH A HIP ROOF BOARD AND BATTEN SIDING AND PARTIAL WIDTH FRONT PORCH SUPPORTED BY TURNED POSTS.
FENESTRATION INCLUDES TWO OVER TWO WOOD WINDOWS AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DOUBLE ENTRY DOORS HAS BEEN CONVERTED.
THE BACK HOUSE IS A GD ONE STORY BUILDING WITH HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING AND A PARTIAL WIDTH INSECT PORCH.
THIS HOUSE IS ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED AS 1304 EAST 19TH STREET AND WAS, UH, CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1916 AS A RENTAL.
AND ITS ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS DEFINE IT LIKE ITS NEIGHBOR AS A HOFFINS HOUSE.
THE BACK HOUSE WAS ADDED BY HOFFINS IN 1942.
AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THE BACK HOUSE AT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY WAS CONSTRUCTED.
RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE WERE MOSTLY SHORT-TERM RENTERS AND SINGLE PEOPLE IN THE EARLY YEARS.
THEN BY THE 1940S, LONGER TERM OCCUPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BEGAN RENTING AS VETERANS RETURNED FROM THE WAR IN BOTH HOUSES.
PORTER JULIUS ROBERSON AND HIS WIFE ROSALEE WERE AMONG THESE AS WELL AS PLUMBER LEVI HOLLAND AND HIS WIFE RUBY.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS THE PROPERTY AS CONTRIBUTING TO A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THE FRONT BUILDING IS A GOOD INTACT EXAMPLE OF A HOFFINS HOUSE AND IT STILL EMBODIES THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE BUILDINGS.
MODEST INTERPRETATION OF THE NATIONAL FOLK STYLE.
UH, BOTH HOUSES WERE CONSTRUCTED BY HOFFINS.
UH, THEY WERE BOTH USED AS RENTALS OCCUPIED BY A SERIES OF WORKING CLASS AFRICAN AMERICAN RENTERS, AS WAS TYPICAL OF THE AREA AND THE STYLE OF HOUSE.
AND THE HINE BROTHERS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS KIND OF AFFORDABLE RETAIL RENTAL HOUSING IN EAST AUSTIN.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE SAME.
IF THE COMMISSION FEELS THAT THE FRONT BUILDING RETAINS SUFFICIENT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS TO MEET THAT CRITERION, THEN INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, IF NOT STRONGLY ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE IF THEN RELOCATION, BUT RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE FOR BOTH HOUSES.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? HERE IS THE APPLICANT HERE, PRESENT AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
[03:00:01]
WILL, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.I AM THE APPLICANT, BUT I AM THE DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR HELPING THE CLIENT.
MY CLIENT, MS. GUTEN, WHO IS THE OWNER OF BOTH PROPERTIES.
UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO HOUSES ON EACH LOT, BUT THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE HAS ONLY BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT HOUSE OF EACH LOT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY I'M A DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR.
I'M SURE SOME OF Y'ALL ROLL YOUR EYES, WHAT IS HE GONNA SAY? BUT PART OF OUR COMPANY IS DECONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE.
UM, SO WE DEFINITELY, BEFORE WE TEAR ANYTHING DOWN, WE LOOK AT IT, HEY, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE RELOCATED? CAN WE, UM, DECONSTRUCT IT? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE? UM, UNFORTUNATELY THESE HOUSES HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, VACANT.
UH, WE SUBMITTED THE POLICE REPORTS.
YOU KNOW, EACH PROPERTY HAS A LITANY OF REPORTS OVER THE PAST 10, 12 YEARS OF INSTANCES THERE.
UM, AND FURTHERMORE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONDEMNATION NOTICE FROM THE, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE, UH, STANDARDS COMMISSION OF THE CITY.
THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT BROUGHT US HERE.
WHY WE APPLIED FOR THE DEMO APPLICATION IS BECAUSE THEY, UH, THEY, THE STANDARDS COMMISSION GAVE OUR CLIENT THE NOTICE THAT THEY WANT THE HOUSE TORN DOWN.
IT'S A VIOLATION, UH, OF SEVERAL CODE VIOLATIONS.
THEY ACTUALLY LISTED SIX, YOU KNOW, THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES, BAD SHAPE, THE FRONT HOUSES, THE FOUNDATIONS CRACKING, THE SKIRTINGS CRACKING, YOU KNOW, THAT ROOF.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S RUSTED, THAT'S GOING TO, UH, NECESSITATE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK.
UM, SO THE IDEA OF REHABILITATING THIS IN PLACE JUST DOES NOT SEEM PRACTICAL.
UM, UM, YOU KNOW, BROADER, COMPLEX, UH, CONTEXT, AGAIN, THIS IS AT PRETTY MUCH YOU COULD THROW A ROCK AND HIT 35 FROM HERE.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT, UM, YOU SAW PREVIOUS PICTURES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET'S, A PRETTY LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX, UM, TO THE LEFT OF THE PROPERTY, TO THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY, BOTH BRAND NEW, I SAY BRAND NEW, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS OR NEWER PROPERTIES NEXT TO IT.
UM, SO WE JUST DON'T FEEL THAT THE, THE FEASIBILITY IS THERE TO RESTORE THEM IN THEIR CURRENT STATE.
SO, GOING PAST THAT, Y'ALL RECOMMENDED TRYING TO RELOCATE THESE.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH RELOCATION.
UH, WE WORK VERY WELL WITH JUNIOR BROWN, JAMES NOLAN.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY RELOCATED A HOUSE FROM 45TH AND MOPAC TO MY PERSONAL PROPERTY IN BASTROP.
UM, WE DEFINITELY TRY TO RELOCATE WHEN AND WHERE POSSIBLE, BUT WE JUST DO NOT FEEL THESE HOUSES ARE CANDIDATES FOR THAT.
UH, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THEM IS ALREADY COMPROMISED.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A ORDER FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT TO TEAR THEM DOWN.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY.
UM, THEY THREATEN FINES, YOU KNOW, TO MY CLIENT.
SO, UH, WE'RE INCURRING ADDITIONAL COSTS BY VIRTUE OF THIS MEETING COMING UP.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A REVIEW FEE WITH THIS.
SO WE JUST THINK THAT RELOCATION IS, IS JUST NOT AN OPTION WITH THESE.
UM, IT'S JUST THERE, THEY'VE FALLEN INTO A STATE OF DISREPAIR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA SPEND ALL THAT MONEY ON A 600 SQUARE FOOT, BASICALLY A, A DILAPIDATED SHED AT THIS POINT.
IT'S JUST NOT IN THAT GOOD SHAPE.
UM, AND OUR CLIENT IS HOPING TO, YOU KNOW, HER FAMILY'S OWNED THIS FOR 50 YEARS.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORICALLY BLACK SIGNIFICANCE HERE.
UM, HER GRANDMA PASSED THIS LAND TO HER, SO THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROPERTY IN THE FAMILY AND, AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND, BUT AGAIN, REHABILITATING THESE TWO, LIKE 600 FOOT DERELICT STRUCTURES, JUST NOT, NOT SEEM, UH, AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO, TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.
SO WE JUST ASK THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DEMOLISH THAT, THAT HOUSE AND TO THE HISTORIC FEATURES THAT SHE, UH, SHE MENTIONED, THE STAFF MENTIONED.
I ASK ANY OF YOU TO GO LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE.
WE GO THROUGH AND SALVAGE, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, UH, TO DIVERT FROM THE LANDFILL BEFORE WE DEMOLISH ANY STRUCTURE.
SO, UM, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL BE DEMOLISHED, WE, WE, WE, UH, JUST WOULD LIKE TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT IT, IT WOULD BE AS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS RESPECT, AS RESPECTFUL AS A DEMOLITION CAN BE.
YOU KNOW, WE DECONSTRUCT IT, WE SALVAGE EVERYTHING AND THEN END UP CLEARING THE LOT.
SO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? CAN YOU TELL ME HOW LONG THE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN VACANT? I BELIEVE GOING ON, IT'S BEEN LIKE SIX
[03:05:01]
YEARS, SIX, SEVEN YEARS OF BEING VACANT.I'M CONFUSED BY, IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR SIX YEARS WHEN WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT OF MULTIPLE ISSUES IN THE PAST SIX, SEVEN YEARS.
SO HAS FAMILY BEEN LIVING THERE WITHOUT LEASE IN THIS PROPERTY OR ARE THESE SQUATTERS WHAT YOU CAN I, CAN I COME UP PLEASE? SQUATTERS, YOU CAN SEE THIS, THE MATERIAL IN THERE, MATTRESSES ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, WE DEAL WITH THIS ALL THE TIME.
THREE 10 RAT, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAME UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, DE YOU, WE KICKED THEM OUT ONE NIGHT, THEY'RE BACK THE NEXT NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IF WE CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TELL US THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO, UH, THAT THEY CAN DO.
THEY CAN COME TRY TO GIVE 'EM A TRESPASS WARNING, BUT ULTIMATELY THEY'VE GOTTEN PRETTY CREATIVE.
YOU KNOW, AT A CERTAIN EXTENT WE, WE CAN PUT PLYWOOD UP EVERY DAY, BUT WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT ACCOMPLISH? SO IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S DEFINITELY HAD FAIR SHARE OF VAGRANT, UH, OBVIOUSLY IN THE POLICE REPORT KIND OF INDICATING THAT, THAT IT'S, IT'S JUST BEEN A STRUGGLE TO, BUT RIGHT NOW, ARE THE PLANS TO DEMOLISH ALL FOUR STRUCTURES, JUST FOR SAKE OF NOT DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS ANYMORE? NO, NOT AT ALL.
SO, UM, MY NAME IS AISHA GOODEN WILLIAMS. CAN YOU TURN THE MIC ON PLEASE? SORRY.
UM, MY NAME IS AISHA GOODEN WILLIAMS. I AM THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF WINNIE AND MILTON GOODEN, WHICH MY GRANDMOTHER INHERITED THESE HOMES BECAUSE SHE WAS THE MAID OF MS. HI, FINE.
AND SHE HAS HAD THIS, THESE HOMES IN OUR HOUSE IN OUR FAMILY FOR 50 YEARS.
MY GRANDFATHER RECENTLY PASSED, SO HE WAS 95.
SO YOU HAD A PERSON THAT WAS 95 TRYING TO MANAGE THESE HOMES THAT WAS THERE.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OF IT BEING VACANT, YOU HAD A 95-YEAR-OLD THAT WAS TRYING TO MANAGE THESE PROPERTIES.
ONE THING THAT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY FAMILY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HISTORY.
SO I RESPECT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING BECAUSE I WISH, LIKE IN THE EARLY, UM, 20, 24, 20 10, 20 13, WHEN WE STARTED SEEING THE EAST SIDE CHANGE, I WISH THAT Y'ALL HAD THIS COMMITTEE THAT YOU HAVE TODAY.
SO I RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT ALSO I WOULD HOPE Y'ALL WOULD RESPECT THE LEGACY THAT I'M TRYING TO LEAVE FOR MY FAMILY.
WE'RE NOT THESE BIG INVESTORS THAT ARE TRYING TO COME IN AND JUST TEAR DOWN EVERYTHING AND MAKE THE EAST SIDE LOOK TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
BUT ALSO, I'M TRYING TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR MY FAMILY BY ACTUALLY BUILDING ON THIS PROPERTY RIGHT HERE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND WHEN MY GRANDFATHER DIED, WE CALLED A FAMILY MEETING TO DISCUSS BEFORE THIS CAME ABOUT WITH JUST LIKE THE CITY ROPING IT OFF AND SAYING, Y'ALL MUST DO THIS.
THIS WAS AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE CHOSE THAT WE WAS GONNA ACTUALLY DEVELOP.
SO WE DON'T HAVE PLANS ON TAKING OUT ALL THE HIFI HOMES.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, WE WENT TO THE HI FINDS GRAVE AND CLEANED THEIR GRAVE OFF EVERY MONTH BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER APPRECIATED THE HISTORY AND WHAT THE LEGACY THAT THE HI FINDS LEFT FOR US.
SO THIS IS NOT A CASE WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO DEMOLISH THE HISTORY BECAUSE I WISH I WAS AROUND A, A LONG TIME AGO.
BUT THIS ONE PROPERTY, THIS IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A LOT.
LIKE IF YOU WALK THIS HOUSE, YOU COULD LIKE, KIND OF TAKE, TOUCH THE SIDE AND THEN IT'LL JUST CRUMBLE APART, YOU KNOW? SO I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT, UM, THAT I'M JUST TRYING TO TAKE THESE DOWN.
I'M TRYING TO HOLD ONTO A LEGACY.
SO WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS, AND I'M GLAD BECAUSE I HEARD THE ARGUMENT EARLIER WHEN Y'ALL FIRST STARTED AND Y'ALL WAS TALKING TO THE GUY FROM THE CITY.
ONE PART OF THAT IS MISSING IS THE, THE OWNERS OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT WANTED TO SAY STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WAS FORCED OUT REALLY BY INTIMATE DOMAIN THAT WAS PUSHED IN THESE AREAS.
WE'RE TRYING TO HOLD ONTO A LEGACY FOR OUR FAMILY, AND IT STARTS WITH THIS PROPERTY.
SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO ALLOW US TO DEMOLISH THIS PROPERTY.
AND ALSO WE WOULD LOVE, LOVE TO SIT AT A ROUND TABLE WITH YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE THAT WAS OWNED BY THE HIGH FUNDS THAT WAS PASSED ON TO MY GRANDMOTHER AND SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO WORK AS A COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, AND AS A, AS A UNIT AND, UM, AND WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WANNA RESTORE HISTORY.
THE ONLY REASON WE DON'T PAY OVER $300,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WANNA BE IN EAST AUSTIN AND OUR HISTORY AND OUR LEGACY DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING.
'CAUSE I COULD HAVE SOLD ALL OF THIS A LONG TIME AGO AND I DIDN'T.
AND I HELD ON BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER SAID, AISHA, YOU ARE BLACK HISTORY.
WHAT PART WOULD YOU PLAY? SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HOLDING ON TO TODAY.
AND IT STARTS WITH THIS PROPERTY, Y'ALL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTIES OVER THERE.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME HOLD UP RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT I THINK YOUR SUGGESTION THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS THAT HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF SUCH
[03:10:01]
SUBSTANTIAL NEGLECT.YES, THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES THAT WE PROBABLY ARE LONG OVERDUE TO BE SHARING WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
UH, WE HAVE AN EFFORT GOING ON CURRENTLY FOR AN EQUITY BASED REWRITE OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO WHEN YOU MENTION WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE BACK MANY YEARS AGO, WE WERE HERE, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT AS A EFFORT PRESERVATION HAS NOT DONE EVERYTHING IT COULD TO CONNECT WITH THE HISTORIES AND THE FAMILIES THAT, UH, ALSO HAVE, UH, AN INTEREST IN MAINTAINING LEGACIES.
SO I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE.
THE CASE IN FRONT OF US, THOUGH, IS SPECIFICALLY YOUR PROPERTY ON MLK.
AND I'M GONNA HOLD JUST A MOMENT AND ASK BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS OF YOU.
SO COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE OWNER.
IS THERE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE WE LET THE SPEAKER GO? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF, PLEASE.
UM, THE SURVEY IS SAYING THAT BOTH OF THOSE REAR PROPERTIES ARE ALSO HOFFINS HOUSES.
UM, THAT'S WHAT THE SURVEY IS SAYING.
AND THEN THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THE BACKUP DATA YOU HAVE.
UM, UH, DID, DID YOU ALL CONSIDER, I KNOW WE'RE ONLY REQUESTING THE FRONT, BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR IMPORTANCE HERE, BUT I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THOSE REAR STRUCTURES AS WELL.
I THINK THAT, UM, FOR BOTH OF THESE, WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD HOFFINS HOUSE, YOU THINK OF THESE PARAMETAL HIP ROOF BUILDINGS.
UM, SO EVEN THOUGH THE BACK STRUCTURES WERE CONSTRUCTED BY THE HOFFINS BROTHERS, UM, THEY DON'T REALLY EXEMPLIFY THAT PARTICULAR, UH, TYPOLOGY THAT, THAT SPRINGS TO MIND.
AND ALSO THE, UH, THE RENTAL, UM, OCCUPANTS IN THE BACK WERE, UM, NOT AS LONG TERM AS THOSE IN THE FRONT, UM, JUST BY VIRTUE OF THE FRONT HOUSES BEING THAT MUCH OLDER.
AND WE STILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE, UH, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
UM, I WORK WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES WITHIN THE AUSTIN AREA.
UM, A LOT OF WHAT I DO IS PRESERVATION WORK FOR HISTORIC CEMETERIES IN AUSTIN.
UM, SO I WORK WITH, AND I'M CONNECTED TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT, UM, HISTORIC BLACK FAMILIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ANTIOCH COLONIES.
THE, UM, UM, VILLE, UM, JUST VARIOUS, VARIOUS PEOPLE.
UM, I JUST KINDA WANTED TO SPEAK TO THIS.
I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ABOUT THREE HOURS BEFORE I WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
SO I HAVE PREPARED THE MAJORITY OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY NOW IN THIS ROOM.
UM, SO I'M BASING A LOT OF THIS BASED ON MY OWN PERSONAL RESEARCH IN CONNECTION TO THESE FAMILIES.
UM, THE KAVANAUGH'S, UM, THE BUNS, THE BEARDS.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UH, OLIVER'S WIFE, UM, LEAVE THE BEARD WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE WITH HIM IS A BEARD AS WELL, WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN THERE.
UM, I, MY MAIN POINT IS THAT I REALLY WANT TO OFFER CONNECTIONS AND RESOURCES TO, UH, I GUESS STAFF WHO WRITES UP THE, UM, WHO WROTE UP THE INITIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAMILIES FOR THAT LIVED IN THESE HOMES.
UM, I MIGHT NEED TO RE-UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROPOSITION IS IN TERMS OF, UM, IS IT ALL FOUR HOUSES YOU'RE PROPOSING OR IS IT JUST THE FRONT, ALL FOUR HOUSES WOULD BE DEMOLISHED TO COMPLY WITH THE CODE VIOLATION THAT HAS A LIEN ON ALL OF THEM TO BE DEMOLISHED? YEAH, I WAS JUST, I, I THOUGHT HE MENTIONED IT WAS ONLY, ONLY FRONT TWO.
SO I, IT'S JUST THAT MY, MY RESEARCH, UM, DOES NOT REALLY APPLY TO THE OTHER THREE HOUSES, THE INHABITANTS WITHIN THOSE, SO I DON'T WANNA SPEAK TO THEM.
THAT'S WHY I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL AT ONCE.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THE OTHER THREE HOUSES,
UM, SO, UM, I JUST KINDA WANNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE, UH, SOME THINGS THAT I READ IN THAT, UM, IN ARTICLE 22, UM, THE TENANTS WERE ALSO ACTUALLY, UM, A VERY PROMINENT HISTORICAL, UH, FAMILY THAT'S CONNECTED THE ANTIOCH ANTIOCH COLONY, UM, ALSO THE ODESSA WORLDS, THE WORLD'S ODESSA TENON.
WHAT? THAT'S HER PARENTS, UM, THAT TOOK OVER THE, UM, I GUESS THE LEASE AFTER THAT.
UM, SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALL CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.
AND THE FACT THAT IT, I THINK 1922 IS WHEN THE, UH, FAMILY LEFT, UH, KAVANAUGH, THE DAUGHTER OF ALL OF OLIVER REMAINED IN THAT HOUSE, ACCORDING TO THE CITY DIRECTORY IN 1922.
UM, SO I'VE GOT A FEW MORE BITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
UH, LIKE I SAID, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
AND I ALSO HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION THREE HOURS AGO, UH, OR THREE HOURS BEFORE I WALKED IN.
I DID WANNA CITE SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
UM, FROM TERRY MEYERS FROM PRESERVATION PRESERVATION CENTRAL, UH, IT'S A SHAME THAT THEY WANT TO DEMOLISH THE TWO HOFF HEINZ COLLEGE COTTAGES AT MLK.
THERE WERE ONE COMMON FOR WORKING IN MIDDLE INCOME AFRICAN AMERICANS IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT ARE INCREASINGLY RARE.
I THINK THE ARCHITECTURAL TYPE MAY BE UNIQUE.
THE CROSS HIP ROOT FORMS WITH INSET PORCH TURNED PORCH POSTS IN VICTORIA AREA.
[03:15:01]
I HAVE SURVEYED MORE THAN TH 30,000 HISTORIC RESOURCES AND HAVEN'T SEEN THIS TYPE ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.I SAW THE PHOTOS, THE INTERIORS ARE AWFUL, BUT IT'S NOT THE FA BUT I, IT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE HOUSES.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHERE I, I'M COMING TO YOU GUYS FROM.
I HAVE, I, I'M SPEAKING WITH OTHER, UM, DESCENDANTS OF THE ANTIOCH, UM, COLONY.
AND THEY, THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT THEY FOUND OUT WHEN I DID.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.
IT'S STATED THAT THE ANTIOCH COLONY WAS PRETTY MUCH NON-EXISTENT, WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE A SCHOOL, A CHURCH, AND EVEN SOME PEOPLE STILL LIVING THERE.
UH, THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE BUTTA MANSHACK AREA STILL, UM, BUT THEY DON'T LIVE IN HOUSES THAT ARE STILL, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT PERIOD.
AND, UM, A LOT OF, LIKE WITH THIS HOUSE, IT'S, IT'S CONNECTED TO MANY MORE FAMILIES.
ALL THE TENANTS THAT WERE LISTED FOR THAT FOR 1402, UM, ARE ALL CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AS WELL, UM, AND ARE ALL CONNECTED TO ALL THESE PROMINENT COLONIES.
UM, SO YES, THEY, THAT SCHOOL IS, IT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION AS WELL.
THE CHURCH THAT WAS ATTACHED TO IT, IT NO LONGER EXISTS.
UM, THE MAIN PART OF THE ANTIOCH COLONY THAT STILL LOSES US TODAY IS A CEMETERY, WHICH IS IN DISREPAIR, BUT THAT'S ALSO NOT WHY WE'RE HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SPEAKER? CAN I MAKE A COMMENT REALLY QUICK? UH, WELL, WE, WE CAN INTRODUCE YOU AS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
SO, UH, WHY DON'T WE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND, UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER HERE.
SO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
UH, MY NAME IS KURA TO WILL, I'M, I HOPE, THE GOODEN FAMILY, UH, WITH THESE PROPERTIES.
THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO TEAR THEM DOWN.
WE GOT A NOTICE THAT THEY WERE, UH, THEY NEED TO BE DEMOLISHED, AND THAT IF WE DID NOT TEAR THEM DOWN, THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY, AND THEN PUT A LIEN AGAINST THE PROPERTY FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COST IT.
SO WE, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS GETTING THE DEMO, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE NOW.
SO, KIND OF SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, LIKE THE FAMILY'S GETTING BLED OUTTA MONEY.
LIKE WHAT DO WE DO AT THIS POINT IF THE CITY'S GONNA TEAR THEM DOWN? WELL, I, I APPRECIATE THE ISSUE, AND, UH, IF YOU WERE HERE FOR THE EARLIER COMMENTS, UH, THIS IS THE VERY THING THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD STOPPED, UH, BECAUSE THERE WAS A NUMBER OF TIMES, UH, I'M TRYING TO, I'M, I'M GOING TO MISPLACE THE NUMBER OF YEARS, WHETHER IT WAS 20 YEARS OR 25 YEARS AGO, BUT AT ONE POINT THIS WAS A MORE ACUTE PROBLEM.
UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, UH, TURNOVER IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE NOW WE HAD AN INITIATION OF A PARTICULAR ACTION BY ONE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY THAT WAS COMPLETELY IN, UH, OPPOSITION OR, OR CONTRARY TO THE PRIORITIES OF ANOTHER, UH, INITIATIVE OF THE CITY.
WE HAVE RESOURCES, WE DO HAVE WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP OWNERS WITH HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
AND, UH, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO ACCESS THEM QUICKLY.
BUT CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE AND, UM, HAVE TO SAY, APOLOGIZE THAT YOU WERE BASICALLY ONLY GIVEN ONE SIDE, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY AT ALL.
AND IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, I'M, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT WAYS OF APPROACHING THIS, MAKING SOMETHING POSITIVE HAPPEN HERE.
UH, EVEN IF IT'S MAYBE FOR THESE FRONT HOUSES ONLY, I THINK THERE'S, UH, IT'S WORTH EXPLORING.
AND I WOULD, UH, HOPE THAT, THAT WE COULD DO SO AND NOT PUT ANY ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON THE FAMILY.
SO, UH, YES, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING.
I REALLY RESPECT Y'ALL DEPARTMENT.
LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MY, MY HEART IS JUMPING BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THAT OUR FAMILY WOULD'VE HELD ONTO THIS THIS LONG IF IT WAS JUST ABOUT MONEY AND NOT DEALING WITH THE HISTORY OF THESE PROPERTIES.
IT'S JUST THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY RIGHT HERE IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO RESTART AND US TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THE LEGACY OF OWNERSHIP OF BLACK AMERICANS IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND, AND, AND THAT IS THE TRUTH.
LIKE MLK, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US, NOT JUST, EVEN THE STREET NAME MEANS SO MUCH.
'CAUSE IF YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE, IT'S 19TH STREET.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN GIVE MARTIN LUTHER KING A WHOLE STREET, YOU KNOW? SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT HISTORY, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS YOUNG LADY IS SAYING, WHAT SHE FOUND OUT THREE HOURS AGO, BUT SHE EVIDENTLY HAS NOT RODE AROUND AND SEEN THE PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY IN SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
AND WE'RE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS, THE ONES WHO ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN, AND LOOK AT THOSE OTHER PROPERTIES.
SO WE WON'T TAKE DOWN ALL THE HISTORY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
BUT THIS PROPERTY STARTS A NEW BEGINNING, A NEW CHAPTER OF HISTORY FOR MY FAMILY THAT'S HELD ON FOR SO LONG.
I CAN I ASK A QUESTION? PLEASE? I, I THINK THAT YOU SAID IT, BUT I WANNA ASK YOU LIKE, REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND LET YOU GIVE A REALLY EXPLICIT ANSWER BACK THAT,
[03:20:01]
UM, IF WE TAKE AS A GIVEN THAT THE PROPERTIES IN THEIR CURRENT CONDITION ARE NOT, THE STATUS QUO IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.UM, AND WE CAN SAY THAT THAT IS A FORCE BEYOND US.
THEY'RE NOT HERE IN THE ROOM ANYMORE.
ARE, SO IF WE TAKE THAT AS THE CURRENT SITUATION, WHAT WOULD YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
WHAT, WHAT DO I WANT THE BEST OUTCOME? YEAH.
LIKE, DO YOU WANT THIS TO BE, DO YOU WANT THESE BUILDINGS TO BE ZONED HISTORIC AND YOU GET TAX BREAKS? I WANT TO BE MODEST.
THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, I WANT THESE TO BE DEMOLISHED.
I DO WANNA SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS SO WE CAN LOOK THROUGH THE OTHER INVENTORY THAT WE HAVE.
'CAUSE I'VE INHERIT A BLESSING, BUT ALSO I'VE INHERIT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA KEEP ME ON MY TOES AND ALSO KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT.
I WAS UP AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING DEALING WITH THIS YEAH.
THINKING ABOUT THIS, WHAT TO SAY IN THREE MINUTES TO YOU GUYS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH, YEAH.
WELL, I, I, OUR, OUR OPTIONS HERE, SOMEWHAT BINARY, UNLESS WE GET WEIRDLY CREATIVE AND LEN HAS TO CALL LEGAL, UM, THAT WE CAN EITHER APPROVE A DEMOLITION PERMIT OR WE CAN INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
AND SO WHEN I ASKED YOU THAT QUESTION DIRECTLY, IT WAS SORT OF LIKE, I WANT IMPRO, I MEAN, UM, APPROVE A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THESE PARTICULAR PRO UH, PROPERTIES.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO WORK WITH OUR FAMILY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ABOUT HISTORY TOO.
MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS, AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CRAZY ENOUGH TO PAY ALL THIS IN PROPERTY TAXES IF IT WASN'T FOR THE BENEFIT OF LEAVING A LEGACY FOR OUR FAMILY.
LET, LET ME EXPLORE THAT FURTHER, UH, AGAIN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.
I UNDERSTAND WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT GOT LEFT TO YOU AS NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE INHERITING ME.
IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTON SAID, IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THAT ANY OF US HERE, UH, GOT US THERE, BUT NOW WE'RE HERE.
UM, AND I WOULD HAVE TO ALSO SAY THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS DOING ITS JOB, RESPONDING, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY COMPLETELY WITHOUT, OUT OF CONTEXT OF YOUR HISTORY OR WITH THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE PUT ON A PROPERTY WITH THIS KIND OF BACKGROUND, IS THE REASON YOU WANT IT DEMOLISHED STRICTLY BECAUSE BUILDING AND STANDARDS TOLD YOU YOU HAD TO HAVE A DEMOLISHED NO.
IF, IF WE COULD, IF WE COULD ROLL THAT BACK AND WORK WITH YOU AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE THAT THESE TWO COULD BE SAVED AND RESTORED IN SOME TYPE OF LEGACY FORMAT, EITHER HERE ON SITE OR IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SEEING IT.
SO WE, WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR WHO SAYS, THESE AREN'T EASY CANDIDATES FOR MOVES, BUT ALL WE HAVE IS PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE OUTSIDE.
WE DON'T HAVE A, A, A DEEPER EVALUATION.
UH, SO IF, IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN? NO.
AND, AND, AND I'M, AND I'M BEING HONEST, WHEN WE MET AFTER MY GRANDFATHER PASSED, THIS WAS THE PROPERTY THAT WE WANTED TO JOIN IN WITH WHAT THE EAST SIDE IS DOING ACTUALLY TO MAKE A GENERATIONAL WEALTH SITUATION FOR OUR FAMILY.
THIS WAS THE MAIN PROPERTY THAT WE LOOKED AT, NOT TAKEN AWAY FROM THE HI FUNDS, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE STILL STANDING ON THEIR SHOULDERS BECAUSE FOR THEM TO GIVE A MAID AS MANY HOMES THAT THEY GAVE HER, IT WAS FOR A REASON.
AND THAT WAS TO KEEP SOMETHING GOING IN HER FAMILY.
SHE COULD HAVE CHOSE ANYBODY ELSE.
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS THE ONLY BLACK EMPLOYEE THAT SHE HAD.
SHE GAVE SOMETHING TO A GARDENER AND HER NIECE AND NEPHEW.
I KNOW THE STORY, I KNOW THE HISTORY.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO CARRY THIS ON.
IT'S JUST A NEW CHAPTER OF HISTORY FOR THAT PROPERTY, FOR OUR GOOD AND FAMILY.
19TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH HAD TO MOVE OFF THE NEXT BLOCK OVER BECAUSE OF INTIMATE DOMAIN.
UT BOUGHT THE NEXT BLOCK FROM US AND TWO MONTHS LATER THEY TORE DOWN EVERY HIGH FINE HOUSE THAT WAS ON THERE.
SO, SO WHY NOT? CAN WE BUILD ON, ON THE LAND THAT WAS GIVEN TO US FOR US TO CREATE A LEGACY FOR OUR FAMILY? WHY ARE WE HELD UP AT THIS POINT NOT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD? I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THINGS HAPPENED FOR A REASON AND I, AND YOU KNOW, I WAS UPSET WITH THE CITY, BUT ALSO THIS WAS THE REALITY THAT WE NEEDED FOR US, THEM TO BE FINE IN US.
BUT ALSO WE WANTED TO TAKE THOSE HOUSES DOWN.
I'VE APPLIED FOR DEMOLITION PERMITS.
I THINK THAT WAS 2017, GOT DENIED, BUT MY NEIGHBORS WAS ABLE TO BUILD THEIR MINI MANSIONS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US, BUT WE WASN'T ABLE.
SO WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN BLOCKED IN ON THE EAST SIDE TO GROW THINGS FOR OUR FAMILY.
SO YOU ASKED ME THE QUESTION, IF WE COULD REVISIT, WE COULD REVISIT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES, BUT THESE PROPERTIES, I'M SITTING HERE BEFORE YOU SAYING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DEMOLISH AND BE ABLE TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT MANY OTHERS BEFORE US HAD AND WE WASN'T PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO GET IT.
AND IF, IF I MAY CLARIFY, IS THIS PROPERTY UNIQUE AMONG ALL YOUR HOLDINGS BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION? LIKE YOU
[03:25:01]
CAN MAKE MORE MONEY OFF OF THIS TO PUT INTO THE OTHERS? OR WHY IS THIS ONE UNIQUE AND WELL, I LOVE THE MIXED USE THAT, THAT CAME IN MO MOST OF OUR OTHER, UM, AREAS OF OUR HOMES, THEY'RE NOT SO MIXED USE.IT'S STILL A NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO WITH US NOT REALLY HAVING ANY COMMERCIAL OVER THERE, THAT DOES GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOW BE OWNERS OF A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, IN THAT AREA.
BUT THE OTHER ONES ARE PLACED IN THE CENTER OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PROPERTIES IN SIX ON 16TH STREET, 17TH STREET, YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU LOOK ON, UM, BOB HARRISON, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE, THOSE ARE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS THE ONE OF THE UNIQUE PROPERTIES THAT GIVE US ADVANTAGE OF TAPPING INTO THAT COMMERCIAL PART OF IT.
SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT WHEN YOU ASK ME THAT QUESTION THAT THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKERS? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, MS. KING.
WE'RE CREATING A NEW FORMAT HERE.
WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL TALKING AROUND.
HI, MEGAN KING, POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN, I'LL BE BRIEF 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE VERY LATE.
UM, PRESERVATION AUSTIN, OUR OFFICIAL POSITION IS WE'RE OBVIOUSLY, OF COURSE AN IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEMOLITION OF THESE HOMES.
ONE, OF COURSE, FOR THEIR ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ALSO FOR THEIR VERY IMPORTANT BLACK HERITAGE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN GO TO BAT FOR PROPERTIES IN EAST AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE THE FORMER AND CURRENT HOMES OF WORKING CLASS BLACK AND BROWN AUSTINITES.
THIS IS JUST A PRIOR, AN ADVOCACY PRIORITY OF OUR, OF COURSE, WE'RE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO YOUR FAMILY'S CONTEXT AND ALL OF THAT.
SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO OVERRIDE OR STEP ON ANY TOES, BUT IT'S OUR OFFICIAL POSITION AND WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE HOMES OF EAST AUSTIN AND, UM, OF ITS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR SHOULD BE PRESERVED.
AND THAT THAT LEGACY SHOULD BE HONORED.
AND OUR CITY HASN'T DONE ENOUGH TO DO THAT IN THE PAST, AND WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP
SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT TO THAT? UH, UH, LET'S SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS AND THEN, UH, THE APPLICANT DOES GET A CHANCE FOR REBUTTAL.
SO, UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
SO TO HER POINT, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT COMING FROM TALKING ABOUT A PREVIOUS BLACK, UM, IMPORTANCE WITH A CURRENT BLACK OWNER.
AND I FIND IT SOMEWHAT INTERESTING THAT THE, WHERE HAVE THESE, UH, GROUPS BEEN AS THEY SAT HERE? WHY WERE THEY NOT REACHING OUT TO THEM TO HELP THEM NOT LET IT GET TO SUCH A, UH, STATE AT WHICH IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S PRACTICALLY IMPLY, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT IMPOSSIBLE, BUT IMPROBABLE TO DO THE EXTENDED WORK TO BRING THESE UP TO, YOU KNOW, CODE AND, UH, SOMETHING ACTUALLY WORTHWHILE HISTORY.
I JUST FIND IT HARD THAT THEY CAN COME IN NOW AFTER THE BUILDINGS HAVE GOTTEN TO THAT DEGREE AND TELL HER, INHERIT THE OWNER THAT SHE CAN'T CREATE HER LEGACY WITH THAT PROPERTY.
WHERE HAVE Y'ALL BEEN? MAY I SPEAK? WELL, UH, ACTUALLY NO, WE'RE REALLY NOT SET UP TO, UH, HAVE DEBATES HERE AMONG PRESENTERS, BUT, UM, AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO AS DEBATE, BUT I GUESS IT INHERENTLY A REBUTTAL DOES SPARK.
AND, AND I, I, I, I DO THINK THAT DOES NEED, UH, TO BE ADDRESSED.
HOWEVER, DEFINITELY NO GROUP, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AT VARIOUS TIMES AROUND THE CITY.
THIS OWNER MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD AWARENESS OF THEM, MAY HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THEM.
BUT YES, ALL OF US ARE DEALING WITH THE LEGACY STARTING FROM THE 1930S THAT OUR PREDECESSORS IMPOSED UPON US WHEN THEY REDLINED WHOLE PARTS OF THE CITY AND THEN THEY DISENFRANCHISED WHOLE PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING CATCHUP EVER SINCE.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MANY RESOURCES IN THE PAST, WHETHER THIS OWNER COULD HAVE OR WOULD HAVE MADE AVAIL AVAILED THEMSELVES OF THAT.
BUT THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, THE CONDITION OF THESE HOUSES, WHAT HAS BEEN PASSED ON AS AN INHERITANCE, WE HAVE TO APPRECIATE THEM FOR THE CONDITION AND RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY IS BRINGING TO BEAR ON THE EAST SIDE TO MAKE UP FOR, AND IN MANY WAYS CATCH UP WITH THE LEGACY OF MANY OF THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, MANY OF THE FORGOTTEN COMMUNITIES, AND MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB PRESERVING THEIR OWN LEGACY, BUT WITHOUT THESE RESOURCES.
AND THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE CONNECTION WE'RE IN A POSITION TO MAKE RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT GOING TO PRESUPPOSE WHAT THE OUTCOME MIGHT BE.
[03:30:01]
I KNOW THIS HAS ALREADY PROMPTED SOME VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION, BUT AT THIS POINT I'M GONNA MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA LET THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, CHEW ON THIS.SO, UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT DO WE, UH, WHAT WOULD WE LIKE TO PROCEED? WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE? HOW MANY MONTHS TOTAL DO WE HAVE LEFT? UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS ITEM HAS COME TO THE COMMISSION.
UM, SO WE HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 19TH.
UM, AND THAT PUTS US AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST FOR THE LAST MEETING, UM, THAT WE CAN HEAR THIS CASE.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE IS A TIME COMPONENT TO ANY PROJECT THAT COMES IN FRONT OF US WITH, UH, A HISTORIC HEARING.
AND IT IS A TRIGGER THAT STARTS WITH THE APPLICATION AND, UH, I BELIEVE IT IS 75 DAYS FROM THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WORST CASE SCENARIO WE CAN CONSIDER, UH, POSTPONEMENTS UP TO THE POINT OF THE 75TH DAY IF AN OWNER DOESN'T WANT TO, UH, ADHERE TO OR WORK WITH US.
UH, BUT THAT IS THE EXTENT OF OUR JURISDICTION ON A PROPERTY THAT'S OUTSIDE OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT OR IS NOT SPECIFICALLY ZONED HISTORIC AS THIS ONE IS.
SO, UM, WE COULD CONSIDER THAT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THIS IS NOT DESIGNATED HISTORIC CURRENTLY? THAT IS CORRECT.
IF IT CAME WITH EITHER OF THOSE CRITERIA, THEN WE WOULD HAVE MORE TIME.
A 75 DAY TRIGGER IS BECAUSE OF ITS CURRENT STATUS, AND THAT IS WHATEVER WE DO, WE CALL IT TIMING OUT AUTOMATICALLY.
THE PERMIT WOULD BE GRANTED WITHIN 75 DAYS NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY.
THAT'S NOT A DESIRABLE OUTCOME BY ANY MEANS.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, AGAIN, OTHER, UH, ALTERNATIVES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE OWNER ON BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
UH, BUT SHORT OF GRANTING AN OUTRIGHT PERMIT TONIGHT, THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD BE CONSIDERING IF WE CONSIDER SOME TYPE OF POSTPONEMENT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER CONVERSATION AMONG OURSELVES? ISN'T THERE ALSO THE TIMELINE RELATED TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION AND ANY LIENS AND FEES THAT THEY'RE BEING FACED WITH? SO LET'S ASK THAT, ARE WE MAKING OUR DECISION ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT OF THAT? GOOD QUESTION.
SO THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE, UH, BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION LEGAL LIAISON, UM, WHO ISN'T OURS.
UM, BUT OUR LEGAL LIAISON HAS SAID THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET IN TOUCH TOMORROW.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU BEFORE THAT.
SO POTENTIALLY THE DELAY CLOCK FROM THEIR INITIATION COULD, COULD IN FACT, WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS, COULD IN FACT HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL COST IMPLICATIONS.
SEEMS LIKE IT, RIGHT? I THINK THAT I PAY FINE.
I MEAN, I'M PAYING FINE FOR A FENCE THAT'S AROUND IT FOR THEM BUILDING IT.
BUT PLEASE, THIS IS NOW WE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE, WE, WE LIKE YOU BEING CLOSE BY, BUT YOU GOTTA LET US HAVE OUR CONVERSATION NOW.
THAT'S A, A WORTHY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.
UH, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? UM, I'M ALSO CURIOUS IF WE POSTPONE THIS, UM, COULD THESE STILL BE DEMOLISHED BY THE CITY WHILE WE'RE CONSIDERING? I DON'T THINK SO.
AND I'LL, I'LL NOTE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE 46TH DAY AFTER MARCH 27TH, AND WE ALSO HAD SIMILAR ORDERS ON NINE 16, NOT 9 16, 9 11 CONGRESS, UH, AND THEY'RE STILL STANDING YEAR AND A HALF LATER.
IT WAS IMMINENTLY NEEDED TO BE TORN DOWN.
SO I, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK IT'S, IT'S, UH, YEAH, I'VE GOT A NOTE JUST SEPARATELY.
I THINK WE, WE WILL NEED A MOTION AT SOME POINT TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT, UM, RELATIVE TO THINGS WE'RE GONNA TAKE TO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND BACK TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS, UM, GENTLEMEN, IS THE POSSIBILITY OF WAIVING BSC FEES IF THE PROPERTY GOES UNDER HLC REVIEW? NO POINT.
THAT'S KNOW, THAT'S A SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT I POSED.
UM, THEY WILL, I, I I THINK FROM PAST EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU SAY WAIVE FEES, THEY GO
I'M GONNA MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO OUR JULY MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO OUR ARCHITECTURAL
[03:35:01]
REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING AS A BEGINNING OF CONVERSATION, UH, MY, MY THOUGHT IS, IS THAT STAFF PROBABLY NEEDS TO REACH OUT TO THEM EVEN BEFORE THAT.I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDING TO BE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE APPLICANT'S, UH, INTEREST IN HAVING, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT, UH, THEY VERY WELL HAVE.
UM, THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE, TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO POSTPONE TO OUR JULY MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT.
UH, SO COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I THINK THIS IS JUST TOO COMPLEX A CASE RIGHT NOW WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR WIN-WIN SITUATIONS FOR BOTH THE APPLICANT AND THE CITY.
THERE'S A LOT OF LAYERS TO THIS CASE AND I THINK IT NEEDS TIME TO BE, TO BE DISCUSSED.
UM, IT ALSO LAYERS ON, AS DISCUSSED WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHERE THEY SAID IT'S DEMOLISH OR REPAIR, BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY, IF YOU DON'T REPAIR, THEN THEY ENFORCED DEMOLITION BY THE COMMISSION, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAW LAST TIME, UH, WHICH IS ANOTHER TOPIC FOR ANOTHER DISCUSSION, BUT POTENTIAL OF WAIVING FEES, POTENTIAL OF WORKING WITH WITHIN THE CITY TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL OF POSSIBLY DESIGNATING OTHER PROPERTIES IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE TO, UH, PROVIDE THIS GENERATIONAL FAMILY, EAST AUSTIN FAMILY, THE ABILITY TO INVEST IN THE OTHER PROPERTIES.
UM, THERE'S JUST TOO MANY LAYERS HERE, SO, UH, I THINK WE NEED ONE MORE MONTH TO DISCUSS THIS.
AND I WOULD, UH, REACH OUT TO ANY OTHER INTERESTED COMMISSIONERS SHORT OF A QUORUM THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AS SPECIAL GUESTS WHO MAY, UH, WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION.
COMMISSIONER EVANS, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? CERTAINLY, UH, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WIN-WIN SITUATION, AND I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO EXPLORE, UH, TALKING TO THE, UH, OWNER ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT SHE REFERENCED, MAYBE GETTING AHEAD OF SOME OTHER SITUATIONS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO I THINK, UH, POSTPONING FOR A MONTH MIGHT GET US ALL IN A BETTER PLACE.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I'M GOING TO, UH, ASK STAFF, UH, TO REPORT BACK.
UH, WE JUST SENT OUT TO THE COMMISSION BY EMAIL, IF NOTHING ELSE ON THE RESPONSE FROM THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
IF THERE IS, UH, ALREADY IN PA IN IN PLACE A WAY OF SUSPENDING ANY KIND OF PENALTIES WHILE UNDER REVIEW FROM OUR COMMISSION, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE OWNER IS AWARE OF THAT IMMEDIATELY.
UH, IF THERE IS NOT AN OBVIOUS OR EASY WAY TO DO THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD AS A COMMISSION, UH, WORK WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS OWNER IN PARTICULAR, BUT FUTURE OWNERS ARE NOT SO BURDENED.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO EXPLORE THAT IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT A LINGERING ISSUE.
I WILL ALL KNOW THEIR RESPONSE AS SOON AS I DO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE, THE OTHER CASE WHERE THE CITY ENFORCED DEMOLITION UPON US WERE ACTUALLY ON TWO DESIGNATED LANDMARKS.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY LANDMARKS AND THE CITY TOLD US TO TEAR 'EM DOWN.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S LAYERED WITH REVIEW, IT'S LAYERED WITH DESIGNATION.
UM, IT'S A SIDE CONVERSATION, I THINK, BUT FOR THE CASE, FOR THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO DISCUSS THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
BUT IT DEFINITELY RAISES THE BIGGER, BIGGER QUESTIONS.
I, I SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT.
I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THE FAMILY KNEW THEY HAD AN ASSET AND THIS FAMILY WAS GIVEN STEWARDSHIP.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE INTRICACIES OF FAMILY AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
I'M ALL FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE HOLDING ONTO LAND.
AND I THINK YOU ALL IN A BETTER POSITION TO SAY YOU HAVE MORE THAN 30 PROPERTIES.
UM, TO ME THERE'S 20 OTHER OPTIONS OF HOW WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE SITUATION.
AND, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE PAST LIKE YOU MENTIONED, BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY, WE'RE HERE, THIS BODY LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IT DID 20 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S WHY PRESERVATION AUSTIN LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IT DID 20 YEARS AGO.
AND SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO LOOK AT THE CRIME AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AND FAMILY STUFF AND ALL THAT.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR HAVING THAT.
HOWEVER, THESE ARE HISTORIC RESOURCES.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BODY IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT.
UH, AND, AND IT'S THAT SIMPLE DISCUSSION.
NO, UH, IF WE OPEN IT UP ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING THE CONTINUING OF THE CONVERSATION, ASSUMING THIS MOTION PASSES AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WE'VE CLOSED IT, BUT NOW IT IS, IF THIS MOTION PASSES, IT WILL BE OPENED IN JULY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO STAFF TO GET ON RECORD FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
THAT WOULD BE THE FORM FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONTRIBUTE
[03:40:01]
TOWARD THIS CASE, IS MY UNDERSTANDING COMPLETELY.ALRIGHT, UM, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
IS THERE ANY IN OPPOSITION? NO, IT IS UNANIMOUS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND WE, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU, UM, COMMISSIONERS.
[26. PR-2024-054243 – 2507 Exposition Blvd. ]
ONE MORE DISCUSSION CASE, UH, FOR THE EVENING.AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO EXTEND IF WE CAN GET TO THIS QUICKLY, BUT THIS IS THE, UM, ITEM ON 25 0 7 EXPOSITION BOULEVARD.
UH, THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST AND IT WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, UH, STAFF, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? IT'S GONNA TAKE ME A MINUTE.
AND, AND WE THANK THE APPLICANT FOR WAITING.
I ASSUME YOU'RE, YOU'RE HERE TO AS THE APPLICANT, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
ALRIGHT, JUST GIVE US A MOMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 26 25 0 7 EXPOSITION BOULEVARD.
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCA 1942 HOUSE.
IT'S A ONE STORY RECTANGULAR PLAN HOUSE WITH A S GABLED ROOF AND A G LIT ABOVE THE CENTRAL FRONT STOOP.
THIS HOUSE IS CLAD AND HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING WITH SIX OVER SIX DOUBLE HUNG WOOD WINDOWS THROUGHOUT EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS ARE VISIBLE AT THE EAVES.
THE HOUSE AT 25 0 7 EXPOSITION WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1942.
INSURANCE AGENT MICHAEL ROGERS PURCHASED THE HOUSE THAT YEAR AND HE AND HIS FAMILY REMAINED THERE UNTIL AT LEAST 1967.
IN THE MID 1950S, HE OPENED HIS OWN AGENCY AND OPERATED OUT OF HIS HOME.
DURING THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES, THE ROGERS FAMILY CELEBRATED THEIR DAUGHTER BETTY JANE'S SUCCESS IN HOLLYWOOD, KNOWN UNDER THE SCREEN NAME ELIZABETH ROGERS.
SHE MADE A LIVING APPEARING AS BIT CHARACTERS IN SEVERAL WELL-KNOWN TELEVISION SERIES STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
UM, MY NAME IS JEREMY RE I'M THE ARCHITECT, PROJECT ARCHITECT ON THE PROJECT.
UM, WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST, AND I THINK I FIRST START BY SAYING THAT, UM, OUR CLIENTS, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS WHO CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE HOUSE, JAMES AND SARAH, UM, THEY HAVE LIVED IN THAT PROPERTY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
UH, ACTUALLY SARAH GREW UP IN TARRYTOWN.
HER PARENTS STILL LIVE A COUPLE BLOCKS DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY, UH, AS CLIENTS AND HOMEOWNERS, THEY CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND VERY MUCH ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AS OPPOSED TO A LOT OF CLIENTS WE WORK WITH, THEY ACTUALLY CARE A LOT ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS TOO.
UM, AND ALL THAT KIND OF WENT INTO OUR PROCESS AND INTO THE DESIGN, UH, WE ENDED UP CREATING FOR THEM.
UH, WHEN WE FIRST MET WITH, WITH THE CLIENTS, IT WAS VERY APPARENT AND ONE OF THE CAVEATS OF THE PROJECT WAS THAT WE WANT TO CREATE WHATEVER WE CREATE HERE, WHATEVER PATH WE TAKE, WE WANT THIS HOME TO FEEL LIKE IT EXISTS AND SHOULD EXIST IN TARRYTOWN.
UM, IT HAS TO HAVE A STREET PRESENCE, BUT IT, IT, IT'S NOT A HOUSE THAT TRIES TO CALL ATTENTION TO ITSELF, UM, TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WITH THAT IDEA, UM, ALONG WITH THEM TRYING TO EXPAND UPON THEIR CURRENT HOUSE, UH, TO CREATE A DWELLING THAT WAS MORE SUITABLE FOR THEIR FAMILY, UM, IN, IN CURRENT AUSTIN, AND ALSO TRYING TO UTILIZE THE EQUITY AND KIND OF CREATE VALUE FOR THAT PROPERTY MORE COMPARABLE TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN TERRYTOWN.
UM, THROUGH THAT ASSESSMENT, WE DETERMINED AND WITH SOME EARLY SCHEMATIC DESIGNING AS WELL THAT THE CURRENT HOUSE, THE, THE EFFORT, THE COST, AND UM, THE EFFORT TO KIND OF RENOVATE THAT OR ADD ON TO THAT, UM, IN THE END WAS, WAS GONNA BE MORE EFFORT AND MORE COST AND, AND THE END NOT CREATE THE SAME VALUE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ON THE PROPERTY AS THE NEW, UM, DESIGN, UM, CREATES.
AND SO OUR, OUR MOTIVE WAS TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A ASSESS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK AROUND.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE NODS TO A REVIVAL STYLE, A COLONIAL REVIVAL STYLE, WHICH IS QUITE COMMON WITH A LOT OF PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, SIMPLISTIC DETAILS, UH, TRIM
[03:45:01]
FREEZE DETAILS THAT ARE KIND OF COMPLIANT WITH A LOT OF THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.AND, UM, I THINK THAT KIND OF SUMS IT UP, UH, AS FAR AS WHERE WE'RE AT, UM, ON THE PROJECT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? UH, HAVE YOU ALL WORKED WITH, WITH OR GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION? YEAH, ACTUALLY SARAH'S ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE WIFE OF THE FAMILY, SO SHE IS, SHE IS ONE OF THE MEMBERS ON THERE.
SO SHE WORKS VERY, THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
THEY VERY, THEY CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY TALKING THROUGH THESE ISSUES WITH THEM.
AND IT HAS BEEN AN IMPETUS SINCE THE BEGINNING TO CREATE A HOUSE AGAIN THAT, THAT ISN'T A MODERN JUXTAPOSITION, YOU KNOW, IN TERRYTOWN.
I THINK WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO KIND OF GET IT THAT WAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE OPPOSED? OKAY, HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER ROCHE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER, UH, HORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE HAND PLEASE.
ANY OPPOSED? IT'S NOT, IT'S UNANIMOUS.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THIS ONE? I KNOW THIS WAS PULLED BY ONE OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THAT WAS ME
UM, I, I THINK I'LL MOVE TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PACKAGE, UM, AND PROVIDE, THEY, THEY PROVIDE THE AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION.
CITY AUSTIN SAVE AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO'S MOTION? I'LL, I'LL SECOND AND NOTE, I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE FULL MOTION.
'CAUSE I THINK THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME YOU MAY HAVE DONE THAT.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
ALRIGHT, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? YOU KNOW, I, I PULLED IT, I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, GET A LITTLE BIT OF UNDERSTANDING FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, I WAS WONDERING IF THE SUCCESS, IF THIS ACTRESS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS MOSTLY YOUR PARENTS' HOUSE, BUT I HAD A LITTLE, COUPLE QUESTIONS ON MAYBE HOW, WHAT TIME WHEN DID SHE, DOES SHE LIVE THERE AT SOME POINT? THIS AND THAT? BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN IS, IS I, I FEEL GENERALLY APPROPRIATE.
UM, AND YEAH, YOU, YOU'RE LUCKY IT'S LATE.
I, I THINK, I THINK YOU PULLED THIS BECAUSE, UM, IT IS A, A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD DECISION TO MAKE AND, AND IT'S A, UM, A SENSITIVE, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION DESIGN AND YOU, UH, SO YOU DEFINITELY MUST HAVE PULLED IT AS A PALLET CLEANSER.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND UH, I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
ALRIGHT, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, THE MOTION TO RELEASE THE PERMIT INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IT IS UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING UP WITH US.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE DO
[29. Grants Committee]
HAVE COMMITTEE UPDATES.UH, AND THE GRANTS COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE, UH, THEY'RE WAITING ON SOME STAFF UPDATES AND THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SET.
IS THAT CORRECT? WE ARE WAITING ON A NEW, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR PARD.
UM, MELISSA ALVARADO WANTS TO, UH, POSTPONE THE GRANTS COMMITTEE UNTIL ONE IS HIRED.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE SOON.
AND THEN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE,
[30. Operations Committee]
DO WE HAVE A DATE SET? WE DO NOT HAVE A DATE SET YET.WE ARE STILL WAITING ON ONE MORE VOTE FOR A DATE, BUT WE DO HAVE QUORUM, SO WE CAN GO, PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE SOMETHING.
UM, BUT IT WILL BE IN JULY, I BELIEVE.
ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
[31. Architectural Review Committee ]
UH, YOU SAW A LOT OF THEM THAT WE SAW.UM, CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE STILL OPEN, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SIX 11 E SIXTH PROPOSALS THAT WERE POSTPONED TONIGHT.
UM, IT WAS, IT'S INTERESTING, THE LITTLE MINI DISTRICT THAT WE HAD THERE ON SIXTH STREET WITH THE STREAM PROPERTIES.
UH, WE HAD THE UNDEVELOPED OR THE, THE BLOCK WITH NON HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE LOTTERY COMMISSION WAS.
WE HAD A PROPOSAL THERE AND, UH, WE SHOULD BE MEETING WITH THEM AGAIN SOON BEFORE THEY COME BACK AROUND TO US.
YEAH, IT'LL DEFINITELY NEED SOME DISCUSSION FROM THE A RC.
UM, IN FACT, UH, IF THE A RC IS MEETING WITH THEM, YOU MAY ASK THEM TO ALSO DO A, A COLLECTION OF FACADES AND SHOW ITS CONTINUITY WITH THE REST OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHICH NONE OF THE DOCUMENTATION DID.
UH, PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE,
[32. Preservation Plan Committee ]
MR. CASTILLO.UH, SO, UM, THE, UH, DRAFT PLAN HAS
[03:50:01]
BEEN UNDER REVIEW FOR, FOR A WHILE.AND ACTUALLY THE, THE REVIEW PERIOD CLOSED AT THE END OF MAY.
AND, UM, RIGHT NOW THERE, THE, THE NEXT UH, STEPS ARE TWO REVISION MEETINGS, UH, WITH BOTH THE, UM, THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE, UH, PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP.
UH, THOSE MEETINGS ARE JUNE 24TH, UM, WHICH I BELIEVE, UH, MAY BE VIRTUAL AND THE JULY 1ST ONE, WHICH IS PROBABLY IN PERSON.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE NOW YEAH, WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT INFORMATION AND LOSS OF GOOD FEEDBACK AND THE MOMENTUM IS DEFINITELY CONTINUING.
SO NOW THE NEXT ROUND OF PROCESSING IS, IS ABOUT TO START.
SO AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU.
AND, AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE A, A HEAD OF STEAM AND WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH SOME VERY INTERESTING RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, I'M NOTICING, GENTLEMEN, YOU ALL ARE STAYING HERE, PROBABLY DO NEED TO SPEAK TO STAFF AND THEY CAN GO THROUGH, UH, ANY OF THE PROCEDURES.
UH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABSOLUTELY.
UH, OFFLINE, BECAUSE, UH, WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT OF THE AGENDA WHERE WE ARE PAYING A MOTION.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
OH, DO WE MISS ONE? I I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, UM, AT THE END OF OUR MEETING TO REMEMBER, UH, CAROLINE WRIGHT, WHO WAS A, UH, A WONDERFUL PRESERVATIONIST, A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION, AND SOMEBODY WHO MADE A GREAT IMPACT ON AUSTIN, UM, BECAUSE OF HER EXPERTISE AND, AND JUST HER, UH, HER PERSONALITY AND WHAT A GREAT PERSON SHE WAS.
SO IF YOU GOOGLE HER, HER, HER OBITUARY WAS WRITTEN BY HERSELF AND IT'S VERY MOVING.
I THINK, UH, SOME TYPE OF, UH, RECOGNITION.
IF, IF IN FACT, LET'S, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN, UH, PUT TOGETHER WITH THAT.
WOULD YOU WANT TAKE THE LEAD THERE SINCE YOU'RE ASKED? I, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR DEADLINE.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES.
AND COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE YOU RUN AWAY, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR YOU.
WE HAVE SOME DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEYS FROM KARA.
UH, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T FILLED ONE OUT YET, PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
UH, WE ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE NAPC CAMP TRAINING COMING UP.
SO IF YOU WANT TO, UH, ATTEND THAT, PLEASE LET KARA KNOW AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
UH, IT IS IN NEW BRAUNFELS THIS YEAR.
UM, ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY DISAPPEARING.