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[CALL TO ORDER ]
IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 6:00 PM I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE, UH, MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.STAFF THE CHAIR, AND I'LL CALL UPON OUR STAFF, UH, TO BEGIN WITH THE, UH, ROLL CALL.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER HEIM SAFF PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER WHIT FEATHERSTON.
COMMISSIONER KEVIN COOK, PRESENT.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER TREY MCCARTER.
PRESENT, COMMISSIONER HARMONY GROGAN.
COMMISSIONER RAYMOND CASTILLO IS ABSENT TONIGHT.
COMMISSIONER RON RAYMOND RUBIO.
COMMISSIONER TARA DUDLEY PRESENT.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE DEPARTING FROM OUR PREVIOUS WAY OF DOING THINGS.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE AGENDA WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF STAFF.
WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THE CASES, UH, AND READ THEM INTO THE RECORD AND THEN WE'LL PULL FORWARD THOSE THAT ARE BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT AND POSTPONEMENT.
[Consent Agenda]
WOULD YOU PROCEED? THANK YOU.CHAIR ITEM ONE ON OUR SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2024 AGENDA ARE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 7TH, 2024, AND THESE ARE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM TWO IS A BRIEFING ON THE HERITAGE GRANT LAUNCH FOR 2024.
UH, NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AS THIS IS A BRIEFING ITEM THREE C 14 H 20 24 0 1 0 2 9.
ROY BUTLER BIKE TRAIL IS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT ITEM FOUR C 14 H 20 24 3 AT 1308 SPRINGDALE ROAD IS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT ITEM FIVE C 14 H 20 24 0 115 AT 9 0 6 WEST 17TH STREET IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM SIX, PR 20 24 0 6 4 2 7 4 AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM SEVEN, PR 20 24 0 2 6 6 9 0 AT 900 SPENCE STREET IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
OUR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS TONIGHT START WITH ITEM EIGHT, HR 20 24 0 7 7 4 9 7 AT 2305 EAST 21ST STREET.
ITEM NINE, HR 20 24 0 7 7 9 8 6 AT 1607 WEST 10TH STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 10, HR 20 24 0 4 0 2 9 1.
AT 1807 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET IS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT ITEM 11, HR 20 24 0 7 2 5 9 AT 1811 NEWTON STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 12, HR 20 24 1 715 AT SEVEN 19 CONGRESS AVENUE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 13, HR 20 24 0 9 5 1 4 2 AT 25 0 4.
BRIDAL PATH IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 14, HR 20 24 0 9 5 2 1 4 AT 7 0 1 BAYLOR STREET IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 15, HR 20 24 1 0 0 5 0 2 3300 DUVAL STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
OUR NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORIC DISTRICT APPLICATIONS TONIGHT START WITH NUMBER 16 PR 20 24 0 3 3 5 6 8 AT 1409 ALTAVISTA AVENUE.
THIS ITEM OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 17, HR 20 24 0 9 7 6 4 1 AT 1703 NING AVENUE IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM 18, HR 20 24 0 9 0 3 0 3.
AT 1109 CLAIRE AVENUE IS POSTED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 19 DA 2 2 4 0 8 9 5 22 AT EIGHT 10 WEST 11TH STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 20 PR 20 24 0 4 2 2 7 4 12 0 5 COTTON STREET IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION.
EXCUSE ME, WE'RE STARTING OUR DEMOLITIONS AND RELOCATIONS.
UH, ITEM 21, PR 20 24 0 2 2 9 5 7 AT 4,700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE.
NUMBER 10 IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 22 PR 20 24 0 4 3 0 3 5 AT 1702 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
BOULEVARD IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 23, PR 2 24 0 4 3 8 4 4 AT 1704 EAST MARTIN
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LUTHER KING, JR.BOULEVARD IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 24, PR 20 24 0 2 1 1 4 5 AT 73 0 4 KNOX LANE IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM 25, PR 20 24 0 9 6 3 4 3 AT 5 3 0 3 SAMUEL HOUSTON AVENUE IS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION UNDER LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE ITEM 26 AT 8 0 9 LYDIA STREET.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT UNDER COMMISSION ITEMS NUMBER 27.
UM, WE HAVE A, UH, REQUEST TO VOTE TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNSEL REVIEW AND ADOPT THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
WE HAVE REQUEST, UH, CHAIR TO TAKE TWO ITEMS OUT OF ORDER TONIGHT.
UM, FIRST 1500 EAST 12TH STREET.
UH, COMMISSIONER DUDLEY HAS REQUESTED THAT THIS ITEM BE TAKEN UP FIRST SO THAT SHE MAY ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE.
UM, AND SECOND, UH, NUMBER 27, THE VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN, UM, TO BE TAKEN EARLIER IN THE MEETING THAN VERY LAST.
THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA.
UM, LET US FIRST DEAL WITH THE ITEMS THAT WERE THIS, UH, POSTED FOR CONSENT.
UH, ANYBODY WHO IS HERE FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, WE WILL NEED YOU TO CATCH OUR ATTENTION AND THEN WE WILL PULL THAT FROM THE AGENDA.
BUT I'M GOING TO REVIEW IT ALL THOSE CASES AND ONCE WE HAVE A VOTE, ANY OF THE CASES THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE PASSED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S POSTED ON OUR AGENDA WITH THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE FOR AN ITEM ON CONSENT AND YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEAK AND IT PASSES AND YOU'RE HAPPY, YOU CAN LEAVE AFTER THAT VOTE.
THE SECOND NUMBER OF ITEMS WILL HAVE POSTPONEMENTS AND THOSE, ONCE AGAIN, I WILL GO THROUGH THEM, UH, AS HAVE BEEN POSTED.
IF SOMEBODY OBJECTS OR WISHES TO DISCUSS THOSE, PLEASE GET OUR ATTENTION.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PULLING THOSE BEFORE WE TAKE THAT VOTE.
AND THEN WE'LL ALSO WITH THE REMAINING ITEMS, TAKE THE VOTE FOR THE CASES THAT WERE REQUESTED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER.
THE ONLY LAST HOUSEKEEPING ITEM, UH, WE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS EVENING, I BELIEVE THE CHANGE IS BEING MADE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE, UH, SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS AND ARE HERE VIRTUALLY.
AND IN THE PAST WE WERE MUTING PEOPLE WHO WERE ON HOLD, BUT THIS EVENING I BELIEVE THE NEW POLICY WILL BE THAT YOU'LL MUTE YOURSELF AND WE DO ASK YOU TO MUTE YOURSELF, BUT WHEN YOUR CASE COMES UP AND WE CALL YOUR NAME, WE WANT YOU TO PROMPTLY BE ABLE TO RESPOND SO WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE MEETING.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY? HAVE I, HAVE I STATED THAT CORRECTLY? UH, SAM, UH, SO ACTUALLY PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNMUTE THEMSELVES.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEND A REQUEST TO FOR THEM TO UNMUTE.
UM, BUT WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EXTRA CLOSE EYE ON WHO'S ONLINE TODAY.
SO WE'LL BE SENDING YOU REQUESTS TO UNMUTE IF YOUR CASE COMES UP.
AND ALSO JUST TO HOP IN, WE HAVE A SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER 16.
UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO PULL THAT ONE FOR DISCUSSION.
ITEM 16 WAS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, BUT THAT WILL NOW BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
HERE IS THIS WHERE, UM, I SHOULD NOTE ANY ADDITIONAL CASES TO BE PULLED? SORRY, GOT A LITTLE OFF TRACK.
WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
AS OPPOSED TO, AND THAT WAY WHEN I DO THE REVIEW WILL BE MORE CONSISTENT, BUT AT ANY TIME IF SOMEONE HAS, UH, ONE OF THESE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF OF THESE, EITHER CONSENT OR POSTPONE IT AT ANY TIME, IT'S APPROPRIATE.
SO IF YOU HAVE SEVERAL, GO AHEAD.
UH, I'D LIKE TO PULL NUMBER 8, 13, 15, AND 19.
EIGHT NUMBER 8, 13, 15 AND 19.
SO EACH OF THOSE WILL NOW BE OFFERED AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND AS LONG AS I'M HERE, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS IDENTIFIED ONE? I'LL ALSO GO THROUGH THE AGENDA ONE BY ONE, UH, FOR THE CONSENT ITEMS, AND IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
IF YOU HAVE ONE YOU'D LIKE US TO PULL, WE CAN STILL DO IT AT THAT TIME.
SO ANY OTHER IMMEDIATE REQUESTS? HEARING NONE, I WILL NOW REVIEW THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE OFFERED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 7TH.
UH, THAT IS THE 1607 WEST 10TH STREET.
UH, THERE'S AN ADDITION THAT HAD BEEN POSTPONED FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING
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AND THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.ITEM NUMBER 11 18 11 NEWTON STREET.
UH, THIS IS, UH, REPLACING SOME STONE, WALL AND STAIRS.
ITEM NUMBER 12, UH, SEVEN 19 CONGRESS AVENUE, THE STATE THEATER.
UH, THIS IS A RECONSTRUCTED SIGN.
UM, THE NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS NUMBER 18.
UH, THIS IS A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, UH, CASE AT 1109 CLARE AVENUE.
UH, PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A GARAGE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 26 AT 8 0 9 LYDIA STREET.
UH, THIS IS A, UH, TAX ABATEMENT IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, THAT IS AT 8 0 9 LYDIA STREET AND IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I DO BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE LISTED.
AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
COMMISSIONERS MOVE TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AS STATED.
COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEATHERS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND IT IS UNANIMOUS AND THOSE ITEMS PASSED.
AGAIN, IF YOU ARE HERE FOR ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE NOW PASSED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THOSE HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, THOSE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT, UH, EVERY ONE OF THESE FROM, UH, WHAT WE UNDERSTAND HAVE BEEN REQUESTS FROM THE APPLICANT'S, AND I WILL READ THE POSTPONEMENT ITEMS FOR, UH, AN A, A, A PROPOSED VOTE.
THE FIRST ONE IS ITEM NUMBER THREE.
THIS IS AT 9 0 3 7 ANNE AND ROY BUTLER AND BIKE TRAIL.
UH, THIS IS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT, AND AGAIN, EACH ONE OF THESE, UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE, WILL BE POSTPONED TO OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
UH, THE NEXT ONE IS 1300 SPRINGDALE ROAD, AND, UH, THAT IS, UH, ALSO OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT TO OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
THE NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 10 AT 1807 EAST AS CHAVEZ.
UH, THAT IS THE BURNER CLARK MERCADO HOUSE AND THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED TO POSTPONE AND AGAIN TO THE OCTOBER MEETING ON ITEM NUMBER 14 7 0 1 BAYLOR STREET.
UH, THAT IS A PROPERTY IN THE CASTLE HILL LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THAT IS POSTPONED, UH, OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT TO THE OCTOBER MEETING.
THE NEXT ONE IS 21 4700 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE, NUMBER 10.
AND THAT IS, UH, REQUESTING FROM THE APPLICANT TO POSTPONEMENT TO THE OCTOBER MEETING, 22 17 0 2 EAST MLK, UH, THAT IS ALSO POSTPONEMENT TO THE OCTOBER MEETING.
AND 1704 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING JU UH, JUNIOR BOULEVARD.
THAT IS ALSO AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO THE OCTOBER MEETING COMMISSIONERS.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS.
ALRIGHT, ONCE AGAIN, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THAT UNANIMOUS AND WE'VE POSTPONED THOSE ITEMS TO OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
UH, AT THIS POINT WE'VE HAD REQUEST FOR TWO ITEMS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER.
UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SIX AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET.
AND THE SECOND ITEM IS THE PROPOSED PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION FOR THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE, UH, LIMITED TIME.
SO, UM, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, UH, I WILL MY ACCLIMATION SAY THAT WE CAN TAKE THOSE OUT OF ORDER OR I, I GUESS BETTER, BETTER JUST TO BE SAFE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE A MOTION, UH, TO TAKE THOSE TWO ITEMS, UH, FIRST AND THEN PROCEED WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA IN ORDER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, PROCEEDING WITH THE CHANGE IN THE ORDER, RAISE YOUR HAND.
IT IS UNANIMOUS AND WE WILL PROCEED.
ALRIGHT, UM, IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN, UM, WELL, LET ME QUICKLY, WE HAVE A BRIEFING.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ACTION, BUT WE CAN PUT OFF THE BRIEFING AS WELL.
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OUT OF ORDER, WE CAN CALL UP ITEM NUMBER[6. PR-2024-064274 – 1500 E 12th St. ]
SIX 1500 EAST 12TH STREET AS OUR FIRST CASE.CASE NUMBER PR 2 2 4 0 6 4 2 7 4 IS A HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION INITIATED AND OWNER A POST REQUEST FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, THIS IS THE EAST END SALOON IN EISEN ADVISORS AS WELL AS THE 1500 CLUB BEAUTY AND BARBERSHOP AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL OTHERWISE REQUIRE A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE BEFORE RELEASING THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UH, STAFF HAS FOUND THAT THIS ITEM IS QUALIFIED FOR HISTORIC ZONING UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY VALUE, AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS THE PROPERTY AS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK LISTING BASED ON THOSE CRITERIA AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL LISTING AND THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE AREA OF LAND DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY PLANNING.
THE BUILDING IS A VERNACULAR COMMERCIAL BUILDING, A TYPOLOGY RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING.
IN AUSTIN, IT WAS RECOMMENDED AS A PRESERVATION PRIORITY REQUIRING STABILIZATION IN A 2019 LETTER FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN.
NEIGHBORHOODS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED AS A TWO STORY STORE BUILDING OCCUPANTS CONSTRUCTED ONE STORY BEER ADDITIONS IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
IT HAS A HIP ROOF WITH A CENTRAL HIP DORMER AT THE 12TH STREET ELEVATION.
ONE OVER ONE WOODEN VINYL WINDOWS AND HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING COVERED WITH VINYL SIDING THAT HAS BEEN PARTIALLY REMOVED WITHOUT PERMITS.
A SHALLOW FRAME AWNING SHELTERS THE TWO ENTRY STOOPS AT 12TH STREET WHILE THE TWO KAMAL STREET ENTRANCES REMAINED UNCOVERED.
THE BUILDING'S SECOND FLOOR PORCH WAS ORIGINALLY OPEN BUT ENCLOSED DURING THE HISTORIC PERIOD.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY IDENTIFIES THIS PROPERTY AS SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS ASSOCIATION WITH ERNEST EISEN VISOR AND HIS FAMILY, A PROMINENT AUSTIN GROCER AND SALOON OPERATOR.
THE BUILDING IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, THE 1500 CLUB, AND THE 1500 BEAUTY AND BARBERSHOP, AS WELL AS CHRISTIAN J WILHELM GROCER AND POLITICIAN.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED AS 1400 EAST 12TH STREET AND IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND 1910 PER THE SURVEY.
HOWEVER, THE BUILDING'S EARLIEST OCCUPANT GROCERY CHRISTIAN J WILHELM IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADDRESS AS FAR BACK AS 1889.
WILHELM WAS A NATIVE OF BURNETT WHO LIVED ABOVE HIS SHOP AND SOLD GROCERIES AND BEER.
HE ALSO BARTENDED BRIEFLY ON CONGRESS AVENUE.
WILHELM WAS ACTIVE IN POLITICS AND RAN FOR SEVERAL CIVIC ROLES, INCLUDING TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
IN 1910, HE AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO HOUSTON AND SOLD THE PROPERTY TO DESAL MERCHANTS, ERNEST AND LOUISA EISEN.
THE EISEN STORE SOLD PRODUCE AND DRY GOODS AND HAD AN ATTACHED SALOON AND RESTAURANT.
THE FAMILY LIVED ABOVE THE STORE AND OCCASIONALLY RENTED OUT LIVING SPACE FOR TENANTS DURING PROHIBITION.
THE SALOON WAS CLOSED BY THE BY CITY ORDINANCE, THOUGH IT LATER REOPENED.
AND BY 1934 IT WAS A POPULAR SPOT FOR GERMAN FOOD, MUSIC AND BEER BOASTING NOVELTIES LIKE A MARBLE BEER VAULT AND A RESIDENT ACCORDION BAND.
THE FAMILY STOPPED SELLING GROCERIES TO FOCUS ON THE RESTAURANT AND MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE ENCLOSURE OF THE OPEN SECOND FLOOR PORCH.
THAT AND NOW AUTHOR JEFFREY KERR RECOUNTS EYES ADVISORS HISTORY.
HE WORKED WITH EMIL BOWLES IN A PFLUGERVILLE MEAT MARKET BEFORE OPENING HIS FIRST CAFE IN DESAL IN 1907.
ALTHOUGH THE STREETCAR TRACKS OUT FRONT ARE LONG GONE, THE NAME EISEN REMAINS STAMPED ON THE CONCRETE STEPS ALONG THE BUILDING'S FRONT.
AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS WIFE LOUISA CONTINUED TO RUN THE THE BUSINESS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, BUT BY 1950 SHE HAD SOLD THE BUILDING TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN BEAUFORT JOHNSON IN ITS FURNISHINGS TO WIDOW E EM BARTON CALL.
CAN WE SEE THE IMAGES? YOU HAVE, UH, FOUND A HISTORIC PHOTO THAT WASN'T IN OUR BACKUP PREVIOUSLY.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PROJECT, THAT'D BE GREAT.
WHILE YOU, WHILE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY.
BUSINESSMAN VIEW BUFORD JOHNSON CONVERTED THE BUILDING FROM A CAFE AND SALOON TO SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE 1500 BEAUTY AND BARBERSHOPS OPERATED OUTTA THE BUILDING ALONG WITH CLUB 1500 A BAR AND MUSIC VENUE.
THE GAMMA ADA ALPHA CHAPTER OF THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY ALSO TOOK UP RESIDENCE THERE, THE OLDEST FRATERNITY TO ALLOW BLACK MEMBERS ALPHA PHI ALPHA BOASTED AN ILLUSTRIOUS MEMBER ROSTER IN AUSTIN AND NATIONWIDE.
THEY REMAINED IN THE BUILDING FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS, BEGINNING IN 1956.
BY THE EARLY SIXTIES, THE BUILDING WAS OWNED BY HOUSTON TILLSON ALUMNI GILLI C AND GRACE SNEAD JEFFERSON.
JEFFERSON WORKED AS A PLUMBER AND WAS ALSO A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER OF THE BOY SCOUTS.
THROUGHOUT THE SIXTIES, THE JEFFERSON'S CONSTRUCTED ADDITIONS AND MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING, WHICH GAINED NOTORIETY AS A MUSIC VENUE.
DESPITE ITS PROMINENCE AS AN IMPORTANT CORRIDOR, EAST 12TH STREET FELL INTO DECLINE SHORTLY BEFORE THE END OF THE HISTORIC PERIOD WITH YEARS OF VACANCY INTERSPERSED WITH SPORADIC OCCUPATION.
IN 1995, IT WAS PURCHASED BY RELIGIOUS NONPROFIT WHO USED IT AS A REHABILITATION CENTER, BUT IT ONCE AGAIN STOOD
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VACANT AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE CURRENT OWNER IN 2016.THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY ALSO IDENTIFIES THIS PROPERTY AS A UNIQUE LOCATION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER, IMAGE OR CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE CITY.
AS A POPULAR MEETING PLACE IN EAST AUSTIN THAT ALSO FORMS PART OF A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT INTERSECTION AT 12TH AND KAMAL STREETS OPPOSITE THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE AND NEXT TO THE IQ HURDLE HOUSE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE BUILDING'S PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE TO REMEMBER THE BUILDING'S PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE WHEN CONSIDERING ITS HISTORIC VALUE.
THOUGH THE BUILDING FELL INTO DECLINE DURING THE 1970S AND LATER AS MANY OF EAST AUSTIN'S GATHERING PLACES DID.
AFTER YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT SPURRED BY SYSTEMIC NEGLECT BY CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE AFTERMATH OF DISCRIMINATORY REDLINING, ITS PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE ENDS AT THE LATEST IN 1974, HOWEVER, THE BUILDING APPEARS TO RETAIN MODERATE INTEGRITY.
WINDOWS AND DOORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT VINYL SIDING HAS BEEN REMOVED TO REVEAL HISTORIC AGE WOOD SIDING, ADDITIONS AND PORCH ENCLOSURES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED DURING THE HISTORIC PERIOD, AND SIGNIFICANT INTEGRITY MAY BE RESTORED AND EXISTING INTEGRITY RETAINED WITH BASIC REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WORK.
THANKS TO COMMISSIONER DUDLEY FOR PROVIDING THIS HISTORIC VOTE.
AND, UM, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND I THINK ALSO, UH, THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE, UH, PROPERTY NOW WITH THE VINYL SIGHTING REMOVED, I THINK WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS THERE.
UH, AND COMMISSIONERS, JUST TO REMIND YOU, THIS WAS A DEMOLITION REQUEST FROM THE OWNER.
UH, WE TOOK THIS UP AT, UH, PREVIOUS MEETING AND OUR REQUEST WAS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
AND SO IT'S COMING BEFORE YOU AS A REQUEST FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF, THEN I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL CALL ANYONE IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING.
THAT'S WHY IT'S POSTED ON OUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF 1500 EAST 12TH STREET FOR HISTORIC ZONING? YES, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS ONLINE STARTING WITH MS. TRACY WHITT.
OKAY, MS. WHITT, WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE READY TO HEAR YOUR TEST.
THANK YOU FOR INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING FOR 1500 EAST 12TH STREET AND REFLECTING ON THE RELEVANCE OF A VERNACULAR COMMERCIAL BUILDING THAT'S PERSISTED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND SERVED AS A NOTE OF CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CONFLUENCE ALONG THE EAST 12TH STREET REVITALIZATION CORRIDOR IN EAST AUSTIN.
I'VE LIVED 24 YEARS ON THE SAME BLOCK IN SWEET HILL AND CENTRAL EAST, HALF AS A RENTER, AND THEN HALF AS A HOMEOWNER WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'VE BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH COMMUNITY PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PLANS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS.
NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND RECOGNIZE HISTORIC RESOURCES THAT VALUE SITS AMONGST OTHERS THAT ENTHUS ABOUT COMMERCIAL SERVICES WITHIN WALKING OR CYCLING DISTANCE.
AND OUR URBAN RENEWAL PLAN ENVISIONS EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREETS IS KEY TO PROVIDING THOSE DAILY NEEDS IN A MIX OF NEW AND OLD BUILDINGS.
IN 2019, OCEAN IDENTIFIED EISEN ADVISOR'S GROCERY TO EUREKA'S REPRESENTATIVE AS A PRESERVATION PRIORITY, ALONG WITH THE IQ HURDLE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET AT 1416.
AND AS UPDATED IN 2022, THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN ITSELF EXPLICITLY CITES SUPPORT FOR IN-PLACE, RENOVATION OF HISTORIC LANDMARKS IN THE URP AREA.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC SURVEY IDENTIFIES THE STRUCTURE AS ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL LOCAL LANDMARK STATUS FOR COMMUNITY VALUE AND SEVERAL HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING ITS LONG TENURE UNDER EARNEST, I EIS A GERMAN IMMIGRANT AND HIS WIFE LUIS, WHO WAS BORN IN NEW YORK FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.
FROM 1910 TO 1949, THEY OFFERED GROCERIES, FOOD, BEER, FEED, AND OR LODGING.
SANTA AND A DAUGHTER EMMA, ARE BURIED NEARBY IN OAKWOOD ANNEX IN SECTION G AT KAMALA AND EAST 14TH STREET, A MAY 19TH STATESMAN PEACE NOTES THAT EISEN ADVISOR WAS KNOWN TO MANY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN AUSTINITES AS POP AND A MAY 30TH, 1947 MEJIA WEEKLY HERALD REPORTS AUSTIN'S EISEN ADVISOR DIES, EISEN ADVISOR'S CAFE ON EAST 12TH STREET.
POPULAR WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDENTS SINCE 1910 MISSED A LONG FAMILIAR FIGURE TODAY, THE OLD CAFE WITH ITS COLLECTION OF POSTERS, POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS OF EARLIER YEARS AND ITS REPLICA OF THE BUILDING AND MINIATURE HAS A STATEWIDE FAME.
THIS WAS A SPECIAL PLACE RUN BY BELOVED PROPRIETORS.
IT WAS MIXED USE BEFORE SUCH A TERM.
I'M SENSITIVE TO THE PERSPECTIVE, SHARED WITH YOU AT THE LAST HEARING THAT THIS SITE, UH, HOLDS SOME BAD MEMORIES FOR SOME OF THE COMMUNITY.
SADLY, THAT IS TRUE FOR SO MANY PLACES THAT WE LANDMARK.
WHETHER LAUDABLE OR INFAMOUS ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITHIN A HISTORIC STRUCTURE, HOPEFULLY LEADS US TO PONDER WHAT FACTORS OCCASION THOSE OUTCOMES SO WE CAN ENDEAVOR TO EMULATE AND BUILD UPON THE GOOD.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
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ZONE THIS SITE HISTORIC AND HELP THE COMMUNITY AND CURRENT OWNERS TO PRESERVE IT AND STEER ITS USE TOWARDS THE BELOVED AND THE BENEFICIAL.PLEASE DRAW A LINE ON WHAT CANNOT BE LOST, BUT ALSO UNDERSCORE THAT PERHAPS HELP IS NEEDED TO MOVE RESTORATION FROM VACANCY TO VITALITY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? UH, WERE WE ABLE TO GET THE IMAGES FROM OUR BACKUP POSTED? THERE WE GO.
AND, UH, WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS.
I'M ORA HOUSTON AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF HISTORIC ZONING PROTECTION FOR 1500 EAST 12TH STREET.
PLEASE GRANT HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROTECTION TO THE E EEF EISEN VISOR BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF EAST 12TH AND COMAL SO THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN LEARN ABOUT, SEE AND FEEL THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANT AMERICANS TO OUR CITY.
THE BUILDING WAS BUILT BY GERMAN AMERICANS BETWEEN 1889 AND 1901.
IT HAS SEEN MANY USES, SOME REPUTABLE AND SOME NOT.
ITS LOCATION MADE THE BUILDING A HAVEN AND GATHERING POINT FOR MANY GROUPS OF AUSTINITES WHO WERE PHYSICALLY OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN'S ANGLO DOMINATED SOCIETY.
I BELIEVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS JUSTIFIED BY HOW LONG A STRUCTURE HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO A COMMUNITY RATHER THAN PARTICULAR USAGES GIVE THE BUILDING THE SAME PROTECTIONS AS THE OTHER TWO HISTORIC STRUCTURES ON THE CORNERS OF EAST 12TH.
PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME WERE FORCED TO RELOCATE TO EAST AUSTIN BY THE 1928 MASTER PLAN.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1945 AND WE LIVED ON EIGHT 15 EAST 11TH STREET ACROSS FROM SAMUEL HOUSTON COLLEGE.
I ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM ALL SEGREGATED SCHOOLS IN THE SEGREGATED EAST AUSTIN AS AN ADULT.
AND BEFORE THE BUILDING IN QUESTION WAS CLOSED, I WOULD STOP BY PERIODICALLY TO LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC.
THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN PART OF EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND LONGER THAN ANY OF US HAVE BEEN ALIVE.
MY REQUEST IS FOR THE BUILDING TO BE PROTECTED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THE GERMAN CITIZENS WHO CONSTRUCTED IT, OPERATED AND PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED GOODS FROM MEMBERS OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES EAST OF EAST AVENUE.
AND BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO STAND, MY ASK IS THAT YOU GRANT ZONING PROTECTION TO PROMINENT HISTORIC PRESERVATION SO THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN ARE AWARE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF GERMAN AMERICANS TO THIS CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND MS. HOUSTON, WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU KNOW, YOU WERE, YOU WERE MY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A WHILE,
UM, ANY QUESTIONS, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, OF MS. HOUSTON? AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE, UH, HERE SPEAKING IN FAVOR? I BELIEVE WE HAVE MEGAN KING.
I'M MEGAN KING, POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION IN SUPPORT OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET.
YOU HEARD FROM US LAST MONTH ON THE DEMONSTRABLE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS BUILDING FROM ITS EARLY, ITS EARLY GERMAN HISTORY TO ITS LATER ASSOCIATION WITH EAST AUSTIN'S HISTORIC BLACK COMMUNITY.
THIS IS UNDERSCORED BY THE FINDINGS OF THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN SURVEY, WHICH IDENTIFIES THIS BUILDING AS A POTENTIAL CITY OF AUSTIN LANDMARK AND RECOMMENDS IT FOR INDIVIDUAL LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM OTHERS ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE UNPLEASANT CHAPTERS IN THE BUILDING'S HISTORY.
THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF MANY PLACES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY'S BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
BUT AS WE KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY STORY OF THIS BUILDING.
THIS PROPERTY HAS HAD A LONG LIFE DURING ITS CENTURY OF EXISTENCE.
BY PRESERVING IT, WE CAN CHOOSE TO DEFINE HOW THE STORY OF THIS BUILDING IS TOLD AND HOW IT CAN BE USED AS A TOOL TO INVEST IN A BETTER FUTURE FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT EAST AUSTIN BLOCK AT PRESERVATION AUSTIN, WE BELIEVE THAT PRESERVING OLD BUILDINGS IS A VITAL TOOL FOR FORWARD THINKING, PLANNING, AND ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION.
DEMOLISHING THIS PROPERTY FOR AN EMPTY LOT AS IS INTENDED, IS NOT GOING TO LEAD TO A BETTER OUTCOME FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF ANYTHING, AN EMPTY LOT WILL FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEGLECT.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS SYSTEMICALLY EXPERIENCED FROM OUR CITY'S LEADERSHIP, AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MAKE PRESERVATION ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOR THIS PROPERTY AND REACTIVATED ITS STREET PRESENCE.
IF IT IS DESIGNATED AS A CITY OF AUSTIN LANDMARK, THE OWNER WOULD QUALIFY FOR LANDMARK PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS.
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THE OWNERS COULD ALSO APPLY FOR A CITY OF AUSTIN HERITAGE TOUR TOURISM GRANT TO REHABILITATE THE BUILDING POTENTIALLY WORTH UP TO $250,000.IF IT'S LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, THEY COULD RECEIVE STATE AND FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FOR REHABILITATING THE BUILDING.
THAT'S A 45 UP TO 45% TAX CREDIT ON QUALIFYING EXP EXPENSES POTENTIALLY WORTH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, IF NOT MORE.
THERE ARE INCREDIBLY LUCRATIVE INCENTIVES TO PRESERVE AVAILABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THIS PROPERTY THAT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE IF IT IS DEMOLISHED.
WE ASK THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION TO RECOGNIZE THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF EAST AUSTIN HISTORY THAT WE HAVE HERE ON 12TH STREET, AS WELL AS THE IMMENSE POTENTIAL THAT THIS PROPERTY HOLDS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ARE THERE ANY, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? RIGHT? UM, ARE THERE MORE SPEAKERS? THAT IS ALL FOR THOSE IN FAVOR.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND FOR INITIATING THIS CASE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROTECT THE BUILDING AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET.
PRESERVATION AND ADAPTIVE USES ARE ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON A BOARD OF A NONPROFIT THAT IS THE STEWARD OF TWO HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDINGS ON EAST 11TH STREET.
IN BOTH CASES, THEY WERE BOARDED UP DERELICT BUILDINGS WITH CHECKERED HISTORIES THAT MANY WOULD'VE RECOMMENDED DEMOLITION.
I INVITE YOU TO VISIT BOTH OF THEM.
THE FORMER SHORTY'S BAR IS NOW THE HAIL BUILDING, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL WARM SPACE FOR A WOMAN OWNED BOOKSTORE AND WINE BAR.
THE EAST ROOM, ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY QUESTIONABLE ESTABLISHMENT, IS NOW THE HERMAN SHEER HOUSE ON LYDIA IS THE OFFICE OF A DENTIST, TWO THERAPISTS AND A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
ALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE ARE SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF BUILDINGS THAT ADAPT AND THRIVE.
THE JUNIPER OLIVE HOUSES WERE BARELY STRUCTURES BEFORE THEY BECAME AFFORDABLE HOMES DESIGNED BY AN ARCHITECT WHOSE OFFICE IS IN THE OLD BAKERY.
THE OLD PHARMACY TURNED INTO A RESTAURANT, A RESIDENCE INTO AN OFFICE, A TRAINED DEPOT INTO A HOME.
IF THE GOAL IS IN DEMOLITION, THERE IS A REALLY GOOD CHANCE FOR SUCCESS.
THAT IS TRULY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
UH, WE AND THE PREVIOUS DID NOT HEAR FROM THE OWNER, BUT WE ASSUME THE OWNER IS IN OPPOSITION.
ARE THEY HERE TO PRESENT THEIR, UH, THEIR CASE? THE APPLICANT? MR. NICK SANDLIN IS HERE.
MR. SANDLIN, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN AUSTIN RESIDENT, I WANNA BRIEFLY REITERATE WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DATA PROVIDED THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO ENABLE INFORMED DECISION MAKING.
IT'S OUR STANCE THAT THE BUILDING AT 1512TH STREET PRESENTS TOO MANY SAFETY HAZARDS TO REMAIN, HAS FAR LESS HISTORICAL VALUE THAN THE STAFF REPORT INDICATES, AND FAR MORE PUBLIC BENEFITS COULD BE GAINED BY ENABLING SAFE DEMOLITION.
IT'S CLEAR FROM THE EXPERT TESTIMONY PROVIDED THAT THE STRUCTURE PRESENTS AN UNSAFE SITUATION.
THE DATA INDICATES A STRUCTURE THAT IS BEYOND SAVING AND WAS SO BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP.
THE MOST EQUITABLE PATH FORWARD FOR THIS PROPERTY IS TO BE ALLOWED TO BECOME PART OF THE STREETS PROGRAM, WHICH CANNOT BE ATTAINED WITH THE CURRENT BUILDING MODERN SAFETY STANDARDS.
AS CITIZENS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT THEY DESIRE AS A PART OF THAT GREAT STREETS PROGRAM, I NOTED THAT THE SPEAKER FOR PRESERVATION AUSTIN'S PROCESS SHARED TO THE COMMISSION THAT THEY OMITTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR DIRECT NEIGHBORS FOR THEIR INPUT.
UH, I ALSO NOTED IN THE LAST MEETING THAT SEVERAL NEIGHBORS TAKE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE CITY'S BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, RELAYING THE SITE'S HISTORY, MET MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY DISAGREE WITH THE OVERLY POSITIVE AND ABBREVIATED RESEARCH BY STAFF ABOUT WHAT THE STRUCTURE MEANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO PLEASE ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AS A PART OF THE DECISION THAT THEY'RE MAKING.
WE SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND OTHER NEIGHBORS WANT THIS COMMISSION TO AGREE THAT DEMOLITION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE STRUCTURE THAT IS WELL BEYOND ITS INTENDED FUNCTIONAL SERVICE DURATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE, UH, SPEAKER? YEAH, I'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, ASSUMING THAT THE STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT THAT, THAT YOU'VE READ IT, UM, IT'S ABOUT A PAGE AND A HALF, TWO PAGES WORTH OF OBSERVATIONS.
UM, I'M CURIOUS IF THEY FOUND OR SAW ANY KIND OF TERMITE DAMAGE OR PRIOR TERMITE DAMAGE? THERE WAS NO IN, THERE WAS NO INTERIOR PHOTOS IN THIS STRUCTURAL
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REPORT AT ALL.SO, SO I, I BELIEVE TWO REPORTS WERE PROVIDED FROM TWO SEPARATE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, BOTH DEEMED PORTIONS OF THIS HOUSE INTERNALLY UNSAFE TO INHABIT.
AND SO THERE WERE AREAS THAT THEY DID NOT GO INTO BECAUSE OF OBSERVED ISSUES.
SO NO PHOTOS OF THE INTERIOR, NO KNOWLEDGE OF TERMITES DAMAGE OR ANYTHING? UM, I MEAN, THIS REPORT, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS IN HERE THAT TALK ABOUT WINDOWS, WINDOWS BEING OPEN.
YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH PLENTY OF, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENTS AND NOT ONCE IS, YOU KNOW, WINDOWS BEING LEFT OPEN BECAUSE THAT'S A STRUCTURAL ISSUE OR IS THAT AN OWNER NEGLECT ISSUE? SO THERE'S QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THIS REPORT THAT ARE NOT STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND DON'T GIVE US ANY DETAILS.
THEY DON'T EXPLAIN WHERE THE DAMAGE IS COMING FROM.
UH, IT ALLUDES THAT MOST OF THE DAMAGE IS COMING BECAUSE THE BUILDING'S NOT BEING MAINTAINED.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS BUILDING IS BEING OPEN.
IT SHELL IS BEING OPEN, ALLOWING THE, THE STRUCTURE TO DETERIORATE FURTHER AND MORE RAPIDLY.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
'CAUSE IT IS VERY, VERY LITTLE INFORMATION HERE IN THE STRUCTURAL REPORT.
SO, SO THE STRUCTURAL REPORT COINCIDED WITH THE TIME THAT THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT WAS HAPPENING.
SO I THINK SOME OF THOSE OBSERVATIONS ABOUT WINDOWS BEING OPEN MIGHT HAVE BEEN RELATED.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN, UH, VACANT FOR MANY YEARS AND SO, UH, EVEN PRIOR TO THIS CURRENT OWNERSHIP.
SO I I I'M NOT SURE THAT, UH, I FOLLOW SOME OF THE, SOME ILLUSIONS THAT ARE BEING SAID ABOUT THAT.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, MR. SANDEL, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR UPDATED LETTER ON AUGUST, DATED AUGUST 6TH, AND YOU ALLUDE TO AND REPRESENT THIS BUILDING HAS UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND THEN YOU ENUMERATE A NUMBER OF ITEMS. ARE YOU AWARE OF WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ADOPTED ITS FIRST BUILDING CODES? DO YOU KNOW WHEN THOSE WERE THE FIRST BUILDING CODES? IS IT AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN? THAT'S CORRECT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
THEY WOULD, I'M NOT SURE, KEVIN.
PROBABLY IT'S, I THINK IT'S IN THE THIRTIES.
UH, THAT WAS WHEN WE FIRST HAD SOME OF THE PLANNING AND THEN LATER ON BUILDING CODES WERE ADOPTED AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
A NUMBER OF THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS HAVING TO DO WITH SETBACKS WERE ADOPTED.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THE, ANY EFFORT THAT WAS MADE WHEN THE CITY ADOPTED THESE STANDARDS TO FORCE CONFORMANCE WITH EXISTING BUILDINGS, FORCE CONFORMANCE WITH BUILDING CODES OR EXISTING SETBACKS S THAT WERE IN NON, THAT WERE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR LATER IMPOSED SETBACK? BU SO YOUR, YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT THE BUILDING CODES OR ABOUT THE PLANNING SETBACK? THE QUESTION OF SAFETY, BECAUSE YOU'RE IMPOSING, YOU'RE IMPLYING THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET MODERN STANDARDS THAT SOMEHOW THAT IS A DEFICIENCY OF THE BUILDING, WHEREAS AT THE ADOPTION OF THE CODES, IT WAS WELL UNDERSTOOD AND THERE ARE MANY PROCEDURES FOR ALLOWING NON-CONFORMING USES.
AND IF IN FACT THERE WAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION, AS YOU SUGGEST WITH EITHER THE ELECTRICAL PLACEMENT OR EVEN THE PLACEMENT OF THE, THE, UH, SETBACKS, THE CITY HAD EVERY ABILITY TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AT THE TIME IT PLACED THOSE AND CHOSE NOT TO AND GENERALLY DID NOT PLACE ANY KIND OF CONDITION, UH, IF IT, IF IT, UH, IMPOSED THOSE BECAUSE THEY SAW THOSE AS EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT WERE NON-CONFORMING.
SO I DON'T AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENTS THAT YOU HAVE PLACED IN THESE LETTERS, UH, INDICATING UNSAFE CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL BASED ON ACCEPTED NON-CONFORMING STANDARDS, WHICH ARE PART OF OUR BUILDING CODE.
UNLESS YOU CAN, UNLESS YOU CAN POINT TO ME SOMETHING OTHERWISE THAT THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR CODE AND WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN AND IF IT HAD BEEN AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION OR AT THE TIME OF INSTALLING THE ELECTRIC WIRES, THE CITY HAD EVERY ABILITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SAFE CONDITION AND CHOSE NOT TO.
SO JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CODE FROM THE 1930S THAT ENABLED THIS BUILDING TO BE PLACED RIGHT UP ON THE CORNER IS SOMEHOW OKAY TODAY BY SAFETY STANDARDS AND THE CURRENT CODE IMPLIES THAT I I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHICH CODE WOULD APPLY.
YOU'RE IMPLYING TO THE BUILDING LOCATION, YOU'RE, WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS, IS THAT MODERN CODES WERE SUPERIMPOSED OVER EXISTING BUILDINGS ALL OVER THE CITY AND THOSE EXISTING BUILDINGS WHEN THEY WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, WERE NOT FORCED INTO COMPLIANCE AND DO NOT, IN MANY CASES CONTINUE THAT I SEE TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE IS IS NOT PART OF OUR BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS, NOR WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO SAY THAT THERE IS SOME CAUSE THAT REQUIRES IT? WELL, SO I'M, I'M BEING
[00:40:01]
SPECIFIC TO THIS LOCATION AND THIS BUILDING, SO I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THE OTHER LOCATIONS OR THERE SITUATIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOCATION OF THE BUILDING AND THE SITE DISTANCE ON THE INTERSECTION AS WELL AS THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, ALL OF THAT IS INADEQUATE BY MODERN STANDARDS.
SO, UH, AS FAR AS THAT BEING ACCEPTABLE TO CURRENT CODES, I I, I'M STILL NOT REALLY FOLLOWING WHY SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE GRANDFATHERED TO A MODERN SAFETY STANDARD AS I'VE ALLUDE TO IN THE LETTER.
I, I, I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN SAY IN A NON-CONFORMING USE HAS, UM, REASONS WHY IT DOESN'T PERFORM IN THE SAME WAY THAT A CODE RESPECTING BUILDING WOULD.
BUT, UH, BEYOND THAT CONCLUSION, I THINK THE REST OF THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
1931, AND ANYWAY, YOU, YOU CAN'T GO BACKWARDS.
WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY PUT THE CODES IN PLACE, THERE WERE PROVISIONS FOR ALLOWING NON-CONFORMING USE.
THEY'RE PART OF OUR CODES, THEY'RE PART OF OUR BUILDING STANDARDS, THEY'RE PART OF OUR ORDINANCES AND TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE I DON'T BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE.
OTHER THAN THAT, AGAIN, AS WE'VE SAID, WE DON'T SEE ANY OTHER STRUCTURAL REASON THAT'S POINTED OUT DEMONSTRABLY.
IT SAYS THIS IS NOT A RESTORABLE BUILDING.
SO WE JUST WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR.
UH, THIS IS AN OWNER WHO HAS HAD THIS BUILDING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAS HAD THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED WITH THIS BUILDING.
IF THE CONDITION IS POOR, THAT IS BY THEIR CHOICE NOW, I WISH THE OWNER WERE HERE AND WE COULD DISCUSS IT FURTHER, BUT, UH, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT AT LIBERTY TO SUGGEST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IN TERMS OF THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING.
I HAVE YET TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT IT'S BEEN DILAPIDATED MORE UNDER THE CURRENT OWNER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST, UH, DECADES THAT IT WAS VACANT BEFORE THEN.
SO, BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, UM, WE WILL MAYBE HAVE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS OF YOU.
IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER? WE DON'T HAVE ANY LEFT FROM THE APPLICANT TEAM, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO HISTORICAL ZONING.
UM, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE OR ARE THEY COMING IN FROM, UH, FROM TELEPHONES? NO, THESE FOLKS.
ALRIGHT, SO FIRST WE HAVE MS. MEGAN SLATTERY.
WE, HI, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD, UM, A LETTER THAT, UH, THE DAVIS THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR BACKUP.
UM, DEAR HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE ARE WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER DATED JULY 2ND, 2024 TO THE COMMISSION FROM NATE JONES, PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS OCEAN.
THIS LETTER PERTAINED TO THE ABOVE NAMED CASE REGARDING THE PROPERTY AT 1500 EAST 12TH STREET, WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE DAVIS THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
D-T-N-A-D-T-N-A DOES NOT SUPPORT OCEAN'S VIEWPOINT THAT THE PROPERTY MERITS HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND WE DO NOT OPPOSE THE OWNER'S REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
UM, IN NOVEMBER, 2023, DTNA EXPRESSED TO OCEAN IN A MEETING THAT WE WERE NOT OPPOSED TO DEMOLITION OF THIS BUILDING, OCEAN DID NOT SOLICIT OUR, OUR INPUT PRIOR TO DRAFTING THEIR JULY LETTER TO YOU.
AND WE WERE GIVEN ONLY ONE DAY TO RESPOND TO THEIR DRAFT.
THEY IGNORED OUR INITIAL FEEDBACK.
THIS ONE INSTANCE IS INDICATIVE OF A BROADER PATTERN THAT OCEAN DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OR VIEWPOINTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY PURPORTEDLY REPRESENT.
EQUITABLE FEEDBACK IS NOT REGULARLY REQUESTED FROM CONSTITUENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
AND SO OCEAN'S OFFICIAL VIEWPOINTS DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THOSE OF ALL EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THIS ONE REGARDING THE SPECIFICS OF THEIR LETTER, WE DISAGREE THAT THE EXISTING BUILDING HAS ARCHITECTURAL MERIT, WHICH IS DEFINED AS EXHIBITING HIGH QUALITY WORKMANSHIP OR BEING A QUALITY EXAMPLE OF A SPECIFIC ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.
NEITHER OF THESE QUALITIES IS PRESENT IN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.
THE BUILDING WAS IN A DILAPIDATED STATE BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNER ACQUIRED IT AND HAS REMAINED VACANT FOR DECADES.
ONE WAY TO HONOR CULTURAL HERITAGE IS TO WORK WITH A DEVELOPER OF AN OLDER PROPERTY TO ENCOURAGE PREFERENCE OR PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR A CULTURALLY SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT ENGAGES THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
GIVEN THAT THE COST TO RESTORE THE BUILDING WOULD BE AT A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING, WE BELIEVE SUCH MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON CULTURALLY SENSITIVE DESIGN OR ENCOURAGEMENT OF MY OWN BUSINESS USE IN A NEW BUILDING.
UH, FURTHER, THE BUILDING IS ALSO SITUATED ON THE SITE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA OF AUSTIN'S GREAT STREETS INITIATIVE.
EAST 12TH STREET TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS EAST AUSTIN DEVELOPS.
BUT THE EXISTING BUILDING DOES NOT ALLOW FOR SAFE SETBACKS FOR PEDESTRIAN USE.
THE BUILDING APPEARS TO BE LESS THAN SIX FEET FROM THE CURB ON 12TH STREET AND FOUR FEET ON KAMAL DISPLACEMENT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN REQUIRED TREE LANDSCAPE BUFFER AND SIDEWALK PER GREAT STREET'S GUIDELINES.
A MINIMUM OF 16 FEET IS REQUIRED FROM THE STREET, AS IT LITERALLY STANDS TODAY.
THE BUILDING PREVENTS MULTIMODAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE
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STREETSCAPE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND BUS RIDERS.SUCH IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE A FAR MORE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO EQUITY ON THE EAST SIDE THAN THE PRESERVATION OF A NON-CONTRIBUTING DILAPIDATED BUILDING.
FINALLY, OCEAN CLAIMED THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY OWNER IS INSENSITIVE TO THE CULTURAL ASPECTS OF EAST AUSTIN, AN OPINION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE VALID.
NEVERTHELESS, IT DOES NOT REASON ENOUGH TO PUNISH THIS DEVELOPER BY DISALLOWING THEIR REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
THIS MATTER SHOULD BE LOOKED ON OBJECTIVELY WITHOUT PRESUMED UNDERSTANDING OF THE LANDOWNERS INTENT.
THIS PROPERTY MAY CHANGE HANDS AGAIN, IN WHICH CASE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE PENALIZED BY THE DENIAL OF A PRODUCTIVE USE OF THIS PROPERTY THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST AUSTIN AT LARGE.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE THE OWNER'S DEMOLITION REQUEST.
SINCERELY, THE DAVIS THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
COMMERS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
JUST, YOU KNOW, GONNA COMMENT ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.
IT'S, IT'S ALMOST DEJA VU HEARING SOME OF THE URBAN RENEWAL ARGUMENTS BACK IN THE SIXTIES, THAT THIS BUILDING HAS NO ARCHITECTURAL MERIT.
THAT IT'S BETTER SERVING THE, THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FUNDS ELSEWHERE, DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST INTERESTING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HITTING THESE POINTS ON, UH, A VERY, VERY INTERESTING BUILDING.
SO, IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER? HELLO, MY NAME IS MEGAN SLATTERY.
UM, I AM ALSO AFRAID TO ADMIT TO THIS CROWD THAT I'M AN ARCHITECT.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE PULLED THE NEIGHBORS BACK WHEN EUREKA APPROACHED US ABOUT HOW WE FELT ABOUT DEMOLISHING THIS BUILDING.
AND THE NEIGHBORS THAT SHOWED UP, UM, SHOWED NO LOVE FOR THIS BUILDING.
UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE RECENT HISTORY OF THOSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO CAN REMEMBER HAS NOT BEEN FAVORABLE.
THIS BUILDING'S BEEN IN DISREPAIR FOR MANY YEARS, UH, MANY YEARS BEYOND THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP.
UH, IT, IT SEEMS UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO RENOVATE THIS BUILDING WOULD'VE BEEN PROBABLY 30 YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING, UM, BUT HAVING SEEN IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, BECAUSE I LIVE AROUND THE CORNER, IT, YOU KNOW, THE UNSAVORY BEHAVIOR, UH, ACTUALLY ENDED WITH THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP BECAUSE THEY PUT UP FENCES AROUND THE PROPERTY, UM, UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TO REPAIR THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME.
UM, YOU KNOW, FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, WOOD BUILDINGS NEED MAINTENANCE AND THIS BUILDING HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED AND FAR BEYOND THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT SPEAKING TO THE CULTURAL, UM, ASPECTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT, BEEN BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT WHERE, UM, WHAT I'M SPEAKING TO RIGHT NOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT HERITAGE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CORNER.
UM, YOU KNOW, FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL MERIT STANDPOINT, THERE'S ANOTHER BUILDING NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE CALLED THE GEESE SAR, UH, BUILDING.
IT WAS A GROCERY BACK IN 1900, I BELIEVE IT WAS DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC IN 2004.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN SITTING THERE IN DISREPAIR SINCE 2004.
WHAT, WHAT IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS BUILDING WHEN IT'S DESIGNATED HISTORIC? ARE YOU, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO DO WORK TO BRING THIS BACK TO LIFE, OR ARE THEY, ARE THEY ABLE TO LET IT SIT THERE? UM, PERSONALLY, AS AN ARCHITECT, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A HIGHER AND BETTER USE FOR THIS CORNER THAT COULD BRING JOBS, THAT COULD BRING MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING THAT COULD BRING OFFICE SPACE AND HELP REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
UH, POLLEN ARCHITECTURE DID AN AMAZING JOB DOWN THE STREET ON THAT CORNER.
THEY, THEY TORE DOWN SOME OLD BUILDINGS AND THEY PUT UP A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN A CULTURAL HUB FOR SOME OF OUR BEST DESIGNERS IN TOWN.
SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, UH, TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE A QUESTION, UH, FOR YOU REAL QUICK.
IF, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ORGANIZATION OF HOW MANY PEOPLE, UM, HAVE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR, YOU KNOW, LONGER THAN 25, 30 YEARS? SAY, I WISH I DID.
I DON'T, I KNOW THERE'S ABOUT 150 HOUSEHOLDS.
UM, WE TRY TO REACH AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHO SHOWS UP.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE HARD PART.
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YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE ARE HAVE BAD MEMORIES.WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, UH, THEIR LIVES ARE, ARE NO LONGER WITH US.
RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE.
UM, AND MAYBE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN OR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE THE SAME ATTACHMENT OR DON'T HAVE THE SAME VALUES.
AND, UH, IT JUST, IT'S, IT'S AGAIN, JUST POINTS TO MAKE.
I I MEAN, I WOULD JUST ASK, IS THERE, ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO HONOR THE CULTURE AND HISTORY? IS THERE A WAY TO IMPOSE THAT ON ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THE CURRENT CULTURE AND THE CURRENT, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD? THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION.
AND, AND NOT, NOT AN EASY BUT ONE TO ANSWER.
ARE THERE MORE SPEAKERS? GOOD EVENING AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I'M HERE AGAIN TO URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST FORCING 1512TH STREET TO BE DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC.
AFTER REVIEWING WHAT LED UP TO THIS SITUATION, I SEE PROCESS ERRORS THAT PAINTED A BIAS PICTURE FOR SUCH A DESIGNATION.
A NUMBER OF US NEIGHBORS TAKE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE CITY'S BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, RELAYING THE SITE'S HISTORY, INCLUDING FIRST PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN'S PROCESS FAILED TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR DIRECT NEIGHBORS OF THIS ADDRESS FOR INPUT WITH THE ORGANIZATION.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT LAST TIME WE ALL AGREED THAT BETTER COLLABORATION IS A BETTER PATH FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
SECOND, THE ONLY NEIGHBORS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE CITY'S PROCESS CONSULTED WITH WERE ALL WITH OCEAN.
THAT ORGANIZATION HAS CREDIBILITY PROBLEMS GIVEN THEIR PATTERN OF SHUTTING DOWN VOICES THAT DON'T ALIGN WITH THEIR VIEWS.
THIRD, THE ELDERS OF OUR COMMUNITY NOT ONLY DISAGREE WITH THE OVERLY ROSE COLORED GLASSES VIEW OF WHAT THIS STRUCTURE MEANT TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE DOWNRIGHT INSULTED BY IT BECAUSE IT'S SO OFF BASE.
DANNY THOMPSON SAID IT WELL WHEN HE URGED YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT'S A BAD MEMORY PLACE FOR RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF ALL THE HARMFUL BEHAVIORS IT FOSTERED.
HE AND FREDDIE DIXON KNOW THE GOOD MEMORY PLACES AND WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ON PRESERVING THOSE.
BUT THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN TRIGGERING FOR FREDDIE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POWER RIGGING AN OUTCOME AS OPPOSED TO FOLLOWING SOME KIND OF FAIR PROCESS.
LASTLY, THE ONLY HISTORY THAT THIS STRUCTURE HAS ANY POTENTIAL TO HONOR IS GERMAN.
THEY ARE, THERE ARE FAR BETTER AND MORE ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AND SAFER STRUCTURES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
ALL OF US SPEAKING IN A POSITION HERE TONIGHT AND EXPERT ENGINEERS AGREE THE BEST THING FOR THIS SITE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS FOR THE STRUCTURE TO COME DOWN.
THE MOST EQUITABLE PATH FORWARD FOR THIS SITE IS FOR IT TO BE ALLOWED TO BECOME A PART OF THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM.
AND I'M SORRY, DID YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S ELLIOT.
I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED MYSELF AGAIN.
I, WE, WE JUST, THAT WAY THE RECORD'S CLEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY, ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? YEAH.
UH, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY IS AS FAR AS PROCESS GOES, WE DID AND HAVE, AND CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE REQUIRED PROCESS AS PER OUR LAWS.
UM, THIS WAS AN INITIATED ZONING, UH, INITIATED DEMOLITION REQUEST.
WHEN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US, WE COMMISSIONERS HAD MADE THE REQUEST OF STAFF TO DO FURTHER INVESTIGATION BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD MERIT HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, THAT IS NOT REQUIRING US TO TALK TO ANYBODY IN ORDER TO START THE PROCESS.
NOW, ONCE THE PROCESS STARTS, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE HAVE OUTREACHES, SO THERE'S NOTHING NEFARIOUS OR DIFFICULT OR CHANGED GOING ON.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE HISTORIC MERITS OF A PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOLLOWING.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADD THAT THIS COMPANY, EUREKA, IS NOT TRYING TO KNOCK DOWN THE BUILDING IF THEY CAN HELP IT, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, MY HOUSE THAT I, I'VE LIVED IN, THEY FIX STRUCTURAL WOOD ISSUE WHEN IT HAS LIKE A GOOD ENOUGH, WHEN IT'S GOOD ENOUGH WHERE IT'S LIKE, HEY, LET'S MAKE THIS THING GOOD.
BUT WHEN IT'S SO BAD THAT YOU GOTTA TEAR IT DOWN, THERE'S, THERE'S A LINE THERE.
WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE SOMEWHERE.
AND THAT LINE'S BEEN CROSSED WITH THIS PROPERTY.
[00:55:01]
THANKS.YEAH, NOT NECESSARILY A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER, BUT JUST HE DID MENTION THAT, UH, THE PROPERTY WOULD BECOME PART OF THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM.
I THINK WE ESTABLISHED LAST TIME THAT THERE'S NO PLANS ON THE BOOKS, UH, FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY.
AND THIS IDEA THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY IS NON-CONFORMING TO GREAT STREETS.
UM, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE WORKS THAT WOULD INDICATE IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BECOME THAT.
IT IT, THE, THE CURRENT, ALL WE KNOW IS IT'S GONNA BE A VACANT LOT IF THIS DEMOLITION IS APPROVED.
I DON'T THINK THEIR INTENTION, SO THAT ARGUMENT THAT'S BEING MADE BY BOTH THE OWNER AND THEN BEING PICKED UP BY THE OTHER SPEAKERS, UH, I JUST WANNA ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY THAT, THAT WE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO LOOK AT AS TO WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING OTHER THAN TEARING THIS THING DOWN.
I THINK IT HAS TO COME DOWN BEFORE THAT CAN BE ESTABLISHED, RIGHT? I MEAN NOPE.
THEY CAN DEFINITELY TELL US WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD BEFORE THEY TEAR DOWN WHAT'S THERE.
BUT IT WASN'T A QUESTION TO YOU, IT WAS JUST A STATEMENT.
AND THAT'S GENERALLY THE OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER? IS THERE ANYONE, UH, CALLING IN ANYONE ELSE? WE HAVE ONE MORE ON THE LIST.
I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S STILL HERE.
IS DANNY THOMPSON HERE? HE IS NOT HERE.
THAT WILL BE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WE HAVE A, A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER RUBIO, SECONDED BY, UM, COMMISSIONER HORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IT IS UNANIMOUS.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, BEFORE WE START DISCUSSION, I WILL NEED A MOTION.
I MOVE TO, UM, INITIATE DESIGNATION OF LANDMARK STATUS FOR THIS BUILDING.
UH, TO, TO, TO PROCEED WITH THE LANDMARK, UH, YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER DUDLEY, THANK YOU.
AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING A SECOND.
YEAH, YOU HAVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DO THIS.
IS THAT PART OF YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER? YES.
MY MOTION IS TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND PROCEED WITH DESIGNATION.
UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DUDLEY.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO.
COMMISSIONER, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION, UM, ASIDE FROM WHAT, UH OH, LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE MUTED NOW.
UM, I, I APOLOGIZE, I'M NOT VERY ARTICULATE TODAY.
UM, BUT ASIDE FROM WHAT OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE, UM, HAVE SAID THIS EVENING, UH, PARTICULARLY COMMISSIONER RUBIO, UM, I THINK THE INTENT, UH, IS CLEAR OF THE OWNER THAT, YOU KNOW, DEMOLITION IS THE KEY, YOU KNOW, AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT WOULD SPEAK TO COMMUNITY VALUE.
UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, AND I, AND I HOPE THAT THE PRESERVATION PLAN, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S LATER ON THE AGENDA, WILL HELP TO AID IN A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COMMUNITY VALUE IS.
UM, AND THAT IT CAN COVER A LARGE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
UM, THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS BUILDING CONTINUES EVEN INTO THE SEVENTIES WHEN IT HAD, UM, A, A PRETTY UNSAVORY, UM, HISTORY WITH ACTIVITY AND THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON WITH THIS STRUCTURE.
AND, UM, IT, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH, FROM THE GERMAN HISTORY WITH, UM, WITH HELM TO THE OWNERSHIP OF MR. BUFORD JOHNSON IN THE 1950S AND BEYOND, I THINK THE, THE STRUCTURE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
IT'S IMPORTANT AS A VERNACULAR BUILDING, UM, IN, IN SOMETHING THAT IS ONE OF THE FEW STRUCTURES EXTENT FOR, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING THE EAST 12TH STREET.
UM, BUSINESS DISTRICT FROM ITS LONG HISTORY, UM, IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH GERMAN AUSTINITES TO AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE, UM, THE ISSUES ABOUT, I MEAN, WHO IS WE, WHO THE COMMUNITY IS ADDRESSING? AND, AND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH GENTRIFICATION.
UM, AND I THOUGHT THAT THE, THE COMMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER REGARDING DEMOGRAPHICS, UH, WAS
[01:00:01]
AN IMPORTANT ONE.AND I THINK THERE IS A SWATH OF HISTORY AND, UM, RESIDENCY OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS NO LONGER THERE, THAT WILL NOT BE THERE, UM, THAT SHOULD BE HONORED WITH THE PRESERVATION OF THIS BUILDING.
NO, I, I, I CANNOT PRETEND TO KNOW ALL THE HISTORIES OF EVERYONE WHO'S INTERACTED WITH THIS BUILDING AND, AND TO EVEN BEGIN TO PRETEND TO KNOW HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR STREET OR THIS BUILDING OR THIS CORNER.
BUT AS OUR CHAIR MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE GIVEN THIS INFORMATION AND THEN WE'RE TASKED TO MAKE A DECISION BASED OFF THE INFORMATION WE HAVE AND THE INFORMATION IS THERE THAT THIS IS THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING, WHETHER OR NOT WE THINK THAT ARCHITECTURE IS SIGNIFICANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER DUDLEY SAID IT WELL, THE, THIS TWO STORY WOOD FRAME STRUCTURE, YOU, YOU CAN'T EVEN FIND THIS EXISTING IN MANY SMALL COUNTY SEATS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN TO SAY, WELL, IT'S JUST GERMAN CULTURE, THIS IS STILL WORTH SAVING, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST GERMAN CULTURE AS A TWO STORY SALOON.
SO THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY BUILT HERE, AND MISS, MISS OR HOUSTON MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN HERE LONGER THAN MANY OF US, RIGHT? AND, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN THERE FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM DIFFERENT IMMIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS AND SHOWING THAT, UH, THAT CHANGE OVER TIME, THAT IS SPECIAL.
AND IF, IF WE CAN SEND THIS UP TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND LET CITY COUNCIL MAKE THAT DECISION, UM, THIS CAN FURTHER ANCHOR THAT CORNER, UH, FOR WHAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTS.
UH, COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE.
YEAH, I'LL, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN AND SAY THAT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE, UM, THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION FOR COMING OUT AND, AND LENDING THEIR VOICE AS WELL.
UH, PARTICULARLY THE LADY WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE ARCHITECT, UM, I THINK SHE MADE SOME, SOME GOOD ARGUMENTS AS WELL AS THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS A RESIDENT AND A TENANT OF THE, OF EUREKA.
UM, YOU GUYS MADE VERY VALID POINTS.
IT'S, TO ME, IT'S SIMPLY JUST NOT THE PURVIEW OF THIS BODY TO ALLOW THIS BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED, THAT THAT'S NOT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DO HERE.
UM, THE BUILDING HAS STOOD FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, AND, UH, IT DESERVES OUR VOTE TO, TO STAY STANDING HAND.
MORE DISCUSSION, MR. COOK? YEAH, I'LL, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.
UM, THE TESTIMONY TONIGHT IS VERY INTERESTING, VERY DIFFERENT FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BOTH SIDES SHOWING UP TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPERTY.
UM, ONE IMPORTANT VOICE I THINK AT THIS WHERE TO CONTINUE ON WOULD BE THE VOICE OF THE OWNER WHO OWNS MANY PROPERTIES ALONG THIS CORRIDOR, INCLUDING OTHER LANDMARKS.
I THINK THAT IS A NOTABLY KEY VOICE MISSING IN THIS DISCUSSION, UM, FOR MANY REASONS.
BUT, UM, I THINK THIS WAS LISTED AS POTENTIAL HISTOR, LOCAL LANDMARK IN THE SURVEY.
THAT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE.
UH, GRANTED, THERE ARE SOME INTEGRITY ISSUES, MOSTLY WITH THE OPENINGS ON THE FIRST FLOOR, BUT BY AND LARGE, THE SIDING APPEARS TO BE THE SAME.
THE WINDOW OPENINGS ARE THE SAME.
THE TRIM APPEARS TO STILL BE THERE.
THE ROOF FORM IS STILL THERE, INCLUDING, INCLUDING THE GABLE AT THE ROOF, THE FASCIA AT THE UPPER ROOF LINE.
UM, WHAT'S MISSING COULD EASILY BE REINSERTED INTO THE EXISTING FABRIC.
UM, I THINK IT'S IN REMARKABLE CONDITION, GIVEN THAT IT IS A WOOD STRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN LEFT ABANDONED FOR SO LONG.
UH, I THINK THE RIGHT OWNER COULD DEFINITELY, UM, BRING LIFE BACK TO THIS, TO THIS BUILDING.
AND AT THE VERY LEAST, THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD AT HIGHER LEVELS, UM, AND NEED TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES ABOUT THE FUTURE.
NOT ONLY THIS BUILDING, BUT UH, THE REST OF THE HISTORIC AND MODERN STRETCH OF 12TH STREET HERE.
UM, OTHER COMMISSIONERS? YES, GO AHEAD.
UM, CARL, Y YES, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS I I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS.
I ALSO WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE OWNER WASN'T PRESENT, UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE ENGINEERS THAT OPINED ON THIS, THAT IT, IT SEEMS THAT WE STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND, AND THAT THE CODES AND STANDARDS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN, UM, DOCK ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE CURRENT BUILDING CODE THAT THIS BUILDING WOULD BE UNDER IS THE IEBC 2021, AND THE PROVISIONS IN THAT SITE, SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AS GREATER THAN 50%, NO ENGINEER THAT'S COME BEFORE US FOR THIS STRUCTURE HAS DEMONSTRATED BY CALCULATION THAT IT'S ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.
[01:05:01]
AND SO I, I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT IN MY ENGINEERING COMMUNITY THAT WE SPEAK SUBJECTIVELY AND NOT ARTICULATE OUR POSITION THROUGH ANALYSIS AND CALCULATION.I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.
I WILL DEFINITELY BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE OWNER.
I TALK ABOUT FRUSTRATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE PARTICIPATION.
UH, BUT THIS, I I THINK IF THE NEIGHBORS IN PARTICULAR WOULD STEP BACK AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A BUILDING THAT NOT ONLY PREDATES ALL OF US, BUT THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AT LEAST A GLIMPSE OF WHAT 12TH STREET WAS.
NOT ONLY DURING A VERY CRITICAL PERIOD OF TIME WHEN IT WAS THE CENTER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, LIFE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, OUT OF NECESSITY, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT NECESSARILY ANY OTHER REASON, BUT, UH, THAT WAS A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
THERE WERE THRIVING BUSINESSES.
THEY WERE VERY WELL ESTABLISHED, UH, WAYS THAT THIS SUPPORTED A VERY VIBRANT, VERY, UH, PROSPEROUS AREA OF TOWN FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW BUILDINGS THAT'S STILL THERE.
TO LOSE IT WOULD BE TRAGIC, BUT I THINK IT ALSO WAS STATED, THIS IS NOT A GERMAN BUILDING.
IT IS A TRANSITION FROM ONE CULTURE AND BACKGROUND AND SETTLEMENT IN AN EARLIER PART OF OUR HISTORY SUCCESSFULLY.
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY IT PASSED HANDS AS THE GERMAN COMMUNITY EMBRACED, MET WITH, AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY PREDOMINATED IN THIS PART OF TOWN.
SO WE HAD A SERIES OF TRANSITIONS THAT THIS BUILDING LIVED THROUGH AND LIVED THROUGH SUCCESSFULLY AND REPRESENTS THAT AS PART OF AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
AND YES, IT FELL INTO NEGLECT.
YES, FROM THE EIGHTIES, MAYBE IN THE NINETIES, SOME AWFUL THINGS HAPPENED THERE.
THE PERIOD OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE IS FROM 50 YEARS AND EARLY.
SO THE PERIOD OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, THIS BUILDING RISES AMONG VERY FEW THAT ARE LEFT AS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT STRUCTURE.
AND IN THE RIGHT HANDS, OR WITH A COOPERATIVE OWNER, IT IS CERTAINLY RESTORABLE AND I DO APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBOR WHO MENTIONED SHORTY BAR AS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO QUITE A BIT TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY A RESOURCE FOR THE NEIGHBORS, BUT A BUILDING THAT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IN CELEBRATING AND REPRESENTING OUR HISTORY.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, YES VOTE FOR ME.
COMMISSIONER CLARK, IF I COULD JUST GET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FROM THE MOTION MAKER THAT, UM, THE CRITERIA WILL INCLUDE ALL THREE CRITERIA LISTED, UH, BY STAFF, ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SENSING NONE, I WILL TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, AS STATED, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND COMMISSIONERS.
INCLUDING COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR ALLOWING US TO TAKE THIS OUT OF ORDER.
[27. Discussion and possible action on the Equity-Based Preservation Plan. (Part 1 of 2)]
THE AGENDA IS THE, UH, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE EQUITY-BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.UH, WILL WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, UH, STAFF THAT GOES WITH THIS? YES, YOU'RE COMING.
KARA BERTRAN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE GREG FARR, AND WE ARE GOING TO SHARE ABOUT THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN WITH YOU.
UH, AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS.
MANY OF YOU HAVE, I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR A GOOD STRETCH OF TIME.
SOME OF YOU VERY INTENSIVELY AND SOME OF YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER, THIS IS ON ME.
I FINALIZED THE PRESENTATION AND THEN DID NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
[01:10:01]
PULL IT UP HERE.WELL, WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT, LET ME EXCUSE THE CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE TO THANK THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE PUT JUST HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS INTO THIS.
UH, WE'VE HAD VOLUNTEERS, UH, WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE'VE HAD FOLKS, UH, JUST PARTICIPATING EVEN JUST ONLINE IN WEIGHING IN BRINGING THEIR BEST IDEAS FORWARD AND ALLOWING IN SOME VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND VERY ENGAGED DIALOGUE.
UH, I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE COMMITTEE'S POINT OF VIEW, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE RESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE, UH, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UH, IT'S BEEN THRILLING TO JUST SEE THIS GROW AND GET BETTER AND BETTER.
SO, ARE WE READY? WE ARE READY.
UM, AND THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE, COLLEAGUES.
DO YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY, DO YOU WANNA TAKE THE BRIEFING? I APOLOGIZE AGAIN.
UM, THE NEXT BRIEFING FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL SORT OUT THIS PRESENTATION.
IF WE GO BACK TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, THEN THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT ITEM.
UH, WE COULD, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL, UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS, UH, COMPLETED.
AND IF THAT'S OF INTEREST TO YOU ALL, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SO WE'LL CHANGE THE ORDER AND, UH, TABLE THIS UNTIL AFTER THE BRIEFING ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S PROCEED WITH BRIEFING ON ITEM
[2. Briefing on the Heritage Preservation Grant Launch]
NUMBER TWO.GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
SHE, HER, I'M THE PROJECT COORDINATOR IN THE HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PARK, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION MANAGES THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT.
FUNDING FOR THE GRANT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE.
DURING THIS BRIEFING, I WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PLANNING, EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING PROJECTS FOR HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED SITES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT IS TO PROMOTE TOURISM THROUGH PRESERVATION, RESTORATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS OR THROUGH PLANNING EDUCATIONAL OR MARKETING PROJECTS.
PROJECTS SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL STORIES ON WELL-DOCUMENTED PLACES ROOTED IN HISTORY AND HERITAGE.
THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THE FUNDING TO BE USED TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND THE CONVENTION AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES.
IT ALSO REQUIRES THE GRANTS TO BE AWARDED TO PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE CONVENTION CENTER OR IN A LOCATION WITHIN THE CITY, LIKELY TO BE VISITED BY TOURISTS.
THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TWO YEAR GRANTS FOR PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS AND HISTORY FOCUS ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE HERITAGE TOURISM IN AUSTIN, BOTH NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT.
APPLICANTS THAT OWN OR LEASE A HISTORIC SITE ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY WITH AUTHORIZATION FROM THE OWNER.
ALL PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A HISTORIC DESIGNATION OR BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
SITES MUST BE ZONED NON-RESIDENTIAL AND HAVE GROUNDS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
ALL PROJECTS MUST BE MARKETED TO INCREASE AND BENEFIT TOURISM AND EXPAND AUDIENCES.
PROJECTS MUST OCCUR IN AN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
THE PROGRAM FUNDS PROJECT COSTS AND REQUIRES NO FINANCIAL MATCH FROM APPLICANTS PRIORITIES INCLUDE OUTREACH TO FIRST TIME APPLICANTS TOURISM SERVING PROPERTIES LISTED IN THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC SURVEY, INCLUSIVE INTERPRETIVE PLANS AND PROJECTS THAT SHARE AUSTIN'S HISTORY AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY AND TOURISTS THROUGH STORYTELLING PROJECTS OF HISTORICALLY UNDER UNDERFUNDED ORGANIZATIONS, HERITAGE GROUPS AND DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES, OR UNDER INTERPRETED HERITAGE SITES AND HISTORIES.
CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED, SUCH AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A HISTORIC PROPERTY AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
AND TOURISM MARKETING AND ADVERTISING INVESTMENTS ARE ALSO PRIORITIZED.
GRANTS RANGE FROM $30,000 TO $250,000
[01:15:01]
DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT TYPE AND WILL BE AWARDED IN THE FOUR FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.CAPITAL PLANNING, EDUCATIONAL MARKETING, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, PROJECT SITES MUST BE HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED OR ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION.
IF ELIGIBLE, THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE CONTRACT.
TERM TWO DETAILED PROJECT, BITS FROM OUTSIDE CONTRACT OR SUBCONTRACT, OR A VENDOR MUST BE SUBMITTED.
A SINGLE BID CAN BE ACCEPTED WITH AN EXPLANATION ACCOMPANYING IT.
AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED FROM THE OWNER.
THE SELECTION PROCESS INCLUDES INTERDEPARTMENTAL AND EXTERNAL PANEL REVIEWS FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS.
CAPITAL PROJECTS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO MEET WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR DESIGN FEEDBACK THROUGH AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECT.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PLANNING PROJECTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW REVIEW COMMITTEE AS WELL.
APPLICANTS SUBMITTING A CAPITAL OR EDUCATIONAL PROJECT MAY INCLUDE AS PART OF THEIR FUNDING REQUEST, AN OPTIONAL 10% PROJECT MANAGEMENT FEE NOT TO EXCEED $20,000.
HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT, APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN PROJECT INSURANCE THROUGHOUT THE CONTRACT TERM OR UNTIL PROJECT COMPLETION.
INSURANCE COSTS MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR ALL PROJECT TYPES, AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE RESEARCHED PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOTTOM, CAPITAL AND EDUCATIONAL CONTRACT AWARDS CAN VARY UP TO $250,000.
PLANNING AND MARKETING CONTRACT AWARDS VARY UP TO $30,000 DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
INELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SOME OF THE FOLLOWING PROJECT COSTS THAT DO NOT MEET THEIR SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND OR LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS.
PROPOSALS THAT OCCUR AT CITY OWNED HISTORIC SITES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PRE-APPROVED THROUGH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S.
CAP CAP PROGRAM, COMMUNITY ACTIVATED PARK PROJECTS, PROGRAM PROJECTS WITH NO AUTHORIZATION FROM THE OWNER, FUNDING EXPENSES, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, SAF SALARIES, NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTIES, OR HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE HISTORIC SITE PROJECTS THAT HAVE NO HISTORIC DESIGNATION OR NOT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION AND PROPERTY TAXES.
YOU CAN VISIT THIS WEBSITE ON THE BOTTOM AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT TO SEE A MORE COMPLETE LIST OF INELIGIBLE EXPENSES FOR THE PROGRAM.
ELIGIBLE CAPITAL PROJECTS INCLUDE THE RESTORATION, REHABILITATION, OR STABILIZATION OF THE EXTERIOR BUILDING ENVELOPE, ACCESSORY STRUCTURES AND GROUNDS.
HISTORIC INTERIOR RE RESTORATION FURNISHINGS, OR OTHER RELATED WORK IS NOT ELIGIBLE WITH THIS.
CAPITAL PROJECTS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, MUST MEET THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND OR LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS.
THE PROJECT MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE A RC, THE ARCHITECTURAL REMU REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
AND THEN ON, ON HERE YOU CAN SEE, UH, SOME EXAMPLES OF CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE A DA, EXTERIOR ACCESS FACADE ELEMENTS, PAINT, WOOD, AND MASONRY PROJECTS AND SO FORTH.
ELIGIBLE PLANNING PROJECTS INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL PRESERVATION PLANNING EXPERTISE IN AREAS SUCH AS PRESERVATION, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, OR HISTORIC RESEARCH AND NOMINATION FOR TOURISM SERVING SITES.
PLANNING PROJECTS MUST MEET THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS AND OR LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS.
IT IS ALSO ENCOURAGED, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT PLANNING PROJECTS DO GO FOR, DO GO BEFORE THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
COMMON PLANNING PROJECTS INCLUDE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECTS, HISTORIC STRUCTURAL REPORTS, HERITAGE TOURISM ASSESSMENTS AND MORE.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HISTORIC DESIGNATION NOMINATION EXPENSES ARE ELIGIBLE IN ALL PROJECT CATEGORIES.
ELIGIBLE, ELIGIBLE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROJECTS MUST ACTIVELY CREATE EXPERIENCES FOR TOURIST, INTERACT WITH PLACES, EVENTS, OR ACTIVITIES THAT AUTHENTICALLY REPRESENT THE STORIES IN PEOPLE OF THE PAST AND ALSO ENHANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OR PERSPECTIVE ON HERITAGE COMMUNITY AND HISTORY.
SOME COMMON EXAMPLES OF A AN EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROJECT INCLUDE HISTORY FOCUSED TOUR DEVELOPMENT, HISTORY FOCUSED EXHIBITIONS, CONFERENCES, EVENTS, AND MORE.
[01:20:01]
ALL UH, ALL EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROPOSALS MUST INCLUDE AN IN-PERSON OR HYBRID, SO THAT THAT MEANS VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON TO VISITORS AND POTENTIAL TOURISTS.SO THE PROGRAMMING FORMAT MUST HAVE AN IN-PERSON COMPONENT.
ELIGIBLE MARKETING PROJECTS MUST ACTIVELY CONNECT AND MARKET AUSTIN'S HERITAGE AND HISTORY PROJECTS SHOULD TELL STORIES RELATED TO UNDERREPRESENTED HISTORIES, PLACES, EVENTS.
EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE MARKETING PROJECTS INCLUDE MARKETING CONTENT, ASSET DEVELOPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TRANSLATION COSTS OF THOSE MARKETING MATERIALS, HERITAGE, MULTICULTURAL TOURISM MARKETING AND MORE.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MARKETING EXPENSES ARE ELIGIBLE IN ALL PROJECT CATEGORIES, OR IT CAN BE A STANDALONE PROJECT.
THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT SCORING RUBRIC IS COMPRISED OF A TOTAL OF A HUNDRED POINTS BROKEN DOWN INTO FOUR FOCUS AREAS.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERYTHING ON THERE, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
36 POINTS ON THE VERY TOP FOR PRESERVATION IMPACT, 24 POINTS FOR TOURISM IMPACT, 20 POINTS FOR ACCESS AND LOCAL IMPACT.
AND FINALLY, 20 POINTS FOR PROJECT VIABILITY.
APPLICANTS CAN RECEIVE A RANGE OF POINTS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES AND ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION ADDRESSING EACH OF THE QUESTIONS IN THEIR APPLICATION.
ON PAGE 13 OF OUR GUIDE, WHICH I WILL HAVE A LINK AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION FOR OUR WEBSITE, IT HAS ON, UM, IT HAS OUR APPLICATION QUESTIONS ON PAGE 13, AND IT ALSO HAS A SCORING BREAKDOWN.
SO YOU CAN SEE THIS SCORING CRITERIA THERE.
SO THE ONLINE APPLICATION LAUNCHES ON SEPTEMBER 10TH AT 10:00 AM AND THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS OCTOBER 8TH AT 7:00 PM THAT HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON OUR WEBSITE.
IF YOU USE THIS QR CODE OR THE PATHWAY PROVIDED, YOU CAN ACCESS THE GUIDELINES, HISTORIC RESOUR RESEARCH RESOURCES, THE APPLICATION QUESTIONS, THE SCORING RUBRIC, AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND HELPFUL LINKS TO UPCOMING VIRTUAL OPEN OFFICE HOURS HELD THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM SO THAT CONCLUDES THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT AWARENESS PRESENTATION.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLOWING US TO SPREAD THE AWARENESS OF THIS GRANT, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, ESPECIALLY, UM, SUPPORTING THIS GRANT.
MS. KOFU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT WE SEE A LOT OF THESE CASES, AS YOU NOTED IN THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO BE A PART OF, SINCE MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TEAR THEIR BUILDINGS DOWN.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT SIDE OF PRESERVATION THAT'S ACTIVELY GOING ON, THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING, ACTIVELY SUPPORTING FINANCIALLY OWNERS WHO WANT TO IMPROVE AND, AND CHAMPION PRESERVATION IN AUSTIN.
SO IT'S A REALLY EXCITING PROGRAM AND THE WORD SHOULD GET OUT EVERYWHERE.
UH, HOW MUCH MONEY'S IN THE COFFERS THIS ROUND THAT WILL BE GIVEN OUT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, THAT'S A QUESTION MORE FOR MY DIVISION MANAGER ON THE BUDGET AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, BUT I CAN GET YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UH, WITH MELISSA ALVARADO.
UH, ANOTHER QUESTION IS, WHAT OTHER COMMISSIONS WILL YOU BE PRESENTING AT HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND WE ALSO HAVE A, A MARKETING COMMISSIONS OR A MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS GUIDE THAT GETS SENT OUT TO ALL THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONS.
BUT YOU WON'T BE DOING A PRESENTATION AT ANY OTHER COMMISSIONS? CORRECT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO, UH, AND I KNOW YOU'RE COORDINATING, UH, A MEETING WITH THE GRANT, OUR GRANTS COMMITTEE AS THIS IS PART OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS.
UH, THIS IS A GROWING PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT IT'S VERY EXCITING THAT EACH YEAR AS OUR TOURISM HAS INCREASED, THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE MAKING MORE AND MORE THINGS AVAILABLE.
UH, AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, MAYBE IT'S WORTH UPDATING, BUT I KNOW IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS BACK WHEN I WAS VERY SURPRISED, UH, TO READ A PUBLICATION THAT TALKED ABOUT TOURISM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH.
YES, SAN ANTONIO'S DONE A BANG UP JOB, AND IT IS DEFINITELY THE NUMBER ONE HISTORIC DESTINATION IN THE STATE.
BUT AUSTIN'S NUMBER TWO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN QUITE EVER GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE BEAT THEM, BUT I CERTAINLY THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF OUR HISTORY THAT'S ACCESSIBLE, THAT'S EXCITING.
AND THE FACT THAT WE AS THE CITY WITH THE HELP OF THESE, UH, TAXES FROM OUR BED TAX, ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PUT MORE INTO THIS AND GROW THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND ON THEM, UH, IT IS JUST, IT'S GONNA, IT FILLS SO MANY BOXES.
IT'S JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
UH, ALSO, I DO APPRECIATE YOU LED BY SAYING FIRST TIME APPLICANTS.
WE REALLY, REALLY ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS, UH, WITH OUR EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
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MAKE PRESERVATION ACCESSIBLE IN WAYS IT HASN'T BEEN BEFORE.SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A CREATIVE IDEA OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOMETHING COULD COME HERE THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, UH, EVEN SHARING A HISTORY THAT'S NEVER BEEN SHARED BEFORE, OR ONLY SHARED WITHIN A FAMILY OR A LOCAL COMMUNITY, UH, THIS IS A BIG, BIG OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME, HAVE SOME INVESTMENT THAT, UH, COMES FROM THE HELP OF THE CITY.
UH, AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS IT HAS, UH, PRODUCE SO MANY VERY GOOD PROJECTS.
ALRIGHT, UM, COMMISSIONERS, WE, UH, TOOK THIS, UH, NEXT ITEM OUT OF ORDER AND NOW WE
[27. Discussion and possible action on the Equity-Based Preservation Plan. (Part 2 of 2)]
CAN GO BACK TO OUR BRIEFING IF WE ARE READY.THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 27, UH, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
COMMISSIONERS, KARA BERTRAN, GREG FOR OUR, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND CHAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND REMARKS WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PRESENTATION.
BUT, BUT MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATED.
SO THIS, YEAH, THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN, WE HAVE REACHED A CRITICAL POINT FOR THIS COMMISSION.
UM, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE ARE TO THE POINT OF HAVING A FINAL PLAN FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AND POTENTIALLY RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION.
I'M GOING TO REVIEW VERY QUICKLY THE PLANNING PROCESS, GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN, WHICH HOPEFULLY YOU'VE, YOU'VE REFRESHED YOURSELF ON IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE PLAN AS A REFRESHER, AND THEN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, SO THIS PLANNING PROCESS HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS FORMALLY FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
THE COMMISSION CREATED A COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP IN SPRING OF 2021 AND APPOINTED 26 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CHARGED THEM WITH DEVELOPING A NEW PRESERVATION PLAN.
SO NO BIG DEAL, YOU KNOW, MINOR, MINOR EFFORT.
UM, IT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING AND A LOT OF FAITH THE COMMISSION HAD IN THE WORKING GROUP THAT REALLY PAID OFF THE PRESERVATION PLAN.
WORKING GROUP MEMBERS CAME FROM AROUND THE CITY FROM 19 ZIP CODES.
THEY REPRESENT THE CITY'S RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY EXCITING.
THEY BROUGHT, EXCUSE ME, THEY BROUGHT A RANGE OF EXPERTISE FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO PLANNING, TO ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY, TO DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, TO FAMILIES THAT HAD BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR GENERATIONS.
SO A REALLY, UH, WONDERFUL MIX OF VIEWPOINTS.
THOSE 26 PEOPLE HEARD FROM 275 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEY DEVELOPED THE DRAFT PLAN.
THERE WAS A COMMUNITY HERITAGE SURVEY VERY EARLY ON THAT SHAPED THE VISION FOR THE PLAN.
THERE WERE THREE FOCUS GROUPS OF CULTURAL I HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS, LEGACY BUSINESSES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EARLY INPUT AND FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAD A TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP OF CITY STAFF FROM 12 DEPARTMENTS.
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION'S PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.
UM, MEMBERS INCLUDE, UH, THE CHAIR, SETH, AS HE MENTIONED.
UH, ROXANNE EVANS, UM, HARMONY GROGAN WAS A PART OF THAT.
UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE WAS A PART OF THAT.
I THINK THERE'S, OR, UH, COMMISSIONER DUDLEY WAS A PART OF THAT.
UM, CASTILLO COMMISSIONER CASTILLO OVER TIME.
UH, YES, OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, WHO'S NOT HERE, AND OTHERS WHO, WHO ARE NO LONGER ON THE COMMISSION OVER COMMISSIONER MYERS OVER TIME, RIGHT? YES.
SO A LOT OF EXPERTISE THERE, YOU KNOW, DEDICATED EXPERTISE.
WE WORKED WITH PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND THE CITY'S DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION DIVISION TO SPONSOR A ULI TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL LOOKING AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, WITH OLDER BUILDINGS.
IT WAS JUST A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK AND EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS.
I WANT TO PAUSE HERE, AND I THINK ESPECIALLY CALL OUT THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP WHO, WHO ARE HERE IN THE ROOM.
SO ON THE DAIS, UH, COMMISSIONERS COOK AND RUBIO, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE, JULIA BROOKINS AND MEGAN KING WERE ALSO A PART OF THIS.
UM, POSSIBLY FOLKS WHO WILL WATCH, WHO ARE WATCHING NOW ON A TXN OR LATER, BUT JUST THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AND DEDICATION THAT WENT IN.
I THINK IT WAS AN, IT WAS ALMOST AN UNREASONABLE ASK BY THE COMMISSION AND THE WORKING GROUP REALLY, REALLY PULLED THROUGH, UM, AND DID GREAT WORK.
SO, HERE'S THE VISION FOR THE PLAN.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN AUSTIN ACTIVELY ENGAGES COMMUNITIES IN PROTECTING AND SHARING IMPORTANT PLACES AND STORIES.
PRESERVATION USES THE PAST TO CREATE A SHARED SENSE OF BELONGING AND TO SHAPE AN EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ECONOMICALLY VITAL FUTURE FOR ALL.
IT'S A REALLY BIG VISION AND A REALLY EXCITING ONE.
AS I MENTIONED, THIS CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY HERITAGE SURVEY.
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE IN AUSTIN SAY THEY THINK PRESERVATION IS AND SHOULD BE, AND THE ROLE THAT IT SHOULD PLAY IN THE CITY.
THE PLAN HAS 107 RECOMMENDATIONS, ARRAYED UNDER 14 GOALS.
THESE GOALS HAVE REMAINED PRETTY STEADY THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THE DRAFTING AND THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AFFIRMED BY
[01:30:01]
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT GREG WILL TALK ABOUT.YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE REALLY BROAD, THEY'RE AMBITIOUS.
THEY ENVISION CON, UH, AS I SAID, AN ACT, REALLY ACTIVE ROLE FOR PRESERVATION IN THE CITY.
THE EASIEST WAY TO TALK ABOUT THE PLAN IN A SHORT, IN A CONCISE WAY, IS TO TALK ABOUT THE THREE THEMES THAT THESE GOALS ARE BROKEN UP INTO, WHAT WE PRESERVE, WHO PRESERVES AND HOW WE PRESERVE.
SO, THE, THE FIRST THEME, WHAT WE PRESERVE, THE BIG IDEA IS REALLY TO THINK BROADLY, RECOGNIZE OUR RICH AND COMPLICATED HISTORY.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT HERE TODAY WITH, WITH THE THAT FIRST CASE.
UM, DO THAT THROUGH PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN ACTIVE WAYS AND INTERPRETING BACK THE STORIES OF THESE, OF THESE PLACES THAT, THAT YOU AND PROPERTY OWNERS AND STAFF SPEND SO MUCH TIME STEWARDING.
SO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY KNOWS THESE STORIES TO BETTER RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT CULTURAL HERITAGE, LIKE LEGACY BUSINESSES AND MURALS, AS WELL AS ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES, AND TO USE PRESERVATION TOOLS TO SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES LIKE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
THE SECOND THEME, WHO PRESERVES REALLY LOOKS AT WHO'S DOING THE WORK OF PRESERVATION.
AND THE PLAN ENVISIONS INVITING MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORTING THEM IN, IN THAT WORK.
SO ENGAGING NEW PARTNERS AND AUDIENCES, WHICH WE STARTED DOING WITH OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE PLAN.
AND BEFORE THAT, WITH THE PRESERVATION PLAN, WORKING GROUP, HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES AND SUPPORTING THE FOLKS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK, WHETHER IT'S HANDS-ON WORK, UH, AND MAINTENANCE WORK AT A, A PROPERTY THAT PEOPLE LIVE OR WORK IN OR OWN.
SUPPORTING CRAFTSPEOPLE, SUPPORTING COMMISSIONERS AND CITY STAFF.
THE LAST THEME, HOW WE PRESERVE IS REALLY ABOUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW PRESERVATION HAPPENS.
THE PLAN, UH, URGES US TO BE MORE STRATEGIC AND MORE EFFECTIVE TO CONTINUE THE EFFECTIVE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING.
UM, UH, SOME SORT OF HIGH LEVEL POINTS ARE TO UPDATE DESIGNATION CRITERIA TO REFLECT MODERN STANDARDS, TO SUPPORT THE STEWARDS OF OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, MOSTLY PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS IN WAYS THAT ARE, UH, MORE EQUITABLE AND JUST AS EFFECTIVE TO BE STRATEGIC WITH REVIEW THAT WE'RE DOING TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES, WHICH IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, DO YOU KNOW, FIRSTHAND AND TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN COLLABORATIVELY.
NOW WE'LL PASS IT TO GREG TO SPEAK ABOUT THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, RUN THE DRAFT PLAN.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'LL BE, UH, UH, TALKING US THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT THAT HAPPENED, UH, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
SO, AS PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED IN JULY, WE ACTUALLY HAD A FOUR MONTH LONG ENGAGEMENT PERIOD, WHICH, UH, LASTED FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH THE END OF MAY.
UH, ENGAGEMENT OBJECTIVES INCLUDED INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE DRAFT DRAFT PLAN, GATHERING FEEDBACK ON THE PLAN'S, GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DETERMINING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, ALL IN THE EFFORT TO MOVE THE PLAN FORWARD TO ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WE ENGAGED WITH AND RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM OVER, UH, 2,500 PEOPLE AND THROUGH IN-PERSON DISCUSSIONS EVENTS WITH MOST OF THE FEEDBACK ACTUALLY COMING FROM, UH, RESPONSES FROM OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY THROUGH THE PLANS WEBSITE.
ENGAGEMENT INCLUDED AWARDING FIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS MINI GRANTS, AND WE HAD A COHORT OF NINE COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS, UH, THAT ALL ESSENTIALLY ASSIST ASSISTED US WITH THE ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH.
SO, UH, WHAT WE ACTUALLY HEARD, SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THESE NUMBERS, UH, REPRESENTING SURVEY RESPONDENTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY, COMPARED TO AUSTIN'S DEMOGRAPHICS OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, WE EITHER MET OR EXCEEDED THE PERCENTAGES IN THREE OUT OF THE FOUR CATEGORIES.
UH, THE PERCENTAGE OF RENTERS WAS LESS THAN AUSTIN, 56%, UM, BUT AT 30% THAT WAS, UH, A STILL A PRETTY GOOD, UH, TURNOUT, ESPECIALLY FOR A FIELD THAT MOSTLY DEALS WITH, UH, HOMEOWNERS.
UM, AND THAT PIE CHART RIGHT THERE, UH, ALSO TALKS ABOUT THAT ALMOST 70% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HEARD FROM HAVE BEEN HERE FOR, UM, MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
SO WE DEFINITELY HEARD FROM OUR LONGTIME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THE MAP IN THE CORNER REPRESENTS THE ZIP CODES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HEARD FROM.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SPREAD FROM, UH, ALL OVER THE CITY, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL AUSTIN.
SO WHAT WE ACTUALLY HEARD, UH, THE 14 GOALS ARE ACTUALLY AGGREGATED INTO THESE OVERALL GOALS.
ON THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, IT'S NOTEWORTHY THAT ALL WERE DEEMED IMPORTANT PRIORITIES WITH THE LOWEST SCORE BEING 73.2% AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN OUT OF A HUNDRED.
SO WITHIN THE TOP PRIORITIES AS IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY, THE TOP TWO GOALS WERE ENSURE LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN THEIR CURRENT SPACES.
UM, WITH 51% OF RESPONDENTS, RESPONDENTS, UH, DEEMING THAT
[01:35:01]
THAT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO ACTUALLY START FIRST, AND SECONDLY, HELP OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS MAINTAIN THEIR UNIQUE LOOK AND FEEL AS AUSTIN GROWS.AND ABOUT 20% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT WE SHOULD START, UH, THERE FIRST, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
SO HOW THE FINAL PLAN REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED.
SO WE RECEIVED ALMOST THREE, 300 COMMENTS, UH, ON THE DRAFT PLAN.
AND AS A RESULT, THAT CAME WITH ABOUT 140 ACTIONABLE CHANGES THAT WERE SUGGESTED.
UM, AND FROM THAT, UH, WE HAD, UH, ABOUT 50 OUT OF THE FINAL 107 RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, GOING THROUGH THE REVISION PROCESS AND ACTUALLY GETTING REVISED.
AND FROM THAT PROCESS, UM, WE ALSO, UM, AS A RESULT HAD EIGHT NEW RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UH, THOSE KIND OF COVERED AREAS SUCH AS SUPPORT FOR STEWARDS OF HISTORIC CEMETERIES, SUPPORT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR OLDER AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES, UH, REGULAR BUILDING MAINTENANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS.
AND THEN FINALLY, IDENTIFICATION OF AND SUPPORT FOR HERITAGE TOURISM SITES.
UM, THAT REVISION PROCESS, OF COURSE, UH, WAS CONDUCTED BY JOINT MEETINGS OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE AND THE WORKING GROUP WITH CHANGES CONFIRMED BY THE PRESERVATION PLAN DRAFTING COMMITTEE.
I'M GONNA PASS IT BACK TO KARA.
SO HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN TIMELINE I MENTIONED IT HAD BEEN A LONG, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
THE LANDMARK COMMISSION CREATED THE PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP AND SPRING OF 2021.
AND IT WORKED THROUGH FROM SUMMER OF 2021 THROUGH SUMMER OF 2022 TO PUT TOGETHER THE DRAFT PLAN.
IN THE FALL OF 2022, YOU SAW THE DRAFT PLAN.
UM, THEN THERE WAS A PERIOD OF SORT OF LOW-KEY AWARENESS RAISING, UH, COUNCIL AROUND THAT TIME HAD ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR A MAJOR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORT, AND ALSO CREATED A NEW STAFF POSITION, UM, DEDICATED TO THE PLAN THAT I CURRENTLY HOLD.
AND SO WHILE THOSE THINGS WERE BEING PUT IN PLACE, UH, WE HAD THIS, THIS AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO INVITE MORE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE PLAN.
AS GREG MENTIONED THIS SPRING, WE DID THE INTENSIVE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN, UH, REALLY ENGAGED A AN EXCITING RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND THE PLAN WAS RAISED IN THE SUMMER BY THE GROUPS THAT THAT GREG MENTIONED.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST BOARD AND COMMISSION BRIEFING OF 17 BRIEFINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UH, WE AIM TO BRING THE PLAN TO CITY COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 21ST FOR REVIEW AND ADOPTION AS PART OF THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THEN THE, THE REAL WORK STARTS OF IMPLEMENTING IT.
SO, UM, THE NEXT, WHAT WE WILL START AFTER THE PLAN IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL START WITH IMPLEMENTING THE HIGH IMPACT, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE REVISION TEAM IDENTIFIED WITH DOING WHAT WE CAN WITH EXISTING RESOURCES, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS, IS STAFF TIME.
WE'LL ALSO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR LARGER INITIATIVES, UM, LOOKING AT WHAT, UH, WHAT NEED, WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, HOW MUCH THOSE ARE, AND SEEING ABOUT GETTING THEM INTO, INTO PROPOSED BUDGETS.
AND THEN STARTING IN YEAR TWO, WHICH IS FISCAL YEAR 25, 26, AROUND THE FALL OF 2025, START WORKING TO ADD THOSE HIGH IMPACT RECOMMENDATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD TO TRACK PROGRESS ON THE PLAN WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE WILL, UH, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP OF CITY STAFF ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO ALIGN WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THE PLANS AND GOALS THAT THEY ARE, ARE WORKING ON, AND COORDINATE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AS IMPLEMENTATION HAPPENS.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE, UM, TO WHICH CAN REPORT BACK UP AND, AND, UH, YEAH.
I THINK THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE FINAL ONE.
UM, FOR ANYONE WHO'S, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE AND INTERESTED, THE FINAL PLAN IS AVAILABLE ON THIS WEBSITE, UH, AND WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO, TO TAKE A LOOK.
UH, STAFF BELIEVES THAT IT, IT MAY MAKE SENSE TONIGHT FOR THE COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THE PRESERVATION PLAN, AND THEN IT'S, WELL, IT'S POSSIBLE TO CREATE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DAIS, GIVEN THE LENGTH OF THE AGENDA IN THE MANY CASES YOU HAVE YET TO HEAR.
UM, IT'S PO UH, THE COMMISSION COULD REQUEST THAT THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE DRAFT A RECOMMENDATION AND BRING IT BACK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.
SO, UH, USING COMMENTS FROM, FROM THIS DISCUSSION.
SO IT'S UP TO YOU, BUT JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT FOR TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, JUST A BIG THANK YOU.
[01:40:01]
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK LOOKING AT THESE PLANS, MANY OF US PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES INTO IT.AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS AND WE'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS DIFFERENT CITIES, OFFICES, AND ESPECIALLY OUR PRESERVATION OFFICE, AND YOU ALL LEADING THIS HAS BEEN A BIG, BIG TASK.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR, FOR KEEPING US ON TRACK, ALLOWING THIS TO GO THROUGH, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THROUGH.
UM, IT'S JUST ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SHOW CITY COUNCIL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT CITY, OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS AND CITY STAFF HAVE DONE TO SPEAK UP.
I THINK THIS IS JUST REALLY SPECIAL.
UH, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I PUT IN, I THINK I CAN TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FROM THE MEETING, BUT, UM, I, I REFLECT THAT THANKS TO GREG AND KARA AND EVERYONE FOR THE AWARD, AWARD, TRULY AWARD-WINNING OUTREACH PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE END OF A LONG ROAD AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER ONE.
AS WE USE THIS AS A FOUNDATION TO CREATE NEW POLICY.
UH, THIS DOCUMENTS A GREAT POINT OF TIME, A SNAPSHOT OF CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND PRIORITIES THAT COME DIRECT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE LISTENING, AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYONE THAT GETS THAT GUT FEELING, ANYTIME WE SEE OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES GONE.
AND, AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS.
IT'S A REALLY ACCESSIBLE DOCUMENT.
IT REALLY GIVES YOU A GOOD WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF PRESERVATION IN AUSTIN AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO FROM HERE.
SO THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO SPREAD THE WORD EVEN FURTHER NOW THAT THE DOCUMENT'S DONE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AND I'LL, I'LL JUST ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE STARTED THIS ALSO BECAUSE WE HADN'T UPDATED OUR PLAN SINCE THE 1980S.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THOSE YEARS, UH, WE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
BUT THE UNDERPINNING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH EVERY, EVERY MEETING WE KNOW AND WE EXPERIENCED THE LIMITATIONS AND THAT WE DID MORE THAN JUST ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE IRRITANTS, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAD SUCH AN EFFORT TO REALLY RETHINK WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO PRESERVATION? AND THAT PUTS AUSTIN IF THIS PASSES AND SOME OF THESE ACTIONS CAN COME TO FRUITION.
UH, THIS, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE AWARD, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN RECOGNIZED BY OUR PEERS, UH, WITH A NATIONAL AWARD, BUT I THINK IT WILL PUT AUSTIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF A VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE PRESERVATION MOVEMENT, WHERE THESE STORIES THAT WE PASS ON, UH, THEY WILL INCLUDE THE UNSUNG, THE OVERLOOKED, AND THE UNRECOGNIZED, AND THEY WILL BE CELEBRATED AND THEY WON'T BE REC UNRECOGNIZED ANYMORE.
SO IT GIVES US A GREAT CHANCE TO RIGHT A LOT OF WRONGS.
IT GIVES US A GREAT CHANCE TO REALLY, UH, PROVIDE CELEBRATION TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER US.
SO AGAIN, WE THANK YOU ALL STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO'S PUT THEIR TIME IN.
I'M GOING TO, UH, SINCE COMMISSIONER CASTILLO IS NOT HERE, I'M GONNA CALL ON COMMISSIONER EVANS TO MAKE A MOTION.
AND IF YOU AGREE WITH STAFF'S MOTION, THEN UH, WHY NOT MAKE A MOTION THAT WOULD, UH, ALLOW THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE TO DRAFT A RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT HOWEVER YOU WISH TO WORD IT.
UH, MY INVOLVEMENT WASN'T AS LONG AS SOME OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, BUT IT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF WHAT, UH, WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD.
AND SO I'M PROUD TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE, UH, PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE, UH, DEVELOP A RCA FOR, UH, CONSIDERATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND FOR FUTURE PRESENTATION TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER COOK.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONER EVANS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOTION.
AND UNLESS WE NEED TO SPEAK ON THE MOTIONS, I AM GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER DUDLEY WAS NOT ABLE TO STAY, BUT, UH, ALL THE REST OF IT, IT IS UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE, FOR ALL THEY WORK AND WE WERE GONNA HAVE A VERY INTERESTING PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE,
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, LET ME JUST ALERT YOU TO THE HOUR.
IT IS NOW SEVEN 40 AND WITH THE ITEMS THAT WE PULLED FROM DISCUSSION, WE HAVE 10 ITEMS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED THIS EVENING.
AND SO, UH, LET US MAKE HASTE AND BE VERY AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN BE WITH THE REMAINING ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE AGENDA ORDER, AND IF I GET THIS CORRECTLY, THAT WOULD
[5. C14H-2024-0115 – 906 W 17th St. ]
BE ITEM NUMBER FIVE.THAT IS 9 0 6 WEST 17TH STREET.
[01:45:02]
THANK YOU CHAIR.ITEM NUMBER FIVE C 14 H 20 24 0 115 IS AN OWNER INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING REQUEST FOR THE FRIDA AND WALTER BONE HOUSE AT 9 0 6 WEST 17TH STREET.
STAFF RECOMMENDS A PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM FAMILY RESIDENTS TO FAMILY RESIDENTS, HISTORIC LANDMARK, COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
THE FRIDA AND WELCHER BONE HOUSE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW DESIGNED BY AUSTIN LUMINARY HUGO KUHN.
NOTABLY, HE WORKED ON THE BUILDING TWICE AS HE DESIGNED THE INITIAL STRUCTURE AND RETURNED MORE THAN 20 YEARS LATER TO ADD STYLISTIC UPDATES AS THE FAMILY'S NEEDS CHANGED.
THE BONE FAMILY LIVED THERE FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.
WALTER BONE WAS AN INFLUENTIAL AUSTIN BUSINESSMAN AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER FROM LATE 19TH TO MID 20TH CENTURIES.
WALTER BONE BEGAN WORKING HIS WAY UP AT THE BONE BROTHERS DEPARTMENT STORE, FOUNDED IN 1892 BY HIS FATHER AND UNCLES AT THE AGE OF 15.
AFTER HIS MARRIAGE TO FRIDA ANOR IN 1924, HE CHOSE KUHN TO, TO CONSTRUCT HIS HOME.
THE BONE BROTHERS SELECTED HIM AGAIN TO REMODEL THEIR CONGRESS AVENUE STORE FIVE YEARS LATER WHILE MANAGING THE MERCHANDISING AND DRY GOODS DEPARTMENTS AT THE STORE.
BONE ALSO WORKED AS A TRAVEL AGENT AND WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE CAPITAL NATIONAL BANK.
HE LATER OPENED HIS OWN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.
THE CITY NATIONAL BANK WITH PARTNER JOHN BURNS BONE LEFT THE DEPARTMENT STORE AFTER 36 YEARS TO WORK WITH BURNS AND RB RYLANDER IN REAL ESTATE.
ACCORDING TO APPLICANT AND HISTORIAN, PHOEBE ALLEN BONE WAS THE OWNER AND DEVELOPER OF WINDSOR VILLAGE, WHICH OPENED IN 1960 WITH ITS INITIAL CENTER DESIGNED BY ARCHITECTS FAIR AND GRANGER, AND WAS A PART OWNER OF CISE VILLAGE, FORD VILLAGE.
AND SIX OR SEVEN OTHER SHOPPING CENTERS ALL WERE EVENTUALLY SOLD AND THE PARTNERS OPENED A WAREHOUSE IN AUSTIN AND SENT A FLEET OF TRUCKS TO SAN ANTONIO TO BUY GOODS TO SELL AT LANDER'S GROCERY, THE CENTER OF EACH SHOPPING CENTER, ACCORDING TO SON CONRAD BONE, WHO, UM, WE JUST FOUND OUT TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY, UH, VERY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
UH, WALTER BONE ALSO DEVELOPED THE RIVER CROSS SUBDIVISION ON LAKE AUSTIN WHERE THEY HAD CONSTRUCTED A WEEKEND FISHING LODGE YEARS BEFORE.
THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THE PRESENT OWNERS, UH, THE BUILDING HAS HIGH INTEGRITY.
THE REAR SECOND STORY OFFICE DOOR AND SIDE LIGHTS, AND PHIL AGREED FRONT COLUMNS WERE ADDED BY THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECT DURING THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
AN OUTBUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS ON THE SIDE OF THE ORIGINAL GARAGE, BUT IT'S MINIMALLY VISIBLE.
ATTIC AND REAR WINDOWS WERE INSTALLED IN 1980, BUT DO NOT COMPROMISE THE BUILDING'S OVERALL INTEGRITY.
THEREFORE, STAFF CAN RECOMMEND THIS PROPERTY, UH, AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
ANY QUESTION OF STAFF? FI IS THIS A RARE SITUATION WHERE THESE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE LANDSCAPING IS ALSO FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS HISTORIC? IT IS, IT IS THERE.
THE, UH, THE GARDENS WE DON'T SEE THAT VERY OFTEN ARE PART OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.
UM, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OF THE STAFF, THEN UH, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COULD WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? PLEASE COME AND PRESENT? YES, WE HAVE MS. PHOEBE ALLEN.
UM, I DID THE RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWED CONRAD BONE, WHO DIED JUST THIS PAST WEEK.
UM, AND I'M REALLY HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I THINK THE MATERIAL THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU GIVES A PRETTY DETAILED, UM, ELIMINATION OF THE HOUSE AND THE STORIES BEHIND IT.
UM, THE, I WOULD REFER YOU TO THE FAMILY TREE IF YOU GET CONFUSED BY THE NAMES.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESEARCH AND, UH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY QUITE A REMARKABLE PROPERTY IN
ONE, ONE QUESTION ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS WONDER WHY IT HASN'T HAPPENED UP TILL NOW? IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S REALLY BECAUSE THE OWNERS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS HOUSE PRESERVED.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TAX, UM, RATES.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY BOTH ALREADY HAVE THE, THE SENIOR RATES ON THE HOUSE.
SO IT'S REALLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE IT PRESERVED AND, AND THE OWNER RESIDENT IS HERE TONIGHT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF BOB SWER.
UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM.
WILL THE SWAFFORD WANNA COME UP AND SAY HI?
[01:50:02]
IF I CAN MAKE IT UP? SORRY I HAVE TO SIT SO LONG.I'M BOB SWER AND UH, JANET AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE HOUSE FOR 50 YEARS.
THE BONES LIVE THERE FOR 50 YEARS.
IT'S A HUNDRED YEAR OLD HOUSE NOW.
AND THE THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT, UH, HUGO CUNY WAS THE ARCHITECT AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE CITY AND AS WELL AS THE, UH, UNIVERSITY.
JANET WAS A PROFESSOR IN THE, PARDON ME, IN THE GERMAN DEPARTMENT AND I WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL.
UH, HUGO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE WHEN HE WAS A ENGINEERING PROFESSOR.
SO, UH, WE THINK HAD A HUNDRED YEARS AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO RECOGNIZE.
WELL, AGAIN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP AND UH, REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD WITH THIS THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, MRS. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK.
IS THERE ANY, ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SECOND THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONER GROGAN, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES, IT'S UNANIMOUS.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE CAN START DISCUSSION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATION AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
OH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE FUNNIEST THING THEY MAKE US DO.
REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, APPROVE THE APPLICATION AND RECOMMENDED STRIKE ZONING FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
AND THAT'S YOUR SECOND AS WELL.
YEAH, IT'S A REALLY UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE I THINK, UH, JUST AS A CASE STUDY FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT INFLUENCES THAT ARE IN THERE.
IT'S A REALLY ONE OF A KIND PROPERTY WITH GREAT ASSOCIATIONS AND, UM, ROCK SOLID.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
UH, HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A I'LL, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING, UH, ON THE TWO, UH, UH, CRITERIA PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
ALRIGHT, SO ITEM FIVE IS APPROVED AT MEANS WE GO NOW TO
[7. PR-2024-026690 – 900 Spence St. ]
ITEM SEVEN AND THAT IS 900 SPENCE STREET.SPENCE STREET IS A HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION INITIATED AND OWNER OPPOSED HIS, UH, HISTORIC ZONING REQUEST FOR THE ROMO JOHNSON HOUSE AT 900 SPENCE STREET.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING, BUT ALTERNATELY POSTPONE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO OCTOBER 2ND, 2024 TO INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES TO DEMOLITION THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY RECOMMENDS THE BUILDING IS ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION AS A LOCAL LANDMARK CONTRIBUTING TO A POTENTIAL LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE SURVEY IDENTIFIES THE PROPERTY AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE NATIONAL FOLK STYLE AND THE 1985 WILLOW SPENCE NATIONAL REGISTER.
HISTORIC DISTRICT NOMINATION DESCRIBES THE PROPERTY AS A ONE IN ONE HALF STORY WOOD FRAME WITH A HIPPED ROOF.
FURTHERMORE, THE HISTORIC RESOURCES OF EAST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION DESCRIBES THE BUILDING AS AN EXEMPLAR OF THE PI OF THE PARAMETAL COTTAGE STYLE.
THE BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE OVERARCHING DEMOGRAPHIC THEMES OF 20TH CENTURY WILLOW SPENCE.
THE EAST AUSTIN SURVEY IDENTIFIES THE BUILDING'S OCCUPANCY HISTORY AS A SIGNIFICANT LOOK INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES THAT FORM THE PREDOMINANT RESIDENTIAL PATTERNS OF THE WILLOW SPENCE NEIGHBORHOOD.
DURING THE 20TH CENTURY, ITS FIRST OCCUPANTS.
THE JOHNSONS WERE A MIDDLE CLASS ANGLO FAMILY WHO OWNED AND BUILT THE HOME.
MARTHA SPEAR WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE THE HOUSE AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A BORDER'S RENT.
AS MEXICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES MOVED INTO THE AREA AT MID-CENTURY, BERNARDINO AND SANTOS ROMO MADE 900 SPENT STREET HOME IN WHICH TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.
THE ROMOS WENT FROM RENTING THEIR HOME TO OWNING IT OUTRIGHT.
THOUGH THE PROPERTY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUALS, THE
[01:55:01]
HOME'S OVERALL OCCUPANCY HISTORY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE OVERALL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS OF THE DISTRICT.THE BUILDING RETAINS HIGH INTEGRITY, THOSE GREENS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT CURRENTLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE WILLOW SPENCE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
UH, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, THIS POSTPONED FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.
AND DO WE HAVE AN INDICATION ON THE TIMING IS IT ISN'T A NATIONAL REGISTER, IT ISN'T A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT NATIONAL REGISTER AND EXCUSE ME, A NATIONAL REGISTER.
UH, THIS TIME'S OUT ON NOVEMBER 10TH, SO WE HAVE THE OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER MEETINGS AVAILABLE FOR ACTION.
ALRIGHT, UH, LET ME OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK? UH, IN FAVOR IS THE APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE MOTION BUT FOR THE REQUEST? WE DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP AS THE APPLICANT TODAY.
AND ACTUALLY THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE COMMISSION INITIATED REQUEST.
SO, UH, IS THERE ANYBODY IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC ZONING? THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO SAY THEY'RE WITH THE APPLICANT TEAM IF Y'ALL WANNA COME UP TO THE MIC.
SO THEN, UH, IS THERE NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ZONING? IF NOT, THEN WE CAN HAVE THE OWNER OR THE O APPLICANT TEAM, UH, SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP IN FAVOR CURRENTLY.
SO PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
UM, I'M HERE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT, UH, DAVID PEGAN, THE OWNER, UM, IN OBTAINING A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UM, READING THE STAFF REPORT FOR 900 SPENCE, I CAN APPRECIATE THE LIVES AND STORIES OF THE FORMER OWNERS WHO, LIKE MOST ORDINARY PEOPLE, LIVED A FULL LIFE, WORKED HARD TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND HAD A MODERATE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
BUT NOTHING ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY OR A PLACE IS SPECIAL OR UNIQUE OR SHOULD THIS DILAPIDATED LEG, DILAPIDATED LEGACY STRUCTURE BE MEMORIALIZED.
DAVID PEGAN, THE CURRENT OWNER OF 900 SPENCE, WHO HAS WORKED HARD TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY AND EARNED THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN A WAY COMMENSURATE WITH HIS EFFORTS, VALUES, AND SACRIFICES OF SEEKING A TOTAL DEMOLITION PERMIT.
IT SHOULD BE THE CHOICE AND FREE WILL OF THE OWNER OF SUCH A STRUCTURE ABANDONED DWELLING TO REMOVE IT, TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW THAT RESONATES AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.
A LEVEL THAT THIS LEGACY STRUCTURE CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE.
MANY OTHER HOUSES ON THE BLOCK WERE GRANTED DEMOLITION PERMITS AND WE DO BELIEVE WE ARE DUE THE SAME BUILDING.
A NEW HOUSE WOULD IN FACT SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
SINCE HOME BUILDING EMPLOYS LOCAL CRAFTSMEN AND RELATED BUSINESSES, A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER HAS REPORTED THE RESULTS OF THIS SITE VISIT IN REGARDS TO THE CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURE IN HOUSE HAS, UH, DILAPIDATED WITH SIGNS OF DAMAGE FROM MOISTURE AND INSECTS WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT.
I CAN OFFER THIS, UH, REPORT UP TO YOU ALL IF THAT ISN'T IN YOUR HANDS ALREADY.
UM, CURRENTLY, UH, THIS HOUSE SERVES AS A EPICENTER FOR IN A SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS AND IS A GROWING HEALTH RISK.
UM, THIS, UM, HOUSE HAS NO HISTORICAL PEDIGREE, UH, COMPARED TO, UH, SOME OF THE HOUSE MENTIONED IN IN IN THE MEETING TODAY.
IN MY OPINION, UM, THE LAST TIME I CAME BEFORE THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION WAS BACK IN, UH, JULY OF 2021 IN REGARDS TO, UH, AN ATTEMPT BY ELIZABETH BRUMMETT TO CREATE A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT FOR THE ALLENDALE AIR ALLENDALE AIR CONDITIONED VILLAGE HOUSES.
71% OF THE HOMEOWNERS CLEARLY VOTED AGAINST ITS APPLICATION AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, AND EVENTUALLY THE FATE OF 25 0 2 PAR WAS DECIDED BY A CITY COUNCIL VOTE.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CRITERIA USED BY THE STAFF WERE AS FOLLOWS.
AND I'M PUTTING THIS OUT THERE AS A WAY TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE CRITERIA BECAUSE, UM, IN THE EVALUATION OF 25 0 2 PARKVIEW, WHICH IS EVENTUALLY GRANTED A DEMOLITION PERMIT, UM, PROPERTIES MUST MEET THE TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION ACCORDING TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 25 2 3 5 2.
UM, ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, ARCHEOLOGY, COMMUNITY VALUE AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE STAFF REPORT, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, FOR 900 SPENCE, I DON'T SEE ANY OF THESE CRITERIA BEING MET.
[02:00:01]
AND UM, I'M JUST WANTING TO NOTE THAT THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THESE TWO STAFF REPORTS, UH, I FIND THAT, UH, THERE'S FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE ANY CRITERIA JUSTIFYING HISTORIC DESIGNATION, UM, IN THE STAFF REPORT MADE FOR 900 SPENCE.UM, IT EVEN SAYS THOUGH THE PROPERTY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUALS.
UM, I'M TRYING TO JUST UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T MOVE ON AND BE GRANTED A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THIS HOUSE.
SO, UM, WE COULD BUILD SOMETHING NEW.
OKAY, THAT'S YOUR TIME COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTION OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY.
UM, I WILL, I WILL NOTE THAT THE STAFF REPORT INDICATES THAT THIS HAS HIGH ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY.
THIS BUILDING LOOKS VERY SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL TO THE WAY IT LOOKED WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT.
THAT IS A VERY HIGH CRITERIA FOR OUR ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENT, ISN'T THERE SUPPOSED, AND AS FAR AS THE INDIVIDUAL CRITERIA, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE IT BE A SPECIFIC PERSON, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF CERTAIN GROUPS OR CERTAIN PATTERNS OF SETTLEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S A MATTER OF JUDGMENT, BUT BY NO MEANS DO YOU HAVE TO JUST HAVE A FAMOUS PERSON THIS FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION.
UM, ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? GOOD EVENING COUNSEL COMMISSION.
I OWN THE, THE PROPERTY AND THE HOME AND MY GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING HOME THERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN'S SO ECLECTIC.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE NEW HOMES BEING BUILT IN THAT WHOLE WILLOW SPENT SUBDIVISION AND YOU HAVE SOME OF THE OLDER ONES THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST STAYING IN 'EM LIKE THAT.
BUT THIS HOME NEEDS A LOT OF LOT OF WORK AND TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TO WHERE IT IS AND WE CAN'T EVEN ADD TO IT OR RAISE IT OR CHANGE IT.
SO IT'S, UH, I, WE RAN SOME, UH, RENDITIONS ON TRYING TO SEE WE COULD USE IT AND NOTHING CAME UP THAT IT WOULD LOOK HALFWAY DECENT, PRESENTABLE FROM THE FRONT AS FAR AS STREET VIEW.
AND I THINK THAT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN.
UM, YOU, YOU, YOU ARE AWARE IT CAN BE ADDED TO, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE DO WHAT WE CAN SO WE PRESERVE THE FRONT, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY A NUMBER OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS WHERE AN ADDITION ON THE BACK, YOU'VE REVIEWED SEVERAL ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT.
SO BE AWARE THERE ARE INCENTIVES AS WELL FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH A BUILDING THAT, UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW, HOW LONG YOU'VE OWNED IT, BUT HAS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY BUILDING WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I'VE OWNED IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS, BUT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A YEAR FOR JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS OR TO TRY TO ACQUIRE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
AND THEN FOR A YEAR I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD USE THAT HOUSE AND IF, IF WE COULD USE IT AND WHAT WOULD BE THE COST.
AND IT OUTWEIGHED ME JUST GOING IN AND KNOCKING IT DOWN AND BUILDING A NEW HOME AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S RE UH, RESTRICTIONS BASED ON HOW MANY SQUARE FEET YOU CAN HAVE ON A LOT OVER THERE.
AND IT JUST REALLY MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REALLY DO MUCH ON THAT WITH THAT.
UH, IN FACT WE, WE'D HAVE TO PROBABLY GO DOWN AS, UH, PUT IN A BASEMENT OR SOMETHING TO, TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME DECENT SQUARE FOOT HOME AND, AND OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD LIKE A 31 3200 SQUARE FOOT HOME THERE.
WELL WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH US.
IF THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU COULD SHARE SOME OF PERHAPS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT AND PERHAPS WITH THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS PUT IN VOLUNTEER TIME AND ARE WILLING TO DO BRAINSTORMING IF YOU WILL.
IT'S AN INFORMAL TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT.
AND IF, UH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE EXPLORED OR MAYBE LOOK TO BE CREATIVE.
OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO BE AS RESOURCEFUL AS WE CAN BE TO SAVE EVERY PROJECT THAT MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE HISTORIC MERIT.
AND OBVIOUSLY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THIS ONE DOES.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES DOWN THE STREET WHERE YOU GOT NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING UP EVERYWHERE AND, UH, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE GRANTED THAT PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND BUILD A NEW, NEW HOME AND THE VALUE OF A NEW HOME WILL BE WAY MORE THAN THE VALUE OF ME TRYING TO JUST KEEP THAT FRONT FACADE.
NOT NECESSARILY, BUT GO AHEAD.
[02:05:01]
LOOK AT EXPANDING TO THE BACK, ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH TREES? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU, THIS, THIS HOUSE IS VERY MUCH ON THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY AND YOU HAVE A GOOD TWO THIRDS OF IT LEFT TO BUILD BEHIND.DID YOU EVER CONSIDER THIS IN THE LIGHT OF THE HOME INITIATIVE AND THE AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED, PARTICULARLY WITH THE PRESERVATION INCENTIVE, IF YOU KEPT THE MAIN FRONT HOUSE AND BUILT, YOU KNOW, A SIZABLE HOUSE IN THE REAR, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU COULD HAVE TWO SIZABLE HOMES AND KEEP THE MAIN HOME IN THE FRONT FACING THE DISTRICT.
DID, DID YOU CONSIDER THAT? I IT WOULD, I COULD ONLY BUILD MAYBE A THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT HOME IN THE BACK IN I WAS TO DO THAT.
THE HOME INITIATIVE, THE PRESERVATION BONUS YES.
SO THAT'S, I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T GIVE MUCH.
AND, AND WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE OR ARE YOU PRETTY MUCH SET WITH WHAT YOU WANT TO DO? I JUST FIGURED THAT IT'S THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST TO TAKE IT DOWN.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT I CAN BUILD A 3,300 SQUARE FOOT HOME GOING, GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN A BASEMENT AND, UH, AND IT'LL LET ME HAVE A BUILDING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A HOME THAT IS BRAND NEW AND WILL LAST ANOTHER 50 YEARS, 80 YEARS OR A HUNDRED YEARS.
WELL WE, WE HAVE ALREADY IN RESPONSE TO YOUR INITIAL REQUEST INDICATED OUR INTEREST IN EXPLORING THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
AND ON TOP OF THIS IS A APPEAR IN BEAM HOME, THERE'S NO SLAB.
UH, YOU JUST DEAL WITH A BUNCH OF, LOT OF ISSUES WITH THAT.
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE THAT KNOWS HOW TO WORK EXACTLY WITH THAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE AS WELL.
UM, AGAIN, IF I THINK THE ENGAGEMENT IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
UM, NOW THE HOUSE HAS BEEN CHANGED ALSO, YOU KNOW, FROM ITS ORIGINAL.
UH, THE FRONT DOOR'S NOT IN THE FRONT.
UH, THEY'VE DONE ADDED ONTO THE BACK OF IT, AND SOME OF IT'S NOT, I DON'T EVEN, IT'S NOT EVEN A CODE, YOU KNOW, AND IT, THAT PART ALL HAS TO BE TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DONE TO CODE.
IF YOU WALK INSIDE THERE, IT'S THE FLOOR'S ALL ROTTED OUT AND THERE'S NOTHING INSIDE.
THERE'S NO, UH, THE WALLS ARE JUST ALL, UH, STUDS.
I MEAN, IT'S A TREE TRUNK THAT THEY IS HOLDING THAT FRONT OF THE HOUSE UP.
UH, IT'S NOT A P AND BEAM, YOU KNOW, LIKE A NORMAL P AND BEAM.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING WITH US.
UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DELIBERATE.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND THE HEARING IS CLOSED.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND THEN WE CAN BEGIN DISCUSSION.
DO I HAVE TO BE ABLE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO POSTPONE? YES.
WE ABLE THE PUBLIC HEARING POSTPONES THE NEXT MONTH'S, UH, MEETING AND INVITE THE OWNER TO THE A NEXT A RC MEETING.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK, UH, TO POSTPONE TO OUR OCTOBER MEETING AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGE A DIALOGUE WITH THIS CONTINUED DIALOGUE WITH THIS OWNER AT THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, I THINK WE NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION.
SOMEONE MENTIONED A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS REPORT, SO IF WE CAN SEE SOME OF THAT.
UH, YOU MENTIONED LOOKING AT A SECOND OR, YOU KNOW, A SQUARE FOOTAGE EDITION IN THE BACK.
IT SEEMS LIKE AS COMMISSIONER, UH, COOK MENTIONED THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE BACK THERE.
I, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE ANY TREES FROM THE GOOGLE MAPS, SO THIS IS TOTALLY POSSIBLE TO ADD IN ADDITION, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THIS WORK.
I FEEL LIKE YOU CAN GET THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK AND I FEEL LIKE HOME SHOULD HAVE HELPED THAT.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHY THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE A LOOK AT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT.
HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
UH, OF MOTION PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM, DISCUSSION
[8. HR-2024-077497 – 2305 E 21st St.]
ITEM IS NUMBER EIGHT.THIS IS, UH, 2305 EAST 21ST STREET.
UH, THIS IS IN THE ROGERS, WASHINGTON HOLY CROSS HISTORIC DISTRICT AND IT IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
UH, THE PROJECT AT 23 0 5 EAST 21ST STREET, UH, IS A PROPOSED PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A SECOND DETACHED HOUSING UNIT ADJACENT TO THE HISTORIC HOME FACING EAST 21ST STREET.
OFFSET ROUGHLY 10 FEET FROM THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE IN ORDER TO CREATE A TWO UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THE ROGERS, WASHINGTON HOLY CROSS HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGN STANDARDS ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS WITHIN THE HISTORIC
[02:10:01]
DISTRICT.UM, THE PROJECT MEETS THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS AFTER, UM, ATTENDING THE ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCE, UH, ARCHITECTURAL, UH, UH, REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM, WITH THEIR FEEDBACK BEING TO SIMPLIFY THE WINDOW DESIGN WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HORIZONTALITY OF THE WINDOWS AND ATTEMPT TO KEEP THEM COMPLETELY ABOVE THE BRICK SKIRT OR POSSIBLE.
MAKE THE AWNING OVER THE, UH, MAIN ENTRY LINEUP SYMMETRICALLY AND ENSURE CLADDING IS NOT AN EXACT MATCH TO THE MAIN HOUSE BUT IS COMPATIBLE.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALRIGHT, UM, COMMISSIONERS, GO AHEAD.
DID, WERE THERE ANY UPDATED DRAWINGS? UM, 'CAUSE I, I, I SAW THE DRAWINGS, BUT I, I SAW THE SAME PATTERN AT THE BASE AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WINDOWS, WERE THEIR WINDOWS CHANGED OR NO, NOT THEY SHOULD BE ON BACKUP.
AS WELL AS THE AWNING CHANGED ON THE FRONT.
I THINK I DID NOTICE THAT THE AWNING WAS CENTERED.
UM, IS THERE ANY, UH, I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS CASE? PLEASE COME DOWN AND INDICATE SO WE HAVE MR. MICHAEL MAGNER.
I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S HERE IN PERSON OR ONLINE.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? SO FOR THE RECORD, YOU I'M MICHAEL MAGNER AND I'M THE OWNER IS JUST HERE IN CASE YOU HAD QUESTIONS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE, IS THERE A QUESTION FOR MR. MAGNA? ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND IDENTIFYING YOURSELF.
I THINK THERE'S SOME CLARIFICATION THAT WE NEEDED, BUT, UH, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER TESTIMONIES NEEDED, SO THANK YOU.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? HEARING NONE? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? CLOSING PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
DID, UM, WAS THE ARCHITECT THERE AT THE RARC? THE OWNER? W DID WE, WE DIDN'T MEET WITH THE OWNER.
IS THAT CORRECT? DO WE REMEMBER? WITH THE ARCHITECT? OKAY.
UM, AND HE'S STILL HERE IF WE NEED TO.
UM, I GUESS, DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION FIRST AND YOU MAKE A MOTION? OKAY.
UM, I HAVE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
I'LL REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
POSTPONE TO NEXT MONTH'S, UH, MEETING AND INVITE THE OWNER, SORRY, BACK TO A RC MEETING.
WHY IS THAT? WELL, UH, NEED A SECOND FIRST.
IF HE GETS A SECOND, THEN WE CAN DISCUSS THE MOTION.
UH, IS THERE A, IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.
COMMISSIONER EVANS SECONDS THE MOTION.
UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO, PLEASE.
UH, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR, UH, WHAT, PLEASE DISCUSS YOUR MOTION.
YEAH, I, I APPRECIATE THE WINDOW AND THE, THE FRONT AWNING.
I, I PULLED THIS 'CAUSE I FELT THAT OUR ROOF LINE AND OUR MATCHING, OUR MATCHING OF THE MATERIALS TO THE HISTORIC HOUSE NEEDED SOME MORE REFINEMENT.
UM, I FELT THAT THE ROOF LINE COULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN OVERHANG AND I DON'T WANT TO DESIGN FROM THE DICE, BUT I FEEL WE CAN'T, I DON'T THINK WE CAN, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SPACE FOR THAT.
I, I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF THAT DISCUSSION ON THE ROOF LINE WE HAD, SO THAT'S WHY I JUST PULLED IT TO SEE IF IT WAS, WE WOULD'VE DONE A LONGER ONE.
BUT IT'S A 10 FOOT AND THERE'S A FIRE, I GUESS THERE'S A FIRE BLOCK SITUATION THERE.
WELL, I MAY BE IN THE MINORITY ON THE A C YOU KNOW, WANTING TO BRING IT BACK, BUT THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT.
ROOF LINE AND MATCHING MATERIAL ADJUSTMENT.
AND SO THE MATERIAL WE, WE ADDRESSED AT THE LAST ONE THOUGH, YOU, THE DRAWING STILL SHOWED IT MATCHING HISTORIC, SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE, THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT AS WELL.
WE, WE TALKED ON THE LAST ONE.
WELL, THERE'S NO WAY TO MATCH IT.
IT'S NOT BRICK, IT'S A NATURAL STONE.
SO WITH THAT CLARIFICATION, THAT, UM, WOULD THE SECONDER WANT TO DISCUSS THE MOTION? NO, I THINK IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO IMPROVE OR TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS, I WOULD SUPPORT THE MOTION, CERTAINLY.
COMMISSIONERS? UH, I'M NOT SURE.
I MEAN, YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN TO THE A RC ONCE YEAH.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME OTHER CONSTRAINTS THAT, UH, WOULD, WOULD MAKE.
FIRST OFF THAT THEY, THEY'VE ALREADY, YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN RESPONSIVE.
YOU, UH, WHAT IS POSTED IN OUR BACKUP? YOU'RE TELLING US FOR THE RECORD THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE THOSE CHANGES.
SO THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION THAT I SEE IS THE QUESTION OF THE OVERHANG ON THE ROOF.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF POWER LINES, IS IT THAT YOU HAVE NO, NO, IT'S THE, I GUESS IT'S THE SIDE SETBACKS,
[02:15:01]
SIDE YARD SETBACKS BETWEEN THE HOUSE.MM-HMM,
UM, IT'S A REALLY SMALL LOT THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THERE.
ARE THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION COMMISSIONERS ON THIS MOTION TO POSTPONE? YEAH, OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD PREFER THAT NOT BE THE CASE? I, YEAH, I WOULD, WOULD RATHER NOT.
I MEAN, I CAN, WE CAN ADDRESS EVERYTHING.
I JUST, I DON'T WANNA JUST GET IT GOING.
THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT.
YEAH, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION.
UH, I, I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS.
IT DOES SAY MATCH ALL MATERIALS AND ROOF TYPE AND I'LL MAKE A COUNTER MOTION TO DEAL WITH THAT.
BUT I THINK IN THE OVERHANG, THE SLOPES MATCH, THE OVERHANG DOES NOT MATCH.
BUT GIVEN THE HEIGHT, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED FOR TO A TWO STORY ADDITION, TWO STORY A DU IN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK THE OVERHANG WOULD MAKE THAT ALL THE MORE PROMINENT.
SO, UM, I THINK THERE COULD BE A FEW MORE TWEAKS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO, UH, SUPPORT THE MOTION TO CONTINUE.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? ALRIGHT, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN THEN.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE NEXT MEETING INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION.
I'M GONNA MOVE TO FILE STAR RECOMME RE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE, UH, THE CER CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
IS THERE A SECOND? WE NEED SIX VOTES.
AND THERE'S A COMMISSIONER, UH, UH, LET'S SEE.
SO, UH, THAT IS MOVED AND SECONDED.
WOULD NOTE I WOULD MAKE THAT CONTINGENT UPON REMOVING THE NOTE TO MATCH ON MATERIALS AND ROOF TIGHT.
UM, BECAUSE THEY, THEY SHOULD BE DIFFERENTIATED, BUT IT'S CLEARLY TO THAT THAT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL HOUSE, UH, OR PART OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MATCH IT 'CAUSE IT'S STONE.
UM, BUT, UM, YEAH, I, I THINK THAT'S SAID EVERYTHING I CAN, THERE COULD BE A FEW MORE TWEAKS AND I APPRECIATE THE FERVOR, BUT, UH, IN THE INTEREST OF, UH, WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT, I JUST WANT TO MOVE IT ALONG.
UH, COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR SECOND? NOPE.
STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CLARIFICATION FOR US? UM, CAN I JUST GET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THE PREVIOUS MOTION TO POSTPONE? UH, WE NEED SIX PEOPLE FOR A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, SO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILED, IT HAD ONLY THREE VOTES, SO THEREFORE I COULD ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE A, A MAJORITY.
BEG YOUR PARDON? THE VOTE WAS THREE TO SIX.
WHAT? NO, IT WAS THREE TO FIVE, THREE TO, BUT IT, IT FAILED BECAUSE IT WAS A MOTION TO POSTPONE.
RIGHT, SO THEREFORE NO MOTION WAS ON THE FLOOR AT THAT POINT AND WE COULD ENTERTAIN THE NEW MOTION, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THE CURRENT MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LAROCHE IS TO FOLLOW STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, BUT WITH THE SPECIFIC REMOVAL OF THE NOTE ON THE DRAWINGS REFERRING TO THE MATCHED MATERIALS.
YEAH, I, I, I DON'T, UM, THIS IS, I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING WITH US AT A RC.
THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR.
IT'S JUST, UH, THIS IS A LOCAL DISTRICT AND I THINK IT'S SOME OF THE SCRUTINY THAT WE'VE HAD WITH LOCAL DISTRICTS.
I JUST WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, TIME TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL SO THIS, DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY,
BUT, BUT, UM, I THINK STAFF IS, UH, RIGHT IN CLARIFYING FOR THIS MOTION TO PASS, WE WILL NEED SIX VOTES.
NOW I'M GONNA CALL THE QUESTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, THOSE OPPOSED? I SEE COMMISSIONER EVANS AND COMMISSIONER RUBIO ARE THE TWO OPPOSED? UH, THE OTHER SIX ARE THOSE PRESENT? UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'D LIKE TO ADD REAL QUICK THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR.
WE ACTUALLY, WE DID THE REMODEL AND IT WAS BEFORE, I GUESS, I GUESS THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IS NEW IN THAT AREA AND IT WAS BEFORE THAT AND WE DID OUR BEST TO KEEP IT ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU SEE IT NOW, IT'S, IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.
ALRIGHT, LET ME CONTINUE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WE HAVE OUR NEXT DISCUSSION
[13. HR-2024-095142 – 2504 Bridle Path]
ITEM ITEM NUMBER 13, AND THAT IS AT 25 0 4 BRIDAL PATH.AND THIS IS IN THE CULBERTSON HOUSE.
SO, UH, STAFF THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, THE PROPOSAL IS TO CONSTRUCT A COVERED WOOD DECK AT THE REAR OF HOUSE DEMOLISH A SHED GARAGE AND REPLACE
[02:20:01]
WITH ACCESSORY STRUCTURE ON SIMILAR FOOTPRINT AND TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED SIDING.UM, PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS ARE TO CONSTRUCT THE, UH, WOOD DECK AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING.
UM, THE LOW SLOPE SLOPED ROOF OVER THE ONE STORY SPACE AT THE REAR, AND EXTEND THE SAME PITCH AND MATERIAL TO COVER THE WOOD DECK DONE DEMOLISHED A SHED GARAGE AT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY AND CONSIDER A STRUCTURE OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SCALE TO SERVE AS A HOME GYM AND, UH, POOL CABANA SPACE.
UM, ROOF DESIGN IS PROPOSED TO MATCH IN STYLE TO THE EXISTING AND REPLACE DAMAGED SIDING ONLY AT THE SIDES AND REAR OF THE MAIN HOUSE WITH MATERIAL THAT MATCHES IN TEXTURE AND DEMO.
UH, CULBERTSON HOUSE IS A TWO STORY SOUTHERN COLONIAL REVIVAL HOUSE WITH A SIDE GABLE ROOF THAT EXTENDS, UH, OVER A TWO STORY FULL WIDTH FRONT PORCH SUPPORTED BY FLUTED COLUMNS AND MODIFIED IION A CAPITALS.
THE SYMMETRICAL FRONT FACADE FEATURES FIVE BAYS WITH LARGE NINE OVER NINE WINDOWS FILLING F FIRST STORY ELEVATION WITH SIX OVER SIX UNITS ON THE FLOOR ABOVE ALL WITH OPERABLE SHUTTERS.
TWO SMALLER ONE STORY EXTENSIONS ARE PRESENT AT EACH SIDE OF THE HOUSE SERVING AS SURFACE AREAS.
THE HOUSE IS SET BACK TOWARDS THE REAR HALF OF THE PROPERTY CREATING A DRAMATIC APPEARANCE AND APPROACH WHEN VIEWED FROM THE STREET.
A DRIVEWAY IS PRESENT AT THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH LEADS TO A COVERED PARKING AREA AT THE REAR.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS.
THE, UM, THE PROJECT MEETS THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS WITH STAFF? UH, THE CONSTRUCTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IS IN THE KEBANA AND IN THE SIDING AND THE REPURPOSING IN THE BACK, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
UM, MR. RUBY, WAS THIS ONE YOU PULLED? YEAH, I GUESS I HAVE ANOTHER QUE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THIS ONE WE'RE GETTING NEW SHUTTERS, CORRECT? IS THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE SCOPE? UM, OR IS THAT ON, NOT ON THIS ONE.
THAT WAS NOT, UH, I BELIEVE NOT SPECIFIED.
UM, THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SAY ANYTHING ON BEHALF OF THE REQUEST.
THE APPLICANT HERE? YEAH, WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS ONLINE.
AND LET'S PROCEED WITH THE SPEAKER, UH, ONLINE.
IS THIS MS. WEBB? IS THAT, UH, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? YES, THIS IS.
OKAY, MS. WEBB, UH, WE ARE READY TO HEAR FROM YOU.
UM, YEAH, I'M JUST, UM, I'M NOT THE ARCHITECT, BUT I AM IN FAVOR OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITION AND WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
UH, ARE, I'M SORRY, ARE YOU THE OWNER? NO, I'M ACTUALLY, UM, I'M, I'M NOT THE OWNER.
YES, YOU'RE LISTED AS THE APPLICANT, SO, OKAY.
UM, UM, I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT OPPOSED.
CAN I ASK, UM, LIKE IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC? UM, YES.
YOU, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON? YEAH, THE ADDITION HAD SOME VERY INTRICATE RAILINGS AND, UM, MATCHING HISTORIC WINDOWS AS WELL AS MATCHING HISTORIC SIDING THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT FALSE HISTORICISM.
AND SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANNA DISCUSS IN THE A RC MEETING, WHICH IS ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
IT'S A FREE MEETING NEXT WEEK TO JUST GET SOME DESIGN FEEDBACK FROM THE DAIS SO THAT THIS CAN PROCEED ON THE CONSENT, FUTURE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY REACHING OUT TO THEM.
UM, BUT SO IF WE, IF WE POSTPONE IT TODAY, UH, OR IF THOSE QUESTIONS AREN'T ANSWERED TODAY, UM, WOULD THAT MEAN IT WOULD PUSH BACK THAT? OKAY, SO ACTUALLY ONE OF THE DESIGNERS IS ON, CAN I UNMUTE MYSELF AND HAVE HER SPEAK TO THAT? HER NAME IS NINA.
SO MS. WEBB, WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, UH, DISCUSSION AND WE WILL THEN CALL THE NEXT, UH, SPEAKER.
[02:25:01]
COOK ARCHITECTS.WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HOMEOWNERS AT 25 0 4 BRIDAL PASS.
UM, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE, UM, IN AGREEMENT TO GO TO, UM, THE REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM, IF THAT'S NECESSARY.
UM, IT IS NOT THEIR INTENTION OBVIOUSLY, OR, OR MAYBE IT'S NOT OBVIOUS, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, PRESENT FALSE HISTORICISM THEY WOULD LIKE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO BLEND IN WITH THEIR EXISTING HOME.
UM, THEY'D PREFER TO HAVE WINDOWS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ENERGY EFFICIENT AND THAT IS OUR INTENTION.
I AM SPEAKING, I'M SORRY, I'M GETTING TEXT MESSAGES.
UM, WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE WILLING TO GO TO THAT, UM, MEETING IF IT'S NECESSARY.
I THINK IT, IDEALLY WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET APPROVED TODAY, THEY WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH COMPLYING WITH THE IDEA THAT THAT RAILING NEEDS TO BE SIMPLIFIED OR IN SOME WAY DIFFERENTIATED FROM THE HISTORIC HOME SO THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT PART OF, UM, THE LEGACY OF THAT HOUSE.
I, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY CLOSE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST PROBABLY TOO WELL OF A DESIGN
ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS? WE HAVE MORE SIGNED UP.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKERS? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN OPPOSITION A HEARING? NONE.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND I'M SEEING ALL HANDS RAISED, SO IT IS UNANIMOUS.
COMMISSIONERS, I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I AM POSTPONED THIS CASE THE NEXT MONTH'S MEETING AND INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE NEXT A RC MEETING NEXT WEEK.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UH, NO.
I THINK WE, UH, PROVIDED THE ELE WITH SUFFICIENT REASONING.
I'M JUST GONNA MENTION THAT I'M NOT COMPLETELY CONCERNED.
I THINK THAT WITH REPLACEMENT WINDOWS, THEY'RE ALREADY NOT GOING TO BE HISTORIC, SO I THINK THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENTIATION.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION OF FALSE HISTORICISM, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH A PARTICULAR VOCABULARY, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO CONTINUE TO APPLY THAT VOCABULARY IN STRATEGIC WAYS.
IF THIS WAS IN THE FRONT, I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS ENTIRELY IN THE BACK, UH, I AM THINKING, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOT MUCH I WOULD CHANGE.
DO WE NEED A SECOND? WE HAD A SECOND FOR THE MOTION.
SO, UM, THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT COMES BACK THAT I, I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY.
I I THINK I COULD APPROVE THIS, THIS EVENING, BUT, UM, I OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD JUST BE ONE VOICE, BUT ON, ON MY SECOND, I'LL NOTE I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HISTORIC FABRIC ON THE BACK WITH THAT ADDITION.
WHAT MAY BE ORIGINAL AND WHAT'S NOT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE DENIED ADDING WINDOWS IN THE BACKS OF LANDMARKS BEFORE.
UM, AND THIS IS A PRETTY, THIS ADDITION COVERS QUITE A BIT OF THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS HOW MUCH OF THAT ORIGINAL ENVELOPE IS GONNA REMAIN AND WHAT'S HISTORIC AND WHAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LATER ADDITION.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE NOT HERE TO DESIGN FROM THE DIOCESE A REMINDER, BUT THE, BEYOND THE STANDING SEAM SHEET METAL ROOFING, YOU KNOW, IF, IF SOMEONE COULD LOOK AT THIS 25, 30 YEARS FROM NOW AND NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
RIGHT? SO THAT'S JUST A BASIS.
WE'RE ASKING FOR VERY SMALL CHANGES THAT SOMETIMES ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE PROJECT WOULD KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT SIZING SIZE, IT'S A DIFFERENT SIDING TYPE, IT'S A DIFFERENT SIDING PATTERN THAT DOES NOT MATCH A STORY.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE THINGS THERE THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, I THINK, IN GETTING SOME OF THESE, UH, CASES THROUGH A RC AND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY, MRS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE TO THE NEXT, UH, MEETING WITH THE REFERENCE, UH, REFERRAL TO THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
I I THINK THEY'RE WILLING TO GO.
LET'S HAVE A GO AT IT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO ADD IT TO YOUR AGENDA.
I I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS UNANIMOUS THAT IS, UH, POSTPONED TO THE OCTOBER MEETING AND THE REFERRAL TO THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, I WILL BE VERY CURIOUS TO SEE
[02:30:01]
THE CHANGES.ALRIGHT, THAT WAS, I GOT THAT RIGHT.
[15. HR-2024-100502 – 3300 Duval St. ]
ITEM NUMBER 15 AND THAT IS AT 3,300 DUVAL STREET, THE FINCH KRUGER HOUSE.AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A ROOF REPLACEMENT SLASH ADDITION.
UH, THE PROJECT SPECIFICATION IS TO, UH, REMOVE LIMITED SECTIONS OF NON HISTORIC FLAT ROOF LOCATED AT THE REAR HALF OF THE HOUSE.
CONSTRUCT NEW ROOF STRUCTURE SET AT, UH, TWO OVER 12.
PITCH AND CLA THE WALLS IN STUCCO OF THAT ROOF STRUCTURE, EXCUSE ME.
UH, TIE IN THE ROOF STRUCTURE TO THE HISTORIC WITH THE PARTIAL HEIGHT STUCCO WALLS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE EXISTING LOAD DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE EXISTING LOAD BEARING WALLS.
AND TO TOP THE ROOF WITH METAL, UH, TOP THE ROOF WITH A METAL ROOFING, UH, TO MATCH THE EXISTING.
THE FINCH KRUGER HOUSE BUILT AROUND 1914 WAS DESIGNED IN THE PRAIRIE CRAFTSMAN STYLE AND FEATURED TAN BRICK OF VARYING SHADES ON ALL SIDES.
IT SITS PROMINENTLY ON THE FORMER OF, UM, ON THE CORNER OF DUVAL STREET AND EAST 33RD STREET, THOUGH IS NOW MODERATELY OBSTRUCTED BY FOLIAGE.
THE TWO STORY RESIDENCE FEATURES GENEROUS FRONT VERANDA RECESS BENEATH A SECOND FLOOR ENCLOSED PORCH, WHICH IS ACCESSED BY A FRONT STAIR THAT IS BRACKETED BY CYLINDRICAL COLUMNS TAPERED TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM.
THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE CAN BE VIEWED AS A SERIES OF FOUR STEPPED BAYS WITH THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT PROJECTING FORWARD THE MOST AND FEATURING THE MAIN ENTRYWAY.
THREE OF THE BAYS FEATURE DECORATIVE DECORATIVE BRICKWORK BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS AND SERVICE, UH, SERVICE.
UM, ACCESSES ARE PRESENT, UH, AT BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE.
THE ROOF IS CLAD AND RED CLAY TILE SET AT A MODERATE PITCH.
THE OVERALL ROOF PATTERN IS COMPLEX, COMPLEX, BUT FEATURES GABLES ABOVE, UH, ENTRYWAYS AT THE SIDE AND FRONT.
CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY, THE INTERIOR STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION AND ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS AT HISTORIC LANDMARKS.
UM, THE PROJECT MEETS, UH, THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
UM, IS, UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'M THE ARCHITECT WORKING WITH THE OWNERS TO, UH, PROTECT AND PRESERVE THIS HOUSE.
THE CURRENT ROOF IS COVERED BY TARPS, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOS.
AND THE NEED TO, UH, REPAIR THIS HOUSE TO PROTECT THE HOUSE IS RELATIVELY URGENT.
THESE OWNERS ARE TRYING TO STAY IN THE HOUSE, KEEP THE HOUSE, UH, AVOID SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN EARLIER NIGHT.
THEY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TAKING ACTION.
UH, I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT OF, OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
AND WE, TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE REPLACING THE EXISTING FLAT SECTIONS OF THE EXISTING HOUSE.
ALL OF THE TILE ROOF THAT CAN REMAIN, WILL REMAIN.
WE ARE WORKING WITH SOME VERY GOOD ROOFERS HERE IN TOWN, UH, THAT LUIGI TILE IS ON.
THAT ROOF IS STILL AVAILABLE AND THE GOAL IS THAT NOT A SINGLE, UH, PIECE.
THE TILE ROOF WILL BE CHANGED AS VIEWED FROM EITHER THE TWO STREETS ON THIS CORNER LOT.
UM, WE, UM, UH, UH, NEED TO REPAIR THE ROOF, AS I SAID, FOR THE, UH, UH, PRESERVATION OF THE HOUSE.
AS KEVIN'S TALKED ABOUT IN OTHER PRESENTATIONS, SOMETIMES THE ROOF NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED ON AN EXISTING HISTORIC HOUSE.
AS BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES CHANGE, THE FLAT ROOF IS FAILING.
EVERY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FLAT ROOF AND THE PITCH ROOF, THE TAR IS BREAKING AND IS BRITTLE AND COMING APART, RIGHT? AS I SAID, THERE'S TARPS ON THE ROOF NOW.
UH, WHEN WE TAKE THIS, UH, FLAT ROOF OFF, WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO INSULATE FOR THE FIRST TIME BY HAVING DEEPNESS STRUCTURE.
RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THE FLAT ROOFS ARE PUT TOGETHER, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO E FOR A HUMAN TO GET IN THERE AND PUT ANY INSULATION.
SO THE CURRENT ATTIC IS IN UNINSULATED, IT'S R ZERO.
WE NEED TO ADD STRONGER STRUCTURE AND A, UH, BIGGER, UH, INSULATION, UH, PACKAGE.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE MORE ROOM FOR HVAC EQUIPMENT.
RIGHT NOW, A NUMBER OF THE ROOMS AND THE ENCLOSED PORCHES ON THE PERIMETER OF THE HOUSE ARE NOT ADEQUATELY SERVED BY AIR CONDITIONING AND ARE INCREDIBLY INEFFICIENT.
UM, BY HAVING ENOUGH ROOM FOR, UH, RETURN AIR DUCTS NOW, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAN THE DAY THE HOUSE WAS BUILT, UM, WILL ALLOW FOR, UH, MORE CLIMATE COMFORT AND LESS ENERGY USE.
THE CURRENT STAIR GOING UP TO THE, UH, ATTIC IS TOO LOW.
IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE WORKERS TO GET UP THERE AND IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE, UM, UM, REPAIR TO BE DONE EFFICIENTLY.
[02:35:01]
THE LOWEST BEAM IN THERE IS FIVE FOOT NINE, AND I STILL HAVE THE SCARS FROM GOING UP THERE TO A LOOK AT THE ATTIC.UM, THE LARGER OPENING TO THE SOUTH DORMER IS GONNA ALLOW US TO GET OUT TO THAT ROOF AND AGAIN, WILL NOT BE SEEN FROM THE STREET.
AND, UM, THE, UH, LARGER FLAT ROOF WILL ALSO ALLOW US IN THE FUTURE TO PUT ADDITIONAL SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF, MAKING THIS HOUSE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT WITHOUT CHANGING ITS LOOK FROM THE STREET.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTION OF THE ARCHITECT? I HAD A QUESTION.
IS THIS THE ORIGINAL ROOF LINE OR IS THIS A RESULT OF A SERIES OF ADDITIONS OVER TIME? UM, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, SEEMS AWFULLY ODD TO HAVE THIS MUCH FLAT ROOF FROM THAT ERA.
THE, UH, TWO RIGHT CENTER, THE TWO LOWER FLAT ROOFS ARE DEFINITELY ORIGINAL AND THEY, UM, HAVE KIND OF A, A, UM, TRUE, UH, TILE ROOF PARAPET AND A BEAUTIFUL ROOF CAP THAT CONCEALS IT.
SO THOSE TWO ARE DEFINITELY ORIGINAL.
THE ONE AT THE, UH, THE HIGHEST ONE WAS IN THE WORST CONDITION.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THEY GOT THERE IF THE
BUT, UM, THE, UH, ROOF'S FRAMING IS QUITE COMPLEX, BUT THE, THE FIRST TWO THAT ARE ORIGINAL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE KEEPING THOSE FLAT ROOF, IT'S, YOU'RE ADDING ON THE THIRD FLAT ROOF, IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REMOVE THE BOTTOM COURSE OF THE, THE BOTTOM TWO COURSE, THE LUIGI TILE OR PAIR ALL THAT FLASHING IN THERE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT ROOF OFF AND WE TAKE THAT ROOF OFF THAT ALLOW US TO INSULATE AND THEN PUT A NEW ROOF BACK ON TOP OF IT.
BUT IT, IT'S STILL A ROOF REPAIR.
YOU'RE NOT CHANGING THE FORM ON THE FIRST TWO.
YOU'RE ONLY CHANGING IT ON THAT THIRD KIND OF CENTRAL REAR MASS, THE CREST AND CROWN AND, UH, GABLES AND PEAKS OF ALL OF THE TILE ROOF FOUR MAIN AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE ARCHITECT? UH, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS REALLY CLOSE.
I PULLED THIS ONE 'CAUSE I FELT LIKE THERE WAS A LACK OF INFORMATION.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY DETAILS.
I MEAN, TOUCHING THESE CLAY TILE ROOFS, I FELT LIKE I WOULD'VE LIKED TO SEEN A COUPLE MORE DETAILS OR ANYTHING.
UM, AND SINCE THIS IS A LOCAL LANDMARK, I THOUGHT I AT LEAST HAD, SHOULD HAVE A SECOND LOOK AT IT.
BUT IF, IF WE'RE NOT POSTPONING, I'M WONDERING IF YOU OR THE OWNER WERE CONSIDERING INSTEAD OF A STANDING SEAM METAL, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER A PRESSED METAL, UM, SHINGLE FROM RIDGE OR SOMETHING.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WAY MORE APPROPRIATE TO PUT BACK THERE, UH, TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCE.
IT AT LEAST REFLECTS A, A STAMP PATTERN THAT, YOU KNOW, REFLECTS THIS LUIGI TILE, BUT IT'S NOT A STANDING SEAM AND, AND WOULDN'T MAYBE, UM, BE AS DRASTIC OF A DIFFERENCE.
SO JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE.
AND THAT UPPERMOST ROOF, I'M NOT SURE THAT'LL WORK BECAUSE OF THE TWO 12 PITCH.
AND AGAIN, THAT UPPERMOST ROOF CAN'T BE SEEN FROM THE GROUND, SO ONLY GO EARTH WOULD EVER SEE THAT IT'S NOT, UH, ORIGINAL ROOF.
YEAH, BUT I'M, I'M THINKING LONG TERM OF INTEGRITY OF THE LANDMARK STANDING SEAM.
BUT WE DO HAVE STANDING SEAM ON THE, ON THE SMALLER, UH, ADDITION IN THE REAR AS WELL, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS HISTORIC, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THERE NOW.
I, I THINK I, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY AT THAT HEIGHT, EVEN FROM THE BACK, I FEEL THAT A STAMP PATTERN IS MORE APPROPRIATE, THAT'S ALL.
SO AGAIN, IF, IF THIS DOES GO ON, YOU KNOW, AND DOESN'T GET POSTPONED, THAT'S, THAT'S MY BIGGEST THING THAT I THOUGHT.
SO AGAIN, NOT TO DESIGN FROM THE DICE.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ARE THERE FURTHER SPEAKERS? THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ARE THERE FURTHER SPEAKERS IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, SPEAKER FROM ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, IS THERE ANYBODY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
BEEN MOVED AND SECOND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'M GONNA MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION PER STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I, LA ROCHE, UH, COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE.
UH, COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE IS SECONDED.
YEAH, I DO APPRECIATE THIS BEING PULLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I KNOW PROVIDING HIGH LEVELS OF DETAIL ON THE ROOFING CAN GET TOUCHY SINCE YOU'RE DEALING WITH, WITH CRAFTSPEOPLE THAT HAVE THEIR WARRANTIES AND HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING IT.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE AN EVOLUTION.
BUT THE DESCRIPTION YOU GAVE OF MAINTAINING THE, THE TWO HISTORIC FLATS, THE LOCATION OF IT, UH, HIGH AND, AND TOWARD THE REAR, UH, TWO TO 12, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT STANDING SEAM ON TWO TO 12, BUT, UH, IT'S GONNA BE BETTER THAN WHAT YOU HAVE THERE NOW AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE VISIBLE.
SO, AND IT'S AT, AT THE ROOF LEVEL AND IT'S NOT IMPACTING ANY OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC, ALL THE VERTICAL WALLS ALL THE WAY AROUND.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY I'M, I'M GOOD WITH IT.
COMMISSIONER ROCHE? NO, I AGREE THAT THE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION PROVIDED SOME CLARITY AND I APPRECIATE HIS, UH,
[02:40:01]
COMING FORWARD AND PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION.YEAH, I'M, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION.
UH, IT IS A HISTORIC BUILDING OF A GREAT NOTE AND THIS IS AN OWNER, UH, THAT HAS DONE A LOT TO KEEP THIS HOUSE.
I'M SURPRISED LOOKING SINCE I WAS NEVER AWARE THE ROOF HAD THAT CONDITION IN IT.
I, I'M SURPRISED THEY'VE PUT OFF ADDRESSING IT THIS LONG OR, OR I GUESS THEY'VE JUST BEEN GOOD WITH THE BUCKETS
UH, AGAIN, WE COULD QUIBBLE ON A FEW THINGS HERE OR THERE, BUT IT'S NOT VISIBLE AND IT'S AT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
SO, UH, YOU'VE EXAMINED IT, CLEARLY THE ARCHITECT, UH, IN MORE DETAIL AND, UH, WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING US SHOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE WHILE MAINTAINING IS COMMISSIONER COOK HAS SAID THE INTEGRITY OF THE FLAT ROOF THAT ARE VISIBLE AND PROMINENT FROM THE STREET.
SO I'LL, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
ALRIGHT, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND COMMISSIONER LAROCHE WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN US.
SHE'S OFF THE DAIS, BUT OTHERWISE IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[16. PR-2024-033568 – 1409 Alta Vista Ave]
ITEM IS NUMBER 16.THIS IS 1409 ALTA VISTA AVENUE AND THIS IS A PROPERTY IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
AND WE HAVE A DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR JULY MEETING.
ITEM 16 AT 1409 ALTA VISTA AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CERCA 1926 HOUSE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
UM, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD THIS PRESENTATION FROM ME SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, UM, SO I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF.
UM, THOUGH THE PROPERTY IS CONTRIBUTING, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
UM, HOWEVER, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS STILL TOO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ADAPTIVE REUSE AND REHABILITATION, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, UM, BUT TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, THIS IS THE LAST HEARING AT WHICH THIS CASE MAY APPEAR AS IT HAS REACHED JUST A HUNDRED.
HOWEVER, THE HLC MUST REVIEW PLANS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT BEFORE THE DEMO PERMIT MAY BE PULLED.
ANY QUESTIONS TO STAFF? ALRIGHT, UH, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION? YES, PLEASE COMMENT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF PLEASE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I'M AN ARCHITECT WITH RAVEL ARCHITECTURE.
UH, WE'RE A LOCAL DESIGN BUILD FIRM, UH, DOING RESIDENTIAL WORK.
UH, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF RAUL AND DANIELLA LABON, UH, AS MIKE MCCONE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TODAY.
AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF RELEASING THE DEMO.
UH, RA WAS BROUGHT OUT TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY AT 1409 ALTA VISTA, INCLUDING THE EXISTING HOUSE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR BUILDING A NEW HOME AT THE SITE.
UH, TRAVIS HEIGHTS OBVIOUSLY IS A FANTASTIC CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MODERATE SCALE HOMES, ABUNDANT ESTABLISHED TREES, UH, SIGNIFICANT TOPOGRAPHY AND THIS LOT IN PARTICULAR.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SITE PLAN THAT'S UP THERE OF THE EXISTING SURVEY, PRETTY CHALLENGING.
UM, HAS A 16 FOOT ELEVATION CHANGE FROM ALLEY TO STREET, AND THAT EXISTING 1200 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE IS CIRCLED BY FIVE PROTECTED TREES.
UM, UH, WE CHANGE, WE EVALUATED THE PROPERTY WITH THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
THE FRONT HALF OF THE HOME IS ORIGINAL AND ITS ORIGINAL PIER AND BEAM USING CEDAR PIERS.
UH, THE BACK HOUSE, THE BACK HALF OF THE HOUSE IS A RELATIVELY RECENT ADDITION, WHICH IS SLAB ON GRADE, UH, THE BACK EDGE OF WHICH IS BURIED A FEW FEET BELOW GRADE, TRYING TO MAINTAIN THAT EXISTING FINISHED FLOOR ELEVATION, UH, OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
UM, I WOULD SAY ON AN ORDINARY LOT, THE FRONT HALF OF THIS HOUSE WOULD BE A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR RELOCATION.
HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NARROW WIDTH OF THE ALLEY ALONG THE BACK, THE TOPOGRAPHY ACROSS THE SITE TOWARDS THE FRONT AND THE DENSITY, THE PROTECTED TREES AT THE FRONT, THIS HOUSE IS NOT A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR RELOCATION.
UH, IT'S A 15 FOOT ALLEY AND IT'S LIKE A 25 FOOT WIDE HOUSE.
UM, THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SELECTIVE DEMOLITION.
UH, THE ORIGINAL SHIPLAP SHEATHING AND PINE FLOORING ARE ALL IN REASONABLE SHAPE AND COULD BE SALVAGED AND INTEGRATED INTO
[02:45:01]
A NEW HOME.ALL THE EXISTING WINDOWS AND SIDING HAVE BEEN, UH, REPLACED PROBABLY DURING THE ADDITION.
SO THEY'RE ALL CURRENTLY VINYL.
UM, CHANGE TO THE NEXT ONE PLEASE.
UH, I'D SAY THIS HOUSE IS ALSO NOT A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR A SIGNIFICANT ADDITION.
ALL THE EXISTING SYSTEMS NEED TO BE REPLACED, STARTING WITH THE FOUNDATION, OBVIOUSLY, UH, AND THE EXISTING PROTECTED TREE CANOPY'S KIND OF GROWN OVER THE EXISTING ROOF LIMITING, RAISING THE STRUCTURE, ADDING ANY SPACE BELOW, UH, PRESERVING THAT APPROXIMATELY 600 SQUARE FOOT OF THE ORIGINAL SHELL, THE KIND OF COMPLICATE OBTAINING BOTH CONSTRUCTION AND POTENTIALLY NEW OWNER FINANCING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHERE IT SITS ON THE SITE MAKES IT VERY CHALLENGING TO REINTEGRATE INTO A LARGER, UH, NEW HOUSE.
CAN I HAVE THE LAST PAGE QUICKLY WRAP UP YOUR COMMENT? YEP.
UM, ONE KEY CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED IN PREVIOUS HLC MEETINGS WAS WHETHER IT'S POSSIBLE TO PERMIT AND BUILD A NEW HOME ON THIS PROPERTY GIVEN THE ADJACENT PROTECTED TREES.
UH, I WANTED TO SHOW, WE DID DO A DIAGRAM SORT OF SHOWING HOW WE COULD WORK WITHIN THE TREES, UH, WITHOUT AFFECTING EXISTING CANOPY OR CRITICAL ROOT ZONES.
UM, AND THAT'S, THERE'S SORT OF A SECTION OF EXISTING, SECTION OF PROPOSED POTENTIAL CONCEPTUAL, UH, AND THEN THE SITE PLAN, HOW THAT WOULD SIT ON THE SITE BETWEEN THE TREES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER? THANK YOU.
IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? YES, YOU HAVE MR. CLIFTON LAD.
MY NAME IS CLIFTON LAD AND I REQUESTED YOU TO CONSIDER HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I'M CO-CHAIR OF THE SAN RIVER CITY CITIZENS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE AND A RESIDENT OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HISTORIC ZONING FOR 1409 ALTA VISTA.
THE STREET IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STREETS IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRESERVATION AUSTIN HISTORIC HOMES TOUR EARLIER THIS YEAR FEATURED THE MABEL DAVIS HOME AT 1308 ALT VISTA, JUST ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY.
1409 ALTA VISTA IS A BEAUTIFUL ONE.
STORY HOME, UH, CRAFTSMAN HOME BUILT IN APPROXIMATELY 1926.
AS YOU KNOW, THE STAFF REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SEVERAL CRITERIA THAT THIS HOME MEETS FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
NUMBER ONE, THE BUILDING IS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OLD.
TWO, IT APPEARS TO RETAIN HIGH INTEGRITY.
OBVIOUSLY IT NEEDS SOME WORK FROM THE PICTURES, BUT THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.
IT MUST ALSO MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
NUMBER ONE, IT DOES MEET THE BUILDING IS A GOOD, UH, AS POINTED OUT IN THE STAFF REPORT, THE BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF CRAFTSMAN ARCHITECTURE AND TRAVIS HEIGHT.
I REQUEST YOU TO CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE TO COMMUNITY VALUE FOR THIS HOME.
TO MANY OF US WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PROPERTY DOES POSSESS A UNIQUE LOCATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC, AND SIGNIFICANT FEATURES THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS HOME REPRESENTS MANY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S PARTLY FOR THESE REASONS THAT THE SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR BACKUP MATERIAL.
WE RARELY TAKE THIS STEP, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S AN INDICATION OF THE IMPORTANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT APPEARS EVIDENT THAT THE EXISTING HOME CAN BE REHABILITATED.
IN FACT, AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION NOTED AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, THE EXISTING HOME APPEARS TO OCCUPY THE MAXIMUM FEASIBLE BUILDING FOOTPRINT.
GIVEN THE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OAK TREES APPEARING BEAM FOUNDATION COULD EASILY BE REPAIRED IF NEEDED WITHOUT STRESSING THE TREES.
AND ALSO WE HAVE YET TO SEE ANY PLANS FOR WHAT THE OWNER WOULD SEEK TO DO IF THIS HOME WAS TO BE DEMOLISHED.
ALTHOUGH WE DID JUST SEE SOME FROM THE ARCHITECT.
IN CLOSING, WE HAVE SEEN OTHER INSTANCES OF SIMILAR HOMES BEING REHABILITATED, MUCH MORE AFFORDABLY THAN DEMOLISHING AN EXISTING HOME AND BUILDING AN ENTIRELY NEW ONE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE OWNER WOULD FURTHER CONSIDER THIS OPTION.
UM, I ALSO WOULD NOTE THAT BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SEPARATE BUT ASSOCIATED GARAGE ARE IDENTIFIED AS CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT LISTING.
AS SUCH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WOULD NEED SEPARATE APPLICATIONS FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
[02:50:01]
QUESTIONS MR. LAT.UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? BY COMMISSIONERS OR THE SPEAKER? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? I WOULD ASK A QUICK CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF.
UM, THIS ISSUE OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE, UM, GARAGE, IS THAT PART OF THE REQUEST? I'M LOOKING IT UP RIGHT NOW.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR OR AGAINST, UH, BY TRADITION WE'VE ALLOWED A, UH, APPLICANT WHO HAS AN OPPONENT SPEAKING TO COME BACK AND DO A REBUTTAL.
IF THE APPLICANT IS SO INTERESTED, THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
I, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED SEVERAL TIMES.
UH, THIS IS THE LAST TIME IT'LL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR AGENDA.
AND, UH, WE HAVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A, UH, ENCOURAGEMENT OF REUSE, UH, BUT OTHERWISE, UM, BE ABLE TO, UH, GO FORWARD WITH DEMOLITION.
SO I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I YOU UNANIM UNLESS IT IS CLOSED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW IF WE POSTPONE IT AGAIN, IT'LL TIME OUT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE AN ACTION WE COULD TAKE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
REACHED, UH,
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER RUBIO'S MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? FENCING? NONE.
UH, THE MOTION IS NOT SECONDED AND THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR ANOTHER MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE TO OUR NEXT MEETING OR WHEN IT TIMES OUT.
COMMISSIONER COOK, IS THERE A SECOND? AND COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, I SAW YOU THAT TIME.
SECOND, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION COMMISSIONER? YEAH, I, I THINK, UH, HISTORIC ZONING IS JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR TOO MUCH TO ASK STAFF TO, TO JUSTIFY UP AT THE HIGHER LEVELS.
UH, BUT STILL SEEING THAT SECTION THAT WE BRIEFLY SAW OF HOW THE PROPERTY CAN BE BUILT JUST REINFORCES THAT THAT FACADE CAN BE SAVED.
UM, ADDIT, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE UNDER EXCAVATED FOR THE SECOND STORY THAT WAS ADDED AND ADDED IN THE REAR.
AND I JUST WANNA GIVE ABSOLUTELY EVERY SECOND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OWNER TO CONTEMPLATE THAT.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE, YOU WANNA SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? I THINK ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID IN THE MATTER OVER SEVERAL MEETINGS.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, I WILL ENTERTAIN, UH, WELL I'LL CALL THE QUESTION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO OUR NEXT MEETING, UH, THOUGH THAT WOULD ALSO BE, UH, AFTER THIS APPLICANT WOULD'VE THE RIGHT BASED ON THE TIMEOUT TO PROCEED, UH, IN ANY CASE.
BUT, UH, THAT IS THE MOTION WE HAVE ON THE TABLE.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND I'M SEEING ALL HANDS RAISED, SO IT IS UNANIMOUS.
SO, UH, THAT HAS BEEN THE ACTION THAT WE'VE TAKEN AND, UH, AGAIN, WE REINFORCE THAT THE DIAGRAM DOES SHOW THAT IN THAT ONE LOCATION, UM, THAT IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACEMENT AND VERY WELL COULD BE VALUED IN SOME SORT OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPERTY, BUT STILL MAINTAINING THAT, THAT BUILDING IF POSSIBLE.
[17. HR-2024-097641 – 1703 Newning Ave.]
IS ITEM NUMBER 17.AND THIS IS 1703 NEWING AVENUE.
THIS IS ALSO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
AND WE HAVE, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THE PROPOSAL AT, UH, 17 0 3 NEWING AVENUE IS, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON A PREVIOUSLY SUBDIVIDED LOT.
THE LOTS AT, UH, LISTED, NOW LISTED AT 1701 AND 1703 NEWING AVENUE WERE SUBDIVIDED IN 2010 FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.
PREVIOUSLY, A SINGLE RESIDENCE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE MID 1940S ON THE COMBINED LOTS AND DEMOLISHED
[02:55:01]
IN 2006.UM, SINCE THAT TIME, THE LAND HAS REMAINED UNDEVELOPED WITH REMNANTS OF THE ORIGINAL SLAB FOUNDATION PRESENT.
THERE ARE RECORDS OF RENTERS LIVING AT THIS ADDRESS AS EARLY AS 1916, BUT NO RECORD COULD BE FOUND OF ANY, UH, ABOUT BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES ON THE SITE AT THAT TIME.
UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THE SECRETARY IN THE INTERIOR STANDS FOR REHABILITATION ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS IN, UH, NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER, UM, ATTENDED THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND, UH, COMMITTEE FEEDBACK WAS TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSE TO BE MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THE, UH, SURROUNDING DISTRICT, LIMIT THE ROOFTOP AMENITIES OR RELOCATE THEM TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, REDUCE THE VIS VIS VISUAL VERTICALITY OF MANY OF THE ELEMENTS AS POSSIBLE.
CONSIDER EXTERIOR CLADDING USING MATERIAL SIMILAR TO SURROUNDING CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS AS PROPOSED THE PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS, STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMENT ON PLANS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM STAFF? ALRIGHT, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF THE APPLICANT WOULD CHOOSE TO COME IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROJECT.
I'M WITH FERGIE TIME AND AS THE OWNER AND, UH, BUILDER.
I'M OBVIOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
UM, SAM, DO YOU HAVE THE, UH, PRESERVATION? SO A QUICK GO.
I, I'M A TRAVIS HEIGHTS RESIDENT, SO I MOVED THERE, UH, BEFORE BECAME A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR ALL THE AMENITIES EVERYBODY'S TALKED ABOUT, INCLUDING COLLECTED COMB.
SO, UH, THEY'VE GOT HISTORIC, BUT THEY'VE GOT CONTEMPORARY AND THAT'S WHAT I BUILT WHEN I MOVED THERE.
UH, IN 2018, UH, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT PAGE.
OUR COMPANY DOES ABOUT ONE TO TWO NEW BUILDS PER YEAR.
UH, WE'VE DONE THREE IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS THUS FAR.
UH, AND, UH, YEAH, WE, WE PURCHASED THIS LOT, UH, TOGETHER WITH DESIGN PLANS IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UM, IT WAS FROM A TELLURIDE ARCHITECT WHO HAD SUBDIVIDED, AS I MENTIONED, AND THEY ACTUALLY DESIGNED PLANS FOR BOTH HOMES.
ENDED UP DEVELOPING THE NEXT DOOR, THE ONE NEXT DOOR.
UH, THEY HAD, UH, SUBMITTED THESE PLANS, UH, SECOND SET OF PLANS FOR PERMIT, UH, ALTHOUGH ABANDONED THAT, UM, PERMIT ONCE THEY SOLD 1701.
UH, WE DID HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES GROUP THAT LED US TO BELIEVE THAT BUILDING ON A VACANT LOT DID NOT NEED TO GO THROUGH HISTORIC REVIEW.
SO WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GONNA USE THE DESIGN PLANS FROM THE PRIOR OWNER.
SO WE, UM, HE WENT TO DSD AND, UH, I'LL, I'LL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING.
BUT, UM, ANYWAY, SO WE SUBMITTED A NEW DESIGN PLAN, UH, IN MID-JULY, AND THAT'S WHEN WE GOT COMMENTS BACK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO GO THROUGH HISTORIC, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THAT.
UM, AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU WE DESIGNED A HISTORIC OR, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STANDARDS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW THE STANDARD WHEN WE DESIGNED IT.
UM, UH, BUT ANY RATE, SO, YOU KNOW, TALK THROUGH WHAT WE WERE THINKING OF DOING, UM, AND THEN REACHED OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THE NEXT PAGE JUST SHOWS THE LOT ITSELF.
UM, NOT NOTHING EXCITING ABOUT THIS ONE, UH, ALTHOUGH YOU, YOU, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TELL THERE, BUT IT SLOPES PRETTY STEEP, UH, TOWARDS THE BACK.
UM, THE NEXT PICTURE SHOWS THE NEIGHBORING HOMES.
UM, SO TO THE LEFT IS THE 1701 HOUSE THAT, THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT, UH, THE ARCHITECT DEVELOPED AND JUST COMPLETED, UH, RECENTLY.
AND HE DID SOMETHING WHERE IN THE FRONT OF THE YARD IS THE POOL AND THERE'S A, A DRAWBRIDGE OVER IT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE ON THAT BIG STRUCTURE ABOVE.
AND THEY PUT THE GARAGE, UH, IN THE FRONT.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE, UH, THE 1705 NEWING, UM, IS A MULTI-UNIT, SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
IT ACTUALLY WAS ON THE MARKET AS THE HIGHEST GROSSING SHORT-TERM RENTAL IN AUSTIN, UH, ON AIRBNB.
UH, AND THEY, THEY PULLED IT OFF THE MARKET.
THEY DIDN'T GET THE PRICE THEY WANTED.
AND HE ALSO, UH, HAS OUT, OUT FRONT YOU CAN SEE KIND OF AN AIRSTREAM.
UH, SO HE MAXIMIZES HIS RENTAL INCOME, UH, VERY WELL.
THE ONE NEXT TO IT, 1707 WAS BUILT IN 21.
IT'S A, YOU KNOW, MODERN THREE STORY, UH, 3,300 SQUARE FOOT HOME PLUS AN A DU IN THE BACK, UH, AND A AND A, UH, DETACHED GARAGE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THIS PARTICULAR AREA, UH, ON THE STREET, IT SITS VERY HIGH.
AND SO EVERYBODY WHO'S UH, BUILDING THERE, UH, YOU CAN SEE TO LEFT AND RIGHT IS TAKING, YOU KNOW, GOING UP TO THE ROOF, UH, TO GET VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, THE NEXT PAGE JUST TALKS ABOUT SOME OTHER NEARBY PROPERTIES.
SO ACROSS THE STREET, UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TWO STORY MULTI-UNIT PROPERTIES THAT WERE BUILT 30 TO 40 YEARS AGO.
AND ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE, THE LAND IS, UM, SLOPE SIT CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THE HOUSES ON, ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET WE'LL BE BUILDING ON.
UM, AND, AND, AND YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, IF YOU PUT HISTORICAL, IF WE TRIED TO PUT A HISTORICAL HOME IN THE MIDDLE
[03:00:01]
OF THIS, WE'D BE THE ODD MAN OUT ON THIS BEYOND I, I LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.IT'S GOT A LOT OF GREAT HISTORY INCLUDING ON EACH OF THE CORNER BLOCKS.
SO MONROE, AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, UH, ONE OF THE PROPERTIES ON MONROE THAT WAS UP FOR REVIEW A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THEN ON ELIZABETH, THE OTHER SIDE, THERE'S, THERE'S GOOD POCKETS, BUT YOU KNOW, THE PART OF THE BLOCK THAT WE'RE ON IS, IS REALLY NOT, UH, ANYTHING HISTORIC WHATSOEVER ABOUT IT.
UH, NEXT PAGE JUST SHOWS THE PRIOR ARCHITECT PLANS.
UH, SO THE LEFT, UH, THE HOUSE TO THE LEFT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PLANS THAT CAME WITH THE HOUSE, THE, THE ONE ON THE RIGHT ACTUALLY SHOWS THE TWO TOGETHER.
AND I, I, I'M SHARING THAT ONE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE HOW HE DESIGNED THE HOUSE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UH, WE, WE PURCHASED OR A LOT WE PURCHASED, HE PULLED THAT HOUSE VERY FORWARD AND PUT THE ROOF DECK VERY FORWARD, SO NOT TO LOOK INTO THE POOL OF THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
SO HE DESIGNED IT, YOU KNOW, UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, UM, YOU'VE SEEN KIND OF THE STREET PERSPECTIVE OF, UH, OUR PLAN, WHICH IS, WHICH IS THE NEXT ONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S BASICALLY A, UH, ITALIAN BRICK AND STUCCO HOME, UH, WITH, UH, SOME, UH, SHEET METAL OR BRAKE METAL, UH, SHEET PANEL ACCENTS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A, A PROPERTY WE BUILT, UH, RECENTLY AROUND THE CORNER.
UM, AND I WILL, UH, SHUT UP NOW.
ANY QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT? YES, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU MANAGED TO DEVELOP TWO OR THREE PROPERTIES PER YEAR IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS BUT NEVER CAME ACROSS A NATIONAL REGISTER, NEW CONSTRUCTION REVIEW.
I ACTUALLY CAME ACROSS YOU GUYS TWICE.
SO AT 1311 ALTA VISTA, WHICH IRONICALLY IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE, THE ONE HOUSE THEY JUST MENTIONED WAS ON THE, UH, BOARD.
WE BUILT A, UH, VERY CONTEMPORARY, UH, HOME.
UM, AND IT WAS RIGHT WHEN YOU GUYS WERE GETTING STARTED, IT HAD JUST BE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD PURCHASED A LOT AND THEN IT BECAME HISTORIC.
THAT'S WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOT THE HISTORIC.
UH, AND SO WE, WE, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS BUT DIDN'T HAVE TO PRESENT.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE SECOND ONE WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AT 700 EAST MONROE, UH, WHERE WE DID A DEMO OF A DUPLEX.
UH, AND I DID PRESENT, BUT IT WAS, UH, PROBABLY EITHER DURING COVID TIME, EVERYTHING WAS, UH, I WAS, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT LIVE, I WAS ON THE SCREEN BUT DID PRESENT THAT ONE AND GOT APPROVED.
AND, AND THE ONE THING I I, I WILL SAY, AND I KNOW I'M OUT OF TIME HERE, BUT I, I'M NOT HERE PRETENDING, UH, I PUT A DESIGN STANDARDS PAGE IN HERE.
I'M NOT PRETENDING TO SAY WE BUILT THIS WITH THE DESIGN STANDARDS OF MINE.
I MEAN, WE BUILT IT, UH, TRYING TO KIND OF MIMIC WHAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH AT 1311 ALTA VISTA.
UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I'M LOOKING, UH, ON THE GOOGLE DRAWINGS AND UH, UH, THE GOOGLE STREET VIEW AND THE OWNER THAT SUBDIVIDED AND THEN BUILT THEIR COMPONENT THAT DOES HAVE SOME VERY TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT? AM I SEEING THE, THE TIMING ON THIS WRONG? THIS WAS CAPTURED, UH, OH, I GUESS THIS IS AN OLD STREET, STREET VIEW.
SO THAT HOUSE IS NO LONGER HERE.
I, I I DON'T KNOW WHICH UH, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, BUT THE, THE HOUSE THAT'S THERE IS JUST THAT ONE THAT HAS THE DRAWBRIDGE.
THERE'S NOTHING, THERE'S NOTHING HISTORICAL THERE, SO, UM, I GOT IT.
SO YEAH, SO ONE, THE ONE THAT'S MORE CURRENT JUST HAS THE OKAY.
JUST HAS THE DEMOLITION THERE.
IT'S, IT IS JUST A VACANT LOT NOW.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THE APPLICANT? WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK OPPOSED? OKAY, HEARING THAT THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM, THEN I WILL MOVE, UH, I WILL, UM, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVED, SECOND, MOVED AND SECONDED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
SO COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ONE.
WE, AGAIN, WE ARE POSTED TO COMMENT.
YEAH, I'M, I'M JUST GONNA START MAKING COMMENTS AND NOT REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH, 'CAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHAT MOTION TO MAKE ON MAKING COMMENTS OTHER THAN MAKING COMMENTS AND MADE THE COMMENTS IN THE A RCI.
DO, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN VERY FORTHCOMING AND VERY NICE AND YOU KNOW, THIS OBVIOUSLY IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT DID MAKE THE CASE OF, I I ALWAYS DO LOOK AT THE ADJACENT NEIGHBOR, UM, THE CONTEXT, UH, AND SEE HOW BIG A BATTLE IS IT WORTH IN THIS PARTICULAR ERA.
ON TOP OF THE HILL IS, IS VERY MUCH RIGHT THAT TO PUT SOMETHING HISTORIC IN HERE AT THIS POINT WOULD BE, UM, IN, YOU KNOW, NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PROMOTE A SPREAD.
[03:05:01]
UH, SO I'M JUST GONNA MOVE TO MAKE THE COMMENTS AND I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO TWO OR THREE BUILDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE THIS EASY.IT'S JUST THAT TRAVIS HEIGHTS, YOU KNOW, WITH ITS STRONG HISTORY AND, AND GREAT FABRIC AND ALL THE WORK AND ALL THE PASSION FROM ALL THE NEIGHBORS THERE HAS GOTTEN TO BE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERYONE WANTS TO BUILD THEIR POSTMODERN DREAM AND JUST BIG VERTICAL WHITE BOXES OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST EVERYONE WHO MOVED THERE APPEARS TO WANT TO LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF ITS CHARACTER, BUT THEN WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING COMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANNA DO FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND IT'S JUST A REALLY WEIRD THING TO HAVE TO, TO DEAL WITH ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, I'VE SAID ENOUGH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE TO NEXT MONTH.
AND I'M, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE TIMING, BUT IT, IT MAY EVENTUALLY HIT ITS FATE AS THE PRIOR CASE, UH, TIMING OUT.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN POSTPONED PRIOR.
SO, UM, IT'S OUR FIRST POSTPONEMENT.
IF THIS POSTPONEMENT CONTINUES, UH, STAFF, DO WE HAVE WITH, WOULD WE REVIEWING NEW PLANS? DO WE HAVE THE SAME, UH, INDICATION THAT WE'LL HOLD UNTIL, UH, THE TIME RUNS OUT? 75 DAYS? 75 DAYS, FIVE DAYS, BUCKLE UP.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT WE WERE DELAYING THROUGH THE END OF OUR, UH, WINDOW OF, CALL IT, WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.
SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE INTENT.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE OCTOBER.
UH, I GUESS YOU COULD POSTPONE IT UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE DATE, BUT I GUESS LET'S JUST DO IT EACH, UH, THE OCTOBER MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND? UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN? THERE'S A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? NOPE.
UH, WE JUST, WE CAN'T APPROVE THIS.
COMMISSIONER GROGAN, I THINK ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID.
YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAVE FEW TOOLS.
UM, UH, I DON'T, UH, AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COOK.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ENDORSING THIS.
IF OUR COMMENTS ARE READ INTO THE RECORD.
OBVIOUSLY THIS OWNER IS CONSIDERED MANY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE.
UM, THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO TRY TO PROTECT THIS REGISTER DISTRICT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR ANYBODY COMING IN AND NOT ADHERING TO OUR STANDARDS, KNOWING THAT THEY'VE GOT AWAITED OUT AND WE CAN DELAY.
UM, I NORMALLY I WOULD SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO SEE A CHANGE.
I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S GONNA BE MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
SO I'M, I'M TORN ABOUT THIS MOTION, BUT, UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD.
WHO'S THOSE OPPOSED? WE HAVE TWO OPPOSED.
UH, COMMISSIONER MCW, COMMISSIONER COOK.
IT IS POSTPONED AND WE WILL HAVE THIS AGAIN ON OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
RIGHT? THIS IS GOING NOWHERE, UH, THERE.
UNLESS, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO, IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE.
YEAH, IF YOU'LL JUST BE, UNLESS YOU CAN CONVINCE PEOPLE TO COMMENT AND NOT POSTPONE AGAIN, AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, THAT'S OUR ACTION ON ITEM 17.
UH, OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER
[19. DA-2024-089522 – 810 W 11th St.]
19.THIS IS EIGHT 10 WEST 11TH STREET.
THIS IS IN THE WEST DOWNTOWN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE HAVING A REQUEST FOR TOTAL DEMOLITION.
THE PROPOSAL IS A, UH, DEMOLISH, UH, CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY AT EIGHT 10 WEST 11TH STREET, UH, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE WEST DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
HISTORIC DISTRICT ARCHITECTURE IS A WIDE DOUBLE PITCH SIDE GABLED ROOF DOMINATING THE FRONT FACADE OF THE HOUSE.
A DORM EVENT IS PRESENT AT, UH, THE CENTER LOCATED ABOVE AND BEHIND A SMALL GABLE OVERHANG ABOVE THE FRONT DOOR, WHICH FEATURES A MODEST PAIR OF BRACKETS ON EITHER SIDE OF IT.
THERE ARE WINDOWS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BRACKETS, AND WHILE SIMILAR IN SIZE AND MATERIAL, DO NOT MATCH AND PROVIDE A SMALL AMOUNT OF ASYMMETRY TO THE ELEVATION.
THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NEWER UNITS AND FEATURE NON-FUNCTIONAL SHUTTERS.
THERE'S A CONCRETE PORCH HELD TWO STEPS ABOVE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE DOOR WITH A SIMPLE METAL HANDRAIL ALL AROUND.
THE FOUNDATION IS P ON BEAM WITH
[03:10:01]
A VENTED CRAWL SPACE UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR.THE HOUSE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY CLAD AND BUFF BRICK IN GOOD CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE SIDE DORMERS, WHICH ARE CLAD AND WOOD LAPS.
SIDING WITH VENTS ALSO PRESENT THE HOUSE AT EIGHT 10 WEST.
UH, 11TH STREET WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY TO MID 1930S, AND THE LONG-TERM OWNERS FOR OVER 20 YEARS WERE JOSEPH AND IDA.
CASPER, THE FORMER, WAS A FURRIER AND OWNED A BUSINESS AT 1 0 9 1 0 9 EAST NINTH STREET, UH, IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
WHILE LIVING AT THE ADDRESS, THEY HOUSE THEIR CHILDREN WHILE THEY STUDIED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
THE SON ALBERT, WAS A DENTISTRY STUDENT WHO LEFT SCHOOL TO SERVE IN WORLD WAR II AND FINISHED HIS DEGREE UPON HIS RETURN.
THEIR DAUGHTER, BEATRICE, GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY AND BECAME A, A TEACHER AT BAKER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN HYDE PARK.
SHE MARRIED STUART BARNETT IN 1947, AND THEY LIVED TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE BEFORE MOVING OUT, UH, SOMETIME AFTER 1949.
IN 1987, THE RESIDENCE WAS CONVERTED TO OFFICE USE AND HAS CONTINUED TO THIS FUNCTION IN THIS FUNCTION TO THE PRESENT DAY.
UM, THE, UH, PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE WEST, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, UM, AND PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
STAFF IS EVALUATE THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINE THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, BUT RELEASE THE PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO STAFFS IN PRESENTATION? MR. LUKES? THANK YOU.
UH, IS THE APPLICANT HERE? I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND PLEASE COME AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
DREW ELL WITH TURNER GROUP ON BEHALF OF THE, UM, UM, OWNER OF, UH, EIGHT 10 WEST 11TH STREET.
UM, WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME.
WE, UM, WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND RESEARCH ON THIS PROPERTY, AND WE'VE CONCLUDED THAT WE, UM, AGREE WITH STAFF'S FINDINGS AS WELL, UM, AND THAT THE PROPERTY DOES NOT, UH, DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANCE IN AT LEAST TWO OF THE, UM, CATEGORIES.
I WILL, OF COURSE SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES HERE.
UM, IT'S OUR DETERMINATION THAT IT WAS BUILT AROUND 1938, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE, UM, OTHER PERSPECTIVES, AM I POINTING IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE? THERE WE GO.
UM, WE DID DETERMINE THAT IT IS CONSTRUCTED, UM, AROUND, UH, 1938.
IT HAS, UM, BEEN ADAPTIVELY REUSED AS AN OFFICE FOR ABOUT 37 YEARS.
UH, THIS IS A SIDE VIEW OF THE STRUCTURE.
AND THEN IF I GO TO THE NEXT ONE, OH, SORRY, THIS IS THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS IS THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, THIS IS A SMALL ADDITION THAT'S BEEN ADDED ONTO THE STRUCTURE.
SO, UM, I KNOW THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
HOW LONG HAS THE OWNER OWNED THIS BUILDING? UM, TO MY RECOLLECTION, THEY'VE OWNED IT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UM, I THINK WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF, UH, THE APPLICANT? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE SPEAKING OPPOSED? YES, WE HAVE MR. CHARLES FDO.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT, UH, REPRESENTING THE OLD AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHO SUPPORTED, EXCUSE ME, SIR, FOR THE RECORD, GO AHEAD AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
AND I'M HERE THIS EVENING REPRESENTING, UH, THE OLD AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND A DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDER OWNER.
I LIVE AT WESTGATE TOWER, JUST, UM, WEST, UH, JUST EAST OF THIS PROPERTY.
UM, WE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, SUPPORTED IN 2020, A HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WHICH, UH, RECEIVED A PRESERVATION AWARD FROM, UM, PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
AND THAT SURVEY CAME BACK, UM, RECOMMENDING A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SUPPORTED, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DISTRICT.
I HELPED LEAD THAT AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND, UH, THIS NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT NOMINATION, UM, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING USED AS A PLANNING TOOL FOR, UM,
[03:15:01]
APPROPRIATE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.WE SUPPORT COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE FELT DELAYED, UM, DURING A HOLIDAY, UH, PERIOD.
AND WE ARE ASKING A POSTPONEMENT.
UH, SO, UH, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, UH, TAKE AN OFFICIAL STAND AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND HOPEFULLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE OWNER, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AT, UH, VIABLE OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, UH, AS AN INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTY, AS A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER TO THE, UH, THE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
THERE, THERE COULD BE TAX CREDIT OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, ADD ADDITIONS ON THE BACK.
SO, UH, AGAIN, WE ASK, UH, THIS POSTPONEMENT SO WE, UH, CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE OTHER OPTIONS, UM, SAVING THIS PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING.
UH, IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER? THANK YOU.
AGAIN, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS, WE DO BY TRADITION ALLOW FOR REBUTTAL IF THE OWNER IS, UH, OR THE, THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE IS WISHING TO COME BACK.
UM, WE, WE ARE AWARE OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND I, I DO WANNA REITERATE THAT WE DEFINITELY DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE, WE LOOKED, DUG THROUGH THE DATABASES.
WE LOOKED FOR ALL OF THE HISTORIC PICTURES THAT WE COULD FIND OF THIS PROPERTY.
WE LOOKED UP ALL OF THE, THE TENANTS OF THIS PROPERTY THAT LIVED THERE FOR THEIR HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.
AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT STAFF HAS COME UP WITH THE SAME ITEMS THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH IN THE BACKUP.
UH, THE NUMBER OF, OF ARTICLES SHOWING SORT OF THE, THE COMMUNITY VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF, OF THE TENANTS THAT WERE THERE AND THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING.
UM, SO WE, WE DEFINITELY RE RESPECT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, BUT GOING BACK TO THE, THE CITY'S CODE, WHICH IS VERY CLEAR ON, ON THE CRITERIA FOR MEETING THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, UM, WE AGAIN AGREE WITH STAFF'S WORK, UM, OF, OF WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND, AND THAT IT DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE A SIGNIFICANCE TO AT LEAST TWO OF THE, THE CRITERIA AND CODE THAT IT HAS TO MEET.
AND SO, RE RE WITH RE SORRY, WITH RESPECT TO THE NEIGHBORS, UM, AND RESPECT TO, TO Y'ALL IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE RELEASE OF THIS PERMIT, UM, SO THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEMOLITION.
LET ME CLARIFY HOWEVER, I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY COMMISSIONERS WILL SAY, BUT AS FAR AS STAFF'S EVALUATION, JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE AS BEING A DESIGNATED LANDMARK, DOES NOT MEAN IT DOESN'T HAVE HISTORIC VALUE AS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
AND THERE IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO HAVING AND PRESERVING THOSE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES EVEN IN THAT STATUS.
AND THERE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF INCENTIVES THAT WOULD ALSO FACILITATE THAT.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A BLACK AND WHITE EITHER OR, UH, NO, IT MAY NOT RISE TO THAT, OR MY COMMISSIONERS MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME, BUT STAFF HAS INDICATED THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK SO.
AND YOU'RE SAYING SO TOO, BUT THERE STILL IS VERY HIGH VALUE TO MAINTAINING THOSE CONTRIBUTED STRUCTURES.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF IT BEING A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
SO, UH, WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
UH, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? YEAH, I HAD A QUESTION WITH, WITH THE RESEARCH.
I MEAN, YOU NOTE THAT YOU RESPECT THE DISTRICT.
I THINK PROBABLY IT'S MORE THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISTRICT.
SO IN YOUR RESEARCH, I'M ASSUMING YOU WERE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROCEDURAL STEPS THAT WOULD COME WITH DEMOLISH TRYING TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE IN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, THAT THERE COULD BE 180 DAY DEMOLITION DELAY AS PART OF THE PROCESS? YES.
AND SO WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO BRING THIS REQUEST, UM, AS PART OF A, A SITE PLAN EXEMPTION PERMIT.
AND SO, UM, WITH THAT REQUEST, WE ARE HERE, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE THIS FIRST STEP IN THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR HISTORIC REVIEW, UM, AND TO SEE THAT THAT RESEARCH COMES UP, THAT IT MEETS THE CODE CRITERIA FOR, FOR THAT DESIGNATION.
UH, THERE ARE ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS THEN? UH, I WILL TAKE, UH, MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HANDS.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL RETAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE TO NEXT MONTH'S, UH, MEETING.
AND THE, UH, OWNER IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME VISIT US AT OUR A RC MEETING NEXT WEEK, SIR.
[03:20:01]
OKAY.UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RUBIO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COOK.
COMMISSIONER RUBIO WOULD SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION.
UM, THERE WAS OTHER BACKUP, THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT OBJECTED TO THIS, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS ALSO WHY IT WAS PULLED.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT HERE AND, AND, AND BRING, ESPECIALLY THIS NEW NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, UH, TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, I, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING THERE.
WE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT'S THE PROPOSED PLAN? THERE'S NOT EVEN A, A HOUSING QUESTION HERE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S CRAZY THAT WE CAN, IF WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS AND WE TAKE ALL THESE HISTORIC HOUSES ON THIS BLOCK, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SKYROCKETING IN VALUE, AND THEN WE TURN THEM INTO LAW OFFICES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THEN WE COME AND SAY, OH, NOBODY SIGNIFICANT LIVED HERE, AND IT HAS NO SIGNIFICANCE, AND WE WANT TO TEAR IT DOWN.
UH, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR MORE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
HOPEFULLY MORE RESEARCH COMES OUT.
UM, THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S NO REASON I SAW NO REASON WHY THIS BUILDING NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE, UM, ESPECIALLY AS A BUSINESS THAT CAN USE TAX CREDITS OR ANYTHING ELSE IN A PROPERTY LIKE THIS.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO FINANCIAL ARGUMENT EXCEPT FOR WANTING MORE BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE OWNER.
YES, AND IT IS A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE SURVEY THAT WAS DONE RECENTLY, AWARD-WINNING IS NOTED.
UM, THIS IS A TOOL AVAILABLE TO US, AND, UM, IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED AT ANY TIME ANYONE WANTS TO DEMOLISH A CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE IN THE NATIONAL DISTRICT DISTRICT, I THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE ONE MONTH, IF NOT SIX, TO, UH, GIVE THE, THE NEIGHBORS AND THE ADVOCATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO PRESERVE AND, AND BUILD.
OKAY? AND FOR THE RECORD, THAT DOES NOT MEAN IN, IN PRESERVING THAT IT CAN'T BE ADDED TO, OR THERE CAN'T BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
BUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT, AS WE'RE VERY AWARE, UH, IN OTHER HISTORIC DISTRICTS, EVERY TIME YOU LOSE A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT SUFFERS.
SO, UH, I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE THAT.
UM, WE'VE HAD, UH, DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION, THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE TO THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND I SEE IT IS UNANIMOUS.
SO THAT IS POSTPONED TO OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
[20. PR-2024-042274 – 1205 Cotton St.]
IS, UH, NOW ON OUR DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS.AND WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 20 AT 1205 COTTON STREET.
THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST THAT WAS POSTPONED FROM OUR AUGUST MEETING.
ITEM 20 AT 1205 COTTON STREET.
IT'S A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1923 HOUSE.
THIS IS A ONE STORY CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW WITH HORIZONTAL SIDING, ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS, AND A PARTIAL WOOD PORCH SUPPORTED BY TAPERED POSTS ATOP STUCCO PIERS.
IT FEATURES EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS BENEATH THE GABLE ROOFS.
THE HOUSE AT 1205 COTTON STREET WAS LIKELY CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1920, THOUGH THE PROPERTY'S LONGEST TERM OCCUPANTS PURCHASED THE LOT SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE HENRY PETERS SOLD THE PROPERTY TO EDWARD AND EFFIE WHITE YEAR YEARWOOD IN DECEMBER OF 1912.
PROFESSOR ET YEARWOOD WAS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE WEST AUSTIN SCHOOL AND A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION OF THE METHOD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
AND FE YEARWOOD WAS A TEACHER OF HISTORY AT LC ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
PROFESSOR YEARWOOD DIED ON MARCH 1ST, 1917.
BETWEEN 1922 AND 1935, MRS. YEARWOOD EITHER REMODELED THE EXISTING HOUSE EXTENSIVELY OR CONSTRUCTED A NEW HOUSE AT THE SAME PLACE ON THE LOT.
MRS. YEARWOOD COMPLETED TEACHING COURSEWORK AT GUADALUPE COLLEGE IN TEXAS COLLEGE IN SEINE AND TYLER.
SHE ATTENDED TILLSON COLLEGE AND RECEIVED HER BA FROM SAMUEL HOUSTON SHORTLY THEREAFTER, BECAUSE BLACK TEACHERS COULD NOT EARN TEACHING CERTIFICATES IN TEXAS AT THE TIME.
SHE ALSO STUDIED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA.
EFFIE YEARWOOD TAUGHT AT LC ANDERSON FROM 1917 UNTIL 1954 IN A 1971 RETROSPECTIVE, ALONG WITH HOME ECONOMICS TEAM, MADDIE DURDEN, WHO EVENTUALLY BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY WELFARE ASSOCIATION AND TRUSTEE OF HOUSTON TILLSON YEAR WORD, RECOUNTS THE DISPARITY BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE SCHOOLS.
DURING THE ERA OF SEGREGATION, ANDERSON WAS LACKING A WHOLE LOT.
THE ONLY EQUIPMENT WE REMEMBER HAVING WAS AN OLD BUNSEN BURNER, SOME ROCKS AND A TUNING FORK.
YEARWOOD AND DURDEN ALSO RECALLED THE SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHITE TEACHERS PAY AND THEIR OWN.
AND HOW SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED AWAY THIS INJUSTICE, INJUSTICE BY STATING THAT BLACK TEACHERS HAD A LOWER COST OF LIVING THAN WHITE ONES.
I WOULD TELL THEM THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A NEGRO DOES NOT MEAN YOU GET DISCOUNTS AT STORES.
YEARWOOD TOLD THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN DURING THE 1950S AS SHE NEARED RETIREMENT, YEARWOOD PURCHASE THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR AND MOVED IT ONTO THE REAR OF THE LOT FOR, FOR USE AS A RENTAL UNIT, TAKING ON THREE RENTERS AT A TIME DURING THE FIFTIES TO SUPPORT HER INCOME.
[03:25:01]
IN 1952, SHE BECAME ONE OF THE CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH PREDATED THE STATEWIDE TEXAS RETIREES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION BY A YEAR, YEARWOOD SERVED FOR 51 YEARS AS SECRETARY AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LETTY MADISON CHAPTER OF THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR.AND AS SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNITY WELFARE ASSOCIATION, ALONGSIDE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT MADDIE DURDEN.
THE COMMUNITY WELFARE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN 1927 TO PROVIDE MEETING SPACE AND HEALTH RESOURCES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS AND OPEN THE HOUSE AND COMMUNITY CENTER IN 1929.
YEARWOOD WAS ALSO AN EARLY OFFICER OF THE A ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY.
SHE REMAINED AT 1205 COTTON STREET UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1977.
THOUGH THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS THE PROPERTY IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL, LOCAL, OR NATIONAL DESIGNATION, NO OCCUPANCY RESEARCH WAS COMPLETED FOR THE PROPERTY AT THAT TIME.
STAFF HAS SINCE EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MEETS TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THOUGH THE EAST AUSTIN SURVEY NOTES THAT THE BUILDING DOES NOT APPEAR TO, TO CONVEY ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, IT IS AN INTACT EXAMPLE OF A MODEST CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW.
IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH MRS EE YEARWOOD EDUCATOR AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION TREASURER OF THE A ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, AND 51 YEAR VETERAN SECRETARY AND CHARTER MEMBER OF THE LETTY MADISON CHAPTER OF THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR.
UH, THE PROPERTY MAY ALSO POSSESS A UNIQUE LOCATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC, OR SIGNIFICANT FEATURE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER OF THE CITY AS YEARWOOD CONTRIBUTION TO ANDERSON HIGH.
THE AKAS, THE COMMUNITY WELFARE ASSOCIATION AND THE A RTA HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.
THEREFORE, A STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY.
SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION, UH, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, THEN RELOCATION OVER DEMOLITION, UH, BEFORE RELEASING THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, THIS CASE HAS COME BEFORE YOU BEFORE AND TIME'S OUT AFTER OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
UM, DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS REQUEST? GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, OR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR CASE TODAY.
I'M AN ARCHITECT WORKING WITH THE CLIENTS AND REPRESENTING SARAH DINI AND ERICA DION, UM, THE OWNERS OF 1205 COTTON.
UH, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S DEDICATION TO PRESERVING THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I JUST DO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, WE HAVE DONE SOME FURTHER RESEARCH, UM, WITH, UH, SOME INSPECTORS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, AND I WOULD LOVE IT, SAM, IF YOU COULD PULL UP OUR PRESENTATION.
UM, YOU WILL SEE THESE REPORTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO YOU, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THEM.
UM, YOU WILL SEE IN SLIDE THREE.
THIS IS, UH, AND IF YOU'LL GO BACK ONE, SAM, THIS IS AN EXHIBIT FROM, UM, THE 2016 SURVEY FROM THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC, UM, RESOURCE SURVEY.
AND IT LISTS THIS PROPERTY AS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL OR NATIONAL DESIGNATION AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
IT FOUND THAT IT FOUND THAT THE HOME LACKS, UM, NOTEWORTHY ARCHITECTURAL ATTRIBUTES, WHICH, UM, WE WOULD AGREE WITH.
UM, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE IF YOU GO FORWARD.
THIS DEPICTS, UM, THE PLAN OF THE HOUSE AS IT STANDS TODAY.
AND, UH, THE, THE ENTIRE BACK PORTION IN THE GREEN AREA IS NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.
UM, THE, WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE, UH, ORIGINAL BACK PORCH IS NOW ENCLOSED, UM, WE FROM THE TCAD.
IT DOES SHOW THAT THIS HOME WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1932.
UM, NOT SURE IF THAT'S WE, WE HAVEN'T FOUND OTHERWISE.
SO, UM, OUR, OUR, UM, RESEARCH DIFFERS FROM THAT OF CALLAN'S.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE PORCH AREA, UM, IN THE PURPLE IS NOT SHOWN ON THE SANDBORN MAP, WHICH WE WILL COME TO LATER, UM, IN THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, SO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALSO FOUND, IF YOU'LL SCROLL, SCROLL TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, SO THIS, THIS SLIDE SHOWS, UM, SOME SNIPPETS OF THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER REPORT THAT WE HAVE,
[03:30:01]
UM, PROVIDED TO YOU.UM, THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER HAS FOUND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, UM, ROT, UM, WHERE, UH, WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FOUNDATION, UM, THE ENTIRE ROOF.
UM, THE WALLS ARE BOWING, THE SIDING, UM, AS ROTTEN AND SO ARE THE WINDOWS.
UM, AND WE FEEL, UM, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE SLIDES, SAM, THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE PICTURES OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WE ARE, UM, PROVIDING TO YOU.
UM, WE FEEL THAT, UH, ANY REHABILITATION OF THIS HOUSE WOULD REMOVE ESSENTIALLY ALL OF THE MATERIALS AND WOULD BE LEFT WITH NOTHING ORIGINAL.
AND THIS PICTURE ALSO SHOWS THE CONCRETE ON THE PORCH AND THE CONCRETE ON THE COLUMNS, WHICH IS NOT A TYPICAL, UM, BUILDING MATERIAL OF THIS TIME.
AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE ORIGINAL TO THE HOME.
UM, I DO BELIEVE, AND, AND IT'S CLEAR FROM THE PREVIOUS PLAN THAT THE HOUSE HAS MANY ADDITIONS, MANY ALTERATIONS OVER TIME, AND IS NOT A CLEAR REPRESENTATION OF ITS ORIGINAL FORM.
UM, IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE'S SOME FURTHER, UM, PHOTOS, UM, OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME SHOWING THE DETERIORATION.
UM, THAT HELPS BACK UP THE ENGINEER'S REPORT.
UM, IF YOU'LL GO ALSO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SAM, UM, SOME, SOME MORE PHOTOS.
THIS ONE SHOWS, UM, ROTTING OF THE WINDOWS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A NAIL IN PLACE JUST TO TRY TO HOLD UP ONE OF THE WINDOWS THAT IS CLEARLY FALLING.
UM, UH, YOU CAN SEE CRACKS IN THE WINDOW, PANES.
THERE'S A WINDOW THAT'S NOT ORIGINAL, UM, CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION.
THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING, UH, THE NEIGHBORS OF THE STREET ON, ON COTTON, AND A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE HOMES ARE NOT ORIGINAL.
UM, SO THIS, THIS DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IT'S TIME WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
CAN WE JUST GO QUICKLY TO SLIDE 11.
UM, THIS SHOWS IF YOU, THE SANBORN MAPS, UH, HERE ARE THE SANBORN MAPS.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, YEAR 1900, YEAR 1921.
THIS, THIS HOME WAS NOT AT 1205 COTTON.
IT APPEARS THAT, UM, IT IS THERE.
AND, UM, FROM THIS MAP, THIS PORCH DOES NOT LOOK THE SAME AS THE FRONT PORCH EXISTS TODAY.
UM, ANY COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE SPEAKER? OKAY, HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? PLEASE COME AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
UH, I AM ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.
I WAS BEFORE YOU IN MAY, AND I WENT TO ONE OF YOUR ARC MEETINGS.
I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, UM, REITERATE THAT WE HAVE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, ALL OPTIONS WHEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE SAW THE 2016 SURVEY DID NOT DESIGNATE THIS OR RECOMMEND THIS AS ELIGIBLE FOR, FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION GIVEN THE LACK OF ARCHITECTURAL, UM, CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WOULD PROVE THAT IT HAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
WE, OF COURSE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE MRS. YEARWOOD, UM, OCCUPANCY OF THE HOME AND OWNERSHIP OF THE HOME AND HER SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND FURTHERMORE, EVEN IF THIS WAS CONSIDERED TO MEET THE HISTORICAL STANDARDS, WE HAVE MET WITH COUNTLESS, UM, UH, BUILDERS.
WE, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEWED ARCHITECTS OUT AT THE PROPERTY.
WE'VE MET WITH STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND WE WENT FORWARD AFTER OUR ARC MEETING WITH ACTUALLY DOING A FULL BLOWN STRUCTURAL EVALUATION WITH A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
AND IF YOU READ THE REPORT, THEY BASICALLY SAY THE DAMAGE WOULD REQUIRE A BASIC, WE ARE TAKING IT, EVERYTHING AND STARTING OVER.
[03:35:01]
UH, WE ASK THAT YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER, UH, OUR DEMOLITION OF THIS HOME.WE ARE NOT OF THE LIKING OF THE MODERN HOMES, THE BLUE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET.
HOPEFULLY OUR NEIGHBOR'S NOT LISTENING.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT REALLY, UH, UPSETS US.
IN ANY EVENT, WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT.
WE, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH HAVE PROVIDED LETTERS AND SUPPORT.
UM, THE, THE WALLS NEED TO COME DOWN.
THE, THE ROOF NEEDS TO COME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THE ROOF IS COMING APART.
THE BAD ADDITION ON THE BACK IS NOW CAUSING STRUCTURAL POLE.
THERE IS A LOT WRONG WITH THIS HOUSE.
AND IT DOES, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINEER EVEN SAYS THAT USING THIS ORIGINAL STRUCTURE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THEY DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THERE AND, AND FIND A STRUCTURALLY SOUND STRUCTURE, A SOUND STRUCTURE.
UM, SO HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY, THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT, UH, THERE, ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION? NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
ALRIGHT, I WILL COMMISSIONERS TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS? UH, CAN WE GET AN UPDATE ON TIMELINE? UH, YES.
SO WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING BEFORE WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.
UH, YOU'LL NEED TO INITIATE AND RECOMMEND IN TWO SEPARATE MEETING.
SO WE HAVE ONLY ONE MORE MEETING THAT THIS WILL COME UP.
SO WE COULD INITIATE NEXT MONTH IF THAT WAS THE DESIRE? NO.
WELL, TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, UM, I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER EVANS.
UH, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION NOW? WE'RE RUNNING OUTTA TIME TONIGHT.
I THINK WE NEED A LOT MORE TIME WITH THE STRUCTURE REPORT.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION, TALK, HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UH, I HEAR, I HEAR YOUR, YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THIS WAS, UM, DIFFERENT IN THE SURVEY.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, BLACK AND BROWN HISTORY IS NOT REALLY DOCUMENTED, UM, ALL THE TIME.
AND WE'RE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE STAFF THAT IT'S DOING THAT RESEARCH.
UM, AND THEN THANKFULLY WE CAN DISAGREE WITH THAT SURVEY.
SO, UM, I THINK WE, WE NEED TO LOOK MORE AT THIS IN DETAIL AND HOPEFULLY GET MORE VOICES HERE.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? THIS IS A MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, UH, THAT WILL STILL INSTRUCT STAFF TO COME BACK WITH MORE RESEARCH AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO TAKE, UH, ACTION AT, UH, NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.
UM, I, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I DO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE, INTEGRITY, UH, LOOKING AT THE SANBORN MAPS, LOOKING AT THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING.
I'M NOT NORMALLY THE REPORTS AS WE SEE THEM.
I AGREE THAT MAY BE WHAT WE FIND IN THE COURSE OF THIS ACTION.
UH, SO IF AT THE VERY LEAST WE'RE PRESERVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HISTORIC ZONING, BUT I'M, I'M, THE MORE I'M LOOKING AT IT, THE MORE PROBLEMATIC IT DOES SEEM TO ME.
UH, WE MAY HAVE A VERY RARE CASE WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, GREAT ASSOCIATIONS, BUT JUST NOT ENOUGH WITHIN THE ARCHITECTURE TO WARRANT.
SO I, I WILL BE LOOKING FOR THAT.
IF THIS MOTION PASSES, IF WE'RE ABLE TO PUT PAST THIS, YOU KNOW, I, I HOPE IF MAYBE STAFF CAN HELP US LOOK FOR MORE PERMITS ON SOME OF THIS WORK THAT MAY BE DONE, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE.
UM, 'CAUSE I, I THINK I AGREE, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT MAY TELL PART OF THE STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR ASSOCIATION AND WHAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO WITH HER WEALTH AND HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THIS BUILDING OVER TIME.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? NOT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND FOUR HERE.
AND IS THAT CORRECT? AND THEN IS THERE OPPOSED? WE HAVE ONE OPPOSED.
SO WITH FOUR ON THE DIA TWO VIRTUALLY, THAT'S SIX.
IS THAT SUFFICIENT? OH, WAIT TO INITIATE, WE JUST NEED A MAJORITY.
[03:40:01]
REQUIRED FOR RECOMMENDATION OR, YEAH, AS IF THERE, IF THERE IS A, UH, CONTINUED OWNER OPPOSITION, THEN WE WILL IN FACT NEED TO SUPER MAJORITY TO ACTUALLY GO FORWARD WITH THE, UH, WITH THE ZONING.ALRIGHT, SO THAT IS NOW SET FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU, BUR, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
UH, THE FINAL TWO ITEMS, ITEM 24 AND 25.
WE BETTER FINISH IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES.
[24. PR-2024-021145 – 7304 Knox Ln. ]
24 73 0 4 KNOX LANE.THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT'S COME BEFORE Y'ALL, UH, AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
UH, 73 0 4 AND OH SIX KNOX LANE.
THIS PROPOSAL IS TO RELOCATE AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY HOUSE WITH FORTIES VERNACULAR.
ADDITION TO A LOT OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS THE BUILDING AT 73 0 4.
KNOX IS AN ECLECTIC HOUSE WITH EARLY RANCH AND VERNACULAR STYLISTIC INFLUENCES APPLIED TO AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY VERNACULAR FARMHOUSE.
IT IS ONE IN ONE HOUSE, STORIES AND HEIGHT WITH AN L-SHAPED PLAN AND INTERSECTING PARTIAL WITH PORCHES.
ITS COMPOUND ROOF LINE FEATURES DEEP EVES WITH CEDAR SHAKES AT THE GABLE ENDS.
FENESTRATION INCLUDES EIGHT OVER EIGHT WOOD WINDOWS OF VARYING DIMENSIONS.
THE HOUSE AT KNOX LANE AND RUNNING ROPE LANE, KNOWN AS 73 0 4 OR 73 0 6.
KNOX WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND AUGMENTED HEAVILY BY THE KNOX FAMILY IN THE 1940S.
THE LAND WAS PURCHASED IN THE 1930S BY MARY LOU AND WARREN PENN KNOX.
WP KNOX, THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER FOR THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, TURNED THE PROPERTY INTO A DAY CAMP FOR BOYS CALLED RUNNING ROPE RANCH.
KNOX WAS A VERMONT NATIVE WHO MOVED TO AUSTIN AFTER WORLD WAR I.
AFTER SERVING AS AN ARMY CA ARMY CAPTAIN IN WORLD WAR II, HE BECAME INVOLVED IN CENTRAL TEXAS OUTDOOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING WORK AS THE OFFICIAL OPERATOR OF THE ARROWHEAD RANCH CAMP CAMP IN KERRVILLE.
BEFORE OPENING RUNNING ROPE IN THE 1940S, THE RANCH OFFERED RIDING LESSONS, HIKING AND SURVIVAL TRAINING, SWIMMING IN THE SPRING FED POOL AS THE LAND BOASTED SEVEN NATURAL SPRINGS LATER IDENTIFIED BY MARGARET THOMAS KNOX AS HABITAT OF THE THREATENED JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU, SALAMANDER AND OTHER OUTDOORSMAN SHIP TRAINING.
FROM 1959 TO 1966, LEGENDARY AUSTIN HORSE, WOMAN DID YOUR POOL TAUGHT AT THE RANCH.
THE KNOX FAMILY OPERATED THE DAY CAMP FOR 10 YEARS.
KNOX WAS NOTED AS LARGER THAN LIFE IN POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATIONS, AND HE HAD ECLECTIC INTERESTS.
HE ENTERTAINED HIS PUPILS BY SHOWCASING ROPE TRICKS HE LEARNED AS A RODEO PERFORMER.
AFTER WORLD WAR I, HE WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF THE MARSHALL FORD GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERED AT THE COUNCIL OF THE TEXAS CONFEDERATE HOME FOR MEN AND TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
IN LATER YEARS, JAMES AND MARGARET THOMAS KNOX AND THEIR CHILDREN MOVED TO THE PROPERTY.
MARGARET KNOX, UH, WAS CAPTAIN WP KNOX'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WAS THE DAUGHTER OF FAMED ARCHITECT AUSTIN, FAMED AUSTIN ARCHITECT ROYAL THOMAS.
SHE MARRIED AVIATOR AND POW JAMES KNOX IN 1944.
AFTER HE RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY, THE COUPLE MOVED BACK TO HIS FAMILY HOME IN 1966.
THERE MARGARET KNOX WORKED AS A SEAMSTRESS, A BEEKEEPER, A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR, AND A WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR UNTIL HER DEATH IN 2022.
THE BUILDING APPEARS TO RETAIN HIGH INTEGRITY AND MODIFICATIONS WERE LIKELY CONSTRUCTED BY THE KNOX FAMILY.
DURING THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE, STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET ALL FIVE CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC ZONING.
THE BUILDING IS AN ECLECTIC HOUSE WITH EARLY RANCH AND VERNACULAR STYLISTIC INFLUENCES APPLIED TO A MUCH EARLIER FARMHOUSE.
THE PROPERTY IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE KNOX FAMILY AND RUNNING ROPE RANCH.
RESEARCH INDICATES A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SIGNIFICANT ARCHEOLOGICAL DATA, INCLUDING EVIDENCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN MOUND BUILDING ACTIVITY IN SPRINGS, PURPORTED TO BE USED BY NATIVE AMERICAN RESIDENTS OF THE LAND.
UM, AND, UH, ACCORDING TO THE, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, VICE CHAIR DENNY, THE SITE WAS LISTED AS A STATE ANTIQUITIES LANDMARK IN 1969.
AND THEREFORE, TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, UM, COORDINATION WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROPERTY MAY ALSO POSSESS UNIQUE LOCATION, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC, OR SIGNIFICANT FEATURE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER IMAGE OR CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE CITY.
AS IT HAS BEEN NOTED IN SEVERAL NORTHWEST AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS, THE PROPERTY MAY FUNCTION AS A SI AS A SIGNIFICANT NATURAL OR DESIGN LANDSCAPE WITH ARTISTIC AESTHETIC, CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL VALUE TO THE CITY.
WHILE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL RANCH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND SOME OUT BUILDINGS REMOVED NATURAL SPRINGS AND A SPRINGED SWIMMING POOL REMAIN, THEREFORE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST HISTORIC ZONING, UH, STAFF STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THE APPLICANT TO RELOCATE THE HOUSE ELSEWHERE ON THE PROPERTY RATHER THAN OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND RELEASING THE RELOCATION PERMIT ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE AND A PLAN FOR ARCHEOLOGICAL MONITORING AS A PROPERTY LISTED AS A STATE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE COORDINATION WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION SHOULD ALSO TAKE PLACE.
IS THERE A QUESTION OF STAFF? SO, UH, WE DID POSTPONE THIS.
[03:45:01]
THIS WOULD BE YOU HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 13TH, UM, TO INITIATE AND RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING, IF THAT IS YOUR, UM, DECISION.SO WE BASICALLY HAVE THIS MEETING TO INITIATE.
DO YOU HAVE SAL BACKUP THAT YOU CAN SET, GIVE US OR THAT THE THC HAS? UM, THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE, UH, WHICH I RECEIVED LATE TODAY, IS THE PHOTO THAT SAM HAD, UM, ON THE SCREEN A FEW MINUTES AGO.
I DO HAVE A SITE NUMBER, UH, FROM VICE CHAIR DENNY.
SO MAYBE, UM, INITIATING TODAY WOULD ALLOW US TO GET ADDITIONAL THC INFORMATION ON THE ARCHEOLOGICAL STUFF.
IS THERE, UM, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE APPLICANT HERE AND HEAR FROM THEM.
GOOD EVENING, TAMARIA DAVIS FROM THE JOINER GROUP.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THIS CASE QUITE A FEW TIMES AND IT'S BEEN ONGOING, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
UM, AS YOU AS WAS MENTIONED, THE SITE IS IN THE NORTHWEST AUSTIN, UH, AREA BETWEEN NORTH MOPAC HIGHWAY AND NORTH CAPITAL OF TEXAS HIGHWAY.
IT IS APPROXIMATELY 5.8 ACRES.
THE HOME, THE EXISTING HOME ON THE LOT.
UM, AS NOTED IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS APPRO IS ABOUT 1600 SQUARE FEET.
IT ALSO NOTES THAT IT WAS BUILT IN 1940, UM, AND ITS CURRENT USE IS AN UNOCCUPIED PRIVATE RESIDENCE.
AND HISTORICALLY IT'S BEEN USED AS THE RUNNING ROOT BRANCH CAMP FOR BOY SCOUTS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
HERE WE HAVE THE FRONT VIEW OF THE HOME STANDING ON THE PROPERTY, AND THEN THE SIDE VIEW, UH, OF THE HOME STANDING ON THE PROPERTY.
AS WE KNOW, BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, UM, MUST BE MET AS THE GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS.
THE RECORD DOES INDICATE THAT THE HOME WAS BUILT AROUND 1940, SO THEREFORE WE KNOW IT'S OVER, OVER 50 YEARS OLD.
BUT PER THE, UM, TRAVIS COUNTY RECORDS, THE HOME, THE, THE, UM, HOME HAS BEEN HEAVILY AUGMENTED SINCE 1940 AND THUS IT WOULD COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE UNDER CRITERIA TWO.
AND WE ALSO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE ANY RECORDS OF OR PERMITS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS OR ADDITIONS.
SO, AS DISCUSSED, IN ORDER TO BE DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC, TWO, AT LEAST TWO OF THE CRITERIA LISTED IN THE CODE MUST BE MET.
AND STAFF HAS INDICATED THAT THEY BELIEVE, UM, FIVE ARE MET IN THIS INSTANCE.
FROM OUR, OUR PERSPECTIVE, I'LL SHARE WHY WE BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING, THAT THE ARCHITECTURE NEEDS MORE CONTEXT.
UM, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, WE AGREE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME, UM, REGARDING ARCHEOLOGY, COMMUNITY VALUE AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES, NO SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION HAS BEEN FOUND.
SO PER THE, UM, PER THE HLC REPORT, THE BUILDING AT 73 0 4, CAN YOU GO BACK ONE YES.
UM, THE BUILDING AT 73 0 4 KNOX LANE IS AN ECLECTIC HOUSE WITH AN EARLY RANCH IN VERNACULAR, STYLISTIC INFLUENCES APPLIED TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY VERNACULAR FARMHOUSE.
THIS DESCRIPTION INDICATES THAT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MEETING THIS C CRITERIA.
ECLECTICS SUGGEST A VARIETY OF, OR A MIX OF STYLES ALSO INDICATING SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS OVER TIME.
THE USE OF THE WORD APPEARS TO BE ALSO INDICATES UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE BUILDING'S ORIGINS EARLY RANCH AND VERNACULAR.
FARMHOUSE STYLES WERE QUITE COMMON IN MANY AREAS, AND THE USE OF VERNACULAR ALSO INDICATES FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING ELEMENTS RATHER THAN ARCHITECTURAL STYLES.
SO THE DESCRIPTION DOESN'T HIGHLIGHT ANY NOTEWORTHY OR, UM, UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE HOME.
THE REPORT ALSO ASSOCIATES, THE, THE FAMILY, THE KNOX FAMILY AND RUNNING RANCH ROPE, AND AGAIN REFERS TO THE HOME AS 20TH CENTURY.
SO WE KNOW THAT THE LAND WAS PURCHASED IN THE THIRTIES AND THAT IT WAS, UM, AND THAT WARREN KNOX WAS A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER FOR THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
AND HE TURNED IT INTO A DAY CAMP CALLED RUNNY ROAD BRANCH.
AND THE FAMILY OPERATED THIS RANCH FOR 10 YEARS.
[03:50:01]
ALTHOUGH INTERESTING, DOESN'T NECESSARILY CONSTITUTE SIGNIFICANT PREHISTORIC OR EARLY HISTORIC ARCHEOLOGICAL DATA.UM, SO THE NOTATION OF EARLY 20TH CENTURY IS A LITTLE BIT BROAD AND DOESN'T TIE THE HOUSE TO A PARTICULAR PERIOD.
THE REPORT ALSO REFERS TO AN ARTICLE WHERE IT IS STATED THAT ARROWHEADS WERE FOUND FREQUENTLY ON SITE, BUT LATER IN THE ARTICLE IT WAS SHARED THAT THEY WERE PLACED THERE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE CAMP TO FIND THE 1976 HISTORICAL.
THE AERIAL PHOTO ALSO SHOWS, UM, SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT ON THE FORMER FARMSTEAD, WHICH LIKELY DISTURBED OR DESTROYED ANY POTENTIAL ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES AND EXTENSIVE MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROPERTY OVER TIME, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF BUILDINGS AND CREATION OF RIDING ARENAS MAY HAVE COMPROMISED THE ARCHEOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE, OF THE SITE AS WELL.
CAN YOU WRAP UP TO WRAP UP? UM, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ON THE SITE, SO THE SPRINGS, THE PONDS, THEY'RE ALREADY PROTECTED BY THE CITY.
UM, THEY HAVE A, A BUFFER ON THEM, UM, AND THAT, SO THEY, IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A LANDSCAPE FEATURE, UM, AND THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE NO DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THAT AREA WHATSOEVER.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTION OF THE SPEAKER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR.
HEARING NONE IS THERE, EVERYBODY LINED UP TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
AGAIN, THIS IS POSTED RIGHT NOW AS A REQUEST FOR A RELOCATION.
UH, BUT, UH, JUST QUICKLY, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE ANYWHERE ON THE SITE? YOU'RE NOT BEEN SPECIFIC ABOUT WHERE YOU WOULD RELOCATE? UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE REQUESTING OFFSITE, UM, BUT WE ARE LOOKING INTO ONSITE.
WE'VE RECENTLY, UM, TAKEN OVER THE CASE, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT.
IS IT, IF, IF EVEN A RELOCATION ONSITE, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S DONE, COULD STILL MAKE IT ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION? UH, ANYWAY.
UM, THERE, THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOVED AND SECONDED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED, IT'S UNANIMOUS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON THE CRITERIA OF ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, ARCHEOLOGY, COMMUNITY VALUE AND LANDSCAPE FEATURE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? WE'RE SHORT ON TIME.
UM, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THIS CAN BE RELOCATED ON SITE.
UM, THERE'S NO REASON WHY AND THERE'S SEVERAL LETTERS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE AGAINST THIS AND THEY WANT THIS TO STAY.
AND IF THE SAL IS INDEED TRUE, WHEN WE DIVE INTO THAT AND LOOK AT THOSE BOUNDARIES AND MORE INFORMATION, UM, THE THC IS PROBABLY GONNA BE MORE OF A, MORE OF A BARRIER THAN THAN US.
AND, UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A REALLY, REALLY, UH, INTACT SITE, UH, THAT GREAT PRESENTATION BY THE WAY.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB, UM, DISSECTING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE.
BUT THIS MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE ON ARCHEOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE FEATURE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY ARCHITECTURE ASSOCIATION.
YEAH, I, I WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SAL AS WELL.
UH, SEEING THE BUFFER AREA IS REALLY IMPACTFUL FOR ME.
UM, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS THERE.
UH, THAT COULD, DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE SAL, HOW THAT OVERLAYS COULD BE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE DECISION.
BUT, UH, I ALSO SEE, AND THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEPARATE OUT THE CRITERIA, UH, BUT I ALSO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SAVE THE PROPERTY IF YOU'RE ALREADY SAVING THE SPRINGS.
AND, AND HALF, HALF OF THE CONTEXT THAT TO SAVE THE HOUSE ITSELF, IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE DONE AND HAVE A WIN-WIN, STILL DEVELOP THE REST OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, JUST HAVEN'T SEEN THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY REAL EFFORT OR COMMUNICATION WITH THE NEIGHBORS DESPITE IT BEING SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN OR, OR FROM THE OWNER TO, TO BE WILLING TO CONSIDER EVEN CONSIDER THAT POSSIBILITY SO THAT IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING.
UM, I ONLY THING I'LL ADD IS THAT I THINK AS FAR AS THE ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS SO LITTLE THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US, WE REALLY ARE WORKING ON SPECULATION ON THE IDEAL PRESENTATION.
IT BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY AS A CAMP OR EVEN SOME OF THE EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WOULD INDICATE A COMPARISON, UH, THAT WOULD THEN ESTABLISH FOR SURE WHAT WAS, UH, EVEN IF IT WERE CHANGES, IF THEY WERE WITHIN THE PERIOD OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, THEN WE WOULD STILL CONSIDER TO HAVE HIGH INTEGRITY.
UH, IT IS A VERY ECLECTIC BUILDING,
[03:55:01]
BUT IN AND OF ITSELF THAT, IN THAT CAN, CAN ALSO BE OF ARCHITECTURAL MERIT.UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, AGAIN, THIS ALLOWS US OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE OVER THE NEXT MONTH BEFORE AN ACTUAL ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN IF THE OWNER CONTINUES TO OBJECT.
JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THE ACTUAL VOTE WILL HAVE TO BE A, UH, SUPER MAJORITY.
SO, UH, JUST BE AWARE, UM, HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION.
ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND I AM SEEING ALL HANDS RAISED, SO IT IS UNANIMOUS.
ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WE COME UP WITH, UH, IN THE NEXT MONTH.
AND CHAIR, IF I MAY MOVE TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO 10 15.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
OTHERWISE, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING THE MEETING TO 10 15, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND I SEE ALL HANDS.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO ONE OPPOSED.
BUT THERE'S STILL ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.
[25. PR-2024-096343 – 5303 Samuel Huston Ave.]
CASE THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 25 AT 53 0 3 SAMUEL HOUSTON HOUSTON AVENUE.AND THIS IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST.
OUR LAST CASE ITEM 25 AT 53 0 3 SAMUEL HOUSTON AVENUE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1963 CHURCH.
UH, THE MAIN SANCTUARY OF THIS CHURCH IS AN A-FRAME STRUCTURE WITH VERTICAL STAINED GLASS STACKED LIMESTONE CLADDING AND A CENTRAL ENTRANCE BENEATH THE SIMPLE GABLE PORTICO.
THE ATTACHED FELLOWSHIP HALL IS A ONE STORY EXTENSION WITH A COMPOUND HIP AND GABLE ROOF AND LIMESTONE CLADDING OVER CMU RAHO WITH PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH WAS FOUNDED IN 1962, A GROUP OF CHURCH ELDERS FROM TWO DIFFERENT WORSHIP GROUPS MET AT WHAT WAS LIKELY THE GC STARK STORE ON SAN BERNARD STREET TO DISCUSS THEIR VISION.
AND BY AND BY JULY OF 1962, THEY HAD BROKEN GROUND ON THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING AT 53 0 3 SAMUEL HOUSTON AVENUE AS THE AFTER THE FIRST PASTOR, REVEREND HOWARD LEFT THE CHURCH IN 1967, REVEREND RD REESE LED THE CONGREGATION UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 2005.
IN A 2019 WRITEUP ON MID-CENTURY MODERN CHURCHES ACROSS THE STATE PRESERVATION TEXAS DEFINED THESE STRUCTURES IMPORTANCE TO OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II, TEXAS ARCHITECTS DESIGN STRUCTURES THAT REFLECTED A MODERN AGE EMPLOYING INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND NEW MATERIALS RESULTING IN STRIKING PROGRESSIVE SACRED PLACES IN RECENT YEARS, THE DEMANDS OF 21ST CENTURY CONGREGATIONS OFTEN CANNOT BE CONTAINED IN THE BUILDINGS OF THE MID 20TH CENTURY.
AS A RESULT, MID-CENTURY, MODERN SACRED PLACES ARE THREATENED WITH DESTRUCTION AS CONGREGATIONS RELOCATE AND THEY'RE OFTEN VALUABLE.
PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR REDEVELOPMENT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE PLACE OF WORSHIP.
BUILT DURING THIS AGE OF EVOLVING MODERNISM THROUGH HOPETH PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH CHURCHES, MID-CENTURY, MODERN DESIGN LANGUAGE OF SWEEPING EAVES AND DRAMATICALLY TAPERING ROOF LINE REFLECTS ITS FOUNDING CONGREGATION'S INNOVATION AND THEIR DESIRE TO UNITE AND UPLIFT THEIR COMMUNITY.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MID-CENTURY MODERN ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE ON A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE.
AND WITH, FOR ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE REHOBOTH PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE CHURCH MEETS THE ARCHITECTURAL AND ASSOCIATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE REQUIRED FOR INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
SHOULD THE COMMISSION DECIDE AGAINST INITIATION, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS RELEASE OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO STAFF? RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, SPEAKERS SITE UP? I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE, PLEASE COME AND TELL US YOUR NAME AND STATE YOUR CASE.
I'M THE ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.
AND, UH, OUR INTENT WHEN PURCHASING THIS WAS WE PURCHASED IT, UH, FROM THE CHURCH OF COURSE, AND PASTOR AWAY.
IT ALLOWED THEM TO GET INTO A MUCH LARGER CHURCH, UM, WHICH WAS GREAT.
UM, WHAT WE PLANNED TO DO AT THE SITE IS BUILD HOMES ANYWHERE BETWEEN 13 AND 15, MAYBE CLOSE TO 1600 SQUARE FOOT FOR THE COMMUNITY, SOMETHING THAT'S WELL FIT IN THAT COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THAT'S IT FOR THE MOST PART.
UM, DIDN'T REALLY COME PREPARED OUTSIDE OF THIS.
WE GOT THIS NOTICE SEMI LATE THROUGH OUR DEMOLITION COMPANY.
SO, UM, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT INTENT IS OR ANYTHING ELSE AS WELL.
WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR STAYING LATE.
UH, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDING AND WITH THE CONGREGATION AND I COULD UNDERSTAND A NUMBER OF ITEMS WOULD LIMIT WHAT YOU COULD DO, BUT THE MAIN, A-FRAME, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FAIRLY SMALL, UH, COULD TURN INTO SOMETHING VERY CREATIVE AND STILL ALLOW FOR QUITE A BIT OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN MIND, BUT MAYBE
[04:00:01]
A SPECIALIZED OR VERY INNOVATIVE UNIT THAT WOULD BE REINTEGRATING SOME OF THOSE DRAMATIC COMPONENTS WHICH ARE REALLY THE MOST VALUABLE FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL VANTAGE POINT.AND THEN WOULD STILL ALLOW SOME SORT OF RECOGNITION OF THE PAST, UH, ECCLESIASTICAL CONNECTION.
MM-HMM,
WOULD IT BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN? YES.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF JUST THE ACTUAL AFRAME, NOT THE, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE THE ADDITION THAT'S ON THERE'S CORRECT, ALMOST THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF IT.
AND THE ARON IS VERY SMALL YEAH.
BUT HAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF INTEGRITY AND MM-HMM.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN OR IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD ENCOURAGE YOU? IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
I THINK THAT IF WE DID TAKE THAT ADDITION OFF, IT LEAVES THE BUILDING WITH JUST A CONGREGATION AND NO BATHROOMS. NO, NO, NO, NO.
I THINK YOU'D WANT TO JUST USE THE STRUCTURE TO, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE PURSUING RESIDENCES, UH, I THINK EITHER YOU COULD HAVE A COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT WOULD BE FOR THE RESIDENCES OR MAYBE DO A VERY UNIQUE RESIDENCE WITHIN THAT PRESERVED STRUCTURE.
I THINK THAT IF WE CHOSE TO OR, OR, OR WENT THE ROUTE OF PRESERVATION, WE WOULD WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL STANDPOINT TO PRESERVE THAT, UM, THAT ARCHITECTURE VERSUS HAVE THE ADDITIONAL ADD-ON THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIT THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PLACE AT ALL.
UH, IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, WE COULD, UH, WORK WITH YOU AND SEE IF THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD PURSUE.
BUT BECAUSE IT IS A DEMOLITION REQUEST FOR TOTAL DEMOLITION, UH, OUR, YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TONIGHT.
IS ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS? ANYBODY? UH, OPPOSED TO THE DEMOLITION REQUEST, WE HAVE SOMEONE ONLINE.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING UP WITH US.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND, UH, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, DIANA DEAN AND, UH, I AM, UH, OPPOSED OR I WOULD LIKE A DELAY OF DI UH, DEMOLITION FOR, UM, REBA BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND THE REASON I WOULD, UH, ASK FOR A DELAY IS BE SO THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, UH, MORE TIME TO ENGAGE THE DEVELOPER, THE OWNER AROUND REPURPOSED MATERIALS JUST IN CASE THEY DECIDE TO TEAR THE WHOLE BUILDING DOWN.
UH, RE HOBA LIKE ANY OTHER CHURCHES IN THAT COMMUNITY, LIKE FOUR OR FIVE THAT WERE BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME WAS A STAPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THERE'S A HUGE AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, PRESENCE AROUND ALL OF THOSE CHURCHES EVEN TODAY.
SO I WOULD ASK, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN JUST ENGAGE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND MAYBE IF THEY DECIDE TO DEMOLISH ALL OF THIS, THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, REACH OUT TO THOSE CHURCHES THAT ARE BUILT AT THE SAME TIMEFRAME TO ASK TO REPURPOSE MATERIALS IF THEY'RE SAFE.
UH, YOU KNOW, A STAINED GLASS, METAL, WOOD, PEWS, SINKS, TOILETS, WINDOWS, DOORS, FIXTURES, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST THINGS LIKE, LIKE THAT.
AND, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN HOLD ONTO AND REMEMBER.
'CAUSE REHO IS A STAPLE RIGHT UP THE STREET ON HEALTHLAND LANE IS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH THAT HAS HISTORIC, UH, LANDMARK AND THAT'S 157 YEARS OLD.
I DID TALK WITH, UH, DAVID, UH, IN CHARGE OF, UH, UH, UH, SALVAGE.
HE HAS NOT GOTTEN BACK WITH ME YET.
AND, UH, I DO SINCERELY ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, DAVID'S POSITION.
UH, HE MENTIONED THAT 85% OF THE REUSE WAS BENEFICIAL.
SO I WANTED TO FIND OUT CAN HE PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF THAT REUSE.
UH, HE SAID THAT ANYBODY THAT WOULD COME ON THE PROPERTY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SITE INSURANCE OR COVERAGE.
I THOUGHT ABOUT A, A LIABILITY WAIVER.
WE HAVE DONE SIMILAR, UH, THINGS IN MY COMMUNITY WHERE WE, UH, TALKED WITH A, A PROPERTY MANAGER AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO OVER THERE AND SALVAGE SOME OF THAT METAL AND THE MATERIAL.
SO JUST REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, PUTTING SIGNS ON THOROUGHFARE BY MLK TO THOSE OTHER CHURCHES AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE SOME MATERIAL.
DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN SAFELY COME AND REMOVE, REMOVE THOSE MATERIAL? AND ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK, UH, LASTLY WAS WHEN I WAS READING THIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, UM, LET'S SEE, IT DIDN'T SAY, UH, RAHHO BAPTIST CHURCH.
I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE STATED? AND ALSO THE, UH, APPLICANT'S INFORMATION, THE OWNER'S INFORMATION WASN'T THERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT, UH, SOMETHING THAT WAS LEFT OUT? AND THAT'S HOW IT, UH, USUALLY
[04:05:01]
COMES THAT OUT.SO THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA TEAR IT DOWN, LET THE COMMUNITY NEW AND OLD.
YOU HAVE ARTISTS, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, MAYBE CAN REPURPOSE THAT, UH, MATERIAL.
SO IF WE CAN, I'M JUST ASKING FOR POSTPONEMENT ON THE DEMOLITION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING UP WITH US AS WELL.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS? NO.
UH, WE DO HAVE A, UM, TRADITION WHERE YOU MAY COME AND REBUT IF THE, UH, FIRST SPEAKER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR TWO.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO TO REPURPOSE THE STAINED GLASS, THE PEWS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, UH, CONTACT INFO'S NOT PUT ON THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO ON RECORD, UM, THAT, UH, MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS MIKE AT SET, SETT STUDIO.COM.
WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU.
SO I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY MESSAGES, OTHERWISE I WOULD'VE REACHED OUT.
I'VE BEEN A, A BUILDER AND DEVELOPER IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 26 YEARS, SO HAPPY TO, TO TO SPEAK WITH ANYBODY ABOUT THIS.
UH, I MAY BE CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS VOTE.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
HEARING THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
WE'VE HAD A REQUEST TO POSTPONE, UH, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
UM, IS THAT A MOTION THAT SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC? OH, I THINK WE'VE GOT, GO AHEAD.
I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO POSTPONE, UH, THIS ITEM TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
COMMISSIONER EVANS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION.
YES, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION.
UM, AS MS. DEAN ALLUDED TO, VERY FEW THINGS SPEAK TO THE PRESENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN AN AREA AS POWERFULLY AS A CHURCH BUILDING DOES.
AND SO I WOULD CERTAINLY, UH, LIKE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION WITH THE OWNER, UH, MAYBE TO CONSIDER REPURPOSING THIS, UH, MID-CENTURY MODERN CHURCH.
IT'S VERY UNIQUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ALSO, UH, ANOTHER REASON I'M, I'M RELUCTANT TO, OR I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IS I'M STILL SOMEWHAT SMARTING FROM, UH, LEGISLATION THE PAST A COUPLE SESSIONS AGO THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO DESTROY HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT CHURCHES.
SO I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE CONVERSATION AND EXPLORE SOME CREATIVE IDEAS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION.
I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHO DESIGNED THIS, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS WORKING FOR, FOR THIS CONGREGATION BACK THEN, YOU KNOW, IF IT WASN'T DAVID CHASE, WHO WAS IT? I MEAN, JOHN CHASE.
YOU KNOW WHO I, THERE'S JUST, IT'S, THERE'S SO MUCH INTERESTING HISTORY THERE AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING CHAIR ABOUT JUST SAVING THE SANCTUARY ITSELF.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE NOT KEEPING FELLOWSHIP POWER OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT WE HAD ANOTHER PROPERTY.
I, I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS, BUT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO IT WAS A HISTORIC BLACK CHURCH AND THEY TURNED IT INTO A HOUSE, I BELIEVE.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KEEP A PORTION OF THAT, UH, USE THOSE FUNDS AND, AND STILL GET MORE UNITS, UM, ON THIS SITE.
SO, WELL, I'M GONNA ALSO SUPPORT THE MOTION AND LET ME JUST, UH, ALSO INVITE YOU TO REACH OUT THROUGH STAFF.
I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU WITH YOUR OWNERS AND YOUR GROUP.
UM, THIS IS NOW COMPLETELY OFFLINE, BUT AS AN ARCHITECT, UH, I HAVE WORKED WITH THE PRIOR CONGREGATION.
I KNOW MANY OF THEM PERSONALLY, AND I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THAT THEY MOVED ON FOR THE PURPOSES THAT THEY NEEDED TO.
BUT THAT LEGACY ALSO IS QUITE A TRADITION AND I'VE WORSHIPED IN THAT BUILDING.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE, UH, EXPERTISE WITH YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND MAYBE COMMISSIONER EVANS AND I'LL, UH, BE HAPPY TO VISIT WITH YOU IN SOME, UH, AMOUNT OF, UH, UH, UNOFFICIAL CAPACITY AS WELL.
SO, WITH THAT, UM, ANY OTHER CONVERSATION I WILL CALL THE QUESTION, THE, UH, MOTION IS TO POSTPONE, UH, UNTIL THE OCTOBER MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED THE MOTION PASSES.
AND WE, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO DIALOGUING WITH YOU ALL AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
UH, THAT SHOULD BE VERY EXCEPTIONAL HERE.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENSION.
[04:10:01]
UH, THE GRANTS COMMITTEE, WE DID HEAR FROM THE GRANT PRESENTATION AND I THINK WE'RE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO GET A SCHEDULE.AND WE ALSO, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE I KNOW PREVIOUSLY HAD A MEETING, UH, BUT IS STILL, UH, SET FOR A FUTURE MEETING.
AND COMMISSIONER FEATHERSTONE IS NO LONGER ON.
SO, UM, WE CAN FOREGO THAT REPORT.
[30. Architectural Review Committee]
THEN THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE, MR. COUPLE THINGS TO CELEBRATE.1611 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD WAS AN EXAMPLE OF A REALLY NICE ADDITION, ADDING ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES, UH, TO A NICE TRAVIS HEIGHTS PROPERTY INSTEAD OF SEEING 'EM TORN DOWN.
SO SOMETIMES WE SEE POSITIVE THINGS AND A LANDMARK AT, UH, 1110 EAST 11TH STREET, UM, WHICH IS ALONG THE CORRIDOR WITH VICTORY GRILL AND HILLSIDE PHARMACY, UH, WHICH IS ON THE EDGE OF SIX SQUARE DISTRICT.
BUT AFTER SEEING OTHER ISSUES THERE, IT'S KIND OF NICE TO SEE THINGS COMING BACK TO LIFE THERE TOO.
[31. Preservation Plan Committee]
THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE, UH, WE WILL BE MEETING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH OUR, UH, RECOMMENDED LANGUAGE FOR A ACTION THAT WE CAN TAKE IN OUR OCTOBER MEETING, UH, STAFF.IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO, UH, MAKE SURE IS FOR THE RECORD? THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOVE SECOND AND MOVE AND SECOND TO ADJOURN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE ARE OUTTA HERE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.