[00:00:03]
THIS MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION.
WE'RE AT CITY HALL, THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 1ST, 2026.
AND WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE I CERTAINLY CAN.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK ON.
WHY DON'T WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE ROLL AND YOU CAN CATCH HIM BACK UP.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE MAY BE LATE TO THE MEETING BECAUSE HE HAD PREVIOUSLY INDICATED HE WOULD BE HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER RICE IS UNDETERMINED AND COMMISSIONER TANA GUCCI IS ABSENT.
OKAY, THAT GIVES US SEVEN IN, AND AS SOON AS WE GET, UH, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ, 1, 2, 3, 6, THEN WE WILL HAVE A QUORUM.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL ]
SUGGEST THAT WE, UH, GO AHEAD AND AT LEAST CALL THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? YES.
WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP IN FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA CFOS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA CFOS, G HER I'M PROJECT COORDINATOR IN AUSTIN'S ARTS CULTURE, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING THE FISCAL YEAR 27 HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT APPLICATION ON JULY 7TH, NEXT TUESDAY, AND IT WILL BE CLOSING ON AUGUST 18TH.
THE, I'LL BE QUICK, I PROMISE.
THERE IS A STRONG FOCUS ON WELCOMING VISITORS, ESPECIALLY TOURISTS, LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES TO EXPLORE AND ENGAGE WITH AUSTIN'S HISTORIC PLACES.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PROJECT CATEGORIES.
THE FIRST IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WE GO AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROJECT CATEGORY.
THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE LOCATED AT 1 5 0 1 EAST 12TH STREET IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION EFFORTS.
THIS SITE HAS MULTIPLE HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS, INCLUDING A LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
ACTIVE FUNDED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FOUNDATION STABILIZATION THERE, 88 ACCESSIBLE WALKWAYS, HVAC IMPROVEMENTS, IMPROVED EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE, AS WELL AS REPAIRS OF THE WINDOWS, ROOF, PORCH, AND SIDING.
AS DEPICTED IN THE PHOTOS HERE, THESE REPAIRS ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY SPACE REMAINS ACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE, ALLOWING VISITORS AND TOURISTS TO CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH ITS HISTORY.
LATER THIS YEAR, THE AWARDEE WILL SHARE VISITING HOURS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THE SITE AND THE SITE ITSELF, AND IT'LL BE ON THEIR WEBSITE.
THE SECOND PROJECT CATEGORY IS HERITAGE EVENTS.
WE GO, AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROJECT CATEGORY IS A BLACK HISTORY BIKE RIDE, WHICH RECEIVED A FISCAL YEAR 26 GRANT TO DEVELOP AND HOST A SERIES OF HISTORY RIDES THROUGHOUT 2026.
THESE RIDES HELP TELL A MORE COMPLETE STORY OF AUSTIN BY VISITING AND HIGHLIGHTING SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC BLACK SITES ACROSS THE CITY.
THEIR MOST RECENT EVENT, THE JUNETEENTH SOCIAL RIDE, BEGAN AT THE HISTORIC HASKELL HOUSE AND BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, INCLUDING TOURISTS TO HONOR, FREEDOM, AND THE HISTORY OF BLACK AUSTIN.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY RIDES VISIT THE BLACK HISTORY BIKE RIDE WEBSITE OR INSTAGRAM.
SHOULD ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS GRANT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BOOK A ONE-ON-ONE WITH STAFF.
[00:05:01]
UM, WE ALSO HAVE VIRTUAL OPEN OFFICE HOURS EVERY TUESDAY DURING THE APPLICATION PERIOD FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON, AND WE ALSO HAVE WORKSHOPS.THESE ARE THE ONES SO FAR, WE HAVE MORE THAT ARE COMING UP.
ANY INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION TO NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.
SO JUST A REMINDER, THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT, IT OPENS NEXT TUESDAY AND IT CLOSES ON AUGUST 18TH.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER TO ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING, UH, AS A COURTESY, THE STAFF HAS PUT THIS MATERIAL ON OUR BACKUP SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR AGENDA AND THAT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, TERRY MCLEAN.
OKAY, MS. MCCLEAN, PLEASE WELCOME AND HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
I'M A NINTH GENERATION AUSTIN KNIGHT AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BARTON SPRINGS HERITAGE ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT BECAUSE SOMEONE CAME TO YOUR JUNE 3RD MEETING, UH, A SPEAKER.
HER NAME HER WAS, UM, SOPHIA DE LORETO REGARDING THE BARTON SPRINGS HERITAGE ASSOCIATION AND THE PROPERTY ON GOOD RIDGE AVENUE.
UM, BECAUSE OF THE TIME SPACE ALLOTTED, I CAN'T ADDRESS EVERY STATEMENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY A FEW OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONES.
SOPHIA STATED THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAD DISBANDED AND NO LONGER HAD THE CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY.
SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE BUILDING HAD FALLEN INTO RE DIS REPAIR AND THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARING FOR SAID PROPERTY.
THE BARTON SPRINGS HERITAGE ASSOCIATION NEVER DISBANDED.
WHILE MANY OF OUR MEMBERS, LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE GETTING OLDER, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO CARING FOR THE PROPERTY.
WE HAVE INSTALLED IRON FENCING MAINTAINED THE GROUNDS, RECENTLY REMOVED SEVERAL LARGE TREES AND SECURED THE CINDER BLOCK BUILDING TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT CINDER BLOCK BUILDING WAS NEVER THE INITIAL CHURCH OR SCHOOL.
IT IS A CINDER BLOCK BUILDING.
ONE OF OUR GREATEST AND ONGOING CHALLENGES HAS BEEN UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE PROPERTY SIGNAGE PLACED ON THE PROPERTY AND ON THE CINDER BLOCK BUILDING HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN REMOVED.
AND DESPITE OUR EFFORTS, THE PROPERTY CONTINUES TO BE USED AS A DOG PARK, WHICH IS STRICTLY DISRESPECTFUL.
THEY HAVE USED IT AS A DUMPING GROUND.
THEY HAVE PUT TENTS UP, THEY HAVE TRIED TO HAVE PARTIES OUT THERE ALL THE WHILE.
RESPECT IS GIVEN, TRUST IS EARNED.
AND IN ALL THESE MANY YEARS WE'VE NEVER RECEIVED THAT FROM THAT AREA OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALL THEY SEE US ALL, THEY SEE US AS IS THE MEANS TO AN END.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THE BARTON SPRINGS HERITAGE ASSOCIATION IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OR THE PROPERTY ON GOODRIDGE.
MY FAMILY MEMBERS WERE THE THREE MEN THAT INITIALLY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY, AND WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE BURIED THERE ARE RESPECTED.
AND I WILL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ IS BACK ON AND SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, RIGHT? THE NEXT SPEAKER? YES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH.
AND ALSO I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT QUORUM IS ONLY SIX PEOPLE.
SO WE HAD, ANYWAYS, AH, I MISCOUNTED.
GOOD EVENING, UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
JUST WITH A QUICK UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO SAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC, UH, BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE.
WE WANT TO KEEP IT ON YOUR AGENDA AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY ASK AT THIS TIME, I KNOW AUGUST IS MIGHT BE TOUGH, PEOPLE ARE OUT OF TOWN, BUT THAT YOU PUT THIS BACK ON YOUR AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER, IF THAT MAKES SENSE FOR YOUR SCHEDULE, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND ALSO TO, UH, SPECIFICALLY ASK, UH, OUR COUNCIL
[00:10:01]
TO SWITCH THE PENDING FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE DEMO DEMOLITION AND REPLACEMENT, UH, PATH TO REHABBING, WE HAVE SECURED THOSE, UH, APPLICATION GRANT FUNDS OR DOCUMENTS, EXCUSE ME, AND SPOKEN DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION LAWYERS AND, UM, THAT THAT GRANT CAN BE REDIRECTED TO THE REHAB OPTION.UM, AND IT WAS BY NO MEANS ACTUALLY APPROVED.
IT'S EVERY BIT OF IT IS SUBJECT TO THE UPCOMING FEDERAL REVIEW PROCESS UNDER OUR HISTORIC ARCHEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, REQUIREMENTS UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
YOU'LL PROBABLY ALL KNOW THAT PRESERVATION TEXAS LISTED THIS BRIDGE AS ONE OF ONLY SIX OF THE MOST ENDANGERED PLACES IN TEXAS FOR 2026.
UH, THAT ADDS A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, HEFT TO THE PUSH TO SAVE THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE.
UM, ALSO SINCE Y'ALL LAST MET, AND, UH, SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE, WE CELEBRATED THE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY
UH, WE MADE SOME COMMEMORATIVE, UH, T-SHIRTS.
SO THIS WAS, UH, FATHER'S DAY LAST SUNDAY, UM, THE 21ST, UH, TERRY O'CONNELL, THE HISTORIC, UH, EXPERT AND ARCHITECT THAT'S BEEN DOING ALL THE RESEARCH ON THIS AND ADVANCING AND WORKING WITH ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD, BARTON HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD, SAVE OUR SPRINGS AND BIKE TEXAS TO SAVE THE BRIDGE.
UM, SHE FOUND THAT IN FACT THE ORIGINAL RIBBON RIBBON CUTTING AND BIG PARTY AT THE SPRINGS WAS ON JUNE 21ST, 1926.
SO WE REPEATED THAT THE T-SHIRTS ARE FEATURE A PIECE OF ART, ORIGINAL ART BY A LOCAL AUSTIN ARTIST.
UH, WE HAVE SOME EXTRAS OF THOSE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
UM, BUT IN ANY EVENT, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PULL TOGETHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND, UH, ADVOCATING WITH OUR OFFICIALS, WE COULD VERY MUCH USE Y'ALL'S HELP AND SUPPORT IN, UH, SAVING THIS TREASURE.
THERE'S NOTHING HAS SURFACED WHATSOEVER TO SAY THAT THIS CAN'T BE SAVED FOR ACTUALLY LESS MONEY THAN THE DEMOLITION AND REPLACEMENT THAT'S ON THE TABLE.
WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
UH, YOU MAY HAVE SOME TAKERS ON THOSE T-SHIRTS.
UM, I, THIS IS AGAIN, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS NOT SPECIFIC TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THAT WAS A MORE GENERAL DISCUSSION, UH, AS A FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS ITEMS. I WILL NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT WE DO HAVE ON OUR AGENDA A WORKING GROUP THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING, UH, IF IT PASSES THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THIS IN MORE DETAIL.
[Consent Agenda]
CAN PROCEED WITH A REVIEW OF OUR AGENDA.UM, TONIGHT WE'LL START WITH, UH, READING OF THE JUNE 3RD, 2026 MINUTES.
UH, WE HAVE NO BRIEFING SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE TWO HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATION CASES.
UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO C 4 1 4 H 2 20 26 0 0 3 9 AT 400 WEST 37TH STREET.
THIS IS THE JAMES HARVEY IN PEARL CALDWELL HOUSE.
THIS IS ON FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER THREE C ONE FOUR H 2026 DASH 0 0 4 5 FOR 2300 ROSEWOOD AVENUE, THE DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM.
THIS IS ON FOR DISCUSSION FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATENESS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE ITEM FOUR, PR 2 2 6 0 0 8 180 8 4 1005 EAST EIGHTH STREET.
THIS IS A APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PR 20 26 0 3 2 5 0 4, HR 2 2 6 0 3 6 1 6 4 4 3 0 4 WEST 42ND STREET.
THIS, UH, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT.
UM, ITEM SIX, HR 20 26 0 5 7 1 8 4 AT 2 0 8 WEST 32ND STREET.
ITEM SEVEN, HR 20 26 0 5 4 8 6 4.
UM, AT 5 0 7 EAST 10TH STREET.
THIS IS THE GERMAN FREE SCHOOL.
OUR NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORIC DISTRICT APPLICATIONS FOR THE EVENING ARE ITEM EIGHT, PR 2 2 6 0 5 3 6 7 0 AT, UH, 1109 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
THIS IS A DISCUSSION CASE ITEM NINE, PR 20 26 0 5 9 9 8 2 AT 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
THIS IS CURRENTLY A CON CONSENT CASE, ITEM 10, PR 2 26 0 6 9 5 7 1, HR 20 26 0 7 3 4 0 6 AT 1212
[00:15:01]
BICKLER ROAD.OUR DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION APPLICATIONS TONIGHT ARE ITEM 11, PR 2 26 0 4, 0 4 0 3 FOR 1808 EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ.
THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY THE APPLICANT.
UM, ITEM 12, PR 20 26 0 6 2 2 3 7 AT 2103 ENFIELD ROAD.
ITEM 13, PR 20 26 0 6 2, UH, 6 3 9 FOR 1004 WEST 43RD STREET.
THIS ITEM IS ON FOR DISCUSSION FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. WE HAVE ITEM 14, UH, DISCUSSION TO APPROVE A MEMBER OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, UM, FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, ITEM 15 APPRO, UH, APPROVE THE 2025 TO 2026 ANNUAL INTER INTERNAL REVIEW AND REPORT.
AND FINALLY, ITEM 16, APPROVE THE CREATION OF A BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE WORKING GROUP.
THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL PROCEED WITH REVIEWING THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED, UH, OR OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
AND WE'LL NOTE THAT ANYBODY WHO IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON A CONSENT ITEM, YOU ARE WELCOME TO WAIVE THAT REQUEST.
THE PASSING OF YOUR ITEM ON CONSENT WOULD MEAN THAT IT IS APPROVED WITH WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OF STAFF.
SO YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SPEAK IF IT'S ALL READY TO GO FORWARD.
OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT TO ALSO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, UH, BUT WE WILL CALL YOUR NAME.
YOU CAN WAIVE THAT RIGHT TO SPEAK WHEN WE GO THROUGH THOSE ITEMS. SO THE VERY FIRST ITEM FOR CONSENT IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OUR MEETING ON JUNE 3RD, 2026.
THE NEXT, UH, ITEM FOR CONSENT IS ITEM NUMBER SIX.
THAT'S 2 0 8 WEST 32ND STREET.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT? YES.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX IN FAVOR.
OKAY, MR. LOGAN, DO YOU NEED TO COME SPEAK TO US OR WILL YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM THAT'S ON CONSENT IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, THE GERMAN FREE SCHOOL AT 5 0 7 EAST 10TH STREET.
UH, IS THERE SOMEONE HERE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT? WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THERE MAY BE SOMEONE ON THE LINE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT ITEM.
UM, UNLESS COMMISSIONERS, THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
UH, I WILL NOTE THAT IN ADDITION, THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF HERE IS THAT THE ROOFING MATERIAL THAT WAS SUBMITTED IS VERY GENERAL.
WE WOULD LIKE THE MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATERIAL AND SOME OF THE DETAILING PENDING THAT SUBMITTED AND, AND REVIEWED BY STAFF THAT WOULD THEN FINALIZE THE APPROVAL.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT IS AGAIN, WHAT IS OFFERED ON CONSENT.
UH, THE NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER NINE, AND THAT'S, UH, 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
UH, THAT IS, UH, ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR THAT ITEM? YES, WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THAT ITEM.
AND OUR FIRST IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS ERIC GOMEZ.
MR. GOMEZ, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I REPRESENT, UH, THE VLATKA WHO ARE THE PROPERTY OWNERS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY AT 2011 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
AND WE ARE, I, I UNDERSTAND THIS ITEM'S ON FOR CONSENT.
WE ARE PETITIONING THIS COMMISSION FOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO, TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPLETE HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE PROPERTY AT 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
UM, BEFORE, BEFORE THIS HAS PASSED UP THE CHAIN, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF DEMOLITION OF THIS HOME.
UM, AS THE COMMISSION IS AWARE, THE STRUCTURE AT 2009, TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, WAS BUILT IN 1939, HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE WITHIN A, A NATIONAL HISTORIC, UH, NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, BY DEFINITION AND UNDER THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 25 DASH TWO DASH THREE 50 A, THE HOME WAS BUILT DURING A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE AND IS RETAINING ENOUGH OF ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE THAT IT'S PRESENTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL VISUAL AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THIS DISTRICT.
OKAY, MA'AM, MAY I, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
UH, WE HAVE IT LISTED AS CONSENT AND YOU ARE ALLOWED YOUR SPEAKING TIME.
[00:20:01]
THE FENCE ABOUT THIS, UH, BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMENTS ALREADY AND THOSE WHO ARE OBVIOUSLY SIGNED UP, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PULL THIS OKAY.AND WE'LL HEAR YOUR FULL TESTIMONY WHEN WE GET THE FULL PRESENTATION.
SO MY APOLOGIES FOR BRINGING YOU DOWN HERE AND GETTING YOU STARTED, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT MORE HERE AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALERTING US.
SO I WILL PULL THAT, THANK YOU.
AND WE WILL NOT HAVE IT ON CONSENT.
I WILL, I WILL FINISH OFF, JUST TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
UM, THE, WE, WELL, YOU'LL GET YOUR FULL, YOU'LL GET YOUR FULL DISCUSSION.
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST KEEP GOING THEN.
YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE.
SO THE NEXT ITEM FOR CONSENT IS ITEM NUMBER 10, AND THAT'S AT 1212 BICKLER ROAD.
AND, UH, THERE, ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? YES.
WE HAVE FOUR IN FAVOR SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
OUR FIRST IN FAVOR SPEAKER IS LINDSAY LER, WHO IS A VIRTUAL SPEAKER.
LER, DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK OR ARE YOU GOING TO WAIVE? UH, I'M GONNA WAIVE.
OUR NEXT IN FAVOR SPEAKER IS DUREN DOMINGUEZ, WHO IS ALSO VIRTUAL SPEAKER.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND WAVE AS WELL.
OUR NEXT IN FAVOR SPEAKER IS ANDREW HART, ALSO A VIRTUAL SPEAKER.
I, MR. HART, ARE YOU HEARING US? DO YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? IT APPEARS THAT HE IS ACTUALLY NOT ONLINE.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
OUR NEXT IN FAVOR SPEAKER IS CLIFTON LAD, WHO IS IN PERSON.
MR. LAD, WOULD YOU WANT TO COME SPEAK? I CAN WAIT, BUT RIGHT, YOU'D WAIT.
UH, THEN THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.
UH, THAT ITEM WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON CONSENT.
UH, THE FINAL, UH, UH, THE FINAL CASE THAT'S ON CONSENT IS ITEM NUMBER 12 AT 2103 ENFIELD ROAD.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THAT? YES.
OUR ONE IN FAVOR, SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IS VISHAL'S.
CHEF, DO YOU WAIVE? YOUR RIGHT IS WA THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER ITEM IS, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE, UH, THROUGH SOME EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF, UH, OUR VICE CHAIR, THE ANNUAL INTERNAL REVIEW AND REPORT WITH, UH, THANKS FOR GETTING THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED, UH, FROM OUR STAFF.
AND IT'S IN YOUR PACKAGE AND, UH, IT IS OFFERED ON CONSENT.
SO WITH THOSE ITEMS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND HERE ON THE DAIS AND THERE VIRTUALLY, I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
SO IT IS UNANIMOUS AND IT PASSES.
THE NEXT ITEMS ARE POSTPONEMENTS.
THESE ARE REQUESTED BY THE, UH, APPLICANTS.
UH, AND THAT WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT TO OUR JULY, UH, NO, OUR AUGUST MEETING.
UH, AND THE OTHER ONE IS ITEM NUMBER 11.
UH, AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE, UH, A POSTPONEMENT TO OUR AUGUST MEETING, UH, IN, UNLESS THERE'S ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK OR DISCUSS, UH, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE POSTPONEMENTS.
SECOND, I INVITE COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS. AND SO WE WILL GO TO OUR
[2. C14H-2026-0039 – 400 W. 37th St. ]
FIRST DISCUSSION CASE.UH, HISTORIC ZONING FOR 400 WEST 37TH STREET.
THIS IS A, UH, UH, APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING AT THE JAMES HARVEY IN PEARL CALDWELL HOUSE LOCATED AT 400 WEST 37TH STREET.
UM, THE ZONING CHANGE REQUESTED IS FROM SF DASH THREE DASH NCD DASH NP TO SF DASH THREE DASH H DASH NCD DASH NP.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT IS A CHANGE FROM FAMILY RESIDENCE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION, COMBINING DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO FAMILY RESIDENTS, HISTORIC LANDMARK NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION, COMBINING DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMBINING DISTRICT.
THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION ARE OUR, UH, ARE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
[00:25:01]
STREET CONSTRUCTED IN IN 1912, IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY NEOCLASSICAL BUNGALOW.IT IS ONE STORY IN HEIGHT WITH A HIP ROOF.
ITS SYMMETRICAL FACADE IS COMPOSED OF A CENTRAL ENTRANCE BAY FLANKED BY MATCHING ONE OVER ONE DOUBLE HUNG WIND WINDOWS.
IT IS A HIP DORMER, UH, CENTERED ON THE OVERARCHING ROOF AND AN INSET FULL FACADE FRONT PORCH SUPPORTED BY FOUR DORK ORDER COLUMNS.
ACCORDING TO APPLICANT AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN TERRY MYERS.
ITS EXCEPTIONAL INTEGRITY OF DESIGN, MATERIALS SETTING, ASSOCIATION, AND WORKMANSHIP.
GRANTED A STRONG ABILITY TO CONVEY AN AUTHENTIC SENSE OF ITS OWN HISTORY, AS WELL AS THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY CONTEXT OF AUSTIN'S SUBURBAN EXPANSION ALONG THE GUADALUPE STREETCAR LINE NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
AND AWAY FROM BUS FROM BUSTLING DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
DEVELOPERS PROMISED A MORE RELAXED ENVIRONMENT WITH ORDERLY STREET PATTERNS, CONSISTENT SETBACKS, YARDS AND GARDENS ATTRIBUTES STILL EVIDENT IN THE HARVEY AND PEARL CALDWELL HOUSE AND STREETS SCAPE.
THE PROPERTIES ASSOCIATED WITH CALDWELL FAMILY, MUSICIANS WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO EDUCATION, MUSICAL ADVANCE ACHIEVEMENT AND FELLOWSHIP AMONG AUSTIN'S BLIND COMMUNITY.
THEIR HOME WAS A REGULAR MEETING PLACE FOR THE AUSTIN ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND, WHO ADVOCATED FOR POLITICAL CAUSES, AID AIDING THE BLIND AT A TIME WHEN ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY WERE EXCEEDINGLY LIMITED.
IT ALSO SERVED AS A PLACE WHERE THE CALDWELL'S COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS COULD ENJOY MUSICAL PERFORMANCES.
AS PART OF THE LAKEVIEW EDITION, IT IS ALSO, UH, TANGENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPER EMMA MOORE BARRETT, AN EARLY WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR AND CHAMPION OF PROGRESSIVE CAUSES IN AUSTIN.
HISTORIAN MEYERS, UH, HISTORIAN MEYERS DESCRIBES THE FAMILY'S IMPORTANCE AS FOLLOWS.
THE BUILDING HAS LONG ASSOCIATION WITH TWO DISABLED PERSONS WHO, DESPITE BEING BLIND, LED FULL PUR PURPOSEFUL LIVES THAT BENEFITED THE BLIND COMMUNITY, THEIR CHURCH AND AUSTIN'S MUSIC COMMUNITY.
HARVEY CALDWELL TAUGHT MUSIC AND PIANO TUNING AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
FOR OVER THREE DECADES, BLINDNESS SHAPED CALDWELL'S PRODUCTIVE LIFE AS A TEACHER, MUSICIAN, CHURCH ELDER, SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, HEAD AND ADVOCATE FOR THE BLIND.
FROM 1910 TO 1940, CALDWELL TAUGHT GENERATIONS OF BLIND STUDENTS THE ART OF PIANO TUNING SO THEY COULD EARN A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES.
HE WAS A ROLE MODEL FOR HIS STUDENTS IN THIS REGARD, ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY AS A FULL-TIME TEACHER.
HE ALSO PERFORMED AT MONTHLY SCHOOL CONCERTS FOR THE PUBLIC.
THE CALDWELL'S HOSTED THE AUSTIN ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AT THEIR HOME MEMBERS DISCUSS LEGISLATION PERTAINING TO THE BLIND AND PEN LETTERS IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO VARIOUS BILLS.
HARVEY PLAYED THE CORNET OR VIOLIN SOLOS AND DUETS.
PEARL AND HARVEY ALSO PLAYED IN A QUARTET.
PEARL CALDWELL WAS NOTEWORTHY IN HER OWN RIGHT.
SHE NEGOTIATED THE PURCHASE OF HER LOT AND LIKELY CONTRACTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF HER HOME ON WEST 37TH STREET.
SHE REGULARLY HOSTED MEETINGS ON, UH, OF THE AUSTIN ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND, AND SERVED AS AN OFFICER FOR THE BLIND CLUB AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY IN THE HYDE PARK PRESBY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE LAKE VIEW EDITION WAS PLA AND DEVELOPED BY A WOMAN, UH, EMMA MOORE BARRETT, WHO DEDICATED HER LIFE TO PROGRESSIVE CAUSES.
SHE WAS THE FIRST STUDENT TO ENROLL AT SAM HOUSTON NORMAL INSTITUTE, A TEACHER EDUCATION COLLEGE.
SHE WAS A TEACHER AT THE BLIND INSTITUTE WHERE SHE ALMOST CERTAINLY KNEW HARVEY, A STUDENT THERE AT THE SAME TIME.
IN 1900, SHE OPENED HER OWN KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.
SHE OWNED SEVERAL FARMS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
BY 1915, SHE WAS A, A DEMONSTRATOR FOR THE STATE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, A JOB THAT REQUIRED HER TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT TEXAS BY TRAIN, GIVING LECTURES ON EFFICIENT FARMING METHODS, SOIL CONSERVATION, AND HOME AND FARM ECONOMICS.
MRS. BARRETT ADVOCATED FOR MANY PROGRESSIVE CAUSES, INCLUDING PRISON REFORM, ROADSIDE BEAUTIFICATION, AND ADDING MUSIC AND ART TO SCHOOL CURRICULA.
PEARL CALDWELL AND EMMA MOORE BARRETT EMPOWERED THEMSELVES AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN WERE GENERALLY MARGINALIZED AND PL AND PLAYED FEW PUBLIC ROLES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE CALDWELL HOUSE RETAINS AN EXCEPTIONAL DEGREE OF INTEGRITY.
ITS LIMITED ALTERATIONS ARE MINOR AND INCURRED ON THE LEAST VISIBLE FACADES.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM SF DASH THREE DASH NCC D DASH NP TO SF DASH THREE DASH H DASH NCC D DASH NP COMBINING DISTRICT.
THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
UM, AND JUST TO CHECK THE TIME ALLOTTED, IT'S THREE MINUTES, OR, WELL, THE FIRST SPEAKER HAS FIVE MINUTES.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, TAKE WHAT TIME YOU NEED.
UH, AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
UM, MY NAME IS NICK WALLACE, AND I'M THE OWNER AND THE OCCUPANT OF THE CALDWELL HOUSE AT 400 WEST 37TH STREET.
IN ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT LANDMARKING, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW THE CITY'S LANDMARKING PROGRAM ENCOURAGED ME TO LEARN ABOUT HARVEY AND PEARL CALDWELL, WHO ARE BOTH BLIND AND ACTIVE IN THE BLIND COMMUNITY, AND TO SEEK TO PRESERVE THIS HOME AND ITS STORY.
[00:30:01]
WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW AT 37TH STREET I GASPED AS I DROVE DOWN THE NARROW STREET LINED WITH THE DURABLE BUNGALOWS.AT THE TIME, I LACKED THE VOCABULARY TO DESCRIBE THE CALDWELL HOUSE.
WHAT APPEALED TO ME WAS SIMPLY A HOME THAT HADN'T BEEN MADE UNRECOGNIZABLE BY RENOVATION, BUT WHICH OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME HISTORICALLY RESPECTFUL UPDATES TO MODIFIED KITCHENS AND BATHS.
IT STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL SASH WINDOWS, MANY WITH WAVY GLASS, THE PINE FLOORS, AND THE ALMOST ENTIRELY ORIGINAL FLOOR PLAN.
THOSE GORGEOUS DORIC COLUMNS MADE AN IMPRESSION, AS DID THE UNIQUE GEOMETRY OF THE VESTIBULE THAT FALL.
I ALSO FIRST GLIMPSED THE STORY OF THE CALDWELLS WHEN I RESEARCHED A BIT OF THE HOUSE'S HISTORY AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER BEFORE PURCHASE.
I REMEMBER SEEING IN THE CITY DIRECTOR TEACH DIRECTORY TEACHER PIANO TUNING SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
I WAS INTERESTED, BUT IT WOULD TAKE A FEW YEARS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PURSUE THE THREAD.
AFTER FINDING HHM SURVEY OF HISTORIC RESOURCES AND DISCOVERING THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR BOTH NATIONAL REGISTER LISTING AND LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR BOTH ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, IT TURNS OUT THE CALDWELLS WERE REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS.
AND THEIR MEETING IN THE LIFE THEY BUILT AT THIS HOME AS TWO BLIND INDIVIDUALS ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY WAS UNIQUE.
THEY MARRIED IN 1912 WHEN BOTH WERE IN THEIR THIRTIES AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE 1910 CENSUS ENUMERATED ONLY 31 BLIND WOMEN, AGED 30 TO 3 34 LIKE PEARL AND 74 BLIND MEN AGED 35 TO 39 LIKE HARVEY ONLY IN AUSTIN, AND LIKELY THROUGH THE STATE SCHOOL COULD THEY HAVE MET HARVEY.
AND PEARL LIVED ACTIVE CIVIC LIVES AS OFFICERS AND LOCAL BLIND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.
BOTH WERE ALSO LEADERS AT THE HYDE PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THEY ENTERTAINED THOSE GROUPS FREQUENTLY IN THEIR HOME, AND THEIRS WAS A PARTNERSHIP AT A TIME WHEN MANY WOMEN WERE ECONOMICALLY DISENFRANCHISED.
PEARL PURCHASED THE LOT IN HER NAME AND LIKELY ARRANGED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOME.
THE HISTORIC CONTEXT MAKES CLEAR THAT WITH THEIR DISABILITY, THE SUCCESSFUL LIFE THAT HARVEY AND PEARL BUILT TOGETHER WAS NOT A GIVEN.
BOTH WERE FROM RURAL BACKGROUNDS.
WHEN HARVEY ENROLLED AT THE SCHOOL IN THE 1880S, ITS SUPERINTENDENT, DR. FRANK RAINEY, HAD JUST PUBLISHED A PAMPHLET TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ENCOURAGING PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN WHO COULD NOT ATTEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT TO DEPRIVE THEIR CHILDREN OF EDUCATION ENTIRELY, AND INSTEAD TO SEND THEM TO THE STATE SCHOOL.
SO IT'S EASY TO IMAGINE A DIFFERENT LIFE COURSE FOR THE TWO OF THEM.
AUSTIN AND THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND GAVE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP A DIFFERENT LIFE, TRAINING THEM IN MUSIC, AND EQUIPPING HARVEY WITH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT THAT ALLOWED THEM TO CONSTRUCT THIS HOUSE, ENTERTAIN AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, AND DONATE TO THEIR CHURCH.
LEARNING ABOUT THE STORY OF THIS HOUSE AND ITS ORIGINAL INHABITANTS HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE.
AND THROUGH THIS JOURNEY, I'VE COME TO BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAMS ALLOW OUR CITY TO DISCOVER INCREDIBLE STORIES LIKE THAT OF HARVEY AND PEARL CALDWELL, AND TO PRESERVE THE ARCHITECTURAL FABRIC THAT MAKES AUSTIN UNIQUE.
THIS JOURNEY HAS ALSO SHAPED, SHAPED MY SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP TO THE HOME I FOUND AND WORKED WITH THE PRESERVATION ARCHITECT ON THE BATHROOM RENOVATION THAT IS UNDERWAY.
MY PARTNER AND I HAVE STRIPPED PAINT FROM INTERIOR DOORS AND HOPE TO DO MORE OF THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALMOST ALL BEEN PAINTED.
I'D LOVE TO RESTORE THE FRONT DOOR TO ITS FORMER GLORY AS WELL.
AND WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO MAKE VARIOUS NEEDED UPDATES.
IN DOING SO, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE GUIDED BY THE CITY'S STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES TO ENSURE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THIS HOUSE EVERY YEAR ON 37TH STREET.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE WELCOME THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO AUSTIN'S WEIRDEST HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW
AND I HOPE THAT THE CALDWELL HOUSE WILL REMAIN PART OF THE 37TH STREET THAT SO MANY IN OUR CITY ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING LANDMARKING THIS PROPERTY.
MR. WALLACE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE, THE WE, WE WISH THAT MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD SIGNIFICANT HOUSES WOULD TAKE THE SAME APPROACH.
WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR JOURNEY WITH US.
ANY QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT? DO WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS? YES.
WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER IN FAVOR.
MS. MYERS, UH, FORMER CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION.
AM I ON? WELL, I THINK EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID JUST ABOUT.
AUSTIN DID A GOOD JOB HITTING THE CRITERIA THAT WE WERE SEEKING TO MEET.
AND, UM, AND NICK TELLING THE STORY OF PEARL AND HARVEY.
I THINK, UH, SOMETHING THAT I GUESS I'D LIKE TO ADD IS THAT HARVEY WASN'T JUST KNOWN IN THE BLIND COMMUNITY.
HE WAS VERY WELL KNOWN IN MUSIC CIRCLES IN AUSTIN.
AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN 1947, UM, HIS, HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE AUSTIN STATESMAN.
UM, HE WAS, HE WAS REVERED TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, AND MANY PEOPLE KNEW HIM AND AND RESPECTED HIM.
UM, BUT IN ADDITION TO THE CRITERIA THAT WE, THAT WE BELIEVE WE MEET HERE UNDER ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, THE CALDWELL HOUSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
[00:35:01]
OF THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN THAT IS TO DESIGNATE PROPERTIES ASSOCIATED WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.UM, I DON'T KNOW THIS TO BE A FACT, BUT THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST SUCH CASE OF A, OF A PROPERTY COMING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO NONETHELESS MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO OUR CASE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTION OF, UH, SPEAKER? AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
UH, ANY MORE SPEAKERS FOR OR AGAINST, UH, COMMISSIONERS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND, COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT, UH, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
SO, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
DO I SEE ANYBODY VIRTUALLY? YES.
UH, VICE CHAIR EVANS? YES, I MOVED.
UH, WE GRANT, UH, DESIGNATION TO THIS PROPERTY ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
UH, VICE CHAIR EVANS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YES.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY COMPELLING, UH, APPLICATION FOR ITS HISTORY, FOR THE STORIES THAT CAME OUT OF THE RESEARCH AND FOR THE PROPERTY ITSELF.
UM, I THINK IN MANY WAYS IT SPEAKS TO WHAT OUR VALUES ARE AND WHAT OUR VALUES, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMISSION HAVE BEEN.
SO I'M HOPING WE CAN GET, UH, SUPPORT TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, I THINK THIS IS A VERY COMPELLING CASE AS WELL.
AND, UM, I, I LOVE SEEING THIS PARTICULAR STREET RECOGNIZED.
I APPRECIATE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, UH, HOLIDAY LIGHTS EVERY YEAR.
UH, BUT, UH, IT IS A COMPELLING STORY.
UM, I WAS, UH, INVOLVED WITH THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND SAW THE REMARKABLE FOLKS, THE PASSION THAT WAS THERE.
AND I KNOW THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND HAD AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF SUPPORT.
AND SEEING BOTH OF THOSE RECOMMENDED OR RECOGNIZED THROUGH THIS NOMINATION, I THINK IS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS? I, I WILL JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD, AS I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH THE APPLICANT, THAT, UH, THERE ARE MORE PROPERTIES ON THE STREET THAT ARE WORTHY OF, UH, RECOGNITION AND THE STREET AS A WHOLE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME EFFORTS TO PURSUE A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND LET ME JUST NOT ONLY ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, COMMIT WHAT WE CAN TO, UH, ASSIST WITH THOSE EFFORTS.
I THINK IT'S A VERY WORTHY, UH, OPPORTUNITY.
AND BECAUSE OF THE ASSOCIATIONS, NOT ONLY IS THE STREET WITH THE, UH, SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND ACROSS THE STREET, UH, HISTORICALLY, BUT ALSO THE CONFEDERATE WOMEN'S HOME HOME ON THE OTHER SIDE.
UH, IT'S A, IT'S A UNIQUE PLACE.
SO THIS IS A, AN THIS WILL BE A NICE START, UH, ASSUMING IT PASSES.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, I CALLED THE QUESTION, UH, WE'VE HAD A, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC ASSOCIATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, WELL THIS WILL BE GOING ON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COUNCIL, UH, BUT WE THINK IT'S A VERY WORTHY AND STRONG CASE.
[3. C14H-2026-0045 – 2300 Rosewood Ave. ]
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS 2300 ROSEWOOD AVENUE.AND THIS IS THE DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM.
AND WE HAVE, UH, VERY, UH, EXTENSIVE WORK OF STAFF, BUT ALSO, UH, COMMISSIONER EVANS AND COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT, UH, TAKING THE LEAD AND PUTTING THIS ON OUR AGENDA.
UM, THIS IS A, UH, PROPOSAL, AS YOU SAID, FOR HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM.
LOCATED WITHIN, UH, ROSEWOOD PARK.
UM, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE, UH, ZONING FROM PUBLIC, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO PUBLIC HISTORIC LANDMARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, UH, COMBINING DISTRICT.
UH, THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS APPLICATION ARE FOR ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY VALUE, AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
AS A CIVIC BUILDING IN ITS PARK SETTING, DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM OCCUPIES A PROMINENT LOCATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE LARGER
[00:40:01]
EAST AUSTIN CONTEXT.ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 1944 WITH OWNERSHIP TRANSFERRING TO THE CITY IN 1946.
IT FIRST SERVED AS A FACILITY FOR RETURNING BLACK SERVICE MEMBERS DURING WORLD WAR II AS A USO RECREATION CENTER.
THE FACILITY NAMED FOR US NAVY COOK, DORIS MILLER, ORIGINALLY FROM WACO, WHO SERVED DURING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, EARNING THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST BLACK SERVICE MEMBER TO RECEIVE THE NAVAL CROSS FOR HIS HEROISM HOSTED EVENTS, INCLUDING DANCES, CONCERTS, AND OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR ATHLETICS AND STAGE PERFORMANCES, MAKING THE AUDITORIUM A MULTI-USE FACILITY, WHICH REQUIRED AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THAT WAS ADAPTABLE AND LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE DISPARATE FUNCTIONS.
DESIGNED BY DAN'S AND DAN DAVIS ARCHITECTS, THE AUDITORIUM FACILITY WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH SIX LARGE CONCRETE RIBS THAT SPANNED THE EVENTUAL WIDTH OF THE BUILDING, ALLOWING FOR A LARGE OPENING SP UH, LARGE OPENING SPACE THAT FIT A BASKETBALL COURT FOR WHICH THE WOOD FLOOR COULD BE USED FOR NUMEROUS FUNCTIONS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, ASIDE FROM MOVING FURNITURE OR RISERS FOR SEATING ALONG THE BROAD SIDES OF THE AUDITORIUM, DOUBLE HEIGHT.
BRICK WALLS WERE CONSTRUCTED TO HOUSE BLEACHER STYLE SEATING WITH A SPACE BETWEEN EACH CONCRETE ARCH DESIGNING DESIGNATING A BAY.
EACH BAY HAD THREE WINDOWS NEAR THE TOP OF THE WALLS, ABOVE THE UPPERMOST BLEACHER SEATS.
AS THIS FACILITY WAS USED FOR SPORTING EVENTS, E SPORTING EVENTS, EACH WINDOW HAD METAL BARS ON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY TO AVOID BROKEN WINDOWS TO ENCLOSE THE SPACE, A WOODEN ROOF STRUCTURE, UTILIZING CURVED MATERIALS SUCH AS PLYWOOD BOARD ALLOWED FOR A RELATIVELY LIGHTWEIGHT COVER THAT ALLOWED FOR A PASSIVE VENTILATION TO COOL THE SPACE WHEN WINDOWS WERE OPEN.
PHOTOS FROM SHORTLY AFTER CONSTRUCTION SHOW SOME SORT OF FABRIC COVERINGS AFFIXED TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE, LIKELY SERVING AN AS A, AN ACOUSTICAL PUR UH, PURPOSE.
IN THE DECADES SINCE ITS CONSTRUCTION, AN ACOUSTICAL TILE CEILING AND FLUORESCENT LIGHT SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED TO SURFACE THE SPACE, GIVEN ITS PROMINENT LOCATION AND MULTI-USE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPACE, THE ARCHITECTURE OF DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM HAS SIGNIFICANCE AS A CIVIC ORIENTED SPACE THAT WAS SEVERELY LACKING IN EAST AUSTIN AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION.
THE TECHNIQUES AND ENGINEERING OF THE SPACE, WHICH ALLOWED FOR NUMEROUS TYPES OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS, HA HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND CONTINUES IN SERVICE TO TODAY.
THE OVERALL SITE OF ROSEWOOD PARK IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED RETAINS INTEGRITY AND THE AUDITORIUM CONTIN CAN CONTINUE TO BE A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE HISTORY OF DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM WEAVES ITSELF THROUGHOUT NUMEROUS HISTORIES FOUND IN THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
ITS GENESIS AS A FACILITY WAS IN THE IDEA THAT THERE WEREN'T SUFFICIENT FACILITIES FOR BLACK AUSTIN SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THAT ANY EXISTING BUILDINGS OF ADEQUATE SIZE, SUCH AS THE COTTON CLUB ON EAST 11TH STREET WERE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE USES OR CONDITION REQUIRED, UH, WITH SOME FUNDING FOR FACILITIES PAID FOR BY THE CITY.
ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY FROM THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE USO BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF A FACILITY TO HOUSE OPERATIONS FOR BOTH ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY IN ROSEWOOD PARK FACILITIES FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES IN EAST OF EAST AVENUE.
LATER, INTERSTATE 35 WERE OFTEN HOMEGROWN OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY THEMSELVES RATHER THAN THE CITY.
DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM AND ROSEWOOD PARK GENERALLY SERVED AS ONE OF THE FEW FACILITIES THAT HAVE CONTINUED THEIR CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH CIVIC EVENTS WITH THESE COMMUNITIES.
AS MENTIONED ELSEWHERE IN THIS, UH, DOCUMENT, ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS AS WIDE RANGING AS USO FOUR H, NATIONALLY RENOWNED MUSICAL ACTS AND LOCAL CHRISTMAS PAGEANTS ALL FOUND A HOME AT DORIS MILLER BY BEING ONE OF THE GO-TO DESTINATIONS FOR ANY OF ALL, ANY AND ALL EVENTS IN EAST AUSTIN.
THE PARK AND AUDITORIUM SERVED TO TIE THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT EXTENDS ACROSS TIME AND NUMEROUS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
AFTER THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE FACILITIES OWNERSHIP WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND ITS U AND USE OF ITS AMENITIES CAN CONTINUE TO BE USED BY EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
WHILE IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT THE EXPECTED USES FOR THE AUDITORIUM MAY HAVE BEEN AT THE TIME OF HIS TRANSFER, DORIS MILLER BECAME THE GATHERING PLACE FOR ANY AND ALL EVENTS THAT REQUIRED A LARGE FACILITY CONCERTS, INCLUDING NATIONAL ACTS SUCH AS BB KING JAMES BROWN, UH, AND BIG MAMA THORNTON WERE HELD AT THE VENUE.
IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS, UH, BEING ON THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT, A NICKNAME FOR VENUES THAT SHOWED RELATIVE ACCEPTANCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS IN THE EARLY TO MID 20TH CENTURY.
ARTS AND CRAFTS EVENTS, INCLUDING FOUR H SHOWS USED THE AUDITORIUM SPACE FOR DISPLAYS AND PERFORMANCES.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANTS AND SERVICES USED THE STAGE WITH CHAIRS AND TABLES BROUGHT OUT FOR SEATING AND SHARING OF FOOD, BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS AND POLITICAL RALLIES WERE HELD AT THE FACILITIES.
AND IN BETWEEN ALL THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS, ANY NUMBER OF SMALL GATHERINGS WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE CITY FACILITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE RESIDENTS, UH, WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED TO USE SIMILAR FACILITIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY DURING THE TIME OF SEGREGATION.
DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM IS A STRUCTURE THAT IS INTEGRAL TO THE STORY AND HISTORY OF EAST AUSTIN, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVED AND LIVES IN THE AREA OF THE CITY AS THE CENTER OF RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
IT IS NOTEWORTHY FOR ITS LONG HISTORY AND CONTINUED USE AS WELL AS A REFLECTION OF THE GROUPS THAT MADE IT SIGNIFICANT FOR THESE REASONS.
THIS BUILDING MEETS LANDMARK CRITERIA FOR ARCHITECTURE,
[00:45:01]
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY VALUE.AND STAFF RECOMMENDS ITS DESIGNATION.
AS FOR INTEGRITY, THE BUILDING HAS GOOD INTEGRITY.
SMALL ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION, MOSTLY FOR SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS, ADDITIONAL FACILITIES, AND SOME ADDITIONAL MATERIAL CLADDING FOR PROTECTION.
AIR CONDITIONING WAS ADDED IN THE 1970S, UM, AND THE ORIGINAL CONCRETE MASONRY WALL AT THE NORTH.
THE SOUTH ENDS HAVE BEEN COVERED WITH METAL PANELING.
HOWEVER, EVEN WITH THIS, IT STILL RETAINS ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY AND THAT'S WHY STAFF RECOMMENDS THE DESIGNATION OF THIS, UH, PROPERTY FOR HISTORIC, UM, HISTORIC ZONING.
THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALRIGHT.
UM, NOW IN THIS CASE, THE CITY IS THE APPLICANT AS WELL, SINCE THEY'RE THE OWNER.
DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE DEPARTMENT HERE THAT WOULD BE SPEAKING ON THIS? OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS SIGN UP? WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, UH, IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECOND COMMISSIONER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
VICE CHAIR EVANS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR PLACING THIS ON THE AGENDA? YES, I, UH, WOULD BE PLEASED TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GRANT HISTORIC DESIGNATION TO THE, UH, DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE, UH, HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VALUE COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT.
UH, SINCE YOU PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE SECOND? SECOND? ALL RIGHT THEN, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, VICE CHAIR EVANS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION? YES.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, UH, TAKE THE, UH, PRIVILEGE OF, UH, QUOTING A LINE FROM A SONG THAT WAS PROBABLY HEARD AT THIS FACILITY MANY YEARS AGO, WHICH IS, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING
I KNOW THAT, UH, PROPERTIES OF THIS SIZE AND AGE, THE SURVEY PRO PROCESS TAKES A WHILE.
AND MY, UH, KUDOS TO CITY STAFF FOR STICKING WITH THIS AND MOVING THIS FORWARD.
'CAUSE IT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
AND, UH, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE VALUE OF THIS PROPERTY BACK WHEN IT WAS A DESIGNATED, UH, EXCEPT WE KNOW THE POINT IN HISTORY WHY IT, UH, FACILITY LIKE THIS WAS NEEDED.
BUT AS RECENTLY AS LAST CHRISTMAS, I WAS INVITED TO A COMMUNITY HOLIDAY PARTY AT THIS EVENT.
SO IT'S STILL CONSIDERED A VERY CENTRAL AND INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I BELIEVE IT DESERVES ITS DESIGNATION.
UM, SAME SENTIMENT AS MY COUNTERPART, UM, COMMISSIONER.
YOU CAN CALL HER VICE CHAIR EVANS OR COMMISSIONER EVANS, EITHER.
I WAS GONNA SAY COMMISSIONER ROXANNE
UM, YES, THIS SITS IN MY DISTRICT AND I WAS JUST RECENTLY HERE TWO WEEKS AGO FOR JUNETEENTH THROUGH SOME, FOR SOME OF THE CELEBRATIONS THERE AND WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
I'VE BEEN GOING TO DORIS MILLER FOR MANY YEARS AND ALSO JUST AS, IT'S NOT A HISTORICAL UH, POINT, BUT THERE'S ALSO A STUDIO, HIGH TECH MUSIC STUDIO THAT SITS IN THE FRONT OF, UM, ROSEWOOD.
AND IT'S ESSENTIAL TO THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE KIDS CAN COME AND LEARN HOW TO USE STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT, PODCASTS, STREAMING, THINGS LIKE THAT FOR FREE HERE THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED NOTES FOR NOTES.
SO HAVING THIS DESIGNATION FOR THIS BUILDING IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT KEEPS THE KIDS COMING BACK TO THIS AREA.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
I, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT NOT ONLY THE FOLKS, UH, WHO WE'VE HEARD FROM HERE, BUT ALSO, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO'VE JUST KEPT THIS IN THE FOREFRONT.
UH, AND THE FOLKS OVER AT PAR WHO WORKED EXTRA HARD TO MAKE SURE THIS ALL TOOK PLACE.
SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
UH, IF THERE ARE NO MORE DISCUSSION, THEN I WILL CALL THE QUESTION ON THIS ITEM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE HISTORIC, UH, ZONING FOR THE DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM BASED ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, AND COMMUNITY VALUE, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND I SEE IT AS UNANIMOUS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.
AND THAT IS, UH, WELL DESERVED.
SO THE NEXT ITEM FOR DISCUSSION IS ITEM NUMBER
[8. PR-2026-053670 – 1109 Travis Heights Blvd. ]
EIGHT.[00:50:01]
TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A SERPENT 1920 HOUSE, UM, LOCATED IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THIS AMERICAN FOUR SQUARE HOUSE WITH PRAIRIE SCHOOL STYLISTIC INFLUENCES WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1920.
THE TWO STORY HOUSE IS A LOW PITCH HIP ROOF WITH BROAD OVERHANGS.
THE FULL WIDTH HIP PORT, HIP HIP ROOF PORT, EXCUSE ME, HAS A LONG OPEN SPAN SUPPORTED AT CORNERS BY LARGE SQUARE COLUMNS.
THE SECOND FLOOR HAD RECESSED CORNERS THAT HAD BEEN INFILLED AND CONVERTED INTO INTERIOR SPACE.
MUCH OF THE HOUSE HAS BEEN CONVERTED COVERED WITH ALUMINUM SIDING.
WOOD WINDOWS APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING WITH LARGER MULTI LIGHT FIXTURES APPEARING AT THE FRONT ELEVATION AND SIMPLER ONE OVER ONE UNITS MORE COMMON AT THE SIDES IN REAR.
EARLY OWNERS OF THE CIRCUIT TO 1920 HOUSE WERE ELMER ELMER AND CORA YOUNG.
EE YOUNG WAS A CO-OWNER OF AN AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP, HART AND YOUNG, UH, WILLIE'S KNIGHT AND OVERLAND AUSTIN AGENCY.
HE LATER BOUGHT OUT HIS PARTNER AND CONTINUED OPERATION UNDER HIS NAME.
HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION AND SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 1928, YOUNG BECAME SECRETARY OF THE STACEY REALTY COMPANY, DEVELOPER OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
LATER OWNERS INCLUDED CHARLES AND CATHERINE BRENNER, WHO OWNED THE HOUSE FROM 1929 UNTIL 1947, CHARLES BRENNER OPERATED A JEWELRY BUSINESS ON EAST SIXTH STREET, BEGINNING IN THE LATE 1890S.
AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1933, CATHERINE BRENNER CONTINUED TO RUN THE JEWELRY STORE FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
IT APPEARS THAT SHE LEASED OUT THE HOUSE FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND'S DEATH, BUT MOVED BACK IN AROUND 1941.
IN THE 1950S, THE HOUSE WAS OCCUPIED BY ROBERT AND GWENDOLYN HILL.
ROBERT HILL WAS A FOREMAN AT THE CAL KAHU LUMBER COMPANY.
UH, SOME DEPARTMENT COMMENTS HERE, A DE UM, A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THIS PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY REFERRED TO HLC IN JULY, 2019, AND THE CASE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDRAWN.
A DEMOLITION APPLICATION FOR THE GARAGE AT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY WAS SUBMITTED IN 2024, BUT THIS WAS LATER WITHDRAWN UPON THE SUBSEQUENT OWNERS OWNER'S PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS PROPERTY ALSO ATTENDED THE JANUARY 15TH, 2025 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL REMODEL.
THOUGH NO PERMIT APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING AGENDAS AND BACKUP MATERIALS FOR THESE THREE PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN BACKUP ATTACHED TO THIS CASE PER CITY CODE.
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION HAS 180 DAYS TO REVIEW DEMOLITION PERMITS OF NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORIC, UH, DISTRICT CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES STARTING FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
THIS PERIOD IS SET TO TIMEOUT ON OCTOBER 27TH, 2026.
THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS
DISTRICT PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE RELOCATION OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MUST RENEW NEW, MUST REVIEW NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS PRIOR TO PERMIT RELEASE IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS BEFORE THOSE DEMOLITION PERMITS ARE RELEASED.
THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
COMMISSIONER, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE LIES ON TWO LEGAL LOTS AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
IS THERE ANYTHING SINCE THERE WOULDN'T BE A DEMOLITION UNLESS IT'S PART OF THE GARAGE, SINCE THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ON THE ADJACENT LOT, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS THE OWNER FROM MOVING FORWARD? OTHER? WELL, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PRE PREVENTS THE OWNER WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH SOMETHING ON THE ADJACENT LOT? UH, THE ONLY THING THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE IS, UH, REVIEW, UM, FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT'S IN THE NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, THIS WAS PO UH, WE HEARD FIRST AT OUR MEETING IN JUNE.
SO IT'S THE, THE CLOCK IS ONLY JUST STARTED AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE APPLICANT WAS THERE.
UH, DO WE HAVE, UH, IS THE APPLICANT HERE THIS EVENING? HE'S LISTED AS GABE JOSEPH.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT HERE.
THEY HAVE ALSO NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AND WE DID ENCOURAGE A, UH, VISIT TO THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY DID NOT DO THAT EITHER.
SO, UH, MR. JOSEPH, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
UH, THERE ARE OPTIONS PERHAPS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PRESERVE THIS BUILDING AS STAFF IS NOTED.
UH, AND WE WILL STILL RESERVE AN OP OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING EVEN IF WE CONTINUE TO POSTPONE, UH, UP UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
BUT, UH, AT THIS POINT, I, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY LISTEN TO ANY, UH, DISCUSSION IF ANYBODY SIGNED UP,
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UH, TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? UM, IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN HERE VERY QUICK JUST FOR A STAFF NOTE, BECAUSE OF THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY AND UH, CITY SERVICES BEING CLOSED ON THE THIRD, UM, ANY REFERRAL TO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AT THIS MEETING WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR IN THE AUGUST, UH, 12TH A RC MEETING.
SO THAT REQUIRE
UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
YES, WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION.
AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CLIFTON LADD.
OKAY, MR. LAD, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH I CO-CHAIR.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
OUR COMMITTEE IS PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE PULLED THIS ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO DISCUSS IT THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION.
WE BELIEVE, WE BELIEVE THIS HOUSE MERITS HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS.
IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION INCLUDED IN THE CITY CODE.
THIS HOUSE IS A 1920S AMERICAN FOURSQUARE AND CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT.
PROMINENT FRONT PORCH AND TRADITIONAL MASSING EMBODY A RESIDENTIAL FORM THAT HELPED DEFINE AUSTIN'S HISTORIC STREET CAR SUBURBS.
IT IS LOCATED ON A HIGHLY VISIBLE CORNER.
LOT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING STREET SCAPE AND SERVES AS AN ARCHITECTURAL ANCHOR WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
OUR OTHER COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR, MS. BARBARA SILLY, WILL ALSO SPEAK REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING HOMES ON TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
OUR COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED THAT WE COULD EASILY LOSE IMPORTANT HOUSES LIKE THIS ONE AND ALSO TRAVIS ON 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, WHICH IS ALSO ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE ARE ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK CONCERNING THESE PROPOSED DEMOLITIONS.
TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD IS THE MOST PROMINENT STREET IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE MUST PROTECT THE HISTORIC HOMES ON THE STREET IF POSSIBLE.
IN 2009, TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD ARE PRIME EXAMPLES.
UNLIKE MANY HISTORIC HOMES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR INTEGRITY THROUGH EXTENSIVE, EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS.
1109 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD RETAINS MUCH OF ITS ORIGINAL CHARACTER AND HISTORIC FABRIC.
OUR COMMITTEE SENT YOU A LETTER LAST WEEK REGARDING THIS HOUSE, AND WE INCLUDED MANY OF THE REASONS WHY WE THINK IT IS WORTHY OF PROTECTION.
OUR LETTER ALSO INCLUDE SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE.
UM, THE PHOTOS SHOW THAT THE HOUSE IS IN GOOD CONDITION.
IT COULD BE IMPROVED WITH MODEST EFFORT.
I HOPE YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH, UH, CHANCE TO READ OUR LETTER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTIES, BUT WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY EXAMPLES OF OWNERS TEARING DOWN OLD HOUSES AND BUILDING SOMETHING MODERN THAT DOESN'T FIT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO MODERN ARCHITECTURE, BUT MODERN STRUCTURES WOULD BE OUT OF PLACE ON TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
WE REQUEST THAT YOU INVITE THE OWNER TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND SHOW THEM WHAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE THIS HOME IN A WAY THAT HONORS THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE.
IT IS TRULY A DIAMOND IN THE ROOF AND COULD EASILY BE IMPROVED IN A WAY THAT RETAINS ITS UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE.
UM, ANYBODY QUESTION SPEAKER THEN LET'S HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.
OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS BARBARA SILLY.
UM, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I HAD A LOT OF IMAGES, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE I NEEDED TO GET THEM IN ADVANCE.
I DO HAVE THEM ON A, WHATEVER THOSE THINGS ARE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT YOU TO JUST SET A NOTE.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE REALLY GREAT CHRISTMAS DECORATION SPOT.
I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, AND SO WE HAVE A HUGE HALLOWEEN, UH, AFFAIR.
I MEAN, I HAD PROBABLY 500 KIDS IN MY HOUSE LAST YEAR, SO, AND THAT HAS SOME, UH, HISTORIC CONTEXT.
I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF A BOULEVARD BECAUSE WE DO NOT SPEND ENOUGH TIME, I THINK TALKING ABOUT EARLY URBAN PLANNING.
AND THE BOULEVARD WAS ONE OF THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT CONCEPTS.
[01:00:01]
PLANTED, IT PLANTED IN 1913, AND THE IDEAS THAT SHAPED CIVIC PRIDE IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY ARE INCORPORATED IN THIS NEWLY MINTED BOULEVARD.THE BOULEVARD WAS A CENTRAL AVENUE DESIGNED TO BOTH BEAUTIFY AND ENHANCE THE CIRCULATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS URBAN PATTERN WAS INSPIRED BY THE CITY BEAUTIFUL MOVEMENT THAT WAS THE ORGANIZING IDEA OF THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION OF 1893.
THE SWEEP OF THE AVENUE WAS DESIGNED TO IMPRESS AND ENHANCE THE LIVING SPACE OF ALL THE RESIDENTS.
THIS PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO TRAVIS HEIGHT BOULEVARD IS ONE OF THE GATEWAY PROPERTIES THAT HELPED TO DEFINE THE IDEA OF A BOULEVARD.
IT IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE FULLY RESTORED STACEY HOUSE AND IS ALSO ADJACENT TO OTHER IMPORTANT BONGOS.
THE AVENUE IS DEFINED BY THE LANDSCAPE THAT INCORPORATES CREPE METALS THAT ARE NOW A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
THEY'RE PLANTED IN THE CAREFULLY DESIGNED TREE LAWN LOCATED BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE SIDEWALK.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE GAPS IN THE BLOCKS, MUCH OF THE HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE REMAINS INTACT.
IT IS THE COMBINATION OF STRUCTURES AND PLANTING THAT CHARACTERIZES THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BOULEVARD.
WE ARE FACING THE DEMOLITION OF TWO STRUCTURES ON EACH END OF THE BOULEVARD THAT ARE GOING TO DIMINISH OUR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION IS BOTH INDIVIDUAL STRUCTURES AND THEIR CONTEXT.
WE ARE INCREMENTALLY DESTROYING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY CIVIC BRIDE THAT WAS INVESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR BOULEVARD.
AND THE SLIDES WERE, I DID A CRATE MYRTLE TOUR
THAT LINE OUR TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
SO I WILL BE BACK AND YOU WILL GET TO SEE THE CREPE MYRTLE TOUR.
IN FACT, I WILL NOTE THAT CREPE MYRTLES RIGHT NOW SEEM TO BE BURSTING ALL OVER TOWN.
SO IF YOU'VE GOT A GOOD COLLECTION OF 'EM, THAT'S FABULOUS.
IT'S THE RIGHT, RIGHT WEATHER FOR IT.
OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS FRANCESCO PASANTE.
UM, MY NAME IS FRANCISCO PASANTE.
I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS FROM THIS HOUSE AND I'M A MEMBER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
CLIFTON LAD AND BARBARA SI HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE VALUE AND VIABILITY OF THE HOUSE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
I WANT TO ADD A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE GENERAL VALUE OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR AUSTIN AS A WHOLE.
A VALUE RECOGNIZED BY ITS DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, THIS VALUE IS TWOFOLD.
FIRST, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTRAST TO DOWNTOWN GREEN SUBURB JUST ACROSS THE RIVER FROM SKYSCRAPERS.
SECOND, THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORICAL COHERENCE.
MOST BUILDINGS ARE ORIGINAL, BUILT WITHIN THREE SHORT DECADES, JUST BEFORE THE UPHEAVAL OF MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE.
THIS DOUBLE TENSION BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTRY AND BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND NEW IS CENTRAL TO THE VIBE OF AUSTIN.
YOU ARE NOT JUST IN ANY BOOMING TOWN YOU ARE IN AUSTIN.
ANY ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE DRIVER HEIGHTS ENTAILS AN UNAVOIDABLE DILEMMA.
A KEY REQUIREMENT IS TO KEEP IT VITAL.
THE BUILDING STOCK NEEDS TO CHANGE AND ADAPT TO NEW NEEDS AND LIFESTYLES.
BUT AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT IS TO PRESERVE ITS IDENTITY AS AN ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH MATTERS FOR THE VIBE OF AUSTIN.
AND IS A REASON WHY PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN TRA HEIGHTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE OBVIOUS WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS DILEMMA IS ADAPTIVE REUSE.
[01:05:01]
AND REBUILD IS LIKE THROWING OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATERS.UH, DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER? YES.
OUR LAST INOP IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER.
MY NAME'S SUSAN ARMSTRONG FISHER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORIC DISTRICT, ALSO REPRESENTING SRCC, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS THE PAST CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION OF 1109 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
AND SIDE NOTE AS WELL, 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
BUT MY DISCUSSION IS ABOUT GATEWAY PROPERTIES TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS THE SECOND FORWARD FACING HOUSE ON THE BOULEVARD AS ONE ENTERS ON INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE BOULEVARD SLOPES UP FROM RIVERSIDE, AND THIS HOUSE IS AT THE TOP, AT THE VERY FIRST PLATEAU, AS IF IT'S DESIGNED TO LET VISITORS SAVOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DISTRICT THAT THEY'VE JUST ENTERED.
ALL THE HOMES IN THAT FIRST BLOCK ARE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES DUE TO ITS UNIQUE CONSTRUCTION COMPARED AROUND TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES.
ONE'S EYES ARE DRAWN INSTANTLY TO IT ON THE LEFT.
GATEWAY PROPERTIES MATTER BECAUSE THEY SHAPE FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
THEY REINFORCE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY AND THEY'RE VISUALLY, THEY VISUALLY SIGNAL ENTRY INTO A PLACE.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S A PLACE OF A NATIONAL REGISTER, HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THEY HELP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE AND WHY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS DISTINCT.
THIS PROPERTY DOES POSSESS COMMUNITY VALUE.
ITS PHYSICAL LOCATION CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER, THE IMAGE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS WE AND CITY STAFF CONTINUE TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT COULD QUALIFY AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK, WE ASK THAT IT BE POSTPONED, AT LEAST TO THE AUGUST COMMISSION MEETING.
ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS? THAT'S CONCLUDES THE, THE SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS AND WE STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT.
SO AT THIS POINT I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, COMMISSIONER, UH, ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE, UH, ON THIS ITEM? MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU'RE WANTING TO A POSTPONEMENT.
UM, I WILL MOVE THAT THIS BE POSTPONED TO AT LEAST THE AUGUST MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE PARTIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE APPLICANT COMES TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
SO AT THIS POINT YOUR MOTION IS TO REOPEN.
SORRY, I'M LITTLE EAGER THERE.
YOU REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WAS, I WAS SECOND THE MOTION, UH, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
UM, SO, UM, UH, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE APPLICANT DID NOT COME TO THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE APPLICANT HAS NOT MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, HAVING BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, WE'VE ALWAYS OPENED OUR DOOR FOR DISCUSSION, CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION, TRYING TO GET TO YES, THAT IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS EVERYBODY.
UM, THIS IS A GATEWAY PROPERTY IN MY OPINION.
UH, THOSE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE HAD.
UM, AND SO I HOPE THAT THIS GIVES ALL THE PARTIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE POSITIVE DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT COULD BE A REALLY OUTSTANDING PROJECT ON THIS SITE.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
I THINK HE COVERED EVERYTHING VERY WELL THERE.
UM, SO I SECOND EVERYTHING HE SAID.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY AT THE, IN THIS PROPERTY THAT THERE CAN BE SO MUCH MORE CREATIVITY THAN JUST STARTING FRESH.
SO, UM, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM COME TO THE A RC AND TALK TO US MORE.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? REAL QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF, AND THIS WILL APPLY TO 2009 TOO.
DO WE KNOW WHO THE ARCHITECT WAS ON EITHER OF THESE PROPERTIES? NOT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE CURRENTLY, BUT WE CAN KEEP LOOKING FOR THAT INFORMATION.
I, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE AUGUST MEETING ALL THOSE AND TO CLOSE REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
[01:10:01]
AND I DO SEE UNANIMOUS, SO THAT CARRIES.[9. PR-2026-059982 – 2009 Travis Heights Blvd. ]
THE OTHER TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK ITEM ON 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1939 HOUSE, WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE ORIGINAL PORTION OF THIS HOUSE CAN BE SEEN AT THE RIGHT TWO THIRDS OF THE STREET FACING FACADE, WHICH STILL RETAINS SOME TWO DOOR REVIVAL DETAILS SUCH AS THE ARCH DOOR AND STEEP ROOF PITCH.
ORIGINAL SIDELIGHTS AND MODEST FRONT PORCH WITH CONCRETE STAIRS CONTINUED WITH THIS STYLE.
THE EXTERIOR MATERIAL IS STUCCO OR PLASTER.
PLASTER, WHICH MAY BE ORIGINAL, BUT HAS BEEN PAINTED TO THE NORTH OF MAIN HOUSE IS A 2012 EDITION OF A COVERED PORCH, WHICH WAS ENCLOSED WITH WALLS COVERED IN MATCHING PAINTED STUCCO OR PLASTER, AND APPEARS FROM THE STREET AS CONDITIONED SPACE BEHIND.
THIS IS A PERGOLA THAT IS ALSO, UH, ENCLOSED BY FULL HEIGHT WALLS, THOUGH THERE, THOUGH NO ROOF COVERS IT.
UM, IF WE COULD CYCLE THROUGH THE PHOTOS TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS HOUSE, UH, SR.
AND MAXINE BLAKE, WHO WORKED IN SALES AND BRIEFLY LIVED AT THE PROPERTY BEFORE IT WAS ACQUIRED BY FRANK AND FLORENCE, UH, REPA, UM, THEN JASON AND VIRGINIA FORBES, WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
DURING THE OWNERSHIP, JASON FORBES WENT FROM A RECORD KEEPER, UH, AT THE TEXAS STATE HOUSE REPORTER TO A CORRESPONDENT AND FINALLY AN EDITOR OF THE PUBLICATION.
BY 1957, THE PROPERTY WAS SOLD AGAIN TO FLOYD PEARL FORRESTER, UH, DEPARTMENT COMMENT PER CITY CODE, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION HAS 180 DAYS TO REVIEW DEMOLITION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT STARTING FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
THIS PERIOD IS SET TO TIME OUT ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026, THE PROPERTY CORU TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND DEPTH OF REUSE RELOCATION OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MUST REVIEW NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS PRIOR TO PERMIT RELEASE IN NATIONAL REGISTER TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
AND DO WE KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE ADDITION THAT WAS PERMITTED? YOU SAID FIRST AS A PORCH AND THEN WAS LATER ENCLOSED.
IT, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH THOSE WALLS THAT TA ENCOMPASSED THE LEFT THIRD OF THE BUILDING.
HOWEVER, THERE IS, UH, UM, NO INDICATION IT WAS EVER ENCLOSED.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOS, IN BACKUP, A REAR WALL IS, OR THERE IS NO REAR WALL OF THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING IS OPEN TO THE REAR.
AND THEN BEHIND THAT IS A, UM, SORT OF PATIO PERGOLA SPACE, UM, THAT I DON'T QUITE HAVE THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE EXACTLY.
YEAH, IT'S VERY, VERY INTERESTING.
UM, QUESTION FOR, YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF, PLEASE.
UH, SO THESE ARE THESE, I GUESS THESE INTERESTING INDOOR OUTDOOR SPACES.
THESE ARE ADDITIONS AND I ASSUME THAT THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS JUST, WE'LL SAY IT WOULD TAKE THE, UH, DOOR CENTERED WITH, UH, TWO WINDOWS ON EACH SIDE WITH THE WINDOWS ON EACH SIDE.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? UH, WE HAVEN'T.
UH, THIS IS THE SAME APPLICANT AS THE PREVIOUS.
I ASSUME HE'S NOT HERE AND IS NOT ATTEMPTED TO SIGN IN.
THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE THE CASE.
UH, THEN DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION? YES, WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION.
ONCE AGAIN, I'LL CALL ERIC GOMEZ.
NOW, MR. GOMEZ, YOU MAY START AGAIN IF YOU SO A KIND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
UM, AGAIN, I REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY AT 2011 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
AND WE ARE ASKING AND SEEKING A POSTPONEMENT ON ANY DEMOLITION DETERMINATION.
UH, PRIMARY REASONS HAVE HAVE BEEN STATED THIS EVENING, BUT IN ADDITION TO HELP DEVELOP AND FLESH OUT A, A, A MORE THOROUGH, UH, RECORD OF, OF, UH, SIGNIFICANCE HISTORICAL AND OTHERWISE, THIS PROPERTY AND THE STRUCTURE MAY, MAY POSSESS, UM, AS, UH, UH, PER PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UH, REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE ARE ENCOURAGED.
UM, STAFF HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF ESTABLISHING A HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
[01:15:01]
OF THE PROPERTY SO FAR THAT THAT RECORD, UM, REALLY FOCUSES ON PRIOR PROPERTY OWNERS.UM, AS STAFF HAS ADMITTED THAT WE AREN'T SURE YET WHO THE ARCHITECTS ARE, WE WOULD LIKE SOME TIME TO, TO POSSIBLY HIRE OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT HISTORICAL CONSULTANTS.
UM, WHICH, WHICH MY CLIENTS PLAN TO DO, UM, TO, TO INVESTIGATE QUESTIONS SUCH AS WHO, WHO WERE THE ARCHITECTS, WHO WERE THE BUILDERS? UM, DO THESE PARTIES HAVE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR THE DISTRICT? UM, UH, HOW MANY OTHER TUDOR REVIVAL STYLE HOUSES ARE, ARE PRESENTLY IN THE DISTRICT? UH, BEING THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH A STYLE, UM, WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE PROPERTY? UM, UM, FURTHERMORE THAT THE APPLICATION MATERIALS DON'T SEEM TO BE ENTIRELY COMPLETE YET.
UM, UH, UNDER, UH, LDC 25 DASH 11 DASH TWO 13, UH, A COMPLETE APPLICATION FOR A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE WITHIN A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT IS REQUIRED.
SO IT, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE APPLICATION CONTAINS AT THE MOMENT IS BASICALLY A SIMPLE RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITION APPLICATION WITHOUT MORE.
UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE JUST TO SEE THAT APPLICATION, UH, TRES JUST TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT AND THE PLANS AND THE INTENT OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, FINALLY, THERE'S, THERE REMAINS A GREAT DEAL OF TIME THAT'S THAT, UH, BEFORE THIS, THIS HONORABLE COMMISSION HAS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION.
STAFF NOTED THAT THIS DEADLINE WAS NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
AND SO THAT AFFORDS AT AT LEAST UNTIL AUGUST.
UM, UH, AT THE VERY LEAST FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO BUTTRESS THIS RECORD AND SUPPORT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.
UH, AS PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED, THIS IS A PROMINENT BOULEVARD IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
AND, UM, AND, AND THIS HOUSE, I, I BELIEVE IS WORTHY OF LOOKING INTO, UH, WITHOUT RUSHING TO A DEMOLITION DECISION IF, IF TIME ALLOWS IT.
AND BECAUSE OF THESE REASONS, WE ARE REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT.
AND, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR SPEAKER? UM, I, I WILL SAY AS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION AND MAYBE SOMETHING AGAINST STAFF MIGHT ASSIST WITH, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.
UH, ADDITION, UM, WHOEVER DID IT KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
IT WAS VERY WELL DONE, VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE HISTORIC FABRIC.
I WONDER IF THEY INCORPORATED SOMETHING THAT WAS THERE FROM BEFORE AND IT'S JUST MODIFIED, BUT IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.
BUT IT'S ALSO VERY ODD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ENCLOSE AN ACTUAL ROOM SO THAT THERE'S A STORY THERE THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD, WHETHER IT'S PART OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE OR WHETHER IT'S SOME, UH, THOUGHTFUL PERSON WHO PUT THEIR STAMP ON IT.
UH, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP TELL THE STORY.
I ALSO WILL NOTE WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT THE TWO DOOR, UM, UM, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER BUILDING OF THAT ERA THAT HAS QUITE THAT DETAILING.
UH, SO THERE'S SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT THAT WAY THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER.
IT MAY JUST BE THE CRAFTSMAN WHO DID IT, BUT I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY WORTH LOOKING AT, UM, EITHER WHAT'S THERE NOW AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT OR IF THERE WERE OTHER ELEMENTS, UH, THAT WOULD BE RELATED TO THAT.
SO LET ME ENCOURAGE THAT CONTINUED DISCUSSION.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, SPEAKERS? OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS LINDSEY LEE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
MY NAME IS LINDSAY LEE AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING ONE OF THESE MEETINGS.
I HAVE LIVED IMMEDIATELY NEXT DOOR TO 2 0 0 9 TRAVIS HEIGHT BOULEVARD FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.
UM, FOR, WELL, SORRY, IT WAS ALREADY PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
I AM ASKING THAT YOU GRANT A 30 DAY DEMOLITION DELAY.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO DECIDE THAT THIS HOME SHOULD BE DESIGNATED A HISTORIC LANDMARK.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS BEFORE AN IRREVERSIBLE DECISION IS MADE.
2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD IS A CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY WITHIN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN WORKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THIS HOME.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER, SUBMITTED PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS, REVIEWED HISTORICAL SURVEYS, CONSULTED PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, AND SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THESE HOMES.
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS THE CURRENT OWNER OF 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, WHO ALSO SOLD US OUR HOME
[01:20:01]
AT 2011 TRAVIS HEIGHT BOULEVARD.IN 2011, LONG BEFORE THIS DEMOLITION REQUEST, SHE TOLD US THAT THESE HOMES WERE BUILT AS COMPANION SPEC HOUSES IN THE LATE 1930S BY THE DEAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING USING REINFORCED CONCRETE AND REBAR CONSTRUCTION.
WE ARE NOT PRESENTING THAT TONIGHT AS DOCUMENTED HISTORICAL FACT.
WE ARE PRESENTING IT AS LONGSTANDING OWNER PROVIDED HISTORY FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS OWNED BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES.
AND EXACTLY THE KIND OF LEAD THAT DESERVES TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE DEMOLITION IS ALLOWED.
REINFORCED CONCRETE WAS AN EXCITING AND INNOVATIVE BUILDING MATERIAL IN THE 1930S.
IT REPRESENTED DURABILITY, FIRE RESISTANCE, PERMANENCE, AND MODERN ENGINEERING.
IF THIS HOME WAS BUILT WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE WALLS AND CEILINGS, AS WE'VE BEEN TOLD, IT COULD REPRESENT AN UNUSUALLY EARLY EXAMPLE OF INNOVATIVE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN AUSTIN.
THE RECORDS WE NEED ARE NEARLY 90 YEARS OLD.
MANY HAVE NEVER BEEN DIGITIZED.
OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS REMAIN OUTSTANDING AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO ANSWER BASIC QUESTIONS.
WHO BUILT THESE HOMES? WHY WERE THEY CONSTRUCTED THIS WAY? AND WHAT ROLE MIGHT THEY PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS? THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THIS ADDITIONAL TIME MATTERS.
THIS HOME HAS NOT LOST ITS IDENTITY.
IT REMAINS A CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY BECAUSE IT STILL RETAINS THE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT.
HAVING LIVED BA BESIDE IT FOR 15 YEARS.
I CAN TELL YOU IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-BUILT HOME.
EXACTLY THE KIND OF STRUCTURE THAT THOUGHTFUL RESTORATION, SENSITIVE EXPANSION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE WORDS HEADED FOR.
UM, SORRY, I'M HURRYING 'CAUSE I HAVE 18 SECONDS LEFT.
I'M ALSO MET WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE SRCC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE.
THEY OPPOSE THIS MANY ADJACENT NEIGHBORS HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED LETTERS IN OPPOSITION AS WELL.
THIS IS NOT JUST ONE NEIGHBOR ASKING FOR MORE TIME, IT'S A BROADER COMMUNITY ASKING THAT THE HISTORY OF THIS HOME BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD.
UM, AND ALSO I WANNA POINT OUT, SORRY.
AND IT'S TIME YOU MAY CONCLUDE.
DO WHAT YOU, YOU MAY CONCLUDE YOU WANTED TO POINT OUT.
YOU MAY CONCLUDE JUST THE, AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD IS A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL PLACE THAT DESERVES MORE ATTENTION, UM, THAN JUST ANY STREET.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER? YES.
OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS PATRICK VEKA.
UH, IT WAS MY WIFE THAT JUST SPOKE A SECOND AGO.
UM, AS YOU HEARD, WE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD FOR ABOUT, UH, 15 YEARS NOW.
UH, I'D LIKE TO TALK LESS, UH, DURING MY TIME ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MORE ABOUT WHY THEY MATTER TOGETHER.
SO, HISTORIC DISTRICTS, AS YOU KNOW, ARE VALUABLE BECAUSE OF THE COLLECTION OF HOMES THAT THEY EMBODY, NOT BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE HOUSE WITHIN THAT DISTRICT IS INHERENTLY A LANDMARK.
SO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT IS ONE OF AUSTIN'S DEFINING HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF THE GROUPS OF THE HOME THAT REMAIN TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF TIME.
WE BELIEVE 2009 IS ONE OF THOSE HOMES THAT HAS REMAINED FROM THE BEGINNING PHASES OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN ITS INCEPTION, ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
THE LANDMARK CRITERIA RECOGNIZED THE COMMUNITY VALUE WHEN A PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER IDENTITY OR IMAGE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS HOUSE DOES.
PEOPLE DON'T CHERISH TRAVIS HEIGHTS BECAUSE OF ONE SINGLE ADDRESS.
THEY DO, BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCE WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD, THE MATURE TREES, THE WINDING STREETS, THE GREEN SPACES, AND THE COLLECTIONS OF HOMES THAT ARE LARGER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY.
AND AGAIN, EVERY CONTRIBUTING HOME HELPS CREATE THAT EXPERIENCE.
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE TODAY DOWN THE TRAP SITES BOULEVARD AND FRANKLY, EVERY DEMOLITION OF THE HOMES ON THIS BOULEVARD PERMANENTLY DOES CHANGE THE COMPOSITION AND COMPOSURE OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE NOT ASKING INHERENTLY TO PREVENT CHANGE.
TONIGHT, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE A 90-YEAR-OLD HOME, UH, THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE FABRIC OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DISAPPEARS FOREVER THAT THE CITY HAS HAD.
AND WE HAVE HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE MAY BE LOSING BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.
AN EXTENSION GRANTED TODAY IS A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME COMPARED TO NEARLY 90 YEARS OF HISTORY THAT IS FOUND WITHIN THIS HOUSE.
DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER? YES.
OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS PATTY VEKA.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS PROPERTY.
[01:25:01]
MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND THE OWNER OF 2011 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.UM, SINCE THE DEMOLITION NOTICE, UM, FOR 2009, TRAVIS BOULEVARD WAS POSTED.
I'VE SPENT THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF THAT PROPERTY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO MY HOME NEXT DOOR, AS HAS BEEN SAID, UM, BY THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, BOTH 2009 AND 2011 WERE OWNED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER OF 2009 UNTIL 2011 WAS SOLD TO US IN COINCIDENTALLY 2011.
UM, I WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER, UM, THAT BOTH HOUSES WERE BUILT BY A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ENGINEER, UM, CONSTRUCTED OF CONCRETE AND REBAR.
THEY WERE BUILT AS EXPERIMENTAL HOMES, UM, IN 1938.
UM, AND THAT THAT REINFORCED THERE WERE EXCEPTIONAL HOMES BECAUSE THAT REINFORCED CONCRETE AND REBAR CONSTRUCTION WAS, UH, WAS EXPERIMENTAL AND NEW FOR THAT, FOR THAT TIME.
WHILE WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY, UH, THOSE ACCOUNTS, OUR RESEARCH HASN'T UNCOVERED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THESE RECORDS ARE NEARLY 90 YEARS OLD, THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE IN ONE PLACE.
WE HAVE ALREADY LOCATED ORIGINAL PERMITS, UM, FOR 2009 AND IDENTIFIED EARLY OWNERS DETER.
BUT DETERMINING THE, UM, BUILDER, ARCHITECT CONSTRUCTION METHOD METHODS AND HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE HOMES REQUIRES MORE TIME.
ALTHOUGH WE DO KNOW THAT OUR HOUSE IS INDEED FOR CRIME CORD, CONCRETE AND REBAR.
UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO DETERMINE TONIGHT THAT THIS HOME IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE OUR RESEARCH, UH, INTO WHAT WE FEEL IS INDEED A HISTORICAL HOME WORTHY OF, UM, WORTHY OF ALLOWING IT TO BE SOLD TO SOMEONE THAT WILL LIVE IN IT AS IS OR, UM, UPDATE IT FOR, UM, TO, WELL TO SAVE IT FROM DEMOLITION.
UM, SO TONIGHT WE'RE ASKING ONLY FOR TIME.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU GRANT THE DEMOLITION DELAY SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE OUR RESEARCH BEFORE THIS HOME IS PERMANENTLY LOST.
UM, OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS EGON LITTLE JR.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND WELCOME.
GO AHEAD AND READ YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND I'M ASKING FOR MORE TIME TO REVIEW THIS HOME.
JUST TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT ON THIS HOUSE, MY WIFE AND I LIVED HERE FROM 2024 TILL JUSTICE MARCH, UH, OF 2026.
IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL T REVIVAL, SOLID PIER AND BEAM HOME THAT IS HELD UP INCREDIBLY WELL, ESPECIALLY FOR BEING NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THIS HOME, THIS HOME HAS ORIGINAL FLOORS, ORIGINAL DOORS, ORIGINAL WI WINDOWS, AND IT IS INCREDIBLY LIVABLE.
WHILE LIVING HERE FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, WE DIDN'T HANG A SINGLE ITEM, NOT ONE.
WE PERSONALLY FELT OBLIGATED TO PRESERVE THIS SPACE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I CALL FOR THIS HOME TO BE USED AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL EARLY 20TH CENTURY HOMES FOR THE SHEER FACT THAT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS SAW THE POTENTIAL OF THIS HOME.
AND INSTEAD OF TEARING IT DOWN, THEY BUILT ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMING PERGOLA AREAS THAT I HAVE BEEN IN.
IT IS BOTH ENCLOSED AND PARTIALLY ENCLOSED.
YOU'RE ABLE TO WALK IN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL AS WALK IN FROM THE LIVING ROOM AND WALK IN FROM THE DINING ROOM AS WELL.
IT HAS A CONTINUOUS ROOF TO THE ORIGINAL HOME, AND IT'S ALMOST AS IF IT WAS BUILT WITH THE HOME ITSELF.
IT ALSO HAS WORKING ELECTRICITY AND A FAN, ACTUALLY TWO FANS, AND IT'S VERY NICE.
ANOTHER PREVIOUS OWNER ALSO BUILT A FUNCTIONAL TWO PLUS CAR GARAGE THAT IS DETACHED AND IT ALSO KEEPS THE SAME TUDOR AND STUCCO LOOK AND FEEL OF
[01:30:01]
THE HOME.ANOTHER IMPORTANT AND VERY UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS HOME IS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS IT FROM THE ALLEYWAY IN THE BACK AND FROM THE FRONT.
AND THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOME CAN BE VIEWED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, SUCH AS FROM THE ALLEYWAY.
YOU CAN SEE THE STUCCO AND, UM, TUDOR TWO CAR GARAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE PERGOLA FROM THAT ALLEYWAY.
WHAT DREW US TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS THAT EACH AND EVERY HOME, WHILE EITHER A HUNDRED PERCENT ORIGINAL OR REHAB, KEPT THE INTEGRITY AND ORIGINALITY OF THEIR HOMES TO MAINTAIN A COHESIVE, FUNCTIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS HOME IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS AS A WHOLE IS MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE TO DO, MAINTAIN THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE PAST, WHILE TAKING TIME TO BUILD UPON IT, NOT TEAR IT DOWN.
I BELIEVE THIS HOME DESERVES MORE TIME TO UNCOVER ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, THE HARM THE, THE HOME HAS CHARMING, UNUSUAL FEATURES AND STRUCTURE THAT DESERVES MORE RESEARCH BEFORE IT'S PERMANENTLY REMOVED.
I ALSO WANT TO RECORD THAT IT HAS A VERY, VERY LARGE PECAN TREE, AND I'M NO ARBORIST, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S A HERITAGE TREE AND IT IS SMACK D IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY BETWEEN THE HOME AND THE GARAGE.
I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, MR. YES.
UH, THAT, AS, AS ODD AS THAT COURTYARD IS, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU TALKING ABOUT HOW FUNCTIONAL IT IS, BUT DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ITS ORIGIN? DID YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT YOU COULD SHARE?
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT IT WAS IN ADDITION TO THE PROPERTY, UM, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO MAINTAIN THE SAME SOLE OF THE HOUSE.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY PRODUCED SOME OF THE SAME DETAILS.
DID THEY WORK WITH, UH, PROPORTIONS? UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY IN SOME CASES WERE MATCHING IN OTHER CASES, POSSIBLY COMPLIMENTING VERY MUCH SO.
IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFULLY DONE AND VERY DELIBERATELY DONE, BUT SO UNUSUAL.
THAT'S PART I COULD NORMALLY POINT TO IT, SAY, OH YEAH, WE TYPICALLY DO THIS TYPE OF INTERIOR PERGOLA COURTYARD FOR OUR HOMES.
SO YEAH, THERE'S GRASS THERE AND EVERYTHING AND THE WATER DOESN'T COLLECT THERE EVEN AFTER A VERY HARD RAIN, IT JUST GOES THROUGH.
IT'LL, IT, IT WILL, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE ONE OF THOSE MYSTERIES THAT WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE RESEARCH AND KNOW MORE ABOUT.
DO WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS? YES, WE DO.
UH, OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH TROT.
UM, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH TROT AND I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
I LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 2007 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
UM, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ANY KIND OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO I AM REPRESENTING A NEWBIE HERE.
UM, BUT I DO CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS INTEGRITY TO BE HERE AND SPEAK, UM, ON BEHALF OF THIS PROPERTY, UM, REGARDING THE DECISION AT 2009 TRAVIS HARTS BOULEVARD.
I MEAN, I THINK YOU CAN TELL BY THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME.
THIS HOME IS AN EXAMPLE OF ADAPTIVE REUSE.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN MODIFIED, AND I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THAT'S SORT OF WHAT SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS PROPERTY.
IT DOES HAVE A LOT OF VALUE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE.
UM, I'M CURRENTLY LIVING NEXT DOOR.
UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ITSELF IS BEAUTIFUL.
WE HAVE WIDE STREETS, MOSTLY OLDER HOMES.
WE'RE LUCKY TO LIVE IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE GREEN SPACE.
IT'S, IT'S HARDER AND HARDER TO COME BY.
UM, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING EN ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR OUTDOOR TIME THERE.
THE DEMOLITION OF 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS AND ITS SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT WOULD NOT ONLY TEMPORARY TEMPORARILY DISRUPT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT COULD DO LONG AND POTENTIALLY PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES.
I'M NOT UNAWARE OF THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT THE CITY IS FACING.
I'M NOT UNAWARE OR IN OPPOSITION TO ALL TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES WITH TIME AND THERE'S ALWAYS A PUSH AND PULL OF, OF WHAT YOU DO OVER TIME AND WHAT YOU DECIDE TO MAINTAIN OR TAKE DOWN.
BUT TRAVIS HEIGHTS IS A TRULY SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S FILLED WITH CHARACTER AND I ASK THAT YOU EITHER DENY, DEMOLITION, OR IF NOT AT THE MOMENT, UM, FOR AT LEAST A DELAY UNTIL THERE'S A TIME, ENOUGH TIME TO FULLY CONSIDER WHAT MAY BE LOST IF WE DECIDE TO TAKE DOWN
[01:35:01]
THIS HOME.DO WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS? YES.
OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS CLIFTON LAD.
AND THE OTHER, OUR LAST IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS GARY BROWN.
MY NAME IS GARY BROWN AND I'M HERE TO READ A STATEMENT FROM MY FRIEND SAM VAN ALSTEIN, WHO OWNS THE HOUSE AT 2007 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
AND HE WRITES, I'M WRITING TO OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION OF THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE ORIGINAL HOUSE AT 2009 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
THE HOUSE IS A CLASSIC 1930S ERA STUCCO COTTAGE, AND IT IS LONG ADDED TO THE CHARACTER OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
ACCORDING TO THE REALTOR WHO LISTED THIS PROPERTY, IT RETAINS THE OVERALL ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT DEMOLITION OF THIS STRUCTURED WOULD DAMAGE THE OVERALL HISTORIC FEEL OF TRAVIS HYDES.
SAM BEN HOLSTEIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALRIGHT, DOES THAT CONCLUDE OUR SPEAKERS? THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND COMMISSIONER ACTON, SECOND COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
THAT MEANS WE ARE READY FOR A MOTION, MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND POSTPONE UNTIL THE NEXT HLC MEETING, WHICH WOULD BE IN AUGUST.
UH, COMMISSIONER ACTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UM, YEAH, I THINK THE, I THINK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE SPEAKING TO THIS IS COMPELLING.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE USE THIS TIME TO FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, UH, MAYBE HAVE THE OWNER COME FORWARD.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REINFORCE, UM, THE IDEA THAT FOR, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO SEE, WE CAN'T COMPEL, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS JUSTIFICATION FOR KNOCKING DOWN SOMETHING THAT APPEARS TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
UM, AND SO USUALLY THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE AN ENGINEERING REPORT, OR AT LEAST A COMPELLING PHOTO.
SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT SOMETHING THAT'S OTHERWISE IN A VERY GOOD SHAPE NEEDS TO BE DEMOED.
UM, AND I THINK THAT MAYBE IF WE GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, WE CAN DIG THAT UP AND WE COULD GET THE OWNER POTENTIALLY HERE.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS? WELL, I, I SECONDED IT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT NOT TO, UH, IT'S THE SAME APPLICANT, IT'S THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE, IT'S THE SAME STREET.
UH, AND, UH, I FEEL COMPELLED TO SUPPORT THE EXTENSION OR THE, THE POSTPONEMENT UNTIL AUGUST.
COMMISSIONER I HAVE A COMMENT.
RIGHT? THE BACK DOOR, WHAT MY, UM, COUNTERPART SAID, YES, I AGREE.
BUT THERE'S, FOR QUESTION FOR THE STAFF, THERE'S NO PLANS FOR EITHER HOUSE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE DON'T HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION YET FOR EITHER PROPERTY.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL MAY NOT KNOW, BUT DOES ANYBODY KNOW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THIS PERS THIS OWNER OWNS ANY MORE HOUSES ON THE STREET OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE? THERE'S ER, THAT'S JUST BY TOWN.
THAT'S ABOUT, AND THEN ALSO TOO, WITH THIS HOME CHECK WITH THE, UM, UT ENGINEERING SCHOOL WE HONOR.
UH, I'M, I'M GONNA JUST WEIGH IN NOT ONLY ON, UH, AN APPLICANT WHO, UH, HAS TWO TRAVIS HEIGHTS, HISTORIC DISTRICT DEMOLITIONS, BUT OBVIOUSLY FROM WHAT WE'RE HEARING ON BOTH IS A FAIRLY RECENT OWNER.
SO THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS ACTUALLY PURCHASED KNOWING THAT THEY HAD A, HIS POTENTIALLY HISTORIC OR AT LEAST A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THERE'S A REASON WHY THOSE DISTRICTS EXIST.
THE NEIGHBORS HERE TONIGHT, NOT ONLY ARE YOUR EFFORTS IN PROTECTING THE DISTRICT, BUT THROUGH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF MANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND MANY OF WHO PROCEEDED YOU, UH, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THAT DISTRICT TO BE LISTED.
AND WE HAVE LIMITED CONTROLS, BUT THAT IS AN INDICATION OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE, UH, BOTH COMMUNITY VALUE, UH, BUT ALSO ECONOMIC VALUE.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY SHORTSIGHTED FOR SOMEBODY TO IGNORE THAT.
UH, IT'S LIKE TAKING YOUR PIGGY BANK AND SMASHING IT TO PIECES BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE LOOK OF THE PIG.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MONEY THERE, THERE'S VALUE THERE.
[01:40:01]
THIS APPLICANT AND OTHERS WHO HAVE APPROACHED THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS, UH, AGAIN, AS A PIGGY BANK READY TO SMASH, UH, WOULD RECONSIDER THEY'D REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT, UH, AND HOW VALUABLE THESE RESOURCES ARE.AND, UH, I THINK IT'S AGAIN, A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF YOU RECOGNIZE THAT.
AND WE JUST NEED TO KEEP REMINDING FOLKS, UH, NOT TO SQUANDER IT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND LET'S HOPE WE CAN CONVINCE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, UH, OF WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
SO, UH, NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? UH, YES.
COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ? UH, YES.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION AND JUST BY A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, RESEARCH HERE.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW THE, SAY ZILLOW REALTOR, ET CETERA ARE FULLY UP TO DATE, BUT THEY SHOW THESE HOMES AS EITHER PENDING OR UNDER CONTRACT, BUT PERHAPS NOT YET CLOSED.
THAT MAY OFFER EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITY.
I CAN, I CAN VERIFY WITH, UH, 2009 THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
IT'S UNDER CONTRACT, SO IT MAY VERY WELL BE THAT, UH, ANOTHER BUYER MIGHT BE MORE SUITABLE IN THIS SITUATION.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T PARTICULARLY WONDERFUL PLACES TO BUILD NEW HOUSES, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE EXPENSE AT, AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR HERITAGE.
SO, UH, AGAIN, WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL USE THE TIME CONSTRUCTIVELY IF THIS MOTION PASSES.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IT DOES PASS.
[13. PR-2026-062639 – 1004 W. 43rd St. ]
OUR FINAL DISCUSSION CASE.THIS IS ITEM NUMBER, UH, 1 0 0 4 WEST 43RD STREET, UH, AND IS A, AGAIN, ANOTHER DEMOLITION REQUEST.
UM, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1938 HOUSE.
UM, THE ARCHITECTURE IS A ONE STORY BUNGALOW WITH PARTIAL WIDTH GABLE FRONT, FRONT PORCH, ONE OVER ONE WOOD WINDOWS, HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING, AND AN ASYMMETRICAL PLAN.
THE HOUSE AT 1004 WEST 43RD STREET, ALSO ADDRESSED AS ONE, UH, 1104 WEST 43RD STREET DURING THE HISTORIC PERIOD WAS CONSTRUCTED BY JERRY SCHILLER IN 1938.
SCHILLER WAS A CARPENTER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, FOR SEVERAL DECADES, AND IS LIKELY HIS HANDIWORK ALSO APPEARS ON HIS FAMILY DWELLING.
THE HOUSE'S UNUSUAL FENESTRATION PATTERN AND SOMEWHAT ANACHRONISTIC CRAFTSMAN INFLUENCES SUGGEST EITHER A NON-DEVELOPER BUILDER OR SEAMLESS CHANGES OVER TIME, COMPLETED BY A SKILLED CRAFTSPERSON.
THE SCHILLER FAMILY MOVED TO 1205 WEST 43RD STREET TOWARD THE END OF THE HISTORIC PERIOD.
UH, THE DEMOLITION APPLICATION FOR THIS PROPERTY FIRST APPEARS ON, UH, THE JULY ONE AGENDA.
UM, THE 75, THE 75 DAY TIMELINE FOR ACTION WILL, UM, CONCLUDE ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2026, UH, MEANING THAT YOU HAVE, UM, THE AUGUST MEETING AND THE SEPTEMBER MEETING.
UM, THE PROPERTIES MUST MISS MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE, UH, PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE RELOCATION OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE THE APPLICANT SHOULD BE ON VIRTUALLY AND THAT IS CORRECT.
OKAY, MR. LONGIE, YOU'RE, UH, YOU HAVE UP TO FIVE MINUTES TO, UH, DISCUSS YOUR CASE.
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY.
IT SITS ON A HALF LOT ADJACENT TO THE BLOOD BANK RIGHT ON NORTH LAMAR ACROSS FROM UCHI CO IN SOME COMMERCIAL.
UM, OUR INTENT IS, UH, WE BOUGHT IT THINKING WE MAY BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY AND COST EFFECTIVELY REHABILITATED, BUT IT'S IN SUCH POOR CONDITION THAT WE BELIEVE IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO DEMO IT AND BUILD A NICE LITTLE 16 OR 1700 SQUARE FOOT TWO STORY HOME ON THE PROPERTY.
SO I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I SAW IN THE BACKUP, WAS THERE ANY, UH, ENGINEERING EVALUATION OR ANY, UH, OTHER REPORT THAT WOULD, UH, GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE? NOPE.
I KNOW THERE'S, IT'S, IT IS A APPEAR AND BEAM THAT'S BEEN LEVELED A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOTHING OKAY.
THAT, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU HAVE AVAILABLE.
IF THERE HAVE BEEN EXPERTS WHO'VE LOOKED OVER THE PROPERTY AND CAN, UH, INDICATE THE, UH, CONDITION AND WHAT SOME OF THE CORRECTIVE MEASURES
[01:45:01]
MIGHT BE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE HERE ON THE COMMISSION AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH RESTORATIONS OF MANY PROPERTIES, UH, IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.SO, UH, THAT'S VERY USEFUL FOR US IN OUR EVALUATIONS.
IS THERE ANY QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WHAT ACTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE ON THIS? AGAIN, SINCE IT'S NOT IN ANY DESIGNATED DISTRICT, UH, THE, UH, REVIEW IS STRICTLY BASED ON ITS, UH, POTENTIAL AS A LANDMARK.
UH, AS STAFF HAS DONE ITS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, THEY INDICATE, UH, WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS, BUT WE DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR DELAY UP TO 75 DAYS.
I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
UH, SO THAT'S A MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, AND TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL LITTLE BUNGALOWS THAT WE SEE DISAPPEARING FROM OUR AUSTIN LANDSCAPE WITH REGULARITY, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT SUS SUPPORTS FURTHER DELAY ON IT.
THERE'S, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, AS SAD AS IT IS TO SEE IT GO, UH, I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT JUSTIFIES, JUSTIFIES OPPOSING THIS STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND COMMISSIONER ACTON? UH, I WOULD CONCUR.
AND SO THERE'S NO NEED TO DELAY.
AND, UM, ALSO I'D JUST LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE DONE INSTEAD OF LETTING THIS TIME OUT.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS LISTENING AT HOME.
WE HAVE, IF WE APPROVE A DEMOLITION, UH, AT ANY STAGE, IT COMES WITH A REQUIREMENT, UH, OR CAN COME WITH A REQUIREMENT AS IT'S THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL, UH, WITH FULL DOCUMENTATION, WHICH THEN GETS RECORDED AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
IF AN ITEM TIMES OUT AND WE DON'T TAKE AN ACTION, THEN THAT DOCUMENTATION IS, UH, IS FORFEITED.
SO WOULD I NEED TO ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? IT'S ALREADY PART OF THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO AS SOON AS YOU ACCEPTED THAT, UH, AS YOU SOON AS, PUT THAT IN YOUR MOTION.
UH, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, ON THE, UH, MOTION? I, I'M GONNA SAY I WAS INCLINED TO ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CONDITION, BUT I THINK BASED ON ITS LOCATION AS WELL, UH, IF THIS OWNER DID INDICATE THAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD DO TO FIX IT UP, UH, IT WOULD, KNOWING WHERE IT'S LOCATED, IT'D HAVE TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT UNIQUE ENOUGH EITHER ARCHITECTURALLY OR WITH ASSOCIATION THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT IF THIS REALLY ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO, THAT, UH, THE CITY WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN IN TELLING THEM THAT THEY REALLY HAVE TO.
SO, UM, I THINK RELUCTANTLY I THOUGH WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.
SO ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[14. Discuss nominations and possible action to approve a member for the Operations Committee. ]
DISCUSSION ITEM IS, UH, NOMINATION FOR APPROVAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER TO THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.AND WE HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER HARRIS, WHO HAS, UH, I SHOULD SAY NOT ONLY, UH, VOLUNTEERED FOR THE POSITION, BUT HAS ALSO ATTENDED ONE OF THE MEETINGS EVEN THOUGH, OH, YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT? NOPE.
I DIDN'T GET A NOTICE ABOUT IT.
YOU DIDN'T GET A NOTICE ABOUT IT.
BUT YOU WERE WILLING TO
SO, UH, I, I WILL, UH, UH, ACCEPT THE NOMINATION FOR COMMISSIONER HARRIS TO SERVE ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT.
UH, MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER BARR TO SERVE ON THE OPERATIONS.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS
[01:50:01]
IS STILL, UH, A QUORUM.SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THANK YOU.
DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS SELF-SERVING FOR ME TO VOTE FOR MYSELF.
YOU, YOU DO NEED TO VOTE FOR YOU IF YOU DON'T WANT IT.
IT'S, THAT'S, YOU COULD WITHHOLD YOUR VOTE AND WE'D BE STUCK.
[16. Approve the creation of a working group to engage in the Federal Historic Review Process and to obtain additional information and input regarding the historic Barton Springs Bridge and whatever may be proposed to restore, update, or replace it. ]
ALSO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A WORKING GROUP, UH, TO ENGAGE IN THE FEDERAL HISTORIC REVIEW PROCESS REGARDING THE BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE.UH, COMMISSIONERS, I KNOW WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF, UH, DISCUSSION TIME IN THE CASES THAT WERE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF US, UH, PREVIOUSLY, UH, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST WITHIN THE PUBLIC, AND THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC TYPE OF PROCESS THAT THE FEDERAL REVIEW GOES THROUGH.
UH, WE DO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS AUTOMATIC.
SO HAVING A WORKING GROUP THAT WILL BE ABLE TO STAY ON TOP OF THE MATERIALS SUPPLY AND COMMUNICATE, UH, TO ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTIES, I THINK WOULD BE VERY USEFUL.
UH, AND AT SOME POINT, IF THERE'S FURTHER ACTION THAT'S REQUIRED OR WE THINK IS, UH, ADVANTAGEOUS, WE'D HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO ARE UP TO SPEED ON ALL OF THAT.
UH, I CAN SAY THAT, UH, IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH SEVERAL OF THE MEMBERS, THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT BEING VERY EAGER TO SERVE ON THIS WORKING GROUP.
UH, SO WE COULD CREATE THE WORKING GROUP AND WE COULD POPULATE IT WITH, UH, SOME OR, OR A NUMBER OF THOSE MEMBERS.
UH, OR WE COULD GO AND CREATE THE WORKING GROUP FIRST AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHO'S ON IT.
UH, BY THE WAY, THE PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST ARE VICE CHAIR, UH, ROXANNE EVANS AND, UH, COMMISSIONER ACTON, AND THEN ALSO COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
UH, I WILL SAY COMMISSIONER ROCHE, UH, DOES, UH, IS GOING TO BE CONSULTING WITH, UH, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT REGARDING HIS ABILITY TO SERVE.
BUT, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, HE CERTAINLY IS VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN BEING ABLE, IF HE CAN SERVE FOR THE SAKE OF TIMELINESS, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT TO GO AHEAD AND APPOINT THE MEMBERS NOW.
AND THAT COULD BE AN MOTION IN, IN ADDITION TO CREATING THE WORKING GROUP.
UM, I THINK I HAD A QUICK, I HAD A QUESTION FOR STAFF, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD DINNER, SO I, I FORGOT.
UH, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE, UH, BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE WORKING GROUP AND, UH, APPOINT COMMISSIONER EVANS, UH, OR, OR NOMINEE COMMISSIONER EVANS, UH, LAROCHE AND ACTON.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL FIND OUT FROM COMMISSIONER LAROCHE IF, IF HE IS ABLE TO SERVE OR WILLING TO SERVE.
AND IF NOT, THEN WE'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, IF THIS MOTION PASSES, UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? I'LL SECOND.
UM, IT IS AVAILABLE FOR DISCUSSION IF WE NEED IT.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, ALVAREZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THE MOTION? UH, WELL, I, I THINK BY JUST THE QUANTITY OF EMAILS THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING, THERE IS A LARGE PUBLIC INTEREST IN REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE PARK SPRINGS BRIDGE AND I THINK THIS WORKING GROUP CAN HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO PERHAPS PRESERVE IT.
OH, UM, IF COMMISSIONER LAROCHE IS NOT ABLE TO SERVE, DO YOU HAVE A BACKUP? UM, UH, LET'S WAIT AND SEE.
BUT, UH, THAT, THAT MAY BE SOME, UH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD POST ON OUR AUGUST MEETING AT THAT POINT.
AND ALSO THIS, A WORKING GROUP JUST CONSISTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OR THE COMMISSIONERS AND, UM, CITY STAFF OR PUBLIC, OR JUST TO CLARIFY, SINCE WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, THE CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP, UH, IS NOT THE SAME AS CREATING A COMMITTEE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE HERE AND IT IS NOT STAFFED.
WHAT WE ARE DOING, HOWEVER, IS WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING FOR THE RECORD THAT ARE BASICALLY DEPUTIZING SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS AS THEY GO FORWARD TO BECOME EXPERTS ON OUR BEHALF.
AND IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HEAR FROM THEM AT REGULAR INTERVALS AS BENCHMARKS TAKE PLACE.
UH, AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT THAT AS, UH, THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE REGARDING THAT, THAT WE CAN THEN RELY ON THIS WORKING GROUP TO HELP US PURSUE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
WE KNOW THE VERY BEGINNING HAVING TO DO WITH THE PROCESS OF THE FEDERAL ENGAGEMENT.
UH, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THEY CAN'T REQUEST OR ASK HELP, BUT THIS IS NOT A STAFFED POSITION.
THE, UM, STAFF DOESN'T SUPPORT THE WORKING GROUP, BUT THEY CAN
[01:55:01]
PROVIDE INFORMATION.UM, I, I DO, I'VE GOT QUICK QUESTION FOR KIM.
UH, AND THIS IS AGAIN, UM, MY LACK OF NUTRITION AND IT'S, THE NAME IS COMPLETELY ESCAPING ME.
THERE IS A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT AUSTIN'S BRIDGES AND DOCUMENTING THEM, AND YOU'RE GONNA KNOW HIS NAME.
WE, WE WERE SCRATCHING OUR HEADS HERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT.
I, FOR THE LIFE OF ME COULDN'T, HE'S ACTUALLY ON THE PARKS BOARD NOW AS WELL.
SO I THINK HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS CASE.
I THINK HE WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE TO THE WORKING GROUP.
I DON'T QUITE KNOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE WORKING GROUP CAN CALL, YOU KNOW, KNOW IT.
IT'S, I WAS EXPLAINING TO OUR CHAIR THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO QUORUM ASSOCIATED, IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO TOOMA, IT'S SIMPLY A TRANSPARENT WAY OF SIGNALING THAT THERE'S A SMALL GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE GONNA BE TALKING THROUGH THIS ISSUE.
SO YOU WOULD BE WELCOME TO CONTACT HIM.
UM, YOU CAN EITHER CONTACT HIM THROUGH HIS PERSONAL OR THROUGH HIS PARKS BOARD, YOU KNOW, IF, UM, EMAIL AND I CAN HELP CONNECT YOU AS WELL.
UM, GOING BACK TO MY DOWNTOWN COMMISSION DAYS, I THOUGHT WE WERE ADVISED THAT WE HAD TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT QUORUM.
YOU WOULDN'T BE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A QUORUM THAT, THAT'S THE POINT OF THE WORKING GROUP.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT'S NOT A QUORUM OF THE COMMISSION.
AND IT'S, IF MORE PEOPLE JOIN THE WORKING GROUP RIGHT.
THEN YOU COULD RUN INTO A QUORUM ISSUE.
IF YOU HAD, IF YOU HAD, UM, MORE PEOPLE FROM THE LANDMARK COMMISSION, YOU DEFINITELY COULD.
SO YOU WOULD NEED TO WATCH THAT FOR SURE.
AND, AND JUST BECAUSE THIS IS ADJACENT TO A PARK PROPERTY, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID WITH THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WAS THAT WE LOOKED AT CREATING A JOINT, UH, WORKING GROUP ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE VERY CHALLENGING, UH, PROBLEMATIC.
IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO CREATE A JOINT WORKING GROUP BECAUSE LIKE JOINT COMMITTEES, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN ONLY BE C CREATED BY COUNCIL.
YOU CAN'T DECIDE TO CREATE A JOINT COMMITTEE THAT'S A COUNCIL ACTION, BUT YOU COULD ASK FOR A PERSON TO WROTE, COME AS A, I MEAN, IF YOU WERE TO ASK SOMEBODY TO ATTEND ONE OF YOUR MEETINGS, THEY WOULDN'T REALLY BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION ANYWAY THAT THEY'RE SERVING ON.
THEY WOULD COME AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THEIR OWN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE.
ALRIGHT, WELL WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO CREATE AND, UH, POPULATE THE NEW WORKING GROUP.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, AND I'M NOTING THAT WE ARE JUST AT, UH, QUORUM.
UM, ALSO FOR THE RECORD, UH, I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SCORE, UH, IF ANYBODY'S FOLLOWING IT, IS NOW ONE ZERO.
SO IN OUR FAVOR, THE US FAVOR
UH, I, I WILL SAY THAT LET'S, UH, UH, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, LET'S, UH, DISMISS WITH THE COMMITTEE UPDATES.
[17. Update from the Architectural Review Committee regarding the June 10, 2026 meeting. Members: Commissioners Koch, Alvarez, and Grogan.]
MEMO IN YOUR BACKUP REGARDING THE CONVENTION CENTER HOUSES.THIS IS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND I WOULD LIKE JUST TO QUICKLY CALL ON, UH, OUR STAFF, UH, MS. MCKNIGHT TO JUST GIVE US AN UPDATE.
UM, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE CONVENTION CENTER CAME TO THE COMMISSION AND THERE WERE SOME ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
THEY WERE, WE HAVE TWO HOUSES THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE TRUST HOUSE AND THE CASTLEMAN BULL HOUSE.
THE TRUST HOUSE IS A HOUSE THAT WAS MOVED TO THE SITE WHEN THE FIRST CONVENTION CENTER WAS CONSTRUCTED.
IT WAS AROUND, UM, IT WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED AROUND SECOND AND NICHES.
AND SO IT WAS RELOCATED, YOU KNOW, EARLY NINETIES, THE CASTLEMAN BULL.
AND IT WAS LANDMARKED AT THAT TIME.
THE CASTLEMAN BULL HOUSE WAS MOVED FROM ST.
DAVID'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND IT WAS, IT IS, IT'S BEEN IN THAT SPOT.
UM, IT'S GOT A VERY LONG, LONG TAIL, UM, AND HAS BEEN STRUGGLING TO FIND GOOD USE, BUT IT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND HAS NOT BEEN LANDMARKED.
UM, I WON'T GO INTO SORT OF WHERE EVERYTHING WENT, BUT THE, THERE WAS A PLAN TO BUILD A CHILLING PLANT AND NOT THE VICINITY OF WHERE THE, THOSE TWO HOUSES ARE.
AND IN WORKING WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, MULTIPLE OPTIONS WERE EXPLORED FOR WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THE TRASK HOUSE IN PARTICULAR.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, A REALLY TERRIFIC IDEA EMERGED, WHICH WAS TO RELOCATE THE TRASK HOUSE BACK TO, UM, NEARLY ITS ORIGINAL SITE AND MAKE IT A FEATURE OF THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
SO IT'LL BE SITTING IN A PLAZA ENVIRONMENT VERY CLOSE TO ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION, AND IT WILL BE INTERPRETED THERE AND USED AS A, AS A TOURIST SORT OF HISTORIC
[02:00:01]
SITE.AND THAT PROJECT IS WELL UNDERWAY AND IS WELL INTO DESIGN AND IS GONNA BE REALLY FANTASTIC.
SO IT WILL BE, UM, MOVED AND THEN LANDMARKED IN THIS SORT OF NEW OLD LOCATION.
THE CASTLEMAN BULL HOUSE, THE, THE, UH, THE PLAN AT THE TIME WAS TO REORIENT IT FACING THE CREEK BECAUSE THEY NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR THE DOWNTOWN SHILLING PLANT.
THE, THAT PLANT IS NO LONGER GONNA BE CONSTRUCTED BY AUSTIN ENERGY AT THAT SITE AT THIS TIME.
AND SO IT REMOVED THE NEED TO RELOCATE REALLY EITHER HOUSE, BUT WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD WITH THE TRASK RELOCATION.
THE CASTLEMAN BULL NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE REORIENTED.
SO THE ACTION FROM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WAS TO LANDMARK IN THE ANTICIPATED LOCATION, WHICH IS WHERE THE HISTORIC ZONING IS NOW.
SO THERE'LL BE SOME ACTION COMING UP TO BASICALLY CLEAN UP THE ZONING.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TAKEN ONE LANDMARK HOUSE AND MOVED IT BACK CLOSE TO ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION AND WE'VE GAINED A LANDMARK THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
SO, UM, REALLY GOOD WORK ON THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR, FOR WORKING WITH US ON THOSE TWO HISTORIC HOUSES.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE MEMO IS TRYING TO SAY.
THERE WILL BE SOME COUNCIL ACTIONS INITIATING REZONING OF THE CAMAN BULL.
IF I MAY, UM, AND KIM KNOWS SOME OF MY HISTORY WITH THIS AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT.
I WORKED ON CASTLEMAN BULL HOUSE FOR QUITE A WHILE, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
UH, AND WE HAD LINED UP A, UM, A STAKEHOLDER WHO WAS GOING TO COMPLETELY RESTORE IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ON CONSENT AT COUNCIL AND TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH TWO DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS TORPEDOED IT AT THE LAST MINUTE FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES.
AND I'M, I'M NOT BEARING A GRUDGE AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
UM, THE WALLER CREEK CONSERVANCY WOULD'VE BEEN HEADQUARTERED THERE WOW.
AS PART OF THE, AS PART OF THIS GIFT TO THE CITY.
UH, AND, UH, I'M GLAD THAT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING WITH IT BECAUSE IT PAINS ME EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY.
WELL, IT WAS, IT WAS WAITING FOR THE MORE VISIONARY LEADERS AT THIS CITY EFFORT.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE REALLY GONE WAY BEYOND, UH, UH, THEY ALSO WERE VERY EXTENSIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, I I REALLY THINK WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, UH, TO HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
HAVE THE PIGEONS FOUND A NEW HOME
I, I WILL JUST SAY ALSO FOR THE RECORD, I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING LATE, UH, BECAUSE NO MORE SCORES SO FAR.
UH, THE, UH, PRESERVATION TEXAS, THIS IS VERY TIMELY, UH, IS HAVING A SEMINAR, UH, AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN NEW BRAUNFELS IN AUGUST, ALL ABOUT MOVING HOUSES OR STRUCTURES.
AND ONE SEGMENT IN PARTICULAR IS ABOUT MOVING STRUCTURES BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION, UH, AS IT HAPPENS THAT, UH, WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT.
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT, UH, CONCEPT.
AND SO THE TRASH HOUSE IS GONNA BE IN A VERY RAREFIED GROUP WHERE A HISTORIC BUILDING WAS SAVED BY MOVING IT AWAY.
UH, BUT THEN OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES TO PUT IT BACK IN, IN NEARLY ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY MORE BUSINESS, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AND THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.