[00:00:05]
[CALL TO ORDER ]
WE ARE AT CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, CITY HALL.AND LET ME CALL TO ORDER, UH, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, UH, OUR MEETING FOR NOVEMBER 4TH, UH, 2026.
AND WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE, UM, THE CALL OF THE ROLE? CHAIR HEIMSETH.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE WILL BE ABSENT TONIGHT.
COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT MAY, IS PRESENT.
UM, COMMISSIONER RICE HAS INFORMED US HE WILL BE A, A FEW MINUTES LATE.
AND COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI PERHAPS WILL ALSO BE LATE.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL ]
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? YES, WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKER IS JEFFREY BROWN.
AND JUST TO REMIND OUR SPEAKERS, THESE ARE FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT MIGHT BE, UH, RELEVANT TO OUR COMMISSION.
I'M HERE ABOUT THE BROWNING HANGAR IN THE MUELLER DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A UNIQUE WOODEN BOW TRUSS HANGAR BUILT IN 1943.
IN 2002, THIS COMMISSION VOTED EIGHT TO ZERO TO ZONE THE HANGAR HISTORIC.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGREED SIX TO ZERO.
CITY COUNCIL PASSED IT ON FIRST READING IN, UH, 2003.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROCESS WAS NEVER FINISHED.
THE CASE NUMBER IS ON YOUR HANDOUT.
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, BECAUSE OF ITS HUGE OPEN FLOOR, THE HANGAR HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BUSIEST FREE PUBLIC SPACES IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE USE IT EVERY DAY, PETONK PLAYERS, MARTIAL ARTS AND EXERCISE GROUPS, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR SHADE ON A HOT AFTERNOON OR SHELTER FROM THE RAIN.
NOBODY PLANNED FOR THE HANGAR TO BE SO USEFUL AND SO POPULAR.
IT HAPPENED NATURALLY BECAUSE THE SPACE WORKS SO WELL.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HANGAR'S FUTURE IS NOW AT RISK.
ON OCTOBER 30TH, CITY STAFF TOLD COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S OFFICE THAT HISTORIC ZONING WILL MOVE FORWARD AS WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PLANNED, UNQUOTE, AND THAT A SALE OR LEASE WOULD NOT NEED A COUNCIL VOTE.
THAT MEANS A DEVELOPMENT DEAL COULD BE SHAPED FIRST AND PROTECTION COULD FOLLOW AFTERWARD AROUND WHATEVER THE DEAL REQUIRES.
THE SOLUTION IS FOR THIS COMMISSION TO FINISH THE WORK.
IT STARTED IN 2002, SO THAT PROTECTION OF THE HANGAR AND ITS OPEN FLOOR COMES FIRST BEFORE ANY DEAL.
TONIGHT YOU'RE CONSIDERING INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING ON SEVERAL PROPERTIES, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE SAME FOR ONE YOU ALREADY RECOMMENDED IN 2002.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOU TO FINISH IT.
PLEASE INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING NOW BEFORE ANY SALE OR LEASE AND NAME THE OPEN CLEAR SPAN FLOOR AND ITS PUBLIC USE AS CHARACTER DEFINING.
IF TWO OF YOU WOULD ASK TO PLACE THE BROWNING HANGAR ON YOUR DECEMBER AGENDA, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT FIRST STEP.
UH, AND I WILL NOTE, UH, MR. BROWN, UH, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, UH, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN FRONT OF COUNCIL AND SO IT MAY ALREADY, IT MAY BE AN ACTION THAT THEY JUST NEED TO FINISH AS OPPOSED TO ANY ADDITIONAL WORK ON OUR PART.
UM, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING, UM, WE WILL, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE STAFF LOOK INTO AND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
OUR NEXT P- PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKER IS IAN WILSON.
[00:05:04]
IS MR. WILSON HERE? IT LOOKS LIKE HE MAY NOT BE HERE AT THIS MOMENT.HE MAY BE LIKE SOME OF US STUCK IN TRAFFIC.
WELL, IF HE SHOWS UP, I'LL CALL HIM BACK.
ANYBODY ELSE? OUR NEXT IN, OUR, OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKER IS WHITLEY BONNER.
MY NAME IS WHITLEY BONNER AND I'M A MUELLER RESIDENT FROM DISTRICT NINE AND I AM HERE, UM, ASKING THAT YOU ALL COMPLETE THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION PROCESS FOR THE MUELLER HANGAR AS WELL.
UH, I HAVE, UH, ATTENDED CULTURAL EVENTS THERE AS WELL AS PLAYED SPORTS THERE AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAD LIKE POTLUCK, UH, UH, EXPERIENCES THERE AS WELL.
AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPEN SPACE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND DOES AS MY FRIEND JEFFREY, UH, POINTED OUT, DOES PROVIDE SHADE AND, AND COOLING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OUTSIDE, UH, DURING THAT TIME, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER.
SO, UH, THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
MS. BONNER, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE WHITLEY BONNER TWICE AS A SPEAKER, IF YOU KNOW? OKAY.
AND THEN, SO NOW OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH.
THANK YOU, CHAIR HEIMSATH, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, BILL BUNCH, I'M IN DISTRICT FIVE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED BY EMAIL FROM ME, UM, AND MY, OUR STAFF ATTORNEY, BEATRICE ANDERS SENT A LETTER EARLY THIS MORNING, UH, ADDRESSING THE CURRENT, UH, GOINGS ON AROUND THE HISTORIC BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE.
WANT AGAIN ASK YOU TO PLACE THIS ON YOUR AGENDA, SORT OF ECHOING THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, EARLIER SPEAKER, UH, FOR YOUR DECEMBER MEETING.
UM, THERE IS, UH, AS I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW, THE CITY SENT OUT A NOTICE, UH, CALLING FOR AN OPEN HOUSE MEETING THAT'S NOW SCHEDULED AT DAUGHERTY ARTS CENTER, UM, ON MONDAY, YOU KNOW, 10 DAYS FROM NOW, THE 16TH, FIVE TO SEVEN.
UH, AND IT WAS POSTED, UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE AGAIN AS SAYING, "WE'RE GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT AND YOU GET TO TALK TO US ABOUT OUR NEW BRIDGE WE'RE BUILDING FOR YOU." UH, AGAIN, AS INSISTING THAT THE ANSWER HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, THAT WE'RE GONNA TEAR DOWN A FEDERALLY PROTECTED BRIDGE AND BUILD A NEW ONE.
FEDERAL LAW IS OVERWHELMINGLY CLEAR THAT THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN TOUCH THE $42 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT THAT THE CITY INCORRECTLY CLAIMED WAS AWARDED.
IT WAS BETTER UNDERSTOOD, AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED FROM USDOT LAWYERS, THAT IT WAS EARMARKED FOR THIS PROJECT, SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAWS, INCLUDING SECTION 4F OF THE HIGHWAY ACT, WHICH VERY CLEARLY SAYS WE CANNOT TEAR DOWN THAT BRIDGE, UH, ABSENT BOTH, UH, USDOT AND TXDOT CONCLUDING THAT THERE'S NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT AL- ALTERNATIVE OR, OR MEANS OF SAVING THE BRIDGE AND ALSO SAVING ITS PARK SETTING, UH, ZILKER PARK LAND ON EAST SIDE AND UMA SCULPTURE GARDEN, BOTH OF WHICH WOULD REQUIRE TAKINGS OF THOSE PROTECTED AREAS, UH, BECAUSE THE NEW BRIDGE WOULD BE SO MUCH LARGER AND EXPANDED, UH, HIGHWAY TYPE CONSTRUCTION.
SO, UM, WE'VE LAID OUT THE INFORMATION WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE CITY.
THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING US TOOTH AND TOENAIL TO KEEP THIS INFORMATION SECRET.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE 16TH.
PLEASE COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING WALKING TOURS OF THE BRIDGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN SUN - THIS COMING SUNDAY IN THE MORNING, PR - UH, NEXT, UH, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IN THE MORNING, UM, 9:30 MEETING AT THE BACK GATE OF BARTON SPRINGS.
UH, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US, VIEW THE BRIDGE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED THROUGH A BUNCH OF DETAILED RESEARCH ON THIS PROJECT, UH, SO THAT IT CAN BETTER INFORM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
[00:10:01]
UH, LET ME JUST SAY I PERSONALLY AM PLANNING TO BE THERE MYSELF, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS HAVE DONE IN RAISING THIS ISSUE AND BRINGING FORWARD THESE IMPORTANT, UH, O- OBJECTIVES.SO WE'RE, WE WILL CONTINUE, BUT THIS WILL BE CONTINUED FOR SURE.
UM, DO WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS? YES, IT DOES LOOK LIKE OUR PREVIOUSLY MISSING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKER, IAN WILSON, IS HERE.
UM, IAN WILSON, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
UH, I'M ON THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD, UM, AND, UH, I THINK WE AS A GROUP ARE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROJECTED AND ONGOING ALONG E.
CESAR CHAVEZ, UM, AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UH, OUR NEIGHBORING NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION, THE E.
CESAR CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
UM, AND SO I THINK THE KIND OF BROAD, UH, COMMUNICATION UPDATE, I THINK I, INDIVIDUALLY AS A BOARD MEM - I INDIVIDUALLY, AS WELL AS I, IN MY CAPACITY AS A BOARD MEMBER, UH, WANT TO CONVEY IS JUST THAT WE, UM, ARE APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT GOES ON, UH, TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL DO OUR BEST.
UH, WE ARE A SMALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT ALL OF OUR TIME COMES OUT OF OUR, THE REST OF OUR LIVES, UM, BUT IT JUST, IT FEELS IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE THINGS.
UH, AND SO I KIND OF, THIS IS TO STAFF, THIS IS TO YOU ALL, JUST SAYING THAT, THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT IN.
WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T RESPOND TO ALL THE CASES AND ALL OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT WE GET MAIL ABOUT, UH, BUT THOSE ARE NOT UNSEEN AND THE EFFORT THAT, THAT IS REQUIRED TO, TO GET THOSE TO SHOW UP, UH, AND TO HAVE THINGS BE CONSIDERED IS JUST, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE DON'T RESPOND, BUT WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR, UH, YOUR CONSIDERATION AND, AND, AND WE HOPE YOU KEEP ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
WELL, UH, LET ME JUST SAY, MR. WILSON, I WANNA THANK YOU AS, UH, AN, SOMEBODY PUTTING IN YOUR VOLUNTEER TIME.
MYSELF AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE ALSO VOLUNTEERS.
OH, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
NO, AND, AND - I'M SAYING WE'RE, WE'RE PARTNERS AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'RE HERE EVERY MONTH AND WE DO EVER- EVERYTHING WE CAN IN BETWEEN, BUT OUR, OUR JURISDICTION AND OUR FOCUS HAS GOT TO BE THE WHOLE CITY.
UH, WE ONLY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE GROUPS LIKE YOURS AND HOLLY ARE CARRYING THE BALL AND MOVING FORWARD.
UH, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S GOING TO BE UNDER EVEN MORE PRESSURE, AND SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'LL HAVE ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT ARE IN AREAS WHERE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE GOTTEN SO RED HOT, WE, ALL OF US BASICALLY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IF THERE'S GONNA BE ANY PRESERVATION AT ALL.
SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND WE DON'T GET, WE'RE NOT HERE FOR THANKS NECESSARILY, BUT, UH, WHEN, WHEN WE'RE GONNA, WHEN YOU SEND IT TO US, WE'LL APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH, I, I JUST KNOW I'M THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY AND I JUST, THERE ARE THINGS THAT I DON'T RESPOND TO THAT I MEAN TO OR I WANT TO, AND SO AS, AS PENDANTS, I'M COMING HERE TO JUST SAY THANKS.
WELL, AND, AND LIKEWISE, SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? WE HAVE NO OTHER PIC - PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS.
OKAY, AND I'LL NOTE THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI IS NOW VIRTUAL, SO WE'VE EXPANDED OUR QUORUM EVEN.
[Consent Agenda]
POINT, LET US GO AHEAD AND REVIEW THE AGENDA.ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE FIRST HAVE THE OCTOBER 7TH, 2026 MINUTES.
THESE ARE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
WE HAVE TWO BRIEFINGS TONIGHT.
FIRST, A BRIEFING ON THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS MATERIALS FORUM AND DECONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP BY STAFF, AND THEN A BRIEFING ON 1010 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET'S PROGRESS.
UH, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL.
OUR HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATIONS TONIGHT, UH, WE JUST HAVE ONE, CASE NUMBER C14H20260063 AT 103 WEST 33RD STREET.
THIS IS THE WHITE SHEFFIELD HOUSE.
THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM TONIGHT.
UNDER CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS TONIGHT, WE HAVE ITEM FIVE, PR2026008188 AT 1005 EAST 8TH STREET.
THIS IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM SIX, PR 2026 122133, HR2026130765 AT 2000 CEDAR AVENUE.
ITEM SEVEN, HR2026130922, UH, 4115 AVENUE D IS OFFERED FOR...
OH, UH, THAT ONE WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT APPLICATIONS.
FIRST ITEM EIGHT, PR2026079349
[00:15:02]
AT 706 EAST MONROE STREET WILL ALSO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.ITEM NINE, HR2026188, 672 AT 211 ACADEMY DRIVE IS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 10, PR2026125480, HR2026126586 AT 2112 CLIFTON STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
AND ITEM 11, PR2026125072 AT 1918 NOONAN AVENUE WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
FOR DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION APPLICATIONS TONIGHT, WE BEGIN WITH ITEM 12, PR2026040403 AT 1808 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET.
UH, THIS IS A DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT FOR INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 13, PR202611368 AT 800 WEST 34TH STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, AS WELL AS ITEM 14, PR2026113706 AT 801 WEST 34TH STREET, UH, ALSO A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM 15, DA2026132248 AT 2307 RIO GRANDE STREET IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 16 DA 2026 132279 AT 2309 RIO GRANDE STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM 17, PR2026130461 AT 2002 NEW YORK AVENUE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 18, PR 2026, 127240 AT 909 WEST 22ND AND A HALF STREET WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, AS WELL AS ITEM 19, PR 2026 131502 AT 1906 SL DAVIS AVENUE.
ITEM 20, PR 2026 1242845115 AVENUE F IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
AND ITEM 21, PR 2026, 126880 AT 3421 MONTE VISTA DRIVE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FINALLY, ITEM 22, PR2026125678 AT 3308 CHERRY LANE HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
UNDER DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS TONIGHT, WE HAVE ITEM 23, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ADOPTION OF NEW HISTORIC SIGN STANDARDS.
UH, THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
UH, WHAT WE WILL DO RIGHT NOW IS GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE OFFERED FOR CONSENT, AND WE WILL TYPICALLY ONE BY ONE SEE IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
UH, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS, PLEASE BE AWARE WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA WHEN IT'S PASSED, THAT ITEM WILL ALSO BE PASSED, UM, WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO SPEAK, YOU CAN WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK, BUT, UH, WE'LL CALL YOUR NAME IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP ONE BY ONE AND CERTAINLY ANYBODY CAN PUT THEIR COMMENTS ON THE RECORD IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
UH, SO OBVIOUSLY WE START WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS OUR MINUTES.
AND I BELIEVE THE FIRST WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER SIX, 2000 CEDAR AVENUE.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER IN FAVOR ON THIS ITEM, AND THAT IS SEAN CROGAN.
WHO HAD HIS RIGHT SPEAKERS RIGHT? ALL RIGHT.
UH, THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER 10 AT 2112 CLIFTON STREET.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM AS WELL IN FAVOR, AND THAT IS ERIC RIBBONS.
WHO HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK.
AND BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONERS MAY ALSO WANNA WEIGH IN, UH, AS I WILL ON THIS ONE.
WE DON'T GET IT, WE DON'T GET TO SAY GOOD THINGS SOMETIMES WHEN WE SPEND ALL OUR TIME WITH WHAT'S NOT WORKING, BUT, UH, I WANTED TO DO A LITTLE PAT ON THE BACK THERE.
UH, I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PLANS AND OFFER SOME SIMILAR, UH, OP- OPTIONS WHEN THEY COME FORWARD.
UH, THE NEXT ONE IS, UM, GETTING ALL THE WAY TO NUMBER 15.
THAT'S 2307 RIO GRANDE STREET.
WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
OUR FIRST TWO SPEAKERS ARE IN FAVOR AND THEY'RE THE APPLICANT TEAM, AND THAT IS LEAH BOJO AND ASHLEY FISHER.
WHO HAS WAIVED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK.
NOW WE HAVE ONE IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER, AND THAT IS KATHY NORMAN.
MS. NORTON, PLEASE, YOU MAY COME SPEAK.
I'M, UH, HERE TO SPEAK FOR UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS IN WEST CAMPUS.
UM, MY ONLY OPTION WAS FOR OR AGAINST, BUT WE ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE HISTORIC
[00:20:01]
PROPERTY.UM, WE MAY HAVE HEARD SOMETHING IN THE PAST ABOUT A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE'RE MEETING ON TUESDAY AND THE GROUP VOTED LAST TUESDAY, UM, TO REQUEST POSTPONEMENT SO THAT WE COULD HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS ONE AND ABOUT, UH, THE NEXT, UM, ITEM, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ANYTIME, UM, COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO PULL ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION, UH, AND, UH, THIS...
I WAS ON THE FENCE ON THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THE TWO IN PROXIMITY.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECOMMEND THAT WE PULL THAT ONE FOR DISCUSSION AND LET, WE, YOU CAN HAVE A FULL, UH, DISCUSSION AT THAT POINT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK ANYMORE.
UM, SO THAT WILL NOT BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE THAT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
[17. PR-2026-130461 – 2002 New York Ave. Council District 1 ]
THAT'S 2002 NEW YORK AVENUE.WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
OUR IN FAVOR SPEAKER IS NICK FOX.
WHO HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK.
OUR IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS SCOTT MENZIES.
I AM, UH, PART OF THE ROBERTSON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AN ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD TO, UH, 2002 NEW YORK.
UM, THANK YOU VERY, FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION AND PRESERVING AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT REGARDING 2002 NEW YORK AVENUE.
WHILE CITY STAFF ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PROPERTY IS A GOOD REMAINING EXAMPLE OF NATIONAL FOLK ARCHITECTURE, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE HOME LACKED SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO STRONGLY CHALLENGE THAT CON- CONCLUSION.
IF WE ONLY MEASURE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE BY THE ACTIONS OF POLITICAL ELITES, WEALTHY MERCHANTS, OR GRAND ARCHITECTS, WE SYSTEMATICALLY ERASE THE HISTORY OF UNDERREPRESENTED WORKING CLASS CITIZENS WHO ACTUALLY BUILT AND SHAPED EAST AUSTIN.
SUELA DUKE'S LIFE IS DEEPLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
IN 1940, SHE WAS A BLACK WOMAN EARNING A LIVING AS A SEAMSTRESS.
IN AN ERA DOMINATED BY THE RIGID SEG- SEGREGATION AND ECONOMIC DISENFRANCHISEMENT ENFORCED BY AUSTIN'S 1928 MASTER PLAN, MS. DUKE WAS NOT JUST SURVIVING, SHE ACHIEVED INDEPENDENT PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
FOR A WORKING CLASS BLACK WOMAN TO OWN A HOME IN EAST AUSTIN AT THAT TIME IS A PROFOUND TESTAMENT TO BLACK RESILIENCE, ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE, AND COMMUNITY PERMANENCE.
FURTHERMORE, THIS HOME REPRESENTS THE BROADER WORKING CLASS FABRIC OF AUSTIN.
CITY RECORDS SHOW THAT MS. DUKE OPENED HER HOME TO FAMILY MEMBERS, CECIL AND STERLING DUKE, AND I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT THREE PEOPLE LIVED IN A 400 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE.
UH, THEY WORKED AS JANITORS AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THIS HOUSEHOLD PROVIDES US WITH A DIRECT UNALTERED WINDOW INTO THE LIVES OF THE ESSENTIAL LABOR FORCE THAT KEPT OUR STATE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING EVERY DAY, ALL WHILE BEING LEGALLY SEGREGATED BY THE CITY THEY SERVED.
THIS LEGACY OF WORKING CLASS PERSEVERANCE AND HOME OWNERSHIP CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE '60S.
THE HOME AT 2002 NEW YORK BECAME THE ANCHOR FOR THE JONES FAMILY NETWORK.
THROUGHOUT THIS DECADE, MEMBERS FROM THE JONES FAMILY RESIDED AT 2006 NEW YORK AS WELL, A STRUCTURE OF THE SAME ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, WHICH WAS DEMOLISHED IN 2017.
BY TWO, BY 1975, ISRAEL AND ELLIS JONES WERE ALSO RESIDING AT 2004 NEW YORK, WHICH NO LONGER STANDS.
AS A RESULT OF THE ERASURE OF THESE HOMES, 2002 NEW YORK STANDS AS AN ABSOLUTE RARE EXAMPLE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HOMES THAT REPRESENT WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES AND THE ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE OF THIS BLOCK.
IF WE DENY LANDMARK STATUS TO HOMES LIKE THIS, WE SEND A MESSAGE THAT THE LIVES OF BLACK SEAMSTRESSES AND STATE JANITORS ARE NOT WORTHY OF PRESERVATION.
THIS HOME MEETS, MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION BECAUSE IT EMBODIES THE EXACT HISTORY OF RESILIENCE THAT DEFINES EAST AUSTIN.
I URGE THE COMMISSION TO LOOK BEYOND ELITE HISTORY AND RECOGNIZE PROFOUND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SUELLA DUKE, DUKE'S HOUSEHOLD AND PROTECT THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
UH, I BELIEVE THE STAFF HAS SAID THAT THERE WAS...
PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD, UH, HEARD FROM AN OWNER THAT WAS TRYING TO GET THIS STRUCTURE MOVED, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT WASN'T THE CASE, WASN'T...
UH, THIS WAS AN APPLICATION THAT WAS APPROVED BY HLC, UH, IN 2025 FOR A RELOCATION PERMIT.
UM, THE SCOPE OF THAT, UH, PROJECT HAS CHANGED AND HAS NOW COME BEFORE YOU AS A DEMOLITION
[00:25:01]
PERMIT.AND IS THAT THE SAME APPLICANT? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS, YES.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, WE CAN LEAVE THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY, WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR PREVIOUS, UH, DISCUSSIONS, UH, WHEN THIS WAS ON OUR AGENDA, NOT INITIATED HISTORIC ZONING, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH OUR ONLY TOOL AT THIS POINT.
BUT, UH, IF THERE IS A DESIRE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND ITS OPTIONS ARE FOR SAVING IT, WE CERTAINLY COULD PULL IT.
WELL, THAT, THEN IT WILL REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 20, AND THAT'S, UH, 5115 AVENUE F.
WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
AND I'M, I'M JUST, AGAIN, A COMMENT ON THIS ONE.
UH, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THE DRAWINGS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, I UNDERSTAND, WEREN'T, UH, INTENDED TO BE A PRESENTATION, UH, TO THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION, SO IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY PLANNING.
BUT ONCE I DID, UH, I'M ACTUALLY RATHER IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THAT THEY'VE PUT A SECOND BUILDING, UH, ADJACENT TO A OLDER STRUCTURE AND DID AN ADDITION TO THE OLDER STRUCTURE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE VERY RESPECTFUL.
AND SO, UH, AGAIN, UH, COMPLIMENTS, THIS WAS QUITE A CREATIVE SOLUTION WHEN A TREE WAS IN THE WAY, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT THE APPLICANT, UH, FIXED THE PROBLEM BY HAVING THE FRONT DOOR ON THE ALLEY.
SO
UH, I WISH THE PLANS HAD BEEN A LITTLE CLEARER, BUT, UH, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK, AND I WANTED TO PASS ON COMPLIMENTS, UH, TO THIS ITEM AS WELL.
ITEM NUMBER 21 AT 3421 MONTE VISTA.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IN FAVOR, AND THAT IS JAMES LARUE, WHO HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK.
I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOVE TO APPROVE, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH, UH, THE EXCEPTION OF, UH, ITEM 15, WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I WILL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT COMMISSIONER RICE HAS ALSO NOW JOINED US, UH, SO WE HAVE EVEN MORE, UH, VOTES THAT IT IS UNANIMOUS.
[Items 5. & 9.]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA WILL BE THE POSTPONEMENTS, UH, THAT WERE INITIATED BY APPLICANTS.THAT IS A ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, THE 1005 EAST 8TH STREET AND ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS 211 ACADEMY DRIVE.
UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO POSTPONE THOSE TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEMS FIVE AND NINE TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
THE SECOND COMMISSIONER HARRIS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND AGAIN, I SEE IT AS UNANIMOUS.
THAT POSTPONEMENT HAS BEEN DONE.
[12. PR-2026-040403 – 1808 E. Cesar Chavez St. – POSTPONED BY APPLICANT Council District 3 ]
FINAL DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT IS AT 1808 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ.THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY THE APPLICANT, UH, ENOUGH TIMES NOW THAT WE'LL ACTUALLY GET TO THE END OF, UH, A PERIOD THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP IT ON THE AGENDA, UNLESS WE ARE TO MAKE THAT AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
AND I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE SOME QUALIFICATIONS FROM STAFF BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU WERE REACHING OUT TO THE APPLICANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD AND WERE ACCEPTING THAT.
UM, WE HAVE NOT HEARD A RESPONSE FROM, UH, THE APPLICANT, UH, AS OF THIS TIME.
NOW, IF WE JUST DID A POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO AHEAD WITH BASICALLY ALL NEW NOTIFICATION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHEREAS IF IT'S AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT, AT ANY POINT THEY WANTED TO COME BACK, THEY COULD GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, THOUGH THERE STILL WOULD BE A RE-NOTIFICATION.
OKAY? COMMISSIONERS, IT IS, UH, YOUR CHOICE.
UH, I THINK THAT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT MAKES SENSE AT THIS, THIS POINT.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED THE OWNER TO HAVE WEIGHED IN, BUT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT ACTION REGARDLESS.
GIVEN THAT THE APPLICANT CAN MOVE FORWARD AT A LATER DATE, I'D, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND AGAIN, I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED, SO IT IS UNANIMOUS.
UH, AT THIS POINT, WE CAN PROCEED.
[00:30:01]
WE ARE[2. Staff briefing regarding the Deconstruction Workshop and Sustainable Materials Forum by Cara Bertron, Program Manager II, Austin Planning; Beth Larkin, Project Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation; and Elizabeth Nelson, Planner Principal, Austin Resource Recovery.]
STARTING WITH THE FIRST OF TWO BRIEFINGS.I'LL REMIND, UH, THE AUDIENCE, THE BRIEFINGS ARE FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
WE'RE NOT TAKING OR POSTED FOR ANY ACTION.
HOWEVER, UH, COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF THERE'S ANY OTHER SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FROM THE PRESENTERS, WE CERTAINLY, UH, HAVE THAT ABILITY.
SO WELCOME AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE, THIS VERY IMPORTANT DECONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
KARA BERTRAND WITH AUSTIN PLANNING.
I AM JOINED BY ELIZABETH NELSON FROM AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.
AND WE HAVE, UM, FROM AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, BETH LARKIN, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING REMOTELY.
WE ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A COUPLE OF RELATED EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP VERY QUICKLY.
THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS FORUM, WHICH IS HAPPENING NEXT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, AND THE DE - A DECONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP HAPPENING THE FOLLOWING WEEK, NOVEMBER 16TH THROUGH THE 20TH.
THESE ARE REALLY BIG AND, AS THE CHAIR SAID, IMPORTANT EVENTS, AND THEY'RE BEING ORGANIZED BY MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS, AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, AUSTIN PLANNING, WHICH HOUSES THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, AND AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.
AND WE ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, TEXAS, USGBC TEXAS ON, ON, UH, THESE EVENTS.
SO THE FORUM AND THE WORKSHOP ARE UNDER A SINGLE UMBRELLA BECAUSE THEY SHARE SOME IMPORTANT GOALS TO EXPAND THE CONCEPTION AROUND WHAT SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MEANS TO INCLUDE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, GREEN NEW BUILDINGS.
I THINK PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT NEW BUILDINGS.
UM, ALSO, UH, RETENTION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND RETROFITS OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
UM, DECONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS IN SALVAGE MATER - OF SALVAGING MATERIALS AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
SO KEEPING MATERIALS, UM, IN USE, BOTH THAT COULD BE SALVAGED OR OTHER THINGS.
WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SUSTAINABLE BUILDING INITIATIVES IN THE AUSTIN AREA AND BEYOND, UM, REALLY, AGAIN, BROADLY DEFINED WHAT THE, ABOUT WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE.
AND ALSO SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, CERTAINLY WITH LOCAL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, UM, WHO ARE WORKING IN GREEN BUILDING OR INTERESTED IN GREEN BUILDING, UM, AND ALSO CONSTRUCT, UH, CONTRACTORS WHO WILL BE INTERESTED IN BUILDING DECONSTRUCTION.
UM, I WILL HAND THE, I'LL PASS THIS MIC OVER TO ELIZABETH TO TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS FORUM.
UM, AND I'LL JUST MENTION BEFORE SHE STARTS TALKING THAT COMMISSIONER ACTON, UM, IS GOING TO BE MODERATING A PANEL.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION REPRESENTED.
SO YES, UH, I'M ELIZABETH NELSON WITH AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.
AS KARA MENTIONED, THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS FORUM WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 13TH, AND IT'LL BE AT THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
UH, THIS WILL BE A FREE FULL DAY EVENT THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, WE'LL HAVE SOME GREAT EDUCATIONAL PANELS, UH, WITH SPEAKERS FROM, UH, ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY.
WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS THAT'LL INCLUDE TOPICS LIKE, UH, MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS, EMBODIED CARBON, WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANNING THAT'LL GIVE ATTENDEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, MEET IN SMALL GROUPS TO REALLY DIVE DEEP INTO THESE TOPICS.
WE'LL HAVE SOME, UH, GREAT ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL BE TABLING AT THE EVENT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF, UH, THEIR WORK IN THIS AREA.
UH, AND ATTENDEES WILL GET TO RECEIVE A NICE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND AS, UH, CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR AIA AND GBCI.
SO SOME OF THE PANELS THAT WE'LL HAVE, UH, WILL INCLUDE, UH, SOME SPEAKERS WHO WILL DISCUSS, UH, LIKE EMBODIED CARBON, MATERIAL REUSE, BUILDING REUSE.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT HOW, UH, BU- BUSINESSES CAN BUILD OUT REUSE.
WE'LL BE DISCUSSING SOME INNOVATIONS FOR CIRCULARITY, BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES, UH, AND WE'LL ALSO BE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES AROUND BUILDING DECONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, REALLY GROW ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE DECONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP THE FOLLOWING WEEK WILL REALLY DIVE MUCH DEEPER INTO.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT BUILDING, UH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT MATERIAL EXCHANGES, UM, HOW WE CAN, UH, COORDINATE EXCHANGING SALVAGE MATERIALS ON A REGIONAL LEVEL.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR, UH, PANEL ON RETHINKING WHAT'S ALREADY BUILT, WHICH KARA MENTIONED WILL INCLUDE, UH, COMMISSIONER ACTON AS A MODERATOR.
AND SO NEXT UP, I WILL, UH, PASS THINGS OFF TO BETH WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THE DECONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP.
[00:35:01]
Y'ALL.UH, MY NAME IS BETH LARKIN, AND I'M A PROJECT MANAGER FOR AUSTIN PARKS AND REC IN THE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, PARK DEVELOPMENT.
UH, I'M MANAGING PHASE ONE OF THE JOHN TREVINO METRO PARK.
UM, THIS DECONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP WILL TAKE PLACE NOVEMBER 16TH THROUGH 20TH AT THE PARK.
UH, THIS IS PART OF THE PHASE ONE IMPLEMENTATION AND THE REMOVAL OF HOUSE ONE WAS SPECIF- SPECIFICALLY CALLED FOR IN THE VISION PLAN.
UH, WE'RE USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PAIR THE REQUIRED SITE WORK WITH HANDS-ON TRAINING IN SUSTAINABLE DECONSTRUCTION.
UM, THIS WORKSHOP TRAINS CONTRACTORS AND CITY STAFF IN SAFE METHODICAL DECONSTRUCTION.
IT'LL COVER SITE LOGISTICS, STRUCTURAL DIS - SYSTEMS, DISASSEMBLY TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT.
IT BUILDS THE LOCAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND A PRACTICE THAT REDUCES WASTE AND ADVANCES CIRCULAR ECONOMY GOALS.
UM, WE'VE KEPT THE SPACE LIMITED SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HANDS-ON NATURE OF THE WORKSHOP, AND WE'VE KEPT THE COSTS DOWN TO $250 PER ATTENDEE.
SO THE STRUCTURE THAT WILL BE DECONSTRUCTED, KNOWN AS HOUSE ONE, IS A SMALL SINGLE FAMILY WOOD FRAME RESIDENCE BUILT IN THE LATE 1950S.
HISTORICALLY, THIS BUILDING SERVED AS A CARETAKER'S HOUSE WHEN THE SITE FUNCTIONED AS MORRISON RANCH.
NEITHER THE MISHES OR THE MORRISONS RESIDED IN THIS BUILDING.
IT IS NOW VACANT AND LOCATED WITHIN THE PLAN- PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PHASE ONE AREA OF THE PARK.
WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE REQUIRED REGULATORY STEPS, INCLUDING OBTAINING OUR SITE PLAN EXEMPTION AND OUR DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UH, IMPORTANTLY, THE MATERIALS FROM THIS HOUSE, PARTICULARLY THE OLD GROWTH LUMBER, WILL BE SALVAGED AND REUSED ON SITE AS PART OF PHASE ONE OR IN OTHER AUSTIN PARKS.
THIS ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS AND SUPPORTS WASTE DIVERSION GOALS.
TRADITIONAL DEMOLITION WOULD SEND ROUGHLY 30 TONS OF MATERIAL OR ABOUT 150 CUBIC YARDS TO THE LANDFILL.
THIS PROCESS NOT ONLY DIVERTS WASTE, BUT ALSO PRESERVES VALUABLE BUILDING MATERIALS THAT EMBODY OLDER LUMBER QUALITIES THAT ARE INCREASINGLY HARD TO SOURCE TODAY.
FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, THIS IS A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS EMISSIONS REDUCTION, RESOURCE CONSERVATION, AND MATERIAL CIRCULARITY.
FOR THE MATERIALS RECLAIMED FROM THIS WORKSHOP, UH, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE PLANNING ON INTEGRATING THEM INTO PHASE ONE AND ANY, AND OTHER UPCOMING PARK PROJECTS.
REGISTRATION FOR THE WORKSHOP IS OPEN NOW.
UM, I MENTIONED BEFORE, SPACE IS LIMITED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IS MEANINGFUL.
WE ENCOURAGE LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND TRADESPEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF, UM, PARKS AND REC FACILITY CONSTRUCTION MEMBERS THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKSHOP.
UM, GROWING OUR LOCAL DECONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE WILL HELP AUSTIN SCALE MORE CLIMATE CONSCIOUS BUILDING PRACTICES OVER TIME.
HAPPY, I, I WANT, WANT TO PERSONALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS FORUM NEXT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH.
IT'S A FULL DAY THING, BUT YOU CAN COME FOR PART OF THE DAY IF YOU LIKE.
AND IF YOU KNOW CONTRACTORS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THEIR PRACTICE TO INCLUDE DECONSTRUCTION, THE WORKSHOP IS GOING TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO DO SO.
IT'S, IT'S A VERY, IT'S A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? GO AHEAD, CHRISTIAN.
UM, I, I'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, WILL, WILL Y'ALL PROVIDE US WITH A LIST OF CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE, WHO WILL HAVE ATTENDED THIS SESSION? I'D JUST BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHICH ONES WE'RE INTERESTED ENOUGH TO LEARN ABOUT.
I CAN CHECK TO SEE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
THE OTHER THING THAT, THAT CONCERNS ME, DID THIS HOUSE COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION? THE HOUSE DID NOT COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
IT WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED FOLLOWING RESEARCH AND EVALUATION BY, UM, AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION HISTORIC PRESERVATION STAFF WHO DID SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND PROVIDED THAT TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE STAFF.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE, IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING.
SHOULD IT NOT HAVE COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION? UM, IF IT DID NOT MEET, UH, ANY OF THE LANDMARK CRITERIA, WE TYPICALLY DON'T REFER, UH, A PROJECT TO THE COMMISSION.
UM, IN THIS CASE, WE DETERMINED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE IT, UH, THROUGH RESEARCH, UM, FROM, UH, OTHER STAFF.
I'M A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BUT OKAY.
AND COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, YES, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.
UH, WHAT'S MEANT TO HAPPEN TO THE SALVAGE MATERIAL? HOW DOES IT BECOME AVAILABLE TO, UH, I GUESS THOSE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY REPURPOSING IT? BETH, DO YOU WANNA TAKE THAT FOR THIS HOUSE AND THEN I CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT MORE BROADLY? SURE.
[00:40:01]
FOR THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZING THE MATERIALS IN THE PHASE ONE CONSTRUCTION OF TRIBUNO PARK.WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE BIDDING PHASE FOR PHASE ONE, AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPURPOSE SOME OF THE MATERIAL TO BE USED IN THIS PHASE ONE.
UM, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL MATERIALS THAT DON'T GET USED IN PHASE ONE, WE WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR CONSTRUCTION IN OTHER PARKS.
COMMISSIONER, REGARDING THE BROADER, UM, SHARING AND, AND USE OF SALVAGED MATERIALS, THAT'S PART OF, I THINK, A LONG AND STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT, THAT WE ARE, THAT WE HAVE NOT YET FIGURED OUT.
WE, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE STAFF AND A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK A FIELD TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND LEARNED ABOUT A, A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING AND WE VISITED THEIR MATERIALS INNOVATION CENTER, WHICH WAS PART OF - NO, YOU'RE FINE.
YOU'RE ANSWERING OUR QUESTION.
UM, UH, PART OF, OF, THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THEIR DECONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE, WHICH IS, SO DECONSTRUCTION IS, IS BROADLY REQUIRED IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT FOR EVERY PROPERTY, BUT FOR MANY PROPERTIES.
THINKING ABOUT ADVANCING DECONSTRUCTION AS A PRACTICE IN AUSTIN WILL REQUIRE CONSIDERATION OF MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING HOW TO HANDLE SALVAGE MATERIALS.
AND JUST TO PICK UP ON THAT, AND MS. BERTRAND, THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, AND YOUR TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND MOVING THE BALL FORWARD BECAUSE THOSE OF YOU WHO FOLLOW, WHO'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE EQUITY-BASED PRESERVATION PLAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT WE'RE EMPHASIZING, UH, IN ORDER TO REALLY BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE FULL USEFULNESS OF OUR, BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE STEWARDS OF WITH THESE OLDER BUILDINGS.
UH, IF WE CAN'T SAVE THEM, THEN WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SAVE THE MATERIALS.
AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ADJACENT NEIGHBORS WHO'VE GONE WAY INTO THIS WITH A VERY EFFECTIVE ORDINANCE AND THE SUPPORT, UH, SYSTEMS TO MAKE USE OF THOSE DECONSTRUCTED MATERIALS IS SOMETHING WE CAN QUICKLY LEARN FROM.
UH, SO IT STARTS WITH A PROCESS LIKE THIS WHERE THE FORUM I'M, I'M SURE WILL BRING NEW PEOPLE INTO THE DISCUSSION AND MAYBE NEW IDEAS.
UH, AND THEN CERTAINLY THE WORKSHOP, THAT'S HOW SAN ANTONIO STARTED, GETTING PEOPLE ACTUALLY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU TAKE AN OLDER, UH, FACILITY APART, WHAT ARE THE VALUABLE THINGS, UH, THAT YOU WANT TO SAVE, HOW DO YOU SAVE THEM? AND THEN FOR THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO REUSE THEM, AN EXPECTATION ABOUT THESE BEING AVAILABLE.
SO, UM, WE'RE AT THE EARLY STAGES, I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE CAN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH.
UH, AUSTIN DOES HAVE A DECONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S, UH, ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S A FAIRLY SIZE, IT, IT'S NOT USED THAT MUCH BECAUSE IT'S LIMITING, LIMITED TO LARGER BUILDINGS.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE VERY MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO STANDARD RESIDENTIAL TYPE STRUCTURES.
YEAH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION RECYCLING ORDINANCE THAT DOES REQUIRE RECYCLING OF MATERIALS, UH, FOR COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY DEMOLITIONS, AS WELL AS FOR, UH, CONSTRUCTION, NEW CONSTRUCTION OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET.
UM, SO IT DOES NOT REQUIRE DECONSTRUCTION, UM, AND IT, IT ONLY, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, YEAH, IT DOES NOT, UH, AFFECT SMALLER NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR - WE, WE'VE GOT OUR TOE IN THE WATER, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT WAY DOWN ON THIS ONE LIKE WE SHOULD BE.
AND, AND AS KIM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU BOTH MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PART OF THE EQUITY PRESERVATION PLAN, UH, DECONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLORING DECONSTRUCTION IS ALSO PART OF AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO WE ARE ALSO VERY INVESTED IN TRYING TO FIND, UM, A WAY TO KEEP THESE MATERIALS OUT OF THE LANDFILL.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE WORKSHOPS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT RESOURCE.
UM, I JUST, MAYBE THIS IS FOR STAFF.
I KINDA WANNA FOLLOW UP ON VICE CHAIR HARRIS'S CONCERN ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL.
I WASN'T UNDERSTANDING THERE'S A CERTAIN SCOPE OF WORK.
IT'S TYPICALLY A SMALL SCOPE OF WORK THAT IS ALLOWED TO BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED, BUT I WASN'T AWARE OF FULL DEMOLITION NOT BEING ABLE TO COME TO THE COMMISSION.
SO IF WE COULD GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT IN THE FUTURE OF HOW THAT WORKS.
OUR, UM, S- STAFF REVIEWS ALL DEMOLITIONS OVER 45 YEARS OF AGE.
UM, IF THEY MEET ANY, UH, CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, WE DO REFER THEM TO THE COMMISSION.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY DEMOLITION APPLICATIONS THAT DO COME THROUGH THE CITY, UH, THAT WE DO NOT REFER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MEET THAT CRITERIA.
FOLLOW UP? UH, I'VE JUST, I WANNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT, THAT POINT.
UM, WHEN THE CITY OWNS AN ASSET, I THINK WE HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD OF CARE THAT WE HAVE TO EXERCISE, AND A BUILDING LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
[00:45:01]
ANY CITY OWNED ASSET HAS TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.AND I'M, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS DID NOT COME TO THE COMMISSION FIRST.
UH, COMMISSIONER HARRIS, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN AND WE'LL CERTAINLY DISCUSS AS A STAFF.
UH, IN CERTAIN CASES, THERE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURES THAT AREN'T GONNA MEET THE CRITERIA.
AND IN THOSE CASES, WE DO ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE AND, UH, STAFF FELT VERY COMFORTABLE AND THERE'S A, A LOT OF RESEARCH DONE.
AND THERE IS, UH, THERE IS ANOTHER, UH, STRUCTURE, UM, THAT WAS A RESIDENCE THAT IS, UH, BEING RETAINED ON THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL, UH, YOU KNOW, RANCH RELATED STRUCTURES, BARNS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
UM, SO YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
UH, I DO THINK THAT SOMETHING TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT PARKS DOES ACQUIRE A LOT OF PROPERTY THAT MIGHT BE FORMER RANCHES, AND THOSE DO ALL HAVE STRUCTURES ON THEM.
AND, UM, THE, AND THIS, AND IT COULD ALSO BE OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONSERVATION LANDS.
AND SO IT'S IM - YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
I DO THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF SITUATIONS WHERE LAND IS BEING ACQUIRED, THERE'S EXISTING BUILDINGS, AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE.
AND, UH, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A PERFECT PROCESS, BUT WE'RE WORKING BETTER TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THERE, WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTATION SHOULD BE.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THAT KIND OF A SITUATION AND A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A PARK BUILDING, UM, ON, YOU KNOW, A SHELTER HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT I'D LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T, I WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO BE A SURPRISE, AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU FELT BLINDSIDED BY THAT.
WELL, AND, AND I DON'T, THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM OF STAFF AND STAFF'S WORK PRODUCT.
I WANNA BE, BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC ASSET, I THINK WE NEED TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN.
AND IF, IF STAFF COMES FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION - UH-HUH.
THAT THIS IS NOT H- HISTORIC, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S SHOULD BE APPROVED FOR DEMOLITION OR WHATEVER, PERHAPS UNDER THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC - SURE.
AND LONG OVERDUE, UH, 1974 WOULD'VE BEEN A GOOD TIME TO START IT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER SUBJECT.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHINE LIGHT - UH-HUH.
ON CITY-OWNED ASSETS AND THOSE THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE, UH, AND THAT ANY OF THOSE COME BEFORE US BEFORE THEY'RE RELEASED.
I THINK IT'S A PUBLIC PROCESS, IT'S A PUBLIC ASSET, AND SO I, I THINK THAT THOSE NEED TO COME BEFORE US.
I THINK THAT'S A, I THINK THAT IS A WELL-FIN - A F - YOU KNOW, WELL-FOUNDED CONCERN AND, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT THIS PROPERTY IS GONNA HAVE A LOT OF EYES ON IT, I THINK IT WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN WISE FOR US TO, TO THINK ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE WELL WITHIN OUR RIGHTS AND SORT OF PRACTICE TO ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE YOUR POINT AS WELL TAKEN AND WE'LL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP AND DISCUSS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, COMMISSIONER ACTON.
UM, BACK TO THE, UM, SALVAGING OF MATERIALS.
SO I KINDA WANNA UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD YOU GUYS SEE THIS, E- ESPECIALLY IF YOU ADOPT SOME OF THE OTHER CITY'S, UH, EXAMPLES.
UM, SO FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE APPROVE SOMETHING IN HERE, GENERALLY IT COMES WITH A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE REQUIREMENT, AND WE, WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO SALVAGE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, WHERE DID THE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT DOCUMENT PACKAGE COME FROM? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A SIMILAR PROCESS IF WE EVER GET TO A SITUATION WHERE IT BECOMES, WE'RE PROVIDING APPROVAL AND YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE AND YOU HAVE TO SALVAGE X AMOUNT OF MATERIALS.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT THAT CITY COUNCIL CREATED OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CREATED INTERNALLY? COMMISSIONER, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT STAFF BROUGHT FORWARD YEARS AGO.
UM, SO WE DO HAVE A PROCESS IN THE WORKS NOW FOR ANY DEMOLITION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE AFFILIATED WITH THE PROGRAM, UM, OF A CITY-OWNED BUILDING TO DO MORE EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION BEFORE ANY DEMOLITION OCCURS.
UM, WE'LL HAVE A SPECIFIC CHECKLIST AND WE'RE KIND OF WORKING ON, UM, HOW WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE THAT WITHIN THE CITY'S BUDGET.
UM, BUT YES, THE DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE INTERNAL, UM, AND THEY WERE SOMETHING THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, IN THE EARLY 2000S.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT IF WE DECIDE TO MAKE A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVAGING MATERIALS, IT WOULD ALSO BE COMPLETELY INTERNAL THAT WE MADE THAT OWN RULE? I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW MORE IMPLICATIONS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO
[00:50:01]
MATERIALS AND COSTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO THEM AND DISCUSS.AND, AND THIS MAY VERY WELL BE A, A, A BROADER CONVERSATION AS THIS PROGRAM IS, IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF BEING PUT TOGETHER, BUT IT OCCURS TO ME THAT MANY OF THE STRUCTURES THAT WOULD BE HOPEFULLY COVERED BY AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS MIGHT NEVER COME IN FRONT OF US BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE HISTORIC, UH, OR MEET THE DEFINITIONS OF HISTORIC, BUT WOULD STILL BE VERY VALUABLE, UH, TO BE REUSED FOR, UM, NEW USES OR EVEN PRESERVATION PROJECTS.
UM, SO I, I, I CAN SEE THAT IT MIGHT BE MORE OF A INTERDEPARTMENTAL ARRANGEMENT WHERE THE ACTUAL ENFORCEMENT, UH, MIGHT BE, OR THE, THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE CRITERIA MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THE BUILDING INSPECTION, UH, PERMITTING DEPARTMENT WOULD BECOME VERY COMFORTABLE WITH AND CONVERSANT WITH, BUT DOVETAIL VERY SPECIFICALLY WITH REQUIREMENTS WHEN WE'RE HAVING PROJECTS OR PROPERTIES THAT HAVE COME FOR FOUR HOUR REVIEW.
WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT OF IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A WILL AND A WAY, AND SO I THINK THE WAY ALSO HAS TO BE THOUGHT OF AS YOU'RE GAINING THE WILL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, IS, YOU KNOW, IS THIS A ONE, THREE, FIVE YEAR GOAL AND HOW MANY ROADBLOCKS ARE IN THE WAY TO IT? AND IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY KIND OF WAYFINDING YOURSELF THERE, THEN I, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO COME ALONG WITH THE, THE DESIRE TO DO IT AND THE TRAINING PEOPLE TO DO IT, BUT IT, IT BECOMES NOW, NOW TALKING TO OTHER GROUPS, FIGURING IT OUT, DETERMINING FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE, BECAUSE I THINK THE END GAME YOU WANNA GET TO IS THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO SALVAGE X PERCENTAGE OF MATERIALS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND IF THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE END GAME, THEN YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.
SO YOU MAY AS WELL FIGURE THAT OUT NOW AND NOT, NOT LATER.
AND FORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO'S GOTTEN THERE AND HAS, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN A DECADE OF, OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, WE CAN BUILD FROM THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE, AT LEAST FOR THEM, HAVE WORKED.
UH, BUT I, I HAVE, I, I APPRECIATE EXACTLY, WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING STAGES OF SOMETHING THAT, UH, WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT AND BEGAN UNDERSTANDING ITS IMPLICATIONS, UH, AND KARA, YOU AND I HAD SEVERAL WRANGLES ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, WHY ISN'T IT ONE OF THE FIRST PRIORITIES? AND AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THAT HAVE TO GET PUT IN PLACE FOR IT TO ALL MOVE FORWARD.
SO I, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE EXPLORING P- POSSIBLY EVEN SOME OF THESE IN THESE CONVERS - IN THESE FORUMS AND WORKSHOPS.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, YES, LET'S GET GOING.
I JUST WANTED TO SECOND INTEREST IN, UH, COMMISSIONER ACTON'S POINT, UH, FOR REALLY ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MATERIAL'S GONNA GO AND HOW IT BECOMES ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, SAY, PERHAPS A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OR RESTORM, UH, AND HOW TO MAYBE BAKE IN, UH, A SALVAGE REQUIREMENT FOR, SAY, A, UH, DEMOLITION CASE THAT PERHAPS DOES THE CHECK TWO OUT OF THREE OR TWO OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HISTORIC ZONING, BUT IS CLEARLY OF A SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY AND WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO GO, LET IT GO THAT THERE IS A PROVISION THERE FOR SALVAGE OF, UH, SOME OF THE MATERIAL, COMPARING IT, I THINK, TO THE DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE FROM WHAT I, WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE IS NOT TOO COMPLICATED AND I THINK CONSISTS OF STANDARD PHOTOGRAPHY, WHICH PROBABLY TO MOST, UH, APPLICANTS, OWNERS, DEVELOPERS IS NOT A BIG LIFT, AND IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF LIFT TO SAY, LIKE, SALVAGE ALL THE HISTORIC SIDING OFF OF A 1925 HOME OR HISTORIC WINDOWS AND SUCH.
AND WELL, HOW DO WE GET TO MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO ACTUALLY DO IT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY? WELL, WELL STATED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING.
UH, AND, UH, I GUESS FOLKS ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP BY GOING TO THE, UH, CITY'S WEBSITE? YES, TO SIGN UP FOR EITHER, FOR BOTH THE FORUM AND THE WORKSHOP, IF THERE ARE ANY CONTRACTORS LISTENING, OR IF YOU KNOW OF ANY, YOU CAN GO TO SPEAKUPAUSTIN, ALL ONE WORD, SPEAKUPAUSTIN.ORG/SUSTAINABLE BUILDING.
OR IF YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WORKSHOP OR FORUM, IT WOULD PROBABLY HOPEFULLY FIND ITS WAY THERE.
PUT IN SOME KEYWORDS AND SEE WHAT COMES UP, BUT ALSO TRY SPEAKUPAUSTIN.ORG/SUSTAINABLEBUILDING, AND WE REALLY DO HOPE THAT, THAT YOU AND ANYONE INTERESTED WILL JOIN US.
[3. Briefing giving updates on the project at 1010 E. Cesar Chavez St. by Ingrid Gonzalez Featherston, AIA, Senior Architect, MF Architecture.]
UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE, AND THIS IS ON THE STATUS OF THE 1010 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ STREET.[00:55:06]
YEAH.HI, MY NAME'S INGRID GONZALEZ-FEATHERSTON, SENIOR ARCHITECT AT MF ARCHITECTURE, HERE, UM, TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT BRIEFING FOR 1010 EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ.
UM, WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE OVERALL SITE OF THE PROJECT, WHICH DOES CONSIST OF TWO ADDRESSES, 104 MEDINA STREET AND 1010 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ.
UM, AUSTIN ENERGY REQUIREMENTS TO MEET POLE CLEARANCES IMPACTED OUR ORIGINAL BUILDING POSITION OF THE 104- 104 MEDINA STREET BAKERY BUILDING.
THIS WAS NOT REVIEWED BY AUSTIN ENERGY DURING PERMITTING, AND THEREFORE REQUIRED DESIGN TEAM TO RESUBMIT A PLAN REVISION AND SITE PLAN EXEMPTION TO UPDATE THE POSITION OF THE BAKERY BUILDING TO MEET THESE AUSTIN ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTANCE OF BUILDING TO PULL CLEARANCES.
BOTH THE SPE AND BUILDING PLAN REVISION HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS OF OCTOBER 16, 2026.
UH, NO DESIGN CHANGES WERE MADE, UH, FOR, ON THE BUILDING, REALLY.
IT WAS JUST THE POSITIONING ON THE SITE, AND SO WE MET ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, GOING NOW INTO BULLET TWO, WHICH IS OUR CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS, CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS HAVE BEEN POURED FOR BOTH 104 MEDINA STREET BUILDING AND THE 1010 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ MAIN RESTAURANT BUILDING.
FRAMING IS UNDERWAY FOR BOTH BUILDINGS, UM, AND WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS SPECIFICALLY, UH, THE MAIN RESTAURANT HISTORIC FACADE PRESERVATION.
SO TODAY, WE BROUGHT OURSELVES, UM, SOME HISTORIC SAMPLES OF, FROM THE BUILDING AND OUR REPLICATION OF THE ACTUAL SIDING OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MILL IT, UM, MADE OF CYPRESS.
SO I HAVE THIS HERE, UM, BUT THIS IS WHAT IS ONGOING FOR THIS NEXT MONTH OF CONSTRUCTION.
SO WE INVITED OUR CONTRACTOR, BUT HE UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T ATTEND.
UM, SO I'M GONNA READ FROM WHAT HE PROVIDED US, UH, IN THE TERMS OF THE SPECIF- SPECIFICITY TO THE SIDING.
UM, SO AS A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THE PROCESS OF THE HISTORICAL PORTION OF THE HOUSE, AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, WE MUST FIRST REMOVE THE EXISTING SIDING OF THE FRONT FACADE AND BEGIN FRAMING THE NEW WALLS.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO STRUCTURALLY SUPPORT THE WALLS BY SURGICALLY ADDING FRAMING INSIDE THE WALL SYSTEMS WHILE LEAVING THE ORIGINAL FRAMING INTACT.
IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO BRING ALL WINDOW AND DOOR HEADERS UP TO CURRENT CODE, WHICH OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR REQUIRES AND ENSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE NEW WALLS.
THIS MEANS WE WILL USE THE ORIGINAL WALLS TO MEET THE NEW FRAMING, WHICH IS COMMON PRACTICE AND REMODEL ADDITIONS WHILE MAINTAINING ALL OF THE EXISTING CHARACTER OF THE FRONT PORCH AND EXISTING WALL SYSTEMS. OUR TEAM'S PROCESS REMAINS THE SAME IN TERMS OF MEETING THE ONE HOUR IBC, UH, FIREWALL RATING.
WE WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING INTERIOR SHIPLAP, CAREFULLY REMOVE ALL NAILS, AND SALVAGE THE MATERIAL FOR REUSE.
THE EXISTING INSULATION WILL BE REMOVED, AND THEN THE WINDOWS WILL BE CAREFULLY REMOVED BY OUR WINDOW RESTORATION COMPANY.
THEY PLAN TO REMOVE THE WINDOWS AND WORK ON THEM OFFSITE.
UM, THEY'VE CONTRACTED RED RIVER RESTORATION FOR THE WINDOW RESTORATION, UM, AND FOR THE REBUILDING AND REPAIRING OF THOSE WINDOWS.
ONCE REMOVED, ALL MATERIALS WILL BE STORED IN OUR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED TO REPAIR.
ANY BOARDS BEYOND REPAIR WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW CUSTOM-MILLED CYPRESS SIDING, MILLED EXACTLY TO MATCH THE ORIGINAL PROFILE.
SEE THE SAMPLE YOUR PRIVATE, WHICH I HAVE HERE.
UM, THE SAMPLE MAY NEED SOME SIDING, SO THEY'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL ONES.
UH, BUT WE WANTED TO BRING UP THIS PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS GONNA BE ONGOING IN THIS NEXT MONTH, AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO, YOU KNOW, SPOOK OR SCARE ANYBODY, UM, WHEN THEY SEE SOME OF THE SIDING COMING OFF THE BUILDING, SINCE THIS IS A PART OF THE PROCESS FOR US TO MEET OUR ONE-HOUR BUILDING, UH, FIRE RATING REQUIREMENTS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE SHEATHING BACK ON THE BUILDING SINCE THERE IS NO FIRE-RATED SHEATHING.
SO, UM, YEAH, THAT'S OUR UPDATE FOR RIGHT NOW.
AND MAYBE YOU COULD CLARIFY THE FIRE RATING? UH, YES, THE BUILDING IS - THIS IS NON-RATED STRUCTURE.
UH, THE BUILDING IS REQUIRED, UH, WITH THE LEVEL OF ALTERATION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PERMIT SET TO BE A FIRE-RATED BUILDING STRUCTURE FOR ALL OF THE WALLS.
SO THEY HAVE TWO-HOUR WAITING ON THE WEST WALL BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE PROPERTY LINE ON THAT SIDE, AND THEN IT'S ONE-HOUR RATING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE STRUCTURE.
THIS WAS ALL IN OUR PERMIT SET.
AND THEN, UM, I GUESS YOU HA - YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO OR ADDRESSED THE QUESTION OF THE WINDOWS AND THE DOORS? UH, SO THOSE ARE GONNA BE BY, UH, RED RIVER RESTORATION IS HANDLING THAT.
WHAT, UH, WAS THERE A QUESTION TO THAT, OR? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, SINCE THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED IN YOUR PRESENCE.
RED RIVER RESTORATION IS, UM, IN CHARGE OF THE...
THEY'VE BEEN SUBCONTRACTED TO HANDLE THE RESTORATION OF THE WINDOWS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE LEVEL OF RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EAVES AND THE, THE ROOF LINE THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED BEFORE, BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS, THE DEMOLITION WAS KIND OF AGGRESSIVE INTO SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.
HAS THAT BEEN EXPLORED? FOR THE REBUILD PORTION AND THE FRAMING? UH, JUST FOR THE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE ROOF LINE WAS LOST IN THE DEMOLITION.
THAT'S ALL GONNA BE MATCH EXISTING.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING BACK THE SAME SLOPES, THE SAME EAVES, ALL OF THAT.
[01:00:01]
YOUR ROOF DEPTH IS GONNA ALLOW THAT? YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A - NO, WE'RE NOT EXTENDING THE ROOF DEPTHS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON THE MAIN RESTAURANT.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR UPDATES AND WISH YOU VERY GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROJECT.
WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE MOVE ON BECAUSE WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE SPEAKERS ON - WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE SPEAKERS ON BRIEFINGS.
OKAY, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ANY DISCUSSION.
UH, WE WILL INVITE THE SPEAKER.
OUR ONE SPEAKER IS IAN WILSON.
WHO APPEARS TO HAVE LEFT? SO NO MORE SPEAKERS.
[4. C14H-2026-0063 – 103 W. 33rd St. White-Sheffield House Council District 9 ]
TO OUR FIRST, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, UH, CASE.UH, THIS IS A HISTORIC ZONING ITEM NUMBER FOUR AT 103 WEST 33RD STREET.
THIS IS A, UH, HISTORIC ZONING CASE, UH, FOR THE WHITE SHEFFIELD HOUSE.
UM, QUALIFICATIONS, UH, FOR THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION ARE ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY VALUE, AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
LOCATED IN THE ALDRIDGE PLACE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE WHITE SHEFFIELD HOUSE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF CRAFTSMEN AND ARTS AND CRAFTS DETAILS THAT IS LARGELY UNALTERED IN THE AREA.
THE BUILDER AND ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE HOUSE WAS STEPHEN WHITE, WHO WAS TRAINED AS A STEAM FITTER AND PLUMBER.
BY THE FIRST TWO DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY, HE OWNED AND OPERATED A HEATING AND PLUMBING CONTRACTING BUSINESS WITH PARTNER JOHN DONNELLY, WHICH BECAME SUCCESSFUL ENOUGH FOR WHITE TO INVEST IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE ON WEST 33RD STREET.
THIS WAS COMPLETED AROUND 1917 WITH HIM LISTED AS THE SOLE OCCUPANT.
BY 1920, HE HAD, UH, MARRIED MERCEDES WHITE OF LOUISIANA, AND THEY WOULD LIVE TOGETHER UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1931.
DURING THEIR OWNERSHIP, WHITE WAS INVOLVED IN THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WORKED WITH SECURING INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
HE ALSO GOT INVOLVED IN SOLE INVESTMENTS VENTURES, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE ST.
ELM MOTEL LOCATED ON SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE, UH, DESIGNATED IN 19 - DESIGNED IN 1940, EXCUSE ME, BY AUSTIN ARCHITECTS FAIR AND GRANGER.
IT OFFERED STATE-OF-THE-ART AMENITIES, INCLUDING AIR CONDITIONING, AND FEATURED A PROMINENT NEON SIGN THAT, UH, ON THAT STRETCH OF SOUTH AUSTIN.
UPON MERCEDES WHITE'S PASSING IN 1931, STEPHEN'S SISTER, LUCY SHEFFIELD, UH, WHO WAS THEN ALSO A WIDOW, MOVED INTO THE HOUSE ALONG WITH HER TWO SONS.
OVER THE NEXT TWO DE- DECADES, UH, LUCY SHEFFIELD WOULD RAISE HER SONS AND BECOME INVOLVED IN BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE, AND ESPECIALLY THE VIOLET CROWN GARDEN CLUB.
IT WAS HERE THAT SHE DEVELOPED HER INTEREST IN PARKS IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
THIS WOULD PROVE IMPACTFUL TO ONE OF HER SONS, BEVERLY S.
SHEFFIELD, WHO WOULD BECOME PARKS DIRECTOR IN AUSTIN.
AFTER GROWING UP AT THE HOUSE, BEVERLY SHEFFIELD WOULD MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATION AND PRESERVATION OF NATURE ACROSS THE CITY.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE DESEGREGATION OF AUSTIN PARK FACILITIES DURING HIS TIME AS PARK DIRECTOR.
EARLY IN HIS CAREER, HE TRAINED LIFEGUARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING AT SEGREGATED POOLS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO RELIABLE TRAINING RESOURCES.
UPON BECOMING PARK DIRECTOR IN 1946, SOME OF HIS EARLY INITIATIVES INCLUDED THE OPENING OF LIONS GOLF COURSE TO BLACK GOLFERS, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIC LEADERS TO PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES, SPECIFICALLY ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.
WHILE MUCH OF THIS CAME IN THE FORM OF POLITICAL GIVE AND TAKE, AND THERE REMAINED A SEVERE IMBALANCE IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION WHEN COMPARED TO WHITE PARTS OF THE CITY, THE RESULTS WERE BETTER ACCESS TO MODERN FACILITIES TO GROUPS THAT HAD THUS FAR BEEN SEVERELY UNDERSERVED.
THE LIFELONG WORK OF BEVERLY SHEFFIELD PROVIDED A COMMUNITY VALUE THAT CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CITY TODAY.
THE WHITE SHEFFIELD HOUSE RETAINS EXCELLENT INTEGRITY- INTEGRITY AND HAS SEEN MINIMAL ALTERATION OUTSIDE OF THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO, UH, RECOMMEND THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE FROM FAMILY RESIDENCE HISTORIC DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, SF-3-HD - NCCD-NP ZONING, UH, TO FAMILY RESIDENTS, HISTORIC LANDMARK HISTORIC DISTRICT, NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, SF-3-H-HD - NCCD-NP COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING.
THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY, HEARING NONE, UH, IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES, THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
PLEASE COME AND - IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO...
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT.
UH, MY NAME IS SARAH BECK, AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND, LAUREN KIRKPATRICK.
YEAH, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
SO WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE HOUSE, WE KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND WHILE WE HAD IT UNDER CONTRACT, OR BEFORE WE EVEN HAD IT UNDER CONTRACT, WE WERE IN THE OPTION PERIOD,
[01:05:01]
I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING DARK THERE, BECAUSE YOU COULD FEEL IT WAS BIG, BUT WE, WE THOUGH IT WAS GOOD.AND, UH, THROUGH SOME INTERNET SLEUTHING AND RESEARCH, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SHEFFIELD FAMILY, AND I ACTUALLY CALLED UP, UM, HER NAME IS SALLY SHEFFIELD, IT WAS BEVERLY'S DAUGHTER WHO LIVES IN WOOD COUNTY, AND WE HAD A NICE CONVERSATION, AND SHE SEEMED PRETTY NORMAL.
WE KNEW IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, AND WE KNEW IT HAD A GOOD FEEL TO IT, BUT WE WERE REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE STORIES OF THESE PEOPLE, AND WE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW THEM BETTER.
SO, UM, WE HAD ACTUALLY INVITED SALLY TO COME VISIT, AND SHE BROUGHT HER GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO WAS THE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF LUCY SHEFFIELD, BEVERLY'S MOM.
HER NAME IS LUCY ALSO, SO SHE GOT TO BE IN HER MATRIARCH NAMESAKES HOME, AND THEY HAD STORIES, AND SHE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE ORIGINAL LUCY SHEFFIELD, BUT LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HER DURING THIS VISIT.
AND THEN WHEN SALLY WAS IN THE HOUSE AND SHE WENT UPSTAIRS, SHE, UH, SHE OPENED THE CLOSETS AND SH - THE SMELLS WERE THE SAME AS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
SO THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS JUST BEEN SWEET IN SO MANY WAYS FOR US.
UM, WE'VE LEARNED, UM, IT'S REINFORCED OUR INTEREST IN PRESERVATION AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSE AND THE HISTORIES OF THESE PEOPLE ARE KEPT INTACT.
UM, WE KNOW THAT HISTORIES ARE FRAGILE, AND IF I HADN'T HAD THE INTEREST IN THESE PEOPLE AND GONE DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE, YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT NOT BE HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW AND WE MIGHT NOT BE TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROCESS, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? UH, SURE.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UH, I WANTED TO THANK CITY STAFF, UH, FOR HELPING, UH, SORT OF STEER THIS PROCESS.
UM, I REALLY BECAME FASCINATED WITH BEVERLY SHEFFIELD AND SPECIFICALLY, UH, A COLLECTION AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER AND, UH, LETTERS THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER WROTE TO HIM AS A YOUNG MAN WHEN HE LIVED AT THIS HOUSE, AS WELL AS, UH, HAVING, UH, RELATIVES FROM AUSTIN THAT WERE IN THE AUSTIN AUTH - AUSTIN ATHLETIC CLUB THAT HE CREATED, UM, AND SPEARHEADED AND GREW, UH, AS WELL AS SEEING PERFORMANCES AT ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER.
CERTAINLY, UH, IF ANYBODY HAS BEEN SWIMMING IN THIS TOWN, THEY'VE BEEN TOUCHED BY BEVERLY SHEFFIELD'S WORK HERE, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY THE SORT OF, UH, LEADERSHIP THAT HE EXHIBITED EARLY WAY BEFORE, UH, IT WAS MANDATED BY THE SUPREME COURT OR, UM, POPULAR OPINION, HIS ABILITY TO, UH, CREATE INCLUSIVE PLACES TO PLAY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I THOUGH THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE HONORED, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, UH, I'M PART OF A LITTLE SANDLOT BASEBALL TEAM, AND WE'VE PLAYED AT DOWNSFIELD, AND I LEARNED, UM, THAT BEVERLY SHEFFIELD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING DO A LAND SWAP TO PUT DOWNSFIELD TOGETHER.
UM, SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, A, APOLOGIZE FOR THE LEVEL OF RESEARCH THAT WAS IN THIS.
UM, IT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN MOST APPLICATIONS, BUT, UH, I REALLY ENJOYED PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND I HOPE, UH, Y'ALL LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BEVERLY SHEFFIELD AND THE HOUSE.
IN THE PROCESS, WE CAME ACROSS A LONG CORRESPONDENCE THAT HE MAINTAINED WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL, AND WE INCLUDED SOME OF IT IN THE APPLICATION.
UM, BUT WE'VE, WE MAINLY WERE JUST MOVED BY THE WHOLE STORY, AND THE PROCESS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
SO THANKS FOR THE WORK AND THANKS FOR ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WELL, AND NO, NO EXCUSE ABOUT HAVING A, A LONG SUBMITTAL WHEN YOU'VE GOT ALL THAT RICH MATERIAL.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? UH, THE HOUSE IS A TREASURE.
UH, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE TAKING GOOD CARE OF IT, BUT I THINK YOU'RE MAKING AS, AS CLEAR A CASE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION, CONNECTING NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL, UH, LOCATION, BUT ALSO ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE CONNECTIONS THAT THE PAST RESIDENTS HAVE MADE TO MAKE AUSTIN A SPECIAL PLACE.
UH, ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
HEARING NONE, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
[01:10:01]
HEARING.COMMISSIONER ACTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, WE HAVE AN APPLICANT REQUESTING HISTORIC ZONING.
UH, WHAT IS YOUR MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO, UH, ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE ZONING, UH, FROM, UH, FAMILY RESIDENCE HISTORIC DISTRICT SF3HD TO FAMILY RESIDENCE HISTORIC LANDMARK HISTORIC DISTRICT SF3HD COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING.
AND BASED ON THE CRITERIA? BASED ON ARCHITECTURE, BASED ON ASSOCIATION.
AND COMMUNITY VALUES, CERTAINLY WITH MR. SHEFFIELD.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? WELL, CERTAINLY, UH, I KNOW THE LEGACY OF BEVERLY SHEFFIELD TO THIS COMMUNITY AND I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF ANECDOTE.
MY MOM WAS THE CURATOR OF THE NAY MUSEUM WHEN I WAS A CHILD, AND I'VE GOT LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT THAT, BUT ONE OF THEM THAT I'VE MENTIONED A FEW TIMES WHEN THIS CAME FORWARD WAS THAT SHE WOULD DUTIFULLY DRAG ME DOWN TO BEVERLY SHEFFIELD'S OFFICE, HAT IN HAND ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR THE NAY MUSEUM.
AND IT JUST DAWNED ON ME AS I WAS SITTING HERE THAT SHE PROBABLY TOOK ME WITH THE HOPE THAT HAVING A PRECOCIOUS FIVE, SIX, OR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY IN THE OFFICE MIGHT NET THE NAY A LITTLE MORE MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT SUCCEEDED OR NOT.
OR MAY- MAYBE JUST TO GET RID OF HIM.
AND COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT? I APPRECIATE THE HISTORIC, UM, INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED, JUST WITH THE CONNECTION OF WITH EAST AUSTIN.
WAS HE RELATED TO THE PART OF THE SHEFFIELD FUNERAL HOME? DO Y'ALL KNOW?.
BUT JUST THE HISTORY WITH EAST AUSTIN AND THEN GETTING A LETTER FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER HIMSELF AS A CHILD IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ME.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, UH, THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO, UH, ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC ZONING, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND COMMISSIONER WRIGHT, YOU WERE OFF FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU'RE ON, AND YOUR HAND IS RAISED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
[7 HR-2026-130922 – 4115 Avenue D Hyde Park Local Historic District Council District 9 ]
ITEM FOR DISCUSSION IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, AND THAT'S 4115 AVENUE D.UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT COMES TO US AFTER WE HAVE HAD NON-PERMITTED CONSTRUCTION IN A HIS - IN A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO THIS IS STILL UNDER OUR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
THIS REMEDIAL PROGRAM THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US, I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT, UH, HAS MOSTLY TO DO WITH THE WINDOWS.
BUT, UH, STAFF, YOU CAN PRES - POTENTIALLY CLARIFY THAT FOR US.
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO REPLACE NON-HISTORIC WINDOWS ON A CONTRIBUTING CHURCH STRUCTURE IN A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, AS PART OF A PROJECT TO BRING, UH, HISTORIC CHURCH BACK INTO CODE AND HISTORIC DESIGN COMPLIANCE, THE, UH, APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REPLACE WINDOWS WHICH WERE INSTALLED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER WITH FIXTURES MORE APPROPRIATE TO THEIR OPENINGS AND THE HYDE PARK DESIGN STANDARDS.
OTHER PORTIONS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE CONVERTING THE PROPERTY TO RESIDENTIAL USE AND LIFE SAFETY UPDATES, ALL OF WHICH ARE LOCATED AT THE INTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY AND DO NOT FALL UNDER THE SCOPE OF, UH, HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION'S REVIEW.
UM, THIS FORMER CHURCH IS LOCATED AT A PROMINENT CORNER IN HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, IS CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY, INAPPROPRIATELY PAINTED, EXCUSE ME, AND FEATURES A STEEP CROSS-GABLED ROO- ROOF CLAD AND SHINGLES.
THERE ARE TWO SMALL DORMERS TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE ROOF STRUCTURE AND THE SIDE-FACING GABLES EACH HAVE A SMALL ATTIC VENT.
UM, THE HYDE PARK DESIGN STANDARDS ARE USED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, THE PROPOSAL, AS IT IS, UH, BRINGS THE PROPERTY INTO, BACK INTO SUFFICIENT COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE STANDARDS.
UH, MUCH OF THE EXISTING CONDITION WAS THE RESULT OF A PREVIOUS OWNER WORKING WITHOUT PROPER PERMITS.
THE APPLICANT ATTENDED THE JULY 8TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF WORK OUTLINED IN THE SECTION BELOW.
UM, THIS APPLICATION WILL TIME OUT ON JANUARY 18TH, 2027.
UM, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FEEDBACK WAS THAT, UM, THEY VERIFIED THAT THE INAPPROPRIATE
[01:15:01]
WORK WAS COMPLETED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER AND THAT THE CURRENT OWNER WAS BRINGING THE PROPERTY INTO CODE COMPLIANCE, WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM, UM, UH, TO DO SO.UM, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS AND REMOVAL OF THE WHITE PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH WALLS, THOUGH IT WAS NOTED THAT PAINT REMOVAL, UM, WHERE THERE PREVIOUSLY WAS NO PAINT ON THE, UH, BRICK MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO DO WITHOUT CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE MASONRY.
UM, THEY WERE ALSO RECOMMENDED TO CONSIDER OPTIONS AND, UM, MAYBE DO TEST PATCHES TO REMOVE PAINT IN THE FUTURE.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS IS TO APPROVE THE CERTIFIC- CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS IN CONCURRENCE WITH ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FEEDBACK.
IF ANY ISSUES ARISE WITH PROPER SIZING OR FIT OF THE WINDOWS INTO THEIR OPENINGS, UM, THE APPLICANT MUST CONTACT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO PROCEED.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT.
UH, CAN WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? MY NAME IS MIKE MCCONE.
I'M REPRESENTING THE LITTLE CITIES, UH, LLC AND, UH, CARRIE ACOCK, LOCATED IN DISTRICT NINE.
UH, SHE REPOSSESSED THIS PROPERTY, UH, AT THE TIME SHE HAD TO REPOSSESS IT.
IT HAD BEEN, UH, FOUND TO BE BUILDING WITHOUT A PERMITS FOR YEARS, FOR A YEAR OVER A YEAR.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF EVEN HAD TO GO TO THE DISTRICT COURT TO GET AN ORDER TO, UH, GO IN WITHOUT, UH, THE OWNER, UH, ALLOWING THEM IN, OR THE CONTRACTOR.
IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS OF DEFINING AND FINDING OUT ALL THE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT WEREN'T DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
UH, WE HAVE WORKED, UH, DILIGENTLY TRYING TO DEAL WITH ALL THE STACK OF, UH, DEFICIENCIES FROM THE DSD DEPARTMENTS, LAW, UH, THE, UH, AND HAD BEEN, UH, MUNICIPAL COURT WORKING ON OUR PERMITTING PROCESS AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
THE, UH, EFFECTS OF THE, UH, ARE TREMENDOUS ELECTRICAL, FIRE, AUSTIN, WATER, SEWER, ALL OF THESE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS ALL HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO CODE.
UH, SOME OF THEM ARE, SOME OF THEM AREN'T.
UH, CURRENTLY, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, THIS BUILDING AS BUILT IS OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND WILL HAVE SPRINKLED, WE SPRINKLED, WE'LL HAVE A NEW SEWER CONNECTION, NEW WATER CONNECTION IN THE STREET.
AND SO IT'S GOING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF AND NOT MADE AWARE OF BY THE DSD WAS, UH, THE PROJECT ALSO WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THE CODE FOR THIS COMMISSION'S PURVIEW.
UH, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT, AND HAD WE BEEN AWARE OF IT, YOU WOULD BE SEEING MY, UH, OLD WRINKLY FACE, UH, A LOT SOONER THAN YOU SAY IT TONIGHT.
SO, UH, WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE STAFF AND WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND BRINGING THIS AND THE NEIGHBORS AND WORKING.
UH, WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG, HARD JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US, UH, AND IT'S BEEN A, A DISCOVERY PROCESS THAT, UH, EVERY DAY WE FIND SOMETHING THAT, WELL, THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT EITHER, SO WE'LL HAVE TO FIX THAT.
SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE AND HOPE WE CAN GET A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UH, FULL PERMITTING THAT WE NEED TO, UH, MEET AND BRING THIS BUILDING IN COMPLIANCE AND GET IT TO BE A, UH, ASSET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, AND MR. MCCONE, JUST QUICKLY, UM, SO IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS, THERE, NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE BUILDING AT THIS POINT.
THIS, THIS IS COMPLETELY FINISHED.
I'M TALKING ABOUT UNDER YOUR NEW OWNER, THE REMEDIAL WORK THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY HAVING PERMIT.
AND, AND WE HAVE A PERMIT FOR INTERIOR WORK AND WE'RE DOING THE - YOU ARE DOING THE INTERIOR WORK NOW? YES.
SO - AND THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE COME TO HERE FIRST, BUT WITH, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO THE EXTERIOR, BECAUSE WE NEVER PLANNED TO.
UM, THE WINDOWS WERE FUNCTIONAL.
BUT FOR THE WINDOWS, ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, WE, THE WINDOWS WERE FUNCTIONAL, AND SO WE THOUGHT THAT THAT HAD BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAD, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT HAD SAID, "OKAY, IT'S NOT PRETTY, BUT IT WORKS." AND SO WE LEFT THEM ALONE.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GOOD TO HEAR, CONSIDERING THAT IT'S IN A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT IN HYDE PARK, SO IT'S NOT
[01:20:01]
LIKE THAT WOULD BE EASILY OVERLOOKED.I, I BELIEVE - I APPRECIATE YOU, UH - I BELIEVE THE STAFF AND - MA- MAKING YOUR WAY HERE AS QUICKLY AS YOU COULD.
UM, SO HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE WINDOW PATTERNS, WHY YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE TO GO BACK WITH EXACTLY WHAT WAS THERE, THE 404 IN THE BACK STRUCTURE, AND THEN THE ONE OVER ONE THROUGHOUT THE LARGE, THE HIGHER STRUCTURE.
WE WENT BACK WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE WINDOWS THAT WERE THERE AT, AT THE TIME OF, UH, PRIOR TO IT BEING, UH, REMOVED.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A FOUR OVER FOUR WINDOW.
UH, IF YOU GO TO GOOGLE STREET VIEW, YOU CAN CHOOSE PREVIOUS DATES.
AND IF YOU GO BACK A FEW YEARS, YOU CAN SEE IT WAS FOUR OF FOUR ON THE BACK PROPERTY, ON THE BACK ADDITION, THE LOWER ADDITION, AND THEN ALL ONE - ON THE ALLEY? UH, YES, ON THE SIDE.
WELL, WE HAVE A SIDE VIEW ON 40 - THE, THE LOWER - 42ND.
THE PART WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS ON TOP OF IT, THE LOWER ONE STORY, UH, KIND OF ADD-ON WAS ALL FOUR OVER FOUR.
AND THEN ALL OF THE PEAK PORTIONS WAS, WERE ONE OVER ONE.
YES, BUT WHEN WE, THE, WHEN IT WAS DEMOLISHED, I'VE LIVED THERE FOR A WHILE, THOSE ARE ALL SINGLE, THOSE DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOWS BACK INTO 2017 BEFORE IT WAS EVER TOUCHED.
SO IF SOMEBODY REPLACED THE WINDOWS, IT WAS IN THAT PERIOD.
YEAH, IN 2022, THERE WERE ONE OVER ONES.
IF YOU GO TO GOOGLE, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE IS SO FAR GONE.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT THAT FAR GONE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL FOUR AND ROOF LINES AND WE STILL HAVE THE BRICK AND THE, YOU KNOW, WE DID LOSE THE WINDOWS.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD JUST CHANGE THE PATTERNS TO MATCH WHAT WAS THERE THAT YOU CAN SEE ON GOOGLE STREET VIEW.
I DON'T, UH, IF YOU'LL HAVE STAFF MAKE SURE THAT, MAKE A NOTE OF THAT, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLY TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
YEAH, ALL, ALL ONE ON, ONE OVER ONE ON THE MAIN PORTION AND THEN FOUR OVER FOUR ON THE BACK.
AND THEN I WAS, I HAD ALSO RECALLED THAT THE, UH, CROSS WAS STILL THERE IN BRICK, BUT WHEN I'M LOOKING AT YOUR BETTER PHOTOS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT.
IN FACT, WHEN I FIRST WAS THERE, WHEN THE OLDER CONTRACTOR, THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS THERE, HE HAD JUST INSTRUCTED PEOPLE TO TAKE IT OUT, AND THEY DID THAT.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD WANT TO PUT, TRY TO PUT IT BACK BECAUSE IT WOULD BE, UH, THE MASONRY'S BEEN TORN UP ONCE.
WE DON'T WANNA MESS WITH IT IF WE DON'T SEE, UNLESS IT'S REALLY ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
WE'RE TRYING TO NOT DESTRUCT, CAUSE ANY EXTERIOR DESTRUCTION OF A BUILDING.
SO OTHER THAN THE PAINTING OF THE BRICK, THE REAL LOSS IS THAT CROSS AND THEN THE WINDOWS.
AND THE WINDOWS, IF THEY GO BACK IN THE ORIGINAL PATTERN, UM - THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, SIR.
NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN IT WAS ALL WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT FOR MANY YEARS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THIS? IS THIS - O YES, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.
IS IT CONFIRMED THAT THE CROSS WAS REMOVED LOOKING AT THE OLD PHOTOS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE VERTICAL PART, IT'S BASICALLY BRICK ARRANGED IN A VERTICAL FASHION, UH, STACKED IN, I GUESS A COLUMN OF THREE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTOS IN THE BACKUP THAT SHOW THE FRONT AND ZOOM IN, YOU CAN'T SEE THE CROSS AND THE BRICK ANYMORE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY CUT IT OUT AND PIECED IN BRICK TO COMPLETELY REMOVE IT.
I GUESS I'M JUST THINKING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE WORK THAN SOME PEOPLE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO, AND HOPEFULLY THE WHOLE THING JUST GOT PAINTED INSTEAD OF REMOVED.
YEAH, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I HAD ASSUMED AND HOPED FOR BASED ON THE PREVIOUS PHOTOS, BUT JUST WANTED TO GET IN THE RECORD THAT THAT IS ANOTHER LOSS.
UH, SO ARE THERE OTHER, UM, SPEAKERS? WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SUSAN MOFFITT.
HI, I'M SUSAN MOFFITT HERE ON 4115 AVENUE D, WHICH I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT IN PUBLIC COMMENT AT YOUR SEPTEMBER MEETING, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S FINALLY ON THE AGENDA.
UH, AS YOU RECALL, IT CONTAINS A FORMER CHURCH SANCTUARY, TWO-STORY CLASSROOM BUILDING.
BOTH ARE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES TO THE HYDE PARK LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, BOTH BUILDINGS WERE ILLEGALLY AND EXTENSIVELY RENOVATED
[01:25:01]
WITHOUT PULLING A SINGLE CITY PERMIT, AND IT, THE WHOLE THING HAS BEEN UNDER A VIOLATION NOTICE FROM THE CITY SINCE 2024.THE LENDER HAS FORECLOSED ON THE DEVELOPER AND IS NOW TRYING TO RETROACTIVELY CLEAR ALL THE PERMITS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THERE'S A GREAT BIG LAWSUIT, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
BUT WHAT'S RELATIVE TO YOUR BOARD IS THE UNPERMITTED CHANGES.
AND THESE INCLUDE DEMOLISHING ALL THE LARGE ORIGINAL WINDOWS IN THE SANCTUARY BUILDING, REPLACING THEM WITH BLACK PAINTED PLYWOOD, AND INSERTING SMALLER ALUMINUM FLAME - FRAME WINDOWS INTO THE PLYWOOD, DEMOLISHING THE SANCTUARY BUILDING'S LARGE EXTERIOR DOUBLE DOOR AND STOOP, WHICH USED TO FACE AVENUE, UH, 42ND STREET, AND BRICKING OVER THE LARGE RESULTING HOLE, PAINTING OVER THE ENTIRE BRICK FACADE OF THE SANCTUARY BUILDING, DEMOLISHING ALL THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS IN THE TWO-STORY CLASSROOM BUILDING, WHICH IS THAT GRAY BUILDING YOU SEE IN THE CORNER OF THE, UH, PHOTO, UM, AND REPLACING THOSE WITH ALUMINUM FRAME WINDOWS, AND ALSO GETTING RID OF THE CROSS, ATTACHING GLARING UNSHIELDED FLOODLIGHTS TO THE EXTERIORS OF THE BUILDINGS.
I SEE FROM THE BACKUP THAT THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION APPEARS TO BE RESTORING THE WINDOWS IN THE SANCTUARY BUILDING, WHICH IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN NOTHING, BUT I WOULD ALSO URGE YOU TO REQUIRE DOCUMENTING THE HISTORIC DAMAGE, RESTORING THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS IN THE TWO-STORY CLASSROOM BUILDING, INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY OF PAINT REMOVAL, AND TAKING ANY MEANINGFUL CORRECTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE FEASIBLE, INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
AUSTIN'S LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE CITY'S WILLINGNESS TO DEFEND THEM.
IN THE CURRENT CASE, THESE UNPERMITTED ACTIONS DID OCCUR UNDER A DIFFERENT OWNER, BUT THE CURRENT OWNER IS THE LENDER WHO PROVIDED THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THESE ACTIONS, AND AS SUCH, THEY SHOULD ALSO BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN ONE ILLEGAL PROJECT.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE CARE ENOUGH TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND ARE WILLING TO HOLD DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, AND OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE.
I KNOW YOU ARE ALL VERY BUSY VOLUNTEERS, BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT CITY REVIEWERS UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE THEY ISSUE PERMITS FOR CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE HELPED IN THIS CASE BECAUSE THE WORK WAS DONE ILLEGALLY, AND YES, THERE ARE SOME MINOR CHANGES THAT CAN BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY, BUT THE CHANGES INFLICTED ON THESE TWO BUILDINGS WOULD NEVER HAVE QUALIFIED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL.
AND I JUST WANNA BE SURE THAT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW STAFF IS VERY CLEAR ON THAT PROCESS AND ON EXACTLY WHAT KINDS OF CHANGES DO REQUIRE THIS BODY'S REVIEW MOVING FORWARD.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE.
MS. MOFFITT, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH THIS AND ALERTING US AS YOU DID.
UH, UH, AGAIN, IT'S A MESS, AS YOU SAID.
OUR SE - OUR SECOND IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS PAUL SMITH.
HI, PAUL SMITH, UM, RESIDENT AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UH, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS FORMER HY PARK CHURCH IS A TROUBLING EXAMPLE OF WHAT OCCURS WHEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS, BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS, PLUMBING CODE REQUIREMENTS, MECHANICAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS, ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS, WATER SYSTEMS ARE COMPROMISED, NOISE VIOLATION, LIGHTING VIOLATIONS ARE JUST IGNORED.
AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO TRY AND RECTIFY THE SITUATION, BUT THIS, THIS CHURCH HAS BEEN GOING ON, UH, A LONG TIME.
UM, FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS, WE, WE HAD, WE WOULD JUST, I WOULD JUST GO BY AND ASK QUESTIONS AND IT WOULD JUST BE IGNORED BY ANYBODY.
UM, FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, THIS PROPERTY UNDERWENT EXTENSIVE DEMOLITION, ALTERATION CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT ANY REQUIRED PERMITS WITHOUT ANY APPROPRIATE HISTORIC REVIEW.
ORIGINAL WINDOWS REMOVED, INAPPROPRIATE REPLA - UM, REPLACEMENTS INSTALLED, BRICKS WERE PAINTED.
THIS IS NOT AN I - AN ISOLATED OVERSIGHT OR A MINOR RENOVATION.
AN EXTENDED COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION CARRIED OUT WITH APPARENT DISREGARD FOR BUILDINGS RECOGNIZED HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE AND THE CITY'S PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THE STAFF REPORT NOW ACKNOWLEDGES THE DAMAGE TO THE P- PROPERTY'S HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS IMPORTANT, BUT CANNOT BE WHERE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY ENDS.
UM, I RECOGNIZE THE CURRENT APPLICATION ADDRESSES WINDOW REPLACEMENT AND SUPPORT EFFORTS TO RESPORT THE, RESTORE THE BUILDING'S HISTORIC CHARACTER.
HOWEVER, APPROVAL OF THIS LIMITED APPLICATION MUST NOT BECOME A DEFACTO ENDORSEMENT OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED OR A MEANS OF LEGITIMIZING UNAPPROVED ALTERIZA - ALTERATIONS FOR THE EXTENSIVE UNPERMITTED WORK.
I URGE THE COMMISSION TO TAKE A FIRM POSITION, DOCUMENT THE HISTORIC DAMAGE, REQUIRE MEANINGFUL CORRECTIVE MEASURES WHEREVER FEASIBLE, PUR- PUR- PURSUE THE INVESTIGATION OF PAINT REMOVAL, AND ENSURE THAT ALL REMAINING WORK RECEIVES THE SCRUTINY REQUIRED OF A CONTRIBUTING HISTORIC PROPERTY.
[01:30:04]
UH, THANK YOU.UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? YES.
DURING THIS TIME WHEN YOU WERE STOPPING BY TALKING TO THE, UM, CONTRACTORS OR WHOEVER WERE DOING THE REPAIRS, DID YOU CONTACT THE CITY AND CODE ENFORCEMENT? NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE CONTACTED CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THE PREVIOUS, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD CONTACTED FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT, UM, IT'S BEEN ON SEVERAL OF OUR, UH, STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND BEEN BROUGHT UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AS WELL.
DID THEY RESPOND, LIKE COME OUT, FOLLOW UP TO YOUR COMPLAINTS? UM, I, I, I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAD CAME OUT AND THEY WERE, UM, I BELIEVE AT, AT, THEY, AT TIMES THEY, UH, HAD CODE ENFORCEMENT COME OUT OR, AND THEN, UM, I HAD ALSO HEARD THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD BE WORKING ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.
SO CITY WAS CALLED, UH, FOR NOISE COMPLAINTS, LIGHTING COMPLAINTS, UH, POLICE WOULD COME OUT AND, UM, LOUD MUSIC, THINGS LIKE THAT DURING THAT TIME.
AND I WOULD ALSO ADD, IF I MAY, UM, THAT THERE IS A EXTENSIVE CASE FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER, UM, THAT THEY ARE STILL WORKING UNDER WITH, UM, ONGOING LITIGATION AT THIS TIME.
I THINK TH- THIS IS HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS SO RARELY THAT IT, BUT WHEN IT DOES, UH, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
THE FACT IS, IS THAT WE HAD SOMEBODY AGGRESSIVELY AND WILLFULLY IGNORING AND TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT ALL OF THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS.
SO WE'RE ONLY AMONG A NUMBER OF, UH, PLACES THAT WERE BASICALLY SHORT-SHIFTED.
UH, THAT SAID, AND I THINK REINFORCING COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT'S QUESTION, WERE ANYBODY IN THE CITY TO SEE WORK GOING ON WITHOUT A PERMIT, WE HAVE A WHOLE BUILDING DEPARTMENT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CITY'S STANDARDS AND CAN SHUT A PROJECT DOWN.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN QUICKLY NECESSARILY, SOMETIMES IT CAN, BUT, UH, CERTAINLY ANYBODY LISTENING SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY QUALMS THAT IF SOMETHING'S GOING ON ILLEGALLY OR IF YOU DON'T SEE A BUILDING PERMIT, THAT, THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED.
NOW THAT SAID, THIS IS EVEN MORE EMPHATIC IN OUR JURISDICTION BECAUSE THIS IS A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO IF THEY'RE NOT, THERE ARE NOT AS MANY OF THEM IN THE CITY AS THERE SHOULD BE, BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN A LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, IF YOU DO SEE SOME WORK GOING ON, IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PERMITTED AND ACCEPTED BY EITHER OUR STAFF OR BY THIS COMMISSION.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS UNDER A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
AND OBVIOUSLY, IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE THEY WERE DOING AND THUMBING THEIR NOSE AT THE CITY, THEY CLEARLY HAD NO INTEREST IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THE NEIGHBOR'S, UH, ASSURANCE THAT NOTHING HAPPENS IN A HIS - LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT WITHOUT IT BEING REVIEWED FOR APPROPRIATENESS.
WE'VE GOT OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF OTHER THINGS HAPPENING, BUT WE DO HAVE A GROUP THAT IS TRYING TO AT LEAST TAKE A BAD SITUATION AND REMEDY IT.
UH, AND I THINK AS STAFF HAS POINTED OUT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORK ACTUALLY IS INTERIOR, WHICH IS NOT OUR PURVIEW.
UH, BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED, AND I THINK WITH THE QUESTION ABOUT THE WINDOWS, AND AS, UH, MS. MOFFITT HAS MENTIONED THE, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, I THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN, UH, EXERCISE OUR REVIEW AND MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF SPEAKERS? ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UH - HOWEVER, THE APPLICANT CAN CHOOSE TO REBUT IF THEY WISH TO.
THESE WERE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION, SO THE APPLICANT IS WELCOME TO REBUT IF THEY WISH.
CHAIR AND COMMISSION, UH, I REGRET THAT WE ARE BEING PUT IN THIS POSITION.
AND I, I WAS SAYING I REGRET THAT WE ARE IN THIS POSITION.
AS YOU SAID, MATT AND MR. CHAIR, WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN GIVEN THE SITUATION WE HAVE.
UM, AND IT IS A CONSIDERABLE, A LOT OF,
[01:35:01]
UH, THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS ALWAYS BEING DONE UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.IN FACT, WE HAD INSPECTORS OUT TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD, UH, EVERYTHING THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE IT AS WE WERE REMOVING INTERIOR SHEET ROCK AND STUCCO OR, UH, INS- INSULATION TO MAKE POSSIBLE THE REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY AND PROPERLY WITH THE CITY.
UM, THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN HYDE PARK, I WALK IT ALL THE TIME TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE PERMITS, UH, ON PROPERTIES AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE FIT TO GIVE A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS SO WE CAN GO FORWARD.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH, OF COURSE, IS IF WE GO INTO THE WINTER TIME WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION COMPLETELY AND GET THE, UH, EXTERIOR OF THE IN - UH, UTILITIES TAKEN CARE OF, WATER, WASTEWATER, THAT SORT OF THING, UM, IT WILL BECAME A SITUATION WHERE, UH, WE MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SHELTER, UH, INVADE THE PROPERTY.
BUT WE WILL WORK WITH THE COMMISSION AND THE STAFF ON ANY LIGHTING OR ANYTHING THAT WAS NEEDED OR NEEDED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE EXTERIOR.
LIKE I SAY, WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED THE EXTERIOR AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
I, I WOULD JUST, I WAS JUST LOOKING, UH, ON THE CITY'S PERMIT SIDE, AND IT APPEARS THAT A CODE VIOLATION FOR DEM - DOING DEMOLITION WITHOUT A PERMIT WAS ISSUED ON AUGUST 22ND OF 2023.
THAT WAS THE ONLY CODE VIOLATION OF THAT KIND, AT LEAST THAT APPEARS IN PUBLIC RECORD.
IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY GOT AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DROPPED THE BALL, UM, WAY BEYOND THIS COMMISSION AND OUR CONCERNS.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, SOMEBODY'S RIGHT GONNA BE FIGURING THAT OUT.
UM, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I CHECK WITH, UH, STAFF.
THE ISSUE IS, IS BEFORE US AS A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE EXTERIOR WORK AS SUBMITTED.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NO SAY SO ABOUT ANY OF THESE OTHER OR THE LAWSUIT ISSUES THAT ARE BEING, UH, DISCUSSED.
IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR OVERSIGHT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DO WANT TO, UM, EDIT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UM, THAT'S WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW.
WELL, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER...
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? UH, COMMISSIONERS? UH, HEARING THAT THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS CASE? I'LL MOVE TO ISSUE THIS CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS ON THE, UM, REQUIREMENT THAT THE PATTERNS ON THE WINDOWS REPLICATE WHAT WAS THERE IN 2022 AS VISIBLE ON GOOGLE STREET VIEW BEING A ONE OVER ONE ON THE MAIN PEAK BUILDING AND FOUR OF FOUR ON THE REST OF THE BUILDING STREET FACING.
AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING MIGHT BE REMOVED? YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH, WE, UH, SHARE THE FRUSTRATION, BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO SPECIFIC TASKS, AND THE SPECIFIC TASK RIGHT NOW IS TO PROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE WINDOWS.
WE COULDN'T HAVE EVEN DEMANDED THAT THE WINDOWS THAT WERE THERE BE REPLACED.
SO I SEE THIS AS A WINNING STEP, AT LEAST.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL FRUSTRATED WITH THESE CASES.
WE HAVE 916 CONGRESS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN COME BACK TO US, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SUBSEQUENT OWNER.
WE HAVE, UH, 1010 CESAR CHAVEZ WITH THE CURRENT OWNER WHERE PEOPLE HAVE EXCEEDED PERMIT.
AND I CAN SAY IS, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS VERY SPECIFIC GOALS, VERY COMPLEX PROJECT, BUT THEIR GOAL IS A COMPLETED CODE COMPLIANT BUILDING OR AN EMPTY LOT, IT SEEMS LIKE.
AND THEY'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR LEGAL AUTHORITY IS TO DEMAND RESTORATION OF HISTORIC RESOURCES.
UM, THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING THING TO ASK, BUT I KNOW ON MULTIPLE CASES, IT'S IN LITIGATION AND IT GETS VERY COMPLICATED AND, UH, BUT THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS ON IT.
I WILL SAY THE CITY DOES APPEAR TO BE LITIGATING
[01:40:01]
THESE CASES AND NOT JUST LETTING THEM GO.SO THERE IS SOME, UH, THERE ARE SOME REPERCUSSIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TEAR IT DOWN AND IT'LL BE JUST EXCUSED.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS, BUT, UM, I THINK IT'S IN A REALLY COMPLICATED LAW, I'M SURE, AND I WAS GONNA SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE A BRIEFING ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A NEW OWNER BUYS A PROPERTY AND THE OLD OWNER, OR IF SOMEONE TEARS DOWN A BUILDING WITHOUT A PERMIT, WHAT ARE THE LEGAL EXTENTS OF THE ABILITY TO PENALIZE? UM, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT WOULD BE A REALLY COMPLICATED AND, AND CASE SPECIFIC ANSWER.
AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE CITY'S LITIGATING THESE CASES IN A NUMBER OF CASES AND THAT WE HAVE OWNERS THAT ARE TAKING THESE ON AND NOT SAYING, "WELL, IT'S, YOU KNOW, RUINED, WE WANNA TEAR IT DOWN." AND THEN ARE AT LEAST CONTR - YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN IT AS A RESOURCE.
SO, UH, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE WINDOWS AND REMOVAL OF LIGHTING.
AND I THINK AS LONG AS THEY ARE REPLACING WHAT WAS THERE, THEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, UM, TO THAT.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE KINDA CAN GET WHAT WE CAN GET OUT OF THESE.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UM, ATTEMPTS MADE AT REMOVING THE, THE PAINT, BUT I DON'T, THAT'S NOT THE, UM, TASK AT HAND CURRENTLY, SO.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED, SO THE PA - THE MOTION PASSES.
[8. PR-2026-079349 – 706 E. Monroe St. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic District Council District 9 ]
ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, AND THAT'S AT 706 EAST MONROE STREET.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1927 HOUSE.
UM, THIS PROPERTY IS A SINGLE STORY CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW FEATURING AN AMPLE PROJECTING FRONT PORCH THAT IS SUPPORTED BY TWO SQUARE WOOD POSTS.
THESE POSTS, ALONG WITH THE POR- PORCH RAILING AND BRACKETS ABOVE, DECORATE THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, WHICH RETAINS STRONG INTEGRITY.
BEHIND THE HOUSE IS A PORCH STRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER TO HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY FORMER UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARCHITECTURE PROFESSOR BOB MATHER.
UH, PER CITY CODE, UH, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION HAS 180 DAYS TO REVIEW DEMOLITION PLANS AND NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS STARTING FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
THIS, UH, PERIOD IS SET TO TIME OUT ON JANUARY 18TH, 2027.
THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER 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.
UM, THE APPLICANT DID ATTEND THE AUGUST 12TH, 2026 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, UM, WHERE DISCUSSIONS WERE, UH, TAKEN TO PURSUE OPTIONS TO RETAIN THE HOUSE IN ITS EXISTING SITE AND INCORPORATE IT INTO A PROPOSED DESIGN, UH, MAKING USE OF THE BACKYARD WHERE POSSIBLE.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER POSTPONING TO THE DECEMBER 2ND, 2026 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OTHERWISE ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, RELOCATION OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MUST REVIEW NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS PRIOR TO PERMIT RELEASE AND NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY.
JUST AGAIN, REMIND COMMISSIONERS AND ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, WE ARE NOW, UH, REVIEWING CASES IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS AS OPPOSED TO LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
SO OUR PURVIEW IS TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ANY, UH, REQUESTED DEMOLITION OR, UH, MODIFICATION WHEN WE HAVE A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
UH, OUR POSSIBLE REVIEW ALSO IS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
SO, UH, AT THIS POINT, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OF STAFF, LET ME HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
UM, I WAS ON THE PHONE LAST TIME AND, UM, WANTED TO COME IN PERSON TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED.
UM, ONE WAS THAT I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR FROM, UH, NEIGHBORS, UM, WHO WE HAD INVITED TO SEE THE HOME OVER THE SUMMER, UM, THAT THE HOUSE WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION.
UM, AND I SUBMITTED, I DON'T KNOW, AUSTIN, IF, UM, MAYBE JUST A, A, A FEW SLIDES FROM THE INSPECTION, UM, THAT HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUES WITH THE HOME'S, UM, FOUNDATION, UM, UH, INSULATION, UM, SAFETY HAZARDS, UM, IN TERMS OF...
UM, WHERE AND HOW, UH, OUTLETS ARE, ARE CONNECTED, UM, WITHIN THE HOME, UM, AND THAT'S ONE
[01:45:01]
PIECE.SO IT'S, IT'S NOT CURRENTLY SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL SAFE, I- IS SAFE TO USE WITH OUR FAMILY.
UM, AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THAT EXTENDS TO THE BACK DECK, WHICH I THINK WAS CALLED OUT AS, UM, UH, HAVING, LIKE, INTERESTING HISTORY, UM, WAS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY FRAMED, UM, AND FOR, FOR THE LOAD THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING.
SO WANTED TO SHARE THAT IN TERMS OF THE CONDITION OF THE HOME SO THAT, UM, THIS COMMISSION HAS THE FACTS OF THE CASE.
UM, I DID NOT SUBMIT THE FULL INSPECTION REPORT, BUT I, I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF AND DO THAT IF THAT IS HELPFUL.
UM, THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY, UM, ON THE NEXT SLIDE WAS THERE WAS A, UM, CONVERSATION LAST MONTH ABOUT SORT OF TRYING TO ENACT THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE HOPING TO KIND OF IN THE BACK OF THE LOT, UM, AND, AND THE, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS EXTEND THE LIVING SPACE OF, UM, THE NEIGHBORING HOME, 700 EAST MONROE, AND THE CHALLENGE WITH DOING THAT IN THE BACK OF THE LOT IS THERE IS A VERY LARGE, UH, TREE, WHICH USING MY AMAZING POWERPOINT SKILLS I HAVE LABELED, UM, AND THAT PRECLUDES SORT OF BUILDING IN THAT KIND OF, UM, LOOKING AT THIS ACTS AS THE NORTHEAST DIRECTION.
UM, AND SO I THINK THERE WAS SOME COMMENTARY THAT WE WERE PLANNING TO, UM, REMOVE THE BUNGALOW JUST TO BUILD THE EXACT SAME STRUCTURE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS NOT THE PLAN.
UM, THE PLAN IS TO EXTEND INTO THE LOT, AND AGAIN, WE, WE DO HAVE A TREE KIND OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN 700 AND 706.
UM, SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY THOSE TWO ISSUES, UM, AND, UM, HOPEFULLY GIVE MORE CONTEXT TO WHY WE ARE, UM, ASKING FOR THIS PERMIT.
UH, WELL, ARE YOU SUBMITTING THE DRAWINGS FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AT THE SAME TIME? I'M NOT.
BECAUSE THAT, UH, UH, BE AWARE THAT IN A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT, EVEN IF THE DEMOLITION IS APPROVED, THAT WON'T BE ISSUED UNTIL WE HAVE THE REVIEW ALSO OF THE NEW - YEAH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
UM, THE PLANS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THOUGH, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE SAW THEM IN THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND WHILE IT'S NOT IN EXACTLY THE SAME FOOTPRINT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT FARTHER BACK, BUT IT'S STILL GENERALLY, AS YOU NOTED, YOU CAN'T USE THE AREA IN THE BACK, SO IT'S A CONNECTOR ACROSS THE FRONT TO GENERALLY THAT SAME AREA.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'D BE WILLING TO SHARE FOR CONSIDERATION? UM, SO WE, JUST PROCESS-WISE, WHAT WE DID IS WE WORKED WITH THE FIRM TO SORT OF JUST CONCEPTUALIZE - RIGHT.
UM, A BUNCH OF IDEAS, KIND OF...
WE DIDN'T REALLY GET FAR PAST, LIKE, THE HAND DRAWING STAGE, AND SO WE WANTED TO, UM...
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE, BUT WANTED TO GO THROUGH THIS PHASE FIRST, UM, BEFORE, LIKE, CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH A FIRM.
UM, AND SO THAT'S SORT OF THE LEVEL OF THE PLANNING.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT BEFORE THE RE - PERMIT IS RELEASED.
UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN, UM, IN TERMS OF...
AND THEN IN THE BACKUP, ALSO, THERE WAS A LETTER SAYING YOU'RE STILL EXPLORING BOTH REUSE AND REPLACEMENT TO - YEAH.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT EXPLORING REPLACEMENT ORGS, YOU DON'T WANNA INVEST IN THAT UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU CAN TEAR IT DOWN, BUT YOU'RE...
HOW MUCH FARTHER ARE YOU WILLING TO GO IN EXPLORING REUSE OF THIS STRUCTURE AND POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, JUST A ROUGH SQUARE FOOT ESTIMATE OF THE AREA THAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOR SOMETHING NEW AT THE LEASE VERSUS THE POSSIBLE COSTS OF REMEDIATING THE ELECTRICAL FOUNDATION ISSUES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE? WE, UM...
SO TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION FIRST, WE ARE VERY OPEN TO, UM, THE REUSE, UM, PATHWAY AND, UM, HAVE CONTACTED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE, LIKE, A, A SITE, UM, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY HOW I INITIALLY WAS IN TOUCH, UM, WITH CLIFF LAT AT SRCC.
IT WAS ABOUT THAT TOPIC OF FINDING A HOME FOR THE BUNGALOW.
SO VERY OPEN TO THAT PATH, PERIOD.
UM, THE, UM, SECOND QUESTION IN TERMS OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WE NEED, IT WOULD BE...
THE BUNGALOW IS ABOUT 900 SQUARE FEET, AND I THINK THE, UM, EXTENSION WOULD BE LESS.
IT'S, LIKE, MAYBE, LIKE, FIVE OR 600 PLUS A PORCH.
UM, SO THAT'S SORT OF THE, THE DIFFERENCE THERE.
AND TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE PURSUING RELOCATION, NOT, NOT USE OF THE BUNGALOW AS YOUR ADDITIONAL SPACE IN A, IN - OH, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGH YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT RELOCATION,
[01:50:01]
WHICH IS, THAT WAS THE PATH THAT I WAS LAYING OUT.UM, WE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT REUSE.
SO THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM THAT WE WORKED WITH, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF CONTRACTORS, UM, AND I THINK IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS, IS THE RELATIVE COST, UM, IS HIGHER FOR REHABILITATION FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
UM, AND THEN THE SECOND IS IN TERMS OF, UH, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD, THE...
IT'S JUST, IT'S A DIFFERENT, UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW, SHAPE, UM, SPAN, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TO DO.
SO IT'S, IT SAYS, "WE'RE ACTIVELY EXPLORING PRESERVATION ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING RETENTION OF THE STRUCTURE AS PART OF AN OVERALL SITE PLAN AND POTENTIAL RESTORATION OR DONATION." SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY ONLY THE SECOND THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW.
YOU'RE NOT CONSIDERING AT ALL REUSE ON SITE? UM, NOT AS, NOT, NOT FOR THAT EXTENSION PROJECT, NO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY, THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS? YES.
WE HAVE TWO OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM, BOTH IN OPPOSITION.
OUR FIRST IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS ANNIE PASSAS.
I, UH, LIVE TWO BLOCKS FROM THIS HOUSE, AND I'M PART OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS.
UM, I SPOKE AGAINST DEMOLITION OF THIS HOUSE LAST TIME, AND I'M HERE TO DO IT AGAIN.
AND, UH, NONE OF US SAW THE COMMIS - CONDITION REPORT THAT, UM, HANNAH JUST SUBMITTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT CAME OUT, BUT WE'VE TRIED TO BE ON TOP OF THINGS, BUT IT MUST BE VERY RECENT.
UM, SO WE'D LOVE SOME TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THAT.
BUT THIS HOUSE IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW STYLE, AND IT HAS THAT UNIQUE CARPORT DESIGNED BY THE LATE BOB MATHER, WHO IS THE MOST WELL-KNOWN ARCHITECT WHO LIVED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND HE TAUGHT ARCHITECTURE FOR MANY YEARS AT UT, AND HIS, HE AND HIS WIFE, HIS WIFE WAS THE CO-FOUNDER OF SOUTH RIVER CITY CITIZENS, AND THEY WERE BOTH INVOLVED FOR YEARS IN THE PRESERVATION AND, AND IMPROVEMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THIS HOUSE IS ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD, AND, UM, I BELIEVE IT HAS COMMUNITY VALUE AS EVIDENCED BY...
I UNDERSTAND AT LEAST 10 DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED, UH, THE CITY EXPRESSING OPPOSITION FOR TEARING IT DOWN.
UM, I THINK THAT SHOWS SOME VALUE OF THE HOME TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE FLAVOR OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND TO ALLOW THIS HOME TO BE DEMOLISHED SO A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE AT 700 EAST MONROE CAN BE MADE EVEN BIGGER DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE NEED TO RETAIN THIS HOUSE, NOT ONLY FOR ITS HISTORICAL VALUE AND CHARM, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE SMALLER AND THUS MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT'S PART OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT'S LEGACY.
IF THE OWNERS WANT MORE SPACE, IT SEEMS DOABLE THAT THEY COULD WORK WITH AN ARCHITECT TO UTILIZE THE EXISTING COTTAGE IN A WAY THAT HONORS IT.
UM, I THINK THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE DESPITE THE TREE.
UM, I BOUGHT MY HOUSE IN TRAVERSE HEIGHTS TWO YEARS AGO, LARGELY BECAUSE IT IS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT AND WITH A MIX OF LOVELY OLD HOMES, AND I DON'T WANNA SEE ONE OF THOSE LOVELY OLD HOMES THAT GIVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ITS CHARACTER TORN DOWN WHEN THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
SO I URGE YOU TO N - DENY THE DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THIS HOUSE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE, UH, GOING TO POSTPONE IT TO NEXT MONTH TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO WORK ON THIS.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER? OUR LAST SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IS ALSO IN OPPOSITION, AND THAT IS BARBARA SILLY.
BEFORE I, UM, GET INTO THIS, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR YOUR INITIATION OF OUR HISTORIC ZONING CASE ON TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD LAST MONTH.
SO WE WILL BE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I THINK, ON NOVEMBER 10TH, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WANNA DO FULL DISCLOSURE.
I WAS A STUDENT OF BOB MATHER, SO I WAS AROUND WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS EDITION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMISSION REALIZES THIS, BUT BOB WAS A STUDENT OF MISS VANDEROA.
SO REALLY, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF HIS WORK AROUND.
[01:55:01]
NOW, THE MATHER HOUSE, WHICH IS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THIS, IS GOT SOME WONDERFUL WORK THAT BOB DID, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO GO AND INVESTIGATE THAT.BUT AS I'M SURE ALL THE ARCHITECTS KNOW, MISS VANDEROA WAS ONE OF THE PREMIER ARCHITECTS OF, UH, THE MID 20TH CENTURY.
AND TO HAVE THE WORK OF ONE OF HIS STUDENTS TORN DOWN REALLY MAKES ME FEEL VERY SAD, AND THAT WE ARE NOT HONORING A SORT OF HIDDEN GEM OF AN ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY IS, I- IF YOU WILL.
UM, I'M GONNA ECHO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER THAT SAID THIS IS THE FIRST WE'VE SEEN THE CONDITION REPORT.
I WILL SAY, I LIVE IN A VERY SIMILAR BUNGALOW WITH ALL OF ITS CREAKY PROBLEMS.
BUT HONESTLY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS I SAW IN THAT CONDITION REPORT DO SEEM FIXABLE TO ME.
AN EXTERIOR EXAMINATION OF THIS STRUCTURE, IF YOU COULD PULL UP THE PICTURE, I DON'T KNOW IF...
I DON'T HAVE MY OWN SLIDES OF THIS, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE AN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
IT'S A WONDERFUL, CHARMING BUNGALOW.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE SEEING, UH, WITH THESE DEMOLITION PERMITS IS WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF THESE SMALLER, UH, CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOWS TO MUCH LARGER, UH, SPACES.
AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE NONE OF THIS IS MAKING THE, UH, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT THE EXTERIOR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
UH, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE ADDITION ON THE BACK, I THINK, UM, OF BOB'S, UH, ADDITION.
SO I REALLY WANNA SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME, UH, FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS STRUCTURE.
I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO, UH, WORK ON ANY INVESTIGATION, SO I DO HOPE YOU WILL POSTPONE IT.
AND I THINK WE WILL, HOPEFULLY, THE APPLICANT WILL COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THEIR, UH, LARGE, UH, HOUSE WILL NOW LOOK LIKE IN THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BECAUSE REALLY, SCALE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE, UH, OF THE...
UH, WHEN YOU ADD ON THE EXISTING SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE SIZE IS LARGE.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
HOWEVER, THE APPLICANT IS WELCOME TO OFFER A REBUTTAL.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN? NO.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER ACTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GROGAN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, THIS, UH, HAS BEEN BEFORE US.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS.
WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE ON THIS? BY THE WAY, FOR THE RECORD, I, I SERVED WITH JEAN MATHER WHEN SHE WAS ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION BACK MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TELL YOU WHEN.
TILL THE DECEMBER MEETING? YEAH.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER ACTON? COMMISSIONER GROGAN, YOUR MOTION.
UM, I, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GONNA COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS WITH THE OWNER.
UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE WITH THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WE HAVE, THAT I'D LIKE TO GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT.
THIS ONE'S HARD BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE WITH SOME CREATIVITY, UM, THEY COULD STILL EXPAND THEIR LIVING SPACE AND, AND, UM, RETROFIT THE HOUSE THAT'S THERE.
SO, UM, WELCOME THEM AGAIN AS ALWAYS TO THE ARC, BUT, UM, I'M JUST WILLING TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE, WE HAVE THE TIME ON OUR CLOCK TO DO SO.
COMMISSIONER ACTON? UM, I THINK THERE'S, UH, JUST GIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO MAYBE SOME OF THE ARCHITECTURAL CONNECTION, UM, OF THIS, AS WELL AS FOR THE OWNER TO PROVIDE SOME DOCUMENTATION.
THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD A STRUCTURAL EVALUATION DONE, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
[02:00:01]
AT THAT BEFORE - DID, BY THE WAY, DID WE SEE A REPORT AT THIS POINT? WE ONLY SAW EXCERPTS FROM IT.SO I, I, I THINK POSTPONING A MONTH WILL ALLOW FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BUT ALSO, UM, TO PROVIDE THAT DOCUMENTATION AND GIVE US A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO, TO FIGURE OUT.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? UH, I THINK THAT THE OWNER HAVING PURCHASED IN A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT SHOULD BE AWARE THAT A CONTRIBUTING HOUSE, YOU, YOU BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE THAT THAT IS PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IT SUPPORTS THE BIGGER INTENTION OF PRESERVING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS VALUE.
AND THAT'S, I THINK, BEEN RATHER ELOQUENTLY, UH, UH, SHARED WITH US, UH, FROM BOTH THE SPEAKERS AT THIS MEETING AND IN OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
SO I REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE THE OWNERS TO LOOK AT WHAT IT MIGHT BE TO INCORPORATE THIS STRUCTURE INTO THEIR FUTURE PLANS, UH, AS OPPOSED TO ERASING IT FROM THE RECORD.
WE HAVE MANY UNFORTUNATELY WHO HAVE PURCHASED IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS, UH, WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS JUST ELIMINATE IT AND IT SORT OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO I THINK IF WE CAN OVER THE NEXT MONTH, UH, HAVE MORE DISCUSSION, MORE INVESTIGATION, PERHAPS MORE CREATIVE THINKING, I'M HOPING WE'LL COME UP WITH A BETTER OUTCOME.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION FOR THE POSTPONEMENT TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS ARE RAISED.
WE WILL BE SEEING THIS IN DECEMBER.
[11. PR-2026-125072 – 1918 Newning Ave. Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic District Council District 9]
DISCUSSION CASE IS ITEM NUMBER 11 AT 1918 NOONING.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1930 HOUSE IN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, THIS STRUCTURE IS A SINGLE STORY HOUSE WITH CRAFTSMAN INFLUENCES.
IT IS COMPACT AND RECTANGULAR AND PLAN, AND IT FEATURES A MODEST FRONT PORCH AT THE CENTER OF THE PRIMARY ELEVATION.
THERE ARE THREE ORIGINAL WOOD WINDOWS AT THIS FACADE ALONG WITH A WOOD DOOR, ALL OF WHICH APPEAR TO BE ORIGINAL.
UH, THE ROOF IS A SIDE GABLED FORM WITH A SMALL FRONT GABLE PROJECTING ABOVE TWO PAIRED WINDOWS AT THE FRONT WALL.
THOUGH THE BUILDING APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SOME TIME, IT RETAINS EXCELLENT INTEGRITY AND HAS SEEN LITTLE, IF ANY, ALTERATIONS SINCE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.
AFTER CONSTRUCTION IN 1931 AND FOR THE NEXT FEW DECADES, THIS PROPERTY SAW A GREAT DEAL OF TURNOVER OF OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS.
MANY OF THESE WERE EMPLOYED LOCALLY, INCLUDING THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND AT AN ICE AND COLD STORAGE FACILITY.
BY THE 1950S, THE PROPERTY WAS OWNED BY LEWIS AND, UH, FLORENCE RIFF, UH, WHO RAISED AT LEAST ONE SON AT THE ADDRESS.
LOUIS RIFF WAS EMPLOYED AS A DRIVER AT THE AUSTIN TRA - AT AUSTIN TRANSIT DURING THIS TIME.
UM, PER CITY CODE, HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION HAS 180 DAYS TO REVIEW DEMOLITION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS STARTING FROM THE DATE OF THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
THIS PERIOD IS SET TO TIME OUT ON MARCH 22ND, 2027.
THE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TRAVIS HEIHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER 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 RIGHT REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, RELOCATION, OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MUST REVIEW NEW CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, UH, AND DRAWINGS PRIOR TO PERMIT RELEASE IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
CAN WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? YES, THE APPLICANT SHOULD BE ON VIRTUAL.
SO MARK HUTCHINSON, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEAK.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, WE HEAR YOU.
MR. HUTCHINSON, GO AHEAD, PROCEED.
UM, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M HERE FOR APPROVAL OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
UM, LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SUPPORT THE GOAL OF THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, I HEAR EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THAT PRIOR, UM, DISCUSSION IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
UM, I FIRST MOVED HERE FIVE YEARS AGO.
I DID A PROJECT THAT WAS REVIEWED BY THIS COMMITTEE AT 160 IN BRACKENRIDGE.
IT WAS A GREAT OLDER HOME FROM 1915, RIGHT ON, UH, BRACKENRIDGE MONROE.
WE WERE ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT, AND THEN I BUILT AT 8U AND BACK, AND THAT'S WHERE I LIVE WITH MY WIFE STILL.
[02:05:01]
WITH THE GOAL OF STAY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.UM, SPENT A FEW MONTHS THINKING THROUGH DESIGNS THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, PRESERVE MUCH ALL THE EXISTENT HOME, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH EXISTING ZONING AND ALL OF THAT.
UM, MY ARCHITECT FRIEND ALSO WAS INVOLVED.
WE JUST COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK, UM, AND WE, WE ENDED UP MOVING FORWARD LIKE A THREE UNIT DESIGN AND THAT, THAT'S OUR PLAN.
WE'VE LIVED THERE LONG TERM, AND THEN THE GOAL IS RENT THE TWO UNITS, UM, HAVE SOME, SOME INCOME TO COVER OUR MORTGAGE.
UM, I AM HAPPY TO, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOMEONE DID REACH OUT YESTERDAY MORNING, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, DO THIS INITIAL CALL, HEAR FROM EVERYONE, ALSO TALK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN, IN THE COMING WEEKS IF, IF NEEDED.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, W- WANNA, WANNA DO WHAT'S RIGHT, KINDA MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S KIND OF COMFORTABLE WITH EVERYTHING.
UM, MY REASON ON DEMOLITION, IT'S PARTIALLY, AGAIN, JUST GIVEN THE SIZE, IT'S A BIT SMALLER THAN THE ONE I PRESERVED.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NEAR A BUNCH OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S NOT AS CLOSE TO, UM, THAT OTHER ONE IS REALLY PROMINENT AREA KIND OF RIGHT WHEN YOU ENTER THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, ON A BIG CORNER LOT.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO BE HAPPY TO...
I'VE, I'VE MOVED SOME HOMES IN THE PAST.
I'VE MOVED TWO HOMES BEFORE, LIKE, FRIENDS LOTS.
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS IN AUSTIN THAT, LIKE, HAVE THE OPEN LAND FOR IT.
UM, BUT IF ANYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ON THIS CALL KNOW THE SPACE, I'D HAPPILY PAY THAT COST.
IT'S REALLY QUITE, QUITE AFFORDABLE TO GET THEM MOVED.
UM, AND THEN I'LL, ALTERNATIVELY, I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THE DECONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
UM, I SIGNED UP FOR, UM, THAT, THAT MEETING, THAT FORUM, YOU KNOW, THAT'D BE HAPPENING IN, IN A MONTH OR SO THAT THE SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ON THIS CALL.
UM, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
HAPPY TO HEAR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THERE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS TO THE APPLICANT? YES, COMMISSIONER COOK? YES.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THREE UNITS ON THE PROPERTY.
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THE PRESERVATION BONUS AS PART OF THE HOME PROGRAM? YEAH, TOTALLY.
AND, AND I MEAN, I REALLY LIKE THE NEW ZONING.
UM, THE COMBINATION OF QUITE A SMALL LOT.
UM, THERE ARE NO TREE ISSUES, BUT THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
UM, BUT JUST QUITE A SMALL LOT.
UM, AND, AND THE, THE, THE MASSING OF THIS GUY, IT'S LIKE A, THIS IS LIKE A VERY BOXY GUY AND, AND JUST KIND OF HAVING IT PLACED WITH OUR SETBACKS.
AND, AND THEN THERE'S, THERE IS, DESPITE CITY OF AUSTIN ALLOWED THE 15 FOOT FRONT YARD SETBACK, UM, BUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A ZONING OVERLAY OR IT'S LIKE PART OF THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE 25 FOOT.
SO IT RESTRICTS US TO LIKE, I THINK PRETTY MUCH 90 FEET USABLE LENGTH AND LIKE 40, NOT YET 40 FOOT WIDTH.
AND, AND YEAH, WE JUST COULDN'T GET A SPACE WHERE THIS BOXY GUY SITS WITH ANOTHER TWO.
UM, HA- HAPPY TO SHARE AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE SOME TIME ON THIS AND, AND I'LL SHARE WITH THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD WHENEVER, WHENEVER ANYONE'S INTERESTED ON LIKE LITERALLY THE DESIGNS WE DID, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE COPIES OF ALL THAT AND JUST EXPLAIN WHY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT ON THIS ONE.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? YES.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.
UH, YES, SIMILAR TO, UH, COMMISSIONER COOK, IT SEEMED LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BENEFITING FROM, UH, UH, THE HOME ORDINANCE AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, THE SETBACK ISSUES JUST MENTIONED.
SO SUPPOSE YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY MOVE IT FORWARD.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT NECESSARILY WOULD BE A, MAKE FOR IDEAL COMPATIBILITY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT IS A QUESTION AND, UH, MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY, UH, IT'S IN THE PURVIEW OF, OF THIS COMMISSION, BUT ARE, GIVEN THAT THERE ARE DEED RESTRICTIONS, YOU CAN DO THE THREE? YEAH, YEAH.
SO IT'LL BE A REAR DUPLEX, UM, JUST SINGLE, EACH, EACH ONE WILL BE ONE STORY.
SO ALL, THE UNITS ARE TWO STORIES.
UM, I, I THINK THEY'RE IN LINE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HAPPY TO SHARE THE PLANS WITH YOU, THIS COMMITTEE OR WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT ANY TIME.
UM, AND TWO STORY STRUCTURES, NOT, NOT KIND OF OVERBEARING.
UM, AND IT'S ONE, EACH OF THE BACK UNITS IN THE DUPLEX ARE ABOUT 900 SQUARE FEET.
SO IT'S LIKE A TWO BED, TWO BATH, A LITTLE STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, LIKE A PRETTY COMPACT, LIKE SHOULD BE GOOD FOR LIKE, YOU KNOW, MOST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF YOUNGER RENTERS.
WON'T BE LIKE A BIG FAMILY HOUSE PROBABLY, BUT THERE'S STILL S**T HOPEFULLY DEMAND FOR THAT.
OUR GOAL IS, YOU KNOW, RENT THEM OUT AND COVER A MORTGAGE, PART OF OUR MORTGAGE.
UM, THE FRONT HOME WILL BE A TWO STORY, LIKE 2,400 SQUARE FOOT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE.
UM, SO WE NEED A LITTLE MORE SPACE.
WE LIVE IN A THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT ADU, SO WE'RE HOPING TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE A LITTLE SPACE FOR OUR FAMILY.
UM, I DID JUST THINK OF ONE THING, BY THE WAY.
UM, THE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ON THIS COMMITTEE WOULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP FACILITATE THIS, BUT I MEAN, THE, THE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR IS A KIND OF A SIMILAR STRUCTURE AND THEY JUST HAVE A BIG OPEN REAR LOT.
[02:10:01]
INTERESTED, I WOULD HAPPILY MOVE THIS HOME RIGHT, RIGHT TO THEM.I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT HONESTLY UNTIL I WAS ON THIS CALL RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, I CAN AT LEAST REACH OUT TO THEM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE ALL MEET NEXT TIME.
UH, IF THAT, IF THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THE HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S CERTAINLY PREFERABLE TO LOSING IT.
SO IF, IF ANYTHING LIKE THAT COULD BE EXPLORED, MAYBE WITH THE NEIGHBOR'S HELP.
ANY OTHER - I'LL, I'LL LEAST REACH OUT.
ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS OF OUR APPLICANT? OKAY.
WE HAVE TWO OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM, BOTH IN OPPOSITION.
OUR FIRST IN OPPOS - IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS BARBARA SILLY.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UH, I AM NOT AT ALL FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THE DETAILS THAT I HEARD DISCUSSED HERE THIS EVENING.
IT SEEMS TO ME, IF I REMEMBER, UH, WE CAN MAYBE LOOK AT DOING SOME WAIVERS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE SETBACK THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO.
WELL, IF IT'S A DEED RESTRICTION, THAT'S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.
AGAIN, IT'S, UH, A TREND THAT I'M SEEING.
WE'RE LOSING THESE SMALL, WONDERFUL BUNGALOWS.
UM, AS STAFF, UM, ASIDE IT, IT IS, UH, IT, IT STILL HAS QUITE A BIT OF INTEGRITY.
IT HASN'T HAD A LOT OF UNFORTUNATE WINDOW DECONSTRUCTION OR, UM, ADDITIONS.
AND THE SIDING LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE SHUTTERS THOUGH.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, SO YES, I WOULD HOPE THIS COULD BE POSTPONED SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN AND SEE IF WE CAN POSSIBLY COME THROUGH WITH ANY SCENARIOS THAT WOULD SOMEHOW INCORPORATE THIS STRUCTURE INTO THEIR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE ALONG WITH SOME, UH, RENTAL INCOME THROUGH A, AN ADDITIONAL STRUCTURE IN THE REAR.
OUR NEXT IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER IS ANNIE PASSIS.
UM, I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT THE APPLICANT IS WILLING TO CHAT WITH US ABOUT THE PLANS THAT HE HAS AND, AND WILLING TO TAKE IN SOME NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT.
AND, UM, TO THAT END, I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU POSTPONE ACTION ON THIS SO THAT WE DO HAVE TIME TO SPEAK WITH HIM AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOUSE.
ANY MORE SPEAKERS? NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
HOWEVER, IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO REBUT, THEY ARE WELCOME TO DO SO.
MR. HUTCHINSON, IF YOU'VE HEARD ANYTHING YOU NEED TO REBUT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO AT THIS TIME.
I, UM, I'LL JUST SAY YEAH, HA- HAPPY TO POSTPONE, POSTPONE AND I'LL, I'LL MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DID OFFER, UM, WHEN SOMEONE CALLED, UM, YESTERDAY MORNING, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE SAID HE'S OUT IN ALPINE FOR, FOR LIKE A MONTH, SO HE COULDN'T, UM, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL, I DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT, BUT I'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AHOLD OF THE COMMITTEE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND I ACTUALLY DID ON, ON MY ADU, Y- Y- YOU GUYS, THAT'S PART OF HOW THE PROCESS WORKS TO PRESERVE THAT FRONT HOME IS YOU DID, UM, APPROVE A SMALLER REAR SETBACK AND IT WORKED GREAT, BUT AGAIN, IT WASN'T A DEED RESTRICTION ISSUE LIKE YOU NOTED.
THIS, THIS ONE UNFORTUNATELY IS A DEED RESTRICTION.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, IF THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS, ALMOST ALL HANDS ARE RAISED.
COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE'VE HAD A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
WHAT IS YOUR MOTION? UH, MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT AND MOVE THIS TO THE DECEMBER MEETING.
AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, UH, ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK THEIR MOTION? UM, NO,
[02:15:01]
I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT BOTH SIDES ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE SOMETHING HERE.SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT FROM BOTH PARTIES.
UH, GIVEN SOME OF THE STRUGGLES WE'VE HAD IN GETTING APPLICANTS TO BE WILLING TO TALK TO PEOPLE, I APPLAUD THIS APPLICANT, UH, FOR BEING SO CANDID AND OPEN ABOUT WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, UH, AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THIS MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HANDS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
WE WILL SEE YOU AT OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
UH, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE USE OF THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE AS WELL IF, UH, IF THAT'S AVAILABLE, IF, IF YOU CAN SCHEDULE THAT.
[Items 13. & 14.]
LOOK NOW AT THE NEXT TWO ITEMS, UH, ITEM 13 AND 14.THESE ARE, UH, UH, ADJACENT, WELL, ACROSS THE STREET PROPERTIES CONNECTED, AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TAKE BOTH OF THOSE, UH, AS A SINGLE CASE.
COMMISSIONER ACTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I ASSUME THAT OUR FOLKS REMOTELY ARE ALSO RAISING THEIR HANDS.
UH, WE WILL THEN PROCEED WITH THE CASES, UH, AS 13 AND 14, 800 AND 801 WEST 34TH STREET.
ACTUALLY, Y'ALL, CAN WE GET, UH, A MOTION WITH EVERYBODY ON THE SCREEN, UM, SHOWING THAT WE CAN TAKE THOSE TWO TOGETHER? I BEG YOUR PARDON? DID WE HAVE EVERYBODY ON THE DIAS - UH, ON THAT MOTION? I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM ON THE RECORD, UH, TO TAKE THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
I THINK WE HAD EVERYBODY'S HAND RAISED, INCLUDING THOSE, UH, WHO WERE REMOTE.
NOW WE'RE SEEING THEM VISUALLY.
ALL HANDS RAISED, PLEASE, ONE MORE TIME.
ITEM 13 AND 14 IS A CASE, OUR CASES THAT CAME BEFORE Y'ALL LAST MONTH.
UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1965 OFFICE BUILDING, A CIRCA 1975 OFFICE BUILDING, AND THE CONNECTING SKY BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO OVER 34TH STREET.
801 WEST 34TH STREET WAS BUILT IN 1965 AS A MEDICAL CLINIC BY WILSON, MORRIS, CRANE & ANDERSON.
THE DESIGN COMBINATION OF VERTICAL PILASTERS, EXPOSED AGGREGATE CONCRETE, AND MONOLITHIC MASSING IS A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF A TRANSITION PIECE BETWEEN THE NEW FORMALIST MOVEMENT OF THE EARLY TO MID 1960S IN AUSTIN AND THE BRUTALIST SENSIBILITIES OF THE LATE 1960S AND 1970S.
ANDERSON, A FAMED HOUSTON MODERNIST, WAS A PIONEER OF EXPOSED AGGREGATE CONCRETE AND MODERN DESIGN.
AS A FIRM, WILSON, MORRIS, CRANE & ANDERSON COLLABORATED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME, THE WORLD'S LARGEST SELF-SUPPORTING DOME AT THE TIME OF ITS CONSTRUCTION IN 1965, THE SAME YEAR THIS BUILDING DEBUTED.
THE STONE AND STUCCO ADDITION AT THE NORTHEAST ELEVATION OF AUSTIN DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC WAS CONSTRUCTED BY THE FIRM IN 1971.
THE 1975 BUILDING AT 800 WEST 34TH STREET ECHOES THE BLOCKY MASSING WITH VERTICAL ACCENTS PRESENT IN THE 801 BUILDING.
THIS BUILDING ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE MORE LIGHT WITH ITS GLAZED HYPHEN, OFFSET WALL PLANES AND BASEMENT LEVEL LIGHT WELL.
THE SKY BRIDGE CONNECTING IT TO ITS SISTER BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET WAS ADDED IN 1976.
THE AUSTIN DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC BEGAN IN 1952 AS A SOLO PRACTICE OF DR.
RENFORD'S ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO CREATE A MULTI-SPECIALTY PRACTICE LIKE THE MAYO CLINIC IN AUSTIN.
BY THE 1960S, HE HAD ACHIEVED HIS GOAL ALONG WITH HIS PARTNERS WITH THE AUSTIN DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE CITY.
THE ADC WAS THE FIRST CLINIC IN AUSTIN TO PROVIDE IN-HOUSE RADIOLOGY AND LABORATORY TESTING.
ITS ACORN RESEARCH LABORATORY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.
JACK MONCRIEF PIONEERED AT HOME DIALYSIS, AND IT WAS THE FIRST GROUP TO BRING EKGS TO AN OUTPATIENT SETTING IN, IN THE TOWN, IN THE CITY.
THE INSTITUTION WAS NOT WITHOUT ITS CONTROVERSIES.
AS AUTHOR RICHARD PENNINGTON NOTES IN HIS 1995 HISTORY OF THE CLINIC, SOME A- ADC SPECIALISTS REFUSED TO TREAT AIDS PATIENTS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE EPIDEMIC AND FEDERAL FUNDING ENRICHED THE EXPONENTIALLY GROWING NEPHROLOGY PROGRAM WHILE OTHER SPECIALTIES WENT WITHOUT.
MONCRIEF'S RESEARCH ON CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, A REVOLUTIONARY TREATMENT FOR THOSE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE, WAS PART OF ADC'S LEGACY.
ALONG WITH BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER ROBERT POPOVICH, MONCRIEF PERFECTED THE NEW SYSTEM WHILE SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF DIALYSIS AND TRANSPLANTATION OF ADC.
THE 2021 NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN SURVEY LISTS THIS PROPERTY, UH, LISTS THE PROPERTY 801 WEST 34TH AS NON-CONTRIBUTING TO POTENTIAL LOCAL AND NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICTS.
HOWEVER, IT NOTES THAT THE NON-CONTRIBUTING STATUS IS APPLIED BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT OUTSIDE THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE
[02:20:01]
OF THE ADJACENT AND MUCH OLDER HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THUS, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, IS THAT SHOULD THE COMMISSION FIND THAT EITHER BUILDING MEETS THE REQUIRED INTEGRITY AND SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
OTHERWISE, STAFF RECOMMENDS ENCOURAGING REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATIONS UPON COMPLETION OF CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGES FOR BOTH BUILDINGS.
THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
UH, QUESTIONS OF STAFF? RIGHT.
UH, DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE? IT WOULD APPEAR NOT.
THEY HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT I KNOW OF.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS HERE ON THESE TWO CASES? YES.
WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS, ONE IN FAVOR, ONE IN OPPOSITION.
OUR IN FAVOR SPEAKER IS JOLENE KILBASA.
AND LET ME ASK BOTH SPEAKERS TO COME FORWARD SO WE CAN HAVE YOU COME SPEAK ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER.
UM, I AM OPPOSED TO DEMOLITION, SO I'M IN FAVOR OF HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS.
SO WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF DEMOLITION IF ANYBODY IS HERE FOR THAT.
WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS FOR THAT APPARENTLY.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU ARE OPPOSED TO THE DEMOLITION, SO THAT'S ALL THAT WE'RE BEING CONSIDERING AT THIS POINT.
HI, I'M JOLENE KOBASA, AND THANK YOU, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND COMMISSIONERS FOR HEARING THIS CASE AND CONSIDERING ZONING.
AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO STAFF FOR DOING THE RESEARCH AND BRINGING IT TO NEIGHBORS' ATTENTIONS THAT IN OUR MIDST ARE TWO BUILDINGS THAT SHARE A LINEAGE WITH THE HISTORIC ASTRODOME, AND IT WAS ALSO THE SITE OF AN IMPORTANT MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH OF HO - AT-HOME DIALYSIS, AND PERHAPS IS LIKE THE FORERUNNER OF NOW WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT AND GROWING MEDICAL INDUSTRY HERE IN AUSTIN.
ADDING THIS HOME, THIS BUILDING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S REPERTOIRE OF UNIQUE AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS WOULD BE REALLY WONDERFUL.
AND WE HAVE JUST DOWN THE STREET, LIKE A BLOCK AND A HALF AWAY, IS THE PENTHOUSE, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.
AND NEXT TO IT IS THE JEAN AND RUSSELL LEE HOUSE, WHICH WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT BY ADA PENN, WHO THE PENTHOUSE IS NAMED AF - UM, AFTER.
AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE THE ALAMO HOUSE ON WASHINGTON SQUARE, WHICH SHOWS OFF THE SOUTHWESTERN STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE.
AND WE HAVE A LATE 1930S ART DECO GAS STATION ON GUADALUPE THAT NOW HOUSES, UM, FLAMINGO AUTO.
SO I THINK THAT WE WOULD, WE HAVE THE VERY UNUSUAL AND GREAT COMBINATION.
AND ALSO WHILE NOT HISTORIC YET, ONE OF AUSTIN'S FIRST, AND PERHAPS THE FIRST, FIRST VERTICAL MIXED USE BUILDINGS IS 31 GUADALUPE ON GUADALUPE, AND THAT GRAND OPENING INCLUDED THE MAYOR AND ME- MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY WERE WRITING THE LAWS AT THE TIME, OR THEIR REGULATIONS FOR THE TIME FOR DOING VERTICAL MIXED USE.
SO ADDING THIS BRUTALIST BUILDING WOULD CREATE A GREAT DIS - UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND I LIVE THREE BLOCKS DOWN ON WEST AVENUE, SO I CAN ESSENTIALLY SEE IT ONCE I START WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? NO, THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1989, ABOUT THREE BLOCKS FROM THE BUILDINGS AT 801 WEST 34TH.
I'D LIKE TO, AGAIN, THANK MS. CONTRERAS FOR THE INFORMATIVE REPORT ABOUT THESE BUILDINGS ILLUSTRATING THAT THEY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON BOTH THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH DR.
JACK MONCRIEF, WHO DEVELOPED LIFE-SAVING TREATMENTS FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR POSTPONING THIS CASE LAST MONTH AND TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER IT NOW.
THESE AND SURROUNDING BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN MANAGED BY REIT MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR PROFITS BASED ON...
THAT PROFITS BASED ON VALUE RATHER THAN EARNINGS.
[02:25:01]
THE PROPERTY SAT VACANT OR NEAR VACANT FOR OVER 10 YEARS.LAST MONTH, I MENTIONED THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD A PRIVATE AGREEMENT WHICH INCLUDED, UM, A REQUIREMENT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BE INFORMED WHEN A SITE PLAN WAS FILED.
MY STATEMENT WAS INCORRECT, SO I HAD TO USE THE AUSTIN BUILDING AND CONNECT TO SEARCH ONLINE, AND I WAS UNABLE TO FIND OUTSIDE OF THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATIONS USING THE PUBLIC SEARCH FUNCTION.
AND I EXPECT YOU KNOW THE APPLICANT DIDN'T SHOW UP WHEN INVITED TO YOUR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING IN OCTOBER.
THE IDEA OF DEMOLISHING THESE BUILDINGS WITH NO REDEVELOPMENT PLAN LEADS ME TO FEAR THAT THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL HAVE FIVE ACRES OF BLIGHTED VACANT LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ANOTHER DECADE OR MORE.
THIS IS A WASTE OF VALUABLE CENTRAL AUSTIN PROPERTY, ELEVATED, UM, THE VACANT LOTS USUALLY ATTRACT TRASH, DUMPING, RODENTS, STAGNANT WATER, ALONG WITH ELEVATED RATES OF CRIME AND DRUG RELATED POLICE CALLS.
I KNOW THAT THE FATE OF THE LAND IS NOT IN YOUR PURVIEW, BUT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IS PLANNED, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE DEMOLITION OF THESE EXISTING BUILDINGS.
PLEASE VOTE TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
I HOPE THAT THIS ACTION WILL MOTIVATE THE AUTH - THE OWNERS TO INCORPORATE THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS OR AT LEAST THEIR FACADES INTO A PLAN THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY.
AS THE BUILDINGS TOGETHER ARE LESS THAN THREE QUARTERS OF AN ACRE ON THE FIVE ACRE COMBINED SITE, I BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH POSSIBLE AND DESIRABLE.
LAST WEEK, BY CHANCE, I MET A WOMAN WHO TOLD ME SHE HAD A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT 20 YEARS AGO.
SHE HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE DOCTOR WHO SAVED HER LIFE.
SHE COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY RECALL HIS NAME.
MONCRIEFF, SHE OF COURSE SAID YES.
I HOPE THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS WOULD BE NAMED TO HONOR DR.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, JUST AS A REMINDER, UH, WE'RE NOW IN THE PART OF OUR AGENDA WHERE WE'RE JUST REVIEWING DEMOLITION REQUESTS.
UNLESS IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOCAL OR NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, OUR REVIEW IS ONLY ON THE DEMOLITION REQUEST AND WE ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY GETTING THE CHANCE TO SEE WHAT COMES NEXT.
SO WOULD, THOUGH IT MIGHT BE DESIRABLE, THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR PURVIEW.
UM, AND OF COURSE, AS STAFF HAS MENTIONED, THE TIMELINE IS A, UH, A MORE AGGRESSIVE ONE, UH, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT SAID, UH, WE STILL HAVE, UH, I BELIEVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE MORE POSTPONEMENT BEFORE WE WOULD BE AT THE POINT OF NEEDING TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING IF THAT WAS DESIRED.
THE COMMISSION'S 75-DAY TIMELINE FOR THIS ONE, UH, WILL ELAPSE ON DECEMBER 21ST.
IS THIS THE LAST MEETING OR WE'D HAVE ONE MORE MEETING? YOU WOULD NEED TO INITIATE TONIGHT AND THEN RECOMMEND ON DECEMBER 2ND IF YOU WANT TO MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
SO IF IT'S NOT INITIATED, THAT, THAT TOOL AT LEAST, IF IT'S TO BE INITIATED, WOULD HAVE TO BE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UH, WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL OUR SPEAKERS.
LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED AND WE HAVE...
COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ IS NO LONGER, UH, ONLINE, SO TO BE NOTED.
COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ, YES, HAS ALSO RAISED HIS HAND.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO...
COMMISSIONER HARRIS? UM, AS TO...
AND I, I WILL SAY IN MAKING THIS MOTION, I'M OPEN TO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.
UM, AS TO 801 WEST 34TH STREET, I MOVE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON THE BASIS OF ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND I'M GONNA SAY COMMUNITY VALUE BECAUSE, UH, UH, AS THE SPEAKER MENTIONED, LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED AT THAT BUILDING.
AND IF THAT'S NOT A COMMUNITY VALUE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
UH, SO, UH, I'M, I STRUGGLE A BIT MORE WITH 800, UM, AND THAT'S ONE REASON I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.
I WILL NOTE THAT, UM, IN MAKING THAT MOTION, I DRIVE BY THAT FREQUENTLY, AND IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, OR THE LAST WEEK, UM, ALL OF THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROJECT HAVE NOW BEEN DEMOLISHED, AND, UM, THERE IS A F- FENCE AROUND 800,
[02:30:01]
NO FENCING AROUND 801.UH, LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE A SECOND.
IS THERE A SECOND TO COMMISSIONER HARRIS'S MOTION? I'LL SECOND.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY CONVERS - UH, ANY DISCUSSION TO YOUR MOTION? NO, I, I MEAN, I, IT, IT, I THINK THE ARCHITECTURE IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
I'VE DRIVEN BY THIS, MY ENT - OR WALKED BY IT, RIDDEN MY BICYCLE BY IT MY ENTIRE LIFE.
AND I NEVER KNEW WHAT I KNOW NOW ABOUT THIS BUILDING.
AND THIS IS ONE REASON THAT WE PRESERVE BUILDINGS IN THIS CITY IS THAT THEY TELL STORIES.
THEY TELL REAL STORIES ABOUT REAL PLACES AND REAL PEOPLE.
UH, AND, UM, SO I'VE, YOU KNOW, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST ECHO THE SAME THINGS.
I, I THINK THAT THIS, THIS CHECKS ENOUGH CRITERIA.
I TOO HAVE PASSED BY THIS BUILDING.
UM, ONE MAYBE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OR POINT OF CLARITY IS MAYBE THAT THE SKY BRIDGE IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH 801.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD KEEP HALF OF IT ANYWAY.
BUT, UH, I THINK THE, THE, THE CORE BUILDING, UH, FROM THE ORIGINAL.
SO DUR- DURING NEXT ONE, WE CAN - WE HAVE TIME TO...
SPECIFICALLY DEFINE EXACTLY - AND WE CAN SPECIFICALLY ASK STAFF TO ASSIST US WITH THAT - RIGHT.
UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, COMMISSIONERS? I'M GONNA HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON A BRUTALIST BUILDING BECAUSE AUSTIN HAS VERY FEW OF THEM.
AND I KNOW IT'S KIND OF AN ACQUIRED TASTE, BUT, UH, IT WAS VERY, VERY, UH, POPULAR FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF CIVIC BUILDINGS, LESS SO PERHAPS, UM, FOR A MEDICAL TYPE BUILDING OF THIS KIND.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS THAT MAY HAVE SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS, THE FACT THAT THIS WAS DONE WITH A PRACTICED HAND AS EVIDENCED BY THE NAMED ARCHITECT, OF COURSE HE'S THE ARCHITECT OF THE ASTRODOME AS WELL.
HE WAS FOLLOWING, UH, REALLY CUTTING EDGE DESIGN AT THE TIME.
AND, UH, I, I THINK THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE BRUTALISM IS MUCH MORE APPRECIATED AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ERAS WHERE IT'S BEEN LESS APPRECIATED, BUT IT'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO KEEP SOME OF IT.
UH, SO I, I HAVE TO AT LEAST SPEAK FOR THE ARCHITECTURE PART AS WELL.
I, I DO THINK THAT, UH, BOTH OF THEM, THOUGH IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DESIRABLE, I DO THINK THAT THIS OWNER COULD INCORPORATE THE 801, WHICH IS THE OLDER AND THE ORIGINAL, UH, AND, AND WITHOUT THE SKYBRIDGE, PROBABLY THE MORE, UH, INTERESTING OF THEM ARCHITECTURALLY OF THE TWO.
SO I, I THINK THAT KNOWING THIS OWNER AT THIS POINT HAS NOT ENGAGED WITH US, I THINK IT IS NOT AN UNREASONABLE ASK TO HAVE THEM LOOK SERIOUSLY AT 801, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT FOR THE REASONS THAT, UM, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION IS, HAS DISCUSSED.
SO I AM WILLING TO ENTERTAIN MORE DISCUSSION.
UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS TO INITIATE ON 800 AND TO ALLOW DEMOLITION OF 801? NO.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T MADE A MOTION ON 801 YET.
WE, WE'VE TAKEN THEM UP TOGETHER.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION TOGETHER, CORRECT? WELL, THEN WE WOULD, SHOULD WE POSTPONE AND, UH, HAVE - I CAN AMEND, I CAN CHANGE MY MOTION TO INCLUDE BOTH.
THEY, THEY ARE TWO, THE, THE TWO CASES HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP AT THE SAME TIME, SO WE COULD DISPENSE WITH ONE AND THEN GO BACK AND GET THE OTHER ONE IF WE WISH, IF WE WISH TO.
I THOUGH THAT WAS MORE FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION.
WELL, AT THIS POINT, UH, YEAH, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
WE CAN TAKE TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS.
SO I, AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR 801 TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
AND LET'S DISPENSE WITH THAT AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH 800.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? AND I'M SORRY FOR BRINGING CONVOLUTED MOTIONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING ON 801 WEST 34TH STREET, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE - I'M GONNA ABSTAIN.
I SEE ALL HANDS EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER RICE WHO IS NOTING HE WILL BE ABSTAINING.
UH, WE ARE INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING ON 801
[02:35:01]
WEST 34TH STREET.THAT MEANS THAT STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, CONTACT THE OWNER, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TAKE FINAL ACTION ON OUR RECOMMENDATION AT THE NEXT, UH, AT OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
SO WE STILL HAVE THE 800 WEST 34TH STREET THAT WE MAY TAKE ACTION ON.
AND WE COULD POSTPONE THAT ONE AND IT WOULD TIME OUT.
MOTION TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 800 AND TO POSTPONE UNTIL THE DECEMBER MEETING.
SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER ACTON, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT.
I, I THINK IT'S A HARDER HAUL ON 800, UM, FOR HISTONIC, FOR THE HISTORIC.
UM, AND I, BUT HOPEFULLY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAYBE CONTACTING THE OWNERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF 801, UM, WE'LL GET SOME INSIGHT INTO 800 AND BE ABLE TO MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION.
AND ALSO I'M THINKING THIS JUST MEAN THAT THE SKYWALK CAME WITH 800 SINCE IT CAME WITH THE LADDER.
SO, UM, AND THEN ALSO TO GIVE THE OWNER TIME TO COME AND SPEAK WITH US, PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE PLANS.
UM - ANY MORE DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER GROTON? SO, BUT BY POSTPONING IT, IF WE CHANGE OUR MIND AND WANT TO INITIATE IT, WE'RE TOO LATE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.THAT'S CORRECT.
UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
NOW, IF THAT, THAT IS IN ORDER TO INITIATE OVER THE OBJECTION OF AN OWNER.
IF AN OWNER CAME BACK DURING THAT DELAY AND SAID, "MY GOSH, I HADN'T THOUGHT OF THAT.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE HISTORIC ZONING," THEN THE TIMING COMPLETELY JUST CHANGED COMPLETELY.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE, WE, THERE COULD BE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TOO, IF THAT WERE THE CASE, TO GET IT DONE BEFORE DECEMBER 24TH.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THE COMMISSION HAS 75 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF APPLICATION TO ACT ON THIS APPLICATION.
UM, SO IF INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING IS OF INTEREST FOR THIS BUILDING, ACTION ON THIS WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN TONIGHT.
UM, OTHERWISE, THE APPLICATION WOULD TIME OUT AND A NEW APPLICATION FOR, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC ZONING FROM THE APPLICANT WOULD, WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COMMISSION.
UM, IF THE APPLICANT CHOOSES TO POSTPONE, THEN THE CLOCK IS STOPPED.
UM, BUT WITHOUT THAT, UM, AGREEMENT FROM THE APPLICANT, THE TIMER IS GONNA KEEP RUNNING, UM, TILL THAT 75 DAYS IS OUT.
AND SO IT WILL BE AT OUR DECEMBER MEETING, BUT THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL TIME OUT IF, IF NO OTHER ACTION IS TAKEN.
IF THE, ASSUMING THIS MOTION PASSES.
EVERYONE CLEAR, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE ON 800 WEST 34TH STREET.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND AGAIN, I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED.
AND THAT WAS ALSO REOPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THAT MEANS WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO
[15. DA-2026-132248; SP-2026-108262 – 2307 Rio Grande St. Council District 9 ]
ITEM NUMBER 15, WHICH IS 2307 RIO GRANDE STREET.UH, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION.
ITEM 15 AT 2307 RIO GRANDE IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1924 HOUSE.
THIS IS A ONE-STORY CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW WITH DOUBLE-HUNG WOOD WINDOWS ACROSS GABRIEL'S ROOF WITH CRAFTSMAN STYLE FORM AND DETAILING AND AN EXTERNAL BRICK CHIMNEY.
THE PARTIAL WIDTH FRONT PORCH FEATURES DECORATIVE BARGE BOARDS AND SHAMFORD COLUMNS, THE TOP BRICK PIERS.
THE HOUSE AT 2307 RIO GRANDE WAS BUILT IN 1924 FOR EUGENE AND BLANCHE GATLIN.
EUGENE GATLIN WAS A SALESMAN WHO WORKED FOR BOTH DEAN AND WALLING AND NELSON DAVIS & SONS, LONGSTANDING AUSTIN ESTABLISHMENT SELLING GROCERIES AND DRY GOODS.
THE GATLINS CONSTRUCTED A GARAGE APARTMENT IN 1934, AND AFTER EUGENE GATLIN AND HIS GRANDSON DIED IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN 1951, BLANCHE GATLIN REMAINED IN THE HOME UNTIL HER OWN DEATH IN 1959.
BY 1965, THE HOME HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO A SALON BY DANIEL CLAYTON ALLEN, PROPRIETOR OF MR. ALLEN'S BEAUTY SALON.
ALLEN HAD PREVIOUSLY OPERATED A THRIVING BUSINESS ON THE DRAG, BUT WAS FORCED TO RELOCATE WHEN THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1964.
ALLEN REMAINED IN BUSINESS AT THE LOCATION UNTIL AT LEAST THE LATE 1970S OR EARLY 80S.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THEREFORE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, RELOCATION OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, STAFF HAS CONFIRMED WITH THE, CONFERRED WITH THE APPLICANT, UM, AND THEY ARE OPEN TO DECONSTRUCTION OF, UM, THE BUILDING'S HISTORIC
[02:40:01]
FABRIC.AND THEN JUST TO NOTE, UH, WE AREN'T TAKING THEM TOGETHER, BUT THIS IS ADJACENT TO THE NEXT CASE, WHICH IS AT 2309 RIO GRANDE.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, THE 2020 NORTH CENTRAL, UH, HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY, UM, RECOMMENDED THE, UH, 2309 BUILDING, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION AS A LANDMARK, BUT NOT THIS BUILDING.
HEARING NONE, UH, I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK THE APPLICANT IF THE APPLICANT'S HERE.
I'M LEAH BOJO WITH DRENNER GROUP HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO HERE IS BIG PICTURE WHERE WE'RE LOCATED IN WEST CAMPUS.
TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, WE ARE IN THE INNER WEST CAMPUS DISTRICT OF UNO.
UM, HERE'S MORE, OBVIOUSLY, A LITTLE CLOSE UP JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE BLOCK LOOKS TODAY.
UM, WE WILL NEXT BE TALKING ABOUT THE LOT TO THE NORTH OF THIS BLUE OUTLINED LOT, 2307.
UM, STAFF HAS ESTIMATED THE YEAR BETWEEN, I THINK IN 1925, SO WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU.
WE DID LOOK UP THE SANBORN MAPS AND THAT DOES, UH, THAT DOES TRACK WITH WHAT WE FOUND.
UM, SO HERE'S KIND OF A SUMMARY OF THE SITE OVERALL.
THE CLOSEST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IS THE, UM, IS THE GROCERY WORKER, EUGENE, UM, GATLIN, WHO, WHO LIVED IN THE, IN THE HOME AND DIED IN 1951.
UM, I DID ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UM, I THINK ACTUALLY CALLAN JUST SAID THIS, THAT THE NORTH AUSTIN SURVEY DID NOT SHOW THIS AS ELIGIBLE AND THAT STAFF DOES RECOMMEND, UM, DEMOLITION.
UM, THE HOME HAS BEEN MODIFIED, UM, SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN 1924.
SO TO JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH THESE, UM, CRITERIA, I THINK, UM, THEY, UH, ARCHITECTURE IS THE ONLY, IS REALLY THE ONLY CRITERIA THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.
IT HA - EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT HAS ALSO BEEN MODIFIED, SO I WOULD CONSIDER THAT SORT OF A WEAK, A WEAK CONNECTION.
UM, HERE'S A LIST OF THE THINGS, EVEN FROM AN ARCHITECTURE STANDPOINT, THAT WE, OUR ASSESSMENT OF WHAT COULD QUALIFY.
UM, AND THEN THERE ARE REALLY NO SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS, OBVIOUSLY ARCHEOLOGY, COMMUNITY VALUE, AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES.
UM, SO WITH THAT, WE WOULD REQUEST, UM, THAT YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH RELEASING THE DEMOLITION PERMIT TODAY.
ANY QUESTIONS, UH, COMMISSIONERS? THE SPEAKER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO WE HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER IN FAVOR SPEAKER OF ASH- ASHLEY FISHER, WHO IS WAIVED.
AND THEN WE HAVE STILL THE SAME IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER OF KATHY NORMAN WHO HAD REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT IF SHE WISHES TO SPEAK AGAIN.
MR. NORMAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, THE, THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS GROUP ON TUESDAY ASKED FOR POSTPONEMENT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WAS PRESENTED HERE, UH, BUT, UH, IT WAS A REQUEST FROM THE GROUP TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW THIS ONE AND THE NEXT ONE ARE CONNECTED TO THE SAME PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO WE CERTAINLY WANNA HEAR ABOUT BOTH OF THEM.
BUT, BUT THAT WAS THE CALL OF MY GROUP TO ASK FOR POSTPONEMENT.
UH, WE, WE SUPPORT GENERALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, DENSE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE, THAT ZONE OF THE UNO, BUT WE HAVE ALSO TRIED VERY HARD NOT TO DROP THE BALL ON ANY POTENTIALLY HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? OKAY.
UH, I GUESS WE HAVE A REBUTTAL.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT JUST QUICKLY, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT.
UM, THE BACKUP WAS POSTED OBVIOUSLY LAST FRIDAY, SO ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT HAS BEEN ONLINE SINCE, SINCE LAST FRIDAY, EVEN, UM, WITH THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST ON TUESDAY.
UM, ONE OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR PROJECT DID GO AND SPEAK TO UAP IN AUGUST.
WE DIDN'T HAVE OBVIOUSLY THIS DETAIL, BUT THERE WAS, UM, A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT WOULD BE COMING.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT, UM, AS ALL OF Y'ALL VERY, VERY WELL KNOW, THIS HISTORIC DESIGNATION IS NOT ABOUT WHAT PROJECT IS COMING NEXT.
IT'S ABOUT, UM, WHETHER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE MEETS THE CRITERIA THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THE CODE.
[02:45:01]
YOU TO MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT.UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKERS? ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, THEN I'LL T - ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SECOND, COMMISSIONER ACTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
WE HAVE A, HAD A REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT.
I'LL MOVE TO RELEASE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT PENDING A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
COMMISSIONER COOK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
UM, THIS IS, I ALWAYS WANNA SUPPORT, UM, THE SURVEYS THAT THE CITY'S INVESTED IN AS A, A TOOL FOR, UH, PREDICTABILITY, UH, FOR EVERYONE.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT'LL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF GOING AGAINST OWNER'S WISHES OR, UH, BUT, OR IF THERE'S NEW INFORMATION FOUND, UM, THAT SAY THEY'RE NOT RECOMMENDED THAT THEY COULD BECOME.
UM, I DON'T SEE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE HERE.
AND, UM, STAFF HAS AGREED, UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF TWO STRIKES AGAINST IT.
AND ALSO THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE CITY HAS STATED THEY WANT DENSITY.
SO I, I JUST WOULDN'T SEE THIS CASE GOING FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY.
MR. ACTON? UH, NOTHING TO ADD TO THAT.
I'M, I AM INCLINED TO ALLOW FOR AT LEAST ONE DELAY IN THAT I KNOW THAT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CASE WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR NEXT DOOR.
UM, SO I, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE DELAY ONE AND LET THE OTHER ONE GO.
AT LEAST IN MY MIND, IT SEEMS A BIT, UH, MISSING, MISSING OUT WHEN WE HAVE HAD A REQUEST OF THIS KIND, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD THE OTHER CASE YET, SO I, I, I MAY BE JUMPING THE GUN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO RELEASE THE PERMIT WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX IN FAVOR.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? UH, ONE, TWO, OPPOSED.
COMMISSIONER RICE? ABSTAINING.
AND COMMISSIONER RICE ABSTAINS.
THAT WAS A SIX, UH, TWO TO ONE ABSTAINING, SO THE MOTION DOES PASS.
[16. DA-2026-132279; SP-2023-0269C – 2309 Rio Grande St. Council District 9 ]
ITEM NUMBER 16, WHICH IS 23...ITEM 16 AT 2309 RIO GRANDE, UH, IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCA 1925 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING THAT WAS CONVERTED TO OFFICES IN THE MID 20TH CENTURY.
THIS BUILDING IS A TWO-STORY OFFICE ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED BY AUSTIN ARCHITECT AND CONTRACTOR REX D.
KITCHENS AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH TWO APARTMENTS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
IT WAS CONVERTED INTO DENTAL OFFICES IN THE LATE 1940S AND EARLY 1950S.
THE 1925 STATESMAN ARTICLE NOTES THAT THE HOME IS A NEW IDEA DESIGNED BY KITCHENS.
THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IS DEVOTED TO LIVING ROOMS, DINING ROOMS, BEDROOMS, KITCHEN, BATH, FRONT AND BACK PORCH.
TWO APARTMENTS OCCUPY THE SECOND FLOOR AND EACH IS FURNISHED.
IT APPEARS TO BE THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF BUILDING IN THE AREA.
KITCHENS WOULD SOON GO ON TO OPEN HIS OWN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN 1933, WHICH WOULD LEAD HIGH PROFILE PROJECTS SUCH AS THE BUFORD FIRE TRAINING TOWER IN THE COMMODORE PERRY HOTEL, AND WOULD PIONEER, PIONEER LIGHTWEIGHT PRECAST CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION METHODS IN TEXAS AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
THE HOME'S EARLIEST OCCUPANTS WERE THE HOFER FAMILY WHO LIVED IN PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING FROM 1925 TO 1952.
HARRY HOFER WAS THE CITY'S CLAIMS SUPERVISOR AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF MALE BEFORE HE MOVED TO THE UNIVERSITY AREA.
HE ALSO WORKED WITHIN THE AUSTIN POST OFFICE ORGANIZATION AS A LABOR REPRESENTATIVE.
BY 1952, THE HOME WAS PURCHASED BY DENTIST JAMES W.
GOSSETT, WHO CONVERTED THE FIRST FLOOR INTO OFFICES.
GOSSETT APPEARED TO, APPEARS TO HAVE RETAINED RESIDENTIAL RENTERS FOR SOME TIME ON THE UPPER FLOOR.
THE 2020 NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY WINDSOR HYDE PARK SURVEY RECOMMENDS THE BUILDING IS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK LISTING AND INDIVIDUAL LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING, UH, ONLY SHOULD THE COMMISSION FIND THAT THE BUILDING MEETS THE CRITERION FOR HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION IN ADDITION TO ITS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.
OTHERWISE, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS ENCOURAGING REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, RELOCATION, OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UH, AND THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO, UH, BE OPEN TO DECONSTRUCTING AND SALVAGING BOTH, UH, THIS BUILDING'S HISTORIC
[02:50:01]
MATERIALS AND ELEMENTS, UM, AS WELL AS THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY.
CAN WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.
LEAH BOJO HERE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO HERE WE HAVE, YOU CAN SEE NOW THIS IS THE, THE LOT THAT'S TO THE NORTH, AGAIN, IN THE, UM, UNO INNER WEST CAMPUS AREA.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE HOUSE TO THE FRONT OF THE LOT.
THERE'S A BACK BUILDING WHICH HAS BEEN, UM, WHICH IS GONNA BE RELEASED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
UM, YOU CAN ALSO SEE IN THIS PICTURE THAT THERE IS A DEVELOPMENT JUST TO THE NORTH ON THE LOT TO THE NORTH, UM, FAIRLY RECENT, UM, MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT, UM, WHICH I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IN A MINUTE.
UM, SO HERE'S THE SANBORN MAP.
AGAIN, WE AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT 2425 OF CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO HERE WE HAVE, AGAIN, JUST A SUMMARY.
UM, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE QUOTE FROM THE STAFF REPORT, UM, THAT CALLAN READ SAYS THAT, UM, THEY DIDN'T, THAT, THAT WHILE MR. HOFER DID, UM, WORK FOR THE MAIL COMPANY DURING THIS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN, UM, FOR, FOR THE, FROM THE LABOR UNION, UM, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT HIS, I BELIEVE, ANYTHING ABOUT HIS ACTUAL IMPACT ON THE CAMPAIGN.
IT JUST APPEARS THAT HE WAS A POSTAL WORKER DURING THAT TIME.
UM, HE WAS A CLAIM SUPERVISOR WITH THE CITY AS WELL, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WAS BEFORE HE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, BACK TO HIS, HIS POSTAL EMPLOYEE WORK, UM, HE WAS NOT N- NOTED AS A, AS A LEADER IN THE MOVEMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OR A POLITICAL ORGANIZER.
IT WAS JUST THAT HE WAS A POSTAL WORKER DURING THAT TIME, UM, WORKING FOR THOSE PROTECTIONS.
UM, SO HERE WE HAVE JUST THE, THE STANDARD SUMMARY.
AGAIN, UM, I, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE AGES OF THE RIGHT TIME AND IT DOES HAVE SOME INTEGRITY, ALTHOUGH, UM, I DO BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN SOME ALTERATION, UM, TO THE, TO THE PORCH AND THE BALCONY AROUND IT HAS BEEN CHANGED.
UM, BUT OTHER THAN ARCHITECTURE, WE REALLY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT.
UM, WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT HERE IN THIS PICTURE IS THIS IS FROM THE STAFF REPORT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITION THERE, UM, TO THE REAR AND THE ALTERED BALCONY THAT I MENTIONED.
BUT WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE FROM THIS OLDER PICTURE IS THAT THERE IS NOW A, THAT MULTIFAMILY BUILDING THAT YOU COULD SEE FROM THE AERIAL, UM, IS BUILT RIGHT NEXT TO THIS HOUSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ABOUT A FOOT BETWEEN THE EAVE AND THE, THIS NEW BUILDING.
SO THE CONTEXT HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY, UM, SINCE THIS PHOTO, WHICH I BELIEVE THIS PHOTO CAME FROM THE, UM, THE SURVEY, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
SO FROM AN ARCHITECTURE STANDPOINT, IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT DOES APPEAR TO HAVE SOME INTEGRITY OR SOME, YOU KNOW, INTEREST AS, UM, A DISTINGUISHED TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE WITH THE APARTMENTS THAT WERE BUILT ON TOP AND THE COMMERCIAL GROUND FLOOR.
UM, BUT AS FAR AS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, UM, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT TO SHARE, NOR DO WE HAVE, UM, COMMUNITY VALUE ARCHEOLOGY OR LANDSCAPE FEATURE.
UM, AND THEN THIS IS, UM, FROM A ZONING CASE THAT WAS DONE IN 2018.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THIS SAME PERSON, THE SAME FAMILY WAS NOTED AS NOT HAVING HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
UM, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, IT WAS 2018, SO I FELT LIKE THAT WAS WORTH, IS WORTH POINTING OUT.
AND WITH THAT, WE WOULD REQUEST AGAIN THAT YOU RELEASE THE PERMIT TODAY.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR APPLICANT? HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? YES, WE HAVE ANOTHER IN FAVOR SPEAKER, THAT IS ASHLEY FISHER.
SHE HAS WAIVED HER RIGHT TO SPEAK.
AND WE HAVE AN IN OPPOSITION SPEAKER.
IT IS KATHY NORMAN, IF SHE WISHES - MS. NORMAN? YEAH.
UM, I'LL JUST REITERATE THAT OUR GROUP ON TUESDAY, UH, THE 29TH SAID, "CAN WE PLEASE, UM, GET A POSTPONEMENT SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY?" AND ACTUALLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WE'VE REQUESTED, UH, UH, A POSTPONEMENT ON, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT ITEM, ITEM 18 ON THE AGENDA.
UM, UH, I, THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO COME SPEAK TO US, UH, POSTPONEMENT OR NOT, SO THAT, SO THAT THE WHOLE GROUP CAN BE FILLED IN ON, UH, WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH DECONSTRUCTION OR WHATEVER ELSE THEY HAVE TO DO TO TELL US ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OR NOT OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, BUT I, YOU KNOW, MY, MY ORGANIZATION ASKED ME TO REQUEST POSTPONEMENT.
AND, UH, PRIMARILY PROCEDURE-WISE, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THESE DECISIONS ABOUT HISTORIC
[02:55:01]
PROPERTY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.AND, UM, AGAIN, IT'S TRUE THAT WE SUPPORT HIGH DENSITY.
IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORIC PROPERTY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S ALREADY BEEN, UH, RECOGNIZED AS SUCH.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE GONE ON THE RECORD WITH THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNO AND SOME OF THESE DENSITY PROGRAMS PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ON POTENTIAL HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THAT NOW.
SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR BEING, UH, EXTRA, UH, EXTRA VIGILANT IN HELPING US OUT ON THAT, SO.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKER? ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO, BUT THE APPLICANT MAY WISH TO REBUT.
YEAH, BUT WE MAY HAVE A REBUT IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
I WOULD JUST REPEAT THE SAME THING, THE SAME RESPONSES WE HAD BEFORE.
WE DID LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WERE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT IN, IN AUGUST, UM, THAT WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH THEM REGARDLESS OF HOW MO - THIS MOVES FORWARD.
WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO SPEAK WITH THEM.
UM, MIKE MCCONA IS ACTUALLY ON OUR TEAM, UM, AND, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, HI- HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OBVIOUSLY IS NOT ABOUT THE N- NEXT DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ABOUT THIS CURRENT ONE.
NO OTHER SPEAKERS, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER ACTON, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED, SO HEARING IS CLOSED, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO OUR DECEMBER MEETING AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IT WAS, UH, AGAIN, GOING WITH THE SURVEY, IT WAS RECOMMENDED.
I THINK IT DESERVES AT LEAST PO - AT LEAST A POSTPONEMENT AND THERE'S GONNA BE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING ANYWAY.
SO I, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON NOT TO AT LEAST POSTPONE.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS? NOTHING TO ADD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TO OUR DECEMBER HEARING, UH, MEETING.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I MENTIONED MY, MY REASONS FOR SUPPORTING A POSTPONE ON THE LAST ONE, SO THIS, THIS STILL STANDS.
UH, I WILL CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE MOTION AS WELL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
UH, COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI - SORRY, SORRY, CHAIR.
UH, I, I WAS JUST LOOKING UP QUICKLY.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE, UH, LET ME ASK THEN, ARE THERE ANY IN OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI IS NOTED, UH, YOUR, YOUR VOTE IS OPPOSED.
UH, BUT THAT, THE MOTION DOES PASS.
[18. PR-2026-127240 – 909 W. 22nd Half St. Council District 9 ]
GO ON NOW TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS 909 WEST 22ND HALF STREET.THIS IS ITEM 18 AT 909 WEST 22ND AND A HALF STREET.
THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DEMOLISH THE CIRCUIT 1890...
SORRY, IS TO DEMOLISH A CIRCUIT 1899 HOUSE AND A CIRCA 1952 DUPLEX.
THE MAIN HOUSE IS A TWO-STORY QUEEN ANNE WITH HORIZONTAL WOOD SIDING.
FENESTRATION INCLUDES DOUBLE HUNG TWO OVER TWO WOOD WINDOWS WITH DECORATIVE SCREENS, FOUR OF THE FOUR INFILL WINDOWS, STAINED AND LETTING GLASS, AND MULTI-PANE FIXED WINDOWS AND TRANSOMS OVER THE DOORS.
UH, THE ROOF IS COMPOUND WITH A HIPPED MAIN ROOF, UH, E- EXCENTED WITH A FRONT FACING GABRAL, GABLE AND A FLARED PYRAMIDAL TOWER AT THE CORNER PORCH, WHICH, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE ONCE BEEN OPEN AT THE SECOND FLOOR.
SORRY, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK HERE.
THE TOWER, THE PROJECTING BAY AND THE ONE-STORY PORTION AT THE REAR OF THE HOUSE APPEAR ON THE 1900 SANBORN MAP.
UM, THE TWO THOU - OR 2020 NORTH UNIVERSITY WINDSOR HYDE PARK SURVEY NOTES THAT THE BUILDING'S REAR ADDITION AND TOWER ALTERATIONS ARE COMPATIBLE AND WERE INSTALLED DURING THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE BUILDING.
THE REAR DUPLEX WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1952.
IT HAS A PYRAMIDAL HIPPED ROOF WITH EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS, ONE OVER ONE SCREENED WOOD WINDOWS, AND ASBESTOS SHINGLE SIDING.
THE MAIN HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1899 FOR EDWARD A.
THIELE, UH, WAS A BUTCHER, AS WERE HIS FOUR BROTHERS.
NUMEROUS THEELS OWNED AND OPERATED MEAT MARKETS AROUND TOWN.
EDWARD OWNED THE THIEL MEAT MARKET ON GUADALUPE AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
ITS LOCATION WAS CONVENIENT FOR HIM AS HE SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN IN NORTH AUSTIN, NORTH AUSTIN'S HOSE COMPANY NUMBER SIX, WHO HEADQUARTERED AT THE STATION AT 3002 GUADALUPE.
[03:00:01]
WERE ACTIVE IN THE SONS OF HERMAN ORGANIZATION OF FRATERNAL ORDER FOR GERMAN IMMIGRANTS.IDA THELA IS NOTED AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE VIOLET LODGE OF THE SISTERS OF THE SONS OF HERMANN AND WAS HONORED FOR 50 YEARS IN ITS SERVICE IN 1955.
BY 1956, OWNERSHIP OF THE HOUSE PASSED TO, UH, PROFESSOR GRACE THEELA.
AFTER ENROLLING AT THE STATE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF GALVESTON IN 1922, SHE CHANGED HER ACADEMIC TRAJECTORY AND RECEIVED HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN ZOOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN 1927, A RARE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR A WOMAN IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY IN HER FIELD.
THEY WENT ON TO TEACH BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY AT MARY HARDEN BAYLOR COLLEGE.
SHE REMAINED IN THE HOME UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1992.
THE 2020 NORTH UNIVERSITY WINDSOR HYDE PARK SURVEY ALSO NOTES THAT THE BUILDING IS SIGNIFICANT AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE LARGER DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS OF THE ERA, ERA, AS LARGE TRACKS OF LAND WERE BROKEN UP AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY TO ALLOW FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THE SURVEY LISTS THE MAIN BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY AS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
STAFF HAS ALSO EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT THE PRIMARY BUILDING MEETS TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
THUS, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE MAIN BUILDING PER THE SURVEY RECOMMENDATIONS.
ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, RELOCATION, OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION OF THE SECONDARY APARTMENT, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THE BACK STRUCTURE UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT.
UH, IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES, THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS KATER JOSEPH AND I'M THE OWNER AND APPLICANT FOR 909 WEST 22ND AND HALF STREET.
MY FAMILY CAME TO AUSTIN FROM LEBANON IN 1895 AND SET- SETTLED IN THIS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS AREA SINCE 2005, MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
AND DURING THAT TIME, I'VE RESTORED MULTIPLE LANDMARKS WORKING ALONGSIDE STAFF, HLC, THC, PA.
SO I SAY THAT JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT I TAKE WHAT Y'ALL DO SERIOUSLY AND I, AND I THANK STAFF FOR THEIR CAREFUL RESEARCH.
TONIGHT, I'M ASKING THAT YOU NOT INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR 909 WEST 22ND AND A HALF STREET.
FIRST, THE CRITERIA THAT STAFF FOUND, THE MINIMUM OF TWO.
THE ARCHITECTURE IS A GOOD QUEEN ANNE, QUEEN ANNE EXAMPLE, BUT BY FAR FROM A GREAT ONE.
THE FIELDS WERE A HARDWORKING FAMILY, A BUTCHER, A LODGE MEMBER, A COLLEGE TEACHER.
THEIR LIVES MATTER, BUT STAFF FOUND THAT THE WORKING FAMILIES AT 1918 NOONING AND 211 ACADEMY DID NOT MEET THAT CRITERIA.
AND EARLIER TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, JUST LAST CASE, WE HEARD THAT THE, UH, ON RIO GRANDE, THE SMALLER HOUSES ON RIO GRANDE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT STREETS ON WEST CAMPUS, UH, UH, EXCUSE ME, I LOST MY TRAIN OF...
UH, BUT COMPARING THIS PROPERTY TO RIO GRANDE, THIS IS CLOSER TO AN ALLEY WHILE RIO GRANDE IS ONE OF THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES ON WEST CAMPUS.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S A TWO-STORY, IT'S A LARGE HOUSE.
IT SHOWS THAT THE, THE OWNERS HAD, COULD AFFORD TO BUILD A LARGE HOUSE, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT MORE SIGNIFICANT.
SECOND, THE DESIGNATION ALONE DOESN'T PRESERVE A BUILDING.
MANY SAVED HOUSES NEARBY HAVE BEEN REMODELED CHEAPLY AND LOST THEIR HISTORIC FABRIC.
ONE ACTUALLY DESIGNATED LANDMARK AROUND THIS AREA HAD ITS WINDOWS REPLACED WITH ALUMINUM ONES.
OTHER LANDMARKS HAVE BEEN SANDWICHED TIGHTLY AROUND STUDENT HOUSING BUILDINGS, LIKE THE FREEMAN BUILDING.
REAL PRESERVATION TAKES A VIABLE USE THAT CAN SUPPORT THE COST OF MAINTAINING A LANDMARK.
THIS HOUSE IS IN VERY POOR CONDITION WITH NO SIG- SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN DECADES, INCLUDING NONE FOR ADA ACCESSIBILITY.
THAT'S BECAUSE A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE ISN'T VIABLE USE OF A PROPERTY VALUED ON TCAD FOR OVER $2 MILLION THAT'S SURROUNDED BY STUDENT HOUSING.
THE RENT HARDLY COVERS THE PROPERTY TAXES, LET ALONE MAINTENANCE.
WEST 22ND AND A HALF STREET IS A VERY SMALL ONE-WAY STREET OFF THE BEATEN PATH, AND UNFORTUNATELY A COMMERCIAL USE THAT WOULD JUSTIFY KEEPING THE EXISTING BUILDING WOULD NOT BE VIABLE DUE TO THE TUCKED AWAY LOCATION.
THE SITE IS ZONED FOR MID-RISE STUDENT HOU - STUDENT HOUSING.
[03:05:01]
FAR LESS TO BUILD THAN THE CONCRETE HIGH RISES THAT YOU'VE SEEN GOING UP AROUND CAMPUS.GOT ABOUT 15, 20 MORE SECONDS? GO AHEAD, PLEASE PROCEED.
UH, IT, IT'S, WHAT THE PROPERTY IS ZONED FOR IS A MID-RISE, WHICH IS A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD, WHICH TRANS- TRANSFERS TO NATURAL OCCURRING AFFORDABILITY IN ADDITION TO THE MANDATED AFFORDABILITY WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY.
WE'D APPRECIATE A DECISION TONIGHT, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE OUTCOME THAT WE, WE REQUEST, DELAYS ADD COSTS THAT ULTIMATELY SHOW UP AS HIGHER RENT.
I WILL COMPLETE THE DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE, SALVAGE THE STAIN, GLASS AND MILLWORK, AND IN ADDITION, DISASSEMBLE AND SALVAGE THE BUILDING'S DESIRABLE MATERIALS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU NOT INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING AND THAT YOU RELEASE THE REQUESTED PERMIT.
ANY, UH, QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A SPEAKER IN FAVOR AND THAT IS MIKE MCCONE.
WELL, UH, I'M SORRY I MISSPOKE THEN.
UH, DO WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE IN FAVOR? WE HAVE NO OTHER, WE HAVE NO IN FAVOR SPEAKERS THEN.
I HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO PRESERVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE WEST CAMPUS.
WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SAVING THE POMPEY CLARK COOK HOUSE AT NUECES AND 22ND STREET, THE, UH, KENNY HOUSE AT 22ND AND RIO GRANDE.
I PERSONALLY SAVED THE BERT HOUSE AT SEVEN, AT 611 WEST 22ND, AND A, UH, HOUSE AT 608 WEST 22ND STREET.
IT'S A LONG HISTORY OF, AND I LIVE IN HOUSES.
I'VE MOVED FROM PRESER - FROM THERE.
TO ME, THE, IF THE EVIDENCE OF THIS PRESENTED TO THIS COMMISSION SHOWS THAT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA, IT SHOULD BE DESIGNATED AS A HISTORIC BUILDING AND INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING AND SEE HOW IT GOES AS IT MOVES UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH MAKES THE UL- ULTIMATE DECISION.
NOW I WANNA TELL YOU A HIS - A PERSONAL STORY.
GRACE DIDN'T DIE IN THE BUILDING.
GRACE WAS MOVED TO HIS, A SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER IN HER LAST MONTHS OF LIFE.
HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE SHE WAS A TENANT.
SHE HAD A TENANT WHO CAME TO ME AND SAID, "GRACE CAN'T STAY IN THE AIR ANYMORE.
SHE CAN'T AFFORD A, ANYBODY TO HELP HER.
CAN YOU HELP?" I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND FOUND SOMEBODY IN THE DEPTH, DEPTHS OF 1990S DOWNTURNS WHO PAID THE MONEY TO TAKE IT OVER IN 1991, 92.
I HAD MANAGED THAT PROPERTY UNTIL THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN THE OWNERS FINALLY DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO SELL.
I WOULD LIKE FOR MY, FOR MY EFFORTS TO BE NOTED AND FOR GRACE'S LONG-TERM...
SHE WAS A GRAND LADY EVEN IN HER OLD AGE AND SHE NEEDS TO, AND THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS THERE.
THIS IS A FAMILY, IF YOU READ THE INFORMATION THAT WE SUBMITTED, UH, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS AT LEAST DESERVES MORE STUDY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO, UH, HAVE A POSTPONEMENT SO THAT WE COULD SEE IF WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYONE IN THIS, INVOLVED AND SAVE THIS STRUCTURE AND THE FAMILY'S LEGACY.
AND QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS? YES.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION IS KATHY NORMAN.
SO MIKE HAS A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THAT PROPERTY.
UM, BUT WHEN UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS LAST MET ON OCTOBER 27TH, HE ASKED ME TO CLARIFY WHEN THAT WAS, WE DID DECIDE THAT
[03:10:01]
WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ALL THREE OF THESE PROPERTIES AND HEAR FROM THE APPLICANTS IF POSSIBLE.AND, UM, AND, AND THEREFORE ASK FOR A POSTPONEMENT.
I WANNA SECOND THOUGH ONE OF MIKE'S COMMENTS, WHICH IS, UM, IT'S TRUE THAT THERE ARE HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT HOW TO BE SAVED IN MULTIPLE WAYS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MAYBE THEY'RE NESTLED INTO BIG BUILDINGS.
UH, MAYBE SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN MOVED.
UH, THERE'S OFTEN SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE, UH, TO PRESERVE SOMETHING THAT'S TRULY HISTORIC.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM JOSEPH YET, UH, IN THE GROUP.
WE HAVEN'T, UH, HEARD THE OTHER SIDE.
I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR POSTPONEMENT.
ANY COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE A TIME TO REBUT? OKAY, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I, I'VE MOVED A NUMBER OF HOUSES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE, AS I MENTIONED, DONE SOME VERY IMPECCABLE WORK ON SOME EXISTING LANDMARKS.
AND LAST WEEK I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH MIKE AND TALK ABOUT THIS, AND I JUST DON'T SEE THE VIABLE PATH FOR, FOR SAVING THIS, FOR PRESERVING THIS HOUSE ON THIS PROPERTY.
THE, THE, THE SITE IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH AND FOR US TO BUILD A WOOD FRAME MID-RISE PROJECT, WE NEED THE FULL, THE FULL SITE.
UH, AS, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH, WITH THE BUILDING, BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE SUCCESSFULLY, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I'M, I'M NOT SEEING A VIABLE OPTION.
BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME VERY MUCH AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE, UH, TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT AND TO NOT POSTPONE.
UM, ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND COMMISSIONER RICE? I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE.
UH, BUT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT VOTES.
THAT'S THE ONE ABSTAIN, UH, SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
UM, I WILL MOVE TO, UM, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE MAIN BUILDING, ENCOURAGE, UH, REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING FOR THE MAIN BU- BUILDING, ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE RELOCATION OR DECONSTRUCTION OVER DEMOLITION OF THE REAR DUPLEX, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THE REAR PROPERTY OR THE REAL, REAR BUILDING.
IF THE MOTION IS TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF THE FRONT PROPERTY - CORRECT.
WITH THE DISCUSSION OF THE DISPOSITION OF THE REAR STRUCTURE, THAT DOESN'T NEED PUBLIC HEARING REOPENED, SO WE CAN JUST HAVE THAT AS THE MOTION.
AND THEN DO YOU HAVE, UH, WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE CRITERIA AT THIS STAGE, YOU CAN.
UH, I, THE, I THINK CRITERIA OR ARCHITECTURE AND ASSOCIATION ARE THE STRONGEST CRITERIA.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT'S BASED ON.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION? POINT OF CLARIFICATION, UH, INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING DOES REQUIRE, UH, REOPENING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THAT WAS, YOU GOT IT RIGHT.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YEAH.
I UNDERSTAND THE APPLICANT'S CONCERNS AND I WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL.
HE SAID REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DID TONIGHT, HE WOULD LIKE A CLEAR DECISION.
AND SO TO ME, IT MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR INITIATION.
UH, AND SO I THINK I'M HOPE- HOPEFUL
[03:15:01]
THAT, THAT THAT, UH, IS RESPECTFUL OF HIS CONCERNS.I ALSO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW CHALLENGING A PROJECT THIS CAN BE.
I UNDERSTAND ITS IMPACT ON THE SITE.
I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU KNOW, UM, BUT IT'S RARE THAT YOU HAVE A BUILDING, A HOME OF THIS QUALITY, OF THIS ARCHITECTURAL S- STYLE, AND PARTICULARLY OF THIS AGE IN AUSTIN.
UH, PRE - 1900, UM, DOES SPEAK TO OUR HISTORY AND IT, IT ALSO SPEAKS TO WHAT, UM, WEST CAMPUS USED TO BE BEFORE IT FELL ASUNDER TO 30 STORY HIGH RISES.
SO, UH, BUT AGAIN, I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE APPLICANT AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THE APPLICANT'S DONE IN THE PAST, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE I THINK THE CRITERIA ARE SUFFICIENT TO INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING.
UM, I AGREE THAT I THINK JUST THE, THE AGE OF THE HOUSE AND THAT, THAT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA IS ENOUGH FOR ME TO, TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? I, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE, UM, THE AREA THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED, UM, THAT PORCH.
AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY WITH SOME QUICK RESEARCH, MY GUESS IS SOMEBODY'S GOT SOME INDICATION OR PHOTOGRAPH THAT WOULD INDICATE WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE IT WAS ENCLOSED RATHER POORLY, AND THAT COULD BE MODIFIED EVEN WITH ANOTHER ENCLOSURE IN A MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE WAY.
UM, PROPORTIONALLY THOSE WINDOWS JUST SCREAM
BUT THE REST OF IT, I THINK, AND WITH THAT MODIFICATION, WOULD ABSOLUTELY MEET THE ARCHITECTURE REQUIREMENTS.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, AND LET'S SEE.
WE HAVE, UH, ALL OF US ON THE DIAS AND COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ.
ARE, HOW MANY OPPOSED? UH, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN THIS TIME.
AND WE HAVE COMMISSIONER RICE, ONE OPPOSED, AND COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI IS ABSTAINING.
SO THAT IS THE INITIATION, UH, VOTE IS CARRIED ON A SEVEN.
DOES IT NEED A, UH, DOES IT...
WELL, I GUESS WE'RE JUST INITIATING AT THIS POINT, SO THAT'S JUST STARTING THE BALL ROLLING.
WE JUST NEED A QUORUM, WHICH IS SIX.
BY THE TIME, UH, IF, IF THE OWNER CONTINUES TO OPPOSE BY NEXT WEEK, UH, NEXT MEETING, THEN WE WOULD NEED A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE TWO CASES LEFT FOR DISCUSSION.
IT IS 9:20, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET FINISHED IN TIME, THOUGH WE STILL HAVE REPORTS FROM OUR, UH, VARIOUS COMMITTEES.
[19. PR-2026-131502 – 1906 S L Davis Ave. Council District 1]
CALL, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 19, 1906, UH, DAVIS AVENUE.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH CIRCA 1935 MAIN HOUSE AND A CIRCUIT OF 1955 REAR HOUSE.
THE PROPERTY, THIS PROPERTY FEATURES, UH, CRAFTSMAN DETAILS, INCLUDING A LARGE FRONT GABLE, DEEP FRONT PORCH THAT WRAPS AROUND THE CORNER OF THE BUILDING AND WIDE CHIMNEY AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE THAT TAPERS AS IT RISES.
PERMIT RECORDS INDICATE A REAR ADDITION WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1959, BUT IT IS MINIMALLY VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
THE HOUSE RETAINS GOOD INTEGRITY AND, AND IS AN INTACT EXAMPLE OF CRAFTSMAN ARCHITECTURE IN EAST AUSTIN.
AT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, A SINGLE STORY BRICK DUPLEX IS, DUPLEX IS PRESENT.
PERMIT RECORDS INDICATE STRUCTURES BEING MOVED ONTO THE SITE LISTED AS EITHER 1156 OR 1158 PAQUITA STREET IN 1949 AND 1952.
THIS STRUCTURE IS IN DECENT BUT REPAIRABLE CONDITION.
CITY DIRECTORY LISTINGS FOR THIS PROPERTY GO BACK TO AT LEAST 1900 WITH OCCUPANTS LISTED AS RES - RENTERS WITH A HIGH FREQUENCY OF TURNOVER.
MOST OF THESE OCCUPANTS ARE LISTED AS AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO WERE EITHER, WHO ARE DESCRIBED AS LABORERS, LAUNDRESSES, AND DOMESTIC WORKERS.
PERMIT RECORDS LISTED IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS INDICATE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AROUND 1935, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF A BOX RESIDENCE AND GARAGE.
THIS WAS DURING THE OWNERSHIP OF PLATO AND LILLY CLAYTON WHO HAD OWNED THE PROPERTY SINCE AROUND 1927.
PLATO CREIGHTON WORKED AS AN ELEVATOR OPERATOR IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, FIRST AT THE OLD FEDERAL BUILDING AND THEN THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BUILDING UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1970.
PLATO AND LILLY WOULD HAVE EIGHT CHILDREN TOGETHER, SEVERAL OF WHOM WOULD SERVE IN THE ARMED SERVICES.
[03:20:01]
RESIDED AT THE ADDRESS TOGETHER FOR MANY DECADES UNTIL LILY'S DEATH IN 1993, OWNING THE PROPERTY FOR ALMOST 70 YEARS.PLATO CREIGHTON BAS - PASSED AWAY SHORTLY AFTER AROUND 1996.
THIS APPLICATION WILL TIME OUT ON JANUARY 18TH, 2027.
THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY LISTS THE PROPERTY AS ELIGIBLE AS A LOCAL, LOCAL LANDMARK, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE REAR STRUCTURE FACING PAQUITA STREET IS ALSO LISTED IN THE SAME SURVEY, BUT IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE TO THE, TO A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
PROPERTIES MUST MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
STAFF HAS EVALUATED THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY MEET TWO CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR ARCHITECTURE BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE OF CRAFTSMAN ARCHITECTURE IN EAST AUSTIN AND FOR HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, UH, WHERE IT MAY HAVE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH, UH, DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN EAST AUSTIN AS WELL AS CONNECTION TO THE, UH, CREIGHTON FAMILY.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING.
SHOULD THE COMMISSION FIND THAT THE PROPERTY MEETS TWO OF THE, TWO OF THE CRITERIA, ARCHITECTURE, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, OR COMMUNITY VALUE, INITIATE HISTORIC ZONING, OTHERWISE ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, RELOCATION, OR DECONSTRUCTION AND SALVAGE OVER DEMOLITION, BUT APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IF NOT, CAN WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? THE APPLICANT HAS NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD - AND THERE IS NO ONE IN THE ROOM, SO.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM? WE DID HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION AND AS TARINA SANDSTROM, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THEY ARE ONLINE.
AND THEY MAY BE WATCHING THE SPURS GAME.
UM, LET'S, UM, DISPENSE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING THEN.
I, UH, WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
THEREFORE, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
CONSIDERING THAT WE, UM, HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT AND THERE ARE CRITERIA THAT MIGHT INDICATE ITS, UH, IMPORTANCE FOR HISTORIC ZONING, WE COULD INITIATE TONIGHT, UH, OR WE COULD DELAY AND WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEFORE WE MAKE THAT DECISION.
UH, MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND DELAY UNTIL OUR DECEMBER MEETING.
COMMISSIONER ACTON, IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
UH, COMMISSIONER ACTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UM, I WOULD...
THERE'S SOME INTRIGUING BITS ON THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK TO IT AND TO SEE IF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR ANYTHING WOULD LIKE TO ALSO, UM, UH, GIVE THEIR TWO CENTS.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS? YEAH, I THINK THERE'S SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING CRITERIA, UM, UH, THAT IT MAY HAVE ASSOCIATIONS AND IT MAY HAVE, MAY POSSESS COMMUNITY VALUE.
I THINK, UH, GIVING STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLUSH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, DOESN'T HURT TIME-WISE, SO THAT'S WHY I'M SECONDING.
COMMISSIONER COOK? I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION AND JUST REINFORCE, YOU KNOW, MORE SO THAN THERE, THERE MAY BE CRITERIA.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, LISTED AS ELIGIBLE IN THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY AND SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, WE REALLY NEED THE APPLICANT TO APPEAR IF THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THEIR CASE ABOUT WHY THEIR PROPERTY THAT WAS LISTED AS, UH, ELIGIBLE AS A LANDMARK, UM, SHOULDN'T BE DESIGNATED.
AND I'M, I'M GONNA WEIGH IN ON THE REAR STRUCTURE.
UM, UH, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE SURVEY AND JUST TAKING A QUICK LOOK AT IT, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE IT RISE TO THE ARCHITECTURAL CRITERIA.
UH, SO UNLESS THERE'S ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE, WITH THE REAR STRUCTURE, UH, I THINK, AGAIN, THAT WE, IT, IT MAY VERY WELL BE THAT WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE FRONT STRUCTURE, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF CAN LOOK INTO IF THIS MOTION PASSES.
IN NO MORE DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS, ALL HANDS RAISED.
AND WE CAN ALSO ENCOURAGE THIS OWNER IF THEY ARE SO INCLINED TO, UH, MAKE USE OF THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE IN THE INTERIM.
[22. PR-2026-125678 – 3308 Cherry Lane Council District 10 ]
ITEM FOR, UH, DISCUSSION IS ITEM NUMBER 22, AND THAT'S, UH, 3308 CHERRY LANE.[03:25:01]
ALL RIGHT.THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO DEMOLISH A CIRCUIT 1949 HOUSE.
THIS SINGLE STORY L-SHAPED HOUSE IS SIMPLE IN FORM AND DOES NOT HAVE MANY DECORATIVE ELEMENTS.
THE FRONT FACADE FEATURES A SMALL CENTER RECESSED PORCH SET A FEW STEPS ABOVE GRADE AND ACCESSED VIA CONCRETE STAIRS.
OVERALL, THE PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED AND IS AN, AN INTACT EXACT, EXCUSE ME, AN EXCELLENT, INTACT EXAMPLE OF POST WORLD WAR II HOUSING IN THIS AREA OF AUSTIN.
ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS HOUSE WERE BRUNEL AND MILDRED MOON, WHO RAISED AT LEAST ONE CHILD WHILE LIVING AT THE ADDRESS.
BY THE 1960S, IT WAS OWNED BY NELDA RYDEN, LATER NELDA STARKEY, UH, WHO WORKED AS A TYPIST AND OFFICE SECRETARY.
DURING THIS TIME, SHE RAISED DAUGHTER, UH, TERRY K.
STARKEY UNTIL SHE MARRIED AND MOVED OUT IN 1972.
NELDA STARKEY WAS LISTED AS THE OWNER UNTIL 1976, AT WHICH TIME SHE WORKED FOR THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THIS APPLICATION WILL TIME OUT ON JANUARY 18TH, 2027.
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 A CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? I'VE GOT ONE.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
UM, REPORT DOES SAY, UH, THAT IT TIMES OUT JANUARY 18TH, BUT IN THE REPORT ITSELF, IT SAYS IT TIMES OUT DECEMBER 18TH.
SO, SO IT IS JANUARY? IT IS JANUARY, YES.
AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT? CAN WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? YES.
SO, CARLOS, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK.
MR. ALDABA? IS HE STILL ONLINE? OKAY.
UM, IF YOU CAN TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU YET.
SO CARLOS ALDABA, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK IF YOU ARE HERE.
SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE GOING ON.
AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE, UH, THE APPLICANT CAN HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? DOES IT SOUND LIKE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION'S GOING ON OR IS HE NOT ABLE TO HEAR US? YES.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? THERE WE GO.
YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE.
YES, WE, WE CAN HEAR THE SPEAKER, MR. ALDABA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR US? YOU CAN CERTAINLY PROCEED.
CARLOS ALDAVA, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK IF YOU ARE HERE.
UH, GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS CARLOS ALDAVA WITH ALAMO CONSULTING SERVICES.
I'M JOINING YOU BY PHONE FROM SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M SERVING AS THE APPLICANT FOR THE DEMOLITION PERMIT AT 3308 CHERRY LANE.
THIS DEMOLITION REQUEST IS PART OF THE OWNER'S PLAN TO MOVE TO AUSTIN AND BUILD A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON THE PROPERTY.
THE ARCHITECT HAS ALSO BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE DESIGN TEAM FOR CITY STAFF.
THAT IS THE CONTEXT FOR THE DEMOLITION REQUEST BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT CONSISTENT WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY, HEARING NONE, UH, ARE THERE OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM? MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAR - UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS SECONDED BY COMMISSION PLEASANT WRIGHT.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL, ALMOST ALL HANDS RAISED.
COMMISSIONER RICE? I GUESS THAT'S A, THAT'S A RAISED HAND.
UH, IT'S UNANIMOUS THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
MOTION TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UM, UH, APPROVE THE DEMOLITION TO APPROVE THE DE - MOTION TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE...
[03:30:01]
THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION.NOW THAT ONE DOESN'T NEED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT, THAT ONE YOU CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
UM, MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT APPLICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL GET THIS DOWN.
OKAY COMMISSIONER HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UH, BRIEFLY.
THERE'S NOTHING TO SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD AND NO REASON TO DELAY.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND IN THIS ONE, I DO SEE ALL HANDS ARE RAISED.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, THAT IS COMPLETING ALL OF THE DISCUSSION CASES.
[23. Discuss and possibly adopt new Historic Sign Standards on the recommendation of the Operations Committee. ]
23, UH, HAS TO DO WITH THE WORK OF OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER HARRIS, COMMISSIONER ACTON FOR THE, UH, HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS.
UM, SO I, I THINK FOR, FOR TIME CONSTRAINTS, I DON'T KNOW, UH, HOW MUCH EVERYONE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE CHANGES AND I'M ASSUMING THAT, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA HAVE SOME COMMENT.
IT MIGHT BE MORE PRUDENT FOR THOSE COMMENTS TO BE PROVIDED.
MAYBE IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS OR IF, UM, YOU WANNA COME SPEAK AT THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, UNLESS THE LANGUAGE IS FINE AND IT'S WORTH BRINGING THE VOTE, BUT I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY SOME CONTENTION ON NEON SIGNS AND, AND SUCH.
SO
UM, UH, BRIEFLY THOUGH, I, I DO WANNA SPEAK TO, SO BEFORE, UM, SO WE DECIDED TO TACKLE THE SIGN STANDARDS.
THE SIGN STANDARDS IN SOME WAYS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN TO FIT ON ONE PAGE AND NOT NECESSARILY TO BE CONDUCIVE TO KIND OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN HAPPENING IN AUSTIN.
UM, THERE ARE SOME ATTEMPTS TO, UM, RELAX SOME OF THE THINGS AND THEN BE ADDITIVE TO OTHERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, THAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THIS, AND WE ACTUALLY TRUNCATED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, WE PULLED THAT BACK WHILE WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE, THE CITY ATTORNEYS, IS TO TRY TO CREATE AND STRENGTHEN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING SIGNAGE.
UM, THERE'S SOME CIRCULAR LOGIC THAT WE'RE KIND OF WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT SIGNAGE ON A LANDMARK CAN BE PART OF WHY IT'S A LANDMARK.
HOWEVER, FOR INSTANCE, ON THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS, THERE ISN'T ANY LANGUAGE ABOUT SIGNAGE BEING SOMETHING THAT WOULD KEY INTO NEEDING A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
AND SO, HOWEVER, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU, WE ADD THAT AND YOU NEED IT, IT DOES CREATE, UM, COSTS AND IMPACT AND THINGS LIKE THIS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DISCUSSING.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE, I'VE RECOMMENDED SEPARATELY IS TO INCLUDE THE WORD SIGNAGE ON THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS INSTRUCTIONS.
UM, HOWEVER, ON THIS, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES, TRY TO ADD SOME DEFINITIONS, UM, INCLUDING HISTORIC, WHAT IS HISTORIC SIGNAGE.
AND THERE IS STILL SOME LANGUAGE ON THE HISTORIC SIGNAGE SIDE ABOUT HISTORIC SIGNAGE DOES NEED TO MEET THE CRITERIA OF, OF THE REGULAR SIGNAGE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THE MOST CONTENTIOUS POINT WILL PROBABLY BE, UH, THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE, UM, THE, ANY, ANY PROHIBITION ON NEON SIGNAGE, BUT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE A, A CONVERSATION STARTER.
UM, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT KICK BACK TO, UM, THERE'S ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT KICKS BACK TO THE, JUST THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, UH, FOR LIKE LARGE TALL BUILDINGS AND THINGS WHERE THEY ALREADY KIND OF HAVE SOME REQUIREMENTS AND, AND, AND SOME, SOME, SOME REQUIRED WORKING WITH THE CITY AND, AND LIMITATIONS.
AND SO BECAUSE WE HAVE SO LIMITED AMOUNT OF THAT, WE KIND OF RELAX SOME OF THAT OR PUSH THAT BACK TO THE, TO THE, TO ANOTHER CITY ORGANIZATION ON THAT.
SO I, I, HOPEFULLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, IT'S WORTH A READ, ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO THE EXISTING STANDARDS.
THE OTHER THING I ASKED THE, THE OPS MEETING TO DO BEFORE WE KIND OF TACKLED THIS WAS ACTUALLY, AND IT'S A, IT'S AN INTERESTING PRACTICE TO DO ANYWAY, IS, UM, TO KIND OF WALK AROUND THE CITY OR THINK OF SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SIGNAGE AND THEN ACTUALLY SEE IF THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY'S SIGNAGE STANDARDS, WHICH A LOT OF YOUR FAVORITES WILL, WILL NOT.
SO THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO PRECLUDE SOME OF THAT FOR THE FUTURE? WHERE DO WE WANT TO REIN IT IN? THINGS LIKE THAT.
[03:35:01]
IT'S PROBABLY, IT'S MAYBE NOT WORTH EVEN BRINGING TO A VOTE TONIGHT, BUT I, I, I, I DEFINITELY, UM, COMMISSIONER COOK, I THINK WILL HAVE SOME, SOME NEON SIGN CONVERSATIONS.I THINK THAT'S BETTER TO DO MAYBE KIND OF TYPE UP AND THEN START HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
UH, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TACKLING SEVERAL IMPORTANT ISSUES, BUT, UH, THIS IS THAT, ONE OF THOSE THORNY ONES THAT DOES NEED ATTENTION.
UM, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WEIGH IN ON THIS? THE HARD WORK WAS DONE LONG BEFORE I GOT THERE.
I JUST, UM, I JUST WANTED TO REALLY COMMEND, UM, COMMISSIONER ACTON FOR REALLY TAKING JUST AN INCREDIBLE, UM, STEP IN, YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS PROJECT.
AND, UH, I THINK IT'S JUST GREAT WHAT'S BEEN ABLE TO BE DONE.
I DO WANNA ADD ONE MORE THING, UH, THAT WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON, BUT WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS READY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID BEFORE I STARTED DEVELOPING THIS OR CHANGING THE EXISTING WAS I LOOKED AT SOME KIND OF WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER SISTER CITIES TO AUSTIN, TOOK SOME SIMILAR SIZE AND, AND, AND AGES AND KIND OF WHAT THEY WERE AFTER.
AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE VERY, VERY DEVELOPED SIGN STANDARDS.
IN FACT, LIKE SAN FRANCISCO HAS A SIGN STANDARD BOOKLET THAT'S LIKE 60 PAGES LONG.
UM, THEY ALL TEND TO HAVE, UH, A LOT OF GRAPHICS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DEVELOPING, LIKE I SAID, WE, WE DIDN'T WANNA THROW ALL THAT TODAY, BUT HAVE SOME GRAPHICS OF ESSENTIALLY SOME TRUNCATED DEFINITIONS OF WHAT SOME OF THESE TYPES OF SIGNAGE ARE, AND THEN SOME EXAMPLES OF, UM, OF GOOD ONES.
UH, WE THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE PRUDENT TO PUT BAD ONES IN THERE, ALTHOUGH SOME CITIES HAVE.
UM, THEY PROBABLY WENT TO THEIR RIVAL CITY AND TOOK PICTURES OF BAD ONES.
BUT, UM, AND SO YOU, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SEEING THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHEN THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ALONG, UM, AS WELL.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY AS, AS, AS, AS WE, TIME PERMITS OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, WE'LL DEVELOP THAT MORE AND MAYBE HAVE EVEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER GRAPHIC ALLOWANCES FOR, UH, FOR THAT AS A HELPFUL GUIDE FOR PEOPLE.
AND THE ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES IS VERY MUCH FOR THAT PURPOSE IS GETTING OUR, SOME OF OUR CRITERIA AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE SEE IN FOLLOWING CERTAIN PRACTICES, UH, IN, YOU KNOW, INTO THE HANDS OF THE OWNERS OR THE FOLKS WHO DO SIGNS.
AND SO THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO BRING, UH, SUCCESSFUL CASES, UH, TO US.
SO WE, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORT.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? WE ARE POSTED FOR ACTION, BUT I THINK WE'RE BEING, UH, I THINK IT'S PRUDENT PERHAPS FOR US TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU WILLING, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GET OUR WRITTEN COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US, WHETHER WE NEED A SPECIAL MEETING OR, UH, OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR MORE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION OR WHETHER THERE MAY BE SOME FINE TUNING AND WE HAVE IT AT OUR FUTURE MEETING.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ANY OTHER IDEAS? REAL QUICK, DO YOU HAVE A DEADLINE WHEN YOU WANT COMMENTS BACK? UM, NO.
PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA WHILE IT'S FRESH IN OUR MINDS.
IF WE COULD DO IT SOMETIME THIS WEEK, UH, I, I, I THINK IT, IT SERVES OUR PURPOSE AS WELL AND WE'LL, WE'LL KNOW IF IT MEANS, UH, POSTING IT ON NEXT, NEXT MONTH'S MEETING BY THEN.
YEAH, WE HAVE, UH, I GUESS IT'S, YOU HAVE TO POST A WEEK BEFORE AND OUR NEXT OPS MEETING IS, IS SOMETIME, UH, WE, WE HAVE THEM, I THINK, THIRD WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH.
SO IF WE COULD GET IT EARLY ENOUGH TO...
IF WE DO, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT...
WE DON'T HAVE TO POST ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IF WE JUST HAVE TO POST IT, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SIGNS AGAIN, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, THAT'LL BE BACKUP, UH, BUT WE WILL NEED TO PUT IT ON Y'ALL'S AGENDA FOR THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
SO AS LONG AS IT'S ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, ANY TIME BEFORE THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF DECEMBER WOULD BE...
OR THIRD WEDNESDAY OF NOVEMBER? YEAH, OF NOVEMBER, SORRY.
AND IF WE GET ANYTHING IN LATE, UM, WE CAN ALSO POST RETROACTIVELY, UM, AS BACKUP FOR THAT MEETING TOO.
HAVE TO BE POSTED, BUT THE BACKUP COULD COME LATE IF IT HAD TO.
SO, SO PERHAPS IF FOLKS HAVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS, THEY COULD GET THEM IN WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS? YES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GOOD WORK.
UM, WE HAVE MORE COMMITTEE WORK, UH, THAT WE CAN
[24. Update from the Architectural Review Committee regarding the October 14, 2026 meeting. Members: Commissioners Koch, Alvarez, and Grogan.]
REPORT ON.ITEM NUMBER 24, THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
YEAH, WE DID SOME FOLLOW THROUGH ON THREE OF THE CASES AT 916 CONGRESS AND 2410 EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING AND 4309 AVENUE D.
THERE'S NO BACKUP, BUT, UM, THEY DID IT AS THEY WERE GONNA SAY.
AS THEY SAID, THEY WERE GONNA DO IN ALL CASES.
WE DIDN'T SEE THE FINAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, UM, RESULTS, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WANTED.
SO, UH, I THINK WE'RE GOOD ON ALL THOSE.
AND, UH, YOU SAW MANY OF THE CASES TONIGHT.
UH, WE HAD ONE 4113 GUADALUPE STREET, WHICH IS INTERESTING ONE ACROSS FROM A STATE HOSPITAL, UH, THAT LITTLE CLUSTER OF BUILDINGS WHERE NEW
[03:40:01]
WORLD DELI WAS AND MARTHA'S CONTEMPORARY.UH, IT WAS AN INTERESTING ONE.
THEY'RE GONNA PRESERVE THE FRONT FACADE.
UH, MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LANDMARKING AS WELL, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERESTING LITTLE CLUSTER OF BUILDINGS, I THOUGH.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY WILL BE PRESERVING THE FRONT FACADE THERE.
[25. Update from the Operations Committee regarding the October 21, 2026 meeting. Members: Commissioners Rice, Acton, and Harris. ]
UH, ANY ADDITIONAL REPORT FROM THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE? THAT WAS, THAT WAS YOUR WORK.[26. Update from Commissioner Taniguchi regarding the October 21, 2026 Downtown Commission meeting. ]
YOU, UH, HAVE A REPORT FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION? YEAH.SO, UM, I GUESS I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND OUR LAST MEETING, AND I KNOW, I GUESS AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING FOR THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, THEY CAME THROUGH WITH THE CENTRAL CITY DISTRICT PLAN.
UM, AND I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, I'D SENT AN EMAIL, UM, AROUND, UM, ASKING IF THEY WERE GONNA COME PRESENT, AND IT DID SOUND LIKE THEY WERE GONNA PRESENT AT OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
AND SO I ASSUME THAT THEY PROBABLY CAME THROUGH AND SPOKE TO Y'ALL, BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT, THEIR GROWTH CONCEPT MAP ESPECIALLY WAS INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WERE LABELING KIND OF AREAS FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE ALREADY IN THERE.
AND, UH, THOUGHT THAT YOU GUYS WOULD PROBABLY HAVE ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY WERE DOING.
UM, AND THEN I GUESS AT THE OCTOBER MEETING OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, UM, KIND OF NOTE, THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGY OFFICE CAME BY, AND IT'S A NEW OFFICE THAT'S BEEN FORMED, I GUESS, BY THE CITY TO TRY TO, UM, ENHANCE AND PROVIDE FOCUS TO PROJECTS GOING ON KIND OF IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, THERE WAS A BIG TASK FORCE BETWEEN MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AT THE CITY THAT WAS KIND OF PUT TOGETHER.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE LISTED WAS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND I KNOW NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PRESERVATION OFFICE IS UNDER THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND SO I GUESS I JUST HAVE A QUESTION TO STAFF IF YOU GUYS ARE PLUGGED IN TO THAT OFFICE AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE THERE, UM, IN ANY WAY.
AND IF NOT, MAYBE WE SHOULD GET PLUGGED IN, UH, TO THAT OFFICE, I GUESS.
BUT - MS. MCKNIGHT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO - SURE.
I'M REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
UM, WE DID HAVE THE BRIEFING FROM THE CENTRAL CITY TEAM IN OCTOBER, AS YOU NOTED.
THE CITY HAS CREATED A BRAND NEW OFFICE CALLED THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGY OFFICE, AS YOU NOTED.
THEY BROUGHT ON A, UM, PERSON TO LEAD THAT OFFICE.
HIS NAME IS JONATHAN STONE, AND HE STARTED, I WANNA SAY, IN JUNE OR SO.
SO HE IS JUST GETTING HIS, HIS FOOTING.
UM, THERE HAD BEEN A TASK FORCE REALLY FOCUSED ON, UM, INITIALLY SOME OF PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG EAST 6TH STREET BETWEEN CONGRESS AND, AND I-35.
AND SO YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
UM, HE HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB OF WORKING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO DO A LOT OF INFORMATION GATHERING.
AND HE IS, UM, AND HIS OFFICE ARE, ARE IN THAT PLACE OF STARTING TO ROLL OUT THEIR, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE, WHAT IS THEIR FOCUS, UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON.
AS SOON AS HE CAME ON BOARD, I IMMEDIATELY SHARED AN EMAIL WITH HIM LETTING HIM KNOW ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY, AS WELL AS OUR TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS MARKET STUDY.
AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, I WAS ABLE TO HAVE COFFEE WITH HIM IN AUGUST AND, AND REALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR OFFICE DOES AND, AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A BRIEFING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY ARRANGE.
UM, HE AND HIS OFFICE ARE JUST IN KIND OF IN THE STARTING PLACE OF GETTING OUT TO, TO, TO SHARE SOME OF THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT THEIR OFFICE IS GONNA BE FOCUSING ON.
BUT THIS WAS A RESOLUTION FROM COUNCIL AND THE IDEA WAS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE REALLY, UH, CONDUIT OR LIAISON TO HELP FOCUS EFFORTS FROM ALL THESE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE DOING WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR, AND IT WAS SOMETHING OUR MAYOR IS, UM, CREATED.
ULTIMATELY, THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS CALLED THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN STRATEGIC INITIATIVE.
AND IT'S AN IDEA OF JUST TRYING TO BRING FOCUS AND DEDICATED RESOURCES TO, TO DOWNTOWN.
UH, AND I, COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING POSTED, UH, AND HELPING US, UH, WITH THAT, UH, REGULAR ATTENDANCE, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.
[03:45:01]
IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY LOGICAL FOLLOW ON, IN FACT, THAT THIS INITIATIVE WOULD, UH, ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES WHEN WE DID HEAR FROM THE OVERALL DOWNTOWN PLAN, AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE DENSITIES AND SOME OF THE PRESSURES THAT THAT WILL BE PUTTING ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC DISTRICT AREAS.SO WE'RE RIGHT IN TUNE WITH CLEARLY, UH, SHALL WE SAY, THANKS, THANKS TO YOUR EFFORTS.
UH, WE'RE GONNA GET IN HERE PERHAPS AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO REPORT, COMMISSIONER? DID I, I CUT YOU OFF? NO.
WELL, THAT WRAPS UP, UH, OUR AGENDA.
CHAIR, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF SMALL THINGS.
ANY OTHER ITEMS? IF, WOULD YOU MIND IF I, UH, JUST LET YOU KNOW A COUPLE THINGS? I WASN'T POSTED, SO, UH, I ASSUME YOU'RE - BEFORE THAT, UH, WE MAY HAVE A QUESTION STILL ON THE DOWNTOWN.
I, I JUST HAD A QUICK RELATED QUESTION ABOUT THE RED RIVER - UH-HUH.
IS, IS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE GONNA MENTION? RED RIVER TASK FORCE.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU EQUALLY HAD A CHANCE TO ENGAGE IN THAT.
I NOTICED THERE WEREN'T ANY HISTORIC, UH, NAMES ON THERE.
I KNOW IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROJECT AND, UM, BUT - YES.
THE, THE MAYOR AND DISTRICT NINE HAVE PARTNERED TOGETHER WITH THE, UH, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT TO KIND OF CREATE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ISSUES THERE.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, STEVIE GREATHOUSE, IS REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND IS KEEPING US POSTED AND BRINGING US IN.
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS AS STAFF INTERNALLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DIRECTLY WITH NICOLE CLAPADO, WHO IS THE, UH, COORDINATOR AND, AND DIRECTOR OF THAT DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT HISTORIC DESIGNATION, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, MAKING SURE THEY FEEL INFORMED ABOUT THE OPTIONS THAT EXIST, UM, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS STUDY.
THERE'S A CAPITAL, A LOT OF CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDORS THERE AS WELL.
UM, SO YES, WE ARE, WE ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE'RE NOT DIRECTLY ON THE TASK FORCE.
I THINK THERE'S TR - THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT MANAGEABLE, BUT WE HAVE A, A GOOD COMMUNICATOR AND A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE.
MS. MCKNIGHT, DID YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE? JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
AND I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT.
BUT THIS YEAR THEY FAVORED HOUS DEMOCRATS - COMMISSIONER RICE, I THINK YOU'RE UNMUTED.
UM, I'LL JUST ADD THAT THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGY OFFICE, I GUESS THEY'VE KIND OF GOT LIKE FOUR THINGS THAT THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON AND THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT IS ONE OF THOSE.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF THEY COME BRIEF AND MEET, YOU KNOW, WITH US.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT WITH THEM TOO, SO.
IT SOUNDS LIKE TWO FUTURE BRIEFINGS.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]
OF VERY QUICK THINGS.I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED.
UH, ONE IS A REQUEST FOR A BRIEFING ON THE NEPA PROCESS RELATED TO THE BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE.
WE'RE CLOSE TO FINALIZING A BRIEFING TO HAVE TXDOT REPRESENTATIVES COME TO THE DECEMBER MEETING TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THE CULTURAL RESOURCE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMPONENT OF NEPA, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, SO, AND, AND THIS WOULD BE, TO BE CLEAR, UH, AN OVERALL KIND OF EXPLANATION OF THOSE PROCESSES.
I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THEY COULD GET INTO THE DETAILS OF, OF THESE REPORTS AND VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FINALIZED OR RELEASED, BUT IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FEDERAL PROCESS AND HOW IT MIGHT INTERACT WITH THE LOCAL PROCESS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A PUBLIC MEETING ON NOVEMBER 16TH.
IT WAS MENTIONED BY A PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
IT IS, UH, HOSTED BY THE CITY TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE, THE PROPOSED BRIDGE TO REPLACE, UH, THE HISTORIC BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE.
THE, THERE'LL BE LOTS OF CITY STAFF THERE, AND THERE WILL ALSO, IT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THE TXDOT STAFF THAT ARE WORKING ON THE NEPA PROCESS WILL ALSO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
UM, ONE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE THESE ISSUES ARISE.
SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RE- REMEMBER THAT YOU MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, CERTAINLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY TIPS OR INFORMATION ON HOW TO MANAGE THOSE TYPES OF INTERVIEWS, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO HELP YOU.
I MEAN, YOU ARE YOUR OWN PERSON AND CAN EXPRESS YOUR OPINION, BUT, UM, THERE IS SOME TIPS RELATED TO, LIKE, SHARING PUBLICLY IN, UH, ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION, SHARING PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT SO THAT THEY CAN GET, UM, CLEAR, ACCURATE INFORMATION WHEN REPORTING.
UH, ONE OTHER, UH, GOOD, PIECE OF GOOD NEWS, WHICH I DID EMAIL TO ALL OF YOU, IS THAT WE DO HAVE A NEW APPOINTEE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, OUR PREVIOUS VICE CHAIR HAD TO STEP DOWN.
THE APPOINTEE IS, UH, RACHEL LUTE.
[03:50:01]
UM, SHE'S AN ARCHITECTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEER WHO'S ALSO A MATERIALS CONSERVATOR AND A LECTURER AT UT, UM, AMONG THE PRESERVATION COMMUNITY.SHE'S QUITE WELL KNOWN, UM, BECAUSE OF HER SP - WHAT SHE SPECIALIZES IN.
AND I'VE WORKED WITH HER STUDENTS FOR, FOR MANY YEARS.
SHE IS GOING THROUGH THE CLERK'S TRAINING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND IT'S OUR HOPE THAT SHE WILL BE SEATED IN, IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.
AND I JUST, ALSO TO COMMISSIONERS, UM, SO AS NOT TO MAKE IT ANY BURDEN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALSO ABOUT THE MEDIA OR IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, UM, I, I'M HAPPY TO VISIT WITH YOU IN ADVANCE OR, AGAIN, UH, INFORMALLY IF THERE'S A, A QUESTION YOU HAVE, STAFF WILL GIVE YOU, UH, I'M SURE GREAT GUIDANCE.
UH, I'VE BEEN AT THIS A LONG TIME.
I'M HAPPY TO ALSO SHARE WITH YOU MY, MY THOUGHTS.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, ADJOURN.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT WRIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.