Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Ulla Florholmen Tuesday, September 21, 2021 2:11 PM Allen, Amber Approval *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** Amber, My boyfriend and I live on Travis Heights Blvd, across from Paige and Andy Hart's home at 1505 Travis Heights Blvd. They are conscientious home owners and helpful neighbors. We've seen their plans to renovate their home and we like the fact that the updates to the siding, roof and windows will retain the cottage feel of the house. They are expanding in the basement so the house will still look and feel like a one‐story house from the street. We appreciate the fact that they are not going to tear the house down to build something modern and new. We support this project and believe it will be a great update to our block! Best regards, Ulla Florholmen CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Wil Richards Tuesday, September 21, 2021 7:24 PM Allen, Amber 1505 Travis Heights Blvd *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** Amber, I've been living in Travis Heights for the past 3 years in the condo complex where Paige and Andy Hart are owners. They recently purchased a home in Travis Heights, at 1505 Travis Heights Blvd. It's a smaller home that needs to be updated. They've shown me their plans for the renovations and I like the fact that they are keeping the house much the same as it's been for many years. It will have new siding, and the roof will be more pitched, but they're retaining the small "cottage" feel to the property. The largest portion of the additional square footage of usable space will be in the basement, which can't be seen from the street. So, the house will still fit within the scale of the neighborhood. It will still be seen as a single‐story house from the street. I support this project and look forward to seeing Paige and Andy once their renovation is complete. Sincerely, Wil Richards CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe …
SMALL AREA PLANNING JOINT COMMITTEE MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2021 11:30 AM STREET-JONES BUILDING, ROOM 400A 1100 EAST 11TH STREET SPECIAL CALLED MEETING CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Patrick Howard Jennifer Mushtaler James Shieh, Chair Jeffrey Thompson Cesar Acosta David King, Vice-Chair Vacant (Planning Commission) (Planning Commission) (Planning Commission) (Planning Commission) (Zoning and Platting Commission) (Zoning and Platting Commission) (Zoning and Platting Commission) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first three speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. a. Approval of minutes from the June 6, 2021 and August 16, 2021 Small Area Planning 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Joint Committee meetings. 3. 2. OLD BUSINESS a. None NEW BUSINESS a. 305 S. Congress PUD - Rezoning in Waterfront Overlay (C814-89-0003.02). The Applicant is proposing to amend the existing PUD ordinance to modify the permitted land uses and site development regulations. The Committee will review the proposed rezoning request from planned unit development-neighborhood plan (PUD-NP) to planned unit development-neighborhood plan (PUD-NP) in the South Shore subdistrict of the Waterfront Overlay. (Discussion and/or Possible Action) PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. a. None 5. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. None FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Mark Walters at Planning and Zoning Department, at (512-974-7695 or mark.walters@austintexas.gov), for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Small Area Planning Joint Committee, please contact Mark Walters at the Housing and Planning Department, at (512-974-7695 or mark.walters@austintexas.gov)
End of Year Summary Fiscal Year 2021 and Trends Budget 1,020,000 1,000,000 980,000 960,000 940,000 920,000 900,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0 Total FTEs Allocated 442.3 443.6 443.6 446.0 433.3 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 1,000,594 $58,868,376 $60,000,000 $70,000,000 $50,000,000 $40,000,000 $30,000,000 $20,000,000 Department Budget for Legal Service Area FY Total Population of Austin FY Annual Budget $47,167,036 $50,445,772 937,065 937,069 967,629 $52,168,472 972,499 $54,685,661 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Materials Budget Per Resident FY Total Population of Austin FY Annual Materials Budget Allocated Per Person $3,599,633 $4 $4,320,747 $5 $4,477,635 $5 $5,232,169 $5 $5,400,823 $5 937,065 937,069 967,629 972,499 1,000,594 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 $6 $5 $4 $3 $2 $1 $0 COVID IMPACTS Libraries closed to the public in March 2020. May 2020 Library programs pivoted to virtual and outdoor events. June 2020 Book drops opened and curbside services offered. June 2021 Library locations reopened to the public at limited capacity. Austin History Center opened 2 days/week to offer remote reference and e-document services. Social distancing reduced the number of public computers. Library staff volunteered to work at Emergency Operation Centers. “All this stuff is new, but like any new process, you’re getting used to it,” Fitzgerald (a library customer) said. “During these times, as long as it’s good for public safety, we’re good.” ~Austin Monitor October 2, 2020 Branch Closures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Little Walnut Creek - vaccination clinic Southeast - vaccination clinic Terrazas - Downtown Austin Community Court Cepeda - renovation University Hills - renovation Yarborough - renovation Pleasant Hill - renovation Collection Physical Collection Size Virtual Collection Size CO L L E C T I O N S S I Z E T R E N D S 2,413,512 1,254,350 865,111 881,748 1,196,297 934,438 EOY 2019 EOY 2020 EOY 2021 e-MATERIALS TRENDS eBooks in Collection eAudio in Collection eMusic in Collection 422,888 431,780 492,894 251,526 156,478 252,195 164,843 253,685 154,913 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 Visitors VISITORS Trends FY 2021 91,730 91,376 76,407 68,950 JUN JUL AUG SEP Central Visitors Trends FY 2021 22,903 17,241 10,592 8,626 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 3,627,832 VISITORS EOY TRENDS 1,596,937 527,375 EOY 2019 EOY 2020 EOY 2021 JUN JUL AUG SEP Cardholders CARDHOLDERS …
Director’s Report October 2021 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HIghlights ____________________________________________________________________ 3 Facilities Services _____________________________________________________________ 5 FY2018 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 5 FY2012 Bond Program Summary ____________________________________________________________ 8 Cepeda Branch / Hampton Branch (Site/Civil) Report ___________________________________________ 15 Faulk Building / Austin History Center Monthly Report ___________________________________________ 16 Interior Renovations Monthly Report _________________________________________________________ 18 Roof Replacements & Systems Upgrades Monthly Report________________________________________ 24 Austin History Center _________________________________________________________ 28 Library Priorities _____________________________________________________________ 29 Literacy Advancement ____________________________________________________________________ 29 Digital Inclusion & STEM __________________________________________________________________ 29 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ________________________________________________________________ 29 Civic and Community Engagement __________________________________________________________ 29 Staff Development _______________________________________________________________________ 30 Workforce and Economic Development _______________________________________________________ 30 APL By the Numbers __________________________________________________________ 31 Collections Usage September ______________________________________________________________ 31 HIGHLIGHTS 3 All Travis County Students Can Receive Free Austin Public Library Cards Starting October 1 Beginning October 1, 2021, any student enrolled in school in Travis County will be able to receive a free library card from Austin Public Library, even if they reside outside the city of Austin. Austin Public Library Cards are free for all city residents, and any person who is not an Austin resident is able to receive a Non-Resident Library Card for a $30 quarterly or $120 annual fee. Starting October 1, that fee will be waived for any student who either lives in or is enrolled in a school in Travis County, including private and home school students, until the completion of high school. The change to the Library’s fee schedule is the result of an updated budget for the Library approved by the Austin City Council in August and going into effect when the new fiscal year starts on October 1. The expansion of access to free Austin Public Library Cards supports the Library’s priority of Literacy Advancement, as well as the Culture and Lifelong Learning Strategic Outcome. There are tens of thousands of students who live in Travis County and outside of the city limits who attend school districts other than Austin ISD, many of them in municipalities or unincorporated parts of the county with limited or no library service. By eliminating a financial barrier to accessing the collections at our library branches, as well as to the digital resources available through the Virtual Library, the Library is advancing literacy within the Greater Austin community, as well as providing more people the opportunity to become enriched by Austin's unique civic, cultural, ethnic, and learning opportunities. A Non-Resident Austin Public …
Business Committee Meeting of the HIV Planning Council Monday, October 25, 2021 The Business Committee Meeting to be held 10/25/2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via Microsoft Teams; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (10/24/2021 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the October 25, 2021 HIV Planning Council Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 972-5806 and Jaseudia.Killion@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Jaseudia.Killion@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Versión en español a continuación. Reunión del Business Committee Meeting of the HIV Planning Council la folletos junta en FECHA de la reunion (October 25, 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (10/24/2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de (512) 972-5806 and Jaseudia.Killion@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para …
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Monday, October 25, 2021 5:30 p.m. – Adjournment City of Austin/Austin Energy Headquarters 4815 Mueller Blvd. Assembly Room 1st Floor Austin, TX 78723 CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sareta Davis, Chair Isabel Casas, Vice Chair Malenie Areche Jared Breckenridge Kimberly Brienzi Garry Brown Jamarr Brown Kristian Caballero Idona Griffith Maram Museitif Alicia Weigel CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA Citizens signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s September 27, 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2021 Regular Meeting. 2. NEW BUSINESS 3. OLD BUSINESS (Brown, G./Weigel) a. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation to City Council for a World Human Rights Day Proclamation. (Brown/Museitif/Davis) a. Discussion and possible action on adding goals for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. b. Commissioners will report on and discuss the status of the Commission’s key priority areas of concern for 2021-2022, including plans and strategies for meeting those key priority areas of concern: i. Institutional Equity ii. Environment & Land Use iii. Health Access & Nutrition iv. Autonomy & Human Rights ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Jonathan Babiak, Office of Civil Rights, at (512) 974-3203 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Human Rights Commission, please contact Jonathan Babiak at (512) 974-3203 or visit http://www.austintexas.gov/hrc.
4th and Brazos - Downtown Density Bonus Request Urban Design Guidelines Compliance Matrix Area Wide Guidelines Guideline AW-1: Create dense development 1 Achieved? (Yes/No) Applicant's Comments This project is requesting additional density through the Downtown Density Bonus Program to increase density to an FAR of 23:1. 2 AW-2. Create mixed-use development The project will span a half block and proposes approximately 765,500 SF of office space and 48,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space. Yes Yes Yes N/A Yes Yes Yes N/A Yes Yes Yes Yes 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 AW-3. Limit development which closes downtown streets AW-4. Buffer neighborhood edges AW-5. Incorporate civic art in both public and private development AW-6. Protect important public views AW-7. Avoid historical misrepresentations AW-8. Respect adjacent historic buildings AW-9. Acknowledge that rooftops are seen from other buildings and the street AW-10. Avoid the development of theme environments AW-11. Recycle existing building stock Public Streetscape Guidelines 12 PS-1. Protect the pedestrian where the building meets the street The project does not propose to close any downtown streets. This project is located within the Central Business District and does not border any residential neighborhoods. Public artwork will be incorporated into the project. Exact locations of the proposed artwork have not yet been finalized. The project does not obscure existing views through public right-of-way. The project is not located in the Capitol View Corridor nor does it propose any pedestrian bridges or flyovers. The project will consist of a contemporary design built from high-quality modern materials and will not have any historical references. The project is not adjacent to or near any historic buildings All rooftops that are visible from neighboring properties will be landscaped rooftop terraces and utilized as an occupiable space. All mechanical equipment on the rooftop will be screened from view. The project is not a theme environment and does not mock past imaginary places. The project will strive to recycle as much as feasible. The project is designed to incorporate Great Streets Standards along all public street frontages and overhangs or canopies at building entries. The building overhang proposed along a portion of Brazos Street and San Jacinto Boulevard and all of E. 4th Street will provide overhead protection at the pedestrian level. Further, the intention of this section is to consider pedestrian protection and the projection is a straightforward suggestion to meeting compliance. In our case, the …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Bill W Thursday, October 21, 2021 8:27 PM PAZ Preservation 1400 Mohle Dr., Item C-11 Oct 25, 2021 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Commission Members: The Historic Review Committee of the Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association met with the owner and architect and reviewed the plans for 1400 Mohle Dr. We feel that this new build will fit in nicely with our neighborhood. We do NOT oppose this rebuild in Bryker Woods Neighborhood. . (By way of information, our Neighborhood Association only votes to “oppose” or “not oppose;” we do not “support.”) Thank you. Bill Woods, Chr Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association Historic Review Committee ‐‐Bill W Living on Earth is expensive but it does include a free trip around the Sun. This message is confidential, intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient, please notify the sender. All comments are the sender’s personal opinion unless otherwise noted. CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS OCTOBER 25, 2021 HR-2021-126308 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1505 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD C.4 – 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Partially demolish contributing residence and construct a second-story addition; convert crawlspace into basement. 1) Construct a side-gabled second-story addition, with the slope of the gable beginning at the front wall of the house. The addition will be clad in fiber cement siding. Add rear balcony with metal guardrails, creating a flat-roofed rear porch below. Install metal roofing over the existing roof and addition. 2) Retain character-defining features of the front porch, including the original porch gable with brackets and gable vent, box columns and masonry piers, and wood handrails. Reconstruct previously demolished cheek walls and add built-in steel planters in front of porch. 3) Retain original horizontal wood siding. 4) Remove and replace original 1:1 wood windows and screens with aluminum-clad wood windows in existing openings, to match, for the façade and front 1/3 of the side elevations. Windows in new openings, or of different size and configuration will be used at the rest of the house and addition. 5) Remove original wood front door and replace with aluminum-clad door to match. 6) Convert crawlspace into basement: construct rear deck and access stairs. Construct basement-level patio. The proposed basement walk-out is stucco, with sliding glass doors and horizontal metal handrails at stairs. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH DESIGN STANDARDS One-story Craftsman bungalow with gabled roof, horizontal wood siding, mulled 1:1 wood windows, and a full-width porch supported by boxed columns on brick piers. Intact decorative details include deep eaves with exposed rafter tails and brackets at the gable end. The house at 1505 Travis Heights Boulevard was built for Fred and Julia C. Penick before 1924. Fred Penick was a bank teller, cashier, and clerk at the American National Bank for most of his career. Julia Penick, active in various community- building and youth enrichment programs, ran a summer camp with her older children. Penick had previously been employed as a camp employee at Yosemite National Park. The City of Austin’s Historic Design Standards (March 2021) are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and are used to evaluate projects in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposed project has been revised to retain most intact historic material …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Jenny Grayson Thursday, October 21, 2021 3:42 PM PAZ Preservation PR-2021-139064 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** I oppose the demolition of the historic home located at 1601 Cedar Avenue, Austin, TX 78702. The historic nature of east Austin needs to be preserved, and I do not support the demolition. Thank you Jenny Grayson CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Mary Ingle Friday, October 22, 2021 2:32 PM PAZ Preservation Allen, Amber GF21-157165 - 3506 Duval ST *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** To whom it may concern: I object to the partial demolition permit at 3506 Duval ST. A partial demolition is a joke‐ this is a demolition. There has been no direction given to the applicant about how this house could be readapted or remodeled to be a contributing structure in a potential LHD. Sometime ago, the Grooms Addition (the subdivision in which this property resides) shelved their efforts with the History Library with an extensive file of preservation work towards a LHD. We needed help with the property owner signatures‐ the City refused to help us. We are an older subdivision in Austin which was mostly platted in 1880‐1890. This house at 3506 Duval was built in 1927 (similar brick to my house at 3406 Duval which was finished in 1929). It would be better to have completed plans to look at before weighing in on this remodel/partial demolition. We are losing too many structures which could be potentially contributing or restored to contributing structures. It is a shame that Austin does not embrace preservation in a meaningful way for our older neighborhoods. Mary Ingle CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1
Implementing inclusive and equitable public development services as a non-profit partner to the City of Austin October 25, 2021 Organization and Program Update In August 2020, Council Directed Staff to Initiate Creation of EDC “to complement the City's vision and programming for inclusive economic development through the formation of public-private partnerships and facilitation of resulting projects that generate additional resources or revenues for the City”…. Austin EDC Overview | 2 AEDC Board Austin EDC Overview | 3 Interlocal Agreement: Organization Scope Scope of Services (Sec. 6.2) • • • Real estate transactional services: brokerage and transactional services, acquisition and leasing, land valuation and best use analyses, marketing and solicitation services. Real estate management and administration: property management, lease management, operation and maintenance Public development services: planning, promotion, negotiation, financing, and development of public development projects as identified from time to time by the parties. • Additional services: consulting, technical advisory or other professional services; administration of economic development or grant programs. Austin EDC Overview | 4 AEDC Focus and Roles AEDC is working with the City of Austin to support several future objectives. Implement the South Central Waterfront TIRZ Design and develop the Cultural Trust Manage the public pipeline assets Negotiate future real estate transactions Austin EDC Overview | 5 Austin Cultural Trust Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 6 Cultural Trust Background and Goals INITIAL GOAL OF CULTURAL TRUST In 2018, the City resolved to support "a community arts stabilization trust, the ‘Austin Cultural Trust’, that creates, through purchase and long-term lease, affordable spaces that supports artists and arts organizations, preserves historic and iconic cultural buildings and spaces for creative and cultural uses, and functions in a way that provides for cultural assets to exist in all parts of the city" - Resolution 20201001-055 In 2020, the City identified “To support acquisition and preservation of cultural spaces within the City of Austin,” as a function of AEDC. - Resolution 20201001-055 Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 7 Initial Program Summary-Clarification UPDATE Current Cultural Trust Funding: To advance acquisition, bricks & mortar projects for permanent affordability Creative Facilities Bond 12 M Iconic Venue (HOT) COA Budget Stabilization (HOT-Iconic Venue Fund) 2.4 M 2.5 M Projects that support the preservation, restoration, acquisition, construction, improvement, enlarging, equipping, repairing, operating or maintenance of facilities that support the arts/culture and music Projects that provide a value to tourism, demonstrate need for assistance to avoid loss of …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Tony Woodbury Sunday, October 24, 2021 10:40 AM PAZ Preservation Peter Komassa; Audrey Turner; Pattie Epps Oct. 25 Hearing Historic Zoning for Casa McMath, 2501 Inwood Pl. *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Amber, My name is Anthony Woodbury, and I have owned and lived in the house at 2502 Quarry Rd, 78703, since 2000. I understand from my next‐door neighbor Peter Komassa that there’s going to be a hearing on Monday, Oct. 25, on Historic Zoning for Casa McMath, 2501 Inwood Place. Like Peter, I share a property line (in back) with Casa McMath. Last month, and in August, I sent you short, handwritten notes against a proposal to demolish Casa McMath. I would now like to submit a statement in FAVOR of Historic Zoning for that property. I strongly endorse Peter Komassa’s statement below, where he says: "The 'McMath House' has a rich history, a celebrated mid‐century aesthetic, and, in many ways, it serves as the cornerstone of the Deep Eddy neighborhood given its prominent positioning on the Possum Trot throughway. This is, unequivocally, a historic landmark that I hope our community can preserve.” On the “other side” of this issue, I found a loosely‐written ‘Property Evaluation’ of the McMath House, prepared by an architectual firm called Vincent Gerard & Associates, Inc. (https://vincentgerard.com/about‐us/) that is summarized here: https://bandc.crccheck.com/historic‐landmark‐commission/368302‐d22‐2501‐inwood‐pl‐presentation‐updated/ (I can’t find the original document but would be glad to send it to you if you wish) I’d like to use my comment here to discuss that document, which concludes, on at least three grounds, that the McMath House is not worthy of preservation: The property is not typical of ‘Mid‐Century Modern’ ("The architecture is a mix of three or more architectures and does not conform to the styles of International or Mid‐century Modern”) The house is in poor condition McMath was not considered a ’Titian’ (lol) of architecture, unlike other notable UT architects None of these arguments are valid. Just because a property is atypical of some label (here, ‘Mid-Century Modern’) or shows multiple influences doesn’t necessarily make it aesthetically any less worthy (Bach was atypical of the German Baroque; Picasso was atypical in any of the many movements he joined and was most famous for his “mixing”, which was properly understood as eclecticism). The claim that the house is in poor condition is irrelevant, given …
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: James Taylor Sunday, October 24, 2021 11:44 AM Brummett, Elizabeth 2501 Inwood Pl --Opposition to Applicant's demolition request *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Historic Landmark Commission Members: I am writing to you to share concerns about the pending request to demolish the house at 2501 Inwood Place. I have followed the process closely, as my wife and I own the home adjacent to the property. We want to register our opposition to granting the demolition permit on the basis that the structure and landscaping are part of a unique mid‐century era property that could be preserved and treasured, as carefully studied and reported by city staff. I especially want to highlight Mr. McMath’s contributions to education, architecture and relationships with Mexico. My wife and I were next door neighbors to Ms. Quita McMath, daughter of Hugh McMath. And before she sold the property, we had the opportunity to get to know her and hear stories about family travels to Mexico and her father’s appreciation and study of Mexican art and history and his personal connections to Monterrey Tech University (Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey). Those connections led to academic summer trips to learn about Mexico’s art and culture. But Mr. McMath also worked to bring Monterrey Tech’s nascent architecture program into the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, a first for any Mexico institution at the time. My personal background of growing up in northern Mexico made it easy for me to connect with Quita and her stories and travels to Mexico. While our encounter was brief, her recollections and remembrances of traveling throughout Mexico, and Monterrey in particular, were very vivid. Because of Mr. McMath’s commitment to reaching across international borders to build relationships between the University of Texas and Monterrey Tech, that relationship is even deeper and more vibrant today, expanding into other academic areas like the McCombs School of Business and the School of Engineering. And as it relates to UT’s School of Architecture, McMath’s mission to expose students to Mexican history, culture and architecture, and connect with other universities in Mexico, including Monterrey Tech, remain an important part of the curriculum and are now led by Juan Miró, distinguished teaching professor and internationally renowned architect. We urge the Commission to vote to preserve the historical and architectural significance of “Casa McMath”. James Taylor CAUTION: This email was received …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: LA Rigler Friday, October 22, 2021 5:13 PM PAZ Preservation; Allen, Amber 1104 Toyath Street HR 21- 115725 *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** TO: Members of the Historic Landmark Commission FROM: Louis Rigler of 1103 Toyath Street 78703 RE: 1104 Toyath Street Review Case Number HR 21‐115725 Commissioners, If the charge here is history and preservation, if the issues here are history and preservation, and if the commission can't say "no" to the plans put forth here.... then this body really has no reason to be. Clarksville has... HAS (not had) a history worth preserving and deserving of respect. Both the neighborhood and it's people. Both past and present. The proposed structure might look good in the plains somewhere. It so reminds me of a grain silo building. Please see your staff's notes. The proposed viewing platform / floating roof deck atop the silo has view of nothing but all the yards and houses of the neighboring homes. Intrusive, if not offensive. I oppose the erection of such an out‐of‐place and inappropriate building in Clarksville. Louis Rigler CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1
