1510 PALMA PLAZA OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT Demolish a triplex at 1510 Palma Plaza and construct a new duplex Austin, TX 78703 Date: January 22, 2020 PROPOSAL TABLE OF CONTENTS • Historic Designation Criteria • Structural Engineer Report • Photos of Existing Structure • New Construction Drawings • Historical Association • Preliminary Report of Required Repairs 1 1510 Palma Plaza LDC 25-2-352 – Historic Designation Criteria 1. 2. The property is at least 50 years old as it was built in 1925 (per TCAD). The property does not retain a high degree of integrity as it was altered from a single family home to a duplex in 1962 and then to a triplex in 1963 which included an extra driveway and two additional entrances. 3. Property characteristics: a) This property is not individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places b) Demonstration of significance: i. ii. ARCHITECTURE: The building contains some Spanish influences but it does not appear to be architecturally significant. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION: A. Howard Osburn and Augusta Osburn occupied the property for approximately 20 years in the 1920s to 1940s. However, there does not appear to be significant historical associations. A. Howard Osburn worked in real estate and insurance but was not responsible for any notable innovation or significant civic service. Augusta Osburn managed a circulating library and the segregated Austin Country Club for approximately 6 to 8 years. iii. ARCHAEOLOGY: The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. iv. COMMUNITY VALUE: the property does not appear to possess a unique location, physical characteristic, or significant feature that contributes to the character, image, or cultural identity of the community, Austin, or Texas as a whole. v. LANDSCAPE FEATURES: The property is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. 2 3 4 1510 Palma Plaza Demolition permits issued in 2006 and again in 2007 • A previous owner was issued demolition permits by the City of Austin on two separate occasions 2006 Building Permit 2007 Building Permit 2007 Building Permit 5 1510 Palma Plaza EXISTING STRUCTURE FRONT/SOUTH FACADE WEST FACADE WEST FACADE EAST FACADE EAST FACADE BACK/NORTH FACADE 6 1510 Palma Plaza EXISTING STRUCTURE PIER & BEAM COMPROMISED WALL ROTTING BEAMS SYSTEM CMU BLOCK AT PIERS CRACK AT CHIMNEY CEILING CRACK 7 …
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged Tom Reeder Saturday, January 23, 2021 1:09 PM PAZ Preservation Fw: Case Number PR-20-186435 - 1904 MOUNTAIN VIEW RD 1949 Acme Brick Experiment.pdf; giesecke article.pdf; ceramic house 6 pg 2.tiff; House of Tomorrow_ 1950.pdf; Marilyn Bartons Freeze 1983.jpg; 1993_05_08_Austin_American- Statesman_Tom_Reeder_obit.pdf; 2016_03_08_Austin_American-Statesman_Marilyn_Reeder_obit (1).pdf *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** ATTN: Andrew Rice I received the Notice of Public Hearing for a demolition permit for the home at 1904 Mountain View Rd. As of last fall, however, I am no longer the owner of the home. In any event, I would like to supplement the information already included in the meeting notes with the hope that it would shed light on the historic importance of the home. I am the son of the second owners of the property, Tom & Marilyn Reeder, who owned the property from 1976 to 2016. Following the death of my mother in 2016, I purchased my brothers' shares of the home and worked to restore it to its original, historic condition, with the aim of seeking historic zoning. Although I would like to move back to Austin where I lived for 20 years, I have been unable to do so due to family commitments here in Virginia. Early in 2020, I leased the home to a tenant with an option to buy, believing that he would try to finish the restoration project that I had started and make it his home. I believe he made that effort, but he concluded that it would not work for him. Unfortunately for me, he exercised the option and flipped the property to a developer late in 2020. I believe the home is an important part of Austin's architectural history and would be happy participate in the hearing if helpful and permitted. I would especially like to highlight the historic aspects of the design and construction of the home. It was one of seven houses designed in a research project conducted by the College of Engineering at the University of Texas with the financial assistance of the Acme Brick Company. Enclosed are two documents describing the project, The first is the pamphlet published by the Acme Brick Company with details of the project (1904 Mountain View is House Number 6). The second is an article by Prof. F.E. Giesecke with additional information about the project. …
1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 North (front) elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Eastern elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Eastern elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Rear addition – eastern elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Western elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Rear addition – western elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Southern (rear) elevation 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 1207 Taylor Street – Demolition Application City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – January 25, 2021 Architectural/Structural Inspections Ed Hughey, AIA – “Having been in it a number of times, I have significant reservations about attempting to keep the structure: 1. The stone façade is in disrepair, with areas that are unstable and needing rebuilt. 2. The stone façade was not properly installed / ventilated and has introduced improper air flow around and under the house. After many years of non-maintenance, moisture damage has become a big issue for supporting walls behind the stone, around all doors and windows, and at roof / wall intersections. 3. Exterior wall framing / exterior trim / exterior wall cladding is heavily deteriorated around the entirety of the structure. Likely all will need to be fully repaired / replaced in order to: a. Repair the extensive rot and pest damage. b. Bring the structure up to current building code, which would be applied to this re-build. Interior of the home is in atrocious condition, having been occupied by a hoarder for many years -- it is rotting from the inside out. The extent of …
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Jim Hightower Sunday, January 24, 2021 1:17 PM PAZ Preservation Printer; Melody Byrd; Mac Martinez Attn: Andrew Rice / Case # PR-20-183612 1601 Brackenridge St. Objection to Demo.pdf Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Hello Andrew and the Historic Preservation Commission. Attached you will find my official objection form concerning the property at 1601 Brackenridge Street. Please consider the following statement my official comment regarding the matter. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to express my opinion on preserving the history of my neighborhood and our fine city. Sincerely, Jim Hightower I am filing this as my objection to the permit for demolition of the home at 1601 Brackenridge. I believe this home is of historical significance in light of the role of William H. Davis and Lettie Webster Davis in what is now the Teas School for the Deaf. The Texas School for the Deaf and the community it has served are an important part of the history of South Congress; the Davis home at 1601 Brackenridge is an extension and symbol of that importance. Further, the Craftsman architecture exhibited by this home contributes to the architectural integrity of our neighborhood. It along with the other examples of Craftsman homes in the area work together to form a more cohesive architectural community of interest. The home's listing as contributing to the pending Travis Heights‐Fairview Park National Register Historic District makes it imperative that this home be saved from demolition. The home should be more appropriately designated as a historic landmark. 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
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Candace Volz Sunday, January 24, 2021 11:25 AM PAZ Preservation 2803 Bonnie Rd Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** To the Historic Preservation Office‐ I am opposed to the proposed demolition of 2803 Bonnie Rd. The Nalle Co. bought this property in 10/20 for almost $1.3 million, and not because it’s a charming, historic house with its original integrity intact. No, they bought it for redevelopment and profit. Builders/ developers are profiting off of our historic inner city neighborhoods. They see them as blank fields in the suburbs ready for new construction. But these neighborhoods are not that. They’re Austin’s history and character. 2803 Bonnie will end up shoveled into an Austin landfill. It’s building materials and the energy embodied in them will be trashed. This is a fabulous way to ring our city‐ the one that’s working toward zero waste‐with overflowing landfills of building materials that are far superior to modern materials: fully dimensional old growth lumber, solid metal hardware, kitchen cabinets that aren’t substantially plastic, hardwood floors, operable sash windows that can actually be refurbished when needed. Please‐ tell Nalle NO. Tell them to stick to the fields on the edge of Austin. Thank you, Candace Volz 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
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Lawrence Mathis Monday, January 25, 2021 12:58 PM PAZ Preservation Case No HR-20-184510, Hearing Date January 25, 2021 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** Attn: Andrew Rice, Historic Landmark Commission I am the next door neighbor of 121 Laurel Lane. I live at 119 Laurel Lane. I have reviewed the plans provided by Rindi McDonald and Don Harris for their garage apartment and it is totally satisfactory to me. Like a lot of old structures in the neighborhood, their existing garage is obviously beyond a simple repair. The new structure as designed appears compatible with the historic nature of our neighborhood and would contribute to it. No doubt a new structure would be a safer addition than the current structure. You may contact me with any questions. Thank you. Larry Mathis 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
From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Jacki C Contreras, Kalan; Brummett, Elizabeth Rice, Andrew Re: Speaker registration instructions for January 25 Historic Landmark Commission meeting Monday, January 25, 2021 10:37:14 AM Hi Everyone, After my brief call with Kalan this morning and the clarifications on the process below I think the most effective use of everyone’s time is if we postpone for tonight and use the coming days to gather new elevations and plans and substitute the current demolition application for the active renovation application. Elizabeth would you mind getting us on the agenda for ARC for February and for HLC meeting that follows that. I will look into switching the permits. Thank you all for your time on this. Best wishes, Jacki On Jan 25, 2021, at 9:01 AM, Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> wrote: Hi, Jacki, Sure thing! Ordinarily, significant changes to a building’s main façade that are visible from the street need to appear before the HLC. If the new plans do not significantly differ from the previously approved window changes, however, we can administratively approve them. If they are more dramatic or otherwise involve marked deviation from the approved plans, the HLC will need to re-review. If the Commission votes to postpone this month, we can roll your new plans into February’s hearing without starting the process over. If you’d like to speak in general to the demolition alternatives you’re considering at this meeting, you’re absolutely entitled to that; if you want to have elevations available to the Commission before speaking, we can postpone to February to give y’all some time to attend ARC. Each option will probably grant you a similar general timeframe, as far as redesign and HLC approval goes, so it really just depends on your comfort level with the project proposal and testimony/feedback options Elizabeth mentioned earlier. Best, Kalan Contreras MSHP | Senior Planner, Historic Preservation Office kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov | 512.974.2727
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Robert Hicks Monday, January 25, 2021 1:41 PM PAZ Preservation Carrie Hicks GF-20-171512 – 1517 Murray Lane Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Historic Landmark Commission: I am writing to voice our opposition to the proposed demolition of 1517 Murray Lane. My wife and I live 2 houses down at 1712 Windsor Road. The homes on Murray Lane were built in the 1920's and remain true to their original character. It would be a shame to have 1517 Murray demolished, particularly with the significance the Morley family had in Austin's early growth. We are on record against the demolition. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Robert and Carrie Hicks 1712 Windsor Road 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
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Wynn Baker Monday, January 25, 2021 3:01 PM PAZ Preservation 2803 Bonnie Road Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** To the Austin Historic Landmark Commission ‐ I did not have a chance to register to speak in time for the hearing this evening but I would like to register against the proposed destruction of the home on 2803 Bonnie Road. Allowing the house at 2803 Bonnie Road to be torn down is going to continue the abhorrent process of the dissolution of our community identity. Home builders are buying properties across the city and building cold modern homes that do not reflect the character that made Austin desirable in the first place. The charms of the neighborhoods are being lost for the sake of market value and making already expensive home prices to be out of reach of residents in Austin. In the question of Bonnie road house, it is not falling down or in disrepair. The argument that the home isn’t eligible for a historic marker because the residents weren’t significant enough is a slap int he face of Austin residents. Austin is the State Capitol home to countless government employees who allow the state to function. Mr. Reichert worked for the Texas Highway Department after serving public radio for years. While that may not be significant to the greater history of the State, people like that are what make Austin special. I hope that my service to the State Legislature is not one day evaluated by city staff as not significant in 80 years. Nalle Custom Homes is going to build a custom home that looks exactly like all their other homes… sell it for millions of dollars and make the prospect of actual Austin residents looking for affordable homes continuously more difficult. More and more neighborhoods in Austin are slowly becoming carbon copies of Nalle homes and other modern builds. The unique draw that Austin has is disappearing because houses like Bonnie Road are being destroyed. These ‘custom’ homes are all so similar they’re going to turn our beautiful and historic city neighborhoods into streets no better than suburban masterplanned communities. I truly hope you will consider protecting this beautiful example of Tudor Revival home that has been well maintained for nearly a century. But I honestly don’t expect you to. I …
