Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Bill W Thursday, July 22, 2021 4:52 PM PAZ Preservation HistRevComm@BWNA.groups.io 3101 Oakmont Blvd HR-21-101274 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Commissioners: The Historic Review Committee of the Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association has been in contact with the owner of 3101 Oakmont Blvd. and reviewed and discussed the plans. We do NOT oppose this demo/rebuild of a new garage. We feel that even though the garage is in front of the house, the owners have designed it in such a way that it appears from the street to be part of the original house. (By way of information, our Neighborhood Association only votes to “oppose” or “not oppose;” we do not “support.”) Bill Woods 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
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Lynn Davidson Thursday, July 22, 2021 6:23 PM PAZ Preservation 2502 Park View Dr Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** Please don’t let them demolish the house at 2502 Park View Drive. At least, make the developer (and that’s what he is) keep the footprint of the house as it is. He has built one mega mansion on our street and owns 2 more lots and an investor of his just bought the house at 2706 Park View Dr. He will build more mega mansions on those three lots, at least deny him the opportunity to do it to this historic air condition village house as well. Sent from my iPad 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: Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged Isabel Henderson Thursday, July 22, 2021 9:54 PM PAZ Preservation; Little, Kelly - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Tollett, Blake - BC; Featherston, Witt; Heimsath, Ben - BC; Wright, Caroline - BC; Valenzuela, Sarah - BC; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Castillo, Anissa - BC; Larosche, Carl - BC; Myers, Terri - BC Demolition of 2502 Park View Drive - GF-21-103669 *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Hi! My name is Isabel Henderson and I'm a resident of Rosedale. I wanted to reach out about the proposed demolition of 2502 Park View Drive (Case GF‐21‐103669). This house is part of Austin's Air Conditioned Village and should be preserved as a historic house. It's a unique example of midcentury architecture and represents an attempt to combine design with what was cutting‐edge technology at the time (technology that contributed to the development of Austin, the state of Texas, and the Southwest). It's been devastating to watch the houses in this neighborhood be demolished, one after the other. Sometimes it seems that there are entire blocks that are in the process of being razed and rebuilt. We have a responsibility to maintain unique historic homes (such as 2502 Park View Drive) in Austin—or we will regret not doing so, years down the line. If we don't, neighborhoods like Allandale will lose their history and charm, and start to look like any other overdeveloped, cookie‐cutter neighborhood across America. Razing 2502 Park View Drive would be a blow not only to the neighborhood but also to the design/architectural community and archive. I cannot encourage you enough to designate this house as a historic landmark, and prevent its destruction. All the best, Isabel Henderson 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: Maureen Carter Thursday, July 22, 2021 10:59 PM PAZ Preservation 2502 Park View Drive. Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** To Whom It May Concern: Please prevent the demolition of the piece of Austin history at 2502 Park View Drive. This great example of a home in the Air Conditioned Village should be preserved. This group of 22 homes in Allandale originally built as demonstration houses to study and promote the feasibility of central air conditioning in moderately‐sized and moderately‐priced homes is a treasure. Take care, Maureen C Carter 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: Leslie Currens Friday, July 23, 2021 8:53 AM PAZ Preservation Re: case number GF-21-103669 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Preservation Committee, In addition, an identical home has been willingly preserved by it's owners, so there is no need to force unwilling owners to preserve a home against their wishes. Here is the info on the identical home, as described on the Allandale email list: "We live in the ‘twin’ house to this one on Park View and we absolutely adore it. It is a perfect example of mid century modern architecture and we get so many compliments on how open and bright it is.... we knew we had to own this house and save it." On Fri, Jul 23, 2021 at 8:49 AM Leslie Currens Dear Preservation Committee, Regarding the Air conditioned village home, the home is uninteresting and poorly constructed. There is no need to preserve this house. Please allow these homeowners to do what they want with their property, to build a home that meets today's standards and needs, rather than forcing the preservation of a home that has little historic value and holds little interest for people today. Sincerely, Leslie Currens 5615 Bull Creek Rd, Austin, TX 78756 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. wrote: 1
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Marsha Edwards Friday, July 23, 2021 9:32 AM PAZ Preservation case number GF-21-103669 *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** With regard to 2502 Park View Drive, case number GF-21-103669, I am very upset at the thought of demolition. It is the best-preserved example of the proposed Austin Air-Conditioned Village Historic District. A few years ago I was blessed to be a volunteer for a home tour of that District. And as I live in Allandale, I was most proud of the village right next door to me. I sincerely hope that you will initialize historic zoning, as this house meets the historic landmark designation criteria for architecture, historical associations, and community value. I understand that 2505 and 2507 Park View Drive have also been approved for demolition, and I oppose that also. Thanks, Marsha Edwards 6112 Bullard Dr. 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: Donna Beth McCormick Friday, July 23, 2021 9:49 AM PAZ Preservation GF-21-103669. Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** I am a decades resident of Allandale ‐ since the 1960s. I am a multiple prperty owner. Do you know how many calls I get every week to buy my houses?? I am also a former president of Allandale Neighborhood Association (twice) and Board Member (4 years). What is going on in our neighborhood with the tear down of one story homes and the lot line to lot line two story no class boxes is awful. These houses that are being built now will not be here in 50 years like mine is. They are selling for over a million and within a few years will have more problems than you can imagine and be torn down. Austin was a very nice town and a town to be proud of ‐ but ‐ in the 1970s the Lege let City Hall make the decision of height downtown ‐ huge mistake. The two focal points of the city are the Capitol and the UT Tower ‐ neither of which you can see from most vantage points. Those high rises downtown will also not be here in 50 years ‐ they will be torn down and something else will go in ‐ worse. There is nothing wrong with history and preservation. Money is not always everything. Right now, a million doesn't get you anything in Austin. If these houses are torn down in years there will be regret and wonder why we can't reconstruct them! Save the history ‐ developers need to get a grip ‐ think about your legacy, that's all you have. Donna Beth McCormick ‐ 5703 Shoalwood Ave 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
OWNER: OWNER ADDRESS: CONSIDERATION: PROPERTY: RESTRICTIVE COVENANT H. Dalton Wallace 9505 Johnny Morris Rd. Austin, TX 78724 Ten and No/100 Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration paid by the City of Austin to the Owner, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged. 907 and 909 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 (the “Property”), generally identified in the map attached as Exhibit “A”. WHEREAS, the Owner of the Property and the City of Austin have agreed that the Property should be impressed with certain covenants and restrictions; WHEREAS, the Owner intends to redevelop the Property, and, in order to do so, has applied to the City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission and received a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow for demolition and reconstruction of the building façades; NOW, THEREFORE, it is declared that the Owner of the Property, for the consideration, shall hold, sell and convey the Property, subject to the following covenants and restrictions impressed upon the Property by this restrictive covenant (“Agreement”). These covenants and restrictions shall run with the land, and shall be binding on the Owner of the Property, its heirs, successors, and assigns. Façade Reconstruction. Owner shall deconstruct the building façades pursuant to the requirements of the Certificate of Appropriateness, attached as Exhibit “B”, and shall ensure the façade components are protected and stored for their later reconstruction at the Property. Owner shall have three (3) years from the from the effective date of this covenant to complete reconstruction of the façades in accordance with the requirements of the Certificate of Appropriateness. If any person or entity shall violate or attempt to violate this Agreement, it shall be lawful for the City of Austin to prosecute proceedings at law or in equity against such person or entity violating or attempting to violate such Agreement, to require appropriate actions as indicated under the Agreement, and to collect damages for such actions or inactions. If any part of this Agreement is declared invalid, by judgment or court order, the same shall in no way affect any of the other provisions of this Agreement, and such remaining portion of this Agreement shall remain in full effect. 1. 2. 3. If at any time the City of Austin fails to enforce this Agreement, whether or not any violations of it are known, such failure shall not constitute a waiver or estoppel of the right to enforce it. This …
911‐09‐07 Congress Avenue Grandberry Building and Mitchell‐Robertson Building, 911 Congress Avenue Historic District Congress Avenue Historic District July 26, 2021 Timeline • Fall 2020: Complaints made to Building and Standards Commission (BSC) • March 24, 2021: BSC ordered Landowner to finalize all necessary permits with HLC by June 22, 2021 • March‐April 2021 Meetings: Applicant team provided evidence that keeping building facades in place is not practical or practicable • May 2021 Meeting: Applicant team received guidance that (1) 907 be demolished and reconstructed in its original configuration, (2) 909 be preserved as it stands today, and (3) 911 may be demolished July 2021 Meeting: Applicant team brings Certificate of Authority applications with deconstruction and reconstruction plans in line with above but without keeping 909 preserved in place • 2 BSC Order Requires All Permits, including HLC, by June 22, 2021 3 Updates • • • • • • • • Continued onsite investigation and conditional assessment of the buildings Continued structural assessment Continued safety plan for work, neighbors and public Contacted Austin History Center to locate any additional photos or documentation of the properties Scans of the building interior and exterior (Missing Complete digital 3D model finalized Survey updated Acceptance of Restrictive Covenant by City Legal to require reconstruction within three (3) years Scope of Work updated 4 Restrictive Covenant 5 Laser Scan Assessment Update 6 Structural Assessment Conclusion: “Attempts at suspending the 2nd story façade of 909 Congress Avenue greatly the chances of increases more extensive damage to façade during the brick construction…” 7 Community Outreach • Nelsen, owner of 905 Congress Avenue: applicant has • offered to shore and waterproof the party wall. Joel Sher, owner of 1005 Congress Avenue: supports deconstruction and reconstruction plan. • Others have given verbal support. 8 Next Steps • • Site Plan Exemption and Demolition Permits Bring forth design plans so that facades can be replaced within required three (3) year window • Ongoing communication with Historic Preservation Office, neighbors, and community 9 Requests We respectfully request the following: Granting of the Certificates Appropriateness applications for the two sites zoned historic—909 and 911 Congress Avenue—with the above‐mentioned deconstruction and reconstruction plans. 10
907 – 909 – 911 CONGRESS AVENUE AUSTIN, TEXAS FAÇADE DECONSTRUCTION / RECONSTRUCTION SCOPE OF WORK / OUTLINE TO COMPLETE A. OVERALL PROJECT ORGANIZATION (OVERVIEW – SEE BELOW FOR DETAIL) a. Research and documentation search on existing construction b. Visual and non‐destructive evaluation (NDE) and testing c. Confirmation of structural integrity and ability to withstand documentation and deconstruction as planned. d. Deliverable 1 – Abstract and Bibliography of information used to inform reconstruction (photographs), summary of mortar, brick composition and condition testing e. Review of deconstruction Scope of Work based on Information gathered in a, b & C above f. Finalized Scope of Work and sequence of implementation. g. Deliverable 2 – Safety plan for documentation and deconstruction including pedestrian protection, neighboring building and selective access for design and deconstruction team. h. Preparation of specifications, drawings and other elements required for contract/bid documents for deconstruction work i. Deliverable 3 – Final drawings and documentation of existing conditions. j. Deliverable 4 – Deconstruction Phase: Confirm document accuracy based on profiles, details and other site collected information. k. Document, number and record materials pallets as part of deconstruction. l. On‐site observation of work in progress m. Final Documentation of deconstruction, material inventory and proper storage n. Deliverable 5 – Reconstruction documents and coordination with redevelopment design team o. On‐site observation of work in progress p. Final documentation of historic materials in place B. DOCUMENTATION preparation. Work. a. Review of existing photographic documentation to inform deconstruction and reconstruction plan b. Review all building inspection reports. c. Review all environmental documents and incorporate any outstanding items into final Scope of d. Photograph current conditions prior to any additional demolition. e. Document stone construction to same extent as brick construction for archives. Due to safety concerns and current protections, documentation scans cannot be completed until the bracing required for deconstruction is in place. f. Recommendation: Laser scanning of the existing construction. Provide point cloud to be used in documentation and to assist in the deconstruction and reconstruction activities. g. Coordinate with Austin History Center and City Preservation Officer on existing documents that may be available to use as resources for the reconstruction or representation of unknown elements. CARTER ● DESIGN ASSOCIATES ‐‐ 21 July 2021 ‐ REVISED 1 | P a g e Coordinate with Austin History Center to determine final document preparation and retention requirements for archival purposes. C, D & E ARE DONE …
July 20, 2021 Donna Carter Carter Design Associates 817 W. Eleventh Street Austin, Texas 78701 RE: Structural Assessment of Historic Masonry 907, 909 and 911 Congress Avenue Dear Ms. Carter: At your request, representatives of our office performed a structural assessment of the three existing storefront buildings located at 907, 909, and 911 N. Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas on July 7, 2021. The purpose of this report is to assess the existing masonry elements of all three structures and provide a rendered opinion regarding their structural integrity and options for preserving the historic front façades of the existing buildings. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with this structural assessment. Please contact our office at (512) 499-0919 if you have any questions or further needs. Sincerely, Jerry Garcia, P.E. Founding Principal License #67435 21.153 Firm No: F-3323 6926 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78752 | T: 512.499.0919 | F: 512.320.8521 Page 1 of 8 www.structurestx.com Introduction All three buildings were constructed at or around 1881 and have experienced a myriad of uses and modifications throughout their history. The superstructure of each building includes a mixture of wood stick framing and structural masonry elements that bear on a concrete slab- on-grade foundation. Existing wood-framed roof and upper floor systems have been observed to have extensive structural damage that has created potential life-safety concerns. The existing slab-on-grade foundation systems appear to be performing adequately with no major concerns noted at the time of observation. These buildings have been vacant and neglected for an extensive period of time. As such, the buildings have become dilapidated due to the accelerating exposure to the elements and a lack of basic maintenance to both the interiors and exteriors. For the purposes of this report, our office will be limiting our scope and recommendations primarily to the front brick facades and the load-bearing limestone side walls as it is our understanding that all structure behind the front façades will be demolished as part of the forthcoming development of the property. Masonry Preservation and Restoration Efforts It is our understanding that the Austin Historic Land Commission requires the preservation of all three existing façades facing Congress Avenue in order to retain the historic fabric of the area. On May 24th, 2021, the Commission made the recommendations that the front façades of 907 and 911 Congress Avenue shall be carefully deconstructed and then reconstructed in its original configuration …
July 23, 2021 City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission Re: Agenda Items B2 and B3 Historic Landmark Commissioners, As a long-time property owner in the 1000 block of Congress Avenue, I write to you in support of the applicant’s proposal to deconstruct, and then reconstruct, the historic facades of 907, 909 and 911 Congress Avenue. These facades have long been in disrepair and I am happy to see a proposed solution that will lead us to proper facades along this historic frontage. My understanding is that this permit is the first step toward that vision, and that there is a proposed restrictive covenant that will require that the facades be replaced within 3 years. The proposed redevelopment will also come to this commission for review, and I look forward to seeing the design proposal when it is ready. I support this approach and timeline. Respectfully, Joel Sher Vice President, Ten O’ Five, Inc. General Partner Congress Holdings, Ltd 1005 Congress Avenue, Suite 150 Austin, TX 78701 512.478.1005 512.478.1077 (Fax)
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Bobby Friday, July 23, 2021 3:13 PM PAZ Preservation Historic Case Number: C14H-2000-0005; Review Case Number: HR 21-103182- 13300 DESSAU RD Bldg A *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Sir/Madam, As a member of the Dessau Lutheran Cemetery Association, I would like to express my support for relocating the historical Dessau Lutheran Church to Pioneer Farms. The group associated with Pioneer Farms has the resources and ability to move and restore the church to its original state. Sadly, the membership of the Dessau Lutheran Cemetery Association is dwindling and eventually there will not be anyone left to care for the church and its upkeep. My understanding is that Pioneer Farms has 50,000 to 60,000 visitors per year, so folks now, as well as many generations to come, could utilize and learn about its historical past. Thank you for doing what is right and granting the Certificate of Appropriateness so that the Dessau Lutheran Church can be relocated to the Pioneer Farms. Sincerely, Robert Naivar Director, Dessau Ltue 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
