Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Jackson Friday, July 23, 2021 3:55 PM PAZ Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness: Historic Case Number: C14H-2000-0005, Review Case Number: HR 21-103182 – 13300 DESSAU RD Bldg A *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Historic Landmark Commission, I currently serve as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Dessau Lutheran Cemetery Association (DLCA). I have held this position since October 2014. Previously I served as Vice-President from October 2008 until October 2014. I have been actively involved with the Dessau Lutheran Church and Cemetery for over 30 years. My mother, Margaret (Nauert) Dickens was the daughter of Selma (Wieland) Nauert and William Nauert. Selma was the daughter of Martin and Carolina (Bastian) Wieland and William was the son of Carl and Caroline (Brachwitz) Nauert, all immigrants from Dessau, Germany to Dessau, Texas in the 1850’s. They were all members of Dessau Lutheran Church, with many being married in the church. They are all buried in Dessau Lutheran Cemetery except my Mom, and as you can see, the lineage runs very deep within my blood and also with my siblings, children, and grandchildren. We are one of the most active families with the church and cemetery. We have spent countless hours working on the church, maintaining the cemetery grounds and fellowship with the members. This has been instilled in me directly with my parents and grandparents. My mom, Margaret Dickens, played a vital role in the history of the church and she saved and maintained many of the historical documents that are so valuable to the history of the church. If needed, these documents are available at your request. She truly LOVED this church and it was a deep loss when she passed away September 21, 2016. As a child, I attended services at Dessau Lutheran Church with my grandparents, Selma and William Nauert. It was a magical place and the people were so respectful of the history of their community. I remember the pot belly stove in the middle of the church and the open windows when it was summer. And the well that was to the north of the building. It was just something else to be inside of the building, along with my Grandma and Grandpa. As the years have gone by, the church has lost many of the older generation, including my Mom, my Grandparents, and both sets of my Great-Grandparents that …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: noreply@coadigital.onbehalfof.austintexas.gov on behalf of City of Austin <noreply@coadigital.onbehalfof.austintexas.gov> Sunday, July 25, 2021 9:50 AM PAZ Preservation I support moving the Lutheran Church to Pioneer Farms This message is from Karl Weston. [ karlw1962@yahoo.com ] Hello, I recently heard about the proposed Church project from a friend a couple of weeks ago. I am supporting the move of the Lutheran Church to Pioneer Farms. It makes sense to me to do the move as more people will be able to visit and see the Church and it can be protected. I have been to Pioneer farms once or twice. It seems they do a good job at preserving and restoring the old buildings. There is a park in Dallas, I went to a few years back, and it was similar with the old houses and Churches. It is so nice to see and it can bring a peaceful feeling. Thanks so much for all the hard work by the Historic Landmark Commission, as I am sure there are many competing interests of how to develop and use property, and how to do so in the best interest of our beloved Austin/Travis County community. Sending you happiness and joy, Karl W. Weston PO Box 201924 Austin, Texas 78720 1
Richard Hill <hill@hpitx.com> Sunday, July 25, 2021 8:47 PM Mark Lakins; Richard Suttle Fwd: In support of 2210 Windsor Rd Mark Lakins From: Sent: To: Subject: A little late but support . Sent from my iPad Richard S. Hill Partner Direct: 512-538-0050 | Main: 512-835-4455 Address: 3700 North Capital of Texas Highway Suite 420 | Austin,Texas 78746 To help protect y ou r priv acy , Microsoft Office prev ented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Visit the New HPITX.com → This e-mail may contain privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this message. Begin forwarded message: From: Ben Bentzin <ben@bentzin.com> Date: July 25, 2021 at 7:48:20 PM CDT To: Richard Hill <hill@hpitx.com> Subject: In support of 2210 Windsor Rd Richard, Hope this email reaches you in time for you hearing tomorrow. July 25, 2021 Austin Historic Preservation Office Planning and Development Review Department P.O. Box 1088 1 Austin, Texas 78767 Ladies & Gentlemen, In this letter, I express my support for the proposed changes to the Davis-Sibley House, 2210 Windsor Road, by owners Rae & Richard Hill. As an Old Enfield resident, I value preservation of our neighborhood's historic homes. After reviewing the modifications, including the carport, removal of the stairs, and overhang at the back of the house, I consider these changes to be much needed and consistent with the historical home and the character of our neighborhood. Having visited the Sibley home many times over the past 25 years, I am confident that Jane and D.J. Sibley would have enthusiastically supported these much needed changes if they were still with us today. Thank you in advance for your approval of the modifications proposed for the Davis-Sibley House. Ben Bentzin 2305 Windsor Rd Austin, TX 78703 512-750-9253 ben@bentzin.com [EXTERNAL] This email is from outside of HPI. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe 2
Richard Hill <hill@hpitx.com> Friday, July 23, 2021 12:16 PM Mark Lakins; Tim Cuppett; Richard Suttle Rae Hill Fwd: 2219 Windsor Renovation This is an email of support from the Oswalds, who live two doors down and have a Landmark Seal on their home. They also sent in the City’s letter of approval for the proposed changes. Richard Mark Lakins From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Sent from my iPad Richard S. Hill Partner Direct: 512-538-0050 | Main: 512-835-4455 Address: 3700 North Capital of Texas Highway Suite 420 | Austin,Texas 78746 To help protect y ou r priv acy , Microsoft Office prev ented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Visit the New HPITX.com → This e-mail may contain privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this message. Begin forwarded message: From: john oswalt <chip.oswalt1@gmail.com> Date: July 23, 2021 at 10:02:22 AM CDT To: Richard Hill <hill@hpitx.com> Subject: Re: 2219 Windsor Renovation Richard Suttle, Karen and I who live at 2200 Windsor Rd are in full support of a landmark designation for the outstanding job the Hill’s have done on restoration of the Sibley house. We also have a historic designation and spend $$ per year to honor and maintain our house. We know the Hill’s will take exceptional care Of this historic home. Best regards, John D Oswalt,MD Proposed changes below. 1 Sent from my iPad 2
Richard Hill <hill@hpitx.com> Friday, July 23, 2021 6:38 AM Mark Lakins; Tim Cuppett; Richard Suttle Fwd: 2210Windsor_LandmarkPresentation_20210624.pdf I do not believe you have the Chandlers email of support below. Richard Mark Lakins From: Sent: To: Subject: Sent from my iPad Richard S. Hill Partner Direct: 512-538-0050 | Main: 512-835-4455 Address: 3700 North Capital of Texas Highway Suite 420 | Austin,Texas 78746 To help protect y ou r priv acy , Microsoft Office prev ented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Visit the New HPITX.com → This e-mail may contain privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this message. Begin forwarded message: From: Rae Hill <raehill@me.com> Date: July 9, 2021 at 8:56:01 AM CDT To: June Chandler <june@chandler-family.com> Cc: Richard Hill <hill@hpitx.com> Subject: Re: 2210Windsor_LandmarkPresentation_20210624.pdf Thanks June!…There is a beehive of landscaping at your home this week….it will be beautiful when you return. Sent from my iPad On Jul 7, 2021, at 4:16 PM, June Chandler <june@chandler-family.com> wrote: Dear Rae and Richard, 1 You have Marks and my full support on your project. You are doing an incredible job of historically bringing back life into your new home. As a neighbor I am very happy to walk by something so lovely everyday. As a friend , I can’t wait to see it inside ! Best, June On Jul 7, 2021, at 5:14 PM, Rae Hill <raehill@me.com> wrote: Thank you June!!! Just reply all here and Richard will handle it. We did not lose power and sorry you lost a tree. See you soon. Rae On Jul 7, 2021, at 3:28 PM, June Chandler <june@chandler-family.com> wrote: Dear Rae, Y’all are working so hard and its going to look so good. We are happy to write a letter of support. Im not back in Austin until July 22 and Mark sometime in august. Can I send an email ? And how to do that? If they are sending one of their letters, I can have my asst go through the mail and find it and send something in. Hope we can get together when we get back. I also hope the tree we lost didn’t cause you to lose power. I know Ann did but not the others . xx, June On Jul 7, 2021, at 1:02 PM, Rae Hill <raehill@me.com> wrote: June- I hope you’re enjoying island life….it’s been reasonably cool …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Reed Saturday, July 24, 2021 9:12 AM Allen, Amber; PAZ Preservation Requesting to speak on Monday night *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** On behalf of the Clarksville Community Development Corporation (CCDC), I would like to ask the Commissioners to delay making a decision on the demo permit request related to 1805 Waterston Avenue, a contributing structure in the Clarksville NRHD. It is Item C.2 on the agenda. Thank you. Mary Reed President, CCDC board of directors MR•PR Austin, TX 78703 Be Kind "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." MLK 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
Contreras, Kalan From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Mary Reed Saturday, July 24, 2021 10:09 AM Myers, Terri - BC; Wright, Caroline - BC; Little, Kelly - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Jacob, Mathew - BC; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Featherston, Witt; Papavasiliou, Alexander - BC; Tollett, Blake - BC; Valenzuela, Sarah - BC; Heimsath, Ben - BC Allen, Amber; Contreras, Kalan; PAZ Preservation Regarding 1805 Waterston Avenue, Item C.2 on your July 26th agenda *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** On June 3 representatives of the CCDC met with Jesse Nalle with Nalle Custom Homes to do what I would best describe as damage control. The company had purchased a remodeled upscale home in the Clarksville National Register District – a home that contributes to the Clarksville NRHD -- and wanted to demo it and build something bigger and more expensive. We knew the odds of convincing the company to not demo the home were dismal so we focused on suggesting changes to the plans Jesse Nalle shared with us in an effort to end up with a new home that would be more in keeping with Clarksville and less ”suburban.” Among other things, we asked that he either substitute a carport for the front-facing garages or relocate them at the back or side of the house; get rid of the exterior brick; and enlarge the front porch so that it could function as an out-door living space. We made other requests many of which reflected the same concerns about the compatibility of the new house design that are indicated in the backup materials prepared by Kalan Contreras for your meeting on the 26th. We also suggested that Mr. Nalle drive around Clarksville to get a sense of the neighborhood. We thought that seeing what other houses here look like would help inform his redesign process. Mr. Nalle was very open to our suggestions and said that he would send us new plans based on our comments. He seemed genuine and so we left the meeting hopeful that he had heard and respected what we had to say. However, here we are 53 days after that meeting, and despite six friendly email exchanges with Nalle in which he has repeatedly told me that "new plans will be coming soon" or that he has "nothing to share with me yet," we have not seen any revised drawings. In fact, the …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Mary Reed Saturday, July 24, 2021 10:09 AM terrimyers@preservationcentral.com; Myers, Terri - BC; Wright, Caroline - BC; Little, Kelly - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Jacob, Mathew - BC; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Featherston, Witt; Papavasiliou, Alexander - BC; Tollett, Blake - BC; Valenzuela, Sarah - BC; Heimsath, Ben - BC Allen, Amber; Contreras, Kalan; PAZ Preservation Regarding 1805 Waterston Avenue, Item C.2 on your July 26th agenda *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** On June 3 representatives of the CCDC met with Jesse Nalle with Nalle Custom Homes to do what I would best describe as damage control. The company had purchased a remodeled upscale home in the Clarksville National Register District – a home that contributes to the Clarksville NRHD -- and wanted to demo it and build something bigger and more expensive. We knew the odds of convincing the company to not demo the home were dismal so we focused on suggesting changes to the plans Jesse Nalle shared with us in an effort to end up with a new home that would be more in keeping with Clarksville and less ”suburban.” Among other things, we asked that he either substitute a carport for the front-facing garages or relocate them at the back or side of the house; get rid of the exterior brick; and enlarge the front porch so that it could function as an out-door living space. We made other requests many of which reflected the same concerns about the compatibility of the new house design that are indicated in the backup materials prepared by Kalan Contreras for your meeting on the 26th. We also suggested that Mr. Nalle drive around Clarksville to get a sense of the neighborhood. We thought that seeing what other houses here look like would help inform his redesign process. Mr. Nalle was very open to our suggestions and said that he would send us new plans based on our comments. He seemed genuine and so we left the meeting hopeful that he had heard and respected what we had to say. However, here we are 53 days after that meeting, and despite six friendly email exchanges with Nalle in which he has repeatedly told me that "new plans will be coming soon" or that he has "nothing to share with me yet," we have not seen any revised drawings. In fact, …
1173 San Bernard Street – PR-21-093159 City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – July 26, 2021 1173 San Bernard Street – PR-21-093159 City of Austin – Historic Landmark Commission – July 26, 2021
Proposed Home at 3004 Lafayette Avenue The owners/occupants of 3004 Lafayette Ave have requested permission to demolish their home so they may build a home to better fit their family of four. As summarized in another document, the existing home is largely unoriginal, having been expanded and patched/repaired over the years in a haphazard way and unfortunately is just not cost effective to repair or expand. However, the owners are approaching the design of their new home in a very conscientious way, with a love for the Cherrywood Neighborhood, a desire to enhance it and fit into it, and consideration not only for their immediate neighbors but also those who live nearby and the greater City of Austin. From the start they have wanted to have their proposed new home fit in by keeping the driveway where it currently is, using a detached garage at the rear of the property in the location of the existing garage, and fitting the 18’ front home width within the footprint of the existing home to contain the massing and perception of size from the street. Height has been another consideration, creating a 1.5 story design with dormers to help keep the home height reduced, under 21 feet. The areas adjacent to each side neighbor are either one story on the right, or buffered by the driveway on the left. A neighborly, social, welcoming useable front porch was a must from the start. The desire is to make a home that feels like it has always been there. Additionally, much consideration has been given to exterior materials and details that are already found within the Cherrywood Neighborhood, including custom roof corbels, generous roof overhangs, classic window shapes and sizes, detailed window and door trims and siding details similar to that found throughout Cherrywood. Please see the streetscape below, showing how the new home would interact with its neighbors. Proposed House Shown in the Streetscape Proposed House Front Elevation
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Jen Graf Sunday, July 25, 2021 8:39 AM PAZ Preservation Case number PR21-095546 - 3004 Lafayette Ave *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** To whom it may concern, I live in the Cherrywood neighborhood and want to express my support for the demolition of 3004 Lafayette Ave ‐ case number PR21‐095546. The property is in rough condition and the owner is a builder known for building high‐quality homes in a style that I believe will fit the neighborhood well. I expect the the home Jim will build will not only fit into the Cherrywood neighborhood well, but it will also add value the homes around it. Please reach out with any questions. Jen ‐‐ Jen Graf 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
Historical Commission Case: GF 21-103669 July 26th 2502 Park View Dr Joseph Reynolds 2611 West 49th Member Allandale Zoning Committee Commissioners, I’m writing to Oppose the demolition permit issued for 2502 Park View. The owner/applicant knew of the historic nature of the property when it was purchased. They communicated with the seller. The permit was issued by mistake, due to confusion with other property owned in 2500 block of Park View. Finally, 2502 Park View was one of the experimental houses used to determine how residences could/should be air-conditioned. The experiment was to try various ways to install air conditioning, to determine what life effects it would have, to measure the electricity used to cool the houses - A/C was a change that resulted in housing booms in hot climate. Let me share my perspective. First, I have experience with experimental housing. During the mid-1960s I was leading a software effort at Tracor [Austin’s first ‘technology’ star and first ‘native’ Fortune-500 company] to use computer graphics to show what a future house would look like when inside/outside. At the time architects drew sketches of a building, and made detail ‘mechanical drawings’ of the structural elements. The computer graphics would be a big improvement over just showing a client plan-view drawings, and much cheaper than the sketches, or cardboard models in use. Computer graphics could be interactive. Tracor had professors from UT Architecture School consulting. That work got me involved in a 1969-1970 project called Ice City. Life-size experimental buildings were more useful than cardboard models, and could have ‘organic’ shapes. But, they needed to be discarded, and that was expensive disposal. So, Ice City would build the life-size models from ice-foam, which would just melt when the weather warmed. In 1970 we were doing what is now called 3-D Printing, but on a life-size scale. We also worked on ‘responsive rooms’ which was an attempt to have the building support activity occurring inside. We built instrumented rooms at what is now part of the Pickle Research center. My second perspective is that I’m old enough to have lived ‘before’ and ‘after’ air- conditioning. I was born December 1941. Our milkman in Dallas drove a horse-cart to deliver. By 1945 mom had a Servel brand ‘gas’ refrigerator; a little ‘pilot flame’ 1 Historical Commission Case: GF 21-103669 July 26th 2502 Park View Dr Joseph Reynolds 2611 West 49th Member Allandale Zoning …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Friday, July 23, 2021 4:17 PM PAZ Preservation RE: case number GF-21-103669 , 2502 Park View Drive *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** I will not be able to attend this hearing remotely, so this is my comment to be included in the hearing as backup. This house is an architectural treasure as an example of mid century modern style by Fred Day, a renowned Architect in Austin with a legacy of design excellence. I believe the community and the developer would be better served if there were compromises made in return for preservation of this structure. These could include density bonuses or development incentives that would allow more intensive use of the land. The existing house could be an ADU to a multi‐ unit development that would save the house, increase the density, and add tax base to the City tax roll, win‐win‐win. I hope that the developer and the preservation board takes this into consideration in the spirit of compromise that works to the advantage of all parties. Mac Ragsdale, AIA From: Sent: Friday, July 23, 2021 4:02 PM To: preservation@austintexas.gov Subject: case number GF‐21‐103669 , 2502 Park View Drive I would like to speak in favor of preserving this architectural treasure, and encourage that the City provide incentives to the developers in the way of density bonuses or other methods to encourage them. Mac Ragsdale, AIA 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: John Tate Saturday, July 24, 2021 1:35 PM PAZ Preservation Carolyn Croom Supporting preservation of 2502 PARK VIEW DRIVE (GF-21-103669) *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** To the Members of the Historic Landmark Commission: I support preservation of the existing house at 2502 Park View Drive. The staff analysis and letters from Elizabeth Porterfield of Mid Tex Mod and Lori Martin of Preservation Austin agree that the house meets several of the criteria for historic status. The residence is an excellent early work of local architect, Fred Day, who designed a number of other iconic Austin buildings. In addition, a National Register Historic District designation is underway for the Austin Air‐ Conditioned Village, and this is the best existing example of the buildings from that project. My wife and I enjoy seeing this house and others that were part of the Austin Air‐Conditioned Village on our walks around the neighborhood, and we enjoyed the historic tour presented by Mid Tex Mod a couple of years ago. We need to preserve buildings such as this one, whose historical value rests on their intrinsic quality and their impact on society, and not solely on what famous person lived there. Please vote to preserve 2502 Park View Drive. Thank you for your kind attention. John Tate 2502 Albata Avenue Austin, Texas 78757 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: Carolyn Croom < Saturday, July 24, 2021 6:43 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 Concerning 2502 PARK VIEW DRIVE (GF-21-103669) *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Members of the Historic Landmark Commission, I oppose the demolition of the architecturally and historically significant house at 2502 Park View Drive. In attending the talk and the tour of the Air Conditioned Village offered by Mid Tex Mod, I learned that it is the best-preserved example of the proposed Austin Air-Conditioned Village Historic District. Mid Tex Mod and Preservation Austin’s letters from last year’s hearing strongly opposing this demolition are compelling. This outstanding, remarkably‐intact, mid‐century residence with passive cooling strategies and innovative technological design and construction is very much a part of Austin’s history and culture. Austinite Ned Cole convinced organizers to locate this significant experiment appropriately in Austin, with our hot climate. The residence is an excellent early work of local architect, Fred Day, who made significant contributions to Austin’s development. A National Register Historic District designation is underway for the Austin Air‐Conditioned Village, and the best example of this project should be preserved. I implore the applicant to take responsibility for this treasure and rise to the occasion and work with city staff to preserve the important features of the house. Short of that, I ask you to please vote for the preservation of 2502 Park View Drive. Let’s preserve this unique gem for our Central Texas community. Sincerely, Carolyn Croom 2502 Albata Avenue Austin, Texas 78757 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: Cynthia Keohane Saturday, July 24, 2021 7:40 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 Air Conditioned Village - 2502 Park View Drive - GF-21-103669 - opposing the request *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Historic Landmark Commission: Please do all you can to preserve this historically and architecturally significant home, as well as other Air Conditioned Village homes at risk of demolition. As a former President of Allandale Neighborhood Association, and an Allandale homeowner within a mile from this home, I attended the Mid Tex Mod's Air Conditioned Village program a few years ago. It's clear that this represents history worthy of saving. I wrote to you last year opposing HDP-2020-0214 for 2502 Park View and the matter appeared to have been settled amicably. I'm sorry to see this home threatened again. Please vote to preserve this landmark. All the best, Cynthia Keohane 5702 Wynona Avenue 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
July 25, 2021 City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission P.O. Box 1088 Austin, TX 78767 Re: 2502 Park View Drive, Austin, Texas Dear Historic Landmark Commissioners, Mid Tex Mod, the leading voice for the preservation of mid-century modern architecture in our region, submits this letter of opposition to the proposed demolition of the house at 2502 Park View Drive. As the Central Texas chapter of Docomomo US, Mid Tex Mod’s mission is to raise awareness of buildings, sites, neighborhoods, and landscapes of the modern movement and to advocate for their preservation, documentation, and sustained use. Mid Tex Mod strongly opposes the release of a demolition permit for 2502 Park View Drive. Our organization fully supports efforts to preserve this architecturally and historically significant residence and contributing resource to the potential Austin Air-Conditioned Village Historic District. The residence at 2502 Park View Drive represents one of twenty-two original test houses constructed in 1954 as part of the Austin Air-Conditioned Village. This community of modest ranch and contemporary- style homes in the Edgewood Subdivision of Austin served as an experimental research project conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and research partners, including the University of Texas at Austin, to assess the integration of central air conditioning in mid-priced suburban residences. Twenty-two houses, constructed by eighteen local homebuilders, incorporated different air- conditioning systems with a variety of building plans, orientations, and cladding materials to monitor the effectiveness and affordability of central air conditioning for the middle class. Monitoring of occupants for a period of one year, under the direction of the National Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning Association’s Mobile Laboratory, documented residents’ experiences and daily habits with air-conditioned living. Ultimately, the testing results at the Austin Air-Conditioned Village demonstrated that the installation and operation of residential air conditioning could be achieved in modest houses at a reasonable cost, thereby influencing residential building and lending practices in the ensuing decades. 2502 Park View Drive, known as “The Air Temp” house, originally incorporated a Chrysler Air Temp air- conditioning system. Designed by local architect Fred Day and constructed by local builder Wayne A. Burns (developer of the Edgewood Subdivision), the contemporary-style house features low sloping roof lines; wide overhanging eaves; fixed, horizontal-sliding sash, and clerestory windows; a variety of cladding materials including asbestos, wood siding, and brick; a large carport; and patterned brick screening walls. The addition of a small utility …
Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Nathalie Frensley Sunday, July 25, 2021 11:51 AM PAZ Preservation GF-21-103669, 2502 Park View Drive *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Re: GF‐21‐103669, 2502 Park View Drive (Air Conditioned Village) I write to urge Commissioners to follow staff recommendations to preserve 2502 Park View Drive and prevent its demolition. I wholly concur with staff reasoning to preserve, in their case report about 2502 Park View: “Strongly encourage the applicant to reconsider his application for total demolition by initiating historic zoning, as this house meets the historic landmark designation criteria for architecture, historical associations, and community value. This house is one of the premier examples of mid‐century Modern architecture in the Air Conditioned Village, a proposed historic district, and every effort should be made to preserve the integrity of the house and historic district. The importance of Austin’s Air Conditioned Village in the broader theme of residential climate control for the middle‐ class families in the Sunbelt was perhaps understated in the first set of public hearings on this case, but Austin’s experiment set the stage for similar projects in other areas of the country, and was a significant and determining factor in the development of the American Southwest.” Please preserve part of Austin’s history. Sincerely, Nathalie Frensley ‐‐ Nathalie J. Frensley, Ph.D. 5601 Montview Street, 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. 1
