C.1 - NRD-2020-0004 - 92 Rainey St.pdf — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS C.1 - 1 FEBRUARY 24, 2020 NRD-2020-0004 92 RAINEY STREET RAINEY STREET NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1911-12 contributing bungalow and construct a new high-rise tower in its place. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 1) Demolish existing contributing building. 2) Construct new 53-floor, 606’ tower, occupying two adjacent lots at 90 (now Container Bar) and 92 Rainey Street. The tower includes: a) Below-ground garage b) Commercial space (first and second floors plus third-floor bar area): i. Materials throughout include a transparent glass curtainwall system with metal mullions; simplified pilasters of textured stone at bay divisions; recessed mural panels with overhead lighting, and textured concrete cladding. Flat metal awnings above each tenant entrance at 1 and 1.5 stories are topped with lit signage. ii. At the east elevation, vertically-articulated panel systems of varying widths define tenant spaces. A metal shipping container with viewport projects from recessed bar space at the second floor, hovering above the streetscape. An angled precast concrete panel projects through both recessed bar spaces. c) Hotel and residential spaces: i. The tower is clad in a reflective glass curtainwall system throughout, with precast concrete accent panels on secondary facades. ii. Levels 8-52 are set back from the lower section of the tower (at roughly 177’). iii. After level 24, which separates the hotel units from residences and short-term rental units, glass balconies project from the north and south elevations. d) Roof deck RESEARCH The house at 92 Rainey Street was built around 1911. Its first owner was farrier Alonzo B. Cook, who ran a shop on Congress Avenue. From 1914 to 1920, the house had several short-term occupants, including a painter, a grocer, and a night watchman. By 1920, it had been purchased by Emil and Edith Bohls. Emil Bohls owned a restaurant in 1920, but he soon opened an auto paint shop on 5th Street. By 1937, as Austin’s automobile culture continued to grow, Bohls had expanded his repertoire to include a tourist camp and filling station on South Congress Avenue. By 1939, the Bohls family sold the home to Charles B. and Pearl Eustace. The Eustace family had lived across the street at 95 Rainey since 1922. Charles had recently retired from the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company after a 39-year tenure. As one of the earliest telephone employees in Austin, he was an active member of the Telephone Pioneers Association. Charles and Pearl Eustace had one son, Major Hal Leighton Eustace. Eustace served in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to joining the Air Force in 1942 at age 35, Major Eustace had worked as the managing editor of the Brownsville Herald, and frequently contributed his stories and expert opinions on military life and the aviation industry to news publications, magazines, and books. He offered background knowledge and support to aviation writers until well after his retirement from the Air Force. Upon retirement, Major Eustace returned to his childhood home, where he lived until his death in 1975.  C.1 - 2 STANDARDS FOR REVIEW The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation are used to evaluate new construction projects in National Register historic districts. Applicable standards include: 9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment. The existing contributing building will be demolished to accommodate the new high-rise tower. The proposed new building is differentiated from the remainder of the historic buildings in the district in form, height, materials, size, use, and scale. The proposed building’s massing, size, and scale are not compatible with the historic structures in the district. The projecting shipping container further highlights the building’s scale. Its sculptural use of materials such as stone and precast concrete are at odds with the materials and styles of Rainey Street during the historic period. The proposed new building is not compatible with the remaining historic buildings in the district in terms of materials used in its street presence. Note: All proposed signage will be required to undergo the historic review process. 10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired. If the proposed new construction is removed in future, the remainder of the district would be unimpaired. STAFF COMMENTS The building contributes to the Rainey Street National Register Historic District. In 2010, historic material was removed from secondary elevations, which were then entirely rebuilt (see backup). The main façade was restored, but modifications were required to accommodate its use as a bar. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building’s façade remains intact, but its secondary elevations have been rebuilt and altered to accommodate its current use as a bar. 3) Properties must meet two historic designation criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2- 352). The property may demonstrate significance according to City Code: a) Architecture. The building is constructed in the Craftsman style. b) Historical association. There do not appear to be significant historical associations; however, the Commission may consider the contributions of the Eustace family. c) Archaeology. The house was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. d) Community value. The house does not possess a unique location, physical characteristic, or significant feature that contributes to the character, image, or cultural identity of the city, the neighborhood, or a particular demographic group. e) Landscape feature. The property is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The building’s scale precludes the possibility of compatibility through design choices. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Should the Commission choose to release the permit for demolition, staff recommends encouraging relocation; then completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package, consisting of photographs of all elevations, a dimensioned sketch plan, and a narrative history, for archiving at the Austin History Center. Comment on and release plans.  LOCATION MAP C.1 - 3  PROPERTY INFORMATION C.1 - 4 Occupancy History City Directory Research, Austin History Center, February 2020 Source: applicant, 2020. See backup documentation. 1992 Matthew LaBarbera, renter Manager, Fire Island Glass Studio 1985-86 Bruce M. Glick, renter Stagehand, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 205 1981 1977 1973 1968 1965 1962 1959 1955 1952 1949 1947 Tom and Martha Rivera, renters No return Hal L. Eustace, owner Retired Mrs. Pearl M. Eustace, owner Mrs. Pearl M. Eustace, owner (wid. Charles B.) Hal L. Eustace, renter Retired Mrs. Pearl M. Eustace, owner (wid. Charles B.) Hal L. Eustace, renter USAF Mrs. Pearl Eustace, owner Charles B. and Pearl Eustace, owners Charles B. and Pearl Eustace, owners Charles B. and Pearl Eustace, owners Charles B. and Pearl Eustace, owners Barbara Muldrow, renter (wid. Joseph) 1944-45 Benjamin F. and Stellie M. Richers, renters Carpenter Charles B. and Pearl Eustace, owners Charles B. and Pearl Eustace, owners Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners Proprietor, filling station and tourist camp, 2109 S. Congress Ave. 1935 Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners 1932-33 Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners C.1 - 5 Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners Auto painter, 205 W. 5th St. Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners Auto painter, 205 W. 5th St Gus Carlstrom, renter Printer Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners Proprietor, Auto Paint Shop, 205 W. 5th St Emil M. and Edith Bohls, owners Proprietor, restaurant, 110 Congress Ave. Andrew Meredith, renter Fireman Emil M. and Edith Bohls, renters Note: The Eustace family occupied 95 Rainey Street from at least 1922-1932. Charles and Jennie Work, renters Watchman, E.M. Scarbrough and Sons Note: The rest of the large Work family owned and occupied 91 Rainey at this time. 1941 1939 1937 1929 1927 1924 1922 1920 1918 1916 1914 1912 William and Delia Gerard, owners Painter Miss Myrtle Frierson, renter Angel DelAmo, renter Grocer, 114 Congress Ave. William R. Davie, owner Alonzo B. Cook, owner Horseshoer, 608 Colorado Street 1910 Address not listed  Biographical Information C.1 - 6 Eustace family obituaries. The Austin Statesman: Jul 21, 1958 and Aug 6, 1969; The Austin American Statesman: Jun 19, 1975. Obituary for Emil M. Bohls. The Austin Statesman: Apr 3, 1968. The Austin Statesman: Jul 1, 1914  C.1 - 7 The Austin American: Feb 22, 1925 The Austin Statesman: Jun 2, 1925 and Jan 21, 1926  C.1 - 8 The Austin Statesman: Feb 12, 1947  C.1 - 9 Declassified report on flying saucer phenomenon by Lt. Hal Eustace, 1947. Source: The Seattle Times: June 24, 2017  C.1 - 10 Declassified report on flying saucer phenomenon by Lt. Hal Eustace, 1947. Source: The Seattle Times: June 24, 2017  C.1 - 11 Declassified report on flying saucer phenomenon by Lt. Hal Eustace, 1947. Source: The Seattle Times: June 24, 2017  C.1 - 12 Declassified report on flying saucer phenomenon by Lt. Hal Eustace, 1947. Source: The Seattle Times: June 24, 2017  C.1 - 13 Declassified report on flying saucer phenomenon by Lt. Hal Eustace, 1947. Source: The Seattle Times: June 24, 2017  C.1 - 14 Declassified report on flying saucer phenomenon by Lt. Hal Eustace, 1947. Source: The Seattle Times: June 24, 2017  C.1 - 15 Letter submitted by Hal L. Eustace to Popular Mechanics, June 1949  C.1 - 16 The Austin Statesman: Feb 25, 1952 The Austin Statesman: Apr 20, 1953  C.1 - 17 The Austin Statesman: Feb 16, 1968 The Austin Statesman: Dec 16, 1972  C.1 - 18 The Austin American Statesman: Jul 9, 1974  Building Permits C.1 - 19 Sewer tap permit, 6-11-20 Water tap permit, 9-63