D.12.0 - 502 E 42nd St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS MAY 24, 2021 GF-21-067020 502 E. 42ND STREET D.12 – 1 PROPOSAL Partially demolish and construct an addition to a ca. 1925 house. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 1) Partially demolish side and rear of residence, one porch column, and garage wall. 2) Construct an addition to the east side of the existing building. The proposed addition is one story with a flat roof, cantilevered awning, undivided fixed windows, and stucco cladding. 3) Replace windows at the rear of the existing residence with single-hung 1:1 windows. 4) Add a skylight and roof extension at rear of existing building 5) Construct a plunge pool at rear. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story Craftsman bungalow with cross-gabled roof, exposed rafter tails, triangular knee braces, partial-width porch supported by tapered columns atop brick bases, horizontal wood siding, and 1:1 mulled and single wood windows. 502 East 42nd Street was built around 1925 for Joseph J. and Ethel B. Brown. J. J. Brown, a World War I veteran, moved to Austin in the early 1920s after working in Georgia as the president of the Cotton States Official Advisory Marketing Board and the state Commissioner of Agriculture. Brown was appointed assistant director of the Agricultural Education department of the Texas State Board of Education, then supervisor of the rehabilitation division. By the end of the 1930s, Brown had risen to director of the Vocational Rehabilitation Division of the T. E. A., a position he held until at least 1957. During his time as director, Brown advocated for increased state funding for disabled children’s education and expansion of the vocational rehabilitation program. His wife, Ethel Brown, was a musician who taught lessons at the family home and served as president of the Band Mothers’ Club at Austin High School. STANDARDS FOR REVIEW 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 at potential historic landmarks. The following standards apply to the proposed project: 1.1 Locate additions to the rear and sides of historic buildings to minimize visual impact. 1.2 Step back side additions from the front wall a distance that preserves the shape of the historic building from the primary street. 1.5 Minimize the loss of historic fabric by connecting additions to the existing building through the least possible invasive location and means. The proposed addition is located at the side and rear of the historic building. It is stepped back approximately half the length of the historic building. The proposed addition’s location requires removal of part of the side porch. 2.1 Design an addition to complement the scale and massing of the historic building, including height. The addition must appear subordinate to the historic building. 2.2 Minimize the appearance of the addition from the street faced by the historic building’s front wall. a. If the addition connects to the historic building’s rear wall, step in the addition’s side walls at least one foot (1’) from the side walls of the historic building. b. The historic building’s overall shape as viewed from the street must appear relatively unaltered. The addition is complementary to the scale and massing of the building, though it is visible from the street and alters the historic building’s overall shape. 3.1 Design additions to be compatible with and differentiated from the historic building, if they are visible from the street. a. Design proportions and patterns such as window-to-wall area ratios, floor-to-floor heights, fenestration patterns, and D.12 – 2 bay divisions to increase compatibility. b. Do not replicate the design or details of the existing building to a degree that the addition might be mistaken as historic. The proposed addition is appropriately differentiated by cladding and roof form, though its window-to-wall area ratios and fenestration patterns are not compatible with those of the historic house. 4.1 If an addition will be visible from a street on the front or side, design its roof form and slope to complement the roof on the historic building. 4.2 Use roof materials that match or have similar color, texture, and other visual qualities as the roof on the historic building. The proposed flat roof contrasts with the cross-gabled Craftsman roof form of the historic building. 5.1 If an addition will be visible from a street on the front or side, use exterior wall materials that are compatible with those on the historic building, as well as with the character of the district, in scale, type, material, size, finish, and texture. 5.2 Differentiate the exterior wall materials of the addition from those of the historic building. This could be accomplished by using different materials, using the same materials with different dimensions, or changing trim type or dimensions. While the proposed addition’s stucco cladding differentiates it from the historic building, it is less compatible than wood siding. 6.1 If an addition will be visible from a street on the front or side, use windows that are compatible with those on the existing building in terms of material, fenestration pattern, size, proportion, configuration, and profile. The proposed horizontal single windows and vertical mulled fixed windows are not compatible with the historic building’s existing windows. The project meets some applicable standards. STAFF COMMENTS Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it may meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The building is an example of the Craftsman style. b. Historical association. The property appears to have historical associations with Joseph J. Brown. c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. d. Community value. The property 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. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve the application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP D.12 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.12 – 4 Google Street View, 2021 D.12 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, April 2021 1959 Joe J. Brown, owner Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Director, State Education Agency Joseph J. and Ethel B. Brown, owners State Division, Vocational Rehabilitation Department Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Director, State Department of Education Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Director of vocational rehabilitation, State Department of Education Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Director, rehabilitation division, State Board of Vocational Education Joseph J. Brown, owner Director, vocational rehabilitation, State Board of Vocational Education Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Division director, State Department of Education Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Division director, State Education Department Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Director of Vocational Rehabilitation, State Department of Education Address not listed Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Supervisor, rehabilitation division State Board of Education Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Assistant director of Agriculture, State Department of Education Joseph J. and Ethel Brown, owners Assistant director, Agricultural Education Address not listed 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1929 1927 1924 Biographical Information D.12 – 6 The Statesman, Nov 24, 1918 and Jan 7, 1919 D.12 – 7 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Aug 23, 1925 The Austin American, Oct 3, 1926 and Oct 2, 1927 D.12 – 8 The Austin Statesman, Jun 11 and Aug 13, 1936 D.12 – 9 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Oct 25, 1939 The Austin American, Mar 24, 1940 The Austin American, Jan 25, 1942 D.12 – 10 The Austin American, Jun 4, 1944 and The Austin Statesman, Jun 29, 1945 D.12 – 11 Photos from family album, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35170734/joseph-j.-brown D.12 – 12 Photos from family album, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35170735/ethel-j.-brown Permits D.12 – 13