D.5.0 - 1308 Lavaca Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JULY 26, 2021 DA-2021-080264; GF-2021-103631 1308 LAVACA STREET D.5 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1940 building. ARCHITECTURE Mid-century Modern Magnolia/Mobilgas service station. The building form is a flat-roofed oblong box with a projecting canopy. Two pipe columns supporting the canopy rise from the platform for the gas pumps, which have been removed. The station is clad in stucco with five evenly spaced horizontal ribs extending to the header height. Near the top of the parapet, a continuous ribbed band wraps the building and canopy. The building has two overhead doors for automotive service bays; these have been replaced with modern doors. Storefront windows under the canopy wrap to the side of the building; while largely boarded over, they appear to be original to the building. RESEARCH The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) A Field Guide to Gas Stations in Texas, 2016 update, features this service station as a Magnolia/Mobilgas station of the type built in 1940–1950. Multiple gas stations constructed in the 1930s to 1950s featured a canopy with horizontal banding extending around the parapet, including those built for Conoco and Texaco. This station is distinguished by other characteristics of its design, including use of stucco cladding with evenly spaced ribbing, rather than enameled metal panels. The construction date of the building is estimated. A prior Magnolia gas station on this site was constructed ca. 1920 based on city directory research. It was a filling station, situated diagonally to address the intersection of Lavaca and W. 14th streets, as shown on a 1935 Sanborn map. This larger service station was built by the time the map was updated in 1961. Between 1920 and 1935, city directories list a Magnolia Petroleum Company station; beginning in 1937, accompanying a change in management, it is noted as D.L. Elsner’s Service Station. This name change may also mark the shift in function from a gas station to a service station with construction of the current building, but the date is earlier than the range indicated for this station design in TxDOT’s field guide. There is a new water service permit for the address in 1939. Dale Laurin Elsner, Sr. (1909–1984) operated D.L. Elsner’s Service Station from 1937–1944. Previously, Elsner had worked as an attendant at another Magnolia gas station. For a couple of years while operating this station, he rented the neighboring house at 303 W. 14th St. Subsequently, the station went through multiple changes of management: Alton C. Ayers operated Ayers Brothers filling station in 1947, Leon A. Metcalf operated Metcalf Service Station in 1949, and Tom P. Coppedge operated Coppedge Service Company filling station in 1952. From 1955–1970 or later, Don E. Harris ran Don’s Mobilgas Filling Station. PROPERTY EVALUATION The Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association (HHM, Inc., 2020) lists the property as individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and designation as a historic landmark. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building retains a high degree of integrity. Replacement of the overhead doors is considered a minimal modification in TxDOT’s field guide. The windows are boarded, but the visible upper portion retains the same configuration as shown in historic gas stations of this type. 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 excellent example of a midcentury gas station with a distinctive design associated with Magnolia/Mobilgas stations. The HHM survey documented multiple gas and service stations in the west downtown area, but no others retain integrity or have architectural significance sufficient to be recommended for designation. Outside of the survey area, other noteworthy gas stations in central Austin D.5 – 2 include the former Conoco station at 1500 San Jacinto Blvd. (Megabus) and the former Texaco station at 1211 West Lynn St. (Sledd Nursery). Each are architecturally distinctive and significant in their own right. b. Historical association. The HHM survey indicates the service station is significant in the areas of community planning and development and transportation, representing broad patterns of history. In central Austin, it is a rare surviving example of a once more ubiquitous property type; within the original city plan, it is the last remaining gas or service station that could be designated as a landmark. 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. Preservation Texas named historic gas stations statewide to their 2017 Texas’ Most Endangered Places list. Austin currently has no gas or service stations designated as historic landmarks. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Consider initiation of historic zoning. Should the Commission instead choose to release the demolition permit, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then require completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package, consisting of 8.5 x 11” photographs of all elevations printed on photographic paper, a dimensioned sketch plan, and a narrative history for archiving at the Austin History Center, prior to release of the permit. LOCATION MAP D.5 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.5 – 4 HHM, Inc., Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association, 2019 D.5 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, 2021 Don’s Mobilgas Station 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1930 1929 1927 1924 1922 1920 1918 Don’s Mobilgas Station Donald E. Harris, operator; residence at 1232 Broadmoor Dr. Don’s Mobilgas Filling Station Don E. Harris, residence at 1802 Enfield Rd. Coppedge Service Co. filling station Tom P. Coppedge, residence at 1300 Alegria Ave. Metcalf Service Station Leon A. Metcalf, residence at 5207 Duval St. Ayers Bros. filling station Alton C. Ayers, residence at 305a Deep Eddy Apartments D.L. Elsner’s Service Station Dale L. Elsner, residence at 3410 Hollywood Ave. D.L. Elsner’s Service Station Dale L. Elsner, residence at 303 W. 14th St. D.L. Elsner’s Service Station Dale L. Elsner, residence at 303 W. 14th St. D.L. Elsner’s Service Station Dale L. Elsner, residence at 1604 Navasota St. 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 57 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 57 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 57 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 57 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 104 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 2 1306: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 2 1306: Vacant 1308: Auto Paint Shop 1310: Vacant Note: Addresses correspond to three stores shown at this corner on 1900 Sanborn map. 1312: Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 57 Note: Dale Elsner was an attendant at Magnolia Petroleum Co. Station No. 786 at 211 E. 16th St. Historical Information D.5 – 6 Portion of ad showing Elsner’s Magnolia Station, The Austin Statesman, Jan. 7, 1941 Austin City Directory listing for D.L. Elsner’s Service Station, 1944 D.5 – 7 The Austin Statesman, May 13, 1960 D.5 – 8 The Austin Statesman, Sept. 21, 1969 D.5 – 9 The Austin Statesman, Nov. 7, 1970 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Source note: Sanborn Maps are from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/. D.5 – 10 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1935-1961, vol. 1, sheet 18 D.5 – 11 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1935, sheet 18. Note prior filling station at this location. Permits D.5 – 12 Water tap permit, 1939 Texas DeparTmenT of TransporTaTion environmental affairs Division, Historical studies Branch Historical studies report no. 2003-03 a field Guide to Gas stations in Texas By W. Dwayne Jones 2016 Update By David W. moore, Jr. and shonda mace Magnolia (Mobilgas) 1940 – 1950 Form: Oblong Box with or without Canopy Identifying Features: • Flat roof with horizontal band in parapet • Stucco or porcelain enamel finish • Canopy, if present, is flush with roofline and extends from office • Canopy has rounded corners • Narrow metal poles support canopy • Service bays extend on side of office • Centrally located single-door entry with transom • Large fixed-glass windows that extend to side present a glass wall effect • Evenly spaced ribbing in brickwork across front and sides • Three red and white bands extend around the roofline and canopy • Modern style Figure 6-14. During the 1940s, many Magnolia stations adopted the oblong box form with or without a canopy, such as this station once located in the Fort Worth area. With Canopy Without Canopy 6-8 Magnolia / Mobil c. 1940 – c. 1950 4 1 5 2 3 1 4 5 3 2 Figure 10-39. Constructed c. 1940; located at 1308 Lavaca Street, Austin, Travis County. Long, low horizontal emphasis and minimal amounts of detailing suggestive of Modern-style influences. 1. Canopy with rounded corners 2. Narrow metal poles, continued to 1970 3. Large fixed-glass windows present a glass wall effect 4. Evenly spaced ribbing in brickwork across front and sides 5. Red and white bands along roofline and canopy Alterations: Service bay doors replaced, painted exterior finish, pumps removed, some windows and rear bathroom door boarded. Figure 10-38. Construction date and location unknown. Clean, crisp lines and prominent rounded corner suggests Modern stylistic influences. 1. White porcelain enamel exterior finish 2. Large drum-like storefront with curved windows and transoms 3. Ocular windows on either side of storefront bay 4. Red accent trim used as company branding 5. Pegasus logo on front parapet Alterations: None. 10-21 Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association June 26, 2020 Prepared for Old Austin Neighborhood Association Prepared by HHM & Associates, Inc. Austin, Texas TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY FORM HHM ID 112117 City Austin PROJECT # County Address SECTION 1 Basic Inventory 1760-Downtown Austin Travis 1308 Lavaca St Current Name N/A Historic Name MAGNOLIA GAS STATION Owner Information: Name PHARR PARADISE PARK LLC Address 303 W 14TH ST State TX City AUSTIN Zip 78701 Geographic Location: Latitude: 30.276531800000001 Longitude: -97.742567699999995 Online map available by copying and pasting url below into web browser https://www.google.com/maps/place/30.276531800000001,-97.742567699999995 Legal Description (Lot/Block): N57.52 OF LOT 7 & N 57.53 OF E 29' OF LOT 8 BLOCK 157 ORIGINAL CITY Year Appraisal District ID 199826 Property Type: Building Current Designations: Current Use: Commercial Historic Use: Commercial Images Architect: Unknown or N/A Construction Date: 1950 (source: TxDOT Gas Station Guide; Sanborns from 1935 & 1962) Function Builder: Unknown or N/A Recorded by: HHM & Associates, Inc., Austin, Texas Date Recorded: Thu, 21 Nov 2019 To view hi-res image: click here To view hi-res image: click here Appendix C | C-304TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY FORM HHM ID 112117 City Austin PROJECT # County Address 1760-Downtown Austin Travis 1308 Lavaca St SECTION 2 Architectural Description General Architectural Description: The historic resource at 1308 Lavaca St is a one-story auto sales/service building that was built in 1950. The property was originally built for commercial purposes and its use remains unchanged. Alterations/modifications Alterations: Windows boarded, Doors replaced ☐ Relocated, specify date, former location and information of interest: Classification Type Auto Sales/Service Plan Box with Canopy Stylistic Influence Mid-century Modern Materials: Not visible Exterior material(s): Brick, Stucco Single door(s) primary entrance, Garage Doors Physical Characteristics Form: Flat Roof Wall Door(s) Primary Windows Fixed, Boarded Porches/Canopies Other exterior features Ancillary Buildings Landscape/Site Features Appendix C | C-305TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY FORM HHM ID 112117 City Austin PROJECT # County Address 1760-Downtown Austin Travis 1308 Lavaca St SECTION 3 Historical Information Associated Historical Context: Occupant History: History Notes: Applicable National Register (NR) Criteria: A, C A - Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad pattern of our history B - Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past C - Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic value, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinctions D - Has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory of history Areas of Significance: Period(s) of Significance: Level of Significance: Integrity: NRHP Evaluation: Community Planning and Development, Transportation 1950-1970 Local Alterations compatible Individually eligible for NRHP Aspects Retained: Integrity notes: Recommendation: District Name: N/A Status in District: N/A Justification: Possesses integrity and significance Local Historic Evaluation: Recommendation: Local landmark District Name: N/A Status in District: N/A Justification: Possesses integrity and significance Prior Survey Documentation: Survey Name(s): N/A Survey Notes: end Appendix C | C-306