D.7.0 - 303 W. 14th Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JULY 26, 2021 DA-2021-080245; GF-2021-103644 303 W. 14TH STREET D.7 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1925 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Front-gabled bungalow clad in wood siding, with a partial-width gabled porch with wood box columns. Wood elements characteristic of the Craftsman style include knee braces, brackets, and exposed rafter tails. The house has single and paired 1:1 wood windows. A second-story addition, constructed ca. 2003, is set back from the façade and has a similar design, materials, roof form and pitch, and decorative details as the house. The house at 303 W. 14th St. was built in the 1920s and initially occupied by a series of renters. Subsequently, its history is connected to neighboring properties at 1308 Lavaca and 301 W. 14th streets. Dale Laurin Elsner, Sr. (1909–1984) and Lula Mae Swenson Elsner (1913–1947) lived in the house around 1939–1941, during which time they operated D.L. Elsner’s Service Station at 1308 Lavaca St. This is believed to be an earlier service station on that tract, rather than the existing building that was constructed ca. 1950. John Marvin Davis, Sr. (1902–1987) and Eula Mae Davis (1905–1981) owned the house during the 1950s. John Davis was involved with two businesses. Raven Plumbing Company was founded by the 1920s and located at 1403 Lavaca St. John and his brother Irvin Davis were both employed as plumbers at Raven Company in 1930. John Davis took over ownership and operation of the business in 1941, by which time it had relocated to 1606 ½ Lavaca St. By 1949, he moved both his home and the business into this house. In the mid-1950s, John Davis took over another business, Davis Cash Grocery and Market. It was previously operated by Joseph A. Davis (1912–1990) and located at 1401 Lavaca St. John and Joseph Davis appear to be cousins. The commercial building next to the house at 301 W. 14th St. was completed ca. 1953, and the 1955 city directory lists it as Davis Cash Grocery and Market at that address, in association with John Davis’s name. There is not known to be any relation between this family or business and the Nelson Davis & Son wholesale grocery business. PROPERTY EVALUATION The Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association (HHM, Inc., 2020) lists the property as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its architecture but ineligible for designation as a historic landmark. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building has moderate integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it does not appear to meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of a Craftsman-style bungalow with compatible alterations. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have significant historical associations. 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 Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation over demolition, but release the permit upon 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. LOCATION MAP D.7 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.7 – 3 HHM, Inc., Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association, 2019 D.7 – 4 Note: Joe A. Davis of 1504 W. 31st Street is proprietor of Davis Cash Grocery and Market (1401 Lavaca Street) Note: John M. and Eula Davis lived at 802 W. Johanna St.; Raven Plumbing at 1606 ½ Lavaca St. Occupancy History City Directory Research, 2021 Raven Plumbing Co. John M. Davis, owner 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1929 John M. and Eula M. Davis, owners Raven Pluming (303 W. 14th Street) Davis Grocery & Market (301 W. 14th Street) John M. and Eula Davis Raven Plumbing (303 W. 14th Street) Davis Cash Grocery and Market (301 W. 14th Street) John M. and Yula M. Davis, owners Raven Plumbing (303 W. 14th Street) John M. and Eula Davis, owners Raven Plumbing (303 W. 14th Street) Janet Simpson, renter Occupation not listed Janet Simpson, renter Occupation not listed Dale L. and Lula M. Elsner, renters D.L. Elsner’s Service Station (1308 Lavaca Street) Dale L. and Lula M. Elsner, renters D.L. Elsner’s Service Station (1308 Lavaca Street) Thomas F. and Lula Justice, renters Traveler Thomas F. and Lula Justice, renters Traveler J. R. and Verna Griffin, renters Assistant actuary, State Board of Insurance Commissioners Lee and Lula Hawkins, renters Clerk, State Land Office 1927 Address not listed Biographical Information D.7 – 5 Obituary for Lula Elsner, The Austin Statesman, May 9, 1947 Advertisement for Raven Plumbing, The Austin Statesman, May 6, 1923 D.7 – 6 1930 Census, entry for John M. Davis The Austin Statesman, Nov. 3, 1968 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Source note: Sanborn Maps are from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/. D.7 – 7 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1935-1961, vol. 1, sheet 18 D.7 – 8 Permits Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1935, sheet 18 Sewer tap permit, 1948 D.7 – 9 Inspection for water tap permit, 1965 D.7 – 10 Water tap permit, 1965 D.7 – 11 Plan for second-story addition, 2003 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 112080 City Austin PROJECT # County Address SECTION 1 Basic Inventory 1760-Downtown Austin Travis 303 W 14 St Current Name N/A Historic Name N/A Owner Information: Name PALMER G J JR Address 303 W 14TH STREET State TX Appraisal District ID 199833 Property Type: Building Current Designations: Current Use: Residential Historic Use: Residential Images City AUSTIN Zip 78701 Geographic Location: Latitude: 30.276599099999999 Longitude: -97.742835700000001 Online map available by copying and pasting url below into web browser https://www.google.com/maps/place/30.276599099999999,-97.742835700000001 Legal Description (Lot/Block): LOT 2 BLK A OLD CITY SUBD Year Architect: Unknown or N/A Construction Date: ca. 1925 (source: City Directory, 1935 Sanborn) 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-218TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY FORM HHM ID 112080 City Austin PROJECT # County Address 1760-Downtown Austin Travis 303 W 14 St SECTION 2 Architectural Description General Architectural Description: The historic resource at 303 W 14 St is a one-story single-family house that was built in ca. 1925. The property was originally built for residential purposes and its use remains unchanged. Alterations/modifications Additions: Rear addition, Multiple additions ☐ Relocated, specify date, former location and information of interest: Classification Type Single-family house Plan Bungalow Stylistic Influence Craftsman Materials: Asphalt shingles Exterior material(s): Wood, Concrete Masonry Units Single door(s) primary entrance Physical Characteristics Form: Front-gabled Roof Wall Door(s) Primary Windows Double-hung Porches/Canopies Other exterior features Ancillary Buildings Landscape/Site Features Landscape feature(s): Fencing Partial width, Gable roof Porch feature(s): Wood box columns Appendix C | C-219TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY FORM PROJECT # County Address 1760-Downtown Austin Travis 303 W 14 St HHM ID 112080 City Austin SECTION 3 Historical Information Associated Historical Context: Occupant History: History Notes: 1920(22): Not listed; 1925(27): Hawkins, Lee (r); 1930: Hawkins, Lee; 1935: Justiss, T. F.; 1940: Elsner, Dale L.; 1945: Simpson, Janet; 1950(49): Davis, John M. (o) and Raven Plumbing; 1955(54): Davis, John M. (o) and Raven Plumbing; 1960(59)-1970: pending re-opening of AHC Applicable National Register (NR) Criteria: 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 Areas of Significance: Period(s) of Significance: Level of Significance: Integrity: D - Has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory of history Architecture 1925 Local Alterations compatible Individually eligible for NRHP Integrity notes: Recommendation: NRHP Evaluation: Aspects Retained: District Name: N/A Status in District: N/A Justification: Possesses integrity and significance Local Historic Evaluation: Recommendation: Not eligible for local designation District Name: N/A Status in District: N/A Justification: Prior Survey Documentation: Lacks significance Survey Name(s): HHM 1984 Survey: Site No: J-23-355; Est Date: 1920; Materials: frame; City Scan: CHBS 2018 - Survey Notes: Form: Residential/Detached/Duplex; Estimated Date: 1917; Style: Craftsman; Integrity Score: 3 end Appendix C | C-220