D.1.0 - 1308 Alta Vista Ave — original pdf

Backup

HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JULY 26, 2021 PR-2021-079768; GF-2021-086716 1308 ALTA VISTA AVENUE D.1 – 1 PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Partially demolish and modify a ca. 1935 residence by altering the existing roofline to construct a roof deck; removing and adding windows and doors with fiberglass, wood, and vinyl units; repairing siding; and enclosing walkway and porte- cochère with storefront assemblies. Two-story Colonial Revival house clad in brick with 6:6 wood windows, full-width front porch with flat and gabled roof supported by boxed columns, recessed entryway with decorative pilasters, and arched porte-cochère. The house at 1308 Alta Vista Avenue was constructed in or before 1935 by Alden and Mabel Davis. Alden Davis was a businessman who managed the auto supply division at the Walter Tips Company, eventually becoming a member of the board of directors and vice-president of the enterprise. His wife, Mabel Davis, was a civic leader who founded, led, and participated in many charitable and educational endeavors throughout her long tenure in the home. Best known for her enthusiasm for gardening, Davis helped to found and manage Austin’s garden club circuit, opening her home to club members for events and regular meetings from the time it was constructed until her death. She served as Texas’ state chairman for roadside beautification and as a member of the Parks board, along with other positions of honor. The rose garden at Zilker Botanical Gardens is named for Davis, in honor of her contributions as chairman and founder of the Austin Area Garden Center, Inc. In her joint role as chairman of the Botanical Garden’s building committee, she worked with City Council and local architect Hugo Kuehne to construct the Austin Area Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Gardens. According to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy: [In 1954,] six Austin Garden Clubs requested permission from the City to erect a Garden Center on city property. Mrs. Mabel Davis lead the effort with founding clubs including the Violet Crown Garden Club, the Men’s Garden Club (now the Garden Club of Austin), Wilshire Area Garden Club, the Austin Women’s Federation Garden Group (now The Garden G.A.N.G.), Heart of the Hills Garden Club, and Western Hills Garden Club (now West Lake Hills Garden Club). [In 1955,] The City of Austin accepted the idea and in April of 1956, the group filed articles of incorporation with the Texas Secretary of State. The Austin Area Garden Center was born and worked to bring a building to Zilker Park to serve as the garden center for club activities, community education, and volunteer efforts. (Source: https://zilkergarden.org/who-are- we-history/) As the executive secretary for the Red Cross, Davis led the charge for volunteer nurses during World War II. In 1960, she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Travis County Medical Auxiliary. In 1961, the Austin Board of Real Estate named her the city’s “Most Worthy Citizen” for her service and leadership in numerous health-related boards, drives, and charitable causes, including a stint as state chairman of the American Cancer Society. In addition to ecological and health-related causes, Davis was a patron of the arts. As president of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs, she worked with the Municipal Art Guild to arrange exhibits for the public and chapter members; her support of art and artists led the Austin American-Statesman to select her as the year’s “Outstanding Contributor to Art” in 1962. DESIGN STANDARDS 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: D.1 – 2 Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposed project retains street-facing windows previously proposed for replacement with doors. A stained-glass window on a secondary façade slated for replacement is not original to the house. The project proposes removal and replacement of porch handrail and rear deck guardrails. Repairs and in-kind replacement are proposed for deteriorated exterior cladding. 3. Roofs The application proposes that all new roof materials match existing shingle roof. Most character-defined features are retained, though the pitch will be modified to accommodate the roof deck and added hipped structure. These modifications occur at the rear of the property, in the location of prior additions. 4. Exterior walls and trim Repairs and in-kind replacement are proposed for deteriorated exterior cladding. 5. Windows, doors, and screens The project no longer proposes removal of two street-facing windows for insertion of new double doors. As noted above, the stained-glass window to be replaced is not original to the house. 8. Attached garages and carports The proposed project encloses the existing porte-cochère and south walkway with a glass and steel storefront. While this is a modern intervention that infills a significant historic feature, the use of glass maintains a sense of openness to the porte- cochère. Summary Based on design revisions and additional clarification, the project meets most of the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALIATION The property contributes to the pending Travis Heights-Fairview National Register Historic District. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate integrity. The 1961 Sanborn fire insurance map shows a reduced front porch; expansion may have occurred during or after the home’s period of significance. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it may meet three criteria: a. Architecture. The building displays Colonial Revival stylistic influences. b. Historical association. The property is associated with civic leader Mabel L. Davis. 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 appear to 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. While staff has been unable to obtain additional research in this area, the property may possess significant designed landscape features in connection with owner Mabel L. Davis. COMMITTEE FEEDBACK Committee members acknowledged the extent to which the house had been modified by prior additions. To keep the façade intact, the original windows at the porch should be retained in lieu of the proposed French doors. The design has been updated to retain the windows. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP D.1 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.1 – 4 D.1 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, June 2021 Mabel L. Davis, owner Alden T. and Mable Davis, owners Alden T. and Mable Davis, owners Alden T. and Mable Davis, owners Executive vice-president, Walter Tips Co. Inc. (Northwest corner of W 2nd and Colorado) Alden T. and Mable Davis, owners Vice-president, Walter Tips Co. Inc. (Northwest corner of W 2nd and Colorado) Alden T. and Mable Davis, owners Vice-president, Walter Tips Co. Inc. (Northwest corner of W 2nd and Colorado) 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 Alden T. and Mabel L. Davis, renters Secretary, Walter Tips co. Inc. Alden T. and Mabel L. Davis, owners Department head, Walter Tips Co. Alden T. and Mabel Davis, owners Purchasing agent, Walter Tips Co. Alden and Mabel Davis, owners Department manager, Walter Tips Co. Vacant Address not listed Biographical Information D.1 – 6 The Statesman (1916-1921); Oct 6, 1920 and The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Mar 2, 1928 The Austin American (1914-1973); Mar 4, 1928 D.1 – 7 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Apr 23, 1928 and Jun 28, 1932 D.1 – 8 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jul 11, 1938 The Austin American (1914-1973); Sep 25, 1938 D.1 – 9 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Apr 26, 1939 The Austin American (1914-1973); Apr 30, 1939 D.1 – 10 The Austin American (1914-1973); Aug 24, 1941 D.1 – 11 The Austin American (1914-1973); Oct 12, 1941 D.1 – 12 The Austin American (1914-1973); Feb 6, 1944 D.1 – 13 The Austin American (1914-1973); Jan 14, 1945; The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jun 3, 1946 D.1 – 14 D.1 – 15 The Austin American (1914-1973); Oct 13, 1946 D.1 – 16 The Austin American (1914-1973); Dec 21, 1947 D.1 – 17 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); May 26, 1948 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Oct 1, 1948 D.1 – 18 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Dec 17, 1952 D.1 – 19 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Nov 13, 1953 The Austin American (1914-1973); Jan 3, 1954 D.1 – 20 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Dec 8, 1954 D.1 – 21 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jan 3, 1955 D.1 – 22 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jan 3, 1955  D.1 – 23 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jan 14, 1957; The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jan 15, 1957 The Austin American (1914-1973); Jan 26, 1958 and Feb 2, 1958 D.1 – 24 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Apr 14, 1958 and The Austin American (1914-1973); Oct 26, 1958 D.1 – 25 The Austin American (1914-1973); Mar 29, 1959 D.1 – 26 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jul 16, 1960 D.1 – 27 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Feb 7, 1961 and The Austin American (1914-1973); Feb 19, 1961 The Austin American (1914-1973); Jan 14, 1962 and Dec 2, 1962 D.1 – 28 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jun 24, 1963 D.1 – 29 D.1 – 30 The Austin American (1914-1973); Jan 2, 1966 D.1 – 31 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Oct 3, 1966 D.1 – 32 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Mar 8, 1967 7 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Mar 20, 1967 D.1 – 33 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Apr 17, 1968 D.1 – 34 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Dec 8, 1968 D.1 – 35 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jun 17, 1970 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); May 31, 1971 D.1 – 36 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Feb 20, 1972 and “Edwin Lasater Battled Misfortune Establishing Dairy Cattle Empire Purcell, S M” in The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Sep 17, 1972 D.1 – 37 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Apr 27, 1973 (1921-1973); May 10, 1973 D.1 – 38 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); May 9, 1973 D.1 – 39 The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980); Jan 25, 1976 The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980); May 6, 1978 Maps Permits 1961 Sanborn map D.1 – 40 D.1 – 41