C.7.0 - 1412 Alameda Dr — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 HR-2021-134469; PR-2021-119932 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT 1412 ALAMEDA DRIVE C.7 – 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Partially demolish ca. 1932 contributing house; construct a two-story rear addition; and replace windows and siding. 1) Construction of a two-story rear addition. The addition will have a composition shingle roof, fiber-cement siding, and windows similar to those used on the house. 2) Replacement of front door. Replacement of original wood 1:1 windows and decorative screens with 6:1 windows of an unspecified material. Replacement of paired windows on the south elevation with a double door. 3) Replacement of original wood siding and trim with fiber-cement siding. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story Craftsman bungalow clad in horizontal wood siding. The front-gabled roof has a clipped gable with decorative brackets, and the partial-width porch has a round vent below the clipped gable. The porch roof is supported by tapered box columns atop partial height brick piers. Windows are single or groupings of two to three 1:1 sash with decorative screens. The front door has three vertical lights in the upper portion. The house at 1412 Alameda Dr. was constructed around 1932 and initially occupied by a series of renters. From at least 1947–1966, Homer G. and Lillian K. Monson owned the home. Homer Monson (1920–1996) sold used furniture; newspaper articles indicate he also managed and owned several ranches. He ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for Travis County Commissioner in 1966. Homer married Lillian Kastner in 1946. Lillian held a lengthy tenure at Austin National Bank, marking 15–20 years of employment in 1960. During that time, she advanced from a clerk to a supervisor. The couple built an addition on the rear of the house in 1952. 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 in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards 4. Exterior walls and trim 5. Windows, doors, and screens Standards in each of these sections emphasize retaining intact historic materials and pursuing selective replacement only when absolutely necessary due to deterioration. Standard 5.3.c provides for greater flexibility in window replacement on side and rear elevations not visible from the street. However, the proposed wholesale replacement of the historic front door, windows, siding, and trim does not meet these standards. Residential additions 1. Location The proposed addition is to the rear of the house and will not appreciably affect the view of the house from the street, per Standard 1.1. Standard 1.3.a indicates that additions that add a story to a historic building should be set back 15’ or more from the front wall, which the proposed design considerably exceeds. Construction will entail demolition of part of the rear wall and roof at the back of the house, leaving the front portion of the house intact per Standard 1.5. The project meets these standards. C.7 – 2 2. Scale, massing, and height While the addition does extend beyond the side wall of the house, it appears subordinate based on its placement. The historic building’s overall shape as viewed from the street remains relatively unaltered, per Standard 2.2.b. 3. Design and style While the addition takes its design cues from the historic house, the two-story height, window proportions, and other design elements serve to distinguish it as new construction, per Standard 3.1.b. 4. Roofs The roof pitch is comparable to that on the historic house, and roofing will be composition shingles to match. The project meets these standards. 5. Exterior walls The addition will be clad in fiber-cement siding. This is a compatible material, per Standard 5.1, but per Standard 5.2, is not differentiated due to the replacement of siding on the house to match. 6. Windows, screens, and doors The windows in the addition are compatible with the fenestration patterns of the historic house. However, they are not clearly differentiated due to the replacement of windows on the house to match. Summary The design of the proposed addition meets the standards, but replacement of original exterior materials on the house does not. The siding, trim, windows, and front door should be retained, particularly on the front and ideally also on side elevations where visible from the street. STAFF COMMENTS The house is contributing to the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register District. 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 does not meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of a Craftsman bungalow, with distinctive elements including clipped gables with decorative brackets, brick piers with tapered box columns at the porch, and decorative window screens. 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. COMMITTEE FEEDBACK Not reviewed. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Encourage retention of the original windows, door, siding, and trim on the façade, but comment on and release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package, consisting of 8 x 10” 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 C.7 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos C.7 – 4 Source: Applicant, 2021 C.7 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, August 2021 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 Homer G. and Lillian K. Monson, owners Friendly Furniture Homer G. and Lillian K. Monson, owners Homer – Monson Furniture & Appliance Lillian – Supervisor, Austin National Bank Homer G. and Lillian K. Monson, owners Homer – M & N Furniture Lillian – Clerk, Austin National Bank Homer G. and Lillian K. Monson, owners Homer – Manager, Used Furniture & Salvage Lillian – Clerk, Austin National Bank Homer G. and Lillian K. Monson, owners Homer – Occupation not listed Lillian – Clerk, Austin National Bank Homer G. Monson, owner Forman Anna Monson, renter Occupation not listed Elec Monson, renter Occupation not listed Emory Monson, renter Driver Loyal and Ruby Moore, renters Parts expert Mark S. and Nova Fraze, renters Occupation not listed Vacant Address not listed Address not listed Mark S. and Nova Fraze, renters Division chief, State Agricultural Department Historical Information C.7 – 6 The Austin Statesman, 3/14, 5/6, and 5/10/1966 C.7 – 7 The Austin Statesman, 12/27/1970 C.7 – 8 The Austin Statesman, 6/17/1960 Permits C.7 – 9 Building permit for addition, 1952 Water service permit, 1952