C.5.0 - 1412 Alameda Dr — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS OCTOBER 25, 2021 HR-2021-134469; PR-2021-119932 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT 1412 ALAMEDA DRIVE C.5 – 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Partially demolish ca. 1932 contributing house; construct a two-story rear addition; and replace windows on side elevations. 1) Construction of a two-story rear addition. The addition will have a composition shingle roof, painted wood siding, and windows similar to those used on the house. 2) Retention of character-defining features on the façade, including wood windows and screens, the street-facing front door, and attic vent and decorative brackets at the gable ends. Removal and storage of a second, side-facing door from the front porch. Retention of wood siding. 3) Replacement of original wood 1:1 windows and decorative screens with 6:1 windows on side elevations. Replacement of paired windows on the south elevation with a double door. 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. The applicant has revised the plans to retain character-defining features on the front of the house and retain wood siding on the front and side elevations. While replacement windows and new doors on the side elevations will be somewhat visible from the street, the design changes represent a reasonable compromise that largely meets 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 C.5 – 2 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. 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 wood siding to match the retained siding on the house. This is a compatible material, per Standard 5.1, but per Standard 5.2, is not differentiated from the historic house. Other aspects of the addition’s design provide differentiation, as noted above. 6. Windows, screens, and doors The windows in the addition are compatible with the fenestration patterns of the historic house. Summary The project largely meets the applicable standards. 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 The Architectural Review Committee provided comments on the project on October 11, 2021. The committee recommended retaining historic windows and installing interior storms to address noise concerns. Committee members also recommended retaining or at least storing the second door from the porch. The applicant clarified that the concrete porch, gable vent, and brackets would be retained. Revised plans for the project entail retention of additional character-defining features on the façade, in response to committee feedback. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Release the permit. LOCATION MAP C.5 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos C.5 – 4 Source: Applicant, 2021 C.5 – 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.5 – 6 The Austin Statesman, 3/14, 5/6, and 5/10/1966 C.5 – 7 The Austin Statesman, 12/27/1970 C.5 – 8 The Austin Statesman, 6/17/1960 Permits C.5 – 9 Building permit for addition, 1952 Water service permit, 1952