C.9.0 - 1617 Westover Rd — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS OCTOBER 25, 2021 HR-2021-144378 OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1617 WESTOVER ROAD C.9 – 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Construct new front and rear porches, second-story addition, and detached garage and carport. Replace front door. 1) Demolish existing partial-width front porch and replace with larger front porch. The proposed porch has a hipped roof clad in standing-seam metal and supported by painted wood columns. Decorative corbels are visible at eaves. Construct matching rear porch. 2) Replace front door with fully glazed door. 3) Construct second-story addition at south elevation. The proposed addition is constructed behind the ridgeline of the house and is clad in wood siding with a gabled shingle-clad roof to match existing. It features 4:4 and 6:6 divided-light windows. 4) Construct rear garage, carport, and driveway. The proposed structure is clad in fiber-cement horizontal siding with limestone accents and capped by a hipped, standing-seam metal roof with decorative corbels. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Two-story Colonial revival house clad in horizontal siding and capped with a side-gabled roof. It features 6:6 wood windows and a covered entryway with a gabled roof supported by boxed columns. The house at 1617 Westover Road was either moved onto the lot or constructed to replace an existing fire-damaged building in 1939, according to conflicting permit records and newspaper reports. Its first residents were Truett B. and Leone L. Marshall. Truett B. Marshall served as Austin’s tax assessor and collector for two multi-year terms: 1928 to 1947, and 1952 to 1963. By 1949, the Marshalls had sold the house to its next owner-occupants, the Nelsons. Dr. Ellis C. Nelson worked as a professor at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary and authored several books on religious instruction during his tenure there. 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 in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposed porch modification removes the original front porch and replaces it entirely. 5. Windows, Doors, and Screens The proposed modifications replace an unglazed front door with a fully glazed front door, which is less appropriate for the house’s era and style. 6. Porches The proposed porch modification does not retain the original porch’s dimensions or roofline and contains decorative corbels and exposed rafter tails, which are not appropriate for the house’s style. It appears to retain the original porch’s height and be constructed of compatible materials. Residential additions 1. Location The proposed second-floor addition is located to the rear of the main house alongside an existing addition. It preserves the C.9 – 2 shape of the primary house from the street and is appropriately set back at the main elevation. Though it is not set back at the secondary elevation, it will simplify the massing of the existing addition. 2. Scale, massing, and height The proposed addition is compatible in scale, massing, and height. It does not overwhelm the original structure. 3. Design and style The addition’s design, materials, and style are all compatible with the existing historic building and streetscape. It is appropriately differentiated by a “hyphen” at the secondary street frontage. 4. Roofs The proposed addition’s roof has similar massing, pitch, and materials as the existing roof, and does not appear to be visible from the street. 5. Exterior walls The proposed addition’s siding will match the existing siding. The limestone accents are less appropriate, but do not appear to be highly visible. 6. Windows, screens, and doors The proposed divided-light windows are appropriate in design and rhythm, complementing the existing windows’ materials, configuration, and placement. 7. Porches and decks The proposed first-floor back porch is mostly compatible with the historic building in terms of size, style, materials, and proportions; however, the decorative corbels and exposed rafter tails are not appropriate for the style of the house. 9. Attached garages and carports The proposed garage appears to be compatible in size, massing, proportions, style, and materials, and does not appear as though it was constructed simultaneously with the historic building. Summary The addition meets most of the applicable standards, while the front porch alterations do not meet the standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Old West Austin 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. Permit records indicate that it was moved onto the lot in 1939, but newspaper records suggest that it was rebuilt from an earlier structure. 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 does not appear to convey architectural significance. 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 Comment on and release the permit, encouraging the applicant to retain the existing front porch and choose a partially glazed front door. LOCATION MAP C.9 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos C.9 – 4 C.9 – 5 Application, 2021 Occupancy History City Directory Research, October 2021 Vacant Vacant 1959 1955 1952 1949 1944 1941 1939 C. Ellis and Nancy G. Nelson, owners Professor, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary C. Ellis and Nancy G. Nelson, owners Professor, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Truett B. and Leone Marshall, owners City tax assessor and collector Truett B. and Leone Marshall, owners City tax assessor and collector Truett B. and Leone Marshall, owners City tax assessor and collector 1937 Not listed Biographical Information The Austin American (1914-1973); Jan 29, 1939 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); May 31, 1949 C.9 – 6 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Nov 20, 1950; Dec 27, 1951; Oct 19, 1967 The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980); Sep 1, 1976 Permits C.9 – 7