C.4.0 - 1505 Travis Heights Blvd - Updated — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS OCTOBER 25, 2021 HR-2021-126308 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1505 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD C.4 – 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Partially demolish contributing residence and construct a second-story addition; convert crawlspace into basement. 1) Construct a side-gabled second-story addition, with the slope of the gable beginning at the front wall of the house. The addition will be clad in fiber cement siding. Add rear balcony with metal guardrails, creating a flat-roofed rear porch below. Install metal roofing over the existing roof and addition. 2) Retain character-defining features of the front porch, including the original porch gable with brackets and gable vent, box columns and masonry piers, and wood handrails. Reconstruct previously demolished cheek walls and add built-in steel planters in front of porch. 3) Retain original horizontal wood siding. 4) Remove and replace original 1:1 wood windows and screens with aluminum-clad wood windows in existing openings, to match, for the façade and front 1/3 of the side elevations. Windows in new openings, or of different size and configuration will be used at the rest of the house and addition. 5) Remove original wood front door and replace with aluminum-clad door to match. 6) Convert crawlspace into basement: construct rear deck and access stairs. Construct basement-level patio. The proposed basement walk-out is stucco, with sliding glass doors and horizontal metal handrails at stairs. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH DESIGN STANDARDS One-story Craftsman bungalow with gabled roof, horizontal wood siding, mulled 1:1 wood windows, and a full-width porch supported by boxed columns on brick piers. Intact decorative details include deep eaves with exposed rafter tails and brackets at the gable end. The house at 1505 Travis Heights Boulevard was built for Fred and Julia C. Penick before 1924. Fred Penick was a bank teller, cashier, and clerk at the American National Bank for most of his career. Julia Penick, active in various community- building and youth enrichment programs, ran a summer camp with her older children. Penick had previously been employed as a camp employee at Yosemite National Park. 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 project has been revised to retain most intact historic material on the building’s façade and side elevations. 2. Foundations The original building skirt, steps, and masonry cheek walls appear to have been removed without Historic Preservation Office review in 2020 during express-permitted foundation repair work. The project entails reconstructing the cheek walls and covering the modern foundation skirting with steel planters. 3. Roofs The proposed project retains the original roof form at the front of the house. While a shingle roof is the most appropriate option for replacement material, the proposed project’s metal roof is allowed by the design standards. 4. Exterior walls and trim The proposed project retains historic-age horizontal wood siding. C.4 – 2 5. Windows, doors, and screens The proposed project removes all historic-age windows, doors, and screens. The proposed replacement windows on the façade and front 1/3 of the side elevations will be aluminum-clad wood within the existing openings, to match the historic windows in configuration, size, and appearance. The proposed front door replacement will be within the existing opening and will match the design of the historic front door. 6. Porches The proposed project retains historic-age porch piers, columns, railings, and other features. Residential additions 1. Location 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. While the gabled roof of the proposed second-story addition begins at the front wall, its peak is at the midpoint of the house, behind which a shed-roofed dormer expands the usable area to the rear. The visual impact for the first 15’ will not be significant. Construction will entail other modifications to the rear of the house that will not be visible from the street. 2. Scale, massing, and height The scale of the side-gabled addition is similar to that of the historic front-facing gable. The historic building’s overall shape as viewed from the street will remain relatively unaltered, per Standard 2.2.b. 3. Design and style Modifications at the rear of the house will take a more modern design approach that will differentiate them from historic features to be retained at the front of the house. 4. Roofs The roof pitch of the side-gabled addition is comparable to that on the historic house. 5. Exterior walls The addition will be clad in fiber-cement siding of a similar profile and exposure to the retained siding on the house. The new siding will be differentiated but compatible with the historic siding. Summary The project largely meets the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic 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 the Craftsman style. 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 Retain as many character-defining features as possible, including siding, gable vents, wood windows, piers, columns, and railings. Consider alternatives to raised roof ridge. Push back addition as much as possible from front of house. The applicant has made significant design revisions, including retaining the character-defining features of the front porch, including the original porch gable with brackets and gable vent, box columns and masonry piers, and wood handrails. Original wood siding will also be retained on the front and sides of the house. The front door and all windows will be replaced but will match the original design on the façade and front 1/3 of the side elevations. C.4 – 3 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Comment on plans and release the permit. LOCATION MAP C.4 – 4 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos C.4 – 5 Google Street View, 2020 Application, 2021 C.4 – 6 Zillow.com, undated Occupancy History City Directory Research, August 2021 C.4 – 7 Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, The American National Bank Examiner, State Highway Department Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, The American National Bank Examiner, State Highway Department Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, American National Bank Saleswoman, Mathis Flower Shop Philip H. Sharnquist, renter Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Assistant cashier, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia C. Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Joyce Penick, renter Student, University of Texas Fred M. and Julia C. Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Manager, cafeteria, Fulmore School Fred M. and Julia C. Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Manager, cafeteria, Fulmore School Fred M. and Julia C. Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Manager cafeteria Fulmore School Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Teller, American National Bank Fred M. and Julia Penick, owners Clerk, American National Bank 1922 Address not listed 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1929 1927 1924 Biographical Information C.4 – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); May 12, 1940 and The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980); Oct 15, 1977  Permits C.4 – 9 Sewer Connection Permit and Water Service Permit, 1931 Building Permit, 1941