D.2.0 - 3506 Duval St — original pdf
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D.2 – 1 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS NOVEMBER 15, 2021 PR-2021-151456 3506 DUVAL STREET PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Partially demolish a ca. 1934 house and construct a second-story and rear addition. Enlarge the house to the rear. 2) Reopen screened front porch. 3) Replace existing horizontal siding with fiber-cement siding. 4) Replace existing windows with new aluminum-clad wood windows. 5) Install a new composition shingle roof. ARCHITECTURE 1) Enlarge the habitable second story by increasing the height of front- and side-facing gables (east and south elevations). One-and-one-half-story, cross-gabled bungalow with Tudor Revival stylistic influences. Most of the house is clad in horizontal wood siding. The partial-width porch has a wood-clad gable supported by brick piers, with an inset gabled brick frontispiece with an arched opening. The porch has been screened in. Windows are single or groupings of up to three 1:1 sash. It appears that all windows were previously replaced with vinyl sash, though most windows are concealed by dark screens. The house has one-story rear additions and infill at a side elevation. RESEARCH The house at 3506 Duval St. was designed by acclaimed architect Roy Thomas for Dr. C. M. Montgomery, and original plans for the residence are part of the Roy L. Thomas collection at the Alexander Architectural Archives. This 1934 house may have replaced or enlarged an earlier residence on the lot. City directories list it as the home of Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery beginning in 1932, and water and sewer permits were issued to Dr. Montgomery in 1930. Dr. Clifford Montgomery (1891–1947) was a professor of Romance languages at the University of Texas beginning in 1920. His specialization was in Spanish literature. Myra Montgomery (1891–1976) was superintendent of the children’s division of the University Methodist Church for 15 years and taught at St. Elmo and Maplewood elementary schools. She served as president of the Austin Classroom Teachers Association from 1952 through 1954 and as the organization’s parliamentarian in 1961. 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: Repair and alterations 4. Exterior walls and trim Standard 4.1 calls for repair rather than replacement of historic wall materials. The project entails replacement of existing siding across the house and addition. 5. Windows, doors, and screens The windows were previously replaced with vinyl windows. Standard 5.8 indicates that if historic windows are missing, new units should be based on historic documentation, if available. Generally speaking, aluminum-clad wood offers a closer appearance to historic wood windows than vinyl does. Review of the original plans in the Roy Thomas collection at the Alexander Architectural Archives would verify whether the original windows were 1:1 in configuration. 6. Porches Standard 6.4 encourages maintaining the open nature of front porches. The project will remove the existing screened enclosure and restore the porch’s open configuration. D.2 – 2 Residential additions 1. Location 2. Scale, massing, and height These standards discuss locating additions to the back of a house and avoiding alterations that are highly visible from the street. The proposed project enlarges the habitable second story by increasing the height of the front- and adjacent side- facing gables, altering the overall design and proportions of the front (east) and side (south) elevations. The design could be revised to meet the standards, with attention to Standard 1.3: when adding a story to a historic building, it should be set back from the façade and behind the ridgeline of a side- or cross-gabled roof. While this project enlarges an existing habitable attic rather than adding a full story, the same principles apply. Staff recommends maintaining the existing ceiling height and roofline of the front- and side-facing gables, with taller second-story areas beginning behind the ridgeline of the side-gabled portion of the house. 3. Design and style 5. Exterior walls Additions should be differentiated but compatible with the historic building, per Standard 3.1. The proposed addition reclads and reconfigures the house in a way that does not differentiate old from new. Standards 5.1 and 5.2 indicate that exterior wall materials for additions should be differentiated but compatible with those on the historic building. While the proposed horizontal lap siding on the additions is compatible, siding on the house will also be replaced to match. 4. Roofs The house will be reroofed with composition shingles. While the new front- and side-facing gables will mimic the original roof pitch, the increased height alters the overall appearance and proportions of the house, as previously noted. For modifications at the rear of the house, the roof pitch and form are compatible. 6. Windows, screens, and doors Added windows include some with different design and operation (such as casements), but they are of similar proportions to those of the existing house. Summary While the project maintains some aspects of the original design and restores the porch, modifications to the roofline and wholesale replacement of siding do not meet the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The Historic Building Survey Report for North Central Austin: West Campus, North University, Heritage, Bryker Woods, and North Hyde Park (HHM, Inc., 2021) lists the property as contributing to a potential North University Historic District, recommended as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and as a local historic district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain a moderate degree of integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (Land Development Code §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it does not appear to meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The house is a good example of a Tudor Revival-style bungalow designed by architect Roy Thomas but has modifications, including installation of vinyl windows and prior additions including a finished attic level and side and rear additions. b. Historical association. The house has a longstanding association Dr. C. M. and Myra Montgomery, both educators. While of interest, the family does not appear to have had a lasting impact on Austin’s history. 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. D.2 – 3 COMMITTEE FEEDBACK At the October 25, 2021 meeting, the Commission postponed the case to November 15th and invited the applicant to attend the November 1st Architectural Review Committee meeting to discuss the staff recommendation: to consider design changes to reduce the impact on the house, namely retaining the existing front- and side-facing gables and increasing the height of the roof only behind the central ridgeline. After discussion, committee members acknowledged the overall sensitivity of the proposal and efforts to make the enlarged gables as similar as possible to the original design; members offered no further feedback. Committee members recommend release of the permit. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP D.2 – 4 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.2 – 5 Zillow.com, no date HHM, Inc., Historic Building Survey Report for North Central Austin, 2019 D.2 – 6 Occupancy History City Directory Research, Historic Preservation Office, 2021 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 Myra Montgomery, owner (widow C.M.) Teacher, Maplewood Elementary School Myra Montgomery, owner (widow C.M.) Teacher, Public School Myra Montgomery, owner (widow C.M.) Teacher, Maplewood Elementary School Myra Montgomery, owner Teacher, Public School Clifford M. Montgomery, owner Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery, owners Instructor at the University of Texas Clifford M. Montgomery, owner Page unavailable Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery, owners Professor the University of Texas Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery, owners Professor at the University of Texas Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery, owners Professor at the University of Texas Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery, owners Professor at the University of Texas Clifford M. and Myra Montgomery, owners Professor at the University of Texas 1929 Address not listed Historical Information D.2 – 7 Excerpt describing the house at 3506 Duval St., The Austin American, 9/2/1934 D.2 – 8 The Austin Statesman, 3/25/1947 The Austin American, 9/30/1951 D.2 – 9 The Austin American, 6/1/1952 The Austin Statesman, 3/2/1954 D.2 – 10 Excerpt from The Austin Statesman, 5/26/1961 Death notice for Myra Montgomery, Austin American-Statesman, 7/6/1976 Permits D.2 – 11 Sewer Service Permit, 1930 D.2 – 12 Water Service Permit, 1930 D.2 – 13 Water Service Permit, 1934 D.2 – 14 Repair Permit, 1980 10/20/21, 2:10 PM Roy L. Thomas collection Main Version | Raw XML File (948k) Roy L. Thomas collection Collection Summary Creator Title: Dates: Abstract Thomas, Roy L., 1886-1968 Roy L. Thomas collection 1910-1966 Architect Roy L. Thomas (1886-1968) practiced in Austin and Central Texas from the 1920s through the 1950s. The scope of his work covers many building types, including homes, schools, churches, commercial buildings, apartments and service stations. Correspondence, office files, financial records, job files, specifications, floor plans, photographs, maps, and drawings document the career of Austin architect. RT 1983021; 1987012; 1987019 10,000 drawings, 38.75 linear feet of manuscript material, and 202 photographs and negatives Materials are in English. Alexander Architectural Archives, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. Identification: Quantity: Language: Repository: Biographical Sketch of Roy L. Thomas Roy L. Thomas designed a number of important Austin buildings from the 1920s through the 1950s. The scope of his work covers many building types: homes, schools, churches, commercial buildings, apartments and service stations. Thomas was born in San Marcos, attended Southwestern University in Georgetown in 1905, and enrolled in the school of engineering at the University of Texas in 1906. He left UT in 1908 and spent a year in San Marcos as a construction superintendent. In 1909 Thomas took a job as a draftsman with Endress and Walsh, Austin, and worked on the firm's behalf in San Benito. In 1911 he opened his own practice in the Scarbrough Building. He served during World War I as an architectural draftsman for the Department of Public Works in the Key West naval yards. In 1919 he returned to Austin and in 1933 he established a permanent office at his home, 2812 Hemphill Park. He was president of the Hill Country Chapter American Institute of Architects in 1935. https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utaaa/00015/00015-P.html 1/172 10/20/21, 2:10 PM Roy L. Thomas collection During World War II he supervised construction of a magnesium plant for the International Mineral & Chemical Corp. In 1944 he organized a partnership with his son, William, back from military duty. They practiced together through the 1950s. William died in 1967; Roy, a year later. One of the more memorable designs produced by Thomas' office is the Herbert Bohn House (1938), 1301 West 29th St. Other Thomas works are the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (1924) at 701 Congress, Robert E. Lee Elementary School (1939) at 3308 Hampton Rd., Tarrytown Methodist Church (1947) at 2701 Exposition, and Ebenezer Baptist Church (1954) at 1010 East Tenth St. Scope and Content of the Collection Correspondence, office files, financial records, job files, specifications, floor plans, photographs, maps, and drawings document the career of Austin architect, Roy Thomas (1886-1968). The record group dates from 1910 to 1966. Information about Thomas' buildings, including the job files, specifications, and 10,000 drawings constitute the bulk of the material. Job files contain client correspondence, newspaper clippings, and some photographs. These files document the quantity and variety of Thomas' projects. Among the types of buildings he designed were churches, residences, and public buildings. Included in this collection is information on the following projects: the Herbert Bohn residence, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the Stephen F. Austin Hotel on which Thomas worked as supervising architect. The floor plans are drawn in pen and ink on drawing board, showing the footprint of the building (usually residences). Some of the floor plans are overlaid with Thomas' sketch of the exterior of the building. The map series contains maps of Austin and the surrounding areas, dating from 1910 to 1949. The photograph series consists of a folder of unidentified photographs and a set of construction photographs of the Stephen F. Austin Hotel. The Austin History Center of the Austin Public Library also holds a collection of Roy Thomas photographs. The Alexander Architectural Archives has a binder of photocopies of the photographs kept with the paper finding aid for this collection. Restrictions Policies Governing Use and Access This collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using archival materials. As all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site, advance notice of at least three working days is required for retrieval. Certain items may require additional time for flattening or humidifying before they can be viewed. Access is by appointment only. Please contact the archives' reference staff for further information. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasions of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person). https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utaaa/00015/00015-P.html 2/172 10/20/21, 2:10 PM Roy L. Thomas collection box 28 18 19 20 folder 1 box 29 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 folder 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Luling First Baptist Church (1945-1946) Maney, D.B.; Residence, Smithville (March-July 1946) Martin and Sons, Inc.; Building, Austin (1951) Martin's Place; Building, Austin (June-July 1944) Matthews, D.C.; Residence, Taylor (1935) Matthews, Felix S.; Multi-unit apartments, Austin (May-August 1933) McAngus, Jesse; Residence, Austin (1948) includes photographs McAngus, M.K.; Residence at Wooldridge Dr., Austin (May 1937-March 1939) McCabe, E.P.; Residence, Austin (November 1949) McCormick, Charles; Residence, (1946) McCormick, T.C.; Residence, Austin (March-May 1935) McCormick, T.C.; Clinic, Buda (1948) McCrummen, Thomas D.; Residence, Austin (November 1934-May 1935) McDugald, Bessie Callaway; Multi-unit at 1404 Woodlawn Blvd., Austin (October-December 1937) McKee, Harry L.; Residence, Austin (1950) McKinney, George W.; Residence, Austin (1950) McKinnon, J.A. (1945) McLaurin, Banks; Residence, Austin (October-December 1939) McLaurin, Mary (1944) Menn, O.A.; Residence at 1511 Westover Rd., Austin (August-September 1937) Menn, Walter E.; Residence at corner of Kinney and Linscomb, Austin (June- November 1939) Methodist District Parsonage, Austin (May 1957) Miller; Residence, Austin(1917) Modrall, W.K. (December 1946) Montgomery, C.M.; Residence, Austin (August-October 1934) Moore, Charles; Residence, Austin (September 1935-February 1936) Moore, Charles Joe; Residence at 2706 Nueces St., Austin (July-September 1939) Moore Construction Co. (August-September 1947) Moore, Eldridge; Residence, Austin (January-November 1936) Moore, Margaret; Multi-unit, Austin (1954) includes photographs Moore, Mary; Multi-unit at E. 32nd and Grooms (301 E. 32nd, 3111 Grooms and 3113 Grooms St.), Austin (August-September 1937) Moresi, Cyril K.; Residence, Lafayette (May-October 1950) Morhmann, Ioma L.; Multi-unit, Austin (May 1936-April 1937) Moss, J.R.; Residence Nagle, H.K.; Multi-unit, Austin (December 1934-April 1935) Nash, John; Multi-unit, Austin (April-May 1937) Nass, Mrs. Walter P.; Multi-unit garage apt. at 2804 Guadalupe Rear, Austin (July 1939) Navasota Creosoting Co. (September 1945) https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utaaa/00015/00015-P.html 15/172 HHM ID No. 105365 3506 DUVAL ST RECONNAISSANCE‐LEVEL FORM Fri, 01 Nov 2019 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 Appraisal District ID 211595 Addition/Subdivision WARD ADDN MAJOR PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS No. of Stories 1.5 Exterior Material(s) Wood, Brick Roof Form Cross‐gabled Window Type(s) Single‐hung Window Material(s) Not visible, Vinyl OCCUPANT HISTORY IDENTIFICATION Address 3506 DUVAL ST Category Primary resource Property Subset Legal Description 70X170FT LOT 2 WARD ADDN CLASSIFICATION Resource Type Building Property Type Single‐family house Form/Plan Bungalow Stylistic Influence(s) Tudor Revival HISTORY Current use Residential Historic Use Residential Year built 1927 (source: Appraisal district) INTEGRITY Alterations Some windows replaced, Porch enclosed, Some exterior wall materials replaced Additions Rear addition, Side addition Relocation Notes PRIOR DOCUMENTATION Designations Prior Survey Data CHBS 2018 ‐ Form: Residential /Detached/Duplex; Estimated Date: 1927; Style: Tudor Revival; Integrity Score: 3 / 1984 Survey ‐ Site No: j‐25‐461; Est Date: 1935; Materials: frame; Priority: LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS NATIONAL REGISTER (NRHP) RECOMMENDATIONS Designation Within district Justification Possesses integrity and contributes to Designation Within district Justification Possesses integrity and contributes to district District Name North University Status (N/C) Contributing OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Tourism Tag district District Name North University Status (N/C) Contributing City of Austin | Historic Building Survey Report for North Central Austin – West Campus, North University, Heritage, Bryker Woods, and North Hyde ParkAppendix C | 1477