C.2.0 - 906 E 14th St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS DECEMBER 17, 2021 HR-2021-180207 SWEDISH HILL NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 906 E 14TH STREET C.2 – 1 PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Partially demolish rear and side of one-story house to construct a second-floor addition with roof deck. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 1) Partially demolish rear and west elevations. 2) Remove and replace windows and doors at east elevation. 3) Construct a second story addition. The proposed addition is located at the west-facing portion of the house, directly above the existing building. It is set back beyond the ridgeline of the original house, and features a gabled standing- seam metal roof. A roof deck is situated immediately behind the ridgeline. The proposed addition is clad in vertical standing-seam metal and insulated prefabricated panels and features fixed and casement single-pane windows placed irregularly throughout. One-story Folk Victorian house with board-and-batten siding and a full-width porch. Scalloped siding adorns the front- facing gable end. According to the Swedish Hill National Register Historic District nomination, the front door’s location has been altered. The house at 906 E. 14th Street was built around 1887. Its first occupant was widow Susan Gaines. The home’s early years were fraught with resident turnover; occupants included a wood dealer, a horse trader, carpenters and laborers, a teamster, and a saleswoman. By the early 1920s, Oscar E. and Ethel M. Free purchased the house; it remained in the family until at least 1959. Oscar E. Free was a printer and linotype operator who worked for the Texas Poster Publishing Company, the Knape Printing Company, the Von Boeckmann-Jones Company, the Austin Daily Tribune, the American Publishing Company, and the Statesman. 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: Residential additions 1. Location The proposed addition is located behind the existing ridgeline of the house. 2. Scale, massing, and height The proposed addition is two stories, while the existing house is one story in height. It does not appear subordinate to the historic portion of the house from street-facing or secondary elevations. 3. Design and style The proposed addition is appropriately differentiated from the existing house by its irregular fenestration pattern, undivided windows, window-to-wall ratio, and metal siding; however, these design elements are not compatible with the existing house. 4. Roofs The proposed gabled roof appears mostly compatible with the existing house. Though the other roof forms are less compatible, they do not appear to be visible from the street. 5. Exterior walls The proposed addition’s vertical standing-seam metal and prefabricated panel sheathing are not compatible with the district or with the existing house. 6. Windows, screens, and doors The proposed addition’s undivided windows are mostly incompatible with the existing Folk Victorian house. The street- facing wall is windowless, which also does not comply with the design standards. C.2 – 2 7. Porches and decks The proposed roof deck does not appear visible from the street. Summary The project meets few applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Swedish Hill National Register district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate 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 has been modified, but still retains character-defining Folk Victorian stylistic influences. 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 Consider referral to the Architectural Review Committee. Otherwise, comment on and release the plans. LOCATION MAP C.2 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos C.2 – 4 C.2 – 5 Applicant, 2021 Occupancy History City Directory Research, November 2021 Oscar E. Free, owner Oscar E. Free, owner Linotype operator, American Statesman Oscar E. Free, owner Printer, American Statesman Oscar E. Free, owner Printer, American Statesman 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Linotype operator, American Statesman 1947 Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners C.2 – 6 Linotype operator, American Statesman Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Linotype operator, American Publishing Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Printer, Austin Daily Tribune Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Linotype operator, Von Boeckmann-Jones Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Printer, Knape Printing Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Printer, Knape Printing Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Foreman, Texas Poster Publishing Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Linotype operator, Texas Poster Publishing Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Foreman, Texas Poster Publishing Co. Oscar E. and Ethel M Free, owners Linotype operator, Poster Publishing Co. Pearl Cramer, owner (widow of Charles F.) Saleswoman, E. M. Scarbrough & Sons Pearl Cramer, owner (widow of Charles F.) Saleswoman, E. M. Scarbrough & Sons Address not listed Charles E. Peterson Engineer, Austin City Water, Light, and Power plant William M. Peterson Carpenter Thomas J. Hickman, owner Pressman, Austin Daily Statesman Sophrona Hickman, renter Katherine Finkle, owner (wid. J. E.) Katie Finkle (wid. J. E.) John Teague Teamster James A. Mobley, owner Horse trader Frank Mobley, renter Laborer John M. Teague, owner Wood dealer Susan C. Gaines (wid. S. M.) Sue C. Gaines (wid. S. M.) 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1929 1927 1924 1922 1918 1914 1910 1909 1906 1905 1903 1895 1893 1889 1887 Biographical information C.2 – 7 Austin Daily Statesman (1891-1902); Mar 4, 1901 and The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Jul 28, 1909 The Statesman (1916-1921); May 7, 1919 The Statesman (1916-1921); Nov 16, 1919 and Nov 18, 1919 C.2 – 8 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Mar 2, 1932 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Dec 23, 1943 C.2 – 9 Permits The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Apr 28, 1944 and Mar 24, 1955 Water service permit, 1939 Building permit, 1938