D.2.0 - 1505 Forest Trl — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS DECEMBER 17, 2021 PR-2021-137925, GF-2021-154894 1505 FOREST TRAIL D.2 – 1 PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Demolish a ca. 1937 house and 1953 detached storage shed. One-story, U-plan, brick veneer house. The house has “weeping” mortar as well as corners of rubble volcanic stone and a central stone chimney. The moderately pitched hipped roof has brackets along the eaves. Windows are 1:1 wood sash with 4:4 screens and wood shutters on the facade. The house at 1505 Forest Trail was built in 1937 by Charles E. Green, the managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman newspaper, while he was still single. Green lived here until he married in 1941. Besides being the editor of the Statesman, Green was the founder of the Headliners Club, and a long-time supporter and friend of Lyndon Johnson. This house was later purchased by George Davis Crow and his wife Olive, who had moved to Austin from Dallas. George Davis Crow was a native of North Carolina and had been a manager of the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas for many years before he moved to Austin. George Crow taught at the University of Texas, where his son George Crow, Jr. was a student. After he died in 1946, his widow Olive continued to live here until around 1951. The house was a rental property in the mid-1950s, then purchased by Robert B. and Edna Mae Lindsey, who lived here from around 1955 to around 1970. Robert B. Lindsey worked for many years for the Texas Employment Commission, starting in Wichita Falls and moving to San Antonio before moving to Austin and this house. After Robert B. Lindsey died in 1962, Edna Mae continued to live here until around 1975, with a new husband, Richard Hernaund. PROPERTY EVALUATION The 2011 MoPac reconnaissance survey report lists the property as contributing to a potential 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 may meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The house is a unique example of its style and construction materials. b. Historical association. The property was built for Charles E. Green, principal editor of the Austin American- Statesman for 30 years. Green lived in this house for only a few years between 1937 and 1941, but it appears to be the best surviving home closely associated with him. He and his wife Floy lived at 2203 Mountain View Rd. in 1942. That house is extant but appears to have been built on spec. Permits show Green built a house at 2705 Verde Vista in 1941. It was outside the area listed in city directories at that time and is first shown as his residence in 1947. It remained his home at the time of his death in 1967. The house was demolished in 2002. 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 has stone landscape borders and a low stone wall at the street, but these elements appear to be limestone rather than the volcanic rock of the house. Further evaluation of the age and potential significance of the stonework is needed. Note that the Historic Landmark Commission previously conducted a public hearing for demolition of this property but did not reach a resolution. The case was initially heard on January 23, 2017 (see staff report). After multiple applicant-requested postponements, the case did not reappear on the September 25, 2017 agenda. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Consider initiation of historic zoning based on architecture and historical associations. If the Commission does not choose to initiate, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation over demolition, but release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. D.2 – 2 LOCATION MAP D.2 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.2 – 4 Application, 2021 D.2 – 5 D.2 – 6 Photographs from 2017 staff report D.2 – 7 Occupancy History City Directory Research, September 2021; January 2017 John A. Bartte, renter No occupation listed 1977–86 No return Richard and Edna M. Hernaund, owners No occupation listed Edna M. Lindsey, owner (widow of Robert B.) Employed by the public schools Edna M. Lindsey, owner (widow of Robert B.) No occupation listed Robert B. and Edna M. Lindsey, owners Department chief, Texas Employment Commission Robert B. Lindsay, owner Robert B. and Mae Lindsay, owners Assistant department chief, State Employment Commission Gifford E. and Sarah White, owners White Instrument Laboratories Corson L. Jr. and Jeannette Hilton, renters USA Olive Crow, owner (widow of George D.) George D. Crow, owner Teacher at the University of Texas George D. Crow Jr. Student at the University of Texas 1944 George D. and Olive Crow, owners George D. Crow Jr. USA George D. and Olive A. Crow, owners Note: Charles E. Green is listed at 2203 Mountain View Rd. Charles E. Green, owner Managing editor, Austin American-Statesman, newspaper Note: The house is listed as 1503 Forest Trail. Note: George D. and Olive Crow are not listed in the directory. Charles E. Green, renter Managing editor, Austin American-Statesman, newspaper. Note: The house is listed as 1503 Forest Trail. Charles E. Green, renter Managing editor, Austin American-Statesman, newspaper Note: The house is listed as 1503 Forest Trail. Charles E. Green, renter Managing editor, Austin American-Statesman, newspaper Note: The house is listed as 1503 Forest Trail. 1992 1973 1968 1965 1961 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1942 1941 1940 1939 1937 1935 Address not listed. Note: Charles E. Green, managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman, is listed at 57 Enfield Road. Biographical Information Charles E. Green (ca. 1936 – ca. 1941) The 1940 U.S. Census shows Charles E. Green as the owner of this house, which is listed as 1505 Forest Trail; it was worth $6,000. Charles E. Green was 37, single, and had been born in Texas. He was the editor of the newspaper. The 1930 U.S. Census shows Charles E. Green living in a rented house at 3230 Harris Park Avenue in Austin. He was 28, had been born in Texas, and was the managing editor of the newspaper. His 1967 death certificate shows that he died on Christmas Day. He was born in 1901 in Texas and was living at 2705 Verde Vista at the time of his death. He was the executive editor of the newspaper. He had lived in Austin since 1929. D.2 – 8 Charles E. Green (at the desk) in the Austin American-Statesman offices, 1949 D.2 – 9 “Charles E. Green: Newspaperman,” The Austin Statesman, December 26, 1967 D.2 – 10 George D. and Olive Crow (ca. 1941 – ca. 1951) His 1918 World War I draft registration card shows that George Davis Crow was living in Dallas. He was the manager of the Federal Reserve Bank, Trust Department. He was married, had brown eyes and dark hair, and was of medium height and build. The 1930 U.S. Census shows George D. and Olive Crow as the owners of a house in Dallas. George D. Crow was 52, had been born in North Carolina, and was a clerk in a bank. Olive Crow was 46, had been born in Arizona, and had no occupation listed. They had 3 children: G. Davis, Jr., 20; Emily, 16; and Lois P., 11. All had been born in Texas. The 1940 U.S. Census shows George D. and Olive Crow as the owners of a house in Dallas, Texas. George D. Crow was 66, had been born in North Carolina, and had no occupation listed. Olive Crow was 59, had been born in Arizona, and had no occupation listed. They had no children listed with them. George Davis Crow’s 1946 death certificate shows that he was living at this address at the time of his death. He was born in 1873 in Wilmington, N.C., and was a retired banker. Obituaries for George and Olive Crow, The Austin American, August 14, 1946, and The Austin Statesman, January 4, 1967 Gifford E. and Sarah White (ca. 1955) D.2 – 11 Mrs. G. E. White was involved with the League of Women Voters, The Austin American, May 15, 1955 Robert B. and Edna M. Lindsey (ca. 1955 – ca. 1975) The 1940 U.S. Census shows Robert B. and Mary E. Lindsey living in a rented house in San Antonio, Texas. Robert B. Lindsey was 27, had been born in Texas, and worked in the personnel department for the Texas Employment Service. Mary E. Lindsey was 26, had been born in Texas, and was a secretary. They had lived in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1935. His 1962 death certificate shows that Robert B. Lindsey was born in 1912 in Texarkana, Texas. He was living in this house at the time of his death from advanced tuberculosis. He was a state employee. His widow’s name is listed as Mae Lindsey. D.2 – 12 Articles on the Lindsey family, The Austin Statesman, October 30, 1958 and Aug 14, 1962 D.2 – 13 The Austin Statesman, April 21, 1968 Permits Sewer connection permit, 1937 D.2 – 14 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps Building permit, 1953 May 1962, Vol. 3, Sheet 333