C.3.0 - 1811 Alta Vista Ave — original pdf

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C.3 – 1 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS DECEMBER 17, 2021 HR-2021-190012 TRAVIS HEIGHTS - FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1811 ALTA VISTA AVENUE PROPOSAL Construct a second-floor addition to a one-story house. Demolish existing non-contributing ADU. Repair windows. Replace roof with standing-seam metal or composition shingles. Modify dormers and roofline at main façade, removing chimney and replacing dormers. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 1) Demolish non-contributing ADU at rear of property. 2) Partially demolish existing house, including existing chimney, and construct a two-story addition at rear. The proposed addition is clad in brick to match the historic portion of the house. The addition will have a compound gabled roofline, clad to match the existing building. Fenestration is varied throughout, including fixed-pane, casement, and single-hung windows. The roofline at the main elevation is slightly modified to accommodate the addition. A carport extends to the rear of the property. 3) Replace dormers at main elevation with single large dormer. The proposed dormer has a shed roof and three multilight windows. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story Colonial Revival-inspired house with brick cladding, a side-gabled roof with gabled dormers, and 8:8 and 6:6 wood windows. The front stoop includes turned columns and an open pediment above a decorative arch, as well as multi- paned sidelights atop decorative wainscoting. A dentillated cornice and simple frieze are visible below the shallow eaves, and side elevations feature traditional cornice returns. The house at 1811 Alta Vista was built between 1931 and 1935 for Robert E., Jr. and Willard Nitschke. Robert Nitschke, who went by Ed, worked as a salesman for the John Bremond Company; his wife, Willard, was a schoolteacher. Nitschke was well-known in Austin as a member of an early pioneer family in Central Texas, as well as for his horticultural and landscaping knowledge. Nitschke was a charter member of both the Men’s Garden Club and Audubon Society chapter in Austin, and shared his expertise—and his yard at 1811 Alta Vista—with the city’s aspiring gardeners. 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. Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposed project removes some intact historic-age material from the building. 5. Windows, doors, and screens The proposed project removes original dormers and replaces them with a single central dormer, significantly altering the primary elevation. 7. Chimneys The proposed project removes the original chimney to make room for the addition. Residential additions 1. Location The proposed addition is located to the rear of the property, and appears to have minimal visual impact from the street. However, it is not stepped back from the sides of the house, and the addition appears to be located immediately behind the roof ridgeline. 2. Scale, massing, and height The proposed addition is one story in height. Though it appears outsized at secondary elevations, drawings suggest it will be minimally visible from the main elevation. 3. Design and style The proposed addition appears to be somewhat compatible, though its irregular fenestration pattern and varied window style is less compatible with the more formal stylistic elements of the historic house. 4. Roofs The proposed compound roofline is somewhat complex, and significantly alters the existing side-gabled detail at the south elevation; however, the roofline is minimally visible from the street. The elimination of the existing gable at the south elevation may make the addition difficult to differentiate from the historic fabric of the house. C.3 – 2 5. Exterior walls The proposed addition will be clad in brick to match the existing house. 6. Windows, screens, and doors See 3. 9. Attached garages and carports The proposed carport is set back on the lot; though this is not common among contributing buildings in the neighborhood, it will not be visible from the street. Summary The project meets some of the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register 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 displays Colonial Revival influences. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have significant historical associations; however, the Commission may wish to consider Robert Nitschke’s civic contributions to Austin’s Garden Club and Audubon Society chapter. 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 does not possess a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city, as it appears that most of Nitschke’s landscaping is no longer extant. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Comment on and release the plans. LOCATION MAP C.3 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos C.3 – 4 C.3 – 5 C.3 – 6 Applicant, 2021 Occupancy History City Directory Research, November 2021 1959 1957 1955 1952 Robert E. Jr. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Salesman, John Bremond Co. Robert E. Jr. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Salesman, John Bremond Co. Teacher Robert E. Jr. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Salesman, John Bremond Co. Robert E. Jr. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Salesman, John Bremond Co. Teacher, Austin High School C.3 – 7 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 Robert E. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Assistant sales manager, John Bremond Co. Teacher, Austin High School Robert E. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Assistant buyer, John Bremond Co. Teacher, Austin High School Robert E. and Willard D. Nitschke, owners Assistant sales manager, John Bremond Co. Teacher, public school Robert E. and Willard G. Nitschke, owners Assistant sales manager, John Bremond Co. Teacher, public school Della Houssels, renter Teacher, public School Robert E. and Willard G. Nitschke, owners Assistant sales manager, John Bremond Co. Teacher, public school Della Houssels, renter Teacher, Austin High School Robert E. and Willard G. Nitschke, owners Assistant sales manager, John Bremond Co. Teacher, Austin High School Biographical Information The Austin Statesman, Dec 21, 1950; The Austin American, Jul 10, 1955 C.3 – 8 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); May 21, 1965 and May 22, 1965 C.3 – 9 Permits The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Nov 22, 1969 Sewer service permit, 1931 C.3 – 10 Water service permit, 1960