D.7.0-1403 E Cesar Chavez — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS FEBRUARY 28, 2022 PR-2022-014784; GF-2022-016729 1403 E CESAR CHAVEZ ST D.7 – 1 PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Demolish a single-family Craftsman-style residence built circa 1925. Single story residential construction with cross gable roofline built in the Craftsman style circa 1925. The roof has one triangular knee brace in the apex of each gable. The porch supports are composed of brick masonry piers with sloping sides. On top of the piers rest the decorative wooden support columns which appear to take cues from Orientalist design principles. The wooden porch railing is almost Stick in its patterned styling lending to the Western Stick reference known for some Craftsman styles. The structure has horizontal wood siding and the façade is comprised of a single entry door and two matching window assemblies, each comprised of two single hung, vertical, wood windows. From 1927 to 1959 this home was owned and occupied by members of the Balagia Family. Charles and Tofie Balagia were owners of the Balagia Produce Company. Co-owner Tofie Balagia and his wife Bertha purchased this house in 1927 and it became their family home. Bertha Balagia (Tofie’s widow) continued to live at this address into 1959. The Balagia Produce Company was already one of the oldest in the Austin area by 1939 and where many would go to order their holiday turkeys and meats and they held the State contract for providing meat to State institutions for many years. Balagia Produce continued to serve the City and surrounding areas becoming one of the largest suppliers of meat and produce in the State of Texas. PROPERTY EVALUATION The 2016 East Austin Survey report recommends that the property is eligible as a local landmark and contributes to a potential local 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 meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of Craftsman-style architecture. b. Historical association. The property appears to have significant historical associations with Balagia Produce 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 Initiate historic zoning based on architecture and historical associations with Balagia Produce. If the commission chooses not to initiate historic zoning, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse but release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP D.7 – 2  PROPERTY INFORMATION D.7 – 3 Demolition permit application, 2022 D.7 – 4 Occupancy History City Directory Research, February 2022 Bertha Bolagia, owner Bertha Bolagia, owner 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1929 Bertha Bolagia, owner (widow of Tofie) Bertha Balagia, owner (widow of Tofie) Rose Balagia, renter Student Doris M. Balagia, renter Bookkeeper Edward G. Balagia, renter USA Bertha Balagia, owner (widow of Tofie) Jeanette H. Balagia, renter Bookkeeper-credit manager Gem Jewelry Bertha Balagia, owner Evelyn Balagia, renter Jeanette Balagia, renter Bookkeeper Gem Jewelry Bertha Balagia, owner (widow of Tofie) Evelyn Balagia, renter Student at the University of Texas Jeanette H. Balagia, renter Student at the University of Texas Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia market (505 E 5th Street) Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia market (505 E 5th Street) Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia Produce Co./Balagia Market (505 E 5th St) Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia Produce Co. (505 E 5th St) Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia Produce Co. (505 E 5th St) Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia Produce Co. (505 E 5th St) 1927 1924 Tofie and Bertha Balagia, owners Balagia Produce Co. (506 Trinity) Address not listed Notes: Tofie and Bertha Balagia (1004 Spence St) Balagia Produce Co. (506 Trinity) D.7 – 5 Permits Water service permit, 1925 D.7 – 6 D.7 – 7 D.7 – 8 D.7 – 9 Newspaper clipping referencing Balagia Produce as contract supplier for State Institutions in 1941