C.10.0 - 1803 Kenwood Ave — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS FEBRUARY 28, 2022 HR-2022-016431; PR 2022-002618 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK 1803 KENWOOD AVE C.10. 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Demolish a circa 1937 single-story residence and replace it with a new construction single-family residence. 1) Total demolition of existing contributing single-family residence built in 1937. 2) Construction of new single-family residence with in-ground pool in rear, garage, and carport. The proposed primary building is a two-story minimalist style. It features a compound roofline; fixed-pane and casement full-light fenestration in irregular pattern; dark grey brick on the exterior first story and light-colored exterior stucco cladding on the slightly overhanging second story. The rear second-story elevation has a small rear balcony with a horizontal metal railing overlooking the pool. Designs indicate a side entry garage and direct neighboring carport located in front of the residence with a horizontal wood fence located directly in front of the carport which shields the carport and garage from direct view from the street. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Wood frame, single-story, residential construction on pier and beam foundation. The structure is of the Minimal Traditional style with a side gable with a front-facing cross gable design. It is typical of minimal traditional design with horizontal wood siding, two sets of symmetrical multi-pane, 6:6 wood windows flanked by slim, simple shutters. There is a small, round gable vent in the front-facing gable façade. The single door entry has a concrete landing and is covered with a wooden awning supported by decorative wooden brackets. The awning is a continuation of the asphalt roof. There is a thin, slightly turned metal balustrade and railing on the front concrete steps and landing. Likely built by the prominent dentist and civic activist, Dr. R.L. Struhall in 1937. Dr. Struhall and wife Lillian Parma moved to 1805 Kenwood by 1942. According to City Directories, in 1941, 1803 Kenwood was owned by Raymond W., Jr. and his wife, Marjorie M. Ramsey. Raymond was employed at the R & R Service Station and they lived in the home until at least 1944. The house continued to be occupied short-term according to City Directory records until it was purchased by Donald B. and Elsie A. Ezell who lived in the home till Mr. Ezell’s death in 1961. The Ezell’s owned and operated The Chicken House Café, a restaurant located at 4201 Alice Avenue. Elsie Ezell was also a local high school teacher. 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: The following standards apply to the proposed project: Residential new construction 1. Location The current house facade is setback 25.3 ft from the western border of the property line which looks to begin approx. 1 foot after the Kenwood Avenue street sidewalk. The proposed design appears to be compatible with the historic district’s setbacks and site location. 2. Orientation The proposed building is oriented toward Kenwood Avenue. It features a single side-loading garage next to a single-side loading carport. Due to the front garage location, the orientation is not compatible with the historic district’s adjacent contributing buildings. 3. Scale, massing, and height The proposed building is two stories in height. This section of Kenwood Avenue is comprised of small, single-story, residences with simple massing. The proposed design is not compliant with the following Design standards: 3.1: Design the height of new buildings to respond to nearby contributing buildings and the dimensions of the lot; C.10. 2 or 3.2 Design the massing of new buildings to reflect the character of nearby contributing buildings. The proposed two-story new construction does use step-down height transition in accordance with Design Standard 3.3- Use step-downs in building height, wall-plane offsets, and other variations in building massing to provide a visual transition when the height of new construction exceeds that of adjacent contributing buildings by more than one-half story. However, the height is not compatible with the historic surroundings because there are not two-story contributing buildings adjacent to this location. The design does not meet the following Design Recommendation: Do not exceed the height of the tallest contributing building on the block. A street’s rhythm is greatly changed by the addition of out-of-scale houses. While its massing, scale, and height may be typical for new infill in other areas of Austin, it is not compatible with contributing historic buildings in this district. Overall, the design is in conflict with design standards for scale, massing, and height. 4. Proportions The width appears to be compatible but the height and mass proposed is not compatible with the adjacent contributing buildings (see 3). 5. Design and style The proposed building’s minimalist design and style do not appear compatible or to take cues from adjacent contributing buildings. 6. Roofs The proposed compound roofline is not compatible with adjacent contributing buildings. 7. Exterior walls While brick may be a compatible material, stucco is not. Therefore, the proposed exterior wall design is not compatible with the adjacent contributing buildings. 8. Windows and doors The irregular fenestration pattern and varied window proportions and sizes are not compatible with the more stylistic window elements of the adjacent contributing buildings. 9. Porches Standard 9.2 indicates that new construction should include porches that reflect and continue the rhythm, size, proportions, and placement of those on contributing buildings. This design is not compatible with adjacent contributing buildings. 11. Attached garages and carports Standard 11.1 indicates that newly attached garages should only be built at the front of a property if it matches the predominant garage location and orientation within the block. Houses within this area were built with detached garages at the rear of the property. This design features a single side-loading garage next to a single-side loading carport. The garage and carport design is not compatible with the historic district’s adjacent contributing buildings 2. Walls and fences The horizontal wood fence in front of the property is not compatible with adjacent contributing buildings as it does not match the predominant location of fences and their orientation within the block. Summary The project does not meet the applicable standards, primarily due to the mass, scale, orientation, and material choice of the proposed construction. C.10. 3 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: architectural significance. a. Architecture. The building is a good example of Minimal Traditional architecture and does appear to convey 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 Postpone to March 28, 2022, and invite the applicant to the March 14th Architectural Review Committee meeting. LOCATION MAP C.10. 4 PROPERTY INFORMATION Contributing to the Travis Heights National Register Historic District Photos C.10. 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, January 2022 Demolition permit application, 2022 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 Donald B. Ezell, owner Donald B. and Elsie Ezell, owners Chicken House Café Donald B. and Elsie A. Ezell, owners Chicken House Café Donald B. and Elsie A. Ezell, owners Restaurant 4201 Alice Ave Donald B. and Elsie A. Ezell, owners Electrician Alf P. and LaVerne H. Reinhardt, renters Clerk Austin Paper Raymond W. Jr. and Marjorie M. Ramsey, renters Tex-Con Oil Co. Raymond W. Jr. and Marjorie M. Ramsey, owners R & R Service Station Address not listed Permits C.10. 6 Water service permit, 1937 Building permit, 1956 Building permit, 1937  Dr. R. L. Struhall likely built 1803 Kenwood Avenue C.10. 7