D.3.a - 2206 East Side Dr. - public comment — original pdf

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Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Contreras, Kalan Monday, March 21, 2022 11:23 AM Allen, Amber FW: 2206 East Side Dr - HLC Referral & Fees Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged One more for backup – you might already have this one in the folder.    Kalan Contreras MSHP | Senior Planner | Historic Preservation Office Planning and Zoning Department 512.974.2727 | kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov   PER CITY ORDINANCE: All individuals scheduling or accepting a meeting invitation with a City Official are requested to provide responses to the questions at the following link: https://bit.ly/HPDLobbyingForm Please note that all information provided is subject to public disclosure. For more information please visit: City of Austin Ordinance 2016-0922-005 | City Clerk’s website | City Clerk’s FAQs             From: megan spencer  Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 10:18 AM  To: Contreras, Kalan  Cc: Gretchen Janzow      Allen, Amber   Mary Jensen  Subject: Re: 2206 East Side Dr ‐ HLC Referral & Fees      Hello Kalan and Amber,     I am the owner of the property at 2206 East Side Drive. I've lived there for 40 years. I found the home first listed in the directory at the Austin History Center in the early 1940s as the C.W. Wright Dairy. Both 2206 and 2210 East Side Drive were listed as properties owned by the C.W Wright Dairy. I was told that I am only the third owner of the property. I bought the property from Allen Messenger and his wife who owned it for only a short time while they were building a home outside of the city limits. My neighbor, Mr. Victor Polanco, who lived across the street told me that the home was rented out for years and it became severely deteriorated. From his front yard, he saw rats entering the home through holes in the roof and wood siding. The back yard was 1 covered by an asphalt parking area that extended almost to the back of the lot. It was large enough to accommodate several cars. When I closed on my home in January 1982, this area was not safe. South Congress was a very dangerous place where no one walked at night. Of course, that’s changed. This house sits on what used to be open land on the outer edges of the city prior to the 1940s. Over the past ten years, the character of East Side Drive has changed. Most of the surrounding homes have been demolished and replaced by modern, multi-million-dollar structures. I have been told by more than one real estate professional that my small pier and beam farm house is a "teardown." Buyers only want the land. If you’ll drive by, you can see that my farm house does not fit the character of this street. The ranch style houses to the south of 2210 East Side Drive were built in the 1960s by Bergstrom Air Force Base retirees. It’s an outlier. Thank you for sending the Historic Designation Criteria. I can assure you that the home itself is not a historic landmark; the house is not inside the Travis Heights/Fairview Park Historic District. The south boundary of the historic district is Live Oak. This lot is located in the Sherwood Oaks neighborhood. In closing, I want you to know that I have done everything I can to prevent my home from being torn down. I have recently served as an officer in the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Association. I understand exactly what it takes to save a home from demolition. The SRCC NA is constantly struggling to save historic structures. Please know that moving my home from its current location is the best choice I can make. I want this house to be maintained and enjoyed for years to come. Thank you for your consideration of this request for administrative approval. Megan Spencer Hi Gayle, On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 10:47:21 AM CST, Allen, Amber <amber.allen@austintexas.gov> wrote: Of course! Most of the information you’re looking for when it comes to meeting information and timelines can be found in my original email. I’ve highlighted those sections below. 2