D.3.0 - 707 W Slaughter Ln — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JUNE 1, 2022 PR-2022-053331; GF-2022-062127 707 W. SLAUGHTER LANE D.3 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1971 residence. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story styled Ranch house with symmetrical plan, Classical Revival-style columned porch, and pediments above 6:6 aluminum windows at the main façade. The house at 707 W. Slaughter Lane was built in 1971 for real estate developer Don West, best known for his purchase and restoration of a significant portion of Gruene, Texas. West served as president of the Austin Area Homebuilders Association and state director for the National Association of Homebuilders in the 1960s and ‘70s. He chaired Austin’s first homebuilders’ Energy Conservation Seminar in 1976, and focused on energy-efficient homes in his developments. West, a personal friend of Congressman Jake Pickle, was politically active and a staunch supporter of property ownership rights and estate tax reform.1 PROPERTY EVALUATION Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate 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 does not appear to convey architectural significance. b. Historical association. The property appears to be associated with real estate developer Donald West. 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 appear to be a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve the application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. 1 “Obituary.” Austin American-Statesman, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/statesman/name/donald-west-obituary?id=23145055 LOCATION MAP D.3 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.3 – 3 Demolition application, 2022 Permits D.3 – 4 Biographical Information "Colonial Charm Adds to Allure of Heritage." The Austin American (1914-1973), Jul 19, 1964. 1 D.3 – 5 "American Colonial is Styled by West." The Austin American (1914-1973), Jul 10, 1966. 1 "Models Readied for Parade of Homes show." The Austin American (1914-1973), Jul 02, 1967. 1 D.3 – 6 "1967-68 Officers, Directors Take Office for the AAHB." The Austin American (1914-1973), Oct 22, 1967. 1 "Don West Elected by Home Builders." The Austin Statesman (1921-1973), Sep 11, 1968. 13. "AAHB Picks New President." The Austin Statesman (1921-1973), Sep 13, 1970. D.3 – 7 "'Conservation Best Energy Resource'." The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980), Jun 13, 1976. Donald Lamar West Donald Lamar West, age 77, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on August 2nd under the wonderful care of the staff at Christopher House in Austin, Texas. He was born on August 4th, 1932 in Houston, Texas to Herbert Gerald and Marion Rogers West. On August 23, 1952 Don married Kay Seiders. They met on a Sunday at First English Lutheran Church, and on Monday he was waiting to meet her outside Austin High. Three months later they were married at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in New Braunfels, Texas. Don is preceded by his son Kevin, and is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Kay West, along with his three children and their spouses: Robert, wife Cristabell, Stan, wife Vivien, and Donna, husband Chris. Don had seven grandchildren Christopher, Melissa, LaShell, Krystle, Steven, Aspen, and C.J. as well as four great-grandchildren Alex, Beckett, Katelyn, and Kristopher. Don developed exceptionally deep roots in Austin, Texas, living there the majority of his life. He was drafted during the Korean War in 1952, shortly after he and Kay were married. Upon his return to Texas, Don began his incredibly long and impactful career in real estate, beginning to work for Nelson Puett in the late '50s, from there Don shifted his career from real estate sales to homebuilding and real estate development in the '60s. Don West's impact on the Austin area is visible through the many subdivisions he developed such as Castlewood Forest and Buckingham Estates and the achievement of which he was most proud, the re-founding of Gruene in 1973. Don purchased, with business partners, 138 acres near New Braunfels including a substantial amount of the town of Gruene. The purpose was to help rejuvenate the area and restore the town to its former glory of the late 1800s, he did this by ensuring the restoration of properties such as Guene Hall and Gruene Mansion, as well as helping to save the water tower. Don took part in the rejuvenation and was very proud of the successful tourist attraction Gruene has become. Throughout his homebuilding career, Don was active in politics on the local, state, and national levels. On the local level Don became president of the Austin Area Homebuilders Association in 1969 and chaired the first Austin homebuilder's Energy Conservation Seminar in 1976 (he focused on energy efficient homes, before being GREEN was cool). Don was selected Austin Area Builder of the year in 1981/82. On the state level he helped found "Take Back Texas" which was an organization devoted to protecting property owners' rights. On the national level he lobbied with friend and Congressman Jake Pickle, chair of House Finance Committee, where he worked to reform rules affecting federal estate tax laws. For his work on the national level Don achieved Life Director in 1980 and Sr. Life Director in 1990 of the National Homebuilders Association. In real estate and in his personal life, which were often impossible to separate, Don demonstrated a passion in everything he did from flying his Cessna off the grass landing strip on Slaughter Lane to his annual trips to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Homebuilders Association where he was a lifetime board member. This passion will truly be missed by his family and friends, as well as anyone who knew him. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/statesman/name/donald-west-obituary?id=23145055 D.3 – 8 https://herald-zeitung.com/obituaries/article_c5c9a3a8-a106-11df-94ed-001cc4c03286.html