D.1.2 - 2002 Scenic Dr - Additional Information - late backup — original pdf

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Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Contreras, Kalan Tuesday, May 31, 2022 2:26 PM Collins, Kimberly; Allen, Amber Michael Gaudini; Michael Whellan RE: 2002 Scenic - Urnite - the optician DeLisle Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged Hi Amber,    Please add this relevant information to the HLC website for the Commission to review along with the backup, as it is too  late to address it in the staff report.     Thanks,     Kalan Contreras MSHP | Senior Planner | Historic Preservation Office Planning and Zoning Department 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: Michael Whellan  Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 1:51 PM  To: Collins, Kimberly  Cc: Contreras, Kalan  Gaudini  Subject: 2002 Scenic ‐ Urnite ‐ the optician DeLisle        ; Michael Whellan  ; Michael  *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Just a heads‐up – we did a deep dive into both DeLisle and Urnite – neither appears to be historic. There are some  results in the newspaper archive about DeLisle, but none of them seem to be historic – the few articles generally  reference him in relation to his business/investments.    Urnite was one of these investments, but rather than being historic, it appears to be a failed venture. Putting aside  advertisements and wayfinding (ie. snippets that mention the Urnite company’s location in order to provide directions  1 to someplace else), there appear to be less than 10 actual articles about urnite and they disappear entirely within just a  few years after the company was founded. As far as we can tell, that’s the end of the line – and no one we’ve talked to  so far has ever heard of urnite. Most notably, DeLisle’s obituary only mentions a 25‐year optician practice and no  mention of urnite.    Additionally, 2002 Scenic was built in 1923 but the urnite company wasn’t even founded until four years after that, in  1927. We have also confirmed that the bridge and bench are made from stone and cement – and it is unclear whether  the inlaid tiles are ceramic or composite plastic.    I hope you will consider clarifying that DeLisle is not an appropriate historic association – optician, investor; and not  inventor.      Thanks.    MJW.    Michael Whellan   Armbrust & Brown, PLLC        www.abaustin.com   CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 2