C.8 and C.9 - public comment — original pdf
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Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Subject: Stef Schrader Tuesday, June 28, 2022 3:45 AM HPD Preservation Cases #HR-22-084258 + #HR-22-084153 - 1510 and 1512 Pease Road Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** To whom it may concern: I am writing AGAINST the proposed demolition of 1512 Pease Road and AGAINST the proposed new construction at 1510 Pease Road, and I cannot understate my opposition to these projects. 1510 and 1512 are listed as contributing buildings to the historic district and should be left alone. Renovations or additions are fine, as I realize that residents in 2020 often expect homes to be upgraded a bit. Yet demolition is beyond the pale and wholly unacceptable. You have allowed the demolition of so many contributing structures to this historic district that we'll soon have too few left to even qualify as a historic district at this rate. Do your job, Historic Commission. Protect this district and the neighbors who live here. Furthermore, both 1510 and 1512 are duplexes, and while I do not know what the exact project is proposed for the site, it would be unconscionable to remove a denser form of housing for someone's single‐family new‐ build in the midst of Austin's housing crisis. As the lot that is immediately adjacent to these projects, I can also attest that construction around me has made living here a waking nightmare. I wake up to loud noises starting promptly at 7 AM that has included everything from jackhammers that make my home sound like a war zone (1601 and 1603 Woodlawn) to pile drivers in an particularly noisy style that are supposed to be banned within city limits (1602 Pease) but developers don't care. I work from home and have had to flee at times just to find enough peace and quiet to concentrate, much less carry on a Zoom call. Is this what you want? "Historic" city neighborhoods that are unbearable to live in due to construction? Construction has ruined my quality of live on a street I moved to specifically for the peace and quiet. It doesn't end there, either. I have had my tires popped by nails left by construction sites down Woodlawn and trash constantly ends up in my lawn from the construction site at 1601 Woodlawn. I went outside to check on my front lawn one morning—barefoot, as you do in your own lawn on a nice day—to find razor‐sharp roofing screws and metal that had landed on my side of the fence. I could have been hurt badly due to the absolute inability of these developers to stay on their side of the lot line. 1 The massive increase in impermeable cover allowed by the increased footprints of projects like 1603 and 1601 Woodlawn and 1602 Pease has also meant that my yard turns into a swamp every time it rains from the increase of rain coming from uphill. Plants in my yard have died due to the irresponsible construction allowed by this commission. This is unacceptable. 1512 is immediately behind my lot, which would only add to this horrific assault on my eardrums, my lot and our collective common sense. It feels like an attack on all sides. 1512 is also immediately adjacent to a condo building nextdoor to it on Pease, and all of those residents deserve peace and quiet as well. It is particularly disheartening to see that the applicant for 1512 Pease Road is the same person listed for 1510 Pease Road, a contributing structure this very committee "encourage[d] rehabilitation and adaptive reuse" of to apparently deaf ears. You have to do more than "encourage" or you are failing the integrity of this historic district you are supposed to protect and the neighbors who live near these projects. You have to start denying some permit applications. Start with 1510 and 1512. Sincerely, Stef Schrader 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