26.0 - 1810 Dexter St — original pdf

Backup

HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 PR-2022-116243; GF-2022-120476 1810 DEXTER STREET 26 – 1 Demolish a ca. 1953 house constructed by A. D. Stenger. PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story stone veneer house with exposed rafter tails, a blind front wall, a cross-gabled roof with deep eaves, and concealed entryway. The house at 1810 Dexter Street was built in 1953 by A. D. Stenger in collaboration with the Austin Home Builders’ Association. This “Educational Home” served as a model home for the South Lund Park neighborhood; the Association encouraged potential homebuyers to visit the construction site while the home was being built to showcase its concrete slab and single-story plan “similar to the grand prize winner of a recent architectural competition sponsored by Carrier Air Conditioning Manufacturers.”1 According to a 2008 exhibit of Stenger’s work at the University of Texas: A.D. Stenger was a renowned local developer, architect and builder in Austin during the late 1940s through the late 1990s. Many of his houses are in the Barton Hills area. His career began while he was enrolled as a student in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. Stenger spent decades building houses for numerous creative Austinites including humorists John Henry Faulk and Cactus Pryor. Acting as developer, architect and builder, Stenger’s houses reflected modern designs with touches of “homey comfort” in response to a demand for an affordable, modern lifestyle.2, 3 A 2015 zoning change review sheet, prepared by the Historic Preservation Office for another since-demolished Stenger home, describes his legacy as follows: A.D. (Arthur Dallas) Stenger was a prominent mid-century modern designer/builder in Austin. He got his start after passing his professional licensing exam in 1950 while a student at University of Texas School of Architecture. Leaving UT before completing the program, Stenger jumped into the post-war housing boom. Stenger was often compared to prominent California developer Joseph Eichler […]A “Stenger” home has a low-pitch gable roof, pronounced rafter tails, post and beam construction, and conservative footprint, with most buildings being under 1500 square feet, with exposed beams and decking. Stenger also often included walls of collected stone, gable ends that terminate in a projecting point and cantilevered structural systems. Stenger is one of Austin’s most prominent mid-century modern architects and is often credited with establishing the mid-century modern movement in Austin. As a developer/building/architect he was involved with the houses from the conception, design, speculation, and construction. He concentrated his efforts in three areas: A.D. Stenger Addition, South Lund Park and Ridgewood Village…[While] speculative building was becoming popular, A.D Stenger continued to design buildings that were unique in their architecture and sculpted to the geography of their land. […] The use of native stone, wide expanses of glass and natural siding materials were used to blend into the [landscape].4 1810 Dexter Street was eventually purchased by Lucien and Evelyn Capehart. Lucien H. Capehart, Sr., worked as a salesman and at an airplane manufacturing company. 1810 Dexter was also the childhood home of renowned Palm Beach society photographer Lucien H. Capehart, Jr., who discovered his love of photography while on a UT- sponsored undersea research project in the Virgin Islands. After graduating from the University of Texas, Capehart built his business by photographing notable Floridians until his death in 2012. 1 The Austin American (1914-1973); 23 Aug 1953: A29. 2 https://news.utexas.edu/2008/03/24/a-d-stenger-architecture-exhibit-opening-reception-scheduled-march-26/ 3 https://www.docomomo-us.org/event/architectural-capers-homes-by-austin-s-a-d-stenger 4 Zoning change review sheet: 1000 Lund St., HDP-2015-0152 26 – 2 PROPERTY EVALUATION Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high to moderate integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it may meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The building is a mid-century Modern house constructed by noted Austin architect A. D. Stenger with a plan inspired by the Carrier Air-Conditioned Village contest winner. b. Historical association. The property was featured as an “educational home” by the Austin Home Builders Association in 1953. It is the childhood home of Palm Beach society photographer Lucien Capehart. 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 Consider whether the home’s architecture and associations are sufficient to initiate historic zoning on the property. Should the Commission decide against initiation, release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP 26 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos Street View, 2022 26 – 4 26 – 5 26 – 6 Demolition application, 2022 26 – 7 Google street view, 2009-2020 Occupancy History City Directory Research, August 2022 Vacant Lucian Henry Capehart, owner Salesman, Hubbard Parts Company Lucian H. and Evelyn Capehart, owners Salesman, Hubbard Company 1959 1957 1955 Permits Sewer service permit, 1953 Building permit, 1953 Historical information 26 – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); 23 Aug 1953: A29. 26 – 9 The Austin American (1914-1973); 03 Jan 1954: 39. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); 13 July 1970: 6. 26 – 10 26 – 11 Palm Beach Daily News: https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/entertainment/society/2012/04/01/society- photographer-lucien-capehart-dies/9688911007/ 26 – 12 Obituary, Palm Beach Post: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/palmbeachpost/name/lucien-capehart-obituary Curbed.com: https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/30/16222238/a-d-stenger-midcentury-modern-architect-austin 26 – 13 26 – 14 From http://stenger.rileytriggs.com/man.html; quoted in https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=227768 26 – 15 http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/66685/america_properties/austin_architect_ad_stenger.html