36.0 - 801 Bouldin Ave — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS NOVEMBER 2, 2022 PR-2022-148514; GF-2022-154617 801 BOULDIN AVENUE 36 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1940-50 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH The 2016 Bouldin Creek neighborhood survey describes the house as a Ranch-style dwelling constructed of clay tile bricks. It has a cross-gabled roof and partial-width porch supported by boxed columns. The house is 1.5 stories in height and features a basement-level front-facing garage. Windows include 1:1 wood and painted 6-light casements. 801 Bouldin Avenue, historically addressed as 803 Bouldin Avenue, was constructed around 1947 for Dale and Lula Elsner. After Lula Elsner’s death that same year,1 the home was sold to Joe M. and Cathryne Franklin, who moved from Galveston to work in state education.2 Joe Franklin was a supervisor at the State Education Agency, while Cathryne Franklin worked as a librarian and served with the Texas Association of School Librarians.3 By 1959, the home’s primary occupants were Malcom Thurgood and his family. Thurgood, a noted local artist, worked out of the home until around 1962, when he moved his studio to Wimberley. Thurgood was well-known as an instructor, as well as for his illustrations of frontier Texas life for the University of Texas Press, Von Boeckmann-Jones, and other local publishers. PROPERTY EVALUATION The 2016 Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Survey lists the property as a medium priority and a contributing property to a potential historic district. 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 is associated with noted local artist Malcom Thurgood, serving as his home and studio from 1959 to 1962. Thurgood was well-known as an instructor, as well as for his illustrations of frontier Texas life for the University of Texas Press, Von Boeckmann-Jones, and other local publishers. 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 Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse but release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. 1 The Austin American (1914-1973); 11 May 1947: 18. 2 “64 Newcomers Welcomed at Party.” The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); 31 Oct 1947: 15. 3 “Victoria Man Gets Award.” The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); 12 July 1971: 4. LOCATION MAP 36 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 36 – 3 Google Street View, 2022 36 – 4 36 – 5 Demolition permit application, 2022 Occupancy History City Directory Research, October 2022 Malcolm Thurgood, renter Commercial artist 1959 1955 1952 1949 1947 Joe M. and Cathryne S. Franklin, owners Supervisor, State Education Agency Librarian, University of Texas Joe M. and Cathryne S. Franklin, owners Investigator University of Texas Joe M. and Cathryne S. Franklin, owners Training facilities specialist Librarian, University of Texas Dale L. and Lula M. Elsner, owners Salesman, Constant Service Historical information 36 – 6 “ART SHOW LEADERS.” The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); 17 Apr 1951: 15. 36 – 7 “WRITERS-ILLUSTRATORS.” The Austin American (1914-1973); 09 Dec 1956: B10. “The Ordination Of a Clergyman.” The Austin American (1914-1973); 23 May 1954: B1. 36 – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); 12 July 1959: B11. The Austin American (1914-1973); 10 Jan 1960: C3. 36 – 9 “Thurgood Services Held Here.” The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); 18 May 1961: A12. “Those of the Cult.” Thurgood, Malcolm. The Austin American (1914-1973); 18 Dec 1966: T25. 36 – 10 The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; 11 Apr 1976: F6. Permits Sewer service permit, 1935