32.0 - 6804 Mesa Dr — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS DECEMBER 13, 2023 PR-2023-138200; GF-2023-147641 6804 MESA DRIVE 32 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1962 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Mid-century Modern house designed by architect David Barrow, Jr. The Austin American notes its U-shaped plan around a central courtyard, expansive sliding glass doors and walls, and long covered porch.1 The house at 6804 Mesa Drive was constructed in 1962 by David B. Barrow and designed by architect David B. Barrow, Jr. for the 1962 Parade of Homes. Barrow and his father, David Barrow, Sr.—a long-time developer, realtor, and Planning Commissioner—were instrumental in establishing the Northwest Hills neighborhood and promoting its picturesque, hilled landscape as an ideal place for midcentury luxury homes. Barrow, Jr. studied under Harwell Hamilton Harris at the University of Texas and was the only student who went on to work for Harris’ Dallas firm as an associate. He joined Chuck Stahl to form Barrow & Stahl in the 1960s. David Barrow, Sr. and his associates in the Austin Corporation employed Barrow & Stahl for most of the planning and engineering services as Northwest Hills developed. 2 6804 Mesa was named the “Far Hills View Home” in the 1962 Parade of Homes. “Planned especially for its site,” reads the Austin American article featuring the home and its role in the Parade, “Far Hills View Home has been expertly constructed to blend with its surroundings.”3 In her National Register nomination for another Northwest Hills model home, Karen Twer discusses the importance of the Parade of Homes in Austin’s development history: By building model houses for events like the Parade of Homes, builders and developers could highlight the attractive and livable qualities of their volume-built houses and market new suburban developments to masses of potential homebuyers. As a kind of conceptual show window, their model houses needed to be centrally located…Not bounded by the existing urban landscape, developers could create the kind of neighborhoods second-time middle-class homebuyers were seeking. By hosting Parade of Homes events in outlying areas of growing cities, developers and builders were influential in shaping the suburban development of expanding cities like Austin. […] Builders and developers relied on architects to design the kind of distinctive houses that would rival custom-built houses…Model houses built for the Parade of Homes were collaborative interpretations of the kind of modern domestic lifestyle homebuyers dreamt of…In the 1960s, [Austin’s] Parade of Homes events continued focusing on largely undeveloped areas south and northwest of the city. In 1961, it was in Highland Hills, a neighborhood nestled between what is today the Mopac Expressway and Northwest Hills. In 1962, the event was held in David Barrow Sr.’s Northwest Hills development…. In addition to the spectacle the events provided Austinites, Austin builders and developers understood the mass-marketing opportunity the Parade of Homes offered.4 During the 1970s, commercial real estate developer and broker Raymond Brown lived in the home. Brown, who appears to have been a close associate of the Barrows, also served as director of the Northwest Savings Association alongside David Barrow, Sr. and David Barrow, Jr. 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. Windows were replaced in 2012, though it is not clear if openings were altered at that time. 1 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 Nov 1962: D7. 2 Barnes, Michael. “Life flourishes on both sides of Northwest Hills in Austin.” 2008. statesman.com/story/news/2018/06/27/life- flourishes-on-both-sides-of-northwest-hills-in-austin/9997730007 3 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 Nov 1962: D7. 4 Twer, Karen. “National Register Nomination Form: 4022 Greenhill Place.” 2019. https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/Austin%2C%20The%20Hanako%20NR%20SBR%20Draft.pdf 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: 32 – 2 a. Architecture. The building is an example of mid-century Modern design by architect David Barrow Jr. for the 1962 Parade of Homes, prior to his collaboration with Chuck Stahl; together, Barrow and Stahl provided most of the planning and engineering services for the Austin Corporation’s developing Northwest Hills area. Its distinct U-shaped plan is designed to respond to the lot’s topography. b. Historical association. The property appears to be associated with Raymond Brown, real estate developer, broker, and director of the Northwest Savings Association alongside David Barrow Sr. and David Barrow Jr. Furthermore, it is associated with the early period of development into the Northwest Hills area of Austin, emblematic of the city’s postwar changes in development patterns, including the construction of MoPac. The building exemplifies the goals of the Parade of Homes: architect-designed and sited to impress, the Far Hills View Home represented an excellent marketing opportunity for the Barrows and their booming residential development business. 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 was not evaluated for its ability to convey 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 may represent a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. The building was specifically designed to suit the hilly site, and landscape elements intentionally placed to respond to the topography and increase privacy to the large- windowed house. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Consider initiation of historic zoning. Should the Commission decide against historic zoning, release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP 32 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 32 – 4 32 – 5 Demolition permit application, 2023 32 – 6 Google Street View, 2023 Occupancy History City Directory Research, November 2023 Directory research not available for this address Historical Information The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 31 May 1948: 13. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 July 1955: C13 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 31 Jan 1957: 62. 32 – 7 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 11 Nov 1962: D9. 32 – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 Nov 1962: D7.  32 – 9 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 26 Dec 1971: E6. 32 – 10 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 May 1972: 19 32 – 11 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 June 1972: 24. 32 – 12 The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 31 Jan 1975: 9. 32 – 13 KATHY HAWORTH Staff Writer.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 20 Apr 1977: B2. Fitch, Creede. “Barrow and Stahl.” https://creedefitch.com/barrow-stahl-architects 32 – 14 Historic Preservation Office, 2006. Zoning Change Review Sheet: Cranfill-Beacham Apartments. https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=200450 32 – 15 32 – 16 Barnes, Michael. “Life flourishes on both sides of Northwest Hills in Austin.” statesman.com/story/news/2018/06/27/life- flourishes-on-both-sides-of-northwest-hills-in-austin/9997730007 32 – 17 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Hills,_Austin,_Texas#cite_note- FOOTNOTEOrum2002311;_316%E2%80%93320;_325;_343%E2%80%93344-1 Twer, Karen. National Register Nomination Form: 4022 Greenhill Place.” https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/Austin%2C%20The%20Hanako%20NR%20SBR%20Draft.pdf Permits 32 – 18 Building permit, 1962, and addition permit, 1972-73 Building permit for fire damage repair, 1977