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19 – 1 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS FEBRUARY 7, 2024 HR-2024-005147 SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 603 RED RIVER STREET PROPOSAL Remodel a ca. 1889-1900 building from a bar to a restaurant. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 1) Repair and repaint the existing brick façade. 2) Remove non-historic accretions and connections at secondary elevations. Add a new shade structure and plantings at the north elevation. 3) Add brick detail on the west façade. 4) Retain the existing openings and replace the storefront. Reopen infilled openings at secondary elevations. 5) Replace awning. One-story masonry garage building with two bay doors, a metal awning with enlarged brackets, simple cornice detailing, and infilled arched openings at secondary elevations. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH The building at 603 Red River Street, alternately addressed as 601 and 605 Red River Street, was most likely first constructed as a one-bay frame structure with a stovepipe visible on 1889 Sanborn maps. By 1900, the building was reclad, and a masonry addition had been built to add the second (northernmost) bay. It appears to have been built and used as a blacksmith shop until 1920, when it was converted to an auto service station; by 1935 an addition had been constructed. A motorcycle and automobile repair shop shared the building until 1927, when both halves were occupied by Raven’s Garage. Raven’s stayed in business until at least 1959. Jesse L. Raven, a World War I veteran who enlisted at eighteen, opened the shop upon his return from the war. Raven was also an officer of the American Legion and executive officer of the Texas State Rifle Association; he remained a nationally recognized top marksman for much of the early twentieth century. According to a 2015 staff report by Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky for the Raven family home in Travis Heights (which was later demolished, despite the staff recommendation for landmark designation), the Raven’s Garage legacy continued after its days as a functional garage ended: Jesse Raven, along with his brother, Louis, grew up in Austin and were auto mechanics from a very early age. They opened Raven’s Garage at 605 Red River Street in the early 1920s and were in business at that location until around 1980. The building on Red River Street was then a live music club called Raven’s Garage for a couple of years in the 1980s, and later became Emo’s, the stalwart of Austin’s downtown punk music scene.1 DESIGN STANDARDS The City of Austin’s Historic Design Standards (March 2021) are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and are used to evaluate projects in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations The proposed project appears to remove mostly non-historic accretions at the back and side of the building. The proposed replacement arbor appears appropriate. The proposed project replaces the existing historic-age awning but appears to use existing attachment points. While the replacement awning appears visually light and does not obscure the historic portion of the building, a more rustic style incorporating existing brackets would likely be more appropriate for this historic blacksmith shop, garage, and punk venue. The proposed project paints only previously painted brick, which is compatible. However, adding new brick detailing may 1 Sadowsky, Steve. 2015. Demolition and Relocation Permits: HDP-2014-1152, 1106 Travis Heights Boulevard. 19 – 2 give the appearance of false historicism, which is not compatible. The proposed enlargement of the west elevation bay door opening is not appropriate unless existing non-historic infill can be documented; if infill exists, removing it is appropriate provided that the original masonry is not damaged. The reopening of enclosed windows and doorway at secondary elevations is appropriate, and replacement windows and storefront appear compatible. Summary The project mostly meets the applicable standards. The applicant has amended the proposal to reduce masonry alteration at the building’s façade. PROPERTY EVALUATION The 2022 Sixth Street Snapshot resurvey lists the property as contributing to the Sixth Street National Register Historic District. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. Its period of significance also extends beyond the 50-year cutoff to 1980, as it may meet the qualification for exceptional importance as defined by National Register Bulletin 22, National Park Service (1996). See 3.d. 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 meets criteria: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of early auto-oriented architecture. b. Historical association. The property is associated with the shift in development and settlement patterns around the early twentieth century, as transportation shifted from horses to automobiles. The shift from a blacksmith shop to an auto service center exemplifies this widespread trend. 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 building appears to be eligible under Criterion G for properties of exceptional importance achieving significance within the past 50 years. Its association with Austin’s punk scene began ca. 1980, only 6 years shy of the 50-year cutoff for typical landmark designation. e. Landscape feature. The property does not appear to be a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. COMMITTEE FEEDBACK STAFF RECOMMENDATION Retain historic awning brackets or show them in renderings. Paint brick only if previously painted and investigate the feasibility of removing existing paint from the brick. Retain auto-oriented business elements to the greatest extent possible. Do not enlarge existing openings. Comment on plans, concurring with Committee feedback and requesting that the applicant omit door enlargement and new brick detailing at the central bay, as modifications to the building’s original masonry may preclude future landmark designation; additionally, request that original awning brackets are stored on-site for later reinstallation. The applicant has amended the proposal to accommodate staff and Committee feedback. LOCATION MAP 19 – 3 19 – 4 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos Texas Historical Commission. [Raven's Garage, (West elevation)], photograph, February 18, 1975; https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth671827/ Texas Historical Commission. [Raven's Garage, (Northwest oblique)], photograph, February 18, 1975; https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth671553/ Texas Historical Commission, n.d. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth675462/ 19 – 5 1935. PICA 01339, Austin History Center, courtesy of UNT Portal To Texas History: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123916/m1/1/ 1940, 1958, and 1965 aerial images, https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/home/ 2024 historic review application 19 – 6 19 – 7 Google Street View/Google Earth, 2022-23 Occupancy History City Directory Research, August 2023 1959 605 Red River St. Raven’s Garage Auto Repair 1955 1952 1949 1944 1941 1939 1935 1932 1929 1927 1916 1914 1912 1906 1924 603 1922 605 1920 603-05 1918 603-05 Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage Raven’s Garage J. B. Smith motorcycle repair Raven and Giese auto repair Fred Mask Auto Repair G. E. Nenna, blacksmith 1900 605 Blacksmith shop Historical Information 19 – 8 19 – 9 1889, 1894, 1900, 1935 Sanborn maps 19 – 10 Sadowsky, Steve. Demolition And Relocation Permits: HDP-2014-1152, 1106 Travis Heights Boulevard, February 23, 2015. The Statesman (1916-1921); Austin, Tex.. 04 Oct 1918: 10. 19 – 11 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 June 1921: 12. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Apr 1926: 8. 19 – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 25 May 1927: 10. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 30 Aug 1931: 12. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Apr 1933: 5. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 29 Mar 1934: 8. 19 – 13 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 16 June 1940: A6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 July 1935: 6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 Apr 1934: 7. 19 – 14 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 18 May 1934: 2. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 May 1964: 20. Permits 19 – 15