19.0 - 2802 Pearce Rd — original pdf

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19 – 1 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS MARCH 6, 2024 PR-2023-158329; GF-2023-161497 2802 PEARCE LANE PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Demolish a house constructed between 1910 and 1930 and an outbuilding constructed in 1972. One-story rustic cabin with a Craftsman-style, shingle-clad front gable; deep front porch supported by simple posts atop massive, tapered stone piers; 6:6 wood windows; massive rubble fireplace, and rustic stone cladding throughout. The rear portion of the building appears to be a later addition, as is the secondary structure on the lot; however, neither appears to impact the integrity of the original structure. As the property was annexed in 1982, historic-age research is largely unavailable from public sources. However, TCAD records indicate that the building’s legal description is Lot 1 of the Leigh Subdivision, with the plat filed in 1968, and that Mrs. Amelia Leigh, wife of the late Horage R. Leigh, owned the property. During the 1940s, the Leighs lived in Gonzales, and during the ‘50s, they lived across the river bend on Mt. Barker Drive. It is likely that they used the property as a vacation home or fishing cabin, and that it represents one of the earliest recreational uses of this area. Amelia Freeman Leigh was a Fort Worth native and businesswoman. After graduating from business school, she moved to Austin and worked for the IRS for ten years. Leigh was the first woman to be appointed to the position of Deputy Collector of the IRS. She married Horace Rudgley Leigh in 1946, and the family moved to Gonzales, where H. R. Leigh operated a car dealership.1 The building is directly adjacent to the Ski Shores marina. Aerial photographs show that the building was associated with small-scale farmland into the 1940s, though TCAD records indicate it was built in 1910. PROPERTY EVALUATION Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high 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 good example of Texas vernacular architecture, combining classic Craftsman styling with rough rustic stone and unpainted woodwork. b. Historical association. The property is associated with Amelia F. Leigh, the first woman appointed to the position of Deputy Collector of the IRS; however, her relationship with the property as a vacation home is unclear. It also appears to be associated with early recreational use prior to the development of the nearby marina. 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 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 was not evaluated for its ability to possess a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. 1 Obituary of Amelia Freeman Leigh. Dignity Memorial, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/amelia-leigh- 9387041 STAFF RECOMMENDATION If the Commission feels that the limited information available about the property’s historic use and construction date is sufficient to meet the criteria for designation, initiate historic zoning. Otherwise, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse but release the demolition upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. 19 – 2 LOCATION MAP 19 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 19 – 4 19 – 5 19 – 6 Photos courtesy of Comm. Ben Heimsath, 2024 Google Street View, 2023 19 – 7 Demolition permit application, 2023 Occupancy history and City permits not available. Tree inspection, 2023 Historical Information 19 – 8 19 – 9 1940 aerial photograph 1965 aerial photograph showing early marina at Ski Shores The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 Oct 1944: 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 18 Dec 1946: 8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 Mar 1968: 9. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 12 Apr 1968: 7. Dignity Memorial, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/amelia-leigh-9387041 19 – 10