15.0 - 709 E 6th St — original pdf

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15 – 1 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS MARCH 6, 2024 HR-2024-017546 SIXTH STREET NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 709 EAST SIXTH STREET PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Rehabilitate building, add metal awnings, replace storefront, and repoint brick. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS North Elevation: Add a new metal awning to this building per 1970s photo. Repair and repoint the existing brick wall as needed and maintain the existing lighting on the storefront. Replace the existing storefront. One-story masonry commercial building with transom windows above awning, simple detailing at cornice, and a stepped walkway to a basement level at Waller Creek. The building at 709 East Sixth Street, addressed throughout the years as 705-709 East Sixth Street, was built around 1906. It first served as the grocery store of Abraham Tannous and his family, lauded as “the best-known Syrian” in Austin in his 1923 obituary. Tannous shared the space with a jeweler, a confectioner, and various private rentals at the rear of the shops. After his retirement, the building housed Mamie and George Hodges’ fruit stand and soda fountain, Charles Gregory’s jewelry store, and a variety of smaller groceries. By the late 1930s, Abraham Nassour and Namie Jacob had taken up the grocery businesses in the building, though by the mid-forties, Nassour transitioned his business to Abe’s Place, a package store. Nassour had previously run a saloon at 721 East Sixth Street alongside his brother, also a grocer. The brothers, born in Beirut, were also part of the larger community of Syrian and Lebanese merchants who helped to establish 6th Street as a bustling business district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 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 1. General standards The proposed project removes mostly non-historic material. 4. Exterior walls and trim The proposal includes repair of historic-age brick. 11. Commercial storefronts The proposed storefront and awning are appropriate in scale and design for the district. Summary The project meets the applicable standards. The applicant has amended the design to reflect Committee feedback. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property is listed as noncontributing to the Sixth Street National Register district, but the 2022 Sixth Street Snapshot resurvey recommends 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. 2) The building appears to retain high integrity, though the storefront has been replaced. 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 for landmark designation: 15 – 2 a. Architecture. The building is a one-part commercial block with limited architectural distinction. b. Historical association. The property is associated with the Tannous and Nassour families. 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. However, continued research into the Lebanese and Syrian business community who helped to establish 6th Street as a center of commerce may further reveal this building’s role in their success. e. Landscape feature. The property is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. COMMITTEE FEEDBACK Remove ivy and non-historic sconces. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Comment on plans. LOCATION MAP 15 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 15 – 4 Google Street View, 2022 Occupancy History City Directory Research, June 2022 1959 1955 1952 1947 Address listed as 705-709 E 6th Street 705 E 6th Street – Vacant 705 ½ E 6th Street – Vacant 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (grocery) 709 E 6th Street – Austin Bar 705 E 6th Street – Travis Finance Company 705 ½ E 6th Street – Vacant 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (grocery) 709 E 6th Street – Austin Bar 705 E 6th Street – Villalpando Barber Shop 705 ½ E 6th Street – Original Café 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (grocery) 709 E 6th Street – Abe’s Place (beer) 705 E 6th Street – Louis G. Cazares Package Store 705 ½ E 6th Street – Original Café (restaurant) 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (grocery) 15 – 5 709 E 6th Street – Abe’s Place (beer) Basement – Frank O. Gustafson 705 E 6th Street – Louis Barber Shop 705 ½ E 6th Street – Original Café (restaurant) 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (fish) 709 E 6th Street – Abe’s Place (beer) Basement – Frank O. Gustafson Rear – Vacant 705 E 6th Street – East Side Barber 705 ½ E 6th Street – Mack Martinez (restaurant) 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (grocery) 709 E 6th Street – Nassour Abr (grocery) 705 E 6th Street – Eagle Bakery 707 E 6th Street – Namie Jacob (grocery) 709 E 6th Street – Abraham Nassour (grocery) 705 E 6th Street – J. E. Barker (meats); Mamie Hodges (fruits) 707 E 6th Street – John Mecey (soft drinks) 709 E 6th Street – Hokey-Pokey Grocery 705 E 6th Street – Alamo Market 707 E 6th Street – John Mecey (soft drinks) 709 E 6th Street – Virgil McPhail (grocery) 705 E 6th Street – D. G. Hodges (fruits); C. G. Gregory (jeweler) 709 E 6th Street – Joseph Salem (grocery) Jose Ruis, renter Funinodo Ruis, renter Rafael Cardenas, renter 705 E 6th Street – Simon Chiappero (confectioner); Mrs. M. Gregory, renter 709 E 6th Street – George Hodges (soft drinks) 705 E 6th Street – Charles T. Gregory (jeweler); Simon Chiappero (confectioner) 709 E 6th Street – Abraham Tannous (grocery) Bonifacio B. Romero, renter 705 E 6th Street – Charles T. Gregory (jeweler); Simon Chiappero (confectioner) 709 E 6th Street – Abraham Tannous (grocery); Gregorio Gonzales, renter; Bidala Escajida, renter 705 E 6th Street – Charles T. Gregory (jeweler); Edwin D. Crawford (installment goods) 709 E 6th Street – Abraham Tannous (grocery) Abraham Tannous - (general merchandise) Rear – Lula Jackson, renter; Jesse Carden, renter; Sarah Smith, renter. Note: the directory indicates that Jackson, Carden, and Smith are African American. 1944 1941 1937 1932 1927 1924 1920 1916 1912 1909 1906 Historical information 15 – 6 Sanborn map, 1962 Sanborn map, 1935 15 – 7 Sanborn map, 1900 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 03 Sep 1910: 8. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 04 Oct 1913: 2. 15 – 8 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 07 May 1915: 4. The Statesman (1916-1921); Austin, Tex.. 05 Aug 1919: 8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 Oct 1923: 1 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 Oct 1923: 5. 15 – 9 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Dec 1923: 3. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 July 1923: 8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 24 Sep 1926: 9. 15 – 10 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Aug 1932: 2. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 June 1941: 3. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 Mar 1942: 20 15 – 11 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 20 Jan 1943: 5. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 29 Apr 1943: 2. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Nov 1949: 7B. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 20 Oct 1953: 7. 15 – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 07 May 1957: 3. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Aug 1957: 11. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Oct 1958: 17. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 July 1969: 13. Permits 15 – 13 Sign permit, 1980 Building permit, 1979 Sign permit, 1977 Building permit, 1969