16.bb - 2307 Windsor Rd #2 - public comment — original pdf

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From: To: Subject: Date: Attachments: Rochlen, Aaron B Contreras, Kalan; HPD Preservation; Fahnestock, Sam; Castillo, Raymond - BC; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Larosche, Carl - BC; BC-Jamie.Alvarez@austintexas.gov; Evans, Roxanne - BC; Rubio, JuanRaymon - BC; Grogan, Harmony - BC; Dudley, Tara - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC Case Number GF 24-030562; Opposition to Demolition of 2307 Windsor Road #2 Monday, April 29, 2024 2:41:32 PM 2342BD21-7162-46FA-BAA4-042861814ECD[47].png External Email - Exercise Caution Dear Chairman and Commissioners, My family and I reside at 2212 East Windsor and have lived in Austin for 24 years. I’m a Professor at UT. Our property is currently next to the 2307 Windsor Road #2 property/home up for demolition consideration. I recently read the email written by Mr. Donosi and thought it was excellent. His email perfectly captured how it meets the criteria for historical designation for the reasons of Architecture, Historical, Associations, and Landscape Features. In this e-mail, I just wanted to go a bit further about the historical importance of the property to the LGBTQ community. Granted, I don’t have the time to line up speakers for this part of the historical importance. But I’ve talked to many leaders in the community to provide the below summary. I also think this is another reason I’d advocate for a “delay” here to gather more information. In the 80’s and 90s, this property where Trueman O’Quinn’s son Kerry lived was a “safe place” for the LGBTQ community in Austin. The property, was referred to as “Camp Queer”, and served as a refuge where gay men were welcome to be themselves and enjoy community. The turquoise gate that was originally from the Texas Capitol building served as a landmark to the gay community. This was a marker of the private space beyond. The bathrooms near the playground and all along Parkway were well known places where gay people met up with essentially the “gay zone” being delineated by the bathrooms to the south and ended with the turquoise gate to the north of this property. Among many artistics interests and accomplishments, Kerry O’Quinn directed a short fillm called “Queerantine.” Obviously you are well aware —— Austin has seen significant threats to the queer built environment. Bars and nightclubs that have long provided Austin’s gay community with safe space have been threatened, and the City has made efforts to include gay history in our Austin story. We believe this home should not be demolished, in part due to its historical significance to the gay community and place in our history. Here is the very cool property in a short video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzpVc51ubZW/ Thank you — please consider this note submitted from our entire family. Aaron, Paula, Dylan, Bella. --------------------------------------------------------- Aaron Rochlen, Ph.D. Area Chair Counseling Psychology/Counselor Education Department of Educational Psychology 512.471.0361 --------------------------------------------------------- CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov."