13.0 - 4200 Wilshire Pkwy — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS JULY 3, 2024 PR-2024-064449; GF-2024-073048 WILSHIRE WOOD NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 4200 WILSHIRE PARKWAY 13 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1947 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story cross-gabled house clad in siding and cut-stone veneer, with multilight steel casement windows and a front-facing garage. The house at 4200 Wilshire Parkway was built in 1947 by developers Bradfield and Brush. Its earliest occupants were William and Rachel Willis. William Willis worked at the Bireley’s Beverages bottling plant on Fifth Street. By the late 1950s, the Willises had sold the property to Charles L. and Bessie Simonsen. The Simonsens, a retired couple, had moved from Pittsburgh to be closer to their son, who taught chemistry at the University of Texas. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Wilshire Wood National Register district. 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 does not meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building does not appear to convey architectural significance. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have significant historical associations. 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 does not 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 is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation or deconstruction over demolition, but release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. The Historic Landmark Commission must review plans for new construction prior to release of the demolition permit within National Register districts. LOCATION MAP 13 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 13 – 3 13 – 4 Demolition permit application, 2024 Occupancy History City Directory Research, June 2024 1959 1952 1949 Address not listed Historical Information Charles L. and Bessie Simonsen, owners William F. and Rachel Willis, owners –Bireley’s Beverages (bottling plant) The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Sep 1952: A27. 13 – 5 Bode, Mary Jane.  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Aug 1958: 6. 13 – 6 Permits The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 26 Aug 1958: 6 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 Apr 1967: C10.