13.6 - 4200 Wilshire - owner letter — original pdf

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Dear City of Austin & Historic Landmark Commission, My name is Meghan Hughes, and I am writing to express the utmost importance of demolishing my current home that I own at 4200 Wilshire Parkway. My goal is to create a safe and beautifully designed dwelling, utilizing long-time Austin locals - Engineers, Contractors, and Architects.  For over 17 years I’ve been a resident of 4200 Wilshire Parkway, I am very active in my community. I volunteer with the neighborhood association and have adopted Boggy Creek @ Airport Blvd. , and regularly clean the creek with my neighbors. I walk my dog everyday in the neighborhood and am engaged with the residents of Cherrywood.  Prior to submitting the demolition application I went out of my way to inform my neighbors of my intentions, making my home plans available, and having the team available for questions. At the time of writing this letter, I am planning to host an open-house with the design and construction team as a courtesy to the neighborhood. My team is working to design and build a high-quality personal residence, not a speculative development for sale, that is sensitive to the neighboring context, trees, and the character of the neighborhood. This home was built in 1947 and has old inefficient windows, little insulation, rotten siding, doors that don’t fully lock (in fact an intruder broke into my bedroom two summers ago because of this issue), an HVAC system and ductwork that are over 30 years past their life expectancy with mold throughout the ducts, and a foundation that is in literal shambles, and doesn’t use best practices that we now have in 2024.  A renovation of this home would be a significant and unreasonable hardship, resulting in too great of a financial burden to bare for a compromised end result, as there is a lack of valuable or potentially reusable materials, assemblies, and systems in the house, and due to obsolete building standards and construction practices that were utilized in 1947. A new home would greatly improve the existing conditions of the property, as well as improve my own health, safety, and welfare for years to come. The City of Austin has just completed a gorgeous improvement of the Pharr Tennis Center at Patterson Park, across the street from my home. I believe the improvements proposed at my property, supplemented by the recent improvements of the Pharr Tennis Facility, will continue to support a safe and well-maintained neighborhood which in turn attracts more residents, and fosters a sense of pride in ownership and community. I eagerly await your positive response and the opportunity to embark on this once in a lifetime journey. Kindest Regards, Meghan Hughes