24.0 - 4605 Caswell Ave — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JULY 3, 2024 PR-2024-063202; GF-2024-072979 4605 CASWELL AVENUE 24 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1938 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH PROPERTY EVALUATION One-story bungalow with horizontal and vertical wood siding, 6:6 wood windows, a partial width inset porch, and a side- gabled roofline. The house at 4605 Caswell Avenue was built in 1938 by E. Jessen, who may have been businesswoman Ella Jessen of the Von Boeckmann-Jones Printing Company. Jessen, however, never lived in the house. Its first residents were T.B. and Alice Phillips, who operated a package store. They sold the house after only a year to Corley F. and Florence B. Smith, co- founders of the Austin Air Conditioner Co. Corley Smith later worked as a loan appraiser for Citizens National Bank.1 The 2021 North Central Austin historic resource survey lists the property as a contributing building in potential local and National Register historic districts. 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 is a good example of a 1930s vernacular structure with Minimal Traditional stylistic elements. to have ever lived there. history or prehistory of the region. b. Historical association. The property was constructed by businesswoman Ella Jessen, though she does not appear c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human 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 over demolition, but release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. 1 North Central Austin Historic Resource Survey, 2021. https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Housing_%26_Planning/Historic%20Preservation/Historic%20Surveys/2021_NC A_WestCampus_NUni_Heritage_BrykerWoods_NHydePark/Appendix-C_Survey-Forms-1-page_FINAL_Part-2.pdf LOCATION MAP 24 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 24 – 3 Demolition permit application, 2024 Occupancy History City Directory Research, June 2024 1970 1965 1959 1955 1949 1944 1940 Corley F. and Florence B. Smith, owners – representative, Citizens’ National Bank Corley F. and Florence B. Smith, owners – representative, Citizens’ National Bank Corley F. and Florence B. Smith, owners – president, Austin Air Conditioning Company Corley F. and Florence Smith, owners – mechanic, Heating and Ventilating Co. Corley F. and Florence A. Smith, owners – president, Heating and Ventilating Co. Corley F. Smith, owner T.B. and Sue H. Phillips, owners – manager, Alcoholic Beverage Co. Historical Information The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Mar 1939: 16. 24 – 4 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 11 Mar 1950: 1. Permits Building permit, 1938 Building permit for accessory structure, 1958