20.9 - 4200 Wilshire Pkwy - neighborhood letter — original pdf

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July 28, 2024 City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission Re: Case numbers: 2024-064449 PR (Demolition) 2024-085976 HR (New Construction) Dear Commissioners, I am writing, as President of the Wilshire Wood/Delwood 1 Neighborhood Association, in support of the request being made to the City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission and Planning Department by homeowner Megan Hughes and her architect Ian Ellis for the demolition permit and building permit needed to pursue their planned new home construction at 4200 Wilshire Parkway, Austin, TX. 78722. That address is within the boundaries of the Wilshire Wood/Delwood 1 Neighborhood. I support the two requests for the following reasons: • I have been briefed personally, while reviewing schematics, documents, etc. that the existing building to be demolished has structural foundation problems that preclude working with the existing slab and other structural elements on any restoration or as part of any new construction. • I have extensively reviewed Meghan’s plans for her new build, and conclude that Meghan and architect Ian Ellis have come up with a very neighborhood-sensitive design, as regards materials, scale, massing, and design compatibility – including height – with other homes on the street. Their design in fact follows recommendations in the City of Austin’s own, recently updated Historic Design Standards for new construction. I was on the Committee that wrote those new City of Austin Historic Design Standards, that were formally adopted by the City of Austin in November 2022. (I was invited to be on that committee by Cara Bertron, who ran that committee and who is still at the City in the Planning department. See page 3 of the document linked above, for the reference to my participation.) I’d comment in particular that the design proposed by Meghan and Ian follows the design prescriptions outlined in the chapter of the COA Historic Design Standards called “Residential New Construction” – specifically Section 5 of that chapter with guidelines for “Design and Style.” Please let me know if I can provide any more input or answer questions. Thank you, David Keene • President, Wilshire Wood/Delwood 1 Neighborhood Association (WWD1 NA) – also representing the Wilshire National Historic District. The WWD1 NA is officially registered with the City of Austin. • Section 106 Committee (that reviews project impact on historic properties and historic districts), Project Connect Austin, representing WWD1. I was appointed to this committee by the U.S. Department of Transportation. • Section 106 Committee Consultant representing WWD1, TxDOT Interstate-35 Capital Express Central Project. 4208 Lullwood Rd. Austin, TX 78722 Phone (512) 922 8413 Email: