7.0 - 900 Spence St — original pdf

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ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET CASE NUMBER: PR-2024-026690; GF-2024-043975 HLC DATES: May 1, 2024; June 5, 2024; July 3,2024; August 7, 2024; September 4, 2024 PC/CC DATES: TBD APPLICANT: Historic Landmark Commission (owner-opposed) HISTORIC NAME: Romo-Johnson House WATERSHED: Lady Bird Lake ADDRESS OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE: 900 Spence Street ZONING CHANGE: SF-3-NP to SF-3-H-NP, East Cesar Chavez NP COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Recommend historic zoning. Alternately, postpone the public hearing to October 2, 2024 to invite the applicant to the next meeting of the Architectural Review Committee to discuss alternatives to demolition. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION: The 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey recommends the building as meeting the criteria for architecture and historical associations. HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ACTION: June 5, 2024 – postpone the public hearing. July 3, 2024 – initiate historic zoning (9-0). PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: CITY COUNCIL ACTION: CASE MANAGER: Kalan Contreras, 512-974-2727 NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS: Austin Independent School District, Austin Lost and Found Pets, Austin Neighborhoods Council, Del Valle Community Coalition, East Austin Conservancy, East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Association, East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Plan Contact Team, East Town Lake Citizens Neighborhood Association, El Concilio MexicanAmerican Neighborhoods, Friends of Austin Neighborhoods, Greater East Austin Neighborhood Association , Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation, Homeless Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Empowerment Foundation, Neighbors United for Progress, Preservation Austin, SELTexas, Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group, Tejano Town, Waterloo Greenway, Willow Spence Historic District Neighborhood Assn. DEPARTMENT COMMENTS: The 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey recommends the building as eligible for designation as a local landmark, contributing to a potential local historic district, and individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION: § 25-2-352(3)(c)(i) Architecture. The property embodies the distinguishing characteristics of a recognized architectural style, type, or method of construction; exemplifies technological innovation in design or construction; displays high artistic value in representing ethnic or folk art, architecture, or construction; represents a rare example of an architectural style in the city; serves as an outstanding example of the work of an architect, builder, or artisan who significantly contributed to the development of the city, state, or nation; possesses cultural, historical, or architectural value as a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian or vernacular structure; or represents an architectural curiosity or one-of-a-kind building. The 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey identifies the property as a good example of the National Folk style. The 1985 Willow-Spence National Register Historic District nomination describes the property as a one- and one-half story wood-frame house with a hipped roof. 1 An inset porch supported by Classical wooden columns stretches across the eastern three-fifths of the front façade, surrounded by squared wooden balusters. The Historic Resources of East Austin National Register nomination describes the building as an exemplar of the pyramidal cottage style.2 § 25-2-352(3)(c)(ii) Historical Associations. The property has long-standing significant associations with persons, groups, institutions, businesses, or events of historical importance that contributed significantly to the history of the city, state, or nation or represents a significant portrayal of the cultural practices or the way of life of a definable group of people in a 1 https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/NR/pdfs/85002264/85002264.pdf 2 https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/ae795ed3-9ae7-41a5-bedd-9474ae3bcf75 historic time. The building is a good example of the overarching demographic themes of twentieth-century Willow-Spence.3 The house, originally addressed as 810 Spence Street, was built in 1915 by Alfred and Caroline Johnson. Alfred Johnson worked as an engineer at the Southland Ice Company. The Johnsons lived in the home for twenty years, after which time it became a rental property. Martha Ann “Mattie” Speir purchased the house after the death of her husband, Nace Emory, in 1943. She took in renters for extra income and lived in the home until her death in 1957. Bastrop natives Bernardino Casarez Romo and Santos Selvera Romo purchased the house in 1957. Married in 1945, the Romo family had 8 children; Bernardino Romo served on the Palm School PTA board. Bernardino Casarez Romo worked as an upholsterer when the family moved into 900 Spence Street around 1959, a career he maintained throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. The Romos retained ownership together until Bernardino Romo’s death at age 97 in 2017, and Santos Romo kept the house until her death in 2021. The East Austin Historic Resource Survey identifies the building’s occupancy history as a significant look into the development and demographic changes that formed the predominant residential development patterns of the Willow-Spence neighborhood during the twentieth century. The first occupants, the Johnsons, were a middle-class Anglo family who owned and built the home. Its next occupant, Martha Speir, was able to purchase the house after her husband’s death with the assistance of a boarder’s rent. As more Mexican American families moved into the area at midcentury, the Romos made 900 Spence Street a home in which to raise their children. According to the East Austin Historic Resource Survey, “…the community south of East 7th Street became increasingly Hispanic…likely due to the decrease in residential property values associated with the fear of industrial development nearby—although…the abandonment of Zavala School, the Pan American Recreation Center, and the Metz School never came to pass.”4 Notably, the Romos went from renting their home to owning it outright. Though the property does not appear to be associated with significant individuals, the house’s overall occupancy history is a good example of the overall settlement patterns of the district. The East Austin Historic Resource survey notes that it is significant as an exemplar of Austin’s residential development at the start of the twentieth century.5 PARCEL NO.: 0203040415 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 15 BLK 4 OLT 31-32 DIV O M K & T ESTIMATED ANNUAL TAX EXEMPTION (non-homestead, not capped): AISD $794.62 COA $824.30 TC $563.32 TC Health $186.18 Total $2,368.43 APPRAISED VALUE: Land: $450,000; Improvement: $144,808; Total: $594,808 PRESENT USE: Vacant DATE BUILT/PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE: ca. 1915/1915-1974 INTEGRITY/ALTERATIONS: The building retains high integrity. Screens have been replaced. PRESENT OWNERS: DMP Austin LLC, 10739 W. Little York Rd Ste 100, HOUSTON, TX 77041-4074 ORIGINAL OWNER(S): Alfred and Caroline Johnson OTHER HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS: The building currently contributes to the Willow-Spence National Register Historic District. 3 HHM, Inc. 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey, Volume IV: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=269305 4 HHM, Inc. 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey, Volume I: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=269307 5 HHM, Inc. 2016 East Austin Historic Resource Survey, Volume IV: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=269305 LOCATION MAP PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos Demolition permit application, 2024 Willow-Spence National Register Historic District Nomination, 1985. https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/NR/pdfs/85002264/85002264.pdf Occupancy History City Directory Research, April 2024 1969 1962 1959 1958 1955 Bernadino and Santos S. Romo, owners – upholsterer, Tru-Fit Boat Seats Bernardino Romo, Jr. – busboy at Terrace Motor Hotel Bernardino and Santos Romo, owners – upholsterer, Wesley H. Pearson Bernardino and Santos Romo, owners – upholsterer, Wesley H. Pearson Bernardino and Santos Romo, renters – upholsterer, Wesley H. Pearson seat covers Mrs. Mattie A. Speir, owner 1952 1949 1944 1941 1939 1935 1929 1924 1922 1920 1918 1916 Mrs. Mattie A. Speir, owner Ralph A. Staples, renter Mrs. Mattie A. Speir, owner (widow of Emory) Mrs. Mattie A. Speir, owner (widow of Nace Emory Speir) John Powell, renter John H. Thompson, renter Jack and Fay Condit, renters – carpenter Thomas and Ena Davis, renters Address listed as 810 Spence St. on 1935 Sanborn map Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners 1930-31 Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners – station engineer David J. and Marie J. Carlson, renters – mechanic, Capitol Chevrolet Address listed as 810 Spence St. Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners – engineer, Southland Ice Co. Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners – engineer, Lone Star Ice Company Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners – engineer, Lone Star Ice Company Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners – engineer, Lone Star Ice Company Alfred and Caroline Johnson, owners – engineer, Lone Star Ice Company Address not listed Historical Information The Austin Statesman and Tribune (1915-1916); Austin, Tex.. 06 Sep 1915: 1. The Austin Statesman and Tribune (1915-1916); Austin, Tex.. 15 Dec 1915: 10. Draft card for Bernardino C. Romo, 1940. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui- content/view/21415416:2238?tid=&pid=&queryId=778d7e2b-f915-461a-8530- e7268b7efe9e&_phsrc=Dbw4&_phstart=successSource Marriage license for Bernardino Casarez Romo and Santos Selvera, 1945. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui- content/view/40648940:9168  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Sep 1943: 17. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 20 Sep 1945: 6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 June 1953: 3. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 Feb 1955: 8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Apr 1957: 18. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 31 Mar 1965: A11. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 27 Mar 1962: 10.  https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/bernardino-romo-7373400 Interior remodel permit, 1962 Permits