5.0 - C14H-2024-0115 - Freida Walter Bohn House — original pdf

Backup

CASE NUMBER: C14H- 2024-0115 HLC DATE: September 4, 2024 PC DATE: TBD CC Date: TBD ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET APPLICANT: Phoebe Allen (owner-initiated) HISTORIC NAME: Freida and Walter Bohn House WATERSHED: Shoal Creek ADDRESS OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE: 906 W. 17th Street ZONING CHANGE: SF-3 to SF-3-H COUNCIL DISTRICT: 9 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the proposed zoning change from family residence (SF-3) to family residence-historic landmark (SF-3-H) combining district zoning. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION: architecture and historical associations. HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ACTION: 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, Capital Metro, Del Valle Community Coalition, East Austin Conservancy, El Concilio Mexican- American Neighborhoods, Friends of Austin Neighborhoods, Greater East Austin Neighborhood Association, Guadalupe Association for an Improved Neighborhood, Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation, Homeless Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Empowerment Foundation, Neighbors United for Progress, Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods, Plaza Saltillo TOD Staff Liaison, Preservation Austin, SELTexas, Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group, Tejano Town 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 Frieda & Walter Bohn House is an excellent example of a Craftsman bungalow designed by Austin luminary Hugo Kuehne. Notably, Kuehne worked on the building twice, as he designed the initial structure and returned, more than twenty years later, to add stylistic updates as the Bohn family’s needs changed. The application for historic zoning, compiled by Phoebe Allen, describes the building’s architectural merits: The Frieda & Walter Bohn House was built in 1924 on Outlot 16 on Seventeenth Street between San Gabriel and Pearl Streets…An asymmetrical wing plan, the house has a wood frame; upper walls are stucco with wood trim, and the lower story is brown brick veneer. There is one central, interior brick chimney…The low-pitched, metal gable roof with rafter tails and overhanging eaves has two side dormers; the roof was originally cedar shakes, which the Bohns replaced with asphalt shingles. Windows are double hung with wood sashes; decorative Craftsman wood screens are on the windows and front door. Windows are one over one, most panes with original wavy glass. Six expansive windows in the dining room feature diamond shaped panels…Windows of the upper half-story of the house are in the gable ends of the roof and side dormers…According to Conrad Bohn, the first piano that arrived in Texas, inherited from his mother’s family, was lifted by a crane above the front porch and to the attic door…Both front doors, original to the [Hugo Kuehne] 1958-59 remodel, are wooden and feature raised concentric circles inside and out…Raised wood panels are on either side of and above the door, replacing the original glass lights. The front door at the southwest dormer was used as an entry to Walter Bohn's office, which was configured in 1958. […] Gardens surround the house…A concrete retaining wall is on the east side of the driveway. The front entry features cement steps and entry walk with tiled stairs and front porch, which is partially covered by a flat roof supported by cast iron filigree posts on tiled brick piers capped with concrete. The south facing front veranda is full width with an L-shape around the east side…A stone retaining wall lies along the rear property line…Walter's father had [sidewalks] installed while Walter and Frieda were away on their honeymoon.1 § 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 historic time. The house at 906 West 17th Street was built by lauded Austin architect Hugo Kuehne for the Bohn family, who lived there for almost fifty years. Walter Bohn, an influential Austin businessman and real estate developer from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. Walter Bohn began working his way up at the Bohn Brothers department store, founded in 1892 by his father and uncles, at the age of fifteen. After his marriage to Freida Amthor in 1924, Bohn chose Kuehne to construct his home; the Bohn brothers selected Kuehne to remodel their Congress Avenue store five years later. While managing the merchandising and dry goods departments at the store, Bohn also worked as a travel agent and was a founding member of the Capital National Bank. He later opened his own financial institution, the City National Bank, with partner John Burns. Bohn left the department store after 36 years to work with Burns and R. B. Rylander in real estate. According to applicant and historian Phoebe Allen, “[Walter Bohn] was the owner and developer of Windsor Village, which opened in 1960 with its initial center designed by architects Fehr & Granger, and was a part owner…of Casis Village, Ford Village and six or seven other shopping centers; all were eventually sold. The partners opened a warehouse in Austin and sent a fleet of trucks to San Antonio to buy goods to sell at…Rylander’s Grocery, the center of each shopping center…” According to son Conrad Bohn, Walter Bohn also developed the Rivercrest Subdivision on Lake Austin, where they had constructed a weekend fishing lodge years before. PARCEL NO.: 0211010408 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: CEN 80 FT OF S 137 FT OF OLT 16 DIVISION E ESTIMATED ANNUAL TAX EXEMPTION (homestead, capped): AISD $3,500.00 COA $2,500.00 TC $2,500.00 TC Health $960.84 Total $9,460.84 APPRAISED VALUE: Land: $931,600; Improvement: $727,001; Total: $1,658,601 CURRENT USE: Residence CURRENT OWNER: Dr. Janet and Bob Swaffar DATE BUILT/PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1924-1970 INTEGRITY/ALTERATIONS: High. The rear second story, office door and sidelights, and filigreed front columns were added by the original architect during the period of significance. An outbuilding was constructed in the early 2000s on the site of the original garage but is minimally visible. Attic and rear windows were installed in 1980 but do not compromise the building’s overall integrity. OTHER HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS: None 1 Allen, Phoebe. "Freida & Walter Bohn House, 906 W. 17th Street." Historic zoning application, 2024. LOCATION MAP