20.0 - 1106 Travis Heights Blvd — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS OCTOBER 2, 2024 HR-2024-106503 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT 1106 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD 20.0 – 1 PROPOSAL Construct a rear two-story addition and detached guest house. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 1) Remodel interior of main one-story house, retaining the front half of the exterior intact. 2) Construct a two-story rear addition along with a roof deck. Two decks and a screened porch are also included. 3) Demolish existing garage and rebuild as a one-story guest house. 4) Construct an at-grade basement at the rear slope of the addition. ARCHITECTURE The house at 1106 Travis Height Boulevard is a one-story symmetrical bungalow of modest size. The concrete front porch is set above the already elevated plot of land that slopes down significantly towards the street and sidewalk. A projecting front gable covers the middle third of the porch and is supported by decorated wood posts resting on two concrete bases. The decoration at these posts matches the wood handrail that is present around the remainder of the porch. Two pairs of windows, one on each side of the front door, are present and are covered with what appear to be original screens over windows. Behind the projection over the porch is a side gabled roof featuring a brick chimney at one side, along with an obscured front gable facing the street and featuring an attic vent. All architectural features at the front of the house appear to be original or highly appropriate replacements. RESEARCH Beginning with its construction sometime prior to 1920, the property had frequent turnover of owners and renters until the late 1940s. This included a second address, 1106½ Travis Heights Boulevard, on the property, which housed various tradespeople during the Great Depression. In 1949, the property was purchased by Jesse & Emma Raven, who were owners and operators of Raven’s Garage, a local auto repair business. They held the property for several decades, until the mid- 1980s, at which point they were retired. The secondary unit was lost or converted at some point during the Raven’s ownership. DESIGN STANDARDS The City of Austin’s Historic Design Standards (March 2021) are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and are used to evaluate projects in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Residential additions 1. Location The addition is located at the rear of the main house, though it would project out slightly from the sides. These side projections would be minimal and located over halfway back from the front of the house, approximately 40 feet. 2. Scale, massing, and height A two-story addition would exceed the current single-story height of the house and would be visible from the property across the street. However, given the elevated footprint of the house relative to the street, it would be minimally visible from the public right-of-way. From the architectural drawings, the addition may pose a threat to visually overwhelm the historic house when viewed on site. 3. Design and style The addition is contemporary in design, with decks present at both floors, as well as on the rooftop. The proposed stucco finish is not present at the original house, which is wood lapped siding. Unlike the bungalow roofs, which feature broad overhangs, the overhangs at the addition are minimal. One small addition, at the 2nd bedroom in the footprint of the original house, siding is proposed to match the historic. 20.0 – 2 4. Roofs A standing-seam metal roof is proposed over then entirety of the existing house, as well as the addition and new construction. The second-floor addition will be topped with a hipped roof set at a slight pitch, which is different from the gabled assembly found on the original. 5. Exterior walls Addition is proposed to have a stucco finish, which is different and potentially compatible with the wood lap siding of the original. Smaller sections that are more integrated into the original house will be clad in wood siding to match. There is the risk of this matching too closely and appearing as though it were always part of the original design. 6. Windows, screens, and doors Proposed windows are large and numerous, especially at the front and rear of the addition. Details about the muntin appearance indicate that they will not be internal or false, but the size and shape are not in keeping with the original house. 7. Porches and decks Two rear porches and a rooftop deck are proposed. They are generally out of visibility from the front of the house, though a rendering of the rooftop deck indicates that both the deck handrail and the stair rail will be visible. The material for these fixtures are metal and wire, which are not compatible. Residential new construction 1. Location The guest house, which is to be in the location of a demolished garage, is located at the rear of the property. 2. Orientation The orientation of the guest house is at a slight angle from the main house, but generally faces the street. 3. Scale, massing, and height As a one-story guest house, the proposed construction is smaller than the elevated main house and would not be visible from the street, even if the addition were not constructed. 4. Proportions The proportions of the enclosure are simple and limited, which will not draw attention from nearby contributing resources. 5. Design and style Design drawings for the new construction indicate a contemporary but simple appearance, which fits with the surroundings at this scale better than the two-story addition described above. Summary The project meets some of the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register district. 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: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of bungalow construction. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have significant historical associations. c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. 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 Comment on plans. LOCATION MAP 20.0 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 20.0 – 4 Google Street View, April 2022 Google Street View, April 2022 20.0 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, September 2024 1992 Andrew W. Long, owner - Retired 1985-86 Andrew W. Long, owner - Retired 1984 Vacant 1980 Jesse L. and Emma M. Raven, owners – Retired 1975 Jesse L. and Emma M. Raven, owners – Raven’s Garage 1965 Jesse L. and Emma M. Raven, owners – Raven’s Garage 1959 Jesse L. and Emma M. Raven, owners – Raven’s Garage 1952 Jesse L. and Emma M. Raven, owners – Raven’s Garage 1949 Jesse L. and Emma M. Raven, owners – Raven’s Garage 1947 Henry H. and Edwina Moore, renters – Manager at Steck Co 1944 Sam S. and Pauline Wolf, renters 1942 Bartley D. and Barbara Gilliland, owners – Typewriter Service Co 1940 Bartley D. and Barbara Gilliland, owners – Typewriter Service Co 1939 Bartley D. and Barbara Gilliland, owners – Typewriter Service Co (Address shown as 1106 Travis Boulevard) 1937 Chas H. and Mamie Franklin, renters – Clerk at Fischer Bros 1935 Chas H. and Mamie Franklin, renters 1932 Burl and Gladys Bryant, renters – Chief supervisor for rural schools, State Department of Education 1930 Jas R. and Mabel Towne, renters – Salesman 1929 Harry L. and Laura Bengtson, renters – Bookkeeper at State Department of Banking 1927 Leander and Cecilia Soderberg, owners – Leander: National Monument Works, Cecilia: Town Talk Bakery 1924 Leander and Cecilia Soderberg, owners 1922 Alex M. and Ira Fitzpatrick, renters – President and manager at Home Ice & Cold Storage Co 1920 Rev. Warren M. and Lula B. Rader, owners – Missionary  Historical Information 20.0 – 6 The Austin American Statesman, July 26, 1978. Copy from ProQuest. The Austin American, August 10, 1947. Copy from ProQuest. Permits 20.0 – 7 Water Tap Permit, April 13, 1931