16.0 - 1505 Travis Heights Blvd — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS NOVEMBER 6, 2024 HR-2024-133706; PR-2024-134463 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1505 TRAVIS HEIGHTS BOULEVARD 16.0 – 1 PROPOSAL Construct a second-floor addition. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Build a second story addition within the current building footprint behind the front gable. The roof assembly for this addition would be a cross gable with ends at the sides of the house to reduce street visibility. The addition, totaling 784 square feet, would be clad in a standing seam metal roofing material that matches what is currently present and likely not original. Overall height of the house would increase slightly, with the highest point of the cross gable located more than halfway behind the front elevation. Original porch and windows are to be retained. A previous application was made at this property and reviewed by HLC in 2021, though work was never started. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH DESIGN STANDARDS One-story Craftsman bungalow with gabled roof, horizontal wood siding, mulled 1/1 wood windows, and a full-width porch supported by boxed columns on brick piers. Intact decorative details include deep eaves with exposed rafter tails and triangular knee braces at gable ends. The house at 1505 Travis Heights Boulevard was built for Fred and Julia C. Penick before 1924. Fred Penick was a bank teller, cashier, and clerk at the American National Bank for most of his career. Julia Penick, active in various community- building and youth enrichment programs, ran a summer camp with her older children. Fred Penick had previously been employed as a camp employee at Yosemite National Park. 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 Addition is located towards the rear of the current house, though the new roof is proposed to start projecting 10 feet back from the front. Due to the roof pitch, the area under this section of roof will not be conditioned space, which is proposed to start approximately 22 feet from the front of the house. 2. Scale, massing, and height By sloping the roof up and away from the front of the house, a second-floor addition appears much more compatible than it may otherwise, and what was initially proposed in previous permit applications for this property. The side-gable orientation greatly minimizes the visibility from the street when faced directly, though the side elevations of the addition will be more prominent. Overall roof height of the house will increase with the addition, but since the highest point of the side gable will be over halfway back from the house, it is minimally visible. 3. Design and style The style of the addition is very compatible with the Craftsman style of the original house. There may be an issue with the material matching the original too well and presenting a false sense of history, but this may be minimized by using a slightly different dimension of wood siding or other differentiating characteristic at the addition. 4. Roofs As mentioned above, the roof being set at a side-gable minimizes visibility from the street while allowing for the required height clearance for a conditioned second floor. Metal roofing proposed will match what is present at the current first floor, which appears to be non-original to the property. Exposed eaves are proposed and should ideally not match exactly any decoration that is original to the house to differentiate the addition’s roof overhang from the historic. 5. Exterior walls The only walls of the addition visible from the street will feature wood siding to match the historic and is an appropriate design. 6. Windows, screens, and doors New windows are proposed at the second-floor side walls of the addition, which match the details and sizes of the historic. 16.0 – 2 7. Porches and decks Front porch is to be retained and the addition set behind it. 8. Chimneys A masonry chimney is proposed to project from an original section of the roof and be visible from the street. The material is appropriate and is generally appropriate in height, rising above the highest point of the new roof. Summary The project meets the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register Historic 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 a bungalow in the Craftsman style. 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 Approve the application. Alternatively, invite the applicant to the next meeting of the Architecture Review Committee scheduled for November 13, 2024. LOCATION MAP 16.0 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 16.0 – 4 Zillow.com, date unknown (accessed 2024) Occupancy History City Directory Research, October 2024 Fred M. & Julia Penick, owners; cashier, American National Bank 16.0 – 5 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932 1929 1927 1924 1922 Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Address not listed Same as above, with Joyce Penick, student at UT Historical Information 16.0 – 6 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jan 13, 1943 and The Austin American (1914-1973); Jun 11, 1939 The Austin American (1914-1973); May 12, 1940 and The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980); Oct 15, 1977 Permits 16.0 – 7 Sewer Connection Permit and Water Service Permit, 1931 Building Permit, 1941