09.a - 1412 Preston Ave - public comment — original pdf

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1412 Preston Ave. Objec�on to Proposed Building Permit. March 3, 2025 Candace & John Volz 1406 Preston Ave. Our objec�on to the proposed building permit is based on three concerns: 1)1412 Preston is a contribu�ng structure in our Old West Aus�n Na�onal Register Historic District (OWANRHD). The house is significant in that it was designed and built in the mid-1950s by Aus�n architect Kelly McAdams (1929-2014) and his wife Nancy Reeves McAdams (1929- 2005), also an architect. Kelly, based on his obituary, graduated “from the School of Architecture of The University of Texas at Aus�n in 1951. While s�ll a student, he passed the state architectural registra�on examina�on and became a registered architect at 21 years of age. A�er gradua�on, he worked in Aus�n as an associate architect with R. Gommel Roessner, FAIA, and as a partner with his wife Nancy R. McAdams, AIA, designing mid-century modern residences in Balcones Park, Pemberton Heights and Rosedale. As a staff architect with the firm of Page Southerland Page, he prepared the construc�on drawings of many Aus�n landmark buildings, including the Bergstrom AFB headquarters building (now the Airport Hilton Hotel) and the Headliners Club in the Westgate Tower. In 1968 he began work toward a master's degree in architecture and developed innova�ve computer methodologies for technical drawings and solar energy calcula�ons. He joined the faculty of the School of Architecture in 1970 and taught construc�on drawings and computer graphics un�l his re�rement from the University in 1988. For several years he served as Assistant to the Dean of Architecture with responsibility for advising students seeking admission to the School.” Nancy Reeves, from her obituary, “married Kelly R. McAdams of Aus�n in 1950, while both were seniors in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Aus�n. A�er gradua�ng in 1951, they prac�ced architecture together and as members of other firms. Pursuing an interest in research, Nancy returned to campus in 1961 and earned a Master of Library Science degree. In 1965 she began 20 years of service to the University, first as manager of the Architecture Library; then as Associate Director of General Libraries; as the Libraries project director for construc�on and occupancy of the Perry-Castaneda Library, Fine Arts Library and several other campus libraries; and finally as Associate Director of the Office of Planning Services, where she facilitated new construc�on and renova�on projects of all kinds for the Main and Pickle campuses. In 1984 she opened a consul�ng prac�ce which provided planning services to college and university libraries and to architectural firms, and completed more than 100 library projects throughout the United States and Canada before re�ring in 1996. During her University and consul�ng careers she was ac�ve in professional organiza�ons: she held office in the Texas Society of Architects; served on the na�onal Board of Directors of the American Ins�tute of Architects; and held numerous offices and commitee chairs in units of the American Library Associa�on, including the presidency of the Library Administra�on and Management Associa�on in 1983/84.” The McAdams lived at 1412 Preston for approximately 40 years. It is one of only a few surviving McAdams homes that, un�l the current builder/contractor started demoli�on, had an intact original façade. It is apparent that both of the McAdams made significant contribu�ons to Aus�n architecture and that Nancy McAdams contributed extensively to local, state, and na�onal library planning. The City Preserva�on Office should undertake further research and also evaluate the McAdams’ associa�on with Longwood, the historic octagonal house in Natchez, MS which they restored and owned for a number of years. If addi�onal research substan�ates that their design and construc�on of 1412 Preston makes it eligible for “H” zoning, designa�on should proceed and the builder/contractor should be required to restore the front eleva�on to its historic appearance as it existed prior to the current illegal work. 2) The contractor/ builder started work on the exterior of 1412 in January 2025 without a permit for the exterior demolition he was undertaking. He removed original windows and other elements, compromising the original appearance of 1412 so that it likely is no longer a contributing structure in the OWANRHD. Those elements should be replaced, since without a permit he is in violation of state, county and city law. Permits are required in Austin and Travis County to ensure that construction meets building codes and zoning laws; protect the safety and structural integrity of the building; and protect property value. In addition to the builder/contractor violating the law by starting exterior work without a permit, inadequate and inaccurate information has been provided to our neighborhood about this remodel, including irregularities in the City Preservation Office’s online posting: a. Inaccurate owner’s name on the property b. No indication that 1412 Preston is a contributing structure in the OWANRD c. No drawings for the proposed work posted online until neighbors raised concerns about their absence. 3) If this builder and owner is allowed to destroy 1412’s contributing status, it will lower the OWANRD’s percentage of contributing houses. If this percentage is allowed to go below 51%, TXDOT will be able to expand MoPac into Enfield, Pemberton and Bryker Woods without any type of mitigation process. TXDOT has re-evaluated the validity of our National Register District a least twice in the past two decades- they are clearly ready to widen MoPac, but have been constrained by their need to use federal money for the expansion, coupled with the presence of the OWANRHD on the east side of MoPac. The Camerons, the apparent actual owners of 1412 Preston, are probably not aware that in the next few years, they could well be living even closer than currently to a heavily-used eight-lane intraurban highway, with all of the pollution and noise that entails. In addition to their family’s issues with that reality, they will have a harder time selling and recouping their investment in 1412 Preston.