15.0 - 6004 Spancreek Cir — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS APRIL 2, 2025 PR-2025-025231; GF-2025-027260 6004 SPANCREEK CIRCLE X – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1961 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH 6004 Spancreek Circle is a one-story residence constructed with Mid-century Modern and Ranch stylistic influences. It is clad in board-and-batten siding and is capped with a low-slope roof with an irregular roofline and deep eaves supported by exposed rafter tails. An original attached carport has been enclosed, though its flat-roofed form remains the same, and though some original windows appear to have been replaced by incompatible vinyl units, the openings appear unaltered. The house at 6004 Spancreek Circle was constructed in 1961 by builder Lloyd McLean for the 1961 Parade of Homes. In her National Register nomination for another Northwest Hills model home, Karen Twer discusses the importance of the Parade of Homes in Austin’s development history: By building model houses for events like the Parade of Homes, builders and developers could highlight the attractive and livable qualities of their volume-built houses and market new suburban developments to masses of potential homebuyers. As a kind of conceptual show window, their model houses needed to be centrally located…Not bounded by the existing urban landscape, developers could create the kind of neighborhoods second-time middle-class homebuyers were seeking. By hosting Parade of Homes events in outlying areas of growing cities, developers and builders were influential in shaping the suburban development of expanding cities like Austin. […] Builders and developers relied on architects to design the kind of distinctive houses that would rival custom-built houses…Model houses built for the Parade of Homes were collaborative interpretations of the kind of modern domestic lifestyle homebuyers dreamt of…In the 1960s, [Austin’s] Parade of Homes events continued focusing on largely undeveloped areas south and northwest of the city. In 1961, it was in Highland Hills, a neighborhood nestled between what is today the Mopac Expressway and Northwest Hills…In addition to the spectacle the events provided Austinites, Austin builders and developers understood the mass-marketing opportunity the Parade of Homes offered.1 “Perched near the crest of a scenic Northwest hill, on a level, landscaped homesite…nothing quite like it has been seen in Austin before, because it is a practical product of fertile imagination and skilled homebuilding,” extols the Austin-American Statesman. “Every room at 6004 Spancreek Circle is a dream of tomorrow that’s here today.”2 Despite its glowing reputation, the home’s first occupants, Cynthia and Kal Kalloday, lived there only four years. In a 2019 interview, NWACA News spoke to Cynthia Everist about the house: [Everist]’s first husband was Kal Kalloday, one of the first big bandleaders in Austin. Kal started the tradition of playing dance music at weddings and debutante parties in the 1960s…Their first home in Northwest Hills in 1961 was a Parade of Homes house off Dry Creek. It was not very appealing on the outside but gorgeous inside. They decided not to stay there, so they put it on the market almost right away. But they had trouble getting realtors to look past the exterior… the house was difficult to sell, and they finally accepted an offer several years later for the same amount they had paid for it.3 By 1968, deed records show that Dr. Virginia Higginbotham had purchased the home. Higginbotham, who taught for over 30 years in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Texas at Austin, was an expert on Spanish film and literature who published several books during her time in the house on Spancreek Circle. Higginbotham, an avid birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast, was a charter member and president of Wildlife Rescue, Inc.; though she was primarily an educator, she also she took in orphaned wildlife for rehabilitation in her home. Dr. Higginbotham died in 2023 after owning the home for 55 years. 1 Twer, Karen. “National Register Nomination Form: 4022 Greenhill Place.” 2019. https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/Austin%2C%20The%20Hanako%20NR%20SBR%20Draft.pdf 2 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Oct 1961: F11. 3“Northwest Austin Civi Association News,” 2019. https://662126957de34dbcca7a- fdbcf82d3dfc08785157cf0d6fc8ed50.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/1905NAC.pdf. X – 2 PROPERTY EVALUATION Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate integrity. Windows have been replaced and the carport enclosed to form a garage. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it may meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building, constructed for the 1961 Austin Parade of Homes, displays Mid-century Modern and Ranch stylistic influences. b. Historical association. The property is associated with musician Kal Kalloday, though his occupancy in the home spans only a few years. It is most closely associated with scholar and wildlife rescuer Virginia Higginbotham, expert on Spanish film and literature and instructor at the University of Texas, who lived in the home from 1968 to her death in 2023. The Commission may also wish to consider its association with the development of the Highland Hills neighborhood, emblematic of the city’s postwar changes in development patterns. The building exemplifies the goals of the Parade of Homes: a site-specific design with unique finishes and features that represented an excellent marketing opportunity for builder Lloyd McLean’s residential development endeavors. 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 appear to 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 Strongly encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation over demolition, but release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. Though the home’s association with Professor Virginia Higginbotham is significant, its integrity and architecture do not appear to meet the level of distinction required for landmark designation. LOCATION MAP X – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos Demolition permit application, 2025 X – 4 Note: due to the temporary closure of the Austin History Center, directory research access is limited. Occupancy History City Directory Research, March 2025 Vacant 1959 1964 Kal and Cynthia Kalloday, owners Historical Information https://travis.prodigycad.com/property-detail/131478/2024 X – 5 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Apr 1960: A8. X – 6 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 08 Oct 1961: C9. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Oct 1961: F11. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Oct 1961: F11. X – 7 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Oct 1961: F11. X – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Oct 1961: F6. X – 9 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 29 Oct 1961: E9. X – 10 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 14 July 1963: 9. X – 11 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 26 Apr 1964: B3. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 May 1964: 4. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 30 Nov 1967: B29. X – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 27 Oct 1968: B18. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Jan 1969: 7. X – 13 Virginia Higginbotham, a scholar of Spanish Film and Literature, died on March 10, 2023 at her home in Austin, Texas. While working on her doctorate in Spanish at Tulane University, she became interested in the twentieth century Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca whose works gave her a "treasury of ideas," and led to her first book published in 1976, "The Comic Spirit of Federico Garcia Lorca." A contemporary of Lorca's, Spanish film maker Luis Bunuel, whose "mature'" films Higginbotham saw as "works of mastery," led to her second book: Luis Bunuel, published in 1979 by Twayne Publishers. She would continue to publish books and articles on the subject of surrealism in film, literature and art. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Higginbotham taught for over 30 years in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Texas at Austin. Upon her retirement, Higginbotham was diagnosed with cancer and Parkinson's disease. Virginia Higginbotham's earliest influence to study the Spanish language came from her second grade teacher. After graduating from high school, her parents took her on a trip around the world where her exposure to numerous new cultures, art forms, nature and plant life would ultimately shape her views and lead her to seriously pursue numerous activities outside of academia. An avid bird watcher, Higginbotham was an editor for the Travis Audubon newsletter, "Signal Smoke," and did volunteer work for the American Birding Association. Her membership in the Jane Goodall Foundation, Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund and other animal rights organizations made her aware of the growing destruction of wildlife habitat but more concerning to her was the displacement of wildlife in her own community. Higginbotham joined a community of like-minded individuals who formed Wildlife Rescue, Inc. and in 1988, she served as its President. At home, she took in orphaned wildlife in need of care and rehabilitation. For several years, she worked tirelessly to help fellow Wildlife Rescue members develop educational materials that would give future members' guidance in the care of wildlife. Among her other interests, Higginbotham rode horses, first a jumper and then inspired to become a dressage rider when she fell in love with a horse named Pfighter Pilot who she nicknamed Piloto. As her academic career was winding down, she pursued other interests. She studied classical guitar under Adam Holtzman, director of the Guitar program at the University of Texas at Austin. She learned to play the native American flute and then became intrigued with the Japanese Shakahatchi flute which she played for several years and studied under a Japanese master flautist. In her youth, she attended summer camp in New Mexico and would return during her semi- retirement years to make Santa Fe her summer home. A consummate reader and learner, Higginbotham immersed herself in the history of Native American art and music and for over 20 vears attended performances by the Santa Fe Opera. Higginbotham's desire to improve the wellness and health of horses led her to become a certified practitioner of equine acupressure by the Tall Grass Animal Institute. At home, she remained an active grower of orchids, enjoyed playing with her dogs, reading her New Yorker and watching National Geographic Wild's veterinary programs while savoring a Dr. Pepper. Virginia Higginbotham was born in Dallas, Texas on November 6, 1935 to Cecil McLaurin Higginbotham and Martha Lou Stratton. She is predeceased by her brother Cecil M. (Larry) Higginbotham and sister Joann Mastin and nephew Randall (Randy) Mastin. She is survived by her life partner and caregiver, Yvonne Becerra, dogs Flower and Clifford and horse Piloto; her nephew Thomas F. Mastin, IV and his wife,,Julie; niece Laurin Chevallier and husband Mason; nephew William (Bill) Bate Mastin and wife Nancy; sister-in-law Jane B. Higginbotham, nephew Scott Higginbotham, nephew Robert M. (Bob) Higginbotham and wife Lucy, nephew Brooks Higginbotham and wife Celia. A Celebration of Virginia's life will be held on April 27th at 12 noon at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Posted online on March 26, 2023 Published in Austin American Statesman. https://www.statesman.com/obituaries/paco0455318 X – 14 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/statesman/name/kal-kallodaychsak-obituary X – 15 https://662126957de34dbcca7a-fdbcf82d3dfc08785157cf0d6fc8ed50.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/1905NAC.pdf “Northwest Austin Civi Association News,” 2019. https://662126957de34dbcca7a- fdbcf82d3dfc08785157cf0d6fc8ed50.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/1905NAC.pdf. Permits X – 16 Sewer Tap Permit, June 14, 1961 Water Tap Permit, June 14, 1961