16.0 - 4517 Avenue D — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS MAY 7, 2025 PR-2024-161005; GF-2024-161886 4517 AVENUE D 16.0 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1946 house and carport. ARCHITECTURE The building is a side-gabled Minimal Traditional house with single-hung metal windows and a rectangular plan. RESEARCH The house at 4517 Avenue D was built in 1946 by the Floyd C. Gaines Company. Its first resident, Lula Meek, was a widow. She rented a room to bookkeeper and fellow widow Vera Lockhart. By the mid-1950s, the house was sold to the Walther family. Victor Walther was a stonemason. He and his wife, Pearl, lived at 4517 Avenue D until 1956. PROPERTY EVALUATION The 2020 North Central historic resource survey lists the property as contributing to potential local and National Register historic districts. 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 for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building is constructed in the Minimal Traditional style according to the North Central survey. 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 Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation over demolition, but release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP 16.0 – 2 16.0 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 16.0 – 4 16.0 – 5 Demolition permit application, 2025 Occupancy History City Directory Research, April 2023 1959 1955 1952 1949 Billy W. Elliot, renter Victor A. and Pearl Walther, owners – stonemason Mrs. Lula Meek, owner – widow of I. F. Meek Mrs. Lula Meek, owner – widow of I. F. Meek Mrs. Vera M. Lockhart, renter – bookkeeper, Motor Carrier Insurance Agency 1947 Floyd C. Gaines, owner – Williams-Gaines Co. Historical Information The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 Jan 1956: A13. 16.0 – 6 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 16 Mar 1970: A24 Permits