24.0 - 4812 Mount Bonnell Rd — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JULY 2, 2025 PR-2025-071283; GF-2025-074521 4812 MOUNT BONNELL ROAD 24.0 – 1 PROPOSAL Remodel a commercial property to reflect residential use. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Convert a building most recently used as a restaurant and bar to a residential use. Alteration of existing materials and structure that does not meet code requirements, including: 1. Removal of current roof and replacement with a similar, though not exact, system 2. Replacement of upper-level cladding with similar materials, such as wood paneling in place of existing plywood 3. Safety requirements such as replacing handrails and adding vertical supports to once side of the exterior stair ARCHITECTURE The building, formerly known as the Dry Creek Cafe, appears as a two-story structure when viewed from the street at Mount Bonnell Road, but features a lower level to the rear as the site elevation rapidly descends. From the front of the property, the lower floor walls are clad in stone veneer, with a center door fitted with a decorative screen door. A side wood stair leads to the upper floor porch, which is covered with a metal sheet roof. The porch wall is wood framed and clad in shingles, with the full wall covered with plywood and punctured by aluminum windows. At the rear of this level is a large wood deck with a simple wood railing and pickets lining its perimeter. At this portion of the building, there are two floors visible below, covered by brick veneer. RESEARCH Operating for many years as the Dry Creek Cafe, the property was a well-known local hangout overlooking the Colorado River and west of Austin. Built sometime around or before 1950, it was owned and operated by Sarah Boyd Ransom for several decades from 1956 until her passing in 2009. In 2021, after 68 years of service, it ceased operations. Since that time, the property has been vacant. During its early years of operation until the 1984, the property lay outside the city boundaries, with minimal development occurring in the area. The café served as a social gathering space serving burgers, beer, and other refreshments. Live music acts would often perform in the space, and events such as the 1980 Mount Bonnell Hill Climb bicycle race used the café a starting point. The institution also attracted patrons of various species, with news articles publishing articles about a lost bird and a eulogy for an alligator for whom Ms. Ransom had an affinity. Like the architecture of the space, the Dry Creek Café was known for its hodgepodge and ad hoc approach to acting as a social gathering space. 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 at potential historic landmarks. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposal includes removal of exterior materials, though some is likely from makeshift repairs during and beyond the historic period. Many of the design decisions have been made in order for the property to meet modern residential code requirements. 2. Foundations Repair is proposed where needed, given the elevation change on site. No visual impacts regarding the foundation are expected at the original building. 3. Roofs The existing roof is proposed to be replaced, as there are structural issues present. New roof structure will emulate the low 24.0 – 2 pitch of the existing, and feature wood fascia to resemble the existing. 4. Exterior walls and trim Stone veneer at the front and sides are to be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled where possible. Upper floor will be clad in vertical wood siding, with horizontal wood siding at the porch rail. These will replace the exposed plywood and composition shingle siding at their respective locations. Areas of chicken wire screens at the deck will be removed. 5. Windows, doors, and screens Windows are proposed to be replaced. Existing aluminum windows are in poor condition and were installed in such a way that suggests they were not custom sized, but rather approximated for their openings or vice versa. Front screen door at the lower level will be retained in some capacity. 6. Porches The large rear porch is to be retained, with the wood rail being replaced with steel. To provide lateral support at the stair leading from the lower floor at the front façade to the rear porch, a steel louvered assembly is proposed to provide structure while retaining some transparency. The overall porch footprint will be retained. 10. Accessory buildings A concrete retaining wall is proposed to the south side of the property, which will also provide vertical circulation on the site. To accomplish this, the half level restroom shed is proposed to be demolished. 11. Commercial storefronts As it currently sits, the east elevation facing Mount Bonnell Road serves as a storefront for this property. As mentioned above, several cladding changes will occur, but they are generally compatible with the building. Additionally, the original Dry Creek Cafe sign, which projected perpendicularly out from the upper floor wall will be retained in some capacity. Summary The project mostly meets the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate integrity. 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: a. Architecture. The building is a unique example of roadside restaurant and vernacular hospitality architecture. 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 may 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. COMMITTEE FEEDBACK Consider more exposed structure at the upper floor in keeping better with the vernacular alterations that were added over time. Verify that stone veneer may be retained and repaired or cleaned. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve the application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP 24.0 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 24.0 – 4 Permit application, 2025 Google Streetview, February 2024 24.0 – 5 Dry Creek Café, 1979 (original source unknown) Austin Monthly, “Goodbye, Dry Creek Café and Boat Dock”, October 29, 2021 Occupancy History City Directory Research, June 2025 1959 Dry Creek Cafe Historical Information 24.0 – 6 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 06 Apr 1960: 19. 24.0 – 7 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 26 Feb 1966: 27. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Aug 1967: 19. 24.0 – 8 The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 16 Aug 1980: 16. 24.0 – 9 Zelade, Richard.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 06 Sep 1980: 2.