06.3.1 - 600 Harthan St - OWANA Letter - revised — original pdf

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Steering Committee Members: Stephen L. Amos, Chair Renae Alsobrook, Mark Ashby, Evelyn Fujimoto, Adrienne Goldsberry, Paula Hern, Nick Mehl, William Osborn, Charlie Rice, Paul Shattuck, Shawn Shillington, Erika Tatum, Meghan Yancy June 26, 2025 Historic Landmark Commission City of Austin RE: 600 Harthan Street - HR-2025-057874 – Harthan Street Local Historic District Dear Chair Heimsath and Commissioners, On behalf of the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association (OWANA), I write to express our support for the permit request for 600 Harthan Street (Case HR-2025-057874). This case presents a unique situation: the proposal involves demolishing non-historic additions within a Local Historic District (LHD). Several structures on the site have been significantly altered from their original form, making restoration impractical. The main house—built in the 1930s— features additions from the 1980s that do not reflect the property’s historic character and have compromised its integrity. The applicant proposes to preserve and restore the original street-facing Mediterranean-style structure, which retains a high degree of authenticity and can be sympathetically returned to its historic appearance. Furthermore, the applicant is working closely with OWANA and nearby neighbors to ensure the lot’s redevelopment—on commercially zoned land—is respectful and harmonious with the character of the Harthan LHD. For these reasons, OWANA supports this permit request and respectfully urges the Historic Landmark Commission to approve the demolition and preservation plan. Thank you for considering our position. Sincerely, Stephen L. Amos Steering Committee Chair Old West Austin Neighborhood Association