18.0 - 2901 Del Curto Rd — original pdf

Backup

HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS AUGUST 6, 2025 PR-2025-083770; GF-2025-085752 2901 DEL CURTO RD 18 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1939 house. ARCHITECTURE One- and one-half story stone veneer cottage with hipped roof, exposed rafter tails beneath deep eaves, a stone-veneer chimney, and tiered stone steps at entryway. RESEARCH 2901 Del Curto Road was home to the Castle family for nearly eighty years from 1941 to 2019. Florence and Joseph Castle were prominent musicians and spent much of their lives as popular performers, composers, and music educators in Austin. Both Florence and Joseph Castle had academic degrees in music, an especially uncommon feat for women in the 1930s. The couple moved to Austin in 1939 and quickly established themselves as in-demand performers. Florence Castle was a composer and in-demand teacher of piano and coronet music; Joseph Castle was concertmaster of the University Symphony, worked both as an individual composer and a contributor to multiple musical compilations, and wrote academically on guitar and violin while also instructing University and private students in both instruments. He also performed during the 1940s and ‘50s in multiple country and western groups, gaining statewide recognition, and worked as a piano tuner. An extensive history of the Castles was compiled after Florence Castle’s death by Pat and Mel Oakes for the Congregational Church of Austin, of which the Castles were esteemed members and longtime musical leaders.1 The Castles briefly moved from Austin during World War II and for part of 1953, but always returned to their home in Austin. Joseph Castle died in 1992, and Florence Castle in 2019 at the age of 103. PROPERTY EVALUATION 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 may meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of a rustic Texas cottage, popular in Austin during the 1930s and 1940s. b. Historical association. The property is associated with musicians and composers Florence and Joseph Castle. 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 was not evaluated for its ability 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 does not appear to be a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Consider initiation of historic zoning. Should the Commission determine that the property does not meet the criteria for designation, strongly encourage adaptive reuse and rehabilitation, then relocation or deconstruction and material salvage, but release the demolition permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. 1 Oakes, Pat and Mel Oakes, “Joe and Florence Castle.” 2019. https://www.patandmeloakes.com/PatandMelOakesFamilySite/CCAHistory/JoeandFlorenceCastle.html LOCATION MAP 18 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 18 – 3 18 – 4 Demolition Application, July 2025 18 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, July 2025 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1941 Joseph D. and Florence Castle, owners – Castle Music Studio proprietors Joseph D. and Florence Castle, owners – Castle Music Studio proprietors Joseph D. and Florence Castle, owners – Castle Music Studio proprietors Joseph D. Castle – UT Address not listed Address not listed. Joseph and Florence Castle, musicians, are listed as living at 3003 Fountain Pl. Historical Information The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Sep 1939: A8. 18 – 6 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Dec 1939: 6. 18 – 7 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 Apr 1941: A8. 18 – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Apr 1942: A5. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 27 Sep 1942: B10. 18 – 9 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 Apr 1942: 11. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 May 1946: 11. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 18 Jan 1948: A10. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 16 Sep 1951: C2. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 18 May 1954: 9. 18 – 10 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 Nov 1954: 23. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 Dec 1959: C8. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 28 Feb 1960: B10. 18 – 11 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 Dec 1962: E7. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 June 1963: 28. 18 – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 08 June 1965: 9. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 01 June 1966: A27. 18 – 13 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 26 June 1966: 9. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 28 Feb 1968: 9. 18 – 14 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 Sep 1970: E9. https://congregationalchurchofaustin.org/ministry/music-and-fine-arts/ 18 – 15 Oakes, Pat. https://congregationalchurchofaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Visitor_May-2019.pdf The following history was compiled by Pat and Mel Oakes. The Oakes’ website includes recordings of both Florence and Joseph Castle’s work: https://www.patandmeloakes.com/PatandMelOakesFamilySite/CCAHistory/JoeandFlorenceCastle.html 18 – 16 18 – 17 18 – 18 18 – 19 18 – 20 18 – 21 https://www.patandmeloakes.com/PatandMelOakesFamilySite/CCAHistory/JoeandFlorenceCastle.html https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/florence-castle-8241018 Permits None available