10.0 - 2514 Wooldridge Dr — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS OCTOBER 1, 2025 PR-2025-088150, HR-2025-113285 OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 2514 WOOLDRIDGE DRIVE 10 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1938 building and construct a new building. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Construct a two-story residence with covered patio and guest house. The proposed buildings are constructed across two lots. The main building has an irregular plan, irregular roofline and fenestration, and stone veneer cladding. Its side-gabled elevation with stone-clad loggia faces the main streetscape, with full-height glazed fenestration beyond. The guest house, attached with a covered breezeway, is set back at an angle and features similar materials, detailing, and height as the main structure. ARCHITECTURE Two-story Georgian Revival house with curved portico, symmetrical shuttered windows, brick veneer, and a side-gabled roof with added dormers. RESEARCH The house at 2514 Wooldridge Drive was constructed in 1938 for Clarence McCullough and his family. McCullough, who began his career as assistant cashier at the Security Trust company, slowly rose in prominence as a banker. Eventually, he partnered with rancher and fellow real estate broker Dr. Joseph Koenig to develop the Violet Crown Heights subdivisions between 1946 and 1948, lending Koenig’s name to one of its major thoroughfares. In 1950 and 1951, they built the adjacent Violet Crown Shopping Center. “On the northwest corner of North Lamar and Brentwood Street,” notes Violet Crown historian and resident Susan Burneson, “the center was in the heart of Violet Crown Heights, Section 1.”1 In spring 2025, KUT journalist Juan Garcia and Burneson discussed the development of Austin’s most well-known midcentury center: The violet crown nickname [was] used in real estate marketing throughout the early 20th century, but few had the impact Dr. Joe Koenig and Clarence McCullough had when they started selling land in what used to be north Austin in the ‘40s…Right along [Violet Crown Heights], the pair built a shopping center in 1951. They called it the Violet Crown Shopping Center, which had a handful of violet-crown-themed businesses…immortalized as “The Emporium” in Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age film Dazed and Confused. 2 McCullough and Koenig maintained offices at the Violet Crown Shopping Center. Clarence McCullough’s son, who lived at 2514 Wooldridge Drive throughout his time at the University of Texas, later became the center’s manager.3 McCullough and his wife, Ruth, lived at the house on Wooldridge Drive until at least the 1980s. DESIGN STANDARDS The City of Austin’s Historic Design Standards (2022) are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and are used to evaluate projects in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Residential new construction 1. Location The new building spans two existing lots, which does not align with the historic placement of buildings in the district. It is set back approximately 45’ from the street, much further than contributing buildings. 2. Orientation The proposed building is oriented toward the main street frontage. 3. Scale, massing, and height The building is overall much larger in scale and bulkier in massing than contributing buildings, though its design offers 1 Burneson, Susan. “Violet Crown Voices,” 2012: https://violetcrownvoices.com/2012/neighbors-matter-part-3 2 Garcia, Juan. “Why are so many places in Austin named Violet Crown?” KUT News, 2025: https://www.kut.org/2025-04-10/austin-tx-violet-crown- name-places 3 Burneson, 2012. 10 – 2 substantial wall-plane offsets and transparent elements to reduce the monolithic appearance. 4. Proportions The building’s proportions are consistent within its design but do not reflect the proportions of the surrounding district’s buildings. 5. Design and style The building’s design and style are internally consistent but do not reflect the style of contributing buildings in the district. 6. Roofs The building’s rooflines are somewhat compatible; though irregular and compound, the roof forms for each component part of the building reflect historic gable proportions. 7. Exterior walls The building’s exterior materials are somewhat compatible, though stone veneer buildings of this scale are not common in the district. 8. Windows and doors The building’s irregular fenestration, hidden front entryway, and full-height arched windows and sliders are not compatible with the contributing buildings in the district. 9. Porches The proposed front loggia is largely incompatible with the contributing buildings in the district. 10. Chimneys The proposed chimneys appear compatible. 11. Attached garages and carports Parking areas do not appear visible from the street and are thus compatible with the surrounding district. Summary The project does not meet most of the applicable standards. PROPERTY EVALUATION The property contributes to the Old West Austin National Register district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate to low integrity. Windows have been replaced, and a rear second-floor addition was constructed in 1991; the front façade dormers may have been added at this time. At the time of this updated report, original photographs of the building were not available. 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 the Georgian Revival style; however, its integrity has been compromised by a 1990s roofline change and addition. b. Historical association. The property is associated with Clarence McCullough, developer of Violet Crown Heights and the famed Violet Crown shopping center. 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 does not appear to be a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Consider whether McCullough’s role as co-developer of the Violet Crown Heights neighborhood and Violet Crown Shopping Center have sufficient impact on Austin’s history to offset the building’s integrity issues when evaluating for landmark eligibility. If not, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation or deconstruction and salvage, but approve the demolition permit application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package, and comment on plans for new construction. LOCATION MAP 10 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos 10 – 4 10 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, August 2025 Demolition permit application, 2025 1959 Clarence and Ruth McCullough, owners – real estate, 402 Capital National Bank building Charles E. McCullough – student 1955 Clarence and Ruth McCullough, owners – real estate, 1206 Capital National Bank building Charles E. McCullough – student Clarence and Ruth McCullough, owners – real estate, Capital National Bank building and building manager, Majik Ironer Inc. Charles E. McCullough – student 10 – 6 Clarence and Ruth McCullough, owners – real estate, Capital National Bank Elsie Fisher – maid Bill Fielder – student UT M. Edward Fielder – student, UT Clarence and Ruth McCullough, owners – Craven’s & McCullough Mary Jo Kajs – domestic worker Clarence and Ruth McCullough, owners – receiver, Security Trust Co. Aline Capps – housekeeper 1952 1947 1941 1939 Historical Information The Statesman (1916-1921); Austin, Tex.. 31 Oct 1920: A1. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Jan 1928: 1 10 – 7 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 09 Jan 1929: 3. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 June 1938: 8. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 12 Feb 1939: 14. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 28 Sep 1941: A1. 10 – 8 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 09 Nov 1946: 3. 10 – 9 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 Feb 1948: 2. 10 – 10 J D; W H.  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 14 Jan 1948: 1. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 09 Apr 1968: 23 10 – 11 Burneson, Susan. Violet Crown Voices, 2012: https://violetcrownvoices.com/2012/neighbors-matter-part-3 10 – 12 Garcia, Juan. “Why are so many places in Austin named Violet Crown?” KUT News, 2025: https://www.kut.org/2025-04- 10/austin-tx-violet-crown-name-places Permits Sewer tap permit, 1938