04.0 - 709 Congress Ave — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Application for Certificates of Appropriateness December 3, 2025 HR-2025-137112 Brush-Turner-Hirshfeld Building 709 Congress Avenue 4 – 1 Proposal Perform repair and maintenance at several areas of a City of Austin landmark. Project Specifications 1) Replace wood posts and wood railing at front balcony and awning to match existing. Repair concrete column bases. 2) Remove and replace roof system with new PVC material. Architecture The Brush-Turner-Hirshfeld Building is a two-story brick commercial structure located in the Congress Avenue National Register district. It features a wood balcony with wooden shading features, which are in salvageable condition. It was designated a City of Austin landmark in 2000. 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 historic landmarks. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards Work proposed at storefront and balcony is all patching or replacement in-kind. The distinct wood decorative elements are character defining for the landmarked building and their style must retained or matched exactly. As a landmark, the property is inspected annually by Historic Preservation Office staff. 3. Roofs Current roof system shows sign of failure. Proposed system is wholesale replacement, which is more likely to not result in further damage to historic material compared to patching failure points. 6. Porches In-kind replacement of wood, matching the material exactly is proposed. An exact match will be required for this character-defining feature at this landmark. 11. Commercial storefronts The posts, wood shading pickets under the balcony, and the balcony rail are all proposed to be repaired or replaced. Summary The project meets the applicable standards. Staff Recommendation Approve the Certificate of Appropriateness. Location Map 4 – 2 Property Information Photos 4 – 3 Permit application, 2025