04.0 - 3710 Cedar St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness January 7, 2026 HR-2025-158169 Confederate Woman’s Home 3710 Cedar Street 4 – 1 Proposal Construct two courtyard additions at a City of Austin landmark. Project Specifications 1) At the interior courtyard, construct a two-story addition behind the main structure of the Confederate Women’s Home. 2) Construct a rear addition at the rear, Home Ln. facing service structure. 3) Replace windows as required due to failure or deterioration. 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 5. Windows, doors, and screens The application states that windows and some doors will be replaced on the main building, but detail drawings or a window schedule have not been provided, so the amount of replacements proposed, as well as the existing conditions, cannot be commented on at this time. Residential additions 1. Location Bothadditions are to be located at the rear of their respective buildings. The main building faces Cedar Street and West 38th Street, and the rear heating plant/storage facility faces Home Lane. However, due to the narrow block layout of the site, as well as the two buildings forming an incomplete loop, both rear additions will be visible from the street. 2. Scale, massing, and height The addition to the main building will be two stories in height, and the addition at the heating/storage building will be mostly a single-story with some second floor buildout. The massing of the living space is generally acceptable, but the proposed roof at the main addition will extend the overall roofline above the existing and will create visibility issues at Cedar Street and possibly West 38th Street. Due to this being a landamrked building, this visual interruption would not meet Standard 2.2. The massing at the heating/storage building is less of a concern given the utilitarian nature of the structure and numerous changes that have occurred at that location. 3. Design and style Additions are generally simple in design and deferantial to the historic buildings. However, details such as the height ot the roof peaks and potential incompatible stone cladding on the first floor may create a visually clashing appearance when placed next to the historic age building, which is clad in destinctive clad stone. More information than what has been provided may be needed to ensure the stone has a compatible appearance. 4. Roofs The roof slope and form is mostly compatible with the existing, but the issue of increasing the overall height of the roof peak described above does not meet the intent of Standard 4.1. When viewing the long side of the historic building, which faces Cedar Street, the uniformity and horizontality are a character defining feature. Varying the roof peak height at this elevation may add unwelcome complication to the perceived shape of the building. 5. Exterior walls This is described above in the Design and Style section. It should be added that the proposed cmentitious panel siding at the second floor of the addition is appropriate to the builidng, and its simplicity defers to the historic, creating a sense that this is clearly an addition and would not be confused with the original structure. 6. Windows, screens, and doors The windows at the landmarked buildings are understood to have been replaced over time, likely from prior to its landmark designation. The proposed windows on the additions are similar in their size, spacing, and appearance, and meet the design standards for an addition. 4 – 2 Summary The project meets some of the applicable standards. Committee Feedback Applicant attended April 2025 and May 2025 Architectural Review Committee. Project proposals presented at these meetings addressed new construction at the southern, non-lardmarked, half of the property, and are not included in this application. Staff Recommendation Postpone the public hearing to the February 4, 2026 meeting and invite the applicant to the January 14, 2026 meeting of the Architectural Review Committee. Location Map 4 – 3 Property Information Photos 4 – 4 Exterior of landmarked section of property, Google Streetview, 2024 Interior courtyard of landmarked section of property, permit application, 2025