14.0 - 101-105 W 5th St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts January 7, 2026 PR-2025-157738; GF-2025-158191 Congress Avenue National Register Historic District 101-105 W. 5th Street 14 – 1 Proposal Demolish a ca. 1914 noncontributing building deemed eligible for contributing status in the 2025 Downtown Austin historic resources survey. Architecture The existing building is a one-part commercial block comprising three tenant spaces, first addressed only as 105 W. 5th Street and then expanded to include a service station and a double-tenant space at 101-103 W. 5th Street by 1916. It exists today as a small portion of the alley-facing rear entry adjacent to 416 Congress Ave. Selective demolition may expose original masonry behind the stucco slipcover, likely applied as early as 1933 and continually replenished since. Research The property spanning 101 to 105 W 5th St. was used early in the development of downtown as storage space for the early frame buildings at 420 and 422 Congress Avenue. By 1885, an outbuilding and a connected shed were present at the rear of the lot. In 1914 and 1915, John Dahlich, the owner of 422 Congress, constructed three new masonry buildings at the rear of his property. The westernmost building, used as a tire shop and mechanic, featured a plate glass window and bay door. The complex included a vulcanizing plant and underground gasoline tank. The property continued to serve automobile-related businesses until the 1930s, When it was occupied by a dry cleaner, a glass company, and a grinding and sharpening shop. During the ‘40s they were home to a sign shop, a sporting goods store, a children’s clothing shop, and a beauty salon. Several of these uses continued into the mid-20th century. Property Evaluation The property does not currently contribute to the Congress Avenue National Register district, but the 2025 Downtown Austin historic resource survey lists it as a medium priority, recommends that the property be considered contributing in a future update to the 1978 National Register nomination, and identifies it as contributing to a potential local historic district. A 2015 staff report by former City of Austin Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky notes that the building does not have historic significance, though district eligibility was not considered at that time. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate to low integrity. The 2025 Downtown Austin survey notes that exterior wall have been slipcovered, doors replaced, windows boarded, and a rooftop canopy added, though door and cladding modifications took place within the period of significance. Removal of the stucco and rooftop appurtenances may recover some integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it does not meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building, a one-part commercial block, does not appear to convey architectural significance, as its integrity has been lost. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have significant historical associations, though the Commission may wish to consider its role in early auto-centric business in Austin. 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 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 is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. 14 – 2 Staff Recommendation Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, relocation, or deconstruction and salvage over demolition, but approve the demolition permit application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. Ensure that demolition work does not adversely affect the landmarked James Robertson Building next door at 416 Congress Avenue, which shares a wall with 101 W. 5th Street. The Historic Landmark Commission must review new construction drawings prior to permit release in National Register Historic Districts. Location Map 14 – 3 Property Information Photos 14 – 4 14 – 5 Demolition permit application, 2025 14 – 6 Texas Historical Commission. Robertson Building. Photograph, ca. 1986. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth971494/. Douglass, Neal. Southern Union Gas Company. Photograph, February 9, 1951. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History. Accessed December 17, 2025. Crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth74618/. Occupancy History Historic Preservation Office, 2025 1970 101 W. 5th St.: Salon of Beauty 14 – 7 1962 1959 1955 1949 1944 1940 1935 1930 1927 1922 1920 1916 1912 1910 1909 101 W. 5th St.: Speir Beauty Shop 101 W. 5th St.: Speir Beauty Shop 103 W. 5th St.: Austin Sewing Machine & Supply Co. 105 W. 5th St.: Gillian’s Grill 101 W. 5th St.: Speir Beauty Shop 103 W. 5th St.: Kiddie Korner, children’s clothing 105 W. 5th St.: G&M Grill 101 W. 5th St.: Speir Beauty Shop No. 2 103 W. 5th St.: Kiddie Korner, children’s clothing 105 W. 5th St.: Bennett & Moore Sporting Goods, proprietors Bruce I Bennett and Jack Moore 101 W. 5th St.: Daisy’s Beauty Shop 103 W. 5th St.: Kiddie Korner children’s clothing, proprietor H. H. Cooksey 101 W. 5th St.: Petmecky’s Fifth Street Shop, locksmith 103-105 W. 5th St.: Day & Night Sign Service 101 W. 5th St.: Vacant 103-105 W. 5th St.: Not listed 101 W. 5th St.: S. F. Page clothes cleaners 103 W. 5th St.: Lacy-McClellan Glass Co. 105 W. 5th St.: M. W. Browning, grinder; C. A. Pickel, umbrella repair 101 W. 5th St.: Austin Plating Co. 103 W. 5th St.: Rieger’s Battery 105 W. 5th St.: St. John Sign Service; Otha Haehnel, barber 101 W. 5th St.: The Texas Co., filling station 103 W. 5th St.: Blomquist & Stroburg garage 105 W. 5th St.: Badger Auto Supply Co. 101 W. 5th St.: The Texas Co., filling station 103 W. 5th St.: Haynie & Day Auto Repair, proprietors KC Haynie and VR Day 105 W. 5th St.: Southwestern Auto Supply Co., tires 101 W. 5th St.: G. VonQuintus Tire Repair Shop and G. VonQuintus Auto Service Co. 103-105 W. 5th St.: Randolph Tire & Supply Co. 101-103 W. 5th St.: Not listed 105 W. 5th St.: Vacant 105 W. 5th St.: Roy Wright, tinner Not listed Historical Information 14 – 8 1962 Sanborn map. “Digital Sanborn Maps,” 2025. https://digitalsanbornmaps.proquest.com/ 1935 Sanborn map. Proquest.com. “Digital Sanborn Maps,” 2025. https://digitalsanbornmaps.proquest.com/ 1900 Sanborn map. “Digital Sanborn Maps,” 2025. https://digitalsanbornmaps.proquest.com/ 1889 Sanborn map. “Digital Sanborn Maps,” 2025. https://digitalsanbornmaps.proquest.com/ 14 – 9 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=226360 14 – 10 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 22 Feb 1914: 9. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 08 Mar 1914: E6. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 29 Mar 1914: A12. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 14 June 1914: A10. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 07 June 1914: A12 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 09 Jan 1915: 8. 14 – 11 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Jan 10, 1915 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 02 Feb 1915: 10 The Statesman (1916-1921); Austin, Tex.. 23 May 1918: 3. The Statesman (1916-1921); Austin, Tex.. 26 June 1919: 7. 14 – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 Jan 1922: 10. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 Oct 1927: B32. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Sep 1928: 10 . The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Dec 1928: 8. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Dec 1933: 7. 14 – 13 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 16 July 1938: 8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 Dec 1938: 10. 14 – 14 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 07 Apr 1940: B10. Photograph of Buster Kreuz holding a number of guns. Per the Portal to Texas History, Kreuz Sporting Goods Store was located at 105 W. 5th Street. Douglass, Neal. Buster Kreuz, photograph, August 19, 1943; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth62545/), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. 14 – 15 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 18 May 1950: 31. Haas, Buster.  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 28 July 1950: 16 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 11 Apr 1953: 3. 14 – 16 Permits The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 03 Aug 1979: 4