04.c - 907 E 13th St - public comment — original pdf

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Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 5:41 PM Historic Preservation Office PR-2025-138065; GF-2025-144692 ; 907 E 13th Street Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Completed You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Preservation Board, I am writing to oppose the demolition permit for 907 E 13th Street. This house is one of the oldest remaining homes in the neighborhood and meets the City’s criteria for historic consideration, including architectural significance, association with early settlers in this area of Austin, and established community value. It is also one of the few remaining structures tied to the Swedish history of Swede Hill, much of which has already been lost to prior development. Neighborhood representatives have attempted to contact the applicant to discuss alternatives to demolition, but those requests have gone unanswered. This raises concerns about demolition-by-neglect and a lack of good-faith engagement in the preservation review process. The applicant’s consistent demolitions among their considerable 12th and 13th Street holdings and plethora of empty lots have become a blight on the East Side. It is about time that the Board and the City of Austin to do something about it as it is long overdue. They are not honest brokers and never will be until they held to account.. I respectfully urge the Commission to deny the demolition permit and to require consideration of preservation alternatives consistent with the City’s adopted criteria and long-term neighborhood interests. Bruce Sheehan 903 East 14th St Austin, TX 78702 CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". 1 February 3, 2026 RE: PR-2025-138065; GF-2025-144692 ; 907 E 13th Street To whom it may concern, As a resident of Swede Hill, I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed demolition permit for 907 E 13th Street. The property is one of the oldest remaining residences in the neighborhood and retains clear historical significance. Based on the City’s adopted criteria, the building meets multiple standards for consideration, including architectural integrity, association with historically significant individuals, specifically early settlers in this area of Austin, and community value. As one of the few remaining structures connected to the Swedish heritage of Swede Hill, the property represents an increasingly rare link to the neighborhood’s cultural and historical identity, much of which has already been lost through prior development, including the construction of I-35. The applicant has been unresponsive to meet and discuss alternatives to demolition. This lack of engagement raises concerns about their known demolition-by-neglect practices and the potential reliance on procedural timelines rather than good-faith preservation review. These concerns are heightened by the applicant’s recent demolition of another property on East 13th Street, which has resulted in another vacant lot rather than meaningful reinvestment. This pattern has had a visible and negative impact on the larger neighborhood. I respectfully urge the Commission to deny the demolition permit for 907 E 13th Street and to consider preservation-minded alternatives consistent with the City’s historic review criteria and neighborhood conservation goals. Sincerely, Molly Hubbs Resident of Swede Hill Neighborhood