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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts March 4, 2026 HR-2026-014204 Congress Avenue Historic District 809 Congress Avenue 5 – 1 Proposal Demolish a building behind the front wall at an existing compatible property. Project Specifications 1) Demolish existing two-story building behind streetfacing wall, which had been covered by stucco, and since uncovered. 2) Stabilize historic sections of the front wall facing Congress Avenue, including removal of nonhistoric CMU above the brick storefront. Existing storefront features, also not of historic age, are to be removed. 3) Install temporary security walls at front storefront and rear alley. Architecture Initially built as a single-story commercial storefront, the building at 809 Congress had three bays with large display windows, an ample awning, and transom windows above. At the top of the façade was brick oriented in a decorative pattern that terminated at a triangular peak. Currently, that shape is no longer present and was replaced with a concrete masonry unit wall, which extended the overall height of the front façade and housed a second story behind it. The entire storefront has been altered and original material removed, but the overall size of the opening has not changed, allowing for a matching replacement storefront if proposed. Research This property saw many tenants and uses since it first appeared in city directories, including a beauty salon, a millinery, a cafeteria, a saloon (which became a purveyor of soft drinks during Prohibition), but its longest and most notable tenant was Stelfox Jewelers, who became a tenant in the 1940s. The most dramatic of alterations appear to have occurred in the early 2000s when it became a sandwich shop. 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 in National Register districts. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposed demolition calls for all non-historic material to be removed, with the remaining brick façade to remain. Though there is little of this material that is left intact, including the loss of the triangular peak above the storefront, what little remains is being retained and meets the design standards in these circumstances. 4. Exterior walls and trim Appropriate repair or treatment of remaining exterior material is recommended based on further exploration of existing conditions. It is recommended that this and other demolition work be documented in order to determine any additional concerns regarding remaining storefront material. 5. Windows, doors, and screens Existing window frames and materials are not historic and can be removed. If there are any elements of the original frames or windows present, these should be used for reference in any future new construction applications. 11. Commercial storefronts While it is not required to reconstruct the building to its original appearance, it is recommended that any future designs use historic images or remaining artifacts of original material to guide proposed work. 5 – 2 Summary The project meets the applicable standards. Department Comments Previous Historic Landmark Commission action: Last action taken by HLC was an approval of a signage permit in 1994. Since then, there are no records of the property appearing before the Commission. However, in 2019, a Plan Review application was submitted and approved for the property to remove existing stucco to expose brick and concrete masonry units above that are currently visible. There is no record of any historic review for this work. Property Evaluation The property is listed as compatible to the Congress Avenue National Register district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain low 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 does not appear to currently convey architectural significance. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have significant historical associations. 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. Staff Recommendation Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of remaining historic-age material, but approve the demolition permit application. The Historic Landmark Commission must review new construction drawings prior to permit release in National Register Historic Districts. Location Map 5 – 3 Property Information Photos 5 – 4 Site visit, February 2026 5 – 5 Site visit, February 2026 Google Streetview, 2019 (prior to removal of exterior stucco) 5 – 6 Congress Avenue National Register nomination (property indicated by red arrow) Occupancy History City Directory Research, February 2026 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944 1941 1939 1935 1932 1929 1927 1924 1922 1920 1918 1916 1914 1912 Stelfox Jewelers Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Peacock Beauty Salon Vanity Beauty Shop, Winifred’s Hosiery Shop Vanity Beauty Shop Vanity Beauty Shop, S&T Millinery Outlet Millinery Co. Eat-a-Bite Cafeteria Same as above Vacant Golden Solomon - soft drinks Golden Solomon - saloon Tiroff Otto - saloon Tiroff Otto – saloon, Tuke Henry - restaurant Address not listed Historical Information 5 – 7 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Feb 8, 1971; 33. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Dec 26, 1959; 1. The Austin American (1914-1973); Jun 30, 1957; C13. 5 – 8 The Austin American (1914-1973); Oct 5, 1947; 7. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jun 23, 1934; 8. Permits 5 – 9 Elevation sheet, application for stucco removal, 2019 Permit to remodel exterior, 1957