13.0 - 1406 Garden St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Demolition and Relocation Permits April 1, 2026 PR-2026-022411; GF-2026-025343 1406 Garden Street 13 – 1 Proposal Demolish a ca. 1903 house and later carport and garage. Architecture The house at 1406 Garden Street appears to originally have been a wing-and-gable Folk Victorian building, constructed around the turn of the century. It features horizontal wood siding and traditional cornice returns at gable ends, though a wraparound porch shown in Sanborn maps appears to have been removed around 1971, and a small gabled hood with triangular brackets constructed over the door in the 1930s or 1940s. Outbuildings on the site were constructed during the 1970s. Research The house at 1406 Garden Street was constructed around the turn of the 20th century. Its earliest recorded owner in city directories was Mrs. Maggie Piper, a widow who shared her home with two of her children. She sold it to another widow, Rachel Jones, around 1906. By 1912, Jones had sold it to J. C. and Mary Elizabeth Fox; J. C. Fox is listed as “retired” in directory listings but appears to have lived in Austin for some time per obituaries. After his wife’s death in 1914, Fox took in boarders, remarried, and tried to sell the home, but failed; he and his current wife both died in 1920. The home was then rented briefly to the Jones family, and then to Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, who eventually purchased it. Frame lived in the home for a little under ten years. Throughout the 1940s, various short-term renters occupied the home before it was purchased by Augustina and Hubert Halsell, who remained there until the late 1970s. Most of the home’s modifications appear to have taken place while Augustina Halsell owned the home. Department Comments April 1, 2026 is the first meeting at which the demolition application will be discussed. Property Evaluation The 2016 East Austin Historic Resources Survey lists the property as contributing to potential local and National Register historic districts. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain moderate integrity. The character-defining porch was removed late in the period of significance, but no major modifications occurred after the 50-year cutoff. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff have evaluated the property and determined that it does not meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building is an example of a non-standard lot configuration and building orientation constructed during the East Austin building boom at the turn of the 20th century. 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 was not evaluated for its ability to convey 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, relocation, or deconstruction and salvage over demolition, but approve the demolition permit application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. Location Map 13 – 2 Property Information Photos 13 – 3 13 – 4 13 – 5 Demolition permit application, 2026 Freeman, Martha Doty. [Historic Property, Photograph THC_07-0081], photograph, September 12, 1980; University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Commission. 13 – 6 Occupancy History City Directory Research, March 2026 1959 1952 1949 1944 1941 1935 1932 1927 1924 1922 1920 1918 1916 1914 1912 1909 1906 1905 Hubert E. and Augustina Halsell, owners Hubert E. and Tina Halsell, owners – carpenter MP lines George W. Young, renter George W. Young, renter Thomas Bobbitt, renter Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, owner – widow of James I. Frame F. E. Gayer, renter Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, owner – widow of James I. Frame James Frame, renter Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, owner Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, renter Mrs. Elizabeth Frame, renter Sophia and Arthur Jones, renters James C. Fox, owner W.B. Fox, renter John P. Sommers, renter – laborer James C. Fox, owner James C. Fox, owner Lambert Rose, renter – collier James C. Fox, renter – retired Mrs. Rachel A. Jones, renter – widow of M. R. Jones Mrs. Rachel A. Jones, owner Mrs. Maggie Piper, owner - Widow of W.L. Piper C. Ross Piper, renter– mail carrier B. C. Piper, renter 1903 Not listed Historical Information 1935 Sanborn map 13 – 7 1962 Sanborn map The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 07 June 1904: 4. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 25 Mar 1906: 2. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 31 Jan 1914: 3. The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 119, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 26, 1914 The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 155, Ed. 1 Monday, June 1, 1914 The Statesman (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 87, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 22, 1919 The Statesman (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 266, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 18, 1920 13 – 8 The Statesman (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 177, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 24, 1920 Austin American (Austin, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, November 25, 1920 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 06 June 1941: 19. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Nov 1960: B3. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 09 Feb 1961: B19. 13 – 9 Permits The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 May 1963: 6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 06 Dec 1965: 14. 13 – 10