07.0 - 1901 Cliff St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Certificate of Appropriateness May 6, 2026 PR-2026-034138; HR-2026-042333 Cranfill House 1901 Cliff Street 7 – 1 Proposal Construct a rear addition at a designated landmark. Project Specifications At the rear of a landmarked property, construct as addition in the form of a new wing of the existing residence. The proposed addition will be connected to the original house by a narrow hallway and, like the original, be a single story in height. The current use of the addition’s site is a rear lawn. Architecture The Cranfill House is a single-story, modern residence built with a low pitched, standing seam metal roof and clad in wood board-and-batten siding. It features a subdued front entry, accessed through a center courtyard located to the side of a garage. The general design of the house, particularly the fenestration and circulation pattern, is inward- facing, and the rear of the property opens up onto a view of downtown Austin. 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: Residential additions 1. Location The addition is proposed to be located behind the main house and not visible form the street. By designing it in the form on a new wing of the property, the general layout of the main house will be retained and not interrupted. 2. Scale, massing, and height The scale of the proposed addition matches the height and proportions of the original house, and will not appear to overtake that design. 3. Design and style At the addition, the proposed design seeks to match the original in appearance and proportions. The iconic style of the main house, with its board and batten siding and low roof pitch, will be retained and replicated at the addition. However, there are concerns that this design may read as too close to the original and cause confusion as to whether the addition was always present at the property. 4. Roofs A low-pitched, standing seam metal roof will match the original house and not project above it. 5. Exterior walls Metal siding, imprinted to replicate the appearance and measurements of the wood siding at the original house, is proposed on all exterior walls of the addition. While this meet the Design Standards in that it does not create an incompatible appearance or detract from the landmarked property, there may be a risk of matching too closely. It is recommended that the proportions of the board and batten be altered slightly to differentiate new from historic, or to use a finish on the metal that is smooth or otherwise does not replicate the texture or appearance of wood. 6. Windows, screens, and doors Stained wood framed windows are proposed at the addition. These largely match the original house windows and do not appear out of place. Similarly, the proposed doors are to be solid core stained wood, which fits the overall design of the house. 7. Porches and decks A terrace is proposed at the rear of the addition. This will not be visible from the street and matches the remainder of the addition in style and proportion. 7 – 2 Summary The project mostly meets the applicable standards. Department Comments This application will time out on July 20, 2026. Staff Recommendation Approve the Certificate of Appropriateness. Location Map 7 – 3 Property Information Photos 7 – 4 View of property from driveway, Google Streetview, 2019 View of front entry and garage structure, Permit application, 2026 7 – 5 View of existing rear yard (addition is proposed at left, existing garage structure at right foreground), Permit application, 2026