13.0 - 1506 East Side Dr — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts May 6, 2026 PR-2026-040256 Travis Heights-Fairview Park Historic District 1506 East Side Drive 13 – 1 Proposal Construct three housing units at the site of a previously approved demolition. Project Specifications On the site of a previously approved demolition in a National Register district (the address used for this application was 514 E. Monroe St.), construct three housing units. Two of these units will face East Side Dr., which is the longer street frontage for the property, and one will be located at the rear of a reconstructed historic house. Research Upon construction sometime between 1925 and 1930, the house was first owned by Patrick and Lottie Parker. Patrick worked at a projectionist in Austin, and they moved away shortly after 1930. The house was then bought and occupied for the next 20 years by Roy and Lula Short. Mr. Short worked in managerial roles and was involved with the American Legion at this time. Together, they raised their family at the address before moving out of town in the early 1950s. 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: Residential new construction 1. Location The unit facing E. Monroe St. will be at the rear half of a reconstructed house, which will reduce visibility from the street. The two units facing East Side Dr. will have differing setbacks. The southernmost unit will be located up to the street setback, and the northern unit will be located against the rear corner setback. This is likely due to the site’s sloping elevation, and, given how narrow the lot is, the northernmost house will not appear out of place being set further back. 2. Orientation All housing units will face the nearest street, as the previous houses did. This is typical for the district and meets the Design Standards. 3. Scale, massing, and height All three units are proposed to be two stories in height. There are many examples of two-story houses in the district, especially those with later additions constructed at the rear of the original house. Furthermore, given the sloping elevation of the site, the overall height of the houses, especially those facing East Side Dr., will visually fade and not stand out from the surrounding buildings. The massing is also appropriate, as all three units will read as separate and the overall forms will be minimized. 4. Proportions Proportions are in keeping with neighboring contributing buildings. 5. Design and style The overall design for the two entirely new units, as well as the rear addition to the historic, read as very modern. This is allowable by the Historic Design Standards so long as there is no false historicism and they are compatible with the district. By using wood siding (oriented vertically) and stucco for large sections of new construction, the design uses materials that are common in the district, and the differing orientation of the tongue and groove siding 13 – 2 reads as separate from the horizontal teardrop siding of the remaining historic house. 6. Roofs All new construction calls for a standing seam metal roofing system, which is a common alteration among contributing properties in the district. However, given the slope of the site, it is likely that the roofs will be the most visible portions of the property. To that end, the Architectural Review Committee recommended that metal roofing be avoided if possible. The historic front house at E. Monroe St. will remain composite shingle in its cladding. 7. Exterior walls Wooden tongue and groove siding, stucco, and concrete foundations are the materials being used that are common in the district. There is also limited use of metal siding, particularly around windows. However, this is limited in its use and does not add too much visual obstruction or distraction to the design. 8. Windows and doors The fenestration patterns of new construction do not follow a pattern when viewed from the street, and the window units are typically very vertical, extending to interior ceilings. The Historic Design Standards call for windows, at least of the primary elevation, to have patterns similar to nearby contributing properties. As currently designed, this proposal does not meet the Standards. 9. Porches The front porch of the E. Monroe St. unit will be reused in place and will serve as the main entry for its unit. Neither of the other two units will feature front porches, largely due to the sloping elevation. 11. Attached garages and carports Each of the East Side Dr. units will feature off street parking, one with a garage and the other with a carport. Both of these parking areas are to the side and are minimally invasive when viewed from the street. Summary The project mostly meets the applicable standards. Department Comments A demolition application was approved by HLC at its November 5, 2025 meeting for the address at 514 E. Monroe St, which encompasses the same property and buildings. For demolition in National Register districts, the permit is not released until an application for new construction in approved by the Commission. This application will time out on July 20, 2026. Architectural Review Committee Feedback December 10, 2026: The proposed massing of the three housing units is appropriate to the district, however consider redesigning the fenestration pattern to be more in keeping with the district. Discourage use of metal as a roofing material in this instance. Staff Recommendation Comment on plans for new construction in concurrence with Architectural Review Committee feedback and release the application. Location Map 13 – 3 Property Information Photos 13 – 4 514 East Monroe Street, Demolition application, 2025 13 – 5 1506 East Side Drive, Demolition application, 2025 13 – 6 Occupancy History City Directory Research, September 2025 1952 1949 1947 Roy & Lula Short, owners; manager at Paradise Package Store Same as above Same as above, now at service manager at Harry Golden 1944-45 Same as above 1942 1939 1937 1935 1932 1930 1929 1927 1924 Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Patrick & Lottie Parker, owners; projectionist Same as above Same as above Address not listed Historical Information The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Jun 7, 1951; 13 – 7 The Austin American (1914-1973); Jul 1, 1934 Permits 13 – 8 Sewer tap permit, 1930