02.0 - C14H-2026-0039 - 400 W 37th St - Caldwell House — original pdf

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ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET CASE NUMBER: C14H-2026-0039 HLC DATE: July 1, 2026 PC DATE: CC Date: APPLICANT: Preservation Central, Inc. (Terri Myers) HISTORIC NAME: James Harvey and Pearl Caldwell House WATERSHED: Waller Creek ADDRESS OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE: 400 West 37th Street, North University NP ZONING CHANGE: SF-3-NCCD-NP to SF-3-H-NCCD-NP COUNCIL DISTRICT: 9 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the proposed zoning change from family residence- neighborhood conservation combining district-neighborhood plan (SF-3-NCCD-NP) to family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood conservation combining district-neighborhood plan (SF- 3-H-NCCD-NP) combining district. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION: architecture and historical associations HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ACTION: PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: CITY COUNCIL ACTION: CASE MANAGER: Kalan Contreras, 512-974-2727 NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS: Austin Neighborhoods Council, CANPAC (Central Austin Neigh Plan Area Committee), Friends of Austin Neighborhoods, Homeless Neighborhood Association, North University Neighborhood Association, North University Neighborhood Association Development Review Committee, Preservation Austin DEPARTMENT COMMENTS: The 2020 North University-Windsor-Hyde Park historic resource survey recommends the property as eligible for local landmark listing, individual listing on the National Register, and contributing to potential local and National Register historic districts. BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION: § 25-2-352(3)(c)(i) Architecture. The property embodies the distinguishing characteristics of a recognized architectural style, type, or method of construction; exemplifies technological innovation in design or construction; displays high artistic value in representing ethnic or folk art, architecture, or construction; represents a rare example of an architectural style in the city; serves as an outstanding example of the work of an architect, builder, or artisan who significantly contributed to the development of the city, state, or nation; possesses cultural, historical, or architectural value as a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian or vernacular structure; or represents an architectural curiosity or one-of- a-kind building. The house at 400 W. 37th Street, constructed in 1912, is an excellent example of an early-20th-century Neoclassical bungalow. It is one story in height, with a hipped roof. Its symmetrical façade is composed of a central entrance bay flanked by matching 1/1 double-hung windows. It has a hipped dormer centered on the overarching roof and an inset full-façade front porch supported by four Doric order columns. According to applicant and architectural historian Terri Myers, its exceptional integrity of design, materials, setting, association and workmanship grant it a strong ability to convey an authentic sense of its own history as well as the early twentieth century context of Austin’s suburban expansion along the Guadalupe streetcar line north of the University of Texas and away from bustling downtown Austin. Developers promised a more relaxed environment with orderly street patterns, consistent setbacks, yards, and gardens--attributes still evident in the Harvey and Pearl Caldwell House and its streetscape today. § 25-2-352(3)(c)(ii) Historical Associations. The property has long-standing significant associations with persons, groups, institutions, businesses, or events of historical importance that contributed significantly to the history of the city, state, or nation or represents a significant portrayal of the cultural practices or the way of life of a definable group of people in a historic time. The property is associated with the Caldwell family, musicians who dedicated their lives to education, musical achievement, and fellowship among Austin’s blind community. Their home was a regular meeting place for the Austin Association of the Blind, who advocated for political causes aiding the blind at a time when accessibility and equity were exceedingly limited. It also served as a place where the Caldwells’ colleagues and friends could enjoy musical performances. As part of the Lake-View Addition, it is also tangentially associated with developer Emma Moore Barrett, an early woman entrepreneur and champion of progressive causes in Austin. Historian Myers describes the families’ importance as follows: [The building has] long association with two disabled persons who, despite being blind, led full, purposeful lives that benefitted the blind community, their church, and Austin’s music community…. Harvey Caldwell taught music and piano tuning at the Texas State School for the Blind for over three decades…. Blindness shaped Caldwell’s productive life as a teacher, musician, church elder, school department head, and advocate for the blind. From 1910 to 1940, Caldwell taught generations of blind students the art of piano tuning so they could earn a living for themselves…he was a role model for his students in this regard, able to provide for his family as a full-time teacher. He also performed at monthly school concerts for the public. The Caldwells hosted the Austin Association for the Blind at their home…Members discussed legislation pertaining to the blind and penned letters in support or opposition to various bills. They also played music: Harvey played cornet or violin solos and duets; Pearl and Harvey also played in a quartet. Pearl Caldwell was noteworthy in her own right…she negotiated the purchase of her lot and likely contracted the construction of her home on W. 37th Street. She regularly hosted meetings of the Austin Association for the Blind and…served as an officer for the Blind Club and as president of the Women’s Auxiliary in the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church… …The Lake-View Addition was platted and developed by a woman, Emma Moore Barrett, who dedicated her life to progressive causes. She was the first student to enroll at Sam Houston Normal Institute, a teacher education college…. By 1894, she was a teacher at the Blind Institute where she almost certainly knew Harvey, a student there at the same time. In 1900, she opened her own kindergarten and primary school…. At the same time, she owned several farms in the Austin area…. By 1915, she was a Demonstrator for the State Agricultural Department, a job that required her to travel throughout Texas by train giving lectures on efficient farming methods, soil conservation, and home and farm economics…Mrs. Barrett advocated for many progressive causes including prison reform, roadside beautification, and adding music and art to school curricula….Pearl Caldwell and Emma Moore Barrett empowered themselves at a time when women were generally marginalized and played few public roles in their communities.1 1 Myers, Terri. 2026. “James Harvey and Pearl Richardson Caldwell House: 400 W. 37th Street.” Historic zoning application. PARCEL NO.: 0218040124 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 32 BLK 2 OLT 77 DIV D LAKEVIEW ADDN ESTIMATED ANNUAL TAX EXEMPTION (homestead, capped): AISD $1,811.19 COA $1,797.93 TC $1,177.22 TC Health $369.67 Total $5,156.00 APPRAISED VALUE: Land - $538,766; Improvement - $122,140 PRESENT USE: Residence DATE BUILT/PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1912/1912-1956 INTEGRITY/ALTERATIONS: The Caldwell House retains an exceptional degree of integrity. Its limited alterations are minor and occur on the least visible facades. PRESENT OWNERS: Nicholas Wallace ORIGINAL OWNER(S): Pearl Caldwell OTHER HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS: None Historic zoning application, 2026 Location Map