10.0 - 1212 Bickler Rd — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts July 1, 2026 PR-2026-069571; HR-2026-073406 Travis Heights-Fairview Park Historic District 1212 Bickler Road 10 – 1 Proposal Construct a second housing unit at a contributing property. Project Specifications Construct a detached housing unit behind the existing main house. The proposed unit is two stories and 1,055 square feet in size, and is oriented towards the front of the property. 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 proposed accessory building is located at the rear of the property, minimally visible from the street. This is typical of other secondary housing units in the neighborhood, both from the period of significance and more recent new construction. 2. Orientation New construction is oriented towards the street, which is typical of the district generally and the neighboring houses specifically. 3. Scale, massing, and height While most contributing properties in the area are a single story, there are several that have had a second floor addition since construction. Given the location of the second dwelling unit at the rear of the property, a two-story structure of limited footprint, as is being proposed, does not look out of place and meet the design standards. 4. Proportions Like the section above, the two-story housing unit does extend higher than many original houses in the district, but its proportions are reasonable and it does not appear out of place. 5. Design and style The design of the proposed residence does not pull strongly from any one style, nor does it combine styles to create an inappropriate appearance. Materials proposed can be found throughout the district, and ornament is kept to a minimum. 6. Roofs The front gable assembly proposed is simple and can be found throughout the district. In some cases, a front-facing gable on a two-story building can increase the overall height to a point where it negatively affects the visibility from the street. However, this is not the case here, as the roof pitch is kept low. 7. Exterior walls Exterior walls are proposed to be clad in lapped siding at the first floor with board and batten above. These materials can be found throughout the district, though typically in newer construction. It is recommended that only using one orientation of cladding may appear more appropriate, but the existing proposal does meet the standards. 8. Windows and doors Windows are generally simple casement or single hung fixtures, and fit with the overall style of the house. 9. Porches A modest second floor porch/balcony assembly is proposed. In this case, it is minimal in size and serves to break up the overall verticality of the building, which looks appropriate. 10 – 2 Summary The project meets the applicable standards. Department Comments This application will time out on September 14, 2026. Staff Recommendation Comment on plans for new construction and release the application. Location Map 10 – 3 Property Information Photos 10 – 4 Permit application, 2026. Proposed secondary unit would be located to the left of the house.