14.0 - 2406 Rosewood Ave — original pdf

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13 – 1 HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Demolition and Relocation Permits August 5, 2026 SP-2025-096242; GF-2026-038646 Rosewood Elementary School 2406 Rosewood Avenue Proposal Complete site work, exterior rehabilitation, and construction of an addition in alignment with Project Specifications See backup material for applicant’s full scope of work. 1) Landscaping and site construction: Repave existing parking lots and add additional parking at south end of site as well as northeast of the 1936-9 building. Construct concrete pathways to connect parking areas. Install new lawns and plantings. Construct a courtyard and rain garden around the boiler house to the north of the 1930s wing. 2) Addition to 1956 wing: Construct a new addition at the northwest (rear) corner of the 1956 wing. The proposed addition contains a 3-story vertical circulation core to serve as a hyphen between the addition and the historic building, set back from the south face of the 1956 wing. Exterior materials include stacked-bond Roman brick veneer and metal paneling at the elevator tower. Proposed fenestration is similar, but not identical, in size and configuration to those of the 1956 wing. 3) Roof replacement: Remove and replace entire roof with new mechanically fastened 60-mil TPO system with insulation, cover board, wood blocking, sheet metal flashing/coping, scuppers, and skylight. 4) Cleaning and repointing: Clean historic masonry using the gentlest means possible including very water >300 psi and, only if needed, Prosocco or equivalent chemical solvent. Cleaning methodologies will be tested in an inconspicuous location prior to proceeding with work to ensure that cleaning will not damage the masonry. Perform Mortar repointing as needed, with new mortar will match historic in composition, hardness, and joint profile. Up-close, detail photos of masonry will be provided at project completion. 5) Non-historic EIFS on the south side of the 1956 addition will be removed as part of the restoration of the original breezeway. 6) Windows: a. Repair existing windows on the 1936 and 1939 wings in-kind as needed, apart from one window on the east elevation of the west 1939 addition, to be converted to a door. Install skylights along the length of the 1939 corridor, not visible from exterior ground level. b. Remove louvers from 1940 boiler house windows. c. Remove existing paneling and furr outs from 1951 cafetorium, retaining and repairing in-kind any remaining historic-age windows. If deteriorated beyond repair or wholly missing, document their condition and replace with new windows matching existing in configuration, dimension, and profile. Where non-historic windows fill openings, replicate historic windows, taking details and dimensions from remaining existing windows as well as historic drawings. d. Exposed covered window openings at 1956 addition’s breezeway. If historic windows remain, retain and repair as needed. If deteriorated beyond repair or wholly missing, document their condition and replaced with new windows matching existing in configuration, dimension, and profile. Where non- historic windows fill openings, replicate historic windows, taking details and dimensions from remaining existing windows as well as historic drawings. Install two new aluminum-frame fixed windows are proposed on each floor of the south elevation of the 1956 wing. Install aluminum-frame storefront systems, to be slightly recessed from the facade so that the restored breezeway will continue to read as a void. 7) Reopen and restore original entrance at 1936 building, storing brick onsite for reuse as needed. Install paired slab doors with windows at the top and flanking multi-light sidelights. Install new awning with round structural steel columns over new patio, at the approximate location of the original slab and awning, based on remaining physical evidence and historic plans. Retain and repair historic-age entry at east 1939 wing, retaining original railings and extending awning to shelter the stairs. Install paired doors at boiler house opening. Install new fully- and partially glazed doors in cafetorium opening. 13 – 2 Architecture See scope of work and National Register nomination in backup for detailed site information, summarized below. The Rosewood Elementary property comprises a triangular parcel of land with several phases of construction associated with the historic school. Surrounded by metal fencing, the school is accessed primarily via Sol Wilson Avenue, beyond a 1950s-era parking lot and sport court. The earliest portion of the building is oriented toward the southwest, while the large 1956 addition at the southernmost portion is oriented southeast, next to a triangular grass lawn beyond a ca. 1950s retaining wall. The school building was originally clad in brick, most of which remains at the 1936 original building and 1939 additions. These early portions retain the majority of the building’s ornamentation, with brick quoins, decorative coursing, and tile accents at the parapets; the 1950s additions feature much darker and plainer masonry. The 1950s-era breezeway and some of the fenestration was enclosed and infilled with stucco during a 1980s renovation. The entire structure is capped with a flat roof beyond a smooth parapet with cast-stone coping. Cast-stone sills remain at the original window openings on the 1930s-era building. The school’s original north-facing entrance was oriented at the center of the 1936 building, where infilled openings suggest a symmetrical arrangement of single doors flanking two windows. An existing entrance at the north end of the east 1939 addition consists of simple concrete steps with a curved pipe railing leading to a single slab door with a mutli-light transom above. A flat awning shelters the landing. A matching entrance is located at the south elevation of this same addition. A simple boiler house, constructed in 1940, is located roughly between the 1939 wing additions. It has a multi-light steel window at the north elevation and a louvered window at the south. Its partially glazed slab doors, typical for most of the school, are sheltered beneath a concrete awning with brick posts. Though it is constructed of similar brick to the 1939 additions, it is—as a support structure—notably less ornamented. The 1951 cafetorium addition is constructed of much plainer masonry, with simple concrete sills beneath expansive windows. Though the bottom-floor’s windows have been replaced and the top floor’s infilled with concrete masonry units, the original multi-light steel systems at the upper floors remain behind the infill materials. Its northeast entrance is beneath a flat awning, and its northwest entrance appears to have been significantly altered, likely in the 1980s. The 1956 classrooms, breezeway, and administrative offices have also been significantly altered. The breezeway was filled in during the 1980s renovation, obscuring window openings and installing stucco paneling over original brickwork. Most of the windows have been replaced, though some original 2:2 windows remain within the incompatible infill materials. Per the 2026 National Register nomination, the complex retains integrity: The original 1936 school and 1939 additions feature modest PWA Moderne influences evident in the horizontal bands of protruding brick at the building corners and between windows and the curved metal railings at corner entrances. However, the later 1951 and 1956 additions now visually dominate the campus, and thus, the property now reads as a midcentury school reflected in the clean lines, minimal ornament, ribbon windows, and visible structural concrete framing on the exterior. Some non-historic modifications, including the concrete-clad enclosed breezeway and concrete-clad one-story kitchen on the cafetorium have negatively impacted the complex’s historic appearance. However, character defining features like the exposed structural concrete framing remain visible, retaining the midcentury geometric emphasis typical of postwar era schools. Other character-defining features of the property include the modest PWA Moderne brickwork on the 1930s portions, original curved metal railings, fenestration patterns, and overall layout of the buildings and additions, which reflect the continued expansion of the campus as the student body grew and funds became available. The irregular shaped lot and sloping grade which characterize the property are also evident.1 1 Wallisch, Rebecca. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, 2026. 13 – 3 Research Rosewood Elementary School is one of the few remaining intact East Austin schools developed during Austin’s long era of segregation. It was opened in 1932, four years after the approval of the 1928 City plan that eliminated public services for Black residents outside of the East Side. By 1939, the school’s student population had grown exponentially and the first of many additions were constructed in 1939 and 1940 after Austin received PWA grants and labor from the federal government, following advocacy by principal F.R. Rice. Rice and other Rosewood educators were also community leaders and voices for change in segregated Austin. Another wave of expansion took hold after World War II, when Rosewood’s enrollment spiked again. The cafetorium, located in the northwest corner of the site, was constructed in 1951; an outdoor sport court and large two-story classroom and administrative additions were added by 1956. These midcentury additions, located on the site’s perimeter, became the new public face of Rosewood Elementary. Historian Rebecca Wallisch summarizes the school’s importance to Austin’s history in the 2026 National Register nomination currently in federal review: The functionally related complex of Rosewood Elementary School was first established in the 1930s as a direct result of the 1928 City of Austin Master Plan, which aimed to create a segregated city with African Americans relegated to the east side. The school was constructed in various phases beginning in 1936 [with the original PWA Moderne building designed by Giesecke and Harris] and expanded as the needs of the student body grew and finances allowed for upgrades. The modest scale and simple ornamentation of the 1930s buildings reflect the economic realities of the Depression era, while the double loaded corridor configuration reflects early twentieth century trends in school design. Midcentury additions in 1951 and 1956 reflect the rapid growth of the student body following the post-war baby boom and were likely equalization efforts aimed at placating African Americans amid calls for integration. In the 1960s and 1970s as the federal government ramped up enforcement of desegregation, AISD closed or consolidate many formerly African American schools rather than require White children to attend them. Rosewood Elementary is thus one of the few historically segregated schools for African Americans that remains extant in the city and is thus a significant property that demonstrates the period of government-sponsored racial segregation in Austin’s public schools.2 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 potential historic landmark. The following standards apply to the proposed project: Repair and alterations 1. General standards The proposed project removes minimal intact historic material from the buildings’ exteriors, prioritizing the earliest and most significant portion of the building and attempting repair where possible. Where needed, reconstruction of missing material is based on photographic evidence or existing historic elements. 2. Foundations The proposed project maintains existing foundation materials and relationships with the site. 3. Roofs The proposed roof replacement is appropriate in material and retains most of its character-defining features. Cast- stone coping should remain. 4. Exterior walls and trim The proposed project repairs historic masonry where possible and replaces in-kind where it is deteriorated beyond repair. The proposed cleaning methods appear appropriate. While the building’s siting makes it difficult to hide all changes to the side elevations, proposed changes are minimal and strictly necessary for the building’s functionality. 5. Windows, doors, and screens The proposed project repairs most of the historic windows where possible, replacing either in-kind in places where 2 Wallisch, Rebecca. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, 2026. 13 – 4 existing windows are deteriorated beyond repair or from photographic and physical evidence where infilled windows will be reopened. New door openings appear at secondary facades and utilize existing window openings. 10. Accessory buildings The proposed project retains and repairs the existing boiler house. Proposed changes are appropriate. 11. Commercial storefronts The proposed storefronts are transparent in nature and appear compatible. Institutional buildings 1. General Standards 1.1 Ensure that the building’s historic character is preserved through careful repair and maintenance of historic materials. The proposed project generally preserves the building’s historic character-defining features, prioritizing repair over replacement. 1.2 Additions to an institutional building may not be appropriate. The proposed addition appears appropriately differentiated in material, connection via hyphen, and location at a secondary elevation. Its design facilitates circulation which would otherwise require additional modification to the historic fabric of the building. 1.3 Locate additions to be subordinate to the historic building, keeping in mind that all sides of an institutional building may be significant. See 1.2. The addition’s location at a secondary elevation and connection to the historic-age building via hyphen increase its compatibility, rather than a second- and third-floor addition to the existing one- and two-story historic structure. Material changes signify that the addition is new construction rather than old, and the addition is physically attached to a newer portion of the building so as not to damage the original 1930s school building. Sites and streetscapes 1. Vegetation, Topography, and Landscaping 1.1 Do not grade, fill, or excavate unless it is to solve a drainage or flooding problem. 1.2 Retain permanent landscape features that define the character of the property and the district. Protect them when constructing new buildings or additions. The proposed landscaping does not alter historic grading or topography, as the site has been altered and terraced over time. Though the proposed project replaces some existing courts, lawns, and parking areas with landscaping, paths, and additional parking, the proposed work does not significantly affect the property’s historic character. The proposed project appears to retain one existing retaining wall and some of the original pathways. 2. Walls and Fences 2.1 Retain historic fences and site walls on the street side or sides of the property, including gates and hardware. 2.2 Repair historic street-side fences and site walls with matching design and materials. 2.3 If damage or deterioration requires replacement of a portion of a street-side fence or site wall, replace only that portion in-kind, matching the design, materials, size, and finish. 2.4 If constructing a new street-side fence or site wall, design it so that the materials, style, and scale are compatible with and differentiated from the architectural style and period of the building and are in keeping with historic fence styles and heights in the historic district. a. New front fences must be no more than 4’ high and have a high degree of transparency. The proposed project appears to retain one existing retaining wall. No fencing is proposed, though proposed guardrails at retaining walls appear appropriate. 3. Mechanical Equipment and Site Appurtenances 3.1 Locate mechanical and energy conservation equipment and rainwater collection systems where they will not obscure or intrude upon the primary view of the building. 3.2 Attach electrical and mechanical equipment to exterior walls using methods that do not damage the historic wall material. a. If the walls are masonry, anchor attachments into the mortar, not the masonry unit. The proposal moves existing obtrusive mechanical structures to more screened locations. 13 – 5 4. Accessibility 4.1 Avoid significant alterations to building design and materials while complying with accessibility requirements. Do not modify historic entrances on the front wall of a building in a way that destroys or diminishes the architectural character of the entrance unless no reasonable alternative is available. 4.2 Design ramps, lifts, and handrails to be unobtrusive and to complement the historic character of the building through design and materials. 4.3 Design ramps and lifts so that they can be removed in the future without damage to the building. Wood ramps are recommended for houses. The proposed accessibility improvements appear removable and unobtrusive. 5. Sidewalks, Driveways, and Parking 5.1 Repair historic sidewalks, driveways, and parking areas with a matching design and materials. 5.2 Construct new sidewalks and driveways that are compatible with the character of the district in location, size, width, pattern, and material. 5.3 Do not locate a parking area in front of a primary building unless one was present historically. Locating a parking area to the side of the primary building is acceptable if a rear location is not feasible. 5.4 Parking requirements may be reduced or waived if new curb cuts and driveways are not compatible with the historic development patterns of the property or district. The proposed project appears to retain some of the original pathways. New paths appear compatible in location, width, and material. Though new parking appears to be installed in front of the “primary” buildings, the largest area of new parking does not obscure the most significant of the structures on the site. Summary The project mostly meets the applicable standards, and does not preclude the property’s ability to be locally designated as a historic landmark. Department Comments The property has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places and passed the SBR on May 16, 2026. Completion of a final draft and subsequent submittal to the National Park Service are pending. Parts 1 and 2 of the historic tax credit application have been approved by the THC/NPS. Property Evaluation Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff have evaluated the property and determined that it meets two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of educational building construction in segregated Austin; its phases illustrate the type of construction common in pre- and post-war institutional buildings. b. Historical association. The property has 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 possesses 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 does not retain a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. Staff Recommendation Approve the partial demolition and addition application, as well as proposed rehabilitation, upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. The project is sensitive to the building’s immense historical importance while allowing strategic additions and compatible modifications for adaptive reuse. Location Map 13 – 6 Property Information Review National Register nomination draft in backup for detailed property information and photos. Photos 13 – 7 1956 addition, Google Street View, March 2024 Google Street View, March 2024 13 – 8 Google Street View, 2011 1951 cafetorium. Image Credit: Andrew Wheat Swiatecki, C., Ligon, S., & Tribune, T. T. (2025, November 25). Retooled school: Visions clash over Rosewood Elementary’s future. Austin Free Press. Original building and boiler room, July 2026 Historical Information 13 – 9 Rosewood students in front of original building and 1939 addition. Photo: Austin History Center, courtesy of Rebecca Wallisch. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Nov 1935: 6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 Nov 1935: 6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 Apr 1939: 7. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 04 June 1939: A9. 13 – 10 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 Sep 1947: 5. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 27 Feb 1948: 20. 13 – 11 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 25 Apr 1948: 1. 13 – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 11 Aug 1950: 6. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 02 Jan 1951: 13. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 Feb 1951: 9. 13 – 13 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 11 Dec 1951: A15. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Aug 1952: 13. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 13 Nov 1952: A20. 13 – 14 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Nov 1952: 7. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 14 July 1953: 11. 13 – 15 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 Nov 1955: A22. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 Feb 1958: D11. 13 – 16 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 11 Feb 1960: B8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 03 Feb 1961: 5. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 12 Nov 1962: 11. 13 – 17 ANITA BREWER Education Editor.  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 24 June 1965: B11. 13 – 18 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 Oct 1965: 10. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Jan 1966: A28. . 13 – 19 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 08 Feb 1967: 31. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 09 Sep 1967: 6. 13 – 20 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 03 July 1970: 46. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 May 1971: 22. 13 – 21 BRENDA ERWIN Staff Writer.  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Apr 1972: 71. 13 – 22 HOLLY HUDLOW Staff Writer.  The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 23 May 1973: 29. 13 – 23 CAROLYN RINEHART American-Statesman Staff.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 18 Nov 1980: B1. Permits 13 – 24 Water Tap Permit, 1937