08.0 - 611 West Lynn St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts September 2, 2026 SP-2026-035365; HR-2026-070009 West Line Historic District 611 West Lynn Street 8 – 1 Proposal Construct eight detached residential units on a property. Project Specifications Construct a total of eight multi-story housing units, oriented around a center driveway and pool area. Five units at the front of the property will face this new driveway, and the three rear units will face a rear alley. This driveway will require a new curb cut. Architecture The property is currently a vacant lot. The original house on the property was demolished in 2020. 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 front units will have their walls closest to the street with a setback that approximately matches surrounding properties. Other units are spread equally across the property and don’t extend beyond required setbacks. Due to the site elevation, which slopes down towards the rear alley, units will be less visible as they are more set back from the front of the property. 2. Orientation The front five units will face the central driveway, which is not typical to single family houses in the district. However, design revisions have been made since the August 12, 2026 Architectural Review Committee, and both units closest to West Lynn St. have been revised to include porch areas and details at the ground floor. Additionally the massing has been altered to make these units interface with the street more than in previous design iterations. The three rear units, facing the alley, are in keeping with the standards in their guidance on additional structures on the property. 3. Scale, massing, and height All housing units are designed to be at least three stories in height. This is taller than surrounding contributing properties, with the exception of the Sheeks-Robertson House across the street. The massing of each unit appears very vertical due to each being detached, which may not be as perceptible if the structures were duplexes or rowhomes. Revisions have been made to the design to break up the massing into smaller elements and to create a “stepped back” effect when viewed from the street. These revisions are more in keeping with the design standards. 4. Proportions Proportions are very tall compared to nearby contributing property. However, given the changes in elevation on the site, both from east to west and from north to south, it is likely that there will be a variation in overall building height, which may look as though they fit better than a uniform appearance. Context line drawings of neighboring structures on the block have been included for reference. 5. Design and style The vertical design of each residence has been revised to appear more vertically cohesive. Previously, each floor had a different appearance and material cladding. There are now, at the front units, common materials across the three floors. However, there is no evidence of false historicism or improper decoration, and the modern design does 8 – 2 call for modern details as specified in Standard 5.4. 6. Roofs Flat roof decks paired with shallow side-gabled forms are present at each unit. While most buildings in the district have some sort of sloped roof assembly, roof patios are not typical. In keeping with the modern design described above, these will not be confused for anything historic and are distinct, which may better meet the standards than something trying to be compatible set three stories above the ground. 7. Exterior walls Wall materials are proposed to be mostly stucco and limestone, which are present in the district, especially stucco. As mentioned above, the patterns and massing of these materials have been improved in the most recent revisions. 8. Windows and doors Windows are often very large, tall, and not uniform in proportions. This design is not typically found in the district except for very modern interventions. Fenestration revisions have made the window designs more compatible while remaining contemporary in design. There are still some concerns with window placement, especially at the West Lynn elevation. 11. Attached garages and carports Each unit will have a ground floor garage that will occupy most of their floorplate. However, given the building orientation around the center driveway, none of these garage doors are to face the street. Summary The project meets some of the applicable standards. Department Comments Previous Historic Landmark Commission action: A demolition application for the original structure on the property was approved at the May 21, 2018 HLC meeting pending a City of Austin documentation package. Meeting minutes may be found here: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=301253, and the staff report may be found here: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=298865. This application will time out on October 19, 2026. Staff Recommendation Comment on plans for new construction in concurrence with Architectural Review Committee feedback and release the application. Location Map 8 – 3 Property Information Photos 8 – 4 View from West Lynn St. (top) and rear alley (bottom). Google Streetview, January 2024 Occupancy History City Directory Research, July 2026 & May 2018 8 – 5 1992 1986 1981 1977 1973 1968 1962 1960 1957 1953 1949 1947 1945 1941 1939 1937 1935 1933 1931 1929 1927 1924 1922 1920 1916 1912 1907 1901 1899 Charles & Magdalen Dildy, owners; physician Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Helen Slaughter, owner; retired Same as above Robert & Helen Slaughter, owners; proprietor at Brown Brothers, real estate loans & insurance Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above, now working as a land & mortgage agent at Brown Brothers Same as above Same as above, now working as a clerk at Brown Brothers Address not listed Historical Information 8 – 6 Austin Statesman, March 12, 1922 (left) and Austin American-Statesman, March 19, 1944 (right)