13.0 - 1908 Kenwood Ave — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts September 2, 2026 PR-2026-007559; HR-2026-096250 Travis Heights-Fairview Park Historic District 1908 Kenwood Avenue 13 – 1 Proposal Reconstruct a carport and storage building, as well as replace non-historic material. Project Specifications 1) Demolish and reconstruct a rear carport with a storage building at one side. Both carport and storage will share a roof with the main house. 2) Replace vinyl siding with fiber cement siding. Architecture This 1934 house is described in the Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register as being asymmetrical in plan and having no overarching stylistic influences. The façade is clad on all sides in buff and tan brick, with wood fascia and gable ends. Due to local elevation, the house reads as one-story from Mariposa Street and two-stories from Kenwood Avenue. On the latter façade, a second-floor porch is present that spans two thirds of the façade, with a projecting ground-floor gable at the right. A front entry is located on the Mariposa Street elevation, which is fronted by a winding walkway from the street. As a whole, the house retains good integrity and not much alteration is apparent. Research After being constructed in 1934, the house at 1908 Kenwood Avenue was owned by Earl and Caroline Howell. They raised their daughter Carolyn in the house, where she graduated from the University of Texas. By the 1960s, they had moved out and Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Green owned the house, where they welcomed a daughter of their own. There is little known information about what line of work these owners did during these years. 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: Repair and alterations 1. General standards Most repair and alteration work will be located at the rear of the main house, at the location of an existing carport. Some roof shingle replacement is also included in the scope. The reconstruction will be in the same location and of a comparable size, though there will be some visual changes when viewed form the side street. 3. Roofs Shingle replacement is proposed at the main structure. At the carport, a new flat roof structure is proposed, which will not exceed the height of the main house. The flat roof is appropriate in this location and will not appear as too modern compared to the rest of the property. 4. Exterior walls and trim Cement fiber board is proposed to clad the new carport and storage building. Some brick at the rear of the main house may be removed for patching purposes, but this will be out of sight of the right of way. Fiber cement, in this context, is appropriate for the alterations. 5. Windows, doors, and screens Windows on the storage structure will be slightly altered, though they will still be oriented horizontally. Due to their minimal visibility from the street, there are no concerns here. 8. Attached garages and carports The overall carport structure will have a similar footprint to the existing. Metal side supports, previously simple in design, are proposed to have a fanned appearance to add more visual interest. Due to the rest of the design being simple and utilitarian, this is an appropriate decoration that does not overwhelm the new construction. 13 – 2 Summary The project meets the applicable standards. Department Comments This application will time out on November 16, 2026. Property Evaluation The property contributes to Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it does not meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building is a good example of an asymmetrical domestic residence. b. Historical association. The property does not appear to have 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 does not possess 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 is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. Staff Recommendation Comment on plans for alterations and release the application. Location Map 13 – 3 Property Information Photos 13 – 4 Front (top) and side (bottom), application, 2024 Occupancy History City Directory Research, December 2024 1942 1937 Earl & Caroline Howell, owners Same as above Historical Information 13 – 5 Permits The Austin American: July 27, 1958 Water service permit, 1936