11.0 - 3209 Kerbey Ln — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Permits in National Register Historic Districts September 2, 2026 HR-2026-091701 Old West Austin Historic District 3209 Kerbey Lane 11 – 1 Proposal Demolish a non-original addition and construct a rear addition. Project Specifications 1) Demolish most of an existing rear addition, including interior partitions, most exterior walls, and roof above this single-story section. 2) Construct a new rear addition, partially using the existing foundation from the demolition. New addition will be two-stories in height and will extend the buildable width of the lot. 3) At the south side of the property, construct a garage utilizing an existing driveway and curb cut. 4) Demolish a garage at the southeast corner of the lot. Architecture Built as a two-story residence with Craftsman details, this house features a wide and deep front porch supported by four wood posts. The three-bay front façade is topped with a moderately pitched front gable roof with several brackets. The house appears to be clad in vinyl siding or a similar material. Behind the main house is a single-story rear addition. Research The first owners of this property were John & Ruth Watson. Mr. Watson worked for the state as an accountant. During their ownership, a fire broke out at the property, which resulted in the death of one City of Austin firefighter. After this, the property went through several short term tenents before being purchased by Sidney & Eualee Frost, who raised a family there. Their son would become a United States Marine and was mentioned with distinction in local papers. 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 Siding on the main house will be retained. Most windows are proposed to be replaced with aluminum-clad wood fixtures. 4. Exterior walls and trim No alterations are proposed to the exterior trim at the original house. 5. Windows, doors, and screens Windows on the front and sides of the original house are all proposed to be replaced. Due to the screens currently present, and no records of previous alterations to windows, it could not be determined whether the existing units are original to the house. Proposed windows are aluminum-clad wood units. 6. Porches A secondary side stairway leading from the porch in the direction of the driveway will be removed. This appears to be a later intervention and not original to the building. 11 – 2 Residential additions 1. Location The proposed location of the addition is at the rear of the property, including utilizing the footprint of the existing rear addition, which is proposed to be mostly demolished. The footprint of the new addition will extend to the north and south edges of the property, but will still be located almost entirely behind the main house. 2. Scale, massing, and height The new addition will mostly be two stories in height, but will not exceed the peak of the original house. Due to its location at the rear of the property, there is little concern about the massing overwhelming or distracting from the original. The proposed garage, located at the south of the property, is also two-stories, and will feature a housing unit above car parking on the ground floor. The floor height of both these stories will be kept lower than at the main house, creating a deferential massing. 3. Design and style Craftsman design details will be generally followed at the new addition and garage, though with fewer specific elements found at the front façade, such as brackets and decorative porch details. Overall, the proposal creates a unified design appearance without making it seem as though it was originally present at the property. 4. Roofs The rear addition will have side gabled roofs, matching the pitch of the main house. This will create as simple a roof system possible, both aesthetically and functionally, while still tying into the original roof structure. 5. Exterior walls Exterior walls at the addition will be clad in a wood or cement fiber siding matching the orientation of the main house. While matching in orientation, the size and material will be slightly differentiated to be distinct from the original. 6. Windows, screens, and doors Proposed windows at the addition are to match the replacements at the main house. These units are shown to be 3-over-1 or 4-pane units, and it is highly recommended that these fixtures do not use false muntins or mullions in their design. 7. Porches and decks A rear screened porch and deck are proposed at the rear of the addition and will not be visible from the street. 9. Attached garages and carports The attached garage structure will be located away from the main house and be accessed through a single-story hallway extension. The overall height and design is deferential to the main house. It is in keeping with garages found elsewhere in the district and will use the existing driveway and curb cut. Summary The project meets the applicable standards. Department Comments This application will time out on November 16, 2026. Property Evaluation The property contributes to the Old West Austin National Register district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high-to-moderate 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 two-story Craftsman architecture. 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. 11 – 3 Staff Recommendation Comment on plans for addition and release the application. Location Map 11 – 4 Property Information Photos 11 – 5 Occupancy History City Directory Research, August 2026 Google Streetview, 2024 1959 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 Vacant Jack & Dorothy Frost, owners; representative at American Hospital & Life Insurance Company Sidney H. & Eualee Frost, owners; with Sidney W. Frost, renter; barber at Travis Barber Shop & student Robert & Alice Bridges; maintenance man John & Ruth Watson, owners; accountant at State Department of Education Same as above 1944-45 Same as above, now Chief Clerk at State Board of Vocational Education 1941 Address not listed Historical Information 11 – 6 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 01 June 1945: 13. 11 – 7 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 14 Mar 1954: D15. 11 – 8 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 01 Oct 1956: 16. (left) and The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 22 Oct 1956: 7. (right) The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 05 Feb 1972: 10.