16.0 - 2309 Rio Grande St — original pdf

Backup

HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Demolition and Relocation Permits November 4, 2026 DA 2026 132279; SP-2023-0269C 2309 Rio Grande Street 16 – 1 Proposal Demolish a ca. 1925 residential building, converted into offices in the mid-twentieth century. Architecture The building is a two-story office building originally constructed by noted Austin architect and contractor Rex D. Kitchens as a single-family residence with two apartments on the second floor. It was converted into dental offices in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The 2020 North Central historic resources survey describes the building as an American Foursquare plan with Craftsman and Italianate ornamentation. It has a hipped roof clad in asphalt shingles, double-hung wood windows, horizontal wood siding, and double doors at the top and bottom floors. The first-floor entryway includes multilight transom windows atop each door. Masonry piers with decorative quoins support the second-floor balcony. A 1925 Statesman article notes that the home is “a new idea” designed by architect Kitchens. “The first floor of the building is devoted to living rooms, dining room, bedrooms, kitchen, bath, front and back porch. Two apartments occupy the second floor and each is furnished…R.H. Buck was general contractor.”1 It appears to be the earliest example of this type of building in the area. Kitchens, an innovative builder and banker, had recently constructed other apartments in Hyde Park and would soon go on to open his own construction company in 1933, which would lead high-profile projects such as the Buford fire training tower and the Commodore Perry Hotel, and would pioneer lightweight precast concrete construction methods in Texas after the Second World War.2 Research The home’s earliest occupants were the Hofer family, who lived in portions of the building from 1925 to 1952. Harry V. Hofer was the city’s claims supervisor and assistant superintendent of mail before he moved to the University area; during his tenure in the house, he was promoted to postal cashier for Austin’s mail system. He also worked within the Austin Post Office organization as a representative, lobbying to bring postal conferences to the city. In 1920, he served as publicity manager for an internal push to raise wages for postal employees. Ethel Hofer was extremely active in the Ladies’ Auxiliary to Branch Nine, National Association of Postal Supervisors, and was their longstanding president. An effective leader and organizer, Mrs. Hofer served as delegate to several postal conventions. By 1952, the Hofers had sold their house and their two upstairs tenants had departed. The home was purchased by dentist James W. Gossett. Dr. Gossett converted the first floor into offices but appears to have retained residential renters for some time on the upper floor. Gossett continued to practice for nearly thirty years, and his practice was taken over in the same location by Dr. Gordon Walling in 1980. Department Comments The application first appears on the November 4, 2026 agenda of the Historic Landmark Commission agenda. The Commission’s 75-day timeline for action will elapse on January 18, 2027. Property Evaluation The 2020 North Central (University-Windsor-Hyde Park) survey recommends the building as eligible for local landmark listing and individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places. 1 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Oct 1925: 8. 2 https://ahc.access.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/1734 16 – 2 Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain integrity. Though the second-floor balcony likely had a roof that was removed during 1979 renovations, most of its form and its overall placement appears to remain intact. Other modifications, such as the rear addition, appear to have been constructed prior to the 50-year age cutoff. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it may meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The building is a unique example of an early multi-family dwelling designed by Rex D. Kitchens. b. Historical association. The 2020 North Central survey notes that the property appears to have significant historical associations with Post Office claims supervisor Harry V. Hofer. Though staff did not find examples of Hofer’s impact on the organization was sufficient to meet the criterion, the Historic Landmark Commission may wish to consider the cumulative impact of the Hofer family on the city’s postal organization, as Mrs. Ethel Hofer was a leader in its auxiliary functions. 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 appear to 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 Should the Commission find that the building meets the criterion for historical associations in addition to its architectural significance, initiate historic zoning. Otherwise, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, relocation, or deconstruction and salvage over demolition, but approve the demolition permit application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. Location Map 16 – 3 16 – 4 Property Information Photos 16 – 5 Historic resources survey, 2020 16 – 6 Occupancy History City Directory Research, October 2026 Google street view, 2023 1976 1959 1949 1942 1937 1932 1927 1924 1922 Lynn Binnion Cedar Frost Dr. J.W. Gossett James W. Gossett, dentist Raymond D. Ferguson Furnished apartments, Harry V. Hofer, owner Harry V. Hofer, owner H.V. Hofer, owner Mrs. Elizabeth Young, renter Harry V. and Ethel Hofer, owners – Post Office foreman Margaret J. Hofer, renter Harry V. and Ethel Hofer, owners – Post Office foreman Harry V. and Ethel Hofer, owners – foreman, state postal depository Not listed Historical Information 16 – 7 The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 28 Mar 1910: 8. The Austin Statesman (1902-1915); Austin, Tex.. 24 June 1915: 2. 16 – 8 The Austin Statesman and Tribune (1915-1916); Austin, Tex.. 25 May 1916: 7. “Austin Postoffice Is Headquarters for State.” The Statesman (1916-1921); Austin, Tex.. 27 July 1919: D2. 16 – 9 Austin American-Statesman. Sun, May 16, 1920 ·Page 16 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 16 Dec 1923: 9. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 12 Mar 1925: 2. 16 – 10 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 Oct 1925: 8. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 Dec 1925: 2. 16 – 11 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 16 Mar 1930: A1. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 27 July 1937: 10. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 19 July 1940: 7. 16 – 12 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 15 July 1937: 6. The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 20 Jan 1952: C4. The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 29 June 1980: 8. 16 – 13 Austin Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. “This Month in Austin AGC History – February Is Outstanding Construction Awards Month.” 2021. https://www.agcaustin.org/uploads/1/2/2/9/122909896/austin_agc_history_-_february.pdf https://ahc.access.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/1734 16 – 14 Nancy Semin Lingo, “Buford Tower,” Handbook of Texas Online, September 16, 2015, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/buford-tower Permits 16 – 15