11.a - 1918 Newning Ave - public comments — original pdf
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Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Angela Reed Wednesday, October 28, 2026 2:48 PM Historic Preservation Office PR 2026-125072 Categories: Blue Category External Email - Exercise Caution Re: PR 2026-125072 1918 Newning Ave., 78704 HLC meeting Nov. 4, 2026 Attention: Historic Landmark Commission Hunter Sturgill, CoA Preservation Office Dear Mr. Sturgill, I am writing to oppose the demolition of 1918 Newning Avenue. I live on this street, and I have been disheartened to see that after witnessing continuous occupancy by long-term tenants, after the property was sold to the current owner it fell into what appears to be intentional neglect. I was not surprised to see that the next stage of this property was a permit for demolition. I am one of many volunteers who worked for many years, and raised funds from neighborhood donations, to designate Travis Heights as a historic district. One of our primary hopes was to keep the smaller historically intact bungalows like this one, because they are not only iconic for this neighborhood with its history of middle income City workers and creatives, but they allow for lower rental rates, starter homes, and homes for small families and individuals. As we all know, such homes are increasingly hard to come by in central Austin as high property values prompt developers to seek properties like this one, who allow them to fall into disrepair, then demolish and flip for a high profit. It’s a familiar story that’s a surprise to no one, and try as we might, our neighborhood residents seem to have no recourse. My opinion is that this home’s demolition is avoidable. The house sits on a very deep lot that, if the owner wished, he could perhaps add onto this house. It could also be renovated and restored, as so many smaller homes have had done with great success in our neighborhood. One need only look to our locally historic designated street, Mary Street, which is half a block away from this house, for many fine examples. I hope that Mr. Hutchinson will be encouraged to go this route rather than demolition. Thank you, Angela Reed 20-year resident on Newning Ave. CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". 1 Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Donna Morrow Monday, November 2, 2026 5:19 PM Historic Preservation Office Case # PR 2026-125072-1918 Newning Ave Categories: Blue Category External Email - Exercise Cau(cid:415)on I OBJECT to the demoli(cid:415)on of this house in our historic zone. Donna Morrow Resident & taxpayer 504 Terrace Dr Aus(cid:415)n TX. 78704 Sent from my iPad CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use cau(cid:415)on when clicking links or opening a(cid:425)achments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" bu(cid:425)on in Outlook. For any addi(cid:415)onal ques(cid:415)ons or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@aus(cid:415)ntexas.gov". 4 Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: CLIFTON LADD Tuesday, November 3, 2026 11:51 AM Acton, Jeffrey - BC; Alvarez, Jaime - BC; Grogan, Harmony - BC; Harris, August - BC; Heimsath, Ben - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Larosche, Carl - BC; Lute, Racheal - BC; Pleasant- Wright, Tonya - BC; Rice, Judah - BC; Bat Taniguchi Historic Preservation Office; Barbara Cilley; Susan Armstrong Fisher; Annie Possis; Melanie Martinez; Mary Fealkoff; Robin Sanders Agenda item 11 for HLC meeting on Nov. 4, 2026: PR-2026-125072 – 1918 Newning Ave Categories: Blue Category External Email - Exercise Caution To Chairman Ben Heimsath and members of the Historic Landmark Commission: I request that you postpone action on item 11 on your agenda, a proposed demolition permit for 1918 Newning Ave. We would like to learn more about this house, which is a new proposed permit on your agenda. We need additional time for that. We would also like to open discussions with the permit applicant, who recently salvaged and restored the old Montessori School at the corner of Monroe and Brackenridge. They did an excellent job on that one, and we would like to see if they can do something comparable with the home at 1918 Newning, which is a contributing home in the Travis Heights - Fairview Park National Register Historic District. Thank you for considering these comments and for your work to preserve our history. Sincerely, Clifton Ladd SRCC Historic Preservation Committee Co-Chair CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". 5