08.e - 706 E Monroe St - public comments — original pdf

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Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: External Email - Exercise Cau(cid:415)on Melanie Martinez Wednesday, November 4, 2026 8:53 AM Historic Preservation Office 706 E. Monroe PR-2026-079349; GF-2026-090393 Dear Commissioners, I spoke at the last mee(cid:415)ng in opposi(cid:415)on to the demoli(cid:415)on of 706 E. Monroe but am unable to a(cid:425)end tonight. I s(cid:415)ll care! As a neighbor of this home for almost 40 years, I have been in love with it all this (cid:415)me. Even though it’s not landmark- worthy in rigid legal terms, to me it typifies everything about Aus(cid:415)n’s history, vibe and charm. Its loca(cid:415)on at the entrance to Li(cid:425)le Stacy Park and that connec(cid:415)on with our beloved Jean Mather, its architecture (a perfect bungalow transi(cid:415)oning from the Victorian era, seen in some of its detail), its integrity (the care shown by its owners over 100 years), and the stories of those who have lived there all speak to me and many other neighbors. I worked hard with our community to create our Na(cid:415)onal Register District, with homes like this in my heart and mind. Working class people made up Travis Heights—and this is how they lived. This is our historic district’s story! It breaks my heart that the owners didn’t see its community value when they bought it, expec(cid:415)ng to demolish it for a need that is temporary. It would make so much sense to adapt the interior for aging in place, and unobtrusively bridge it to their modern home. This is an acceptable approach in historic preserva(cid:415)on. Otherwise, one day, when needs change and these owners move, we are le(cid:332) with another page missing from our story. I am pleading with the owner to reconsider demoli(cid:415)on and work with the Commission members for a more equitable solu(cid:415)on to the problem. Thank you, Melanie Mar(cid:415)nez 1214 Newning Ave Travis Heights-Fairview Park NRHD Coordinator 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". 1 Hello Chair Heimsath and Commission Member Rice, I wanted to alert you to a demolition case for PR-2026-079349, scheduled for at your August 5, 2026 meeting.    While we reside within 500' of the