HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JUNE 1, 2022 GF-2022-050222 1100 EAST 5TH STREET D.2 – 1 PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE Demolish a compound Quonset hut warehouse erected on or moved to the lot ca. 1948. 1100 East 5th Street is an example of a rare multiple Quonset hut composed of five connected barrel-arch units, all of corrugated steel paneling. Roll-up metal bay doors provide access at the vault ends. A corrugated metal hood protects the western entrance, while the eastern portion of the site has been redeveloped into outdoor event space. Quonset huts are generally accepted as a historically significant building typology within preservation industry standards. An example context statement from The City of Los Angeles describes Quonsets “as an important World War II-era building type and method of construction, notable for its simple construction, distinctive shape, and use of prefabricated materials, and flexible interior plan. Intact examples represent the design and development of a low-cost and highly-versatile structure by the U.S. Navy for military use during World War II, and its adaptive reuse for housing and other uses during the postwar years.”1 In a 2003 historic thematic resource survey for the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, principal historian Adam Thomas notes that “[The Quonset hut] is one of the most unique American building forms ever created.” 2 “[It] was an engineering marvel,” asserts John Vara in the Journal of Light Construction. “It could be shipped anywhere and…assembled by a 10- man crew in one day, using only hand tools. Throughout World War II, the Quonset became the standard military utility building of all regions and climates…At the end of the war, […] Quonsets were everywhere, from homes to churches and auto dealerships […] Quonsets are now a rarity.”3 In 2015, Preservation Austin honored 1100 East 5th Street with a Merit Award for outstanding rehabilitation and adaptive reuse by Thoughtbarn and Delineate Studio. “Austin's most iconic Quonset hut on East Fifth might well have been demolished for parking, or an apartment complex had not a development team led by Richard Kooris and Dennis McDaniel stepped in to transform it into Fair Market, hands down one of the most stunning event spaces in the city.”4 RESEARCH The warehouse at 1100 East 5th Street was constructed in 1948-1949 by Ben H. Powell, Jr. Powell purchased the land from the nearby railway, which had previously used the lot for storage,5 and rented it …
Austin City Council City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 May 23, 2022 Re: Historic Zoning for the property located at 1100 E. 5TH Street, Austin, Texas, 78702, also known as TCAD Parcel No. #0204052009 (the “Property”) Dear Austin City Council: We, the undersigned owner of the above referenced Property, oppose Historic (“H”) zoning on the Property and any effort to initiate the zoning. We hereby oppose any change of the zoning classification to any zoning district other than Transit Oriented District – Neighborhood Plan Combining District (“TOD-NP”). Sincerely, Powell Holdings, LLC, its general partner MONTWALK HOLDINGS, LTD. By: By: _______________________________ R. Cullen Powell, President cc: Kalan Contreras, Historic Preservation Office {W1150359.1} DocuSign Envelope ID: 43E7AFB5-F764-4466-99C7-F4248C8BF7BD
5.26.22 NOTES REGARDING DEMOLITION OF QUONSET HUT LOCATED AT 1100 E. 5TH STREET The applicants are proposing to demolish the 16,000 square foot Quonset Hut at 1100 East Fifth Street and move or demolish the small frame house to the east of the Quonset Hut. The intent of the demolition request is to allow the construction of a new multi-story building on the site. There are several reasons that the HLC should approve this demolition request: 1. Quonset hut buildings are not designed to be permanent structures, unlike frame or masonry buildings. The Quonset design was introduced at the time of the Second World War as a lightweight structure that could be easily transported and erected quickly by a small crew to provide shelter from the elements and storage in war zones. Quonset huts continued to be used after the war as a low-cost building type, but they were never intended to be permanent structures, due to the lightweight materials used in their construction and the difficulty of waterproofing and thermally insulating the buildings for contemporary use and to meet current code standards. 2. This Quonset Hut has no insulation, and it is impossible to insulate it to current energy code standards without completely covering the forms of the building. Because we wanted to explore all options to preserve the building through adaptive re-use, in 2017 we commissioned an architecture firm to do a feasibility study to explore strategies that would enable us to thermally insulate the Quonset Hut to the extent that would permit us to condition the interior. The results of that study confirmed that the lightweight structure of the current building would not support the weight of insulation and an air distribution system. To properly insulate the building, we would have had to cover the entire interior of the space with a thick blanket of insulation and add also insulation to the exterior, severely compromising the Quonset Hut form to the point that the distinctive structure and form of the building would be invisible. We elected not to proceed with this option for these reasons and for reasons of cost. 3. When we proposed the new building for the site, we considered dis-assembling and moving the Quonset Hut to another location. This proved to be unfeasible for the following reasons: {W1151819.1} 1 a. We could not find a suitable and affordable vacant site in our market area, …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JUNE 1, 2022 PR-2022-053331; GF-2022-062127 707 W. SLAUGHTER LANE D.3 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1971 residence. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story styled Ranch house with symmetrical plan, Classical Revival-style columned porch, and pediments above 6:6 aluminum windows at the main façade. The house at 707 W. Slaughter Lane was built in 1971 for real estate developer Don West, best known for his purchase and restoration of a significant portion of Gruene, Texas. West served as president of the Austin Area Homebuilders Association and state director for the National Association of Homebuilders in the 1960s and ‘70s. He chaired Austin’s first homebuilders’ Energy Conservation Seminar in 1976, and focused on energy-efficient homes in his developments. West, a personal friend of Congressman Jake Pickle, was politically active and a staunch supporter of property ownership rights and estate tax reform.1 PROPERTY EVALUATION Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain 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: a. Architecture. The building does not appear to convey architectural significance. b. Historical association. The property appears to be associated with real estate developer Donald West. 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 does not appear to be a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve the application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. 1 “Obituary.” Austin American-Statesman, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/statesman/name/donald-west-obituary?id=23145055 LOCATION MAP D.3 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.3 – 3 Demolition application, 2022 Permits D.3 – 4 Biographical Information "Colonial Charm Adds to Allure of Heritage." The Austin American (1914-1973), Jul 19, 1964. 1 D.3 – 5 "American Colonial is Styled by West." The Austin American (1914-1973), Jul 10, 1966. 1 "Models Readied for Parade of Homes show." The Austin American (1914-1973), Jul 02, 1967. 1 D.3 – 6 "1967-68 Officers, Directors Take Office for the AAHB." The Austin …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JUNE 1, 2022 PR-2022-062570; GF-2022-066727 814 E. 45TH STREET D.4 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1939 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH PROPERTY EVALUATION One-story duplex with a cross-gabled roof, horizontal and vertical siding, masonry skirting, and a distinctive semicircular masonry entry porch with arched doorway. The house at 814 E. 45th Street was constructed as a duplex around 1939 by Ruth Orenbaum, who built the house next door in 1931 as a rental property. 814 E. 45th Street, also addressed as 4500 Red River Street, also functioned primarily as a rental for much of the twentieth century. Occupants included students, a lithograph operator, clerks, and a funeral director. The 2020 University-Windsor-Hyde Park survey lists the property as contributing to a potential North Hyde Park historic district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain 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: a. Architecture. The building does not appear to convey architectural significance. 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 Approve the demolition application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP D.4 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.4 – 3 Occupancy History City Directory Research, May 2022 Google Street View, 2022 4500 Red River St.: 814 E 45th St.: Glenn I. Banfield, renter Eupha Townsend, renter Teacher, Harris School 4500 Red River St.: 814 E 45th St.: Glenn I. and Shirley Banfield, renters Student Vacant 4500 Red River St.: 814 E 45th St.: James M. Jr. and Betsy McDonald, renters Student Denzil L. and Garthright, renters 4500 Red River St.: 814 E 45th St.: Robert N. and Marion Braid, renters USAF John W. Jr. and Winnie B. James, renters Clerk 814 E …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JUNE 1, 2022 PR-2022-062642; GF-2022-066738 1704 NEWTON STREET D.5 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1941 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story side-gabled house with horizontal siding, shallow eaves, 1:1 windows, enclosed garage, and gable-roofed covered entryway. The house at 1704 Newton Street was built in 1941 for Leora Medearis Byrd. Byrd’s husband Brady worked as a cook at the Longhorn Waffle Shop. By 1949, Leora Medearis had married Herman Hicks, Sr., a baker. The Hickses had two children, Ernestelle and Herman, Jr. Herman Hicks, Jr. was one of the first thirteen Black students to integrate into previously segregated high schools in 1955. Hicks and four other students in the Bouldin area transferred from Anderson High, Austin’s Black high school, to William B. Travis High. He remained there until his graduation in 1958 and was a member of the basketball and track teams. PROPERTY EVALUATION The 2015 Bouldin survey report lists the property as a medium priority and contributing to a potential historic district. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain 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: Minimal Traditional stylistic influences. a. Architecture. The building does not appear to convey architectural significance, though it appears to have b. Historical association. The property appears to have significant historical associations with Herman Hicks, Jr., one of the first Black students to attend William B. Travis High School at the start of Austin’s school desegregation in 1955. 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 Approve the demolition application upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package. LOCATION MAP D.5 – 2 PROPERTY INFORMATION Photos D.5 – 3 Demolition permit application, 2022 Occupancy History City Directory Research, May 2022 Herman Hicks, owner Herman and Leola Hicks, owners Baker Herman and …
May 31, 2022 Terri Myers, Chair City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission Dear Ms. Myers, Re: 310, 312, 314-318 Colorado Street and 201, 209, 211, and 213 4th Street Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. We write to you today to address the alarming losses that our LGBTQIA community may face with the proposed demolitions of 310, 312, 314-318 Colorado Street and 201, 209, 211, and 213 4th Street. We ask the Historic Landmark Commission to reject the proposed demolitions and support historic zoning for these significant properties in the areas of Community Value and Architecture. These cases aligns with Preservation Austin’s Underrepresented Heritage Advocacy Priority for their associations with Austin’s LGQBTIA community. Since adopting this priority, Preservation Austin’s Advocacy Committee and our Fowler Family Underrepresented Heritage Interns have done extensive research into Austin’s LGBTQIA heritage and the sites associated with it, many of which are no longer extant. To date, no historic landmarks, markers, or designations honor Austin’s LGBTQIA heritage. This problem is not unique to Austin––scholars Camden Miller and Alex Bitterman aptly summarized this phenomenon in their essay “Commemorating Historically Significant Gay Places Across the United States”: “Gay spaces across the United States are steeped in important and ephemeral history. However, the stories of these spaces—and the people that lived the struggle to gain LGBTQ+ rights—are largely unrecorded, undocumented, and are not centrally collected or archived beyond Wikipedia entries and oral histories. Many gay places and gay neighborhoods have no formal means of recognition or historic protection such as those that are available to other classifications of landmarks from state or federal agencies. The pioneering generation that gave rise to the LGBTQ+ rights movement is aging and the time to capture the unprecedented—and largely undocumented—history of their efforts and struggle is endangered.” Preservation Austin remains committed to researching and protecting the spaces vital to our city’s LGBTQIA heritage. We believe it is important to do so because this is a story that is not often told, but one that is essential to the complete story of Austin. The Warehouse District has been home to a vibrant queer community for many decades, and within its walls and on its streets the very history of Austin’s LGBTQIA community has been written. We heard from the Hanover company as they attempted to deny and downplay the historic associations of …
May 27, 2022 City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission Commissioners, We are reaching to support the project and in opposition to historic zoning applications for the W. 4th Street item that will be on your June 1st agenda as items A6 and A7. The Hanover Group has been very intentional in their planning to not only respect the historical nature of the buildings but more over, the historical and cultural nature that 4th street is and has been for decades to the LGBT community. As a city, we can all point to countless developments that have disregarded the significance of small businesses in their path to redevelop a lot. It is harder to find examples like the Hanover Group that have not only made it a point to preserve bricks and mortar but to preserve the nexus of a community and make every effort to improve the long term viability of community centered small businesses in the area. This developer could have done like most others and simply worked with the land owners to build from the sidewalk up, mowing over every small local business in it’s path but this developer is setting anew standard of reaching beyond the expected and working with not only with the land owner but also the existing small businesses and the community. We hope to see more intentionality in future developments in the city that respects not only the physical historical aspects, but are also inclusive of the cultural aspects and housing needs of Austin. Sincerely yours, Tina Cannon President & CEO Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce 211 WEST 5TH STREET AUSTIN, TX 78701 || 512-761-LGBT || WWW.AUSTINLGBTCHAMBER.COM
May 16, 2022 SOCIAL KNOWLEDGEABLE INFLUENTIAL Kimberly Levinson President Curtis Rogers Vice President Angela Hovis Treasurer Marshall Geyer Gordon Moore Frank Seely Philip Wiley Dear Planning Commission and Austin City Council: The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA) opposes historic landmark status for the site of Oilcan Harry’s and other establishments at 201-213 W. 4th St. and endorses the Hanover Company’s proposal to restore the facades and add a tower above for the following reasons: 1. Austin desperately needs more housing, and this development, in an area unencumbered by Capitol View Corridors, will provide 400 families or individuals with the opportunity to live downtown. Downtown should be Austin’s densest neighborhood, with the best public transportation, that supports locally 75/25 mode share split by 2040, lowering the carbon footprint of our residents, as we do our part to address climate change. 2. The owner of Oilcan Harry’s and other establishments on the block opposes the landmarking of this site, because the developer has offered a guaranteed lease to Oilcan Harry’s for the next 25 years, on very favorable terms. Without such a deal, the establishments will have to move or close when their current leases expire. The loss of the Oilcan Harry’s establishment for the LGBTQIA community would be immeasurable. 3. The developer is willing to restore the street level façade, creating an excellent precedent for the redevelopment of other sensitive areas, and keeping the charm of the area intact, while creating much-needed housing. 4. DANA holds strong beliefs about private property rights, and is only willing to see them overridden in very limited circumstances. This development does not trigger such a pressing need, in our estimation. Given all these considerations, DANA supports the redevelopment of this site and the preservation of Oilcan Harry’s and other establishments currently on the site. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kimberly Levinson President Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA)
o o Thank you for your time, Joe Delia, AIA LGBTQIA + Alliance Chair Tim Petersen, AIA LGBTQIA + Alliance Chair Elect Mikel Bennett, Associate AIA Co-Founder LGBTQIA + Alliance
