Dear Members of the Historic Preservation Committee, I am writing to support my neighbor, Meghan Hughes, in her application for a demolition permit at 4200 Wilshire Pkwy. The proposed plans for her new house are done with great sensitivity to our neighborhood’s existing charac- ter. The design preserves the spirit and scale we all value, while adding a tasteful enhancement to our area. This thoughtful approach ensures that the new construction will blend seamlessly with the surrounding homes, maintaining the aesthetic harmony of our neighborhood. I believe approving this permit will not only benefit Meghan but also help sustain the cohesiveness and appeal of our community. Thank you for considering my support. Sincerely, Matthew Peterson 4106 Lullwood Rd Austin, TX 78722 06-14-2024
From: To: Subject: Date: Dan Brotman Historic Preservation Office 4200 Wilshire Parkway GF 24-073048 Monday, June 24, 2024 2:21:07 PM You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution To whom it may concern on the historic landmark commission: I wish to voice my opposition to the demolition of 4200 Wilshire Parkway. The "hearing" the committee set for this project is at a really inconvenient time for most.Why would you schedule a hearing at 6 pm on the night before a national holiday weekend. Was it so that no one could oppose the demo? 6pm at City Hall on JUly 3rd? Is this a joke? Last year the commission allowed Richard Lent to build at 4206 Wilshire Parkway. I opposed the demo and rebuild because the house in no way keeps with the historic designation of this street. His "one story" house (that is tall as many two story buildings) made up of cheap modular materials is an eyesore and immediately has an effect on my house at 4204 Wilshire Pkwy, Austin, TX 78722. The owners have installed cameras directly pointed at my property. They have installed landscaping that makes it virtually impossible for me to back up out of my driveway safely Materials and Height of property are extremely inconsistent with the historical house on this street. In short, just a big mobile home on 3 foot piers that towers over my original 1948 home. Is that what they are going to build at 4200 Wilshire? Wilshire Parkway used to be a tight knit street and now houses are being demolished one after the other. One individual demoed a house at 4208 just so they could have a bigger yard. At 4201 you allowed Mary Wilson to build a VERY dangerous fence that blocks off site around the corner so that an accident is bound to happen. You allowed her to build a pool in her front yard. Is that is line with historical homes from the 1940s. All these changes have changed Wilshire Parkway into a street most likely seen in California. Do you really want the older long term owners and renters on this street to be pushed out in favor of these homes? Please contact me at 512 587 3770. Regards, Dan Brotman Owner of 4204 Wilshire Parkway since 2010 CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use …
From: To: Subject: Date: Historic Preservation Office Case GF 24-073048 - 4200 Wilshire Parkway Friday, June 28, 2024 6:02:31 AM You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Hello. I am writing to offer my support for the construction at 4200 Wilshire Parkway (Case GF 24-073048). I am a neighbor, living at 4101 Lullwood Rd. We have seen the plans and appreciate the attention to honoring the history of the neighborhood. We think the new home will be a great addition to the neighborhood. Take care, Trent 512-924-3478 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".
UPDATED FOR AUGUST 7 HLC HEARING: Includes revision updates from July 10 Architectural Review Committee discussion. Please see updated Axonometric and Elevation Views for the incorporated comments below: Provided divided lite, operable windows at Kitchen and Office (East, Street-Facing Elevation) 4200 WILSHIRE PARKWAYDEMOLITION & NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATIONHISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSIONUPDATED FOR AUGUST 7, 2024www.emadiarch.comemadi MEET THE TEAM: OWNER: Meghan Hughes PROPOSAL FOR TOTAL DEMOLITION FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION: Please consider the approval for total demolition of the existing failing single-story, single-family home at 4200 Wilshire Parkway that is well beyond its reasonable lifecycle and to allow the design and construction of a new single-story, single-family home for the current resident, Meghan Hughes. This is not a speculative design to be built and sold, nor is it a rental or STR cash-flow property - it is a dream home. As evidenced by the numerous support letters provided as backup, Meghan has gone out of her way to openly inform the neighborhood of her intentions, and introduce the proposed improvements and team to her neighbors. A resident at 4200 Wilshire for over 17 years, Meghan intends to build a sensible new home keeping with the neighborhood’s charm, character, and qualities that drew her to it in the first place. The team is a collection of local, award-winning professionals, many of which are UT Austin graduates, long-time Austin residents, or native Austinites with extensive experience designing, engineering, and building thoughtful, considerate, and appropriate projects in Austin. The team is familiar with design, engineering, and construction in residential settings benefitted by large trees and nearby bodies of water. As part of the proposed demolition process, we will be reclaiming as much of the existing limestone as possible, to be elegantly reincorporated into the new home’s design. Additionally, we have coordinated with the Austin Fire Department and nearby Station #14 to donate the home for controlled training prior to demolition. This training opportunity will include new, advanced life-saving technology for AFD’s consideration. From AFD: “We want to thank you for working with the Austin Fire Department to provide an acquired structure for training. The work we can do in a real building is invaluable and prepares us to face the challenges of an active structure fire in the city.” The neighborhood was invited by Meghan to open-house that occurred on June 20, 2024 with this presentation and the Architect available. INTERIOR …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS JULY 3, 2024 HR-2024-055618 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1607 KENWOOD AVENUE 22 – 1 PROPOSAL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Construct a side addition to a ca. 1940 house, enclosing a detached studio building. 1) Combine 1-story, single-family house and detached studio building. The extended front wall will be flush with the original house, extending to the footprint of the patio at the side and the studio at the rear. The proposed design changes the house from a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom to a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom. 2) Partially demolish roofs of both structures and build new roof connecting them and over new construction. The side gable at the front of the house will be extended with matching dimensions, with two gables projecting to the rear at the existing house and remainder of the studio roof system. 3) Remove front window and door & install new fixtures. 4) Move driveway & install a new path to front entry. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Travis Heights-Fairview Park National Register nomination describes the house as an intact, contributing example of the Minimal Traditional style built in a rectangular plan. The front elevation features a door at center, with a 1/1 window on either side. A side gable roof is present, with a front gable projecting outwards, covering the front entryway. To the southeast of the main house is a small, detached studio space with a front gable roof extending towards the front of the property. The southwest corner of the property is enclosed by a wood fence that forms a patio space behind it. The house at 1607 Kenwood Avenue was constructed around 1938, and was advertised as a 5-room bungalow rental for $32.50 a month. No records are present indicating who occupied the property until 1941, when it housed Roy & Ruth Krezdorn. Mr. Krezdorn worked as an electrical engineer at the Lower Colorado River Authority at this time, and Mrs. Krezdorn was active in Austin social groups, including Junior Helping Hand and St. Martin’s Lutheran Church. Later Roy worked in a managerial role, as well as an adjunct professor for engineering, and Ruth gave birth to three children. By this time they were no longer listed as residing at the modest bungalow on Kenwood Avenue, and listings had the Curtis family occupying the space, who would later appear on a notice for delinquent taxes. At some point …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS JULY 3, 2024 HR-2024-048021 1519 ALAMEDA DRIVE TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 7 – 1 PROPOSAL Construct a new house and pool. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS The proposed new house is three stories tall, with a habitable basement and garage beneath the two main floors. Materials include concrete and stucco with vertical wood accents; alternately, vertical seamed metal and stone are proposed as accents. The proposed building comprises three rectangular masses with flat roofs of varying heights. Fenestration includes undivided corner and vertical windows, a front-facing garage, and an obscured front door atop a walled staircase. 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: Residential new construction 1. Location The proposed building appears appropriately sited. 2. Orientation The proposed building is oriented toward the street. The front-facing garage at the front of the building is not compatible with the standards. 3. Scale, massing, and height The proposed building’s scale and height exceed those of nearby contributing buildings, and its massing is more complicated. Wall-plane offsets are used to reduce its monumentality when viewed from the street. 4. Proportions The proposed building’s proportions are not compatible with the surrounding historic district. 5. Design and style Though the proposed building is internally consistent in design and style, it does not appear to reflect the design or style of the surrounding district. 6. Roofs The proposed flat roofs do not reflect the roof styles of surrounding contributing buildings. 7. Exterior walls The proposed wood and stucco materials are mostly compatible; stone and metal options are less compatible. 8. Windows and doors The proposed fenestration does not reflect the fenestration styles present in surrounding contributing buildings. 11. Attached garages and carports See 2. Summary The project does not meet most of the applicable standards. COMMITTEE FEEDBACK Use dark colors to disguise massing and scale. Do not use option with wood siding. Ensure the garage blends. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Comment on plans. 7 – 2 LOCATION MAP 7 – 3
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS AUGUST 7, 2024 HR-2024-072700 TRAVIS HEIGHTS-FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 707 EAST MONROE STREET 24 – 1 PROPOSAL Construct an ADU at rear of property. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Construct a two-story accessory dwelling unit on the site of a previously permitted and demolished carport at the rear of the property. ADU is proposed to be 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, with a garage facing the existing side driveway. Two exterior doors, one adjacent to the garage and one to the side under a second-floor porch, provide access. Several large windows appear at the north and west elevations, which are viewed as the front of the ADU. In addition to the second-floor side porch, the exterior walls feature awnings over all windows. Roof is to be hipped and set at a moderate pitch. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Two-story craftsman house with porch at one front corner and a front gable facing the street at the other. Second floor was built as an addition to the rear of the property. Windows are in good condition and the screens appear to be original. The main roof is a large side gable that creates a good amount of height to the house, which is set slightly above the street elevation. Siding appears to be asbestos or similar, and the house is raised on piers with a vented crawlspace. The house at 707 East Monroe Street was constructed around 1941 as part of the development of south Austin that was occurring throughout the area at the time. The building was first owned by Cecil & Minnie Warren. Mr. Warren worked as a porter, then as a chef, at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel on Congress Avenue. Mrs. Warren lost a brother in World War II, off the coast of France. As of 1947, the house was owned by Mrs. Ruth Phelps, who worked as a stenographer at the Texas State Board of Embalming. After another ownership change, the house was bought by Frank & Madie Tisdale, who lived there for several years, with their daughter eventually marrying and moving in 1955 to Japan with her children to join her husband, who was serving overseas. 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 …
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION PERMITS IN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICTS AUGUST 7, 2024 PR-2024-071202; GF-2024-086393 OLD WEST AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT 1106 ENFIELD ROAD 25 – 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1926 house. ARCHITECTURE The house at 1106 Enfield Road is a two-story eclectic Mission Revival house with troweled stucco cladding, multi-light casement windows, a compound flat and gabled roof covered in red clay tile, and decorative details including a tapered stucco chimney and arched gateway. Landscape features include an arched limestone bridge and limestone retaining walls. RESEARCH The house at 1106 Enfield Road, originally addressed as 6 Enfield Road as part of the Pease estate was subdivided, was constructed between 1924 and 1926. Its first occupants were realtor John Brizendine Riley, his wife, Texann, and their two children. Riley, who originally worked for the Stacy Realty Company, was appointed as sales agent of the new Pemberton Heights neighborhood by the Austin Development Corporation in 1927. By the early 1930s, the Rileys had sold the home to Jake J. Hendricks and his family. Hendricks worked for the Texas Department of Education as the chief of the textbook division. Son George Hendricks also went into education, becoming a junior high school teacher and author of at least one book on Texas history. During the 1950s and 1960s, the home was owned by the Coughran family. Walter E. Coughran was a salesman with the Higginbotham Baily Company, a wholesale dry-goods firm. After around 1966, the property was purchased by the City of Austin in preparation for a new crosstown expressway; however, the roadway was never constructed. Instead, the City began leasing out the home. Most renters were short-term, and included politician Terence O’Rourke and multiple University of Texas professors. 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 moderate integrity. 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 constructed with an eclectic combination of Spanish Revival and Mission Revival b. Historical association. The property is associated with realtor John Brizendine Riley, though he only lived in c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human influences. the home …
Historic Land Commission 1106 Enfield Road August 7, 2024 Ricca Keepers Demolition Request Subject property is 1106 Enfield Road which we are asking to demolish • Owner Dr. Caryn Carlson has been a Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas for many years • Roof leak/damage, with internal water damage, e.g., paint peeling, mildew and possible mold on walls • Main supporting beam is rotten • A/C not functioning Rear-yard Home was built in 1925 • Fence in backyard has fallen • Sewage line exposed in down backyard • Water leak inside the house with extensive ceiling and beam damage Rear External broken/peeling masonry, very large parts of the external stucco have fallen off the walls Internal walls have extensive cracks Cracks on external concrete/tiles and internal tiles indicating foundation problems Outdated electrical wiring (knob and tube) Galvanized pipes throughout the house Side of House Framing and Structural Concerns Framing and Structural Concerns Framing and Structural Concerns Thank you!
Steering Committee Members: Christopher Hurst AIA, Chair Paula Hern, Meghan Yancy, Claudette Kazzoun, Rob Kish, Steve Amos, Germaine Curry, Margaret Sullivan, William Osborn, David Schofman, Shawn Shillington, Erika Tatum August 1, 2024 Dear Chair Heimsath and Historic Landmark Commissioners, The Old West Austin Neighborhood Association, OWANA, Zoning Committee has voted to oppose the purposed demolition of 1106 Enfield Road. The sole purpose of the demolition, like the zoning change, is to hopefully increase the marketability of the property. Chapter 25-11, Article 4 Section J of the COA Land Development Code states: The building official may not release a demolition or relocation permit for a building or structure deemed contributing to a National Register Historic District or a historic area (HD) combining district until the Commission has reviewed and made recommendations on the application for a building permit for the site, unless the building official determines that demolition or relocation is necessary for reasons related to public safety. Plans for new development have always been a requirement for demolition of a contributing structure. There are no plans or drawings to accompany this demolition and its sole purpose is for speculative sale of the land. The property was listed for sale last January 2023 and delisted for lack of offers in July 2023. Since its rezoning the last two contracts on the property were for single family use and both declined to follow through as the price was not feasible. The rezoning was in vain and we suggest the proposed demolition is in vain. The house has been vacant for more than a year. OWANA does not support demolition based solely on financial hardship. The Zoning Committee reminds the City of Austin that re-zoning this property did not guarantee its sale. The current real estate market has slowed due to rising interest rates. There are other MF properties for sale in our neighborhood that have been on the market for a while and are not selling due to the current market conditions and desired sale prices. Additionally, the sale of this property is complicated by its location on Enfield Road. Access to the property is on a sloped, curved, one-way section of Enfield Road that neighbors find dangerous. Because of this, nearby neighbors oppose any redevelopment without seeing plans or drawings. Please oppose the demolition of 1106 Enfield Road. OWANA does not want to set a precedent of up- zoning based on …
