Historic Landmark Commission

Jan. 10, 2024

4.8 - 701 Sparks Ave. HLC 9-14-23 — original pdf

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Jan. 10, 2024

4.9 - 701 Sparks Zillow Photos — original pdf

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Jan. 10, 2024

4.a - 701 Sparks Ave - public comment — original pdf

Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Nancy Kinstler Monday, October 30, 2023 12:09 PM Contreras, Kalan; Allen, Amber Ingrid Burton 701 Sparks Ave - Historic Landmark Commission Screenshot 2023-09-01 at 8.29.56 PM.jpeg; IMG_4994.jpeg; IMG_4997.jpeg; IMG_4996.jpeg External Email - Exercise Caution Hi Kalan and Amber, My name is Nancy Kinstler and I am reaching out to you on behalf of the landowners of 705 Sparks Ave. In regards to case PR‐2023‐087312 which is aimed at determining if the buildings on 701 Sparks Ave. should be given historical designation or demolished. The current landowners of 705 Sparks Ave., the lot adjacent to 701 Sparks Ave. have deep roots in this neighborhood. Three generations of the Crockett family have called 705 Sparks Ave. their home and so the family deeply cares about this neighborhood. We understand the current owner of 701 Sparks Ave. wants to demolish the building and put up new apartments which would be detrimental to the character of this neighborhood. In addition, when the current owner clear‐cut all of the trees on 701 Sparks Ave., they also illegally cut down a beloved Heritage Pecan Tree that was clearly on 705 Sparks Ave. The Crockett family home was built around that tree. The landowner of 701 Sparks Ave. has committed a crime against the Crockett Family and the impact of this loss has been deeply felt by everyone in the family. We would like to bring this crime to the attention of the commission members who are considering the preservation or demolition of 701 Sparks Ave. I have attached some photos of the stump of where the beloved Pecan Tree once was and some additional photos to provide context to this matter. I am reaching out to you to find out if there is any way for me to contact the commission members directly to share this with them? The commission members hearing this case are as follows: >> Ben Heimsath, Chair >> Witt Featherston, Vice Chair >> Kevin Koch >> Carl Larosche >> Trey McWhorter >> Harmony Grogan >> Jaime Alvarez >> Roxanne Evans >> Raymond Castillo >> Juan Raymon Rubio >> Tara Dudley 1 I sincerely appreciate your help with this. Thank you, Nancy Kinstler Executive Assistant 317 S. Congress Ave. M m m CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious …

Jan. 10, 2024

4.aa - 701 Sparks Ave - public comment — original pdf

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Jan. 10, 2024

4.b - 701 Sparks Ave - public comment — original pdf

From: To: Subject: Date: Attachments: Ingrid Burton Allen, Amber; Contreras, Kalan HLC Agenda- November 1, 2023- Item #19-701 Sparks Avenue Wednesday, November 1, 2023 1:54:37 PM image002.png image003.png image006.png image007.png You don't often get email from ingridburton@me.com. Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Hello Commissioner, I would like to communicate my strong opposition to the demolition of the structure at 701 Sparks Avenue. My family originally owned and subdivided the land creating the Harris Park Addition Subdivision in 1924. Since that time, my family has had a presence in this neighborhood and on this street, as my great grandfather built the family home at 707 Sparks Avenue and my grandfather later built his home at 705 Sparks Avenue, immediately adjacent to the subject property. This house has had a long-standing presence in this community and stands out with unique and eclectic design that maintains a great deal of architectural integrity at a prominent corner. The associations with very interesting and historically accomplished people in Austin make a stronger case for why this property should be preserved. I very much support this property being preserved. On a separate note, I have real concern for this structure as this process moves along in determining the eligibility for preservation because the landowner has shown a disregard for rules when they cleared the property of trees, and in the process cut down a Protected and likely Heritage Pecan Tree that was very clearly on my family’s property at 705 Sparks. What is left of the tree measures 24 inches at the base. The tree was surely of a size and species that would have required a permit to remove and I question how many more trees were removed that should have had a permit. The aerial images below show the difference in the tree canopy before and after they cleared the site and there is no record any tree permits were issued by the City of Austin for such clearing. In fact, their survey submitted with the demolition application for 701 Sparks does not show this large pecan tree, indicating that they cleared the property before obtaining the survey that is required with the demolition application that must show trees, including trees on adjacent properties where the critical root zone may be impacted. I understand this Commission’s charge is not directly with trees. However, the actions of this landowner speak …

Jan. 10, 2024

4.bb - 701 Sparks Ave - public comment — original pdf

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Jan. 10, 2024

4.c - 701 Sparks Ave - public comment — original pdf

Allen, Amber From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged Contreras, Kalan Monday, November 6, 2023 8:33 AM HPD Preservation Ben Heimsath; Witt McCall Featherston; Alvarez, Jaime - BC; Evans, Roxanne - BC; Rubio, JuanRaymon - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Dudley, Tara - BC; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Larosche, Carl - BC; Grogan, Harmony - BC; Castillo, Raymond - BC FW: 701 Sparks Avenue From: Lin Team Sent: Friday, November 3, 2023 4:01 PM To: Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> Cc: Lin Team Subject: 701 Sparks Avenue External Email - Exercise Caution November 3, 2023 To: Members of the Historic Landmark Commission From: Linda Team, Immediate Past President, Eastwoods Neighborhood Association Regarding 701 Sparks Avenue The house at 701 Sparks seems a good possibility for landmark designation, despite the opposition of the owner. It is important to note that the property is composed of two lots, the house and its adjacent side yard, which was always landscaped and covered with trees. For almost a hundred years that has been the “property” and I believe it is important to preserve both the building and the landscape as part of the historic designation. 1 There has never been anything identified as “703 Sparks” as some were saying in the Historic Landmark Commission meeting. The submitted survey shows that the property was composed of two platted lots, but many properties in these older neighborhoods are comprised of more than one lot. I urge you to respect the true nature of the property being designated as a historic landmark. Cc: Kalan Contreras Linda Team 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 or forward to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 2

Jan. 10, 2024