12 C14H-2024-0115 - Frieda and Walter Bohn House; District 9 Staff Report — original pdf

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CASE NUMBER: C14H-2024-0115 HLC DATE: September 4, 2024 PC DATE: October 8, 2024 CC Date: TBD ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET APPLICANT: Phoebe Allen (owner-initiated) HISTORIC NAME: Freida and Walter Bohn House WATERSHED: Shoal Creek ADDRESS OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE: 906 W. 17th Street ZONING CHANGE: SF-3 to SF-3-H COUNCIL DISTRICT: 9 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the proposed zoning change from family residence (SF-3) to family residence-historic landmark (SF-3-H) combining district zoning. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION: architecture and historical associations. HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend the proposed zoning change from family residence (SF-3) to family residence-historic landmark (SF-3-H) combining district zoning (10-0). PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: CITY COUNCIL ACTION: CASE MANAGER: Kalan Contreras, 512-974-2727 NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS: Austin Independent School District, Austin Lost and Found Pets, Austin Neighborhoods Council, Capital Metro, Del Valle Community Coalition, East Austin Conservancy, El Concilio Mexican- American Neighborhoods, Friends of Austin Neighborhoods, Greater East Austin Neighborhood Association, Guadalupe Association for an Improved Neighborhood, Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation, Homeless Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Empowerment Foundation, Neighbors United for Progress, Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods, Plaza Saltillo TOD Staff Liaison, Preservation Austin, SELTexas, Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group, Tejano Town BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION: § 25-2-352(3)(c)(i) Architecture. The property embodies the distinguishing characteristics of a recognized architectural style, type, or method of construction; exemplifies technological innovation in design or construction; displays high artistic value in representing ethnic or folk art, architecture, or construction; represents a rare example of an architectural style in the city; serves as an outstanding example of the work of an architect, builder, or artisan who significantly contributed to the development of the city, state, or nation; possesses cultural, historical, or architectural value as a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian or vernacular structure; or represents an architectural curiosity or one-of-a-kind building. The Frieda & Walter Bohn House is an excellent example of a Craftsman bungalow designed by Austin luminary Hugo Kuehne. Notably, Kuehne worked on the building twice, as he designed the initial structure and returned, more than twenty years later, to add stylistic updates as the Bohn family’s needs changed. The application for historic zoning, compiled by Phoebe Allen, describes the building’s architectural merits: The Frieda & Walter Bohn House was built in 1924 on Outlot 16 on Seventeenth Street between San Gabriel and Pearl Streets…An asymmetrical wing plan, the house has a wood frame; upper walls are stucco with wood trim, and the lower story is brown brick veneer. There is one central, interior brick chimney…The low-pitched, metal gable roof with rafter tails and overhanging eaves has two side dormers; the roof was originally cedar shakes, which the Bohns replaced with asphalt shingles. Windows are double hung with wood sashes; decorative Craftsman wood screens are on the windows and front door. Windows are one over one, most panes with original wavy glass. Six expansive windows in the dining room feature diamond shaped panels…Windows of the upper half-story of the house are in the gable ends of the roof and side dormers…According to Conrad Bohn, the first piano that arrived in Texas, inherited from his mother’s family, was lifted by a crane above the front porch and to the attic door…Both front doors, original to the [Hugo Kuehne] 1958-59 remodel, are wooden and feature raised concentric circles inside and out…Raised wood panels are on either side of and above the door, replacing the original glass lights. The front door at the southwest dormer was used as an entry to Walter Bohn's office, which was configured in 1958. […] Gardens surround the house…A concrete retaining wall is on the east side of the driveway. The front entry features cement steps and entry walk with tiled stairs and front porch, which is partially covered by a flat roof supported by cast iron filigree posts on tiled brick piers capped with concrete. The south facing front veranda is full width with an L-shape around the east side…A stone retaining wall lies along the rear property line…Walter's father had [sidewalks] installed while Walter and Frieda were away on their honeymoon.1 § 25-2-352(3)(c)(ii) Historical Associations. The property has long-standing significant associations with persons, groups, institutions, businesses, or events of historical importance that contributed significantly to the history of the city, state, or nation or represents a significant portrayal of the cultural practices or the way of life of a definable group of people in a historic time. The house at 906 West 17th Street was built by lauded Austin architect Hugo Kuehne for the Bohn family, who lived there for almost fifty years. Walter Bohn, an influential Austin businessman and real estate developer from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. Walter Bohn began working his way up at the Bohn Brothers department store, founded in 1892 by his father and uncles, at the age of fifteen. After his marriage to Freida Amthor in 1924, Bohn chose Kuehne to construct his home; the Bohn brothers selected Kuehne to remodel their Congress Avenue store five years later. While managing the merchandising and dry goods departments at the store, Bohn also worked as a travel agent and was a founding member of the Capital National Bank. He later opened his own financial institution, the City National Bank, with partner John Burns. Bohn left the department store after 36 years to work with Burns and R. B. Rylander in real estate. According to applicant and historian Phoebe Allen, “[Walter Bohn] was the owner and developer of Windsor Village, which opened in 1960 with its initial center designed by architects Fehr & Granger, and was a part owner…of Casis Village, Ford Village and six or seven other shopping centers; all were eventually sold. The partners opened a warehouse in Austin and sent a fleet of trucks to San Antonio to buy goods to sell at…Rylander’s Grocery, the center of each shopping center…” According to son Conrad Bohn, Walter Bohn also developed the Rivercrest Subdivision on Lake Austin, where they had constructed a weekend fishing lodge years before. PARCEL NO.: 0211010408 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: CEN 80 FT OF S 137 FT OF OLT 16 DIVISION E ESTIMATED ANNUAL TAX EXEMPTION (homestead, capped): AISD $3,500.00 COA $2,500.00 TC $2,500.00 TC Health $960.84 Total $9,460.84 APPRAISED VALUE: Land: $931,600; Improvement: $727,001; Total: $1,658,601 CURRENT USE: Residence CURRENT OWNER: Dr. Janet and Bob Swaffar DATE BUILT/PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1924-1970 INTEGRITY/ALTERATIONS: High. The rear second story, office door and sidelights, and filigreed front columns were added by the original architect during the period of significance. An outbuilding was constructed in the early 2000s on the site of the original garage but is minimally visible. Attic and rear windows were installed in 1980 but do not compromise the building’s overall integrity. OTHER HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS: None 1 Allen, Phoebe. "Freida & Walter Bohn House, 906 W. 17th Street." Historic zoning application, 2024. LOCATION MAP FRIEDA & WALTER BOHN HOUSE 906 Wesl I,. SlmCL Outlol 16. Native A uslin an:hilect Hugo Kuehue designed this Craftsman-style bungalow in 1924 for the family of Frieda and Walter Bohn. Waller, lhe son of Hermann Bohn, was one of three Bohns (brothers Walter & Herben, and and department store at 1929. cousin William Jr.) in Bohn Brotbers Clothier, a dry goods 517-19 Congress. which, incidentally, wa1 redcsigne.d by Kuehne in The Bohns are first liSUld al lhis address in the 1927 City D1rectoiy. Kuehne's archi&ectwal Janet and Bob King plans iR dated Waller Bohn was also in banking and real estate. The Bohns moved to a new, larger home they built on Upper Rivercrest Drive, (demolished). 1924 plans for the house (7 sheets} as well as a 1935 remodel story bedroom) are archived III lhc A11Slin History Cen&er and arc also preserved as blueprints by the Swaffars. The November 1958-February I, 1959 remodel plans for the Bohn residence, unsigned, are in the collection of the Swaffars; these show the addition of a second front door for the front glass door and an office and lhe replacement of overlooking Lalce Austin, in 1970 became owners of the Bohn's former home. Kuehne's May I" (for the addition of a rear seoond sidelights with wood. While windows have been added IO the front gable on either side of the original auic original archi1ec1W81 sl)'le and integrity from the Bohn well-pRSCJVed. IIOlably the single pane dining room windows and all sc�ns. Candlelight Homes Tour dunng the occupancy of lhc Swaffars in 2010; tow-signage. The Frieda & Walter Bohn House windows and Craftsman dclails of the double-hung was on a Nabonal Trust owners have the onginal door, the period (1924-1970) is very strong and degree in Civil Engineering from the Univemty of An:hitecnare from the Massachusetts Institute ARCHrrECT Hueo Fl-am Kuehne (1884-1963) was a native of Austin, the son or German immigrants. He auended Austin High School, received a BSc Telll!S in 1906, and a BSc in of Technology in 1908. Subsequently he worked as a draftsman for 0. Henri Desmond, a Boston archi&ect, before he was called back to Austin IO of the School of Architecture at ur, Kuehne served as an adjunct Engineering. The founder professor from 1910 to 191S and imponant C-Ollections in the count!)' suburb in 1915, and in the development best known for the Old Austin Library ( 1933), SUeet. Kuehne's significant projects included The Tavern (1916) at Lamar & ts6 Streets for Niles Graham, the 1932 Steck Building, the 19'29 Ritz Theater. and the Hotel. in the masccr plans for the Enfield of Austin's first master plan organize an archileetUrlll program in lhc UT College of fowided the archileclure library, which became one of the most now the Austin History Center, al 400 West Ninth in 1928. Kuehne is probably . Kuehne was involved 1950 Commodore Perey ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION has ilS rOOIS m India m lhc prm•ince of Bengal. where s111glc-fomil The Bungalow )• homes ba11gla or lxmgala. British oolomsts adapted these thatch-roofed huts to modeled afler ln<lta <luring llie late 1800s. Amcncan bungalows were were called use a� summer homes m these small, open couages that allowed air to cm:ulale freely, the heat in warm climateS like that of India and Texas. one-s1ory dispelling Frieda & Walter Bohn House July 7, 2024 Phoebe Allen 2 A pier and beam foundalion s11pports this one-and-a-half-s iory bungalow with a basement room under lhe dining room , where an ori ginal fllmacc was localed. An asymm etrical wing plan, the house bas a wood frame; upper walls are SWC00 with wood trim, and the lower story is brown brick veneer. There..1s one central, interior brick chimne y; the fireplace was converted from gas to wood , and baek to gas . The low-pitched, metal gab le roof with rafter tails and overhanging eaves bas two side donners; the roof was originally cedar shakes, which the Bohns replaced with asphalt shingles. Wlnclowa are double-hung wilh wood sashes; decoralive Craftsman wood screens are on the w,ndows and front door. Windows are one over one, most panes with ori ginal wavy glass. Six expansive, west-facing windows in the dining room feature diamond shaped pan els, with six over six square pan es inset above each set of two windows. Windows of the uppe r half-story of the house are in the gabl e ends of the roof and side dormers. Trapezoidal windows were added to either side of the ori ginal wooden attic door in 1980, for conven;ion of the allic to a bedroom . Accoolin g to Conrad Bohn, the first piano that arrived in Texas, a heavy upri gh t with s10u1 legs, which was inherited from his mother"s Amthor family, was lifted by a crane above the front porc h and to the allic door , where it was moved lhrou gh the attic and into the boys· room. In the 1959 Bohn photo the upper porc h railing was wooden slalS. In an earl y 1970s photograph , there is a filigree railing above the l1at roof of the front veranda. These pho tos indicate the use of the attic door to pass onto the veranda roof. Both frontdoon , ori ginal to the Bohn 1958-59remodel , are wooden and fealllre raised conc-enlric circle11 inside and out; the inner circle is two inches, followed by circles at 15, 20 and 29 inches. Raised wood panel s are on either side of and above the door, replacing the ori ginal glass ligh ts. The front door at the southwest oomer was used as an entry to Walter Bohn's office, which was configured in 1958. Ex terior: Oaroens surround the house with flowers, shrubs and trees, The driveway is cemenL A concrete retainin g wall is on the east side of the driveway. The front entry features cement steps and entry walk with tiled slairs and front pon: h, which is par1ial ly covered ( 12 X 15 feet) by a flat roof supponed by fllll hei gh t cast iron filigree pos ts on tiled brick pien capped with concrete. The south facing front veranda is full width with an L-shape around the east side. There is no fencing. A stone retaining wall hes along the rear prope ny line. Accordin g to Diedra Bohn , daughter of Conmd, who learned this from her gran dmother , Walter's father bough t their sidewalks and had them installed while Walter and Frieda were away on their hone ymoon . A separa te, non-contributing, two-s1ory potte ry srudio with kiln, built by Bob Swaffar in 2005, is at the rear. It is com posed of rammed earth with a concrete and steal beam , and a floor that holds radiant heaL There are ten glass doon downslairs and 16 upper � wmdows. The gable roof is metal. The 30x30 studio disrepai r. It was designed to become an ADU if needed, with bath and kitchen features. replaced a 20x20 garag e that was in Lld and Dates of AfthUeetural MocUllcationll: • Circa 1934-35: The Bohns added a second story above the rear part of the house for one large bedroom and ba1h for their two sons to share. A full time housekee per Jived in an alcove adjaiccot to the bo ys' room. • 195S-S9: a Kuehne remodel added a front office door and replaced the glass doo,s and lights with a wooden door swrounded by �gular wooden panels. lo 1980 Conrad Frieda & Walter Bohn House July 7, 2024 Phoebe Allen 3 Bohn incorpora and sidcJights, which had been stored m lhe barn of the Bohn 's Lod the original glass front door ted inlO the Lodge at 3201 Rivercrc:sl Drive ge ror two decades. • A photo of the Bohn home wilh a -New 1949 Buick" indicates tha1 the front porc h columns wen: originally brick wilh a wooden railing above the parti ally covered porch . The change from brick to filigree posts and filigree railing was made in lhe Kuehne 1958- 59 remodel, Tile filigree railing above the front porch was removed in the 1980s due to leakage in the 11at poo: h roof at lhe points where the railing was attached to lhe roof despi te two prior repai r aUcmplS. , • 1972: Janet Kin g consolidated small rooms and rear porc h into one large kitchen in the interior. • 1980: Architect Bob SwaITar added. trapezoi dal windows on eilher side of the original front door in the attic IO improve li lhe windows is original. ghting in an attic bedroom. The wooden door beiween • 1980s: New metal roof; enlarged upnairs hallway al rear with windows; finished out attic. No�: The Sohns bad covered lhe original cedar shake roof with asphal t shingles. • 2005: Bob Swaffar built a two-story 30x30 pottery studio on the fOOl prinl of an original • 2008: Swaffar added eaves IO screened porc h to pre vent rain damage; eaves are 1dent1cal 20x20 garage (received City variance). IO original house caves. NilGHBORHOOD CONTEXT Shoal Creek wu the 1111tural western boundary of Austin when Edwin lots inside the 1839 ci square-mile grid in 1839. The laid out the ty plan. as well as Oudots Waller city's original one- beyond the Original City grid laid out b y Waller, were sold to the highes t bidden. The Frieda & Walter Bohn House was built in 1924 on Street what is now known as the Judges HBI neighborilood, Out!Ol 16 on Seventeenlh between San Gabriel and Pearl Stn!ets in in walking distance 10 the Texas State Capitol to the soulbcast, as well as The Universi ty of Texas campus to !he northeasL The neighborhood takes its name from the many judges and area. begiMing in 1851,just after Austin was selected as the allOllle ys who buill llomes in the State Capilal. West A venue was the western boun dary of the 1839 Original City of Auslin. The homes near Austin. Spanni ng a period from !he 1850s lhrou gh the tum of llus street are some of lhe oldest in the CCJltury , !he strucnns prov ide insight into the transitionin maierials of the time. The y included the 1853 GlasKoelc Mamion (razed 1923), and the circa 1855 Chandler-Shelle same lime Cook was Mansion/Woodlawn. Man y elegant, historic homes still line both sides of West A venue, including the landmark. 1870 Deuny-Holllda y House. by Abner Cook about lbe g the nearby 1854 Governor's Mansion and the 1853 Pease y House , also known as Westhll, likely built buildin g architectural styles and building There are at least tluee peri ods of activity in the Judges Hill area. Fir.;1 is that beginning dunng lhe Texas Republic and runnin g throu gh World War I, rou ghly 1840 to 1914. The style is reflected in Abner Cook homes and other earl y buildings. Wilh the ViclOrian era came a more fonnal regimen of manners and social style, reflected in homes of the lime. The second phase of developmen t includes lhc period between the two world wars, 1914 to 1945. It includes primari ly Colonial and Classical Revival, and Italianate, as well as the Bohn's Arts and Crafts phase , following WWII, saw the addition of a few homes in the pos t-war R.ancb style. The third and Mid century Modem styles. Bungalow Frieda & Walter Bohn House July 7, 2024 Phoebe Allen 4 The Judges Hill neigh borhood continues to experi ence controversial revi1ahzation and family residences to pro fessional offices. On West Avenue. for conversion of some single exam ple, is a series of IM:C modem apartm excepti onal hislOric homes: the 1891 Richarsonian Romanesq ue home of Edward Mandell House al 1704 West Avenue, demolished in 1967. and lhe 1868 Ange line Towmead-Thad Thomson home al 1802 WestAvenuc,demolished in 1962. ent and condominium bui! dings that replaced two The Judges Hill Neigh bolhood Association is considering nominating the neighborhood as a National Register Historic District HOUSE & PROPERTY NARRATIVE Oudot 16 was ori ginally patented to Jacob Buchman, who sold it to Johann Fruth in 1852. Frederick (Fria ) A. Bernd, a carpen ter and wagon maker, boo gh t the wt.St half of the block from the homeslead of Johann/John and Kuniguntia Frueh in 1870 for� -Bernd relained 1he land unbl 1910, when he sold the north half of the west half of the executor of Bemd's eslate, 1969 ), an attorney and di$1nctjudge as well as the who two weeks later sold the prope rty to Ireland Craves ( 1885- gran dson of former Governor John block for $20.XI to Carl Ballmann. Ireland. 1he block, facing l � Street, circa 1912, and Graves buih his home at the southwest corner of eilher rebuilt, remodeled or moved the house to face San Gabriel in 1927.' <>sear Robtnsoa buih a home on the northwest comer of the block in 1923. Stree t., included Jobn Wesle y Robertson ( 1841-1892) from Tennessee , who purchased the east half of Outlot 16 in June of 1872. In March of 1866 he mamed Sophrorua M. Austin (-1921), a tep hen F. Austin. By 1881, following a term in lheTellllS Le gislature, relative of Moses and S Colonel Robertson made his home in Austin in a two-s of the block (900 West l � - Robertson returnin g IO his law their home in 1906 and moved tory frame house at the southeast corner . was elected Mayor of Austin for three terms ( 188487) practi ce until his death at the a ge of 52 in 1892. Sophrorua Robertson sold The easl half of Outlot 16, facing Pearl Adjacent to the Walter Bohn House is the 1906 Geor next door to 17!0 Pearl.11:maining their until her death in 1921. gian Colonial Revival home that replaced the Robertson's house. It was design ed for alllleman Horace Aleu.i,der Th-n {1846-1940 ) by his nephew , architect Henry Bowers 'Har Thomson (1882-1974), son of Horace's brother. Hal became a leading socicly architect in Dallas and Texas during the first half of the Twentieth Centu ry. Carl & Eva Harman sold their lo1 to Walter Bohn, a sin $1000. In 1924it was assessed al $1200.' In 1923 the lot was valued at $3,.50() _ gle man, in March of l 924 for BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL ... Continued Narrallve Walter Bohn (1902-1990) built the house in 1'24and owned it until 1970. He was 011C of hip gress . 1892 at 517-19 Con three second- generation Bohns - including brolher Herbcn and cousin William - in as Bohn Brothen, Waliu was wilh the finn Kuehne in 1929. a dry goods and dc pa11rn ent store established in for 36 ycaB , from 1919 to 1955. The store was redesi gned by Hugo partners While living al his childhood home at 1609 Colomdo, Walter and his paie nts, Hermann & Alma Bohn , sailed lo Hamburg , Oennan y in 1912, when Walter was ten years old. Perhaps this 1 City of Austin Lot Registers for 1879 and 1884; 1923, 1924; llt''2andl884. 2 City of Austin Lot Rcgisrers for 1923, 1924. occupation froni Aust.in City Directory for Frieda & Walter Bohn House July 7, 2024 PhocbeAII� s was the beginning of Walter's inrcrcst in travel. He bad a sideline in his Bohn Brothers office in lhc 1930s, advising clients of various places IO visit in the U.S., Eu rope , and Soulh America. and arran ging IOUl'S and cruises for them. The famil y ofrcn traveled abroad -a Caribbean cruise in 1939,a trip around the world in 1964, and man y other travels to Mexico, New York City, New Oiteans, Europe and Soulh America. Walter brought his son Conrad a long Alphom from Switzt:rland on one trip. Conrad recalled that his parenlS enjoyed ballroom dancing and were members of a Friday night dance club. Conrad recounted that his father frcq uenlly walked from his home on West 17'6 to his wort at Bohn Brothers; Ibis is D<>lable in that many of the judges and amornc ys in the Judges Hill nei ghborhood chose to build homes there because of the ease of walking to the couns and Capi tol. Conrad himscU ofrcn walked from their home to Allan Junior High at the comer of Ninth & Trinity (des troyed by fire in 1956). Acconlin g to Conrad, Walter was a founding board member of Capi tal Natloaal Bank, organi zed in 1934; in 1959 CNB had the first drive-thru bank window in Austin. Be ginnin g in January of 1934, the bank oa:upi ed the ground floor of the 1928 Norwood Building. In 1944, the bank purchased the Norwood building and renamed it the Cap ital National Bank Building, then modified the adjoi ning parki ng gara ge m 1951 to accommodate the bank facilitJcs. In 1981 the bank moved its hcadq uaners lo a larger building. Waller Bohn is listed as a Vice President of CNB in City Directones from at least 1935 throu gh 1960. His father was a founding organi zer of Securit y Trust Com pany. !Iller the CNB. Walter Bohn and John Burns eventually left the CNB and fonned !he City National Bank. Walter Bohn was also a member of Austin•• Lions Club, as president 1939-40. Walter was in charge of a project to plant pecan trees lirung Barton Spri ngs Road from Barton Creek Bridge into Zilker Park. Wallel' developed a career in real estate as owner/developer of Windsor VIiiage , which open ed in 1960 with its initial center designed by archileets Fehr & Granger , and was a port owner, wilh R.B. Rylander and John Bums, of Casis Village , Ford Village and six or seven olhcr shop ping centers; all were eventually sold. The lhrec panners ope ned a warehouse in Austin and sent a fleet of trucks to San Antonio to buy food goods to sell al the sho pp ing centers. Rylandeis Grocery, the center of each shopping center, was ultimately sold to Tom Thumb. Rlvercrest & the Lodge Conrad sta&es that his father also developed the Rl•eRrest SubdlYl!lon on LaJce Austin, near n St. Stephe ns School. When Conrad was two or three years old ( 1928-29), his dad wanted to have a pecan orchard and bou ght ope n pas tureland overlooking the Colorado River (Lake McDonald, later Lake Austin) on what is now Rivercrest Drive. Two "hillbill Robens and rock mason Charlie Reese -lived in a small cabin on the land a1 alternate times to help culllvaie and tend the crops -oom, pean uts and tomawes -and to� for a few callle and goats as well as their own gardens and chickens. Walter built a screened wooden platform, which accommodated about six folding arm y cots, to Clljoy fishing with friends on weekends. The platform was situated on cedar pos ts in concn:te, on a slonc ledge that pro jected from the bluff, where several spri ngs prov ided fresh water. The Bohn children occasionall y stayed there, too. Conrad helped plant the pecan trees in four loog rows and helped harves.l the pecans . The Lod ge was initially approached the bluff_ either by boat or by car and foot along a mlher treacherous path down families -cedar choppe r Joe y Frieda & Wallet Bohn House July 7, 2024 Phoebe Allen 6 "WUhelm, a native of Glueckstadl. Ocnnany, migrated in 1879 at the age of 17 to America and settled in Auslin. All six of Wilhelm's baptized in GluecksladL "' children were born in Austin, however, all were In 1918. after the death of Wilhelm, the linn reorganized with Hermann, FJ. (son of and Bertha (da11ghter of Wilhdm), Heinrich), beading up the business. Hennann 's sons, Watter and Herbert, and daughter Edna, who married Carl Widen, worlced their way up into lhe business along with Wilhelm's and the !inn's Swedish bookkeeper son, WIIUam. Carl Widen From a 1939 SIIJIUman article♦• "Walter Bohn bepn worldng fort. nrm In 1'19 and is today in charge of merchandising, pie«: goods. and ladies' departmenlS.n His brother Herbert Mstarted working for lhe firm actively in 1924 and is in charge of promotions, displays manager of the boys' depanment." WOiiam Mbegan worlcing for the firm in 1914and is in charge of the clothing and men's furnishings departments." Carl Widen is the senior member of the finn, and has been actively connected with the firm since 1918. He is in charge of the aa:ounling and credit departments." and In 1938, Roy Thomas designed 8J1 Art Deco borne emulating an ocean liner in lbe Pemberton neigbbomood at 1301 W. 29"' Sttee1 for Walter's brother, Herbert Bohn. By 1942, Herbert and Walter (sons of Hermann) and William (son of Wilhelm), nmning the business togelber with Carl Widen. In 1948 Carl Widen and William, Herbert and Walter bought their inten:sts. Herbert wanted 10 bring in his two sons, Bob and H.E. Skip Bohn. So, in 1955, Herbert were still Jr. retired. boupt out Walter'• Interest. Skip gradualed from l1f in 1955 and joined the firm. Arter his action in WWII, Bob went to law school, left the business and moved to California to wort as an attorney, leaving Skip as the major owner. Herbert retired when !he store closed m 1960 and was associated with the Bohn Travel Agency. BOHN MATRIARCH & BOHN BROTHERS: Continued Narrative The Bohn brother's mother, Marpntlte Bohn, also came to Amenca and is pictured with her three sons in an undak:d photo in a 1960 newspaper article. At that time, the Bohns had been in business continuously for 68 years in the same building Congress, in the hands of four gencmlions or the Bohn family. The article announced lhat the store would be closing that spnng or swnmer. at 517-519 -rhe Bohn store was founded in 1892 by the lhree Bohn brothers -Heinrich, Wilhelm, and Hermann -in IISIIOCiation with their mother, Mrs. Margarethe Bohn, after the family had come to America from their naliveOennan y." M After six months, Henry lHeinrich] Bohn left the store association and returned to San Antonio, where he became interested i11 the saddle ry business ... in 1900 lhc Bohns purc hased the building and the land site. These two men operated the store 11ntil 1918 ... with the death of [n] Bohn nexl became associated wilh WiUiam Bohn [Mar gare the also died in 1918). Hennan sons of Ills two bro(hers in the slOre's opera lion -William Bohn, son of William [W ilhelm] Bohn, and F.J. Bohn, son of Hemy [HeinricbJ Bohn. The latter remained onl y a short time.M 5 Bohn biograp hical file, Austin History Center, B68193. 6 "Men Active in Bohn Bros. Mana gement and Carl Widen), 1 "After 68 Years, Bobn's Is Qui aing Business Here," American Statesman, April 3, 1960. M (with pholos of Walter, Herbert and William Bohn Au.slin American StaluntOII. March 26, 1939. Frieda& Walter Bohn House July 7. 2024 Phoebe Allen 9 The article goes on to explain that cart Widen married Hermann's daughter. &Ina, and became an active partner in 1918. Hermann's sons Walter and Herben Bohn joined the finn in J920and 1923, respectively: Hermann died m 1931. The original s!Ore building was remodeled in 1905 with the first plate glass front display window in Ausrin, and again in 1929 by architect Hugo Kuehne when enl� to two stories, with molded stone and grillwon: on the front and as the first to inslall air conditioning among Ausrin"s businesses . It was remodeled in 1950 into a modem store. Five years after the 1950 remodel, MHcrben bought out the interests of the other owners - Walter Bohn, William Bohn and Carl T. Widen-and Fonned a new panncrship with his son, H.E. 'Skip' Bohn." The store name changed to Bohn's. "The SlorC was then remodeled and reorganized into a fashion specialty shop .* The 1968 article states that in retirement, "Walter Bohn, a dJrector and Shlddtolder In the CaptaJ National Bank, Is sole owner or Windsor VIII.age In Northeast Austin and Is a partner In Che operation of"two Gtkr sboppln1 centers- Casis VIiiage and Ford VUlap ... The retired MWilliam Bohn has kept in touch with retailing as a salesman for Joseph's Man's Shop and he also ha9 invesunents which engage his attention. Herben Bohn is a stockholder in lhe Capilal National Bank and 1s engaged in the real estate and rental field and has investments here." CURRENT RESIDENT OWNERS ( 1970-currenl) Janet Kaarman Kiag Swatrar (193S-) was born in Minnesota to an car, eye. nose and throat surgeon and to a nurse of German descent who lived in a German community as a child and spoke GennaJl; hence Janet's interest in the German language. Janet received a Ph.D. and M.A. in German from the University of Wisconsin and is a Professor Emerirus ln German Studies at UT Austin, a professor beginning in 1982. Prior to becoming a Professor, she taught German at ur, Yale, UW, and other colleges. She was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in Bremen and Gouingcn, West Germany in 1956-57. She holds many professional awards and h.onors in her field, has published nwnerous articles and translalions, has written a book in Gennan on Oennan Hterary magazines. and has oo-wrincn several academic books. She also received a large grant from the NEH for an innovative the college level. approach to language learning in lhe public schools Ill! well as at Janet married Robert Desmond 'Bob' King. Professor of Gennan and Linguistics and Dean of Liberal Artsat UT; they had one child: Marguerite Irene King Neumann (1966-). and Janet had a son, Marie Scl\wartz ()960-2020), by a prior marriage. The Kings moved to Austin in ! 96S and bought the Bohn House in 1970; Janet retained the house following her August I 971 divorce. Janet manied Bob Swaffar on July 7, 19TI. Robert Charles 'Bob' Swaffar (1944-) is an architect who has since 2003 worked as a potter and proprietor of artSW- Pottery, located in the studio he built behind his home. He has a B.S. in Math from Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Architecture and M.A. in Computer Science from UT Austin. He worlc.ed as a Senior Systems Analyst, Adjunct Professor and Directoc of Computer Laboratories in the School of Architecture at UT Austin from 1988 to 2003. 1n 1969 he served in �thiopia in the Peace Corps. J(JSTIF1CATION • Frieda & Walter Bohn House July 7, 2024 Phoebe Allen 10 The Frieda & Waller Bohn House merits historic landmark stallls design of a bungalow City of Austin as the important role in by DOied architect Hugo Kuehne as well as its home of the family of Walter Bohn of Bohn Brothers, which played an Avenue businesses. Austin as one or its early Coagress for its exemplary Craftsman hislOrical sipificance to the The propeny daecs from 1924 with modifications during the Bohn tenure years ago. It is oommcndable that the home continues to serve as a wheff: homes arc increasingly 111ili:r.cd as businesses. It is the hope of the present will continue to be used as a owners that it home. The high degree of integrity of the home in ils onginal ma1crials and siylc bas been beautifully maintained since 1970 by with status as a City of Austin Historic Landmark. h includes no significant alleralions that compromise its integriiy. The significant feature of lhc neighborhood's historic identity into any future home Ciry of Austin and/or National Register Historic Dislricl Judges Hill Neighborhood Association values the home as a lhe present owners/residents and dcscrves preservation and supports the inclusion of this from more than 70 residence in a neighborhood Arcbltedural Drawings in possession of Swaffars and/or the Austin History Center. • Kuehne drawings/blueprints dated May 1, 1924. • Kuehne Additions. Blueprints, March 1934/May I, 1934 • Design Drawings for office door & front porch/door changes, Nov. 1958 & Feb. I, 1959 PHOT0Sof906 West 17th Historical B&W Photos: 8xl0print A. Bohn 8- J1111e 1, 1959 by Commercial Picwmi, Austi11 (collection of Diedra Bohn) B. Bohn House with "New 1949 Buick". in fronL. Frieda Bohn on steps; front door with side and top light$. rwte brick columns Conrad Bohn upper wooden porch railing and archives. 5,;7 C. Seasons Greetings from The BohllS: Conrad, Walter. Frieda, Arva!. Conrad Bohn D. Walter Bohn gBltlening al front of house; brick oolumns, cin::a 1949. Conn.cl Bohn archives. archives. Ex.terior photos of SwalTar.era House by Phoebe Allen, April 22 & July 3, 2024, color prints 7/3124 1. FnintJSouth r.-. 8xl0 print, 4122/2024 2. SouthEast f� Sx7, 7/31W24 3. West fa� 5x7, 4. Street View of front fzw.adc 7/3/24 5. NE oomcr view of screened porch (studio behind) 7/3/24 6. View from NE comer of partial rear/north 7. Rear/north fayade (partial) 7/3/24 8. Studio outbuilding's west fai.ade with 9. Studtooutbuilding from SW view of West and South 10. Studio outbuilding from 11. Sauna outbuilding 12 Filigree porch railing from 1959cra in use as garden bolder since 1980s 13. front door detail wJ SW view of �t fa?de713124 fa,;ade 7/3124 f� 713124 713/24 rcar/nonh fiw.adc of house 713124 open screen door and wooden surrounding panels from 1959 Frieda & Walter Bohn House July 7, 2024 11    B   C D  1  2  3  4  5   6 Permitting and Development Center | 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, TX 78752 | (512) 978-4000 Property Profile Report ADU Approximate Area Reduced Parking Downtown Austin Plan Districts: Judges Hill Residential Design Standards: LDC/25-2-Subchapter F Selected Sign Ordinances Zoning Map Zoning Guide The Guide to Zoning provides a quick explanation of the above Zoning codes, however, the Land Development Information Services provides general zoning assistance and can advise you on the type of development allowed on a property. Visit Zoning for the description of each Base Zoning District. For official verification of the zoning of a property, please order a Zoning Verification Letter. General information on the Neighborhood Planning Areas is available from Neighborhood Planning. Imagery Map General Information Location: Parcel ID: Grid: 906 W 17TH ST 0211010408 MJ23 Planning & Zoning *Right click hyperlinks to open in a new window. Future Land Use (FLUM): No Future Land Use Map Regulating Plan: No Regulating Plan Zoning: SF-3 Zoning Cases: Zoning Ordinances: Zoning Overlays: C14H-2013-0005 C14H-2024-0115 19990225-070b Infill Options: Neighborhood Restricted Parking Areas: -- -- -- -- Mobile Food Vendors: Historic Landmark: Urban Roadways: Yes No No No No No No Environmental Fully Developed Floodplain: FEMA Floodplain: Austin Watershed Regulation Areas: URBAN Watershed Boundaries: Shoal Creek Creek Buffers: Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone: Edwards Aquifer Recharge Verification Zone: Erosion Hazard Zone Review Buffer: Political Boundaries Jurisdiction: AUSTIN FULL PURPOSE Council District: 9 County: TRAVIS School District: Austin ISD Community Registry: Austin Independent School District, Austin Lost and Found Pets, Austin Neighborhoods Council, Central Austin Community Development Corporation, City of Austin Downtown Commission, Downtown Austin Alliance, Downtown Austin Neighborhood Assn. (DANA), Friends of Austin Neighborhoods, Historic Austin Neighborhood Association, Homeless Neighborhood Association, Judges Hill Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Empowerment Foundation, Preservation Austin, SELTexas, Shoal Creek Conservancy, Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group Vicinity Map The Information on this report has been produced by the City of Austin as a working document and is not warranted for any other use. No warranty is made by the City regarding its accuracy or completeness. Date created: 8/20/2024