12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House - Public Comment — original pdf

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From: To: Subject: Date: Attachments: Brown, Destiny Contreras, Kalan FW: Preservation Austin Letter - 907 E 13th Street Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:37:56 AM 2026.3.23_Preservation Austin_907 E 13th St.pdf Hey, did not see your name on this email and wanted to forward it your way. From: Meghan King Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 9:18 AM To: Woods, Alice - BC <BC-Alice.Woods@austintexas.gov>; Haney, Casey - BC <BC- Casey.Haney@austintexas.gov>; Garcia, Ella <Ella.Garcia@austintexas.gov>; Brown, Destiny <destiny.brown01@austintexas.gov> Subject: Preservation Austin Letter - 907 E 13th Street External Email - Exercise Caution Hello Chair Woods, Vice Chair Haney, and Members of the Austin Planning Commission, Please find Preservation Austin's letter of support for historic zoning for 907 E 13th Street attached. The 2016 East Austin Historic Survey recommended this over 140-year-old property for every possible designation, including as a City of Austin landmark. Its distinctive National Folk style and high integrity convey a sense of Austin history that is rare and quickly vanishing. The working-class people who lived here embody the stories of so many Austinites who, despite inequity and segregation, nurtured lives and communities of their own making. The Historic Landmark Commission fairly recommended that only the front two rooms, the oldest parts of the building, be zoned historic. This would leave more than half of the lot available for infill development, including through the Preservation Bonus created by City Council as part of the HOME ordinance. Preservation does not have to be a zero- sum game, and we believe that this property holds immense potential for both preservation and future development. Designating the Nitschke-Versea-Goins House affirms our values as a city–that these people are worth remembering, and these stories are worth preserving. Thank you for 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House1 of 29your consideration and your service to the City of Austin. Meghan King Namour Policy & Outreach Planner - Preservation Austin www.preservationaustin.org | Support Our Mission 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". 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House2 of 29 Letter of Support: Historic Zoning for 907 East 13th Street (C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House) Date: March 20, 2026 To: City of Austin Planning Commission From: Swede Hill Neighborhood Association Subject: Support for Historic Zoning Case – 907 East 13th Street Dear Commissioners, On March 4, 2026, the Swede Hill Neighborhood Association met and voted officially to support the application for Historic Zoning for 907 East 13th Street. As one of Austin’s earliest residential neighborhoods, Swede Hill has endured years of threat from rapid demolition, and we believe this property is a vital piece of the fabric that remains. Our support is based on the following critical points: ● Preservation of Heritage: 907 East 13th Street is one of the oldest homes in the area. It stands as a physical tie to the immigrant roots that gave our neighborhood its name and unique identity and a tie to the black families that owned the home subsequently. ● A Reasonable Compromise: The zoning request is specifically targeted toward the original front two rooms of the house. This is a balanced approach that preserves the historic streetscape while leaving a significant portion of the lot available for modern development. ● Preventing "Demolition Scars": We have observed a pattern of behavior from the current landowner, who has purchased scores of properties only to leave them as empty, scraped lots. These demolitions leave scars on our blocks that remain vacant for years, providing no housing for new families and offering zero respect for the history of East Austin. ● Erosion of Character: Many historic homes in Swede Hill have already faced the business end of a bulldozer. We cannot continue to scrap our history and expect to retain the character of this community. While we often collaborate with landowners to find a middle ground, this owner has shown no interest in preserving our neighborhood's history, making this historic designation necessary. Enough is enough. We need the Planning Commission to help us protect the few remaining landmarks of our past before the fabric of Swede Hill is eroded beyond repair. We urge you to approve the Historic Zoning for 907 East 13th Street to ensure this home remains a part of Austin’s story. Respectfully, The Swede Hill Neighborhood Association 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House3 of 29From: To: Subject: Date: Scott Menzies Contreras, Kalan Robertson Hill Neighborhood Association Letter of Support for 907 E.13th Wednesday, February 4, 2026 2:50:56 PM You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution On behalf of the Robertson Hill Neighborhood Association (RHNA), I am writing to formally express our opposition to the proposed demolition of the historic structure located at 907 E. 13th Street, Austin, Texas 78702. At a duly noticed meeting of the Robertson Hill Neighborhood Association, the membership held a vote regarding the proposed demolition. The vote was unanimous in opposition. This decision reflects the strong and shared belief of our neighborhood that the structure at 907 E. 13th Street holds significant historical and cultural value and should be preserved. The building is a contributing element to the historic fabric of East Austin and Robertson Hill. Its age, architectural character, and connection to the area’s early development make it an important physical reminder of the neighborhood’s history. Demolishing this structure would result in an irreversible loss to the community and further erode the historic character of our neighborhood. At this time, there is no clear or concrete plan for redevelopment that would justify the permanent loss of this historic resource. Preservation, rehabilitation, or adaptive reuse should be fully explored as viable alternatives that respect both the site’s history and the surrounding community. The Robertson Hill Neighborhood Association respectfully urges the Planning Commission and all relevant decision-making bodies to deny the demolition request for 907 E. 13th Street and to support efforts that prioritize preservation of historic resources in East Austin. Thank you for your time and consideration of the neighborhood’s position on this matter. Sincerely, Scott Menzies President Robertson Hill Neighborhood Association 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. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House4 of 29Julius Nitschke House – Historic Landmark Packet Statement of Significance Under the City of Austin Historic Landmark criteria, the Julius Nitschke House is significant for its association with historically important persons, its representation of early residential development patterns, and its strong associative integrity. The property is associated with the Nitschke family, a German-American family active during Austin’s late-19th- and early-20th-century growth. Members of the family contributed to Austin through skilled labor and civic leadership during a formative period in the city’s development. Notably, Julius Nitschke’s uncle, J. Bassett Nitschke, served for twenty years on the Austin City Council and played a key role in early municipal infrastructure, including street paving and storm sewer installation. Julius Nitschke personally built and occupied the house as his residence, reflecting a historic pattern of owner-built homes intended for long-term occupancy rather than speculative development. Approximately four decades later, Julius Nitschke sold the property to Andrew W. Versea, an African American reverend, marking an important transition in the property’s history that reflects patterns of African American homeownership, community leadership, and neighborhood continuity in East Austin. This continuity of ownership across racial and cultural lines enhances the property’s historical significance by illustrating broader social and demographic patterns in Austin during the early-to-mid 20th century. The property retains integrity of location, association, and feeling, and remains legible as an early Austin residential structure tied directly to its original builder and subsequent community leaders. Historic Landmark Eligibility Finding The Julius Nitschke House meets City of Austin Historic Landmark designation criteria for association with historically significant persons, its illustration of historic patterns of development and homeownership, and for its ability to convey these associations through retained integrity of location, association, and feeling. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House5 of 29Demolition Rebuttal Statement Demolition of the Julius Nitschke House would result in the irreversible loss of a documented historic resource directly associated with early Austin civic leadership, skilled labor history, and African American community leadership in East Austin. The property is not a vacant or speculative structure, but a surviving example of an owner-built home later stewarded by a prominent African American reverend. The replacement of this structure would permanently sever the physical connection between multiple historically significant communities and the neighborhood they helped build. Preservation of this resource aligns with the City’s adopted preservation goals and supports neighborhood continuity, cultural heritage, and responsible growth. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House6 of 29Appendix A: Historical Documentation City Directory and Property History Evidence Historic Austin city directories document Julius H. Nitschke as a carpenter residing at 907 East 13th Street, confirming direct association between the subject property and its original builder. Property records further indicate that approximately forty years later, ownership transferred to Andrew W. Versea, an African American reverend, demonstrating continuity of residential use and community leadership. Newspaper Documentation A contemporaneous newspaper article documents J. Bassett Nitschke as a long-serving Austin City Council member and early municipal infrastructure leader, including oversight of Congress Avenue paving and Austin’s original storm sewer system. This documentation establishes the Nitschke family’s direct involvement in shaping Austin’s civic and physical infrastructure. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House7 of 29Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 5:41 PM Historic Preservation Office PR-2025-138065; GF-2025-144692 ; 907 E 13th Street Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Completed You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Preservation Board, I am writing to oppose the demolition permit for 907 E 13th Street. This house is one of the oldest remaining homes in the neighborhood and meets the City’s criteria for historic consideration, including architectural significance, association with early settlers in this area of Austin, and established community value. It is also one of the few remaining structures tied to the Swedish history of Swede Hill, much of which has already been lost to prior development. Neighborhood representatives have attempted to contact the applicant to discuss alternatives to demolition, but those requests have gone unanswered. This raises concerns about demolition-by-neglect and a lack of good-faith engagement in the preservation review process. The applicant’s consistent demolitions among their considerable 12th and 13th Street holdings and plethora of empty lots have become a blight on the East Side. It is about time that the Board and the City of Austin to do something about it as it is long overdue. They are not honest brokers and never will be until they held to account.. I respectfully urge the Commission to deny the demolition permit and to require consideration of preservation alternatives consistent with the City’s adopted criteria and long-term neighborhood interests. Bruce Sheehan 903 East 14th St Austin, TX 78702 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". 1 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House8 of 29 February 3, 2026 RE: PR-2025-138065; GF-2025-144692 ; 907 E 13th Street To whom it may concern, As a resident of Swede Hill, I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed demolition permit for 907 E 13th Street. The property is one of the oldest remaining residences in the neighborhood and retains clear historical significance. Based on the City’s adopted criteria, the building meets multiple standards for consideration, including architectural integrity, association with historically significant individuals, specifically early settlers in this area of Austin, and community value. As one of the few remaining structures connected to the Swedish heritage of Swede Hill, the property represents an increasingly rare link to the neighborhood’s cultural and historical identity, much of which has already been lost through prior development, including the construction of I-35. The applicant has been unresponsive to meet and discuss alternatives to demolition. This lack of engagement raises concerns about their known demolition-by-neglect practices and the potential reliance on procedural timelines rather than good-faith preservation review. These concerns are heightened by the applicant’s recent demolition of another property on East 13th Street, which has resulted in another vacant lot rather than meaningful reinvestment. This pattern has had a visible and negative impact on the larger neighborhood. I respectfully urge the Commission to deny the demolition permit for 907 E 13th Street and to consider preservation-minded alternatives consistent with the City’s historic review criteria and neighborhood conservation goals. Sincerely, Molly Hubbs Resident of Swede Hill Neighborhood 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House9 of 29 Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Sturgill, Hunter Friday, January 23, 2026 10:49 AM Historic Preservation Office FW: Next meeting of Historic Landmark Commission IMG_2499.jpg Hunter Sturgill (she/her) Planner II Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning 512-974-3393 hunter.sturgill@austintexas.gov Please Note: Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. Por Favor Tome En Cuenta: La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. From: Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 9:12 AM To: Sturgill, Hunter <hunter.sturgill@austintexas.gov> Subject: FW: Next meeting of Historic Landmark Commission Please add to backup. Thank you! From: River Roaring Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 12:46 PM To: Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> Cc: Historic Preservation Office <Preservation@austintexas.gov>; Subject: RE: Next meeting of Historic Landmark Commission External Email - Exercise Caution Kalan, I appreciate your willingness to receive information by email! Attached please find:  the first page of my contract of sale of 907 East 13th Street to Eureka. This shows that the other company name is simply a holding company, as this contract is the one we closed on and the property has not been sold to anyone else since.  a rendering by Jamie Chioco's architecture firm for 907 East 13th. This rendering shows that we had planned to build a LOT of new construction behind the current front two rooms, the historically significant 1 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House10 of 29 part, without the public even being able to see the construction behind the historic front. The whole back portion would be hidden from sight from the front! These plans were approved by the city, and we had our construction permits, and were about to break ground when I changed my mind. .... So this plan to add new construction behind the historic part was approved already. .... It can be done easily! I'm copying my neighbor Polina on this email to keep her in the loop. I have many stories to share about the block, and it's history that I learned from Deloria Grant who lived across the street from me for 70 years. Would you like me to share my stories here by email, or share them in person at the meeting February? Would they be helpful to you before the hearing? I very much appreciate your help on this, and look forward to hearing from you. With love and light, 909 East 13th Street 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". 2 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House11 of 29 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House12 of 29Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Hello, Polina Koronkevich Wednesday, January 7, 2026 5:27 AM Historic Preservation Office PR-2025-138065; GF-2025-144692 ; 907 E 13th External Email - Exercise Caution I'm writing in opposition to the demolition permit for 907 e 13th street. This is one of the oldest homes in the neighborhood, and Eureka is a rampant demolition-by-neglect bad actor. I spoke at last month's meeting about this property, and my feelings have not changed. I will not be able to attend tonight's meeting. We reached out to the applicant to come meet with the neighborhood, but have not heard back from them. We suspect that they will not be interested in meeting with us in order to run out the 90-day automatic approval clock. I know that the city is being sued by Eureka because of the Eisenbeiser building, but we need to put a stop to these tactics because they are ruining neighborhoods. There is another property on east 13th that they recently tore down, which had been a rental but now is just an empty lot. I pass it walking every day and it's a blatant reminder that these people do not have any interest in improving the East Side. This building certainly meets the criteria for architecture, association with important people (the first settlers to this part of Austin), and community value -- it is one of the oldest homes in this neighborhood and connects us the Swede portion of our Swede Hill neighborhood name, much of which we have lost to I-35 development. Thank you, Polina 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". 1 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House13 of 29 From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Attachments: River Roaring LandUseLiaison; Contreras, Kalan McKnight, Kim RE: March 24, 2026, Planning Commission Agenda and Speaker Registration Link Tuesday, March 24, 2026 1:03:14 PM image001.png image1774375319821 External Email - Exercise Caution Dear Planning Commission, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Item 14, 907 East 13th Street, for this evening. I am the next door neighbor to 907, and I am also the previous owner of 907. I plan to testify in person if possible. I have attached and linked several important documents: Around 2019, I sold 907 East 13th Street to Eureka, although they used a holding company name. See attached first page of our contract that closed - it is Eureka. When I sold them the home, I gave them the original hand written deed and requested that they preserve the front two rooms which were built in the 1880s. See attached hand written original deed. When I sold 907 to Eureka, the front two rooms were in magnificent condition. See the 9 photos of the front two rooms at the time I sold it to them in this folder. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nnllt4st42ncp7s6btnq0/AD4SY5-hONjq6z7mWVHAm1g? rlkey=fpb8q8j99n5m8ie4ujydm53mt&dl=0 Before I sold 907 to Eureka, I hired architect Jamie Chioco to draw up plans for an addition to the property. Jamie Chioco drew up plans, and we had the plans approved by the city and I changed my mind just as we were about to break ground. ... So the plans approved by the city demonstrate that someone can build to maximum envelope on the 907 land AND AT THE SAME TIME, ONLY THE FRONT TWO HISTORIC ROOMS ARE VISIBLE FROM THE FRONT due to the slope of the ground and street level. I looked for the front rendering, and realized that he never rendered the front view because I was going to preserve the front two historic rooms - so there is literally NO CHANGE to the front view even with maximum build behind it. See the attached floor plans that Jamie drew up that show what I mean. Unique Architectural Design 907 is in the Swede Hill Neighborhood Association. My good friend is Finnish and spent summers in Sweden. She said that 907 East 13th reminded her of the typical Swedish home up on a hill that she grew up around in Sweden. No other home in the Swede Hill N.A. has these uniquely Swedish stylings in its front facade. My friend said that there is no other home in Austin that has the subtle architectural details of an authentic Swedish home. Historic Associations My neighbor across the street, Deloria Grant, told me many stories about the block before she passed away. She lived in the home across the street for over 70 years. 907 should be considered not alone, but as part of the block because the whole block functioned as one family at one time. It was an African American block that sat next to a Swede block and there was some intermingling. Two Huston College professors lived at 907 East 13th, one in each of the front rooms. Huston College was 2 blocks away. The home had no running water at first, so they each lived in one room sharing an outhouse. Later, a tailor lived at 907 who drank a lot, and who made clothing for Azie Morton so she could attend Huston College in decent clothes since she was from the country town of San Marcos. The block was like a family. One man had a truck and he would go hunt for squirrel and other local game and bring it home for everyone on the block. Another person on the block made great beans and always shared her beans with others on the block. The tailor in 907 took care of mending and clothes for everyone on the block. In that way, the block functioned as one family caring for one another with their unique gifts they each brought to bear. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House14 of 29There was more interracial connection than usual for that time as the African American block was adjacent to the Swede block and one family lived across the line. Across the street, Deloria Grant's father was a famous track coach at High Schools in town, then at Colleges and then a Pro Football coach briefly. Her father organized the group of people, on this block, that strategized about how to get Heamon Sweat into UT Law School. Their tightly coordinated effort resulted in Heamon Sweat being the first ever African American admitted to UT Law. The 907 home is all that is left of this beautiful part of Austin history. Community Value There are not many homes left from the original Austin plat. On this block, only 907 and 909 remain. I've iived in one or the other for 23 years, and I will continue to preserve 909. The condition of the front two rooms was perfect when Eureka purchased the home. It has remained vacant since then, and it has deteriorated under the ownership of Eureka. However I do not feel it would be fair to reward Eureka for this neglect. See the images of the front two rooms when I sold it to them, referenced above with the link. Thank you again for your time and attention. Please preserve the front two rooms of this home for the benefit of the city of Austin and her people. With love and light, River del Llano 909 East 13th Street Austin, Texas 78702 On Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 at 11:24 AM, Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> wrote: Hi River, Thanks for reaching out, and we will see you there tonight. And yes, the Planning Commission will use the same Code section to evaluate eligibility. Please send documents to this thread ASAP, as they must be queued for posting by 2. Kalan Contreras Principal Planner, Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning 512-974-2727 kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House15 of 29 External Email - Exercise Caution Kalan thank you for your support so that I can offer my testimony in person this evening. I'm copying both you and Ella. What are the criteria for item 14 on the agenda, 907 East 13th? In other words, what is the rule or law that the Planning Commission will be deciding related to this property? Is it the exact same standards that the historic commission used to decide? Also, I want to send in documents - do I send them here to you both today by 2pm? Or is there a different way to get them to the Commissioners for this evening? Thanks in advance. With love and light, On Monday, March 23rd, 2026 at 7:52 AM, Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> wrote: Dear applicants, property owners, and interested parties, Your historic zoning case is scheduled to be heard at the March 24 meeting of the Planning Commission, beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. Please view the Planning Commission Webpage for the agenda, also attached to this email. To sign up to speak on this item, click the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/W9r6dSSkUG . 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House16 of 29 For questions on the participation and signup process, please contact LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov. Kalan Contreras Principal Planner, Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning 512-974-2727 kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. Good afternoon, You are receiving this email because you have an item on the March 24, 2026, Planning Commission meeting agenda. Please view the Planning Commission Webpage for the agenda, also attached to this email. Speaker registration link to be shared with applicants and interested parties: https://forms.office.com/g/W9r6dSSkUG Please let me know if there are any questions or concerns. Thanks! Ella Garcia Business Process Specialist 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House17 of 29 Land Use Liaison | Planning and Zoning and Platting Commission 512-978-0821 landuseliaison@austintexas.gov From: LandUseLiaison <LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2026 4:44 PM 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". From: River Roaring Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:19 AM To: Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov>; LandUseLiaison <LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov> Cc: McKnight, Kim <Kim.McKnight@austintexas.gov> Subject: Re: March 24, 2026, Planning Commission Agenda and Speaker Registration Link 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". 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House18 of 29 March 23, 2026 RE: Nitschke-Versea-Goins House - 907 E 13th Street Dear Chair Woods, Vice Chair Hainey, and Members of the Austin Planning Commission, Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. We write today to express our support for the designation of 907 E 13th Street, also known as the Nitschke-Versea-Goins House, as a City of Austin Landmark for its architecture and historic associations. Built between 1873 and 1884, the house at 913 E. 13th Street stands today as one of the oldest houses in the Swede Hill area. Its National Folk style speaks to its humble, working-class history. The Nitschke family, German cabinetmakers, built the home using construction techniques reminiscent of those in the nearby Swede Hill neighborhood. Anna Eliza Goins, a widow and mother of six children, purchased the home around 1924 and lived there until her passing in 1956. As a Black woman living in segregated Austin, she made a living working as a cook and a laundress, renting out rooms in her modest home to drivers, porters, cooks, and the like. The 2016 East Austin Historic Survey recommended this property for every possible designation, including as a City of Austin landmark. Its distinctive style and high integrity convey a sense of Austin history that is rare and quickly vanishing. The working-class people who lived here embody the stories of so many Austinites who, despite inequity and segregation, nurtured lives and communities of their own making. The Historic Landmark Commission fairly recommended that only the front two rooms, the oldest parts of the building, be zoned historic. This would leave more than half of the lot available for infill development, including through the Preservation Bonus created by City Council as part of the HOME ordinance. Preservation does not have to be a zero-sum game, and we believe that this property holds immense potential for both preservation and future development. Designating the Nitschke-Versea-Goins House affirms our values as a city–that these people are worth remembering, and these stories are worth preserving. Thank you for your consideration and your service to the City of Austin. Sincerely, Miriam Conner, President 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House19 of 29From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Attachments: River Roaring LandUseLiaison; Contreras, Kalan McKnight, Kim RE: March 24, 2026, Planning Commission Agenda and Speaker Registration Link Tuesday, March 24, 2026 1:03:14 PM image001.png image1774375319821 External Email - Exercise Caution Dear Planning Commission, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Item 14, 907 East 13th Street, for this evening. I am the next door neighbor to 907, and I am also the previous owner of 907. I plan to testify in person if possible. I have attached and linked several important documents: Around 2019, I sold 907 East 13th Street to Eureka, although they used a holding company name. See attached first page of our contract that closed - it is Eureka. When I sold them the home, I gave them the original hand written deed and requested that they preserve the front two rooms which were built in the 1880s. See attached hand written original deed. When I sold 907 to Eureka, the front two rooms were in magnificent condition. See the 9 photos of the front two rooms at the time I sold it to them in this folder. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nnllt4st42ncp7s6btnq0/AD4SY5-hONjq6z7mWVHAm1g? rlkey=fpb8q8j99n5m8ie4ujydm53mt&dl=0 Before I sold 907 to Eureka, I hired architect Jamie Chioco to draw up plans for an addition to the property. Jamie Chioco drew up plans, and we had the plans approved by the city and I changed my mind just as we were about to break ground. ... So the plans approved by the city demonstrate that someone can build to maximum envelope on the 907 land AND AT THE SAME TIME, ONLY THE FRONT TWO HISTORIC ROOMS ARE VISIBLE FROM THE FRONT due to the slope of the ground and street level. I looked for the front rendering, and realized that he never rendered the front view because I was going to preserve the front two historic rooms - so there is literally NO CHANGE to the front view even with maximum build behind it. See the attached floor plans that Jamie drew up that show what I mean. Unique Architectural Design 907 is in the Swede Hill Neighborhood Association. My good friend is Finnish and spent summers in Sweden. She said that 907 East 13th reminded her of the typical Swedish home up on a hill that she grew up around in Sweden. No other home in the Swede Hill N.A. has these uniquely Swedish stylings in its front facade. My friend said that there is no other home in Austin that has the subtle architectural details of an authentic Swedish home. Historic Associations My neighbor across the street, Deloria Grant, told me many stories about the block before she passed away. She lived in the home across the street for over 70 years. 907 should be considered not alone, but as part of the block because the whole block functioned as one family at one time. It was an African American block that sat next to a Swede block and there was some intermingling. Two Huston College professors lived at 907 East 13th, one in each of the front rooms. Huston College was 2 blocks away. The home had no running water at first, so they each lived in one room sharing an outhouse. Later, a tailor lived at 907 who drank a lot, and who made clothing for Azie Morton so she could attend Huston College in decent clothes since she was from the country town of San Marcos. The block was like a family. One man had a truck and he would go hunt for squirrel and other local game and bring it home for everyone on the block. Another person on the block made great beans and always shared her beans with others on the block. The tailor in 907 took care of mending and clothes for everyone on the block. In that way, the block functioned as one family caring for one another with their unique gifts they each brought to bear. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House20 of 29There was more interracial connection than usual for that time as the African American block was adjacent to the Swede block and one family lived across the line. Across the street, Deloria Grant's father was a famous track coach at High Schools in town, then at Colleges and then a Pro Football coach briefly. Her father organized the group of people, on this block, that strategized about how to get Heamon Sweat into UT Law School. Their tightly coordinated effort resulted in Heamon Sweat being the first ever African American admitted to UT Law. The 907 home is all that is left of this beautiful part of Austin history. Community Value There are not many homes left from the original Austin plat. On this block, only 907 and 909 remain. I've iived in one or the other for 23 years, and I will continue to preserve 909. The condition of the front two rooms was perfect when Eureka purchased the home. It has remained vacant since then, and it has deteriorated under the ownership of Eureka. However I do not feel it would be fair to reward Eureka for this neglect. See the images of the front two rooms when I sold it to them, referenced above with the link. Thank you again for your time and attention. Please preserve the front two rooms of this home for the benefit of the city of Austin and her people. With love and light, River del Llano 909 East 13th Street Austin, Texas 78702 On Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 at 11:24 AM, Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> wrote: Hi River, Thanks for reaching out, and we will see you there tonight. And yes, the Planning Commission will use the same Code section to evaluate eligibility. Please send documents to this thread ASAP, as they must be queued for posting by 2. Kalan Contreras Principal Planner, Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning 512-974-2727 kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House21 of 29 External Email - Exercise Caution Kalan thank you for your support so that I can offer my testimony in person this evening. I'm copying both you and Ella. What are the criteria for item 14 on the agenda, 907 East 13th? In other words, what is the rule or law that the Planning Commission will be deciding related to this property? Is it the exact same standards that the historic commission used to decide? Also, I want to send in documents - do I send them here to you both today by 2pm? Or is there a different way to get them to the Commissioners for this evening? Thanks in advance. With love and light, On Monday, March 23rd, 2026 at 7:52 AM, Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov> wrote: Dear applicants, property owners, and interested parties, Your historic zoning case is scheduled to be heard at the March 24 meeting of the Planning Commission, beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. Please view the Planning Commission Webpage for the agenda, also attached to this email. To sign up to speak on this item, click the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/W9r6dSSkUG . 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House22 of 29 For questions on the participation and signup process, please contact LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov. Kalan Contreras Principal Planner, Historic Preservation Office Austin Planning 512-974-2727 kalan.contreras@austintexas.gov Correspondence and information submitted to the City of Austin are subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) and may be published online. La correspondencia y la información enviada a la Ciudad de Austin está sujeta a la Ley de Información Pública de Texas (Capítulo 552) y puede ser publicada en línea. Good afternoon, You are receiving this email because you have an item on the March 24, 2026, Planning Commission meeting agenda. Please view the Planning Commission Webpage for the agenda, also attached to this email. Speaker registration link to be shared with applicants and interested parties: https://forms.office.com/g/W9r6dSSkUG Please let me know if there are any questions or concerns. Thanks! Ella Garcia Business Process Specialist 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House23 of 29 Land Use Liaison | Planning and Zoning and Platting Commission 512-978-0821 landuseliaison@austintexas.gov From: LandUseLiaison <LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2026 4:44 PM 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". From: River Roaring Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:19 AM To: Contreras, Kalan <Kalan.Contreras@austintexas.gov>; LandUseLiaison <LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov> Cc: McKnight, Kim <Kim.McKnight@austintexas.gov> Subject: Re: March 24, 2026, Planning Commission Agenda and Speaker Registration Link 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". 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House24 of 29 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House25 of 2912 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House26 of 2912 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House27 of 2912 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House28 of 29Letter of Support: Historic Zoning for 907 East 13th Street (C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House) Date: March 20, 2026 To: City of Austin Planning Commission From: Swede Hill Neighborhood Association Subject: Support for Historic Zoning Case – 907 East 13th Street Dear Commissioners, On March 4, 2026, the Swede Hill Neighborhood Association met and voted officially to support the application for Historic Zoning for 907 East 13th Street. As one of Austin’s earliest residential neighborhoods, Swede Hill has endured years of threat from rapid demolition, and we believe this property is a vital piece of the fabric that remains. Our support is based on the following critical points: ● Preservation of Heritage: 907 East 13th Street is one of the oldest homes in the area. It stands as a physical tie to the immigrant roots that gave our neighborhood its name and unique identity and a tie to the black families that owned the home subsequently. ● A Reasonable Compromise: The zoning request is specifically targeted toward the original front two rooms of the house. This is a balanced approach that preserves the historic streetscape while leaving a significant portion of the lot available for modern development. ● Preventing "Demolition Scars": We have observed a pattern of behavior from the current landowner, who has purchased scores of properties only to leave them as empty, scraped lots. These demolitions leave scars on our blocks that remain vacant for years, providing no housing for new families and offering zero respect for the history of East Austin. ● Erosion of Character: Many historic homes in Swede Hill have already faced the business end of a bulldozer. We cannot continue to scrap our history and expect to retain the character of this community. While we often collaborate with landowners to find a middle ground, this owner has shown no interest in preserving our neighborhood's history, making this historic designation necessary. Enough is enough. We need the Planning Commission to help us protect the few remaining landmarks of our past before the fabric of Swede Hill is eroded beyond repair. We urge you to approve the Historic Zoning for 907 East 13th Street to ensure this home remains a part of Austin’s story. Respectfully, The Swede Hill Neighborhood Association 12 C14H-2026-0013 - Nitschke-Versea-Goins House29 of 29