B-05 Public Comment.pdf — original pdf
Backup
Allandale Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 10886 Austin Texas 78766-1866 Adopted by the Allandale Neighborhood Association December 1, 2021: Be it resolved that, whereas: The house at 2502 Park View Drive is the most intact and most architecturally significant of the houses from the nationally recognized Austin Air-Conditioned Village, and The house is a significant early work of architect Fred Day, who also designed a number of other well-known and highly regarded buildings in Austin, and The Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously in favor of its preservation through historic zoning, and The house with its historical associations and its beauty is an asset to the Allandale neighborhood, and A previous owner of the property presented a plan to renovate it in a way that would maintain its historical value, thus demonstrating the practicality of preserving it, therefore The Allandale Neighborhood Association encourages the owner of 2502 Park View Drive not to have it demolished, but rather to renovate it in a way that will maintain its historical value, thereby preserving it for posterity. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Mary C Kahle Wednesday, March 23, 2022 3:32 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC Brummett, Elizabeth; Rivera, Andrew; Lindsey Derrington; Meghan King Preservation Austin's statement on 2502 Park View PA Park View Statement.docx Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Commissioners: Please see the attached statement by Preservation Austin regarding the Chrysler Air‐Temp House at 2502 Park View Avenue. I look forward to speaking in person at the March 29th, 2022 of the Zoning and Platting Commission. Best, Mary Kahle Policy Intern, Preservation Austin CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 My name is Mary Kahle, and I'm a policy intern with Preservation Austin and a grad student in the public history department at Texas State University. I'm speaking tonight on behalf of Preservation Austin. Our organization has already come out in support of historic zoning for 2502 Park View Avenue, the Chrysler Air-Temp House. As other speakers have noted, the house is significant for its architecture, historical associations, and community value. We believe the Air Conditioned Village, and the homes that embody this rare history, are worth saving. This is a challenging case, however, and we offer Preservation Austin’s support to the owner and to the City of Austin to achieve a compromise solution, one that would preserve the home’s historic main facade while expanding its footprint to meet 21st century needs. We would be happy to connect the owner with our network of architects, builders, and preservation specialists, including those with experience with mid-century architecture. We have featured many such homes in our own programming, and feel that a successful historic preservation outcome could be reached. Equally important to its historic value are its energy-efficient features, including its south facing orientation, the low-pitched roof with 4' overhangs, clerestory [pronounced "clear-story"] windows to reduce heat load, and other passive solar design features. These elements, along with its role in the Air Conditioned Village, firmly place the house and its designer, Austin architect Fred Day, within Austin's story as a leader in the Green Building Movement. And while this residence stands out architecturally, the development as a whole brought together prominent homebuilders and architects who played a vital role in Austin's development. Where does the Chrysler Air-Temp house come in? Window A/C units had been in widespread use since the 1930s, but until the 1950s, central air was typically found only in commercial buildings and high-end homes, mainly due to cost. That changed in the 1950s, when the National Association of Homebuilders proposed and sponsored the idea of using AC equipment in a residential setting. As The Air Conditioning /Heating/Refrigeration News says, "Seventy years ago, cutting-edge home tech was central air conditioning, and the proving grounds for this innovation was an experiment in Allendale, a subdivision in the northwest suburbs near Austin, Texas: the Air Conditioned Village. Like the smart home systems of today, the goal was in-home comfort, made for the masses." Construction began in 1953. All the homes had central air furnished by a variety of manufacturers, including Chrysler. In addition, the houses were designed to operate efficiently. Attics, kitchens, and bathrooms were ventilated. Windows were positioned to avoid strong sun. Insulation (a novel concept in the South at that time) was used in the walls, and roofs had overhangs and carports to create more shade. In 1954, the homes and the families living in them were part of a year-long series of construction method tests, AC installation tests, and social experiments carried out by dozens of the nation's premier AC companies, builders, and social scientists. This study encouraged the adoption of AC in not just luxury homes, but smaller homes, and it influenced the loan policies of FHA and other lenders by including the cost of AC equipment in loans and removing the requirement for a higher salary to purchase a home with AC. By 1962, almost 6.5 million homes in the US and half of all office buildings were air conditioned. A new paradigm was here, fueling population growth in hot-weather states like Texas. However, as AC use soared, the energy crisis hit. Oil price increases of the 1970s spurred research to improve energy efficiency and find renewable sources. This, combined with the environmental movement of the 1960s and 70s, led to the earliest experiments with contemporary green building. During the 1970s, Austin city planners backed the construction of a nuclear power plant, saying the plant was necessary for meeting Austin's growing power needs. In the early 1980s, impassioned Austin residents and UT Architecture and Engineering graduates challenged this claim and spurred public resistance that thwarted the project and led to the concept of a “Conservation Power Plant.” As a result, “Austin Energy Star” – named for the Lone Star State - was established to create energy conservation codes and incentives that would negate the need for participating in the nuclear power plant. This concept of “demand side management of energy consumption” made business sense, and it was expanded and later applied to Austin's water issues, which are so tied to Austin's identity. The concepts were expanded again and applied to the need to minimize construction and renovation waste, a new concept in the early 1990's and an issue that continues to affect livability today. Inspired by this work and that of other local stakeholders, the Austin Energy Star Program was renamed after the emerging concept of “green” and became the Austin Green Building Program (AEGB), the first green building program in the country. In 1991, AEGB developed the first rating system in the U.S. for evaluating the sustainability of buildings, inspiring many cities to follow. As the success of the program caught on, the Department of Energy negotiated with Austin for the program's name, and the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy launched the federal ENERGY STAR program in 1992. These developments also set the stage for an international movement; the Green Building Program and its rating system subsequently influenced Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), today's international standard for green building certification. As you can see, Austin has led the way in the green building movement, and the Chrysler Air- Temp House, through its place in this history, exemplifies our city's commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking design. Preservation Austin asks you to protect this intact, architecturally significant home through historic designation, preserving it to educate future generations about Austin's impact in this important field. Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Blake Friday, March 25, 2022 11:33 AM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth 2502 Parkview Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** Good Morning Commissioners: Although I am very familiar with the Air Temp Village project and this property in particular through my position as a member of the Historic Landmark Commission (HLC), this communication is of a more personal nature. I am asking you to please follow the lead of the HLC and vote unanimously to recommend historic zoning on the property at 2502 Parkview and to pass this recommendation along to the City Council for their final determination. I would emphasis to you two points: First, Austin has long been seen as and prides itself on its leadership in technical innovation. The Air Temp program, amongst other things determining the feasibility of residential air conditioning, would seem to dovetail into this image. Second, there has been a push by the City for geographic and economic equity in properties that are designated historic. These Air Temp homes represent an economically with‐in reach experiment in building design and should be recognized as such. You have a lot of information in front of you. I well understand that the current owner of 2502 Parkview is opposed to historic designation, but in this instance, the “story” out weighs. I again ask that you vote unanimously to recommend historic designation. My regards to you all and thank you for your service to the city. Blake Tollett 3701 Bonnie Road Austin 78703 CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Richard Cleary Friday, March 25, 2022 11:35 AM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth Landmark zoning petition 2502 Park View Drive Ref #C14H-2021-0164 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Zoning and Platting Commissioners: I support landmark zoning for the single‐family residence (the Chrysler Air‐Temp House) located at 2502 Park View Drive. The case number is C14H‐2021‐0164. I am Professor Emeritus in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin where I taught architectural history from 1995 to 2019. Elizabeth Brummett (then Butman) introduced me to the significance of this house in 2004 when researching her master's thesis on the history of Air‐Conditioned Village. Informed by her findings, I included Air‐ Conditioned Village in my courses. Given the ubiquity of air conditioning today, students often haven't considered a time when it was an innovation that required technological, economic, and aesthetic testing and refinement. The Chrysler Air‐Temp House and the other surviving houses of Air‐Conditioned Village are tangible artifacts of a transformative moment in the way Austinites live. I agree with the Historic Landmark Commission's assessment that the Chrysler Air‐Temp House (so named for the supplier of its original cooling/heating system) has architectural, historical, and community significance. Architecture: We might refer to the house today as a well‐executed beta test. Architect Fred Day and builder Wayne Burns incorporated innovations including integration of central air conditioning in design and construction, use of pre‐fabricated building materials, and room plans relating inside to outside. With its key features intact, the house vividly represents the spirit of experimentation in the design of middle‐class homes in Austin and elsewhere during the nation's recovery from the Great Depression and World War II. Historical associations: The house was a component of Air‐Conditioned Village, a noted research project that went beyond testing architectural features to include a sociological study of the impact of year‐round climate control on daily living. Does air conditioning have implications, for instance, on summer dietary habits? (It did. Inhabitants ate more.) Community value: As the best remaining example of Air‐Conditioned Village, the Chrysler Air‐Temp House marks an important time in the history of the Allendale neighborhood and, more broadly, the postwar expansion of Austin beyond its historic core. Its presence provides a reference point for understanding the history of the city's growth. I hope you will find that granting historic landmark status to the Chrysler Air‐Temp House is in the public interest. Thank you for providing the opportunity to comment on this matter. 1 Sincerely, Richard Cleary, PhD Professor Emeritus, School of Architecture The University of Texas at Austin 2324 N. 5th St Sheboygan, WI CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 2 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Kelly Cameron Friday, March 25, 2022 2:37 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC; Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth 2502 Park View Drive - #C14H-2021-0164 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Flag for follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Zoning and Platting Commissioners, I'm writing to let you know of my extreme opposition to the proposed demolition at 2502 Park View Drive. I lived on Park View Drive, a few houses down from 2502, until 2019, and like many residents in the neighborhood and in Austin, consider this house an exceptional example of architectural history with significant community value. The Austin Air Conditioned Village experiment, which this house was built for, should not only not be forgotten, but the building practices put in place then (modest, site specific, energy efficient structures with reasonable costs) should be considered more important now than ever in Austin's rapidly changing residential building environment. Not only is 2502 Park View Drive is an excellent example of outstanding architectural design and workmanship by local Fred Day, but is in part responsible for helping average homebuyers get residential air conditioning, which is something all Austinites can appreciate. I've always been proud to tell the story of this house and its place in history and I know many others feel the same way. We can't continue to lose these architectural and community treasures, please protect this house. Thank you, Kelly Cameron 512-789-6218 CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Dominique Levesque Saturday, March 26, 2022 1:55 PM Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth; Racy Haddad; Hugh Corrigan; Mason S Parva; Barbara Levesque; Brinsmade, Louisa Powerpoint Presentation 2502 Park View Drive UPDATED Against Historical Preservation Status for ACV.key Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Please see the powerpoint presentation attached for your reference. ‐‐ Dominique Levesque President Levesque & Co (512) 633‐1419 CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 On 9/18/2021, 71% of Air Condition Village homeowners opposed Elizabeth Brummet’s application for national historic registry. The majority of ACV homeowners stand united with Hugh Corrigan against spot zoning of 2502 Park View. Why? 1. Many of the original ACV houses have already been demolished due to major structural failures. 2502 Park View is not unique in this regard. An engineering letter was previously submitted demonstrating the structural deficiencies of the foundation and the plumbing. 2. The criteria for historic designation is not satisfied by 2502 Park View for reasons presented in the following slides. a. The architecture criterion is not satisfied. The original air conditioning units are no longer present. Features of mid century modern architecture are repeated across the neighborhood by houses that aren’t even considered ACV houses. (ex. 2710 Park View) b. The historical association criterion is not satisfied. The owners of this house do not have historical significance as would be typically evaluated under this criterion. To rely on the premise that 2502 is an air condition test house is not enough to fulfill this criterion. The house has been abandoned for almost five years. c. The archeological criterion is not satisfied. d. The community value criterion is not satisfied. Preservationists have relied heavily on the idea that this house posses a unique location and unique architectural design. We have already shown that this house is not unique and to rely on the fact that it was once a test house is not enough to prove it provides value to the community. On the contrary the true community value has come as ACV homeowners have united against historic preservation status and in support of Hugh Corrigan. e. The landscape criterion is not satisfied. Overview and Conclusion • The house in question is not unique. The same house is duplicated on the same side of the street at 2710 Park View. • The vast majority of ACV homeowners oppose historic designation of 2502 against Hugh Corrigan’s consent. • Those in favor of preservation status, such as Kevin Smith (2500) and Kelly Savedra (2710) are free and encouraged to volunteer their own properties for historic designation. Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Carolyn Croom Saturday, March 26, 2022 12:53 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth Remarks on the 2502 Park View Drive "Air Temp" house (C14H-2021-0164) 2502 Park View FINAL! background email.pdf; 2502 Park View notices.pdf Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Flag for follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** ***The comments below are similar to comments I sent to the Zoning and Platting Commission months go, but there are differences. The email below has a new bolded section which details support from preservation organizations. And I changed the first pdf below a lot to clarify answers to possible objections to saving the home. Thank you for your time.*** Dear Members of the Zoning and Platting Commission, 2502 Park View Drive is an exceptional house that should be preserved for posterity. Below are reasons to support Local Historic Landmark designation for this home: Part of internationally‐known Austin Air‐Conditioned Village. The Austin Air‐Conditioned Village was the first large‐ scale experiment of its kind worldwide. It was the largest study of houses built in the 1950s to determine the feasibility and affordability of air‐conditioning in homes affordable to middle‐class buyers. This experiment shaped how houses were built nationwide from the 1950s on, by taking good design into consideration to reduce energy consumption, and had a particularly large impact on the Sun Belt. According to Preservation Austin, in comments to the Historic Landmark Commission, the Air‐Conditioned Village was not only a nationally‐significant study but also "an internationally‐renowned experiment in building innovation and social science.” One example of its international impact is that a group of housing experts from the Soviet Union visited this project during the Cold War. The homes had different air‐conditioning systems and had extensive technical testing as well as an analysis of cost. UT’s Psychology Department surveyed the inhabitants of the Village houses and area houses without air‐conditioning, comparing the daily habits of both groups, finding that the Village families slept more, spent more time inside their homes and had to clean less than the other group. UT’s Departments of Architectural Engineering and Mechanical Engineering were also heavily involved, analyzing data, and conducting further research. Two national trade organizations, many national manufacturers, architects, homebuilders, and homeowners helped establish the feasibility of air‐conditioning in modest homes. This study encouraged the adoption of air‐conditioning in not just luxury homes, but smaller homes, and influenced the loan policies of FHA and other lenders, by including the cost of air‐conditioning equipment in loans and removing stipulations that higher salaries were required to purchase homes with air‐conditioning. Early, outstanding example of architect Fred Day. Mr. Day made a substantial contribution to Austin’s development and this superb home from the beginning of his career should be preserved. According to Preservation Austin, his "involvement in this high‐profile, and much celebrated project was an early victory in his 40‐year career.” A graduate of the UT School of Architecture, his contributions include the award‐winning Faulk Central Library, the Teachers Retirement System of Texas building, the Austin Doctors Building, the pro‐ bono master plan for Laguna Gloria, the UT Alumni Center, and renovations to the UT Law School and Student 1 Union. Notable buildings he designed outside Austin include the Visitors Center at the McDonald Observatory and the Hooper‐ Schaeffer Fine Arts Center at Baylor University. He was president of AIA Austin and awarded an honorary Life Membership on the UT School of Architecture Advisory Council. An endowed scholarship in architecture at UT bears his name. He won multiple design awards from the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Texas Society of Architects. Most architecturally‐significant home in the Austin Air‐Conditioned Village. 2502 Park View, known as “The Air Temp” for its Chrysler AirTemp air‐conditioning system, is definitely the most modern in its design of the Air‐Conditioned Village houses. It’s closest to the International Style of architecture and Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study houses, with a nearly flat roof and a very simple, clean execution. Other elements of mid‐century design in this innovative house include site‐specific passive cooling strategies, high clerestory windows to reduce heat load, exposed roof beams, an asymmetrical, paneled facade, and distinctive patterned‐brick screening walls. Mid Tex Mod, in its letter to the Historic Landmark Commission, states that the home “retains a remarkably high degree of integrity of design, materials, workmanship, and feeling as the most distinctive and intact original residence within the Austin Air‐Conditioned Village development.” Fred Day produced a striking Modern residence, as opposed to other more conventional ranch homes in the project. While Fred Day’s residence stands out architecturally, the whole development brought together prominent homebuilders and architects who played a valuable role in Austin’s development. City of Austin staff and the Historic Landmark Commission strongly support preservation. City staff strongly recommends historic zoning for 2502 Park View, as it not only meets but exceeds the following criteria for designation as an Historic Landmark: architecture, historical association, and community value. It is also remarkably intact. It’s not common for a building to meet three criteria instead of two, or for all three criteria to be strong. The Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously to recommend it for Local Historic Landmark designation. Local and regional preservation organizations urge historic designation. Preservation Austin, the Travis County Historical Commission, and Mid Tex Mod all strongly advocate preservation of this most exceptional home of the original twenty‐two test homes. Two of the 15 remaining homes, 2505 and 2507 Park View, have total demolition permits. After 2505 and 2507 are razed, there will be only 13 left. 12 of those were test homes and one served as the Air‐Conditioned Village Information Center. The Air Temp is both the most architecturally significant of the original homes and the most intact remaining example of the Austin Air‐Conditioned Village. Our City, a recognized leader in green building, should find value in preserving a home in an early study on innovative cooling design. Austin has played a trailblazing role in the green building movement, creating the nation’s first green building program. The houses in the Air‐Conditioned Village experiment are an early effort at energy‐efficient design, in an attempt to make air‐ conditioning affordable. They exemplify technological innovation in design and construction, with cutting‐edge climate‐control techniques. Each had experimental air‐conditioning systems with a variety of air‐distribution systems. They shared several heat‐ reducing strategies as well, such as light paint, light roofing, generous overhangs, plantings and preservation of old‐growth trees for shade, heat‐absorbing glass, exhaust fans, wall and roof insulation, and passive solar design. Kitchen and bath exhaust fans and insulation were not common elements in homes then. Important to include modest‐sized homes among Austin’s Historic Landmarks. At 1160 square feet, this small home with a big history well deserves a place among Austin’s historic mansions and public buildings. Austin should preserve the few historical structures our City has inherited. Austin is a relatively new city with fewer historic buildings compared with other older cities. That makes it all the more important to preserve the notable buildings that we do have. We preserve our cultural heritage through the preservation of historic places. 2502 Park View is a unique, stand‐out home in the remarkable and ambitious Austin Air‐Conditioned Village and is a important part of our cultural heritage. Without widespread air‐ conditioning, Austin and other Sun Belt communities wouldn’t be the cities they are today. A house such as this appears quite rarely, and our City should not miss the opportunity to preserve it. Below is a photo and drawing of the Air Temp from 1954, and two pdfs. The first pdf answers possible objections to saving the home. The second pdf is the notices I refer to in the first pdf. Please preserve this architectural and historical gem! Thank you. Sincerely, 2 Carolyn Croom Albata Avenue Austin, TX 78757 CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 3 4 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Kevin Smith Sunday, March 27, 2022 3:11 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth C131459-032722 2502 Park View Dr Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** My name is Kevin Smith, and I live adjacent to 2502 Park View Dr. I agree with the broad coalition of academic, governmental, non‐profit, preservation, and civic institutions (such as UT‐ Austin, The Texas Historical Commission, the City of Austin’s Historic Preservation Office, the Allandale Neighborhood Association, Preservation Austin, Mid Tex Mod, and the Travis County Historical Commission). As well as the approximately 200 of my fellow Allandale neighbors (residents of the Allandale’s zip codes) and over 620 Austinites and almost 1,300 people that 2502 Park View Dr is a landmark home worth saving. To me, without a doubt, the architecture of this home is an excellent example of mid‐century modern architecture. In addition, knowing that the house was designed by local Austin architect Fred Day (who designed other notable local commercial and civic buildings), with unique architectural features to 2502 Park View Dr, further informs me of its architectural significance. This home is the best‐preserved example of Austin’s Air Conditioned Village. With the technical data provided by Austin’s Air Conditioned Village experiment, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) amended its home loan requirements to allow for homebuyers of modest means to qualify for a loan on a home that contained central air‐ conditioning. For it is my understanding that at this time, the requirements to purchase a home with central air‐ conditioning precluded most middle‐income homebuyers! I have long advocated for a compromise, partial demolition strategy in the redevelopment of 2502 Park View. Dr. My understanding is, the previous owner worked with The Historic Landmark Commission’s Architectural Review Committee. As a result of that work, instead of local landmark designation, they agreed to preserve the existing home’s front, right, and roofline (the most prominent features of the home) while allowing for the construction of an addition (I would encourage the applicant to seek additional development concessions from the city). I view this as an excellent compromise and one that allows the property owner’s developer to create a unique one‐of‐a‐ kind showcase home that preserves and highlights the pre‐existing architectural qualities and allows for a substantial addition to deliver the greater square footage to see a return on their investment. Kindest Regards, Kevin 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Pamela Rogers Sunday, March 27, 2022 5:35 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC; Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth; District 8; Scruggs, Ed Written Support for B-05 C14H-2021-0164 - Chrysler Air-Temp House; District 7 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Zoning and Platting Commission Members: I have lived in Austin for decades and am writing to ask that you vote to support the zoning change of 2502 Park View Drive from SF-2 to SF-2-H, as the City’s own staff recommends. This property is part of the internationally renowned Austin Air-Conditioned Village, located at 2502 Park View Drive, and is an early, outstanding example of Austin architect Fred Day’s work. This property is the most architecturally significant home in the Air-Conditioned Village, and City of Austin staff and its Historic Landmark Commission strongly supports preservation. Civic organizations Preservation Austin and MidTexMod have explained at length why allowing the current owner/developer to demolish this property would be a blow to the design community, not only in Austin but nationally and internationally. Austin proclaims itself to be a recognized leader in green building. If this is truly the case, the argument is compelling for the Commission to find value in preserving a home that is an early study in innovative cooling design. In closing, I would like to note that this is an Austin historical site not just a neighborhood issue. I strongly encourage you to support the petition as written. Thank You, Pam Rogers https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/preserve/national register/draft nominations/Austin%2C%20Air%20Conditioned %20Village%20SBR.pdf Pam Rogers 7604 Melville Cove Austin, Texas 78749 Cell: (512) 968-6280 Email: CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Nathalie Frensley Monday, March 28, 2022 3:31 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC; Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth B-05 C14H-2021-0164 - Favor - Chrysler Air Temp House - District 7 ANA Resolution 2502 Park View Air Conditioned Village Preservation.pdf Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Members of the Zoning and Platting Commission, Please see below and attached the resolution supporting the preservation of 2502 Park View Drive (C14H‐2021‐0164), adopted by the Allandale Neighborhood Association. Mr. Rivera, could you please place this in the Backup? Thank you. Allandale Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 10886 Austin, TX 78766‐1866 Be it resolved that, whereas: Adopted by the Allandale Neighborhood Association on December 1, 2021: The house at 2502 Park View Drive is the most intact and most architecturally significant of the houses from the nationally recognized Austin Air‐Conditioned Village, and The house is a significant early work of architect Fred Day, who also designed a number of other well‐known and highly regarded buildings in Austin, and 1 ‐‐‐ The Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously in favor of its preservation through historic zoning, and The house with its historical associations and its beauty is an asset to the Allandale neighborhood, and A previous owner of the property presented a plan to renovate it in a way that would maintain its historical value, thus demonstrating the practicality of preserving it, therefore The Allandale Neighborhood Association encourages the owner of 2502 Park View Drive not to have it demolished, but rather to renovate it in a way that will maintain its historical value, thereby preserving it for posterity. ‐‐‐ Sincerely, Nathalie Frensley ‐‐ Nathalie J. Frensley, Ph.D. 5601 Montview Street, Austin, TX 78756 512 589 9344 Board Member and Zoning Committee Chair, Allandale Neighborhood Association CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 2 Allandale Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 10886 Austin Texas 78766-1866 Adopted by the Allandale Neighborhood Association December 1, 2021: Be it resolved that, whereas: The house at 2502 Park View Drive is the most intact and most architecturally significant of the houses from the nationally recognized Austin Air-Conditioned Village, and The house is a significant early work of architect Fred Day, who also designed a number of other well-known and highly regarded buildings in Austin, and The Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously in favor of its preservation through historic zoning, and The house with its historical associations and its beauty is an asset to the Allandale neighborhood, and A previous owner of the property presented a plan to renovate it in a way that would maintain its historical value, thus demonstrating the practicality of preserving it, therefore The Allandale Neighborhood Association encourages the owner of 2502 Park View Drive not to have it demolished, but rather to renovate it in a way that will maintain its historical value, thereby preserving it for posterity. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Nathalie Frensley Monday, March 28, 2022 4:43 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC; Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth B-05 Favor - ANA resolution/letter to owner of 2502 Park View Drive "Air Temp" house (C14H-2021-0164) ANA Zoning Committee Letter to Corrigan 001.pdf; ANA Resolution 2502 Park View Air Conditioned Village Preservation.pdf Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Members of the Zoning and Platting Commission, Below is an Allandale Neighborhood Association (ANA) letter to the owner of the Air Temp home at 2502 Park View Drive, with the ANA resolution, encouraging him to renovate the facade facing the street with an addition in the back, as a previous owner had agreed to, and which was approved by the Historic Landmark Commission. The ANA has offered to facilitate a solution meeting everyone’s objectives. Sincerely, Nathalie Frensley Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Committee Chair and Board Member, Allandale Neighborhood Association CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 Allandale Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 10886 Austin Texas 78766-1866 Adopted by the Allandale Neighborhood Association December 1, 2021: Be it resolved that, whereas: The house at 2502 Park View Drive is the most intact and most architecturally significant of the houses from the nationally recognized Austin Air-Conditioned Village, and The house is a significant early work of architect Fred Day, who also designed a number of other well-known and highly regarded buildings in Austin, and The Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously in favor of its preservation through historic zoning, and The house with its historical associations and its beauty is an asset to the Allandale neighborhood, and A previous owner of the property presented a plan to renovate it in a way that would maintain its historical value, thus demonstrating the practicality of preserving it, therefore The Allandale Neighborhood Association encourages the owner of 2502 Park View Drive not to have it demolished, but rather to renovate it in a way that will maintain its historical value, thereby preserving it for posterity. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: John Umphress Monday, March 28, 2022 5:36 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC; Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth #C14H-2021-0164, 2502 Park View 2502 Park View.docx Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Good afternoon, Please see my attached testimony regarding the above-referenced matter. Regards, John Umphress CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 My name is John Umphress and I live at 2604 Geraghty Avenue, just a couple of blocks from 2502 Park View. I am in support of the rezoning request. The houses of the Air Conditioned Village represent a historical touchstone, not just for Austin, but for the United States. They were designed and constructed to prove a concept – that houses could be successfully air conditioned in the southern US. But they went beyond that. They all shared aspects common today amongst Green Building and energy efficient homes. Broad overhangs shading windows, radiant barriers in the roofs, buffers against the afternoon sun on the west exposures and cooling systems appropriately sized based on accurately calculated cooling loads. Unfortunately, the lessons taught by these homes were not taken to heart and indeed largely forgotten. As air conditioning in single family homes became more common, builders merely increased the capacity of cooling systems to compensate for deficiencies in design and construction. In September of 2019 I retired after 14 years with the Austin Energy Green Building program, the last 12 of that responsible for developing Austin residential energy code. When I started, it was common for builders and mechanical contractors to rely on a rule of thumb of one ton of cooling capacity for every 400 square feet of conditioned space. By comparison, the ACV homes, despite having less insulation and less tight construction, averaged a ton of cooling capacity per 600 square feet. In presentations to building professionals and the public, I often held up the ACV as an example of what could be accomplished from the standpoint of design and construction. After all, if it was being done a half century ago – now almost three-quarters of a century ago – then why not today? Much of the DNA in today’s Green Building standard and Austin’s energy code – radiant barrier roof decking, roof overhangs, reduced glazing on west walls, accurate calculation of cooling and heating loads and accurate sizing of mechanical systems – can be traced back to the ACV and similar projects. That’s not to diminish the contributions to sustainability and efficiency made by many others in the Austin design and construction community who may have had no knowledge of the ACV. But it was always useful to be able to point to the houses in the ACV and say that if we did it once, there was no reason we could not do it again. It would be a shame if this particular – and important – part of Austin’s residential construction history were to be lost. Thank you. Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Nathalie Frensley Monday, March 28, 2022 9:22 PM Ramirez, Nadia - BC; Smith, Hank - BC; Kiolbassa, Jolene - BC; King, David - BC; Stern, Lonny - BC; Greenberg, Betsy - BC; Denkler, Ann - BC; Acosta, Cesar - BC; Woody, Roy - BC; Thompson, Carrie - BC; Boone, Scott - BC; Rivera, Andrew; Brummett, Elizabeth Item B-05 Chrysler Air Temp House C14H-2021-0164 Frensley Comment - FAVOR Frensley Comment ZAP 03292022 B-05 C14H-2021-0164-FAVOR.pdf Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Members of Austin's Zoning and Platting Commission ‐ Please see below and find attached my comment in favor of preserving 2502 Park View Drive (Case# C14H‐2021‐0164) Agenda Item B‐05 for Tuesday, March 29th, 2022. Mr. Rivera, could you please place this in Back up? Thank you very much. Very Respectfully, Nathalie Frensley ‐‐‐‐ Dear Zoning and Platting Commissioners – My name is Nathalie Frensley. I’m an Allandale Neighborhood Association Board member and I also chair its Zoning Committee. Today, I am reaching out as an Austinite in tech, to ask that you vote in favor of Agenda item B‐05, Case number C14H‐2021‐0164 – the District 7 Chrysler Air‐Temp House. A decision to demolish this historically significant District 7 house would be a loss to the entire Austin community. Most cultural icons are social or political in historical significance. This house is really unique and rare because it’s a science and tech cultural icon. 2502 Park View is in Allandale but it is as much an Austin‐wide cultural icon as our Treaty Oak is in the West Line Historic District. In 1937 the City saw the wisdom of preserving that living icon of Texas history and took efforts, much like tonight, to save it. Just as the greater Austin community rallied around Treaty Oak in 1989 when a troubled individual tried to destroy it, so has the greater community rallied around the Chrysler Air Temp House to save it. The Chrysler Air Temp House is an excellent Atomic/Industrial era example of Austin’s early tech innovation – the same sort of innovation that made Austin the tech destination it is today. The City of Austin has carefully cultivated tech innovation as part of its municipal brand. Allowing this Austin cultural icon to be demolished would be an insult to Austin’s history as the international tech destination we have become. Thank you very much for your service to the Austin community. Very Respectfully, 1 Nathalie Frensley ‐‐ Nathalie J. Frensley, Ph.D. 5601 Montview Street, Austin, TX 78756 512 589 9344 CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 2 Dear Zoning and Platting Commissioners – My name is Nathalie Frensley. I’m an Allandale Neighborhood Association Board member and I also chair its Zoning Committee. Today, I am reaching out as an Austinite in tech, to ask that you vote in favor of Agenda item B-05, Case number C14H-2021-0164 – the District 7 Chrysler Air-Temp House. A decision to demolish this historically significant District 7 house would be a loss to the entire Austin community. Most cultural icons are social or political in historical significance. This house is really unique and rare because it’s a science and tech cultural icon. 2502 Park View is in Allandale but it is as much an Austin-wide cultural icon as our Treaty Oak is in the West Line Historic District. In 1937 the City saw the wisdom of preserving that living icon of Texas history and took efforts, much like tonight, to save it. Just as the greater Austin community rallied around Treaty Oak in 1989 when a troubled individual tried to destroy it, so has the greater community rallied around the Chrysler Air Temp House to save it. The Chrysler Air Temp House is an excellent Atomic/Industrial era example of Austin’s early tech innovation – the same sort of innovation that made Austin the tech destination it is today. The City of Austin has carefully cultivated tech innovation as part of its municipal brand. Allowing this Austin cultural icon to be demolished would be an insult to Austin’s history of the international tech destination we have become. Thank you very much for your service to the Austin community. Very Respectfully, Nathalie Frensley Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Betsy Frederick-Rothwell Tuesday, March 29, 2022 10:10 AM Rivera, Andrew Brummett, Elizabeth Comment on ZAP Commission case # C14H-2021-0164 (2502 Park View Drive) Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Greetings Andrew, The web link describing the process for submitting comments to the Zoning and Platting Commission (https://www.austintexas.gov/404#zap process) appears to be currently broken, so I am submitting my comment directly to you as the liaison for this commission. Below please find my comment to the Commission. Could you please let me know if there is an alternate process for submitting comments? Warm regards, Betsy Frederick‐Rothwell ******************************* Dear Zoning and Platting Commissioners, I write in support of the re‐zoning of the “Air‐Temp” home at 2502 Park View Drive as part of case #C14H‐2021‐0164 currently being considered by the Commission. I can understand the reservations held by the owner of the property, but as a person who has studied the history of air conditioning and its precursors in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century for my doctoral dissertation at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, I cannot emphasize enough the historical significance of Air‐Conditioned Village and the house at 2502 Park View as a critical fulcrum in the widespread adoption of air‐conditioning technology in the United States and beyond. The history of air conditioning is arguably invisible, but this technology’s effects have been dramatic in a very short time span. In 1945 almost no American homes had central air conditioning, but in 2015 almost 90% of homes had it. However, despite the ubiquity of the air conditioning, its history is critically understudied. The house at 2502 Park View represents one of the key visible and material remnants of this history, as it demonstrates the physical changes made to the American developer‐built house to accommodate and promote the installation of air conditioning technology. Its situation in Air‐Conditioned Village also centers the “Air Temp” house within the economic and institutional reorientation to a fundamentally transformed indoor environment. Although the national story of air conditioning has been the subject of some excellent histories, much less is known about how air conditioning came to be embedded in the southern regions of the United States. The “Air Temp” house is a critical remaining trace of that lesser understood history, and its material presence has significant potential to help us better understand the changes in our physical, social, and cultural relations in the course of the twentieth century. Moreover, with its location in Texas, the “Air Temp” house also represents part of a continuum within the state as a 1 center of early air‐conditioning adoption, a successor to the Milam Building in San Antonio, the first fully air‐conditioned high‐rise built in 1928. Many point to a reduction in air‐conditioning use as a critical factor in maintaining the future stability of our electrical infrastructures. Yet it is unclear how we will ever get on a different path if we don’t understand clearly how we got on the path in the first place. The “Air Temp” house is a vital element of our shared history that we have yet to fully grasp, and I hope that the Commission and the property owner can be persuaded to retain this piece of the puzzle for future generations. Sincerely, Betsy Frederick‐Rothwell, PhD Austin, TX CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 2