Minutes, HNA/Local Historic District Meeting, March 7, 2019, 7 p.m., Hyde Park Presbyterian Church Parish Hall

After closure of the HNA meeting on Mar 7, 2019, the Local Historic District (LHD) Special meeting of the Hancock Neighborhood Association was called to order. The purpose of the meeting was to provide information from the City about LHDs in general and to update HNA members and residents of the Hancock area on progress made on the LHD initiative. Jetta Todaro, member of the LHD Subcommittee, facilitated the meeting.

Ms Todaro welcomed attendees, introduced LHD Subcommittee members, and reminded attendees of the purpose of the initiative: to explore the feasibility of an historic district within the neighborhood; and to gauge interest in an LHD among residents and property owners. Ms. Todaro reviewed activities of the subcommittee over the last year since the subcommittee's formation:

A letter from Mark Harkrider, HNA president, about the LHD initiative was mailed to all property owners within the boundaries of the Hancock neighborhood in early 2018 informing them about the initiative. Those boundaries are Duval St on the west to frontage road of IH 35 on the east; E. 45th St on the north to E. 32nd St on the south.
A website devoted to the initiative and relevant information was created last year by volunteers.
A reconnaissance survey combined with a windshield survey have been ongoing by volunteers under the supervision of a qualified preservation specialist since last summer. Such initial survey work serves to identify concentrations of historic buildings within a neighborhood and gather information about periods of development of the neighborhood and the range of architectural styles present in the area.
Ms Todaro invited attendees to fill out Interest Cards placed on chairs to volunteer for the proposed LHD initiative, she reminded all to watch the LHD website and she called attention to the website section for photographs and house histories, urging attendees to add the stories of their homes to the growing list.

Ms Todaro recognized Jen and Coan Dillahunty, members of the subcommittee, for creating the LHD website, Terri Myers, member of the subcommittee, for heading up the initial survey work, and volunteers for performing it.

Ms Todaro introduced speakers for the program:

Cara Bertron, Deputy Preservation Officer of the COA and Terri Myers, Hancock resident, member of the LHD subcommittee and of the COA Historic Landmark Commission.

Cara Bertron gave a 15-minute presentation via Power Point. Readers are encouraged to view the program at www.hancocklhd.com

Cara concluded her presentation stating that the City is working with a group of citizens to create citywide design standards for future LHDs in Austin. She added that the City also will hire a consultant to perform a survey of several areas in Austin including the Hancock area. The survey is called the North Loop-Hancock-Upper Boggy Creek Survey Area. Completion date of the survey is currently unknown but the City will keep us informed of progress.

Terri Myers then presented preliminary findings of the reconnaissance and windshield surveys.

The team looked at age (50 years or older?) of the main buildings (or bridges, landscape elements, sites) and some secondary resources (garage apartments) visible from the right-of-way. The team also looked at architectural integrity for each resource. The National Park Service identifies seven aspects of integrity that should be present for a resource (bridge landscape element or site) to be considered "contributing" to a district. The seven are:
Integrity of location: is the resource in its original or historic-period location or has it been moved to the site since 1969?
Of setting: does the resource lie in a setting similar to that of the historic period? Still in the same neighborhood? Has the original neighborhood been redeveloped as a commercial or industrial zone?
Of design: does it retain all or most of its original design and character-defining features (roof form and pitch, porch, window and door patterns, etc)?
Of materials: does it retain all or most of its original materials, whether wood, brick, stucco, etc., or have they been replaced with modern materials?
Of workmanship: does it retain its original or historic level of quality of workmanship?
Of association: does it still convey its residential character?
Of feeling: does it still convey a good sense of history?
Preliminary survey results:

Ms Myers said that results show the neighborhood is overwhelmingly residential in character and has much historic fabric dating from multiple decades of the 20th century. Commercial redevelopment is occurring along some boundaries of the neighborhood. The neighborhood exhibits a variety of architectural styles and likely could meet the required 51% contributing houses to qualify for application as a local historic district. She also pointed out several areas within the neighborhood where concentrations of historic buildings exist. There is much history here, she concluded, also emphasizing that the survey results are preliminary.

Questions following the presentations:

Question: Could the Hancock Golf Course be part of a local historic district if it has historic components (like the recreation center)?
Answer: Yes. It would be counted as a contributing property and can be included in a district. When it comes to voting whether to support the district, Per City Code, the "amount of property to be calculated as supporting (a local historic district) shall not exceed one-third of 51% of land in the proposed district." Any area within the neighborhood applying for district status must be adjacent to the golf course in order to claim it as part of its district.

Question: If surveys do not find that 51% of buildings are considered contributing, can an application for district status later be appealed?
Answer: The City does not accept an application that lacks 51% contributing houses.

Question: How does one decide whether to go for smaller sections of an area for district status, or for larger sections?
Answer: The decision is neighborhood-driven. From the professional perspective, some recommend a small-parcel approach while others recommend a larger-parcel approach. For this neighborhood, a case could be made for tackling a larger area. The decision comes down to property owners' desires.

Question: What about non-resident property owners?
Answer: Non-resident property owners must be contacted about a potential district. There may be concern on their part about an LHD which is why it is important to provide information and education about the impact of a district. The LHD design standards will make it very difficult to demolish contributing buildings in a district. And, in general ways, the Standards will impact design for new construction. (ADUs can still be constructed in LHDs, as under current code, but, the Standards, for example, would require placement at back or rear-back of contributing properties, back from the street view of the house.)

Question: If 51% sign on in favor of a district, do others in same area have to be included?
Answer: Yes. A historic district must be contiguous with no “donut hole” cutouts. There will be public hearings for any district application after the application is accepted by the City with multiple opportunities to make one's voice heard at the Historic Landmark Commission, Planning Commission, and Council. Notification by the City is required to all property owners before each hearing.

Question: Can non-contributing property owners vote FOR a local historic district?
Answer: Yes, and many have done so in other Austin LHDs.

Question: A lot of historical research must be done for the local historic district application. Who does this?
Answer: A consultant can be hired to do it. Volunteers can do it, or the two can collaborate on the research.

Question: What next?
Answer: The LHD Committee is developing a plan of action.
We will continue to assess interest in the neighborhood and to talk to neighbors. Considerations:
• how to approach design standards relative to the City's effort to create citywide standards;
• determine whether and, if so, how to mesh with the City's plan to hire a consultant to survey the North-Loop-Hancock-Upper Boggy Creek Survey Area;
• determine whether to start with a small area and expand to others if there is interest;
• decide what communication materials to prepare to make residents and non-resident property owners aware of the effort and what opportunities to provide for participation.

These and additional questions will be added to the HNA developing FAQ.

Submitted by the Hancock Local Historic District Committee. 3.18.2019

https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-local-historic-district-meetin...
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-local-historic-district-meetin...

From: mark harkrider <apache@austintexas.gov>
Reply-To: mark harkrider <harkrider@westcapitol.com>
Date: Monday, February 25, 2019 11:36 AM
To: "steve.adler@austintexas.gov" <steve.adler@austintexas.gov>, "district1@austintexas.gov" <district1@austintexas.gov>, "district2@austintexas.gov" <district2@austintexas.gov>, "sabino.renteria@austintexas.gov" <sabino.renteria@austintexas.gov>, "district4@austintexas.gov" <district4@austintexas.gov>, "district5@austintexas.gov" <district5@austintexas.gov>, "district6@austintexas.gov" <district6@austintexas.gov>, "district7@austintexas.gov" <district7@austintexas.gov>, "district8@austintexas.gov" <district8@austintexas.gov>, "kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov" <kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov>, "district10@austintexas.gov" <district10@austintexas.gov>
Cc: mark harkrider <harkrider@westcapitol.com>
Subject: Red River Realignment

Dear Mayor Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Garza, Austin City Council Members, and City Manager Cronk:

On behalf of the residents of the Hancock Neighborhood, I am writing with concerns and questions about the proposed Red River realignment Hancock Neighborhood residents as well as many many others use Red River, the only north-south thoroughfare from 55th street to Caesar Chavez between IH 35 and Lamar. Users of Red River, particularly residents of neighborhoods which adjoin it, are concerned that one portion of the new Red River will be Robert Dedman Drive, which currently goes through the UT campus and is only two lanes wide. We foresee a future that will allow the University of Texas to close Robert Dedman Drive during football games and other events on UT campus.

With this as a major concern,

1. We ask that there be a firm agreement with the University of Texas that the new realignment will not restrict public use and specifically car use.

2. We ask that the Red realignment have four lanes, and include bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks.

3. We would like to know if there has been any study showing the traffic impacts of the new realignment on 38th street from IH 35 to Guadalupe, from 32nd Street to Duval, from Harris Avenue to Duval,

or any other streets which might be affected by the realignment.

4. We would like to know the dates for when the realignment will start and the completion date.

5.We request a representative from the Hancock Neighborhood be included in any stakeholder meeting which is convened.

6. We request the City Manager or his designated person, keep me informed of all activities and major dates regarding the realignment.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Mark Harkrider, President, Hancock Neighborhood Association; Street address: 703 E 38TH ST, AUSTIN, TX, 78705 Council District: 9

https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/red-river-letter-22519docx
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/red-river-letter-22519pdf

The HNA Parks Committee will be meeting Monday, March 4th, at the Hancock Recreation Center, Room 2, from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. The agenda is as follows.

Agenda

1. On boarding new committee member, Jim Rankin
2. Work load associated with and status of projects identified for HNA funds held at the Austin Parks Foundation
3. Neighbor communication: Comments, questions

Carolyn Palaima
Chair, HNA Parks Committee

President Mark Harkrider welcomed members and called for a vote of the nominated officers. By acclamation Mark Harkrider was elected President, Ann Tucker was elected Vice president and Bruce Fairchild was elected Treasurer.

Alison Young, Friends of Shipe Pool, reported that the pool should be opened by June or July at the latest, in addition, the Friends of Shipe Pool raised $60,000 for the renovation of the log cabin. Alison is also a member of the Friends of Ney Museum and reported it is preparing a landscape plan for the Museum & raising money for this activity.

John Hewlett, principal of Lee Elementary, introduced himself & explained that due to the construction of the new school building, the parking lot will be disabled and there will be a need to find thirty-five parking spaces for the teachers in the near-by neighborhoods. He is particularly looking for parking permit holders to donate one or two permits. Several members did so.

Hewlett also said the City will place a pedestrian beacon at Harris and Red River, which the Lee SCHOOL PTA has been working for.

Officer Gavin Smith introduced himself as the new night shift patrol officer for the area from 12th street to 38th Street. Officer Morrison will continue to patrol 38th & North. Officer Smith said Hancock was one of the safest neighborhoods in Austin which was very surprising to him given the neighborhood is so near I-35 and the homeless population has spread out. Smith said there had been 49 car break-ins in the neighborhood and almost all were because car owners didn’t lock their cars.

Jen Dillahunty, chair of the Local Historic District, reported that she had a new job and could no longer be the chair of the LHD; the LHD Committee is having a meeting Saturday, the 19th to decide on next steps. Terri Myers reported that almost all the neighborhood streets have been surveyed by residents, but much work is needed.

Members agreed the LHD was a priority.

Hugh Bender, Zoning & development chair, reported there had been one demolition permit application of a 1950s single-family home at 1023 East 45th, near the railroad line. There was no mention of fighting the demolition permit.

James Stroud, who represents the neighborhood on the City’s “sound” committee, reported he had attended two meetings which mainly focused on the disturbance to the hotels caused by downtown music venues. He will attend a February 2, meeting and mention that our neighborhood was still concerned about the noise traveling through Waller Creek.

Bart Whatley stated CANPAC has been responding to the requests for height variances in West Austin. He also said that the development community and the City was prepared to see the neighborhoods near UT become more like West Campus: dense and with high rise buildings on Guadalupe & maybe Red River.

Carolyn Palaima reported on the recommendations for the use of the $434,000, which was given to HNA in the 2007 Concordia settlement and which, by a resolution agreed upon by HNA & Eastwoods NA adopted in 2007 must be used for parkland and open space in Hancock neighborhood. At two engagement meetings, not at HNA meetings, projects were proposed for the use of the dollars. See attachment. There were questions about the need for and height of the proposed netting along 38th street to protect traffic from golf balls. Also about a proposed “marque sign” on 38th & Peck. HNA will have an opportunity to review any proposed project.

These projects were proposed at engagement meetings, these projects have not been adopted by HNA Membership.

https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-minutes-11619docx
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-minutes-11619pdf

Hello,

Hancock Recreation Center would like to formally invite you and your participants to join us for the Candlelight Trail on December 7 and 8th 7-9:30pm. This free event is open to the public and we welcome community members to walk the trail around the golf course and rec center and then join us inside the center for activities, light refreshments and fellowship.

In the past, we have had some of the dance groups that host classes at Hancock perform their dances as well as invite the public to join in with the dancing. We would love nothing more than to continue that tradition this year. Please email me back if your group would be willing to take part in offering your class to the public and which day/time you would prefer. Also, if you would like to set up a table to pass
out your information for recruitment, please let us know.

Lastly, we could really use some volunteers to put the candles out starting at 4:30pm on Friday AND Saturday, helping run activity booths, or passing out refreshments. If you could help provide some volunteers or point us in the right direction on how to recruit volunteers, we would greatly appreciate it.

I look forward to hearing back from you all soon.

Devon

Devon Farber, CPRP, MSRLS
http://www.austintexas.gov/parks
Program Manager, North District Recreation Centers
Community Recreation Division
Phone: (512) 974-2434
http://www.austintexas.gov/recreation

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AustinCityParks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/austincityparks
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AustinParksAndRec
Instagram: https://instagram.com/austincityparks

http://austintexas.gov/austinfutureparks
Our Parks, Our Future 2018-2028 is PARD’s Long Range Plan for Land, Facilities and Programs (LRP).
The LRP will focus on the vision for Austin’s Park System in 2028, PARD’S 100th anniversary.
To find out more and to get involved, visit http://austintexas.gov/austinfutureparks.