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Historic Landmark Commission releases demolition permit for 810 W. 11th contingent on HABS documentation
Summary
The Historic Landmark Commission voted Feb. 5 to release a demolition permit for a contributing property at 810 West 11th Street in the West Downtown National Register Historic District, subject to a full HABS documentation package and completion of the City of Austin documentation package.
The Historic Landmark Commission voted Feb. 5 to release a demolition permit for a contributing property at 810 West 11th Street in the West Downtown National Register Historic District, subject to a full Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation package and completion of the City of Austin documentation package before demolition is allowed.
Staff told the commission the house dates to the early‑ to mid‑1930s, is clad in buff brick and contributes to the West Downtown National Register District. Staff recommended encouraging rehabilitation, adaptive reuse or relocation over demolition and asked the commission to require a documentation package prior to release of a demolition permit.
Drew Raffel, representing the applicant, said the project team had followed prior directions to meet with the Architectural Review Committee and neighborhood groups and that the developer currently had ‘‘no plans for development’’ but sought release of the permit so it could move on to design work. Raffel said the owner has discussed coordinating redevelopment of 810 and the adjacent 812 West 11th to pursue residential development and that any new design would return to the commission for review.
Neighborhood representatives opposed demolition and urged alternatives. Angela Hovis, president of the Old Austin Neighborhood Association, said the association ‘‘encourage[s] rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, then relocation over demolition’’ and requested that if relocation or demolition proceeds, ‘‘there be a city‑approved site plan for a project in place prior to any actual removal or demolition occurring’’ and that full HABS documentation be provided. Other neighborhood speakers made similar appeals, citing the property’s historic significance and the risk of long vacant lots if development stalls.
Commissioners sought legal advice about the commission’s authority to require HABS documentation and whether the commission could condition a demolition release on the presence of a site plan. Legal staff advised the commission that HABS documentation may be required as a condition of release but clarified commissioners cannot require an approved city site plan as a precondition of releasing the demolition permit (the HLC will, however, review project plans as part of its normal review). After discussion, the commission voted to release the permit conditioned on a full HABS documentation package and the City of Austin documentation package.
Ending: The applicant and neighborhood representatives said they would continue discussions; the HABS documentation requirement will be part of the demolition release conditions and the record.
