PRESENTER: Presenter
Katie Totman, HPO
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SUBJECT: Title
HLC Case DM2024-1632: Determine whether the residential structure located at 275 S Sycamore meets the historic landmark eligibility criteria in response to a demolition permit request.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1
APPLICABLE CRITERIA:
Sec. 66-56. Criteria for the designation of historic landmarks and districts.
A historic landmark or district may be designated if it meets at least one of the following criteria:
(1) Possesses significance in history, architecture, archeology, or culture.
(2) Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local, regional, state, or national history.
(3) Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past.
(4) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction.
(5) Represents the work of a master designer, builder, or craftsman.
(6) Represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood or city.
Sec. 66-60. Alteration certificate required for demolition.
A permit for the demolition of a historic landmark or property within a historic district, including secondary buildings and landscape features, shall not be granted by the (building inspector or other city official) without the review of a completed application for an alteration certificate by the commission, as provided for in sections 66-57, 66-58 and 66-59.
(1) Significant sites and structures. All applications for permits to demolish or move buildings, objects, sites, or structures not included under section above shall be referred to the city historic preservation officer for the purpose of determining whether or not the building, object, site, or structure may have historical, cultural, architectural, or archaeological significance.
(2) The city historic preservation officer shall make such determination within 30 days after receipt of the completed demolition permit application and shall notify the building official in writing. If the building, object, site, or structure is determined to have no cultural, historical, architectural, or archaeological significance, a demolition permit may be issued immediately, provided such application otherwise complies with all City Code requirements.
(3) If said building, object, site, or structure is determined by the city historic preservation officer to have historical significance, the demolition permit shall not be issued, and the historic preservation officer shall make such information available to the historic landmark commission for review and recommendations as to whether it should be designated a historic landmark. If the commission concurs on the significance, the commission shall recommend to the city council that the building, object, site, or structure be designated, as appropriate, an exceptional or significant historic landmark.
(4) The procedures and criteria for designation in sections 66-54, 66-55, and 66-56 shall be followed for this type of designation.
(5) If the property owner objects to the designations, a three-fourths vote of the entire city council shall be required for historic designation of property in question.
FINDINGS:
a. A Demolition Permit was submitted for the property located at 275 S Sycamore. Staff reviewed the property and determined it potentially met the historic landmark eligibility criteria.
b. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: The building in question is a residential building, clad with rock and has an irregular footprint including an attached half-circle enclosure. The structure exhibits elements consistent with Ranch style architecture and minimal traditional style, albeit modest. These elements include exposed rafter tails at the roof and a prominent front porch cover, as well as steel casement and Jalousie windows. Ranch style was popular in the United States between 1935 and 1975.
c. HISTORIC CONTEXT: Staff could not determine as exact build date, however, based on the architectural style and Sanborn map evidence it is possible it may have been built between 1949 and 1965. The property was purchased in June 1949 by Leo and Margie LaQuatra and they lived in and owned the property until Leo’s death in 1974. The property was then sold to Boonie and Edward Mattern. Leo LaQuatra was from Italy and served in WW1 as a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force. Leo and Margie married in Bexar County I 1925.
d. EVALUATION: In order to be eligible for historic landmark designation, properties shall meet at least one (1) of the six (6) criteria listed in Section 66-65. Staff evaluated the structure against all six (6) criteria and determined that it was potentially consistent with the following:
4) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; the structure is a modest example of Ranch style architecture, and features elements commonly found within its period of construction. These include steel casement windows, Jalousie windows, and a rock exterior. Although not considered “high style” necessarily, it could be considered an example of construction available and common during the time of construction.
Recommendation
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Although the structure is a modest example of Ranch style architecture, it appears to be in fair condition and potentially meets landmark criteria number 4. However, if the owner is in objection to landmark designation, staff ultimately recommends approval of demolition as a designation over the owner’s objection would require a three-fourths in favor vote of the HLC and City Council.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Property Pictures
2. Site Plan
3. Deed History