Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Caleb Gasparek, Historic Preservation Officer
Contact Info
(830) 221-4086 - Cgasparek@nbtexas.org
Subject Header
Subject:
Title
HST21-048 Discuss and consider a Certificate of Alteration to attach a sign to the commercial building addressed as 1255 Gruene Road, a landmarked structure known as the Ottmar Gruene House.
Body
Background:
Case #: HST21-048
Owner: Virginia Huges
Applicant: Radio Heart Studios, DBA NB Signs and Design
1229 Industrial Dr., Suite F
New Braunfels, TX 78130
The subject property is located on the west side of Gruene Road, just south of Hunter Road and east of the Guadalupe River.
Historic Context:
An earlier frame house built by Henry D. Gruene existed on the subject site from 1894 to 1925. Henry constructed the house for his son Ottmar on the occasion of his marriage. When Henry retired in 1910, Ottmar and his brother Max took over the Gruene business.
Max died of influenza in 1918, and Henry passed away 2 years later in 1920. In 1925 Ottmar made plans to build a new brick house on the site where the existing frame house was. The original house was cut and divided onto two separate, neighboring lots. One of the portions burned down in the 1950’s and is no longer extant. Ottmar resided within the house during the construction of his brick house. The house was later owned by J. B. Stubbs, the business accountant of the Gruene business. Later, Ottmar’s son Ernest and his wife resided in the house. The house was designated as a local landmark by City Council in 1987.
Request:
The applicant is requesting a Certificate of Alteration to erect an attached metal sign onto the wood eve of the building. The sign measures 25 inches high and 156 inches long. The sign will read “Currents” and is painted in a matte black color.
Staff Analysis:
The proposed sign is consistent in design with others found in the surrounding Gruene National Historic District. If the Historic Landmark Commission is inclined to approve, staff recommends the applicant take care when installing the sign, using existing mounting fixtures if possible. If new bolts are to be installed, care should be taken to not irrevocably damage the historic siding of the Ottmar Gruene House.
Attachments:
1. Location Map
2. Application
3. Sign Renderings