All good things must come to an end, and the time has come for Nau’s Enfield Drug to join the souls of bygone local staples in the mixed-use afterlife. But first, the Historic Landmark Commission hopes the site’s new stewards can pay the Austin legacy its due homage.
The beloved tenant, which held strong for a stunning 71 years, closed last year following the property’s sale to local real estate outfit Zydeco Development Corporation, which also scooped up a number of neighboring properties on West Lynn Street. Now, Zydeco has big plans for the little Clarksville block, where it plans to construct a five-story development complete with 27 residences, ground-floor retail and underground parking.
Rendering of the proposed building by Miró Rivera Architects
While grieving is natural, those mourning the loss of Nau’s can perhaps find some solace in the conduct of these newcomers, who have thus far proved fairly receptive to feedback both from neighbors and from the city’s Historic Landmark Commission. The project design team at Miro Rivera Architects agreed to preserve a number of key streetscape features, including the Nau’s building’s canopied facade, a mural done by the late Daniel Johnston and a century-old house that’s home to Cafe Medici.
Still, commissioners have reservations about the project’s latest rendering, which they say fails to provide a staggered silhouette to emphasize the site’s historic first-floor facades. Commissioners voted to postpone construction permits one more month, with hopes of ironing out a compromise at the next meeting of the Architectural Review Committee.
“We would like to see more of a stepped setback, so that when you’re on the sidewalk, your sightline sees more sky than building,” said Commissioner Kevin Koch, who made the motion to postpone.
“We need to be able to distinguish between what is historical and what is new, and right now, it’s kind of a seamless plane,” Commissioner Harmony Grogan added.
If all goes as planned, landmark commissioners will revisit the project at their Jan. 10 meeting.
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Historic Landmark Commission: The city’s Historic Landmark Commission promotes historic preservation of buildings and structures. The commission also reviews applications and permits for historic zoning and historic grants.
historic preservation: Official actions of a municipality such as the City of Austin taken to preserve structures with their jurisdiction. Preservation is often accompanied by a property tax exemption.
