Pieces continue to fall into place for a planned mixed-use development at the former site of Hill’s Cafe, though Historic Landmark Commission members put one of those pieces on hold at their most recent meeting in the hopes that a 1940s cottage might find a new home.
Commissioners voted 9-1 to postpone a proposed demolition for Building 10 at 4700 South Congress Ave., hoping that the cottage can be relocated, not demolished. Commissioner JuanRaymon Rubio voted in opposition, and Commissioner Tara Dudley was absent. The vote will allow developers to move forward with relocation, if possible, or return to the commission in July for a vote on demolition if they opt to take that route.
The cottage in question is actually two Calcasieu cottages stuck together, made with materials from a lumber company that started in 1883 on the banks of the Colorado River and supplied materials for nearly every major project in Austin in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though the building retains the historic details, the way that they are stuck together “reduces their integrity of form,” Historic Preservation Officer Kalan Contreras said. Though preservation staff did not find the cottage meets their standards for historic landmarking, they are recommending relocating this and other Calcasieu cottages on the property.
Commissioner Kevin Koch said he was ready to move forward with the original plan, but if there was a chance to relocate the cottage rather than demolish it, he was in support.
“These Calcasieu cottages are really precious things, and with all the affordability issues we have, they would make great ADUs. I would love to see them saved,” Koch said.
Rendering of the proposed project at 4700 South Congress Ave.
Michele Lynch, who is the director of land use and entitlements at Metcalfe Wolff Stuart & Williams LLP, represented the applicant. She explained that the redevelopment of the 14.8-acre site will incorporate some of existing structures and the familiar Hill’s Cafe sign. A lot of the buildings, she noted, are less than 50 years old or “just shacks,” but they have focused on preserving the two-story motel building and stone cottages along the road and plan to incorporate two other Calcasieu cottages on-site. Developers plan to relocate two other cottages off-site, to the property of one of the original owners’ family. Plans for the property, which are currently under review by the city, show 450 multifamily units and 400,000 square feet of office, restaurant and music venue space.
“The motel cottages were what we thought was most significant for people that remember this site,” said Lynch, who noted Building 10 was not visible when driving by.
Lynch said she could talk to the owner about relocation, but there was no room to retain them on-site. That didn’t carry much water with Rubio, who cast the lone vote against postponement.
“I think we lost a lot with the cafe, we lost a lot with this motel, we don’t have much from this Meridian Highway,” Rubio said. “It’s so easy to relocate these two structures anywhere else on this site, so I’m just not buying that. … I don’t believe that, I don’t agree with it – with acres of land, that we can’t find a little bit more space for these two little cottages.”
Chair Ben Heimsath seemed to take a more measured stance, noting that relocating the Calcasieu cottages was in the buildings’ “nature.”
“It’s not uncommon for them to have had several locations by the time they wound up in current times,” he said. “To lose more of those Calcasieu structures when, potentially, they could be brought into use, it just seems like there’s a missed opportunity.”
Howard Curtis, who is on the Oldham Neighborhood Association steering committee, explained that they had founded the neighborhood association about two and a half years ago based on concern about this very project. However, he said, they had “very quickly developed a positive relationship” with the developer. He said that they still had concerns about the scale of the building but were “supportive and on board” with the plans to preserve the office and some cottages and to relocate and demolish others.
“They’ve been very collaborative. We’ve reached agreement on a number of concerns that the neighborhood had,” Curtis said. “We’re very pleased with how responsive they’ve been.”
The case will return to the Historic Landmark Commission on July 3 if they do not choose to relocate the home. At that meeting, they will also be seeking a relocation permit for two other cottages on the property.
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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.
