February 1, 2012

STATEMENT - 322 Washington Street

To: Tim Cone, Chair, and Members,
Historic and Design Review Commission

RE: Agenda Item No. 11 - Case No. 2011-266
322 Washington

The San Antonio Conservation Society opposes the demolition of the two accessory buildings at 314 and 318 Washington Street. Even though these two buildings have been platted away from their original residence at 317 King William, there is still a contextual relationship between these structures that dates back to at least 1896. The two accessory buildings have been altered over time but still remain in their original locations, thus keeping their relationship of outbuildings to the primary house. The removal of these structures would cause a loss of understanding of how the original site was laid out.

Adolph Heusinger, Sr., who established a hardware store on Military Plaza in 1877, purchased the property at 317 King William Street in 1883 (Burkholder, p. 43). Although the lot appeared vacant on the 1886 Koch Bird’s Eye View Map, the house, a stable, and an outbuilding across from the stable appeared on the 1896 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (p. 35).

The stable remained unchanged through 1912. By 1952, the building had been converted into a dwelling (Sanborn Map, v. 4, p. 350), but kept its original configuration. The outbuilding across from the stable gained a south-facing porch by 1912 (Sanborn Map, 1912, v.4, p. 350). By 1952, it had also been converted to a dwelling with additions made on the west side facing the river (Sanborn Map, v. 4, p. 350).

These two accessory buildings, now subject to a demolition request, were rehabilitated less than two years ago. How can rehabilitations recently approved by the Historic and Design Review Commission be judged “destructive to their historic character.”

We urge you to reconsider demolition of historic structures that have been a part of a designated historic district since it was created.

Thank you for consideration of all comments.

Yours truly,

Nancy H. Avellar
President

Sources
Burkholder, Mary V., The King William Area, San Antonio: The King William Association, 1973. Koch, Augustus, Bird’s Eye View of San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas, 1886. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1896, p. 35; 1912, v.4, p.350; 1952; v.4, p. 350.

January 12, 2012

STATEMENT - Alamo Stadium - Mayor & Council

To: The Honorable Julian Castro and City Council
City of San Antonio
P. O. Box 839966
San Antonio, Texas 78283-3966

Dear Mayor Castro and Council:

The Alamo Stadium complex is a cherished local landmark, significant for its role for over seventy years in support of local and regional school sports. Since its completion in 1940, it has been the largest high school football stadium in Texas. Its historic and architectural significance as an outstanding example of rustic Art Moderne institutional design of the New Deal Era qualified it for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

On January 9, 2012 the San Antonio Conservation Society submitted a nomination for State Archeological Landmark Designation. A prerequisite of this nomination was the listing of the stadium and adjacent 1949 gymnasium on the National Register. As a State Archeological Landmark, work on the complex would need to be reviewed and approved by the Texas Historical Commission staff and executive director.

The San Antonio Conservation Society has sought these designations in order to ensure that those features that are integral to the Stadium’s and Gymnasium’s architectural and historic significance are protected and preserved.

In 1939 the City of San Antonio through Mayor C.K. Quin conveyed the land that now comprises Alamo Stadium and Gymnasium to the San Antonio Independent School District for their use as an athletic facility. The original deed contained, in part, deed restrictions which were the result of the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the surrounding neighborhoods seeking to stop the conveyance of the property to the SAISD. The terms of the restriction were negotiated by the surrounding property owners, the City of San Antonio and the SAISD and read, in part:

"The property conveyed by this deed shall never be used for any private profit or for any private purpose"

The use of the property by or for any sort of professional team would violate the terms of the deed, and we are particularly concerned how re-purposing of the facility to accommodate professional sports would affect the historic structure.

The San Antonio Conservation Society urges you to vigorously enforce the original deed and to oppose any alteration, modification, or change to the restrictions stipulated therein.

Yours truly,

Nancy H. Avellar
President

Also sent to 10 Council Members, individually by name

January 9, 2012

STATEMENT - Alamo Stadium - SAISD

To: Dr. Robert Durón
Superintendent of Schools
San Antonio Independent School District
141 Lavaca Street
San Antonio, TX 78210

RE: Alamo Stadium Letter to the Editor

Dear Dr. Durón:

Alamo Stadium is a cherished local landmark, significant for its role in support of local and regional sports. When it was completed in 1940 it was, and continues to be, the largest high school football stadium in Texas. Earlier this year the San Antonio Conservation Society initiated a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, through the Texas Historical Commission, to affirm its historic and architectural significance, not just for its size but for its distinction as an outstanding example of rustic Art Moderne institutional design of the New Deal Era. It is also distinguished for its display of large tile murals executed by local artisans employed through the federal Works Progress Administration.

Today, we initiated a nomination for State Archeological Landmark Designation. A prerequisite of this nomination is listing of the stadium and adjacent 1949 gymnasium on the National Register. It was listed on September 8, 2011. If the nomination as a State Archeological Landmark is approved, work on the complex would need to be reviewed and approved by the Texas Historical Commission staff and executive director.

The San Antonio Independent School District is the custodian of a recognized historic gem, worthy of the utmost care and preservation. Any alterations to the stadium or gymnasium should only be undertaken with caution to ensure that those features that are integral to their architectural and historic significance are respected and preserved. One of the proposals for modifying the stadium would require demolition of a portion of the lower level structure of the stadium. We strenuously object to alterations to the original stadium design and destruction of historic architectural fabric.

Thank you for consideration of all comments.

Yours truly,

Nancy H. Avellar
President

January 6, 2012

STATEMENT - HemisFair Park Master Plan

To: Amelia Hartman, Chair
and Members, Planning Commission

RE: Item No. 17. Public hearing and consideration of a resolution to recommend to City Council an update to the HemisFair Park Area Master Plan chapter of the Downtown Neighborhood Plan, a component of the City’s Master Plan, for the area generally bound by South Alamo Street to the west; Market Street to the north; US Hwy 281 to the east; and Caesar Chavez Boulevard to the south.

The San Antonio Conservation Society welcomes the opportunity to comment on the continuing progress made on planning for the revitalization of HemisFair Park. The HemisFair Park Master Plan provides further definition to the previous planning and is consistent with the Master Plan Framework. Preservation of the historic buildings remaining from the former neighborhood, planning for distinct, but linked, park open space and creation of future mixed use development will be a wise use of our long neglected world’s fair site.

The Conservation Society played a significant role in the planning for HemisFair. We have also been active in planning meetings leading up to the Master Plan set before you today, including the HemisFair Park Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee, the HPARC Board of Directors meetings, stakeholders groups and community meetings. We are optimistic about the future of HemisFair Park and we look forward to continuing participation in ongoing planning. We will be particularly interested in discussion about the reuse of HemisFair era buildings and we will work with HPARC and the City of San Antonio to assure that community input is taken into consideration and that all appropriate City processes are followed.

Nancy H. Avellar
President

December 7, 2011

STATEMENT - 9396 Huebner Road

To: Tim Cone, Chair, and Members,
Historic and Design Review Commission

RE: Agenda Item No. 7 - Case No. 2011-181
9396 Huebner Road

The San Antonio Conservation Society is concerned about the demolition request for the rock-faced house at 9396 Huebner Road. The building is a Historic Landmark designated by the City of San Antonio. Although its surroundings have changed dramatically since it was originally constructed ca. 1925, the original portion of the building maintains its architectural integrity. Indeed, the area is ripe for development, but, based on the Society’s observations during a July on-site inspection, there is ample room for development that could incorporate and reuse this building.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Nancy H. Avellar
President

November 3, 2011

STATEMENT - Adaptive Use of Fire Station #8

To: The Hon. Julián Castro and Members, San Antonio City Council

RE: Agenda Item # 5A – An Ordinance declaring as surplus the City’s former Fire Station #8 within NCB 2319 at 2323 Buena Vista Street in Council District 5 and authorizing its sale to 1921 Deco Building, LLC #55,000.00 allowing the LLC to restore and redevelop the property for commercial use.

As the San Antonio Conservation Society has long advocated for the preservation of important neighborhood civic structures, we are pleased to support the adaptive reuse of Old Fire Station #8, a City of San Antonio Historic Landmark, for commercial use. Progress and technology often mandated larger facilities for government facilities such as fire stations and libraries, leaving the former structures housing them without a meaningful purpose and future. A project such as this one proves that these buildings can once again be cornerstones of the neighborhoods they once served. The Conservation Society has been working with the Office of Historic Preservation for a number of years to fully survey all the historic resources within the city’s original 36 square-mile boundaries, and more recently has embarked on an extended survey of Westside Cultural Resources. It is hoped that this survey will identify many future landmarks from which additional preservation success stories will emerge.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Nancy H. Avellar
President

November 2, 2011

STATEMENT - River Walk Bridges

To: Timothy Cone, Chair, and Members, San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission

RE: Agenda Item No. 12 - Case No. 2011-217 River Walk Bridges, City of San Antonio

The San Antonio Conservation Society remains concerned about the proposal to attach strings of LED lights to bridges spanning the River Walk in Downtown San Antonio. As was first noted in our August 17, 2011 letter to Assistant City Manager A.J. Rodriguez (attached), we expect that conservation principles be adhered to regarding the manner of attaching the lighting to the historic bridges. Due to the centrality of the San Antonio River to the history and development of San Antonio, and due to the river’s meandering nature, we are blessed with an amazingly large number of historic bridges. Preservation of these historical assets should be an overriding priority.

As everyone knows, water is the number one enemy to historic structures. By having 40 to 50 penetrations planned for each side of each of the 18 bridges is an invitation to a long term maintenance nightmare. One of the bridges is as long as 147 feet, requiring 100 penetrations per side. .

Locating the light strings on the outside beam of the bridges exposes them to the weather, including the inevitable driving rains, as well as water dripping down the sides of the bridges in light rains. Penetrations, such as screw holes into iron, are sources of rust and gradual decay. Penetrations into concrete promote water retention that will ultimately promote spalling of the concrete and exposure and ultimate degradation of the steel reinforcement of the concrete. The historic concrete bridges are already viewed as fragile and very expensive to repair when damaged. The repair and restoration of the Commerce Street Bridge at Alamo Street in 2009, for example, cost $197,701.

What is the solution? Not making penetrations in the weather exposed side beams of the historic bridges is the obvious preference. Perhaps locating the track of lighting under the bridge affixed to an interior beam, such as the second beam from the outside, would still provide lighting and enhance the reflective quality of lights on the water. Another solution used by TXDOT for attaching new lighting and conduit to metal truss bridges is the use of clamps. Further, we do not recommend use of adhesive material to attach the lighting strips as it would potentially cause moisture retention and ultimately damage to the historic bridge surface when removed..

As we stated when we first met with City representatives about this project, different bridges may require different solutions if the overall bridge lighting proposal is to be successful. Nearly one half of the 16 historic bridges under consideration are concrete and deserving of special consideration for maintenance and safety. The iron bridges may be less fragile, but no less worthy of protection from deterioration.

Thank you for consideration of our comments. We are attaching copies of correspondence from preservation professionals who share our concerns, as well as the U. S. Department of Interior Preservation Brief #15.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Nancy H. Avellar
President

November 2, 2011 - Grayburg Gas Station #12

STATEMENT

To: Timothy Cone, Chair, and Members, San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission

RE: Agenda Item No. 18 – Case No. 2011-207 1002 South Flores

As we stated in our letter of October 7, 2011 to the City of San Antonio’s Historic Preservation Officer Shanon Peterson (attached), we believe that 1002 South Flores Street is eligible for designation as a Historic Landmark. Know historically as Grayburg Station No. 12, the building is significant as a tangible link to one of the few Texas oil and gas companies with direct manufacturing ties to San Antonio. We were mistaken in citing the filling station’s inclusion in the Conservation Society’s 1983-l986 Gas Station Survey.

The building’s former uses as a filling station, office, and auto repair shop demonstrate its versatility and ability to continue contributing to the neighborhood through adaptive use. The adjoining one story commercial building to the south is not a part of Grayburg Station No. 12’s significance.

We believe that the building retains sufficient architectural integrity to be eligible for Landmark designation. Generally speaking, the building is very well sited and an ideal candidate for reuse.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Nancy H. Avellar
President