Contreras said the final occupants of the house were the Colunga sisters, who occupied it from the 1930s to the 1970s. The house had a variety of tenants, both Swedish and Mexican immigrants. However, seeing little likelihood of final passage, he took the 6-4 vote as a final statement on Council’s position.Īccording to Kalan Contreras with the Historic Preservation Office, the house meets criteria not only for its design, but because it reflects residential patterns in East Austin. If Adler had wanted to prolong the discussion he could have called for a vote on first reading only, and then the matter would have been on the future agenda. It was the final item on a very long Council agenda, concluding at 11:42 p.m. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes did not participate, so there were only 10 votes. Voting no were Harper-Madison and Council members Paige Ellis, Ann Kitchen and Mackenzie Kelly.
The six votes in favor of historic zoning were from Council members Chito Vela, Kathie Tovo, Pio Renteria, Pool, Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter, and Adler. However, he said they should vote on Pool’s motion first – even though he said they were violating Robert’s Rules of Order. Mayor Steve Adler told her if she disagreed with the original motion, she should simply vote no. After Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison made a motion to deny historic zoning, Council Member Leslie Pool made what she called a substitute motion to designate the property as historic. Because the owner opposed the historic designation, city regulations required nine votes to declare the property historic.Ĭouncil heard conflicting motions but took just one vote on the matter. Seventh Street was built between 19 by Swedish immigrants Victor and Carl Carlson, according to the East Austin Historic Resource Survey.
Lacking the nine votes needed to overcome the property owner’s objection, City Council denied a request last week from the Historic Landmark Commission to designate “a good example of folk Victorian architecture” as historic.