Demolitions – Neighborhood San Antonio

January 29, 2021January 29, 2021

NFL pioneer’s boyhood home may become historic San Antonio landmark, despite owner’s opposition

Jan. 28, 2021 Updated: Jan. 28, 2021 7:36 p.m.

A 1921 Craftsman bungalow in the Beacon Hill area north of downtown, the boyhood home of one of San Antonio’s first athletes to play in the National Football League, appears headed for historic landmark designation by the City Council in the spring.

But it’s not a done deal.

There are those who say granting landmark status for the house at 1206 W. Agarita St. seems too much like punishing the owner.

Commissioner Gabriel Velasquez of the city’s Historic Design and Review Commission opposes the designation, saying it would be “an abuse of the intention of the designation to single out a property” whose owner, after initially seeking demolition, now is preserving it.

“It gives the appearance of a consequence, of a penalty, and in this case it’s a consequence and a penalty for doing the right thing,” Velasquez said.

But fellow commissioners disagreed; they voted 7-2 for landmark designation last week. The City Council will have the final say in April.

If landmark status is awarded, the current and future owners would be eligible to receive local tax incentives for structural rehabilitation, but would have to secure approval from the city for exterior work.

On ExpressNews.com: NFL great’s boyhood home may become historic

Rodrigo Velasquez, whose family now owns the house — no relation to the HDRC commissioner — said it’s poorly timed implementation of new regulations occurring after the house and others in the neighborhood already have been altered through window replacements, additions and other changes.

“We just feel it’s a little unfair, that it’s raising our costs, when we have competitors now that are also renovating in that area that don’t have to go through that historic designation,” Rodrigo Velasquez said.

The city’s Office of Historic Preservation and Beacon Hill Area Neighborhood Association have said the house qualifies as a landmark for its architectural features; its ties to the late Damon Tassos, who played in the NFL in the 1940s, and his family, which was active in the local Greek community; and its significance and contribution to the neighborhood, which the preservation office has determined itself is eligible for historic district status.

Cosima Colvin, co-chair of the neighborhood association’s zoning and urban design committee, said a landmark designation proposed for the house had “overwhelming support” from residents.

The family that now owns the property filed a demolition request in August, with plans to develop town homes on a half-acre tract, but since has withdrawn the demolition application and is returning the house to its original appearance.

“The pressure that our neighborhood is under for development and redevelopment has reopened the conversation of going historic, and we look forward to working with OHP to reintroduce the concept to our membership so that we have a robust conversation of the pros and cons,” Colvin told the commission.

The case tentatively is set for consideration by the Zoning Commission on March 2, with final action by the City Council on April 1.

The council had unanimously passed a resolution in December to start the designation process.

Despite the preservation office’s efforts to engage the public on potentially historic properties and to be more proactive on initiating designations, many houses and building are given landmark status only after an owner has sought demolition.

HDRC Commissioner Curtis Fish spoke in favor of declaring the house a landmark.

“This project isn’t one that’s been singled out,” Fish said. “We see a number of cases that are initiated by demolition requests.”

Rodrigo Velasquez said he will appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council because he believes the landmark decision would be onerous.

He pointed out that instead of tearing down the house and building town homes there, he’s rehabbing the house and developing two single-family residences on the tract.

Tassos memories

Cynthia Tassos Phillips, a daughter of Damon Tassos, has a unique perspective, with memories of her grandparents’ home and stories of her father, aunt and uncle having grown up there on Agarita.

She remembers the rambling porch; a bathroom, the only one in the house at the time, that had black wallpaper covered with pink flamingos; and the tantalizing aromas of olive oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice and spices used in pastitsio, a baked pasta dish, and other Greek culinary staples.

Her grandfather, Gus Tassos and his brother, Charles Tassos, had come to the United States after World War I, seeking economic opportunity, and built two houses on Agarita in 1921. Charles was a trustee and founding member of St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, established in 1924.

“They came to America with nothing, like many people did back in those days, and worked hard, made the kids work hard, made the grandkids work hard,” Cynthia Tassos said. “I could tell you exactly where everything is in that house, and I loved every bit of it — and have the best memories.”

Her father, Damon Gus Tassos, played football at Jefferson High School, became a team captain at Texas A&M and went on to the NFL, playing as a guard and linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers from 1945 to 1949.

He was known as “The Greek” in sports circles. San Antonio Express-News archives show he had five interceptions, kicked three extra points and played alongside such early NFL Hall of Fame figures as Don Hutson, Sammy Baugh and Sid Luckman.

At Texas A&M, Tassos was in a group of freshmen and sophomore players called the “Kiddie Korps,” since the team’s upperclassmen all had been called away to duty in World War II.

After his NFL career, Tassos owned Damon’s restaurant at Austin Highway and Broadway. His cousin, Bill Tassos, opened the Barn Door in 1953. The well-known steakhouse still operates under the same name but with different ownership.

Damon Tassos died in 2001.

His daughter said the family often gathered on weekends at her grandparents’ house on Agarita, sharing tight bonds among siblings and cousins.

Her grandmother, Marguerite Tassos, purchased a donkey that had been housed in a barn in Brackenridge Park and kept it in a lot next to the house.

Phillips remembers learning to ride a bike on Agarita, getting in spear grass fights with her cousins and sprawling out on the floor with her “Papi,” Gus Tassos, when she spent the night with her grandparents.

But her favorite family tales center on her father. Her grandmother didn’t want him to play football, and made sure he attended Greek school before enrolling at Jefferson, she said.

One oft-told story was how her father negotiated his terms of employment with with the NFL over the phone, long before players had agents to handle such matters. Detroit Lions Coach Gus Dorais asked Tassos to “name his price.”

“And Daddy said he took a big gulp of air and said, ‘How about $2,500 for a signing bonus?” Phillips recalled. Dorais “said, ‘We’ll put you on the next plane to Detroit tomorrow.’ And Daddy said it took 24 hours to get to Detroit. But he left 1206 West Agarita, and that was the beginning of his football career.”

Written ByScott Huddleston

Scott Huddleston is a veteran staff writer at the San Antonio Express-News covering Bexar County Commissioners Court and county government.

He has been a reporter at the Express-News since 1985, covering a variety of issues, including public safety, flooding, transportation, military and veterans affairs, history and local government.

Huddleston covered the final construction phase of the SBC Center — now AT&T Center, where the Spurs play — in 2002, and wrote “Then&Now,” a weekly historical feature, for the Sunday Metro section from 2001-2006.

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020

Government Hill resident’s comments at City Council re Zoning Change from R-6 to C-2 in a residential neighborhood on why we fight for our communities.

Written by D’Ette Cole of Government Hill

Note: On November 5^th City Council (A Session) meeting Government Hill residents gathered with white COVID masks on which were printed, “C-1”. They were there, after so many postponements to ask City Council to reject a zoning change from R-6 to C-2 in their residential neighborhood and to accept instead a compromise of C-1, a fair compromise that they were struggling to have approved.

Read about the case at the SA Heron.

Good morning,

We hope good prevails today. We have a compromise for C-1 on the property which sits just 24′ across the street from our homes. We hope that if any motion for higher than C-1 light commercial is introduced that you will not entertain it, you will not support it, and that you will be a protector and a proponent for community compromise and our 200′ neighbors’ compromise for c-1.

This has been a long pursuit which began over a year ago when we first got word that the property at the corner of Reno and Edgar street was going to be sold and that the longtime neighbors would be removed and the six houses leveled for a twenty-pump mega gas station a zoning change from an almost unheard of R-6 (residential) to C-2 (intense commercial). It seemed incredible that affordable housing would be demolished and we would be living across the street from a huge gas station. We did not know where to begin to fight.

First the case would have to go through the rezoning process to get rezoned from R-6 to C-2 commercial. Not imagining how this huge project could be plopped down in our tiny neighborhood immediately in front of our homes and so close to an elementary school, the 200′ neighbors banded together to show and tell the city that there must be some mistake.

Ours is a predominantly Latino, multi-generational, working class neighborhood. Several of the 200′ neighbors who have called this neighborhood home for decades, said I didn’t understand: No one will care, no one will listen, and we won’t win because we never win – we don’t matter. Before this process was over, I began to understand why they felt this way.

With the overwhelming opposition to this encroachment within the 200′ and blocks beyond, we organized and pushed on but there are group members who do not access the internet, that are not computer savvy, or would never be able to stand and speak here. There are those in our group that you have not seen because they cannot come to commissions or hearings due to health issues or because of their essential jobs, especially now with COVID.

Home.

This is home. We love our homes and are extremely house proud and though the story of how and when we each came to call this neighborhood our home is different from each of our neighbors – We all have stories of dreams and desires of inherited homes passed down, full of fond childhood memories:

Neighbors like Dora and Martin whose first homes with first mortgages bring the swell and pride of ownership in our community.

Neighbors like Addie and Caleb who have lived in their well-loved home for decades with adult children who have moved back in to care for ailing elders.

Roxanne and Aden, starter homeowners with hopes of future kids walking to the elementary school down the street.

Jazzma and Armando, retirement homeowners looking to downsize.

Lorenzo and Virgina, purchasing and refurbishing a small house on the top of hill with a million dollar view of the downtown skyline.

These are some of our neighbors.

These homes, these neighbors, these streets, our elementary school, and our park are a lot to fight for.

Our community has been worth every second, every meeting, pow wow, late night group call, every Sunday afternoon driveway meeting, every block walked, every signature collected, every email sent, every phone call, every educating and telling of details, every sign designed and every sign hung, every sleepless night, every tear shed and every new worry wrinkle.

Everything has been worth it because this fight has been about our homes and our neighborhood.

This process has been extremely intimidating and consistently disappointing. Our neighborhood and our homes have been publicly disparaged in descriptive terms like “derelict, crime ridden, crime stricken, drug and graffiti infested, unsafe and scary” by those who should know better, by a member of the Zoning Commission, by attorneys, by those who want to profit from our neighborhood.

We’ve been ignored, we’ve been dismissed, we’ve been excluded, we’ve been insulted, disparaged, berated and basically told to be quiet. We would not stay quiet.

We love our neighbors, we love our neighborhood, we love our city so we cannot be blamed for fighting so hard for the best outcome for this block that impacts us all so significantly. Despite it taking such a long time to get here, we look forward to a true C-1 compromise. A C-1 light commercial project that will be an appropriate buffer between the C2-NA Frost property on the access road and our dense residential front yards. A neighborhood friendly C-1 development that will be the appropriate scale and setting to meet our residential and school zone streets.

Council representatives: I couldn’t and I wouldn’t do the job that each of you has signed up for and run and won to do. I thank you for having the will and for wanting to make a difference, to make things better, do better, and do good. Please never underestimate the power of listening and understanding, conversation and collaboration and compromise – this fight would have been more civil, more fair, less hurtful, less marginalizing, and better for it.

Please support the 200′ neighbors C-1 compromise for this case.

City Council OKs zoning compromise in contentious Government Hill case

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019

Following Up on Evergreen

Yesterday I shared the story of the demolition of two houses on E. Evergreen in Tobin Hill.

After the demolitions were approved, and the appeal that Tobin Hill Community Association filed was rejected, the Cole properties were rezoned to Infill Development Zone (IDZ), so that townhouses could be built.

My husband, Rick Schell, is the chair person for Tobin Hill’s Zoning and Development Committee. He attended the zoning hearing on July 17, 2019. It was a very long hearing. He knew by that time that the houses were being demolished, and that the rezoning would most likely be approved, but he waited 7.5 hours in order to read the Committee’s statement into the record.

After the hearing, he sent this email to the District 1 Zoning Commissioner:

Sarah,
I want to take a moment to tell you I appreciate your thoughtful approach to the various cases yesterday. I spent a lot of time last night and this morning thinking about the Evergreen case, and my statement, and your questions. I thought a follow-up email was important, so you understand why I came to Zoning yesterday with what I did.
I know your purview is related strictly to the zoning associated with the case, as staff indicated in response to your question.
We never should have been in front of the Zoning Commission in the first place, looking at the requested change.
There was a failure to follow the processes the city created by both OHP and by the Councilman. It is true that OHP flat-out failed to present the case to city council. The rest of the council members could only rely on what our D1 councilman told them. It is true that he read from a prepared statement that was factually inaccurate (at best). OHP could have corrected the inaccuracies, but they chose not to do so. It is true the Mayor asked why the council was not briefed by OHP on the case. There was overwhelming community support for this designation to happen, and it was ignored. There was overwhelming evidence to support this designation, and it was ignored.
Here is the deal: Our Councilman was elected by the community to represent us, the community. Developers have an entire department within the city to represent them (Development Services). They have land-use attorneys to represent them. They have money to back them. They have people who are paid to make the time. We have volunteers who take time from their day to come out and speak. They take off work, they find child-care for their kids, they sacrifice personal and family life to come voice their thoughts to the Commissions and the City Council. The only tool we have as a community is the city processes. When those are not followed, or are ignored, or are arbitrarily applied, what recourse does the community have?
I waited for 7.5 hours yesterday so that I could take 2 minutes of time to directly confront the failure of some city departments in following the processes they created for the community. I don’t want you to think that I am just another too-loud voice, arguing the wrong thing in the wrong setting, clamoring to be heard. I realize that I did not address the zoning directly, but we don’t have another forum to address these issues. I would encourage you and the rest of our commissioners to take a more direct approach to listen to the community before the commission meetings. You are appointed as an extension of the council office, whose role is to represent the community at large, and not as an extension of city staff and development services.
I look forward to continuing to work with you, our D1 staff in all the various forms it takes, and the community at large, whether developer or homeowner, to continue to make D1 a great place to live.
Best,
Rick Schell
THCA Zoning and Development Committee Chair

July 22, 2019July 23, 2019

The Curious Case of the Cole Houses: Demolishing 307 & 311 E. Evergreen

Tobin Hill is under fire, y’all. I’ve posted about it before: 14 demolition requests in the last 18 months.

Map courtesy OHP, showing demolition requests within the THCA boundary over the last 18 months.

There are a few ways to stop or slow a demolition.

One way is a large community outcry, such as what happened with 430 and 434 E. Magnolia (OHP stated that they had never received that much community input on a demolition case, that it was unprecedented).

Another way is submitting an application for finding of Historic Significance, and Landmark Designation with the City’s Office of Historic Preservation (OHP). This can often be a more effective way if the property in question has real historic significance.

307 and 311 E. Evergreen had both community support for their preservation, and substantial historic significance.

When Tobin Hill received the notification of a demolition request for these two houses on E. Evergreen, I posted the photos of the house with information provided by OHP to our social media pages, and I forwarded the request to Tobin Hill Community Association’s Historic Preservation Committee. THCA also met with Patrick Christensen, a local land use attorney, representing Imagine Homes who hoped to develop, but did not yet own, the properties.

When I posted the info on 307 and 311 E. Evergreen, now colloquially know as the Cole Houses, there was a huge outcry from the community, even extending beyond the borders of the Tobin Hill.

Let’s take a moment and talk about what I mean when I say, “huge outcry.”

The post was shared 64 times. 13,699 people saw the post. Between the comments on THCA’s Facebook page and other places it was shared, I compiled 75 comments asking for the preservation of these houses. So when OHP says 24 emails is “unprecedented,” and I tell you Evergreen has a “huge outcry,” you understand what I mean.

Many of the comments talk about the houses’ recent history as being used as a live music venue and recording studio. If you know Tobin Hill, you know music is an important part of our neighborhood’s culture. Additionally, one of the houses was the former offices of Mujeres Unidas, an HIV prevention and awareness non-profit.

Among the folks upset about the potential demolition of the Evergreen houses, was an archaeologist and historian that lives in the neighborhood, Stephen Fonzo. He agreed to assist THCA’s Historic Preservation Committee Chair, Ricki Kushner, in researching the houses pro bono. They discovered that in addition to the houses recent musical history, the house at 307 was the only home of Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole, WWII hero and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Robert G. Cole Junior and Senior High School are named for him (thus the nickname of Cole Houses).

Ricki and Stephen compiled a thorough Statement of Significance for each of the houses, and included letters of support from the North Saint Mary’s Business Association, the San Antonio Conservation Society, news clippings, photos, maps, emails, and statements of support from veterans. Together the packets on 307 and 311 E Evergreen are a combined total of 84 pages after review by OHP.

It is with this level of community support AND historically significant evidence that the Cole Houses went before HDRC for recommendation of Landmark designation.

The HDRC recommended approval at the April 17, 2019 hearing. However, because the Landmark designation was filed without the owner’s consent, THCA was told that it would have to go before City Council in June before continuing to the Zoning Commission.

On May 28, 2019 the Community Association received an email from Councilman Treviño’s office about the two pending cases in our neighborhood. Included in the communication was Patrick Christensen.

The email stated that Councilman Treviño was not going to support the designation of the Evergreen properties. His reason was that the Cole Houses are “on the commercial corner of the McCullough corridor.” However, the houses are NOT on the corner of McCullough; they are behind the Little Taco Factory and La Morenita Fruit Cups.

All 84 pages of historical evidence were ignored. Instead, the Councilman focused solely on the location of the houses.

In addition to the blow of this email, when the case came before City Council on June 6, 2019, OHP failed to present the evidence of the Cole Houses historic significance, or give Council a briefing on the houses before the hearing.

At the City Council hearing, the mayor noted that the Council was not briefed on the houses, not once, but twice. Sadly, Council voted against the designation based on Councilman Treviño’s recommendation anyway. He stated that the houses “do not warrant landmark status.”

In the video below, you can hear Ricki Kushner and other citizens speak to City Council about this case. Councilman Treviño’s makes his statement at 15:50. The Mayor states that there was not a staff presentation on this case at 20:30. He repeats that statement at 21:40, where he also asks for more information on these houses, and states his discomfort with the decision being made without a briefing.

Normally that would be the end of things. Without the owner’s consent or Council’s blessing the case can not move forward. But THCA was not ready to give up after so much work.

Several members of THCA attended the June 24th HDRC Hearing and signed up to speak during Citizens To Be Heard. We implored the Commission to intercede, reminding them that although the Landmark Designation had failed, they houses could still be preserved as a Historic District, which only needs a minimum of two properties. We reminded them of the evidence to preserve these houses, and told them about OHP’s failure to present the evidence to Council. HDRC asked that the houses be added to the July 17, 2019 agenda.

Meanwhile, the owner had erected a fence around the properties, preparing to demolish them. THCA was ready with an appeal, in order to get a stop-work order on the demolition if needed. However, on June 25, 2019, the Development Services Department (DSD) confirmed that a hold was placed once again on the addresses due to being on the July 17th agenda.

Late in the afternoon on Friday July 12, OHP called THCA to let them know that they were lifting the hold, and that the demolition requests for the Cole Houses had been approved. THCA searched for permits, but none had been pulled yet. We vigilantly watched the houses over the weekend for any sign of illegal demolition. None occurred.

Tuesday morning, July 16, my husband, Rick, drove by the houses at about 7:50am. Demolition (deconstruction) had begun.

I called DSD at about 9:30 a.m. and they confirmed that there had not been any demolition permits issued for the addresses. We requested a stop-work order.

Rick immediately called the Councilman’s office and was told by Chrissy McCain that demolition permits had been approved. She also said that the structures were completely demolished by this point (about 9:35 a.m.), so if THCA was to file an appeal, it would likely fail because the properties were demolished. Further, she said that the Councilman had approved the salvage plan just that morning.

Alarmed, I drove to the Cole Houses, to find them still standing, though deconstruction of the interior was occurring. I checked DSD’s online permit portal, which now showed a permit for 311 E Evergreen, approved at 9:51am and paid for at 10:23am that morning.

We went to DSD and filed the appeal.

The appeal was received by Zenon (Zeke) Solis, who was really not sure what to do. He stated that they had never received an appeal on a demolition permit before. He went back to the offices several times to ask questions before taking my paperwork. He then took 19 minutes to copy the appeal, which was only 9 pages long. Another stop-work order was issued.

The next day, July 17, we received notice from DSD that our appeal was being withdrawn by DSD and that THCA would receive a refund. View the emails from DSD here:

Re EXTERNAL BOA Appeal Download

The stop-work order has again been lifted. Deconstruction has resumed. The Cole Houses are being demolished.

We are left with many questions.

Why did Councilman Treviño state that the Cole Houses were on the corner of McCullough when they are not?

Why did his office include the developer’s attorney, Patrick Christensen, in the email prior to the Council hearing, but not the property owner?

Why didn’t OHP brief the Mayor and the Council on the 84 pages of evidence for Landmarking the houses?

Why did the Council proceed to vote, even after the mayor questioned this?

Why were the Cole Houses removed from the July 17th HDRC agenda, despite the commissioner’s request to evaluate them for a potential Historic District?

Why did the Councilman’s office preemptively discourage us from filing an appeal, even though it is within our rights to do so?

Why was the Councilman’s office giving permission for demolition instead of requiring that a permit be obtained though DSD prior to starting work?

Why did the Councilman’s office state that the houses had already been demolished before the demolition permits had been either filed or paid for?

Why did DSD refund THCA’s appeal and decide that it was not valid? – Is it not the role of the Board of Adjustment to decide if an appeal has merit?

It is all just so very curious.

April 17, 2019July 18, 2019

Demolitions Lead to Increased Property Taxes

On April 14, 2019, Bexar County Chief Appraiser, Michael Amezquita told the San Antonio Express News that the “biggest horror shows” when it comes to property tax increases are, “Anything within 3 miles of the Pearl.” Among many near-downtown neighborhoods, he specifically called out Tobin Hill North.

In 2016 a developer bought two older but structurally sound duplexes at 421 and 425 E. Mistletoe Ave. in Tobin Hill North. They obtained a demolition permit, cleared the land and built six two-story houses, facing a center drive. In some cities, they call these slot homes, and in 2018, Denver passed an ordinance which does not allow themto be built there any longer. The houses on Mistletoe were completed this spring and they sold for between $325,000 and $370,000 each. And they are driving our property taxes up.

Of course, most people will tell you is that these new, two-story houses will not be used as a comparable property with our older, single-story bungalows and cottages. They are right, the improvements portion of your tax valuation won’t use these new houses as comps. However, that only accounts for part of your tax valuation.

New house next to an existing one on E Mistletoe Ave.

Between 2015 and 2017, the Bexar Appraisal District increased only the improvements portion of the appraisal by about $2000 on my house, which is across the street from the new Mistletoe development. In that same time, the land value went from $25,000 to $61,000. This is about a 144% increase in just two years. The 2019 valuation has now increased our land value to $177,290. It has nearly doubled again, a 369% increase over four years.

Sometime between 2015 and now, the Appraisal District realized that the original house on each lot could be torn down and three could be built in its place. Try going to Bexar Appraisal District and arguing that your landis not worth what they say it is.

Since January 2019, the Office of Historic Preservation has received seven demolition applications for Tobin Hill. Of those, three have been approved, two are on hold for evaluation by the Historic Design Review Commission, and two, 430 and 434 E. Magnolia, are still awaiting a decision by OHP.

Like the properties on Mistletoe, 430 and 434 E. Magnolia are on a quaint and quiet street on the northern end of Tobin Hill. While this part of Tobin Hill is not currently designated as Historic, it is surrounded on all four sides by Historic Districts: Monte Vista to the north and west, River Road to the east, and the Tobin Hill Historic District to the south. These two homes would be contributing to structures to a future Historic District in this area which has been identified in the past as being eligible for Historic Designation.

The applications for the demolition of these houses on E. Magnolia have generated a lot of neighborhood concern. OHP received 24 letters of opposition to the proposed demolition of these homes. This far exceeds what OHP’s Scout SA team typically receives for demolition applications. It was enough that Shanon Shea-Miller, Director of the City of San Antonio’s Office of Historic Preservation, requested a site meeting between Scout SA and the property owner.

During the meeting with the property owner, we discovered that the owner believes he can get a better offer on the land if it is vacant. However, these houses are occupied and in good structural condition. Demolition should be a last resort, not a quick path to making a buck. While the Appraisal District views the land as more valuable than the houses built on them, to the renters living there, this is home.

When taxes go up, it makes it hard to stay in your home. This is how many homeowners go from living in housing that is affordable to becoming cost-burdened by their home. Landlords in my neighborhood, unable to get a homestead exemption on their rental properties, will need to raise rents to cover increased property taxes. Land values that have doubled, or in cases like mine, gone up 369% in just 4 years, mean that rents will rise to compensate for this increase. It is likely that many renters who could afford a place in Tobin Hill North in 2015 will soon be so cost-burdened they will have to find somewhere else to go.

430 and 434 E. Magnolia, photo from Google

430 and 434 E Magnolia are not stunning. They are not what some would consider worthy of a Landmark status. They are humble homes, and some of the last remaining affordable housing we have in Tobin Hill North. They are currently providing affordable housing in an area where finding an apartment or house to live in is becoming increasingly expensive. The demolition of these homes, which are both currently occupied, and in sound structural condition, will cause the direct displacement of these residents.

We need to focus on preserving the affordable housing that we already have. San Antonio’s Housing Policy Framework specifically calls for the preservation of naturally-occurring affordable housing, especially rental units, like the duplex at 430 E Magnolia and the home behind it at 434 E Magnolia. The Policy calls for the prevention and mitigation of displacement, and the need to address the impact of rising property taxes on housing affordability.

It is clear that in neighborhoods like Tobin Hill North, affordability is tied to the land valuation. Demolitions like the ones proposed on E. Magnolia should be vehemently opposed. Our city: Development Services, the Office of Historic Preservation, our City Council and our Mayor should be denying requests for demolitions on houses that are structurally sound, and especially those that are occupied. It is in the best interests of not only those currently in need of affordable housing, but also of those who live nearby, who don’t want to see exponential growth in their tax bill every year.

430 and 434 E. Magnolia will go before the Historic Design Review Commission for consideration of Landmark Designation in order to prevent demolition on May 1 at 5:00pm. The Tobin Hill Community Association would appreciate letters in support of the Landmark Designation of 430 and 434 E. Magnolia. Statements can be emailed to jessica.anderson@sanantonio.gov

We are also asking for community support in attending the hearing and speaking in favor of the Landmark designation. If you intend to speak, please sign up in person at 1901 S. Alamo St. on the day of the hearing. You may sign up anytime between 2:30 and 5:00 PM before the cases are heard.

April 16, 2019August 4, 2019

Request from Tobin Hill at HDRC

Also read: NOWCASTSA’s excellent article: Tobin Hill neighborhood history, character is under fire by city and developers

April 18, 2019 Update from Anisa Schell (THCA Board):

Some of you may already be aware of the proposed demolitions of 430 and 434 E Magnolia. Because of the outcry of concern from the community, and after visiting the site with the Designation/Demolition Committee, the Office of Historic Preservation has decided to move forward with requests for Historic designation of both structures. The cases will be heard at the Historic and Design Review Commission Wednesday, May 1, no earlier than 5 PM in the first-floor boardroom at 1901 S Alamo.

The hearing is public and anyone may attend.
In the past, it has been very helpful to have a large community of supporters attend and speak at the hearing. You may sign up to speak before the hearing, anytime between 2:30 and when the case is heard (no sooner than 5:00pm).

Each person will have three minutes to speak, but a short statement of support is all that is necessary. For example, you can use your time to say something like, “I am Anisa Schell and I live at 430 E. Mistletoe Ave. I support the Landmark Designation of these two houses. 430 and 434 E Magnolia are homes that contribute to the historic nature of the street and our neighborhood. They should not be torn down. Please designate these houses to protect them. Thank you.”
In addition to speaking at the hearing, writing letters of support for the designation of these houses ahead of time is helpful. Please send emails to Jessica.Anderson@sanantonio.gov. Your email should state that you support the Landmark Designation of 430 and 434 E Magnolia and make sure to include your name and address.

The emails forwarded below provide a little more insight into what has happened so far with these properties. Also attached is the statement I wrote opposing the demolition of these properties.

Tobin Hill Community Association needs your support for the historic designation of the two houses at 307 & 309-311 E. Evergreen.

Demolition applications were filed for these houses in February. In researching the houses, it was discovered that 307 E. Evergreen was the home of Robert G. Cole who went to West Point, and later received the Medal of Honor for his bayonet charge during the Normandy Invasion. Cole has a video game character and local high school named after him (where Shaquille O’Neal went to school as well).

In its more recent history, 311 E Evergreen became locally known as “That Place Off Evergreen.” It was a local recording studio and live music venue, contributing to Tobin Hill’s culture of local music and the performing arts.

307 E Evergreen – photo by CoSA Office of Historic Preservation

The adjacent house, 307 E Evergreen, is known as The Cole House, as well as the former offices of Mujeres Unidas:

“Cole House is also significant in the area of social history for its associations with women’s civic history in the city of San Antonio. Clara Hoff Cole, the house’s longest continuous resident, moved into the house in 1919 and remained until her death in 1949. During that time she was a working professional and single mother of three children, teaching in the Tobin Hill neighborhood at Nathaniel Hawthorne, Jr. High School until sometime around 1944, when she had begun teaching at Mark Twain High School. Her involvement in the community and her son Robert’s military service attracted fairly constant attention from city newspapers through the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Several decades later the Cole House became the office location of Mujeres Unidas, a charitable organization established in 1994 by Yolanda Rodriguez-Escobar to serve local women and Latinx community members with HIV/AIDS… Although their tenure at the Cole House happened within the past fifty years, it is still noteworthy and adds to the significance of the property in the area of social history and cultural heritage for the community of the Tobin Hill neighborhood and city of San Antonio.”
–Excerpt from 307 E Evergreen Statement of Significance, written and collected by Stephen Fonzo

These cases will go before the Historic Design Review Commission on April 17, 2019 at 5:30PM. Staff is recommending approval of the Landmark designations, however the property owner has not consented. If the homes are not designated, they will be demolished to make room for a multi-unit housing development.

Your support at the hearing on Wed., April 17 would be appreciated. The cases are “time certain” and are scheduled to be heard at 5:30PM. You may sign up at the One-Stop, 1901 S. Alamo, to speak any time from about 2:30 P.M. up until the time when the case is heard. (i.e., 5:00). Emailed comments may be sent ahead of time to the case officer, Jessica Anderson, Jessica.Anderson@sanantonio.gov.