Covert, Frank M. and Annie G., House
Why it's listed
Built about 1898 at the corner of Avenue G and East 40th Street, this two-story house is among the earliest homes in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood. Its load-bearing buff brick walls set it apart, since brick was not common in the area until the 1930s. The modified L-plan building has an asymmetrical form, a roofscape of hipped and gable shapes, and a two-story wraparound porch with paired Doric columns. A pedimented portico marks the entry, and the windows have stone sills and lintels. It was built for a real estate and insurance agent, Frank Covert, and his wife Annie, on land bought from the railroad and a developer's agent in 1897. Later owners rented it to a rancher, a doctor and a children's home. The house was listed for its architecture because it is a landmark example of Victorian-era design and reflects the developer's push for grand houses near the streetcar line. It has been restored, and a c.1980 garage apartment on the lot does not contribute to its historic character.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated for local architectural significance under Criterion C as a landmark example of Victorian-era design in Hyde Park, with eclectic Queen Anne detailing. It is one of the very few brick houses built in the neighborhood and the second brick example in the new development. It reflects the developer's strategy of encouraging grand houses in highly visible locations near the streetcar line.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001185, listed August 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3912 Ave. G, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | August 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001185 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1898 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; vernacular, modified L-plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually unaltered and recently restored; still used as a single dwelling. A c.1980 frame garage/apartment on the property is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.30210, -97.73032 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001185.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5488090
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.