Stavely-Kunz-Johnson House
Also known as: Quintanilla House
Why it's listed
This two-story limestone house at 1402 East First Street in Austin was built between 1897 and 1899 by August Kunz, a miller who ran the Colorado Flour Mill. Designed in the Queen Anne manner, it has an ell-shaped plan, a two-level wooden gallery with fluted columns, pedimented gables with palladian windows, and fish-scale cedar shingles. A rear one-story limestone kitchen predates it and was added by John O. Stavely, who improved the property before 1897. Kunz added a two-story section in 1902 that brought in modern plumbing. The James S. Johnson family lived there from 1911 to 1970, followed by a church that used it for Sunday School classes until 1972. Restoration began that year and sparked wider neighborhood interest in preservation. The house is valued as a fine example of regional cut limestone and cedar combined with Victorian design, a marker of middle-class prosperity around 1900, and a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusually fine example of regional cut limestone and cedar blended with Victorian architecture. It is described as one of the most outstanding homes in its East Austin neighborhood and a high-water mark of middle-class affluence in turn-of-the-century Austin. It also serves as a neighborhood landmark and a focal point for restoration efforts.
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 80004155, listed August 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1402 E. 1st, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | August 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004155 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | August Kunz (builder of the main house); John O. Stavely (earlier kitchen structure) |
| Architectural style | Victorian, Queen Anne style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and being rehabilitated for rental office space; condition listed as fair and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 30.25843, -97.73005 (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 80004155.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002392
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.