This agreement will provide Professional Design Services to address structural, mechanical, and civil engineering rehab needs for the city's historical McElroy-Severn (Stagecoach) House and Onion Creek Post Office for the Council's chosen use of the facility as event space.  Terracon's services will include Design and Development Services, Historical Preservation and Archeological Services, as well as Bidding and Construction Support.

In 2024, the City conducted a Limited Structural Condition Assessment with the assistance of the Seventh Generation Design Inc. firm (RFP #23-232). That assessment identified numerous rehabilitation requirements for continued preservation of our historical Stagecoach House. 

In 2025, the City solicited firms (RFQ #25-192) for additional historic architectural services, and a contract was awarded to Terracon in an amount not-to-exceed $47,500. In 2026, with the assistance of Terracon Consultants, the City conducted a schematic design review that further reviewed the rehabilitation items identified in the 2024 assessment. The current proposal is the next phase of design. 

The project consists of rehabilitation and retrofits of two existing buildings (McElroy-Severn Stagecoach House and Onion Creek Post Office) within City of Buda’s Historic Stagecoach Park. Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entirety of the site, including the two structures, is also a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). The scope of services - including completion of design, generating bid documents, providing
construction administration services, and historic preservation consulting as required ensuring permitting guidelines are met in accordance with regulating state and local agencies - is a continuation of assessment and schematic design services commissioned under the City agreement #25-192 issued March 12, 2025.

The McElroy-Severn Stagecoach House is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a State Antiquities Landmark through the State of Texas. Any work performed on structures with this designation must work through a State of Texas antiquities permit to preserve the historic nature of the facility. From the Texas Historic Commission:

"The complex that includes the McElroy-Severn House/Stagecoach House and Onion Creek Post Office occupies a 51-acre tract of land on a high bluff above a branch leading into Onion Creek, about a quarter mile east of Buda. The post office and stagecoach house served the area’s residents and people traveling on the old San Antonio road beginning in 1875. Once mail service moved to the new railroad town of Dupre (Buda) in 1880, the former station house was converted to a private residence and served as headquarters for family ranching operations for more than a century. The McElroy-Severn House (stagecoach house) is an outstanding example of a late-19th century modified center-passage dwelling. It is a five-bay, side-gabled frame dwelling with a hipped roof porch that stretches across the entire south façade. Features also include limestone chimneys plastered with concrete and interior walls framed with cedar. Several major remodeling campaigns in 1885, 1900 and 1920 have substantially enlarged the house. The adjacent 1876 one-room post office is noteworthy for its fine craftsmanship, solid limestone construction and carved stone lintels. A single door faces the rear east wing of the stagecoach house and a small, single-pane window is cut out of its east wall. Other historic resources on site include a brick and limestone well, a concrete trough and concrete walkways and gardens. Together, these buildings recall Buda’s beginnings as a collection of isolated homesteads scattered along Onion Creek and reflect a century of Buda’s agricultural heritage."

The City acquired the property in 1998 as part of the overall development of Stagecoach Park. The City renovated the facility between 2012 - 2014. The facility was used as a Parks and Tourism office until 2021. In 2022, tourism functions of the City opened the Welcome Center at the old library in downtown. The facility has been vacant since 2021 due to needed repair and maintenance.

In 2023, the City Council held a workshop on the future of the facility. Options included using the space as a small meeting space for the community to support small gatherings, a museum, or to lease it as an office space. The Council direction was to rehabilitate the space to support small gatherings and meetings.

Assessments and design/repair recommendations were performed within the context of the Council's desired use of the building as a lease space for public events. For this proposed use, Terracon recommends a design to accommodate moveable seat assembly. It is Terracon’s opinion that the existing floor framing, perimeter stem walls, and beams cannot support the proposed loading and will require significant strengthening to meet this proposed use. A comprehensive structural assessment will be required as part of a comprehensive strengthening plan, but Terracon anticipates the need for a combination of several modifications to strengthen the floor framing, remediate existing piers, repair fireplace hearths, and manage moisture within the crawl space. Other tasks include, but are not limited to, accessibility, drainage, and coordination with the Texas Historical Commission. 

The total value of the proposed contract is $325,600 as of the agenda posting date. City staff is awaiting an updated proposal that will be presented at the City Council meeting. 

Pros: The City will begin to address much needed preservation efforts for the historical McElroy-Severn (Stagecoach) House and Onion Creek Post Office.

Cons: The historical McElroy-Severn (Stagecoach) House and Onion Creek Post Office will continue to deteriorate.