HDC_04 01 1980M I N U T E S
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
APRIL 1, 1980
4:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: MR. JOHN JARRARD, CHAIRMAN
MS. BETH FOT I
MR. SAM STRAUSS
MR. GEORGE WORTHEN
MEMBERS ABSENT: MR. ROBERT CONNER
STAFF PRESENT: MR. MIKE DOOLEY
MR. NATHANIEL GRIFFIN
Minutes of the March 4, 1980 meeting were accepted and approved.
There was some discussion about the title of the proposed
Historic District and the possibility of creating confusion with
the National Register Historic District. It was resolved that
the Little Rock Historic District Commission will title its first
project area the MacArthur Park Historic District in recognition
of the history of the arsenal and its grounds, and its central
location within our project area.
In trying to put together our Historic District Package, which
will include the Ordinance, the By-Laws and the Guidelines,
several items were addressed;
1. It was determined that of the two line drawings of the
Arsenal by Mr. Richard DeSpain, the Commission preferred
the 1863 rendering rather than the newer version. However,
it was the Commissions viewpoint that the soldiers standing
in front of the 1863 drawing were not appropriate. The
Commission requested the Staff to try to locate another
photograph of that period showing details of the Arsenal
and its accessory structures, without the Union troops.
If that could be located, then request the Graphics and
Design Division of the Planning Office to pen its own
AM, version of the photograph. If not, we will proceed using
the more recent line drawing by Mr. DeSpain.
2. The latest drawings of four of the five representative
architectural styles were presented along with the appro-
priate architectural terms for each. The terms were
approved by the Commission subject to the Staff rearranging
them so that the directional lines do not cross.
3. Presented were four of the five architectural styles that
have been poorly modified. They were accepted as submitted
and the staff was authorized to proceed with having them
reduced to a workable size.
4. In that our last Craftsman example resembled a Tudor Style
residence, a photograph of a smaller bungalow was presented.
The Commission agreed that it would serve much better and
directed the Staff to proceed with the terms and the poorly
modified sketch.
5. A summary paragraph of the various other architectural styles
within the MacArthur Park Historic District was discussed.
It was agreed that we might need to at least mention some of
these styles in the Guidelines but that detailed information
for same was not necessary.
6. Another item for inclusion in the Guidelines deals with
signage in the area. It was agreed to prohibit billboards
within the district and to adopt the sign standards found
in the Capitol Zoning District's Mansion Area rather than
use the sign code in effect for the rest of the City. The
Staff was asked to check with the City Attorney's office
to see how and if this can be accomplished.
Our strategy for developing a legislative package for the
review and change of the Historic District enabling legislation
was discussed. The principals to be involved will include; the
Little Rock Historic District Commission, the Arkansas Historic
Preservation Program, the Quapaw Quarter Association, the
Little Rock Planning Staff and any interested preservation
architect who wishes to participate. It was decided that this
Commission will hold a work session to review the State Act on
Tuesday, April 15th, at 4:00 p.m. in the Board of Directors
Conference Room at City Hall. Enclosed with these Minutes,
you should find a copy of that legislation with specific points
of concern underlined. Subsequent to the Commission's work
session, we will contact the other interested parties to evaluate
their comments and concerns.
The Commission requested the Staff to research an existing sign
belonging to Park View Apartments between 9th and 10th Streets
on Commerce. An inspection of said sign has been arranged
through the Code Enforcement Section of City Hall and the results
are forthcoming.
WMD /se