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HDC_11 04 2013Page 1 of 7 LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, November 4, 2013, 5:00 p.m. Board Room, City Hall I. Roll Call Quorum was present being five (5) in number. Members Present: Julie Wiedower Randy Ripley BJ Bowen Toni Johnson Mark Brown Members Absent: Chris Vanlandingham Kwadjo Boaitey City Attorney: Debra Weldon Staff Present: Brian Minyard Citizens Present: Ralph Wilcox II. Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Julie Wiedower to approve the minutes of October 13, 2013 as submitted. Commissioner BJ Bowen seconded and the minutes were approved with a vote of 5 ayes and 2 absent (Boaitey and Vanlandingham). Notice requirements were not met on the applications on Scott Street. III. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness None IV. Certificates of Appropriateness DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 Page 2 of 7 DATE: November 4, 2013 APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, AHPP ADDRESS: 410 S. Battery Street REQUEST: Nomination to the National Register PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 410 S. Battery Street. The property’s legal description is Block 26 of the Phillips Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." The Arkansas Historic Preservation Programs has set forth the “Arkansas Certified Local Government Procedures.” In it, sections are titled: “Introduction”, “Eligibility for participation in the Certified Local Government Program”, “Process for Certification of Local Governments”, “Process for monitoring Certified local Governments,” “Certified Local Governments Participation in the National Register Nomination Process”, and “Transfer of funds to Certified Local Governments.” In Section II Eligibility for Participation in the Certified Local Government Program subsection C Local Historic Preservation Program, II C. 2. f) states that one of the Duties of local preservation commissions shall include: “Reviewing all proposed National Registration nominations for properties within the boundaries of the CLG’s jurisdiction. When a commission reviews a nomination or other action that will impact properties which are normally evaluated by a professional in a specific discipline, at that discipline is not represented on the commission, the commission must seek expertise in that discipline before rendering its decision.” In Section V Certified Local Government participation in the national register nomination process, sub section B CLG involvement in the National Register Process, the procedures state: DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. One. Location of Project Page 3 of 7 A. CLGs shall submit a report (available for public inspection) to the AHPP regarding the eligibility of each property or district within its jurisdiction proposed for nomination to the National Register. I. The report shall include recommendations of the local preservation commission and the chief elected official. 2. The report should concentrate on the property's eligibility under the National Register criteria. 3. Failure to submit reports on the eligibility of properties nominated within the jurisdiction of the CLG after the AHPP has informed the CLG of a pending nomination will be considered during the periodic performance evaluation. B. CLG involvement in the National Register process I. Within 60 calendar days of receipt of the nomination, the CLG shall inform the AHPP by submission of a report (see section V-A) as to its opinion regarding the eligibility of the property. The CLG shall also inform the property owner(s) using National Register criteria for evaluation, as to its opinion regarding the eligibility of the property. 2. In the event a nomination is received by the AHPP before submission to the CLG, the AHPP will forward a copy of the completed nomination to the CLG within 30 calendar days of receipt. 3. If both the commission and chief elected official recommend that a property not be nominated because it does not meet the National Register criteria for eligibility, the CLG will so inform the property owner(s) and the State Historic. Preservation Officer, the property will then not be nominated unless an appeal is filed with the SHPO in accordance with appeal procedures outlined in 36 CFR 60. Appeals must be received by the SHPO within 30 calendar days of the date the property owner receives notification by certified mail that the property has been determined ineligible for nomination by both the CLG and the Chief elected official. This is in accordance with Section 101[c) 2 of the NHPA. 4. If the commission or the chief elected official of the CLG recommend that a property should be nominated, the nomination will be scheduled for submission to the Arkansas State Review Board. Scheduling will be in accordance with notification time constraints as set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. 5. The Arkansas State Review Board, after considering all opinions, including those of the commission and the chief elected official of the CLG, shall make its recommendation to the State Historic Preservation Officer. Either the local preservation commission or the chief elected official may appeal the SHPOs final decision. 6. When a National Register nomination, that has been reviewed by a commission, is submitted to the National Park Service for review and listing, all reports or comments from the local officials will be submitted along with the nomination. Page 4 of 7 7. The AHPP and the CLG will work together to provide ample opportunity for public participation in the nomination of properties to the National register. All reports submitted by the CLG to the AHPP regarding the eligibility of properties shall include assurances of public input. The CLG shall retain a list of all persons contacted during the evaluation period and note comments that were received. If a public meeting was held, a list of those attending shall be included in the report. PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination to the National Register. “The Davidson House was built in 1951 by prominent local architect and train enthusiast Julian Bunn Davidson to overlook nearby train tracks. It was the only house he ever built, and its design emulated contemporary 1950s architecture. Decades later, the building housed one of the most eccentric political figures in state history. Because of the modern design of the building, the Davidson House is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C with local significance and a period of significance of 1951.” The political figure stated was Bill McCuen. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends nomination to the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C. Criterion C is defined as: Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lace individual distinction. COMMISSION ACTION: October 13, 2013 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a presentation to the Commission on the item. There were no questions on the item from the Commissioners. Ralph Wilcox, AHPP representative, stated he was available to answer any questions about the nomination, but did not have a formal presentation to make. Commissioner Julie Wiedower asked who prepared the nomination. Mr. Wilcox answered that it was Capitol Zoning District Commission Staff but it was edited by AHPP Staff. Commissioner Wiedower commented about the context of the house and questioned if there were other houses that may be a better example of that style. She mentioned that the fact of its history as the “Sugar Shack” under Bill McCuen. Mr. Wilcox stated that there is not much downtown that is of the modern archit ecture style. Commissioner Wiedower asked what the intent for the nomination was. Tax credits? Mr. Wilcox stated that CZDC wanted to list the building since it was their offices. He said that they would be eligible for HPRG grants in the future. Commissioner Randy Ripley posed the unanswered question of how long the Capitol Zoning District Commission had been in that building. He continued discussing the addition of the bedroom wing to the house. There was a discussion on the exterior materials of the house and whether the windows had been replaced. Mr. Wilcox said that he did not believe the windows had been replaced. Page 5 of 7 There was a discussion about the worthiness of the structure and if this nomination would lessen the significance of the register as a whole and if this structure is an exceptional example. Commissioner Toni Johnson stated that the location was interesting and the history of use is also interesting. She said that she remembers the “Sugar Shack” as a strong part of the Little Rock history from a gossipy standpoint. She asked if the events that happened there are as important as the architecture itself. Mr. Wilcox said that they must fit the gossip into architectural register in an academic standpoint. It is a harder point to make for the register. He stated that the nomination is honorary, it may get HPRG funding, and there is no restriction on demolition of the building. Commissioner Ripley stated that the commission needed to give a “weak nod” to the nomination. There was a discussion of the CLG contract concerning nominations and stated that either the HDC or the chief elected official needed to recommend the nomination. Commissioner Julie Wiedower made a motion to “support forwarding this nomination to the State Review Board for their nomination”. The motion passed with a vote of 5 ayes and 2 absent (Vanlandingham and Boaitey) Page 6 of 7 DATE: December 9, 2013 APPLICANT: Mark Brown and Jill Judy ADDRESS: 901 - 917 Scott Street COA REQUEST: Demolition of building and block wall The applicant did not receive the list of property owners from the abstract company in time to do the required notices. This item will need to be deferred to a later hearing. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Deferral. COMMISSION ACTION: November 4, 2013 There was a motion made to defer the item to the next meeting by Commissioner Julie Wiedower and to charge the deferral to the Commission. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Randy Ripley and the motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 1 recusal (Brown) and 2 absent (Vanlandingham and Boaitey.) DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. A. V. Other Matters Citizen Communication There were no citizens present at this time. VI. Adjournment There was a motion to adjourn and the meeting ended at 5:28 p.m. Attest: C air Secretary/Staff Date Date Page 7 of 7