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HDC_03 12 2018Page 1 of 8 LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, March 12, 2018, 5:00 p.m. Board Room, City Hall Roll Call Quorum was present being six (6) in number. Members Present: Chair Ted Holder Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell Dick Kelley Lauren Frederick Amber Jones Robert Hodge Members Absent: Dale Pekar City Attorney: Debra Weldon Staff Present: Brian Minyard Citizens Present: Ralph Wilcox Callie Williams Dan Fowler Lily McRae Approval of Minutes Commissioner Dick Kelley made a motion to approve the February 12, 2018 minutes as submitted. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 absent (Pekar). Notice requirements were met on all of the items except as noted in individual hearing items. Notice of public hearing was printed in a newspaper of general circulation, posted on the internet and emails were sent to interested citizens and the press to inform them of the agenda being posted online. 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 8 DATE: March 12, 2018 APPLICANT: Antoinette Johnson ADDRESS: 13905 Arch Street Pike FILE NUMBER: NR18-001 REQUEST: Nomination of the Carmichael House to the National Register PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 13905 Arch Street Pike. The property’s legal description is “The northern boundary ends at Ste Highway 3678/ Arch Street Pike. The eastern boundary ends at Bailey Road. More specifically, the land lying in blocks 1, 2, and 3 excluding the south 126.4’ of Lot 3 in Comstock’s addition to the City of Little Rock, Section 21, Township 1 South, Range 12 West, Pulaski County, Arkansas." PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Carmichael House to the National Register. The Carmichael House is a rural estate located at the southern edge of Pulaski County in what is considered the community of Landmark at the edge of Little Rock, Arkansas, just off of State Highway 367. It consists of Lots 1, 2, and most of Lot 3 in the Comstock Subdivision. The property is unique in that the main house and several secondary DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. IV -1. Location of the Carmichael House Page 3 of 8 structures have been built in the Craftsman style of architecture and use multiple types of stone topped with terra cotta tile roofs. The front of the main house even displays a "C" inlayed in stone on the chimney front. The builder of the c.1935 home was Judge John Hugh Carmichael and his wife, Lily Mae Beauchamp (also listed in records as Bryan'), both well-known Little Rock attorneys. Oral history tells of the property having had a jail which housed convicts used to build the home and its outbuildings. The nomination states: “The Carmichael House and its related outbuildings remain as an intact example of a rural Pulaski County gentleman's farm. The vision John and Lily had for this land is still evident in these structures, which retain a considerable amount of integrity. The house and its surrounding buildings provide a significant contribution to the area's architectural history and insight to the Carmichael's lifestyle. They serve as a stark contrast to other Craftsman homes in the area built around the same time. The Carmichael's main house and s urroundings are much more elaborate in the design of its structures, as well as, its landscape architecture. The adjacent Craftsman- style homes are much simpler in form and ornament, most of them being wood clapboard. There is one stone house directly across the street, however; it lacks the complexity of design and grandeur of the Carmichael's estate. Therefore this property is recommended for listing on the National Register of Historic Places with local significance under Criterion C as an excellent example of a rural gentleman's estate in Pulaski County.” 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 which 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 lack individual distinction. COMMISSION ACTION: March 12, 2018 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a presentation to the Commission. Mr. Minyard stated that not all eighty plus photos were included in the staff report. One of each building and some characteristic ones were included. No comments were received from the public. Toni Johnson, who wrote the nomination, was unable to be here tonight because of a previous engagement. Ralph Wilcox, AHPP representative, stated that he would answer questions if needed on the application. Chair Ted Holder asked if this was a Silas Owen House. Mr. Wilcox said the house is similar to the WPA style of buildings and is mixed masonry building like Silas Owens built, but it was not known who built the house. Commissioner Dick Kelley asked about the contributing outbuildings. Mr. Wilcox stated that they were all contributing except the ranch style house. No citizens spoke on the item. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell made a motion to recommend approval of the nomination to the National Register. Commissioner Robert Hodge seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 absent (Pekar). Page 4 of 8 DATE: March 12, 2018 APPLICANT: Lillian McRae ADDRESS: 613-615 S Main Street FILE NUMBER: NR18-002 REQUEST: Nomination of the Fulk-Arkansas Democrat Building to the National Register PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 613-615 S Main Street. The property’s legal description is “Lot 4, Block 7, Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Fulk-Arkansas Democrat Building to the National Register. The nomination states: “The Fulk-Arkansas Democrat Building was designed by Charles L. Thompson in the Neoclassical Revival style in 1916 and completed in 1917 along Little Rock’s historic Main Street. The building was designed to serve as the print shop and headquarters for the Arkansas Democrat newspaper, which occupied the building from 1917 until 1930. The building is a simple rectangle in plan with a variety of neoclassical details that accent the early 20th century commercial building. The Fulk-Arkansas Democrat Building is being nominated to the National DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. IV - 2. Location of Fulk-Arkansas Democrat Building Page 5 of 8 Register of Historic Places under Criterion A, with local significance, for its association with the history of Communications in central Arkansas specific to the history of the Arkansas Democrat newspaper and its role as an important regional and state-wide source of information. The Fulk- Arkansas Democrat Building is also being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C, with local significance, as an excellent example of Neoclassical Revival Style architecture in Little Rock, Arkansas, designed by Charles L. Thompson. It is also being nominated under the Charles L. Thompson Design Collection Thematic Resources context of 1982.” 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 A and C. Criterion A is defined as: Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. 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 lack individual distinction. COMMISSION ACTION: March 12, 2018 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a presentation to the Commission. Dan Fowler, of the Cromwell Firm, spoke for the application. This is a Charles Thompson building and he noted that Thompson was a founder of his firm and represents his work. He noted that it was interesting to restore the building one hundred years after it was built as the architect and the owner. No citizens spoke on the item. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell made a motion to recommend approval of the nomination to the National Register. Commissioner Dick Kelley seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 absent (Pekar). Page 6 of 8 DATE: March 12, 2018 APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, AHPP ADDRESS: 906 S Broadway FILE NUMBER: NR18-002 REQUEST: Nomination of the Mosaic Templars Grand Temple to the National Register PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 906 S Broadway. The property’s legal description is “Lot 9 and 10, Block 112, Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Mosaic Templars Grand Temple to the National Register. The nomination states: “The Mosaic Templars State Temple is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places with statewide significance under Criterion A for its associations with the development of African- American businesses and fraternal organizations in the late nineteenth century in Arkansas. The Mosaic Templars of America was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1883 by former slaves John Edward Bush and Chester W. Keatts as an African- American fraternal organization that offered mutual aid to the black community. At its peak, the Mosaic Ternplars had over DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. IV-3. Location of Mosaic Templars Grand Temple Page 7 of 8 100,000 members in chapters in twenty-six states, the Caribbean. and South and Central America. The Mosaic Templars State 'Temple is the last remaining historic building associated with the Mosaic Templars of America Headquarters, and its prominent location at 9 th and Broadway, which was the heart of Little Rock's (and the Slate's) African-American business district, helps to illustrate the organization's importance in the state's black community.” The nomination also states: “With the burning of the Mosaic Templars annex in 1984 and the National Grand Temple in 2005, the Mosaic Ternplars State Temple is the last surviving historic building on the site. The survival of the Mosaic Ternplars State Temple makes it an important part of the legacy of the significant and prominent Mosaic Templars of America organization. The Mosaic Templars State Temple's prominent location at 9th and Broadway, which was the heart of Little Rock's (and the slate's) African-American business district helps to illustrate the organization's importance in the state's black community. Due to that fact, the Mosaic Templars Stale Temple is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places with statewide significance under Criterion A for its associations with the development of African-American businesses and fraternal organizations in the late nineteenth century in Arkansas” 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 A which is defined as: Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. COMMISSION ACTION: March 12, 2018 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a presentation to the Commission. Ralph Wilcox, AHPP representative, stated that he would answer questions if needed on the application. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell asked why it was not nominated under architecture. Mr. Wilcox stated that due to outside and inside changes and alterations; they did not feel it was eligible. The windows were replaced about 1992 and the interior has no original fabric. Chair Ted Holder asked if it was occupied. Mr. Wilcox stated it was just purchased by AHPP and it will be a rental property. No citizens spoke on the item. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell made a motion to recommend approval of the nomination to the National Register. Commissioner Amber Jones seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 absent (Pekar). It was noted that these three items will go to the State Review Board on April 4th and that meeting starts at 9:00 am. Other Matters Enforcement issues Staff had none to report to the Commission. Certificates of Compliance A spreadsheet was distributed to the Commission earlier Citizen Communication There were no citizens that chose to speak during citizen communication Adjournment There was a motion to adjourn and the meeting ended at 5:17 p.m. Attest: Chair Secretary /Staff Date Date Page 8 of 8