HDC_12 05 1985City of Little Rock
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MEETING
DECEMBER 5TH, 1985
The meeting began at 4:25 P.M. in the Board of Director's
Chambers with the calling of the role. All members being
present, the Chair then called for a motion to approve the
minutes of the previous meeting. This motion was made and
seconded and the minutes were approved by a voice vote.
The Chair then called case M-2, and application by David R.
Martinsen for the issuance of a Certificate so that he might
construct a garage at his residence at 1002 Commerce, to the
Commission's attention. Mr. Martinsen gave a brief
presentation of his proposal, stating that the was willing
to make any modifications requested by the Commission.
After several questions were asked, Commissioner Bruno moved
that the application be approved subject to a triangular
window on the east elevation be replaced by a semi - circular
window and that a wall section be submitted and approved.
The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The Chair
empowered Commissioner Jarrard and staff to review and
approve the conditional items. Staff was also instructed to
take more care in accepting applications as the one for case
M-2 was deficient.
The Chair then called case M -3 before the Commission. This
was an application by Mr. John Corn, acting as agent for
M.M. Ebert American Legion Post #1, for a Certificate of
Appropriateness for the demolition of the building at 522
Rock and the construction of a parking lot at that location.
Mr. Corn began his presentation by outlining the Post's
history in the area, its commitment to the community and its
need for increased parking. He further stated that the
structure was an eyesore, detrimental to the neighborhood at
large and had been condemned by the City's housing
inspectors. Following Mr. Corn, others spoke in favor of
the application, including Raymond Branton, an architect,
who stated that the building had no architectural or
historical significance, and W. J. Walker, Homer Conley and
Reubel Homes, adjacent property owners.
Speaking in opposition to the request were Cheryl Nichols of
the Quapaw Quarter Association and Bill Hall with the
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. In general, both
organizations reluctantly accepted the necessity of
demolishing the building but were opposed to the
construction of a parking lot.
After an extensive period of discussion and questions, the
Commission voted to address the two issues involved in the
application separately. Taking the matter of the demolition
first, Commissioner Kennedy moved to invoke the Commission's
power to delay demolition for a period of up to six months
while alternatives are explored. The motion was seconded
and was approved unanimously in a roll call vote. The
parking lot issue was delayed pending the resolution of the
demolition question. However, Commissioner Jarrard and
staff were authorized to work with the applicant in order to
resolve design problems in the parking lot layout.
Following this case, a resolution by the Board of Directors
regarding use of legal counsel outside the City Attorney's
Office was read into the minutes. After some brief
discussion of general Commission business the meeting was
adjourned.
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