HDC_11 28 1989City of Little Rock
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 28, 1989
5:00 P.M.
A special meeting of the Little Rock Historic District
Commission was called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Chairman
William H. Kennedy, III. A quorum was present. William H.
Kennedy, III, Thomas Johnson, John Jarrard, Cheryl Nichols,
and Kathleen McNally. City Attorney Stephen Giles was
present.
Commissioner Jarrard requested an opinion from the City
Attorney on the Commission's jurisdiction regarding the
U.A.L.R. Law School's plans at 1201 McAlmont Street. Mr.
Giles responded that his office had researched the issue and
concluded that a Certificate of Appropriateness was required
for any building in the Historic District.
Commissioner Nichols asked Mr. Giles if the Commission could
issue a Certificate of Appropriateness without an
application. Mr. Giles stated that the Law School would
have to make a formal application at some point if they
intend to realize this project.
Chairman Kennedy emphasized that the application process
must be followed including notification of surrounding
property owners as well as a legal ad published in the
newspaper.
Mr. George Wittenberg, of Wittenberg, Delony and Davidson,
acting as agent for the University of Arkansas Law School
asked that the Commission accept the submitted information
as a formal request for a Certificate of Appropriateness
with the understanding that Mr. Giles and Mr. Harrison work
out the legalities.
Proper notification procedures had been complied with,
except for a written notice to the Reportory Theatre
adjacent to the Law School site. Mr. Wittenberg stated that
the Reportory Theatre property owner was notified.
Motion was made by Commissioner Jarrard to waive the
formality of written notification and accept the appli-
cation as complete and proper. Commissioner McNally
seconded. Motion passed. All ayes.
Mr. Wittenberg explained the Law School's proposal with a
slide presentation and photographs.
There was a lengthy discussion about the site plan as well
as the demolitions of the Bentley Cottage and BEI (Baldwin
Electric Incorporated) building.
Chairman Kennedy asked that the blueprints be marked
"`` exhibit -A, the slides exhibit -B, and the photographs
exhibit -C. Letters of recommendation from the Quapaw
Quarter Association and State Preservation Program were
marked exhibit #1 and #2 respectively.
Commissioner Jarrard made a motion to approve the appli-
cation with the following conditions: 1) the Bentley Cottage
and garage be relocated; 2) the BEI Building (the tower
portion, not the additions) be roofed and mothballed to
protect it for possible future development; 3) the lighting
along McAlmont Street be in accordance with the plan for the
MacArthur Park historic lighting. The motion was amended by
Commissioner Johnson that approval of the sign be
conditional upon the outcome of the research on the David 0'
Dodd marker; and if the research indicates that the marker
is in the exact location, that the sign be relocated.
Commissioner McNally seconded. The vote was taken. 5 ayes
and 0 nays.
Chairman Kennedy asked Mr. Wittenberg if he was going to
take the changes back to the Law School for approval. Mr.
Wittenberg responded that what they were doing was
conditional upon the two representative lawyers getting
together and working out the language. Mr. Wittenberg added
that he assumed that the approval with conditions would be
Awk. part of that language, and then he would go to his client
for approval to proceed with those conditions. Chairman
Kennedy stated that whatever was worked out must be approved
by the Commission, and that Mr. Wittenberg had received a
conditional grant of a Certificate of Appropriateness, the
Commission had acted and basically done this in accordance
with the rules and regulations. However, if they wanted to
appeal, they had thirty (30) days.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at
6:45 p.m.
NM