HDC_07 11 1996LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
11 July 1996
Commissioners Present: John Bush Tommy Jameson Carl Menyhart Julie Wiedower
Commissioners Absent:
Bob Roddey
Staff Present:
Anthony Black V.Anne Guthrie
The roll for the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC) was called, and there was a
quorum; the minutes of the previous meetings were approved.
The first agenda item was Richard Butler's application for a certificate of appropriateness (COA)
for 419 East 10th Street; as Commissioner Tommy Jameson was project architect, he excused
himself from the subsequent discussion and decision of the agenda item. Butler presented his
application to the LRHDC and reviewed the project's background, such as his purchase of the
property and the events that led to his being fined by the environmental court.
Butler also discussed the proposed plans for the structure's rehabilitation and the research that
had been done on the structure; he stated that after the rehab and tax credit work perhaps the
house would be changed from a noncontributing to contributing structure, as stated in the
National Register nomination and documented in the district's architectural survey. He
introduced Averell Tate, a Little Rock resident who knows a great deal about the city's
architectural history; she confirmed that the proposed plans reflect her memory of the house
between 1904 -1924. Lynn Zollner, of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Office, stated that
Tate's testimony would assist in getting the structure listed as contributing after the rehab work.
Judy Gardner, representing the Parkplace condominium across the street from the applicant's,
stated that she was not opposed to the structure's renovation, but it had been in a poor condition
for the past four years. She asked that if the LRHDC approved Butler's application, would it be
possible to establish a time frame in which the proposed rehab work is to be performed. There
was discussion about setting a time frame, and Anthony Black stated that a COA may be issued
with conditions.
Commissioner Julie Wiedower made a motion that the COA be approved with a condition that an
application for a building permit be made within ninety (90) days of the LRHDC's approval.
Commissioner Carl Menyhart seconded the motion; a vote was taken, and it was unanimous that
the COA be conditionally approved (NOTE: the ninety-day condition period expires October 9).
The second agenda item was the COA application for the fire station's rehabilitation at 524 East
Ninth Street. Architect Don Renshaw presented the proposed rehabilitation of the station and
explained the project's scope; the rehab work increases the density of the fire station by going
from one to two-story and increasing the number of bays from two to five, while staying within
the building's footprint. Renshaw presented graphics of a street perspective of the structure's
elevation alongside adjacent buildings. The plan is a two-storied structure of red brick with a
metal-seamed roof. The bays are retained along the structure's south elevation with paned-doors
for the bay openings. The windows on the second story are reminiscent of the Craftsman style,
with a nine-paned sash over a single-sash. Handicapped accessibility is provided on the east
elevation. The plans were reviewed by the Quapaw Quarter Association and the Arkansas
Historic Preservation Office, both of which were complimentary of the architectural style of the
rehabilitated fire station fitting into the historic district in a sympathetic fashion.
A property owner to the north of the fire station stated that he was interested in the north facade
of the structure in terms of massing, openings, etc. There was discussion about the existing
outbuilding on the northwest comer and whether it would remain; it was explained that the
outbuilding would remain at its existing site but with a new roof. The chain link fence along the
property's perimeter (approximately 150 linear feet) was discussed, and it was stated that since
the total project is approximately one million dollars, a new and different type of fence is
warranted. Renshaw stated that the agreement between his office and the city manager's was to
deal only with the structure.
After the fencing discussion, Jameson made a motion to approve the fire station's application for
a certificate of appropriateness (COA) on the condition that the chain link fence be replaced with
a more compatible material and to have the approval of the LRHDC. A vote was taken and the
motion was passed unanimously.
The third agenda item was the COA application for the rehabilitation of Kramer School at
7th and Sherman Streets into studio spaces and apartments. Paul Esterer explained the project,
which is a joint effort between the City of Little Rock (who owns the property) and the Historic
Investment Solutions Team, who has an option to purchase the property. The Kramer School
Artist Cooperative "represents the acquisition, rehabilitation and reconfiguration" of the structure
into twenty-two (22) affordable apartment units for area artists. The Cooperative will provide
community activities to serve the artists and art organizations, which in tum fosters both
community and economic growth, revitalization and development. The auditorium provides
space for community performances, meetings and exhibition space.
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This joint housing and rehabilitation efforts is proposed by the development team of the
Downtown Little Rock Community Development Corporation (DLRCDC) and the Historic
Investment Solution Team (HIST); it represents a joint venture agreement between non-profit
and private organizations. The Kramer School is an historic structure, circa 1895, designed by
architect Thomas Harding; it is one of the city's few extant Romanesque revival style structures.
The estimated cost for rehabilitation is $2,950,000, with construction slated for October.
Funding for the project is from various resources, as the federal low-income housing and historic
restoration tax credit programs, an affordable housing loan and several other grants and "creative
financing instruments." The LRHDC reviewed the plans and discussed issues such as the
interior and exhibit spaces, parking and fencing. While the presented plans depicted a fence
along the property's perimeter, it was deleted from the final drawings. The project requires a
conditional use permit.
Menyhart made a motion that the COA application be approved (without the perimeter fence)
and with approval of the exterior lighting. A vote was taken, and the motion was approved
unanimously.
As there was no further business, the LRHDC adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
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