HDC_11 07 1996LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
7 November 1996
Commissioners Present:
John Bush John Greer Tommy Jameson Charles Marratt Julie Wiedower
Commissioners Absent:
None
Staff Present:
V.Anne Guthrie Tim Polk Anthony Black
Visitors:
Cheri Nichols Lynne Zollner
The roll for the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC) was called, and there was a
quorum; the minutes from the September meeting were approved.
There were no agenda items, or certificates of appropriateness, for the LRHDC to review.
The meeting started with the introduction of the two new commissioners, John T. Greer and
Charles Marratt. An election ofLRHDC officers for 1997 took place: Commissioner Julie
Wiedower nominated John Bush as chair and Tommy Jameson as vice-chair. A vote was taken
for the two positions and both nominees were approved unanimously.
Anne Guthrie presented a listing and update of the 1996 Certified Local Government (CLG)
grants: Design guidelines for Central High; preparation of a National Register application for
historic district designation of the Capitol View neighborhood; and Curran Hall acquisition and
stabilization.
For Central High, a meeting is scheduled in early December for the consultant to talk with
neighborhood residents regarding design guidelines; a previously arranged meeting with the
consultant, 24 October, was boycotted by the residents. The Capitol View application is being
amended due to the lack of architectural research; and the deed for Curran Hall is yet to be drawn
up and delivered to the state historic preservation program (AHPP), which is a prerequisite for
the funding of its stabilization. Anthony Black presented an additional update of the eminent
domain proceedings for Curran Hall; $48,000 had been tendered in court for its acquisition and
the previous asking price by the trustees was $250,000, which then dropped to $125,000. It is
hoped that there may be a settlement reached for its acquisition.
The discussion then focused on the upcoming 1997 CLG process. While there has not been a
deadline established for the grant proposals, it is thought to be the end of January 1997.
Wiedower asked if the past CLG funded projects could be distributed at the next meeting.
Bush asked about last year's request, one of which was the establishment of a historic
preservation awards program. Cheri Nichols stated that should such a program be set up by the
LRHDC it would be beneficial if the program complimented the Quapaw Quarter Association's
(QQA) program, which is already in existence and has been for decades. The QQA awards are
distributed at their annual meeting in November.
Nichols also stated that it would be beneficial if research was performed on the city's black
neighborhoods, similar to work that had been done on Central High and previous areas. She
stated that these neighborhoods are more at risk in terms of their stabilization and rehabilitation
and already too many structures have been demolished and with it the neighborhood's history. It
would be beneficial if these neighborhoods were recorded and had been researched; also, there is
the possibility that these areas could qualify as a multiple resource nomination application.
A question was asked by Jameson about the purpose of CLG funding and how much money is
available statewide. Lynne Zollner responded to the question and gave a brief description of its
purpose and use. Wiedower commented about the degree of development in the Heights
neighborhood. Jameson then stated that an architectural survey of the Heights would be
appropriate in terms of documenting the neighborhood's architectural heritage.
Bush expounded on the Mayor's Task Force for Historic Preservation and the purpose of
developing needed educational programs for the city's architectural and historical heritage.
Wiedower mentioned the possibility of having brochures developed and printed, especially with
the new addition of Central High as a national register district. It was decided that a listing of
possible CLG grants would be prepared for the LRHDC to review.
Lynne Zollner, as CLG coordinator with the AHPP, then gave the LRHDC a brief description of
the upcoming and required training for city commissions. She stated that there would be a three
part training session starting tentatively in early 1997, which is divided into the following:
➔the first is an 8-hour session solely for the LRHDC;
➔the second is a 3 or 4 hour session with staff
(this includes code enforcement, planning, legal, etc.); and
➔the third is a 3 or 4 hour session with residents ( or public) within the MacArthur Park
Historic District.
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After the final session, a public forum is held to review what has been learned and to provide for
public comments. All three sessions must be advertised and open to the public. Zollner then
asked nine questions, to which each commissioner responded (Wiedower had to leave after the
third question due to a prior commitment). The following questions were asked:
1 What is the most important responsibility of the HDC?
2 What do you think is the best, or is going very well, on this HDC?
3 What do you see as issues and problems and what is your greatest fear as
commissioner on the HDC?
4 How would you describe the work of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program?
5 Do you understand what the CLG is?
6 What are your needs and expectations as a commissioner on the HDC?
7 How would you describe city staff? Other city commissions?
8 What is the most important thing that the AHPP can provide the LRHDC?
9 Is there anything that wasn't asked, which you think would be important?
As there was no further business, the LRHDC adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
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