Loading...
HDC_11 04 2019Page 1 of 12 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 LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, November 4, 2019, 5:00 p.m. Board Room, City Hall Roll Call Quorum was present being four (4) in number. Members Present: Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell Amber Jones Robert Hodge Frances McSwain One vacant position Members Absent: Chair Ted Holder Lauren Frederick City Attorney: Sherri Latimer Staff Present: Brian Minyard Citizens Present: Ralph Wilcox Denise Ennett Approval of Minutes Commissioner Frances McSwain made a motion to approve the October 14, 2019 minutes as submitted. Commissioner Amber Jones seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 1 vacant position, and 2 absent (Frederick and Holder). Page 2 of 12 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 a. DATE: November 4, 2019 APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program ADDRESS: 24 East Palisades Drive FILE NUMBER: NR2019-006 REQUEST: Nomination of the Alexander House to the National Register of Historic Places PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 24 East Palisades Drive. The property’s legal description is “Lot L of Block #1 of the East Palisades Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." Location of Alexander House Page 3 of 12 PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Alexander House to the National Register. The nomination states: “The Alexander House was built for the Julian Alexander Family in 1962, and designed in the Mid-Century-Modern style by noted Arkansas architect Noland Blass, Jr. The house is located at 24 East Palisades Drive, an east-west oriented street on a ridge located about 275 feet above the Arkansas River. The house is built on a continuous concrete-block foundation, and has walls mainly sided in brick. The rear wall, however, which faces the river, is comprised mainly of glass in order to take advantage of the panoramic views of the river below. The house is topped by a side-gable roof covered in asphalt shingles and pierced by a large central brick chimney with hipped metal cap along with eight square skylights on its south-facing slope. “The Alexander House has excellent integrity from the time that it was built in 1962. Changes to the house have been limited to the interior and have been cosmetic in nature with the largest changes occurring in the house’s kitchen and bathroom. The exterior of the house still reflects Blass’ design from 1962, and retains its Mid-Century Modern characteristics. The design of the house still reflects the ideas of privacy from the street, which is evidenced by the lack of fenestration on the front façade, and the idea of being able to interact with the outdoors, which is still evident in the large expanses of glass across the rear façade. The setting around the Alexander House still reflects the time of the house’s construction. The East Palisades Addition still retains its design of large lots with large homes constructed in a variety of mid-twentieth-century architectural styles. The Alexander House is still easily able to convey those qualities that make the property significant. The Alexander House is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places with local significance under Criterion C for its Mid-Century Modern style of architecture. Built in 1962, the Alexander House, which was designed by noted Arkansas architect Noland Blass, Jr., illustrates many characteristics of the Mid-Century Modern style. Referred to as the Contemporary style in McAlester’s A Field Guide to American Houses the Blass House exhibits many of the characteristics of the style, including wide overhangs, contrasting wall materials and textures, and unusual window shapes and placements.” 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: November 4, 2019 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a brief presentation on the item. He stated at the end of the end of the presentation that all photos would be available to the commissioners on future nominations if the commissioners requested. Ralph Wilcox, AHPP, was available for comments. Page 4 of 12 Commissioner Frances McSwain commented that tear downs are prevalent in the area. Will homeowners dedicate a preservation easement? Mr. Wilcox stated he did not know. They have lived in the house since the early 1970’s and they do appreciate the character of the house. Commissioner Frances McSwain commented that the Commission has been seeing a few of Blass projects. Mr. Wilcox said his office was focusing on nominations of Mid-Century Modern structures. Commissioner McSwain asked if AHPP approach the owners. Mr. Wilcox said they did. They originally just asked to survey the property but it evolved into a nomination. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell asked if there was enough for a district. Mr. Wilcox said that they have surveyed a lot of the homes in the area, but will need to do more research to see if a national register district is possible. There was no public comment. Commissioner Robert Hodge made a motion to recommend the nomination of the Alexander House to the National Register of Historic Places. Commissioner Amber Jones seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 1 vacant position, and 2 absent (Frederick and Holder). Page 5 of 12 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 b. DATE: November 4, 2019 APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program ADDRESS: 1200 Hanger Street FILE NUMBER: NR2019-007 REQUEST: Nomination of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to the National Register of Historic Places PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 1200 Hanger Street. The property’s legal description is “Lots 9-12 of Block 6 of the Hanger Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." Location of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Page 6 of 12 PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to the National Register. As stated in the nomination: “The Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1200 Hanger Street in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, was built in 1919 in the late Gothic Revival style. The one story tan brick building is crowned by a hipped roof sheathed in asphalt shingles. The brickwork of the church uses a running bond on both the tan brick walls and red brick basement/lower level. Stained-glass lancet-arch windows line the sides and front of the building, many having been donated and installed by the church’s members or clubs. Towers are located the northeastern and southeastern corners of the building and they frame a recessed front porch. The neighborhood surrounding the church is mainly residential in nature. “The Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church was first organized in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1886 and has served Little Rock’s African-American community ever since. The church is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A with local significance for its associations with Little Rock’s African-American community. The church has been an important part of the community’s religious life, but has also impacted the community in other ways as well. At various points in its history, it has hosted Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Black Outreach Adoptions services, Alcohol and Drug Prevention, Vacation Bible School and prison outreach programs. “The longest serving pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church was Reverend. C.D. Pettaway, who served from 1927 until his death in 1968. Because of Rev. Pettaway’s influence in religious matters on the local, state, and national level, the building is also being nominated under Criterion B with local significance. While he served as pastor at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Pettaway served as president of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Arkansas. Additionally, he was elected president of the National Baptist Convention of America (NBCA) from 1957 to 1967. The NBCA is historically the second largest African-American Baptist convention in the United States and by 1963, while under Pettaway’s leadership, boasted nearly 3,500,000 members. “Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church exhibits architectural characteristics of the Late Gothic Revival Style, and, as a result, it is also being nominated under Criterion C with local significance due to these characteristics. Certain characteristics of Gothic Revival Style exhibited by Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church include the steeply-pitched towers complete with buttresses and decorative finials, abundant lancet-arch windows, decorative stained glass, flattened gothic arches, and a recessed arcade front porch. “Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church is also being nominated under Criteria Consideration A as a religious property.” 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, B 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 B Is defined as: Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. 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 Page 7 of 12 a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. It is also being considered under Criteria Consideration A as a religious property. COMMISSION ACTION: November 4, 2019 Brian Minyard, Staff, made a brief presentation on the item. Ralph Wilcox, AHPP, was available for comments. Commissioner Amber Jones asked if the church was still in use. Mr. Wilcox said that it was and they worked with the pastor and members for the nomination. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell noted that the original structure had wood siding. Mr. Wilcox stated that the brick was added in the 1940’s. There was no public comment. Commissioner Robert Hodge made a motion to recommend the nomination of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to the National Register of Historic Places. Commissioner Amber Jones seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 1 vacant position, and 2 absent (Frederick and Holder). Page 8 of 12 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 c. DATE: November 4, 2019 APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program ADDRESS: 4206-4218 Fairview Road, 4207-4213 Wait Street, and 4201 South Lookout Road FILE NUMBER: NR2019-008 REQUEST: Nomination of the Downs Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 4206-4218 Fairview Road, 4207-4213 Wait Street, and 4201 South Lookout Road. The property’s legal description is “Lots #1-11 of Block #23 and Lots #1-2 of Block #24 of the Hillcrest Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." Location of Downs Neighborhood Historic District Page 9 of 12 PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Downs Historic District to the National Register. As stated in the nomination: “The Downs Historic District consists of the main Downs House, eleven small cottages and their associated carports, and a community swimming pool, all of which were built during the latter half of the 1960s and early 1970s in Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood. In addition, the district also encompasses some elements that were retained from the previous estate that stood on the property, including the driveway and stone retaining walls. The houses in the Downs Historic District are Mid-Century Modern homes of frame construction that have brick and board-and-batten walls as well as gable-on-hip roofs covered in asphalt shingles. Original fenestration consists of a combination of one- beside-one sliding-glass windows and sliding-glass doors. Although built over a period of about six years, the houses were all designed by architect Lawrence Downs of Kansas City, Missouri, allowing the district to have a very cohesive character and design. “Overall, the Downs Historic District retains excellent integrity from the time of its construction in c.1965-1971. The houses in the district, for the most part, retain their original materials and design from the 1960s. Although there has been limited window and door replacement on some of the houses, the windows that have been installed either approximate or copy the original windows. Two properties have had additions constructed. The Downs House at 4206 Fairview has had a small addition constructed on the rear to accommodate a new master bedroom, but it is small in scale and mimics the materials of the original house. The house at 4214 Fairview has had a substantial two-story addition constructed that is out of scale with the original house and the rest of the district. The setting of the district also reflects the setting when the houses were built. The district retains its landscaping and site features from the previous estate. As a result, the Downs Historic District still easily conveys those qualities that make it significant. “The Downs Historic District is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places with local significance under Criterion C for its good and cohesive collection of Mid-Century Modern architecture. The fact that the houses in the district were all planned at the same time, although not built at the same time, and designed by the same architect, Lawrence Downs, allowed for the district to have an exceptional cohesiveness. The design of the district was also carried out in a way that it preserved features from the previous estate, including the driveway, stone walls, and house’s basement, which was modified into the community’s pool, as well as the trees from the previous estate. The design of the houses employed characteristics of Mid-Century Modern design, including wide overhangs on the roofs, contrasting wall materials and textures, and the use of several sliding-glass doors, which allowed residents to integrate the indoors with the outdoors. In addition, the design of the houses, and the layout of the district, also allowed residents to enjoy privacy, even with the houses being constructed in such close proximity to each other. “Although the district is located within the National Register-listed Hillcrest Historic District, the buildings in the district are all non-contributing in the Hillcrest Historic District since they were built outside the Hillcrest Historic District’s period of significance. The period of significance for the Allsopp Estate Historic District is c.1965-1971, which covers the period of the planning and construction of the first houses up through the completion of the last houses.” Page 10 of 12 Overall, there are seventeen contributing buildings, two contributing structures (swimming pool and stone walls / driveway) and one non-contributing building at 4214 Fairview Road which is non-contributing due to an addition. 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: November 4, 2019 Downs Historic District Brian Minyard, Staff, made a brief presentation on the item. Ralph Wilcox, AHPP, was available for comments. He noted that it was a neat little neighborhood. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell stated that the detached garages are interesting. Commissioner Missy McSwain stated it was her understanding that the architect studied the property for some time and placed the homes to fit with the trees. There was no public comment. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell made a motion to recommend the nomination of the Downs Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. Commissioner Frances McSwain seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 1 vacant position, and 2 absent (Frederick and Holder). Page 11 of 12 Other Matters Enforcement issues Staff reported on 314 E 6th Street where the owner removed a permanent awning without permission. Staff is working with the owner on replacement of the awning. Mr. Minyard will send photos to Vice Chair Russell to help identify the metal tiles. He commented that a COA may be filed on the property. Certificates of Compliance HDC2019-020 was at 409 e 6th Street, was for installation of the original sign for DDF. DDF had been approved for a sign and then the HDC heard the item for Bluebird Realty which was the same size and shape of the original. Blue Bird Realty has left and DDF wanted to put the original sign back up. Since they had received approval of the sign originally and they had the old sign in their possession, Staff believed that this would qualify as something that Staff could sign off on. The Commission did not voice any dissension over this. HDC2019-02XX was for 519 E 6th Street for a roof replacement and some concrete replacement. Guidelines Revision Staff should have a draft soon to the committee. After the committee is through, it will be brought to the full commission and then to the public. Letters will be sent to the property owners for them to review the changes and remind them that they are in the district. It will be advertised as an item on the agenda. Typically, the letters would be sent about a month in advance. Sherri Latimer stated that the public comment would be at the public hearing. Resolution The resolution was distributed to the commission at the agenda meeting and was added to the agenda under Other Items. This resolution is in support of the Preservation of the Gay Oil Building at 3rd and Broadway. Sherri Latimer, City Attorney’s office, stated that the resolution was non-binding on the Planning Commission or the Board of Directors. Vice Chair Jeremiah Russell stated that if a building of this significance is under threat of Demolition or up for redevelopment, the HDC should give its opinion to the Planning Commission and the Board of Directors. Commissioner Robert Hodge made a motion to approve the Resolution as submitted. Commissioner Amber Jones seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 1 vacant position, and 2 absent (Frederick and Holder). Staff stated that it will be passed onto the Planning Commission and the Board of Directors. Citizen Communication Denise Ennett thanked the Commission for their work in the preservation of the city. Mr. Minyard noted that the 2020 Calendar, the Election of Officers, and the Bylaw Amendment will be on the next agenda. Page 12 of 12 Adjournment There was a motion to adjourn and the meeting ended at 5:35 p.m. Attest: Chair Date Secretary/Staff Date