HDC_07 01 2021Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
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
Thursday, July 2, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
Board Room, City Hall
Roll Call
Quorum was present being five (5) in number.
Members Present: Chair Jeremiah Russell
Vice Chair Ted Holder
Christine Aleman
Mark Hinson
Amber Jones
Jonathan Nunn
Members Absent: Robert Hodge
City Attorney: Sherri Latimer
Staff Present: Walter Malone
Jamie Collins
Citizens Present: Ralph Wilcox
Approval of Minutes
The minutes were approved as submitted with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 absent (Hodge).
The notice requirements were met on all the items except as noted in individual hearing items.
Notice of public hearing was printed in a newspaper of general circulation, posted on the
internet and emails were sent to interested citizens and the press to inform them of the agenda
being posted online.
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Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
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. One.
DATE: July 1, 2021
APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
ADDRESS: 300 E Roosevelt Road
FILE NUMBER: NR2021-003
REQUEST: Nomination of the Veterans Administration Hospital to the National
Register of Historic Places
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION:
The subject property is located at 300 E Roosevelt Road. The property's legal description is " A
part of the Southeast Quarter of Section 10 and Southeast Quarter of Section 11, Township 1
North, Range 12 West, Pulaski County, Arkansas, also a part of Fulk's Subdivision, Rapley
Estates, Reeves Subdivision and Van Gran's Subdivision to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski
County, Arkansas, being more particularly described as follows: Commencing at a corner
common to Section 10, 11, 14 and 15, Township 1 North, Range 12 West, Pulaski County,
Arkansas; thence run North 31.4 feet to the point of beginning, said point being also the
northeasterly corner of the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Cumberland Street, as
established by amended plat dated July 1906, and recorded in Book 81, Page 209; thence run
North 0 Degrees 55 Minutes East 164.1 feet; thence run North 88 Degrees 44 Minutes West
168.4 feet to a point in the center of East 25th Street; thence run North 0 Degrees 55 Minutes
East 30 feet; thence run North 88 Degrees 44 Minutes West 66.1 feet to a point being the
Southwest corner of Lot 7, Block 2 in a Subdivision of Block 18, Rapley Estates; thence run
North 0 Degrees 55 Minutes East 456.2 feet to the Northwest corner of Lot 10, Block 2 Fulk's
Subdivision; thence run South 88 Degrees 44 Minutes East 360 feet to the Northeast Corner of
Lot 7, Block 3, Fulk's Subdivision; thence run South 0 Degrees 25 Minutes West 157.0 feet to a
point on the south right-of-way of East 24th Street; thence run North 89 Degrees 12 Minutes
East along said south right -way 375.2 feet to a point; thence run South 03 Degrees 45 Minutes
West 139.76 feet to a point; thence run South 10 Degrees 49 Minutes West 42. 0 feet; thence
run South 30 Degrees 04 Minutes West 71.0 feet to a point along the north line of the main drive
of subject property; thence run along said drive South 55 Degrees 22 Minutes East 69.0 feet;
thence run South 40 Degrees 07 Minutes East 86.0 feet to a point; thence run South 22
Degrees 26 Minutes East 73.0 feet; thence run South 01 Degrees East 82.4 feet to a point on
the north right-of-way of Roosevelt Road; thence along the north right-of-way of Roosevelt
Road; thence along the north right-of-way of Roosevelt Road, North 89 Degrees 52 Minutes
West, 598.8 feet to the point of beginning, Save and Except and there is hereby reserved unto
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the United States and its assigns from the above described and conveyed hereby reserved unto
the United States and its assigns from the above described and conveyed Tract 1, a road right-
of-way and easement, co -existent with Grantee's use, on and over the following described part
of Tract 1; A part of the Southwest Quarter Section 11, Township 1 North, Range 12 West,
Pulaski County, Arkansas and a part of Van Frank's Subdivision to the City of Little Rock,
Pulaski County, Arkansas, being more particularly described as follows: Commencing at a
corner common to Sections 10, 11, 14 and 15, Township 1 North, Range 12 West, Pulaski
County, Arkansas, thence North 31.4 feet to the north right- of -way of Roosevelt Road; thence
South 89 Degrees 52 Minutes east along said right- of -way 538.5 feet to a point of beginning;
thence South 89 Degrees 52 Minutes East 60.3 feet; thence North 01 Degrees West 82. 4 feet;
thence North 22 Degrees 26 Minutes West 73.0 feet; thence North 40 Degrees 07 Minutes West
86. 0 feet; thence North 55 Degrees 22 Minutes West 45.0 feet; thence South 54 Degrees 23
Minutes West 53.0 feet; thence South 52 Degrees 57 Minutes East 58.0 feet; thence South 37
Degrees 44 Minutes East 71.0 feet; thence South 07 Degrees 04 Minutes 26 Seconds east
120.02 feet to the point of beginning. Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County,
Arkansas."
Location of the Veterans Administration Hospital at 300 E Roosevelt Road.
PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Veterans Administration
Hospital to the National Register.
According to the nomination:
"The Veterans Administration Hospital is a ten -story, reinforced -concrete structure
that was constructed from 1948 to 1950. It was designed in the Intemational Style by
two Little Rock architectural firms, Brueggeman, Swaim & Allen and Erhart,
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Eichenbaum & Rauch. It was erected by Patti -McDonald -Manhattan Company. The
main building's footprint is best described as a Y-shape, which was done to take
advantage of the high site and to allow the majority of rooms to benefit from eastern
and southern exposure, and the exterior walls are a buff brick with Alabama buff
limestone trim.
"The Veterans Administration Hospital Building at 300 E. Roosevelt Road, Little
Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, was constructed between 1948 and 1950. It was
part of a nationwide expansion campaign by the Veterans Administration that was
aimed at addressing the increasing population and needs of veterans in the following
World War ll. As such the Veterans Administration Hospital is being nominated to
the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A with local significance
for its association with the post -World War 11 building campaign of the Veterans
Administration. Additionally, as the Veterans Administration Hospital is an unusual
and exemplary example of an Intemational Style hospital in the Little Rock area by
two notable firms, it is also being nominated to the National Register of Historic
Places under Criterion C with local significance."
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 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 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
a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction.
COMMISSION ACTION: July 1 2021
Walter Malone, Staff reviewed the Staff report and indicated Staff recommended approval. Mr.
Wilcox, AHPP, indicated he had nothing further to add but was available to answer questions as
needed. Commissioner Amber Jones made a motion to recommend the nomination which was
seconded by Vice Chair Holder After a roll call vote the vote was 6 for, 0 against and 1 absent
(Hodge).
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Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
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. Two.
DATE: July 1, 2021
APPLICANT: Ralph Wilcox, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
ADDRESS: Immediately East of University Avenue
FILE NUMBER: NR2021-004
REQUEST: Nomination of the Broadmoor Neighborhood to the National Register of
Historic Places
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION:
The subject property is located at Immediately East of University Avenue. The property's legal
description is the entirety of the Broadmoor Addition less and except lots 500, 501, and 502;
and the C &H Replat of Lot 499 of the Broadmoor Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski
County, Arkansas.
Location of the Broadmoor Neighborhood Historic District
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PROPOSAL: The Commission will review the Nomination of the Broadmoor Neighborhood to
the National Register.
According to the nomination:
'Broadmoor is a residential subdivision located approximately 4.5 miles west of
downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, within the city limits. Located west of University
Avenue, and northwest of the University of Arkansas Little Rock campus, the
neighborhood was developed in what was then the southwestern outskirts of Little
Rock by prolific local developer Faussett and Company beginning in 1953. The
overall layout of the subdivision is unchanged from Faussett's original design and
features a combination of parallel and curvilinear residential streets surrounding a
central lake and park.
"Within the subdivision, the rolling landscape with some houses built into the hill
sides, mature trees, and central park contribute to the desired naturalistic setting.
Parcels range in size from 0.12 acre to 0.81 acre, with houses typically set back from
the road approximately 30 to 50 feet. The residences universally reflect the Ranch
house form, with at least 24 distinct models offered by the developer and additional
optional features in fenestration, materials, and plans providing both variety and
cohesion among the housing stock.
"Broadmoor remains a distinguishable entity on the landscape, possessing a high
degree of integrity and uniquely able to reflect the design trends which made it so
successful during the period. As previously noted, the historic district has a ratio of
81.9 percent contributing resources to 19.1 percent non-contributing resources (458
out of 559 contributing). Notably, there is almost no incompatible infill development in
the historic district. Non-contributing resources may exhibit material changes,
additions, or alterations, such as the enclosure of carports, that distract from their
original design intent, but on the whole residences maintain their original scale and
form reflecting the original rhythm of houses along Broadmoor's streets, even where
non-contributing resources exist."
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no
comments regarding this application. Staff has been working with the residents and
neighborhood board during this three year project. The neighborhood and board have been
supportive of this work.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends nomination to the National Register of
Historic Places under Criterion A 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 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
a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction.
COMMISSION ACTION: July 1, 2021
Walter Malone, Staff reviewed the staff report and indicated staff recommended approval. Mr.
Wilcox, AHPP, indicated he had nothing further to add but was available to answer questions as
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needed. Commissioner Amber Jones asked about the log cabin in the subdivision. Mr. Wilcox
indicated it dated back to the 1930s and is used as a club house now. Alyssa Reynolds
introduced herself as a historian working on the nomination project. This started in September
2018. She reviewed the basis for the nomination. The subdivision is made of 3 plats with 24
ranch style housing types. This is a good example of Post -World War II development. It was a
high -quality middle -income product. The developer, Mr. Fausett, did 15 different subdivisions
within Pulaski County and at one time accounted for 50 percent of all new houses in the county.
The market for the new homes was to be 11 to 15,000 dollars. Started with 15 different
floor plans which then 18 and on to 24 models. The cost ranged from 9 to 20,000 dollars plus
the lot. Mr. Fausett used mass production to keep costs down. All the houses had air
conditioning. It provided the middle income market things only the high end usually saw. He
designed using the environment — green areas and park and lake. Broadmoor was a planned
community with commercial centers adjacent to the subdivision. Commissioner Amber Jones
made a motion and Jonathan Nunn seconded to recommend the nomination. After a roll call
vote the vote was 6 for, 0 against and 1 absent (Hodge).
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Other Matters
Enforcement issues
Staff had none to report to the Commission.
Certificates of Compliance
503 East 9th Street — moving park benches by the Military Museum,
301 East 7th Street installation of new HVAC.
1323 South Cumberland — new roof.
Citizen Communication
There were no citizens that chose to speak during citizen communication.
Walter Malone informed the Commission that no cases had been filed for the August hearing.
He indicated that unless they had an issue they would like to meet to discuss, staff believed we
could wait to meet until September. There was agreement to not meet in August.
Adjournment
There was a motion to adjourn, and the meeting ended at 4:23 p.m.
Attest:
Chair Date
Secretary Date
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