HomeMy WebLinkAboutemail from Dodds about applicationPage 1 of 2
Malone, Walter
From: Paul Dodds [paul@dodds.us]
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 9:32 AM
To: Malone, Walter; Moore, Monte; Lampkin, Janet M.
Cc: Warwick Sabin ; James Floyd; C I newbern @Aristotle. Net; Frances "Missy" McSwain;
qqa@sbcglobal.net; Mark Stodola; Clifford Riggs; Logan Hampton; Gary Iverson; Minyard, Brian;
Tamika S. Edwards; Howard Gardner
Subject: Childrens Hospital Proposed Rezoning Application Z -4336-U and and Land Use Change
Application LU 06 0801
Dear Walter and Monty,
The area around Children's Hospital has recently sprouted a number of bright green signs for proposed
zoning changes. I am both curious and concerned about these possible changes, and would like to
receive any information you can provide about them. In particular, I would like to receive, in electronic
form if possible, the hospital's existing property ownership plain, the long range use plan, the long range
campus plan and any other documents they have submitted you regarding both the land use and the
zoning change.
Childrens' is a problematic neighbor. Certainly, its cause is worthy and deserves all of our support.
However, that does not justify all that the hospital does. It randomly destroys historic buildings for no
apparent reason - remember Emmanual Church? - and surrounds itself with seas of ugly parking lots lit
by concentration camp lighting. It is an amoeba, turned in on itself, and spreading blight on its
periphery. By surrounding itself by a band of painful ugliness, it contributes greatly to decreasing the
desirablity of the Central High neighborhood as a place to live. By continuing to spread in unknown
directions, it places a cloud on all of the residential areas near it, fostering further disinvestment. The
hospital always seems far more willing to eat yet another block of homes, than to build a parking deck.
When will this stop? When there is nothing left but parking and militarily defensible hosptial buildings
from Martin Luther King to Woodrow between Daisy Bates and the Interstate? If current trends
continue, that seems to be the only solution. If you need proof of the chilling effect of the Children's
amoeba action, witness the near complete lack of new housing or renovation anywhere near the
Hospital. The area could be filled with attractive housing oriented to ACH employees, but no one wants
to risk it. While I appreciate the Hospital's contribution to playground equipment in Centennial Park and
its support of the Central Little Rock Community Development Corporation, this modest buy off is not
real compensation for the havoc it wreaks in its planning and implementation.
As Children's expansion plans are considered, I would urge the City to consider putting limits on its
permissible ground level parking. I would also urge the City to consider changing 12th Street between
the Hospital and Woodrow into two lanes. Right now it is a four lane road going nowhere. Its widening
has completely downgraded the attractiveness of 12th Street, for no good reason. The remaining lanes
should be used part for parking - devote it to Children's if need be - and the balance for trees and
planting.
Thanks very much, and I look forward to receiving the plans.
Paul Dodds
Office:
12/23/2005
Page 2 of 2
Offices of Paul Dodds, Attorney at Law
401 Main Street, Suite 205
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Home:
2119 W. 17th St.
Little Rock, AR 72202
USA
Office: 501 374 8600
Home: 501 372 4376
Cell: 501 944 5837
Please respond to paul@dodds.us
12/23/2005