HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report HDC2020-020
DATE: November 5, 2020
APPLICANT: Doug Melkovitz
ADDRESS: 923 McMath
FILE NUMBER: HDC2020-020
COA REQUEST: Remove artificial siding, restore original lap siding, install guttering,
remove deck at front of house, remove metal bars on windows, restore
cutaway brackets at north corner, replace exterior doors, restore original
windows, and expand parking lot at the street corner.
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION:
The subject property is located at 923 McMath Ave. The
property’s legal description is “Lot 11, Block 4, Masonic
Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County,
Arkansas."
This building, originally a single family house, was built
ca 1929. 923 McMath is a “simple Queen Anne
structure with steeply hipped roofs and cutaway corners
at front façade. The original siding and porch detailing
has been replaced.” This is considered a contributing
structure to the district.
This application is to remove artificial siding, restore
original lap siding, install guttering, remove deck at front
of house, remove metal bars on windows, restore
cutaway brackets at north corner, replace exterior doors,
restore original windows, and expand parking lot at the
street corner.
PREVIOUS ACTIONS ON THIS SITE:
On October 10, 2014, a COA was approved and issued to Doug Melkovitz to install fencing at
923 McMath and make other changes to 923 ½ McMath and to the two properties on 10th
Street.
On April 22, 2013, a COC was issued for roof repairs at 718 E 10th.
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. Three.
Location of Project
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Existing front west elevation Contributing and Non-contributing map
PROPOSAL AND WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION BASED OFF OF INTENT
AND GUIDELINES:
The Certificate of Appropriateness that was approved on October 10, 2014, covered the same
site but approved different items. It is important to list those here to understand the renovations
to both structures.
The approved COA of October 10, 2014 contained the following:
Install Fencing at all locations; Install 36” tall picket fence in front of 923 McMath along
McMath Street and on south side of that lot approximately one-half way back on house.
Install 36” tall black aluminum fence along the balance of McMath Street and the entirety
of 10th Street. No pedestrian or vehicular gates will be installed. Install 6’ privacy fence
along the frontage road and the north property line to tie into existing fence at Pizza Hut
property. Also install 6’ privacy fence on south side of 923 McMath to screen rear yard
from the street.
Replace aluminum single pane windows at 923 1/2 McMath with “Aluminum Double Pane
Double Strength Replacement Single Hung Window”.
Replace siding at 923 1/2 McMath with Hardie Plank fiber cement siding to match existing.
No exterior changes will be made to the Contributing structure at 923 McMath.
This application is seeking approval for the following on 923 McMath:
Remove artificial siding and restore original lap siding.
Install gutters.
Remove deck at front of house.
Remove metal bars on windows.
Restore cutaway brackets at northwest corner.
Replace exterior doors.
Restore original windows.
Expand the parking lot at the street corner.
Remove artificial siding and restore original lap siding:
The applicant has provided a photo of the house prior to the installation of the aluminum siding.
The original siding appears to be weatherboard with decorative diamond shingles in the gable.
The original siding will be restored/replicated where necessary with siding to match the
original and painted. Restoration of the original siding is appropriate per the Guidelines.
Page 3 of 7
Install gutters:
The proposal is to add 6”, K-style aluminum guttering at the north and south edges of the roof
with downspouts as indicated. There will be a total of six downspouts; two at the rear corners of
the house, two near the middle of the north side
and two near the middle of the south side.
Downspouts will be 2” x 3”. All materials will be in
black. The guidelines state that the downspouts
should be located away from significant
architectural features. There are no downspouts
planned on the front corners of the house.
Remove deck at front of house:
The deck at the front of the house is not a
contributing element to the house. Under the front
deck, there is a set of steps that will also be
removed. The Guidelines state that decks should
be located at the rear of houses. Removing the deck and the additional steps are appropriate.
Remove metal bars on windows:
Metal bars on the windows are also not an original feature. The guidelines state that bars can
be painted to match the window and trim paint colors. Removing them is appropriate.
Undated photo of similar house at 1007 McMath
Typical K-style gutters
Page 4 of 7
Restore cutaway brackets at north corner:
The applicant has provided a photo of the house with the decorative brackets. Recreating the
decorative barracks is an appropriate treatment. See photo on preceding page.
Replace exterior doors:
The setup of the house as a duplex
means that the entry doors enter into
windowless spaces. The applicant
desired to have doors with windows to
provide additional lighting into the area.
The doors would be paint grade poplar
wood. Glass would be clear in both
doors.
The front door will be a Simpson Door
# 7117 - 36”x80” in paint grade Poplar
featuring a large glass opening in the
upper half of the door. This style door
could be appropriate to this era house.
The rear door is a Simpson Door #:
37134 - 36” x 80” in paint grade Poplar
with a modified six panel with the upper
panels in windows. This door will not
be visible from the street.
Restore original windows:
This would normally be covered under a maintenance approval. Removing, stripping, painting,
re-glazing, and reinstalling the original windows would be an appropriate treatment.
Expand the parking lot at the northwest corner:
The current parking lot features approximately four parking stalls to the east of the aisle. The
proposal is to add approximately four more spaces to the west of the aisle so that it would be
double loaded. The current parking lot is concrete, it was not specified what material the new
parking lot would be. The Guidelines state that parking lots should be to the side or behind the
principal structure and
never between a
structure and the street.
One could argue that the
parking lot is to the side
of both structures, but
the location of the
parking lot on the corner
of the block is
unfortunate. The plans
are to install the fence
that was approved
earlier and to plant
Front – West facing door Rear – East facing door
View from McMath and 10th Street Plan by applicant.
Page 5 of 7
shrubbery between McMath Street and the cars to screen the parking from the street.
Lighting:
No additional exterior lighting will be added.
Mechanical Systems:
All exterior air conditioning/heating system units will be placed on the north side of the building.
The guidelines state they should not be visible from the street.
Satellite Dishes:
The current satellite dish on the North side of the roof is non-operational and will be removed.
No additional ones are planned.
Roof:
All layers of Roofing will be removed and replaced with new 20 yr. composite shingles and
rolled roofing over shed roof sections of front and back porches. Decking will be replaced as
necessary. This is normally handled under a maintenance approval.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there was one
comment from the MacArthur Park neighborhood Association in support of the application.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions:
1. Obtaining a building permit.
COMMISSION ACTION: November 5, 2020
Chair Jeremiah Russell, made the announcement that since there are only five commissioners
in attendance, the applicants tonight could defer to the next month’s meeting and the City would
send the notices. It was explained that for a motion to pass, the motion needs a majority of the
entire commission which is four positive votes, not just a majority of the commissione rs present.
The applicant verbally stated that they wanted to proceed with the hearings tonight.
Brian Minyard, Staff, made a brief presentation to the Commission
There was a discussion on the size of the front porch. Mr. Doug Melkovitz clarified that the
historic phot was of 1007 McMath, a similar home in style to 923 McMath. The porch will
remain the same depth as it is currently.
There were no members of the public that chose to speak on this item.
A motion was made to approve the item as presented by Commissioner Christine Aleman and
was seconded by Vice Chair Ted Holder. The motion passed with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 noes, and
2 absent (Frederick and Hodge).
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Application
Page 7 of 7
Cover Letter