HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-20 sergeant letterMay 20, 2020
The Honorable Frank Scott, Mayor
Little Rock Historic District Commissioners
Jamie Collins, Director, Planning and Development
Brian Minyard, Office of Planning and Development
RE: HDC2019-023 — PLEASE DENY
Dear All,
As residents and property owners in the Governor's Mansion Historic District, and friends of the
MacArthur Park Historic District, we urge the Little Rock Historic District Commission to deny HDC2019-
023 because the proposed development will greatly diminish the District's historic integrity, unique
character and coveted sense of place.
Appropriate infill development is welcome in the District but this 15 -unit residential complex proposed
for 3 vacant lots at 10th and Rock Streets does not follow the design factors set forth in the MacArthur
Park Historic District Guidelines for Rehabilitation and New Construction and is not in keeping with the
area's R4 -A Low Density Residential zoning which allows for the development of duplex dwellings. A 15 -
unit residential complex is not low density and is an intrusion that does not comply with the size, scale
and massing of the surrounding historic neighborhood.
New construction should be harmonious in form, materials, setting and scale within the established
District. The project's design elements and building materials are unsympathetic and out of character
with the neighboring historic structures and especially insulting to the simple mid-to-late 191h Century
and early 201h Century wood frame cottages that face the site. The project application omits
photographs of these smaller homes but does included photographs of the largest structures in the
area. Nor did the application include photographs of the tree -lined streets and generous green space
surrounding the historic housing stock.
Thank you for your continual efforts to protect Little Rock's only Local Ordinance District from
incompatible alterations and even demolition. Now we ask you to take the same thoughtful
consideration when reviewing this infill and support us in our efforts to maintain the unique identity and
irreplaceable character of this historic area.
PLEASE DENY HDC2019-023. This fragile neighborhood located in the heart of the MacArthur Park
Historic District deserves the protection Little Rock's only Local Ordinance District was created to
provide.
Respectfully yours,
Laura Sergeant Edward Sergeant, AIA