HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-26 roberts letter1
Minyard, Brian
From:Coleman, Stephen
Sent:Tuesday, May 26, 2020 3:03 PM
To:Minyard, Brian
Subject:RE: Rock Street In-fill Development
From: Stephanie Roberts [mailto:ssroberts031@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2020 2:12 PM
To: LRzoning <LRzoning@littlerock.gov>
Subject: Rock Street In-fill Development
Good morning. In regards to the Rock Street project in front of the Board this week I thought it might be easier to send
my comments as the meeting may be quite full. I think my biggest concern centers around the sheer number of units
the developers are attempting to cram onto three lots. Attempting to put this many units on so few lots drives all other
concerns; chiefly the size and the monolithic presence of the initial design and the increased traffic and future use of the
property.
In order to accommodate the number of units, the design of the building on the initial review had virtually no set-back
once you factored in the porches and stoops and was almost as tall as the complex behind it. I’m sure one or both of
these elements have been addressed but you can’t have this many units and not have a building that is an imposing
presence on the street. We are a small neighborhood and a smaller street that is primarily single family homes. And
yet we already support two four-plexs, a modest apartment across the street, a large apartment building on the
opposite corner on Commerce and 10th, the retirement complex on the corner of commerce/rock and 11th. And then
we have the new infill on Scott and 10th not to mention Carolina row on Cumberland, the apartments on 11th and Scott
plus the houses that have been turned into multiple rentals. You could argue that any more of these large complexes or
rentals would drown out the other diverse elements vital for the neighborhood to thrive and retain the essence that
makes it so remarkable. Even though the developers have indicated that their intention is to sell the units and not rent,
this is not a guarantee and we have no control over them selling the complex in the future and how the new owners
would manage it. And then we have another large potential rental property on our street with a whole new set of issues
and worries. Ours is a unique street downtown. I would challenge the committee to find another neighborhood street
like ours in all of the MacArthur Park Historic Neighborhood.
In the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Association, our area (meaning Rock Street, Cumberland, Scott and Commerce
from 9th to 6:30) is the last true downtown neighborhood North of 630 and west of 1-30, in my opinion and it's six
square blocks and it is a delicate balance that needs to be nurtured. You have to have long term home owners to
balance out the transient nature of renters. I am surrounded by neighbors I know and love. People who, over the
years, have become friends and family and we are passionate about preserving our oasis downtown. But we depend on
the Committee to hear us and help us maintain this balance. I understand the need for infill. I believe in infill. But that
doesn’t mean that all infill is good or right for every location. And even though the developers have tried to address
many of the concerns the neighborhood raised with the Scott street development, it simply comes down to too much in
too little space in my opinion. At 18 units if each unit sold and just held two people, that's 36 more people coming and
going, 36 more cars (yes most families have two cars). That is a lot of traffic, a lot of people crammed onto three
lots. This is a great project that needs to go someplace else more appropriate.
I am certainly not trying to be an architect or designer but there is a structure on 14 th and Louisiana called the Abeles
Apartments that has to have 12 units. The units are big and beautiful and there is off street parking and yet you can
drive down Louisiana and not even notice it. But I believe this is largely due to the fact that you don’t have so many
2
units crammed into such a small space and the architect was able to design it with an eye to how the structure would
affected the space around it and not solely on optimizing square footage.
The developers will argue that they have to have this many units to make their money back. And if that’s their
argument, fine, but, respectfully, that’s not our problem as home owners and residents. I have lived in my current home
for 27 years. It is the first and probably the only house I will ever own. I have fought for and been a member of this
neighborhood for all 27 of those years. These developers don’t live on our street. Their children don’t play in our
neighborhood. They didn’t fight to close down drug houses and clean up the neighborhood so it would be safer. And
once they make their money we will have to deal with the lasting effects of what they are allowed to build on our
street. Because they will move on to the next project. But we will still be here.
Thank you for your time and consideration
Stephanie Roberts
Homeowner
1014 Rock Street