HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-01 Central High LOD Letter to Property OwnersSeptember 1, 2022
Dear Property Owner,
The City of Little Planning & Development Department is pleased to recommend the designation of a local
ordinance district for the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District. Preservation of the district and
the properties within its boundaries provides for local recognition and protection of Little Rock’s unique
character and significant built history.
This letter is an invitation to you to participate in the local ordinance district proposal process. In accordance
with the provisions of the City of Little Rock’s Historic Preservation Ordinances (Code of Ordinances Sec.23-
76—23-160) this letter serves as notification that your property or properties lie within the boundaries of the
proposed local ordinance district. All owners of historic and/or non-historic properties within the proposed
local ordinance district are being notified (see map attached). A local ordinance district is an area in which
historic structures and their setting are protected by public review. A comparison chart of a local ordinance
district and an honorary historic district is on the back of this letter.
A Historic District Commission public hearing will be held on October 6, 2022 in the Auditorium room of the
Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 12th Street, Little Rock, at 4:00 p.m., for a public
presentation of the designation report and for public comment on the proposed local ordinance district. Public
comments are welcome at the meeting.
The official report for this initiative can be found on the City’s website:
https://www.littlerock.gov/business/planning-and-development/boards-commissions/local-ordinance-
district/.
Information on the Little Rock Historic District Commission can be found here: https://www.littlerock.gov/city-
administration/city-boards-and-commissions/historic-district-commission/.
If you have questions, please contact staff at the Planning & Development Department at 501-371-4789. If you
have comments, please email your comments to hratzlaff@littlerock.gov. Any written comments received by
September 27th, 2022 will be shared with the Commission at the October hearing.
Regards,
Hannah Ratzlaff
Urban Designer & Historic District Commission Staff
Planning &Development,
723 W. Markham
Little Rock, AR 72201
hratzlaff@littlerock.gov
501-371-4789
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435
National Register Historic District
(existing)
Local Ordinance Historic District
(proposed)
• Designates historic areas based on uniform
national criteria and procedures.
• Designates historic areas based on local criteria
and local procedures.
• Identifies significant properties and districts for
general planning purposes.
• Protects a community’s historic properties and
areas through a design review process.
• Analyzes and assesses the historic character of
the district.
• Protects the historic character and integrity of
the district.
• Sets district boundaries tightly, based on the
actual distribution patterns of intact historic
properties in the area.
• Sets district boundaries based on the distribution
pattern of historic properties, plus other
preservation and community planning
considerations.
• Makes available specific federal and state tax
incentives for preservation purposes.
• Provides no additional tax incentives for
preservation purposes unless such are provided
by local tax law.
• Provides a limited degree of protection from the
effects of federal assisted undertakings.
• Provides no additional protection from the
effects of federally assisted undertakings.
• Qualifies specific properties for federal and state
grants for preservation purposes, when funds are
available.
• Does not provided additional qualification for
properties for federal or state grants for
preservation purposes.
• Does not restrict the use of disposition property
or obligate private property owners in any way.
• Does not restrict the use to which property is put
in the district (i.e. zoning) or require property
owners to make improvements to their property.
• Does not affect state and local government
activities.
• Does not affect federal, state, and local
government activities.
• Does not prevent the demolition of historic
buildings and structure within designated areas.
• Provides for review of proposed demolition
within designated areas; may prevent or delay
proposed demolitions for specific time periods to
allow for preservation alternatives.
• Does not set minimum requirements for
maintenance of properties.
• Does not set minimum requirements for
maintenance of properties.
• Does not require conformance to design
guidelines or preservation standards when
property is rehabilitated, unless specific
preservation incentives (tax credits, grants) are
involved.
• Requires local commission review and approval,
based on conformance to local design guidelines,
before a building permit is issued. Any exterior
changes visible from the street will be reviewed
by the commission.
• Minor renovations and repair work can be
administratively approved by Staff.
• Specific guidelines will be tailor written for this
neighborhood and its architectural styles. Local
input will influence how the guidelines are
written.
• Adjustment of the number of representatives to
the Historic District Commission to include area
residents and property owners will be acted upon
by the City Board of Directors.