HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Action Letter - Recommended Approval As Submitted 031622+ 17 17 v
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r. Department of Planning and Development
r 723 West Markham Street
Lithe Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501)371-4790 Fax: (501)371-4546
March 16, 2022
Bruce Moore
500 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Planning
Development
Building Cosies
Re: File No. G-25-229
North Arch Street — Street Name Change to Annie McDaniel Abrams;
located at North Arch Street, north of West Markham Street
Dear Mr. Moore:
This is to advise you that in connection with your request concerning the above referenced
file number the following action was taken by the Planning Commission at its meeting on
March 10, 2022:
X
Approved with conditions.
Recommended approval with conditions.
Recommended approval as submitted.
Denied your request as submitted.
Deferred to the
Other:
Meeting.
This item will be forwarded to the Little Rock Board of Directors for final action. You or
your representative will need to be present at the Board of Directors meeting to
address any questions which may arise. The meeting date has tentative) been set
for April 19 2022. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm and is held in the Centre at University
Park, 6401 West 121h Street. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact
me at 371-4792.
kteRespe 11 Moore
Development Administrator
March 10, 2022
ITEM NO.' 9 FILE NO.: G-25-229
NAME: N. Arch Street - Street Name Change to Annie McDaniel Abrams Street
LOCATION: N. Arch Street, North of West Markham Street
APPLICANT:
City of Little Rock
500 West Markham Street Little
Rock, AR 72201
SURVEYOR/ENGINEER:
N/A
WARD: 1
CURRENT ZONING:
VARIANCEIWAIVERS:
PLANNING DISTRICT: 5
N/A
N/A
CENSUS TRACT: 44
A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT'S STATEMENT:
The City of Little Rock proposes to rename that portion of N. Arch Street, north
of West Markham Street, to Annie McDaniel Abrams Street.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
N. Arch Street is a two-lane paved roadway running north from West Markham
Street and dead -ending at the Arkansas River.
C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
All neighborhood associations registered with the City of Little Rock were notified
of the public hearing.
D. ANALYSIS:
The City of Little Rock proposes to rename the portion of N. Arch Street, north of
West Markham Street to the Arkansas River, to Annie McDaniel Abrams Street.
March 10, 2022
ITEM NO.: g(Cont.)FILE NO.: G-25-229
The street name change is requested to honor Annie Mable McDaniel Abrams, her
achievements and her civic and community service to the City of Little Rock.
Annie Mable McDaniel Abrams is a retired educator and a political, social, civic,
and community activist in Little Rock. Known to many as "Mother Abrams," she
has provided wisdom and friendship to people of all ages and races. She's known
for her signature statement, "Service is the rent you pay to live on this Earth. Have
you paid any rent today?" Over the years, she has collected memorabilia related
to Black culture and civil rights and has created a museum inside her home. She's
often seen on her front porch inviting locals to visit and share her experiences.
Among her many achievements, Abrams was instrumental in renaming Little
Rock's 14th Street for Daisy L. Gatson Bates, 20th Street for Mayor Charles
Bussey, and High Street for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Abrams has been involved in many community -service organizations. She was a
member of the Little Rock Central High Integration 50th Anniversary Commission,
commissioner for the Fair Housing Commission, and treasurer of the Arkansas
Democratic Black Caucus. Abrams serves as an honorary co-chair of the state
Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.
Abrams is the recipient of numerous honors and has been recognized throughout
the state for her continued community service and activism. She was awarded an
honorary doctorate and the Community Service Award from her alma mater,
Philander Smith College. Abrams has received the Brooks Hays Award for Civil
Rights Champions and the Making of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Award by
the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, given by Coretta Scott King. She
was also a 2010 inductee into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. In 2020, Ouachita
Baptist University (OBU) established the Annie Abrams Living Legacy Award, a
scholarship for African American students.
Abrams continues to reside in her family home in Little Rock. She remains active
in community and political activism, and her endorsement is highly sought in local
and state politics. In 2021, the City of Little Rock declared her ninetieth birthday
"Annie Day." On February 1, 2022, the ABC program Good Morning America
featured Abrams as part of its Black History Month programming.
N. Arch Street is a two-lane paved roadway, extending north of West Markham
Street to the Arkansas River, between Little Rock City Hall and the Little Rock
District Court Building. There are no properties along this portion of N. Arch Street
which take an address from the roadway.
01)
March 10, 2022
ITEM NO.: 9 Cont. FILE NO.: G-25-229
Staff believes that the proposed street name of Annie McDaniel Abrams Street will
cause no confusion with other street names. Staff is supportive of the street name
change request.
E. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the request to change the name of that portion
of N. Arch Street, north of West Markham Street, to Annie McDaniel Abrams
Street.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 10, 2022)
The item was placed on consent agenda for approval. By a vote of 7 for, 0 against,
3 absent, and 1 vacant position the consent approval was approved.
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