HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOA Staff Report 051524OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION
APRIL 19, 2022 AGENDA
Subject
Resolution renaming the
portion of N. Arch Street,
north of West Markham
Street, to Annie McDaniel
Abrams Street. (G-25-229)
Submitted by:
Department of Planning and
Development
SYNOPSIS
FISCAL IMPACT
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND
Action Required
Ordinance
4Resolution
Approval
Information Report
Approved By
Bruce Moore
City Manager
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.
I None
Approval of the Resolution
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. 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
BACKGROUND
CONTINUED
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. ArchStreet which take an address from the roadway.
0
BACKGROUND
CONTINUED
On March 10, 2022, the Planning Commission voted
7 ayes, 0 noes, 3 absent and 1 open position, as part of the
Consent Agenda, to approve the Street Name Change.
There were no objectors present.
All neighborhood associations registered with The City of
Little Rock were notified of the public hearing.
Please see the attached Planning Commission minute
record .for the complete staff analysis.
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF NORTH ARCH
STREET, LOCATED NORTH OF WEST MARKHAM STREET
TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER (G-25-229); AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Little Rock, Ark., Rev. Code §31-324 (1988), the City of
Little Rock, has filed a petition to change the name of North Arch Street, located North of West
Markham Street to the Arkansas River to Annie McDaniel Abrams Street; and,
WHEREAS, the Little Rock Planning Commission, at its March 10, 2022 meeting,
voted to recommend approval of the proposed street name change with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays,
3 absent and 1 open position.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
SECTION 1. The name of North Arch Street, located North of West Markham Street
to the Arkansas River is hereby changed to Annie McDaniel Abrams Street.
SECTION 2. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption
and the City Manager is hereby directed to notify all departments of said change.
SECTION 3. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence,
clause, phrase, or word of this resolution is declared or adjudged to be invalid or
unconstitutional, such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the
resolution which shall remain in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged
invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part of the resolution.
I SECTION 4. Repealer. All laws, ordinances, resolutions, or parts of the same, that
2 are inconsistent with the provisions of this resolution, are hereby repealed to the extent of such
3 inconsistency.
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5 ADOPTED:
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7 ATTEST:
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Susan Langley, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
Thomas M. Carpenter, City Attorney
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APPROVED:
Frank Scott, Mayor
FILE NO.:
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:
PLANNING DISTRICT: 5
N/A
CENSUS TRACT: 44
VARIANCE/WAIVERS: N/A
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.
FILE NO.: G-25-229 (Cont.)
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.
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.
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FILE NO.: G-25-229 (Cont.
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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