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Home My WebLink AboutHDC_06 06 2024 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435 www.littlerock.gov LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTE RECORD Thursday, June 6th, 2024, 4:00 p.m. Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th Street I. Roll Call Members Present: Chair, Amber Jones Vice Chair, Christina Aleman Jonathan Nunn Staff Present: Hannah Ratzlaff Jeremy Gosdin Sherri Latimer Raeanne Gardner Citizens Present: Joe Flaherty Brian Minyard Mark Hagge Ed Sergeant Constantine Vlisides II. Finding a Quorum A quorum could not be established, with only three (3) members present. III. Citizen Communication Brian Minyard, Interim Executive Director of the Quapaw Quarter Association, addressed the Commission. He asked if the Commission, or its Staff, could provide more information regarding a recent item (Resolution No. 16,333) presented to the Board of Directors at the June 4th, 2024 public hearing related to the Terry House at 411 E 7th Street. June 6, 2024 Historic District Commission Sherri Latimer, Deputy City Attorney, addressed Mr. Minyard’s request. Latimer said the Terry House site is currently the subject of litigation and the City has entered into a contract for architectural services and to obtain an expert witness related to the legal matter. Sherri said the trial is scheduled to occur sometime this fall and beyond this no other action has been taken. Mr. Minyard said when he saw the resolution on the Board of Directors’ agenda, he hoped the contract would lead to investment in the structure by the City. Latimer said the City’s position is that no major investment will occur or be expended until the court makes a determination or final ruling. Commissioner Aleman expressed that the wording of the resolution seemed like WER Architects would be providing an architectural and conditions assessment in order to propose a maintenance and restoration or rehabilitation plan and that she was equally confused about the intent of the contract. Latimer said the contract was most likely a step in litigation. Commissioner Nunn expressed that he hoped that the contract amount [not to exceed $120,000.00] was evidence of an intent to perform work beyond serving as an expert witness. Latimer said that if the City was found to be the responsible party for restoration, work would have to be bid out for that determined scope and there is no guarantee WER Architects would be hired. Latimer said it is most likely, or her best guess, that WER Architects was contracted to provide an analysis and serve as an expert witness regarding the current lawsuit. IV. Minutes 1. April 4th, 2024 Minutes No action could be taken due to lack of a quorum. V. National Register Nominations None VI. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness None 2 June 6, 2024 Historic District Commission VII. New Certificates of Appropriateness HDC2024-013 First Luther Church/ Sergeant Architecture PLLC 700 S. Rock Street Exterior Alterations, Accessibility Ramp No action could be taken due to lack of a quorum. The item was deferred to the July 3rd, 2024 public hearing. VIII. Other Matters 1. COA Procedures for Administrative Issuance No action could be taken due to lack of a quorum. 2. National Register Updates Staff provided an update on recent nominations that were successfully Listed in National Register of Historic Places, including the Asher Avenue Overpass and the Capitol-Main Historic District Boundary Increase. The Red Carpet Inn Nomination was still in review with the National Parks Service. 3. Historic Preservation Active & Completed Projects Map Staff, Ratzlaff, announced a new interactive map created by Ratzlaff and managed by the Planning & Development Department. The interactive map uses GIS technology to provide information regarding completed and active preservation program projects from 2018 to present. The information will be periodically updated to reflect active project status and to display past preservation projects managed by the City of Little Rock from 1981 forward. 4. CAMP Training, October 4, 2024 Staff reminded the Commission of an upcoming CAMP training opportunity in Hot Springs scheduled for Friday, October 4th. 5. MacArthur Park Historic District Design Guidelines Update Staff provided an update on the status of the new design guidelines project. The first draft was submitted to Planning & Development staff in May and went through a round of edits at the staff level. The draft will be presented to the Commission at the July 3rd meeting. 6. Enforcement Issues 418 15th Street—unpermitted installation of fencing 3 June 6, 2024 Historic District Commission Raeanne Gardner, Assistant City Attorney, provided an update on the enforcement issue at 418 E 15th Street. The case is currently in Environmental court and staff is currently waiting on the determination. 7. Certificates of Compliance HDC2024-006—221 E 10th Street—downspout replacement HDC2024-007—515 Rock Street—removal of non-historic signage and handicap ramp, siding and trim repair HDC2024-008—1112 Rock Street—reroof HDC2024-009—1104 Rock Street—reroof HDC2024-010—1422 Scott Street—siding repair HDC2024-011—316 E 11th Street—siding and roof repair, and gutter installation to accessory structure HDC2024-012—515 Rock Street—ridge vent HDC2024-014—609 Rock Street—reroof HDC2024-016—524 E 6th Street--exterior repairs HDC2024-017—923 Cumberland Street—exterior repairs and reroof of accessory dwelling HDC2024-018—715 Sherman Street—reroof HDC2024-019—515 E 8th Street—gutter installation HDC2024-020—1017 Cumberland Street—exterior repairs, reroof, HVAC installation The Commission discussed a potential issue in achieving a quorum for the next scheduled meeting, Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024. A special called meeting on a different date was suggested as a solution. Ratzlaff said that public notice had already been published and sent out for the Certificate of Appropriateness application and National Register nominations scheduled for July 3rd. Commissioner Jones asked for more information regarding the A.E. Bush House at 1516 S. Ringo (Listed 1982) in the Dunbar neighborhood that was recently demolished. Jones asked if preservation staff were notified of demolition permits for historic sites outside of a local ordinance district. Ratzlaff said that a demolition check for historic significance is performed when an application is submitted for demolition permit citywide. This is currently an informal process. Ratzlaff determines, based on data provided by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, whether a property has been determined to be historically significant or has potential historic significance. If found, Ratzlaff contacts the property owner to provide information regarding historic tax credits and other demolition alternatives. If a property owner chosen to move forward with the demolition, the demolition permit will move forward with Planning & Development internal review. The same process occurs for structures which are placed on the Unsafe/Vacant list in an effort to contact property owners and provide information regarding demolition 4 June 6, 2024 Historic District Commission alternatives before a demolition permit is requested or the structures is placed an Board of Directors' agenda for City -initiated demolition for public health, welfare, and safety. In the case of the A.E. Bush House, City staff, the Quapaw Quarter Association, and the Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association worked closely with the various property owners of 1516 S. Ringo over the past two years. The current owner was not interested in demolition alternatives and decided to move forward with a demolition permit. Ratzlaff reminded the Commissioners that the City does not have the authority to deny a demolition permit or review a permit based on historic and heritage significance for historic structures outside a local ordinance district nor does the City have an established demolition delay ordinance. There was a discussion regarding the draft Downtown Little Rock Master Plan. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business for the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 4:41 P.M. Attest: Chair Date Secretary Date 5