HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC_08 07 2024August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435
www.Iittlerock.gov
LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTE RECORD
Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th Street
I. Roll Call
Members Present: Amber Jones, Chair
Vice Chair, Christina Aleman
Tom Fennell
Thomas DeGraff
Scott Green
Members Absent: Jonathan Nunn
Staff Present: Hannah Ratzlaff
Jeremy Gosdin
Sherri Latimer
Raeanne Gardner
Citizens Present: Joe Flaherty
II. Finding a Quorum
A quorum was present, being four (5) in number.
III. Citizen Communication
No citizens chose to speak at this time.
IV. Minutes
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
V. National Register Nominations
NR2024-004 Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Overpass
Hilaro Springs Road over Little Fourche Creek
Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places
VI. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness
None
VII. New Certificates of Appropriateness
None
VIII. Other Matters
1. Proposed MacArthur Park Design Guidelines and Presentation by the Lakota
Group
2. CAMP Training, October 4, 2024
3. Enforcement Issues
418 E 15th Street—u n permitted installation of fencing
4. Certificates of Compliance
HDC2024-023-515 S Rock Street —gutter installation
IX. Adjournment
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
NR ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: NR2024-004
NAME: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Overpass
LOCATION: Hilaro Springs Road over Little Fourche Creek
APPLICANT/AUTHORIZED AGENT:
Ralph Wilcox
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
1101 North Street,
Little Rock, AR
City of Little Rock
500 W. Markham
Little Rock, AR
Figure 1. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Overpass, 2024.
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
NR ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: NR2024-004
AREA: 0.18 acres NUMBER OF LOTS : N/A WARD: 2
HISTORIC DISTRICT: None
HISTORIC STATUS: Determined Eligible, PU11264
CURRENT ZONING: R2-Single Family
A. BACKGROUND
Location
The subject structure is located on Hilaro Springs Road over Little Fourche Creek,
Little Rock, AR.
Figure 2. Location of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Overpass.
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
NR ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: NR2024-004
B. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT'S STATEMENT:
The application request to nominate the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Overpass to the National Register of Historic Places for local significance under
Criterion A for its associations with the efforts duringthe twentieth centuryto provide
updated highway infrastructure around the state. Areas of significance are
Transportation. The period of significance is 1936.
C. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
See photos in Nomination (Attachment A).
D. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application.
All neighborhood associations registered with the City of Little Rock that surround
the site were notified of the public hearing.
E. ANALYSIS:
The Nomination's Statement of Significance summary section states:
"The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Overpass, which was built in 1936 by J.
W. Hecker & Sons and W.L. Graves to carry Hilaro Springs Road over Fourche Creek
and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad line, is being nominated to the
National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A: Transportation with local
significance for its associations with the efforts during the twentieth century to
provide updated highway infrastructure around the state. The bridge also reflects the
State's efforts to provide safe and updated grade crossings. Even today, as the only
elevated crossing overthe former railroad line south of Little Rock, the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railway Overpass is an important part of the area's transportation
infrastructure."
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program has set forth the "Arkansas Certified
Local Government Procedures." In Section V of this agreement, "Certified Local
Governments Participation in the National Register Nomination Process," Little Rock
Historic District Commission's role is identified:
"B. CLG involvement in the National Register process
1. Within 60 calendar days of receipt of the nomination, the CLG shall inform
the AHPP by submission of a report (see section V-A) as to its opinion
regarding the eligibility of the property. The CLG shall also inform the
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
NR ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: NR2024-004
property owner(s) using National Register criteria for evaluation, as to its
opinion regarding the eligibility of the property,
2. In the event a nomination is received by the AHPP before submission to the
CLG, the AHPP will forward copy of the completed nomination to the CLG
within 30 calendar days of receipt.
3. If both the commission and chief elected official recommend that a
property not be nominated because it does not meet the National
Register criteria for eligibility, the CLG will so inform the property owner(s)
and the State Historic. Preservation Officer, the property will then not be
nominated unless an appeal is filed with the SHPO in accordance with
appeal procedures outlined in 36 CFR 60. Appeals must be received by
the SHPO within 30 calendar days of the date the property owner receives
notification by certified mail that the property has been determined
ineligible for nomination by both the CLG and the Chief elected
official. This is in accordance with Section 101(c) 2 of the NHPA.
4. If the commission or the chief elected official of the CLG recommend that
a property should be nominated, the nomination will be scheduled for
submission to the Arkansas State Review Board. Scheduling will be in
accordance with notification time constraints as set forth in 36 CFR Part
r-„
v v.
5. The Arkansas State Review Board, after considering all opinions,
including those of the commission and the chief elected official of the
CLG, shall make its recommendation to the State Historic Preservation
Officer. Either the local preservation commission or the chief elected
official may appeal the SHPOs final decision.
6. When a National Register nomination, that has been reviewed by a
commission, is submitted to the National Park Service for review and
listing, all reports or comments from the local officials will be submitted
along with the nomination.
7. The AHPP and the CLG will work together to provide ample opportunity
for public participation in the nomination of properties to the National
register. All reports submitted by the CLG to the AHPP regarding the
eligibility of properties shall include assurances of public input. The CLG
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August 7, 2024
Historic District Commission
NR ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont..) FILE NO.: NR2024-004
shall retain a list of all persons contacted during the evaluation period
and note comments that were received. if a public meeting was held, a
list of those attending shall be included in the report."
The nomination is scheduled to be heard at the August 7th, 2024 State Review Board
meeting.
F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the nomination of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Overpass to the National Register of Historic Places for local significance under
Criterion A for its associations with the efforts duringthe twentieth centuryto provide
updated highway infrastructure around the state. and the submission of the
nomination as written to the State Review Board.
G. COMMISSION ACTION (July 3, 2024)
Consideration of the nomination of item NR2024-004 was deferred to the August 7th
meeting to allow staff to coordinate with the City of Little Rock Public Works
Department on the implications of the nomination to plans for significant
improvements to the bridge. Commissioner Fennell made a motion to defer the
nomination consideration. Commissioner DeGraff seconded the motion. The
motion was approved by a vote of 4 ayes, 2 absent (Jones and Green), and 1 vacant
position.
COMMISSION ACTION (August 7, 2024)
Staff made a presentation to the Commission. There was discuss of a letter from
ARDOT provided by the City of Little Rock Public Works Department, advocating that
the bridge be nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places rather than the
National Register arguing that the bridge did not meet National Register criteria for
listing. Ratzlaff shared that the Public Works Department has planned significant
improvements to the crossing which would result in the removal of the bridge and
construction of a new bridge that met current engineering standards. Ratzlaff
clarified that the concern from ARDOT and Public Works was that the crossing
improvement project would be required to go through additional layers of review,
Section 106 and the ARDOT Historic Bridge Analysis Committee. Ratzlaff said it is
staff's understanding that the bridge was already determined to be eligible for listing
in the National Register and would be required to go through Section 106 review
regardless of the nomination's success. Additionally, it is the task of the Commission
to evaluate whether the nomination meets the National Register criteria for listing.
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
NR ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont..) FILE NO.: NR2024-004
Commissioner Fennell made a motion to recommend approval of the nomination of
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Overpass to the National Register of
Historic Places. Commissioner Aleman seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent (Nunn), and 1 vacant position.
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August 7, 2024 Historic District Commission
VI. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness
None
VII. New Certificates of Appropriateness
None
VIII. Other Matters
a. Proposed MacArthur Park Design Guidelines and Presentation by the Lakota
Group
The consideration of the proposed Guidelines was deferred to the
September 5, 2024, public meeting in order to provide additional time for
public comment and review of the proposed Guidelines in its final format.
Commissioner Fennell made a motion to defer the item. Commissioner
DeGraff seconded. The motion passed with 5 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent (Nunn),
and 1 vacant position.
b. CAMP Training, October4, 2024
c. Enforcement Issues
418 E 151h Street—unpermitted installation of fencing
Assistant City Attorney Gardner said that there were no court updates at this
time. Ratzlaff said the property owner, Mr. Saxion, spoke with her about
remedying the issue moving forward and from this conversation it was her
understanding that Mr. Saxion had decided to remove the fence in violation
before selling the property.
d. Certificates of Compliance
HDC2024-023-515 S Rock Street —gutter installation
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July 3, 2024 Historic District Commission
OTHER MATTERS NO.: TWO Ordinance Amendment: Administrative Review
IX. Adjournment
There being no further business for the Commission, the meeting was adjourned
at 4:23 P.M.
Attest:
Chair Date
Secretary Date
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