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THE KRAMER SCHOOL APARTMENTS
The Kramer School Apartments
Background
The Romanesque Revival -style Fred Kramer School was designed by
pioneer Arkansas architect Thomas Herding, Sr., and constructed in 1895.
Expanded in 1906 and again in 1931, it served the young people of Little Rock's
east -of -Hain community for three-quarters of a century. Vacant since the late
1970s, the school was declared surplus to the needs of the Little Rock School
Board and sold to the present owner in 1983. Today, it is the oldest remaining
public school building in Pulaski County.
Rehabilitation Summary
The wengroup Companies, with the assistance of The Renaissance
Corporation, plans to rehabilitate historic Kramer School as multi -family
housing. The existing four Story building will be sensitively adapted to
provide fifty single -bedroom apartments and six studio apartments. An accessory
buildlrg, planed at the rear corner (northeast) of the olock-large property,
will have an additional ten units -- four studios, four single -bedroom loft
apartments, and two townhouses.
All restoration work and integrated new construction will meet the
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Original exterior
features such as the large dormers on the roof of the front building and a
copula on the north side of the structure will be restored. Although the grand
entry cannot be rebuilt for structural and economic reasons, it will be given a
new capping element. Inside, the rotunda and light well shall be preserved.
Both the basement (ground floor) and the front attic will be reused for
apartments; a compact elevator tucked between the first and second buildings
will provide service between floors. A new, elevated roof on the rear building
Will permit an additional story -and -a -half of apartments. when completed, the
Kramer School Apartments will be the largest preservation project ever
undertaken for residential purposes in the State of Arkansas.
The new construction on the site has been designed to harmonize
with existing building's exterior materials and roof shapes. The ten -unit,
two -and -one-half story accessory structure will be clad In brick and features a
hip roof similar to the One on the center segment Of the main structure. Its
archltectural design has been kept modest so as not to conflict with either the
school or its neighbors across the street. On the south side of the site, a low
covered parking structure has been tentatively planned as part of the perimeter
wall design. A twenty-five meter "lap" pool will be set in the rear courtyard
and will be entirely screened from public view.
Harket
The level of finish for the Kramer School project is expected to be
very high. In fact, roughly $3 million will be spent restoring the existing
building and improving the site for multi -family occupancy. Unit design and
. Background
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Censer w e din 1895 b/
pioneer grkansa5 architect ThamaS Harming, Sr, and (x7r1sLTUCtea in 1a95.
Expanded in 1906 and again in 1931, It Served the young people of Little Rock's
east -of -pain community for three-quarters of a century. Vacant since the late
1970s, the school was declared surplus to the needs of the Little Rock School
Board and sold to the present owner in 1983. Today, it is the oldest remaining
public school building in Pulaski County.
Rehabilitation Summary
The wengroup Companies, with the assistance Of The Renaissance
Corporation, plans to rehabilitate historic Kramer School as multi -family
housing. The existing four story building will be sensitively adapted to
provide fifty single -bedroom apartments and six studio apartments. An accessory
building, placed at the rear corner (northeast) of the block -large property,
will have an additional ten units -- four studios, four single -bedroom loft
apartments, and two tow houses.
All restoration work and integrated new construction will meet the
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Original exterior
features such as the large dormers on the roof of the front building and a
copula on the north side of the structure will be restored. Although the grand
entry cannot be rebuilt for structural and economic reasons, it will be given a
new capping element. Inside, the rotunda and light well shall be preserved.
Both the basement (ground floor) and the front attic will be reused for
apartments; a compact elevator tucked between the first and second buildings
will provide service between floors. A new, elevated roof on the rear building
will permit an additional story -and -a -half of apartments. when completed, the
Kramer School Apartments will be the largest preservation project ever
undertaken for residential purposes in the State of Arkansas.
The new construction on the site has been designed to harmonize
with existing building's exterior materials ad roof shapes. The ten -unit,
two -ad -One-half Story accessory structure will be clad in brick and features a
hip roof similar to the one on the center segment of the main structure. Its
architectural design has bean Kept modest So as not to Conflict with either the
school or its neighbors across the street. On the south side of the site, a low
covered parking structure has been tentatively planned as part of the perimeter
wall design. A twenty-five meter "lap" pool will be set in the rear Courtyard
and will be entirely Screened from public view.
naiket
The level of finish for the Kramer School project is expected to be
Very high. In fact, roughly $3 million will be spent restoring the existing
building and improving the site for multi -family occupancy. unit design and
amenities will be aimed at young professionals working in downtown jobs, mature
singles, and out-cf-towners looking for an in -city apartment. working women
should feel comfortable living here since site security will be stressed through
the use of perimeter lighting, fencirg, and looking exterior doorways.
Apartment rents will range from the low $300s to the high 8500s.
_.L 1
Construction is currently expected to begin this summer, perhaps as
soon as July 1st. Phase one of the project, t0 be complete by December of this
year, will put in service the front two-thirds of the existing building. The
rear section will follow by mld-February. The accessory apartments will be
complete by April.
Additional Information
Additional information regarding this Project can be obtained by
contacting: Ralph hegna, Vice President, The Renaissance Corporation, 1008
Cumberland, Little Rock 72202 or 501-371-D654.