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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-6-05 and 8-21-06 staff reportsDEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT fii LITTLE ROCK 1 11r 723 West Markham Street HISTORIC Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 3r1'° DISTRICT Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 COMMISSION STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. Three. DATE: October 6, 2005 APPLICANT: Little Rock Parks and Recreation, Bob Callan ADDRESS: 503 East 9'� Street, Little Rock, AR 72202 COA REQUEST: Construct a memorial honoring those whose served in the Korean War PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at MacArthur Park in the MacArthur Park Historic District. The application area is a small portion of the park that is set back over 300 feet from both McMath Avenue and East 9`h Street. ANALYSIS: The applicant has indicated that this will be a memorial honoring Americans who served in the Korean War and provide education about the war to visitors. The plaza will also provide a comfortable place for quiet reflection. The design guidelines do not specifically indicate any specific details when it comes to the construction of new memorials. Historically, memorials have been erected in numerous locations around the country to memorialize one event or another and this event would be no different. Memorials often times gain historical significance in the El 1 War Memorial Site` Proposed location of the Korean Var Memorial October 6, 2005 ITEM NO. Three (CONT.): 503 E 9th / Korean War Memorial future because of their meaning and how they corrunemorate the past. At the present time MacArthur Park is home to numerous memorials predominantly located on the south and east sides of the complex. These memorials don't necessarily detract from the architectural significance of the MacArthur Park Military Museum because their individual locations do not obstruct its views from the north, east, or west. The applicant has indicated that this monument will be located north-northeast of the Arsenal building adjacent to an existing grove of trees. The applicant has indicated that the memorial will have a circle -like footprint approximately 60 feet in diameter. Within this footprint. there will be a bridge traversing a faux water feature surrounded by an arbor. The applicant has indicated that they intend for the arbor's columns to match columns on the nearby Arsenal building. The memorial will feature brick rumbled pavers and a wall of names that will be constructed out of granite. The applicant has also indicated that benches at seating areas will be located in the nearby area in order to facilitate visitors. Staff believes that this memorial will complement the other memorials in the area and increase the civic value of the park. Staff also feels that the construction of the memorial will not detract from the nearby Arsenal building or the character of the historic district. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the project as filed with the following condition: If the scope of the project changes drastically they revisit with staff to see if an additional appearance before the.Commission is needed. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION ACTION: October 6, 2005 Staff noted that the notices were compliant with requirements. The area of impact was defined previously and those properties were notified. Charles Bloom, HDC Staff, made a presentation to the commission. Bob Callans, representing the applicant, stated that the location had moved and the size was reduced to sixty feet in diameter. This project is in conjunction with a Sister City in Korea. He went on to discuss the octagonal shape of the arbor, the bridge in the center of the design that is symbolic of the bridge of freedom. It will contain a listing or the Arkansans killed in action as well as sponsorships and organizations that support the project. The arbor is for shade of the reflection area. The paint color will be the same as the paint color on the porch of the arsenal. Mr. Callans continued that the plants used would be plants that are common to Korea and Arkansas. The memorial bands in the center symbolize the 38`h parallel. The flagpoles will be of the same height as opposed to as shown on the model. 2 October 6, 2009 ITEM NO. Three (CONT.): 503 E 9th / Korean War Memorial Commissioner Newbern asked of there were any present to make public cominent. Doyle Herndon stated that he was in favor of the project. Commissioner Marshall Peters asked about the faux water feature. Mr. Callans stated that the sunken area would have a drain to a low area off site but within the park. The sunken area will have glazed tile on the bottom. Commissioner Peters continued and asked where the plaque wall was located. Mr. Callans stated that the orientation was that the plaque walls would be on the northeast side of the memorial. Commissioner Peters asked if this was the last commission that the project had to appear before. Mr. Callans stated that this was the last commission. Commissioner Kay Tatum asked about lighting. Mr. Callans stated that there was uplighting of the flagpoles, arbor under the bridge and landscape lighting. Mr. Callans verified that landscape lighting was path lighting, and uplights on the plants. Commissioner Peters mentioned past discussions about light pollution. Commissioner Walls stated that this would not be a contributing structure and that the lighting would be okay. Commissioner Tatum asked about maintenance of the project. Mr. Callans stated that the foundation would set up an endowment for maintenance. They would also try to coordinate with the master.gardeners. The maintenance will be for the memorial and surrounding areas. Commissioner Tatum asked about transients. Mr. Callans stated that the maintenance contract would clean up the site on a regular basis. Mr. Herndon stated that the city will do the maintenance or they will contract it out. Commissioner Peters made a comment about the crime at the Shell gas station at 9" and I- 30. Commissioner Serebrov asked about security issues. Mr. Herndon answered that the police presence is increasing in the area. Mr. Serebrov commented about the possibility of signs "at your own risk". Commissioner Newbern asked of the height of the plaque wall. Mr. Callans stated it was ten foot high and would have granite on the front and brick on the back. Commissioner Serebrov asked about the color of the brick. Mr. Callans said it would be similar to the arsenal. He also continued that the arbor would be made of a composite material like the library has. The supports would be aluminum. Mr. Callans continued that there would be a ten -foot clearance for the arbor, maybe an'eleven and one-half foot clearance Boyd Maher, of AHPP, asked if it obscured the Arsenal Building. Mr. Callans stated that it would not obscure more than the trees that are already there. Commissioner Walls stated that it probably would not obscure. Mr. Maher reminded the commission that this was an important building in the district. 3 October 6, 2009 ITEM NO. Three (CONT.): 503 E 9th / Korean War Memorial There was a question about a blank page in the agenda. Brian Minyard, Staff, read aloud the missing page. It was the second sheet of the cover letter to the commission. A motion to approve as submitted with staff recommendations was made by Commissioner Peters. Commissioner Serebrov seconded and the motion passed with 5 ayes, 0 noes and 0 absent. 4 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND LITTLE ROCK DEVELOPMENT 723 West Markham Street HISTORIC � DISTRICT Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 COMMISSION Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. 1. DATE: August 21, 2006 APPLICANT: Doyle Herndon, The Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation ADDRESS: 503 E 9th Street COA Revision to a previously approved COA REQUEST: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located in MacArthur Park. The application area is a small portion of the park that is set back over 300 feet from both McMath Avenue and East 9t" Street. PREVIOUS ACTIONS ON THIS SITE: On October 6, 2005, a COA was approved and issued to the same applicant for the earlier version of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The applicant has indicated that this will be a memorial honoring Americans who served in the Korean War and provide N• y� 4 LIT War Me moriel 5tle ` i education about the war to visitors. The plaza will also provide a comfortable Location of Project place for quiet reflection. This version of the memorial is significantly smaller in footprint and smaller is scale from the previously approved memorial. However, the changes were significant enough to warrant another hearing for the Commission to approve the new design. The design guidelines do not specifically indicate any specific details when it comes to the construction of new memorials. Historically, memorials have been erected in numerous locations around the country to memorialize one event or another and this event would be no different. Memorials often times gain historical significance in the future because of their meaning and how they commemorate the past. MacArthur Park is home to numerous memorials predominantly located on the south and east sides of the complex. These memorials do not necessarily detract from the architectural significance of the MacArthur Park Military Museum because their individual locations do not obstruct its views from the north, east, or west. The applicant has indicated that this monument will be located north-northeast of the Arsenal building adjacent to an existing grove of trees. The revised plan includes a semi -circular plaza with dimension of 41 feet by 82 feet. In the center of the plaza will be bronze statues with slightly larger than life size soldiers and Korean children. Surrounding the statues will be eight black granite panels, seven feet high, with names of the 461 Americans that were killed in the Korean War. The backside of the panels will contain information about the war itself. Shrubbery will surround the plaza. In the plaza will be three flagpoles, which will fly the United States, the Republic of Korea, and the Arkansas, state flags. The memorial will not include any additional planting of trees. If funding permits, a map of the Korean peninsula will be inlaid in the walkway to the Memorial with a line symbolizing the 38th Parallel. An entry portal will also be included if funding permits. That portal is to be made of precast concrete. Staff believes that the shrubbery surrounding the plaza should be held to a maximum height of 30 inches for security measures. Staff believes that this revised plan of the memorial will complement the other memorials in the area and increase the civic value of the park. Staff also feels that the construction of the memorial will not detract from the nearby Arsenal building or the character of the historic district. A contract has been executed for the placement of the memorial on the MacArthur Park grounds between the City of Little Rock and the Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. _-2 Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation 3612 JF1K, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116 Telephone: 501-590-6936, E-Mail: do leherndon a corncast.net July 17, 2006 Mr. Brian Minyard Department ofPlanning & Development 723 West Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Mr. Minyard, The purpose of this letter is to advise the Historic District Commission that the plans for construction of the Korean War Veterans' Memorial have been modified. It is requested that the Commission either affirm that the Certificate of Appropriateness issued November 9, 2005 for construction of the Korean War Veterans' Memorial be affirmed as still valid or that a new Certificate of Appropriateness be issued. After construction cost of the original Memorial design was received it was determined that the Foundation could not afford the approximate $800,000 that would be required to construct the Memorial. The Memorial Foundation is now ready to construct a Memorial on the same site previously approved by the Commission with a scaled down design. Details are provided in the attachments to this request. The intent to construct the Korean War Veterans' ,Memorial at MacArthur Park has been well .publicized. Subsequent to the original request to the Commission a Site Dedication and Ground Breaking Ceremony was conducted November 12, 2005 at the proposed construction site. (A copy of the program is attached). This event was attended by several hundred people and was extensively covered by both the print and television news media. No opposition or complaints have been received concerning this project or construction of the Memorial at the designated site in MacArthur Park. There has been a great deal of favorable support expressed for this project and for the selection of MacArthur Park for the Memorial site. Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation "Honoring Those Who Served" www.adcansaskoreanwarmemorial.com Cover letter from applicant The grand opening date for the Memorial is planned for Jane 2007. The Foundation is ready to proceed with construction of the Memorial as soon as favorable consideration is received from the Commission on this request. Your timely support in this matter will be greatly appreciated. siluorely, oleo, Doyle Herndon, President The Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation "Honoring Thbse Who Served" www.arkansaskoreanwamiemorial.com Cover letter from applicant continued 11 r r Arkansas Korean War Veterans' Memorial Foundation Site Dedication & Ground Breaking Ceremony Noyember'l2, 2005 Special Presentations: Joe O'Halloran, ML Home Korean War Veterans Post Francis O'Brien, ML Home American Legion Post 52 Leecha O'Brien, Mt. Home American Legion Post 52 Women's Auxiliary Opening remarks and recognition of Special Guests Doyle Herndon, President of the Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation Welcome on behalf of The State of Arkansas Charlie Daniels, Arkansas Secretary of State Welcome on behalf of the City of Little Rock Jim Dailey, Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas Remarks on behalf of The Republic of Korea Consul Bon Yul, Kau, Republic of Korea Remarks on behalf of Hanam City, Republic of Korea, Kyo Bum, Lee, Mayor of Hanam City, Republic of Korea Ground Breaking Ceremony & Pictures End of Ceremony — Refreshments 2n° floor of The Arkansas Museum of Military History Cover letter from applicant continued 5