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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNotes and articles-4rca' E7J JF( �2 o " 1 4 9 hew law scoot( flans in tangle UALR, commission still at odds By Larry Sullivan Gazette Staff Legal arguments over plans for a new. University of Arkansas at Lit- tle Ruck law school are not over. An attorney for the Little Rock Historic District Commission Thursday said that the conditions the commission imposed on the project Nov. 28 had to have U►S.LR's formal acceptance. A verbal agreement with the pro- ject architect may not suffice, and UALR now doubts that it can af- School ford to save two existing buildings as the comm-sssi in requested. The cornmissiOn also approved revised plans by Or. Hampton Roy for transforming the old Kramer Sclitiol at Seventh and Sherman streets into a residence to be called "Chateau Roy." UALR plans to more the law school to the farmer Graduate In- stitute of Technology site on Me..klmont Street. near MacArthur See SCHOOL/2B Continued from Page 1 B Park. it planned to demolish both a small house south of the former institute building and the former Baldwin Electric building built north of the institute in 1925 as a city hospital. George N'Vittenber told ttle Rock e architect for the project, commission Nov. 28 that UALR would be willing to move the house, known as the "old chancellor's house: ' and "mothball" the Bal- dwin Electric building. Those stipulations, and Witten - berg's acceptance of them. are at issue, City Attorney Mark Stodola told the commission Thursday. '`It is my opinion that without the consent of the landowner, the commission does not, have the legal authority to enforce these condi- tions," Stodula said in a lettelr. UALR must amend its appca tion for a "certificate of approAri- ateness," which is what the Com- mission calls its building permit. No university officials have at- tended commission meetings.Cam- William H. Kennedy mission chairman, said "these are significant legal questions" and suggested that the commission re- view the "conditional er ilicate" it gave the project Stodola wants to research the legal questions further. Kennedy said. Kennedy said he wanted to continue talks with UALR offi- cials, who he described as anxious to settle the issue. "They are thoroughly in a quan- dary but not hostile;' Kennedy said. Nov. 15, the university broke ground for the project before ob- taining the commission's permit. UALR had taken the position that as a state agency it didn't have to have any City persnits. Stephen Giles, a lawyer in the city attornev's office, said state law requires the commissions certifi- cate for all building projects in the historic district. Thursday, the commission voted unanimously to review the matter. Law school vs. Little Rock By Scott Van Laningham Gazette Staff A possible confrontation between the city of Little Rock and UALR over the universi- ty's new law school building may be headed for a showdown today. Stephen Giles, a lawyer in the city attor- ney's office, said Monday that the Univer- sity of Arkansas at Little Rock must get the approval of the city's Historic District Com- mission for the project. But UALR has begun work — without the certificate — on the renovation of the Grad- uate Institute of Technology building near MacArthur Park as new quarters for the law school. UALR officials held a ceremony Nov.15 to break ground for the project. Also, the state Historic Preservation Pro- gram has expressed opposition to a part of See SHOWDOWN/2B Showdown Continued from Page 1 B UALR's plans. Earlier this month, the commis- sion requested an opinion from City Attorney Mark Stodola's of- fice about whether the university needed the commission's approval for the project. The commission has scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. today to discuss the issue. UALR officials have taken the position that the university doesn't have to get a certificate. The uni- versity has contended that certifi- cates are needed only to get a building permit, but the university — as a entity of state government -- doesn't need a city building permit. Giles said in an interview Mon- dav that the state law governing historic districts requires certifi- cates for all projects in a district, even if a building permit isn't re quired. He said he hopes to have the opinion prepared before to- dav's commission meeting. Fred Harrison, general counsel for the university system, said he's awaiting the opinion from Stodo- la's office and couldn't comment on the legal issues. Harrison noted that the university, in a spirit of cooperation, has submitted its plans to the commission and other city offices for their review. Also, the state Historic Preserva- tion Program, in a recent letter to the commission, has expressed op- position to the demolition of any buildings in conjunction with the renovation. George Wittenberg, architect for the project, reported to the com- mission earlier this month that the _ plans call for the demolition of. house at the southwest corner of the GIT building to make way for a courtroom and library for the law school. Wittenberg said Monday he was trying to set up a meeting today with Historic Preservation Pro- gram officials to discuss the project in more detail. He said UALR officials are willing to save the - house by having it moved and have asked him to get cost estimates, The last time UALR officials didn't submit plans for a project to city officials the university built part of a fence along University Avenue above a water line. The university and city Water Works worked out an agreement that al- lowed the fence to remain, but UALR will be responsible if the Water Works must damage the fence to work on the water line, Mark Whitaker, an official in the city's code enforcement office, said UALR has to submit plans for the renovation for the city's review. The new renovation doesn't violate any city easements, rights of way or setback requirements, he said. Law school plans face panel's ��� Historic Commission apparently has say BY JUDY GALLMAN Democrat Staff Writer The Little Rock Historic District Commission appar- ently must approve renovation plans for a new law school at the Graduate Institute of Tech- nology building. Assistant City Attorney Ste- phen Giles said Monday that the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School must acquire a certificate of ap- proval from the commission before proceeding with its re- novation plans. .. Giles was completing an opinion to that effect Monday. An opinion was requested by the commission during the Nov. 2 meeting. , The commission has sched- uled a public hearing on the UALR proposal at 5 p.m today. UALR has contended it's not subject to the city require- ments. "It's pretty strong lan- guage," Giles said of the state Historic District Act. "It does riot exempt any state build- ings." The act allows the establish- ment of historic districts to preserve and protect sites and buildings of historic signifi- cance. UALR plans to renovate and expand the GIT buidling on McAlmont Street, which is on the eastern edge of MacArthur Park, for a new law school. ••, The renovation plans would demolish a house, a 1920s Eng- lish Revival -Craftsman cot- tage, on the southwest corner of 'the property. That area would be used for a courtroom and library. The plans also would also destroy a 1910 red brick build- ing that housed medical school classrooms. The demolition concerned o$e commissioner and the Ar- kansas Historic Preservation Program, which makes recom- mendations on what groups receive certificates of ap- propriateness. George Wittenberg, the project architect, said at the -last commission meeting Nov. See GIT, Page 3B GiT • Continued from Pulaski Page 2 that the university believed it is exempt from having to ob- tain a city building permit. Giles said the requirement for a certificate of appropri- ateness is independent of whether the university, a state agency, is subject to a city building permit. Previous opinions from the city attor- ney's office have held state building projects are subject to city requierements. "Historic district -wise, it hasn't happened," Molly Sate r field, the planning staff liaison to the commission, said. In a letter dated Monday, Cathy Buford, state historic preservation officer, said the program staff had reviewed the construction and demoli- tion plans and could not sup- port them. Satterfield said UALF planned to begin construction in mid -January with comple tion projected for FebruaN 1991. ' LUMINAIRE SPECIFICATIONS C January 1987 titlrlr: William and Mary Height:" 33"'_ Width: 17' ± I Material: Cast Alluninunn r�;'F Globe/Panels: Finish: Wnffngr/Lnnrpius:Mercury Clear Polycarbo natr Finish Paint Vapor (100 or 175 Wall) Higij Pressure Sodium (70, 700 or 150 Waft) Metal Halide (175 Wall) N r Incandescent Mode - Distribution: Symmetric Asymmetric i Voltage. 720, 208, 240, 277 or 480 i Options: Other Panels Available ;ll LAMP POST SPECIFICATIONS ? 1 Style. Saratoga 12 I' Height: 121-9J/4"± Ljghf Center. 14'-41/2"± , Baser 7 6" ± OcMgonnal i Material: 1 Piece, Heavy -Wall Cast Iron, per A.S.T.M. i A 48-83 Class 30 i l Finish: Iron Oxide Red — Prime Paint Amss Door: Located in Base Anchor Bolls: (4) 314 x 24- + 3" Hook (Fully Galvanize,!) Bolt Projection: 3" Reilsired Above Foundation Bolt Circle: 9" ± Diameter c 9" 0 Bolt Circle e m Jj O t to _ Oct. r-7 ANCHOR BOLT DETAIL SPRING CITY ELECTRICAL MI-G. CcU, 1' 0 A. Spring Cit, . PA 10475 • Phunc 115-94$-4000 •Far 215-04:-557% Page 3 MAJOR BUILDINGS ON LAW SCHOOL SITE Hospital Superintendent's Mouse, 723 E. Eleventh St. -- English Revival cottage built about,1927 as the residence for the superintendent of the Little Rock General Hospital. Little Rock General Hospital, 1101 McAlmont St. -- Built about 192 . Later used as the electronic research laboratory for Arkansas Radio and Television Electronic, a division of Baldwin Piano Co. Arkansas University Medical Department (U. of A. Medical School), 1201 McAlmont St. -- Built about 1934. Bentley Hotise and -Garage, 1223 McAlmont St. -- Craftsman/English Revival -style house built about 1922 as the residence of Dr. Carl E. Bentley. At rear is a "matching" two-story garage/servant's quarters structure. lzxr. 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