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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCertified Mail Return Receipt Requested (#z233-860-930) Chris 11-17-2000City of Little Rock Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs 500 West Markham Street Suite 120 West Little Rock, AR 72201 17 November 2000 Phone (501) 371-6825 Fax (501) 399-3461 Chris Pratt 205 South Pine Street Little Rock, AR 72205 CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED (#Z233-860-930) RE: 308 East 14th, MacArthur Park Historic District Dear Chris: In response to your 10 November request for the Little Rock Historic District Commission's requirements for financial hardship, there are no established factors for determining hardship. "Substantial hardship" is one of several factors that may be considered by the Commission in deciding whether to approve an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). The Little Rock Code states: In addition to considering the matters brought to the Commission's attention and the criteria set out in Section §23-132, the Commission may determine that failure to issue a certificate of appropriateness will involve a substantial hardship to the applicant, and notwithstanding that it may be inappropriate, owning to conditions especially affecting the structure but not affecting the historic district generally. [Little Rock Code §23-133 (e) (emphasis added)]. In other words, if the Commission determines that denying an application would result in a substantial hardship for the applicant, it may approve the application even though it includes an inappropriate condition (as long as the inappropriate condition does not affect the historic district generally). There must be a definite cause and effect relationship between the denial and the hardship. In other words, this law gives the Commission the authority to use their discretion to determine whether a substantial hardship will be caused by strict adherence to the guidelines. After requesting from you any information that would prove your hardship and reviewing the information that you submitted, the Commission denied your request to install vinyl windows because they found no economic hardship caused by the cost of wooden windows. The information that you submitted showed that your loan amount was insufficient to complete your project. The Commission noted that the amount saved by installing vinyl windows would not correct the problem. I believe you even admitted that with the installation of vinyl windows, you would still have a financial problem. There was simply not enough money to complete the project. This was not a substantial hardship caused by the cost of wooden windows. Chris Pratt Letter, 17 November 2000 Regarding 308 East 14th, page two The Commissioners each expressed concern about your situation and were surprised that FHA would approve such a small amount for a major renovation. Several members gave you helpful suggestions on how you might obtain additional funds. I am sorry that you feel they were biased against you, as I think that their concern for your project was genuine. They applauded your efforts to rehabilitate an abandoned house in the historic district and convert it into your home. I hope that is still a possibility. If there are questions, by all means call me at 244-5420. Sincerely, (D� A--^—L— V. Anne Guthrie Historic Preservation Administrator DG:VAG xc : LRHDC members Debra Weldon Anthony Black City of Little Rock Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs 500 West Markham Street Suite 120 West Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone (501) 3 71-6825 Fax (501) 399-3461 Chris Pratt 205 South Pine Street Little Rock, AR 72205 17 November 2000 CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED (#Z233-860-930) RE: 308 East 14th, MacArthur Park Historic District Dear Chris: In response to your 10 November request for the Little Rock Historic District Commission's requirements for financial hardship, there are no established factors for determining hardship. "Substantial hardship" is one of several factors that may be considered by the Commission in deciding whether to approve an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). The Little Rock Code states: In addition to considering the matters brought to the Commission's attention and the criteria set out in Section §23-132, the Commission may determine that failure to issue a certificate of appropriateness will involve a substantial hardship to the applicant, and notwithstanding that it may be inappropriate, owning to conditions especially affecting the structure but not affecting the historic district generally. [Little Rock Code §23-133 (e) (emphasis added)]. In other words, if the Commission determines that denying an application would result in a substantial hardship for the applicant, it may approve the application even though it includes an inappropriate condition (as long as the inappropriate condition does not affect the historic district generally). There must be a definite cause and effect relationship between the denial and the hardship. In other words, this law gives the Commission the authority to use their discretion to determine whether a substantial hardship will be caused by strict adherence to the guidelines. After requesting from you any information that would prove your hardship and reviewing the information that you submitted, the Commission denied your request to install vinyl windows because they found no economic hardship caused by the cost of wooden windows. The information that you submitted showed that your loan amount was insufficient to complete your project. The Commission noted that the amount saved by installing vinyl windows would not correct the problem. I believe you even admitted that with the installation of vinyl windows, you would still have a financial problem. There was simply not enough money to complete the project. This was not a substantial hardship caused by the cost of wooden windows. a Chris Pratt Letter, 17 November 2000 Regarding 308 East 14th, page two The Commissioners each expressed concern about your situation and were surprised that FHA would approve such a small amount for a major renovation. Several members gave you helpful suggestions on how you might obtain additional funds. I am sorry that you feel they were biased against you, as I think that their concern for your project was genuine. They applauded your efforts to rehabilitate an abandoned house in the historic district and convert it into your home. I hope that is still a possibility. If there are questions, by all means call me at 244-5420. Sincerely. C� V. Anne Guthrie Historic Preservation Administrator DG: VAG xc: LRHDC members Debra Weldon Anthony Black