HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter to Chris 09-22-2000City of Little Rock
Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs
500 West Markham Street
Suite 120 West
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone (501) 371-6825
Fax (501) 399-3461
22 September 2000
Chris Pratt
Village Green Apartments
7601 N. Chicot Road
Little Rock, AR 72209
RE: 308 East 14th, MacArthur Park Historic District
Dear Chris,
On behalf of the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC), I am writing to clarify the
amendment process of your Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), which was approved in May.
At that meeting, the LRHDC approved your request to rehabilitate 308 E. 14th with specific
conditions; one of the conditions was the wooden windows would be repaired and storm
windows installed over the wooden ones. At a later date, it was assessed that the windows were
too rotten and damaged to be able to repair.
On 8 August, you requested an amendment to the approved COA to allow vinyl instead of
wooden windows. It was determined at that meeting that additional information was needed in
order to make a decision. Also, you asked that an economic hardship be applied to your
application as your loan had a fixed time limit and rehab costs. On 16 August, there was a special
called meeting of the LRHDC to review the information; however, it was determined that
another meeting would be necessary in order to clarify specifics. It was requested that vinyl clad
windows be considered. And with your contractor temporarily off the project, it effected product
costs. At the 7 September meeting, your amendment was on the LRHDC agenda; however, it was
determined that the requested detailing costs and alternatives were not sufficient in order to make
a decision. It was decided that as your loan had a time frame in which to accomplish the work,
that a decision should be made as soon as possible.
You have been most diligent about providing information. Any tardiness may be the result of the
contractor supplying confusing information and not providing alternatives. I think that our
conversation this week clarified some issues in terms of what the LRHDC is requesting for
details. The LRHDC realizes that funding is a real issue for rehabilitation, but location in a local
ordinance historic district also dictates a diligent effort on the part of the owner and lender. A
significant feature of the historic district and in rehabilitating an historic structure, is the degree
rIN7
Chris Pratt
22 September Letter, page two
to which details, such as window profile and materials, must be adhered to and addressed. It is
this review of the guidelines by the LRHDC for individual rehabilitation projects that provides a
better project; and most importantly, it ensures that the architectural integrity of the historic
district is preserved.
If there are questions regarding the LRHDC process or any of the previous actions or decisions,
by all means call me at 244-5420. I will be in touch with you the week of the October LRHDC
meeting.
Respectfully,
V. Anne Guthrie
Historic Preservation Administrator