HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1995-007 Ehereas, The City Of Little Rock Board Of Directiors Ordinance No. 17,208I I
ORDINANCE NO. 17,208
2
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY
3 ATTORNEY TO INSTITUTE CONDEMNATION
4 PROCEEDINGS TO ACQUIRE THE VACANT
LOTS LOCATED AT 608 EAST SIXTH
5 STREET AND THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF
SIXTH AND FERRY STREETS WHEN THE
6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROPRIATES
7 FUNDS NECESSARY TO PAY JUST
COMPENSATION.
8
9 WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock Board of Directors (the
10 "Board") recognizes that the historic Tate House at 615 East
11 Capitol Avenue, which lies within MacArthur Park Historic
12 District, represents an architectural product of distinct
13 period in the history of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has instituted eminent domain
14 proceedings to acquire title to the Tate House property and
15 pay just compensation to the owners; and
16 WHEREAS, the Board finds that in the case of the two
17 vacant lots located at 608 East Sixth Street and the
Southwest corner of Sixth and Ferry Streets, it is an
18 appropriate public purpose that the two vacant lots be used
19 for public park and parking lot facilities in conjunction
20 with the City Visitor's Information Center to be located at
21 the Tate House property; and
22 WHEREAS, once the Board appropriates the funds necessary
for the City Attorney to commence condemnation proceedings,
23 and when possession of the two vacant lots is obtained, City
24 staff shall take steps necessary to secure the two vacant
25 lots and to keep them.secured, taking whatever steps are
26 necessary to accomplish same.
27 NOW, THEREFORE BE'IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
28 SECTION 1. The City Attorney is authorized to institute
29 condemnation proceedings to acquire the two vacant lots
30 located at 608 East Sixth'Street and the Southwest corner of
31 Sixth and Ferry Streets, for the lawful purpose of public
32 park and parking facilities in conjunction with the City
Visitor's Information Center to be located at the Tate House
33 property, and to acquire immediate possession to secure and
34 f maintain the premises.
35 SECTION 2. The Board of Directors hereby states its
36 intent to appropriate the funds necessary to institute
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eminent domain proceedings, and to secure and maintain the
two vacant lots.
PASSED: June 4, 1996
ATTEST:
Robbie Hancock
■ 0 t HANE%ZX-
CITY
M
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Tom Carpenter
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED:
Jim Dailey
MAYOR
July 8, 1996
CURR.AN HALL TASK FORCE
July 2, 1996 Minutes
The Curran Hall Task Force met on July 2, 1996, at 2 PM in the conference room at the offices of
the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. Attending were: John Gill, co-chair. Cheryl
Nichols, Swannee Bennett, Charles Nickerson, Tony Black, Barry Travis and Hallie Simmins.
Guests were Charles Witsell, John Greer and Jim Vandenberg, Following a welcome and
introductions, Jinn Vandenberg crave an update on the NMCB 28 group's work and proposal for
future work on the house. He reminded the committee that the CB's work one weekend a month.
He referred the committee to the suggested schedule included in the updated information he
provided, and recommended that the debris around the house be removed prior to the CB's next
weekend available, July 26. Other recommendations included: removing anything with historic
value prior to their work, and removing any remaining historic plants, since they will likely be
damaged by the construction activity. The primary assistance available from the CBs includes
stabilizing and securing the structure. While they would like to help any way they can, they really
need more information and clarification as to the scope the committee would like for them to
consider. They would like for the committee to prioritize the work. Types of assistance they could
provide include: foundation work, securing the building and making it accessible for those who
need to work on it; attic shoring and roof repair, shoring up west wall and back porch area.
Securing the building and making it accessible to workmen was identified as the first priority.
Along with that, Charles Witsell stated that the roof repair and attic shoring are essential to prevent
further deterioration of the inside rooms. in addition the west wall, especially the area around the
west chimney and the back porch need shoring up. Witsell also suggested that an inventory be
done of the outbuildings, as they contain some valuable historic materials from other houses as
well as Curran Hall, along with some materials which should be thrown away. Witsell and
Swannee Bennett will look into the possibility of going, through the outbuildings and making an
inventory of what is salvageable. Bennett said we would need space to warehouse the Historic
materials, or place them inside Curran Hall.
The first phase of work will include:
1. Placing a fence around the perimeter of the property, with gates for access. This will
also entail getting permission from the school district to use the parking area immediately west of
the Curran Hall property for access and to place the fence so that it is at least 10 feet from the
house.
2. Clearing debris and any significant plants for at least 15 feet from the house so
workmen can get into the area. Vandenberg also said that there had been some bees or wasps nests
in the house, making it difficult for the CBs to work. He requested that those nests be cleared out
before they do additional work.
3. Making emergency repairs to the roof and attic. Jim Vandenberg will provide a
materials list for this. Witsell will work with Vandenberg to arrange shoring.
Charles Nickerson will check with the city to see if any materials are available for use. He will
also check into the possibility of using community punishment and community service workers for
the cleanup. Nickerson will also look into getting a big dumpster from the city for use at the site.
Gill will look for additional sources of materials. and he suggested we use some of the 55,000
available from the Department of Heritage to purchase what cannot be donated. Cheryl Nichols
moved and Tony Black seconded using, these funds to purchase materials to get started on the
projects it nec--ssary. The motion passed_
Curran Hall July 2, 1996 minutes
Page 2
Phase two would be to inventory outbuildings and place usable, historic items in a place for
safekeeping. Witsell will work with Swannee Bennett on this.
Witsell showed a preliminary drawing of the property and suggested we decide what outbuildings
we should keep and what we should get rid of. Phase three would be the removal of the selected
outbuildings.
Tony Black updated the committee on the work done by the master gardeners. A number of
historic plantings have been identified, tagged and removed, using the site plan done by Allen
Brown some years ago. City Parks cleaned the bushes and underbrush, and will haul the debris
away. The master gardeners are willing to take on this property as a project. Dick Butler and Jay
Hill organized the master gardeners who did the work. The committee suggested that any plants
within 15 feet of the house be removed, even though summer is not a good time to transplant. It
was pointed out that the plants will be killed during the work, so we should take out whatever we
can and try to save it.
Witsell then discussed the house and outbuildings. He stated that his cost estimate of $622,000,
done by Tom Harding, would be good for up to two years. Any work done by the CBs would
save considerable labor costs; however, he feels that the maximum savings would be $100,000. If
we could use the Cbs to construct the restrooms, we could save additional labor costs, but would
extend the construction time.
He made two assumptions concerning building usage: 1. that the building is planned for use
primarily as a visitor information center, 2. that it would include an area for use as exhibits or for
receptions. He reported that two buildings were attached to the house at a later time. He
recommends moving one back and building new restrooms on the east side. The kitchen, on the
west side, should be left attached to the house to use as a catering kitchen. He further
recommended saving the play house and one other storage shed. He assumed acquisition of the
two lots directly behind the house on 6th street for parking. The back parking would make it
necessary to have two entrances: one at the back of the house, including handicapped access, and
the original front entrance. Another major decision to be made involves the west side windows,
which Mn. Tate says are not original to the house. We will need to decide whether or not to leave
those windows in place.
Building use was discussed. The building will be designated as a visitor information center, and
its use primarily dedicated to functions associated with visitor information. This could include an
area for exhibits, or as a museum on the history of Little Rock. Drawings of the proposed look of
the interior could be done by Ken Oberste for approximately $1000. It would take about one
month. Witsell said he can do an illustrated site plan. Cheryl Nichols stated that the exterior of the
house is most important for grant purposes. Nickerson will talk to Bill Bunton in city parks to see
if they will do the drawings. He will get with Witsell and Gill to discuss what drawing are needed.
Witsell also recommended that we consider trying to acquire the parking lot on the west side of the
property.
The committee will write thank you letters to any person or group which works on this project.
Committee members are asked to forward names and addresses to Hallie Simmins or John Gill
when assistance is provided. Please include the dates and the type of work done.
Curran Hall July 2, 1996 minutes
Page 3
Cheryl Nichols reported on grant applications. Most foundations will not fund public projects,
since they feel that tax dollars are made available for such work. Curran Hall would most likely be
considered a public project, so we should consider NCRC and ISTEA grants, since only
government groups can apply for these. If we dedicate some of the interior rooms to exhibit space,
we may qualify for NEH grants. Barry Travis will get with John Gill and form a delegation to talk
to highway department director Dan Flowers to discuss an ISTEA grant.
Black discussed the litigation on the property. The family has come down to an asking price of
190,000. He has also drawn up an ordinance for the acquisition for the land behind Curran and
the additional property on 6th Street. Owners of the property have stated that they are willing to
sell. One parcel's ownership is still to be determined. Black is researching that ownership.
Members will be notified of the next meeting, which should be some time prior to July 26, the next
work day for the CBs. Committee members are encouraged to go by the house and personally
thank the CBs when they are working.
Respectfully submitted,
Hallie Simmins
Addendum
What do all those initials mean!?
AHC - Arkansas Heritage Commission
HPAA - Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas
NMCB (or CB) - Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28 Detachment 01 from Little Rock,
Arkansas.
Grant sources
NCRC - Arkansas Natural Cultural Resource Council
CLG - Certified Local Government
ISTEA - Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act