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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1997-015 Staff Report And Recommendations 11/24/1997TO: FROM DATE City of Little Rock Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs Historic Preservation 615 West Markham, Suite 100, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS Little Rock Historic District Commission V: Anne Guthrie, Historic Preservation Administrator 24 November 1997 PREFACE: The following proposed project sites are located in the southwest section of the MacArthur Park Historic District and in the northeast section of the Capitol Zoning District; this is an overlap of approximately three blocks. The Capitol Zoning District Commission (CZDC) is the permitting agency for the Capitol Zoning District and governs the land use, parking and design within its jurisdiction. While the two districts' overlapping boundaries have been in existence since the 1981 creation of the MacArthur Park local ordinance historic district, there is no established process for a joint review of application requests for properties located within the shared area. Both district commissions have separate requirements and project review process. COA Applicant: Jerry McKinnis Property Address: 1304 Cumberland Street COA Request: Construct a new office building, which serves as an expansion and a secondary structure to adjacent business Williams & Dean Associated Architects DEFERRED AGENDA ITEM Background: The applicant acquired the property, which is adjacent to his business (J.M. Associates, Inc.) at 1302 Cumberland Street, to serve as an expansion to his existing business. The applicant has been at this location since ca. 1987 and the new construction would serve as an expanded work area for his 10 - 15 employees. It is the applicant's intention to construct a building that, while meeting space needs, serves as a secondary structure to 1302 Cumberland in siting, architectural design and landscaping. On page 40 of the guidelines, it states that secondary structures should be: smaller in scale than the primary; simple in design but reflecting the general character of the primary building; located near the alley, not close to or attached to the primary building; and compatible in design, shape, materials and roof shape. LRHDC STAFF REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS 4 December 1997, Page 2 At the September LRHDC meeting, it was decided that the project would be continued until the next meeting (see enclosed minutes for additional information). Subsequently, the application went before the CZDC's design committee on 12 September; Flash Gordon was the only LRHDC member who attended. At the meeting, the plans for the porch on the north elevation met with their approval, but CZDC requires all plans to be by a licensed architect; the project was deferred temporarily. About a month ago, the owner's representative and son, Mike, called and stated that he wanted to continue the application process for the new construction. As such, the resubmitted plans for the project are enclosed. Recommendations: It is recommended by staff that the COA application for 1304 Cumberland be approved with the following conditions: ♦ The proposed project plans meet both the City of Little Rock building code and CZDC's regulations and obtain necessary approvals ♦ A building permit be issued within sixty (60) days ♦ Construction is to begin within one (1) year ♦ Landscape screening in form of plantings (shrubs, trees, etc.) and fencing be installed along the east elevation, as part of the construction project COA Applicant: African Heritage House, Lawrence Ibekwe (Chairman) Property Address: 1310 - 1312 Scott Street COA Request: New construction of a community cultural center Architect Ron Woods & Wali Caradine DEFERRED AGENDA ITEM Background: This project has been deferred three times. On the first occasion, there was no quorum as two commission members recused themselves and another was absent. On the second occasion (July's meeting) there was no quorum as one commissioner recused and two were absent. In September, the applicant requested that the project be deferred until further notification. This project has been before the CZDC's design committee, and there have been several meetings and discussions between Lynne B. Zollner, CZDC staff, and myself regarding the project's design requirements. While some issues that were raised in previous discussions and meetings are addressed in the present design, some items are not. The MacArthur Park Historic District Design Guidelines, on page 39, states that new construction of a primary building should "maintain ... the existing pattern of surrounding ... buildings along the street by being similar in: shape; scale; roof shape LRHDC STAFF REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS 4 December 1997. Paae 3 and pitch; orientation to the street; location and proportion of entrances, windows, porches and divisional bays; foundation height; floor -to -ceiling height; porch height and depth; material and material color; texture; and placement on the lot." Of the district's design criteria, the following changes were made to the project's new construction: ♦ building shape ♦ roof shape and pitch ♦ orientation to the street ♦ location and proportion of entrances, windows, porches and bays ♦ foundation height ♦ floor -to -ceiling, height ♦ sympathetic building materials ♦ texture Additional comments and changes: ♦ is not imitative of historic structures ♦ parking moved to the rear ♦ increased fenestration The proposed project's design is deficient in the following areas of criteria: ♦ scale ♦ porch height and depth ♦ placement on the lot ♦ existing pattern of surrounding historic structures along the street is maintained Recommendations: It is the staff recommendation that the COA application request for 1310 - 1312 Scott Street be approved with the following conditions: ♦ Should the project's scope (footprint, elevation, parking, landscaping, etc.) change in any fashion from what has been submitted and approved, the LRHDC will be notified and administrative approval or an additional COA will be obtained if necessary ♦ A building permit will be obtained within sixty (60) days of approval from both commissions ♦ Construction is to begin within one (1) year ♦ Landscaping will be installed as part of the construction project, will be at least 2'/z" caliber and will meet City of Little Rock Landscape regulations ♦ Elevations of proposed fence be submitted and approved administratively prior to construction xc: Tim Polk