HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1999-011 Memorandum To Mellissa Gilliam, Senior Code Enforcement Officer From Anne Guthrie, HPA 07/23/1999City of Little Rock t�
Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs
Administration
615 West Markham, Suite 100, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone 501-371-4748,Fax 501-399-3461
MEMORANDUM
TO: Melissa Gilliam, Senior Code Enforcement Officer
FROM: V. Anne Guthrie, Historic Preservation Administrator
DATE: 23 July 1999
SUBJECT: Reclassified Destroyed Structures in the Historic District
This memo is in response to your June letter and confirms our conversations regarding the
reclassification from "Heavy" to "Destroyed" of structures damaged by the January tornado and
their subsequent condemnation listing and demolition by the City. As discussed, there are two
structures on the reclassification list that are located in the MacArthur Park Historic District --
1415 Commerce and 1422 Rock. Due to their location in the city's local ordinance historic
district, a request for their demolition, either by the property owner or city initiated, must be
approved by the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC).
Both structures are listed in the district's architectural survey as contributing structures to the
architectural heritage of the designated area. While it is not within my responsibility to state
whether or not the LRHDC would approve their demolition, there are certain factors that bear
emphasis. A consideration in making a determination of demolition is whether the damage is
extensive, how long the structure has been neglected and unprotected and how the structure is
listed with the various city and state authorities (i.e., Public Works, AR Historic Preservation
Program) who assessed the tornado damage. The staff recommendation analyses the request as
to how long the structure has been vacant, the amount of rehab work performed on the structure,
both prior to and following the tornado, the degree of damage and the neighboring conditions.
The LRHDC meets the first Thursday of each month; the required notification procedure (as
done earlier for the four properties on Block 59) must be adhered to, such as the notice to owners
within 150 feet no later than ten days prior to meeting, posting of property, etc.
For 1415 Commerce, the structure was being rehabilitated prior to the January tornado; after that
date, I talked with the property owner and he discussed its rehab. However, several weeks after
the tornado, a neighborhood fire spread to this structure and damaged it even more. The owner,
from last reports, does not plan to rehab it. The property owner of 1422 Rock is coming before
the LRHDC on 5 August for the installation of a new roof and enclosure of the porch on the
north elevation. I don't know how this request effects your reclassification listing; is it
declassified or does the owner have to comply with more strict code regulations for minimum
housing and rental?
I will assist you and your division in helping to improve the historic area and will work with you
in any fashion.