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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2016-002 Email To Chairwoman Jahnson And LRHDC Frrom Rhea Roberts 04/04/2016Minyard, Brian From: Rhea Roberts <rroberts@quapaw.com> Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 2:37 PM To: Minyard, Brian Subject: Fwd: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rhea Roberts <rroberts Qiquapaw.com> Date: Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 4:58 PM Subject: To: Brian Minyard <BMinyard@1itt1erock.org>, Toni Johnson <aiohnsonconsultant ahoa.com> Dear Chairwoman Johnson and Little Rock Historic District Commission, On behalf of the QQA Advocacy Committee and Board of Directors, I am writing to comment on the COA applications for 1315 Cumberland Street, 901 Cumberland Street and 901 Scott Street. The QQA supports staff's recommendation to deny the COA request at 1315 Cumberland Street. The QQA maintains a list of contractors who are familiar with working in historic districts and with the Commission; I would be happy to share that list with any applicant. Infill guidelines within historic districts are meant to encourage good design that blends with the existing neighborhood and help protect the character of existing historic resources. Well - designed buildings that are sensitive to their surroundings will serve to enhance the MacArthur Park Historic District, and this includes contemporary architecture. While we agree with staff's assessment that the application as submitted at 901 Cumberland Street is not appropriate, we offer our comments and a few suggestions that will help it blend with the surrounding contributing structures. SITING: Front setback is extremely important on this block. It is unclear what the setback is from the information we have, but if it is similar to the houses to the south, we see no problem. HEIGHT: We recommend considering a pitched roof. Additionally, raising the foundation height to match others on the block would help; if it is similar in height to the one story building to the east, it will blend better with the rest of the block. The protruding cement block wall and chimney add perceived height. While there are no flat -roof single family houses in the district, there are flat roof two story apartment buildings one block away and one and two story 1 cwmmercial buildings with flat roofs one block away. It's not contributing, but the building across the street to the east is one story with a flat roof. PROPORTION: The proposed house is low and horizontal, unlike the houses to the south. Increasing the setback of the small room to the right of the front door could lessen the horizontal effect (especially combined with some of the other recommendations). RHYTHM: The rhythm is not wholly inappropriate, but enlarging the small windows on the 9th Street fagade and adding a window to the left of the front door may help. ENTRANCE AREA: Enlarging and accentuating the front porch would help the house blend with others on the block. The four contributing buildings to the south are similar to each other, but there is also a mixture of building types and styles within the area of influence. These changes could help the building blend with its surroundings. With regard to 901 Scott Street, QQA agrees with staff's assessment that If the brick were to extend to the from the bottom of the raised patios to the top of every other gable, in addition to the existing setback variation in the floor plan, this would better emulate the rhythm of single family structures across the street. The perceived mass when walking down the Scott Street sidewalk could be lessened by varying the height of the gates below the accompanying railing on the raised patio. Overall, the QQA is supportive of good development on the site and hopes the applicant and HDC can work together on an appropriate design. Rhea Roberts Executive Director Quapaw Quarter Association 615 East Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 165023 Little Rock, Arkansas 72216 501.371.0075 ua aw,com Help us preserve historic Little Rock by becoming a member, join online toda Find out more about the QQA on iFacebook z Rhea Roberts Executive Director Quapaw Quarter Association 615 East Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 165023 Little Rock, Arkansas 72216 501.371.0075 Quapaw.com Help us preserve historic Little Rock by becoming a member, join online tod� Find out more about the QQA on Facebook