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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1998-019 Letter To Charles Marratt From City Of Little Rock City Hall 08//20/19987 +NbV-22-93 OB!03P P-01 City of Little Rock Jim Dailey City Hall, FFoom 203 Mayor 500 W Marknarti Little Flock, AR 72207-1427 (501) 371-45 t 6 FAX (501) 371-4498 August 20, 1998 Charles Marratt P.O. Box 164438 Little Rock, AR 72216 Dear Mr_ Marratt: It has come to my attention that the Little Rock I fistoric District Commission has pending before it a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to build a parking lot on the edge of the district. The applicant, Second. Baptist Church, has made this request twice in the past arid, has been denied on both occasions_ I very much appreciate the significance of this case since it. was the vehicle through which the City Attorney was able to obtain the defining Arkansas Supreme Court opinion on the authority of the Commission. On the other hand, after discussing this matter with the City Attorney, I note that in the 11 years that have passed, nothing has happened on this property. The Church is again seeking additional parking, in part to secure its continued presence and viability in downtown Little Rock. As the Mayor, 1 can assure you that there are two competing interests here that are equally important to the City. Historic preservation has been a strong elIbn oftnine and has led to increased City participation in various preservation efforts_ Kramer School, for example, would not existhad the City not dedicated major resources to the redevelopment effort. The Caldera building would not have been saved in the River Market District if the City had not changed its attitude towards historic structures. And even now, the City is working and spending money to save the Downtown YMCA and the Mosaic Templars building when no one else would come forward to do so_ I am also concerned, though, about maintaining anchor institutions in the downtown area which make it a wonderful place to live, a5 well as a place to work. Second Baptist Church falls within this category_ The concept proposed by the Church does not offend me, although I atn not sure that the proposal meets all the needs of the community. I agree that a simple parking lot would not enhance the district, nor would it serve these presently competing interests. But, there may be a middle ground. When the I Ieights-Ilillcrest. area disapproved of additional parking for the expansion of the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, the City was able to facilitate architectural and landscaping changes which helped to make the parking more compatible with the residential and historical character of the neighborhood, NoG-22-93 08:03P P_02 Perhaps such a middle ground can be reached here through landscaping, or underground parking with a natural park/buffer on top. Ch•, perhaps there are numerous other ideas to be explored. 1 would like to facilitate the discussion of- such an effort between the Church, the preservation community and City stalT. I atn willing; to include members of the Commission if that is acceptable to all parties. The Church is looking for solutions that do not datnage the historic character of the District and, which will riot erode the fi-agile boundaries of the District. The Commission ha, before it the very same issue_ If there is away to nteet these interests through facilitation by my office, I atn more than willing to help. Sincerely, A tin Dailey Mayor JD:TMC':mg cc: Rev. Ray Higgins Lyndell Lay Anne Guthrie