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Home My WebLink AboutHDC2008-024 Letter To Mayar Stodola & Tony Bozynski From Karen Butler Reddig, ASID, Two Maps OfThe MacArthur Park Historic District And Capitol Zoning Little Rock, Arkansas. It's About Appealing To Your Position 08/20/2008Karen Butler Reddig, ASID (501-804-6303) Bill Reddig (501-607-0856) 1301 Cumberland Street Little Rock, AR 72202 August 20, 2008 Mayor Mark Stodola Office of the Mayor 500 West Markham Street, Room 203 Little Rock, AR 72201 and Mr. Tony Bozynski Director Department of Planning and Development 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Dear Mayor Stodola, As property owners and residents at the above address for over 5 years, we are appealing to your position of authority to refocus the actions and restrictions of the MacArthur Park Historic District/Little Rock Historic District Commission in the following manner: Limit the involvement of the MacArthur Park Historic District to only the MacArthur Park/Old U.S. Arsenal neighborhood areas on the north side of Interstate 630, thus eliminating the unnecessary overlap of 'historic district territory' between the MacArthur Park Historic District and the Capital Zoning District south of Interstate 630. This overlap of 'protected' territory between these two districts is detrimental to the property owners efforts to improve their property. It duplicates efforts, time and expenses for property owners, as well as the historic commission and staff. All historically significant structures south of Interstate 630 are included in the Capital Zoning District. The smaller, historically insignificant homes outside of this 'overlap' area have no connection to MacArthur Park/Old U.S. Arsenal and should not be subjected to the scrutiny of the MacArthur Park Historic District/LR Historic District Commission. The likely initial inception surrounding the formation of this historic district may have originally offered direction to preserve many noteworthy historic buildings near MacArthur Park including the Old U.S. Arsenal north of Interstate 630. This was, and still is, a just and worthy cause. However, over time this historic district commission has focused on the minute details of other less significant homes and buildings completely separated from the MacArthur Park/U.5. Arsenal area. Please reference the enclosed maps copied from the MacArthur Park Historic District Guidelines for Rehabilitation and New Construction May 2006. This detailed 122 page book is overwhelming to say the least for the average property owner. Page 2 With more than 30 years of professional experience in engineering, design and construction management, Bill and I are qualified to comment on the process of planning, design, permitting, inspection, construction and occupancy of structures across the nation. This we accomplish on a daily basis with very little problems. However, it is ironic that we are unable to successfully accomplish simple and routine home improvement projects on our own property without great difficulties and harassment because of the unnecessary and constricting historic district/commission guidelines. As downtown property owners we are routinely confronted with illegal drug activity, loitering, solicitation, theft, assault and vandalism on our property. We are working with the LRPD to alleviate this activity to the best of our abilities. However, when we are threatened by this MacArthur Historic District/LR Historic District Commission and city historic district staff, we have no recourse other than to tolerate their harassment. These demands and threats are neither time sensitive nor economically sound for our neighborhood. The realized need in our neighborhood is crime prevention, not home improvement prevention. For example, each time a property owner wishes to repair, retain, maintain or protect the property in this neighborhood, the owner is forced to purchase, from a licensed abstractor, a list of all property owners within 150 feet of their property. The cost of this search is approximately $180 each time the owner must submit for a 'certif icate of appropriateness' from the historic district commission. The owner must then send, via certified mail, packages pertaining to the improvements to the surrounding property owners. The cost of this notification is approximately $40 each time. The owner must apply to be placed on the agenda of the next upcoming meeting of the historic district commission. This causes a delay in progress of months. On the many small, weekend improvements to these small homes, this bureaucratic cost and timeline outweighs the cost of the improvement. We have talked with a number of property owners, our neighbors, regarding the lack of improvement to their properties. Each property owner states that the hassle of dealing with the MacArthur Park Historic District/LP, Historic District Commission is not worth the trouble. So, they choose to let the property remain in disrepair. There are many vacant lots and abandoned structures that remain in this area because of these historic district restrictions. As I, and several thousand coworkers, face the uncertainty of unemployment due to an upcoming corporate buyout, there is absolutely no appetite for prohibitive burocracy in an otherwise stressful environment. This fact coupled with the total economic uncertainty of our community is just cause to reign in the focus and areas restricted by the MacArthur Park Historic District/Little Rock Historic District Commission. Page 3 Had Bill and I known 5 years ago, what we know now, we would definitely not have purchased and attempted to improve property at this downtown address. The investment that we desired to make in'living and working downtown' has become a constant harassment and embarrassment. When asked about our experiences in this endeavor we emphatically advise friends and associates to buy and build anywhere but our neighborhood because of the MacArthur Park Historic District/Little Rock Historic District Commission. Please do give sincere consideration to redirecting the focus of the MacArthur Park Historic District/Little Rock Historic District Commission so that our neighborhood will have a chance to improve and grow. Please review and consider the most recent example on the following page to the Little Rock Historic District Commission. We welcome the opportunity to sit down and talk with you or your staff about this at your convenience. Your continued work with the LRPD to alleviate the illegal drug activity in our neighborhood is invaluable to our community. we Tn K you. aTC ren and Bill Rea&cr- Enclosures Cc: Bruce Moore, City Manager Jason Files, PA Lisa Ables, PA Arkansas Democrat Gazette KTH V Page 4 Mr. Bozynski, In reference to the certified mailing dated August 8, 2008 also enclosed for reference: In the 5 years that we have owned and lived at the property referenced in this document, we have never received one notification of improvement to a property within 150 feet of our property. Extensive work has been completed to the adjacent property to ours to list one. As evident by our receipt of this certified mailing from your office, it is reasonable and probable for us to receive said notification via certified mail from other individuals. Please forward to us copies of your documentation of notification, sent to us by certified mail, by other property owners within 150 feet of our property for the past 5 years for review by our attorneys. Regarding the items listed in the attached notice letter from your office: -The glass in both dormer windows on the front of the house was broken and the frames were decayed and unsalvageable. These windows were not original to the structure. There is evidence that this house originally, as with many other houses in this neighborhood, had colored/stained glass in the dormer windows. Because we have researched the specific time period for our home, we installed Frank Lloyd Wright influenced windows for both front dormer windows. This too references your staff's comment in the notice letter that a dormer window was covered with plywood without obtaining o 'COA'. This window was covered temporarily because the opening was permitting rain and the elements to enter the attic and destroy the interior of the structure. The waiting period and costs for the historic commission's'COA' were neither feasible nor reasonable for this necessary repair. -The'screen' on the back patio is located in the back, private courtyard behind our home. Even though it is touching the structure, this item is not permanent and should not be commented on by your staff. This item is considered art and is patio furniture. By receipt of this letter, please consider these notice matters resolved with the historic district commission. 4Ay_always, tha _ ufah-your time and consideration. ea a d Bill Reddig Enclosures Cc: Bruce Moore, City Manager Jason Files, PA Lisa Ables, PA Arkansas Democrat Gazette KTH V 7. Assistance. The Little Rock Historic District Commission appreciates the efforts and cooperation of the MacArthur Park Historic District property owners and others in following these guidelines and helping to preserve our historic neighborhoods. These are special places in which to live and work — places with important architectural and landscape resources for Little Rock's citizens and visitors. The Commission's staff is available for consultation to help property owners and their representatives plan and design projects or improvements that will comply with the Historic District's design guidelines. FOR INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE, CONTACT: Little Rock Historic District Commission Department of Planning and Development 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501) 371-4790 http://Iittlerock.org/CityDepartments/PlanningAndDevelopment X.071 .e ' r, F �� Q W-02F *�-6 OAF Arm P X on�®��o+ The map above shows the area that is protected by both the Little Rock Historic District Commissions and the Capitol Zoning District Commission. Applicants in this area must verify requirements of both commissions. • 13 lu q Lu r I� GAP i. -ter Mob Glob Ow c � � ,: � • • 1q ��:�- �� •� � can° 4 � W'�—�tiT� r-. Q JL V. t: cz� ca , � , ge n aid o TI ODD Y-� A jP' - Qd ,` •i k ir3 +{ -17 , . A ' ,� � �s. j � ��[ p� 3{� � �fl�t3 ��] f •i ! 1m cid�i � I n LS o mfl�l6o Map of the MacArthur Park historic District Little Rock, Arkansas PA