Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1998-030 Staff Report And Recommendations 06/25/19981 City of Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS PREPARED BY: V. Anne Guthrie DATE: 25 June 1998 APPLICANT: Marsha Taul ADDRESS: 1305 Cumberland COA REQUEST: Retain vinyl siding on structure's north elevation DEFERRED AGENDA ITEM BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: The subject property is located on the east side of Cumberland Street (one-way south), the first block south of 1-630. It is a two -storied apartment on a 50-foot wide lot; the majority of structures on the block are single - storied, single-family, on 50-foot wide lots, and there is a two -storied vacant apartment house facing 14th Street. The block's east side (fronting Rock) is predominantly vacant and unimproved lots, with the exception of a vacant single -storied house. In 25 January 1997, the owner filed a COA application to apply vinyl siding on three elevations of a two -storied structure; the west (front) elevation would be painted. The 20 February 1997 public hearing date was deferred until 3 April, at which time, the LRHDC voted to approve the application with the condition that siding could be applied only on the east (rear) elevation and that the siding on the north was to be removed. In the April letter to the applicant, five points justify the decision, which is part of this recommendation. A copy of the 3 April 1997 minutes and two letters are enclosed. No staff recommendations were prepared at the time. Note: the LRHDC adopted an artificial siding policy in June 1997; consult Appendix C, Design Review Guidelines: MacArthur Park Historic District for the siding policy. Prior to the 1997 application and meeting dates, the applicant had applied vinyl siding on two elevations, the north and the east; the COA application was an after -the -fact request. Also, the owner had not obtained the required building permit. A stop work order may have been issued, but there is no record in the city permitting files as they do not retain files past two months. At the hearing, the applicant stated that in the district there are structures, which have artificial siding and do not have LRHDC approval. A Complaint and Notice of Appeal was filed with the Chancery's office but later was dismissed. NEIGHBORHOOD REACTION: None to date STAFF RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of staff that the COA application be approved with the condition that the vinyl siding on the northwest corner board be removed. The differentiation between the siding, vinyl on the north and wooden on the west, is minimal; the widths of both types are similar to the untrained eye. Also, due to the close proximity of the house on the north, tree foliage on the south side of 13th and the east side of Cumberland streets, there is a minimal and an obstructed visual perspective of the subject property's north elevation.