HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1998-030 Letter From Aimee C. Dixon To LRHDC 02/17/1997Aimee C. Dixon T%i—n L:
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1311 Cumberland
Little Rock, AR 72202
February 17, 1997
Little Rock Historic District Commission
c / o City of Little Rock Department of Neighborhoods & Planning
723 West Markham
Little Rock, AR 72201
RE: 1305 Cumberland - Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Greetings
The building at issue, 1305 Cumberland, is located 2 doors down from my
residence. I believe that the paint, repairs, and vinyl siding on 3 sides of this
building are entirely "appropriate." Marsha Taul, the owner, is currently
working to restore the facade, the structure and detail of the building to its
original beauty. She has already replaced the roof on the building - an
extremely expensive undertaking due to it's height and pitch. Many of the
residents on our block of Cumberland were v___yr concerned about the condition
of the structure, which had fallen into an almost hopeless state of disrepair
before Ms Taul bought the building last summer. Ms Taul has done an
excellent job restoring another old two story apartment building two blocks
from here, at 15th and Scott Streets.
The previous owner of the house at 1309 Cumberland, which is next door to
the building at issue, installed vinyl siding, repaired and painted the front of
the house. It is interesting to note that the adjacent landowners were not
informed of any problem with "appropriateness" by the City. I find the siding
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on the two sides and back of 1309 unobtrusive, as it matches the restored
original old type of siding that remains on the front. Having lived in that
house before renovating my present home, I know that it has added to the
energy efficiency of the house because the siding has sealed up the drafty gaps
in the old boards. Additionally, the repairs and siding enhance the aesthetics
and visual appeal of the structure since there is no more unsightly rotting
wood, sagging eaves or peeling paint. It adds to the value of the home, hence
the neighborhood, property values downtown, and the basis for the City's tax
structure.
Just behind us, along the 1300 block of Rock Street, we witnessed the
disintegration of 5 of Little Rock Historic District's significant structures.
They were finally razed by city order two years ago. Were these historic houses'
absentee landowners ever called in by the city to stand accountable for their
flagrant disregard for "appropriateness" as the buildings sagged from neglect, as
abandoned vehicles, mattresses and trash lined the streets and piled up in the
alleys, as fires were set by vagrants who walked in the opened doors and
windows, as random shots rang out and rooms were rented by the hour?
These landowners had apparently used their low interest loans (made to them
with the intended use of repair to the structures) for other purposes. The two
houses that presently remain standing on the east and south facing side of our
block are currently falling into disrepair as well. The one at 13th and Rock
has been boarded up, yet is continually being broken into and occupied by
transients. Amazingly, the half -painted building on the 14th Street side of our
block has an occupant despite the broken windows, doors being left wide open,
missing siding, and mounds of trash. Are these absentee landowners as
accountable to you as Ms Taul is? What IS "appropriate" to the City?
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I am pleased that the renovation at 1305 Cumberland is taking place. It gives
me a ray of hope for my block, for our neighborhood, and for the downtown
community. We can restore the beauty, the safety, the value and function of
the area where we live and work. I am disappointed that the City has halted
the progress of this restorative work, while we lose ground with so many
historic structures that are abandoned and neglected. Ms Taul has had to stop
work on her building while obtaining costly notarized lists of adjacent
landowners and postage for a stack of certified letters, and then must wait to
attend meetings held at the City's pleasure. It is a sorry situation that the
City is making it expensive and time-consuming to tend to our city's
architectural heritage, and yet looks the other way while untended historic
structures collapse.
My hope is that this will not discourage Ms Taul and others who sincerely wish
to rebuild and maintain what's left of Little Rock Historic District's treasures.
I applaud Marsha Taul's efforts and ask that you let her continue her effort to
make our community a better place to live.
Sincerely,
'
Aimee C. Dixon
cc: Marsha Taul
Landowners adjacent to 1305 Cumberland Street
Quapaw Quarter Association
Arkansas Times
Arkansas Democrat -Gazette
Little Rock Free Press
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