HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2005-019 Letter From Puapaw Quarter Association To Randy Jefery 04/19/2005I Quapaw Quarter
Assoezation
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1315 South Scott Street • P.O. Box 165023 • Little Rock, AR 72216 • 501.371-0075 • FAX 501-374-8142
April 19, 2005
Randy Jeffery
Executive Director
Capitol Zoning District Commission
410 S. Battery
Little Rock, AR 72201
Dear Randy,
At its April 2005 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Quapaw Quarter Association
unanimously endorsed the second phase of the East Side Jr. High School rehabilitation project as
proposed by the Arc of Arkansas. The QQA feels that this is an excellent adaptive use of the old
East Side auditorium.
The Arc of Arkansas has built a strong reputation for quality historic preservation -based rehab
projects throughout Central Arkansas. One has only to look at the recently completed West Side
Junior High School project and its historically sensitive adaptive use of its auditorium to know
that the Eastside project will be done in a historically sensitive manner and will be an wonderful
asset to the neighborhood.
Those who have objected to this project have cited potential problems with noise, traffic, and
parking that might be associated with a residential project at the site. However, the building was
built as a school; and like all schools, it is an institutional building in a neighborhood setting. If it
were still a school today, neighbors would be confronted daily with heavy traffic in the morning
and afternoons, heavy sidewalk traffic, noise, and parking problems. If it were restored as a
1,100 seat auditorium, as some have indicated that they prefer, such problems would be even
greater on evening of concerts and events. Indeed, the only way to truly guarantee no problems
with traffic, noise, and parking would be to keep the building boarded up and abandoned or,
better yet, demolished and converted to an empty lot! But, surely, no one would advocate that
option.
Upon objective consideration of all the facts, it should be clear to all that the quietest use and the
one with the least impact on the surrounding neighborhood is the project that has been proposed
by the Arc. The QQA strongly urges the Capitol Zoning District Commission to approve this
project at its April 2005 meeting.
Regard
Roger . Williams
Executive Director
cc: Steve Hitt, Arc of Arkansas