HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1992-004 Neighborhoods Task Force/Future Little Rock Preservation Subcommittee And Report. 12/18/1992Nei ohborhoods Task Force/Future Little Rock Final Report
Preservation Subcommittee 12418-1992
Summary Recommendations and Report P.1
CONCLUSIONS
The most critical preservation issues facing the city today are:
1. Developing a local historic district model for neighborhood
preservation activity.
2. Enacting state enabling legislation for neighborhood
preservation districts and landmarks protection.
3. Preventing demolition and encouraging appropriately designed
i of i 1 1 through regulatory and funding mechanisms.
4. Establishing appropriate code enforcement to prevent
demolition and encourage rehabilitation.
It is important that the character of the neighborhood be
considered when reVi. ewi ng issues. Any action on issues should be
sensitive to the physical character of the neighborhood as a
whole.
RECOMMENDATIONS
At the third meeting_ of the Preservation Subcommittee historic
districts, enabling legislation, demolition and coda enforcement
were discussed in detail. MacArthur- Park: is the only local
historic district with regulatory controls. As such it can serve
as a model for the city to use preservation policy for
protection, promotion, and economic development. Econbmic:
development linked with capital improvements should include
markers, period street lights, entrances and gateways, marked
walking tour paths, and brochures. In general, a concerted
efforrt by the city to use historic districts should be promoted
and advertised to encourage tourism.
Statewide enabling legislation currently permits zoning districts
and local historic districts. It does not permit neighborhood
preservation districts, which have a lesser degree of control.
than historic districts. Within existing historic district
legislation, the issue of landmark structures designation for
individual buildings outside district boundaries is unclear. The
city needs to work for legislation permitting neighborhood
preservation districts and for the extension of historic district
protection to individual landmarks outside of districts.
Establishing a Landmarks Commission should be part of this
extension. To deal with this expansion in preservation districts
and activities, the city needs to have atleast one qualified
full-time staff person providing preservation guidance and
technical assistance.
Neiuhborh-ioods Task Force/Future Little Rock Final Report
Preservation Subcommittee 12-18-1992
Summary Recommendations and Report p.2
RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)
---------------
Demolition is clearly the most critical problem for the city if
preservation is to be a viable framework: for future development.
Demolition should be done only in the most critical
circumstances. The city must provide every effort to save
structures from demolition within our historic district by using
the city's right of eminent domain, along with establishing a
takings fund, and starting a minimum maintenance program. Other
funding is also critical for solving the demolition problem. The
city needs to provide funds, along with private funds, for the
existing Greater Little Rock Revolving Fund for Historic
Preservation. Another funding need is to develop a computerized
property data base for local districts to link basic property
data with economic and real estate marketing information. A more
detailed list of funding sources follows at the end of this
report.
Another area that the city needs to address is appropriate code
enforcement to prevent building demolition while encouraging_
quality rehabilitation. These efforts should include the
existing work: with a minimum maintenance code. Codes and code
enforcement need to recognize the difference between older and
newer- structures. For older buildings, alternative methods for
protecting life and safety need to be used as a part of code
enforcement. The city needs to investigate appropriate
rehabilitation codes developed in other areas and select and
develop those best suited for Little Rock:. This will also
require additional trained code enforcement personnel.
MISSION STATEMENT
At the second meeting the group developed a mission statement:
with two general goals and ten specific issues to address. The
goals are:
1. To encourage the city to establish a preservation policy for -
dealing with the protection, promotion, and economic development
of existing and future Historic Districts.
2. To encourage the city to establish mechanisms for forming
Neighborhood Preservation Districts throughout the city for
neighborhood protection and enhancement.
Specific issues included demolition controls, infill policy, tax
incentives for rehabilitation, revolving fund establishment,
neighborhood preservation districts, appropriate code
Neighborhoods Task: Force/Future Little Rock Final Report
Preservation Subcommittee 12-18-1992
Summary Recommendations and Report p.3
enforcement, capital improvements to existing neighborhoods, and
the protection and Use of neighborhood anchors such as churches,
schools, and theatres.
The "Historic Preservation/Neighborhood Conservation Agenda" and
"Addendum" from 1990 was reviewed and accepted as a basis to
build on for future preservation activity.
FOCUS ISSUES
------------
The group's initial meeting concluded that the focus of the
"Preservation Subcommittee" was to be on:
1. Criteria and methods for saving both significant structures
and the total fabric of neighborhoods, including buildings,
landscapes, and social institutions.
2. Demolition as a critical problem and infill as a significant
opportunity for city neighborhoods.
j. Historic districts as existi.no areas to develop models for -
neighborhoods through both neighborhood association activity and
city policies and programs.
FUNDING SOURCES
-----------------
Various funding sourced were discussed at the meetings. The,../
include: .
1. City of Little Rock:
a. Funds left over from the Neighborhood Housing Services
program.
b. $800, 000 yearly from raising the county road tax to its
limit.
C. $2 million from the AT&T escrow fund (one time source).
d. $750,000 yearly from the AT&T tar,.
e. Funds from the facade grants program.
f. FeeS generated by permits within historic districts.
2. Arkansas Historic Preservation Proar-am
a. Certified Local Government funds to the City of Little
Rock.
b. Federal tax credits for qualifying projects.
3. National Trust for Historic Preservation
a. Preservation Services Fund grants for studies and
consultants.
b. National Preservation Loan Fund loans for projects.
Neighborhoods Task Force/Future Little Rock
Preservation Subcommittee
Summary Recommendations and Report
Final Report
12-18-1992
p.4
c. Inner Cities Ventures Fund loans and grants for addressing low and
moderate income housing via historic preservation.
4. Private Business and Foundation Funding (lcoal & state wide)
a. Local Banks.
b. Little Rock Revolving Fund.
5. State of Arkansas
a. Proposed State Revolving Fund.
6. Federal Funds
a. ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) funds.
b. Federal tax credits for qualifying projects.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION
------------------------------------------------
Further efforts should be made by the city to work with community organizations,
private businesses, and industries to encourage them to provide funds for
preservation efforts. The LISC organizations currently being developed in
several neighborhoods provide one model for these efforts.
The downtown commercial area and neighborhood commercial districts are important
historical, cultural, and economic resources for the city and the county.
Preservation efforts of the city can make these commercial areas more physically
attractive and more economically viable for both residents and visitors. To
direct commercial revitalization efforts in downtown and neighborhoods, the city
needs to have at least one qualified full-time staff person providing technical
assistance with organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring.
The Main Street Arkansas program of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
provides a model to follow in this area.
ATTACHMENTS
1. "Certified Local Governments in the National Historic Preservation Program"
2. "Preservation Tax Incentives for Historic Buildings"
3. "Questions and Answers about CLG Grants from SHPOS"
4. "Arkansas Historic Preservation Funding Source Guide"
5. "Preservation Services Fund" and "Grant Application"
6. "National Preservation Loan Fund" - brochure and fact sheet
7. "Inner City Ventures Fund 1992 National Round Fact Sheet"
8. "ISTEA Enhancement Guidelines"
9. "Main Street Arkansas: A Program for Downtown Revitalization"
10. "News Release: State, National downtown Revitalization Professionals Identify
Obstacles and Outline Strategies"
11. "Senior Business Manager" - job description,City of Boston