HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1987-006 Letter From AHPP To Mr. Mile Dooley DOCPCH 03/02/1987ARKANSAS
HISTORIC KWIC
PRESERVATION
PROGRAM
March 2, 1987
Mr. Mike Dooley
Department of Comprehensive Planning
City Hall
Markham at Broadway
Little Rock, AR 72201
RE: Pulaski County - Little Rock
MacArthur Park Historic District
American Legion Post No. 1 Parking Lot
Request for Reconsideration
Dear Mr. Dooley:
This letter is written to provide the Arkansas Historic Preservation
Program's (AHPP) recommendation to the MacArthur Park Historic District
Commission regarding the above referenced Request for Reconsideration.
It is the opinion of the AHPP that some of the items proposed by Post
No. 1 in their Request for Reconsideration merit mattention. We expecially
recommend that the Commission consider the positive impact of the installation
of an automatic sprinkler system, in lieu of the five foot board fence
on the parking lots perimeter. If the substitute of the board fence for
the automatic sprinkler system is allowed we recommend that the required
plantings be of sufficient height and density to'screen the parking lot
from the street. Regarding.the restriction on the he of plant
material at this intersection we would like to point out that both Rock
and Sixth Streets are one way. Because of this, plantings at this particular
intersection would not block any legal turns.
The only item in Post No. 1's request that we have serious reservation
about is the reduced setback along Rock Street and Sixth'Street. We
feel that these two requirements are very important for the preservation
of the residential character of the MacArthur Park Historic District,
Without the recommended minimum setbacks the proposed parking lot would
encroach upon the historically undeveloped front and side yard spaces
characteristic of residential neighborhoods.
Another issue the Commission should take into consideration if the
Request of Reconsideration is granted is the proposed plan by the Little
Rock City Parks and Recreation Department for a pedestrian corridor
connecting MacArthur Park and the Riverfront Park, The site for Post
No. 1's proposed parking lot is located on the route. of the proposed
pedestrian corridor. Our office has not fully reviewed the corridor
proposal and have not formulated our opinion of the proposal, but it is
Suite 200 • Heritage Center • 225 East Markham • Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 • Phone (501) 371-2763
A Division of the Department of Arkansas Heritage
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our feeling that the plan needs further refinement and the input of the
Commission, the Quapaw Quarter Association and other interested or
affected agencies and individuals. At any rate, these two proposals
should be coordinated in some way.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide our comments to the MacArthur
Park Historic District Commission. If you, or any of the Commission
members have any questions regarding these comments please contact Bill
Hall of my staff at 371-2763.
Sincerely,
1�10
Wilson Stiles
State Historic
WS/st
Preservation Officer