HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2025-009 Staff Report_FullMay 1, 2025
ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: HDC2025-009
NAME: McGowan Street Apartments - Certificate of Appropriateness
LOCATION: 1016 McGowan Street, Little Rock, AR 72202
OWNER/AUTHORIZED AGENT:
McGowan Street Apartments LLC Tanner Glover, Pinnacle Signs
3053 Madison Road 7610 Counts Massie North
Cincinnati, OH 45209-1741 Little Rock, AR 72113
Figure 1. MacGowan Street Apartments at 1016 McGowan Street, 2025.
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ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: HDC2025-009
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AREA: 0.81 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 WARD: 1
HISTORIC DISTRICT: MacArthur Park Historic District
HISTORIC STATUS: Non-Contributing
CURRENT ZONING: UU- Urban Use
A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT:
The application proposes the installation of two new signs: a wall mounted sign and a
ground mounted sign.
B. BACKGROUND
Location
The subject property is located at 1016 McGowan Street. The property’s legal description
is “Lot 6, Block 5, Masonic Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas”.
Context
The subject property is the site of
the McGowan Street Apartments,
previously the Graduate Flats, a
three-story, red-brown brick multi-
family structure containing 84 one-
bedroom apartment units
constructed in 2006 with Neo-
Traditional architectural
influences. The structure is
classified as Non-Contributing to
the MacArthur Park Historic
District. The most recent Arkansas
Architectural Resource Form
(PU5619, 2007) is provided as
Attachment C.
Development History
The apartment building was
constructed in 2006 following the
issuance of COA in 2004 for new
infill construction. The building has Figure 2. McGowan Street Apartments at 1016 McGowan Street located in
MacArthur Park Historic District.
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ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: HDC2025-009
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primary served as rental units for student attending the UALR William H. Bowen School
of Law. Before the land was consolidated for the existing development, the parcel of
record previously consisted of six residential parcels, occupied by single-family and two-
family dwellings, facing McGowan Street. The area experienced significant demolition
and vacancy following the construction of I-30 in the 1970s and the original dwellings
previously occupying the area were all demolished by 1998.
Previous Action
On October 14, 2024, a COC (HDC2024-030) was issued to McGowan Apartments LLC
for the construction of a rear parking area along the west alley.
On May 8, 2006, a COA (HDC2006-007) was issued to Michael Wood for exterior lighting.
On December 2, 2004, a COA (HDC2004-019) was issued to Jim Etters for air
conditioning units placed along the front and rear of the property.
On April 2, 2004, a COA (HDC2004-010) was issued to Jim Etters for the construction of
an 86-unit, three-story apartment building.
No previous actions were found on this site.
C. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
See application packet (Attachment B). The application packet includes cover letter,
application, survey, site photos, signage site plan, product sheets and specifications,
and quotes.
D. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
The time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application.
All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and all neighborhood
associations registered with the City of Little Rock that surround the site were notified of
the public hearing.
E. ANALYSIS:
Wall Mounted Sign
The application proposes the installation of a new wall mounted signage located
above the central entrance of the structure along the parapet wall, facing
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ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: HDC2025-009
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McGowan Street and I-30. The sign is composed of ¼” inch depth, flat cut,
brushed aluminum, single-sided dimensional lettering. The lettering is 20 inches
in height. The sign is proposed to be installed flush mounted to the exterior brick. .
Staff finds the installation of a new wall mounted sign to be consistent with the
Design Guidelines, specifically Guideline 5.21 (2). The proposal aligns with the
building's architectural character and complies with guidelines concerning
materials, scale, location, proportion, design, and lighting.
Staff finds the proposal is consistent with the SOI Standards, specifically
Standard 9: “New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will
not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that
characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will
be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion,
and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.”
Ground Mounted Sign
The application proposes the installation of a new ground-mounted sign located
on the north lawn between the structure and the parking area, facing E 10th Street.
The sign is composed of adhesive vinyl applied to 3mm black, aluminum
composite material (ACM), mounted into a four (4) inch black aluminum frame.
The frame is 39.5 inches tall by 72 inches wide and supported by 8-foot posts
which will be installed two feet into the ground. The sign will be 6 feet in height,
with an area of 19.75 square feet, and will be one-sided.
Staff finds the installation of new signage on the side grass lot to be mostly
consistent with the Design Guidelines, specifically Guideline 5.21 (2). The
proposal aligns with the building's architectural character and complies with
guidelines concerning scale, location, proportion, design, and lighting. The
proposal does not use traditional materials by using aluminum support posts. The
use of composite materials for the sign face—such as High-Density Polyethylene
(HDPE) and Medium Density Plywood (MDO)—have been used in other signs in the
district for durability. However, the sign supports have been traditional wood.
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ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: HDC2025-009
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Staff finds the proposal is consistent with the SOI Standards, specifically
Standard 9: “New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will
not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that
characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will
be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion,
and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.”
The property is in the Urban Use zoning district, where ground mounted signs are
discouraged and can only be permitted as a variance through the Board of
Adjustments. The sign may require additional review beyond this commission
before being able to be issued a sign permit.
F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the application, as submitted, with the following
conditions:
1. The ground mounted sign support posts shall be made of a quality traditional
material, such as wood.
Figure 4. 610 E 6th Street, Burgos Law Firm & Lane Firm signage. Figure 3. 523 E. Capitol Ave, AGC Arkansas signage.
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ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: HDC2025-009
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Attachment B: Application Packet
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Attachment C: PU5619