Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1993-005 Letter From Qapaw Quarter Association To Molly Satterfield, Secretary 11/23//1993Quapaw Quarter Association 1315 South Scott Street • P.O- Box 165023 • Little Rock, Arkansas 72216 • 501-371-0075 • FAX 501-374-8142 23, 1993 PRESIDENTNovember Robin Loucks Molly Satterfield, Secretary PR=a,rr_ELEcf Little Rock Historic District Commission Renie Rule Department of Neighborhoods and Planning 723 West Markham Street VrcEPRFsmEMs Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 BY HAND Judith Faust Thomas McGowan Dear Molly: Craig Rains The Quapaw Quarter Association's Historic Districts and Structures Committee SECRETARY recently met to discuss the two issues on the Little Rock Historic District Wally Nixon Commission's December agenda. Members of the committee have asked me to convey the following recommendations to the Commission: TREASURER Proposed parkin car storage lot at 10th and Scott Streets Felton Lamb Committee members wish to reiterate the recommendation that was made by the QQA when this issue first came to the Commission in September (see attached copy soARDOFDmEcrnRs of letter dated August 30, 1993). The proposed parking/car storage lot does not Susan Gunter meet historic district design guidelines and is likely to discourage future Sandra Hochstetter rehabilitation and/or infill development on the western edge of the historic district. Jane McNally The QQA opposes the new design because it remains incongruous with the purpose Carl Menyhart of the historic district. Scott Mosley Beth Peck -Cooper T. Jack Walsh Proposed_ demolition of 815 Rock Street William Wiedower The QQA also recommends denial of a certificate of appropriateness for the Mark Zoeller demolition of the historic house at 815 Rock Street. The owner of the house, who is responsible for its current condition, should board and secure the property and ExEEcumvE D1REcfoR make a good -faith effort to rehabilitate the property or sell it, at a reasonable fair market price, to someone willing to rehabilitate it. In addition, the QQA again urges Cheryl Nichols the Little Rock Historic District Commission to take innmediate steps to secure the enactment of minimum maintenance standards to ensure that vacant historic structures do not continue to become the victims of "demolition by neglect." Please feel free to call me if you have questions. Sincerely, 1�" Cheryl ichols Executive Director Attachment sill Quapaw Quarter Association 1315 South Scott Street • P.O_ Box 165023 • Little Rock, Arkansas 72216 • 501-371-0075 • FAX 501-374-8142 PR=ENr Robin Loucks August 30, 1993 Roue Rule Ms. Molly Satterfield V1c&PRMEN7M Secretary Department of Neighborhoods and Planning Judith 723 West Markham Street s Mc waa Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Craig Rains SECRETARY Wally Nixon Ieaz Ms. Satterfield: TREAS= Members of the Quapaw Quarter Association's Historic Districts and Structures Felton lamb Committee have discussed Cook Jeep's application for a certificate of appropriateness to create a parking lot at the northeast comer of Tenth and Scott WARD OFUmFcmRs Streets in the MacArthur Park Historic District, and it is our recommendation that the application be denied by the Little Rock Historic District Commission. Susan Gunter Sandra Hochstetter JCaa1rl McNally Cook Jeep's application raises some of the same issues as the Second Baptist Church's applications in 1983 and 1985 to construct a parking lot at the western Scott Mosley edge of the historic district. (As you will recall, both of these applications were Beth Peck -Cooper denied by the Historic District Commission, and the Commission's decision T. Jack Walsh eventually was upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court.) William Wiedower Mark Zoeller First, as in the Second Baptist Church case, Cook Jeep's proposed parking lot would serve an entity located outside of the historic district, a situation that would EXEcUrIVE DIRW= contribute to the erosion of the district's fragile western boundary. Four of the five Cheryl Nichols historic houses on the west side of the 900 block of Scott Street are in poor condition, but all are worthy of rehabilitation. The presence of a car dealership's parking lot across the street from them, however, almost certainly would hinder any future efforts to rehabilitate the houses. In addition, approval of the Cook Jeep parking lot could encourage other Main Street businesses to look for additional parking in the historic district. Also like the Second Baptist Church case, the proposed parking lot fails to meet the standards contained in the historic district design review guidelines. In fact, no effort seems to have been made to design the parking lot so that it would harmonize with its historic surroundings. A pipe railing is not appropriate for the historic district, and the proposed landscaping is not adequate. Further, the plan submitted by Cook Jeep is insufficient because it does not indicate the parking layout and does not show the "lights .. , bumpers and gates" mentioned in the application. Ms. Satterfield 8/30/93 Page 2 Finally, creation of an improved parking lot at the northeast corner of Tenth and Scott Streets may permanently close the door on more appropriate development of the site. Znfll housing, for example, might eventually be constructed, particularly in view of the fact that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in the rehabilitation of homes and apartment buildings immediately south and east of the proposed parldng lot's site. The Quapaw Quarter Association regrets finding itself in opposition to the plans of a business that long has been located on Main Street. However, in this case, we believe that Cook Jeep's plans would have a negative impact on the future of the MacArthur Park Historic District. Sincerely, Thomas H. McGowan Vice -President, Historic Districts and Structures