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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2002-009 Staff Minutes From lRHDC 12/05/2002City of Little Rock HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 5 DECEMBER 2002 MINUTES of the LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Commissioners Present: Howard H. Gordon Carolyn Newbern Marshall Peters Wesley Walls Commissioner Absent: Wyatt Weems Staff Present: V. Anne Guthrie Debra Weldon The meeting of the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC) was called to order and there was a quorum. The minutes from previous meetings (3 January, 11 July and 7 November) were approved as presented; two misspellings ("in other" as opposed to "another" in July's and Trapnall in November's) were noted for correction. The only Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) was: Applicant: James R. Williams, Agent Address: 1212 Scott Street Request: New construction of office/studio and associated parking The agent, as architect introduced the property owner, Mike McGinnis (sp?) and summarized the business of JM Associates and their present offices located in the 1300 block of Cumberland. The business intends to remain at that location and expand to the proposed location, which will house their production studios. Williams explained that the subject project is appearing before the city's zoning board on 23 December for two variances: the percentage of area glass required on ground floor of front facade (is asking for less percentage) and a parking allowance. Williams reviewed the proposed structure's overall design, massing and how it fits into the historic district. He did state that the guidelines do not specify design recommendations for commercial or office properties; he said that the owner was careful to select architectural elements that are evident in existing and surrounding commercial properties. There was discussion of the site, adjacent property and the highway department's I-630 right-of-way. As the proposed site has an alley on its west side, there was discussion as to whether it will be vacated to allow iron security gates at the north and south ends. Little Rock Historic District Commission Minutes of 5 December 2002 meeting a e 2 The following project description is taken from the Staff Report and Recommendations: The subject property is on the west side of Scott, between 12th and 13th streets, a half block of vacant land. The site consists of about 34,500 square feet. The project request is new construction of a two -storied office building (15,474 sqft). Associated parking of 43 spaces is on the northwest corner of the site and is accessed from a new curb cut on Scott and from the north/south alley entries on the west. The exterior fagade of the rectangular building is symmetrically designed. On the east (front fagade) elevation there are ten pilastered bays with four flanking bays on each side of the centered and pedimented double bay. Each bay consists of two windows on each floor; the windows are wooden clad. The exterior wall finish is brick with accent brick window headers. The east elevation has two corners, which are chamfered with a double door entrance; the north has the appearance of an entry but is not operable. The south elevation (facing 13th Street) has recessed brick detail, which may be interpreted as emulating openings. The north elevation, facing 12th Street, is similar to the east with its pilastered bays. This project site is along the western -most edge of the MacArthur Park Historic District; it has been vacant for several years. Adjacent to the project site, there are: offices and commercial properties to the west; 12th Street and I-630 to the north; an office building across Scott Street, to the east; a half block of vacant property to the south; and an office on the southeast corner of 13th and Scott streets. The QQA's offices are in the 1300 block of Scott (east side) and the Villa Marre is on the corner of 14th and Scott. There are eleven criteria in the district's design guidelines for new construction. The guidelines state that new construction of primary structures, should maintain, not disrupt, the existing pattern of surrounding historic buildings along the street; also, new construction "of primary structures, while blending in with adjacent buildings, should not be too imitative of historic styles so that new buildings can be distinguished (differentiated) from historic buildings." Of the eleven criteria, the proposed project meets all and is an excellent example of new construction in an historic district and as infill commercial development. (NOTE. the previous are excerpts from the project's Staff Report and Recommendations.) There was a discussion of site lighting and lighting of the associated parking areas. Walls commended the agent and owner on the proposed project's design, as it is not imitating historic structures by particular design elements but instead emulates surrounding historic commercial properties (Community Bakery, 1500 block of Main on east side) in massing, scale, etc. It is sympathetic to the historic district and provides an anchor to Scott and the south side of I-630. Gordon asked if there were comments from the neighbors, etc. It was noted that the required proof of the notification to property owners is to be submitted to staff promptly. utilized as offices. The proposed structure emulates the architectural styling of the Rainwater apartments in overall facade scale and massing. To the west of the proposed site is Trapnell Hall, an 1843 Greek Revival structure, which is architecturally contributing to the historic district's inventory. Trapnall serves as a public facility. Due east, across Sherman, is Curran Hall, which is an 1842 structure; it was rehabilitated and serves as the city's Visitor Information Center. To the west of the site, there are three multi -family structures and on the same block, there are seven additional multi -family structures. From the north side of 61h south to 9th Street, the neighborhood is predominantly multi -family structures; the majority of the structures are early 20th century historic with a few constructed in the 1950s. There are several public facilities in the area: Trapnall and Curran Halls; a new post office across the street; a new fire station on 9th; the AR Arts Center; the Decorative Arts Museum; two churches; one elementary school and the UALR William Bowen School of Law. The proposed site is: four blocks south of The River Market district; two blocks south of Acxiom building; four blocks east of Main Street and two blocks west of I-30. In the district's design guidelines, there are eleven criteria for consideration. On page 39, the guidelines state that "New construction of primary structures, should maintain, not disrupt, the existing pattern of surrounding historic buildings along the street by being similar in....." 1) shape; 2) scale; 3) roof shape and pitch; 4) orientation to the street; 5) location and proportion of entrances, windows, porches and divisional bays; 6) foundation height; 7) floor to ceiling height; 8) porch height and depth; 9) material and material color; 10) texture; and 11) placement on the lot. Additionally, new construction "of primary structures, while blending in with adjacent buildings, should not be too imitative of historic styles so that new buildings can be distinguished (differentiated) from historic buildings." Of the eleven, the proposed project meets all criteria and serves as an excellent example of new construction as infill development in an historic district. NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no objections to this project request either in writing or by phone. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: It is staff recommendation that the project request be approved with the following conditions: ♦ fence details must be provided to include materials, gates, sidewalks, siting, elevation and section details, etc.; ♦ the final parking plans must be submitted, to include surface. materials, entries, curb cuts, landscape and setback requirements; ♦ applicant must submit one set of final plans (to include site plan, elevations) to staff; ♦ project must meet all city codes and zoning regulations; and ♦ should the project scope change in any fashion in terms of material, massing, scale, profile and size, staff will be notified and appropriate actions taken. Little Rock Historic District Commission Minutes of 5 December 2002 meeting e 3 Newbern made a motion that the COA application for JM Associates (new construction of offices and studio), along with staff recommendations, and subject to proof of property notification, be approved as presented with staff recommendations, which were read into the record: 1) fence details (cross section, etc.) be submitted to staff prior to construction; 2) applicant must submit one set of final plans (to include site plan, elevations) to staff; 3) project must obtain required variances for development regulations; 4) project must meet all city codes and zoning regulations; and, 5) should the project's scope change in any fashion in terms of material, massing, scale, profile and size, staff will be notified and appropriate actions taken. After a second, the vote was unanimous. Under old and new business agenda item, the meeting schedule for 2003 was approved. There was a reminder of Nore' Winter's visit in January 2003. Also, Gordon asked about the progress of 1000 Rock in the resolution of the property's noncompliance. Following a motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:15pm.