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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1999-032 Memorandum From COLR DOH&NP To Melissa Gilliam 07/23/1999City of Little Rock Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs Administration 615 West Markham, Suite 100, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Phone 501-371-4748, Fax 501-399-3461 MEMORANDUM TO: Melissa Gilliam, Senior Code Enforcement Officer FROM: V. Anne Guthrie, Historic Preservation Administrator DATE: 23 July 1999 SUBJECT: Reclassified Destroyed Structures in the Historic District This memo is in response to your June letter and confirms our conversations regarding the reclassification from "Heavy" to "Destroyed" of structures damaged by the January tornado and their subsequent condemnation listing and demolition by the City. As discussed, there are two structures on the reclassification list that are located in the MacArthur Park Historic District -- 1415 Commerce and 1422 Rock. Due to their location in the city's local ordinance historic district, a request for their demolition, either by the property owner or city initiated, must be approved by the Little Rock Historic District Commission (LRHDC). Both structures are listed in the district's architectural survey as contributing structures to the architectural heritage of the designated area. While it is not within my responsibility to state whether or not the LRHDC would approve their demolition, there are certain factors that bear emphasis. A consideration in making a determination of demolition is whether the damage is extensive, how long the structure has been neglected and unprotected and how the structure is listed with the various city and state authorities (i.e., Public Works, AR Historic Preservation Program) who assessed the tornado damage. The staff recommendation analyses the request as to how long the structure has been vacant, the amount of rehab work performed on the structure, both prior to and following the tornado, the degree of damage and the neighboring conditions. The LRHDC meets the first Thursday of each month; the required notification procedure (as done earlier for the four properties on Block 59) must be adhered to, such as the notice to owners within 150 feet no later than ten days prior to meeting, posting of property, etc. For 1415 Commerce, the structure was being rehabilitated prior to the January tornado; after that date, I talked with the property owner and he discussed its rehab. However, several weeks after the tornado, a neighborhood fire spread to this structure and damaged it even more. The owner, from last reports, does not plan to rehab it. The property owner of 1422 Rock is coming before the LRHDC on 5 August for the installation of a new roof and enclosure of the porch on the north elevation. I don't know how this request effects your reclassification listing; is it declassified or does the owner have to comply with more strict code regulations for minimum housing and rental? 1 will assist you and your division in helping to improve the historic area and will work with you in any fashion. City of Little Rock Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs Neighborhood Programs Division 615 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Phone 501-371-4849, Fax 501-399-3435 June 18, 1999 Anne Guthrie Historic Preservation Administrator Staff for MPHD 615 W. Markham StreetP.O. Box 758 Little Rock, AR 72201 RE: Structures reclassified from "Heavy" to "Destroyed" Dear Ms. Guthrie: This department has now completed a review of all structures, which were originally classified as "Heavy Damage" where the property owners have accomplished no apparent work. Because of the owner's failure to implement action to prevent and protect these structures from further deterioration they now meet the standards and are declared "Destroyed". To rehabilitate any of the building would require demolition to the foundation and total reconstruction. This department is now preparing to submit a resolution to the Little Rock Board of Directors to add these structures to the condemnation ordinance of those structures originally listed as destroyed by the January 1999 tornado. Once approval has been obtained, we will begin our process of obtaining bids for demolition. Please review this list and let me know as soon as possible of any problems. ADDRESS: HISTORIC DIST: 1022 East 8 No 515 East 15 No 1415 Commerce ----------.. MPHD 1614 Cumberland CZD 1422 Rock MPHD 1604 Scott CZD 1811 Louisiana CZD 923 West 24 GMHD 2422 Ringo No 2415 Cross No 2417 Cross No 3119 Marshall No 3318 Wolfe No 3301 Battery No Sincerely, , Melissa Gilliam Senior Code Enforcement Officer Demolitions & Contracts 371-4868 cc: Barbara Hyatt, Code Enforcement Supervisor, Operations