HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC_2026 06 04
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DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax:(501) 399-3435
www.littlerock.gov
LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTE RECORD
Thursday, June 4, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Board Room, Little Rock City Hall, 500 W. Markham
I. Roll Call
Members Present: Christina Aleman, Chair
Amber Jones, Vice Chair
Dr. Thomas DeGraff III
Scott Green
Diane Thomas-Holladay
Members Absent: Tom Fennell
Chase Waters
Staff Present: Sarah Spakes
Raeanne Gardner
II. Finding a Quorum
A quorum was present being five (5) in number.
III. Citizen Communication
No citizen chose to speak at this time.
IV. Minutes
April 2, 2026 Minutes
The minutes were presented to the Commission. Commissioner DeGraff made a
motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Commissioner Thomas-Holladay
seconded. The minutes were approved by voice vote as submitted.
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V. National Register Nominations
None
VI. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness
None
VII. New Certificates of Appropriateness
1. HDC2026-010 Harwell, LLC/ Everett Harwell and Neal
Harwell
908 Rock Street
Rear porch roof, supports, and handrail
installation
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ITEM NO.: 1 FILE NO.: HDC2026-010
NAME: House at 908 S. Rock Street - Certificate of Appropriateness
LOCATION: 908 S. Rock Street
OWNER/AUTHORIZED AGENT:
Harwell, LLC Everett Harwell and Neal Harwell
4760 Brandywine Cove 4760 Brandywine Cove
Sherwood, AR 72120 Sherwood, AR 72120
Figure 1. House at 908 Rock Street.
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AREA: 0.15 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 WARD: 1
HISTORIC DISTRICT: MacArthur Park Historic District
HISTORIC STATUS: Contributing
CURRENT ZONING: R4A – Low Density Residential
A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT:
The application requests retroactive approval for the installation of a rear stoop,
including shed roof, supports, and handrails on the existing rear porch. The new stoop is
visible from the public right-of-way via the alley.
B. BACKGROUND
Location
The subject property is located
at 908 S. Rock Street. The
property’s legal description is
“The South 47.85 feet Lot 10,
Block 44, Original City of Little
Rock, Pulaski County,
Arkansas.”
Context
The subject property is the site
of the House at 908 S. Rock
Street, a single-story frame
structure supported by a
continuous brick foundation
constructed as a residence
circa 1880 in the Queen Anne
style. The structure is
Contributing to the MacArthur
Park Historic District. The most
recent Arkansas Architectural
Resource From (PU2996, 2007)
is provided as Attachment A.
Figure 2: House at 908 S. Rock St., located in MacArthur Park Historic
District.
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Development History
The subject structure was built circa 1880 in the Queen Anne style using frame
construction and weatherboard siding. The structure features a detailed half porch with
a turret; front gable with arrowhead shingles; and tall, narrow windows. In 1897, it
originally featured an open porch on the rear western elevation, and the site featured two
rear accessory structures. By 1913, the rear porch was enclosed, the south elevation
was squared off, the structure was elongated, and a small rear stoop was installed. By
1939, the rear stoop was removed, and an interior wall was demarcated.
By 1998, an enclosed rear porch was installed that features a non-historic paneled door,
a transom covered by lattice over the door, and three short windows in wall with a single-
pane 5-over-5 layout and decorative brackets. The enclosed porch is covered by a
hipped roof. By 2007, a side porch with a shed roof was installed on the north elevation
towards the rear. The siding on the front (east) elevation is wood, while the siding on the
sides and rear is wood siding alternative. There is an accessory structure aligned with
the north elevation of the primary structure.
Sanborn Maps and Aerials
Figure 3: 908 S. Rock St., Sanborn Maps, 1897, Volume 2,
Sheet 23.
Figure 4: 908 S. Rock St., Sanborn Maps, 1913, Volume
2, Sheet 187.
Figure 5: 908 S. Rock St., Sanborn Maps, 1939, Volume 1,
Sheet 66.
Figure 6: 908 S. Rock St., Aerial View, 1960.
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Figure 7: 908 S. Rock St., Aerial View, 1998.
Historical Photographs
Figure 8: 908 S. Rock St., photo courtesy of the Quapaw
Quarter Association, 1978.
Figure 9: 908 S. Rock St., photo courtesy of Arkansas
Architectural Resources Form, 2007.
Figure 10: 908 S. Rock St., photo courtesy of Arkansas
Architectural Resources Form, 2007.
Previous Action
On April 13, 2026, a Stop Work Order was issued to Harwell, LLC/Everett Harwell for
unpermitted rear porch roof, supports, and railing installation.
On June 6, 2025, a COC (HDC2025-013) was issued to Harwell, LLC/Everett Harwell for
a roof and gutter replacement.
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On March 20, 2000, a COC (HDC2000-005) was issued to Everett and Helles Harwell for
a roof replacement.
On January 22, 1979, a CUP (Z-3304) was issued to Mary Penick Brandon for use as
professional and theatrical offices.
C. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
See site photos (Attachment B) and application packet (Attachment C). The application
packet includes the application packet, a cover letter, site survey, and site photographs.
D. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
At 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:
Rear Stoop Installation
The application requests approval for the installation of a stoop, including a shed roof,
supports, and railings. The porch ceiling, roof decking, and fascia are wood. The roof is a
shed roof, and it is covered by dark gray roll roofing. The porch supports are treated wood
with simple details. The porch railings are wood with simple details, are 36 inches tall,
and the spindles are 4 inches apart. The railings are installed along the north and west
sides of the stoop. The porch floor is composite decking.
Staff finds the rear stoop installation to be mostly consistent with the Guidelines,
specifically Guideline 3.4, Guideline 4.13, and Guideline 7.6. The use of wood for the
porch ceiling, roof decking, and fascia aligns with the Guidelines. The materials and
design of the supports and railings maintain appropriate proportions to the historic
structure.
Due to the slope of the stoop roof, staff finds the use of roll roofing inconsistent with the
Guidelines and recommends the use of architectural shingles similar to the main roof.
Additionally, the new wood elements installed are unpainted. According to Guideline
3.4, exterior wooden architectural features shall be painted rather than stained or
untreated. Staff recommends that the wood be painted to meet Guideline 3.4(2).
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Staff finds the rear stoop installation to be mostly consistent with the Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, specifically Standard 9—“New additions, exterior
alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that
characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be
compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the
historic integrity of the property and its environment.”
F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the application, as submitted, with the following
conditions:
1. Architectural shingles shall be used on the rear stoop roof.
2. Wood elements shall be painted.
COMMISSION ACTION: (June 4, 2026)
Staff, Ms. Sarah Spakes, presented the item to the commission. Commissioner Jones
inquired whether the stoop features were already built. Ms. Spakes confirmed that they
were. Chair Aleman asked staff to verify the recommendation to paint the wood elements.
Ms. Spakes confirmed that recommendation.
The applicant, Mr. Neal Harwell, was present. He addressed the commission. Mr. Harwell
stated that he was amenable to staff’s recommendations. There was inquiry on the historic
nature of the rear door. There was discussion about the single-family status of the building.
Commissioner Jones made a motion to approve the application, as submitted and with staff
recommendations. Commissioner Degraff seconded the motion. The motion passed with 5
ayes, 0 noes, and 2 absent.
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VIII. Other Matters
1. May Recap
Ms. Spakes reminded the commission that May was nationwide
preservation month. Ms. Spakes celebrated the commission’s 50 th
birthday in May and thanked the commissioners and their predecessors
for their service. Ms. Spakes highlighted the Chair and Vice Chair’s
preservation progress presentation to the Board of Directors on May 19,
2026.
2. CLG Grant Updates
Ms. Spakes updated the Commission on the 2025-2026 CLG Grant. Clifton
Historic Services, the consultant, submitted all draft surveys to the
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP). AHPP staff provided
feedback. The consultant is now revising the draft and the Phase V report.
Chair Aleman requested that the commission receive copies of the final
Phase V Report. Ms. Spakes updated the Commission on the 2026-2027
CLG Grant. Planning staff is working on the travel request forms, so those
attending should be on the lookout for those. The City Attorney’s Office has
reviewed the contract with AHPP to receive the grants. Now, the City is
waiting on AHPP’s signature on the grant contract.
3. Enforcement Issues
Assistant City Attorney Gardner updated the commission that the case is
still pending.
4. Certificates of Compliance
HDC2026-004 – 524 E. 6th St. – accessory structure repair and rear porch
alterations
HDC2026-005 – 1010 Scott St. – step handrail repair
HDC2026-006 – 1402 Commerce St. – fence relocation
HDC2026-007 – 301 E. 7th St. – concrete step repair
HDC2026-008 – 523 E. 7th St. – HVAC unit replacement
HDC2026-009 – 908 Rock St. – repair and paint wood trim