Russellville Historic District Commission

RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting – Thursday, December 28, 2017 City Hall – Council Chamber Commissioners Present Greg Barborek – Chair Suzanne Alford-Hodges – Vice Chair Judy Galloway – Secretary Linda Carnahan Steve Newby Kathy Keenan Price Polly Hardin Beverly Hooten Commissioners Absent None Staff Present Kurt Jones - City Engineer / HPO Advisors Present None Advisors Absent Betsy McGuire – MSR Director, Brian Holstein - Director City Development, Kirk Sloan – Fire Chief, Trey Smith – City Attorney Call to Order & Welcome @ 5:00PM: Chair Barborek called the December 28, 2017 meeting of the Russellville Historic District Commission to order at 5:03PM and a quorum was established. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Barborek asked if everyone had read the minutes of the September 28, 2017 regular meeting and the October 9, 2017 special meeting. Motion was made by Ms. Hooten to accept the minutes as written. Ms. Price made the second and the minutes were approved unanimously by voice vote. Staff Report: Ms. Galloway asked about the letter to Yvonne Thurber regarding the absence of an approved COA for installation of an awning at 316 West “B” Street, “Thurberdome”. Mr. Jones said that the letter was returned because of a bad address. Ms. Alford said that she had gotten the address from Ms. Thurber’s son and given it to Patty Whiteside at Public Works. The commission asked Mr. Jones to resend the letter regarding a COA. Agenda: The first item on the agenda was review of a COA for the building at 111 West Main Street, owned by Shane Butler, a local contractor. Mr. Butler has applied with the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Park Service for tax credits for this project and has submitted phase one. The project has yet to be approved by the two agencies. RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting December 28, 2017 Page 2 Mr. Butler plans to tuck point the brick as necessary and repaint the building, install a new storefront with bronze aluminum and clear glass; the bulkhead will be constructed of brick and painted to match the existing brick. The original iron columns will be retained and painted. At this time the plan is to retain the existing replaced windows in the second story. Exhibits included a photograph of the existing building and an architectural drawing of the proposed storefront. After short discussion and a few questions by commissioners, Mr. Newby made the motion to accept the COA and Ms. Price made the second. The application was approved by a voice vote. The second item on the agenda was approval of a COA for 216 West Main Street known as the Jenkins Building and owned by William S. Newton and is an annex to “The Old Bank Sports Grill”. Bob Heigel, the architect, presented the request. Mr. Newton has applied to the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Park Service for tax credits. The façade was completed without approval of either agency or the Russellville Historic District Commission for fear of loss of preservation tax credits in the recent tax overhaul by the federal government. Mr. Newton felt he needed to complete the project in 2017 to be eligible for the credits. Change in administration and the agent in charge of tax credit approval nationally put part of the façade renovation in jeopardy. This approval has not been approved to date. There is question about the width of the door for handicap access. The commission had questions regarding the era to which the storefront was restored. Mr. Newton had removed the old “Cowan Goodwin” glass and aluminum storefront and renovated to a semblance of the 1912- 1918 storefront and resembles the storefront of “The Emporium” or Faulkner Building to the east. Mr. Newby made the motion to table the COA until the Park Service makes its determination. Ms. Alford made the second. There was discussion and Ms. Galloway and Mr. Barborek disagreed because even if the commission approves the COA, rejection by the National Park Service trumps our decision. Why should the commission make the applicant return at a later date? Mr. Newby withdrew his motion and moved to accept. Ms. Price made the second. The commission approved by a voice vote. Old Business:  A short letter to businesses in the Historic District reminding them that all signs must have a COA approved by the commission. Ms. Alford, Ms. Carnahan and Ms. Hooten had forgotten that they had volunteered to write the letter. Ms. Alford has now volunteered to complete the task. The commission asked Mr. Jones to write a letter to all sign and awning companies in the area and let them know that they need to make sure that their customer has an approved COA before they install a sign or awning in the Downtown Historic District.  Ms. Galloway asked Mr. Jones about the checklist for a complete COA. He will send her a copy  The absence of COA’s for rooftop installations was discussed. The Guidelines require a COA for all rooftop installations whether or not they are visible from the street. Mr. Jones will remind Brian Holstein that he needs to check the requirements in the guidelines and inform those who are applying for a building permit of their obligation to submit a COA to the Historic District Commission before the work begins.  Ms. Alford brought up the walk-a-bout last October 12th. She will consolidate her notes and present them to the commission at the next meeting. RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting of December 28, 2017 Page 3 Adjournment: Mr. Newby made the motion to adjourn at 5:50PM. Ms. Price made the second. Motion approved by a voice vote. Greg Barborek, Chair Date