The goal of the Historic District Commission is to preserve and protect the architectural and natural beauty of Eureka Springs. HDC must issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for any exterior work done on all properties within the boundaries of the historic district, a map of which is on the city website. Throughout 2018, commissioners encountered applications for valuable historic restorations, mundane but necessary repairs, and an occasional scofflaw who asked for approval only after work was done.
January
- Commissioners approved renovations for the St. James Episcopal Church at 34 Prospect that was constructed in 1897. Decks in front and on one side were removed and replaced with entry porches and stairs with handrails and sidewalks compliant with regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A chimney added in the 1980s, which was spalling, was removed and replaced with siding to match the rest of the building.
- A metal awning was approved to replace a fabric awning at 190 N. Main because the space beneath it would be used for popping kettle corn.
- Solar panels for two Transit Department sites were approved.
- Commissioner Steve Holifield was elected Chair.
- Commissioner Dee Bright was recognized as the 2018 Main Street Hero Award recipient by Main Street Arkansas at the Arkansas Municipal League Conference in Fort Smith on Jan. 10.
February
- Commissioners approved adding partitions on the balconies between four rooms on the second and third floors on the east side of the Crescent Hotel.
- Judy Holden and John Nuckolls were seated on the commission.
March
- Commissioner Mark Ingram asked why the commission would require someone to rebuild a non-functioning chimney for a non-contributing house. In addition, the chimney at 203 Spring was at the rear of the house and had been covered by a blue tarp for two years because it was falling apart. Bright pointed out guidelines stipulate non-functional chimneys should be maintained and not removed above the roofline. The vote was 3-2 leaving the decision up to Holifield who, after pausing, voting Yes to approve removing the chimney.
- City Preservation Officer Glenna Booth explained the progress Building Inspector Bobby Ray was making with complaints of properties in violation of the Clean City Ordinance. She said he established timelines for improvement for four properties and had initiated the citation process for a fifth.
April
- Commissioners approved two applications for new single-family homes.
- A difficult demolition decision at 9 Hillside was deferred because of two neighbors who hoped the property could be saved, and Ray recommended a structural engineer help determine the cost of renovation. Commissioners wrangled with the decision but eventually went along with Ray’s recommendation.
May
- Commissioner Wendi Super crafted a community outreach letter to help new homeowners understand the role of HDC.
June
- An individual who had been approved to turn a shed into a studio at 1 German Alley instead tore the structure down without approval. Holifield informed the applicant that guidelines state in a case like this commissioners could decide that no Certificate of Appropriateness would be considered for that property for five years unless the original structure was faithfully reconstructed. A vote to approve demolition was denied at first, but commissioners considered finding a remedy for the applicant. Ingram pointed out the non-contributing structure was gone, and eventually Bright reluctantly changed her No vote and Holifield voted Yes to approve the demolition that had already occurred.
- At the same meeting, commissioners were presented with an application for constructing a single-family house and a duplex on Fuller St. that involved removing up to 61 trees. There was opposition from nearby neighbors but Holifield reminded commissioners their job was to consider only the design of the construction, and the application was approved.
- The application to remove a deteriorated chimney at 104 Wall was modified to allow the applicant to remove the chimney so the roof could be repaired but the chimney had to be reconstructed in its original configuration.
- Booth acknowledged former commission Wendi Super for her work on digitizing their property files.
July
- Magi Hayde was seated on the commission.
August
- Several repairs were approved for 9 Prospect, an “extremely important but blighted house,” according to Booth.
September
- Neighbor against neighbor faced off about the application to build a 14×32-ft. studio at 327 Dairy Hollow Road. A neighbor opposing the application cited a list of Code violations by the applicant, and the applicant responded she did not know what her neighbor was talking about. Holifield again stated the commission’s job was to consider whether the application was appropriate for the neighborhood, not to police Code violations. The application was approved unanimously.
October
- At the Oct. 3 meeting, the commission stood by the guidelines in denying the application to remove two non-functioning chimneys at 9 Prospect, a contributing property. Actually, the chimneys had already been removed. Opinion was divided about allowing one chimney to be removed, but the vote was 4-1, Ingram voting No, to have both chimneys rebuilt in the original configuration
November
- Commissioner Dee Bright read a letter from Catherine Barrier, Certified Local Government Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, in which she stated, “… it is clear that Eureka Springs is substantially in compliance with the CLG program requirements as defined by the Arkansas Certified Local Government Procedures. The meeting I observed was well organized and run, you and your commissioners are very well informed and active in your historic districts, and you clearly have an energetic program for the preservation of the unique historic character of Eureka Springs.”
December
- Commissioners reluctantly approved demolition of a historic structure at 5 Douglas that had deteriorated beyond retrieval. Discussion led to a commitment to watch the complaint file more closely and renew efforts to engage public cooperation in identifying structures that need attention way before they become liabilities.
- Commissioners also refused to approve two applications by the same applicant for fences built without permission at different addresses. There will be site visits before the first meeting of the new year to determine appropriate response by the commission.