Earlier this month, the Historic District Commission turned down a request to demolish a house to make room for expansion at Eureka Springs Hospital. Last week the commission acquiesced, after taking extra steps to save the house.
The building, which formerly housed the hospital’s Purple House Thrift Shop, sits in the area planned for an addition. Because it lies below grade, moving the house would require exceptional efforts. The Hospital Commission could not find anyone to move the building, even if the house came at no cost.
Kent Turner, representing ESHC, said he made many calls to no avail. Even if the house could be raised to street level, city streets in that area are narrow and winding. Turner said the house did not attract any interest from someone willing to deconstruct it and rebuild it elsewhere.
Commissioner Marty Cogan remained unconvinced. At the previous meeting, she said the house had “nothing inherently wrong with it,” and the hospital wanted to remove it because “it just doesn’t suit you guys.”
Last week, she asked if the hospital had advertised in the newspaper, and Turner explained that they could not even find someone who would say it was possible to move the house. He explained that the house will be offered to someone willing to take it down for materials. Otherwise, ESH will hire a contractor to deconstruct it, and any usable materials will be made available to other residents.
City Historic Preservation Officer Kylee Hevrdejs explained that the house would lose its historical significance if someone moved it. The building has already undergone extensive modifications. She also explained that commissioners have to weigh the benefits of an individual property compared to the benefits to community. If commissioners rejected the proposal, the hospital would then have to appeal to circuit court. That process would take considerable time, and Hevrdejs said a judge would likely grant the appeal.
Cogan voted against the proposal, and two other commissioners were absent. Commissioner Steve Holifield, sitting as chair, cast the fourth vote for approval.
In other business:
- At the Sept. 7 meeting, several commissioners complained about city council entering into a settlement with Bill Ott over a porch that extended further than it should have. Holifield suggested forming a committee with an alderman, city attorney, and several HDC members to study issues arising from settlement.
- Hevrdejs announced she will resign in mid-October.
- HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Level III applications were due Sept. 22, and other levels were due Sept. 28.