The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About125-25 RESOLUTION113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 Resolution: 125-25 File Number: 2025-604 WEST AVENUE HISTORICAL MARKER (ST. JOHN'S BAR): A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A HISTORICAL MARKER ON WEST AVENUE RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF FAYETTEVILLE PRIDE AND THE BUILDING THAT WAS HOME TO ST. JOHN' S BAR WHEREAS, in 2023, the Historic District Commission began considering a historical marker on West Avenue to recognize the history of Fayetteville Pride and a building that had been home to the Back Forty and St. John's bars before demolition to build the Walton Arts Center complex; and WHEREAS, commissioners decided to wait to recommend a location until the Upper Ramble project was completed to provide additional opportunities for research into the building's history and to locate photographs for the marker design; and WHEREAS, after the Upper Ramble was completed and photographs were located, staff shared the proposed marker and location with the Historic District Commission, which voted unanimously to recommend installation of the marker on May 8, 2025. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby approves the installation of a historical marker recognizing the history of Fayetteville Pride and the building that was home to St. John's Bar to be installed in the Upper Ramble along West Avenue across from the building's former location. PASSED and APPROVED on May 20, 2025 Approved: N�ib �0� Attest: ` SEp I/0" U FAYMEVILLE,'p` Gy AWSG.; pyG{ON N Molly Rawn, Mayor Kara Paxton, City Clerk Treasurer Page 1 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS MEETING OF MAY 20, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEMO TO: Mayor Rawn and City Council THRU: Keith Macedo, Interim Chief of Staff Jonathan Curth, Development Services Director FROM: Britin Bostick, Long Range Planning/Special Projects Manager SUBJECT: WEST AVENUE HISTORICAL MARKER (ST. JOHN'S BAR): RECOMMENDATION: The Historic District Commission recommends approval of the West Avenue Historic Marker. BACKGROUND: 2025-604 In 2023 the Fayetteille Historic District Commission (HDC) began considering a historic marker on West Ave. to recognize the history of Fayetteville Pride and a building that had been home to the Back Forty and St. John's bars before demolition to build the Walton Arts Center Complex. At the time of proposal, commissioners decided to wait until the Upper Ramble project was complete in order to consider site -specific location of the marker and to provide additional opportunities for research into the building's history and to locate photographs for the marker design. With the Upper Ramble's completion and photographs located, staff shared the proposed marker and location with HDC to complete the process initiated approximately a year and a half ago. DISCUSSION: The proposed marker is 24-inches wide and 32-inches high and would be mounted on a two inch square post. Unlike the city's two cast bronze markers on Block Ave., this marker is proposed to be etched stainless steel to allow an image to be part of the marker design so that the former building, at the time it was St. John's, can be viewed on the marker. The placement in a landscape bed in the Upper Ramble along West. Ave. is directly across from the building's location, which is now a driveway for the Walton Arts Center. Pedestrians reading the marker will be able to look past the etched image to the original location. The marker is proposed to read: "Fayetteville has always been a welcoming and inclusive place. The annual Pride parade celebrated each June ties back to protest marches in the 1970s on West Street and Dickson Street in which residents, University of Arkansas students, and allies advocated for equal rights, acceptance, and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. Many Queer bars and inclusive bars such as George's Majestic Lounge, have existed in the Fayetteville area since at least the 1960s. The former building known most recently as St. John's has a colorful history dating back to the 1930s when it operated as a meat house. In the early 1980s, the building was home to the Back Forty, a country and western bar. In 1986, the Back Forty transitioned to St. John's, a Queer bar, which hosted LGBTQ+ events and entertainment until 1990 when it was demolished for the construction of the Walton Arts Center." BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT: The proposed marker is within Long Range Planning budget, which has a designated amount for historic Mailing address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 markers. ATTACHMENTS: SRF (#3) , West Avenue Marker and Location Proposal (#4) Mailing address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 == City of Fayetteville, Arkansas Y 113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479)575-8323 - Legislation Text File #: 2025-604 WEST AVENUE HISTORICAL MARKER (ST. JOHN'S BAR): A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A HISTORICAL MARKER ON WEST AVENUE RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF FAYETTEVILLE PRIDE AND THE BUILDING THAT WAS HOME TO ST. JOHN'S BAR WHEREAS, in 2023, the Historic District Commission began considering a historical marker on West Avenue to recognize the history of Fayetteville Pride and a building that had been home to the Back Forty and St. John's bars before demolition to build the Walton Arts Center complex; and WHEREAS, commissioners decided to wait to recommend a location until the Upper Ramble project was completed to provide additional opportunities for research into the building's history and to locate photographs for the marker design; and WHEREAS, after the Upper Ramble was completed and photographs were located, staff shared the proposed marker and location with the Historic District Commission, which voted unanimously to recommend installation of the marker on May 8, 2025. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby approves the installation of a historical marker recognizing the history of Fayetteville Pride and the building that was home to St. John's Bar to be installed in the Upper Ramble along West Avenue across from the building's former location. Page 1 Britin Bostick Submitted By City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form 2025-604 Item ID 5/20/2025 City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only N/A for Non -Agenda Item 5/2/2025 LONG RANGE PLANNING (634) Submitted Date Division / Department Action Recommendation: The request is for approval of a historical marker on West Ave. 1010.634.6340.5210 Account Number Project Number Budgeted Item? Yes Does item have a direct cost? Yes Is a Budget Adjustment attached? No Purchase Order Number: Change Order Number: Original Contract Number: Comments: Budget Impact: Total Amended Budget Expenses (Actual+Encum) Available Budget Item Cost Budget Adjustment Remaining Budget General Fund Fund Project Title $ 13,100.00 $ 2,571.03 JL0,528.97 $ 4,541.00 Previous Ordinance or Resolution # Approval Date: 5,987.97 V20221130 ■■ -p O ct r f rct rw N O •u �, N ^� cn cy �+ ct a, cn ct Ucz ON cn d p \ c� a, �, cJ o �~ L ��ct � V U CA V) � cz "� O N . N x U + a) O "'CS � �, �•^' U N� Ada, i N Cn 4-4 ---4 4-J cz . V) a� O p U U N ...? cz x 1� i - AAL G r >; r ?, i� m I It