Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-14 - Agendas - Meeting of the Historic District Commission May 14, 2026, 5:30 PM City Hall Room 101 & Zoom NOTE: The May 14, 2026 Historic District Commission meeting was held in person and online. Staff were present in person. Members: Chair Christine Myres, Meredith Mahan, Mark Harper, Cheri Coley, Jennifer Didway, Tommie Flowers Davis, and Karen Rorex City Staff: Kylee Cole – Long Range & Preservation Planner; Britin Bostick - Long Range Planning & Special Projects Manager, Kaci Black – Long Range Communication & Outreach Specialist Call to Order: 5:30 PM In Attendance: Chair Christine Myres, Vice Chair Cheri Coley, Meredith Mahan, Jennifer Didway, Mark Harper, Karen Rorex, Kylee Cole, Britin Bostick, and Breanna McCardle. 2026 Historic Preservation Awards: Approximately 35 guests joined the meeting to receive awards. Bostick opened the meeting with welcome remarks. Cole presented awards for Public History, Digital Preservation, and Preservation Practice. Following receipt of her award for Preservation Practice Mayor Molly Rawn presented awards for Historical Research, Significant Scholarship, Historic Research and Publication, Preservation of Historic Construction Methods, The WCHS Jubilee, Making History – Oak Grove, History Education, Historic Rehabilitation Award, Adaptive Reuse Award, Historic Restoration Award, Historic Restoration Award, Award for Visual Storytelling, Neighbor of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation in Historic Preservation to Maylon Rice. Approval of Minutes from the March 12, 2026 Meeting: Motion to accept by Vice Chair Coley, second by Commissioner Flowers Davis. Motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Unfinished Business: 1. Downtown Design Overlay District Review: Bostick shared that Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIG) has been hired as the consultant for the Downtown Plan and made a quick visit earlier this week. A schedule of events and engagement will be out shortly and staff will be providing monthly updates to the Commission. 2. Proposed Southeast Fayetteville Local Historic District: Cole presented two separate reports for consideration per the April request by the Historic District Commission. The first was the proposed Historic Black Neighborhood of Southeast Fayetteville. Cole recapped the process to date including the submission of the petition by property owners, the request to elevated the history as a Black neighborhood in the establishment of the district, and Cole’s research 2 process to determine what ownership and occupation information is available. She also shared the different building ages in the neighborhood. Commissioner Harper asked if there would be any reason not to forward the report at this meeting. Cole said she did not have a reason to delay unless the Commission would like more time to deliberate. Chair Myres stated she thought the report was ready to begin receiving comments and requested a motion from the Commission. Motion to forward to the Planning Commission and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program by Commissioner Coley, second by Commissioner Mahan. Unanimous approval by voice vote. Chair Myres looks forward to hearing comments from the Planning Commission and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The second was the historic South Fayetteville Local Historic District, which was included in the petition-initiated request but which Cole identified for the Commission at the April meeting may merit a distinct historic district. This second district would follow recommendations and findings from the Historic Context Statement for the Historic Black Community of Southeast Fayetteville and Phase 1 of the citywide historic survey. Cole highlighted sites such as the former Jefferson School. Commissioner Harper asked about design guidelines for this second district and how those might be similar to or different from the district the Commission just forwarded. Chair Myres called for a motion. Commissioner Mahan motioned to forward the report to the Planning Commission and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Second by Vice Chair Coley. Motion passed unanimously by voice vote. 4. Oak Grove Local Historic District Amendment: Chair Myres asked Cole to recap the request. Cole reported that staff has received the first formal request to add the property at 515 N. Park Ave to the Oak Grove district. Cole showed the additional property and shared the history of the property and noted the process would follow that already established for the creation of the Oak Grove district. As a boundary adjustment this property would follow the same process as the creation of the original Oak Grove district. Cole provided some property background, including the sale of the property by Noah Drake to the Jones family, who built the house in 1945. The property is a bookend to Drake’s direct influence on the development of the neighborhood. Cole asked if the Commission is ready to take action to recommend. Chair Myres requested a motion and second to forward to AHPP and the Planning Commission. Motion to forward by Commissioner Mahan. Second by Vice Chair Coley. Motion passed unanimously by voice vote. New Business: The Commission did not have new business. Announcements: 3 Bostick introduced Breanna McCardle, who is interning with the Long Range Planning team this summer. She also recognized Kaci Black for the award presentation and program. Adjourned: 6:22 PM