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HDC Minutes 01-12-20231003 Broadway e Van Buren, Arkansas 72956 HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES January 125 2023 1. Call to Order/Roll Call. The Van Buren Historic District Comm ssion held its monthly meeting on Thursday, January 123 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex. Commission members present: Chairman Vickie Davis, Vice -Chairman Derald Porter, Lindsay Dodson, Paul Gibson, Cathy Gifford, Andy Knox, and Commission Secretary Jennifer Willoughby. Also in attendance: Alicia Knox of Platinum Property Holdings; 601 Main Street. 2. Approval of Minutes from November 10, 2022. A motion was made by Commissioner Cathy Gifford and seconded by Commissioner Derald Porter to approve the minutes. The motion was approved unanimously. 3. COA #1-2023-601 Main —Platinum Property Holdings; Requesting to install front &rear awning, rear porch & deck, and paint exterior, Alicia Knox presented building plans and multiple pictures to clearly show the requested design plan for 601 Main Street. A motion was made by Commissioner Lindsay Dodson and seconded by Commissioner Cathy Gifford that nothing in the proposed design adversely affects the adjacent downtown buildings. A motion to approve the addition of front & rear awnings with metalwork that match the original design and is constructed from the original side awning metal (10.3 Awnings), new rear concrete porch with covered upstairs deck, and exterior paint colors—Sayward Pine, Portsmouth Blue, Wainscott Green, Parsnip, and Seal Blue —picked from the Historic Colors of America color chart (10.8 Color) was made by Commissioner Derald Porter and seconded by Commissioner Cathy Gifford. Commissioner Andy Knox abstained from voting. The motions were approved unanimously by all other Commissioners. The approval of this COA was strictly founded on the basis that the awning makes historical sense in relation to the building as Sanborn Maps dating back to 1886 show a storefront awningpresent. It is likely the original storefront awning shown on the Sanborn Maps matched the existing 100-year-old awning on the side of the building. Prior to this meeting Secretary Jennifer Willoughby emailed AHPP about this building and asked for historical information and advice. The following was the response from Ia Montgomery, AHPP CLG Cnord nator: There are two sides to this argument and both are legitimate, so the HDC will have to weigh the options for a final decision. 1. No historic photos have yet been found to substantiate the existence of an awning with this design on the building. Sanborn maps going back to 1886 do show an awning present but offer not details as to its characteristics, aside from it being one story. Therefore, we can't definitively say this awning will not project a false sense of history on the building. 2. Conversely, one can argue that the design of the proposed awning matches that of the second story awning covering the stairwell on the side of the building. This side awning is more than 100 years old according to Sanborn map records, and it is likely the original front awning matched it in design. Essentially, if no design guidelines were in place and the building owner wanted a new awning - period appropriate designed - this proposal would fit the bill well. We don't anticipate the awning's presence will negatively impact the building's contributing status. The altered storefronts and covered transom windows on the first story are more threatening to the building's contributing status. In this case, the awning makes historical sense in relation to the building. Hopefully, with this information, the commissioners can feel fully informed when they decide on this COA. Commissioner Paul Gibson stated he has concerns about other merchants wan ing to add awn ngs to their storefronts and not understanding why the Commission may approve this building but not approve another. The email from AHPP helped to answer some of those concerns. The Commission should only approve requests that make historical sense in relation to the building and if there is proof to support that claim. 4. Old/New Business. 5. Adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Cornmissianex Cathy Gifford and seconded by Commissioner Paul Gibson. The motion was approved unanimously.