Historic District panel to review COA requests
Members of the El Dorado Historic District Commission will consider a new Certificate of Appropriateness request and follow up on a previous COA request when they convene for a regular meeting at noon today in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
In February, commissioners approved a COA for a proposed project to install public restrooms in downtown El Dorado.
COAs are required for most exterior projects within the city’s commercial historic district.
The EHDC considers proposed projects to make sure they fit within the design guidelines for the commercial historic district, which encompasses most of downtown El Dorado.
El Dorado City Council Member Paul Choate is facilitating the project with assistance from Robert Edmonds, director of public works.
The estimated $130,000 project is being funded pro rata by the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission, of which Choate is a member, and the El Dorado Works tax.
The location that has been selected for the restrooms is the vacant lot next to Hill’s Recreation Parlor and behind the First Financial Bank ATM in the 200 block of East Cedar.
Edmonds and Choate presented the COA to the EHDC in February and commissioners approved the request with conditions.
Choate told members of the A&P commission Tuesday that the EHDC suggested some changes in the design of the project, including placing the
restrooms flush with Hill’s rather than parallel to the building, as had initially been planned.
“I think that was offered with tongue in cheek but it came out to be a pretty good idea and it will look like part of the building,” Choate said, adding that he will speak to MAD about updates in the project.
“It will allow in the future, as need arises, where you could attach to the back of it and duplicate it and allow for double the availability and allow more availability for MAD usage,” he continued. “The plans are being redrawn and then there are few other things.”
Choate said the redesign has been turned over to the department of public works.
“Doing it that way, it’ll look more like a storefront,” Edmonds said previously.
Architect Blake Dunn, of CADM Architecture, Inc., is expected to follow up on the project with the EHDC today.
Also on the agenda is a COA request for the building that formerly housed Larry’s Rexall at 102 East Cedar.
Buddy McAdams, co-owner of property, is expected to present a request for work on the storefront, including windows, doors, signage and brick repair.
The building is being remodeled for the relocation of Almost Blonde and Martha’s on the Square.
Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street El Dorado, said Tuesday that Martha’s is tentatively set to open at the new location in April. The store is currently operating out of what was formerly Latest Wrinkle Boutique, at 104 E. Elm St.
McAdams, also a member of the MSE board of directors said Almost Blonde is expected to open next week, adding that the work that is included in the COA request will be done after the businesses have moved into the building.