Historic District Commission floats idea to host workshop

The El Dorado Historic District Commission is working on plans for the next several months, including fleshing out an idea to host a statewide historic preservation workshop in El Dorado.

The group is also continuing efforts to improve relationships with city officials, property/business owners within the city’s commercial historic district and the public to give the community a better understanding of the role and function of the EHDC and historic preservation as an economic driver in the city.

Earlier this year, Commissioner Steve Biernacki urged his fellow commissioners to develop an action plan to accomplish their objectives.

Commissioners resumed those discussions during a regular meeting on April 11.

The group did not have a quorum, so they were unable to take action agenda items, including approving the minutes from their last regular meeting in March.

EHDC Chairman Linda Rathbun announced that the deadline to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness request is April 19 for the EHDC’s next monthly meeting on May 9.

COAs are required for most exterior projects within the commercial historic district, which encompasses most of downtown El Dorado.

Property/business owners must submit a COA application to the EHDC to ensure the proposed project fits within the design guidelines of the commercial historic.

The guidelines, which are taken from federal standards, help to preserve the architectural and historical integrity of buildings in the commercial historic district.

Rathbun noted that the EHDC has not yet received any COA applications this year.

Biernacki asked how a business owner would know if a COA is required.

Rathbun said the information should be passed on by property owners and former business owners and the EHDC typically sends out informational letters to property/ business owners.

“We do alert them and we try to send a letter out once a year — just let us know if you have any repairs or changes planned outside the building,” Rathbun said.

Rathbun and Elizabeth Eggleston, executive director of the EHDC, also noted that in previous years, at least one member of the EHDC was a downtown property/business owner or representative.

“I will try to get that letter out and, hopefully, we’ll drum up some COAs. It’s been a dry COA year,” Rathbun added with a laugh.

Commissioners also said downtown business and property owners should be invited to a statewide historic preservation workshop if one is planned in El Dorado.

Last September, Eggleston, who also serves as the local Certified Local Government coordinator, and Commissioner Diane Murfee attended the Preserve Arkansas Dollars & Sense of Historic Preservation workshop and training session in Texarkana.

Commissioners who were unable to attend the training have watched videos of the presentations, including one from Amber Jones, a Little Rock historic preservation consultant who specializes in the historic rehabilitation tax credit, National Register of Historic Places listings, facade easements and federal tax credits.

EHDC members have said they would like to invite Jones to El Dorado to share similar information with local property owners and city officials.

Eggleston said the Murphy Arts District and downtown property owner Pete Dunn have qualified for tax credits for improvements to

downtown buildings.

Property owners within the city’s two residential historic districts could also qualify for tax credits for applicable projects, Eggleston said.

She said a Little Rock woman who is looking to set up a second home in El Dorado has already reached out with inquiries about historic preservation tax credits.

“She’s gotten them in the neighborhood where she lives in Little Rock,” said Eggleston said.

Eggleston said a state Certified Local Government conference was held in El Dorado several years ago and sessions were spread throughout City Hall, the First Presbyterian Church and other locations in downtown El Dorado.

CLG programs represent partnerships between the National Park Service, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and local governments in the state to preserve historic resources at the local level.

A city or county is eligible to participate in the CLG program if it has established a historic district commission and has adopted a local preservation ordinance designating one or more local historic districts.

El Dorado is one of 21 CLG cities in Arkansas.

To plan a statewide historic preservation workshop/training, Rathbun said the EHDC would also have to schedule other activities in addition to a presentation by Jones.

Eggleston said the group could also look into potential CLG grant funds to help cover the cost of the event.

She reminded the group they also need to make travel arrangements and reservations for the biennial forum of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and CLG training.

The national forum will be held July 31 - Aug. 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

A portion of a newly awarded CLG grant for El Dorado will be used to fund the trip for commissioners, Eggleston said, adding that state historic preservation officials have advised local groups to book lodging accommodations as soon as possible.

The El Dorado Historic District Commission is the reigning “Commission of the Year” in the nation, having received the honor during the 2022 NAPC forum, which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio.