Historic District commissioners see several projects coming together in what they hope bodes well for the future of historic preservation in Pine Bluff.
For the first time after four years of trying, commission staff adviser Robert Tucker was able to successfully secure a Historic Preservation Restoration Grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program for a local project.
Saenger Theatre
The commission’s application for the Saenger Theatre resulted in a grant worth a total of $21,700, with $14,467 coming from the state and $7,233 in matching funds from Old Town Theatre Centre Inc., the former owner of the theater building.
The funds will go toward additional roof repair work, a structural engineering assessment for the theater and its accessory structure and repair work to the chimney masonry for the historic theater, which opened in 1924 and was initially a venue for live performances and community events before it became a movie theater. It closed in about 1975.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In danger of falling into to irreversible disrepair, the theater was transferred to city ownership in January and $36,000 from several different sources was spent to repair the main problem areas of the leaking roof.
Tucker announced the grant award to the commissioners at their monthly meeting Friday, where they discussed the Saenger Theatre and many other historic preservation projects, some of which are being led by the commission and city government and others that are being conducted by individuals.
Boone-Murphy House
In addition to the Saenger, the commission is close to restoring the Civil War-era Boone-Murphy House at 714 W. 4th Ave. to habitability after about four years of work. They will be holding a ceremony to dedicate a new Civil War Sesquicentennial celebration marker at the house in the coming months. Future goals with the building are to create an outdoor garden space for events and to find a permanent tenant for the building.
“Considering where we started from in 2008, we’ve come a long way with that little house,” Tucker said.
They are also working on guidelines and signage for the recently established Downtown Historic District, which joins the residential Fifth Avenue Historic District to bring the city to two historic districts.
As part of the city sales tax increase approved by voters in February 2011, Tucker in his role as director of the Inspection and Zoning Department, will be working with a consultant to design and implement a new street-scape for the downtown area, which could include items like rebuilt sidewalks, new trees and landscaping, planters, benches, etc.
Historic homes
Outside of the work being done by the commission, there have been other notable projects taken on by individuals to restore historic homes in and around the Fifth Avenue Historic District, including the DuBocage House at West 4th Avenue and Cherry Street being restored by MK Distributor’s President George Makris. Another historic home at 817 W. 5th Ave. is being restored by Jack Stradley and Kathy Majewska. Bob Abbott has also been a long-time supporter of historic preservation, commission Chairwoman Dee Herring noted as well.
Tucker said — and Herring and fellow commission members Darnell Hawkins, Dave Sadler and Marlene Davis-Lilly expressed agreement — that the convergence of so many projects was encouraging and, hopefully, a sign that people would take more of an interest in historic preservation and many of Pine Bluff’s historic gems could be saved. Hawkins said the turnaround can’t come soon enough.
Herring suggested the commission start giving annual awards to recognize historic preservation efforts.
Tucker also informed the commission that it had received $6,500 in its annual historic preservation allocation as a community with Certified Local Government status. That figure is up significantly from last year but is not back up to the level of the typical allocations before the recession.