The Eureka Springs Historic District Commission has given the green light for the destruction of the “purple house” that will pave the way for the planned expansion of Eureka Springs Hospital.
The HDC voted 4-1 at the Sept. 21 meeting to approve the destruction of the house, which most recently served as a thrift store. The structure was originally built in 1914 and is located on hospital grounds at 28 Lema St.
Kent Turner with the Eureka Springs Hospital Commission originally went before the HDC at its Sept. 7 meeting asking approval to destruct the historic property. However, the HDC unanimously denied the motion, asking Turner and the hospital commission to look into the possibility of moving the structure.
The house sits in an area where the hospital plans to expand.
“We’ve made a lot of phone calls, we’ve talked to a lot of people, and unfortunately, the word is not good,” Turner told the HDC at the Sept. 21 meeting. “We can’t find anybody that’s even interested in moving the house.
“… The problem that seems to exist is that you can’t get the house out of where it sits. It sits down and you can’t get it up on the road. And even if you’ve got it up on the road — and the roads are not wide enough to move the house in any direction to get it — you’d have to get it out to [Highway] 62 for it to be movable.”
Turner went on to tell HDC commissioners that he’s aware residents are interested in parts of the house when it is deconstructed, including siding, windows and doors.
“We’ve found people that have said they would be interested in materials if they became available,” Turner said. “What we intend to do is if we get approval … is advertise the house to be deconstructed. And for the materials we would be willing to do the same thing. We would be willing to give the house to anyone here in town that wanted to deconstruct it for the materials.
“Now, if nobody wants that, then we’ll have to hire a contractor to come in and deconstruct it…” Kylee Hevrdejs, the city’s historic preservation officer, told commissioners that in deciding how to vote they should look at the how their decision affects either the historic value of the house or the plans to expand the hospital.
“So, this is a really difficult decision for you all, but I would encourage you to really carefully consider — the individual significance of this structure and the value that it brings to the community in comparison to what the hospital commission is hoping to bring to the community with the hospital expansion,” Hevrdejs said when asked what the hospital commission’s next step would be if the motion was denied.
“They do have the option, if the HDC denied this, to appeal to a circuit court. That would probably just prolong this process, both for the commission and for the hospital commission and their endeavors here. And I don’t know that the outcome would be different to be quite honest.”
HDC commissioner Marty Cogan was the only dissenting vote and was the lone voice against the idea of destructing the property.
“Hope they staff the hospital,” Cogan said in the moments after the vote to approve the motion.
HEVRDEJS ADDRESSES RESIGNATION
In closing the meeting, Hevrdejs made a prepared statement regarding her recent resignation. Her last day as a city employee is tentatively set for Oct. 21, she recently told the Lovely County Citizen.
“I do have a comment and I’m going to read it so I don’t cry,” she said. “As the commissioners and some of the public know, last week I submitted my resignation effective mid-October.
“I want to emphasize what a difficult decision this has been for me, both professionally and personally. By all accounts, this should have been an ideal partnership. Me being a qualified, experienced historic preservation professional and this an absolute gem of a historic town.
“I’ve struggled with the disparity between my high expectations for this role and the experience that I’ve had, and I’m so disappointed that this is the outcome. However, I’m happy with the achievements of this commission and my office during our time together.
“I’m especially pleased with the new design guidelines that will help homeowners become stewards of their historic properties. I’m also very proud to see new leaders emerging who will move this commission forward. And I wish you the best in your future work.”
HDC chair Steve Holifield said Hevrdejs’ resignation is a loss to the city.
“Kylee has done a great job and her resignation is a huge loss to the Historic District Commission and the City of Eureka Springs,” Holifield wrote in an email to the Citizen.
