The El Dorado Historic District Commission approved a three-pronged Certificate of Appropriateness request for proposed work on a new downtown business.
However, the vote was not unanimous for the request, as two board members said they felt an element of the request for the Latest Wrinkle Boutique, 104 E. Elm, required additional discussion.
Business owner Leslie Rogers said she is shooting for an after-hours opening on Oct. 4 for the new women’s fashion boutique, which will be located on the north side of the Union County Courthouse.
Rogers noted that the opening would coincide with First Thursday, a monthly event that was launched in August by Main Street El Dorado and the Downtown Business Association.
During First Thursday, downtown businesses remain open until 7 p.m. to help increase foot traffic, particularly among the after-work crowd.
Rogers presented a COA to historic district commissions on Thursday for planned improvements to the building’s exterior.
COAs are required for most exterior alterations to properties within the city’s commercial historic district.
The request called for the painting of the masonry, paint colors, awnings and signage.
The architectural trim of the storefront will be painted apple blossom pink to accentuate the logo — a French bulldog — and to create a more unified look for the façade; a black-and-white straight awning will be added; and the tile underneath the front windows will be painted soft white to match the brick just above it, per the COA application.
Rogers and Elizabeth Eggleston, executive director of the EHDC, said the recommendations came from Mason Toms, an exterior design consultant with Main Street Arkansas.
“We’re trying to do a more classic, inviting look with the color scheme on the awning, vinyl and trim,” Rogers said.
Board member Doug Stanton homed in on the proposed painting of the tiles underneath the front windows, noting that the commission’s design guidelines refer to the introduction of new materials to buildings that are at least 50 years old.
Eggleston said the building — historically known as the Boston building, which formerly housed Roy’s Piano — is a non-contributing structure within the commercial historic district.
Contributing structures must be at least 50 years old and not have been significantly altered from their original appearance.
The Boston Store building was constructed in 1908.
Commission chairman Linda Rathbun expressed similar concerns about the painting of the tile.
After some discussion, Commissioner Dick James made a motion to approve all elements of the COA at once, rather than individually.
Rathbun and Stanton voted no, saying they would have liked to discussed the matter further.
“I’m not opposed to the design. I just wanted more discussion on the tile below,” Stanton noted.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.