County courthouse drama continues

The Faulkner County Courthouse cannot be torn down, according to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.

Spokesperson for AHPP Mark Christ said that the county received two county courthouse grants from the program in the past, which prohibits the demolition of the courthouse. The possibility of demolishing the courthouse and rebuilding a new one came up after preliminary estimates for the courthouse reached $600 per square foot.

"We hold a conservation easement on the courthouse," Christ said. "As part of our grant program, to protect the public's investment in these historic properties when we award a grant, part of the requirement is that an easement be donated on the property that gives us a say in what happens with the building in the future and demolition is not an option under our easement program."

Christ said that grants were given to the county for the courthouse in 1999 for $8,316 and 1994 for $14,250. According to the grant application by the AHPP, "The historic preservation easement is a right or limitation, set forth in a legal instrument or deed, which allows the donor to retain ownership and possession of a historic landmark while granting a government agency or qualified non-profit organization the authority to protect the historic, cultural, architectural, or archeological characteristics of the property."

And those rights do not expire over the course of several years.

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"Our easements are in perpetuity. That means it stays with the title to the property forever. It's a permanent easement on the property," Christ said.

This does not mean, however, that the county is not authorized to renovate the building.

"Most of our easements deal is with the exterior, so there's a lot more flexibility on interior modifications," Christ added. "We always try to work with our historic building owners to make sure that important aspects of the building are not altered or lost or anything like that."

Renovation plans drawn up for the courthouse by Sowell and Russell Architects include room for historic preservation. For instance, should the county move forward with renovation, the lights within the courthouse will be changed to pendant lights and exterior sconces, which were common in the time period that the courthouse was constructed.

Justices Dan Thessing, Jerry L. Roberts and Jimmy Bryant, who serve on the Grounds and Maintenance Committee, have said that they were open to a town hall-type meeting to discuss the future of the courthouse with the public once the exact costs are in for courthouse repairs.

During the meeting, the JPs expect to hear feedback as to whether the public wants to see the original building restored or if they'd like for the county to construct a new one.

(Staff writer Monica Hooper can be reached by e-mail at monica.hooper@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1266. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)