Historic District Commission Meeting - May 20, 2026

The Texarkana Historic District Commission met on May 20, 2026, to consider a certificate of appropriateness for window repairs at 906 East 6th Street and a request for fence and sidewalk work at 1929 Ash Street. The meeting began with a roll call and adoption of the previous meeting's minutes. After discussion, the commission approved both agenda items, with the fence request subject to a condition limiting solid fencing to the building line.

Consent Calendar

• The summarized minutes from the March 31, 2026, meeting were adopted unanimously.
• Certificate of appropriateness for window repair/replacement at 906 East 6th Street was approved without opposition. The application specified replacing glass in one window and rebuilding rotted wood in another, with no change to the frame or installation of vinyl.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Renee Boyd (1924 Ash Street) expressed support for the proposed fence and sidewalk at 1929 Ash Street, citing the homeowner's need for safety, privacy, and protection of recent landscaping investments. She stated that the improvements beautify the neighborhood and are in line with historic character.

Discussion Items

• 1929 Ash Street – Fence and Sidewalk (Melissa Acock, applicant): The applicant requested approval to replace a cobblestone walkway with a concrete sidewalk (already completed), add a five-foot metal fence around the porch area, and install a six-foot wooden privacy fence on the side of the property. The main discussion centered on how far the wooden fence could extend past the front building line of the house, given the corner lot configuration. The applicant sought to extend the fence to a survey stake, but some commissioners expressed concern about it protruding beyond the building line. The code enforcement officer (Tyler) clarified that a solid wooden fence cannot extend past the building line on either street frontage. After consulting with the officer, the commission confirmed the restriction.

• Staff Comments: Staff reported ongoing work on a Certified Local Government grant, including a workshop with local entities and a mid-century modern survey in Texarkana. An award ceremony for historic preservation is being planned, and nominations remain open. Commissioners were polled about interest in attending the Preserve Arkansas conference in Hot Springs (now confirmed for October 21–23). Staff also noted a planned "Blueberry Hill Bash" event at the auditorium with a Fats Domino tribute band.

Key Outcomes

• Window repair at 906 East 6th Street: Approved unanimously.
• 1929 Ash Street improvements: Approved with conditions: the sidewalk (already completed), the metal fence, and the wooden privacy fence were approved, provided the wooden fence does not extend beyond the building line of the house (as determined by code and confirmed by staff). The commission directed that any further extension beyond the building line would require additional review by code enforcement. The motion carried with a voice vote; commission members Michael Hendrix, Jamie Simmons, Dave Jones, and Natasha Graham voted in favor.
• Item three (Jamie Partable): Carried over to the next meeting.