Historic house special use permit denied

West Memphis Planning Commission votes down proposal

By JOHN RECH

An historic house tied to the rich blues music history of West Memphis was denied a special use permit by the City Planning Board.

The planning commissioners voted against the proposal to turn the one-time two-story op house and cafe for the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and other musicians during the club era in West Memphis into a nursing home.

The debate over the 314 S. 11th St. building pitted two solid citizens against each other. Police Chief Eddie West owns the property and asked permission to update the property and share his house with nursing home patients. Neighborhood resident, retired school teacher and Utility Commission board member Shirley Patton Brown spoke against the conversion.

West requested the now single- story, 3,500 foot building be converted to a rest home with six to 11 residents. West made assurances.

“It’s not going to be overnight stay,” said West. “It’s going to be brought up to standards.”

Brown said she was unable to petition the elderly residents in the area because of social interaction restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but presented commissioners with a 2014 survey of residents when faced with a previous special use permit.

Brown said the neighborhood was a gem _lled with potential for the redevelopment of West Memphis and that a nursing home would detract from the appeal of the neighborhood.

“Our neighborhood is in delicate transition,” said Brown. “There are many 25-foot lots with houses not suitable to live in. There have been entire blocks cleared for growth potential.”

Brown a 75-year resident of the neighborhood touted the area saying it set high and did not ood.

She listed detractors for a rest home in the south central neighborhood, including increased traf_c, loitering, and in-and-out visitors as negatives. She doubted the house, last redone in the 1950’s after a _re destroyed the second oor, could ever meet contemporary health and sanitation regulations for a care facility.

“It’s molding and it sits six inches off the foundation blocks,” said Brown.

Commissioner Frederick Anthony, pastor of Old St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, said he new each of the neighbors that came to speak and appealed to Chief West to hold a community meeting to attempt to assuage fears about the changes at the house.

“Can you explain to them the criteria to live there?” asked Anthony. “The neighbors see this as a business coming in there. I think communication would help the neighbors see it may enhance the neighborhood.”

West rejected the idea of holding a community meeting on the matter, and ultimately, the Planning Commission rejected West’s proposal, with three votes against the special permit and one abstention, from Rev. Anthony.

Chief West weighed his options.

“I’ve lost this _rst battle but I will go straight to City Council,” said West, before adding, “I could just turn it into a duplex.”

This house once jumped as a motel and cafe, hosting musicians during the West Memphis club era. City planners rejected a special use permit for a rest home after hearing objections from neighbors in the south central neighborhood of West Memphis.

Photo courtesy West Memphis City Planning