2014 List

Central High School Neighborhood Historic District

Named for the 1927 Central High School, the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for tis association with the westward expansion of Little Rock, the 1957 Central High School desegregation crisis and its eclectic blend of 10th and 20th century architectural styles. The Central High Historic District is home to two National Landmarks and a National Park, as well as numerous individually listed properties. Decades of disinvestment and discriminatory lending practices have led to vacancy, neglect and demolitions at the hand of the City of Little Rock and private owners. While part of the neighborhood has a design overlay district to define scale, massing and setback of new construction, the historic district remains unprotected from common threats. In a recent count of properties declared “Unsafe and Vacant” by the City of Little Rock, the Central High Historic District had 65 contributing historic properties on the list, which is often the beginning of the end for houses. Losing the properties listed on the U/V list would bring the percentage of contributing properties well below the required 51% to maintain National Register status.