Pledging the city's support for the Junior League of North Little Rock's relocation and continued existence, the City Council on Monday approved the sale of the E.O. Manees House, the league's headquarters since 1962.
The city-owned house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is being purchased for its appraised value of $430,000 by Allen Engstrom, owner of CFO Network, 321 Maple St., located on the east side of the Manees House, 216 W. Fourth St. Engstrom is buying the property to expand his business and for additional parking.
The sale leaves the Junior League of North Little Rock looking for a new headquarters. The resolution approved 7-0 -- Alderman Charlie Hight was absent -- includes the city paying the Junior League $36,000 to vacate the property and to help with relocating expenses and other costs.
Closing won't occur before Dec. 15 to allow the Junior League to hold an annual fundraiser in November and to provide time to move, Mayor Joe Smith said. The group could share space with the North Little Rock Woman's Club until it can obtain a permanent home, the mayor said.
Smith thanked Junior League leaders for their professionalism in accepting the proposal.
"I assure you we will help you in your relocation and we'll keep the Junior League strong," Smith said.
Sharonda Lipscomb, president-elect for the organization, read a statement from Kelly Phillips, its current president, that said in part that while members are saddened at having to leave the Manees House, they had agreed to accept the proposal and would "continue to be a resource" for North Little Rock.
Lanissa Gilmore, a past-president, read a history of the Manees House and the Junior League's connection to it.
"My heart is in the E.O. Manees House," Gilmore said. "The Manees House is our identity, our headquarters."
An organization of women promoting volunteerism, education and charity, the Junior League also rents the house for events, using the revenue to support its projects.
Smith said that he understood that the house was rented only six times last year. Members corrected Smith when he mentioned that the group only meets twice monthly there. The group also holds regular committee meetings.
City Attorney Jason Carter also corrected a misconception that the Junior League holds a 99-year lease to the house, information that is on the Junior League's website. Carter said the lease terms included extensions that the organization didn't utilize. The lease expired in 2010, Smith said.
Alderman Debi Ross said she had heard concerns about the speed of the proposed sale, something Phillips also mentioned in her letter that was read to the council.
Smith said he had worked with Engstrom for a year trying to help him keep his business downtown. Engstrom recently offered to buy the property so his business wouldn't need to move, Smith said. Within "four to five days after I knew about it," Smith said, he took the proposal to the Junior League's Phillips and Lipscomb and also met with other members.
Engstrom told the City Council he would commit to caring for the structure. Any exterior changes would need approval from historic preservation organizations, but Engstrom said last week that he didn't plan any such changes.
"I am committed to take special care of the Manees House," Engstrom told the City Council. "We are mindful of the history of the house."
The Manees House, built in late 1895, is named for Elmer Olonzo Manees, who owned the house from 1908-1941, according to a history on the league's website, jlnlr.org. The city bought the house upon his death for $12,650. The house was first used as the city's Health Department, according to the historical account.
The Junior Service League of North Little Rock began leasing the home from the city in 1962. The group became the Junior League of North Little Rock in 1968.
Metro on 05/24/2016