The 1891 Bruner House at 1415 Cantrell Road, which is on the National Register of Historic Properties, will be torn down in the coming weeks. An Alabama salvage company is rescuing the mantels, rails, flooring and other features of the Eastlake-design house.
The house, a carriage house in the rear, and a house next door, which will also come down, were bought for $500,000 by Irwin Properties LLC in April 2011, according to Pulaski County assessor records. Arkansas Business reported at the time that Warren Stephens purchased the half-acre through Irwin.
Preservationists downtown are “full of anguish,” Kathy Wells, president of the Coalition of Greater Little Rock Neighborhoods, said. No demolition permits have been taken out, but according to the salvage company, Southern Accents, none are needed for architectural salvage.
The property is close to the Episcopal Collegiate School, Jackson T. Stephens campus, but Head of School Steve Hickman said he did not know what was planned for the property.
Here’s information on the house from the Arkansas Historic Preservation program.