Hot Springs Board Approves Rezone, Condemns Homes

Two century-old homes face different fates after city actions

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:05am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a residential street in warm, soft pools of light and color, conceptually representing the challenges of historic preservation in Hot Springs.As Hot Springs grapples with preserving its historic housing stock, the fates of two century-old homes highlight the delicate balance between restoration and public safety.Hot Springs Today

The Hot Springs Board of Directors took contrasting actions on two historic homes at its April 7 meeting. The board granted a rezone to allow the restoration of a vacant home at 415 Quapaw Ave., while also condemning the dilapidated 115 Magnolia St. property, which the owner said is beyond repair.

Why it matters

The board's decisions highlight the challenges of preserving aging housing stock in Hot Springs, where the city must balance public safety concerns with efforts to maintain the character of historic neighborhoods. The rezone and condemnation reflect the different paths available for addressing vacant and deteriorating properties.

The details

The board approved a residential zoning change for the 1904 Victorian-inspired home at 415 Quapaw Ave., which will allow the owner to convert it into two townhomes. Meanwhile, the board condemned the 1900-built home at 115 Magnolia St., which the current owner said has become too dangerous to restore after years of neglect and damage. The city has issued seven vacant structure notices on the Magnolia St. property since 2008.

  • The Hot Springs Board of Directors met on April 7, 2026 to consider the fates of the two historic homes.
  • The 415 Quapaw Ave. property was built in 1904.
  • The 115 Magnolia St. property was built in 1900.
  • The city has issued seven vacant structure notices on the 115 Magnolia St. property since 2008.
  • The current owner, Kawika Morelli, acquired the 115 Magnolia St. property in 2023.

The players

Kawika Morelli

The owner of the condemned 115 Magnolia St. property, who told the board the home's disrepair made restoration impractical.

Robert Kempkes

The owner of the 415 Quapaw Ave. property, who plans to convert the former apartment building into two townhomes after the board's rezoning approval.

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What they’re saying

“I wish you wouldn't have put it on Facebook. Everybody thinks that house is savable. It's not the cute little house you think it is.”

— Kawika Morelli, Owner, 115 Magnolia St.

“I've thrown thousands of dollars at this place. It was a hoarder's house. Once we emptied it, we found the second-story apartment had been exposed to the water, so it got dangerous for my guys. I don't want anyone getting hurt.”

— Kawika Morelli, Owner, 115 Magnolia St.

What’s next

The city said the rezone of 415 Quapaw Ave. should allow the property to be restored to residential use without requiring a variance, while the condemned 115 Magnolia St. home will be demolished.

The takeaway

The Hot Springs Board of Directors' contrasting actions on these two historic homes highlight the challenges cities face in balancing preservation efforts with public safety concerns over deteriorating properties. While one home will be restored, the other faces demolition due to its advanced state of disrepair.