Arkansas Development

[photoLith]

Theres nothing at all for Arkansas anywhere on here, and Im pretty sure that Im the only person on the forum that lives in the state, but Im going to make a thread anywaya. Theres a lot going on in various cities around the state. Ill try and update it on a regular basis. It will be mostly stuff from Little Rock, Conway, Russellville, Ft. Smith, and northwest Arkansas.

Heres one of the best developments happening in the state. The Village at Hendrix, its a very dense 1920s styled community adjoining Hendrix College, one of the nations finest liberal arts colleges located in Conway. The project has been under construction for many years now and just recently theyve finished the two roundabouts and have finished small sections of the residential areas on the property. Also, the Southwestern Energy headquarters building is basically done now, and theyre just adding the final touches and the company will be moving in soon.

From http://www.hendrix.edu/village/

The Village at Hendrix - a new, walkable community - is under construction in Conway, Arkansas, right next door to the Hendrix College campus. Our New Urbanist community was planned by world-renowned town planners and architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, who developed Seaside, Fla. The Village is a traditional neighborhood with a firm commitment to green building principles. People of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy being part of a community where the streetscapes become our outdoor living room

Heres some pictures of the development from a few months ago, I have more recent pics but my computer blew up and I have no way to get them off my camera.


This building is number 3 above the 2 on the above map. The entire project is huge and very well detailed.






About a month ago, a Panera Bread opened up in this building and is doing very well. The upper floors of both these buildings are used as apartments for students attending Hendrix.

[photoLith]

These two buildings near the River Market in downtown Little Rock were finished around a year ago.


I took this picture about 2 years ago.

[photoLith]

Heres a new loft recently completed in Fayetteville on Dixon Street right next to The University of Arkansas, The Lofts at Underwood Plaza.

Pictures from http://activerain.com/blogsview/7014...aza-sneak-peek



View from the building

[Dale]

Bring on the Arky stuff! I married an Arkansan.

[photoLith]

Main Street in Little Rock is in pretty sad shape but a lot of lofts are planned in the old abandoned buildings that line Main St., heres a new one just announced last month I believe.


http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2...d-lr-20100914/

LITTLE ROCK — The boards have come down from the windows of an old Gus Blass Co. building at 315 S. Main St., breathing new life into the nearly 110-year-old building - and with it, the city’s hopes for Main Street revitalization.

The building is being renovated to house 30 loft-style apartments and a jazz club and restaurant. Building plans will be unveiled today in a news conference held by Mayor Mark Stodola and Bob East of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership at 11 a.m.

...
Hundreds of people responding to the Downtown Partnership’s online survey of attitudes toward the downtown area and Main Street said they want to live downtown, but find the area unappealing as it is now. But Reed said the apartments will be a good first step toward bringing more people and businesses to the area, solving the “chicken and egg” problem that people don’t want to move to an area with no attractions, but businesses are reluctant to move into an area with few residents.

“For how many vacancies there are on Main Street, you’d be surprised at how many people want to open businesses there,” Reed said.

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/littl...#ixzz12OLtec1v

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2...d-lr-20100914/

[photoLith]

Main Street survey suggests Little Rock is ready for change

Sharon Priest, executive director of Downtown Little Rock Partnership, said after a study of the survey results, "The overwhelming responses of ideas and comments indicated a resounding sentiment of 'We are ready for change.'"

The Main Street Survey results were released by a group working as a subcommittee of the Main Street Revitalization Task Force headed by Mayor Mark Stodola and Bob East, of East Harding and a Downtown Little Rock Partnership board member.

Property owners, residents, employers, employees, clients, patrons and other stakeholders interested in revitalization of downtown Little Rock's Main Street were invited earlier in the year to express their thoughts about the future of Main Street in a survey.

Of the 1897 responses and 370 additional comments, most of the interest focused on the issues of safety, shopping, beautification, parks, transportation, affordable workforce housing, and historic significance of the current building structures remaining on Main Street.

"The survey results tell us we're on the right track in our committee work for Main Street revitalization," added Priest. "People want a great downtown." There are five subcommittees that have been working since last fall on safety, streetscape, peer city review, existing structures, and marketing.

More activity on Main Street is favored by 51.1 percent. Priest said that activities are already in the planning stages for events along Main Street. "We want people to turn the corner from President Clinton Avenue and Markham onto Main Street," said Priest. "We agree that there needs to be more activity. We also anticipate an announcement of new development on Main Street in the next couple of weeks from the mayor that will help bring more people to Main Street. "

A grocery store, pharmacy, and a major retail chain store on Main Street were the top contenders on the "want" list by survey respondents. 67.9% said they dine occasionally downtown, with 300 saying they dine daily. Casual dining topped the list of dining preferences with a coffee shop and a bar/grill almost evenly running a close second.

Read Full Article Here
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=115477

Downtown Little Rocks Main Street right now looks pretty terrible. Most of the buildings are abandoned and the retail consists of thrift stores and pawn shops. Its pretty scuzzy and a blight to the city. Most of the focus in the city has been the River Market area of downtown. 10 years ago, that area was pretty crappy too and the city has really turned it around into a place for the community and tourists alike. Hopefully the same can be done for Main Street in the coming decade or decades.

[photoLith]

Heres an updated plan from the Village at Hendrix in Conway.


thevillageathehendrix.com


http://www.hendrix.edu/village/watershed.aspx

[JAM]

thanks for posting. would love to see some shots of the Clinton Prez Library.

[Dariusb]

Thanks for creating this thread! I heard Conway is growing really fast. Is it part of the Little Rock metro since it's so close? Also, I'll try to also post stuff on my hometown, Texarkana.

[JoninATX]

NW Arkansas Entertainment Center



This project design was created as a idea of the kind of environment the city of Rodgers, Arkansas could have with a new entertainment center. I worked on every part of this project; initial concept, masterplan, model building, image rendering, and presentation graphics.

http://www.adamfreund.com/

[JoninATX]

Great thread photolitherland I'm always curious of Arkansas...

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by Dariusb

Thanks for creating this thread! I heard Conway is growing really fast. Is it part of the Little Rock metro since it's so close? Also, I'll try to also post stuff on my hometown, Texarkana.

Its an exurb of Little Rock, its got some pretty craptastic sprawl but overall, Conway is among one of Arkansas most progressive communities. I dig it.

[JoninATX]

Joint Venture to Develop Two Student Housing Communities

By Jessica Fiur, News Editor

Fayetteville, Ark.—Sterling University Housing, a developer of off-campus student housing communities, and Specialized Real Estate Group, a Northwest Arkansas-based real estate firm, have partnered to build two student housing developments in walking distance of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

The apartment communities, which will be located between the campus and the Dickson Street Entertainment District, will be designed to be pedestrian-friendly and will meet the goals of Fayetteville’s City Plan 2030. Both communities will offer one-, two- and four-bedroom units.

Sterling Fayetteville will seek Leed Silver certification.

“Sterling has a great reputation nationally for developing appealing, well-built and well-managed off-campus housing,” Jeremy Hudson, a partner in Specialized Real Estate Group, said in a press statement. “They have 60 years of experience and more LEED-certified projects than any other company in the industry, making them a great match for this project.”

http://www.multihousingnews.com/news...004048995.html