[West Little Rock]

Can't say for 100% certainty but I think you're gonna get your wish.

Please, Please, Please, be right. What would be the timetable of finding out? I need maintenance done soon..

[Little Rock Projects List]

Wow that Rock House is AWESOME. Finally some modern architecture in LR.

[Midtowne Little Rock]

I mentioned before that Simon isnt going to do anything with University that nears a $25M investment being that their lease has only aprox. 25 years left. The ROI wouldnt be there, not to mention most anchor stores want at least 50 year leases. So there is a catch that has to be solved before anything "big" happens with University Mall.. Just my opinon...

[Midtowne Little Rock]

Something else to think about. I know that the mayor of NLR made a proposal to Simon when they were thinking of opening the Summit Mall. He wanted them to do something of a similar scale in NLR. If Simon gets a bad taste in their mouth from the dealings with the City of LR, do they renovate in NLR. I am sure with the constant competition b/t two cities that NLR would do everything they can to assist Simon in their redevelpment of McCain just to compete with retail developments on the other side of the river...

[Midtowne Little Rock]

I found out a little more information regarding University Mall today. The land owners were there to inspect the mall. The catch is that Simon wants to keep the mall and sign another 99 year lease (I would assume that means they want to do some sort of renovation). There lease only runs another 20 years which means they wouldnt get any real ROI on any major work done b/t now and then. The land owners I dont think want Simon to keep the property as they probably have plans for it already or some things in the works. I still think that if Simon would have perhaps kept the mall up, this wouldnt be a problem. But they are the ones who let it go to crapville..

[Midtowne Little Rock]

Speaking of malls, today I passed the Summit Mall site on I-430 and they are steadily clearing the site. It appeared that about 80 acres is already cleared with a buffer of trees around the perimeter. Looks like it is moving ahead.

It must be something else, I dont think Summit Mall is still on the table at all..

[Midtowne Little Rock]

Yeah, I would've said Park Plaza was in considerably better shape than McCain pre-renovation. I also think CBL was ambitious to fund that kind of renovation and Park Plaza and I am very optimistic this has guaranteed Dillard's will continue to stay there and it will continue to be the region's upscale mall.

I haven't been in McCain in a while but it was renovated at one point, though I would say that was 15 years ago or so. The decor, fountains, etc have a decided 1980s look, very similar to the Richardson Square Mall I mentioned. It has essentially spawned a massive retail district along US 67 and McCain Blvd and I think that will help it keep its occupancy but no doubt it could be so much more than Simon is letting it be.

For those of you in the Fayetteville area, NWA Mall and McCain are nearly exactly the same in size and layout. If you remember NWA Mall before the last renovation, that's McCain. It's like a time capsule to the days of swatches and rolled-up jeans.

I lived in Fayetteville during the pre-renovation and after the mall was completed. You are exactly right about similar feel that the pre-renovation NWA mall has with McCain. Now in my opinon NWA Mall looks great. Honestly I feel like Lakewood Village has a more updated feel than McCain mall, being that it is sort of an outdoor lifestyle center before its time.

The amount of money Simon spends on McCain is dramatically different than it was say, 15 years ago. I am sure some remember the fountains in here, the awesome christmas set up with trains, etc etc.

I think Simon was really banking on the Summit Mall so they could do what was mentioned earlier, profit off of a new mall instead of updating their other malls. It just doesnt seem they have any intrest in updating what they have. I think the NWA Mall renovation happened with the Macerich Company took over. I wonder if they would want to buy McCain?? Someone make some calls...

[Midtowne Little Rock]

I would like to add that I cant remember the last time McCain Mall had even a minor renovation. The roof leaks like crazy. Every time it rains they have buckets and trash cans spread throughout the mall to catch the water. I have talked with a few simon executives about any renovations being planned with this mall and they say its in "relatively good shape compared to other malls". I would like to give kudos to CBL for revamping Park Plaza to keep it looking new and fresh.

I see McCain taking the same road as University to be honest with you. There are stores leaving McCain pretty soon and I honestly dont see who is going to come in. The thing is that there are 3 really attractive empty spaces that havent been filled. One has been empty over 2 years (by empty I mean no permanent tenant, as a temporary can be moved at anytime). If those spaces are still available, then I would think this mall has become less than desireable for big name retailers right now. Bottom line; if they wanted to be in McCain, they could but are choosing not to be. Malls are usually good at 85-90% occupancy, but they usually dont have so many good spaces available near the "50 yard line".

I hope I am wrong about McCain, I really do.

[Fayetteville, Arkansas]

There's an article linked in the thread below ("Builders: Lot Prices Dropping, Cleansing Ahead") that mentions these houses on Rupple Road. Apparently the term 'new Urbanist' for these homes comes from Richard Alexander and the homes (on 'Rupple Row') are being developed by Alexander-Merryship-Alt along with Nock investments. According to the article the incorporate scaled down floor plans and small lot sizes along with all of the amenities.

I do know that the Barber Group is in on some large developments in this part of town and perhaps they are planning some houses in this style as well.

I am curious about the "New Urbanist" label.. I wonder if these homes will have any modern elements about them, or is it another cookie cutter tract home neighborhood.