[The Promenade At Chenal]

I'd forgotten about the parking in the middle at the Promenade. That makes it more appealing, but I still don't like the large parking lot surrounding it, which may be where I differ somewhat from you two.

See, when I look at Pleasant Ridge, I don't see a large parking lot and I don't find the stores that far apart either. The stores probably are closer together at the Promenade, but it doesn't seem like enough to make much difference and it comes at the cost of a large parking lot. Maybe I'm the only one who receives these vibes, but I'm just being honest here. I'm sure that Architect is right about the Promenade being better constructed, using better materials, and using better architectural styles (Besides not being qualified, I really haven't paid enough attention here), but I think the main reason why I like Pleasant Ridge is due to the layout. I realize that it's simple, but from my perspective, it doesn't have the eyesore of a large parking lot that the Promenade has and I think that it's made better use of the surrounding landscape.

As for Lou Schickel, I completely understand the resentment with his past actions, but I've been focusing completely on the centers and not who built or owns them. Buying that lot (or was it lots?) in the middle of Midtowne was pretty low, and seemingly inexcusable, although I bet it was a smart move business-wise for Pleasant Ridge. When it comes to the Promenade, anyway, I'm not too big on Red, either, as they seem like big out-of-town developers who are out of touch with Little Rock. If the Promenade meant much to Red, my guess is that it would be more successful right now, but that's just speculation.

Mostly I'm just adding my 2 cents to an interesting discussion here, though. I, too, am frustrated by the lack of any special stores in Little Rock and forums like this seem like a good way to throw ideas around. I'm really disappointed that J.Crew seems to have pulled out of the Promenade and frustrated by having to drive elsewhere to shop.

[The Promenade At Chenal]

Certainly I wouldn't argue what you like or don't like - everyone has an opinion, but I think Pleasant Ridge is by far the worst of the four...

First, because of its planning. It's just a shopping center...a parking lot surrounded by (poorly designed) buildings. There is no sense of place at all, and I, for one, am off-put by this kind of development. Second - as I've alluded, the architecture is poorly executed - badly proportioned and bland materials. It's not horrible, but if my experience is half parking lot (or more), the buildings should be something special, and they are not.

The Promenade is polar opposite in both respects. First, though I cringe because it is clearly contrived, they've created a sense of place by creating narrow boulevards with minimal parking - so as one shops, the experience is mainly the shops, not a parking lot - like walking down a narrower shopping street. Second, and this is debatable, the architecture - also contrived - clearly uses nicer materials, alternating forms and proportions, and without question seems much more upscale than Pleasant Ridge.

The other two are a mix...

Shackleford wisely goes the route of better planning with the shopping street experience (primary parking on the perimeter), while the architecture is more subdued, but certainly tasteful.

Midtown didn't (perhaps couldn't) go the route of the centralized shopping experience with the parking on the perimeter, but the architecture - while very simple using very muted colors, is perhaps the most elegant of all of the shopping centers.

They all have their upside.

Thanks for the insightful reply Architect.

Not knowing much about quality building materials or design aesthetics, I might have assumed that you had Pleasant Ridge and the Promenade mixed up, if I didn't already know better, that is. From my perspective, Pleasant Ridge has this "sense of place" that I think is missing with the Promenade.

I completely agree that Pleasant Ridge is "just a shopping center". The thing is that I don't see the Promenade as anything more than just a shopping center either, and even worse, as you said first, it's clearly contrived. When I look at the two centers from afar, I see interesting lines within Pleasant Ridge, but with the Promenade, I only see a square development in the middle of a large parking lot. The design just looks very boring to me.

Midtowne may very well be the most elegant of them all, but the muted colors come across to me as something that's very conservative, boring and about 20 years too late. It's not that I don't find it somewhat attractive, but I also find it somewhat depressing and a not very engaging experience. Having said that, I still consider Midtowne to be pretty nice for the small shopping center that it is, which is pretty much the same attitude I have with Pleasant Ridge. The Promenade, however, is a development that I believe we should have expected more from and thus far it hasn't even lived up to the expectations of the others.

As for the narrow boulevards within the Promenade, all I can conjure up are images of trying to find a space in a large parking lot and then having to walk across it, through traffic, to reach those narrow boulevards. Whether you'll really have to walk that far from shop to shop at Pleasant Ridge, or I'll have to walk that far just to reach the shops at the Promenade, I'm not sure, but that is the unappealing image I have of the Promenade, whereas I can say that I haven't found walking through Pleasant Ridge to be the least bit pedestrian unfriendly. I haven't actually had any pedestrian unfriendly experiences at the Promenade yet either, but I expect that to change when/if more stores open there and traffic increases.

[The Promenade At Chenal]

Well, I wouldn't call it a disaster by any means (it's only been open about 6 months), but I do concur that it will never be a significant player due to its size and its remote location.

I agree that many common citizens (dare I say "consumers") in Little Rock have little expectations in the way of architecture/quality of development, etc., but the resultant product is the responsibility of the developer - and in any case, this is not a good example to make that point. This is one of the nicer developments, along with Midtowne, which is very tasteful/elegant. Shackleford and Pleasant Ridge? Not so much.

I wouldn't know what qualifies as a good example of architecture, but I actually prefer Pleasant Ridge to the Promenade, and Midtowne. In addition to being very poorly implemented business-wise -- and I dare to believe that this is still more important than the architecture involved -- the Promenade seems too small and boring. Maybe this will change when it's full, but right now it just seems cold and lacking any character. With all of the land they seem to have, I've often wondered why Red didn't build a small park around it (or within it!) that might bring people to it. To be honest, I've questioned this development ever since Dillards pulled out and most of the reasons why have nothing to do with the location.

Midtowne is nice for what it is, but it's really small, and like every shopping center in Little Rock, it too lacks character or anything that's specific and interesting.

Like I said, I wouldn't know what qualifies as a good example of architecture, but I think that Pleasant Ridge at least looks decent, and more importantly, it has a little character to it. I like how it sits on the hill and is more open than the rest (i.e. offering better views.) Walking through the center is actually enjoyable, which is more than I can say about all of it's competitors, with the possible exception of Park Plaza. I'm sure that it doesn't begin to hold a candle to great developments in other cities, but for the small center that it is, I consider it pretty nice for Little Rock.

Shackleford Crossing actually reminds me of the Promenade, but without the grander visions and implemented somewhat better. I could actually see it becoming fairly nice eventually and then I remember that Wal-mart will someday open there. And that's when the nightmares concerning overcrowded, trashy parking lots and regular gun shootings begin. It will be interesting to see what happens to Shackleford Crossing after Wal-mart opens, but it won't surprise me if many of the better retailers pull out shortly afterward. I suspect that this is an experimental development and one that I wouldn't bet on working out as planned.

I don't know what to make of Park Avenue, but the plan so far hasn't been very impressive. I have the feeling that there actually is no true vision for it and that expectations are shrinking as I type.

Btw, what ever happened to the proposed shopping centers at Colonel Glenn on 430 and the one near the 430/30 interchange?

[Little Rock Projects List]

I was driving down Chenal the other day and noticed that they are clearing a road directly across from Rahling. I know this was supposed to be one end of the road that surrounds the Promenade at Chenal. I didn't see any clearing of the acrage though. Does anyone know if this finnally getting started?

This may have already been mentioned, but I was looking at the city street plan the other day and this new road seems like it's being planned as a major artery to connect Rahling with Lawson Road.