Architect

We were there and saw it. Very cool!

Great idea skirby! There's a lot of current (and hopefully future!) work along this corridor!

Ah, that makes sense. Technically, ARDOT is correct (and this is how they'd treat any 3rd party improvements within their easement). That being said, you'd think the city or Rock Region Metro would have a plan for repairing/replacing the disrupted rail.

How would ARDOT not be responsible for repairing/restoring River Rail service that they disrupted? I have not heard of this issue.

The number of street lamps along that corridor is absurd....comically overdone. Yikes.

Migration, Urban Infill Drive Growth in Little Rock Metro Area (per NPR, referencing the most recent Demographic Report from Metroplan): https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2024-06-26/migration-infilling-drive-growth-in-little-rock-metro-area

Another thing to note about these latest numbers is the strong net "in-migration" so far this decade: plus 20,000 in the first 3 years, which already eclipses the ±18,000 net in-migration of the WHOLE DECADE from 2010-2020. Reading back through the comments when the 2020 census was released, and local politicians were wringing their hands about low net in-migration from 2010-2020 (±18,000) compared to 2000-2010 (±50,000), it seems the net in-migration trends for the 2020s are picking up steam much closer to 2000-2010, and on track for at least +50,000. It would seem that any lack of growth this decade compared to 2000-2010 may only be attributed to the drop-off in the birth rate, which is a nationwide trend/problem.

Metroplan has updated its population estimates for Central Arkansas for 2023 (technically they listed it as of January 1, 2024): Little Rock 2020 - 202,591 2023 - 207,459 (up 2.4%) Pulaski County 2020 - 399,125 2023 - 407,310 (up 2.1%) Central Arkansas (LR-NLR-Conway MSA) 2020 - 748,031 2023 - 770,672 (up 3.0%) Summary Total net change for the MSA was up almost 23,000 people in 3 years, of which... +20,352 due to net in-migration (this is a good stat) + 2,289 due to natural increase (births over deaths)...this is lower across the U.S. due to demographic trends (lower birth rate), and hangover from COVID deaths I believe this rate of growth over 3 years is still a higher clip than the metro experienced during the same period last decade As much buzz as is always given to "growth rates" of outlying counties, the raw numbers show that Little Rock gained more population than any other city in the metro, and Pulaski County also gained more people than any other county in the 6-county MSA Link: https://metroplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DemographicReview2024.pdf Promising trends!

I don't get why he's promoting putting a sports complex in East Village...I guess if it were "east enough" to avoid damaging a lot of urban infrastructure (which ball fields most certainly do), maybe would add an influx of activity, but it seems like a square peg on a round hole. Personally, I'm very disappointed with what I've been told was a lack of engagement from city hall with the downtown master plan, and the seemingly complete disconnect between the proposed tax and the planning and initiatives with the DTLR Master Plan. This city needs some clarity about leadership and a focus on a common direction. The whole approach of the master plan being a Little Rock ONLY exercise (without considering downtown NLR) is symptomatic of the whole lack of cooperation and regionalism that would be necessary for central Arkansas to thrive.

The "abstract" stage curtain facade is a really nice detail. Well done by WER Architects.

Yes!!! Enclosing both sides of the street to create an uninterrupted "urban corridor" is what's going to really make this feel like a destination. Excellent news.

Conway is Arkansas' fastest growing city over 50,000 people for 2 years in a row.

Agreed. Aside from the viewpoint of the city, any halfway savvy school administrator or dean should KNOW that what's key for enrollment is RECRUITMENT! I can't imagine young people being enthralled by the thought of going to school in an old office building sitting in a parking lot with zero walkability options. Sigh. A missed opportunity indeed...for the school and the city. p.s. Someone mentioned - after the fact - that they should have looked at the old Main Street Mall that the state actually owns...what a grand plan that would have been! Activate Main with the renovation of what is already (still) a pretty cool building.

Whether or not it locates in Cabot, I don't agree with your sentiment here...LR officials are pushing pretty hard behind the scenes from what I've been told. Why would they not?

I was also told very recently that they're still trying to negotiate the originally envisioned site in the River Market. Let's hope it lands somewhere downtown...a suburban campus would be such a huge, missed opportunity.