Land Development Today - July/August 2007 - (Page U14)

Acxiom International Headquarters – Little Rock River District and will also be co-located in this area. Joining this growing list of eco-friendly facilities along the river are the Winrock International Headquarters (LEED Gold) and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), which is pursuing dual LEED and Green Globes® certifications now. Due to the River Market’s success, there is talk that Main Street could serve as the most promising area for future development. Sharon Priest, the current executive director of The Downtown Partnership, says “Main Street is the next frontier.” She believes that the Main Street area deserves focused attention, considering the “critical mass” occurring along Clinton Avenue in the River Market District. The Partnership is devising a strategic plan for redeveloping Main Street’s look and feel. Some of this work is coming to fruition as two historic high-rise buildings, the Lafayette Square and the Donaghey building, undergo transformations into trendy downtown condos and loft apartments. The steady improvement to the “South of Main” or “SOMA” district is also getting a turn at revitalization. A big part of this movement is credited to George Wittenberg, who today still serves as the director of the University of Arkansas – Little Rock (UALR) Urban Studies and Design Program. Wittenberg’s mission has consistently been to help transform the downtown area into a place for people. The philosophy underscoring this growth is that a community is the sum of all of its parts, not just the individual pieces. To ensure that the development thrives and remains sustainable, a myriad of activities and places that define and hold it together are needed. True community is achieved through the growth and con- nectivity of sustainable transportation, retail, office, entertainment and residential elements. In addition to retail and street improvements, there is also a new focus on the residential market in SOMA. One of the strongest examples is the new “green” residential development known as the Rock 3 Project developed by Page Wilson for “younger, urban, environmentally-conscious 21st century pioneers.” The designs are energy efficient and environmentally-friendly; a “green” building movement rapidly gaining attention across the nation. high-rise First Security Center with our eyes focused toward the bright-metallic Clinton Presidential Library beyond. We finally arrive onto the grounds where our car awaits us for the trip back home. Graham is asleep in the back seat long before we make it there. This year marked the 30th anniversary of RiverFest with yet another record-breaking attendance numbering a quarter of a million attendees. That is equivalent to Little Rock and North Little Rock’s combined populations. The growing popularity and the constant An abandoned brownfield next to the Arkansas River now serves as home to Heifer International's new World Headquarters. Photo by Timothy Hursley Headin’ Home After six hours of exploring both riverfronts, Graham is starting to show signs of fatigue as he rubs his eyes and smudges the face paint applied on his check earlier in the day. We exit the streetcar onto the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Plaza and are again brushed with the smell of corndogs and funnel cakes in the air. We quickly make our way back through the crowds along President Clinton Avenue, past the Central Arkansas Library, then through the bustling River Market and Riverfront Amphitheater. We stop for a moment to take in the festive scene one last time as the sun begins its decent onto the western horizon. The sunset serves as a backlight for all six bridges; casting dark, shadowy outlines of their structural trusses criss-crossing onto the gold shimmering, wavy rippled surface of the water below. We continue past the Children’s Museum of Discovery and the Jay & Graham Holstead in the River Market increase in attractions downtown is further affirmation that the urban redevelopment is a profound success and represents smart, well-planned and sustainable growth for our community. 14 July/August 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Land Development Today - July/August 2007

Cover Contents Our Voice: Industry Advocates Your Voice: Reader Response Cover Story: Preparing Your Tax Strategy The Rules of the Game Historical Redevelopment Project Profile: Seattle’s High Point Retention: From Ravine to Road Land Use: Picatinny Arsenal Mixed Use: Florida Offices Industry News Products/Services Showcase Classifieds Recommended Reading Advertiser Index Editorial Board The Last Word: What? Me Plan… Urban Development

Land Development Today - July/August 2007

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