Late last week crews began installing signs outside the Little Rock Technology Park, and construction continues on the two buildings expected to house Phase 1 of the downtown office space.
Renovations of 415 and 417 Main St. are scheduled to be complete in early 2017.
Executive Director Brent Birch is optimistic that announcements regarding tenants will come soon. At one time there was talk of naming names in November, and Birch recently said there is news coming, but the timing is still being finalized.
Both buildings are part of the first phase of the $100 million tech park and are examples of the continued revitalization efforts along Main Street.
Across the street -- at the corner of Capitol and Main -- sit reminders of the work that remains.
If plans hold, the Boyle Building at 500 Main St. will become a hotel. Chi Hotel Group purchased the 12-story, 106-year-old building in 2014 and announced plans for an $18 million renovation. Developer Jacob Chi has been unavailable to discuss updated plans and a timeline.
Figuring out what would improve that corner is easy enough: finish the building.
What can be done with the vacant lot on the northwest corner of Capitol and Main -- technically 135 W. Capitol Ave. -- is less clear. Developing a plan for it was a topic of discussion at the recent Financial Quarter Association meeting held in the offices of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership.
Folks who work downtown might recognize the corner as the site of Main Street Food Truck Fridays.
A portion of the red brick (and gravel) lot is owned by the Little Rock Housing Authority. The Tech Park owns "a sliver of that," Birch told his fellow association members, adding "that corner is a mess. So, the Tech Park is open to ideas."
All in attendance seem to agree the property is an eyesore. Because the bricks are, at best, cracked and uneven and, at worst, missing entirely, the lot is difficult to traverse.
Suggestions during a recent brainstorming session on how to improve the look and usefulness of the property ranged from building a performance venue of some sort to developing green space where local workers and students might gather on pretty days to admire art installations and surf the internet.
Fayetteville has had luck with establishing spaces for mobile vendors in lots at College Avenue and on Dickson Street. Could something similar work on Main Street?
Partnership Executive Director Gabe Holmstrom told those in attendance that food truck attendance is down on Fridays. So, perhaps that's not a viable option.
Holmstrom also urged the group to consider practical and economical solutions. Performance venues and art installations would be great, but without a significant budget -- and confusion over who would pay -- the cheaper the better.
Glen Woodruff, director of business development at Wittenberg Delony & Davidson, told fellow Financial Quarter Association members that meaningful changes to the intersection would start in the range of $500,000 to $1 million.
"What's the lowest hanging fruit," Holmstrom asked, later adding, "We're months away from the Tech Park opening and having a lot of new activity down there. That intersection does not leave one with a positive vibe when they walk through it. Is [the solution] to tear out the brick, plant grass and water it? Is it to cover it all in concrete? It's not going to take a lot to improve on what you have there now."
If you have a tip, call Chris Bahn at (501) 378-3518 or email him at cbahn@ arkansasonline.com.
SundayMonday Business on 11/20/2016