The DLRP received an update on Main Street revitalization plans on Thursday.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - People in Little Rock receive an update on how the revitalization plans for downtown are coming along.
During its Breakfast Briefing meeting Thursday, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership got a look at plans for the 500-600 block of Main Street.
The city announced plans for revitalizing a vacant area of the street earlier this month. It will spend nearly one million dollars on the project.
Over the summer, new landscaping and businesses helped spruce up S. Main Street.
The Boyle Building was built in 1909 and as new developments have taken the spotlight, city officials are determined to make what's grown old new again.
Wooten Epes with Reed Realty Advisors stands in front of what was once called "the center of Little Rock," and says, "The last several years, housing downtown has been in high demand. All the current owners have 95 percent occupancy, plus. So, there's a thriving demand for people to come and live in this part of town now, which is new and different."
The 500 block of Main Street consists of four buildings that are being gutted and cleaned for residential and commercial space.
Epes says, "So, we have a lot of historic buildings here that are being currently demolished on the inside and we're remediating asbestos and lead-based paint and we got a Brownsfield's Loan from EPA through the county to finance that part of our reconstruction."
After cleanup, comes the start of construction on loft-style apartments. Parking is an issue that is always on developers' and residents' minds.
Epes says, "The basements in two of these buildings will provide 60 parking spots. There is a big parking deck behind the Rep [over here] where will we acquire some parking."
But city officials want people to walk more, and it's evidenced by these plans.
Epes says, "Such things as just having the same surface on the sidewalk as the street. There's not a curb to separate you, so it's kind of like a plaza."
As for the timeline, Epes expects tenants settled in by the end of 2013.
It's just one more step towards a brighter future for the capital city with a rich past.