Mayor delays motion to sell tract in NLR

North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith held off on asking for the City Council's approval Monday night to sell a piece of city property on River Road after a few nearby property owners spoke against the sale.

The resolution, postponed until the City Council's next meeting, would authorize the city to sell the approximate half-acre on River Road to Eason Laroche Holdings of North Little Rock for a "fair market value" of $17,050 to be developed as a two-story "raised dwelling."

The site, just west of the roundabout where Pike Avenue connects with Riverfront Drive, is in the flood plain along the Arkansas River.

Smith said he had favored the proposed sale because he "didn't think it would be controversial" and the developer offered to pay to extend a sewer service line under Rockwater Boulevard, which runs from the eastern end of River Road to the roundabout.

But nearby property owners said they didn't want the site developed, and Elinor Ferguson even made a written offer of $21,250 to buy the property to leave it in "its natural pristine state."

"This is directly across from her home," said Garland Ferguson, Elinor Ferguson's brother. "We don't plan to develop it but keep the tranquil state of the property there. We're not opposed to development in the future if it's a well-thought-out development."

Wayne Burke, a River Road homeowner, also spoke against the sale. Burke said he was told by city administrators that the building would be "a two-story, high-quality real estate office building," but that when he met with other city staff about the development, plans showed a metal, one-story building "with very little brick facade."

"The residents are getting the shaft," Burke said. "Please vote against this."

Alderman Linda Robinson, who co-sponsored the legislation with Smith, asked that her name be removed as a sponsor while more details are made available about the development, Smith said.

Metro on 09/23/2014

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