Volunteers needed in property survey
Little Rock officials are looking for volunteers to help with a downtown historic property survey in September.
Anyone with a tablet or smartphone is encouraged to volunteer. Training will be provided, and the surveying will take place Sept. 8-12.
"Whether you have a background in an architecture-related field or you're a local resident who cares about the buildings in your neighborhood, we'd love your participation," a city Facebook post said.
The city has commissioned the District of Columbia-based PlaceEconomics consulting firm for the project, which is called Relocal.
"Relocal uses over 70 metrics to inform decision-making around vacant properties and creates recommendations for how to incorporate them into long-term neighborhood planning," according to a description of the project.
Volunteers can find more information online at surveymonkey.com/s/LittleRockFieldSurvey or contact Emilie Evans with PlaceEconomics at (202) 413-3424 or [email protected].
Resident installs mini library in LR
A resident-sponsored "mini library" has popped up at 617 E. 16th St., about a block away from Rockefeller Elementary School.
Mini libraries have been popping up around the country in recent years. They are small stands on roadsides that hold books, which can be borrowed and returned by anyone for free. People also are encouraged to add books to the libraries.
Kwadjo Boatley created the Little Rock mini library in the Pettaway Neighborhood last week. He won a contest from Chronicle Books, which provided the library stand and some books to start it out.
He got the idea last summer when he saw a mini library in El Dorado, set up in an old corner telephone booth.
"After dinner one night I saw a teenager sitting next to it, engrossed in a book he apparently got from the mini library. So cool and inspiring. I thought to myself that the mini library will certainly contribute to the sustainability of the city's downtown revitalization efforts," Boatley said.
There are about 40 books housed in the Little Rock mini library now. Boatley said the concept is simple: "Take a book, exchange a book and even donate a book."
"My wish is that it will inspire reading and a love for reading," he said, adding that he also hopes the feature encourages people to visit the diverse downtown neighborhood and improve community engagement.
Bank group offers tech park $17.5M
A group of banks have submitted a letter of intent to the Little Rock Technology Park proposing to finance up to $17.5 million for the first phase of construction of the park.
That would allow the Technology Park Authority Board to purchase the Exchange Bank Building and its annex, owned by companies of Warren Stephens; another vacant building and parking lots owned by Stephens; and the Mays, Byrd and Associates law firm building, adjacent to the Exchange Bank annex.
Plans for the first phase of the park call for renovating the annex and law firm building. The Stephens property is under purchase contract for $11.5 million. The Mays, Byrd and Associates building has been appraised at a little more than $500,000.
The consortium of banks will be led by Centennial Bank. Other members of the group are Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Bear State Bank, First Security Bank and Simmons Bank. There is still time for other banks to sign onto the deal, Technology Park Director Brent Birch said.
Birch is the son of Bob Birch, regional president of Centennial.
The Tech Park Authority Board gave board member Dickson Flake the ability to negotiate the contract with the consortium group. The board is expected to call a special meeting before its regularly scheduled September meeting to approve the deal.
Wastewater group leader ends tenure
The vice chairman of the commission that governs Little Rock Wastewater has resigned since the end of her term.
Little Rock Water Reclamation Commissioner Jean Block, who has been serving as vice chairman since January, submitted a resignation letter to Mayor Mark Stodola on Thursday.
She said her departure after four years on the commission was due to "professional and personal obligations."
Block is employed as chief legal counsel of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. Her term on the commission, which used to be called the Sanitary Sewer Committee, expired Aug. 1.
Stodola will appoint someone to the vacant position with approval from the city Board of Directors.
Metro on 08/16/2015