Reviving business districts the goal

El Dorado, more rebuilding cores

EL DORADO -- Along North West Avenue in El Dorado, drivers survey sights that are familiar in almost any sizable city throughout the country: Fast food restaurants, big-box stores and outdoor shopping centers abound.

But as the road slowly carves its way into the city's core, a more unusual scene appears.

The tree-lined downtown square features an abundance of local shops and eateries housed in decorative buildings. It's a pedestrian's paradise, as visitors can park their cars and window-shop, have a cup of coffee at a sidewalk cafe or eat a four-course meal.

Downtown El Dorado has long been thought of as among the state's most attractive and quaint places, and it's one of many in south Arkansas striving to freshen their downtowns. It's won national awards and even the accolades of Gov. Mike Beebe, who has during visits called El Dorado's downtown his favorite in the state.

Despite all this, city leaders have an even grander vision.

The goal is to implement a $50 million plan over the next year that will re-purpose a group of historic buildings on the south end of El Dorado's downtown into an arts and entertainment district. Think Branson on a smaller scale.

El Dorado Festival and Events, a private, nonprofit organization, has cobbled together more than $43 million in funds, donations and pledges for the project -- including the passage of the El Dorado Forward economic development tax. Financial partners in the effort include Murphy Oil, Murphy USA, the Murphy Foundation, Deltic Timber Corp., the Walton Family Foundation and numerous individual donors.

El Dorado Festival and Events officials said the plan is designed to celebrate the city's culture, community, architecture, music and performing arts.

The master plan includes a festival venue and amphitheater for between 6,000 and 7,000 patrons, a multiuse music venue seating between 1,800 and 3,600 patrons, a black-box theater for experimental performances that will seat 100, a multipurpose theater for between 750 and 1,000 patrons, and a restaurant and cabaret that will accommodate 300 people.

The district will also include spaces to pair dining with music, visual arts, performer lodging and a play area for children. Among the historic downtown structures involved in the plan are the 1929 Rialto Theater and the Griffin Auto Co., both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Austin Barrow, president and chief operating officer of El Dorado Festival and Events, said, "The creation of the El Dorado Arts and Entertainment District represents the next key piece in the city's investment to bring together our cultural organizations and activities on a significant, grand scale.

"By shifting attention from a single historic structure to the entire historic district, we are able to present a plan that creates a multiple performance venue district that ... offers possibilities of live performance in music, comedy and theatre."

The plan also includes the potential to add features in the future, Barrow said, including farmers markets and public gathering places.

El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash, whose office is just across North West Avenue from the heart of downtown, called the plan "magnificent."

"We really found ourselves with a need to diversify, what with the loss of manufacturing jobs over the past decade," the mayor said. "We think we can do that by becoming an entertainment destination in the South."

Hash said there are still some details to be ironed out, but he credited the city's financial leaders, such as those at Murphy Oil and the Murphy Foundation, for "having such a great vision for our city."

For its part, the city is kicking in $9 million toward the project from the economic development tax passed by voters several years ago.

Samantha Evans, assistant director of Main Street Arkansas, said El Dorado is a model in the state when it comes to caring for and growing its downtown.

Securing funding is one challenge, but finding participants for projects that often take decades to complete and require perpetual care is even more difficult, Evans said.

"Doing these projects are important to communities because so many people, especially those of the millennial generation, are looking at downtowns to work in and live in and shop in," she said. "Downtowns are really seeing a resurgence now."

But El Dorado -- population 18,539 -- isn't the only small-to-midsize Arkansas city working to improve its downtown.

Since 1984, Main Street Arkansas has worked with cities throughout the state, helping fund and providing guidance on downtown revitalization projects. Main Street Arkansas cities have yielded a net gain of 3,907 jobs, 1,151 new businesses, and 1,066 business expansions and relocations into downtowns to date, according to the organization.

A total of $145,650,659 in investment funds has financed 3,272 facade renovations, rehabilitations and new construction projects. The Main Street cities have seen 844 public improvement projects valued at $25,193,767 and 545,536 volunteer hours on Main Street matters.

Dumas has caught the attention of Main Street Arkansas for taking steps to bolster its own downtown economy.

Dumas has utilized the organization's resources for several years, and Evans said leaders there have "embraced economic development" by pouring time and money into revitalizing the city's heart.

Jan Farmer, executive director of Main Street Dumas, has overseen the renovation of five downtown buildings and the creation of a vibrant farmers market.

Farmer said that this year, the market will offer more than ever, including children's activities that teach about cooking and healthy eating.

As for building renovations, "we try to do one a year, as we can get the resources," she said. "We typically renovate the facade and let the business owners put money into other work. We make sure they are part of the process so they feel ownership in the project, as well."

Dumas business owner Jimmy Jones has seen the benefits firsthand.

The building in which he hopes to open a restaurant later this year received a facade renovation a short time ago, meaning that money that would have come out of his pocket can now be used to buy kitchen equipment and other items, he said.

"I think it's great," Jones said. "It's really good for our community, and it's especially good for small-business owners who don't have a lot of money to spend on renovations."

In Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University has teamed up with the city to revitalize downtown and beyond by hosting cleanup and repair days.

Dubbed "Making Magnolia Blossom," the effort kicked off in late October with $14,000 in donations and hundreds of volunteers painting signs and buildings, planting flowers, and picking up litter.

Magnolia Mayor Parnell Vann has called the effort "a remarkable opportunity for our city to show the world we really care."

Aaron Street, founder of Making Magnolia Blossom and assistant dean for integrated marketing at SAU, said the organization grew from a grass-roots level.

"It's been amazing to see how the community, SAU, the city and business owners have all come together toward improving the heart of our city," Street said. "We hope that the strong sense of community pride will translate into a successful transformation ... of our Main Street and will continue on across our community for years to come."

In Pine Bluff, city leaders are preparing for an intensive streetscape project that will see new trees, sidewalks and other improvements along a stretch of Main Street and in other areas near the heart of downtown. The project, which will take several years to complete, is being funded by a sales tax initiative passed by voters in 2011.

City leaders said they hope it will help spark economic development in a downtown that has seen shrinking commerce over the past decade.

Back in El Dorado, Janet Richmond has been eagerly following news of the coming entertainment district and said she hopes to be part of it. She moved there a few months ago with an idea for creating an art studio downtown.

"I think small cities who are forward thinking like this are the wave of the future," Richmond said. "I know I feel welcome here, and my friends who visit say it's a lovely place to stay. I think this is somewhere I want to open a business."

And for El Dorado to achieve its goal of an economy driven heavily by arts and entertainment, creative-minded people like Richmond will be vital to win over, Hash said.

"We are leading the way to change our city into something spectacular for visitors and residents," the mayor said. "And I really feel like we will draw people in with our plans. It's really going to be something to see."

State Desk on 01/03/2015

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