Just about everyone in Arkansas knows that downtown Little Rock has been undergoing a transformation that is changing the way we live, work and play in the capitol city.
Almost everyone has a favorite downtown success story: From the River Market to SoMa to the new Creative Corridor, each is just as vital as the other to our downtown. However, quietly, an older and somewhat forgotten submarket is being revitalized by some of the most well-known names in our state, and we should all be paying attention. That’s because a new gateway to our downtown is being created, and it might just end up being one of the best things to ever happen to our city — east Little Rock.
Nearly 20 years ago, President Bill Clinton chose east Little Rock for his presidential library which cleared a path for other businesses and entertainment facilities to move east, as well. Now, in addition to the library, you’ll find trailblazers like Heifer International, Rock Town Distillery, Yellow Rocket Concepts’ Lost Forty Brewing, Arkansas Craft Distributors, E-Z Go Little Rock and PK Grills, to name just a few. These are in addition to all the great companies that have called east Little Rock home for decades such as Dassault Falcon Jet, Darragh Company and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
In addition to the businesses and attractions that exist today, there are a number of other users and developers considering the area for headquarters or mixed-use residential/office/retail developments. While all of the ideas for breathing more life into this area are being thrown around, let me add a big one to the mix: Study then implement street and streetscape improvements that will position east Little Rock as the gateway to downtown Little Rock from the airport.
Instead of sending our visitors from the airport terminal to the interstate, why not offer them an opportunity to hop on a trolley, light-rail, or even a new and improved Rock Region Metro bus and experience some of the best attractions our state has to offer — from Falcon Jet to Heifer International to the presidential library and the William E. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlands and everything in between — before being deposited in the heart of downtown in just a few short minutes?
The work to revitalize east Little Rock is already being done, and it will continue. The question now is will we choose to plan and showcase this improving submarket? I vote to pull back the curtain and show everyone some of the best that our city and state has to offer.