A joint proposal from the University District Development Corporation and Flake & Kelley Commercial
Introduction
The University District Development Corporation (UDDC) and property owners represented by Flake and Kelley Commercial propose a site for the Little Rock Technology Park located generally at the southeast corner of Asher Avenue and University Avenue, immediately south of the University of Little Rock campus.
The site includes the Village Shopping Center, the Rush property immediately south of the Village, the Coleman Dairy property, and Good Old Days Foods, Inc. property onS. Polk Street. Also, additional owners of properties generally in the southeast corner of Asher and Mabelvale Pike have been contacted and some will agree to be included. These properties abut the Coleman Dairy property and the Good Old Days Food, Inc. Property.
The following information summarizes the attributes of the Asher/University site for the Little Rock Technology Park and this package includes the site submission criteria materials requested by the Little Rock Technology Park Authority on July 10, 2012.
This Asher/University location meets both the business park criteria and the research park criteria set forth by the Angle Technology Group in its 2009 report, “Study and Recommendations for a Research Park in Little Rock, Arkansas”.
•The site is bounded on two sides by arterial streets, Asher Avenue and South University Avenue, providing visibility from well-traveled roads and easy access to main thoroughfares.
•The site has easy access to restaurants, hotels, retail services and housing, and it has room for expansion.
•This site is immediately adjacent to the UALR Campus and within a short drive to UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
•The site has access to high-speed broadband communication facilities.
21st Century Research Park Opportunities (Battelle Report)
Moreover, the Asher/University location reflects the characteristics of university research parks described in “Characteristics and Trends in North American Research Parks: 21st Century Directions” prepared by Battelle Technology Partnership Practice in cooperation with the Association of University Research Parks in October, 2007.
“Urban Community Revitalization. Recently, a number of universities located in urban settings have begun to apply the research park concept not only to provide needed R&D space for academics and their industry collaborators, but also to stimulate the redevelopment of neighborhoods. Research parks may have a role to plan in cities seeking to grow their technology industry base.”
The site anchors the University District, a 3.5 square mile area around the UALR campus with approximately 9,740 people living in 3,850 households. The University District’s mission is to create a dynamic urban place, improving the quality of life for all those who live, learn, work, and play in the area.
Location
Located in the heart of Little Rock, the Asher/University Avenue Technology Park Site totals 84.37 acres with 14 acres of existing grading and infrastructure available for immediate development.
Anchored by the existing Village Shopping Center at Asher/University
Avenue, the site:
•Sets immediately adjacent to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus and within 3 miles and 7 minutes driving time of the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences campus.
•Anchors the University District, a 3.5 square mile revitalization area surrounding the UALR campus.
•Is located within 12 miles of the Little Rock Regional Airport and the Little Rock Port Authority by way of State Highway 5/U. S. Highway 67.
•Is located within 1.7 miles of I-630 and 5 miles of I-30.
•Wraps around the newly acquired University Village UALR Student Housing and the newly constructed UALR Track and Field and Intermural Athletic Facility.
•Connects to the light industrial area at the southwest corner of Asher Avenue and Mabelvale Pike, where several owners are interested in their properties being included.
Existing Site Improvements
The Asher/University Site has existing parking lots, buildings, and drainage/utility infrastructure on 14 acres in acceptable condition for immediate development. It includes:
•Approximately 150,000 square feet of retail office space that can be used for interim or temporary facilities until permanent technology park facilities are planned, designed and constructed;
•Approximately 520 surface parking spaces on existing parking lots;
•An outparcel building, formerly occupied by a branch bank, that could be used immediately as an on-site office facility for the Technology Park Authority and its development staff and consultants.
No Residential Displacement
The site includes no residential neighborhoods, single family or multi-family housing. There will be no residential displacement.
Community & Business Support
The University District includes several single-family residential neighborhoods, several of which are represented by neighborhood, residents or property owners associations. The leaders of these groups make up the University District Neighborhoods Association, which endorsed the Asher/University location for the Technology Park. The Meadowcliff/Brookwood Neighborhood Association represents neighborhoods in the Hindman Park area, south of the Asher/University intersection. They also support the location for the Technology Park site. Also, several owners of businesses and properties within the Four Corners (Asher/University Intersection) meet frequently to address development issues in the area. They also voiced strong support for the location.
University District Development Corporation Role Incorporated in 2008 as a 501 (c) 3 private nonprofit community development corporation, the UDDC was formed to develop affordable housing, encourage business development, and make neighborhood improvements within the University District.
Four major goals drive the UDDC’s current plan to improve the quality
of life within the University District:
•Increase property values and improve affordable housing conditions
•Improve neighborhood infrastructure especially sidewalks, trails, and safe streets
•Increase levels of personal safety and outdoor activity creating an active, healthy neighborhood
•Increase the number of middle-income residents living in the area
The UDDC is available to assist the Little Rock Technology ParkAuthority with building community relations and integrating the technology park development with the surrounding area.
The UDDC Board of Directors was appointed in 2008. Board members and fficers have served continuously since that time. One-fourth of the Board members are UALR faculty and staff and one-half of the Board members live within the University District.
Paula Casey, Chair
Joe Busby, Vice Chair
Hillis Schild, Treasurer
Marsha Vault, Secretary
Kim Evans
Mike Gerfen
Marq Golden
Liz MacKenzie
Sedrick Mays
Paula Rogers
Raymond Scott
Edward Swaim
Debra-Simpson Webster
Conclusion
The Angle Technology Group Report states that, “in a knowledge economy, knowledge creation, innovation and networking are key drivers for economic development and growth.” With immediate access to UALR and close proximity to UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the Asher/University Avenue Technology Park site provides the best location for knowledge creation, innovation and networking. The Asher/University Avenue site provides the best setting for the Board to fulfill its mission to further the knowledge-based economy of Little Rock, Arkansas.
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