110670 0
RESOLUTION NO. 11,067
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF
DESIGNATING THE STEPHENS NEIGHBORHOOD AS A TARGETED
NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT AREA AND TO DEVELOP THE
REQUIRED PLAN.
WHEREAS, the Arkansas Legislature has enacted an act to provide for targeted
neighborhood enhancement, to rehabilitate neighborhoods suffering from neglect,
abandonment and urban blight in the 1997 General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, efforts have been made by the City to revitalize older
neighborhoods as a targeted neighborhood pursuant to Act 320 of 1997; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Little Rock wish to rehabilitate the Stephens
neighborhood which is suffering from neglect, abandonment and urban blight; and
WHEREAS, the historical and architectural focus of this neighborhood is
significant to this state and should be preserved; and
WHEREAS, the Stephens neighborhood represents one of the City's older mixed
use neighborhoods providing housing, commercial, retail and educational services for the
residents; and
WHEREAS, the designation of the Stephens Targeted Neighborhood
Enhancement Plan is one way to improve the area, which is at heart the basic fabric of the
City.
0 0
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. The City Manager is authorized to direct staff to initiate the
process in meeting the requirements for the Stephens neighborhood to obtain designation
as a targeted neighborhood enhancement area.
SECTION 2. This area will be defined by I -630 to the north, Woodrow Street to
the east, Roosevelt Road and Asher Avenue to the south and University Avenue to the
west.
SECTION 3. As part of the process, a plan will be developed to qualify the
Stephens neighborhood as a targeted neighborhood pursuant to Act 320 of 1997 and the
city staff shall do the following:
(A) Compile a report on the Stephens neighborhood that includes:
I. A brief history of the neighborhood including current demographic
information about the residents;
II. Information on the deterioration and demolition of housing stock
within the boundaries of the neighborhood;
III. Information concerning the incidents of crime within the boundaries
of the neighborhood;
IV. The location of existing government resources, such as police and
fire substations, neighborhood alert centers, schools, playgrounds and
government centers that could help rehabilitate the neighborhood;
V. A list of financial institutions and entities that are willing to
participate as lending institutions to persons who contract with the
F-1
L
LJ
City of Little Rock, should this targeted neighborhood enhancement
plan be implemented, to build, rehabilitate and reside in a residential
structure within the Stephens neighborhood in accordance with the
plan;
VI. A set of model documents and contracts that the City will use to fulfil
the purposes of the enhancement plan to the extent that City financial
resources are utilized.
(B) Develop a plan to rehabilitate the various blocks of the neighborhood and
set forth within that plan a list of resources the City should be willing to
dedicate to ensure the success of the enhancement plan.
SECTION 4. Once the report and plan set forth in the Section 1 have been
completed, the Board of Directors shall set at least two public hearings at different
locations within the City to discuss the proposals and the resources the City will dedicate
over the next five (5) years to ensure the success of the enhancement plan.
SECTION 5. Upon the completion of the public hearing process, and any
amendments to the plan that are deemed necessary, the staff shall prepare a draft
ordinance for public discussion and debate that sets forth the Stephens Targeted
Neighborhood Enhancement Plan and lists the resources that the City will dedicate, to the
extent possible under the Arkansas Constitution, for the five (5) years immediately
following the adoption of the enhancement plan.
ADOPTED:
ATTESTED:
0
May 15, 2001
N cy Wo , City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
�4LQI --w V'A .
Thomas M. Carpenter, City Att ey
APPROVED:
Jit0ailey, Mayor