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RESOLUTION NO. 10,407
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A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF
DESIGNATING THE DOWNTOWN 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, eftorts 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 Downtown 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 Downtown neighborhood is the City's oldest commercial and residential
area and plays a vital role in the City's urban quality of life; and
WHEREAS, the designation of the Downtown Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Plan
is one way to improve the area, which is at heart the most basic fabric of the City.
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 Downtown neighborhood to obtain designation as a targeted
neighborhood enhancement area.
SECTION 2. This area will be defined by the Arkansas River to the north, I -30 to the east,
I -630 to the south and the alley right -of -way between Broadway and Gaines streets to the west.
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SECTION 3. As part of the process, a plan will be developed to qualify the Downtown 539
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 Downtown 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 City of Little Rock, should this
targeted neighborhood enhancement plan be implemented, to build, rehabilitate and
reside in a residential structure within the Downtown neighborhood in accordance
with the plan;
(VI) A set of model documents and contracts that the City will use to fulfill 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 the 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 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 .540
the plan that are deemed necessary, the staff shall prepare a draft ordinance for public discussion and
debate that sets forth the Downtown 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: November 17, 1998
ATTESTED:
Robbie Hancock, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
Thomas M. Carpenter, City Attorney
APPROVED:
An
Ji Vailey, Mayor