Downtown Little Rock upgrade ideas

Since downtown Little Rock seems to be struggling, I thought I’d throw in my two cents’ worth on how to restore the area. These are simple suggestions, but if you don’t get the basics right, the more complicated ideas won’t work.

We all want our downtowns to be vibrant, and towns and villages across our country have instigated renovations to make that happen. One of the reasons expressed by a team who led in the positive renovation effort in San Antonio: “When the center of your town is a failure, then, to a visitor, your whole town is perceived the same way.”

Some of the attempts in our state to renovate downtowns have been very successful, and others have missed the boat. El Dorado’s ill-fated attempt in the 1960s called Union Square and Little Rock’s Metrocentre Mall are examples of absolute failures.

Since those attempts, both cities are making solid improvements. However, both downtowns are works in progress. That’s the key to renovating a downtown. It is never “OK, we’re through!” A downtown is an ever-changing entity that creates new problems and needs.

Over the past several decades there have been major improvements in downtown Little Rock with the River Market, the Clinton Presidential Center, and Main Street Streetscapes, but there are still areas where work is sorely needed. Sometimes we overlook the small details when we take on a project—each must be supported by a quality infrastructure.

Here’s a five-point Downtown Little Rock Improvement Program, based on actions taken in El Dorado, which moved it up from a truly dead downtown and a near slum to being selected by the National Main Street Association as one of the top downtowns in the nation. These ideas won’t solve all of Little Rock’s problems, but might keep the downtown moving in the right direction.

1. Uniform sidewalks and quality streets—basic infrastructure items—are critical if your downtown is to have a cared-for and quality look. These include making sidewalks inviting and accessible, along with upgrading existing sidewalks and repaving multiple interconnecting streets when needed.

There are areas in Little Rock’s downtown where sidewalks and streets have deteriorated. El Dorado’s new wide, pedestrian-friendly brick sidewalks are a great infrastructure addition.

2. The stoplights on virtually every corner of downtown Little Rock need to go. Roundabouts are the perfect solution, but since space and public attitude make roundabouts hard to insert in the center of an older city, four-way stop signs should take the place of all those red lights (although certain streets, which connect with bridges and are used to enhance crosstown traffic, should keep theirs).

One-way streets confuse drivers, and most progressive downtowns did away with them years ago.

3. There are some sections of Little Rock’s downtown that have trees, but there is block after block of bare sidewalks and multiple parking lots without them. A recent study estimates that each downtown tree is worth $25,000 in benefits to the city. This year we planted another 25 Autumn Red Maples in downtown El Dorado as part of a continuing project that is several decades old. Over 1,000 downtown trees have been planted, and we are adding and replacing dead trees each year. These trees add to the area’s ambiance and reduce utility cooling by as much as 25 percent. Little Rock has a great group called Tree Streets, which needs to be supported. 4. Take a lesson from successful European cities with vibrant downtowns, and you will find almost every one has a significant permanent resident population. We were in Seville, Spain, a few years back, where we drove from the outskirts where we were staying to attend a downtown food festival. I found a parking spot, then we walked a couple of blocks and joined the festival-goers.

I asked a shopkeeper, “Where do all these people park?” He merely pointed to the upper floors, and said, “They live here.” That makes sense in Spain, and it would make sense in Little Rock.

5. Remember that perception is reality, and the combination of well-lit streets, cameras, and police patrols can quickly change the attitude that you have a downtown crime problem. The money spent on anti-crime items will pay big dividends, and bring businesses and customers to your downtown.

A vibrant downtown is made up of 1,000 small items, all of which add up to more people. And the key to a successful downtown is people.