Big Changes coming for the Pettaway Neighborhood

Check out the story on KARK4!

UA Design Build Landed

Thanks to everyone involved that made yesterday a huge success. Historic Pettaway's first Cantilever House (AND POSSIBLY LITTLE ROCKS, DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY). thanks to the Students and staff of the Fay Jones School of Architecture in Fayetteville for such a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. Also special thanks to Entergy, Joyce Cranes, Nabholz Const., Larry's Pizza, City of Little Rock (Maggie Hawkins-21st St. Alert Center- for expediting a much needed permit that was overlooked!) and everyone involved who helped make it happen. Special thanks to Bobby Bemberg, owner/operator of Bemberg Iron Works, Inc.. A 120 year old family owned Iron works company off East Ninth St. who took the time to mill critical pieces of iron work needed to anchor the Cantilever! Thank you!
Also, special thanks to the Crane operator and workers of Joyce Crane, who stuck around so late, and so eloquently placed these units together-WORK OF ART!
And to the guys with Entergy who stuck around to help get our neighbors power on, who were so patient and understanding while waiting thru the delays. What wonderful people that live in the neighborhood, and a testament to why this area is rebounding so well!
Thanks to Ark/Dem Gazette, Ark Times, Ch.4, Ch.11 and all other media partners who share this to the greater community!
Last and most important- Thanks to Centennial Bank for being our Partner in these exciting projects that are revitalizing the downtown neighborhoods, and helping us to achieve our Mission of Improving the Quality of Life for individuals residing in this neighborhood. Thanks Damita!
Be sure to go by and check it out! Just go to the Arts Center at MacArthur Park and take a nice leisurely drive south down Commerce. You won't miss it!

UA Design Build #3

March 22, 2013
        Congratulations to the new neighbors of Pettaway, and the recipients of the 3rd University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture Design Build Home in the Pettaway Neighborhood of South Main (SoMa).  The students and staff of the University have once again outdone themselves with a wonderfully designed home.  Called the "Courtyard House", it's signature design is a glass enclosed courtyard open to the elements in the center of the home. Winning multiple awards for the first two Design Build homes at 1519 Commerce and 1805 Commerce, the students and staff of the Design Build Program should take a bow for another incredible addition to this community.  This program has been a tremendous asset to both Pettaway and SoMa by contributing to the Urban Renewal of one of Little Rocks best kept secrets nestled within walking distance to downtown, and adding to the diversity of residents who call Downtown Little Rock home.
    Special thanks goes out to Paul Page Dwellings for their partnership and assistance to the University in coordinating efforts here in Little Rock, and to Tony Curtis Realty in coordinating the sale.  Lastly, thank you to the volunteer board members of the Downtown Little Rock Community Development Corporation for your dedicated service to this community in seeing this project through.
 We look forward to an open house by the new owners in the near future, to show case this wonderful work of art and architecture to the broader community, so join us in saying welcome to the Morgan family at 301 E 19th St, and click on the above picture to take a tour! 

Pettaway Neighborhood Revitalization Manual for a Complete Neighborhood

https://www.box.com/pettawayneighborhoodmanual

The University of Arkansas Community Design Center has released the final copy of the manual it has been working on in collaboration with residents and community leaders from the Pettaway Neighborhood.  This project began over 2 years ago with a grant application to the National Endowment for the Arts as part of their NEA Access to Artistic Excellence grant program, to create a Revitalization plan for the Neighborhood.  A collaborative project lead by graduate students from the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture along with staff members of the UACDC, work began in the fall of 2011, and concluded in November of 2012.  Many thanks goes out to the many community members who volunteered their time to sit in on steering committee meetings to help the University in the process.  If you have any questions about this plan, or other activities in the Pettaway Neighborhood, you can email your requests to info@downtownlittlerockcdc.org

Studio Main Exhibits UACDC Student Designs

 

Studio Main will be exhibiting the final designs by the Students at the University of Arkansas Community Design Center for the South Main Street District this Friday, May 11th from 5pm to 9pm at 1423-C S.Main.  This project is a precursor to work being performed by the UACDC in collaboration with the Downtown Little Rock Community Devleopment Corporation and residents from the Pettaway Neighborhood.  The larger vision plan, to be completed by staff at the UACDC, is to encompass the larger 60-block area making up the Historic Pettaway Neighborhood.  Although the work is still in progress, concepts coming from the University dealing with shared streets to slow down traffic and make the neighborhood more pedestrian friendly....

                                                                ....to storm water mitigation by using Low Impact Development Techniques...

                         .....is proving to be very beneficial in developing an overall visioning plan for the future.

  Thank you Students and Staff at the UACDC for the great work you have done, and are doing for this wonderful community!  And thank you to the residents of Pettaway who have volunteered their time to meet with the University, and provide feed back through this process.

Preliminary Pettaway Vision Plan Review

The University of Arkansas Community Design Center has submitted it's preliminary study for the Pettaway Neighborhood for review and feedback. This initial study looks at what minimal investment can be made to achieve clear connections to Main Street and other anchors around the neighborhood.

We would like your feedback and suggestions, so please click here to go to the full report, review and send your comments to info@downtownlittlerockcdc.org so we can forward to the UACDC.

Please join us in welcoming Pettaway's newest resident - Ms. Valarie Abrams - Ms. Abrams moved into one of the CDC's (and downtowns) first up-cycled shipping container homes located at 421 E 21st. This home, who's concept came from Pettaway's very own Carrie Young, was designed with energy efficiency as it's top priority. The home is built out of up-cycled shipping containers that were used for shipping product from China. The home includes bamboo hardwood floors, an on-demand hot water system and contemporary Ikea kitchen and bath furnishings. Built to LEED Gold standards, this home represents the cutting edge in energy efficiency design.

We are excited about having Ms. Abrams as a neighbor, and look forward to her involvement in the growth of Pettaway.

Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood Wins Grand Award

LITTLE ROCK, AR / February 24, 2012 – The Downtown Little Rock Community Development Corporation is pleased to announce that the UACDC’s proposal for the Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood is a Grand Award Winner in the 2012 residential architect design award program. With more than 800 submissions for RADA 2012 nationally, 40 projects including three grand award winners were selected for awards among a wide range of housing categories. The Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood won in the “On the Boards” category and was a Fall 2011 collaboration between UACDC staff and fifth year architecture students. Winning projects will appear in the May/June 2012 issue of residential architect magazine and will be exhibited at the American Institute of Architects Convention in Washington DC in June. RADA is the most comprehensive housing design awards program in the US.

An emerging model for urban neighborhood revitalization, the pocket neighborhood is an identifiable cluster of houses organized around shared outdoor commons and infrastructure─ideal for building a high-quality neighborhood within an affordable housing setting. The proposal provides niche urban market housing at construction costs of $100,000/unit, excluding site work. The pocket neighborhood capitalizes on smaller home footprints with shared amenities related to a community lawn, shared street, playground, and natural stormwater management infrastructure. A Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater treatment landscape eliminates use of underground pipes and catch basins, creating a 50 percent savings in infrastructure costs while solving for chronic flooding problems.

The Pettaway neighborhood is one among several distinct turn‐of‐the‐century urban neighborhoods comprising the Downtown Neighborhoods surrounding the Little Rock central business district. The Downtown Neighborhoods are unique historic areas in Little Rock and represent some of the most important phases in Little Rock’s history, from the boom era of the post‐Civil War years to the tumultuous school integration period of the late 1950s. Since the massive white flight from Little Rock to the suburbs in the 1960s, these neighborhoods have suffered from disinvestment and erosion in the diversity of their populations. With the return to downtown of younger populations mostly consisting of

creative class types in the arts, professional design, nonprofits, and higher education, these neighborhoods are ripe for reinvestment. A classic streetcar neighborhood with mixed uses, the Pettaway neighborhood is near the Clinton Presidential Library, the Clinton School of Public Service, Heifer International, the Arkansas Arts Center, Central Business District firms, the Capitol, the Federal Building and Federal Courthouses, the University of Arkansas Law School, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Center and St. Vincent Infirmary.

Planning for the Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood was commissioned by the Downtown Little Rock Community Development Center (Scott Grummer, exec. director) and in partial fulfillment of a planning grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a grant from the City of Little Rock.

Studio Main Grand Opening

An evolving landscape on South Main Street is now the home to studioMain, whose Grand Opening last night was a hit with the locals who came out to see what it is all about. This organizations core principles include: EDUCATE community, ADVOCATE better design, COLLABORATE allied fields and CHALLENGE convention. Started by a group of emerging young professionals in the field of Architecture several years back, this new non-profit stands to be exactly what South Main and Little Rock as a whole needs to continue the momentum seen in the last few years of revitalization happening in our downtown city. Collaborations over the last few years between the Downtown Little Rock CDC with the UofA Fay Jones School of Architecture and the UofA Community Design Center have created an environment ripe for growth in the design fields, which in turn should usher in new opportunities for economic growth. Their hopes - to challenge conventional decision-making and create opportunities for intelligent design in the built environment. It stands to reason that all parties wishing to see a vibrant downtown, one that grows in the direction that creates opportunity while fostering a commitment to the vision of the majority of residents who reside here, will see this as an opportunity to collaborate and come together to further progress positive growth.

And what was show cased at the Grand Opening: work done by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center and their students on the Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood Project, developed through a collaborative effort between the UACDC, the Downtown Little Rock CDC, residents of Pettaway and the City of Little Rock. Leveraging a CDBG grant from the city awarded to the DLRCDC several years ago for a development plan on some of its land , the UACDC applied and was awarded a NEA grant to create this plan. Steve Luoni with the UACDC was on hand to present the work along with Jeff Huber. The Pocket Neighborhood design was a hit, with everyone asking what it would take to make it happen. Fingers pointing at the DLRCDC, the true success of realizing this project will come from continued commitments from the broader community to support the efforts of the Pettaway Neighborhood.

Many thanks goes to Steve Luoni, Jeff Huber, staff and students at the UACDC for the excellent work they did on this project. Additional Thanks goes to the residents in Pettaway who volunteered to be on the steering committee to assist, board of directors for the DLRCDC who participated in the development of this plan, and to the city of Little Rock for their support through CDBG to make this happen.

But most of All, thanks to the volunteers of Young professionals and seasoned professionals who helped make studioMain happen. Here's to continued success in everyone's efforts downtown. Go by and see the Pocket Neighborhood Designs at studioMain, 1423-C S. Main, Little Rock, three doors down from Boulevard Bread, next to the Green Corner Store and across the street from Root Cafe (which by the way has a great burger and warm, inviting feel-check it out)! Walk Around.....

1518 Commerce Finish Pics

The finish pics are in for 1518 Commerce Street. within a few weeks, we will be welcoming Pettaway's newest resident, Mrs. Juanita White. Thank you Smart Structures for a successful build, and thank you Page Wilson and David Anderson for a beautiful design!

2011 Annual Silver Seniors Pettaway Picnic

Thanks again to the Silver Senior Group for a successful picnic this year. The food was great as always, and we were excited to see many new faces. Thank you Mayor Stodola and City Manager Bruce Moore for coming out. Also thanks to the design team for the UA Design build program for coming out and spending some time with the neighbors. But most of all, thank you Carl and Gwen Vault for your dedication to organizing this event every year for the neighborhood. You can tell that everyone looks forward to this, and it is a great event allowing everyone to come together and catch up on old times, and discuss the future.
Until Next Year.

UA-DB Cantilever Ribbon Cutting

Today, May 2oth at 10am the Downtown Little Rock Community Development Corporation and the Fay Jones School of Architecture will cut the ribbon on the second in a series of modern homes designed and constructed by 4th and 5th year students from the School. Although the home is not fully finished, the public is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the home which will be open to the public today only. The home is located at 1805 Commerce St. in Little Rock, and estimated completion will be in June. This home is now being offered for sale to a first time home buyer. To find out more information, send an email request to info@downtownlittlerockcdc.org

Equal Housing Provider

Updated Pictures of Container Construction

Updated Pictures of Container Homes at 421 E 21st

Container House Raising

The Modified Shipping Containers arrived at the Pettaway Neighborhood yesterday as we celebrated with a "Raising Ceremony". Thanks to HUGG & Hall, Joyce Crane, Smart Structures, Viridian, Centennial Bank, Pettaway Neighborhood Association, The City of Little Rock, LRWU, 21st St. Alert Center, and everyone else who helped to make this an exciting day.
Most of all, Thanks to Volunteer & CDC Board Director Kathy Wells for her hard work in organizing this event.

DLRCDC & Pettaway in the Daily Record March 2011

A nice right up was in the Daily Record 3/28/2011

DLRCDC in the news

The CDC made the front cover of the Arkansas Times in March 2011. Check it out at Arkansas Times Online.

04/07/2011 Weekly Progress

Weekly Progress for 1518 Commerce, 421 E 21st and 417 E 21st for the week ending 4/8/2011. Things are moving along well!

Container Home 03-15-11

Deconstruction and Reconstruction of the shipping containers to be used for the construction of the new homes to rest at 421 E 21st and 417 E 21st are under way. Once the units are completed, they will be shipped from the construction site in North Little Rock, to their resting place in the Pettaway Neighborhood in Downtown Little Rock.

DLRCDC's 2011 Annual Community Luncheon

Stacy Williams, President of the Downtown Little Rock CDC presents a special award to the CDC's longest serving and most dedicated member of the board, Arnold Habig, at the CDC's Annual Community Luncheon, held on Saturday, March 5th at Second Baptist Church downtown. Mr. Habig was one of the founding board members of the CDC which incorporated in 1992. He has been an active member of the board ever since, serving in many leadership positions including his current position as Secretary. His dedication to the CDC's success in it's mission to revitalize the downtown neighborhoods of Little Rock is an inspiration to us all, and an example of what it takes to be a successful community organization-PERSISTENCE! Congratulations on your achievement, and thank you for your long time support of this organization. But most of all, thank you for your friendship!

Also pictured is Matt Bell giving a presentation to the community describing the CDC's next project in Partnership with Smart Structures Dist., LLC to construct container housing in the Pettaway Neighborhood.

jsg

1605/1607 Scott- 03/02/11

Updated pictures of progress at 1605 & 1607 Scott St.