Arkansas Blog

Hillcrest is the new Chenal, gentrification hogs.

This looks like the same old "reasonable" development plan that ruined the historic property north of Kavanaugh. You may recall, an old home was torn down and replaced with a much larger dwelling that was allowed to be completed regardless of its permit violations. And, a similar McMansion has been completed next door to that one. With Hillcrest homes available and in need of rehab/updating, energy, resources and land should be not be wasted in these "environmentally unconscious" developments. This group of homes may seem preferable to a high rise condo, but get real ... the "compromise" was probably what the developers envisioned in the first place. The far more objectionable developments are often floated first to make their real goal "acceptable." The city should object, and the neighbors should shout loud and long to block it. Wasn't this type of deal the reason for the Hillcrest District overlay and stronger zoning regs?

ARK. BLOG:This argument will occur, no doubt. But have you seen the Easter SEals building? Historic, attractive and in keeping with the neighborhood it is not. Previous plans have called for keeping it and redeveloping it or building high-density condo'/apartment projects. I'm at least going to hold fire until I hear more.

"traffic on Berry Street, now only about a block-and-a-half long, probably will be a bit of a sore point."

That pretty well illustrates the liberal attitude towards development: too bad for the landowner. I can't be inconvenienced.

"the "compromise" was probably what the developers envisioned in the first place."

OH, MY!!! Heaven forbid developers get what they want, especially when it's commensurate with comparable properties in the neighborhood! For shame!!!

2000 sf is not a McMansion.

But there can be no argument to the fact that developers are in the development business to make money and they don't have to live there once they make it.

They're only one of many property holders, yet because they're "in business" our government, media and the right wing give them special treatment.

Yes I have seen the unattractive Easter Seals building tucked away on a seldom used street adjoining a large greenspace.
The houses built on I Street are new "McMansion" homes, larger than the sq footage originally approved and permitted for the project.
As said before, replacing the Easter Seals Building with multiple new homes will just continue the Chenal-ing of Historic Hillcrest. C'est La Vie.

So, if you lived there, owned the land and needed to make some money you wouldn't do it because you're in business to make a profit?

"As said before, replacing the Easter Seals Building with multiple new homes will just continue the Chenal-ing of Historic Hillcrest. C'est La Vie."

Why not? The people there are already snobby enough.

When was the last time you went to Chenal?

The occasional new construction or major facelift is not going to mimic Chenal in the lifetime of anyone alive today. or their kids for that matter. Chenal is block after block after neighborhood of the same.

Hillcrest is nothing close. I heart Hillcrest. And i want my property values to continue to rise.

I say bring it on. Good for AR. Good for LR. Good for the neighborhood.

I know the area very well.

The only reason the Easter Seals building is there now, is that it was grand fathered in. At the time it was built, most traffic was by foot, from public transportation on Kavanaugh.

Construction of that building, in such a small space, with limited access, on public lands would never be allowed today. The 2800 block of Lee even today lacks curb and storm drains, and there inadequate on-street parking. As I write this response, one vehicle is parked along the south side of Lee in a 'No parking- tow zone' in the 2900 block, and another is illegally parked blocking the side walk on the 2800 block. Vehicle access to Lee is limited, esp left hand turns onto Kavanaugh.

Berry is even more narrow, and turns onto Kavanaugh even more hazardous.

Lee and Berry were constructed to handle traffic of the 1920' and 30's from a few single family homes, not today's families w/ multiple cars, and adding additional development will only overload.

Private enterprise is NOT an issue. Easter Seals has been a poor neighbor, and attempted to cash in a worn out building, asbestos ridden, non compliant, of no commercial value that sits on State of Arkansas PUBLIC property , NOT PRIVATE LAND. However, the Easter Seals Exec Director, and some Board members have acted as if it were their land in the past.

Currently Easter Seals rents to commercial tenants, and it is unknown if any rent is paid the actual landowner, the Blind School. The relationship between Easter Seals senior management and current tenants is unclear, and may represent a conflict.

ideally, Easter Seals should demolish the white elephant, and the area be planted to connect the wooded north side of the Blind School Property to the southwest side Knoop Park.

As my Daddy used to say "they ain't making anymore land".

PERHAPS this proposal will lack the stench of other previous ones. We shall see.

Spot on, Diogenes, I almost purchased a house on that very area in the 90's.. The streets feel more like small alleyways than anything else. Considering what I know now..it's pretty difficult to imagine folks would be pleased to know the state is selling out the quality / ambiance of a wonderful neighborhood.

I don't live in the area (wish I did, I've always like Hillcrest...except for some of the new construction) or even Little Rock, but my 1st thought was why not make it a green space instead of adding more congestion to an already highly dense neighborhood.

Easter Seals (more importantly, its clients) were served well by public transportation at the Hillcrest site. Then they were given some land out west, and after opening it they discovered there was No Public Transportation there. No problem--- the state bought them dozens and dozens of vans which criss cross the city endlessly, at $4 bucks a gallon (they're mostly diesel). Now that has nothing to do directly with Hillcrest, but it does say something about the Easter Seals and its silk-stocking board which is used only for its appearance of clout and influence on the letterhead.

"I don't live in the area (wish I did, I've always like Hillcrest...except for some of the new construction) or even Little Rock, but my 1st thought was why not make it a green space instead of adding more congestion to an already highly dense neighborhood."

Here I thought that urban density was supposed to be a liberal virtue. Silly me.

And all this venom for Easter Seals? Who won't you people savage when they get in the way of your petty preferences?

The environmental benefits of packing more people into less space in a non-suburban locale probably do exceed those from creating a small amount of green space in an already relatively wooded area, space that can't be enjoyed by more than the locals because of traffic issues.

But either of those would be preferable to running vans back and forth across town. Parking is a risky mess by their HQ in WLR, too.

Good to see you've noted the liberal tendency against sacred cows, anon. Giving organizations a free pass from oversight because they can be used for political advantage is typically a conservative trait.

Was Easter Seals land in WLR donated? All the more shameful that the agency continues to attempt to wring dollars out the Hillcrest site

The 'R" in the 'WER" firm desiring to develop the Hillcrest site is Terry Rasco, listed in the 2007 Annual Report of Easter Seals as a member of the Easter Seals Board of Directors.

As I suspected in yesterdays note I wrote, the stench is already noticeable

"New traffic on Berry Street, now only about a block-and-a-half long, probably will be a bit of a sore point. It runs off Kavanaugh and crosses North Woodrow before dead-ending at a small apartment building."

Historically, Lee ended just east of N Woodrow as well, until Easter Seals was built. The raison d'etre, ie adjacent to other facities for the handicapped, ASD/ASB, ended when they moved west

I live in the area. I definitely would prefer residential to commercial development. For all you screaming to make it green space, forget about it. No money to be made in green space. Build a few nice houses, we'll welcome the new neighbors.