By Ray King
When the Pine Bluff City Council meets today at 5:30 p.m., they will discuss an ordinance creating the Pine Bluff Downtown Development Collaborative Group, whose purpose is to “bring to bear thoughtful expertise, creative thinking and enhanced communications to assist the city and private groups and stakeholders in city center developments in the downtown area.”
The proposed ordinance, up for its first reading, establishes a membership including representatives of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Go Forward Pine Bluff, Delta Rhythm and Bayous, Pine Bluff Jefferson County Natural Historic Trails, Southeast Arkansas Regional Planning and Pine Bluff Downtown Development.
The resolution says there are many groups and stakeholders who have similar visions for the downtown area and have developed plans but there is no single group which “acts to synthesize and coordinate these plans and efforts.”
In a related matter, the council will vote on resolutions supporting the development and construction of a 6th and Main Restaurant and Retail District and supporting the development of public spaces in the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Cultural District.
