The Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 17 to discuss the plans that they have underway. One of their key projects is the old Crown Motel property. It was purchased earlier this year and is in motion along with more most recent purchases from 3rd and Main St. going west to 4th and Walnut.
The director of the PBURA, Maurice Taggart, spoke about those projects being included in the agency’s housing initiative. According to Taggart the most efficient process will be to tear down the old Crown Motel and rebuild on the property.
The director’s reports presented by Taggart gave an overview of the progress of various projects. These include the abatement of the Go-Kart Track location on Harding, which began on Tuesday, August 17, and an appraisal of the old Walmart location on Harding to find the sale value of the property, which is scheduled for August 30. The agency is demolishing several properties in August and September. Among the properties schedule for demolition are 1207 Cherry St., 1114 W. 13th, and 101 Walnut.
In other business, Taggart spoke about the recent purchases of the locations 316, 322, and 324 South and Main. The agency issued a request for a proposal in the bidding of those properties and they were able to gain offers from what the commissioners described as “big names.” Although this is not finalized the commissioners were very pleased to hear about the offers. The Agency Chair, Jimmy Dill, expressed his thoughts on this information and their collaboration with Go Forward Pine Bluff, specifically the CEO of GFPB Dr. Ryan Watley.
Taggart asked the commissioners to waive competitive bidding on those properties with respect to architecture designs. He requested that the agency work with WER Architects/Planners who they have worked with before and who has experience working with downtown properties. The agency voted to approve. Taggart explained why going with WER would be the right choice.
