The Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency is moving forward with its housing and development plans for its current properties. In their regular monthly meeting for September, the commissioners were called to make action on several topics on their agenda.
In reference to housing, Faye Jones School of Architecture and Design submitted an agreement and statement of work for the West 3rd and Plum and another property on West 23rd for a total fee amounting to $5,000. Those properties will be a part of the single-family home structures. The commissioners did approve the agreement and statement of work subject to the designs being able to be reused for other URA properties.
Another important action item on the agenda included two letters of intent for construction management for URA’s 6th & Main St. Plaza and the Go-kart track property. For 6th & main, Nabholz was approved to construct the retail and food court district on 6th and Main and for the Go-kart track on Harding, East Harding was approved for its construction.
The agency also had to take action on a 6th & Main St. Plaza land donation that includes three lots in one and Chandra Griffin the URA Director explained more to the commissioners.
The commissioners did approve that land donation to enter into an agreement with Georgia Street Self Storage Inc.
URA was also inquired to purchase three parcels near Convention Center Drive for $20,000 to add additional housing properties near Convention Center Dr. This purchase was approved without contest.
Griffin also explained more about this purchase.
During Griffin’s executive report, she updated the commissioners on their demolition schedule and she said that they are on track and are completing two weekly. An RFQ for 6th and Main St housing has also been pushed to obtain a company for that project and she said that that will be solidified by September 30th. Griffin also suggested an idea about outdoor building art around the Crown Plaza Hotel and the Kress building on the corner of Main and 4th to help their outdoor appearance.
The art department at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff was mentioned for the development of those designs and the commissioners did authorize Griffin to move forward with planning and setting a budget for this investment of approximately $30,000. She added that the university will also help with developing art wraps to cover buildings downtown and enhance their overall appearance.
Examples of those potential art designs.
