Revitalizing downtown Texarkana (my pitch for the Entertainment District)

The editorial page of the Texarkana Gazette had a good column on the progress of downtown improvement recently. The column hit on the key to triggering development, and that's that one or more of the "big" projects need to be tackled. I'm afraid the big project(s) are now limited to the Grim Hotel. Word is is that the McCartney is so loaded with asbestos that its only remedy is demolition (which probably should've been done when the Bi-State Justice Building was constructed.

I diverted my morning run this morning to the River Market here in Little Rock and wondered what it would take to bring that type of development and excitement to Texarkana. It's difficult to use the River Market as a benchmark for several reasons:

(1) the River Market is easily accessible from I-30 -- our downtown is just hard to get to. My main concern with the implementation of I-49 in the coming years is that the Highway 67/Broad Street exit will be removed, and that was the easiest route for travelers to see our downtown. The 19th Street Exit will remain, and I guess that will be our artery to downtown;

(2) Little Rock has several developers dedicated almost solely to bringing people downtown to work and live. Jimmy Moses and his bunch took some risk developing several lofts and commercial buildings in the River Market before it became the place to work/live/eat. With the help of Bethany Hanna and possibly others (Legacy Group, etc), we can get there some day; and

(3) It helps Little Rock that their business district is thriving. Downtown Texarkana has seen George's, Alfredo's, Viva's, and Collins& Williams all leave, and that's within the last 18 months.

Everyone's example to show that businesses can make it downtown is Zapata's. There are state and local grants available for facade removal (although we didn't apply for one for obvious reasons on the Foreman Building -- I'd be an easy target for criticism for accepting an Historic Preservation grant that I voted to make a reality here in the legislature).

As far as the Arkansas-side goes, having the City of Texarkana elect to implement an "entertainment district" of a few downtown blocks would help attract businesses and people downtown. This has the support of our city administration, and there's nothing wrong with giving municipalities the right to vote on this themselves. If a couple wants to stroll down Broad Street sipping a glass of wine and window shopping before going into their favorite eatery, who am I to tell them they can't do that?

Many people react as though an entertainment district would bring Beale Street and Bourbon Street to small-town America. That's hardly a reality, considering the headquarters of our local law enforcement is right in the heart of downtown. This measure passed both sides of the capitol in 2005, only to be vetoed by Governor Huckabee. So many people around here beat the drum for less government intrusion on our lives, and this is the opportunity to show it. The city ought to at least have the opportunity to vote on it themselves.