[Architect]

Hey "The Man" - are you going to update/post this on the "Little Rock Development" thread at Skyscraper Page?

[CentralArkansas]

Anyone see how many feet high this project will be?

[theman]

Architect, on Nov 5 2006, 03:02 PM, said:

Hey "The Man" - are you going to update/post this on the "Little Rock Development" thread at Skyscraper Page?

I haven't updated anything on that site in a while. I've actually stopped going to that forum b/c if you are not from Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville or somewhere in Alabama, you really don't get a lot of interest or discussion about your topics. That's why I like posting here because everyone has an interest in what's going on in Little Rock.

Aporkalypse, on Nov 5 2006, 01:06 AM, said:

Hamptons are a slight step up the ladder from the Garden Inns in the Hilton hierarchy, it's an improvement.

I thought they were on the same level. No big deal. As I stated earlier, I'm sure that it will be nice.

[Cru Jones]

It's too bad the hotel won't open until the summer of '08. It would've been nice to have those rooms for the NCAA Tournament in March of that year.

What changes will we see take place downtown because of the increased population. (I'm not even sure how many units are located downtown any more, but I think I remember hearing that MT wanted to build another 700. Could be wrong about that number though)

[skirby]

The hotel has been announced for River Market Place. It will be an eight story 119 room Hampton Inn and Suites. Work will start this summer on the hotel. Work has already started on the ground floor of the Tuf-Nut lofts building.

[Aporkalypse]

skirby, on Jan 29 2007, 02:30 PM, said:

The hotel has been announced for River Market Place. It will be an eight story 119 room Hampton Inn and Suites. Work will start this summer on the hotel. Work has already started on the ground floor of the Tuf-Nut lofts building.

The press release was interesting because no real new details came out.

I wonder if this hotel and the new Wyndham tower, which will start at the same time, will be open by NCAA tourney time in March 2008.

[hogwash]

I'd like to see more done to hide the parking deck. I don't like buildings that look like they built a parking deck then threw a building on top.

[theman]

Aporkalypse, on Jan 30 2007, 05:51 PM, said:

The press release was interesting because no real new details came out.

I wonder if this hotel and the new Wyndham tower, which will start at the same time, will be open by NCAA tourney time in March 2008.

Good question. I know that tourism officials hope they are online when March Madness comes around in 2008.

[Aporkalypse]

theman, on Jan 30 2007, 11:17 PM, said:

Good question. I know that tourism officials hope they are online when March Madness comes around in 2008.

Lack of quality hotel rooms is what prevented LR from getting the tourney on previous bids. There's been a lot of progress since then but if we can't meet demand for the tourney we won't get it again. I sure am hoping these rooms will be available, it will really help meet demand.

Of course, the one advantage LR has is so many rooms are downtown and therefore close to the arena. In many cities the arena isn't downtown or their hotels are more scattered.

[theman]

Aporkalypse, on Jan 31 2007, 06:08 PM, said:

Lack of quality hotel rooms is what prevented LR from getting the tourney on previous bids. There's been a lot of progress since then but if we can't meet demand for the tourney we won't get it again. I sure am hoping these rooms will be available, it will really help meet demand.

Of course, the one advantage LR has is so many rooms are downtown and therefore close to the arena. In many cities the arena isn't downtown or their hotels are more scattered.

You're right in the fact that the lack of quality hotel rooms kept LR from getting the tournament. With the redevelopment of the Peabody, Holiday Inn Presidential and even the Comfort Inn and with the new Courtyard that issue has been resolved. Tourist can take the trolley from most of the hotels downtown to Alltel. Having the Clinton Presidential Center and the River Market helps as well. More hotel rooms will help bring back the NCAA and SEC tournaments the city has landed and to bring in more conventions as well.

[skirby]

MT has announced that a floor will be added to River Market Tower bring the total to 20. The added floor will include additional amenities. MT says that sales have exceeded expectations.

[jcaruth]

skirby, on Mar 9 2007, 01:46 PM, said:

MT has announced that a floor will be added to River Market Tower bring the total to 20. The added floor will include additional amenities. MT says that sales have exceeded expectations.

here is a link to the article:
http://www.arkansasb...30.62982.109475

[Architect]

skirby, on Mar 9 2007, 01:46 PM, said:

MT has announced that a floor will be added to River Market Tower bring the total to 20. The added floor will include additional amenities. MT says that sales have exceeded expectations.

Cool. 300 Third also had a floor added between design & construction (originally 17, increased to 18).

[richyb83]

That's a really nice looking condo tower for the River Market District. It's cool they are adding another floor. This will be a nice addition to the Little Rock skyline. Thanks for posting this.

[North Pulaski Player]

Cru Jones, on Nov 6 2006, 09:43 AM, said:

It's too bad the hotel won't open until the summer of '08. It would've been nice to have those rooms for the NCAA Tournament in March of that year.

Cities do not get the opportunity to host NCAA tournaments often. Little Rock/North Little Rock better really get involved and do this thing right, or the NCAAs won't be coming back to the area anytime soon.

[Aporkalypse]

North Pulaski Player, on Mar 10 2007, 07:16 AM, said:

Cities do not get the opportunity to host NCAA tournaments often. Little Rock/North Little Rock better really get involved and do this thing right, or the NCAAs won't be coming back to the area anytime soon.

I agree. We did well with the SEC women's tourney but this is a MUCH bigger deal. I think as a matter of price our city and county governments are going to go way overboard with the whole thing, probably putting way more effort into it than most places do. There's a lot of competition in this region for tournaments sites and LR's a marginal market anyway. If we screw it up it will be our only chance.

[CentralArkansas]

Aporkalypse, on Mar 10 2007, 09:48 AM, said:

I agree. We did well with the SEC women's tourney but this is a MUCH bigger deal. I think as a matter of price our city and county governments are going to go way overboard with the whole thing, probably putting way more effort into it than most places do. There's a lot of competition in this region for tournaments sites and LR's a marginal market anyway. If we screw it up it will be our only chance.

I hope they do put too much into it, I'd love to have it back every so often.

It seems like Boise, Idaho hosts a pod every dang year. If they can, I don't know wy we shouldn't be able to.

[Architect]

CentralArkansas, on Mar 10 2007, 01:27 PM, said:

I hope they do put too much into it, I'd love to have it back every so often.

It seems like Boise, Idaho hosts a pod every dang year. If they can, I don't know wy we shouldn't be able to.

I agree. Aporkalypse...why do you say this is a marginal market, with others such as Boise and Lexington, both smaller. I suppose it is on the smaller end of typical markets, but still....I think people will be impressed.

[Aporkalypse]

Architect, on Mar 10 2007, 04:07 PM, said:

I agree. Aporkalypse...why do you say this is a marginal market, with others such as Boise and Lexington, both smaller. I suppose it is on the smaller end of typical markets, but still....I think people will be impressed.

1. Lexington's MSA is actually larger, look it up. You guys forgot Greensboro but it's usually counted with Winston-Salem. Still, it's pretty tough to come up with examples analagous to LR. There may be a couple but not many.

2. Boise gets it all the time because in the Western region there are considerably fewer cities with the population to support it, especially if you discount California. In fact, when LR was being passed over because of the lack of hotels they were repeatedly waiving the requirement for Boise for this reason. We are surrounded by larger metros - Memphis, St Louis, KC, Tulsa, OKC, New Orleans, Nashville, DFW, Birmingham, etc, etc. These cities are our competition when we apply for these sites.

[skirby]

Aporkalypse, on Mar 10 2007, 05:40 PM, said:

1. Lexington's MSA is actually larger, look it up. You guys forgot Greensboro but it's usually counted with Winston-Salem. Still, it's pretty tough to come up with examples analagous to LR. There may be a couple but not many.

2. Boise gets it all the time because in the Western region there are considerably fewer cities with the population to support it, especially if you discount California. In fact, when LR was being passed over because of the lack of hotels they were repeatedly waiving the requirement for Boise for this reason. We are surrounded by larger metros - Memphis, St Louis, KC, Tulsa, OKC, New Orleans, Nashville, DFW, Birmingham, etc, etc. These cities are our competition when we apply for these sites.

I can find no where that shows Lexington's MSA is larger than Little Rock. In fact it shows LR to be larger by a good amount. In the MSA rankings Little Rock is 80 and Lexington is 110.