Little Rock urban revitalization

Taken in front of the Little Rock River Market, across from the Main Library

This weekend I participated in an 'idea generation meeting' about current and future revitalization efforts on Main St. I was only there for the first part of the 3 hour event, which asked the 25-30 participants to imagine how we can make the "world's coolest Main Street." It was only slightly discomfiting to listen to a group of middle-aged white people talking about making Little Rock cool. Mostly it was really heart-warming.

The event was facilitated by Clinton School students who used a number of creative activities (drawing from 'liberating structures' methods) to structure the program. One of the first activities asked each of the participants to pick from a list of archetypical urban characters and imagine, from that perspective, what advancements or developments to the urban landscape they'd most value. Among student, police officer, small-business owner, and others, the list also included homeless person. 

Examining Main St. revitalization from the perspective of a homeless person seems particularly relevant in light of the recent controversy surrounding the proposed VA drop-in clinic on Main & 10th and the city's initial opposition on the grounds that it would attract homeless people. While it looks like the clinic will move forward, the City of Little Rock and the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (DLRP), which are spearheading Main Street's redevelopment, seem to have a 'homelessness problem.'  

One example of the City's attitude toward LR's homeless and an urban revitalization initiative that arguably does not take into account the interests or concerns of individuals/families who find themselves homeless, are the orange collection boxes found up and down Main St. and President Clinton Avenue. The collection boxes, designed to discourage panhandling, are part of the "Change for the Better Campaign", a collaboration between the City, DLRP and SOMA. The funds collected from the boxes are distributed monthly to local service organizations that support homeless individuals and families. However, as the photo--taken just a couple days ago--indicates, not everyone seems to think that the collection boxes are truly helpful. 

For those who can't make out the image, on each collection box there is a message that reads: "don't give in to panhandlers/ give here. / help those who are truly homeless." In black sharpy someone has striked-through the message and written: "I am truly homeless and this box doesn't help me at all." 

So returning to the activity, what are advancements or developments to the urban landscape homeless individuals and families would most value? Affordable housing would, I imagine, be pretty high on the list. But the point is we don't have to imagine. As revitilization of Main Street continues (and there are truly exciting things happening), I hope at the very least the City and its partners bring in a diversity of stakeholders and perspectives-including those who are currently homeless or have experienced homelessness-in order to drive a more inclusive planning process.