Conway Downtown Partnership 2013 Annual Report

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Welcome Dear Partners and Friends of Conway Downtown Partnership: Since its inception in 2001, Conway Downtown Partnership has made substantial progress in securing a bright economic future for the downtown area.

This year has been no different.

Simply put, the Partnership has been the driving force for positive and permanent change in downtown Conway.

Recently, the Partnership has worked to reinvent public spaces, such as the Markham Street corridor and Rogers Plaza. The Partnership is also in the final steps of creating a Central Business Improvement District for the sustained maintenance of downtown Conway.

None of this would be possible without the support of our partners and downtown residents.

On behalf of the Conway Downtown Partnership’s board of directors, we thank our partners for helping the organization continue our work to promote, plan, and maintain an improved downtown Conway.

By working together, we have succeeded in building a thriving commercial climate with a positive economic future.

George Covington, president Conway Downtown Partnership Board of Directors

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Board of Directors President George Covington, Covington Companies Vice President Bill Bethea, Conway Corporation Treasurer Lori Quinn Log Cabin Democrat/ Women’s Inc. Bunny Adcock First Real Estate, LLLP Jack Bell City of Conway Mike Coats Mike’s Place Tom Cour tway University of Central Arkansas Frank Cox Hendrix College Greg Nabholz Nabholz Properties Dot Welch Conway Regional Health System Kent Welch Acxiom Beth Yockey Branch Out Paint Bar + Boutique

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Public Investment The public promise Downtowns are unique by design.Without healthy and attractive public infrastructure, private developments cannot succeed in a downtown setting. Whether it is an amenity like a park, an aesthetic detail like hanging baskets, or critical systems like utilities and drainage, downtowns demand quality infrastructure.

Since its founding in 2001, Conway Downtown Partnership has been the champion for more than $5 million in infrastructure improvements downtown.

This year Main Street added more than 70 parking spaces while improving sidewalks and lighting. And the new Rogers Plaza at the intersection of Oak and Van Ronkle will finally give downtown a signature entrance talked about for more than a decade.

Finally, the Partnership has led the effort to create a Central Business Improvement District (CBID). Once operational, the CBID will provide sustained annual funding for our downtown’s public spaces.

Downtown developers and tenants can literally see the proof of Conway’s commitment to downtown at every corner.

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Private Development A new take on “growth” Can something grow without getting bigger? Downtown Conway has had roughly the same boundaries for generations: a historic neighborhood to the west, Hendrix College and St. Joseph to the north and south. It is a walkable and cozy scale that has stood the test of time.

But make no mistake – there has been serious growth in our downtown. In 2012 and 2013, more than 85,000 square feet of office and retail space was renovated. We have seen previously underused or vacant space fill up with regionally prominent retailers on Oak Street. Second-generation office space on Main Street is now home to nationally known businesses with growing payrolls. And the number of buildings being redeveloped because of state and federal historic tax credits is growing, too.

If you have to point out just one example of old-fashioned, new-construction growth, look no further than the development of the Village at Hendrix. While done in a traditional way, the Village has grown Conway’s housing, office, retail, and restaurant real-estate options.

Downtown Conway challenges a lot of the conventional thinking about growth.

It has managed to grow up without growing old.

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Shopping & Dining Tradition meets variety What do people visiting a downtown expect? Some expect to see older buildings and a sense of history. Others expect trendy shops and restaurants. The expectations are broad because people of every age and background have unique connections to downtown. Downtown Conway is meeting those expectations in some exciting – and some tried and true – ways.

The downtown shopping scene is a perfect mix of old and new. Whether it is a jewelry store doing business on the same block for more than 100 years or a high-fashion boutique just claiming their spot in the retail market, downtown is the perfect environment. Almost 40 retailers are doing business downtown. A dozen are new or are in new locations just this year.

Over the last decade, downtown Conway has earned a reputation as a destination for dining. Eighteen restaurants representing more than 850 seats are serving pizza, Mexican, Italian, steaks, seafood, and other fare daily. Restaurants that are traditional family favorites or new spots we cannot wait to try are both succeeding downtown.

Downtown Conway’s restaurants and retailers remain a successful mix of reliable favorites and exciting new options.

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Job Growth Downtown office property is “hot stock” When Inuvo (NYSE: INUV) joined Home Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: HOMB) on Main Street this year, it meant that two of Arkansas’s 18 publically traded companies now call downtown Conway home.

With more than 400,000 square feet of office space and close to 2,800 employees, downtown Conway is one of central Arkansas’s largest employment hubs. It is the heart of our community’s economy.

Two of Arkansas’s 18 publically traded companies now call downtown Conway home.

Photo credit: The Office of Governor Mike Beebe

Think of the diversity and scale of the downtown economy. The civic, educational, media, retail, nonprofit, tech, finance, medical, and startup sectors are all represented downtown. The types of office space available are as diverse as the businesses that fill them.

For business owner or property developer, downtown Conway is a “buy.”

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Our Partners Acxiom Bill and Julie Adkisson Antique Alley Arkansas Antique Show AppleTree Gifts & Home Décor Arkansas Research Alliance Arvest Bank Bank of the Ozarks Jack Bell Bevy’s Blue Kite Boutique Branch Out Paint Bar + Boutique Brooks Fine Jewelry Cajun Brothers Furniture Carmen’s Antiques Centennial Bank Central Arkansas Baton Twirling The Charlotte John Co. Chestnut Small Animal Clinic Conner & Sartain, P.A. Conway Central Station Conway Corporation Conway Development Corporation Conway Farmer’s Market Conway Regional Health System Conway Symphony Orchestra Covington Companies Frank Cox Crafton Tull Crain Buick GMC Crossman Printing, Inc. Crutchfield, Clark & Co. Milton and Claudia Davis Delta Trust Dental Solutions of Central AR (Dr. Reese) Edward Jones – Granger Davis E. Leigh’s Boutique EM Jeans Fairfield Inn & Suites Conway

Current as of October 10, 2013

Farris Agency Fiddler & Fulmer Dentistry Firestone Complete Auto Care First Orion First Real Estate Ltd. First Security Bank First Service Bank Fletcher Smith Jewelers French Lily Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling, Inc. Gospel Concepts Grand on Oak The Green Cart Deli David Grimes David Grimes – Crum & Forster Mitch Hart Hendrix College Hewlett-Packard HipSway Hurley Chiropractic & Wellness Center Imprint, Inc. Innerplan Office Interiors, Inc. JJ’s Grill Jenifer’s Antiques Kimberly-Clark Corporation Kings Dueling Pianos The Kitchen Store Kordsmeier Furniture Lantern Theatre Lefler’s Fashions Little Rock Sign Company Conway Sign Company Log Cabin Democrat Magie-Mabrey Eye Clinic, P.A. Mike’s Place Millar Jiles, LLP Monrow Boutique Ms. Kay’s Nabholz Construction Services Nabholz Properties

Ott Insurance Pasta Grill Pazzaz Interiors, LLC Preferred Medical Quinn Insurance Lori Quinn Regions Bank Reliance Health Care Mgmt.

Rik Sowell – Sowell Architects Rock-Pond Solutions Rogers Group, Inc. The Royal We Salter Construction Salter Properties Satterfield Station Seayco Conway Lofts, LLC Sherwin-Williams Co. Sigma Investments Simmons First National Bank Snap-on Equipment A Southern Tradition Southwestern Energy The Sporty Runner Statements St. Joseph’s Parish The Stitcher’s Garden Stoby’s Restaurant / pattiCakes Bakery Studio.SKIN Summit Bank Brad and Kimberly Tilley Table Mesa Bistro The Toad Fly Toad’s Crossing Antique Mall TOC Development Trinity Development UCA Foundation U.S. Pizza Co. Virco Warp and Woof, Inc. Dot Welch Kent Welch WESCO Utilities ZAZA Fine Salad + Wood Oven Pizza Co.

Become a Partner If you are interested in joining the Conway Downtown Partnership, email executive director Kim Williams at Kim@ConwayArkansas.org.

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Conway Downtown Partnership 900 Oak Street | Conway, AR 72032 | 501-327-7788 DowntownConway.org Facebook “f ” Logo

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