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Friends,
Safe, quality and affordable housing remains a priority for my administration as we seek ways to connect residents with home ownership opportunities. We know home ownership goes hand-in-hand with generational wealth. One of the most effective ways to close the racial wealth gap is to support affordable-housing access.
In Little Rock, we are doing the work to establish affordable housing opportunities for all our residents. By leveraging federal grant dollars, we have created more than 150 affordable housing units, and our goal is to add at least 200 more over the next two years.
Our focus is in Wards 1, 2, 6, and 7, in those underserved neighborhoods in most need of support through targeted community development. In those locations, we have purchased property and developed the infrastructure for additional affordable housing stock. By working with local contractors, real estate agents and lenders, we make sure families have the resources and support they need to become homeowners and begin building equity.
Another tangible way we support growth in affordable housing throughout our City is through the Down Payment Assistance Program. This program operated by our Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs helps eliminate one sizable hurdle for many potential home owners -- the high cost of a down payment. Eligible low- and moderate-income homebuyers in Little Rock can receive up to $10,000 to use toward a down payment for their first home. Though the federal dollars that fund this program have already been allocated for 2024, we will re-start the funding process in the first quarter of 2025.
Evidence shows us that affordable housing has across-the-board benefits for entire communities. Affordable housing is an economic development and job-creation driver, a catalyst for improved health and educational outcomes for children, and a key factor in reducing poverty and creating intergenerational wealth.
We were reminded again of the importance of affordable housing on Saturday when the American Property Owners Alliance led a "Conversation on Homeownership and Generational Wealth." This informational session was intended to provide tools and resources to first-time homebuyers. It was a privilege to join housing experts and Rep. French Hill, incoming chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, to discuss affordable housing needs and solutions.
Stay tuned to learn about even more ways we intend to build on our momentum to create additional affordable housing opportunities in 2025.
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We have created more than 150 affordable housing units, with a goal of 200 more over the next two years. This photo is from a ribbon cutting for a home in Ward 6 earlier this year.
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I was joined by my Chief of Staff, Kendra Pruitt, at this past weekend's "Conversation on Home Ownership and Generational Wealth"
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Judge Fleming Retires
At our most recent Board of Directors meeting, we celebrated the distinguished career of Little Rock District Court Judge Vic Fleming, who is stepping down from the bench after 28 years of presiding over the City's traffic court. Being a traffic court judge is often a thankless but important job. Judge Fleming built a career based on professionalism and kindness as he upheld the rule of law. We are proud of the work he accomplished and his impact on our residents and the court system.
In addition to being a district judge, Judge Fleming has contributed to the community in many other ways, including in service to his church, Second Presbyterian, and in championing innovative approaches to substance-abuse education for students. He's gained acclaimed as a writer, poet and crossword puzzle author, and he's a member of the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame. His crossword puzzles have appeared in publications across the globe, and he even teamed up with President Clinton on a New York Times crossword puzzle in 2017.
Judge Fleming retires at the end of the month, and he plans to re-affiliate with the Gill Ragon Owen law firm, which he left in 1996 to assume the judgeship. Judge Herb Wright will take over for Judge Fleming in the new year.
Congratulations to Judge Fleming on his retirement!
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Unsung Heroes
We rarely have to stop to think about the hard work and dedication it takes to maintain and improve the infrastructure that built our City because countless team members emphasize safety and efficiency every day to ensure that infrastructure operates smoothly for our residents. At the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, safety is a priority as LRWRA manages more than 1,400 miles of sewer lines for 70,000 homes and businesses.
LRWRA hosted its annual "Safety Bonanza" last week at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds. There, team members discussed innovative ways to improve upon an already outstanding safety record. I had the opportunity to provide remarks at the event, where I shared with the group our gratitude and appreciation for the essential public service they provide to residential, commercial and industrial consumers. A safe, functional and environmentally friendly sewer system is important for any City to thrive and grow. Economic development prospects evaluate infrastructure like public utilities during their exhaustive site selection process. LRWRA's commitment to excellence plays a significant role in job creation.
This year was an especially important year for Little Rock's sewer utility, which successfully met the requirements of a Settlement Agreement with the Sierra Club and a Consent Administrative Order with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment to reduce sanitary sewer overflows. The issue of overflows is not unique to Little Rock.
LRWRA has invested $500 million over the past two decades on improvements, and I am grateful for their efforts. The organization leverages the most advanced technology to protect both the environment and the health of our community.
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors meets Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages.
- Join us at Kanis Park on Wednesday, Dec. 18, as we celebrate the completion of multiple improvements to the park, including easier access and new basketball courts under I-630. The ribbon cutting event is at 11:30 a.m. at the basketball courts, 820 S. Rodney Parham Road.
- Residents are invited to provide feedback on planned drainage improvements along Buttermilk Road in Ward 4 during a open-forum public hearing Thursday, Dec. 19. The hearing sponsored by the City's Public Works Department begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1818 Reservoir Road.
- The Little Rock Board of Adjustment meets Thursday, Dec. 19, at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall. The Board of Adjustment considers requests for variances from the city's zoning ordinance.
- The Little Rock Public Safety Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St.
- Don't forget about "GloWild!", the Little Rock Zoo's popular holiday event featuring vibrant light displays and larger-than-life lanterns. Operating hours for GloWild! are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly from Wednesday, Dec. 18 to Sunday, Jan. 5 (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day). For more information, visit the Zoo's website.
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, X, or Instagram via @citylittlerock. You can also email me at mayorscott@littlerock.gov or call my office at 501.371.4744.
I appreciate you!
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