City Lab: Lake Village

Presented by Greg Nabholz

Contributors• Joey Dean – Metro Little

Rock Alliance• John Gaudin – Argenta Arts

Foundation and Mid America Arts Alliance

• Frankie Gilliam – ASU Delta Center for Health Improvement

• Sarah Frith– Arkansas Center for Health Improvement

• Steve Luoni – University of Arkansas Community Design Center

• Chris Masingill – Delta Regional Authority

• Vanessa McKuin – Historic Presentation Alliance of Arkansas

• Heather Nelson – SEAL Corporation

• Bentley Story – Arkansas Economic Development Commission

• Zach Taylor – Arkansas Department of Agriculture

• Dr. Jennifer Connor with the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care

Background

• Location: Chicot County, Arkansas•Officially Founded: 1840•Population: 2,570•Mayor: Joanne Bush

Previous Plans & Studies • A Planning Study for Lake Village Chicot County, Arkansas – Univ. of Arkansas Community

Design Center, 2003• Chicot County: A Community Leadership Perspective - County Judge Mack Ball Jr., 2008• Powering Rural Development: Chicot County, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas & ASU

Delta Center for Economic Development, 2009

Organizational Recommendations• Establish a Regional Alliance focused on transportation related

projects emphasizing water, rail, and trails. • Chicot County• Desha County• Washington County, MS• East Carroll Parish, LA• Madison Parish, LA• Establish a Main Street Arkansas program for Downtown • Create a Residential Historic District• Create a Central Business Improvement District• Create an Arts District (same boundaries at CBID)• Create a Community Development Corporation• Communitywide Energy Retrofit Program

Development Project Recommendations

Gateway Improvements• New connector from Highway 65/82 to Downtown• Lakeshore Drive at Highway 65/82

Public Mixed Use Facility Downtown

• Chamber of Commerce• Southeast Arkansas Regional Library• Entrepreneur Co-Work Space• Conference Center• Higher Education & Research Center (classrooms, labs)• Guachoya Arts/Cultural Center (inc. Performance Hall, Black Box

Theater)• MOCCA Expansion• Culinary Arts Facilities (inc. Community Kitchen)• Farmer’s Market Pavilion with Greenhouse• Marina• Outdoor Amphitheater Improvements

Regional Trail System

• Lake Chicot (State Park, County Park)

• Downtown• City Parks• Chicot Memorial Hospital • Lakeside Public Schools • Lakeport Plantation

• Greenville, MS• Eudora, AR• Dermott, AR

Marina & Transient Docks

Lake Chicot• Downtown• Chicot County Park• Lake Chicot State

Park• Southshore Cottages• Arkansas Tourist

Information Center

Mississippi River• Old River• Highway 82 Bridge

Area

Marina & Transient Dock Locations

Infill Improvement Projects• Neighborhood Housing Developed around existing parks and

targeting firefighters, police, and nursing professionals• New location for Boys & Girls club to former ROTC building or

former Lakeside School site• Trail System to link all parks and neighborhoods• Acquire Lake Village Athletic Club and turn into a community

recreation center• Integrate Community Gardens, Greenhouse within the parks

and neighborhoods with the downtown Culinary Arts facility as the hub

• Agritourism opportunities created within the farmland that is between Highway 65/82 and Lakeshore Drive

Private Sector Projects • New Hotel Downtown • Recruit Local Restaurant(s) to Downtown• Retail focused on local art, music, food

(Italian Restaurant & Winery)• Downtown Marina Retail

• Fishing & Tackle Shop• Outfitters• Boat Rental• Restaurant• Bike Store

• Artist’s Loft Housing• Teacher’s Loft Housing• Arkansas – Louisiana Railroad – Dining & Excursion Trips

Partners • City of Lake Village• Chicot County • Lake Village Chamber of Commerce• City of Lake Village Economic Development• Lakeside School District• ASU - Lakeport Plantation• SE Arkansas Economic Development District• Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition• Chicot Memorial Hospital• Southeast Arkansas Community Foundation• UA – Monticello• UA – Pine Bluff• Delta Regional Authority• Arkansas – Louisiana Railroad

Funding Opportunities • Existing City & County

Revenue • Operational Efficiencies• Dedicated Property Tax

Millage • A&P Tax Revenue • New Market Tax Credits • Historic Tax Credits• Central Business

Improvement District

• State & Federal Grants

• Revenue Bond Proceeds

• Private Investment • Charitable

Contributions

Next Steps - Implementation