Capitol Rebuild: Little Rock

Rolling Uphill Since 1836

Most people my age learned about Little Rock when Bill Clinton was running for President. And for most of us, “Oh that’s where Bill Clinton works”, was the extent of what we learned. Not exactly the foundation of a compelling city brand. Little Rock clearly has some real assets — and also a lot of work to do if it wants to actually leverage the power and potential of being a capital city.

Editor’s Note: Little Rock is the first city in Capitol Rebuild that recently completed a high-profile planning process for its downtown (in 2024). I want to acknowledge the significant time, effort, and community input that went into that plan — and encourage you to read it if you're interested in Little Rock (and want to see a beautifully produced document). That said, the thoughts I share here are my own and reflect my independent perspective, informed by but not directly influenced by the work completed in 2024.

How Did the Capitol End Up There?

Strap in.

If there’s one thing that seems constant in Arkansas’ long and often troubling history, it’s conflict. Leaders have been fighting over this land since the French claimed it in the 18th century — and conflict is very much part of why Little Rock ended up as the capital.

As I was researching Little Rock, I dug deeper into Arkansas’ history than I have for some previous cities (for instance, I now clearly know why we don’t pronounce it Ar-Kansas). So let’s be clear up front: Arkansas’ history of displacement, racism, and treatment of anyone who wasn’t White is horrifying — and it shapes Little Rock to this day. The state’s one real economic boom over the last two hundred years was driven by the output of enslaved labor on plantations. The Capitol itself? Built in part by prison labor, in a direct line from that legacy. “End racism” isn’t something the Capitol Genie can make happen and everything about Little Rock needs to be viewed through this lens.

Now, the quick version of how the capital landed here: Arkansas was originally part of colonial Louisiana under French control in the late 17th century, valued as a trading post along the Mississippi River. The French later traded it to Spain for Florida, then it bounced back to Napoleon, who sold it to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase (hopefully you caught all of that). Arkansas became a U.S. territory in the early 1800s under President James Monroe, and soon after the battle began over where to put the territory capital. The contenders: Little Rock vs. Cadron (which today is a 150-acre park in Conway, Arkansas).

How did they decide which location was best? Did they analyze transportation access? Economic potential? Demographics? Or did a wealthy landowner sell legislators bargain-priced land in Little Rock to sway the decision? If you guessed the last one, congratulations — you are now a Capitol Rebuild expert!

As for the Capitol itself: It’s a peach of a building - that came with a lot of drama. Construction on the current building began in 1899 and wrapped up in 1915. The original architect had designed Montana’s state Capitol and used the site of Arkansas’ state penitentiary for this one. The contractor, George Donaghey, made a small error: he aligned the entire building to the old prison walls, not the nearby street grid — leaving the Capitol’s front door forever just a bit askew. Was Donaghey fired? Not exactly. He left the contractor role… ran for governor… won… and then fired the original architect himself. Failure as a launchpad, the American way.

The Capitol’s exterior is limestone, its bronze doors gleam, and the dome is covered in 24-karat gold leaf. Blink and you’d think you were looking at the U.S. Capitol — which is probably why you’ve seen it standing in for D.C. in such classic films as Brian Bosworth’s epic Stone Cold.

My Experiences with Little Rock

None. I did make my first trip to Arkansas this year - more on this later.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about the comparison between Little Rock and Des Moines. On paper, their populations are nearly identical — but my impressions of the two couldn’t be more different. I’ll admit my bias: I’ve spent a lot of time in Des Moines and none in Little Rock. But as you’ll see in this week’s edition, this might be the first time I’m really proving my point — that capital cities can unlock huge potential if they get their act together and leverage it. Otherwise, you’re just a city that happens to have a capitol building.

What’s Working

Place

Little Rock has a pretty spectacular natural setting — and it doesn’t get talked about enough (see de la Vergne, Mark: I had no idea of this). Downtown sits right along the Arkansas River, with a string of riverfront parks, trails, and some truly stunning views. The Junction Bridge, a converted rail bridge turned pedestrian and bike crossing, is an absolute jaw-dropper, especially lit up at night. On a clear day, you can see out to the Ouachita Mountains. And in 30 minutes, you can get lost deep into the wilderness — a real selling point for outdoor lovers. For a lot of people, that’s reason enough to live here.

One thing I always appreciate: a regional airport close enough that an old man like myself can bike to from the city. Little Rock checks that box — it’s about a 30-minute bike ride from the airport to the Capitol Building (much shorter on an e-bike). That’s rare for U.S. cities, and it signals the kind of scale and accessibility that makes Little Rock appealing.

While Downtown proper doesn’t yet have a large residential base, there are dense, historic neighborhoods right around it — places like Hillcrest, The Heights, and SoMa — with great housing stock and still-affordable prices. Housing overall remains fairly affordable in Little Rock compared to many peer cities, a real asset for talent attraction if there is a reason to be there.

Arts & Culture

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is a standout — beautifully renovated, with a serious donor base and a growing regional reputation. The Robinson Center anchors the performing arts scene, bringing in major national acts and touring performances that punch above Little Rock’s market size.

And while Memphis looms large just down the road, Little Rock’s proximity to it is a plus — the city draws on that deep musical tradition and has its own strong local scene. Live music, particularly in smaller venues and outdoor festivals, remains an important part of the city’s cultural identity.

What’s Not Working

The Basics

The basics of city life matter — and right now, they’re not where they need to be in Little Rock. Mayor Frank Scott Jr.’s most recent State of the City address made it clear that residents are concerned about core services: public safety, street maintenance, and public schools. Some of these issues may be more about perception than reality, but that doesn’t matter — if people feel like things aren’t working, they’ll act accordingly (by moving, by disengaging, or by refusing to invest). Until the City can show visible, measurable progress on these fronts, it will be hard to generate momentum around any bigger vision.

To the Mayor’s credit, these challenges are being acknowledged directly — which is more than can be said in some cities — but the hard part comes next: delivering results.

The Boat Is Being Rowed in Too Many Directions

One of Little Rock’s biggest challenges isn’t lack of civic players or energy — it’s lack of alignment. There are a lot of (too many?) groups with influence and ambitions in Little Rock, but far too little coordination between them. The result is what you’d expect: no clear strategy, inconsistent follow-through, and competing priorities that cancel each other out.

On top of that, Little Rock faces something we haven’t seen as strongly in other Capitol Rebuild cities to date — a state government that is openly hostile to its largest city. Arkansas state politics often undermine Little Rock’s priorities, and that dynamic makes it even harder to drive a cohesive civic agenda. Without a stronger, more unified local coalition to push back and align around shared goals, this dynamic is unlikely to improve.

Needs a Brand

Little Rock has a clear image problem — both locally and nationally. If you’re trying to grow, it’s tough to attract people when the audience perception of the city is negative — or worse, when they have no perception of it at all. The frustrating part is that there are real assets to build on: a rich musical and cultural history, a stunning natural setting, and authentic neighborhoods. But so far, Little Rock hasn’t managed to tell that story in a way that resonates beyond its borders. The word simply hasn’t gotten out — and until it does, the city will struggle to compete for talent, investment, and attention.

People Doing the Work

Quantia Fletcher is one of the driving forces preserving and celebrating African American history in Arkansas as Executive Director of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. She’s helped turn the center into a vibrant hub for storytelling, education, and community events that connect Little Rock’s complex past to its present. In a city that still struggles with its racial divides, her leadership is helping build a more inclusive civic identity.

As Executive Director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Gabe Holmstrom has been one of the city’s most persistent champions for downtown revitalization. He’s helped lead efforts to improve public spaces, activate the riverfront, and build stronger connections between neighborhoods and the core. His work is helping keep the vision of a more dynamic, livable downtown moving forward — even when the city’s larger civic machinery isn’t always aligned.

Bobby Matthews and Virginia Ralph — known to many families through their children’s music duo Mömandpöp — bring creative energy and joy to Little Rock’s cultural scene. Beyond their performances, they’re part of a broader wave of local artists helping to foster a more vibrant and welcoming cultural ecosystem in the city. In a place where arts and culture are still under-leveraged, their work offers a glimpse of what a more creative Little Rock could look like.

Patricia Blick is the Executive Director of the Quapaw Quarter Association and has been a tireless advocate for preserving and reinvesting in Little Rock’s historic architecture. From saving endangered buildings to restoring the home of Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine, she’s shown how preservation can be a tool for community building — not just nostalgia. Her work helps ground Little Rock’s future in the richness of its past.

OK, I’m breaking one of my rules and including an ex-pat here with Gillian Gullett, who focused her time at the Clinton School of Public Service on the public realm of Downtown Little Rock, specifically on parking. As someone who credits Donald Shoup’s “The High Cost of Free Parking” as turning the light bulb on my head, I can’t not give a shoutout to Gillian even though she has moved on to SB Friedman Advisors in Chicago.

2025 Capitol Score

Capitol Score is my subjective ranking (using a 10 point scale) on how the city stacks up with regards to place, innovation, arts & culture, and overall livability. A perfect score isn’t the goal, improvement is.

Little Rock 2025 Capitol Score is 4.9

Little Rock has a Capital Score Potential of 7.4

Three Wishes for the Capitol Genie

Just a quick note here. This is just me throwing ideas on the wall based on my limited knowledge of what’s happening. There are likely many many things that need improvement and the folks on the ground will always know more.

Get It Together Civically

Not sure how else to say it: the lack of civic alignment is the single biggest thing holding Little Rock back. Without a clear, shared strategic direction, the city will continue spinning its wheels — and wasting the considerable talent and passion that does exist here. What’s needed is alignment across city, county, business, and community leadership — ideally with one person or entity driving that agenda and holding others accountable. This kind of focus would also create much-needed leverage against a state government that, frankly, isn’t inclined to help the city unless forced to. Until this happens, it’s all noise and no progress.

Draft Off of Bentonville

Earlier this year, I went to Bentonville for the Heartland Summit and spent 72 hours drinking the full pitcher of their Kool-Aid. It’s clear the city is on a rocket ship — not just because of Walmart (which has been there for years), but because of the deliberate way they’re shaping the town around the company’s transformation. The new Walmart campus looks and feels like a college — open, green, connected by trails — and their all-in push to become the “Detroit of biking” is creating new economic and cultural momentum.

So how can Little Rock benefit? Bentonville can’t do everything — and it will need partners and suppliers as it grows. Little Rock should look hard at where it can align with that growth: through strategic industry partnerships, more University of Arkansas investment in the capital region, and by positioning itself as a complementary hub for talent and innovation. Drafting off this momentum isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s a far better strategy than pretending the growth up north isn’t happening.

Start a Little Rock-Focused Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)

Little Rock needs coordinated investment — in both places and people. Downtown housing will require gap financing, as will affordable housing more broadly. And until more residents live in and near the core, small businesses and entrepreneurs will struggle to gain a foothold. A Little Rock-focused CDFI could help close these gaps — providing flexible, mission-driven capital to support inclusive growth. The city doesn’t have a deep bench of local billionaires to bankroll this, so building the fund will take work (and likely partnerships with national foundations and financial institutions). But this kind of vehicle is exactly what’s needed to catalyze smart, equitable investment — and to cultivate the next generation of civic leadership along the way.

What’s Happening in Little Rock?

Little Rock officials nix tiny house plan over lack of parking This is absolutely ludicrous. We are ok with you living in the smallest possible area but now please double it so you can have a place to store a car you can’t afford. This is not how you solve housing and affordability issues. There really should be a parking chapter in the sequel to Abundance.

Little Rock vice mayor proposes time frame and process for confirmation of permanent city manager Going back to the original theme of conflict and lack of leadership, Little Rock has been without a permanent City Manager for 18 months and it appears that the Mayor and Board are clearly not on the same page. They also struggled to pass a budget. This isn’t good government.

TIF tiff: Downtown Little Rock Master Plan calls for controversial funding tool This is a good overview of the 2024 Downtown Plan. Are TIFs a tool? Yes. Are they enough? No.

Final Thoughts

Little Rock is definitely a glass-half-empty, glass-half-full proposition from the outside. Plenty of cities have rallied behind a single leader’s vision and transformed themselves. Plenty more have simply gotten the right people in a room, aligned around a shared agenda, and built the city they wanted — bringing others along with them. Right now, neither of those things seems to be happening here. But if Little Rock wants to be more than just the place where state legislators clock in for 60(?!?!) days a year, that’s exactly the kind of work that needs to start — and it’s still entirely possible.

Capitol Rankings

Capitol score (Capitol potential)

1. Phoenix, 7.9 (8.4)

2. Des Moines, 6.7 (8.2)

3. Montpelier, 6.1 (6.3)

4. Little Rock, 4.9 (7.4)

5. Harrisburg, 4.3 (6.1)

Next week it’s time to put on our rain coat and visit Olympia.