Come on guys and gals; really, how long do you think it will take the gang bangers to have spray paint all over the multi-million $ building? Less than a week, I'm sure! TonyThom; I believe you have a distorted view of history. Attitude had nothing to do with this neighborhoods downfall. White flight, and others moving in is the root cause; it's as simple as that. But I'll have to say one thing; TonyThom and debrashane - hope things work out for you and your neighborhood; keep the faith, there is always hope; and keep your doors locked at night too! Oh, and a loaded weapon on the nightstand wouldn't hurt either. itsjustme; yes, it is a ghetto. I rode my Harley there one day a couple of years ago to check out the Central High Historic Site, or whatever it's called; believe me, the looks I got as I rode down the street; it appears prejudice goes both ways; they did not like a white man riding a Harley in their neighborhood at all! Now I see what the DJ was talking about, and can't say I blame him either.

I moved into an awesome 'fixer upper' a couple of years ago that is a block from Central High. I've had no problems with anybody in that time. I moved over here from West Little Rock... and I don't regret it one bit. It has the potential to be a wonderful community again and I'm excited about the city wanting to do some upgrading. Central High has historical importance and, really, the city should have never allowed it to fall into this sort of ruin in the first place. It's a shame. However, I've always dreamed of renovating an old home & I could afford to do so in this neighborhood & I'm glad others are jumping on board to save this area. I love it & feel fortunate to live here everyday.

itsjustme - - you're right, it is just you. hopeless. Sad.

TonyThom, keep living in your peaceful lil world. This area is a ghetto, nothing but a ghetto and will always be a ghetto. To come in and put in a multi-million dollar building is not wise, now will it make the area better. You want to make the area better, move out all of the trash, all of the gangstas, do away with all the rental properties and you may have a chance. This building will be a victim of vandals during construction and after it is built it will be vandalized, robbed and destroyed within 6 months.

it's clear you guys don't care whether the area is improved or not. Is their blight? No doubt. Crime? Sure. But there are also a lot of people who've come in, bought homes, restored them to the original Victorian glory. Are those homes next to boarded up ones? Yes. But dismissing this project solely because the area has had problems is the exact attitude that led to the neighborhood's downfall. I think it's a great addition and a positive step for the whole city, not just that intersection.

pat72209 and open eyes; I wasn't here in AR when Central High became famous; but I know what happened. And I know it was once a beautiful area; but things are sure different now, aren't they! If they put this building where they want to put it; where are they going to put all the markers for those that were murdered? I rememeber a local DJ ( well known in central AR ) back when he was with 105 saying he grew up in that neighborhood; and you couldn't pay him to go there in broad daylight now. But we are getting used to it I suppose. Look at Federal Housing; brand new one day, and in a very short time; windows broken, spray paint on the walls, doors broken, those that live there free of charge complain about how run down their buildings are; you get the picture. Like you said, you can put lipstick on a pig....

If you put lipstick on a pig..... I went to school there and would tell you what happened, but it would get removed from here. Let's just say allot of "people" moved in to the area with no respect for property, other people, human life, or the law moved in and tada... Now it is the hood, I mean type of neighborhoods that any sensible person status out of at doll costs, especially after 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

I remember when that neighborhood, Chester Street, Arch Street, Battery Street were once BEAUTIFUL streets lined with beautiful houses.. What happened?