Editorial
Front Page - Monday, February 08, 2010
The Village brings a new community to Conway
Rebecca Brockman
It is sometimes easy to get captured by the simple essence of a black and white movie, especially when the chaos of traffic, long workdays and absence of free time bombard from all sides.
Thoughts of a more simple time or the idea of a slow down is calming. But finding such an oasis is difficult and even if one were found, surely it would be far away. Until recently, such a place might have been a plane-ride away, but an up-to-date oasis for the 21 Century is taking form right here in Central Arkansas. The Village at Hendrix is a possible solution for those looking for a break or retro-type of lifestyle.
Ultimately, The Village will offer living spaces, stores, shops, restaurants as well as civic and academic buildings. This addition will serve as an extension of the Hendrix campus and downtown Conway. In addition to being a mixed-use development area, Southwestern Energy will build a 130,000 sq. foot corporate office head-quarters within The Village.
To learn more about what is happening on the Hendrix campus, I sat down with Lawrence Finn, director of construction and development with Hendrix and Beth Tyler, director of marketing and sales with The Village at Hendrix. Both Finn and Tyler were anxious to share an update and talk about what they call the ‘vertical stage.’ If you’ve driven down Harkrider in Conway recently, it’s easy to notice some major changes taking place on the Hendrix campus. Two sizeable buildings sit where once only pine trees grew. There is a roundabout being built and signs of an underground walkway are in place.
Finn explained that although Hendrix broke ground for The Village in April of 2008, plans for such a community were likely always in the place for the prestigious college. “The inception of the idea was integrated into the college’s master plan,” Finn said. “The college always knew something was going to happen there.”
For example, he said, there were pine trees planted on campus for the sole purpose to one day be harvested. Hendrix sought the guidance of world-renowned town planners and architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. “(Duany) was one of the early pioneers of traditional neighborhood development or New Urbanism,” Finn said. “These communities are retro and bring scale and size back to the pedestrian, back to the neighborhood, away from the urban sprawl and back to the feel of the village or the city center. (It’s ) a place where everything was walkable and you knew your neighbor.”
Tyler added, “It’s kind of like what’s old is new again. It’s a nice combination of getting the look of Heights and Hillcrest (in Little Rock) and Old town Conway, but with energy efficiency.”
Eventually, The Village will include single-family detached housing, townhouses, flex townhouses and upscale apartments. But Finn swiftly made the claim that this is not your normal subdivision, at all. Tyler said people might also think The Village is limited to students, or Hendrix faculty, but it’s not. “We don’t want to be exclusive, we want to be inclusive,” she said. “It’s such a safe, comfortable place.” Public safety officers from the college will patrol the streets and a have a presence in The Village.
Tyler told me about an 82-year old woman who was interested in moving to The Village. “She said she was a former professor and she didn’t want her brain to go to mush. She loves the idea of being around an institution and having students and a mix of people around.” Half of the inquiries Tyler has received are from out of state, including, Wash., Tenn., and Kentucky. People are actually already living in The Village. Known as Founders Row, four out of the five built houses are already sold. Architectural style ranges from Craftsman to Creole and prices start in the low $200,000s.
Tyler explained that their current residents were attracted to the homes because it looked like their grandmother’s house and they had so many fond memories that went with it. “It felt like it had a sense of place,” she said.
Amazingly, Finn said they only listed in the MLS at the beginning of 2010. There hasn’t even been an official marketing or advertising campaign held yet. Tyler says there is definitely a buzz surrounding the happenings at The Village. She said the buzz grew louder when the economy started to shift, people were worried that the decline in real estate and construction would affect the progression at Hendrix. “We took a sizeable leap when we jumped off to where the market is right now,” Finn said. “If we are mindful of the mistakes of other places, we will be sustainable. That goes back to the neighborhood we are trying to create with smaller lots, well designed energy efficient houses and LEED certified commercial buildings,” Finn said. “We are being mindful of the long term.”
Originally from Rhode Island, Finn has traveled the country due to his project management career. He recently transferred to Central Arkansas from Atlanta and he is planning to stay, “My rocking chair is here,” he said. Clearly, from the inquiries all over the U.S., others share Finn’s sentiments.
After our brief interview, Tyler and Finn took me on a guided tour of The Village construction site. Market Square is coming together and Panera Bread is confirmed and there are rumors about ZaZa Fine Salad + Wood Oven Pizza also moving into the Square. Tyler said there would also be a bookstore that will cater to area residents and Hendrix students. Ideally, anything a person needs will be found within The Village. Additionally, the campus has a wealth of events that are free and open to the public.
When asked about a completion date or when the five stages will be done, Finn responded, “Their (Hendrix) vision isn’t (for) 10 or 25 years. Because the college is such a permanent institution, they have the patience to let it happen properly. It’s a
legacy.”
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