Little Rock Main Street Building to Get New Life

Heartland Renaissance Fund announced today the allocation of new market tax credits to Blass Property, LLC, a renovation project of the historic Blass Building in Little Rock. The seven-story building and its three-level annex building will be renovated for mixed use including offices, retail space, and residential lofts. This is the first project to combine the use of historic tax credits and new market tax credits in Arkansas. Blass Building Little Rock Located on the 300 block of Main Street in downtown Little Rock, the Blass building was originally constructed to serve as the flagship of Blass Department Stores and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When renovations are completed, approximately 200 employees of the Office of Child Support Enforcement will be housed within the space. Along with retail space and loft-style residential space, the project also includes a 300-car parking garage that will be located on the corner of Louisiana and Fourth Streets. The building will be renamed after its renowned architect, George Mann, who designed the building which was completed in 1913. The project is being developed as a joint venture of Moses Tucker and the Doyle Rogers Group. Arkansas Capital Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, C. Sam Walls, stated, “Arkansas Capital is proud to partner with Iberia Bank to support this significant renovation project in Little Rock’s Main Street corridor. This project will have long standing economic and community benefits for downtown Little Rock and will contribute to the continuing revitalization efforts occurring in the downtown district of our Capital City.

(Today’s THV Features Improvement Underway on the Blass Building.)

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program was established in 2000 as part of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act. The goal of the program is to spur revitalization efforts of low-income and other communities underserved by traditional capital across the United States and Territories. The NMTC Program provides tax credit incentives to investors for equity investments in certified Community Development Entities, such as Heartland Renaissance, which invest in low-income communities and projects.