Roger Coburn Jr. and Fletcher Hanson talk downtown North Little Rock.
By Katherine Wyrik
In 2021, local developer Roger Coburn Jr. and co-developer Fletcher Hanson — real estate adviser and principal at Moses Tucker Partners — ushered in a new phase of development in North Little Rock. Their three high-end residential neighborhood projects set into motion a revitalization of a long dormant section northeast of Argenta.
Coburn and Hanson now have plans in the works for 40 lots — some as large as 10 acres — near the north end of the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, less than a mile from their residential projects. Scheduled to begin in 2023, it’s an area rife with possibility; one idea circulating involves a 3-acre stretch along the River Trail that has the potential to be a mixed-use project with some cycling-centric amenities. Though it remains to be seen, Coburn and Hanson’s recent developments in the area suggest that whatever is planned, it will be designed with the community in mind.
When you’ve amassed so much property in one neighborhood, you have the opportunity to fundamentally change the DNA of the place. As your projects move forward, what would you like Argenta to be known for?
6th + Olive Development, Argenta.
Argenta has a DNA of its own, which is what attracted our attention and investment in the area. If anything, we are looking to enhance the existing DNA while expanding Argenta as a whole.
After seeing the first three projects you announced, it looks like you two are trying to test different levels of density and price point. Is this a mix that you see continuing, both single family and varied size/density multifamily?
Yes, with the intention to include some small commercial and business uses north of Bishop Lindsey [Avenue] in the form of mixed-use projects. Most of the property has now been rezoned from primarily R-4 or Industrial to C-6. The C-6 zoning is critical in creating a vibrant, walkable and dense urban community.
As you work to improve the quality and quantity of housing types in Argenta, who do you view as your ideal tenants? What mix are you trying to create to provide the best neighborhoods?
Diversity is key, and we see a community that appeals to all ages and all people, whether it’s a renter or an individual looking to build their forever home.
Having purchased so many lots that are truly blank slates for opportunities, are there certain cities around the country that you look to for inspiration? Either as examples of strategic new development or historic mixes in vibrant areas?
We are constantly looking for inspiration from other communities, but the investment by the city of North Little Rock in a master plan years ago still serves as our primary guide. Our plans will evolve over time, with a focus on creating a vibrant, walkable and dense urban community.
As you try to work commercial spaces into future projects, are there certain typologies that really lend themselves to the low-rise, pedestrian-focused environments that really attract potential residents to these areas? Are restaurants and outdoor public spaces one of the next phases of your master plan?
We are considering a variety of different uses but do envision a limited number of services, including restaurants, human-scaled spaces and green gathering zones as the area densifies. In addition to any new offerings in the future, being located near Main Street, residents and daytime occupants will have easy access to Argenta’s local attractions and other amenities.
With your lots varying in scale from a fraction of an acre all the way up to 10 acres, are you approaching these scales with a very different mindset? Imagining who your tenants will be, price points, rent rates and what level of density makes for the best neighborhood developments?
Many of the lots are or will be replatted to accommodate larger projects, which is necessary so that projects are not considered on a lot-by-lot basis. The impact of how any project impacts future projects is critical.
With the diverse architectural language of your first three projects, how important is it to you to tackle the missing middle in housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, courtyard buildings, cottage courts, townhouse, brownstones and live-work buildings? Do you think all of these types have their place in your developments, mixed in with single-family housing?
Yes, we feel the types above have their place in the development and will be looking for ways to incorporate them into the project over time.
When you look 10 years into the future, what do you hope the legacy will be for all of the projects that you’re undertaking in Argenta?
The projects are a continuation of what has been envisioned for Argenta for years. Our hope is that the projects contribute in a meaningful way to the human experience enjoyed by all that live in or visit the area.