- Brian Chilson
- TO DEMONSTRATE: Rohn Muse, one of the neighbors facing potential home condemnation, is part of coalition opposing Tech Park plan.
A City Hall demonstration is planned today by a group formed to oppose plans by the Little Rock Technology Park Authority to acquire homes — by condemnation if necessary — to make way for a publicly financed office building that boosters hope will attract technology businesses.
The We Shall Not Be Moved coalition plans a “peaceful demonstration” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and calls for the mayor and Little Rock City Board to identify non-residential sites for the technology park. Three potential sites have been identified in residential neighborhoods between UAMS and UALR. The one most discussed, along the south side of Interstate 630, would require removal of dozens of homes. A consultant has claimed the office building would be best within five minutes of driving time from UAMS and UALR, though no research has demonstrated how that standard was arrived at. Some $22 million in city tax money has been committed so far to the project, though that’s likely just the beginning of public financing.
We Shall Not Be Moved said in a statement:
There is an inhumane plan being put forth by the Little Rock Technology Park Authority Board to decide one among three residential areas in the inner city of Little Rock, from which to dispossess and displace hundreds of citizen homeowners from their homes, against their will. This is despite of the fact many have owned and lived in their homes for decades, their homes are NOT FOR SALE, and they have done nothing to deserve this type of treatment.
The self-serving Little Rock Technology Park Authority Board, in concert with special interests of the Regional Chamber of Commerce, UAMS, UALR, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, plan to utilize tax dollars from all citizens and travelers to Little Rock who make purchases here to force out fellow citizens from their homes. IS THIS REALLY HOW ARKANSANS WANT THEIR TAX MONEY USED? DO GOOD CITIZENS REALLY WISH TO HAVE COMPLICITY IN THIS TERRIBLE ACTION AGAINST FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS? How much political and corporate power is too much? Where do we draw the line?