studioMAIN 2020 Annual Report by studioMAIN

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

introducing: studioMAIN who we are

what we do

studioMAIN is a non-profit organization that mobilizes the design community and engages the local community to encourage innovative design for everyday life. As designers we create solutions and interventions for the urban fabric: solutions that challenge us to participate in areas of the city ranging from the basic to the most engaging of spaces.

studioMAIN first opened its doors to the public in February of 2012. During that first year, studioMAIN focused on educating the public about design and the built environment. This effort focused largely on holding public exhibitions, which ranged from showing student work to exhibiting professional design awards. studioMAIN also created several in-house design exhibits and hosted the opening of a locally-made architectural film as part of the Little Rock Film Festival. Perhaps most importantly, studioMAIN and Create Little Rock teamed together for the inaugural Pop Up in the Rock event in 2012. Now entering into our nineth year, studioMAIN’s impact in the local community and region has continued to expand. We have now held nine Pop Up in the Rock events which attracted thousands of visitors and opened the door for permanent change. Our work with local governments and other non-profits to provide visioning and advocacy for a better future for the region has allowed us to achieve many of our goals. Our role as a design advocate has been pushed to the forefront through the continued success of our projects throughout Central Arkansas.

CONTENTS mission 2020 ACTIVITIES 2020 FINANCIALS a look ahead

EDUCATE community ADVOCATE better design COLLABORATE allied fields CHALLENGE convention

Our PURPOSE is to engage communities in the opportunities and issues pertaining to the collaborative process of design and construction of the built environment. The NATURE of our work as a not-for-profit organization is to engage through education, training, participation and exposure, communities in the design professions and construction industries including but not limited to architecture, urban design, landscape design, interior design, industrial design, general contracting and subcontracting.

2020 ACTIVITIES YEAR IN REVIEW

EXHIBITIONS PROJECTS EDUCATION

PROJECT RIVERFRONT PARK studioMAIN had the opportunity to assist in imagining a new vision for the west side of Riverfront Park.The committee masked up and walked the site to experience the peace and natural character of this side of the city park. There is a lot of possibility for this park to engage with the river in ways Little Rock hasn’t explored before.

ADVOCACY Arch Street PopUp Charrette Before the pandemic hit, downtown neighborhood association reached out to studioMAIN to help brainstorm ways of slowing traffic on Arch Street. Efforts of partnering with the City of Little Rock to create a case study were underway.

POP UP IN THE ROCK & Beginning in 2012, studioMAIN and Create Little Rock have come together each year and adopted a few blocks to transform for a weekend with Pop Up in the Rock. Pop Up in the Rock is part of a national movement called the “Better Block Project.” Our goal is to enhance a forgotten, desolate or car-dominated area into a more communityoriented destination for a limited time with the goal of inspiring permanent change. Coming back to our roots in SoMa, PopUp was excited to brainstorm ways to rethink safe, outdoor spaces during a pandemic. Partnering with SOMA business & merchants and Downtown Little Rock Partnership, we put in place a temporary crosswalk directly to the outdoor seating, closed off a couple of parking spaces to allow pedestrian waiting, and blocked off the median with barricades causing traffic to slow at the crosswalk.

for more info, visit: facebook.com/PopUpintheRock

ADVOCACY Parking & Land Use Study studioMAIN began a study of downtown Little Rock parking infrastructure and land use, with the mission of providing recommendations and pathways to improve public safety, livability, and economic development in downtown Little Rock for the areas bounded by the Arkansas River, I-30, I-630, and the Union Pacific Viaduct. This study is currently ongoing.

QR CODE TO VIDEO

“budget is not an excuse not to make real impactful projects”

-Heather

PROJECT AIA Film Challenge Entry: PopUp in the Rock

“it gave us ways to bring (our) ideas to reality out here”

-Pam

PopUp made an innitiative to create a short film for the AIA’s national film challenge. The film was selected out of hundreds of films to participate in the public voting competition. This advocacy effort showcased the work of PopUp in the Rock 2019: Southwest with clips from studioMAIN’s Chairman, Heather Davis; studioMAIN board member, Nikki Crane; and Southwest neighborhood association president, Pamela Bingham.

PROJECT I30 CROSSING

LOOKING WEST BEFORE

LOOKING WEST AFTER

DECK PARK BEFORE

DECK PARK AFTER

I30 Crossing, a project studioMAIN has envisioned in the past and has a strong connection with, is progressing nicely in our city. The design team, ArDOT and city have since requested assistance from studioMAIN, inviting us along the process. We are excited about this partnership to better the quality of life for Little Rock.

ORDINANCE NO. _________

1 2 3

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND LITTLE ROCK, ARK., REV. CODE

CHAPTERS 15, 23, 29, 30, 31 AND 36 (1988); AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES.

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ADVOCACY Code Development In partnership with the City of Little Rock, studioMAIN has had a hand in the ordinance to amend chapters 15, 23, 29, 30, 31 & 36 of the planning code.

WHEREAS, technologies and procedures over time change the process of development within the City; and, WHEREAS, through enhanced technology and procedures, more streamlined Development Codes and Management is required; and, WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, desires through revisions to these Codes to direct all permitting for private development through one (1) location. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. Section 1. That Little Rock, Arkansas Rev. Code Chapters 15, 23, 29, 30, 31 and 36, with specified Articles, Divisions, Sections and subsections are amended as follows:

Chapter 15 - Landscaping and Tree Protection.

Article II - City Beautiful Commission.

Sec. 15-31. - Role, Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) The role of the City Beautiful Commission is to be responsible for the establishment and

maintenance of plans to control litter, weeds, abandoned vehicles and appliances and to

otherwise ensure a high level of visual aesthetic quality, specifically including, but not

limited to, the visual appearance of parks and open spaces, streams and other bodies of water,

drainage ditches, structures, hillsides, riverfronts, utilities, signs, vehicle parking and sales

lots, outdoor storage, trees and other natural vegetation, natural landscaping, streets and

railroads.

Sec. 15-36. - Appeals.

(d) The Applicant or Objectors of Record aggrieved by a decision of the Commission have a

right to appeal to the City Board of Directors. The content of the appeal filing shall consist

30 31 32

of the following information delivered to the City Clerk: Sec. 15-37. - T.R.E.E Fund. (h) In-Lieu Contribution Funds shall be dedicated to planting and maintaining trees on public

property and rights-of-way within the area of the site where the trees were removed; within

a one (1)-mile radius of the site or as approved by City Staff. The Little Rock City Beautiful [Page 1 of 51]

6/3/2019

Little Rock, AR Code of Ordinances

6/3/2019

Little Rock, AR Code of Ordinances

Chapter 30 - STREETS AND SIDEWALKS

Chapter 36 - ZONING

ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL

Sec. 30-1. - Penalty.

Sec. 36-1. - Title. This chapter may be cited as "The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas."

Any person convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this article shall be punished as provided in section 1-9.

(Code 1961, Ch. 43, § 1-101)

Sec. 30-2. - Department of public works to review plans. Sec. 36-2. - De�nitions—Generally.

All plans concerning engineering, construction or maintenance work within the public rights-of-way, except for emergencies, shall be subject to review and coordination by the city department designated by the city manager. Work done as emergency work shall be reported to the department of public works no later than the first working day following the work.

Words in the text or tables of this chapter shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section and section 36-3. Where words have not been defined, the standard dictionary definition shall prevail. In any case, the planning director or his designated agent shall have the right to interpret the definition of the word.

(Code 1961, § 36-36(a); Ord. No. 15,988, § 4, 12-18-90)

Abutting means having property or district lines in common. Since zoning district lines fall to the centerline of a street, alley or waterways, lots which appear physically separated abut at the district line.

Sec. 30-3. - Programming data and preliminary plans required prior to major construction project within the public rights-of-way.

Access means the way or means by which a piece of property is approached or entered.

A person who plans a major construction project or an extensive maintenance-replacement project which is located upon, in, under or above the public rights-of-way of an arterial or collector street, as defined by the most current master street plan shall

Accessory building or use means a building or use which:

submit programming data and preliminary plans for the project to the director of the city department designated by the city manager for review prior to beginning any work within the rights-of-way. Implementation of review procedures ordinance will be

(1)

arrived at with each utility consistent with existing franchise agreements and documented in a memorandum of understanding

(2) Serves the principal building or principal use;

between each utility and the director of public works.

(3) In other than a residentially-zoned district, is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building or principal use served. Accessory structures in residentially-zoned districts shall be subordinate in area, extent and

(Code 1961, § 36-36(b); Ord. No. 15,988, § 4, 12-18-90)

purpose to the principal building and residential use; and (4) Contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal use.

Sec. 30-4. - Notice of vacating or closing streets or alleys. Before the board of directors shall consider an ordinance to vacate, close and abandon a portion of a platted street or alley in any given block or parcel of land, the petitioner for such closure shall first give not less than ten (10) days' written notice of the

Accessory dwelling means a self-contained living unit in a detached structure subordinate in both land coverage and gross floor area to the principal dwelling on the lot. Such accessory dwellings shall comply with the bulk and area provisions of sections 36-156 and 36-252.

time, place and date of public hearing thereon to the record owners of all the property situated within the block or parcel of land

Addition means any construction which increases the size of a building such as a porch, attached garage or carport, or a new room

which abuts or abutted the street or alley as originally platted. The notice shall be sent by certified or registered mail to the last

or wing.

known addresses of the record owners. The petitioner shall execute and file with the city clerk an affidavit showing compliance with this section attaching as exhibits official evidence that notices have been mailed to and received.

Alley means a permanent public service way which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property.

(Code 1961, § 36-35)

Authorized agent means a person authorized by the landowner to act in his behalf.

Cross reference— Fee for request to abandon right-of-way, § 23-3.

Basement means a story partly underground and having at least one-half its height above the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story if subdivided and used for dwelling or business purposes.

State Law reference— Vacating streets and alleys, A.C.A. §§ 14-54-104, 14-301-110 et seq.

Buffer, land use means a device in the form of a strip of land lying parallel and adjacent to a property line common to a dissimilar

Sec. 30-5. - Blocking generally. (a)

Is located on the same zoning lot as the principal building or principal use;

use of a more restrictive nature. The plantings, existing and proposed, shall be as provided within the landscape ordinance of the city, section 15-81 et seq. The purpose of this buffer is to provide for minimum livability and maximum required visual screening and

In this section "street" means the right-of-way or right of passage dedicated to the public. "Street" includes space

physical separation of uses of a dissimilar nature.

actually used as a thoroughfare and sidewalks and other ways dedicated as public thoroughfares, including alleys. (b) It is unlawful for any person to block any part of any of the streets or alleys of the city by placing or storing thereon any articles, tires, boxes, bales, crates, cases, cartons, etc., or by suffering any of such articles or things that are

Buffer, street means a device in the form of a strip of land lying parallel and adjacent to a public street right-of-way. The plantings, existing and proposed, shall be as provided within the landscape ordinance of the city, section 15-81 et seq. The purpose of this buffer

subject to the control of such person to be placed on the street so as to block it or to allow such articles or things to

is to provide for minimum livability, a separation of the traffic movements, both on and off the site, and a visual screening and spatial

remain on the street or alley so as to block same.

separation of certain uses and/or activities from the public right-of-way. 1/46

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2020 FINANCIALS INCOME

$2,300 INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

CORPORATE DONATIONS

EXPENSE / ALLOCATION

$2,468.21

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

INSURANCE

501(c)(3) FEDERAL INCOME TAX EXEMPT

ANI-RRG MEMBER-INSURED

since our start in 2012, studioMAIN has...

VOLUNTEER + 15,500 HOURS logged

from design professionals & community members

curated and housed

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EXHIBITIONS + completed COMMUNITY PROJECTS sharing the importance of thoughtful design with the general public

partnered with community members and organizations to successfully develop and execute

organized and executed

POP UP IN THE ROCK EVENTS

DESIGN COMPETITIONS

pairing local artistic talent with community needs

NEWS PUBLICATIONS + 100 & BROADCASTS featured in

+ 60 EAT & EDUCATES housed

providing LU’s to design professionals

a look ahead

2021 PROJECTS & INITIATIVES: • SWLR Habitat for Humanity • RISE Diversity Fundraiser / Scholarship • City of Little Rock Code Revisions (second round) • I-30 ArDOT coordination • City of Little Rock Complete Streets • PopUp in the Rock - location TBD • Tactical Urbanism Article for Arkansas Times

2020 BOARD MEMBERS

2020 SUPPORTERS

AARP Arkansas Dr. Dean Kumpuris Cromwell Architects McClelland Consulting Engineers Curtis Stout

2020 ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS AIA Arkansas Architecture & Design Network Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas Metroplan of Central Arkansas Create Little Rock l Little Rock Regional Chamber SoMa Business and Merchants Association Emerging Professionals of AIA Arkansas Rock Region Metro Downtown Little Rock Partnership AARP Arkansas

how to get involved

studio.main.ar

email us @: info@studio-main.org

@studiomainar

visit our website @: www.studio-main.org

@Studio_Main