Chancellors of UAMS, UALR Ask Tech Park Board to Discuss Concerns
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: May 14, 2012
Chancellors of University or Arkansas Little Rock and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have sent a letter to the Little Rock Technology Park Authority Board, asking for a chance to discuss community concerns at the Board's meeting on Wednesday.
The letter from Chancellor Dan Rahn of UAMS and Chancellor Joel Anderson of UALR specifically notes, " During the last few weeks, several residents of the three areas being considered as sites for the Technology Park have expressed concerns to us about the effects the Park could have on their neighborhoods."
The letter also points to residents' beliefs that the Park, "may negatively impact their lives and that if their particular area is chosen as the Park site, they could be displaced from their homes without being fairly compensated."
Several neighborhood associations within the three areas being considered as the Park's possible location have been outspoken in their opposition. Some have gone so far as to the create the We Shall Not Be Moved Coalition.
According to co-founder Rohn Muse, the issue of just compensation is missing the point for his neighborhood.
"Our message is we want to keep our homes. The amount of money is a moot issue. We don't want to move. That's our home," he said.
The board is set to meet on May 16, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
A protest is planned by the coalition outside the meeting. The coalition has also begun an online petition to ask Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and the City Board of Directors to withhold millions in taxpayer funds from a sales tax increase passed in 2011 if the Park is to take over residential areas within the city.
The letter from Chancellor Dan Rahn of UAMS and Chancellor Joel Anderson of UALR specifically notes, " During the last few weeks, several residents of the three areas being considered as sites for the Technology Park have expressed concerns to us about the effects the Park could have on their neighborhoods."
The letter also points to residents' beliefs that the Park, "may negatively impact their lives and that if their particular area is chosen as the Park site, they could be displaced from their homes without being fairly compensated."
Several neighborhood associations within the three areas being considered as the Park's possible location have been outspoken in their opposition. Some have gone so far as to the create the We Shall Not Be Moved Coalition.
According to co-founder Rohn Muse, the issue of just compensation is missing the point for his neighborhood.
"Our message is we want to keep our homes. The amount of money is a moot issue. We don't want to move. That's our home," he said.
The board is set to meet on May 16, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
A protest is planned by the coalition outside the meeting. The coalition has also begun an online petition to ask Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and the City Board of Directors to withhold millions in taxpayer funds from a sales tax increase passed in 2011 if the Park is to take over residential areas within the city.
