State Fair Proposal May Displace Some Homeowners

The Little Rock mayor is fighting hard to keep the Arkansas State Fair in the Capitol City.

But his new set of proposals to tempt the fair to stay could put some residents out of their homes.

"Now is the time hopefully for them to be making some decisions, we'd like to know if they would like to stay and we'd love for them to stay," said Mayor Mark Stodola.

This week, Stodola is pitching four options to fair organizers.

Since it's landlocked in it's current spot, the proposals suggest land acquisitions: some to the west, others, spreading to the east into a residential area.

State Fair General Manager Ralph Shoptaw says the proposals give them something to ponder.

"I think it shows a commitment on the mayor's part to keep us here," Shoptaw said.

One clear incentive, the mayor argues: to stay and renovate, studies have shown, could cost about $50 million.

But to move the fair to a new locale completely, like North Little Rock or Jacksonville, could be double that.

"Taxpayer dollars of that amount is out of the question, or at least, I think it should be out of the question," the mayor said.

But more out of the question, some homeowners say: making them move. Though some of the lots are vacant or blighted the state could take some people's homes through eminent domain.

Homeowner Howard Bryles says that wouldn't be fair.

"That's quite a lot of houses that would have to be displaced and what for?" he said.

Any land acquisition could still be years off.

The Little Rock Housing Authority owns a number of homes in that area, though, and they say they are looking to work with the city to move their residents elsewhere.

We should know more about the possibility of these proposals after fair officials meet Thursday.

We'll keep you posted.

Click here for the letter detailing the mayor's proposal.

Click here for a map showing the proposal.