City Council approves sale of 512 Main Street to A&P commission for $2,500 amid debate over appraisal and process

The North Little Rock City Council voted to sell city-owned property at 512 Main Street to the North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission for a $2,500 purchase price and closing costs, with the commission committing to build a pavilion and install bronze sculptures on the site.

City staff described the sale as an exchange of the nominal purchase price plus an obligation by the A&P Commission to construct the planned pavilion and art and to maintain them; staff said the property would revert to the city if the commission failed to meet construction or maintenance conditions. Miss Fields, a staff member who described legal requirements for public property sales, said: "The pavilion and install the bronze sculptures that are set out in the promotional materials on the AMP commissions." She also told council members that "it has to be adequate payment. Mhmm. We cannot just give away property."

The sale drew sharp questions on value and process. Council member Hamilton asked, "Why do we have to sell a million dollar appraised piece of property tonight?" citing a county appraisal figure referenced in the meeting. Council member Ross, who said she serves on the A&P Commission, defended the transaction: "The reason, the rush is, is that the public has stepped up and they are putting this is not costing the city a dime." Ross said the A&P Commission and outside donors expect the project to be completed on a schedule that would minimize disruption to events held at the pavilion.

Council discussion included the following factual details aired at the meeting: the county appraisal cited by speakers was $975,000; the sale price to A&P is $2,500; speakers said the planned project is roughly a $2,000,000 effort and that A&P funds could account for up to about $600,000 of that total. One speaker said the parcel sold previously for $287,000 in February 2009, and another speaker later referenced an earlier transfer in February 2013; the transcript contains both dates as statements by different speakers.

Council members questioned whether the property had been adequately marketed and whether the use of A&P (lodging and prepared-foods tax) revenues and the consent-agenda placement provided sufficient public transparency. Hamilton also raised budgetary concerns, saying earlier in the meeting the city had temporarily been unable to make several contract payments and asked whether it was appropriate to transfer a high-value city asset for the stated purchase price while such fiscal issues existed.

After debate, council voted to approve the sale. The roll call on the motion to adopt was recorded as: Ross, Hart, Robinson, Baxter, Harris, Fowler and Insilaco voting yes; Hamilton voting no. The motion carried.

The resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute the sale includes requirements for the purchaser to pay closing costs, construct the pavilion and install the art outlined in promotional materials, and contains a reversion clause if those obligations are not met. The council did not specify further timelines in the meeting minutes beyond staff statements that the pavilion sponsor sought completion by spring to avoid conflicts with scheduled events.

Council members and staff indicated they would follow up with additional details such as the appraisal documentation and the A&P Commission minutes. The A&P Commission was present in the discussion but did not provide a public breakdown of its commitments during the council debate recorded in the meeting transcript. The council's action was final at the meeting vote.