Board authorizes condemnation of vacant Circle K property at 6317 W. Markham; emergency clause passed

The Little Rock City Board of Directors voted on March 18, 2025, to adopt an ordinance condemning the structure at 6317 West Markham Street as a structural fire and health hazard and approved an emergency clause to allow immediate steps toward demolition.

Board members and neighborhood leaders pressed for quick action after more than a year of reported neglect at the site, a former gas station and convenience store. Attorney Victor Fleming, representing the property owner’s developer group, Bluefin Development Company, apologized to the city and asked the board for more time, saying, "we are sorry." Fleming asked the board to "bump" the matter to July so the owner could pursue redevelopment; he also promised on the record that his clients would "remove the graffiti and fix the fencing by Saturday this week" and clean the site weekly until then.

The neighborhood response was sharply critical. Carrie McDonald, president of the Hall High Neighborhood Association, said the property "is time" for action and urged approval of the condemnation resolution. Dana Gober, president of the Briarwood Area Neighborhood Association, said the neighborhood "feels that the owner has had ample time to respond and resolve this issue." Alan Clark, speaking for West Side Park Plaza residents, said, "No more excuses. This property has to go down tomorrow if it's possible."

City staff and the city attorney explained the post-adoption steps and timing. The city attorney said demolition often requires a competitive bid and, depending on environmental factors such as the presence or condition of underground fuel tanks, could trigger additional testing and cleanup requirements. He estimated a typical procurement and award timeline of roughly two to four weeks and noted that environmental work could extend that timeframe. Staff also said the property's development permit had expired; Fleming stated his review showed a permit expiring June 24, and the city confirmed permits expire after six months without work.

In debate, Director Webb said she had repeatedly told residents the property would be addressed and had lost credibility when timelines slipped; she said she did not support another delay. Director Hines asked whether condemnation permits and phased repair processes applied to commercial properties; staff said owners sometimes use condemnation permitting as a path to show intent to repair but that condemnation also enables the city to remove structures if owners do not act. The board voted to adopt the condemnation ordinance and later approved the emergency clause; Director Webb moved the emergency clause and it was seconded.

The ordinance directs city staff to solicit bids and proceed with summary abatement if the owner does not remediate the property. The city cautioned that actual demolition could take additional time if buried tanks or other contamination are present. Fleming said his clients would seek either to renovate promptly for a Circle K site or, if that fails, to raze the structure themselves and offer the lot for sale.

The vote cleared the way for staff to begin procurement and any required environmental assessment; city officials said they would work with neighborhood representatives to report back on salvageable materials and records.

Notes: The condemnation ordinance was read as part of the group's items and proceeded through required readings before the final vote. The emergency clause was approved at the same meeting to accelerate the timeline.