HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The property that was once home to the historic Majestic Hotel in downtown Hot Springs still sits empty— ten years after the landmark went up in flames.
A local group has been working to bring that site back to life and they now have the visuals to draw in developers.
"We feel that it's a pivotal moment in our community where we have an opportunity to create something lasting and truly transformative for Hot Springs," said Scott Dews, Chairman of the Majestic Site Committee.
That's the goal of the Hot Springs Metro Partnership (HSMP) as they continue the search for a developer to build something new in the heart of downtown.
"We worked with David French, a local architect, and his team, to develop renderings, really to articulate the vision that we've described verbally for about the last year," Dews explained.
Dews said they hope to create a "Majestic Village" that will draw in visitors from out of town as well as the mountain biking community.
"What we've envisioned is high-end hospitality, high-end residential condos, retail, restaurants, to make it feel like an outdoor village that you can walk around and just experience," he described. "That property sits at the base of world-class mountain bike trails, and so there's a mountain biking connection that we feel we need to embrace."
The partnership took over the majestic site two years ago. Two weeks ago, the HSMP presented renderings to the city board to show them their progress and to request a contract renewal.
"We received another 12 months and expressed to them our committee's continued engagement and passion and energy for the site. All of our committee members remain intact, and this initiative remains for most of us, the most important work that we do outside of our regular jobs," he said.
Dews said they currently have three developer prospects.
"We feel that each group that we're currently in talks with has the ability to pull off a project like we want to do," he said.
Although the renderings aren't the finished product, Dews said it's a good jumping-off point to brainstorm with developers.
By this time next year, the group hopes to have a developer committed to the Majestic site.