Questions about Little Rock (and AR in general)

[Sam I Am]

Trouble is, coming from Maumelle you are hitting I-430 - and all the shift workers at the hospitals and downtown workers are heading in, too...as is everyone from Conway that didn't split off at I-40. The traffic from Conway starts building by 6:30 and is in full swing by 7:00, meaning they are just hitting about where you would get on at Maumelle. Same for Bryant the other direction. If you have the option of BEING to work by 7:00, you can probably make it in 30 minutes. If you're going to be at work at 8:00, you'd best leave home by a few minutes after 7:00. Yes, it piles up fast, and the 430/630 cloverleaf is maddening - there's not enough running space for those getting off or on. Your only other good option might be to get off at Cantrell Rd., go east to either University or Kavanaugh, and then cut south. Cantrell Rd. can be extremely busy because of all the west end traffic headed downtown.

If you're trying to keep your commute shorter, be in a good and very desirable neighborhood and be close to everything, I'd still stick with Hillcrest. Bear in mind that much of the shopping has moved west, but there are neat specialty stores in Hillcrest/Heights and several large grocery stores. For your big box stuff you just have to go west.

There are no new schools going up in the north central Little Rock areas...it is what it is. Lots of folks go private after grade school anyway.

Let me add...the property values in Hillcrest/Heights really got ridiculous for a while, but it was the law of supply and demand. Areas that weren't considered Hillcrest 10 years ago have been sort of grandfathered in because it's just really a cool area and folks that can't afford the enormous prices moved east and south and started renovating their homes. Stift Station is now really Hillcrest, when it used to kind of have its own designation. I think your property values will hold better there rather than in some of the west neighborhoods that are virtually the same. But it is all in what you want/need to be close to and what kind of a deal you can strike.

[docmommaCA]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

There are no new schools going up in the north central Little Rock areas...it is what it is. Lots of folks go private after grade school anyway.

Sigh. Our son has special needs, so we need public schools (where they *have* to accommodate him whether they like it or not). Of course that might mean that we'd get a say in what school he goes to in LR....

How's the drive north on I30? There is no river to cross, is it possible to take what Californians call "surface roads" rather than I30? What is between Bryant and LR, anyway? No one ever talks about Alexander or Mabelvale, are they slummy?

My main issue is to be able to get back home in an emergency, so maybe rush hour shouldn't be my question -- I'll have to see what the best possible drive time is.

Thanks for all your help! This way I can make the best use of my time when I come out to interview.

[Sam I Am]

I don't know what kind of special needs - feel free to send me a private message if you'd like - but I have a nephew who is autistic, and no way could the public schools meet his needs. I have another one that has an auditory and sensory integration problem which, after a year of preschool and a year of kindergarten, is just being found...and not by the school.

Don't believe everything you hear about schools "have" to accommodate. They do, but the accommodations are marginal sometimes. I think the educational system is behind in this respect.

Alexander and Mabelvale fell from grace with the advent of Benton/Bryant...

You're mistaken...There is an I-30 river bridge - very much alive and well. It carries the traffic that I-440 and I-430 don't carry! It is actually the main bridge and cuts right through downtown LR/NLR.

[docmommaCA]

You're mistaken...There is an I-30 river bridge - very much alive and well. It carries the traffic that I-440 and I-430 don't carry! It is actually the main bridge and cuts right through downtown LR/NLR.

Right -- but it's not between Bryant and UAMS so maybe I can get off the highway if I30 backs up? Are there roads that you can take in an emergency where you're safe if the car breaks down?? If you're in Maumelle, you have to get on I430 to cross the bridge, so you're stuck if there is traffic. Maybe south is the way to go?

[bchris02]

I would go with Hillcrest as well. Its a very nice area and is very walkable. It is VERY close to UAMS also. You just can't go wrong with Hillcrest. The area has a charm and character you don't get in the burbs. You can also look in the Heights and Riverdale also, which are directly adjacent to Hillcrest and offer many of the same advantages. Of course for retail there are three different groceries, and several locally owned shops. Many of the city's best restaurants are in this area. Sam I Am forgot to say that Hillcrest is also very close to Midtowne and Park Plaza Mall. Of course you are farther from big box retail. To me that is a pro - I enjoy not seeing Wal-Mart Supercenters on every corner. If you need big box retail, its actually a not a terribly long distance up to the McCain corridor which has everything you could want.

[Sam I Am]

Traffic coming out of Benton/Bryant/Hot Springs is pretty horrific. If you're coming from the south you can always go Hwy. 5...along with all the other folks who go Hwy. 5 and pick it up at Col. Glenn or Shackleford or somewhere. Honestly, the traffic is what I think of as fairly intense, but where you're from it may be a snap!

Have you considered other areas in Little Rock? Leawood is really nice...Cammack Village...Kingwood...the Hall High area...all of those would put you in closer proximity. I know the schools are a concern for you, and all I can say there is good luck. Given all of the above and having a special needs child, I'd probably bite the bullet on travel time and head to Maumelle. So much depends on your child, but I do believe you would be really happy in Hillcrest.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

Traffic coming out of Benton/Bryant/Hot Springs is pretty horrific. If you're coming from the south you can always go Hwy. 5...along with all the other folks who go Hwy. 5 and pick it up at Col. Glenn or Shackleford or somewhere. Honestly, the traffic is what I think of as fairly intense, but where you're from it may be a snap!

I don't know why anybody would want to commute from Hot Springs, although I know several who do. I work with one lady who commutes from El Dorado, which is down on the Louisiana border. Unfortunately, if public schools are a concern you are better off in the burbs. Maumelle is an up-and-coming suburb just accross the river from West LR and is still a shorter commute than from Conway. Although the LRSD has some decent schools (Central), the district as a whole has a horrible reputation.

[Aporkalypse]

I love Hillcrest and the Heights and coming from CA the prices will still seem very reasonable for you but nearby neighborhoods a bit further West like Leawood, Briarwood, Hall High, Tanglewood, etc will get you a lot more for your money with no real additional commute. Colony West/Breckenridge were mentioned and those areas are safe, clean bargains as well. If money's an issue that would be something to consider. You can't beat the charm of an old Hillcrest home but it's hard to stomach the high property values for those of us who grew up in this region.

[smokey9850]

I live in Bryant , moved here 18 yrs. ago from Memphis. Bryant is where you want to come. The commute to UAMS is about 30 mins tops. They have widened I-30 now to six lanes and traffic flows very well. You have everything you need down here now, schools, shopping, hospitals, restaurants, all have moved in here now. We were 6000 pop. 18 yrs ago, now 18,000 and growing. Benton is now about 30,000. We are in the top for fastest growing towns in AR. I had 3 daughters grad. from Bryant school system./ All I can say is for public schools they are better than most. My oldest took A P classes, they have a Special Ed. Dept. the number is 501*847-5660..I am not sure , but they have I think 6 elementary schools now and one high school. They are constantly building new schools it seems. We now have a walmart, kohl's, target, ashley furniture, and a petco and best buy are being built Plus we have about any restaurant down here in Bryant and benton. there is no need to go back to Little Rock once you get home from work. They are building a new community center (13 million $$) that will have swimming pool, tennis, indoor gym etc. There are 2 hospitals within 5-10 mins from here. Hot Springs is 45 min. drive. Pulaski tech is moving in at the county line rd. going to L R. If you need more info, call the Bryant Chamber of Commerce, at 501-847-4702 Moderator cut: edit