THE MANN BUILDING & ANNEX – HISTORY (FROM DOYLE ROGERS COMPANY)
The Mann on Main is a joint venture mixed used project between development firms Moses Tucker Real Estate (MTRE) and
Doyle Rogers Company (DRC), both two highly noted and established commercial real estate firms based in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Doyle Rogers Company, founded in 1953 changed the skyline of the city with its first flagship development of the
Excelsior (now Peabody) Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center, as well as developing what is now the Stephens Building. It
is currently special asset manager for Metropolitan Tower, in which it has invested in, as well as much of the block of historic
properties on Main Street between 3rd & 4th Street, Downtown. The firm has retail and hospitality assets located throughout the
United States, as well as other investments. MTRE has been involved in many brokerage and management transactions w/in the
state, and has been mainly responsible for the renovation of much of Downtown Little Rock, numerous historic buildings, the
master development of the city’s River Market District, and the development of several keynote mixed use properties, such as
300 3rd Tower, the Arkansas Capital Commerce Center, and the River Market Tower.
THE BUILDING’S HISTORY & FUTURE
The Gus Blass Department Store-known to many locals throughout the early 20th century as simply - Blass’s, operated its
flagship retail store from its building throughout the majority of the 20th century, until closing its doors in 1972. The building
went through a restoration, becoming the HQ of First Arkansas Bankstock Corporation (FABCO) in 1975. It later became the
Worthen (Bank) Administrative Center (WAC), through Worthen’s acquisition by NationsBank. Banking operations ceased in
the structure after Bank of America acquired NationsBank.
The former Blass Department Store building and annex was then acquired by Doyle Rogers Company founder and namesake,
Doyle W. Rogers, Sr. in the late 1990’s. The firm marketed the property for lease and joint venture, and just about anything that
was feasible to create as an asset to Main Street, Downtown, and to the city. Tommy Lasiter, Chief Executive Officer and
President of DRC , explained, “we purchased this real estate
over 12 years ago in anticipation of the time when we felt redevelopment of Main Street was right…the time has now come.”
Both DRC and MTRE have been heavily involved in downtown Little Rock development but this is the first time they have
joined forces for a project. The project initially was proposed from the position of DRC being a longtime stakeholder in the Blass
asset, and the office relocation demand MTRE represented with the project’s largest tenant. The development ultimately became
a reality between the partners and their respective firms having a great working relationship and sharing a common goal for
furthering the city’s downtown redevelopment. DRC & MTRE will share in the responsibility of leading this historic
redevelopment project, as well as the leasing and management of the completed project.
The original seven story building that was built as the flagship of Blass Department Stores located at 317 Main and its adjacent
three level Annex building will be totally renovated for use as first class office, ground floor retail, and loft-style, multifamily
residential. The main Blass building component, built in 1906, is one of Little Rock’s most architecturally significant buildings
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the 142,000 square feet of building redevelopment, a 4
level car parking garage will be developed on the northeast corner of 4th &
Louisiana streets, to serve the development and the surrounding neighborhood.
The State of Arkansas is also an important component in the project, as its largest tenant to date, the Office of Child Support
Enforcement will be locating over 200 employees on several floors of the Blass building. “ Governor Beebe and Anne Laidlaw,
director of the Arkansas Building Authority have been instrumental in helping make this project happen. Their commitment to
seeing Main Street come back to life is tremendous” stated Tucker. In addition to approximately 100,000 square feet of first class
office space, there will be room for six to eight ground floor retail/restaurant users. An estimated twenty loft-style apartments will
be constructed on the second and third floors of the Annex building. The project is being made possible through New Market Tax
Credits awarded by the Heartland Renaissance Fund of Little Rock and a construction loan from Iberia Bank. AMR Architects
will oversee the design work. “We see this exciting project as another important step in the rebirth of Main Street and our
urban core”, said Jimmy Moses, a partner with MTRE. The Rep Theatre’s investment in the 600 block of Main along with
Stephen’s, Inc’s renovation of historic buildings in the 500 block got the ball rolling…our investment in the 400 block of Main
should further enhance the effort” he stated.
Construction will begin in July 2012 and it is anticipated that the buildings will be complete in mid 2013.
Mann Property LLC, the ownership of the project and said assets, is led by Tommy Lasiter and Jimmy Moses, and includes
partners Doyle “Rog” Rogers, Jr. (DRC), Rett Tucker (MTRE), and Barbara Hoover. The mixed use project’s development team
consists of partners Lasiter, Moses, and Tucker, as well as Ryan Lasiter (DRC) and Chris Moses (MTRE).