The Conway City Council approved a new entertainment district in the Hendrix Village at its Nov. 11 meeting. 

The district would feature areas for dining, fine arts and events to be held. 

Hendrix President Karen Peterson said the district would be in the “green space,” which is located in the center of Hendrix Village off of Harkrider Street. 

Brock Jones, assistant to the Hendrix president, spoke to the council about the district. 

“We envision this as an ongoing entertainment district, not [based] on a particular day of the year,” Jones said. 

Hours for the district would be from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m, Sunday through Saturday. All sales of alcohol would cease at 10:00 p.m., Jones said. 

Because Hendrix College does not feature a full-time police force, Conway police would hold jurisdiction in the district. 

After Jones talked logistics, Peterson described what the district would mean both to Hendrix and Conway at large. 

“If you’ve heard me speak anytime in the last two and a half years, you know I love Conway,” Peterson said. “It didn’t take me long to fall in love with Conway. And it’s not the roundabouts that I love and adore. It’s the fact that this city comes together to make life better for residents.”

Peterson said one of her points of emphasis as Hendrix president is that Conway is a city that both attracts students and makes them want to stay after graduation. 

“We know based on our own research that arts, entertainment and outdoor recreation are very important to young people in terms of drawing them to Conway and also keeping them here after they graduate,” Peterson said. 

Peterson making areas around Hendrix’s campus more entertainment and arts focused is a part of the strategy to increase Conway’s appeal. 

“It also opens up the possibility of Conway becoming a destination,” Peterson said. “So people would come from out of town to Conway to many of the different amenities we have – dine at the Village, walk around the Village market, enjoy the opportunity to be in the city and of course,  spend money and raise sales tax revenue for [the city].”

Peterson said the project is a part of enhancing Hendrix Village to make it closer to what had originally been intended for the area during its development 20 years ago. 

The council’s largest question surrounding the district is how law enforcement would be deployed in the area – the echoes of this year’s Fifth Avenue Park shooting still ringing throughout the hall. 

Peterson said while Conway police would have jurisdiction, Hendrix would be responsible for hiring extra security in the case of large events where more attendees would be expected. 

Peterson said the university would “be happy” to notify the mayor’s office in the case of a large event in order to ensure the proper security is deployed. 

City attorney Charles Finkenbinder said there was no law that would require the university to hire extra officers or security and that only monetary penalties could be given for any violations. 

Peterson said the university will hire off-duty members of Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office and Conway Police Department to serve as security for larger events. 

Ultimately, the council approved the ordinance unanimously. They also approved the private club permit for Roost Tap & Kitchen – which will also be located within the Village. 

The Veteran’s Day meeting also featured the council extending its franchise leases with Conway Corp’s electrical plant and telecommunication plant. 

Alderman Mark Ledbetter was the only council member not in attendance at the meeting. 

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 25.