Construction activity at a riverport logistics site and adjacent water treatment plant undergoing phased renovation.
Little Rock, Arkansas, August 18, 2025
Major construction activity in Little Rock includes a new construction‑management division at a local engineering firm, groundbreaking for a 900,000+ sq ft logistics facility at the Port of Little Rock, and the start of a $230 million phased renovation of the Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant. Midweek permits also revealed several million‑dollar remodels and a new home build. A recent repeal of extra‑territorial zoning prompted rapid billboard installations outside city limits and a county moratorium to pause certain developments while rules and enforcement are clarified.
Major construction moves are underway across central Arkansas, with a Little Rock firm formalizing a new division and hiring an experienced steel‑industry executive, a national logistics company breaking ground on a large distribution site at the Port of Little Rock, and the start of the state’s largest water‑plant overhaul. At the same time, a new state law that removed extra‑territorial jurisdiction has sparked local disputes over billboards and development just outside city limits.
A Little Rock firm has formalized a construction‑management division to centralize oversight of steel projects and improve scheduling, budgeting and quality control. The company appointed a vice president to oversee the new unit. The executive brings nearly 11 years of experience at a major Alabama steelmaking and finishing operation where responsibilities included overseeing strategic development and the construction of a multi‑billion‑dollar arc furnace facility, as well as senior roles in manufacturing technology and general management. Earlier experience includes mechanical maintenance engineering and management at another large steel producer. The new vice president holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from a leading Atlanta university.
The weekly list of million‑dollar projects in the Little Rock area opens with an exterior remodel for a retirement system office building in downtown Little Rock valued at $4,000,000. Other highlighted projects include an office expansion and renovation for the same Little Rock firm that launched the construction‑management division at $2,000,000; a bank branch renovation at $1,400,000; and a newly built home estimated at $1,000,000. Local and regional contractors were named for each project, reflecting steady activity in office, financial‑service and residential construction sectors.
Groundbreaking has commenced on a logistics facility at the Port of Little Rock covering more than 900,000 square feet. The development is expected to add over 1,000 jobs and has been planned in the city since a local economic development effort launched in 2017. City, county and state leaders view the project as a long‑term link in a broader logistics and distribution network. Plans are already under way to prepare an adjacent parcel as a potential additional large development site.
Work has started on the Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant, a project described as the largest water‑treatment overhaul in the state at around $230 million. Early construction activities began about a month prior to public reporting. The nearly 70‑year‑old plant currently treats up to 133 million gallons per day, and the phased renovation is designed to raise capacity to as much as 150 million gallons per day. The utility’s plan calls for phased basin shutdowns so the facility can continue operating during the roughly five‑year work schedule. A construction manager at risk is overseeing the project while two engineering firms share design responsibilities. Financing steps included board approval of a bond authorization and a guaranteed maximum price contract.
A state law that went into effect in early August removed extra‑territorial jurisdiction, the mechanism that had allowed cities to control building and zoning a few miles beyond their limits. Residents in a small community near Little Rock said the change immediately led to contractors installing billboard supports on private property where city approval is no longer required. County officials later approved a six‑month moratorium on new, unapproved development within the former city ETJ to slow further changes while county planning catches up. The moratorium halted some billboard work but did not force removal of structures already underway. Local leaders and residents are continuing discussions about enforcement, permitted uses and how to protect community character without the prior city review process.
Key projects beginning now include a more than 900,000‑square‑foot logistics facility at the Port of Little Rock expected to create over 1,000 jobs, and a $230 million overhaul of a major water treatment plant that will raise capacity and update aging systems.
A Little Rock engineering and construction firm appointed a vice president to lead a newly formalized construction‑management division focused on steel projects. The executive brings deep experience in steelmaking, project execution and capital projects, including leadership on a large arc furnace facility.
The elimination of extra‑territorial jurisdiction removed city control over certain lands just outside municipal boundaries. That change led to rapid billboard construction in some areas and prompted the county to impose a six‑month moratorium on new unapproved development in a former ETJ while officials develop local controls and enforcement strategies.
The overhaul will be done in phases. The plant has four large basins; contractors plan to shut down and renovate one basin at a time while keeping the other three operational so water service remains uninterrupted.
| Project | Location | Estimated Value | Contractor / Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logistics facility (Port of Little Rock) | Port of Little Rock | Over 900,000 sq ft | Developer / logistics operator | Expected to create 1,000+ jobs; adjacent super‑site planned |
| Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant overhaul | Little Rock | $230 million | Construction manager at risk; engineering design team | Phased work while facility remains in service; capacity to rise to 150 MGD |
| Office expansion & renovation | Fourche Dam Pike, Little Rock | $2,000,000 | Regional contractor | Tied to company launching new construction‑management division |
| Exterior remodel (office) | Downtown Little Rock | $4,000,000 | Local construction firm | Part of weekly million‑dollar project listings |
This summary compiles recent construction activity, legal changes affecting zoning, and infrastructure projects in the Little Rock area to help residents, contractors and local officials track developments and near‑term impacts.
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