Arkansas natives Lisa Ferrell and Jim Jackson, the developers of Rockwater Village, both share a passion to create a community rooted in Arkansas history that will become the beloved historic district of the 22nd century.
Parents to three children, Jim and Lisa were looking for a way to create a neighborhood where generations could come together. With three generations in Lisa’s family living in the North Little Rock area, it was important to create an opportunity where their children could create a special bond with their grandparents by living “just down the street.” It was this desire that spurred the concept of Rockwater Village.
Rockwater Village is also the vision of more than 250 people who live, work, play in, and care about Central Arkansas. Early in the process, Lisa and Jim held a week-long public meeting, inviting neighbors, city officials, environmentalists, architects, landscape designers, and many others to express their opinions on what kind of neighborhood Rockwater Village should be. Much of the development’s vision came from these meetings.
The two also traveled the country, visiting over 20 Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TNDs) for ideas to bring to Rockwater Village. City leaders joined them on visits to four different inspiration communities - Harbor Town in Memphis, East Beach in Norfolk Virginia, New Town in St. Charles, Missouri, and River Ranch in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Through their travels, they experienced neighborhood after neighborhood where people of all ages live within walking distance of each other. Young professionals, empty nesters and families are all drawn to the beautiful architecture and sense of community these TNDs offer.
Rockwater has achieved this same goals for families. Grandparents do live a short walk from grandchildren, and as individuals and families' needs change, they move down the street to a different type of Rockwater residence, all while keeping community bonds.
“When you come here and walk along the river and see the prosperous community this has become and what it will be in the future, you quickly realize what a truly special place this is. It’s full of history and timeless beauty. The river brings a peace to this land that is hard to find anywhere else.”
