New Symphony Space Comes With Strings Attached

A rendering of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's Stella Boyle Smith Music Center (ASO)

Remember that announcement a couple of weeks ago regarding plans by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to develop a $9 million East Village Music Center?

The site at the southeast corner of Third Street and World Drive is owned by Heifer International. We wondered: Does ASO intend to buy the property or what?

We’re told by an insider that ASO will build on the site under what is described to us as a long-term lease arrangement.

Of course, construction is contingent upon ASO completing its fundraising efforts to pay for the project.

As we understand it, the land originally was labeled as green space or future parking space under Heifer’s master plan for its campus.