Little Rock, Arkansas, August 18, 2025
News Summary
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.
Arkansas construction roundup: new hire at Little Rock firm, Amazon breaks ground, $230 million water‑plant overhaul begins, and billboard dispute follows zoning change
Major developments in Arkansas construction came into view in mid‑August 2025. A Little Rock engineering firm launched a formal construction‑management division and named a veteran steel‑industry executive to lead it. At the Port of Little Rock, a large logistics campus moved from planning into dirt‑work, promising more than a thousand local jobs. Meanwhile, the state’s largest water‑plant renovation kicked off, and a recent law change that removed extra‑territorial zoning drew immediate pushback after billboards went up outside city limits.
Lexicon creates construction‑management division and hires Shawn Cochran
Lexicon Inc. of Little Rock announced the formation of a dedicated construction‑management division and appointed Shawn Cochran as vice president to oversee steel construction projects across their timelines. In his new role, Cochran will manage project schedules, budgets and quality standards for steel work.
Cochran brings nearly 11 years of experience at a major steelmaking and finishing operation in Alabama, where he served in senior manufacturing and steelmaking roles and recently led the strategic development and construction of a $1.2 billion arc‑furnace steelmaking facility. He also spent nearly six years at another large steel producer in mechanical maintenance and management roles. Cochran holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Company leadership framed the new division as a step to focus resources on that line of business and to support long‑term growth.
List of reported million‑dollar projects
Recent public filings and building permits for the week of mid‑August show several high‑value projects moving forward in Little Rock:
- $4,000,000 — exterior remodel for a public retirement system at 620 W. Third St.; contractor: East‑Harding Inc.
- $2,000,000 — office expansion and renovation for Lexicon Inc. at 8900 Fourche Dam Pike; contractor: Nabholz Construction Corp.
- $1,400,000 — branch renovation for a regional bank at 5601 S. University Ave.; contractor: Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.
- $1,000,000 — new home at 147 Abington Drive; builder: River Rock Builders LLC.
ETJ repeal leads to billboard conflict in suburban areas
A state law that took effect on August 5 removed extra‑territorial jurisdictions (ETJs), the rules that let cities regulate building and zoning a few miles outside their limits. The change immediately touched off concerns in areas around Little Rock when construction crews began installing billboard supports on private property in neighborhoods that had been under city jurisdiction.
Residents described the sudden installations as a dramatic change to neighborhood sightlines. Local county officials acknowledged confusion about the law’s passage and questioned why ETJ authority was eliminated without a clear county‑level replacement. One law sponsor framed the change as easing permitting for rural residents who previously had to obtain approvals from nearby cities.
Developer property owners have asserted the right to build on land they own. County officials moved quickly: eight days after the law took effect, the county’s governing body approved a six‑month moratorium on certain new development in the former ETJ area to slow unreviewed projects while rules are clarified. The moratorium halted some billboard work but did not force removal of supports already in place. Enforcement staff have been issuing citations where structures violate county ordinances or other regulations. Community meetings were organized to discuss next steps.
Amazon begins construction at Port of Little Rock
Ground was broken on a logistics facility at the Port of Little Rock that will exceed 900,000 square feet and is projected to create more than 1,000 jobs for the region. The development has been in local planning discussion since 2017 and is seen as an important node in a larger distribution and logistics network, intended to process incoming inventory before it moves to fulfillment centers.
State and local officials noted the project as part of continued industrial growth in the area. Plans are already under way for additional development on an adjacent tract identified as a potential new “super site.”
$230 million Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant renovation begins
Work started on what is being called the state’s largest water treatment plant overhaul, a $230 million renovation of the Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant. The nearly 70‑year‑old facility currently treats up to 133 million gallons per day (MGD); the upgrade will raise capacity to roughly 150 MGD through new technology and staged construction.
The project is being managed under a construction manager‑at‑risk contract, with a guaranteed maximum price for construction approved earlier in the year. Design teams from outside and inside the state are working together. Because the plant must remain online, crews will renovate one of four large basins at a time so the facility can continue to supply water during the roughly five‑year construction program. Local water officials expect the increased throughput to help meet growing demand as nearby cities expand.
What to watch next
- Progress on the Port logistics campus and hiring milestones for the new facility.
- Permitting and enforcement outcomes tied to the temporary moratorium and any longer‑term county zoning changes.
- Phased construction milestones at the Wilson plant and the bond closing and financing steps that support the work.
- Activity from Lexicon’s new construction‑management division and any large steel projects it oversees.
FAQ
What is the new role at Lexicon, and who is leading it?
A new construction‑management division has been created to handle steel construction projects. The division is led by Shawn Cochran, who brings extensive steelmaking and project‑execution experience and advanced mechanical engineering degrees.
How large is the Amazon project at the Port of Little Rock?
The logistics facility covers more than 900,000 square feet and is expected to create over 1,000 jobs in the region.
Why did billboards start going up near Little Rock?
State legislation eliminated extra‑territorial zoning authority on August 5, removing the requirement that city approvals be obtained for some developments outside city limits. That change allowed property owners to begin work without prior city sign approvals, prompting a local response and a temporary moratorium to pause certain projects while rules are reviewed.
How will the Wilson water‑plant project affect water service?
The renovation is being done in phases so the plant remains operational. One basin at a time will be taken offline and renovated, maintaining service while the overall capacity is increased from about 133 MGD to up to 150 MGD over approximately five years.
Where can the public get updates or attend meetings about local development issues?
County and city planning offices post notices of hearings and moratorium actions. Community meetings are also organized by neighborhood groups and local officials; check county planning calendars for times and locations.
Key project features
| Project | Location | Estimated cost | Main contractor/manager | Timeline / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexicon construction‑management division | Little Rock | Not disclosed (division launch) | Lexicon Inc. (division head: Shawn Cochran) | New division to oversee steel construction projects |
| Amazon logistics facility | Port of Little Rock | Not disclosed | Amazon (site developer) | 900,000+ sq ft; 1,000+ jobs; construction begun |
| Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant overhaul | Little Rock | $230,000,000 | Construction manager at risk: Max Foote Construction | Phased work over ~5 years; increase capacity from 133 to ~150 MGD |
| Selected million‑dollar builds (week of mid‑Aug) | Little Rock area | $1M–$4M each | Various local contractors | Permits and contracts filed for remodels, renovations and a new home |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Arkansas Business: Million‑dollar construction projects (Little Rock)
- Wikipedia: Little Rock construction projects
- THV11: Arkansas billboard/ETJ law coverage
- Google Search: Arkansas billboard ETJ law 2025
- KATV: Amazon breaks ground at Port of Little Rock
- Google Scholar: Amazon logistics facility Port of Little Rock
- Construction Dive: Jack H. Wilson water treatment plant project
- Encyclopedia Britannica: water treatment plant
- Arkansas Democrat‑Gazette: Pulaski County imposes temporary construction moratorium
- Google News: Pulaski County moratorium construction Arkansas
Author: Construction FL News
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