Developer Scott Reed announced Tuesday plans to renovate the old Gus Blass Building at 315 Main St. in downtown Little Rock, converting it to a mixed commercial/residential development that will include a ground-floor restaurant/jazz club.

Floors two through five will consist of residential apartments. The ground floor and basement will be the site of Porter's Jazz Club, Reed announced. No details yet on Porter's, but Reed said it will occupy 8,200 square feet. In addition, two work-live lofts will be included on the first floor.

Reed's family company, Reed Realty Investors, is a development and consulting firm based on the West Coast that already is involved in several projects along the South Main corridor. Reed's interest in Little Rock real-estate development, specifically the opportunity to help revitalize downtown, led him here from Portland.

He envisions a full-length Main Street corridor full of residential developments, sidewalk bistros, even a park. He thinks successful development of the Gus Blass building, completed in 1901, will be the tipping point leading to a full-bore Main Street rebirth.

Read the story in Arkansas Business here.