A former downtown Little Rock hotel is being given a new purpose through a long-term housing partnership with Arkansas Baptist College.
The 12-story former La Quinta Inn & Suites, located at 617 S. Broadway Street, was purchased for $7.8 million by 617 Broadway, LLC, an entity led by Moses Tucker Partners Principal, President and CEO Chris Moses. The transaction positions the property to become an expanded residential and student-life facility for the college.
Only about one mile from Arkansas Baptist College’s main campus, the building contains 261 rooms, structured parking and large common areas. In addition to student residences, the property will offer designated areas for dining, studying, recreation and college programming. Classroom space is also expected to be incorporated as the site is developed.
The transition is already underway, with students moving into the new downtown location for the 2026–27 academic year.
For Arkansas Baptist College, repurposing the existing property provides a faster and more economical path to increasing its residential capacity than constructing a new facility. The approach also allows the institution to direct more of its resources toward its academic priorities.
Roland Gosey, chairman of the Arkansas Baptist College Board, described the partnership as an important step in the college’s continued growth.
“We are excited about the new downtown campus for Arkansas Baptist College, and we appreciate the partnership with Moses Tucker and other stakeholders to make this exciting step,” Gosey said. “The site allows us to expand housing and classroom space for our ongoing growth as we educate and empower the next generation of young people.”
Plans call for additional improvements that will create an updated residential setting intended to enhance campus life while supporting student recruitment and retention.
The property was purchased from OM Little Rock, LLC. George Friedmann, principal and vice president of development at Moses Tucker Partners, served as the transaction’s lead broker. The firm’s property-management division has also been selected to oversee the building.
Beyond addressing the college’s immediate housing needs, the project returns a sizable Broadway Street property to active use during a period of continued redevelopment in downtown Little Rock. Public and private investments are contributing to new residential and commercial activity throughout the city’s urban center, with adaptive-reuse projects emerging as one strategy for revitalizing existing buildings.
“This acquisition is an investment not only in Arkansas Baptist College and its students, but also in the continued momentum of downtown Little Rock,” Moses said. “By giving an existing downtown property a new purpose, we are helping the College meet an immediate need for student housing while bringing new activity and investment to the Broadway corridor.”
The project also aligns with Moses Tucker Partners’ broader focus on repositioning established properties to generate long-term economic and community benefits.
“Downtown Little Rock has tremendous assets and an exciting future ahead,” Moses said. “Projects like this show what is possible when we find creative ways to reinvest in existing properties, bring people downtown, and put buildings back to work for the community.”
For more information about the acquisition or commercial real estate opportunities in Little Rock, contact Chris Moses or George Friedmann at 501-376-6555 or Info@MosesTucker.com.