CONWAY, Ark. (January 21, 2016)
– Ward Davis will step down from his role as CEO of The
Village at Hendrix at the end of this
month.
Davis, who joined The Village in
2010, is the co-founder of High Street Development, LLC, which is currently developing
Johnson Square, a 74-acre traditional neighborhood development (TND) in
northwest Arkansas. Through High Street, Davis will continue to develop and consult
on similar projects across the southern United States. Davis was recently
elected president of the National Town Builders Association, a trade group focused on creating excellent communities that
serve as regional and national models of responsible development.
“The Village at Hendrix has
benefited tremendously from Ward’s leadership,” said W. Ellis Arnold III,
Senior Executive Vice President at Hendrix College. “Hendrix College, Village
residents and commercial tenants, and the Conway community owe Ward an
incredible debt of gratitude for making this exciting dream a reality.”
When Davis began his tenure in
2010, two mixed-use buildings and a sales office were under construction, and
two residential homes were near completion in The Village at Hendrix. The
redesign of Harkrider, the main north-south thoroughfare in front of The
Village, was 10 months away from completion.
Under Davis’ leadership, The
Village added a third mixed-use building in the commercial center, completed
all of the residential homes planned for Phase I, opened the fully occupied Row
Houses building fronting Harkrider, and developed the Hendrix Creek Preserve
trail system and wetlands project. All of the upper floor living spaces in the
recently completed mixed-use McKinnon Building project are occupied, and all
but one commercial bay is leased.
“The Village has grown from a calculated
risk into an outstanding and influential success,” said Davis, who lives in The
Village. “It has been an unbelievable opportunity for me, and I want to leave
The Village as strong as possible going forward.”
“In addition to the successful
growth of the commercial and residential spaces in The Village, the true sense
of community that has developed among the residents is what I am most proud of,”
said Davis, citing numerous examples of events, parties, and personal gestures
between neighbors. “Who knows 30 of their neighbors, much less takes the time
to write a card when a neighbor’s loved one dies? That’s pretty impressive, and
it proves that The Village is a true neighborhood, not just a subdivision or
development.”
The Village is “an important part
of the first impression that thousands of prospective students and families who
visit campus each year have of Hendrix College,” said Hendrix President Bill
Tsutsui, who is building a home in The Village.
In October, Hendrix received a
$1 million challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa,
Oklahoma, to complete the Mary
Ann and David Dawkins Welcome Center at
the northeast entrance to campus across from The Village. The new Welcome
Center will house the Hendrix Admission and Financial Aid offices.
“The Village at Hendrix shares
the Hendrix spirit of friendliness and hospitality,” said Tsutsui. “Its place
in campus life and in the Conway community would not be possible without Ward
Davis’s leadership.”
About The Village at Hendrix
The Village at Hendrix is a traditional neighborhood
development (TND) designed by the renowned New Urban planning firm of
Duany-Plater Zyberk and Company and founded by Hendrix College. A 93-acre
mixed-used walkable community, The Village combines classic architecture and a
commitment to green building principles, offering residential homes and
commercial spaces, as well as entertainment and outdoor amenities, including
the 18-acre Hendrix Creek Preserve. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu/village.
About Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private
liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Founded in 1876 and affiliated with
the United Methodist Church since 1884, Hendrix is featured in Colleges That Change Lives:
40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges and is nationally recognized in numerous college guides,
lists, and rankings for academic quality, community, innovation, and value. For
more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.