AG Griffin cuts ribbon on redeveloped new home

Attorney General Tim Griffin led a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday (June 10) for his new office headquarters at the renovated and renamed Bob R. Brooks Jr. Justice Building.

The $35 million redevelopment of the 116-year-old building at 101 W. Capitol Ave. in Little Rock was made possible by roughly $13 million in state and federal tax credits. The building is named for Griffin’s former chief deputy attorney general who passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 11, 2024.

Griffin said at the ceremony that he and Brooks began discussing the move months before Griffin won the 2022 election. At the time, the attorney general’s office was paying roughly $1 million a year to rent its previous location.

Merritt Dyke with the business leadership group “Fifty for the Future” said at the ceremony that while much of Main Street has been revitalized, the building at the intersection of Main Street and Capitol Avenue remained an eyesore.

That started to change in 2023. While Griffin was looking to move, Chris Moses and partners acquired the historic Boyle Building for $5.5 million.

The 12-story, 91,000-square-foot structure was constructed in 1909 as the State Bank Building – then the state’s tallest structure at completion. It was designed by architect George R. Mann, who also designed the State Capitol. Real estate mogul Johnny Boyle purchased it in 1916. It had been vacant and falling into increasing disrepair over the last 26 years.

Griffin, Brooks and others toured the building April 10 of that year. At the time, it was a “trash heap” that was dangerous and precarious, Griffin said. But it had tremendous potential. On April 17, Brooks recommended it as the office’s new home.

Griffin’s office announced the move in August 2023. His office will occupy 11 of the 12 stories, with a restaurant occupying the bottom floor starting in early 2026.

The state agreed to a 20-year lease with the option of purchasing the property after year five. Griffin told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the move would save taxpayers three quarters of a million dollars per year.

“Who would rent the State Capitol? No one,” Griffin said at the ceremony. “Who would rent a Governor’s Mansion? No one. Who would rent a permanent office for the attorney general? Well, it happened for 35 years. Not anymore. We need to own this. This is a permanent building.”

The project utilized two tax credit sources, said Moses, who is the principal, president & CEO of Moses Tucker Partners, the project’s developer. State credits through the Department of Arkansas Heritage’s Arkansas Historic Preservation Program totaled approximately $7.1 million. Federal credits administered through the National Parks Service’s Historic Preservation Fund amounted to about $5.68 million.

Accessing the tax credits included a “Lengthy and competitive process that involved several applications and approvals from both the National Parks Service and Arkansas Heritage,” Moses said.

He said the state’s tax credits were essential to the project, which required a “full gut job.” The building required substantial investments to address structural issues, install all-new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and make other improvements.

“Funds raised from selling these credits directly supported stabilization and renovation work, making the project feasible,” Moses said.

Extra money from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program was available because of changes made during the last two legislative sessions.

Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, in 2023 championed legislation that added $40 million in one-time, surplus funding and then added another $20 million in this year’s session.

Gabe Holmstrom, executive director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, said the additional money has led to the preservation not only of the Brooks Building but also the old Veterans Administration hospital in Little Rock and the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. But other states including Louisiana are investing more in their historic structures.

The ribbon cutting ceremony featured numerous references to Brooks, the former chief deputy attorney general described by Griffin as “my best friend and my chief deputy.” Brooks’ sister, Sabra Brooks Curry, also spoke at the event.

Griffin said the building honors the past while being completely modern inside. It also demonstrates Brooks’ intentional pursuit of excellence.

“Bob really inspired and continues to inspire a level of drive toward excellence, doing what’s right,” he said. “Bob used to have a saying, ‘It’s never too late to do the right thing.’”