Adaptive reuse of extraordinary impact
The 1907 Block is embedded in a vibrant downtown, the revitalization of which it helped to launch. The developers saved a historically important but dilapidated building in Rogers, Arkansas, and constructed two new, context-appropriate residential buildings. With three tenants that are James Beard Foundation finalists, the 1907 Block has put Rogers on the culinary map. This remarkable ensemble won a 2026 CNU Charter Award.
The four exterior walls of The 1907 Block are largely unchanged from 118 years ago, with the addition of outdoor elements that connect to the community. These include outdoor seating, landscaping, lighting, and curb extensions that make it easier for pedestrians to cross at the downtown's primary intersection. The new, three-story brick Ritter and Spool buildings fit the neighborhood's architectural context while providing a place for people to live downtown.
“The restoration of the 1907 building marked a turning point for Downtown Rogers,” says Rogers long-time Mayor Greg Hines. “By bringing together locally loved destinations like Onyx Coffee, Yeyo’s, and Pinky Swear, the project transformed a historic space into a true community gathering place. It showed how thoughtful reinvestment can activate downtown, and create momentum for surrounding development. This is exactly how cities grow stronger while staying true to their character.”
The 1907 Block’s impact on Rogers is hard to overstate, according to the project team. Since its opening, 180 downtown businesses have launched, including 19 additional restaurants and bars, after decades of economic stagnation. Tenants have achieved national and international recognition, while nearby property owners have been inspired towards quality adaptive reuse and infill efforts, they note. “The success of the 1907 Building also allowed us to move forward with Ritter and Spool, a two-building apartment complex directly adjacent to the restored property. This new construction infill development brought new housing to downtown Rogers, further enhancing the block.”
Importantly, the ripple of success shifted the municipal focus back towards the downtown core and ultimately moved the city to adopt Arkansas’s first city-wide form-based unified development code, setting the stage for additional walkable, human-scaled urban growth.
The 1907 Block includes 9,320 square feet of retail food-and-beverage space, 6,466 square feet of office space, and 56 residential units on an acre of land. The project was completed in December 2025.
The three James Beard 2026 finalists are the Heirloom at 1907, Onyx Coffee Lab, and chef Rafael Rios (Yeyo’s). Onyx was recognized as the top-rated coffee shop in North America and number two in the world. This culinary concentration in a single building may be unprecedented.
Cost and efficiency
One lesson is that “exceptional design does not require extraordinary cost,” the project team points out. With 1907 Block development costs of just over $180 per square foot, “Onyx achieved international recognition, the owner of Yeyo’s earned accolades as a James Beard finalist, Heirloom became the most sought-after dining experience in Arkansas with a remarkable $127,000 finish-out budget, and the Ritter and Spool apartments folded comfortably into downtown for $47,000 less per unit than a nearby more conventional apartment project.” The efficiency came from thoughtful planning, material selection, and collaboration, the team explains.
Another lesson is that “context matters.” The 1907 Block blends into its historic surroundings while adding new energy, “creating a sense of place sometimes lost when projects are designed to be incongruous.” The Ritter and Spool infill buildings fit seamlessly into the historic downtown architecture.
Daily life pulses through the 1907 Block at all hours, anchored by beloved destinations. The new and restored buildings help define the streets, contributing to walkability, while the “third places” foster social bonds.
“The redevelopment and success of Downtown Rogers' historic 1907 building was an important catalyst in the wave of new restaurants, shops, and apartments we've seen open up over the last decade,” says Raymond Burns, CEO of the Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce. “Through its accomplishment of maintaining the building's historic architecture, the 1907 building's design has helped position Downtown Rogers as an authentic and welcoming community.”
The 1907 Block
- High Street Real Estate & Development, Principal firm
- Jon & Andrea Allen (Onyx Coffee Lab), Tenant/Owner/Designer
- Bradley Edwards (Ozark Modern), Architect, The 1907
- Robert Sharp, Architect, Ritter & Spool
- Michael Ames, Contractor
- Rafael Rios (Yeyo's), Tenant
- Jason Paul & Daniel Rubio (Heirloom at The 1907), Tenant
2026 CNU Charter Awards Jury
- Eric Kronberg (chair), Principal, Kronberg Urbanists + Architects in Atlanta, GA
- Majora Carter, CEO of Majora Carter Group in the Bronx, New York City
- Marques King, Studio Director + Senior Architect, Pure Architects, Detroit, MI
- Jeremy Lake, Principal, Union Studio Architecture & Community Design, Providence, RI
- Joanna L. Lombard, Distinguished Professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture, FL
- Rico Quirindongo, Director, City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development
- Ashley Terry, Director, President of Development at Pivot Real Estate, Oklahoma City, OK
