cocothief

I read the article, too. It was entertaining hearing the council members being confused and shocked by the numbers presented by city staff as "attainable housing". The majority of council members seemed to want a specific $ amount, like $90-120k to be set into code. Of course, they weren' thinking about how, in the future, those numbers would change along with the area's median income, etc. etc.. I get the feeling that the majority of the Fayetteville City Council wakes up every day and is shocked and flabbergasted by much in the world around them. They don't come off as incredibly informed or intelligent in the televised meetings, or when their opinions make news stories. I can't believe these folks are making these huge decisions for our city. Now that I'm done bashing the council... I agree, it will be a hotly debated topic. Considering that many of the quality of life issues that are taken into consideration with each new residential development in Fayetteville directly impact the cost of doing business in Fayetteville, its going to be tough to squeeze developers even further by forcing them to provide housing that is offered at these "attainable" prices in every development. What I always think about when I hear about things like requisite "attainable housing" is that if these properties are built in conjunction with other, better developments, they will remain "attainable" briefly, then upon changing hands as the market dictates, they will flip and no longer fit into that "attainable" price formula. I don't like this whole idea. I like the ideal which inspires it, but I don't know how feasible it really is to codify. And I certainly don't think our council will be able to come to come kind of ordinance without wasting about a year on circuitous debate and ignorant posturing. Thats the one thing I am sure of.

That little Southern View Town Center is a nice example of a NU development. Its an awful location, but its a great effort anyway. Now, imagine how much better it would be if it didn't back up to a traditional Lindsey-style apartment complex, but something more integrated into a traditional street grid. We'd have a nice little slice of urbanity developing there on the SW end of town. As it stands, its choppy because there is no connectivity with either of two large apartment complexes on that side of the hill. This is the kind of stuff the city is trying to head off by denying The Links. Hopefully they will follow through.

Crime is definitely on the rise in NWA. I can recall a time not too long ago that an armed robbery in NWA would have been major news. Now it seems like we are having two a day up here. Its very sad.

I might have been too harsh, but its just disappointing to see one after the other, bad low grade businesses filter through that location. Heck I'd even take a Krystalburger over that bar.

Here's some news, although controversial... I noticed that the former Sycamore and College site of the controversial Latino club that turned out to be a crime magnet and resources drain for the FPD is soon to be home to some low grade hip-hop club. The lighted sign has been hand painted over with what amounts to a step above graffitti, "UMOB" whatever that means and I think it will be called "Lil Daddy's"; there is also a reference to Louisiana, although i believe it refers more to Katrina 'fugees than Cajun food. I'm sure we'll be hearing about gunfire there on the news within the next 6-12 months.

From what I have seen about it, it seems that, as with most political issues, the debate is being dominated by polar opposite opinions on the situation. Those in most vocally in favor of the impact fees seem to honestly have an anti-development bent. Those most vocally opposing are real estate developers. As a resident of Fayetteville, I have absolutely no problem with the impact fees. I am comfortable with a slowly growing city. The arguement I don't understand is the one from the anti-impact fee side, stating that impact fees will discourage development and cost the city sales tax revenue in the future.... Sales tax revenue...isn't that how we fix our congested roads? Seems logical to take care of some of that on the front end, no?

Looks like Coody chose to put up rather than shut up about the concerns he recently expressed. I think its a good sign. Of course, in my opinion, Coody has a good and realistic vision for Fayetteville's future.

Very hystionic article. I'd offer as a rebuttal: "Jeez, you'd think the master plan called for 30 story buildings downtown. These environmentalists need to go set up camp in a field in Newton County. They live in a city which will inevitably grow. Smart growth is rarely even given consideration in cities of similar size. Perhaps when there are strip malls from Prairie Grove to Huntsville, she could go hug the tiny saplings in all of the parking lot berms. Afterall, if we don't grow up, we will continue to grow out."

I agree with you except #4. Coody really can't do anything to remedy this problem. The city government has to approve every development. Its the way it goes... I think this article is his version of doing something about it, by more or less calling the city council members out in the newspaper. I'm sure all of them will see it or hear about it. Its sad how myopic some of these decision makers seem to be, and even sadder, how poorly some of them seem to understand urban planning and design.

I think you could demonstrate an impact (or claim one) on the new residential properties nearby. Other than that I have no idea.

Maybe there could be a case made for the construction of these poles causing real financial damage to businesses and residential projects nearby. Its likely it will hurt property values in a demonstrable way. I think the only hope is that enough lawsuits can be filed that the costs of defending the utility construction in court would start to hurt the company or delay their project to the point that they would start to consider other options.

Not to be melodramatic, but I see this impending eyesore as a tragedy for all who love Fayetteville and its scenic beauty. These polls are hideous and will greatly detract from one of Fayetteville's greatest assets. If only there was an alternative energy company we could all threaten to switch to. I am outraged that this company shows such little regard for our city and intends to damage our downtown environment in this manner. We need some folks tying themselves to the existing poles or something.

Interesting interview with Dan Coody on Smart City: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmartCityWi...7_SmartCity.mp3

Next to Burger King is going to be a Zaxby's. http://www.zaxbys.com/

If you're lucky, the community in which you buy your home will be one that attempts to maintain and improve quality of life like Fayetteville. Then you can become an elitist scumbag. Its way better for you and your family than buying a home in a lesser municipality that will strip-mall and light-industrial your neighborhood via spot zoning and stagnate your returns on your biggest investment. BTW, Fayetteville isn't quite yet elitist. There are plenty of affordable homes in Fayetteville right now. From your vantage point as a new homebuyer, it would make sense to do whatever you could to purchase in Fayetteville because the longterm vision of the city makes it so much more likely that your investment will appreciate in value over the term of ownership. You have the information here in front of you, now use it.

Its called maximizing the value of your investment. In most cases, owners don't invest in renovations unless the believe they will get a return on that investment. The more sophisticated the market becomes, it naturally follows that the quality of design and materials improve. Its the result of a larger and increasingly wealthy and discriminating population. Fayetteville's design standards and development code, although superficially motivated by a socialistic bent to improve the "community" have the longterm effect of increasing the value of and exclusivity of existing property, and the utility and real wealth of existing owners and residents. This reinforces the upward trend with each new development, compounding the effect of the natural wealth created by the healthy economy of NWA. Feel free to refer to this post at anytime when you feel squeezed by developers in Fayetteville "jacking up prices". Its really unavoidable in the context of the stated goals of longtime Fayetteville residents and current city administration. The results can be viewed as an unconscious side effect of otherwise warm and fuzzy expression of a desire to maintain quaintness and "quality of life" but they are quantifiable reality and fact of life in Fayetteville.

Yeah there is scaffolding all over town. Unless I had too much to drink, last night I thought I noticed that Central Methodist had one up on their facade as well. Thats great that the Ozark Theater is going back to the brick. The restoration that was done around 10 years ago was excellent, but historically inaccurate.

Ouch. I go there quite a bit as its in my 'hood. I was noticing the other day that a fresh coat of red paint would do wonders for the appearance of their awning and wondered why they handn't done it yet. Well, if the Malco site is redeveloped in the near future, there are three or four now or soon to be vacant properties adjacent to the north that could be factored into something larger and better. Hunan, the mexican joint, and a little car lot off the top of my head. The properties in that area actually wrap around a fairly large greenspace to the west, and the Fayetteville professional building on Green Acres Rd. A developer with vision could make something fantastic out of these properties, perhaps something mixed-use that could tie in with a redevelopment of some of the Colt Square properties....

Is Hunan MOVING? As in closing their North College location?? Say it ain't so....

Well at first glance, maybe. Mayor Coody made a pretty good case for renovations to the sqaure to the tune of over $900,000 in the paper a couple weeks ago. Turns out most of the infrastructure for the gardens, etc was built in the 70s and added onto over the years and a good portion of it is in disrepair. I think any investment in the square is a good thing and will pay off down the road. The renovations are to include new plumbing, lighting, electrical for the Lights of the Ozarks, etc. $900,000.00 sounds like a lot of money for some landscaping, but it is really going towards laying a solid foundation for the entire square environment that will last for several decades.

Pic of the water feature construction from NWA Times:

Wow, thats a lot of news! I'm happy that the city is doing something about the powerlines issue. It would be a shame if SWEPCO went along with their original plans. Water feature: Any idea what kind of feature it is? Usually we hear about small things like this in the news. Maybe I just missed it.

Beautiful.

I think I heard that the portion of Mt. Comfort Road that runs through Oak Plaza is going to be eliminated and part of the work is to be paid for by the developers for the residential project behind Harps. Does anybody know if this is accurate?

I used to live in that area and I agree that it needs sidewalks badly. I was watching a City Council meeting on the CAT and Kyle Cook was saying that resident input influences the city's prioritization of sidewalk projects a lot more than people realize. Maybe you should email your city council members.