zman9810

I know the Ren Tower wasn't everyone's first choice but I'd love to see a similar project there. Hopefully it will still be a landmark building that adds to the skyline and draws people downtown.

Oh, really? Wow- I'm all for green but it doesn't quite work in that location. Doesn't seem an appropriate use of cash by that agency, does it?

I don't know if anyone else was wondering what is going on at the Veteran's Hospital campus but they are adding a 500 spot parking garage. I'm sure the parking users appreciate the covered parking that was recently added but it takes away from the appearance of the grounds, IMO.

I'm not sure what needs to be done but I certainly agree that if the central park in the city can't be well cared for then they shouldn't ne looking at adding more. Each heavy rain flushes it out but it doesn't take long for it to return to a mess.

This is not a pleasant subject but there is a bad situation that needs addressing in Springdale. Hopefully someone with the City will see or hear about this and take action. I had cause to be in Murphy Park today and the pond has become a stinking mess and I would think a very unhealthy place to be close to. The over population of geese and ducks have led to an accumulation of waste that can be seen floating over large areas of the pond. I would think this could attract the attention of the State Health Dept. if it isn't addressed soon.

Great news. I would think acquiring a company that size would mean more jobs in NWA but they haven't said anything yet about it doing so.

That is very cool! Pat of DSB's charm is that it feels like an episode of Hoarders at times- I like having to weave my way through stacks of books.

Well...I don't think it is one individual or family so much as that name is simply the latest figurehead for what has always been a segment of Fayetteville's population that doesn't want the city to change much. That segment was around back in the early 80's when what is now the East Square Plaza- Chancellor Hotel area redo was planned. It is the same group that tried to implement a Historical District for the Dickson St. area very recently, which if that had passed we likely wouldn't be discussing what should go on this property. As is often the case, a small but very vocal group of Fayetteville's residents have gained the ears of our city leaders and gotten their wishes put into an ordinance that makes it more difficult for development to occur. During the economic downturn of recent years that group had free rein to enact what they wanted without opposition from those who wanted to invest and develop new projects in the city. Witness this ordinance and the stream side ordinance- the developers and investors that would have appeared at city meetings to fight those were instead for fighting for their own economic survival. Now that the economic situation has recovered and there is not only the interest to develop but also the means I think there is a better chance of the City working with individuals and groups who want to invest in the city and grow it. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the years to come.

I agree it will take some flexibility by all parties involved. I actually was thinking one of the Express stores and not a Neighborhood Market- it would still be a draw and not nearly as large. I would think putting a deck at the same spot Barber planned would give plenty of parking and free up the property along Dickson and Block for store fronts. Although I am all for it I'll be surprised if a 5-6 story building is not fought by Shirkey and others. Like you say- it will take some creativity to convince the City to go along with it in face of that opposition. I think it can be done and if the idea is good enough maybe a variance to that ordinance can be obtained.

It looks like Collier is thinking retail development with some residential is a good idea for the Dickson/Block lot. He also is looking at plenty of parking for it. Evidently he doesn't have a set plan and is open to ideas. The conventional thinking is that it will have to be a multi-story project because of the price paid for the property. Seems like a good use of the property if done right. I assume he means a larger type retail and not the little boutique type shops that cover the area downtown. Larger retail spaces demand plenty of convenient, free parking in order to bring customers in. Retail on bottom and a couple or more floors of different types of residential on top might keep the neighbors from rising up in opposition although I'm sure they will be unhappy with anything that is proposed. It would be nice if a anchor such as a Lewis and Clark or even a Neighborhood Market could be brought in- something that would be sure to bring in customers and those customers would visit the other retail in the development.

If I remember right the old fairgrounds is accessed by unimproved 2 lane streets, none with a direct path to I49. When the WAC was considering where to place the expansion easy access was one of the criteria and I believe direct access off I49 was desired. Its interesting seeing how the site choice is playing out.

I was also thinking that housing was a poor use of the land but as the city planners pointed out this will only take a small portion of the entire area and serve as a buffer to commercial uses further towards Wedington and I49. Imagine the backlash if someone suggested a water park right next to the neighborhoods- I bet it would be even stronger than student housing.

Local media reported that a resident that has lived on Sunset Drive for 50 years sent a letter to planning commissioners stating, in part, "have been kept awake until the wee hours by out of control parties and wandering inebriates. The thought of what will happen if 300 to 700 more students are imposed on the neighborhood is terrifying." This and the common use of students as scapegoats is what led me to make that observation.

Connectivity is important no matter what is built there. It seems that most of the opposition is because it is "student" housing and the opponents are using the stereotypical accusations of unruly behavior to make their arguments. Regardless if it is student housing or aimed at the general public development there will increased traffic through the neighborhoods and this particular design will do so less than most student housing being developed in the city. This design also seems like good transition between the neighborhoods and a commercial area further towards Wedington.

Haha- that's a good observation and may be right on. The same person still owns the house there. It seems whatever is planned there has to be approved by them first so it may sit empty for some time to come.

Yes, I remember that discussion about Wagon Wheel. The RV dealer made a big stink and the city caved. That road would have been ideal for a median.

It didn't get any publicity but the newly widened section of Hwy 265 south from Hwy 412 to Fayetteville city limits has opened. It is just a simple 5 lane job- would have been nice to see a median in the southern section of it but I guess a center lane is the norm unless otherwise requested.

Good grief, I hope that changes. A tire store replacing a sit down restaurant at that location is a horrible change. I bet Red Lobster isn't too happy about that. I'm surprised the zoning allows that use.

I think that design would be even more controversial than the RenTower was.

Exciting news- the Mountain Inn property is under contract. Who would have ever thought it would be this quick? Wonder what the plans are? I think for the price we can rule out parking lot/deck or park and almost certainly rule in a multi level structure of some sort.

I wish they were being required to build the access to Longview Street and Plainview Avenue in the initial development instead of sometime in the future. A back way into the site would do wonders for traffic flow on College.

Wow I'm going to ignore the mean-spirited personal attacks but I will address the points raised. I'm not sure what you're using as a definition of a square block but using by description of downtown from post #3822 "Lets say that downtown is the area bounded by the Hwy 71B corridor on the east, Layfayette on the north ,the university on the west and Center on the south."the downtown area is approx. 1 square mile. My description, by using Center St. as the southern boundary, excludes the Federal Bldg, the Town Center, City Hall, Police Dept, Municipal Courts Bldg, Planning Dept and City Library so it is not a hard and fast description. Those sites are good examples of the type that makes it essential that the downtown area is as accessible as possible. I would imagine that there are people in Little Rock laughing at the comparison of the two downtown areas. Downtown Little Rock is served by a system of 6 lane freeways and even on its northern side with the natural barrier of the Arkansas River it is accessible by several multi-lane bridges. It will be interesting when the Broadway bridge is removed for rebuilding- I think we will see how important accessibility is and what a traffic nightmare the removal of access causes. I will reiterate my opinion that turning Hwy 71B into a neighborhood street with multiple more traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and trail crossings will serve to create a barrier for those not living downtown to access the area. Because of the unique nature of Fayetteville's topography with Mt. Sequoyah on the east, the University on the west and only neighborhood streets leading to the center of town it would be a mistake to reduce the only thoroughfare to a neighborhood street also. I won't be bullied or shouted down or even goaded into mean-spirited personal attacks myself.

I had to drive Hwy 71B from downtown Springdale to downtown Fayetteville last Friday afternoon. When I reached the section of Hwy 71B where the road transitions from Springdale to Fayetteville (you know, where the west side is Springdale but the east side is Fayetteville) the traffic was very heavy but flowing freely. The amount of traffic between the two cities is heavy between the 7AM to 6PM hours when most business activity is conducted. This is an indication of how much Fayetteville is integrated into the entire NWA metro- it is not an isolated community that can afford to impede traffic on the primary business traffic route through the metro. Downtown Fayetteville is where the Washington County Courthouse, the Federal Bldg. and most City of Fayetteville offices are located. It is where many entities that residents of the region depend on are located. Hwy 71B is the primary route used to access these vital resources. To try and turn it into a neighborhood street as suggested would not serve Fayetteville or the region well. To address a couple of concerns expressed- no one is looking to turn 71B into an expressway- it never has been and never will be an interstate highway. It has always been, is now and will always be the primary north- south route through central Fayetteville. With the lack of major east -west routes through central Fayetteville it becomes even more essential that Hwy 71B be kept as free flowing as possible so that the downtown is not isolated from the city residents living out of the central part of town or in other areas of the metro The comment comparing Dickson Street to College Ave. (Hwy 71B) is obviously not serious- Dickson is already a neighborhood street with heavy pedestrian traffic that has always extended from the bottom of Mt Sequoyah to campus only. It is not a thoroughfare. Downtown Fayetteville will never be totally be cutoff from the rest of the city- it is about making the trek there so difficult that resident and visitors are discouraged from accessing the area. Some city leaders seem to think that central Fayetteville is a gem that is only for those who live there or those who are wiling fight their way there. I think we need to keep Fayetteville's heart as accessible and resident and business friendly as possible.

That video illustrates exactly why the S. School crossing is such a mistake. There are 4 lanes of heavy traffic coming to a complete stop for one pedestrian. The traffic congestion caused by that one individual out for a walk is the very reason why at grade crossings are a mistake. To have good traffic flow interrupted in this manner is not good transportation planning and is not safe. How long before a motor vehicle /pedestrian accident happens and a serious injury occurs?

An option that would not only keep traffic flowing smoothly on North College but would also increase pedestrian safety would be to replace sections of the center turn lane with a median. No doubt a lot of businesses would oppose it at first but by allowing u-turns at left turn signals that opposition could possibly be overcome. The utilities overhead would probably preclude planting trees in the median but small shrubs could be planted. It would certainly be a first step to improving the looks of the road and by preventing drivers from using the center lane as a merging lane plus eliminating some left turns the safety of the road would be greatly improved.