[Hot Springs]

A $10,000,000 permit was taken out on the Thompson Building this week. The Thompson building will be branded under Ascend from Choice Hotels. Also, the old Howard Johnson is in the process of being demolished by First United Methodist Church. The Majestic Hotel clean-up should start mid-November with the latest start being at the beginning of December. Also, there are two new shopping centers planned - East Ridge at the corner of Carpenter Dam & Malvern and Keystone Shopping Center at the corner of Section Line & Files Road. Good things happening all around town!! 

Do you have any more info on the two shopping centers? I heard a rumor that a Starbucks was going in at the East Ridge one, but I don't know if it's true or not.

[Growth in Benton/Bryant]

Benton town center will not be built. 

After not hearing anything on it in a while, I was worried about this. Do you know what happened or what made them change their mind?

[Hot Springs]

It's not widened yet, but traffic on Higdon Ferry isn't usually all that bad unless Oaklawn's in high season.

This development still may include a Target, they were asking for some tax breaks Hot Springs didn't really want to give.

I spend a lot if not most weekends over there, so these are stores I'm glad to have. That said, Higdon Ferry may not cut the time off of getting to Oaklawn or downtown from the lake the way it used to.

I know this thread is nearly 5 years old. For that I apologize, but has anyone heard any news on this? I emailed Target, and they said they were working with the local government, which could take years (it has). It wasn't an official confirmation of one going in, but I was surprised to hear that they are still trying.