tim2462

I think we all enjoy reading about the developments in Springfield...I know I do. I enjoy trips to Branson / Springfield. I'm glad slyder1 is around to keep us informed about the area. The area is totally ignored in the Missouri forum, the area was adopted into the AR forum. A little friendly competition is fine, but the flood of false facts that make it look like Springfield is superior to NWA is uncalled for. I had figured that XNA had more enplanements than SGF, but I didn't say anything, because I didn't know for sure. I'm glad mcheiss cleared that up. It's all fine and good to have pride in your city, but let's not exaggerate to make one seem better than the other. True facts and numbers speak for themselves.

Northwest Arkansas is where the business is and where it will continue to grow. XNA will soon outgrow SGF just as the NWA metro has passed up Springfield in population. It's good to be proud of the Springfield, it's a very nice place, and is growing. However, slyder1 seems to think everything about Springfield is bigger and better than NWA, which just isn't true. XNA is only the 2nd major airport built in the last 25 years. It is growing faster than the Springfield airport and will continue to expand and add more flights. Slyder needs to realize that WAL*MART has over 15,000 vendors...only about 300 have moved to the area so far...I'm not saying all 15,000 will come into the area, but many many more will, and that will only add to the airport's growth. Springfield is growing in its own right, but whether slyder likes it or not, NWA is the bigger metro now and is outpacing the Springfeild metro in growth and will become a powerhouse in the area. Springfield just doesn't have the draw that NWA does for population and new business....not an opinion...just plain fact. I'm not trying to argue, but slyder, you are constantly talking about springfield is bigger, this project is better, our airport is busier, and so on...NWA is where it's at...Springfield is no longer going to be the center of the Ozarks. Great things are happening there, but much greater things are happening in NWA...which is why there is so much national news about the growth of the area and the urbanization of the area.

Yet, another Walgreens is on the wey to Rogers. Developer Bencor/Rogers Limited Partnership of Colorado Springs announced the start of construction Tuesday. The company will build a 14,820-square-foot store with a double drive-through pharmacy in Rogers. The new Walgreens will sit at the corner of 26 th Street and Pleasant Grove Road as part of the 250,000-square-foot retail center under construction there.

The 2000 census was 43,167. The 2004 census bureau estimate is 50,358...but the city utilities and city leaders say that number is way low. There isn't a more current estimate. It'll be interesting to see what the 2005 official count is.

The special census is now complete in Conway and a preliminary figure will be released in the next few weeks.

Gawd, what happened to creativity?!

Is "Har-Ber" really how it's spelled or is that just the printed pronunciation they used?

Hollister is opening its first store in Arkansas sometime early this year in Park Plaza Mall. Joplin, MO for some reason as one, as does Springfield. OKC has 2, Tulsa has 1. There really aren't many around in this part of the country. Memphis doesn't even have one. It's owned by Abercrombie.

New Development Popping Up Around New High School http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/01/...plancommadv.txt

Commercial Activity in Fort Smith Continues Construction activity in Fort Smith, as reflected in the value of building permits, was defined by commercial development in 2005. The value of new commercial construction in Fort Smith between January and November totaled $38.53 million, up 177 percent from $13.90 million from January to November 2004. In contrast, the value of residential building permits during the same period was $30.43 million, up 16.72 percent over $26.07 million for the same 2004 period. Retail Update for Fort Smith: http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2006/01/03.../business08.txt

AR side eyes two historic districts http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news12.txt

New Hospitality Tax in Benton A new 1.5% tax has gone in effect as of January 1st. The city's newly formed advertising and promotion commission estimates that the new tax will bring in 300K-500k per year. City leaders are optimistic that it may exceed those expectations, due to the growth the city is experiencing. This tax will be applied to all hotels, restaurants, caterers, and moving theaters.

From the Conway Log Cabin Democrat http://www.thecabin.net Hospital to remain in Fort Smith; expansion planned FORT SMITH (AP) - The Sparks Regional Medical Center will remain near downtown Fort Smith and hospital officials have announced a $39.3 million expansion at the facility. Sparks had announced that it would move the hospital to another location, but reconsidered. "One point that is being made by the expansion is that we are investing in this location," hospital spokesman Greg Russell said. "We're here for the long term." The expansion will have two-stories and 136,000-square-feet to increase the size of the emergency room from 23 beds to 35. It also will include an expanded medical imaging center, cardiac catheterization suite, cardiopulmonary medicine, a 24-bed intensive care unit and a centralized registration area.

That drawing is a little off. I walk the river trail quite often and have seen the bridge being constructed. It is MUCH higher in the air than that...the incline from the park starts a long way before the dam, it's a slow, gradual climb.

Pine Bluff, like Helena/West Helena, needs a city government that will work together instead of against eachother.

Exactly. It serves as the "Little Rock" for those other counties. It could almost serve as a metro of its on. Only 30% of people from Faulkner County commute to LR to work...I'm sure a lot of people in the counties surrounding Conway Commute to Faulkner County to work.

Yes! I've heard it's pretty scenic...but will probably look better when the trees are bloomed.

LOL I don't know...I know some nurses that live in Texarkana, TX that commute to Little Rock 3 days per week and they didn't speak very highly of Wadley...but opinions differ.

You guys are overserved and Conway is underserved. Conway has 2- 6 screen theaters...I think one is going to be a dollar theater.

Not to mention the one in Fayetteville...I think it is going to be 16 screens?

I don't know why Malco hasn't tried to build one there...they're sure building enough of them in NWA!

A nice big movie theater is just what Conway needs. It's great Conway is getting all of the new restaurants and retail...but they need to start concentrating on getting some entertainment type development.

Thanks for posting those stories. Everytime I go to that website, there are never any good articles, I guess I don't look often enough. That whole sports complex sounds really great. That will be something to really help the AR side. Sports and Fitness are big with newcomers to any area.

The Conway city council recently approved rezoning for property located along the south side of Spencer Lake and west of Padgett Rd. for construction of Spencer Lake Condominiums.

Has anyone heard anything about the big movie theater planned for Conway? It's supposed to be along Dave Ward Dr. Also, what about the Ruby Tuesday that was announced back at the end of '04? It was going to be built by the Outback Steakhouse. What ever became of these two projects?